Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus forms a printed image on a print medium based on image data. The apparatus includes an ink jet print head having ink ejection nozzles in a nozzle array. Ink is ejected from the nozzles and onto the print medium as the print head scans across the print medium in a scan direction, thereby forming the image on the print medium. The nozzle array on the print head includes a first substantially columnar array of nozzles aligned with a print medium advance direction which is perpendicular to the scan direction. The first array has a first upper subarray pair that includes a first upper left and a first upper right subarray of nozzles. The first upper left and a first upper right subarrays each include a substantially linear arrangement of n number of nozzles having equal nozzle-to-nozzle spacings. The nozzle-to-nozzle spacing in the first upper right subarray is equivalent to the nozzle-to-nozzle spacing in the first upper left subarray.

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: An analog encoder system repeatedly switches back and forth between monitoring of first and second encoder output signals to track movement of a structure associated with the encoder. An energization level of an encoder light element may be controlled in accordance with which encoder output signal is being monitored.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an improved heater chip for an ink jet printer. The heater chip has a diamond-like-carbon coating that functions as the cavitation and passivation layers of the heating elements on the heater chip. To improve the efficiency of the heater chip, the diamond-like-carbon coating is surrounded by a material that has a lower thermal conductivity than diamond. This surrounding layer limits thermal diffusion from the heating elements into the heater chip. A smoothing layer of tantalum is deposited over the diamond-like-carbon layer to insure that vaporization of the ink occurs at the ink's superheat limit. The diamond-like-carbon layer is preferably less than 8700 Angstroms in thickness such that less than 1 microjoule of energy is required to expel of ink droplet having a mass between 2-4 nanograms.

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: An improved TAB circuit is provided for use with ink jet printer cartridges, which carries electrical signals to an array of nozzles on a heater chip. The TAB circuit eliminates bent or broken electrical circuit traces before being bonded to the heater chip by creating a chip window that partially overlaps the edges of the heater chip, and by bringing the electrical circuit traces to the chip window and terminating these circuit traces at a PI (polyimide) edge, which defines the inner perimeter of the chip window. The circuit traces thus are not unsupported at their ends before being assembled to the heater chip, and are automatically correctly positioned to make contact with bond pads of the heater chip when the overall TAB circuit is in correct registration therewith. The TAB circuit also provides an improved tolerance for a covercoat placement that will tend to prevent corrosive ink from coming into contact with these metal traces.

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: A method for determining the skew of a printhead of a printer. At least three images are printed which are at least partially aligned substantially along the printhead scan direction with the middle image printed from one of the upper and lower portions of the printhead and with the adjacent images printed from the other of the upper and lower portions of the printhead. A sensor is moved in the printhead scan direction over the images. A function is calculated from the sensor output, wherein the calculated function indicates the skew of the printhead.

Abstract: A damping mechanism for use with a housing having a body and a cover pivotably attached to the body, the cover being movable between an open position and a closed position. The damping mechanism includes a body engagement surface located on the body and a cover engagement surface located on the cover. One of the body engagement surface or the cover engagement surface includes a generally planar damping pad and the other of the body engagement surface or the cover engagement surface includes a cam having a generally curved cam surface. The cam surface is shaped and positioned to engage the damping pad such that the damping pad and the cam cooperate to damp the movement of the cover when the cover pivots between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved paper coating system for ink jet printing applications. The system includes an ink jet printer containing an ink jet pen and a paper coating device for coating a print media with an effective amount of coating composition prior to printing thereon. The coating composition preferably includes from about 0.25 to about 20% by weight of a first component selected from the group consisting of polyvalent metal salt and organic acid, a second component consisting of from about 1 to about 20% by weight amine polymer, from about 0.25 to about 2.0% by weight surfactant and from about 25 to about 96% by weight glycol-based solvent having a surface tension ranging from about 25 to below about 45 dynes/cm. Since the coating composition is free from ethylene glycol-based components, the composition is safer to use and less harmful to humans and the environment. The composition has also been found to provide improved ink drying with less bleeding or smearing of image.

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: A method and apparatus for detecting media type by aligning a media type detector onto a media, with sufficient force, in a media manipulation or sensing apparatus, such that the media type detector will accurately detect a type of media of a media when the media is tilted. A media manipulation or sensing apparatus, where the media type detector is arranged before a picking mechanism, with the media type detector including a force applying mechanism to apply force to a housing sled that is aligned onto the media, and with the housing sled being able to rotate with the media as the media tilts.

Abstract: A segmented platen for heat-sealing a film material to a non-planar surface of an ink jet printer cartridge includes a heat-transferring housing having sidewalls defining an internal cavity and a first aperture. Heat-transferring segments, which partially protrude through the first aperture of the housing, are operable to independently move in relation to the housing and each other in a direction substantially parallel to the sidewalls of the housing. Biasing devices, corresponding in number to the segments, independently urge the segments through the first aperture of the housing, thereby urging the segments to follow any curvature in the non-planar surface of the ink jet printer cartridge. The platen further includes a heating element for generating and transferring heat into the housing. The segments receive the heat from the housing, and transfer the heat into the underlying film.

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: An apparatus provides identification information related to at least one ink jet print head in an ink jet printer. The apparatus includes a printer controller for providing a first identification data string comprising n number of bits, at least one of which has a first state, and no more than n−1 number of which have a second state different from the first state. Coupled to the printer controller is a first ink jet print head having a first serial input shift register. The first serial input shift register has at least n number of bit positions for receiving the n number of bits of the first identification data string. The first ink jet print head also includes at least n number of first latches, each of which is coupled to a corresponding one of the n number of bit positions of the first shift register. The n number of first latches are for latching the n number of bits of the first identification data string from the n number of bit positions of the first shift register.

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 provides a method for improving adhesion between a polymeric planarizing film and a semiconductor chip surface. The method includes deposition resistive, conductive and/or insulative materials to a seimconductor chip surface to provide a semiconductor chip for an ink jet printer. The chip surface is treated with a dry etch process under an oxygen atmosphere for a period of time and under conditions sufficient to activate the surface of the chip. A polymeric planarizing film is applied to the activated surface of the semiconductor chip. As a result of the dry etch process, adhesion of the planarizing film is increased over adhesion between the planarizing film and a semiconductor surface in the absence of the dry etch treatment of the chip surface.

Abstract: A print data loading circuit receives N bits of serial data on a serial input data line, and provides the input data to a data bus in an addressing circuit for addressing one or more image-forming elements in a printing device. The data loading circuit includes an N-bit serial shift register having N number of serially-coupled single-bit storage registers. The data loading circuit also includes N−1 number of data latches, each having a data input coupled to a data output of a corresponding one of the single-bit storage registers. The data outputs of the data latches are coupled to N−1 number of selection lines that are coupled to the data bus. Each data latch has a clock input that is coupled to the data output of the Nth storage register. Based on this configuration, a bit provided at the Nth-register data output acts as a load trigger bit to cause the other data bits in the other single-bit storage registers to be loaded into the N−1 number of data latches.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reducing ink corrosion of exposed metal layers on a chip surface of a semiconductor chip for an ink jet printhead. The method includes depositing a protective layer in a plasma process to the chip surface, the protective layer being deposited adjacent ink ejectors so that the protective layer substantially circumscribes an ink via in the chip. A thick film layer is applied to the protective layer and chip, whereby the protective layer and thick film layer are sufficient to promote increased adhesion between the thick film layer and a nozzle plate attached to the thick film layer thereby substantially reducing a tendency for the nozzle plate and thick film layer to delaminate from one another during printhead manufacture or use and interrupting contact between ink and the exposed metal layers on the chip surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous ink composition for use in ink jet printers comprising an aqueous carrier, a colorant, a polymeric dispersant, and a specific cosolvent mixture comprising C2-C8 terminal alkanediols with a second component selected from polyethylene glycol-type materials and polyol/alkylene oxide condensates. The ink compositions demonstrate excellent stability, good maintenance characteristics for the printers in which they are used, and excellent optical density and print characteristics.