Abstract: This invention discloses a pulse-sensing device and methods for pulse sensing. In one embodiment, the device includes a robotic finger comprising a humanoid-finger structure, and an actuating-force transferring member for transferring an actuating force to the structure at an actuation point thereon and along an actuation direction. One end of the structure is pivotally mounted to a fulcrum and another end has a sensing area. The robotic finger is configured such that, when the sensing area contacts a person's wrist, a first perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to a first line is substantially longer than a second perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to a second line, where the first line is a straight line passing through a sensing point of the sensing area and being substantially perpendicular to the sensing area, and the second line is a straight line passing through the actuation point and orienting along the actuation direction.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a print head in fluid communication with an ink reservoir and having a plurality of orifices and a corresponding plurality of associated ejection chambers. The print head includes a substrate and a barrier layer disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer defines in part a plurality of fluid channels and the plurality of ejection chambers. The barrier layer includes a material selected from epoxy-based photo resist materials and methyl methacrylate-based photo resist materials. An orifice plate is disposed over the substrate. The orifice plate includes the plurality of orifices in fluid communication with the ejection chambers. The system includes a reservoir containing an organic solvent-based ink composition, wherein the ink composition includes an organic solvent selected from C1-C4 alcohols, C3-C6 ketones, C3-C6 esters, C4-C8 ethers, and mixtures thereof, in an amount 60% or more by weight of the ink composition.

Abstract: A method of preparing an inkjet printing system with a print head in fluid communication with an ink reservoir and having a plurality of orifices and a corresponding plurality of associated ejection chambers includes providing a substrate and disposing a photoresist material on the substrate. A mask is provided between the UV light source and the photoresist material. The photoresist material is exposed to the UV light source to polymerize the photoresist material to form a barrier layer on the substrate. The barrier layer defines in part a plurality of fluid channels and the plurality of ejection chambers. An orifice plate is attached over the substrate. The orifice plate includes a plurality of orifices in fluid communication with the ejection chambers.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a print head in fluid communication with an ink reservoir and having a plurality of orifices and a corresponding plurality of associated ejection chambers. The print head includes a substrate and a barrier layer disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer defines in part a plurality of fluid channels and the plurality of ejection chambers. The barrier layer includes a material selected from epoxy-based photo resist materials and methyl methacrylate-based photo resist materials. An orifice plate is disposed over the substrate. The orifice plate includes the plurality of orifices in fluid communication with the ejection chambers. The system includes a reservoir containing an organic solvent-based ink composition, wherein the ink composition includes an organic solvent selected from C1-C4 alcohols, C3-C6 ketones, C3-C6 esters, C4-C8 ethers, and mixtures thereof, in an amount 60% or more by weight of the ink composition.

Abstract: An electric generator using ferrofluid bearings is provided. The generator includes stators having plural magnets separated by a yoke of magnetizable materials. A rotor configured to rotate in a horizontal plane is positioned between the stators. The rotor includes plural coils in which current is induced during rotation from passing through the magnetic fields generated by the stators. A first set of ferrofluid bearings is positioned between the first stator and the rotor and a second set is positioned between the rotor and the second stator. A third set of ferrofluid bearings is positioned adjacent to the periphery of the rotor and configured to center the rotor. In one embodiment, the electric generator is wind-driven and supported in a wind collection housing.

Abstract: A method of preparing an inkjet printing system with a print head in fluid communication with an ink reservoir and having a plurality of orifices and a corresponding plurality of associated ejection chambers includes providing a substrate and disposing a photoresist material on the substrate. A mask is provided between the UV light source and the photoresist material. The photoresist material is exposed to the UV light source to polymerize the photoresist material to form a barrier layer on the substrate. The barrier layer defines in part a plurality of fluid channels and the plurality of ejection chambers. An orifice plate is attached over the substrate. The orifice plate includes a plurality of orifices in fluid communication with the ejection chambers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an omnidirectional wind collection apparatus. The wind collector includes an outer housing with a peripheral wind inlet circumferentially formed therein. An inner housing disposed within the outer housing has an inner surface with a first opening at a lower end thereof to guide the collected wind to a smaller second opening at the top end. The inner surface is curved between the bottom and top openings to form a progressively narrower passage. The configuration of the inner surface creates a Venturi effect such that the wind is accelerated toward the second opening. A wind pass-through portion is formed above the second opening in the inner housing. Based on the Bernoulli effect, the passage of uncollected wind through this portion creates a low pressure region that expedites flow of collected wind through the first and second openings of the inner housing.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a print head in fluid communication with an ink reservoir and having a plurality of orifices and a corresponding plurality of associated ejection chambers. The print head includes a substrate and a barrier layer disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer defines in part a plurality of fluid channels and the plurality of ejection chambers. The barrier layer includes a material selected from epoxy-based photo resist materials and methyl methacrylate-based photo resist materials. An orifice plate is disposed over the substrate. The orifice plate includes the plurality of orifices in fluid communication with the ejection chambers. The orifice plate comprises a material selected from polyimides and nickel.

Abstract: A thermal inkjet printhead chip structure includes a substrate, an oxide layer formed on the substrate, at least one driver circuitry each including a source, a drain and a gate and formed on the substrate and further surrounded by the oxide layer, a dielectric layer, a buffer layer, a resistive layer and a conductive layer. The dielectric layer is formed on the driver circuitry and has openings formed therethrough to expose the source and drain. The buffer layer is formed on the dielectric layer, covering the source and drain and connected to the source and drain. The resistive layer is formed on the buffer layer and has at least one heating area. The resistive layer extends above the source and drain and is connected to the source and drain. The conductive layer is formed on the resistive layer and exposes the heating area. A manufacturing method also is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for speckle noise reduction in laser scanning display. In particular, a MEMS device which can superpose vibrational motion onto a biaxial scanning mirror is provided for reducing the effect of speckling.

Abstract: Thermal inkjet printer sublimation inks are provided having high melting point suspended particles such that the ink does not clog thermal ink jet print heads. Low-cost thermal ink jet printers are used to create thermal transfer images from the inks which are used in conventional thermal transfer processes. An ink set having at least three ink colors includes an aqueous medium of 30-95 weight percent having particles of 50 nm to 1000 nm suspended therein in an amount of 1-10 weight percent. The suspended particles include a sublimation dye and have a melting point of at least a surface of the particle greater than or equal to 200° C. The particles may have a core-shell structure with a sublimation dye core. The ink includes one or more cosolvents from 4-40 weight percent, a surfactant of 0.01 to 5 weight percent, and a biocide of 0.01-5 weight percent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printhead for thermal inkjet printing and the printing method thereof. The printhead includes: a substrate having a plurality of orifices with a firing element in each of said plurality of orifices, wherein said plurality of orifices are arranged in a single column, and said printhead is disposed at an angle to a horizontal direction along which said printhead scans; and firing circuits for energizing said plurality of firing elements to eject ink on a printing medium by respectively transmitting a plurality of firing signals to said plurality of firing elements. According to the present invention, the print speed and resolution can be improved.

Abstract: An electric generator using ferrofluid bearings is provided. The generator includes stators having plural magnets separated by a yoke of magnetizable materials. A rotor configured to rotate in a horizontal plane is positioned between the stators. The rotor includes plural coils in which current is induced during rotation from passing through the magnetic fields generated by the stators. A first set of ferrofluid bearings is positioned between the first stator and the rotor and a second set is positioned between the rotor and the second stator. A third set of ferrofluid bearings is positioned adjacent to the periphery of the rotor and configured to center the rotor. In one embodiment, the electric generator is wind-driven and supported in a wind collection housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides an omnidirectional wind collection apparatus. The wind collector includes an outer housing with a peripheral wind inlet circumferentially formed therein. An inner housing disposed within the outer housing has an inner surface with a first opening at a lower end thereof to guide the collected wind to a smaller second opening at the top end. The inner surface is curved between the bottom and top openings to form a progressively narrower passage. The configuration of the inner surface creates a Venturi effect such that the wind is accelerated toward the second opening. A wind pass-through portion is formed above the second opening in the inner housing. Based on the Bernoulli effect, the passage of uncollected wind through this portion creates a low pressure region that expedites flow of collected wind through the first and second openings of the inner housing.

Abstract: A transducer capable of generating vibrational energy is positioned relative to an inkjet cartridge to impart a vibrational force to simultaneously vibrate at least a portion of each of a plurality of ink fluidic columns associated with a plurality of nozzles in a printhead of the inkjet cartridge to maintain or recover nozzle function.

Abstract: A biaxial micro-electromechanical (MEMS) device is disclosed. The device includes a gimbal rotatable about a gimbal axis of rotation. A pair of gimbal torsion bars connects the gimbal to a support along the gimbal rotation axis. A mirror plate is rotatable about a mirror axis of rotation, the mirror plate rotation axis being substantially perpendicular to the gimbal rotation axis. A pair of mirror plate torsion bars connects the mirror plate to the gimbal along the mirror plate axis of rotation. One or more gimbal moment-of-inertia-altering blocks are positioned on a surface of the mirror plate away from the gimbal axis of rotation. Additionally, one or more mirror plate moment-of-inertia-altering blocks are positioned on a surface of the mirror plate away from the mirror plate rotation axis such that the distance from the mirror plate axis determines a resonant frequency of the biaxial MEMS device.

Abstract: A biaxial micro-electromechanical (MEMS) device is disclosed. The device includes a gimbal rotatable about a gimbal axis of rotation. A pair of gimbal torsion bars connects the gimbal to a support along the gimbal rotation axis. A mirror plate is rotatable about a mirror axis of rotation, the mirror plate rotation axis being substantially perpendicular to the gimbal rotation axis. A pair of mirror plate torsion bars connects the mirror plate to the gimbal along the mirror plate axis of rotation. One or more gimbal moment-of-inertia-altering blocks are positioned on a surface of the mirror plate away from the gimbal axis of rotation. Additionally, one or more mirror plate moment-of-inertia-altering blocks are positioned on a surface of the mirror plate away from the mirror plate rotation axis such that the distance from the mirror plate axis determines a resonant frequency of the biaxial MEMS device.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead module adapted for use in a printing apparatus, the ink jet printhead module being capable of receiving address signals and chip selection signals from a printhead drive unit of the printing apparatus. The printhead module includes chip control circuits, each being capable of receiving the address signals and receiving a corresponding one of the chip selection signals. Each chip control circuit includes switching circuits and an ink jetting circuit set. Each switching circuit is capable of receiving a corresponding one of the address signals and the corresponding one of chip selection signals and outputting a switching signal. An ink jetting circuit set includes ink jetting circuits, each being capable of receiving the switching signal from the corresponding switching circuit electrically coupled to the ink jetting circuit and determining whether or not to jet out ink based on the received switching signal.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is provided with a body, a channel module attached to the body, a plurality of first engaging parts, and a plurality of second engaging parts. The first engaging parts are arranged on one of the body and the channel module, while the second engaging parts corresponding to the first engaging parts are arranged on the other of the body and the channel module. The relative position of the body and the channel module on a two-dimension plane is substantially fixed by the engagement of the first engaging parts and the second engaging parts.