Abstract: A production apparatus, for producing a probe array,comprises a liquid discharging device for discharging a liquid containing a probe capable of being specifically bonded to a target substance in order to form a spot on the carrier, a detector for detecting whether the spot is formed or not by observing a surface state on the carrier, and a controller for controlling the liquid discharge device to again discharge the liquid to form the spot on the carrier if the detector detects that the spot has not been formed on the carrier.

Abstract: An alignment unit and an alignment method for aligning needle-like structures. The alignment unit includes a substrate having a surface and grooves defined in the surface. The grooves are sized and arranged such that when the needle-like structures are received therein, the needle-like structures are aligned.

Abstract: A method for forming a wiring according to the present invention includes supplying to a substrate a first liquid containing a first component to form a first pattern and a second liquid containing a second component to form a second pattern to come into contact with each other, the second component causing interfacial aggregation in a contact area with the first component when brought into contact with the first component, and forming a wiring pattern consisting of the first pattern and the second pattern on the substrate.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus for aligning needle-like structures. The apparatus includes a tapered nozzle having an entrance and a discharge opening. The nozzle is tapered in such a manner that its diameter decreases towards the discharge opening. The diameter of the nozzle at the entrance is larger than the length of the needle-like structures, and the diameter of the discharge opening is larger than the diameter of the needle-like structures and smaller than the length of the needle-like structures. By passing through the nozzle, the needle-like structures are aligned.

Abstract: When an exchanged ink tank is considered as “brandnew” by an information writing circuit, a first fuse is blown. A third fuse to the fifth fuse are blown according to individual discrimination number next to the used individual discrimination number stored in a RAM. Then, an integrating counter according to the individual discrimination number is selected and this selected counter value is reset. On the other hand, when the exchanged ink tank is considered as “used”, and individual discrimination number written by the third fuse to the fifth fuse is read out, and the integrating counter according to the individual discrimination number is selected. The number of printing dots per line is counted and the integrating value is compared to the predetermined waste count number of ink per line. When the integrating value is over the waste count number, an empty message is shown on a display portion.

Abstract: This invention provides an image printing apparatus capable of printing an image at various resolutions such as 300- and 360-dpi systems. To drive a printhead at a printing position corresponding to the resolution of printing data, information on whether to discharge ink separately in the forward and return passes of the printhead is stored in the storage area of a RAM in advance in correspondence with the main scanning position of the printhead. Data (0 or 1) stored in the RAM is read out by using, as a RAM address input, a count value output from a printhead position detection unit that represents the current position of the printhead. Only when the readout data is 1, a printing position pulse is generated to print an image at an arbitrary resolution. By setting ink discharge positions separately in the forward and return passes, an image can be printed at a high precision.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and printing method for improving printing speed in multi-pass printing without increasing the capacity of a printer power source while utilizing a conventional printhead. A plurality of printing elements of the printhead is divided into a plurality of blocks; different blocks are selected from the plurality of blocks for each scan of the multi-pass printing; printing elements included in the selected block are time-divisionally driven; and moving speed of the carriage is increased in accordance with the number of times of scans in multi-pass printing. In multi-pass printing, for instance, in a case where the number of blocks selected for each scan of multi-pass printing is one half of the total number of blocks, the moving speed of the carriage is doubled, thereby achieving high-quality image printing while maintaining high speed of the printing.

Abstract: This invention discloses a printing apparatus and printing method for shortening the print data transfer time in thinning and driving nozzles in high-speed printing, multipass printing, or the like. In thinning and driving nozzle blocks, a printer main body transmits data representing a print mode, and print data corresponding to nozzles to be used. In a printhead, a shift clock generator generates a shift clock shortened in period in accordance with the thinning ratio, and a shift register stores the print data in correspondence with the clock. Print data corresponding to the printing elements to be used are repetitively stored in areas corresponding to printing elements not to be used.

Abstract: A print head capable of printing with different resolutions includes a plurality of printing elements for applying printing agent on a printing material, wherein the print head is movable relative to the printing material in a moving direction; and drive timing changing means for changing drive timing of the printing elements in accordance with the print resolution to change print pitch in the moving direction.

Abstract: In order to correct variations in the head temperature controlling due to variations in temperature sensing accuracy of a head temperature sensor, an ink jet recording apparatus and a method driving the same according to the present invention have pulse generating devices which can generate a plurality of signal trains of pulse widths corresponding to head temperature and devices for selecting a signal train in accordance with correction accuracy of an output of the head temperature sensor.

Abstract: When the exchanged ink tank is considered as “brandnew” by the information writing circuit 35, the first fuse is blown. The third fuse to the fifth fuse are blown according to individual discrimination number next to the used individual discrimination number stored in the RAM 32. Then, the integrating counter according to individual discrimination number is selected and this selected counter value is reset. On the other hand, when the exchanged ink tank is considered as “used”, individual discrimination number written by the third fuse to the fifth fuse is read out, and the integrating counter according to individual discrimination number is selected. The number of printing dots per line is counted and integrating value is compared to the predetermined waste count number of ink per line. When integrating value is over the waste count number, an empty message is shown on the display portion 36.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a production apparatus for producing a probe carrier by discharging plural kinds of liquids respectively containing plural kinds of probes capable of being specifically bonded to a target substance on a carrier, comprising a liquid discharging device having nozzles for discharging the liquids respectively containing the plural kinds of probes capable of being specifically bonded to the target substance on the carrier, a positioning means for determining a relative position between the liquid discharging device and the carrier, an application information detector for detecting an application information of a liquid to be discharged on the carrier from the liquid discharging device on the basis of discharge data, a defective spot detector for detecting by comparing the discharge data with the application information detected the fact that the liquids are not applied to spots where the respective liquids should be applied by the application information detector, and a discharge data forming m

Abstract: A printhead which high-precisely performs registration adjustment between print dots even in use of plural printheads or a printhead having plural printing element arrays, and a printing apparatus using the printhead. Registration adjustment can be performed with a value equal to or less than a printing resolution in a main-scanning direction by changing the order of nozzle blocks of at least one of two nozzle arrays, in accordance with a stored amount of registration shift, without transmission of a specific control signal from the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A liquid discharge method is disclosed which comprises a displacement step where a movable member is displaced by generating an electrostatic force between a substrate having a thermal energy generating element for generating thermal energy which is utilized to discharge a liquid through a discharge port and the movable member disposed opposite to the thermal energy generating element and having a free end on a downstream side in the flow direction of the liquid to thereby displace a liquid surface at the discharge port to an upstream side in the flow direction of the liquid; and a discharge step where the movable member is displaced owing to a bubble formed by the thermal energy generated by the thermal energy generating element to discharge the liquid through the discharge port. In addition, there are also herein disclosed a liquid discharge head, a manufacturing method of the head, a head cartridge, a liquid discharge device, and the like.

Abstract: This invention discloses a printing apparatus and printing method for shortening the print data transfer time in thinning and driving nozzles in high-speed printing, multipass printing, or the like. In thinning and driving nozzle blocks, a printer main body transmits data representing a print mode, and print data (IDATA) corresponding to nozzles to be used. In a printhead, a shift clock generator (5) generates a shift clock (SCLK) shortened in period in accordance with the thinning ratio, and a shift register (1) stores the print data in correspondence with the clock. Print data corresponding to the printing elements to be used are repetitively stored in areas corresponding to printing elements not to be used.

Abstract: In order to perform detection of remaining amount of an ink in an ink tank used in an ink-jet printing apparatus, a current to be supplied to an ejection heater for driving the ejection heater to perform ink ejection via a stabilized power source 3 is detected by an FC timer. The FC timer is constructed to cause variation of position of an electrolyte in a mercury depending upon integrated amount of the detected current. Thus, by visually observing the position of the electrolyte in the FC timer, the total consumed amount of the ink can be detected.

Abstract: A method for refilling liquid using a refilling container is to refill liquid to a liquid reserving container, which is provided with a first chamber that houses a negative pressure generating member, at the same time, having an aperture conductively connected to the outside, and with a second chamber conductively connected with the first chamber through a communicating unit for forming essentially a closed space with the exception of the communicating unit.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus for performing a print operation by scanning a print head having a plurality of printing elements in a direction perpendicular to the convey direction of a recording medium, a divisional print operation is performed by using the print head upon setting print timing differences for a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing the plurality of printing elements. In this case, a command to finely change the print timing differences is input through an input unit, and the print operation is controlled to perform a divisional print operation by finely adjusting the print timing differences on the basis of the command.

Abstract: An image receiving apparatus includes a light source for emitting a pulsed light beam, a shifting device for progressively shifting the light beam emitted from the light source, an imaging device for receiving image information related to an object illuminated by the shifted beam from the shifting device as electric signals, an image integrating unit for integrating the electric signals received by the imaging device to generate integrated image information, and a controller for controlling a repetition frequency of the pulsed emission of the light source and a shifting period of the shifting device in synchronization with a timing for receiving image information by the imaging device. The image receiving apparatus of the present invention can be utilized to perform alignment of an object. A method to perform such alignment is also disclosed.

Abstract: An exposure control system includes a pulsed light source; a photoelectric converting device for receiving a portion of pulsed light from the pulsed light source and for producing a photoelectric signal; an integration gate producing device for producing an integration gate signal after a predetermined specified time from the production of an emission synchronization signal related to the pulsed light source, wherein the specified time is set to be not greater than a delay time from the production of the emission synchronization signal to the start of actual emission of the pulsed light source; and integrating device for integrating the photoelectric signal from the photoelectric converting device during a time period in which the integration gate producing device produces the integration gate signal; and a control device for integrating a resultant of the integration by the integrating device each time one pulse light is emitted, the control device discriminating whether the result of integration is less tha