Abstract: A scanner removably mountable on a printer output tray for scanning images on print media driven through a print media path in the printer. The scanner includes a hood with a light source which is mounted internally on the hood and directed toward the print media path to illuminate an image on the print media. A mirror reflects the image illuminated by the light source to a sensor which detects the reflected image and converts it to an electrical signal. The scanner is operable under the control of a scanner electronics cartridge which is inserted into a printer access port normally designated to receive font cartridges. The scanner electronics cartridge communicates the electrical signals to a host personal computer over an I/O cable that is connected between the scanner and the personal computer.

Abstract: A fabrication method for applying electrically conductive circuit traces to a substrate is described. The method uses an ink composition which is applied to a selected substrate by an ink delivery system. The ink includes an adhesive in combination with other additives, including one or more sovlents. The ink is delivered by the ink jet system in a selected pattern, followed by the application of a powdered metal to the pattern which adheres to the adhesive in the ink. After the removal of excess powder, the substrate, pattern and powder are heated in an amount sufficient to melt the powder on the substrate. This produces a pattern of conductive traces geometrically corresponding to the ink pattern initially applied to the substrate.

Abstract: An orifice plate for an ink jet printhead wherein a plurality of elongated isolator slots are adjacent the orifices and in fluid communication therewith, so as to prevent cross-talk between adjacent orifices.

Abstract: An orifice plate is provided of an electroformed material which incorporates an integral ink distribution manifold and integral hydraulic separators between orifices. The general approach to the method of making the orifice plate is to first construct a two-part mandrel made up of a "hard" mandrel which can be reused many times and a "soft" mandrel which is renewed each time the mandrel is used. Typically, the surface of the "hard" mandrel is configured by mask and etch techniques, or by mask and electroplate techniques to define the ink distribution manifold and the hydraulic separators, while the "soft" mandrel is configured by mask and develop techniques to define the orifices and edges between orifice plates. Upon completion of the mandrel, its surface is electroplated with a relatively uniform thickness of metal, and the newly electroplated surface having the orifice plates patterned therein is separated from the mandrel.

Abstract: An ink reservoir which incorporates a negative back pressure source coupled to a membrane wall of the reservoir to prevent ink leakage from a reservoir orifice is disclosed. The back pressure is created by either a linear or nonlinear spring which can be either independent of, or integral with, the membrane. The result is freedom from ink leakage and improved quality printing when the reservoir is used in conjunction with an ink pen such as used in ink jet printing.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet head is disclosed in which the jetting resistors, fluid interconnections, ink reservoir, electrical connections, and jetting orifices are fully integrated to provide an inexpensive, disposable jetting head. The entire hydraulic ink system is sealed to eliminate user interaction with the liquid ink, and ink can only exit the head via the jetting orifices under the influence of the jetting resistors. Once the ink is expended the user disposes with the old head and installs a new one by breaking and making a simple mechanical and low voltage electrical connection.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer is disclosed in which ink droplets are ejected from an orifice by the explosive formation of a vapor bubble within the ink supply due to the application of a two part electrical pulse to a resistor within the ink supply. The electrical pulse comprises a precurser pulse and a nucleation pulse; the precurser pulse preheats the ink in the vicinity of the resistor to a temperature below the boiling temperature of the ink so as to preheat the ink while avoiding vapor bubble nucleation within the ink supply and the subsequently occuring nucleation pulse very quickly heats the resistor to near the superheat limit of the ink.

Abstract: A method of making a monolithic bubble-driven ink jet print head is provided which eliminates the need for using glue or other adhesives to construct multiple part assemblies. The concept of the method is to provide a layered structure which can be manufactured by relatively standard integrated circuit and printed circuit processing techniques. First, a substrate/resistor combination is manufactured. Then a foundation of conductive material is firmly attached to the substrate and a resist layer is used to define a perimeter/wall combination over the foundation, with the perimeter/wall combination surrounding the resistors and providing hydraulic separation between them. The perimeter/wall combination is then electroplated in place. A flash coat of metal is applied over the resist which is inside the perimeter of the perimeter/wall combination and a second layer of resist is used to define the desired orifices and the external shape of the part.