Abstract: An inkjet printer for recording dot patterns corresponding to image contents is disclosed. The printer comprises an inkjet head (51) for performing recording by moving in a main scanning direction of a recording medium and injecting ink particles, drive waveform generating sections (24, 25) for generating drive waveforms for injecting said ink particles, and a head drive section (50) for selecting said drive waveforms and driving said inkjet head (51) in accordance with print data. The drive waveform generating sections (24, 25) generate drive waveforms for injecting said ink particles having different ink speeds within a unit cycle, in cycles each corresponding to one of the parts obtained by dividing the unit cycle by an integer. Thereby, by varying the speed of the ink particles injected in one cycle of the drive waveforms, the landing position of each dot in the cycle is controlled and hence the dot pattern in one cycle is varied.

Abstract: An ink supply arrangement for a pagewidth printing mechanism includes an elongate support structure. A plurality of ink distribution structures is positioned in the support structure. Each ink distribution structure defines a number of ink channels in fluid communication with ink channels of an adjacent ink distribution structure such that the ink distribution structures together define ink channels that extend a length of the support structure. A connector assembly is engageable with an endmost ink distribution structure. An ink supply assembly is engageable with the connector assembly. The ink supply assembly has a number of conduits for supplying ink to respective ink channels. The connector assembly is configured to permit the ink supply assembly to be connected to the endmost ink distribution structure such that each conduit can supply ink to each respective ink channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus which can prevent problems such as image defects caused by shortage of ink, and decreases in the printing speed from occurring. When execution of a print job is instructed, a printing processing for the print job is started. The number of pixels which have been actually printed is added to a current pixel count C1, and it is determined whether or not the print job is finished. When it is determined that the print job is finished and the pixel count C1 exceeds a predetermined number of pixels X1, an ink supply unit is controlled so that ink of a predetermined proportion A (%) of the amount of ink used, which amount corresponds to the pixel count C1, is supplied to a sub-ink tank.

Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording consisting essentially of a water-soluble solvent, a pigment, and a compound represented by the following general formula (1): wherein AO represents oxyalkylene group, R represents alkyl group, and m and n represent natural numbers, respectively. It is possible to effectively suppress the feathering and the bleeding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the print quality of a print job having black content. The black content is configured to be applied on a predetermined location on a print medium. In the method, the black content is fortified by applying a black dye based ink on the predetermined location and the black content is printed by applying a black pigment based ink on the predetermined location. The apparatus includes a first printhead configured to fire black dye based ink droplets on the print medium, a second printhead configured to fire black pigment based ink droplets on the print medium and a processing system configured to fortify the black content by controlling the first printhead to fire droplets on the predetermined location. The processing system is further configured to print the black content by controlling the second printhead to fire droplets on the predetermined location.

Abstract: A printhead chip for an inkjet printhead includes a wafer substrate that incorporates drive circuitry. The wafer substrate defines a plurality of ink inlet channels. Nozzle arrangements are positioned on the wafer substrate. Each nozzle arrangement includes a passive nozzle chamber structure that extends from the wafer substrate and bounds a respective ink inlet channel. A dynamic nozzle chamber structure defines a nozzle chamber with the passive nozzle chamber structure and has a roof that defines the ink ejection port. The dynamic structure is displaceable towards the wafer substrate into an actuated position and away from the wafer substrate into a rest position such that a drop of ink can be ejected from the ink ejection port. An elongate micro-electromechanical actuator is connected between the wafer substrate and the dynamic structure.

Abstract: A thermal head includes a heat insulating layer made up of an electrically-conductive multiple low oxide ceramic layer of low thermal conductivity made of a chemical compound of Si, plural transition metals and oxygen. A first insulating layer made up of an insulated multiple high nitride ceramic layer of low thermal conductivity made of a chemical compound of at least Si, plural transition metals and nitrogen is formed on the heat insulating layer, and a second insulating layer made up of an SiO2 layer of high insulation characteristics or an Al2O3 layer is formed on the first insulating layer.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method, comprising the steps of A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition including an aqueous ink jet ink composition including: a pigment, a polymer latex containing at least one halogenated vinyl monomer, at least one surfactant, and a humectant; and D) printing on the ink jet recording element accompanied by a heating step using the ink jet ink composition in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: An imaging system, including a print engine and a processor assembly, wherein the processor assembly is configured to determine the colorant needed to produce a hard copy of a print or copy job, and compare the determined amount of colorant to the amount of colorant available to the print engine.

Abstract: In cross control in sub-scanning (LF) and main scanning (CR), to avoid the risk of skew printing and increase the processing speed, a supposed settling time in the next sub-scanning cycle is obtained on the basis of the history information of the sub-scanning settling time of a printing apparatus, and a supposed idle time from the start of the next main scanning driving cycle to the start of printing is obtained on the basis of the history information of the main scanning acceleration required time. It is determined using the supposed settling time and supposed idle time whether cross control in which main scanning driving starts before the end of sub-scanning driving can be executed in next print scanning processing. If it is possible, the time difference from the start of sub-scanning driving to the start of main scanning driving is determined using the supposed settling time and the supposed idle time.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting faulty nozzles in an ink jet printer includes an ink jet print head having a plurality of ink jet nozzles disposed adjacent a print medium. The print head prints a reference image on the print medium formed by ink droplets ejected from many of the nozzles. The print head also prints individual test images corresponding to each nozzle by ejecting ink droplets from each of the nozzles separately and sequentially. A print head scan mechanism scans the print head in a first direction relative to the print medium as the test images are printed. A print medium advance mechanism moves the print medium in a second direction between the printing of the reference image and the printing of the test images, where the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. In this manner, the apparatus leaves nonprinted areas on the print medium between the reference image and the individual test images.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is provided which can detect ink in a print head highly precisely with a simple construction. The apparatus includes: a detection electrode to detect, through the ink on the ink jet print head board, a voltage change between print elements and drive elements which is produced as the print elements are driven; a periodical driver to drive the print elements at a predetermined drive frequency; a voltage detector to periodically detect an output voltage of the detection electrode at a timing corresponding to the drive frequency; and a state check device to check an ink ejection state of the ink jet print head according to a result of the detection by the voltage detector.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory includes a well region, which is defined in a semiconductor substrate and extends in a direction, a bit line also extending in the direction and a source line also extending in the direction. First, second and third memory cells are formed in this order on the well region and arranged in the direction. A first active region electrically connects the first memory cell and the bit line together. A second active region electrically connects the first memory cell and the source line together. A third active region electrically connects the second memory cell and the bit line together. A fourth active region electrically connects the second memory cell and the source line together. A fifth active region electrically connects the third memory cell and the bit line together. And a sixth active region electrically connects the third memory cell and the source line together.

Abstract: A method for growing nitride semiconductor crystals according to the present invention includes the steps of: a) forming a first metal single crystal layer on a substrate; b) forming a metal nitride single crystal layer by nitrifying the first metal single crystal layer; and c) epitaxially growing a first nitride semiconductor layer on the metal nitride single crystal layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit inductor structure that includes a shielding pattern that induces a plurality of small eddy currents to shield the magnetic energy generated by the inductor from the substrate of the IC. The IC inductor structure is formed on a Silicon on Insulator (SOI) substrate where the substrate of the SOI has high resistivity. The shielding pattern forms a checkerboard pattern that includes a plurality of conducting regions completely isolated from each other by oxide material. The inductor has a high quality factor and a high self-resonance frequency due to the effective shielding of electromagnetic energy from the substrate of the IC while not reducing the effective inductance of the inductor.

Abstract: A dielectric layer (27) is formed between a semiconductor surface (24) and an electrical contact (26) to promote adhesion of the contact (26). The dielectric layer (27) is formed by cleaning operation followed by a chemical oxidation.

Abstract: A thin film transistor is provided on a insulative substrate and includes a polysilicon body film having a ridge portion formed on a predetermined portion of the substrate. A first gate insulation film, a main gate and a cap oxide film are successively formed on the ridge portion of the polysilicon body. A second gate insulation film is provided over the entire substrate surface covering the ridge portion and side surface of the gate insulation film, main gate and cap oxide film. Supplementary gates are then provided on the second gate insulation film adjacent respective sides of the ridge portion. Source and drain regions are then formed in portions of the polysilicon body film exposed by the main gate and the supplementary gates. Channel or offset regions can be formed in the polysilicon body film near the supplementary gates, thereby increasing channel length while minimizing area occupied by the transistor. A highly integrated device having reduced short channel effects can thus be achieved.

Abstract: A linear MOSFET device includes a shield plate positioned between a drain and an overlying gate. A voltage bias is applied to the shield plate to maintain linear operation of the device for RF power amplification. An AC ground is preferably connected to the shield plate. The voltage bias can be varied for matching of parallel connected devices, for responding to peak input signals, and for temperature compensation.