Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element extending from the base element and normally residing at a first position before activation. The cantilevered element includes a barrier layer constructed of a low thermal conductivity material, bonded between a first deflector layer and a second deflector layer, both of which are constructed of electrically resistive materials having substantially equal coefficients of thermal expansion. The thermal actuator further comprises a first pair of electrodes connected to the first deflector layer and a second pair of electrodes is connected to the second deflector layer for applying electrical pulses to cause resistive heating of the first or second deflector layers, resulting in thermal expansion of the first or second deflector layer relative to the other.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a permanent magnetic structure in a substrate, the method comprises the steps of providing a substrate with at least one cavity; providing magnetic particles dispersed with a bonding material for forming a bonding compound; filling the cavities with the bonding compound; and curing the compound to form the permanent magnetic structure in the substrate.

Abstract: A strain gauge for measuring strain in a structural member, including: a light modulator adapted to be attached to the structural member, further including: a plurality of deformable elements, each of said deformable elements having a reflective surface and a resonant frequency that varies as a function of strain on the element; means for exerting a force to the deformable elements to cause them to deform at their resonant frequency between first and second operating states; an optical system for directing incident light onto the light modulator, and directing modulated light from the light modulator to a sensor that provides an output signal that varies as a function of the resonate frequency of said deformable elements; and means for generating a representation of the strain in the structural member from said output signal.

Abstract: A system for modulating a beam of light in accordance with an input data stream having a data rate greater than 2 MHz, includes a source of light for directing light along a predetermined path, and a self-damped electromechanical conformal grating disposed in the predetermined path, the self-damped electromechanical conformal grating. The self-damped electromechanical conformal grating includes an elongated ribbon element including a light reflective surface, a substrate and a pair of end supports for supporting the elongated ribbon element at both ends over the substrate; and at least one intermediate support between the end supports so that there are deformable portions of the elongated ribbon element above and movable into a channel containing a gas.

Abstract: A system for modulating a beam of light in accordance with an input data stream having a data rate greater than 2 MHz, includes a source of light for directing light along a predetermined path; a self-damped diffractive light modulator disposed in the predetermined path and having a plurality of spaced apart self-damped deformable elements being disposed relative to each other and secured at opposite ends and suspended above and movable into a channel containing a gas, and each spaced apart self-damped deformable element having at least one reflective surface. The spaced apart self-damped deformable elements respond to an input data stream and are sufficiently damped to minimize the introduction of data errors into the modulator light beam.

Abstract: A method of making a print head (100) includes forming a body (110) having a closed base (120) and independent fluid containment compartments (220) formed about the closed base (120). A substantially planar piezoelectric transducer (80) comprising a slab (60) of piezoelectric material provides a means of enclosing each of the independent fluid containment compartments (220). Each of the independent compartments has operably associated therewith one of a plurality of first electrodes (20) arranged on a first surface (62) of the slab (60) of piezoelectric material and a portion of a second electrode (22) arranged on an opposite second surface (64). By applying a voltage to the first and second surface electrodes (20, 22) in a predetermined manner induces an electric field in a portion of the slab (60) of piezoelectric material and thereby forces fluid composition through the independent fluid containment compartment (220).

Abstract: A method of making a printing apparatus configured for drawing fluid from a fluid reservoir and then ejecting droplets of fluid onto a receiver to form an image include the steps of providing an orifice manifold having a plurality of orifices each one of which in fluid communications with one of a plurality of piezoelectric pumps.

Abstract: A spatial light modulation device is formed by creating forming an electromagnetic field within a substrate with at least one movable element, fixedly attached to the substrate at a first end, from a soft magnetic material with an anisotropic stress created within the movable element such that the element exists in a first position as a result of the anistropic stress and an actuating device comprising a magnetic layer placed within close correspondence with the soft magnetic material for placing the soft magnetic material into a second position.

Abstract: A method of directing fluid between a reservoir and a micro-orifice manifold includes the step of providing a piezoelectric actuating element operably associated with independent fluid containment chambers of said manifold. The piezoelectric actuating element is activated by applying a voltage to electrodes which produces fluid flow by changing its geometry inside the reservoir in response to an applied voltage.

Abstract: A method of making a print head (100) includes forming a body (110) having a closed base (120) and independent fluid containment compartments (220) formed about the closed base (120). A substantially planar piezoelectric transducer (80) comprising a slab (60) of piezoelectric material provides a means of enclosing each of the independent fluid containment compartments (220). Each of the independent compartments has operably associated therewith one of a plurality of first electrodes (20) arranged on a first surface (62) of the slab (60) of piezoelectric material and a portion of a second electrode (22) arranged on an opposite second surface (64). By applying a voltage to the first and second surface electrodes (20, 22) in a predetermined manner induces an electric field in a portion of the slab (60) of piezoelectric material and thereby forces fluid composition through the independent fluid containment compartment (220).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for conveying abrasive web (16), such as photographic media, has a pair of closely spaced rollers (12, 14) through which the abrasive web (16) is conveyed while in contact with a coated media bearing surface (80, 90). The media bearing surface (80, 90) comprising a composite coating or a thin inorganic coating.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for conveying abrasive web (16), such as photographic media, has a pair of closely spaced rollers (12, 14) through which the abrasive web (16) is conveyed while in contact with a coated media bearing surface (80, 90). The media bearing surface (80, 90) comprising a composite coating or a thin inorganic coating.

Abstract: A permanent magnet micro-rotor comprises a cylinder of magnetic material having a plurality of spaced-apart slots disposed around the periphery of the magnetic material. The magnetic material is magnetized by placing conductors in the spaced apart slots and energizing the conductors so that magnetic poles are formed between the spaced-apart slots.

Abstract: Ink jet cartridge for an ink jet printer including an orifice plate having a plurality of orifices for ink ejection; a cartridge for receiving a reservoir having ink which is adapted to be ejected through the orifices, the cartridge including a cleaning manifold having a plurality of inlet and outlet passages through which cleaning fluid can be applied so that such fluid is directed across the surface of the orifice plate; and a plurality of actuable ultrasonic transducers disposed in operative relationship with respect to the orifice plate and which when actuated produce ultrasonic sound waves which impinge upon the orifice plate to loosen debris whereby the cleaning fluid directed across the surface of the orifice plate carries away such loosened debris.

Abstract: A method of controlling fluid flow in a microfluidic process includes the step of providing a piezoelectric pumping apparatus (100) in fluid communications with the microfluidic process such as an ink jet printer and the like. The piezoelectric pumping apparatus (100) has a piezoelectric transducer (80) with a functionally gradient piezoelectric element (60) arranged in a fluid containment chamber (120) which fluidically communicates with the microfluidic process. The functionally gradient piezoelectric element (60) responds to a voltage applied by a power source (240) by either expanding to expel fluid from the microfluidic process or contracting to permit fluid to enter the fluid containment chamber (120) and thus the microfluidic process.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for conveying abrasive web (16) of indeterminate length, such as photographic media, has first and second closely spaced rollers (12, 14) with at least one of the rollers (12, 14) having a polymeric/inorganic composite media bearing surface (70). The abrasive web or media (16) is disposed between a nip (18) defined by the close spacing between the rollers (12, 14) and is in moving contact with the polymeric/inorganic composite media bearing surface (70) while being conveyed through the nip (18).

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus for receiving an ink cartridge defining an orifice structure having at least one orifice plate with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets onto a receiver to form an image. The apparatus cleans the orifice structure of debris, by using at least one actuable high frequency ultrasonic transducer in physical contact with the orifice structure and operatively associated with and spaced from the nozzles; and actuating the actuable high frequency ultrasonic transducer to cause such actuable high frequency ultrasonic transducer to produce ultrasonic sound waves which impinge upon the orifice structure and loosens debris.

Abstract: A method of making micro-actuator devices including a silicon wafer, a magnet positioned inside an insulated actuating chamber having electrical coil wound around its circumference thereby forming an electromagnet assemblage. A plurality of etched holes in silicon wafer receives the electromagnet assemblage and is adapted to produce a magnetic field in response to an applied current that acts on the magnet to cause the axial reciprocating motion of the magnet.

Abstract: An ink jet head has body having a plurality of independent ink compartments each having an inlet orifice, an outlet orifice and a piezoelectric ink actuating element structurally associated with each of said independent ink compartments, said piezoelectric ink actuating element enabling said ink jet head to receive ink from an ink reservoir in fluid communications with said inlet orifice of each one of said plurality of independent ink compartments and then eject droplets of the ink onto a receiver to form an image. The piezoelectric actuating element includes a substantially planar piezoelectric transducer comprising a slab of piezoelectric material having a functionally gradient d-coefficient selected so that the slab changes geometry in response to an applied voltage which produces an electric field in the slab.

Abstract: A web transport apparatus (10) useful for transporting web (16), such as photosensitive strips or sheets, in a corrosive materials environment has first and second rollers (12, 14) each having a sleeve portion (26, 36) with bushings (28, 38) and intermeshing gears (30, 40) arranged thereon. The sleeve portions (26, 36), gears (30, 40) and bushings (28, 38) each comprise a ceramic material that resist wear, abrasion and corrosion when exposed to the corrosive materials.