Abstract: Methods are disclosed for fabricating page wide Drop-on-Demand and continuous ink printheads in which the nozzle array, the heaters, their drivers and data carrying circuits are all integrated on the same non-silicon and non-semiconducting substrate.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed using a combination of traditional CMOS technology to form the various controlling electrical circuits on a silicon substrate having insulating layer(s) which provide electrical connections and a MEMS technology for forming, nozzle openings. A blocking structure is formed in the insulating layer(s) between a first ink channel formed in the silicon substrate and a second ink channel formed in the insulating layer(s). The blocking structure causes ink to flow around the blocking structure and thereby develop lateral flow components to the liquid entering the second channel so that, for droplets selected for printing, as the stream of droplets emanates from the bore of the nozzle, there is provided a reduced amount of heat needed for operating a heating element adjacent each nozzle opening.

Abstract: A continuous color ink jet print head (40) for an electronic printing device is composed of a nozzle (42), pressurized ink sources (46, 48), and a print head surface (50) having channels (61, 62, 64, 66) disposed therein such that each channel (61, 62, 64, 66) is in communication with the nozzle (42). The continuous color ink jet print head (40) also includes a microvalve (52, 56) disposed within each of the channels (61, 62, 64, 66) such that each channel (61, 62, 64, 66) is connected through the microvalve (52, 56) to a pressurized ink source (46, 48), thereby permitting ink from the pressurized ink source (46, 48) to flow through the channel (61, 62, 64,66) and thereafter be ejected from the nozzle (42) when the pressurized ink source (46, 48) has attained a particular threshold pressure.

Abstract: A droplet generator is provided that is particularly adapted for generating micro droplets of ink on demand in an inkjet printhead having a plurality of nozzles. The droplet generator includes a droplet separator formed from the combination of a droplet assistor and a droplet initiator. The droplet assistor is coupled to ink in each of the nozzles and functions to lower the amount of energy necessary for an ink droplet to form and separate from an ink meniscus extending across the nozzle outlet. The droplet assistor may be, for example, a heater or surfactant supply mechanism for lowering the surface tension of the ink meniscus. Alternatively, the droplet assistor may be a mechanical oscillator such as a piezoelectric transducer that generates oscillations in the ink sufficient to periodically form convex ink menisci across the nozzle outlets, but insufficient to cause ink droplets to separate from the outlets.

Abstract: A method for producing optically planar surfaces for micro-electromechanical system devices (MEMS), comprising the steps of: depositing a first layer over a substrate; forming a channel in the first layer wherein the channel has a depth defined by a thickness of the first layer and a width greater than 10 microns; depositing a second layer over the first layer wherein the second layer has a thickness greater than the depth of the channel and is composed of a different material than the first layer; removing the second layer from outside the channel leaving an overlap at the edge of the channel; and polishing the second layer that fills the channel to obtain an optically planar surface for the MEMS device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a conformal grating device, that includes the steps of: forming a spacer layer on a substrate; removing portions of the spacer layer to define an active region with at least two channels and at least one intermediate support; forming a sacrificial layer in the active region; forming conductive reflective ribbon elements over the active region, and removing the sacrificial layer from the active region.

Abstract: A method for producing co-planar surface areas is disclosed. At first a first layer with at least one recess is provided. Onto the first layer a second layer is deposited over the entire area of the first layer wherein the second layer has a thickness greater than the depth of the recess. The second layer is composed of material different to the material of the first layer. The next step removes the second layer completely beyond the area of at least one recess. The remaining portion of the second layer is removed until the second layer is coplanar with the first layer.

Abstract: A droplet generator is provided that is particularly adapted for generating micro droplets of ink on demand in an inkjet printhead having a plurality of nozzles. The droplet generator includes a droplet separator formed from the combination of a droplet assistor and a droplet initiator. The droplet assistor is coupled to ink in each of the nozzles and functions to lower the amount of energy necessary for an ink droplet to form and separate from an ink meniscus extending across the nozzle outlet. The droplet assistor may be, for example, a heater or surfactant supply mechanism for lowering the surface tension of the ink meniscus. Alternatively, the droplet assistor may be a mechanical oscillator such as a piezoelectric transducer that generates oscillations in the ink sufficient to periodically form convex ink menisci across the nozzle outlets, but insufficient to cause ink droplets to separate from the outlets.

Abstract: A mechanical grating device for diffracting an incident light beam has a base which defines a surface. A spacer layer is provided above the base, said spacer layer defining an upper surface of said spacer layer. A longitudinal channel is formed in said spacer layer, said channel having a first and second opposing side walls and a bottom. The side walls are substantially vertically disposed with respect to the bottom, and said channel having a constant cross section along the entire length of the mechanical grating device. A plurality of spaced apart deformable ribbon elements are disposed parallel to each other and span the channel. The deformable ribbon elements are fixed to the upper surface of the spacer layer on each side of the channel.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mechanical grating device is presented. The device consists of a plurality of parallel-suspended ribbons that are deformed using, for example, an electrostatic force to actuate alternate ribbons. Actuation is a deformation of the ribbon resulting from an applied voltage to affect the height of the ribbons above a substrate.

Abstract: A catcher assembly, which is adapted to catch non-print droplets while not catching print droplets, includes a section defining an ink collection chamber and an impact surface positioned to intercept non-print droplets and to direct the intercepted non-print droplets to the ink collection chamber. The section further defines at least one other surface that is subject to undesirable ink build up. An ink flow path extends from the other surface to the ink collection chamber, whereby ink that has undesirably built up on the other surface will tend to flow to the ink collection chamber. The ink flow path may be a hole through the section. The hole extends from the other surface to the ink collection chamber. The ink flow path may further include a slot in the section extending between the hole and the other surface to provide a path for ink to flow from the other surface to the hole and then through the hole to the ink collection chamber.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical grating device for diffracting an incident light beam has a base which defines a surface. A spacer layer is provided above the base, said spacer layer defining an upper surface of said spacer layer. A longitudinal channel is formed in said spacer layer. A plurality of spaced apart deformable ribbon elements are disposed parallel to each other and span the channel. The deformable ribbon elements define a ribbon structure which comprises at least one layer of a single material. The ribbon elements and the electro-mechanical grating device are formed so that charge build-up in layers of the electro-mechanical grating device can be avoided during operation of the device.

Abstract: Image forming system and system. The method comprises a transducer for pressurizing and depressurizing an ink body so that an ink meniscus alternately extends from the ink body as the ink body is pressurized to form a neck portion thereof and retracts as the ink body is depressurized. An ink droplet separator is is in communication with the neck portion of the meniscus for lowering surface tension of the neck portion of the meniscus. In this regard, the droplet separator lowers the surface tension of the meniscus as the meniscus extends from the ink body. The extended meniscus severs from the ink body to form an ink droplet as the droplet separator lowers the surface tension of the neck portion to a predetermined value and as the ink meniscus retracts during depressurization of the ink body.

Abstract: A printer having mechanically-assisted ink droplet separation and method of using same, for separating an ink meniscus from an ink nozzle orifice while clearing-away particulate matter from about the orifice. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a heater surrounds an orifice formed by the nozzle, the orifice having an ink meniscus residing therein. As the heater heats the ink meniscus, surface tension of the ink meniscus decreases, thereby causing the ink meniscus to extend outwardly from the orifice to define an extended ink meniscus. A cutter, which is disposed near the orifice, includes a plate member disposed opposite an outside surface of the nozzle so as to define a passage between the outside surface and the plate member. The plate member has an opening aligned with the orifice and in communication with the passage. A gas pressure regulator in communication with the passage supplies pressurized gas into the passage, which gas flows along the passage an through the opening.

Abstract: A liquid ink, drop on demand page-width print-head comprises a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of drop-emitter nozzles fabricated on the substrate; an ink supply manifold coupled to the nozzles; pressure means for subjecting ink in the manifold to a pressure above ambient pressure causing a meniscus to form in each nozzle; a means for applying heat to the perimeter of the meniscus in predetermined selectively addressed nozzles; and a means for combined selection and ejection of drops from the selectively addressed nozzles.

Abstract: The invention is related to an aqueous ink composition comprising water, a coloring agent, and solid surfactant particles wherein said solid particles comprise a mixture of at least two surfactants with very low water solubility and with melting points between 40.degree. C. and 90.degree. C.