Abstract: A fluid ejector includes a fluid ejection module having a substrate and a layer separate from the substrate. The substrate includes a plurality of fluid ejection elements arranged in a matrix, each fluid ejection element configured to cause a fluid to be ejected from a nozzle. The layer separate from the substrate includes a plurality of electrical connections, each electrical connection adjacent to a corresponding fluid ejection element.

Abstract: A system for ejecting droplets of a fluid is described. The system includes a substrate having a flow path body that includes a fluid pumping chamber, a descender fluidically connected to the fluid pumping chamber, and a nozzle fluidically connected to the descender. The nozzle is arranged to eject droplets of fluid through an outlet formed in an outer substrate surface. The flow path body also includes a recirculation passage fluidically connected to the descender. The system for ejecting droplets of a fluid also includes a fluid supply tank fluidically connected to the fluid pumping chamber, a fluid return tank fluidically connected to the recirculation passage, and a pump fluidically connecting the fluid return tank and the fluid supply tank. In some implementations, a flow of fluid through the flow path body is at a flow rate sufficient to force air bubbles or contaminants through the flow path body.

Abstract: A fluid ejector includes a fluid ejection module having a substrate and a layer separate from the substrate. The substrate includes a plurality of fluid ejection elements arranged in a matrix, each fluid ejection element configured to cause a fluid to be ejected from a nozzle. The layer separate from the substrate includes a plurality of electrical connections, each electrical connection adjacent to a corresponding fluid ejection element.

Abstract: A method and system of facilitating development of fluids having a variety of elemental compositions are disclosed. A graphical user interface allows user interaction with a lab deposition system to control fluid drop ejection of fluids through multiple nozzles. Fluid drop ejection and drop formation can vary from fluid to fluid, and require adjustments to waveform parameters of a drive pulse applied to the multiple nozzles. The system implements a drop watcher camera system to capture real-time still and video images of fluid drops as they exit the multiple nozzles. The captured drop formation of the fluid drops are displayed to the user, and based on the images the waveform parameters are adjusted and customized specific for individual fluid. In addition to adjusting the drive pulse that effects fluid drop ejection, a tickle pulse can also be adjusted and customize to prevent clogging of the nozzles.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for drop ejection, specifically, for driving drop ejectors using n-type double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (NDMOS) transistors with sputtered piezoelectric transducers. In general, in one aspect, an apparatus includes a n-type double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor transistor. The apparatus also includes a piezoelectric transducer. A first surface of the piezoelectric transducer is coupled to the n-type double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor transistor. The apparatus also includes a first waveform generator configured to generate an ejector waveform to apply to a second surface of the piezoelectric transducer. The ejector waveform includes at least a positive pulse and a negative pulse. The apparatus also includes a second waveform generator configured to generate a control waveform to apply to the n-type double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor transistor to selectively actuate the piezoelectric transducer.

Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a fluid distribution layer between a fluid manifold and a substrate. The fluid distribution layer includes fluid supply channels and fluid return channels. Each fluid supply channel receives fluid from the fluid supply chamber and circulates a fraction of the received fluid back to the fluid return chamber through a return-side bypass. The substrate include a plurality of flow paths, each flow path includes a nozzle for ejecting fluid droplets. Each flow path receives fluid from a respective fluid supply channel, and channel un-ejected fluid into a respective fluid return channel. Each fluid return channel can collect the un-ejected fluid from one or more flow paths and a supply-side bypass, and return the collected fluid back to the fluid supply chamber.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method of driving an inkjet module having a plurality of ink jets. The method includes applying a voltage waveform to the inkjet module, the voltage waveform including a first pulse and a second pulse, activating one or more of the ink jets contemporaneously to applying the first pulse, wherein each activated ink jet ejects a fluid droplet in response to the first pulse, and activating all of the ink jets contemporaneously to applying the second pulse without ejecting a droplet.

Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a printhead having a substrate. The substrate includes a nozzle face having a width direction and a length direction. The nozzle face includes a set of four columns of nozzles oriented in a column direction substantially along the width direction of the nozzle face, and the nozzles in each column are positioned on a straight line along the column. A spacing between two adjacent columns of the four adjacent columns is different than a spacing between another two adjacent columns of the four adjacent columns. In some implementations, a controller can control timing of ejection of fluid droplets from the nozzles to deposit lines of fluid droplets on a medium, and the medium can travel relative to the nozzle face.

Abstract: A method and system of facilitating development of fluids having a variety of elemental compositions are disclosed. A graphical user interface allows user interaction with a lab deposition system to control fluid drop ejection of fluids through multiple nozzles. Fluid drop ejection and drop formation can vary from fluid to fluid, and require adjustments to waveform parameters of a drive pulse applied to the multiple nozzles. The system implements a drop watcher camera system to capture real-time still and video images of fluid drops as they exit the multiple nozzles. The captured drop formation of the fluid drops are displayed to the user, and based on the images the waveform parameters are adjusted and customized specific for individual fluid. In addition to adjusting the drive pulse that effects fluid drop ejection, a tickle pulse can also be adjusted and customize to prevent clogging of the nozzles.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for drive a pumping chamber of a fluid ejection system are disclosed. In one implementation, the actuator for drive the pumping chamber includes a continuous piezoelectric layer between a pair of drive electrodes and a continuous reference electrode. The pair of drive electrodes includes an inner electrode and an outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode. The actuator is further coupled to a controller which, during a fluid ejection cycle, applies a negative voltage pulse differential to the outer electrode to expand the pumping chamber for a first time period, then applies another negative voltage pulse differential to the inner electrode during a second time period after the first time period to contract the pumping chamber to eject a fluid drop.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method of driving an inkjet module having a plurality of ink jets. The method includes applying a voltage waveform to the inkjet module, the voltage waveform including a first pulse and a second pulse, activating one or more of the ink jets contemporaneously to applying the first pulse, wherein each activated ink jet ejects a fluid droplet in response to the first pulse, and activating all of the ink jets contemporaneously to applying the second pulse without ejecting a droplet.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead includes: a nozzle plate having an underside and including one or more nozzles in the underside configured to dispense drops of fluid in a dispensing direction; and a multi-level maintenance structure coupled to the nozzle plate such that a gap exists between a portion of the maintenance structure and the underside of the nozzle plate. The maintenance structure includes: a first portion having a first upper surface suspended at a first distance from the underside of the nozzle plate; and a second portion that is coupled to the first portion, the second portion having a second upper surface suspended at a second distance from the underside of the nozzle plate, which is greater than the first distance, the second upper surface laterally displaced relative to the first upper surface.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a fluid manifold, a substrate coupled to the fluid manifold, and a fluid distribution structure disposed between the fluid manifold and the substrate. The fluid manifold includes a fluid supply chamber and a fluid return chamber. The substrate defines a flow path including a flow path inlet for receiving fluid, a nozzle for ejecting fluid droplets, and a flow path outlet for channeling away un-ejected fluid. The fluid distribution structure includes a fluid supply channel including a supply inlet fluidically coupled to the fluid supply chamber and a supply outlet fluidically coupled to the flow path. The fluid distribution structure also includes a fluid bypass channel including a bypass inlet fluidically coupled to the fluid supply chamber, a bypass outlet fluidically coupled to the fluid return chamber, and a flow inhibitor between the bypass inlet and the bypass outlet providing a supplemental flow resistance to the fluid bypass channel.

Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a fluid distribution layer between a fluid manifold and a substrate. The fluid distribution layer includes fluid supply channels and fluid return channels. Each fluid supply channel receives fluid from the fluid supply chamber and circulates a fraction of the received fluid back to the fluid return chamber through a return-side bypass. The substrate include a plurality of flow paths, each flow path includes a nozzle for ejecting fluid droplets. Each flow path receives fluid from a respective fluid supply channel, and channel un-ejected fluid into a respective fluid return channel. Each fluid return channel can collect the un-ejected fluid from one or more flow paths and a supply-side bypass, and return the collected fluid back to the fluid supply chamber.

Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a fluid distribution layer between a fluid manifold and a substrate. The fluid distribution layer includes fluid supply channels and fluid return channels. Each fluid supply channel receives fluid from the fluid supply chamber and circulates a fraction of the received fluid back to the fluid return chamber through a return-side bypass. The substrate include a plurality of flow paths, each flow path includes a nozzle for ejecting fluid droplets. Each flow path receives fluid from a respective fluid supply channel, and channel un-ejected fluid into a respective fluid return channel. Each fluid return channel can collect the un-ejected fluid from one or more flow paths and a supply-side bypass, and return the collected fluid back to the fluid supply chamber.

Abstract: A system for ejecting droplets of a fluid is described. The system includes a substrate having a flow path body that includes a fluid pumping chamber, a descender fluidically connected to the fluid pumping chamber, and a nozzle fluidically connected to the descender. The nozzle is arranged to eject droplets of fluid through an outlet formed in an outer substrate surface. The flow path body also includes a recirculation passage fluidically connected to the descender. The system for ejecting droplets of a fluid also includes a fluid supply tank fluidically connected to the fluid pumping chamber, a fluid return tank fluidically connected to the recirculation passage, and a pump fluidically connecting the fluid return tank and the fluid supply tank. In some implementations, a flow of fluid through the flow path body is at a flow rate sufficient to force air bubbles or contaminants through the flow path body.

Abstract: Among other things, a printhead is formed by actions that include providing a body of silicon material, forming in the body of silicon material at least a portion of a flow path in which fluid is to be pressurized, and forming in the body of silicon material at least a portion of a deaerator partition between a first region and a second region that are connected by a passageway. The deaerator partition is configured to remove gases or bubbles from the fluid. The first region is to be characterized by a first air pressure and the second region is to be characterized by an air pressure different for the first air pressure.

Abstract: A fluid droplet ejection apparatus includes a printhead having a fluid supply and a fluid return. A substrate is attached to the printhead, and the substrate includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet on a surface of the substrate proximate to the fluid supply and fluid return. Nozzles are in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. The fluid inlet of the substrate is in fluid communication with the fluid supply, and the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid return. A first circulation path through the substrate is between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The fluid supply is in fluid communication with the fluid return through a second circulation path that is through the printhead and not through the substrate.

Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a printhead having a substrate. The substrate includes a nozzle face having a width direction and a length direction. The nozzle face includes a set of four columns of nozzles oriented in a column direction substantially along the width direction of the nozzle face, and the nozzles in each column are positioned on a straight line along the column. A spacing between two adjacent columns of the four adjacent columns is different than a spacing between another two adjacent columns of the four adjacent columns. In some implementations, a controller can control timing of ejection of fluid droplets from the nozzles to deposit lines of fluid droplets on a medium, and the medium can travel relative to the nozzle face.

Abstract: Among other things, for ink jetting, a system includes a printhead including at least 25 jets and an imaging device to capture image information for all of the jets simultaneously, the captured image information being useful in analyzing a performance of each of the jets.