Abstract: A method of printing includes directing print media to a print zone between a printhead and a platen for a print job; and adjusting a spacing between the printhead and the platen during the print job, including one of adjusting the spacing within a page of the print job and adjusting the spacing between pages of the print job.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system with first means for forming a chamber adjacent to a component formed on a substrate and a single orifice between the chamber and a first surface of the first means that is opposite a second surface of the first means adjacent to the substrate and second means for enclosing the chamber on at least a portion of the first surface that encompasses the single orifice are disclosed.

Abstract: A heater controller to maintain a uniform temperature of a printhead is provided herein. The heater controller monitors the temperature of the printhead and controls the heating of the printhead. The heater controller enables at least two of a plurality of warming groups based on warming power requirements of the printhead. The heater controller alternates activation of the at least two of the plurality of warming groups by rotating each of the at least two of the plurality of warming groups between an on mode and an off mode to uniformily distribute heating power to the printhead.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes first means for pre-charging a node to a first potential where the node coupled to a switch configured to control current through a firing resistor and second means for selectively discharging the node to a second potential across a path that has only one transistor between the node and the second potential.

Abstract: Methods and means for imaging are provided. A sequential application hierarchy of two or more colors is defined. A page-wide print array forms images on a moving media using colored inks. Shingling is performed in accordance with the sequential application hierarchy within the overlap print zones of the page-wide print array. Images formed on the media are visually seamless and of proper hue and color saturation throughout as a result of the present teachings.

Abstract: A method for forwarding a firing signal within a nozzle group of a fluid ejection device includes receiving warm data and fire data. A firing signal having a firing pulse preceded by a warming pulse is received. The firing signal is conditionally modified according to of the fire data. The conditionally modified firing signal is forwarded to a particular nozzle circuit of the nozzle group.

Abstract: Methods and means for imaging are provided. A sequential application hierarchy of two or more colors is defined. A page-wide print array forms images on a moving media using colored inks. Shingling is performed in accordance with the sequential application hierarchy within the overlap print zones of the page-wide print array. Images formed on the media are visually seamless and of proper hue and color saturation throughout as a result of the present teachings.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes first means for pre-charging a node to a first potential where the node coupled to a switch configured to control current through a firing resistor and second means for selectively discharging the node to a second potential across a path that has only one transistor between the node and the second potential.

Abstract: A method for forwarding a firing signal within a nozzle group of a fluid ejection device includes receiving warm data and fire data. A firing signal having a firing pulse preceded by a warming pulse is received. The firing signal is conditionally modified according to of the fire data. The conditionally modified firing signal is forwarded to a particular nozzle circuit of the nozzle group.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system with first means for forming a chamber adjacent to a component formed on a substrate and a single orifice between the chamber and a first surface of the first means that is opposite a second surface of the first means adjacent to the substrate and second means for enclosing the chamber on at least a portion of the first surface that encompasses the single orifice are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a slotted substrate that includes patterning a thin film over a substrate so that at least a portion of the substrate within a slot region is not covered by the thin film. In addition, a slot is formed in the substrate through the slot region that extends through the substrate and the thin film, wherein a chip count in a shelf surrounding the slot is minimized when the slot is formed in the substrate through the thin film in the slot region.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming slotted substrates are described. In one exemplary embodiment, a substrate has a thickness defined by a first surface and a generally opposing second surface. The substrate has a fluid-feed slot extending between the first surface and the second surface with the fluid-feed slot being defined, at least in part, by a central portion and one or more capillary channels in fluid flowing relation to the central portion.

Abstract: The present invention includes as one embodiment an inkjet printhead including a plurality of ink drop generators configured to recieve a same color of ink and grouped into four axis groups, each of the four axis groups including a plurality of nozzles arranged along one of four axes, wherein the drop generators are staggered with respect to one another to decrease an effective pitch of the inkjet printhead to substantially one fourth of the pitch of a single one of the four axis groups.

Abstract: A coated substrate for a center feed printhead has a substrate, a thin film applied over the substrate, and a slot region extending through the substrate and the thin film. A slot is formed through the slot region of the coated substrate. The thin film layer coating minimizes crack formation and/or a chip count in a shelf surrounding the slot through the substrate. In one embodiment, the slot is formed mechanically. In one embodiment, a plurality of thin films is used. The slot region extends through the plurality of thin films. Any combination of thin films may be applied over the substrate. In one embodiment, the thin film is at least one of a metal film, a polymer film, and a dielectric film. In another embodiment, the thin film material is ductile and/or deposited under compression. In one embodiment, the substrate is silicon, and the thin film is an insulating layer grown from the substrate, such as field oxide. In one embodiment, the thin film is PSG.

Abstract: The present invention includes as one embodiment a fluid ejection device coupled to an ink supply and having multiple printing modes, including a sufficient number of ink drop generators fluidically coupled to the ink supply device and formed in the fluid ejection device and arranged along at least three axes that are substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other to provided printing resolution of at least 600 dots per inch with each printing mode. The plurality of ink drop generators is arranged along four axes that are substantially parallel and spaced transverse to each other and wherein the plurality of ink drop generators arranged along the four axes are staggered with respect to each of the axes to decrease an effective pitch of the fluid ejection device to approximately one-fourth that of a plurality of ink drop generators arranged along a single axis.

Abstract: A narrow ink jet printhead having efficient FET drive circuits that are configured to compensate for parasitic resistances of power traces. The ink jet printhead further includes ground busses that overlap active regions of the FET drive circuits.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention recites a fluid ejection device comprising a first drop ejector configured to cause fluid having a first drop weight to be ejected from the firing chamber, and includes a first heating element. A first bore, disposed within an orifice layer proximate to the first drop ejector, is associated with the first drop ejector. A second drop ejector is configured to cause fluid having a second drop weight to be ejected from the firing chamber, and includes a second heating element A second bore, disposed within the orifice layer proximate to the second drop ejector, is associated with the second drop ejector. A voltage source, coupled in series with the first drop ejector and the second drop ejector, is configured to generate a first voltage for activating the first drop ejector individually and a second voltage for activating the first drop ejector and the second drop ejector substantially concurrently.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a substrate having fluid feed slots coupled to a fluid supply, and a plurality of drop generators fluidically coupled to the fluid feed slots and formed in the substrate. The plurality of drop generators are arranged in at least three staggered axis groups along axes that are approximately parallel and spaced transverse to each other substrate.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead includes a printhead substrate having a plurality of thin film layers and three side by side columnar arrays of drop generators formed in the printhead substrate and extending along a longitudinal extent. Each columnar array has ink drop generators that are separated by an ink drop generator pitch P. The ink drop generators produce ink drops having an ink drop volume that enables multi-pass printing of a resolution that is not less than 1/(2P) dpi along a print axis parallel to the longitudinal extent. Three columnar arrays of FET drive circuits formed in the printhead substrate are employed to energize corresponding columnar arrays of ink drop generators.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention recites a fluid ejection device comprising a first drop ejector configured to cause fluid having a first drop weight to be ejected from the firing chamber, and includes a first heating element. A first bore, disposed within an orifice layer proximate to the first drop ejector, is associated with the first drop ejector. A second drop ejector is configured to cause fluid having a second drop weight to be ejected from the firing chamber, and includes a second heating element. A second bore, disposed within the orifice layer proximate to the second drop ejector, is associated with the second drop ejector. A voltage source, coupled in series with the first drop ejector and the second drop ejector, is configured to generate a first voltage for activating the first drop ejector individually and a second voltage for activating the first drop ejector and the second drop ejector substantially concurrently.