Patent ID: 6302524
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An acoustic droplet emitter comprising:a) a channel for containing a liquid having sidewalls spaced apart a first distance and an opening on an opening plane,b) a liquid level control plate, having a bottom surface coplanar with the opening plane, the liquid level control plate also having a thickness, a top surface, and an aperture with an entrance edge, the aperture having an aperture width, the entrance edge being so constructed and arranged to hold a perimeter of a meniscus of a liquid contained in said channel substantially at the opening in said channel,c) a lens for focussing acoustic soundwaves at a focal plane and operably disposed within the channel, the focal plane being substantially at the meniscus of the liquid, andd) a transducer for generating acoustic soundwaves, said transducer being so constructed and arranged such that at least a portion of the sound waves generated by said transducer will be focussed by said lens.