Abstract: A fluid ejector, such as a printhead for an inkjet printer, comprising a substrate that includes a primary via formed therein, and a nozzle member overlying the substrate and including vertical nozzle chambers at least partially overlying the primary via and a corresponding fluid actuator (e.g., a heater) associated with the substrate.

Abstract: A high resolution printhead for an ink jet printer. The printhead includes a semiconductor substrate containing at least one ink feed edge and a plurality of ink ejection actuators spaced a distance from the ink feed edge. Each of the ink ejection actuators has an aspect ratio ranging from about 1.5:1 to about 6:1. A nozzle plate is attached to the semiconductor substrate. The nozzle plate contains a plurality of nozzle holes, ink chambers and ink channels laser ablated in the nozzle plate corresponding to the plurality of ink ejection actuators. Adjacent nozzle holes are spaced apart with a pitch ranging from about 600 to about 1200 dpi. The distance from the ink feed edge is substantially the same for each of the ink ejection actuators.

Abstract: An advertisement display apparatus is disclosed that includes a display screen for displaying advertising content, at least one radiation intensity sensor for measuring incident radiation, and a position adjustment device for adjusting a viewing angle of the display screen on the basis of the measured incident radiation to thereby minimize glare on the display screen.

Abstract: A method of making flow feature structures for a micro-fluid ejection head. The method includes the steps of laser ablating a nozzle plate material to provide an elongate fluid chamber and fluid supply channel therein for connecting the fluid chamber with a fluid supply. The fluid chamber has a first length and a first width. An elongate nozzle hole is laser ablated in the nozzle plate material co-axial with the fluid chamber. The nozzle hole has entrance dimensions having a longitudinal axis dimension and a transverse axis dimension such that the longitudinal axis dimension is from about 1.1 to about 4.0 times the transverse axis dimension.

Abstract: An improved ink jet printhead and method therefor. The printhead includes a single semiconductor substrate with ink ejection devices and a nozzle plate adjacent to the semiconductor substrate, the nozzle plate with first ink ejection nozzles for ejecting first ink drops having a first volume and second ink ejection nozzles for ejecting second ink drops having a second volume different from the first volume, wherein the first volume is defined by first flow features of the printhead having a first thickness and the second volume is defined by second flow features having a second thickness that is different from the first thickness.

Abstract: A micro-fluid ejection head structure having multiple arrays of fluid ejection actuators. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a first array of fluid ejection actuators for ejecting a first fluid therefrom, and a second array of fluid ejection actuators for ejecting a second fluid therefrom. The first array of fluid ejection actuators is disposed in a first location on the substrate, and the second array of fluid ejection actuators is disposed in a second location on the substrate. A thick film layer having a thickness is attached adjacent the semiconductor substrate. The thick film layer has fluid flow channels formed therein solely for the first array of fluid ejection actuators. A nozzle plate is attached to the thick film layer opposite the semiconductor substrate. The nozzle plate has fluid flow channels formed therein for both the first array of fluid ejection actuators and the second array of fluid ejection actuators.

Abstract: A high resolution printhead for an ink jet printer. The printhead includes a semiconductor substrate containing at least one ink feed edge and a plurality of ink ejection actuators spaced a distance from the ink feed edge. Each of the ink ejection actuators has an aspect ratio ranging from about 1.5:1 to about 6:1. A nozzle plate is attached to the semiconductor substrate. The nozzle plate contains a plurality of nozzle holes, ink chambers and ink channels laser ablated in the nozzle plate corresponding to the plurality of ink ejection actuators. Adjacent nozzle holes are spaced apart with a pitch ranging from about 600 to about 1200 dpi. The distance from the ink feed edge is substantially the same for each of the ink ejection actuators.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a carrier for mounting a first printhead and a second printhead. A first ink reservoir is coupled in fluid communication with the first printhead, and contains a chromatic dye-based ink. A second ink reservoir is coupled in fluid communication with the second printhead, and contains a chromatic pigment-based ink.

Abstract: Flow features in an inkjet printhead. The flow features can include a plurality of first channels, each of the plurality of first channels having a first length and positioned to fluidly communicate with an ink reservoir, and each of the plurality of first channels terminating in a first nozzle. The flow features can further include a plurality of second channels, each of the plurality of second channels having a second length greater than the first length and positioned to fluidly communicate with the ink reservoir, each of the plurality of second channels terminating in a second nozzle, each second nozzle being larger than each first nozzle.

Abstract: In an inkjet printhead, a substantially rectangular heater element has an aspect ratio greater than about 2.0. A bubble chamber surrounds a centrally disposed heater element with a plurality of walls. A nozzle plate has an orifice for projecting ink from the bubble chamber that axially extends through a thickness thereof. A center of the orifice originates a plumb line such that an offset distance exists from a center of the heater element in a range from about 6 to about 10 microns. An ink flow channel through one of the bubble chamber walls has a primary direction of ink flow substantially paralleling a length dimension of the heater element. The bubble chamber and ink flow channel may exist in the nozzle plate, a polymer barrier layer or a plurality of film layers that define a heater chip. More preferred aspect ratios include greater than about 2.5 and about 4.0.

Abstract: In an inkjet printhead, a substantially rectangular heater element has a length and width dimension defining an aspect ratio of more than about 2.0. A bubble chamber with a curved or convex wall portion partially surrounds the heater element. A radius of an arc defining the convex wall portion is greater than one-half the width dimension while less than one-half the length dimension and none of the convex wall portion overlies a periphery of the heater element. An ink ejection orifice exists through a thickness of a nozzle plate covering the bubble chamber and resides above the heater element. Additionally, the bubble chamber may have a rectangular wall portion connected to the convex wall portion and either portion may occupy a terminal end of the bubble chamber. Preferred length and width dimensions include 35 and 13 or 40 and 10 microns with a radius of about 16 microns.

Abstract: A method of controlling unwanted plants, the method including providing an herbicidal composition, the herbicidal composition containing at least a naturally-occurring, plant-derived organic compound, and applying the herbicidal composition to the unwanted plants.

Abstract: A method of controlling unwanted plants, the method including providing an herbicidal composition, the herbicidal composition containing at least a naturally-occurring, plant-derived organic compound, and applying the herbicidal composition to the unwanted plants.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for compensating for the effects of thermally induced droplet size variations in ink-jet printers. The apparatus includes a temperature determination unit for determining the temperature of the print head, and a halftone adjustment unit configured to receive the print head temperature from the temperature determination unit and to receive image data in the form of nominal halftone values. The adjustment unit can increase or decrease the number of dots to be printed, and thereby compensate for droplet size variations, either by adjusting the nominal halftone values based upon the temperature or by adjusting a threshold array based upon the temperature. The temperature determination unit can predict the print head temperature by counting the number of dots to be printed by counting the binary halftone values fed to the swath memory.

Abstract: A binary printer for printing halftone color images on a substrate so that the determination of whether to print a dot or to not print a dot of each color ink at each pixel location is based at least in part upon an estimated temperature of the print head. The temperature of the print head may be estimated based upon direct measurement of the ambient temperature and/or direct measurement of temperature of some portion of the print head. Alternatively, the temperature of the print head may be estimated by counting the number of dots fired by the print head.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer cartridge having a center reservoir chamber and two side reservoir chambers for holding inks of three different colors is provided with ink flow pathways of special configuration for connecting the reservoir chambers to exit ports at the print element. The ink flow pathways are provided with ridges extending along substantially their entire lengths so that air bubbles cannot completely block ink flow through the pathways. The ink flow pathways are disposed such that they have a vertical component of direction over their entire length and the pathways connecting the side reservoir chambers to exit ports include duct portions disposed at compound angles relative to the axes of the cartridge so that air bubbles, because of their buoyancy, will naturally tend to drift upwardly through the inclined ducts toward the reservoir chambers during normal usage, or drift toward the exit openings when the cartridge is inverted for priming.

Abstract: An ink jet printer cartridge assembly including a cartridge body with at least one ink chamber from which ink flows to a print head. A standpipe in the ink chamber includes an opening therethrough for the flow of ink to the print head, and a filter cap is secured on the top of the standpipe to limit the introduction of air bubbles and particulate matter in the flow of ink toward the print head. The filter cap includes a mesh material formed into a dome-shaped configuration and an elastomeric material molded about the periphery of the mesh portion, with the elastomeric material being received around the top portion of the standpipe.

Abstract: A distributor for use in the electrical system of an internal combustion engine, providing an increased angle of registration between a rotor element and each spark plug contact within the distributor. The rotor element is provided with a plurality of conductive rotor arms which, upon rotation, alternately register with spark plug contacts circumferentially disposed about the rotor element, wherein each spark plug contact is associated with one of the plurality of rotor arms. In one embodiment, each rotor arm includes a plurality of blades which are disposed to rotate into simultaneous registration with a single high voltage supply contact and a spark plug contact. In a second embodiment, each rotor arm includes a plurality of blades disposed to rotate into simultaneous registration with sequentially disposed ones of a plurality of high voltage supply contacts and a spark plug contact.