Abstract: Embodiments reduce capacitive cross-talk between micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) arrays through grounding of the substrate over which the arrays are fabricated. In embodiments, a metal-semiconductor contact is formed to a semiconductor device layer of a substrate and coupled to a ground plane common to a first electrode of the transducer elements to suppress capacitive coupling of signal lines connected to a second electrode of the transducer elements.

Abstract: A fluid ejection module mounting apparatus, including a module mount having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, a fluid ejection module mounted to the module mount, and a clamp assembly including a recessed portion, a clamp along a wall of the recessed portion, and a lever coupled to the clamp and configured to move the clamp from an open position to a closed position. The horizontal portion has an opening configured to receive a fluid ejection module and the vertical portion has a protruding portion. The protruding portion of the module mount is configured to mate with the recessed portion of the clamp assembly.

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, apparatus, and system are described herein for driving a droplet ejection device with multi-pulse waveforms. In one embodiment, a method for driving a droplet ejection device having an actuator includes applying a multi-pulse waveform with a drop-firing portion having at least one drive pulse and a non-drop-firing portion to an actuator of the droplet ejection device. The non-drop-firing portion includes a jet straightening edge having a droplet straightening function and at least one cancellation edge having an energy canceling function. The at least drive pulse causes the droplet ejection device to eject a droplet of a fluid.

Abstract: A method for regenerative driving of one or more transducers includes, for each of a plurality of driving cycles, enabling a number of transducers for driving, configuring a configurable capacitive energy storage element based on the number of enabled transducers and a desired overall capacitance, transferring a predetermined quantity of energy from a power supply to a first inductive energy transfer element, distributing the predetermined quantity of energy from the first inductive energy transfer element to the configurable capacitive energy storage element and to one or more other capacitive energy storage elements, each of the other capacitive energy storage elements coupled to an associated transducer, transferring energy from the one or more capacitive energy storage elements and from the configurable capacitive energy storage element to a second inductive energy transfer element, and transferring energy from the second inductive energy transfer element to the power supply.

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: An apparatus includes an inkjet assembly having inkjet nozzles through each of which ink flows at a nominal flow rate as it is ejected from the nozzle onto a substrate. Ink is held under a nominal negative pressure associated with a characteristic of a meniscus of the ink in the nozzle when ejection of ink from the nozzle is not occurring. The apparatus includes recirculation flow paths, each flow path having a nozzle end at which it opens into one of the nozzles and another location spaced from the nozzle end that is to be subjected to a recirculation pressure lower than the nominal negative pressure so that ink is recirculated from the nozzle through the flow path at a recirculation flow rate.

Abstract: Switchable micromachined transducer arrays are described where a MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) switch, or relay, is monolithically integrated with a transducer element. In embodiments, the MEMS switch is implemented in the same substrate as the transducer array to implement one or more logic, addressing, or transducer control function. In embodiments, each transducer element of an array is a piezoelectric element coupled to at least one MEMS switch to provide element-level addressing within the array. In certain embodiments the same piezoelectric material employed in the transducer is utilized in the MEMS switch.

Abstract: An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer device includes a transducer array consisting of an array of vibrating elements, and a base to which the array of vibrating elements in the transducer array are attached. The base include integrated electrical interconnects for carrying driving signals and sensed signals between the vibrating elements and an external control circuit. The base can be an ASIC wafer that includes integrated circuitry for controlling the driving and processing the sensed signals. The interconnects and control circuits in the base fit substantially within an area below the array of multiple vibrating elements.

Abstract: Among other things, an apparatus for use in fluid jetting is described. The apparatus includes a printhead including a flow path and a nozzle in communication with the flow path that has a first end and a second end. The apparatus also includes a first container fluidically coupled to the first end of the flow path, a second container fluidically coupled to the second end of the flow path, and a controller. The first container has a first controllable internal pressure and the second container has a second controllable internal pressure. The controller controls the first internal pressure and the second internal pressure to have a fluid flow between the first container and the second container through the flow path in the printhead according to a first mode and a second mode.

Abstract: An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer device includes a transducer array consisting of an array of vibrating elements, and a base to which the array of vibrating elements in the transducer array are attached. The base include integrated electrical interconnects for carrying driving signals and sensed signals between the vibrating elements and an external control circuit. The base can be an ASIC wafer that includes integrated circuitry for controlling the driving and processing the sensed signals. The interconnects and control circuits in the base fit substantially within an area below the array of multiple vibrating elements.

Abstract: Piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT) arrays and systems comprising pMUT arrays are described. In an embodiment, coupling strength within a population of transducer elements provides degenerate mode shapes that split for wide bandwidth total response while less coupling strength between adjacent element populations provides adequately low crosstalk between the element populations. In an embodiment, differing membrane sizes within a population of transducer elements provides differing frequency response for wide bandwidth total response while layout of the differing membrane sizes between adjacent element populations provides adequately low crosstalk between the element populations. In an embodiment, close packing of membranes within a population of transducer elements provides improved efficiency for the wide bandwidth embodiments.

Abstract: In general, in an aspect, an apparatus includes a body having a hollow ink refill chamber, a plate on a side of the body, the plate having a series of posts separating a series of hollow channels adjacent to the hollow ink refill chamber in the body.

Abstract: In some examples, a printing system including a rotating platen having an axis of rotation and configured to support a substrate, and a printhead configured to eject drops in a direction parallel with the axis of rotation onto the substrate supported by the rotating platen.

Abstract: Among other things, for jetting ink, a first set of orifices of an apparatus are arranged to print at a first maximum resolution along a direction different from a process direction. A second set of orifices is coupled to the first set of orifices. The second set of orifices is arranged to print at a second maximum resolution lower than the first maximum resolution along a direction different from the process direction.

Abstract: A MEMS device is described that has a body with a component bonded to the body. The body has a main surface and a side surface adjacent to the main surface and smaller than the main surface. The body is formed of a material and the side surface is formed of the material and the body is in a crystalline structure different from the side surface. The body includes an outlet in the side surface and the component includes an aperture in fluid connection with the outlet.

Abstract: Among other things, ink is jetted onto a substrate, the ink includes (a) a pigment and (b) a wax, and the jetted ink on the substrate is heated to fire the pigment on the substrate.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are described herein for driving a droplet ejection device with multi-pulse waveforms. In one embodiment, a method for driving a droplet ejection device having an actuator includes applying a multi-pulse waveform with a drop-firing portion having at least one drive pulse and a non-drop-firing portion to an actuator of the droplet ejection device. The non-drop-firing portion includes a jet straightening edge having a droplet straightening function and at least one cancellation edge having an energy canceling function. The at least drive pulse causes the droplet ejection device to eject a droplet of a fluid.

Abstract: Among other things, an inkjet print head module includes inkjets from which ink drops are to be jetted during a series of jetting cycles. There is circuitry on the inkjet print head module to (a) form, from trimming information or other information that characterizes jetting waveforms to be applied to respective inkjets in respective jetting cycles, corresponding jetting waveforms and (b) apply the formed jetting waveforms to the respective inkjets in the respective jetting cycles.

Abstract: A drop ejection device includes three or more orifices disposed in a two-dimensional pattern in a nozzle plate, a fluid conduit coupled to the three or more orifice, and an actuator configured to actuate the fluid in the fluid conduit to eject separate fluid drops out of the three or more orifices, the fluid drops remaining separate in flight.