Abstract: A heater chip for use in a printing device that includes a first heater array with a left side and a right side and a first ink via placed on the left side of the first heater array. The chip also includes a second heater array with a left side and a right side, where a right side of the first heater array faces the left side of the second heater array, a second ink via placed on the right side of the second heater array, and at least one logic array is disposed between the first heater array and the second heater array.

Abstract: Heater chips for use with a printing device, such as heater chips that include a first heater array, positioned substantially adjacent a first via, and a second heater array, positioned substantially adjacent a second via. The heater chip can also include a region, positioned between the first heater array and the second heater array, and a temperature sensing element operable to sense the temperature of the region, where the temperature sensing element is substantially centrally disposed with respect to the region. Additionally, the first heater array and the second heater array are operable to receive heating responsive to the temperature of the region sensed by the temperature sensing element to regulate the temperature of the region. According to one embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensing element comprises a temperature sensing resistor and the heating may occur via non-nucleating heating.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calibrating media indexing errors in a printing device are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises feeding a calibration media through a printing device, sensing the position of the media as it moves through the printing device, sensing positions of a media indexing component as the media moves through the printing device, determining media indexing position errors based upon the sensed positions, and calculating a compensation factor to be applied based upon the errors. In some embodiments, parameters of a line and/or other function are determined from the error data and the parameters are utilized to calculate a compensation factor. Moreover, in some embodiments, it is determined what range the data fits within, and a predetermined compensation factor is determined based upon the range.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate for a micro-fluid ejection device. The substrate includes plurality of micro-fluid ejection actuators disposed adjacent a fluid supply slot in the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of power transistors, occupying a power transistor active area of the substrate, are disposed adjacent the ejection actuators and are connected through a first metal conductor layer to the ejection actuators. An array of logic circuits, occupying a logic circuit area of the substrate, is disposed adjacent the plurality of power transistors and is connected through a polysilicon conductor layer to the power transistors. A power conductor and a ground conductor for the ejection actuators is routed in a second metal conductor layer. The power conductor overlaps at least a portion of the power transistor active area of the substrate and the ground conductor overlaps at least a portion of the logic circuit area of the substrate.

Abstract: Heater chips for use in printing devices, such as those including one or more ink vias and one or more heater arrays, where at least a portion of at least one the ink vias is associated with at least portions of at least two heater arrays. The first heater array can be adjacent to one side of at least a portion of the ink via and a second heater array can be adjacent to another side of at least a portion of the ink via. The heater chip can also include a bondpad supplying power to at least a portion of the first heater array and to at least a portion of the second heater array.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate for a micro-fluid ejection device. The substrate includes plurality of micro-fluid ejection actuators disposed adjacent a fluid supply slot in the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of power transistors, occupying a power transistor active area of the substrate, are disposed adjacent the ejection actuators and are connected through a first metal conductor layer to the ejection actuators. An array of logic circuits, occupying a logic circuit area of the substrate, is disposed adjacent the plurality of power transistors and is connected through a polysilicon conductor layer to the power transistors. A power conductor and a ground conductor for the ejection actuators is routed in a second metal conductor layer. The power conductor overlaps at least a portion of the power transistor active area of the substrate and the ground conductor overlaps at least a portion of the logic circuit area of the substrate.

Abstract: Test circuits on heater chips for testing a heater circuit having a heater element and a first power device. The test circuit can include a second power device, a test device configured to hold the first power device off and the second power device on for a selected heater circuit when the test device receives a signal to activate the test circuit, and a common test output to transmit a signal indicative of a state of the selected heater circuit. Methods for using the same are also provided.

Abstract: A method for determining ink drop velocity of a printhead located at a gap above a print medium. A first ink mark is printed at a first printhead velocity. A second ink mark is printed at a different (in magnitude and/or direction) second printhead velocity. The ink for the second ink mark is ejected from the printhead at the same print ejection position used for the first ink mark plus an offset distance (if any). An optical scan of at least a portion of the print medium is generated using a non-printhead-carrier-mounted optical scanner. The distance between the ink marks is measured using the optical scan. The ink drop velocity is calculated using the measured distance, the offset distance, the first and second printhead velocities, and the gap.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer, a method of selecting an optimized energy level associated with a target ink drop velocity including the acts of: moving a printhead across a print medium at a plurality of scan velocities including a first velocity and a second velocity, printing at least one set of patterns on the print medium by supplying at least one predetermined energy level to at least one actuator of the printhead, the at least one set of patterns including a first pattern printed at the first velocity and a second pattern printed at the second velocity, associating the first pattern with the second pattern and selecting the optimized energy level associated with the target ink drop velocity.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer, a method of selecting an optimized energy level associated with a target ink drop velocity including the acts of: moving a printhead across a print medium at a plurality of scan velocities including a first velocity and a second velocity, printing at least one set of patterns on the print medium by supplying at least one predetermined energy level to at least one actuator of the printhead, the at least one set of patterns including a first pattern printed at the first velocity and a second pattern printed at the second velocity, associating the first pattern with the second pattern and selecting the optimized energy level associated with the target ink drop velocity.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calibrating media indexing errors in a printing device are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises feeding a calibration media through a printing device, sensing the position of the media as it moves through the printing device, sensing positions of a media indexing component as the media moves through the printing device, determining media indexing position errors based upon the sensed positions, and calculating a compensation factor to be applied based upon the errors. In some embodiments, parameters of a line and/or other function are determined from the error data and the parameters are utilized to calculate a compensation factor. Moreover, in some embodiments, it is determined what range the data fits within, and a predetermined compensation factor is determined based upon the range.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a relationship between fire energy and drop velocity associated with a printhead is provided. A test pattern is printed by selectively supplying energy distribution signals to a plurality of actuators of the printhead. The energy distribution signals have distinct energy profiles. The test pattern is scanned to obtain drop velocity information corresponding to the energy distribution signals. Based on the drop velocity information, an energy profile is determined that optimizes the relationship between fire energy and drop velocity.

Abstract: A method for determining ink drop velocity of a printhead located at a gap above a print medium. A first ink mark is printed at a first printhead velocity. A second ink mark is printed at a different (in magnitude and/or direction) second printhead velocity. The ink for the second ink mark is ejected from the printhead at the same print ejection position used for the first ink mark plus a predetermined offset distance (if any). The distance between the ink marks is measured. The ink drop velocity is calculated using the measured distance, the predetermined offset distance, the first and second printhead velocities, and the predetermined gap. In another method, an ink mark is printed, a distance is measured between the ink mark and the ink-ejection position, and the ink drop velocity is calculated using the measured distance, the printhead velocity, and the gap.

Abstract: A method of imaging substance depletion detection in an imaging device. The method includes the steps of identifying a theoretical coverage of an imaging substance for a first area of a sheet of print media; determining an actual coverage of the imaging substance for the first area of the sheet of print media; comparing the theoretical coverage with the actual coverage; and determining whether a depletion of the imaging substance has occurred based on a result of the comparing step.

Abstract: A game involving players of two opposing teams, each of said players positioned on a zone on a playing field, which field has a plurality of concentric circles intersected by perpendicular lines through the center thereof forming four quarters, the outermost zone being a safety ring, the next adjacent being a back ring, the next adjacent being a pivot ring, the next adjacent being a core ring, the next adjacent being a guard ring within which is centrally located a point ring. The game is played with a ball having a plurality of raised concave sections on its surface.