Abstract: A method of forming a fluid chamber and a source of fluid impedance includes providing a substrate having a surface; depositing a first material layer on the surface of the substrate, the first material layer being differentially etchable with respect to the substrate; removing a portion of the first material layer thereby forming a patterned first material layer and defining the fluid chamber boundary location; depositing a sacrificial material layer over the patterned first layer; removing a portion of the sacrificial material layer thereby forming a patterned sacrificial material layer and further defining the fluid chamber boundary location; depositing at least one additional material layer over the patterned sacrificial material layer; forming a hole extending from the at least one additional material layer to the sacrificial material layer, the hole being positioned within the fluid chamber boundary location; removing the sacrificial material layer in the fluid chamber boundary location by introducing a

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling temperature profiles in ejection mechanisms is provided. A heater includes a first resistor segment having an electrical resistivity, a second resistor segment; and a coupling segment positioned between the first resistor segment and the second resistor segment. The coupling segment has an electrical resistivity, wherein the ratio of the resistivity of the coupling segment to the resistivity of the first resistor segment is substantially zero. Alternatively, the first resistor segment has an electrical conductivity and the coupling segment has an electrical conductivity, wherein the electrical conductivity of the coupling segment is greater than the electrical conductivity of the first resistor segment.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device, a method of cleaning the device, and a method of operating the device are provided. The device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface. A nozzle plate is formed over the first surface of the substrate and has a nozzle through which fluid is ejected. A drop forming mechanism is situated at the periphery of the nozzle. A fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle and has a first wall and a second wall. The first wall and the second wall are positioned at an angle other than 90° relative to each other. A fluid delivery channel is formed in the substrate and extends from the second surface of the substrate to the fluid chamber. The fluid delivery channel is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A liquid ejector includes a substrate, a heating element, a dielectric material layer, and a chamber. The substrate includes a first surface. The heating element is located over the first surface of the substrate such that a cavity exists between the heating element and the first surface of the substrate. The dielectric material layer is located between the heating element and the cavity such that the cavity is laterally bounded by the dielectric material layer. The chamber, including a nozzle, is located over the heating element. The chamber is shaped to receive a liquid with the cavity being isolated from the liquid.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device, a method of cleaning the device, and a method of operating the device are provided. The device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface. A nozzle plate is formed over the first surface of the substrate and has a nozzle through which fluid is ejected. A drop forming mechanism is situated at the periphery of the nozzle. A fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle and has a first wall and a second wall. The first wall and the second wall are positioned at an angle other than 90° relative to each other. A fluid delivery channel is formed in the substrate and extends from the second surface of the substrate to the fluid chamber. The fluid delivery channel is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling temperature profiles in ejection mechanisms is provided. A heater includes a first resistor segment having an electrical resistivity, a second resistor segment; and a coupling segment positioned between the first resistor segment and the second resistor segment. The coupling segment has an electrical resistivity, wherein the ratio of the resistivity of the coupling segment to the resistivity of the first resistor segment is substantially zero. Alternatively, the first resistor segment has an electrical conductivity and the coupling segment has an electrical conductivity, wherein the electrical conductivity of the coupling segment is greater than the electrical conductivity of the first resistor segment.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead and a source of fluid. The printhead includes a nozzle. The fluid is under pressure sufficient to eject a column of the fluid through the nozzle. The fluid has a temperature. An asymmetric thermal modulator is associated with the nozzle and includes a structure that transiently lowers the temperature of a first portion of the fluid as the fluid is ejected through the nozzle and a structure that transiently raises the temperature of a second portion of the fluid as the fluid is ejected through the nozzle.

Abstract: A liquid ejector includes a structure defining a chamber. The chamber includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes a nozzle orifice. A drop forming mechanism is located on the second surface of the chamber opposite the nozzle orifice. A first liquid feed channel and a second liquid feed channel are in fluid communication with the chamber. A first segment of a segmented liquid inlet is in fluid communication with the first liquid feed channel and a second segment of the segmented liquid inlet is in fluid communication with the second liquid feed channel.

Abstract: A method of etching a substrate and an article(s) formed using the method are provided. The method includes providing a substrate; coating a region of the substrate with a temporary material having properties that enable the temporary material to remain substantially intact during subsequent processing and enable the temporary material to be removed by a subsequent process that allows the substrate to remain substantially unaltered; removing a portion of the substrate to form a feature, at least some of the removed portion of the substrate overlapping at least a portion of the coated region of the substrate while allowing the temporary material substantially intact; and removing the temporary material while allowing the substrate to remain substantially unaltered.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead and a source of liquid. The printhead includes a nozzle bore. The liquid is under pressure sufficient to eject a column of the liquid through the nozzle bore. The liquid has a temperature. A thermal modulator is associated with the nozzle bore. The thermal modulator is operable to transiently lower the temperature of the liquid as the liquid is ejected through the nozzle bore.

Abstract: A drop deflector apparatus for a continuous drop emission system that deposits a liquid pattern on a receiver according to liquid pattern data comprising a plurality of drop nozzles formed along a nozzle array axis and emitting a plurality of continuous streams of a liquid that breaks up into a plurality of streams of drops having nominal flight paths that are substantially parallel and substantially within a nominal flight plane is disclosed. An airflow plenum having an evacuation end connected to a negative pressure source and an impingement end having an opening located adjacent the nominal flight plane into which ambient air is drawn for the purpose of deflecting drops in an air deflection direction perpendicular to the nominal flight plane is provided.

Abstract: A fluid ejecting device and method of forming same are provided. The fluid ejecting device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface. A nozzle plate is formed over the first surface of the substrate. The nozzle plate has a nozzle through which fluid is ejected. A drop forming mechanism is situated at the periphery of the nozzle. A fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle and has a first wall and a second wall with the first wall and the second wall being positioned at an angle relative to each other. A fluid delivery channel is formed in the substrate and extends from the second surface of the substrate to the fluid chamber. The fluid delivery channel is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. A source of fluid impedance includes a physical structure located between the nozzle and the fluid delivery channel.

Abstract: A liquid drop emitter, a method of mixing a liquid, and a method of printing are provided. The liquid emitter includes a structure defining a chamber adapted to provide a liquid having an orifice through which a drop of the liquid can be emitted. A drop forming mechanism is operatively associated with the chamber. A mixing mechanism is associated with the chamber and is operable to create a surface tension gradient on the liquid provided by the chamber such that the liquid flows without being emitted from the chamber.

Abstract: A heater is provided. The heater includes a first material having a circular form and a first sheet resistively. The first material has a first radius of curvature. The heater also includes a second material having a circular form and a second sheet resistively. The second material is positioned adjacent to the first material and has a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature and the first sheet resistively is less than the second sheet resistively.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator includes a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator includes a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the baffler layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.

Abstract: An emission device for ejecting a liquid drop is provided. The device includes a body. Portions of the body define an ink delivery channel and other portions of the body define a nozzle bore. The nozzle bore is in fluid communication with the ink delivery channel. An obstruction having an imperforate surface is positioned in the ink delivery channel. The emission device can be operated in a continuous mode and/or a drop on demand mode.

Abstract: An ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes an integrated circuit formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. The silicon substrate has one or more ink channels formed therein along the longitudinal direction of the noble array. An insulating layer or layers overlie the silicon substrate and has a series or an array of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate and each nozzle opening communicates with an ink channel. The area comprising the nozzle openings forms a generally planar surface to facilitate maintenance of the printhead. A heater element is associated with each nozzle opening or bore for asymmetrically heating ink as ink passes through the nozzle opening or bore.

Abstract: A drop emission device includes a chamber having a nozzle orifice through which a drop of liquid can be emitted. A deformable electrode is associated with the chamber such that movement of the electrode in a first direction increases the chamber's volume and movement of the electrode in a second direction decreases the chamber's volume to emit a drop through the nozzle orifice. A fixed electrode opposes to the deformable electrode to define a second chamber there between such that control of relative voltage differences between the deformable and the fixed electrodes selectively moves the deformable electrode in the first or second directions. The variable volume is vented to a source of dielectric material through an opening in the fixed electrode. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the opening to the perimeter of the opening is greater than 0.5 ?m, and is preferably about 5 ?m.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing an image is provided. The apparatus includes a droplet forming mechanism adapted to form a succession of droplets having a first volume travelling along a path and a droplet having at least one other volume travelling along the path. A droplet deflector system applies force to the droplets travelling along the path. The force is applied in a direction such that the droplets having the first volume separate from the droplet having the at least one other volume.