Abstract: A thermal-type drop generator for ejecting droplets of liquid having ultra-small volumes. In one embodiment the drop generator includes a chamber defined in part by an orifice member. The chamber is supported by a rigid substrate. Removable material is used in fabricating the chamber.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and a method which utilizes magnetohydrodynamic means for conditioning flow in a gas flow turbine or turbojet and for achieving power extraction to increase relative velocity. Moreover, the power, which is so extracted, can be recycled back into the system in order to further increase the power output and efficiency of the engine. The invention achieves the flow conditioning through use of an inlet annular flow passage. This assembly is placed upstream of the gas turbine inlet and has one or more superconducting magnets, which create a high magnetic field operative across the flow passage. Preferably, the magnetic field is a radial field. The walls of the passage include slots, which accommodate electron beams directed in a spiral path within the magnetic field to form locally ionized regions in the form of a helix within the annular flow path.

Abstract: Inkjet cartridge assemblies are provided for shipping with the internal pressure of their ink containers set during assembly at a reduced level at least 2 inches Hg gage below atmospheric pressure at sea level to avoid leaking during shipping. Preferably, the ink containers have an internal pressure set at least 9 inches Hg gage below atmospheric pressure at sea level.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through the respective corresponding nozzle, to effect printing. Each heater element is configured such that an actuation energy of less than 500 nanojoules (nJ) is required to be applied to that element to heat it sufficiently to form such a bubble in the bubble forming liquid (which liquid can also be the ink). This configuration thus provides for a high efficiency printhead.

Abstract: A method of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that reduces misalignment of a pair of stationary fluid ejector assemblies positioned along a first axis perpendicular to a second axis along which media moves past the assemblies. The method reduces misalignment of the pair of stationary fluid ejector assemblies along the second axis. First fluid lines are output at a first period by one of the assemblies, and second fluid lines are output at a second period greater than the first period by another of the assemblies. A fluid ejection delay of at least one of the assemblies is adjusted based on which of the second fluid lines is substantially aligned with which of the first fluid lines along the second axis.

Abstract: A printer, a printer head, and a method of producing the printer head in which ink drops are caused to flow out by heat, so that an orifice plate can be bonded by sufficiently bringing it into close contact with that to which it is to be bonded. The printer head is formed by successively placing predetermined materials upon each other on a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor device, and at least one of the lamination materials placed upon each other on the semiconductor substrate is smooth so that a surface where a plate-shaped material forming a nozzle is disposed is smooth.

Abstract: Printing apparatus and printhead characteristic data selection method, which can appropriately handle printhead characteristic data under various environments. Judgment is made as to whether or not characteristic data of a printhead mounted to a printing apparatus is stored in an EEPROM of the printhead, an EEPROM of the printing apparatus, or a host computer. Based on the judgment result, the printhead characteristic data is inputted from the memory or host in accordance with a predetermined priority order. Validity of the characteristic data is determined each time the printhead characteristic data is inputted in accordance with the predetermined priority order. Based on the judgment result or determination result, the printhead characteristic data or average printhead characteristic data stored in another storage medium provided in the printing apparatus is selected.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise capillary fluid transport and containment structures in which a capillarity gradient is provided in a direction other than the primary direction of fluid transport to selectively capture and transport gas bubbles. The structures may be formed with single capillary members or may include a plurality of capillaries, such as sheet capillaries joined by appropriately sized through-holes.

Abstract: An air-impermeable, nonporous seal member is disposed in the outlet passage of an ink cartridge. A housing in the cartridge has a chamber that stores ink therein and communicates with the outlet passage. The seal member is preferably formed of one of a rubber, polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic rubber, or silicone rubber. The seal member frictionally engages an inner wall of the outlet passage and has a thin membrane that is selectively pierced by an associated needle of the printer.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device comprising a composite substrate, wherein the composite substrate has two substrates with a patterned etch mask therebetween, and a fluid channel.

Abstract: A solid ink stick loader, including a chute having at least one channel for feeding ink sticks, the channel having a bottom and at least one side, wherein the at least one channel has a lower support for the ink sticks such that the ink sticks do not contact a substantial portion of the bottom of the at least one channel, and wherein the bottom of the channel includes at least one debris collecting area.

Abstract: A bubble-jet type inkjet printhead is disclosed, wherein a manifold for supplying ink, an ink chamber having a substantially hemispherical shape and filled with ink to be ejected, and an ink channel for supplying ink from the manifold to the ink chamber, are incorporated in a substrate. A nozzle plate having a nozzle, through which ink is ejected at the center of the ink chamber, is formed on the substrate. A heater is provided on the nozzle plate and surrounding the nozzle, and electrodes are provided on the nozzle plate and electrically connected to the heater to supply pulse current to the heater. An anti-wetting coating including a perfluorinated alkene compound on at least a surface around the nozzle is formed on an exposed surface of the printhead. Preferably, the anti-wetting coating is deposited by RF glow discharge and can be removed by O2 plasma.

Abstract: An air pressure regulating device for ink cartridges that is not affected or interfered with by magnetic fields. In accordance with the invention a ventilating vent is settled inside the ink cartridge so that the inside region of the ink cartridge is open to the ambient air and at the same time this ventilating vent is also directed to a fixed seat. In the fixed seat a gas vent is settled to direct to the ink cartridge. On the outside region of the gas vent settled in the fixed seat a layer of elastic gastight material is covered such that it can be utilized to seal the gas vent to keep the ink cartridge sealed under ordinary conditions. When the pressure difference between the outside and inside regions of the ink cartridge reaches a critical value, the layer of the elastic gastight material is slightly pushed away so that a small quantity of air can flow into the ink cartridge to return the pressure to within a normal operating range.

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 ink jet head comprises a substrate bearing a liquid discharge pressure generating element for generating energy for discharging liquid from a discharge port, a flow path forming member adjoined to the substrate and forming a flow path communicating with the discharge port through a position on the liquid discharge pressure generating element, and an adhesion layer formed in at least a part between the substrate and the flow path forming member and having an adhesion force with respect to the substrate and the flow path forming member larger than an adhesion force between the flow path forming member and the base, wherein the adhesion layer is formed, in a portion where the stress in the flow path forming member is concentrated in a direction of peeling from the substrate, in an area wider than the adjoining area between the flow path forming member and said adhesion layer.

Abstract: An ink cartridge placed in an ink jet printer stores cartridge management data containing “ink capacity”, “ink total consumption amount”, and “cartridge identification information”. A host 1 stores host management data containing “ink total consumption amount” and cartridge identification information for each cartridge. The host collates the cartridge management data read by the printer 5 with the host management data stored in the host 1 and determines the precise “ink total consumption amount.” After print processing terminates, the printer calculates the amount of ink consumed in the print (ink consumption amount) and the host updates the “ink total consumption amount” based on the calculated ink consumption amount. The printer updates the “ink total consumption amount” recorded in the cartridge management data to the “ink total consumption amount” updated by the host.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming compound slots in a substrate are described. In one exemplary implementation, a method forms a plurality of slots in a substrate. The method also etches a trench in the substrate contiguous with the plurality of slots to form a compound slot.

Abstract: A driver transistor structure of an inkjet print head chip and the method for making the same. Having several body contacts distributed all over the source of an active region of a large area MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor), an equivalent RB from the MOSFET channel to the body contact is greatly diminished as the distance between them is reduced, thereby preventing the occurrence of a secondary breakdown. Since the body contact is installed inside the active region without defining in advance a body contact region and making the body contact in the field oxide layer outside the active region, about 20% of the driver transistor structure can be saved to lower the average manufacturing cost of each chip.

Abstract: The described embodiments relate to a slotted substrate for use in a fluid ejecting ice. One exemplary embodiment includes a substrate having a thickness between generally opposing first and second surfaces. A slot received in the substrate. The slot has a central region joined with at least one terminal region. The central region extends between the first and second surfaces. The at least one terminal region includes, at least in part, a bowl-shaped portion that has a diameter at the first surface greater than a width of the central region at the first surface.

Abstract: An ink-jet print head preventing thermal accumulation on a nozzle plate includes a substrate, a channel formed in the substrate to supply ink, a nozzle plate connected to the substrate and including a nozzle corresponding to the channel, a heat element formed in the nozzle plate to surround the nozzle, a thermal conduction layer formed on an upper side of the heat element formed between the thermal conduction layer and the heat element, and a thermal shunt spaced-apart from the heat element by a predetermined distance not to overlap the heat element in a direction parallel to the nozzle plate and connecting the thermal conduction layer to the substrate. Redundant heat generated from the heat element is not accumulated on a membrane of the nozzle plate but is rapidly absorbed into an inorganic thermal conduction layer formed in the membrane and is transferred to the bulk silicon substrate through a metallic thermal bridge, such as the thermal shunt.