Abstract: A liquid ejector includes an electrically insulating support having a first surface and a second surface. An electrical trace begins on the first surface of the support and ends on the second surface of the support. An ejector die is positioned on the first surface of the support and electrically connected to the portion of the electrical trace located on the first surface of the support. A polymer material is molded on a portion of the ejector die and at least a portion of the first surface of the support. A portion of the electrical trace remains free of the polymer material.

Abstract: A marking assembly includes a substrate and a marking device. The substrate includes a first portion made from a first material including a plurality of alignment features, and a second portion made from a second material affixed to the first portion of the substrate. The marking device is affixed to the second portion of the substrate and aligned to the alignment features of the first portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A liquid ejector includes an electrically insulating support having a first surface and a second surface. An electrical trace begins on the first surface of the support and ends on the second surface of the support. An ejector die is positioned on the first surface of the support and electrically connected to the portion of the electrical trace located on the first surface of the support. A polymer material is molded on a portion of the ejector die and at least a portion of the first surface of the support. A portion of the electrical trace remains free of the polymer material.

Abstract: A marking assembly includes a substrate and a marking device. The substrate includes a first portion made from a first material including a plurality of alignment features, and a second portion made from a second material affixed to the first portion of the substrate. The marking device is affixed to the second portion of the substrate and aligned to the alignment features of the first portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A fluid container, such as, for example, an inkjet print head cartridge, architecture uses a relatively large filter that is located below a negative pressure material chamber and a free ink chamber in a side-by-side relationship. The negative pressure material volume relative to a free ink chamber value can me made to be approximately one to one. Both chambers overlie an ink manifold/delivery port and are separated from the delivery port by a filter. Flow impedance of the cartridge is reduced, as a result, in any orientation of the cartridge. The filter may be separated from, or in contact with a negative pressure material. A cartridge lid is provided with a negative pressure material chamber which is suspended into the cartridge. A negative pressure material having a fiber felt construction is provided.

Abstract: A method for joining fluid containers and fluid ejectors in a fluid ejecting device are provided. The fluid container includes one or more heat stakes and a substrate includes one or more apertures for receiving the heat stakes and one or more three-dimensional features in the vicinity of the one or more apertures. The fluid ejector and optionally an elastic member are interposed between the fluid container and the substrate. Thermal energy is applied to the one or more heat stakes so that the one or more heat stakes soften to occupy the apertures and three-dimensional features of the substrate and pressure is applied to maintain contact between the fluid container, elastic member, fluid ejector and substrate. The present invention is also directed to substrate including one or more apertures for receiving heat stakes and one or more three-dimensional features in the vicinity of the one or more apertures.

Abstract: A thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device is used to dissipate heat from a thermal fluid ejector module in a fluid ejection device. The thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device is molded from a polymer, or a polymer material including at least one thermally-conductive filler material. The thermal fluid ejector module is brought into contact with the thermally-conducting polymer carriage to dissipate heat. The polymer can be a highly thermally-conductive polymer. A method of manufacturing the thermally-conductive polymer carriage includes molding the carriage at least partially from a polymer that includes thermally-conductive filler materials, and contacting the thermally-conducting polymer carriage with the fluid ejector module. A method for use of the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device includes establishing a heat flow path from the fluid ejector module to ambient air through the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device.

Abstract: A refillable fluid reservoir for a fluid ejection head, including a fluid reservoir having top, bottom and side walls defining an interior volume for having fluid; a venting port provided on one of the reservoir walls; and a fluid inlet port provided on one of the reservoir walls, the venting port and the fluid inlet port being located at substantially the same vertical level to increase volumetric efficiency and reduce staining.

Abstract: A system, method and structures for dissipating heat away from a thermal fluid ejector modules through a thermally-conductive carriage molded from a polymer to the ambient air surrounding the structure upon which the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage translates. The heat is transferred via conduction and convection from the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage across a thin volume of air trapped between a thermally-conductive carriage rod guide, enclosed on each end by thermally-conductive carriage rod guide bearings, and the thermal contact of the thermally-conductive carriage rod guide bearings with the surface of at least one thermally-conductive carriage guide rod which the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage translates.

Abstract: A fluid ejection container system provides a first container that contains the fluid, the first container being evacuated to negative gauge pressure when being filled with the fluid, a second container having a capillary medium that contains the fluid, a passage between the first and second containers communicating the fluid at a level wherein the passage is wetted with the fluid, a ventilation port to communicate air between an interior region in the fluid ejection system and ambient, at least one spill over region to communicate the fluid with the second container, and a plurality of channels to communicate at least the air between the interior region and the second container; wherein the at least one spill over region has sufficient volume to contain a quantity of the fluid that migrates out of the second container. The fluid ejection container system also provides a lid for sealing the first and second containers from the ambient, wherein the channels are disposed on the lid.

Abstract: A print cartridge includes a manifold that is molded from a polymer including at least one thermally conductive filler material, and a fluid ejector die module attached to the manifold. A method of manufacturing a print cartridge includes molding a manifold at least partially from a polymer including thermally conductive fillers, forming a fluid ejector die module, and attaching the manifold to the fluid ejector die.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a printer includes an endless loop drive path and guide structure that allows a printhead to operate in either reciprocal or endless loop modes in which the printed traverse both a liner and an arcuate portion of the drive path. This provides a printer architecture in which a printhead may be endlessly driven at a constant speed in one direction to provide multiple print swaths separated spatially. This eliminates the need for deceleration/acceleration changes required in reciprocal printer architectures and is capable of increased throughput by defining arcuate turnaround zones that can be traversed by the printhead faster than the time it takes to slow, stop and reverse a conventional reciprocal printhead assembly. This robust printer architecture also allows flexibility in use of multiple printheads with simultaneous printing, simultaneous both side printing, and duplex capabilities.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir sensing system includes a pair of optical prisms or sensor targets that reflect light when a fluid level is below one of the pair of prisms or sensor targets. The pair of optical prisms or sensor targets includes a low prism or sensor target usable to sense a low liquid level in the fluid reservoir, and a high prism or sensor target usable to sense a high liquid level in the fluid reservoir, and a wicking means to wick fluid away from the high incident and low incident surfaces of the prisms or sensor targets that are above the fluid level. The fluid reservoir sensing system optionally includes an emitter and a photosensor.

Abstract: An optical sensor has a sensor compensation to compensate for sensor degradation due to airborne contaminations in the operating environment. For example, in a thermal ink jet printing environment, the thermal ink jet operation produces misting or splashing of the thermal ink jet droplets, causing a gradual degradation of the sensor sensitivity due to a surface accumulation of the ink jet droplets. The optical sensor device includes an optical emitter emitting an optical signal according to an emitter input, an optical detector disposed to detect the optical signal and output a detector output having an output level according to the detected optical signal, a variable attenuator having an adjustable attenuation setting, and a controller adjusting the attenuation setting of the variable attenuator.

Abstract: A refill junction for a fluid container including an exterior surface; a retaining clip having an outer face and an inner face, at least one of the exterior surface and the inner face including at least one capillary.

Abstract: A refillable fluid container system having a pressure control architecture in which persistent air bubbles are released from a capillary or foam fluid reservoir and are directed from an optical level sensing system in a liquid fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir sensing system includes a pair of optical prisms that reflect light when a fluid level is below one of the pair of prisms. The pair of optical prisms includes a low prism usable to sense a low liquid level in the fluid reservoir, and a high prism usable to sense a high liquid level in the fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir sensing system optionally includes an emitter and a photosensor. The emitter projects light through at least one of the low prism to the low incident surface and the high prism to the high incident surface. The photosensor senses light reflected from the low prism while the liquid is below the low prism. The photosensor also senses light from the high prism while the liquid level is below the high prism.

Abstract: Method and system for detecting the presence and determining characteristics of objects such as ink cartridges in printing systems. The system includes a signal transceiver capable of transmitting signals using a photo emitter and capable of receiving signals sent from the objects using a photo detector, and a monitoring system coupled to the signal transceiver for processing received signals to determine characteristics of the objects. Further, the photo emitter is at least partially covered by a first optical polarizer and the objects include a reflective surface that is at least partially covered by a second optical polarizer. When signals are transmitted from the signal transceiver to the objects, the second optical polarizer allows the signals to reach the reflective surface and reflect back towards the signal transceiver if the orientations of the first and second optical polarizers are substantially the same.

Abstract: A controller for a fluid ejecting system having a refillable container includes an ejection count initializing circuit, routine or application, a count incrementing circuit, routine or application, at least one fluid level indicator, and a fluid quantity circuit, routine or application for determining an expended quantity of fluid, a fluid reserve capacity circuit, routine or application for determining a fluid reserve capacity in the container, an ejection job determining circuit, routine or application for determining a fluid job requirement, a reserve comparing circuit, routine or application to compare the fluid reserve capacity and the fluid job requirement, and a refill condition determining circuit, routine or application to determine that the container is to be refilled. Counts for a ejection amount and a reserve capacity are incremented in response to a specific amount of fluid being ejected from the container.

Abstract: A refillable fluid container system having a communication channel between the manifold and fluid reservoir that allows air to vent from the manifold to an air accumulation area with in the fluid resevoir.