Abstract: A system and method for the fabrication of a fluid, gas and/or vacuum flow system (10) having a laminate gasket manifold (14) containing a plurality of bi-directional fluid-flow channels (22) therein. Initially, a photoimagable polyimide dry film resist layer (44) is applied to one or more stiffening elements (46) in order to form laminate sub-layers (42). The resist is then patterned to form a plurality of openings therein. Selectively, the laminate sub-layers are etched to form alignment apertures (18) therein. The resist-coated sub-layers (42) are then stacked such that the alignment apertures (18) therein are aligned to each other, respectively, to form bi-directional fluid-flow channels (22). Heat and pressure are then applied to the stack of laminate sub-layers (42) at 70-75 degrees C. in a vacuum laminator for 10 to 30 seconds.

Abstract: An optical strain gauge for measuring the strain in a structural member includes a mechanical grating device fixedly attached to the structural member for modulating an incident beam of light by diffraction; at least one source of light; and an optical system for directing light onto the mechanical grating device and a sensor for receiving light reflected from the mechanical grating device for producing a representation of the strain in the structural member.

Abstract: A self-cleaning ink jet printer with cleaning mechanism and method of cleaning the ink jet printer. The printer comprises a print head having a surface thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices. The orifices are in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels formed in the print head. A solvent delivering canopy is constructed from alternating stacked layers of polyimide and stainless steel sheets with internal geometries, one on top of each other, thus creating internal fluidic passageways. The canopy is connected to a manifold body and has a passageway alignable with the surface. Contaminant residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent when a wiper blade loosens contaminant from the surface. Per an applied vacuum, the canopy vacuums the solvent and entrained contaminant from the surface.

Abstract: A system and method for the fabrication of a fluid, gas and/or vacuum flow system (10) having a laminate gasket manifold (14) containing a plurality of bi-directional fluid-flow channels (22) therein. Initially, a photoimagable polyimide dry film resist layer (44) is applied to one or more stiffening elements (46) in order to form laminate sub-layers (42). The resist is then patterned to form a plurality of openings therein. Selectively, the laminate sub-layers are etched to form alignment apertures (18) therein. The resist-coated sub-layers (42) are then stacked such that the alignment apertures (18) therein are aligned to each other, respectively, to form bi-directional fluid-flow channels (22). Heat and pressure are then applied to the stack of laminate sub-layers (42) at 70-75 degrees C. in a vacuum laminator for 10 to 30 seconds.

Abstract: An improved diaphragm (34, 56) for drop on demand ink jet print heads and method for manufacturing the same. The present diaphragm (34, 56) includes a support element (42, 62) defining at least a portion of a chamber (14) for holding ink, the support element (42, 62) defining an opening (40) adjacent to the chamber (14), and the diaphragm (34, 56) being electroformed on a surface (26) of the support element (42, 62) around the opening (40) at least substantially covering the opening (40) and enclosing the chamber (14). The diaphragm (34, 56) preferably has a central region (48) disposed generally centrally over the opening (40) and a bellows (58) surrounds the central region (48).

Abstract: A strain gauge for measuring strain in a structural member, including: a light modulator adapted to be attached to the structural member, further including: a plurality of deformable elements, each of said deformable elements having a reflective surface and a resonant frequency that varies as a function of strain on the element; means for exerting a force to the deformable elements to cause them to deform at their resonant frequency between first and second operating states, an optical system for directing incident light onto the light modulator, and directing modulated light from the light modulator to a sensor that provides an output signal that varies as a function of the resonate frequency of said deformable elements; and means for generating a representation of the strain in the structural member from said output signal.

Abstract: A system and method for the fabrication of a fluid, gas and/or vacuum flow system (10) having a laminate gasket manifold (14) containing a plurality of bi-directional fluid-flow channels (22) therein. Initially, a photoimagable polyimide dry film resist layer (44) is applied to one or more stiffening elements (46) in order to form laminate sub-layers (42). The resist is then patterned to form a plurality of openings therein. Selectively, the laminate sub-layers are etched to form alignment apertures (18) therein. The resist-coated sub-layers (42) are then stacked such that the alignment apertures (18) therein are aligned to each other, respectively, to form bi-directional fluid-flow channels (22). Heat and pressure are then applied to the stack of laminate sub-layers (42) at 70-75 degrees C. in a vacuum laminator for 10 to 30 seconds.

Abstract: A strain gauge for measuring strain in a structural member, including: a light modulator adapted to be attached to the structural member, further including: a plurality of deformable elements, each of said deformable elements having a reflective surface and a resonant frequency that varies as a function of strain on the element; means for exerting a force to the deformable elements to cause them to deform at their resonant frequency between first and second operating states; an optical system for directing incident light onto the light modulator, and directing modulated light from the light modulator to a sensor that provides an output signal that varies as a function of the resonate frequency of said deformable elements; and means for generating a representation of the strain in the structural member from said output signal.

Abstract: A self-cleaning in ink jet printer (10) with cleaning mechanism (170) and method of cleaning the ink jet printer. The printer (10) comprises a print head (60) having a surface (95) thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices (90). The orifices (90) are in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels (70) formed in the print head (60). A canopy (185) is constructed from alternating stacked layers (185a, 185b, 185c, 185d, 185e) of polyimide and stainless steel sheets with internal geometries, one on top of each other thus creating internal fluidic passageways. The solvent delivering canopy (185) is connected to a manifold body (180) and has a passageway (234) alignable with the surface (95). Contaminant residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent when a wiper blade (225) loosens contaminant from the surface (95). The canopy (185) also has a passageway (236) alignable with the surface (95).

Abstract: Ink printing printer with gutter cleaning structure and method of assembling the printer. The printer includes a print head (10) having a surface (14) thereon, the surface (14) including an orifice region (18) having at least one ink-ejection orifice (16), a first gutter (22) disposed proximate one side of the orifice region (18) adapted for connection to a source of a cleaning fluid, and a second gutter (24) disposed proximate an opposite side of the orifice region (18) adapted for connection to a receiver for the cleaning fluid. A cover member (40) is positionable opposite the orifice region (18) and the gutters (22,24) for forming a sealed enclosure (42) thereof defining a cavity (44) sized to allow fluid flow therethrough from the first gutter (22) over the orifice region (18) to the second gutter (24).

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a laser print head include the steps of mounting a laser array (70) on a print head block (80), measuring misalignment of the laser array (70) to determine a correction factor, mounting a cylinder lens (20) on a cylinder lens holder (25), inducing a predetermined bend into the cylinder lens (20) corresponding to the correction factor by allowing the cylinder lens (20) to sag on upright posts (26) of the cylinder lens holder (25), attaching the cylinder lens (20) to a sub-mount (30), attaching flexures (50) to the sub-mount (30), aligning the cylinder lens (20) to the laser array (70), and attaching the flexures (50) to the print head block (80). The bend in the cylinder lens corrects for misalignment in the laser array (70) so that the array of spots at the image plane is in an approximately straight line. In one embodiment, the sub-mount and cylinder lens have approximately the same thermal coefficient of expansion.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator array (36). Electrode pairs 50 and 51 are mounted on a substrate (40). A layer of electronic grade glass (60) is deposited by electron beam evaporation on the substrate (40) and electrodes (50) and (51). In an alternate embodiment, an electronic grade of glass 50 is deposited on the PLZT substrate (40) prior to applying electrodes (50) and (51).

Abstract: A beamsplitter/staggerer (24) for multi-beam laser printers is disclosed. The multi-beam laser printer is comprised of the beamsplitter/staggerer (24), a spatial light modulator (16) having at least two rows of staggered modulator pixel elements (19), and an illumination system comprised of a laser array (10) and an optical system (13) which provides a narrow line of laser light. The beamsplitter/staggerer is adapted to split the narrow line of laser light into at least two parallel lines of light, and to split each of the parallel lines of light into regions, such that substantially all of the light from the illumination system falls onto each of the modulator pixel elements (19) in each of the rows. In one embodiment, the beamsplitter/staggerer comprises a pattern of reflecting areas (26) and transmitting areas (27) wherein a shape of the regions defined by the beamsplitter/staggerer matches a shape of the modulator pixel elements (19).

Abstract: A cartridge (10) of web material includes a hollow cartridge body (14) having an exit slit (26); a strip or sheet (12) of web material enclosed in the cartridge body to be withdrawn from or inserted into the cartridge body via the exit slit; at least one magnetic member (38, 40; 130; 172-178; 240; 290,292) carried on the strip or sheet; and a magnetically actuated visual indicator (36) mounted on the cartridge body adjacent the exit slit to be actuated by the magnetic member when the strip or sheet is withdrawn from or inserted into the cartridge body.

Abstract: A laser print head structure includes a laser diode array (14) coupled to a heat sink (10). A cylindrical lens element (20) is aligned with the laser diode array and bonded to the heat sink. A binary optical element (22) is then aligned with the cylindrical lens element and attached to the heat sink through the use of flexures (24). The use of the flexures permits the binary optical element to "float" in the plane of the laser diode array, thereby maintaining alignment even when the thermal expansion characteristics of the binary optical element are different from the thermal expansion characteristics of the heat sink. Anti-wicking slots (18) are provided in the heat sink at locations between the bonding points of the cylindrical lens element and the laser diode array. The anti-wicking slots, through capillary action, prevent excess adhesive from wicking along the cylindrical lens element and onto the facets of the lasers in the laser diode array.

Abstract: An optical system for illuminating a multi-element spatial light modulator from a multi-emitter laser array such that each element of the modulator sees light from all emitters targets the light onto the two or more rows of elements, without putting light into the gap between the rows, and without putting light in the spaces between the elements. The element illumination may match a complex shape of the elements. A beamsplitter/staggerer is adapted to split the line of laser light into plural parallel lines of light, and to split the parallel lines of light into regions such that substantially all of the light from the illumination system falls onto the elements of the rows without impinging between the rows of elements or between the elements in the rows.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a holeless hologon disk includes the steps of relatively positioning a disk assembly and a drive shaft assembly in closely spaced relation with the planar surface of the disk normal to the drive shaft's rotational axis. Adhesive is applied between the assemblies and allowed to fix while the relative assembly positions are maintained. In one construction fabricated by such method, the disk assembly comprises a flanged coupling attached to a planar glass disk with compliant adhesive.

Abstract: A method for preparing a color filter array element is diclosed which includes the steps of forming an assembly by providing a support on which is coated a polymeric dye image-receiving layer; a stencil pattern on the dye image-receiving layer with holes corresponding to the desired color pixel array pattern; and a dye donor sheet over the stencil. The dye donor has a support film overcoated with a mixture of color dye, polymeric binder, and light absorber. The method further includes exposing the assembly to high intensity light to briefly heat the dye layer and thereby transfer the dye from the donor to the polymeric dye receiving layer so that a colored pattern of pixel elements are formed in or on the image-receiving layer.

Abstract: In a microbump flip-chip mounting method, microcircuit features such as conductors and microbumps are formed by a lift off process. A first refractory metal is employed to promote adhesion between a layer of aluminum deposited by physical vapor deposition and a second refractory metal is employed to promote adhesion between the aluminum and an overlying layer of gold.

Abstract: An optical fiber array is disclosed that is useful in a print head of a thermal printer. The array is comprised of materials that hold a collection of output ends of optical fibers in precise alignment to each other and to a well defined plane. The materials of the array are selected so that each material has a polishing rate that is substantially the same. This selection of materials facilitates efficient fabrication of the arrays. Additionally, a fixture that facilitates ease of assembly and finishing of the array is disclosed.