Patent ID: 8220907
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A method of characterizing fluid droplets comprising: providing a non-conductive fluid jet; providing a first electrical charge on an electrically conductive portion of a characterization electrode; characterizing a first fluid droplet formed from a first portion of the non-conductive fluid jet by causing the electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode to be initially in intimate contact with the first portion of the non-conductive fluid jet to transfer the first electrical charge from the electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode to a region of the first portion of the non-conductive fluid jet that stimulates the non-conductive fluid jet to form a first fluid droplet; providing a second electrical charge on the electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode; and characterizing a second fluid droplet formed from a second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet by causing the electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode to be in intimate contact with the second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet after the electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode has been in intimate contact with the first portion of the non-conductive fluid jet, the electrically conductive portion of the characterization electrode being in intimate contact with the second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet to transfer a second electrical charge to a region of the second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet that stimulates the non-conductive fluid jet to form a second fluid droplet, wherein the first fluid droplet formed from the first portion of the non-conductive fluid jet has a first characteristic determined by the first electrical charge transferred to the region of the first portion and the second fluid droplet formed from the second portion of the non-conductive fluid jet has a second characteristic that is different than the first characteristic and is determined by the second electrical charge transferred to the region of the second portion.