Abstract: An electrostatic ink jet printhead having an electrostatic actuator with improved resistance to adverse effects resulting from misalignment of a body layer to a gap standoff layer. In an embodiment, first and second portions of the gap standoff layer each have a first width and first and second sections of the body have each have a second width that is wider than the first width. Even with an amount of misalignment, the first and second sections of the body layer define nodes for an actuator membrane, thereby maintaining an effective width (WE) of the actuator membrane that is equal to a target width (WT) of the actuator membrane.

Abstract: A method for forming a plurality of electrostatic actuator membranes for an electrostatically actuated ink jet printhead. The method can include forming a blanket actuator membrane layer on an etch stop layer, where the etch stop layer is interposed between the blanket membrane layer and a handle layer such as a semiconductor wafer. The blanket actuator membrane layer is patterned to form a plurality of actuator membranes. The plurality of actuator membranes is attached to a printhead drive assembly that includes circuitry for actuating the plurality of actuator membranes. Subsequently, the handle layer and etch stop layer are removed, thereby leaving the plurality of actuator membranes attached to the printhead drive assembly.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead configured to eject high viscosity material and refill a reservoir in the printhead with high viscosity material. The printhead includes a transducer having an electroactive element and a member to which the electroactive element is mounted. An electrical signal activates the electroactive element to move the electroactive element and the member in the reservoir of high viscosity material. This movement thins the high viscosity material and enables the printhead to eject the thinned material while refilling the reservoir. The apertures through which the thinned material is ejected share a common manifold without separate chambers for each of the apertures.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator for a printhead. The electrostatic actuator may include a substrate. A dielectric layer may be disposed on the substrate. An electrode layer may be disposed on the dielectric layer. A first standoff layer may be disposed at least partially on the electrode layer. A second standoff layer may be disposed at least partially on the electrode layer and at least partially on the first standoff layer. A portion of the second standoff layer disposed on the electrode layer may be removed to form one or more landing pads. A membrane may be disposed at least partially on the second standoff layer.

Abstract: A printhead including a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator of the plurality of actuators includes a plurality of drive electrodes, a plurality of diaphragms, and a single nozzle. Each drive electrode is uniquely paired with one of the diaphragms. In an embodiment, the printhead may be configured so that all drive electrodes for a single actuator always activate simultaneously to eject ink from the single nozzle. In another embodiment, the printhead may be configured so that each drive electrode of the plurality of drive electrodes for a single actuator are individually addressable and may be fired independently of the other drive electrodes of the single actuator.

Abstract: A method for forming an ink jet printhead subassembly can include the use of a sacrificial form coated with a coating material to fabricate a printhead subassembly having a plurality of ink channels configured for flowing ink therethrough. The sacrificial form can be manufactured using one or more described techniques. Subsequently, the sacrificial form may be removed from the coating material to provide a printhead subassembly including the coating material and an ink channel through the coating material. The completed printhead subassembly can include a single solid structure manufactured from a single material, or can include more than one solid structures assembled together.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead configured to eject high viscosity material and refill a manifold in the printhead with high viscosity material. The printhead includes a layer having an opening to form a reservoir to hold a volume of a high viscosity material and at least one member positioned within the receptacle formed by the opening in the layer. The at least one member has an electroactive element mounted to the member, and an electrical signal generator is electrically connected to the electroactive element. A controller operates the electrical signal generator to activate selectively the electroactive element with a first electrical signal to move the at least one member and thin the high viscosity material adjacent the at least one member to enable the thinned material to move away from the at least one member.

Abstract: A flex circuit board provides islands of electrically isolated material surrounding openings in the flex circuit board to preserve fluid integrity of passageways passing through an electrically insulating layer of the flex circuit board. The electrically isolated islands surround exits of the passageways through the electrically insulating material and extend the passageways through an electrically conductive layer of the flex circuit board. Consequently, fluid passing through the passageways and electrically isolated islands in the flex circuit board is not subjected to electrical current.

Abstract: A method is provided for using a single-pixel imager in order to spatially reconstruct an image of a scene. The method can comprise the following: configuring a light filtering device including an array of imaging elements to a spatially varying optical filtering process of incoming light according to a series of spatial patterns corresponding to sampling functions. The light filtering device can be a transmissive filter including a first membrane, a second membrane, and a variable gap therebetween. The method further comprises tuning a controller for manipulating a variable dimension of the gap; and, measuring, using a photodetector of the single-pixel imager, a magnitude of an intensity of the filtered light across pixel locations in the series of spatial patterns. The magnitude of the intensity can be equivalent to an integral value of the scene across the pixel locations.

Abstract: A flex circuit board provides islands of electrically isolated material surrounding openings in the flex circuit board to preserve fluid integrity of passageways passing through an electrically insulating layer of the flex circuit board. The electrically isolated islands surround exits of the passageways through the electrically insulating material and extend the passageways through an electrically conductive layer of the flex circuit board. Consequently, fluid passing through the passageways and electrically isolated islands in the flex circuit board is not subjected to electrical current.

Abstract: Methods and systems of ejecting ink drops from an inkjet printer are disclosed. The methods and systems can include a printhead with one or more tapered nozzles each with an associated taper angle and exit diameter. Ink can be received into the printhead and formed into ink drops in the tapered nozzles. The ink drops can each have an associated drop mass and drop speed. The tapered nozzles can be provided such that the exit diameter can independently dictate the drop mass and the taper angle can independently dictate the drop speed. As such, the complexity of jet design optimization is reduced.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead includes a nozzle plate including a nozzle, a recess in the nozzle plate, and a compliant layer that covers the recess and forms a sealed pocket that may be filled with air or another gas during use of the printhead. During actuation of a piezoelectric element during the ejection of ink from the nozzle, the sealed pocket attenuates an acoustic energy generated by the piezoelectric element, thereby reducing crosstalk to adjacent nozzles by the acoustic energy.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator for a printhead. The electrostatic actuator may include a substrate. A dielectric layer may be disposed on the substrate. An electrode layer may be disposed on the dielectric layer. A first standoff layer may be disposed at least partially on the electrode layer. A second standoff layer may be disposed at least partially on the electrode layer and at least partially on the first standoff layer. A portion of the second standoff layer disposed on the electrode layer may be removed to form one or more landing pads. A membrane may be disposed at least partially on the second standoff layer.

Abstract: A printhead including a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator of the plurality of actuators includes a plurality of drive electrodes, a plurality of diaphragms, and a single nozzle. Each drive electrode is uniquely paired with one of the diaphragms. In an embodiment, the printhead may be configured so that all drive electrodes for a single actuator always activate simultaneously to eject ink from the single nozzle. In another embodiment, the printhead may be configured so that each drive electrode of the plurality of drive electrodes for a single actuator are individually addressable and may be fired independently of the other drive electrodes of the single actuator.

Abstract: A method is provided for using a single-pixel imager in order to spatially reconstruct an image of a scene. The method can comprise the following: configuring a light filtering device including an array of imaging elements to a spatially varying optical filtering process of incoming light according to a series of spatial patterns corresponding to sampling functions. The light filtering device can be a transmissive filter including a first membrane, a second membrane, and a variable gap therebetween. The method further comprises tuning a controller for manipulating a variable dimension of the gap; and, measuring, using a photodetector of the single-pixel imager, a magnitude of an intensity of the filtered light across pixel locations in the series of spatial patterns. The magnitude of the intensity can be equivalent to an integral value of the scene across the pixel locations.

Abstract: A method and structure for a printhead including a plurality of electrostatic actuators may include the formation of a first conductive layer, a first dielectric layer over the first conductive layer, and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. The first and second dielectric layers may be patterned to expose the first conductive layer, then sidewalls of the first dielectric layer may be isotropically etched to recess the sidewalls under the second dielectric layer. A self-patterned second conductive layer may be formed to include a first portion that forms at least a portion of an actuator electrode and physically and electrically contacts the first conductive layer, and a second portion that physically contacts the second dielectric layer. An actuator membrane may be diffusion bonded to the second dielectric layer using the second portion of the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A nanoprinthead including an array of nanotip cantilevers, where each nanotip cantilever includes a nanotip at an end of a cantilever, and a method for forming the nanoprinthead. Each nanotip may be individually addressable through use of an array of piezoelectric actuators. Embodiments for forming a nanoprinthead including an array of nanotip cantilevers can include an etching process from a material such as a silicon wafer, or the formation of a metal or dielectric nanotip cantilever over a substrate. The nanoprinthead may operate to provide uses for technologies such as dip-pen nanolithography, nanomachining, and nanoscratching, among others.

Abstract: A printhead including a plurality of embossed first flex circuit pads and a first plurality of first active traces on a first side of a dielectric substrate, and a plurality of embossed second flex circuit pads on a second side of the dielectric substrate. The plurality of embossed first flex circuit pads are configured to be electrically active as part of an electric circuit during operation of the printhead, while the plurality of embossed second flex circuit pads may be configured to be electrically active or electrically inactive during operation of the printhead.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator array including a plurality of recesses within an actuator membrane and a method for forming same. In an embodiment, a width of each recess is wider than a width of each bonding feature of a plurality of bonding features, and each bonding feature extends into one of the recesses. In another embodiment, a width of each recess is narrower than a width of each bonding feature. In each embodiment, adhesive within the recesses bonds the membrane to the bonding feature. The recesses provide a flow path for the adhesive to reduce or prevent adhesive encroachment into an air chamber within which an actuator electrode is located.

Abstract: A method and structure for a printhead including a plurality of electrostatic actuators may include the formation of a first conductive layer, a first dielectric layer over the first conductive layer, and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. The first and second dielectric layers may be patterned to expose the first conductive layer, then sidewalls of the first dielectric layer may be isotropically etched to recess the sidewalls under the second dielectric layer. A self-patterned second conductive layer may be formed to include a first portion that forms at least a portion of an actuator electrode and physically and electrically contacts the first conductive layer, and a second portion that physically contacts the second dielectric layer. An actuator membrane may be diffusion bonded to the second dielectric layer using the second portion of the second conductive layer.