Abstract: A method of manufacturing a printhead includes providing a polymeric substrate having a surface; providing a patterned material layer on the surface of the polymeric substrate; and removing at least some of the polymeric substrate not covered by the patterned material layer using an etching process.

Abstract: A printhead and a method of manufacturing a printhead are provided. The printhead includes a polymeric substrate including a surface. Portions of the polymeric substrate define a liquid chamber. A material layer is disposed on the surface of the polymeric substrate. Portions of the material layer define a nozzle bore. The nozzle bore is in fluid communication with the liquid chamber.

Abstract: A fluid ejecting device and method of forming same are provided. The fluid ejecting device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface. A nozzle plate is formed over the first surface of the substrate. The nozzle plate has a nozzle through which fluid is ejected. A drop forming mechanism is situated at the periphery of the nozzle. A fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle and has a first wall and a second wall with the first wall and the second wall being positioned at an angle relative to each other. A fluid delivery channel is formed in the substrate and extends from the second surface of the substrate to the fluid chamber. The fluid delivery channel is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. A source of fluid impedance comprises a physical structure located between the nozzle and the fluid delivery channel.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device, a method of cleaning the device, and a method of operating the device are provided. The device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface. A nozzle plate is formed over the first surface of the substrate and has a nozzle through which fluid is ejected. A drop forming mechanism is situated at the periphery of the nozzle. A fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle and has a first wall and a second wall. The first wall and the second wall are positioned at an angle other than 90° relative to each other. A fluid delivery channel is formed in the substrate and extends from the second surface of the substrate to the fluid chamber. The fluid delivery channel is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A continuous stream ink jet printer is provided having an ink droplet forming mechanism for ejecting a stream of ink droplets having a selected one of at least two different volumes toward a print medium and a droplet deflector and ink conduit which are integrally formed to the printhead for producing a flow of gas that interacts with the ink droplet stream to separate droplets having different volumes and collects all droplets not used for printing.

Abstract: An apparatus for a liquid drop emitter, especially for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. A chamber filled with a liquid, a nozzle and a thermo-mechanical actuator, extending into the chamber from at least one wall of the chamber is disclosed. A movable element of the thermo-mechanical actuator is configured with a bending portion which bends when heated, the bending portion having at least one actuator opening for passage of the liquid. Apparatus is adapted to apply heat pulses to the bending portion resulting in rapid deflection of the movable element, ejection of a liquid drop, and passage of liquid through the at least one actuator opening. A movable element configured as a cantilever or as a beam extending from anchor walls of the chamber is disclosed. The thermo-mechanical actuator may be formed as a laminate structure including a layer constructed of a deflector material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion and that is electrically resistive, for example, titanium aluminide.

Abstract: A liquid drop ejector is provided. The ejector includes a liquid chamber and a liquid supply. Portions of the liquid chamber define a nozzle bore. A liquid supply passageway is positioned between the liquid chamber and the liquid supply. The liquid supply passageway is in fluid communication with the liquid chamber and the liquid supply. A plurality of pillars is suspended in the liquid supply passageway. A wall of the liquid chamber can extend to the liquid supply passageway. A center pillar can also be included with a portion of the center pillar being positioned in the liquid chamber and another portion of the center pillar being positioned in the liquid supply passageway.

Abstract: A fluid ejecting device and method of forming same are provided. The fluid ejecting device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface. A nozzle plate is formed over the first surface of the substrate. The nozzle plate has a nozzle through which fluid is ejected. A drop forming mechanism is situated at the periphery of the nozzle. A fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle and has a first wall and a second wall with the first wall and the second wall being positioned at an angle relative to each other. A fluid delivery channel is formed in the substrate and extends from the second surface of the substrate to the fluid chamber. The fluid delivery channel is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. A source of fluid impedance comprises a physical structure located between the nozzle and the fluid delivery channel.

Abstract: A method of etching a substrate and an article(s) formed using the method are provided. The method includes providing a substrate; coating a region of the substrate with a temporary material having properties that enable the temporary material to remain substantially intact during subsequent processing and enable the temporary material to be removed by a subsequent process that allows the substrate to remain substantially unaltered; removing a portion of the substrate to form a feature, at least some of the removed portion of the substrate overlapping at least a portion of the coated region of the substrate while allowing the temporary material substantially intact; and removing the temporary material while allowing the substrate to remain substantially unaltered.

Abstract: A method for creating an inkjet chamber. The method comprises the steps of firstly providing a substrate having a nozzle opening and secondly etching the substrate through the nozzle opening by alternating between anisotropic and isotropic etching processes for forming a chamber having a shape approximating a cylinder by using multiple hemispheric etches.

Abstract: A snap-through thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device such as a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve is disclosed. The snap-through actuator is comprised of a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor edges which define a central plane. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element is formed to have a residual shape bowing outward from the central plane in a first direction away from the second layer. The snap-through thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element which causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.

Abstract: A snap-through thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device such as a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve is disclosed. The snap-through actuator is comprised of a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor edges which define a central plane. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element is formed to have a residual shape bowing outward from the central plane in a first direction away from the second layer. The snap-through thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element which causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.

Abstract: A method for creating one or more ink jet chambers, the method includes the steps of providing a substrate having a thermal element covered with substantially one type of uncured photo-imageable material; providing a first mask spanning the thermal element which creates both masked and unmasked uncured photo-imageable regions; exposing the unmasked photo-imageable region; providing a second mask covering at least a portion of the thermal element; exposing a portion of the remaining unexposed photo-imageable region for forming an output nozzle; curing the exposed portions of the photo-imageable material; and removing all the remaining uncured photo-imageable material for creating the ink jet chamber.

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 including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.

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 including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.

Abstract: A thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter for ink jet printing, is disclosed. The thermal actuator comprises a base element and a movable element extending from the base element and residing at a first position. The movable element includes a barrier layer constructed of a barrier material having low thermal conductivity material, bonded between a first layer and a second layer; wherein the first layer is constructed of a first material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion and the second layer is constructed of a second material having a high thermal conductivity and a high Young's modulus. An apparatus is provided adapted to apply a heat pulse directly to the first layer, causing a thermal expansion of the first layer relative to the second layer and deflection of the movable element to a second position, followed by relaxation of the movable element towards the first position as heat diffuses through the barrier layer to the second layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for a liquid drop emitter, especially for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. A chamber filled with a liquid, a nozzle and a thermo-mechanical actuator, extending into the chamber from at least one wall of the chamber is disclosed. A movable element of the thermo-mechanical actuator is configured with a bending portion which bends when heated. The bending portion comprises a first layer having first and second sides, constructed of a first material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, a second layer, attached to the second side of the first layer, and a third layer, attached to the first side of the first layer, constructed of a third material having a low thermal conductivity and a low Young's modulus. Apparatus is adapted to apply heat pulses to the bending portion resulting in rapid deflection of the movable element, ejection of a liquid drop, without degradation or vaporization of the liquid.

Abstract: A vertical cavity laser array device including a substrate, top and bottom dielectric stacks, and an active region for producing laser light. The active region includes one or more periodic gain region(s) and spacer layers disposed on either side of the periodic gain region(s) and arranged so that the periodic gain region(s) is aligned with the antinodes of the device's standing wave electromagnetic field. A structure is provided for modulating the properties of the periodic gain region(s) at spaced locations so as to provide an array of spaced laser pixels which have higher net gain than the interpixel regions; and the spaced laser pixels having the same or different sizes and the spacings between pixels having the same or different lengths to cause the output of the vertical cavity laser array device to produce single or multimode laser output.

Abstract: A recoil device (100) having a mounting member (101), a recoiling member (108), and a stopping member (117) is mounted onto an attachment surface (131) of an existing decoy (130) without compromising the structural integrity of the decoy (130). An anchor line (126) is operatively connected to the recoiling member (108) proximate the center (132) of the decoy (130) and is locked in place by the stopping member (117) proximate the front (133) of the decoy (130). The line (126) is locked in place when the stopping member (117) is in a first position, and the line (126) may be either drawn from the recoiling member (108) or automatically retracted by the recoiling member (108) when the stopping member (117) is in a second position (121b).

Abstract: A recoil device (100) having a mounting member (101), a recoiling member (108), and a stopping member (117) is mounted onto an attachment surface (131) of an existing decoy (130) without compromising the structural integrity of the decoy (130). An anchor line (126) is operatively connected to the recoiling member (108) proximate the center (132) of the decoy (130) and is locked in place by the stopping member (117) proximate the front (133) of the decoy (130). The line (126) is locked in place when the stopping member (117) is in a first position, and the line (126) may be either drawn from the recoiling member (108) or automatically retracted by the recoiling member (108) when the stopping member (117) is in a second position (121b).