Abstract: A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, a portion of the fluid control surface being moveable; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device by moving the moveable portion of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the fluid control surface such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device depending on the position of the moveable portion of the fluid control surface.

Abstract: A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow velocity characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern that changes the velocity of the fluid; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device using the pattern of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow velocity characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow velocity characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device.

Abstract: A device and method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device using the pattern of the fluid control surface that, when activated, causes adjacent fluid drops to merge or coalesce while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device.

Abstract: A laser-ablatable element for direct laser engraving has a laser-ablatable, relief-forming layer that has a relief-image forming surface and a bottom surface. This relief-forming layer includes a laser-ablatable polymeric binder and an infrared radiation absorbing compound that is present at a concentration profile such that its concentration is greater near the bottom surface than the image-forming surface. This arrangement of the infrared radiation absorbing compound provides improved ablation efficiency, particularly when laser exposure is carried out adiabatically.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical device for controlling compressed fluid flow is provided. A chamber includes a fluid flow inlet port, a high pressure region exceeding 30 bar, and a fluid flow outlet port. A moveable micro-electromechanical valve is positioned to contact the fluid flow outlet port when the moveable micro-electromechanical valve is in a first position. An electrical connection to the moveable micro-electromechanical valve provides an electrical pulse train to the moveable micro-electromechanical valve to actuate the valve at a rate of 10 KHz or more to move the valve in order to control fluid communication between the high pressure region and a low pressure region downstream from the fluid flow outlet port.

Abstract: A compressed fluid microvalve for controlling flow of compressed fluid from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure is provided. A chamber includes an inlet port, a region of high pressure, and an outlet port leading to a region of low pressure. A cantilever beam includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The cantilever beam is anchored to a portion of the chamber and is suspended in the chamber such that the first portion and third portion of the cantilever beam are exposed to the region of high pressure on all sides. The second portion of the cantilever beam overlaps the outlet port. The cantilever beam includes a first position in contact with the outlet port to prevent fluid flow from the chamber through the outlet port and a second position removed from contact with the outlet port to permit fluid flow from the chamber through the outlet port.

Abstract: A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, a portion of the fluid control surface being moveable; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device by moving the moveable portion of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the fluid control surface such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device depending on the position of the moveable portion of the fluid control surface.

Abstract: A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern that guides the fluid; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device by guiding the fluid using the pattern of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device.

Abstract: A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow velocity characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern that changes the velocity of the fluid; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device using the pattern of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow velocity characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow velocity characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device.

Abstract: A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface; providing a mechanism applies a force to the fluid to cause the fluid to temporarily contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device using the mechanism such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device.

Abstract: A device and method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device using the pattern of the fluid control surface that, when activated, causes adjacent fluid drops to merge or coalesce while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device.

Abstract: A method of using a compacted pellet having uniform blended mixture with at least first and second different organic components that sublime at temperatures T1 and T2 respectively, wherein T1 represents the temperature of the first organic material with the lowest sublimation temperature and T2 represents the temperature of the second organic material with the highest sublimation temperature, to form an organic layer having a uniform blended mixture of the organic components, includes providing a compacted pellet, having a top and bottom surface, into a boat having an open top surface wherein the compacted pellet conforms to the interior of the boat; and applying heat to the top of the compacted pellet to cause the deposition of a uniform blended mixture of the organic components to form an organic layer.

Abstract: An inkjet printer system and method for recording an image in a single pass print mode includes a printhead having a plurality of nozzles that are selectively operable for depositing drops of liquid ink or other liquid used in forming of an image in a single pass print mode upon a surface of a receiver medium with a printing resolution R, a dot size Di of the dots resulting from impact of the drops with the receiver medium being in the range of 0.5/R<Di<1/R and a final dot size D after spreading on the surface being in the range of 2½/R<D<2.0/R. The receiver medium has a surface for receiving the drops and a region of the medium proximate the surface has an influence upon drop spreading and the region has a porosity in the range of 0.2 to 0.8 and sufficient to provide a media drop spread factor Sm wherein Sm=D/Di with 2½<Sm<2×2½.

Abstract: A method for increasing the diameter of an ink jet ink dot resulting from the application of an ink jet ink drop applied to the surface of an inkjet recording medium having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer and an overcoat layer, the ink penetration rate of the overcoat layer being faster than the ink penetration rate of the image-receiving layer; having the steps of: a) applying the overcoat layer on top of the image-receiving layer at a thickness less than the maximum thickness, the maximum thickness being that thickness whereby an ink jet ink drop applied to the surface of the overcoat layer will not substantially penetrate the surface of the image-receiving layer; and b) applying the ink jet ink drop on the surface of the overcoat layer whereby the diameter of the ink jet ink dot is increased relative to that which would have been obtained if the overcoat layer had been coated at a thickness of at least the maximum thickness.

Abstract: A method for increasing the diameter of an ink jet ink dot resulting from the application of an ink jet ink drop applied to the surface of an ink jet recording medium having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer and an overcoat layer, the ink penetration rate of the overcoat layer being faster than the ink penetration rate of the image-receiving layer; having the steps of: a) applying the overcoat layer on top of the image-receiving layer at a thickness less than the maximum thickness, the maximum thickness being that thickness whereby an ink jet ink drop applied to the surface of the overcoat layer will not substantially penetrate the surface of the image-receiving layer; and b) applying the ink jet ink drop on the surface of the overcoat layer whereby the diameter of the ink jet ink dot is increased relative to that which would have been obtained if the overcoat layer had been coated at a thickness of at least the maximum thickness.

Abstract: A method for reducing curl in a stored photographic film which aids in preventing serious difficulties with downstream film transport and handling of the film. The film, which has been stored as a roll wound on a first core or mandrel is unwound from the first core and wound onto a second core or mandrel in a first direction. The film is then unwound from the second core to yield a traveling web portion. The traveling web portion is preheated to a predetermined temperature while being continuously delivered to a housing. The film is wound onto a third core or mandrel located within the housing in a direction opposite the first direction where it is maintained at about the same predetermined temperature.