Abstract: A method of fabricating and a wafer having a plurality of photosensor Arrays thereon. And, a method of testing the wafer before the wafer is diced and assembled to form a Silicon photosensor Array which may be combined with other like photosensor arrays to form a full page width image sensor bar. The invention allows checking of every V-groove on every chip. An implanted or diffused region is placed across the V-groove, with electrical connections on both ends of the diffusion. If the V-groove is formed, the diffused region will be broken and the electrical path will be open. A deeper diffusion can be also used to check for incomplete V-grooves. If one end of the electrical path is tied to an existing I/O pad on the chip and the other end to ground, this path will have no effect on the input resistance if the V-groove is formed. There will be a small, but acceptable, increase in input capacitance.

Abstract: A development system is provided that extends the functionality of liquid developer to produce custom colors and combines it with a powder development engine to enable custom color printing. This invention provides a apparatus and method, control scheme, hardware, and software, necessary for enabling custom color printing using an electrophotograpic hybrid technology.

Abstract: An air suction manifold device for removal of fibers/debris from the photoreceptor surface, which may otherwise attach to the development electrode wires causing a print defect(s). The device incorporating a secondary channel perpendicular to the main channel, formed by the manifold flange(s) proximity to the photoreceptor surface. The secondary channel supplying a specific volume of air at a specific mean velocity in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the main channel. The volume and velocity of secondary channel air being of such magnitude that it crosses the main channel gap and impinges on the photoreceptor surface, causing a zone of maximum shear stress prior to completely mixing with the main channel air. The maximum sheer stress zone resulting in improved fiber/debris removal performance from the photoreceptor surface.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a membrane having a corrugated, multi-layer structure, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having an insulator layer on the top surface of the substrate, a conductive layer on the insulator layer, a sacrificial layer on said conductive layer, and a second conductive layer; patterning a series of holes the second conductive layer to allow release etchant to have access to a second sacrificial layer; depositing the second sacrificial layer onto said second conductive layer so that the series of holes are filled with the second sacrificial layer; patterning the second sacrificial layer with a radial and/or concentric grid pattern so that a third conductive layer when deposited will form the support structure and top portion of the corrugated structure; depositing the third conductive layer so that the grid pattern is filled in and is in contact with the second conductive layer; removing the first and second sacrificial layer by immersing the device in a release etchant.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine having a latent image is recorded on a photoconductive member with the latent image being developed with marking particles, includes: imager for recording a test patch consisting of a solid patch; developer for developing the test patch with marking particles wherein the developed patch has a solid portion and an edge portion; sensor for measuring a density of the solid portion of the test patch; sensor for measuring a density of the edge portion of the test patch; a system for generating a first output signal corresponding to the density of the solid portion of the test patch; and a system for generating a second output signal corresponding to the density of the edge portion of the test patch.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic reproduction machine including an image bearing member movable along a process path; latent image means mounted along the process path for forming a latent image electrostatically on the image bearing member; a development unit mounted along the process path and containing liquid developer material including a liquid carrier and dispersed charged toner particles for developing the latent image to form a toner image; a pre-transfer station for increasing adhesiveness of the toner image, the pre-transfer station includes an applicator member which applies a cohesion increasing (Cl) solution on the toner image; and a transfer station for transferring the toner image onto a receiving substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing residual particles from an imaging surface, including a cleaning blade having an edge adapted to remove the residual particles from the imaging surface; an electrode array, coacting with the cleaning blade, for removing residual toner particles in a direction of movement away from the edge of the cleaning blade; and a wave generator for generating a traveling wave pattern for moving residual particles in the direction of movement.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical fluid ejector having an inner structure on the bottom of the top of the membrane for isolating the conductor, and an outer structure, away from the center of the membrane, on the bottom of the top of the membrane to stop excessive flexing of the membrane leading to inter-electrode contact.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on an imaging surface, including: a first developer unit for developing a portion of the latent image with a toner of custom color, the first developer unit including a housing defining a reservoir for storing a supply of developer material including conductive toner; a dispenser for dispensing toner of a first color and toner of a second color into the housing, the dispenser including device for mixing toner of the first color and toner of the second color together to form toner of the custom color; a donor member for transporting toner of the custom color on an outer surface of the donor member to a development zone; device for loading a toner layer of the custom color onto the outer surface of the donor member; and device for inductive charging the toner layer onto the outer surface of the donor member prior to the development zone to a predefine charge level; and a second developer unit for developing a remaining portion of the latent image with toner be

Abstract: In an electrostatographic development system wherein toner is conveyed from a donor member over a development gap to a charge receptor by a development field in the development gap, a method including the step of: monitoring at least a first parameter of the system to detect an arcing condition within the development gap; and if an arcing condition is detected, tuning a duty cycle to avoid the arcing condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for and aggregates in a fluid medium. The present invention employs an ultrasonic device to efficiently breakup particle agglomerates by driving the ultrasonic signal over a small range of frequencies around the acoustic slow wave frequency of the saturated agglomerate. At this frequency, the fluid vibrates out of phase with the solid and is forced out through the pore structure in the agglomerate. This relative fluid motion to exert high viscous stresses at the particle-particle contact points which leads to fracture of the agglomerate and the redispersion of the individual particles. The apparatus includes a dispersing vessel containing aggregates of particles in a fluid, a sonic member for applying an ultrasonic signal in said dispersing vessel for separating the aggregates to form dispersed particles.

Abstract: A printing machine is disclosed, that combines charged image pattern creation techniques of electrostatic imaging with the coloration capabilities of dye sublation to produce novel color printing systems offering unique advantages in copy quality, costs, speed, and security. Donor particles having a sublimable dye coated thereon are employed with electrostatic imaging techniques to create a temporary donor image. Uniform heat is applied to sublime dyes from the donor particle pattern into the final image support member.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling velocity variations in a belt wrapped about at least a first driven roller and a support structure, including a drive for driving the first driven roller so as to provide torque to the belt; and a dampener, in contact with the belt, for minimizing variations of the velocity of the belt, the dampener including a power supply for applying an electrical bias to generate a drag force on the belt.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a compilation of sheets to a process station, including: a sheet tray for holding the compilation of sheets; an air plenum, positioned above the compilation of sheets, the air plenum including an outer perimeter, a seal around said outer perimeter and a blower for generating a vacuum force in the air plenum to drive one of the compilation of sheets into contact with the air plenum and the seal.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent electrostatic image on a charge retentive surface moving in a process direction with toner, the apparatus comprising: a supply of toner; a donor structure spaced from the charge retentive surface for conveying toner from the supply of toner to an area adjacent the charge retentive surface, a device for applying an alternating current directly to the donor structure to create an alternating electrostatic field between the donor structure and said charge retentive surface to produce a toner cloud adjacent the charge retentive surface for developing the latent electrostatic image thereon; and an edge enhancement device, adjacent to the donor structure, for redistributing toner on the developed latent electrostatic image.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a compilation of sheets to a process station, including: a sheet tray for holding the compilation of sheets; an air plenum, positioned above the compilation of sheets, the air plenum including an outer perimeter, and a corrugated surface for corrugating one of the compilation of sheets into predefine multiple spans; a blower for generating a vacuum force in the air plenum to drive one of the compilation of sheets into contact with the air plenum thereby corrugating one of the compilation of sheets into predefine multiple spans; a series of sets of seals around the outer perimeter of the air plenum, for sealing one of the compilation of sheets against the air plenum.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a compilation of sheets in a process direction to a process station, including: a sheet tray for holding the compilation of sheets; an air plenum, positioned above the compilation of sheets, the plenum including a corrugated surface having a first set of ribs at a first height and a second set of ribs at a second height; and a blower for generating a vacuum force in the air plenum to drive one of the compilation of sheets into contact with the corrugated surface.

Abstract: A method for drying a porous solid saturated with a fluid including the steps of subjecting the saturate porous image to an ultrasonic signal to release the fluid from the saturated porous image layer; removing the fluid from said saturated porous solid, said subjecting step includes applying a predefined acoustic slow wave frequency based upon the particle sizes in said porous image layer thereby causing the fluid to move from an interior of said porous particulate image to an outer surface of said porous image, where fluid can be removed by conventional image.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on an imaging surface, including a housing defining a reservoir storing a supply of developer material including conductive toner; a donor member for transporting toner on an outer surface of the donor member to a region in synchronous contact with the imaging surface; a toner layer is loaded onto a region of the outer surface of the donor member; induction charging the toner loaded on the donor member; then the toner layer is conditioned; next the donor member is moved into synchronous contact with imaging member to detach toner from the region of the donor member for developing the latent image; and residual toner discharged and removed from the donor member and returning the toner to the reservoir.

Abstract: A method of developing a latent image recorded or an image receiving member with marking particles, to form a developed image, including the steps of moving the surface of the image receiving member at a predetermined process speed; storing a supply of developer material including conductive toner in a reservoir; transporting developer material on a donor member to a development zone adjacent the image receiving member; and; inductive charging the toner layer onto the outer surface of the donor member prior to the development zone to a predefined charge level.