Abstract: A method of ejecting ink from a thermal inkjet printhead. The method includes the steps of: (i) supplying an ink to at least one nozzle chamber of the printhead; and (ii) actuating a heater element in the nozzle chamber and heating the ink to a temperature sufficient to form a bubble therein, thereby causing the ink to be ejected from a nozzle opening associated with the nozzle chamber. The ink is a solvent-based ink composition including: (a) 20-80 wt. % of a compound of formula (A); wherein: R1 is C1-6 alkyl; and each of R2, R3 and R4 is independently selected from H, C1-6 alkyl, halogen, OH, and C1-6 alkoxy; (b) 10-70 wt. % of a C1-6 alcohol; and (c) 0.01-25 wt. % of a colorant.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer includes a wafer assembly defining rows of spaced apart ink supply channels; and rows of ink ejection nozzle groups extending from the wafer assembly, each nozzle group including a pair of rows of ink ejection nozzles, each ink ejection nozzle including an ink ejection head from which an elongate actuator tail extends, all of the ink ejection heads of each group being in fluid communication with a respective ink supply channel. In each nozzle group, the actuator tails of one pair of rows of ink ejection nozzles extend in an opposite direction to the actuator tails of the other pair of rows of ink ejection nozzles. The actuator tails from adjacent rows of ink ejection nozzle groups are interleaved.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having an assembly of printhead modules. Each printhead module has a support defining fluid chambers, a fluid distributor on the support, and an integrated circuit on the distributor so that fluid in the chambers is distributed to the fluid ejection nozzles of the integrated circuit by the distributor. The support and distributor of each printhead module are shaped to define complementary formations on opposite sides of that printhead module so that the printhead modules are mated together in an angled fashion with the integrated circuits of the mated printhead modules abutting together and diagonally overlapping to define at least one row of fluid ejection nozzles of the printhead.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is disclosed. The printhead assembly includes at least one printhead module having at least two printhead integrated circuits, a drive electronics part incorporating at least one controller for controlling the printing operation of at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and a casing part for supporting the drive electronics part and the at least one printhead module. The casing part incorporates a clamping arrangement for removably clamping the at least one printhead module to the casing part. The clamping arrangement allows movement of the at least one printhead module relative to the casing during operation of the printhead assembly.

Abstract: A cradle unit for receiving a printer cartridge unit includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which a print engine controller for controlling a printhead of the printer cartridge unit is provided, the PCB having a row of electrical contacts; a cover assembly movable between a closed position where the printer cartridge unit is mechanically secured in the cradle unit, and an opened position where removal of the printer cartridge unit from the cradle unit is facilitated; a pair of arms for supporting the PCB therebetween, each of the pair of arms having a grooved portion; and a pair of tension springs, one end of each tension spring being engaged with the grooved portion of respective arms, and another end of each tension spring being engaged with the cover assembly. The cover assembly, pair of arms, and tension springs are configured to bias the row of electrical contacts into electrical contact with the printer cartridge when the cover assembly is moved from the opened position to the closed position.

Abstract: A printhead module assembly includes a printhead integrated circuit (IC) assembly having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles arranged to form staggered rows, and defining a plurality of ink channels for supplying ink to the ink ejection nozzles; a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to supply both power and data to the IC assembly; a support sheet defining a plurality of ink holes and to which the IC assembly is bonded so that the ink channels are aligned with the ink holes; and a channel layer mounted to the support sheet adjacent to the IC assembly, the channel layer defining a plurality of slots aligned with respective air holes defined in the support sheet.

Abstract: The invention provides for a printhead assembly that has a number of modular PCBs and a number of printhead integrated circuits (ICs). Each of the printhead IC's is respectively connected to one of the modular PCBs for operative control. Modular supports in the assembly define a raised portion and a recessed portion at an end thereof. Each PCB has electrical connecting strips which operatively overlie the respective recessed portions. At least one connecting member operatively connects respective PCBs to each other. Each connecting member has a series of parallel spaced conducting strips. The member is shaped and configured for fitment into a cavity defined by the raised and recessed portions of two abutting supports to connect the connecting strips of two PCBs via the conducting strips. The assembly also has a printer controller configured to synchronize operation of the respective PCBs during printing.

Abstract: A method of notetaking includes the steps of: displaying a source document on a display device; writing notes on a substrate relating to the displayed source document to create handwritten notes; generating digital ink representing the handwritten notes; and indexing the digital ink with an identifier for the displayed source document so that the displayed source document is retrievable when accessing the notes. The displayed source document has no association with the substrate prior to writing the notes.

Abstract: A system for notetaking includes: a display device for displaying a source document to a user; a printed substrate for receiving handwritten notes relating to the displayed source document, the printed substrate having a position-coding pattern identifying a substrate identity and a plurality of coordinate locations on the substrate; an optically imaging pen having a writing nib, the pen being configured for imaging the position-coding pattern whilst writing the notes and generating digital ink; and a computer system configured for indexing the digital ink with an identifier for the displayed source document so that the displayed source document is retrievable when accessing the notes.

Abstract: A method of notetaking includes the steps of: displaying a source document on a display device; writing notes on a printed substrate relating to the displayed source document using an optically imaging pen to create handwritten notes; imaging a position-coding pattern whilst writing the notes and generating digital ink; and indexing the digital ink with an identifier for the displayed source document so that the displayed source document is retrievable when accessing the notes. The displayed source document has no association with the printed substrate prior to writing the notes.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having a casing mounted on a molding to define a fluid reservoir and a first passage in fluid communication between the fluid reservoir, a wafer at least defining at least a part of a channel spaced from the first passage and at least a part of a second passage arranged to provide fluid communication between the first passage and channel, a plurality of ink ejection devices in fluid communication with the channel, and a metal cap portion which encloses the casing and molding.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge cradle is provided having a frame, a printed circuit board pivotally supported by the frame, a cover pivotally supported by the frame to pivot between a closed position at which a printhead cartridge is secured within the frame and the printed circuit board is pivoted to connect control circuitry on the printed circuit board with a controller of the secured cartridge and an open position at which access for the cartridge with the frame is provided and the printed circuit board is pivoted to disconnect the control circuitry and controller, and a motor operatively connected to a maintenance gear and actuator arrangement and a wiper gear and actuator arrangement for maintaining and wiping a printhead of the secured cartridge under control of the connected control circuitry.

Abstract: An electronic pen for interacting with a surface. The pen comprises a cartridge having a nib for contacting the surface, a capacitive force sensor cooperating with said cartridge for sensing a nib force transmitted axially through the cartridge, and a processor configured to generate force data indicative of a force detected by the force sensor. The capacitive force sensor comprises: a spring having an integral conductive moving plate resiliently biased towards a reference position, a conductive fixed plate and a dielectric separating said plates.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The actuator in each of the droplet ejectors is configured to generate a pressure pulse in a quantity of ink adjacent the nozzle aperture, the pressure pulse being directed towards the nozzles aperture such that the droplet of ink is ejected through the nozzle aperture. The actuator is positioned in the droplet ejector such that it is less than 30 microns from an exterior surface of the printhead surface layer.

Abstract: A print cartridge that has a printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements, a rotor element rotatable between a blot position where the rotor element blots the printhead integrated circuit, a seal position where the rotor element seals the nozzle arrangements, and a platen position in which the rotor element positions a printing medium proximate the printhead integrated circuit, an air distribution channel configured to deliver air along the printhead, communicable with an air supply, a plurality of reservoirs for printing fluids for the printhead integrated circuit and, a refill port arranged in fluid communication with printing fluid conduits each leading to one of the reservoir respectively, the port facilitating refilling of the reservoirs from a refill cartridge.

Abstract: A print medium configured to be printed on by a pagewidth printhead in a print direction. The print medium includes: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; a data track containing first information encoded in accordance with a linear encoding scheme, the data track extending in a linear read direction across a portion of the first face of the print medium, the read direction being oriented at between 45 and 135 degrees with respect to the print direction; and a plurality of contiguous tags tiled across the laminar substrate. Each of the tags identifies second information and a two-dimensional coordinate position on the laminar substrate. Each of the tags is encoded in accordance with a second encoding scheme distinct from the linear encoding scheme. The information is indicative of the second information.

Abstract: An electronic pen comprises a retractable cartridge, a retraction mechanism for extending and retracting the cartridge, a button for actuating the retraction mechanism, a sensing arrangement for sensing a configuration of the pen, and a processor cooperating with the sensing arrangement. The processor is adapted to configure a state of the pen in response to input signals from the sensing arrangement. The sensing arrangement comprises a button sensor coupled to the button, which senses actuation of the button and a cartridge sensor for sensing whether the cartridge is extended or retracted.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of determining a coordinate value with respect to patterns printed on a document. Each pattern represents a sequence, with each sequence consisting of a repeating codeword of a cyclic position code. The pattern is sensed, and from each sensed pattern a respective sub-sequence of symbols is obtained. Each of the sub-sequences is then mapped to a respective mapped codeword of the cyclic position code. An offset between each mapped codeword and the codeword is determined, and a difference is derived between pairs of offsets. The coordinate value is derived by interpreting one of the differences as a marker separating the coordinate value from an adjacent coordinate value, and the remaining differences as digits of the coordinate value.

Abstract: A cradle unit for a printhead cartridge is provided having a support bay for removably receiving the printhead cartridge, and an interface mounted on a slanted face within the support bay, the interface comprising connections which are movably tilted on said slanted face so as to be exposed within the support bay for connection with connections of the printhead cartridge when received in the support bay. The connections of the interface connect the printhead cartridge with a power supply which is remote from the interface.

Abstract: A method of printing comprising the steps of: (i) operatively positioning a swipe printer relative to a surface and swiping the printer across the surface; (ii) printing, during the swipe, successive parts of a position-coding pattern onto the surface; (iii) printing, during the swipe, successive parts of a graphic image onto the surface, the position-coding pattern and the graphic image being superimposed; (iv) imaging, during the swipe, portions of the surface on which the printhead has printed the parts of the position-coding pattern; (v) determining, during the swipe, absolute positions of the printhead using imaged parts of the position-coding pattern; and (vi) using the absolute positions to control, during the swipe, printing of the position-coding pattern and the graphic image.