Abstract: Multi-compartmentalized ink cartridges for ink jet printers and improved methods for making the ink cartridges. The multi-compartmentalized ink cartridge includes a molded, open-topped body having an interior cavity and a printhead surface area opposite the interior cavity. A divider wall is integrally molded with the molded body structure and disposed in the interior cavity to provide at least three segregated ink chambers. The divider wall includes a first wall section and a second wall section attached substantially perpendicular to the first wall section. At least first, second, third molded ink flow paths connect each of the at least three segregated ink chambers with the printhead surface area. The second and third ink flow paths are oriented relative to their corresponding ink chambers for molding with a mold insert tool so that the cartridge body does not require a separately attached member to close mold insert tool insertion areas in the body.

Abstract: A heater chip structure having heating elements operable at an energy per unit volume of from about 2.9 GJ/m3 to about 4.0 GJ/m3, a pulse time of less than about 0.73 microseconds, and one or more protective layers having a total thickness of less than about 7200 angstroms.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for making piezoelectric printheads for ink jet The method includes applying an insulating layer to a first surface of a silicon wafer having a thickness ranging from about 200 to about 800 microns. A first conducting layer is applied to the insulating layer on the first surface and a piezoelectric layer is applied to the first conducting layer. The piezoelectric layer is patterned to provide piezoelectric elements on the first surface of the silicon wafer. A second conducting layer is applied to the piezoelectric layer and is patterned to provide conductors for applying an electric field across each of the piezoelectric elements. A photoresist layer is applied to a second surface of the silicon wafer, and the photoresist layer is imaged and developed to provide pressurizing chamber locations. The silicon wafer is then dry etched through the thickness of the wafer up to the insulating layer on the first surface of the wafer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for attaching a semiconductor chip to an ink jet pen body and improved construction techniques therefor. According to the method a first adhesive have a cure time greater than about 15 minutes is dispensed in a predetermined pattern in one or more chip pockets of an ink jet pen body. Beads containing a second adhesive are dispensed in two or more discrete locations around an inside perimeter of each chip pocket. A semiconductor chip having chip edges is attached to the second adhesive in each of the chip pockets and the first adhesive is cured using heat or radiation. Use of a dual adhesive system improves the alignment of the semiconductor chips relative to one another until the first adhesive is completely cured.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved ink formulation and method therefore. The formulation includes from about 50 to about 85 percent by weight water, humectant and an organic solvent and a chemically modified carbon black pigment, wherein the chemically modified carbon black pigment contains steric inducing groups on a surface of the carbon black which groups are derived from a steric inducing compound which compound is substantially soluble in the humectant and is reactive with an organic acid halide. The ink jet printer ink formulation containing the chemically modified carbon black has an idle time of greater than about 15 seconds in an ink jet printhead. Improved idle time is important because it reduces nozzle plugging between nozzle firings.

Abstract: An ink jet printer forms printed images by ejecting droplets of ink onto a print medium at a stable velocity. The printer includes an ink jet print head having nozzles through which the droplets of ink are ejected. The print head includes a heater chip having heating elements, each of which is associated with a corresponding one of the nozzles. Each heating element transfers heat into adjacent ink at a predetermined rate sufficient to maintain the stable velocity of the droplets of ink, where the predetermined rate of heat transfer is accomplished when a predetermined minimum power level is applied to the heating element. Each heating element includes a heater resistor and a protective layer having a protective layer thickness. Each heater resistor has a heater resistor area and a heater resistor thickness, and is operable to provide a predetermined minimum power density per unit area when the predetermined minimum power level is applied.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printing apparatus maintains stable printing output as certain characteristics of the apparatus change over its operational lifetime. The apparatus includes an ink jet print head with resistive heating elements for receiving electrical energy pulses having a voltage level and for transferring heat energy pulses having a desired energy level into adjacent ink based on the electrical energy pulses. The print head includes nozzles associated with the resistive heating elements through which droplets of the ink are ejected when the heat energy pulses are transferred into the ink. The apparatus further includes a printer controller in electrical communication with the print head.

Abstract: The invention described in the specification relates to an apparatus and method for disabling an ink jet print head cartridge so that the disposable cartridge can not be refilled and used again. The method involves placing a monitoring and disabling device inside of the ink jet print head cartridge. When the print head has exceeded its useful life span, the disabling device disables the print head cartridge. The apparatus consists of a set of electrically charged capacitors, a small processor, ink sensors, and an extra long life miniature battery. A card containing the battery, processor and capacitors is placed in the ink jet print head cartridge. A sensor is placed in the bottom of each ink well of the cartridge. The processor periodically checks the level of ink in each inkwell. Once the processor determines that a specific inkwell has been empty for a certain period of time, the capacitors are discharged to the section of the nozzle plate corresponding to the expended inkwell.

Abstract: An ink jet print head identification system for providing print head identifying information to the electronics of an ink jet printer includes one or more parallel load, serial out, dynamic shift registers integrated into a print head chip having a plurality of address lines interconnecting the printer electronics and the print head electronics. The memory input of each shift register is electrically connected to a memory matrix that supplies digital bits of information to the shift register in response to receiving a decode signal function from the printer electronics. In a preferred embodiment, two of the address lines provide each of the registers with successive sequential clock signals to serially shift the bit of information received from the shift register's corresponding memory matrix to an output line where the print head identifying information is read by the printer electronics.

Abstract: This invention relates to a compound of the formula, ##STR1## wherein: M is Sb(III) or Bi(III), x and y are whole integers and x=1, 2 or 3, y=0, 1 or 2 and x+y=3; each R is independently selected from hydroxy radicals, alkoxy radicals and phenoxy radicals; and each R' is independently selected from haloalkoxy radicals and halophenoxy radicals in which each halo constituent is independently selected from bromine or chlorine. Such compounds are useful flame retardants.