Abstract: A fluid droplet characterizing apparatus and method includes a pressurized source of a non-conductive fluid in fluid communication with a nozzle channel and a characterization electrode. The pressurized source is operable to form a jet of the non-conductive fluid through the nozzle channel. At least one portion of the characterization electrode is electrically conductive and contactable with first portion and thereafter a second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet. The at least one electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode is operable to transfer a first electrical charge to a region of the first portion of the non-conductive fluid jet and transfer a second electrical charge to a region of the second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming fluid droplets includes a nozzle channel, a pressurized source of a non-conductive fluid in fluid communication with the nozzle channel, and a stimulation electrode. The pressurized source is operable to form a jet of the non-conductive fluid through the nozzle channel. At least one portion of the stimulation electrode is electrically conductive and contactable with a portion of the non-conductive fluid jet. The at least one electrically conductive and contactable portion of the stimulation electrode is operable to transfer an electrical charge to a region of the portion of the non-conductive fluid jet with the electrical charge stimulating the non-conductive fluid jet to form a non-conductive fluid droplet.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a heat source, a primary heat engine and a secondary heat engine. The primary heat engine has a hot heat exchanger thermally coupled to the heat source and a cold heat exchanger. The secondary heat engine has a hot heat exchanger thermally coupled to the cold heat exchanger of the primary heat engine and a cold heat exchanger configured to reject waste heat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming fluid droplets includes a nozzle channel, a pressurized source of a non-conductive fluid in fluid communication with the nozzle channel, and a stimulation electrode. The pressurized source is operable to form a jet of the non-conductive fluid through the nozzle channel. At least one portion of the stimulation electrode is electrically conductive and contactable with a portion of the non-conductive fluid jet. The at least one electrically conductive and contactable portion of the stimulation electrode is operable to transfer an electrical charge to a region of the portion of the non-conductive fluid jet with the electrical charge stimulating the non-conductive fluid jet to form a non-conductive fluid droplet.

Abstract: A drop generator operable to selectively form a drop having a first size and a drop having a second size from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator. The drop having the first size and the drop having the second size travel along a drop trajectory with the first size being larger than the second size when compared to each other. Each of the drops has a drop velocity. A gas flow deflection system includes a gas flow that is directed at a deflection zone that comprises at least a portion of the drop trajectory. The gas flow in the deflection zone includes a velocity vector having a parallel velocity component and a perpendicular velocity component with the parallel velocity component and the perpendicular velocity component being defined relative to the drop trajectory.

Abstract: A fluid droplet characterizing apparatus and method includes a pressurized source of a non-conductive fluid in fluid communication with a nozzle channel and a characterization electrode. The pressurized source is operable to form a jet of the non-conductive fluid through the nozzle channel. At least one portion of the characterization electrode is electrically conductive and contactable with first portion and thereafter a second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet. The at least one electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode is operable to transfer a first electrical charge to a region of the first portion of the non-conductive fluid jet and transfer a second electrical charge to a region of the second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming fluid droplets includes a nozzle channel, a pressurized source of a non-conductive fluid in fluid communication with the nozzle channel, and a stimulation electrode. The pressurized source is operable to form a jet of the non-conductive fluid through the nozzle channel. At least one portion of the stimulation electrode is electrically conductive and contactable with a portion of the non-conductive fluid jet. The at least one electrically conductive and contactable portion of the stimulation electrode is operable to transfer an electrical charge to a region of the portion of the non-conductive fluid jet with the electrical charge stimulating the non-conductive fluid jet to form a non-conductive fluid droplet.

Abstract: A fluid droplet characterizing apparatus and method includes a pressurized source of a non-conductive fluid in fluid communication with a nozzle channel and a characterization electrode. The pressurized source is operable to form a jet of the non-conductive fluid through the nozzle channel. At least one portion of the characterization electrode is electrically conductive and contactable with first portion and thereafter a second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet. The at least one electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode is operable to transfer a first electrical charge to a region of the first portion of the non-conductive fluid jet and transfer a second electrical charge to a region of the second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet.

Abstract: A continuous inkjet print head jets a plurality of fluid streams from an array of multiple nozzle channels. The print head includes a flow conditioning means that establishes fully developed flow in one or more regions of the print head such that substantially equal flow conditions are created at each of the inlets of the multiple nozzle channels. The substantially equal flow conditions reduce nozzle-to-nozzle variations with respect to the required trajectories of the jetted fluids to improve jet pointing and thus lead to better print quality.

Abstract: A continuous printing apparatus includes a printhead including a first row of nozzles and a second row of nozzles. The first row of nozzles are spaced apart from the second row of nozzles by a distance A. The nozzles of the first row and the nozzles of the second row have a nozzle to nozzle spacing B when compared to each other. The apparatus includes a plurality of charging electrodes with one of the plurality of charging electrodes corresponding to each of the nozzles of the first row and the second row, wherein A?B/2. The apparatus can include a first deflection electrode and a second deflection electrode with the first deflection electrode being spaced apart from the second deflection electrode by a distance D, wherein D>A.

Abstract: A drop generator operable to selectively form a drop having a first size and a drop having a second size from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator. The drop having the first size and the drop having the second size travel along a drop trajectory with the first size being larger than the second size when compared to each other. Each of the drops has a drop velocity. A gas flow deflection system includes a gas flow that is directed at a deflection zone that comprises at least a portion of the drop trajectory. The gas flow in the deflection zone includes a velocity vector having a parallel velocity component and a perpendicular velocity component with the parallel velocity component and the perpendicular velocity component being defined relative to the drop trajectory.

Abstract: A multirow multinozzle continuous inkjet head comprises a plurality of rows of inkjet nozzles ejecting drops in regions of airflow velocity within a collinear flow of air. The airflow velocity at all nozzles is equal, but lower than the highest airflow velocity within the collinear flow of air. This allows many more drop streams to be placed in a velocity-matched airstream. Despite the drops being in regions with air velocity gradients across the drops, the lateral forces are such that droplet placement on the print media surface is accurate and well controlled.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling droplets allows the phase difference between a calibration signal and its signature signal on a detector to be minimized, or the amplitude of the signature signal to be maximized, by adjusting the droplet charging means of the device, or the droplet generation means, and the signals on either. The apparatus converts a stream of fluid into a stream of droplets under the influence of a droplet stimulation signal imposed onto the droplet generating means. Droplets are subsequently signal-wise charged under the influence of a droplet charging signal imposed on the droplet charging means. The charged droplets are then deflected. The calibration signal is imposed onto the stream of droplets. The calibration signal has characteristics that do not appreciably affect the trajectory of the stream of droplets, thereby ensuring that the placement accuracy of the individual droplets is a maintained.

Abstract: A continuous inkjet device emits a stream of fluid from nozzles. Droplet break-off is stimulated by the application of external perturbing stimulus to the stream in a manner that controls the formation of satellite drops. Satellite behavior is controlled by the use of a composite perturbing signal, composed of at least two frequencies that are not harmonically related, but are related by the ratio of small integers. In one embodiment, the use of two perturbing signals with frequencies fL and fH having a ratio of M/N, where M and N are integers, and M is not a multiple of N, and N is not a multiple of M, produces a repeating drop pattern of either M or N drops at the beat frequency of the combined signal, the constituent drops in said repeating pattern have different satellite formation characteristics.

Abstract: A multirow multinozzle continuous inkjet head comprises a plurality of rows of inkjet nozzles ejecting drops in regions of airflow velocity within a collinear flow of air. The airflow velocity at all nozzles is equal, but lower than the highest airflow velocity within the collinear flow of air. This allows many more drop streams to be placed in a velocity-matched airstream. Despite the drops being in regions with air velocity gradients across the drops, it is found that the lateral forces are such that droplet placement on the print media surface is accurate and well controlled.

Abstract: An optical cross-connect switch is disclosed for switching optical communication signals between any of a plurality of input optical channels and any of a plurality of output optical channels. The switch comprises a first pattern projector configured to project one or more first control signal radiation patterns and a plurality of output encoders. Each output encoder is associated with one of the plurality of output optical channels. Each output encoder is positioned, relative to its associated output optical channel and the first pattern projector, to receive the first control signal radiation patterns and to detect at least a portion of one or more corresponding output Moiré interference patterns produced by the control signal radiation patterns. Each output encoder is configured to generate a corresponding output control signal indicative of an intensity of detected output Moiré interference patterns.

Abstract: A multirow multinozzle continuous inkjet head comprises a plurality of rows of inkjet nozzles ejecting drops in regions of airflow velocity within a collinear flow of air. The airflow velocity at all nozzles is equal, but lower than the highest airflow velocity within the collinear flow of air. This allows many more drop streams to be placed in a velocity-matched airstream. Despite the drops being in regions with air velocity gradients across the drops, it is found that the lateral forces are such that droplet placement on the print media surface is accurate and well controlled.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining the optimal adjustment of imaging systems used to prepare lithographic printing surfaces for a printing press are described. A series of test patterns are imaged while varying a particular imaging parameter. This is followed, if necessary, by processing the plate in processing line. The plate is then returned to the digital imaging system where the reflectivity of the imaged test patterns is measured using a radiation source and detector, to determine the optimal setting for the parameter.

Abstract: An optical cross connect switch includes a number of monitor channels. The monitor channels can be used to calibrate the switch while it is in operation. The coordinates associated with individual channels of the switching unit may be represented in a common coordinate system. Transformations between the common coordinate system and coordinate systems of individual channels may be adjusted to compensate for drift.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for an optical fiber cross-connect switch incorporating an absolute position encoder and a magnetic actuation system into its alignment system. The switch comprises two optically opposed arrays of fiber-optic switching units, each of which contains a single fiber active to send or receive an optical communication signal. The magnetic actuation system comprising four magnetically polarizable actuator branches positioned surrounding the fiber and a magnetizable disk circumferentially attached to the fiber end. Selective magnetic polarization of the actuator branches bends the fiber end. A two-dimensional Moiré type position encoder determines the absolute position of the fiber end. The encoder comprises at east one plurality of radiation sources, which emits pulses of radiation (control signals) directed toward the switching units.