Abstract:
A method of processing a digital image comprising: capturing the image utilizing an adjustable focusing technique; utilizing the focusing settings as an indicator of the position of structures within the image; and processing the image, utilizing the said focus settings to produce effects specific to said focus settings.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus and, in particular, discloses a process for utilising autofocus information in a digital image camera. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Recently, digital cameras have become increasingly popular. These cameras normally operate by means of imaging a desired image utilizing a charge coupled device (CCD) array and storing the imaged scene on an electronic storage medium for later down loading onto a computer system for subsequent manipulation and printing out. Normally, when utilizing a computer system to print out an image, sophisticated software may be available to manipulate the image in accordance with requirements. 
     Unfortunately such systems require significant post processing of a captured image and normally present the image in an orientation in which is was taken, relying on the post processing process to perform any necessary or required modifications of the captured image. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for enhanced processing of images captured by a digital camera utilising autofocus settings. 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of generating a manipulated output image by means of a digital camera, the method comprising the steps of: 
     capturing a focused image using an automatic focusing technique generating focus settings; 
     generating a manipulated output image by applying a digital image manipulating process to the focused image, the digital image manipulating process utilizing the focus settings. 
     Preferably the focus settings include a current position of a zoom motor of the digital camera. 
     In a preferred embodiment the digital image manipulating process includes a step of locating an object within the focused image utilizing the focus settings. 
     The method may include the step of printing out the manipulated image by means of a printing mechanism incorporated into the digital camera. 
     It is preferred that the digital image manipulating process selectively applies techniques to the focused image on the basis of the focus settings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the method of the preferred embodiment; and 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the ARTCAM type camera. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiment is preferably implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in the concurrently filed application, Applicant&#39;s reference ART01, U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,060 entitled “A Digital Camera with Image Processing Capability” filed concurrently herewith by the present applicant the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference and the details of which, and other related applications are set out in the tables below. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram thereof. 
     The aforementioned patent specification discloses a camera system, hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images can be directly printed out by an Artcam portable camera unit such as illustrated in FIG.  2 . Further, the aforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performing various manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing device  30  leading to the production of various effects in any output image  40 . The manipulations are disclosed to be highly flexible in nature and can be implemented through the insertion into the Artcam of cards having encoded thereon various instructions for the manipulation of images, the cards  9  hereinafter being known as Artcards. The Artcam further has significant onboard processing power by an Artcam Central Processor unit (ACP)  32  which is interconnected to a memory device  34  for the storage of important data and images. 
     In the preferred embodiment, autofocus is achieved by processing of a CCD data stream to ensure maximum contrast. Techniques for determining a focus position based on a CCD data stream are known. For example, reference is made to “The Encyclopedia of Photography” editors Leslie Stroebel and Richard Zakia, published 1993 by Butterworth-Heinemann and “Applied Photographic Optics” by London &amp; Boston, Focal Press, 1988. These techniques primarily rely on measurements of contrast between adjacent pixels over portions of an input image. The image is initally processed by the ACP in order to determine a correct autofocus setting. 
     This autofocus information is then utilized by the ACP  32  in certain modes, for example, when attempting to locate faces within the image, as a guide to the likely size of any face within the image, thereby simplifying the face location process. 
     Turning now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an example of the method utilized to determine likely image characteristics for examination by a face detection algorithm  10 . 
     Various images eg.  2 ,  3  and  4  are imaged by the camera device  28 . As a by product of the operation of the auto-focusing the details of the focusing settings of the autofocus unit  5  are stored by the ACP  32 . Additionally, a current position of the zoom motor  38  is also utilized as zoom setting  6 . Both of these settings are determined by the ACP  32 . Subsequently, the ACP  32  applies analysis techniques in. heuristic system  8  to the detected values before producing an output  29  having a magnitude corresponding to the likely depth location of objects of interest  21 ,  31  or  41  within the image  2 ,  3  or  4  respectively. 
     Next, the depth value is utilised in a face detection algorithm  10  running on the ACP  31  in addition to the inputted sensed image  11  so as to locate objects within the image. A close output  29  corresponding to a range value  9  indicates a high probability of a portrait image, a medium range indicates a high probability of a group photograph and a further range indicates a higher probability of a landscape image. This probability information can be utilized as an aid for the face detection algorithm and also can be utilised for selecting between various parameters when producing “painting” effects within the image or painting the image with clip arts or the like, with different techniques or clip arts being applied depending on the distance to an object. 
     It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. 
     The present invention is further best utilized in the Artcam device, the details of which are set out in the following paragraphs although it is not restricted thereto. 
     Ink Jet Technologies 
     The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable. 
     The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal inkjet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out. 
     The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewidth print heads with 19,200 nozzles. 
     Ideally, the inkjet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digital photography, new inkjet technologies have been created. The target features include: 
     low power (less than 10 Watts) 
     high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more) 
     photographic quality output 
     low manufacturing cost 
     small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section) 
     high speed (&lt;2 seconds per page). 
     All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. Fortyfive different inkjet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in the table below. 
     The inkjet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems 
     For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print head is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry. 
     Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. The print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding. 
     Cross-referenced Applications 
     The following table is a guide to cross-referenced patent applications filed concurrently herewith and discussed hereinafter with the reference being utilized in subsequent tables when referring to a particular case: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Docket 
                 Refer- 
                   
               
               
                 No. 
                 ence 
                 Title 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 IJ01US 
                 IJ01 
                 Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ02US 
                 IJ02 
                 Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ03US 
                 IJ03 
                 Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet 
               
               
                 IJ04US 
                 IJ04 
                 Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ05US 
                 IJ05 
                 Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ06US 
                 IJ06 
                 Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ07US 
                 IJ07 
                 Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ08US 
                 IJ08 
                 Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ09US 
                 IJ09 
                 Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ10US 
                 IJ10 
                 Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ11US 
                 IJ11 
                 Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic Ink Jet 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Printer 
               
               
                 IJ12US 
                 IJ12 
                 Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ13US 
                 IJ13 
                 Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ14US 
                 IJ14 
                 Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ15US 
                 IJ15 
                 Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ16US 
                 IJ16 
                 Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ17US 
                 IJ17 
                 PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating Pressure 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ18US 
                 IJ18 
                 Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ19US 
                 IJ19 
                 Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ20US 
                 IJ20 
                 Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ21US 
                 IJ21 
                 Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ22US 
                 IJ22 
                 Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ23US 
                 IJ23 
                 Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ24US 
                 IJ24 
                 Conductive PTFE Ben Activator Vented Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ25US 
                 IJ25 
                 Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ26US 
                 IJ26 
                 Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ27US 
                 IJ27 
                 Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ28US 
                 IJ28 
                 Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ29US 
                 IJ29 
                 Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ30US 
                 IJ30 
                 Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Corrugated Copper Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ31US 
                 IJ31 
                 Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ32US 
                 IJ32 
                 A High Young&#39;s Modulus Thermoelastic Ink Jet 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Printer 
               
               
                 IJ33US 
                 IJ33 
                 Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink jet printer 
               
               
                 IJ34US 
                 IJ34 
                 Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator comprising 
               
               
                   
                   
                 an external coiled spring 
               
               
                 IJ35US 
                 IJ35 
                 Trough Container Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                 IJ36US 
                 IJ36 
                 Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet 
               
               
                 IJ37US 
                 IJ37 
                 Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum Actuator Ink 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Jet 
               
               
                 IJ38US 
                 IJ38 
                 Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet 
               
               
                 IJ39US 
                 IJ39 
                 A single bend actuator cupped paddle ink jet printing 
               
               
                   
                   
                 device 
               
               
                 IJ40US 
                 IJ40 
                 A thermally actuated ink jet printer having a series of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 thermal actuator units 
               
               
                 IJ41US 
                 IJ41 
                 A thermally actuated ink jet printer including a tapered 
               
               
                   
                   
                 heater element 
               
               
                 IJ42US 
                 IJ42 
                 Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet 
               
               
                 IJ43US 
                 IJ43 
                 Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet 
               
               
                 IJ44US 
                 IJ44 
                 Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink jet printer 
               
               
                 IJ45US 
                 IJ45 
                 Coil Acutuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printer 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Tables of Drop-on-demand Inkjets 
     Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual inkjet nozzles have been identified. These characteristics are largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an eleven dimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix include entries developed by the present assignee. 
     The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of inkjet types. 
     Actuator mechanism (18 types) 
     Basic operation mode (7 types) 
     Auxiliary mechanism (8 types) 
     Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types) 
     Actuator motion (19 types) 
     Nozzle refill method (4 types) 
     Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types) 
     Nozzle clearing method (9 types) 
     Nozzle plate construction (9 types) 
     Drop ejection direction (5 types) 
     Ink type (7 types) 
     The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains 36.9 billion possible configurations of inkjet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable inkjet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain inkjet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 to IJ45 above. 
     Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these fortyfive examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into inkjet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available inkjet technology. 
     Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more of these examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below. The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In some cases, a print technology may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry. 
     Suitable applications include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrial printing systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc. 
     The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Actuator 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Mechanism 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Thermal 
                 An electrothermal heater heats the 
                 Large force generated 
                 High power 
                 Canon Bubblejet 
               
               
                 bubble 
                 ink to above boiling point, 
                 Simple construction 
                 Ink carrier limited to water 
                 1979 Endo et al GB 
               
               
                   
                 transferring significant heat to the 
                 No moving parts 
                 Low efficiency 
                 patent 2,007,162 
               
               
                   
                 aqueous ink. A bubble nucleates and 
                 Fast operation 
                 High temperatures required 
                 Xerox heater-in-pit 
               
               
                   
                 quickly forms, expelling the ink. 
                 Small chip area required for 
                 High mechanical stress 
                 1990 Hawkins et al 
               
               
                   
                 The efficiency of the process is low, 
                 actuator 
                 Unusual materials required 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 with typically less than 0.05% of the 
                   
                 Large drive transistors 
                 4,899,181 
               
               
                   
                 electrical energy being transformed 
                   
                 Cavitation causes actuator failure 
                 Hewlett-Packard TIJ 
               
               
                   
                 into kinetic energy of the drop. 
                   
                 Kogation reduces bubble formation 
                 1982 Vaught et al 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Large print heads are difficult to 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 fabricate 
                 4,490,728 
               
               
                 Piezoelectric 
                 A piezoelectric crystal such as lead 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Very large area required for actuator 
                 Kyser et al 
               
               
                   
                 lanthanum zirconate (PZT) is 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Difficult to integrate with electronics 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 electrically activated, and either 
                 Fast operation 
                 High voltage drive transistors required 
                 3,946,398 
               
               
                   
                 expands, shears, or bends to apply 
                 High efficiency 
                 Full pagewidth print heads impractical 
                 Zoltan 
               
               
                   
                 pressure to the ink, ejecting drops. 
                   
                 due to actuator size 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Requires electrical poling in high field 
                 3,683,212 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 strengths during manufacture 
                 1973 Stemme 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 3,747,120 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Epson Stylus 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Tektronix 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ04 
               
               
                 Electro- 
                 An electric field is used to activate 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Low maximum strain (approx. 0.01%) 
                 Seiko Epson, Usui et 
               
               
                 strictive 
                 electrostriction in relaxor materials 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Large area required for actuator due to 
                 all JP 253401/96 
               
               
                   
                 such as lead lanthanum zirconate 
                 Low thermal expansion 
                 low strain 
                 IJ04 
               
               
                   
                 titanate (PLZT) or lead magnesium 
                 Electric field strength 
                 Response speed is marginal (˜10 μs) 
               
               
                   
                 niobate (PMN). 
                 required (approx. 
                 High voltage drive transistors required 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3.5 V/μm) 
                 Full pagewidth print heads impractical 
               
               
                   
                   
                 can be generated without 
                 due to actuator size 
               
               
                   
                   
                 difficulty 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Does not require electrical 
               
               
                   
                   
                 poling 
               
               
                 Ferroelectric 
                 An electric field is used to induce a 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Difficult to integrate with electronics 
                 IJ04 
               
               
                   
                 phase transition between the 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Unusual materials such as PLZSnT are 
               
               
                   
                 antiferroelectric (AFE) and 
                 Fast operation (&lt;1 μs) 
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 ferroelectric (FE) phase. Perovskite 
                 Relatively high longitudinal 
                 Actuators require a large area 
               
               
                   
                 materials such as tin modified lead 
                 strain 
               
               
                   
                 lanthanum zirconate titanate 
                 High efficiency 
               
               
                   
                 (PLZSnT) exhibit large strains of up 
                 Electric field strength of 
               
               
                   
                 to 1 % associated with the AFE to FE 
                 around 3 V/μm can be 
               
               
                   
                 phase transition. 
                 readily provided 
               
               
                 Electrostatic 
                 Conductive plates are separated by a 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Difficult to operate electrostatic 
                 IJ02, IJ04 
               
               
                 plates 
                 compressible or fluid dielectric 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 devices in an aqueous environment 
               
               
                   
                 (usually air). Upon application of a 
                 Fast operation 
                 The electrostatic actuator will normally 
               
               
                   
                 voltage, the plates attract each other 
                   
                 need to be separated from the ink 
               
               
                   
                 and displace ink, causing drop 
                   
                 Very large area required to achieve 
               
               
                   
                 ejection. The conductive plates may 
                   
                 high forces 
               
               
                   
                 be in a comb or honeycomb 
                   
                 High voltage drive transistors may be 
               
               
                   
                 structure, or stacked to increase the 
                   
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 surface area and therefore the force. 
                   
                 Full pagewidth print heads are not 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 competitive due to actuator size 
               
               
                 Electrostatic 
                 A strong electric field is applied to 
                 Low current consumption 
                 High voltage required 
                 1989 Saito et al, 
               
               
                 pull on ink 
                 the ink, whereupon electrostatic 
                 Low temperature 
                 May be damaged by sparks due to air 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 attraction accelerates the ink towards 
                   
                 breakdown 
                 4,799,068 
               
               
                   
                 the print medium. 
                   
                 Required field strength increases as the 
                 1989 Miura et al, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 drop size decreases 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 High voltage drive transistors required 
                 4,810,954 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Electrostatic field attracts dust 
                 Tone-jet 
               
               
                 Permanent 
                 An electromagnet directly attracts a 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Complex fabrication 
                 IJ07, IJ10 
               
               
                 magnet 
                 permanent magnet, displacing ink 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Permanent magnetic material such as 
               
               
                 electro- 
                 and causing drop ejection. Rare earth 
                 Fast operation 
                 Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) 
               
               
                 magnetic 
                 magnets with a field strength around 
                 High efficiency 
                 required. 
               
               
                   
                 1 Tesla can be used. Examples are: 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 High local currents required 
               
               
                   
                 Samarium Cobalt (SaCo) and 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 Copper metalization should be used for 
               
               
                   
                 magnetic materials in the neodymium 
                 heads 
                 long electromigration lifetime and low 
               
               
                   
                 iron boron family (NdFeB, 
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                 NdDyFeBNb, NdDyFeB, etc) 
                   
                 Pigmented inks are usually infeasible 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Operating temperature limited to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Curie temperature (around 540 K) 
               
               
                 Soft magnetic 
                 A solenoid induced a magnetic field 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Complex fabrication 
                 IJ01, IJ05, IJ08, IJ10 
               
               
                 core electro- 
                 in a soft magnetic core or yoke 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Materials not usually present in a 
                 IJ12, IJ14, IJ15, IJ17 
               
               
                 magnetic 
                 fabricated from a ferrous material 
                 Fast operation 
                 CMOS fab such as NiFe, CoNiFe, or 
               
               
                   
                 such as electroplated iron alloys such 
                 High efficiency 
                 CoFe are required 
               
               
                   
                 as CoNiFe [1], CoFe, or NiFe alloys. 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 High local currents required 
               
               
                   
                 Typically, the soft magnetic material 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 Copper metalization should be used for 
               
               
                   
                 is in two parts, which are normally 
                 heads 
                 long electromigration lifetime and low 
               
               
                   
                 held apart by a spring. When the 
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                 solenoid is actuated, the two parts 
                   
                 Electroplating is required 
               
               
                   
                 attract, displacing the ink. 
                   
                 High saturation flux density is required 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (2.0-2.1 T is achievable with CoNiFe 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 [1]) 
               
               
                 Magnetic 
                 The Lorenz force acting on a current 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Force acts as a twisting motion 
                 IJ06, IJ11, IJ13, IJ16 
               
               
                 Lorenz force 
                 carrying wire in a magnetic field is 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Typically, only a quarter of the 
               
               
                   
                 utilized. 
                 Fast operation 
                 solenoid length provides force in a 
               
               
                   
                 This allows the magnetic field to be 
                 High efficiency 
                 useful direction 
               
               
                   
                 supplied externally to the print head, 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 High local currents required 
               
               
                   
                 for example with rare earth 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 Copper metalization should be used for 
               
               
                   
                 permanent magnets. 
                 heads 
                 long electromigration lifetime and low 
               
               
                   
                 Only the current carrying wire need 
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                 be fabricated on the print-head, 
                   
                 Pigmented inks are usually infeasible 
               
               
                   
                 simplifying materials requirements. 
                   
               
               
                 Magneto- 
                 The actuator uses the giant 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Force acts as a twisting motion 
                 Fischenbeck, 
               
               
                 striction 
                 magnetostrictive effect of materials 
                 Fast operation 
                 Unusual materials such as Terfenol-D 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 such as Terfenol-D (an alloy of 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 are required 
                 4,032,929 
               
               
                   
                 terbium, dysprosium and iron 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 High local currents required 
                 IJ25 
               
               
                   
                 developed at the Naval Ordnance 
                 heads 
                 Copper metalization should be used for 
               
               
                   
                 Laboratory, hence Ter-Fe-NOL). For 
                 High force is available 
                 long electromigration lifetime and low 
               
               
                   
                 best efficiency, the actuator should 
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                 be pre-stressed to approx. 8 MPa. 
                   
                 Pre-stressing may be required 
               
               
                 Surface 
                 Ink under positive pressure is held in 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Requires supplementary force to effect 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 tension 
                 nozzle by surface tension. The 
                 Simple construction 
                 drop separation 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                 reduction 
                 a surface tension of the ink is reduced 
                 No unusual materials 
                 Requires special ink surfactants 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 below the bubble threshold, causing 
                 required in fabrication 
                 Speed may be limited by surfactant 
               
               
                   
                 the ink to egress from the nozzle. 
                 High efficiency 
                 properties 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Easy extension from single 
               
               
                   
                   
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
               
               
                   
                   
                 heads 
               
               
                 Viscosity 
                 The ink viscosity is locally reduced 
                 Simple construction 
                 Requires supplementary force to effect 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 reduction 
                 to select which drops are to be 
                 No unusual materials 
                 drop separation 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 ejected. A viscosity reduction can be 
                 required in fabrication 
                 Requires special ink viscosity 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 achieved electrothermally with most 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 properties 
               
               
                   
                 inks, but special inks can be 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 High speed is difficult to achieve 
               
               
                   
                 engineered for a 100:1 viscosity 
                 heads 
                 Requires oscillating ink pressure 
               
               
                   
                 reduction. 
                   
                 A high temperature difference 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (typically 80 degrees) is required 
               
               
                 Acoustic 
                 An acoustic wave is generated and 
                 Can operate without a 
                 Complex drive circuitry 
                 1993 Hadimioglu et 
               
               
                   
                 focussed upon the drop ejection 
                 nozzle plate 
                 Complex fabrication 
                 al, EUP 550,192 
               
               
                   
                 region. 
                   
                 Low efficiency 
                 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Poor control of drop position 
                 572,220 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Poor control of drop volume 
               
               
                 Thermoelastic 
                 An actuator which relies upon 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Efficient aqueous operation requires a 
                 IJ03, IJ09, IJ17, IJ18 
               
               
                 bend actuator 
                 differential thermal expansion upon 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 thermal insulator on the hot side 
                 IJ19, IJ20, IJ21, IJ22 
               
               
                   
                 Joule heating is used. 
                 Simple planar fabrication 
                 Corrosion prevention can be difficult 
                 IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Small clip area required for 
                 Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as 
                 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 
               
               
                   
                   
                 each actuator 
                 pigment particles may jam the bend 
                 IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Fast operation 
                 actuator 
                 IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40 
               
               
                   
                   
                 High efficiency 
                   
                 IJ41 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CMOS compatible voltages 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and currents 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Standard MEMS processes 
               
               
                   
                   
                 can be used 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Easy extension from single 
               
               
                   
                   
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
               
               
                   
                   
                 heads 
               
               
                 High CTE 
                 A material with a very high 
                 High force can be generated 
                 Requires special material (e.g. PTFE) 
                 IJ09, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20 
               
               
                 thermoelastic 
                 coefficient of thermal expansion 
                 PTFE is a candidate for low 
                 Requires a PTFE deposition process, 
                 IJ21, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 (CTE) such as 
                 dielectric constant 
                 which is not yet standard in ULSI fabs 
                 IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30 
               
               
                   
                 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is 
                 insulation in ULSI 
                 PTFE deposition cannot be followed 
                 IJ31, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 
               
               
                   
                 used. As high CTE materials are 
                 Very low power 
                 with high temperature (above 350° C.) 
               
               
                   
                 usually non-conductive, a heater 
                 consumption 
                 processing 
               
               
                   
                 fabricated from a conductive material 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as 
               
               
                   
                 is incorporated. A 50 μm long PTFE 
                 Simple planar fabrication 
                 pigment particles may jam the bend 
               
               
                   
                 bend actuator with polysilicon heater 
                 Small chip area required for 
                 actuator 
               
               
                   
                 and 15 mW power input can provide 
                 each actuator 
               
               
                   
                 180 μN force and 10 μm deflection. 
               
               
                   
                 Actuator motions include: 
                 Fast operation 
               
               
                   
                 1) Bend 
                 High efficiency 
               
               
                   
                 2) Push 
                 CMOS compatible voltages 
               
               
                   
                 3) Buckle 
                 and currents 
               
               
                   
                 4) Rotate 
                 Easy extension from single 
               
               
                   
                   
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
               
               
                   
                   
                 heads 
               
               
                 Conductive 
                 A polymer with a high coefficient of 
                 High force can be generated 
                 Requires special materials 
                 IJ24 
               
               
                 polymer 
                 thermal expansion (such as PTFE) is 
                 Very low power 
                 development (High CTE conductive 
               
               
                 thermoelastic 
                 doped with conducting substances to 
                 consumption 
                 polymer) 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 increase its conductivity to about 3 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Requires a PTFE deposition process, 
               
               
                   
                 orders of magnitude below that of 
                 Simple planar fabrication 
                 which is not yet standard in ULSI fabs 
               
               
                   
                 copper. The conducting polymer 
                 Small chip area required for 
                 PTFE deposition cannot be followed 
               
               
                   
                 expands when resistively heated. 
                 each actuator 
                 with high temperature (above 350° C.) 
               
               
                   
                 Examples of conducting dopants 
                 Fast operation 
                 processing 
               
               
                   
                 include: 
                 High efficiency 
                 Evaporation and CVD deposition 
               
               
                   
                 1) Carbon nanotubes 
                 CMOS compatible voltages 
                 techniques cannot be used 
               
               
                   
                 2) Metal fibers 
                 and currents 
                 Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as 
               
               
                   
                 3) Conductive polymers such as 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 pigment particles may jam the bend 
               
               
                   
                 doped polythiophene 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 actuator 
               
               
                   
                 4) Carbon granules 
                 heads 
               
               
                 Shape memory 
                 A shape memory alloy such as TiNi 
                 High force is available 
                 Fatigue limits maximum number of 
                 IJ26 
               
               
                 alloy 
                 (also known as Nitinol - Nickel 
                 (stresses of hundreds of 
                 cycles 
               
               
                   
                 Titanium alloy developed at the 
                 MPa) 
                 Low strain (1%) is required to extend 
               
               
                   
                 Naval Ordnance Laboratory) is 
                 Large strain is available 
                 fatigue resistance 
               
               
                   
                 thermally switched between its weak 
                 (more than 3%) 
                 Cycle rate limited by heat removal 
               
               
                   
                 martensitic state and its high 
                 High corrosion resistance 
                 Requires unusual materials (TiNi) 
               
               
                   
                 stiffness austenic state. The shape of 
                 Simple construction 
                 The latent heat of transformation must 
               
               
                   
                 the actuator in its martensitic state is 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 be provided 
               
               
                   
                 deformed relative to the austenic 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 High current operation 
               
               
                   
                 shape. The shape change causes 
                 heads 
                 Requires pre-stressing to distort the 
               
               
                   
                 ejection of a drop. 
                 Low voltage operation 
                 martensitic state 
               
               
                 Linear 
                 Linear magnetic actuators include 
                 Linear Magnetic actuators 
                 Requires unusual semiconductor 
                 IJ12 
               
               
                 Magnetic 
                 the Linear Induction Actuator (LIA), 
                 can be constructed with 
                 materials such as soft magnetic alloys 
               
               
                 Actuator 
                 Linear Permanent Magnet 
                 high thrust, long travel, and 
                 (e.g. CoNiFe [1]) 
               
               
                   
                 Synchronous Actuator (LPMSA), 
                 high efficiency using planar 
                 Some varieties also require permanent 
               
               
                   
                 Linear Reluctance Synchronous 
                 semiconductor fabrication 
                 magnetic materials such as 
               
               
                   
                 Actuator (LRSA), Linear Switched 
                 techniques 
                 Neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) 
               
               
                   
                 Reluctance Actuator (LSRA), and 
                 Long actuator travel is 
                 Requires complex multi-phase drive 
               
               
                   
                 the Linear Stepper Actuator (LSA). 
                 available 
                 circuitry 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Medium force is available 
                 High current operation 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Low voltage operation 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 BASIC OPERATION MODE 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Operational 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 mode 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Actuator 
                 This is the simplest mode of 
                 Simple operation 
                 Drop repetition rate is usually limited 
                 Thermal inkjet 
               
               
                 directly 
                 operation: the actuator directly 
                 No external fields required 
                 to less than 10 KHz. However, this is 
                 Piezoelectric inkjet 
               
               
                 pushes ink 
                 supplies sufficient kinetic energy to 
                 Satellite drops can be 
                 not fundamental to the method, but is 
                 IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, IJ04 
               
               
                   
                 expel the drop. The drop must have a 
                 avoided if drop velocity is 
                 related to the refill method normally 
                 IJ05, IJ06, IJ07, IJ09 
               
               
                   
                 sufficient velocity to overcome the 
                 less than 4 m/s 
                 used 
                 IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, IJ16 
               
               
                   
                 surface tension. 
                 Can be efficient, depending 
                 All of the drop kinetic energy must be 
                 IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24 
               
               
                   
                   
                 upon the actuator used 
                 provided by the actuator 
                 IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Satellite drops usually form if drop 
                 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 velocity is greater than 4.5 m/s 
                 IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 
               
               
                 Proximity 
                 The drops to be printed are selected 
                 Very simple print head 
                 Requires close proximity between the 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 by some manner (e.g. thermally 
                 fabrication can be used 
                 print head and the print media or 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 induced surface tension reduction of 
                 The drop selection means 
                 transfer roller 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 pressurized ink). Selected drops are 
                 does not need to provide 
                 May require two print heads printing 
               
               
                   
                 separated from the ink in the nozzle 
                 the energy required to 
                 alternate rows of the image 
               
               
                   
                 by contact with the print medium or 
                 separate the drop from 
                 Monolithic color print heads are 
               
               
                   
                 a transfer roller. 
                 the nozzle 
                 difficult 
               
               
                 Electrostatic 
                 The drops to be printed are selected 
                 Very simple print head 
                 Requires very high electrostatic field 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 pull on ink 
                 by some manner (e.g. thermally 
                 fabrication can be used 
                 Electrostatic field for small nozzle 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 induced surface tension reduction of 
                 The drop selection means 
                 sizes is above air breakdown 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 pressurized ink). Selected drops are 
                 does not need to provide 
                 Electrostatic field may attract dust 
                 Tone-Jet 
               
               
                   
                 separated from the ink in the nozzle 
                 the energy required to 
               
               
                   
                 by a strong electric field. 
                 separate the drop 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from the nozzle 
               
               
                 Magnetic pull 
                 The drops to be printed are selected 
                 Very simple print head 
                 Requires magnetic ink 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 on ink 
                 by some manner (e.g. thermally 
                 fabrication can be used 
                 Ink colors other than black are difficult 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 induced surface tension reduction of 
                 The drop selection means 
                 Requires very high magnetic fields 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 pressurized ink). Selected drops are 
                 does not need to provide 
               
               
                   
                 separated from the ink in the nozzle 
                 the energy required to 
               
               
                   
                 by a strong magnetic field acting on 
                 separate the drop from 
               
               
                   
                 the magnetic ink. 
                 the nozzle 
               
               
                 Shutter 
                 The actuator moves a shutter to block 
                 High speed (&gt;50 KHz) 
                 Moving parts are required 
                 IJ13, IJ17, IJ21 
               
               
                   
                 ink flow to the nozzle. The ink 
                 operation can be achieved 
                 Requires ink pressure modulator 
               
               
                   
                 pressure is pulsed at a multiple of the 
                 due to reduced refill time 
                 Friction and wear must be considered 
               
               
                   
                 drop ejection frequency. 
                 Drop timing can be very 
                 Stiction is possible 
               
               
                   
                   
                 accurate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The actuator energy can be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 very low 
               
               
                 Shuttered grill 
                 The actuator moves a shutter to block 
                 Actuators with small travel 
                 Moving parts are required 
                 IJ08, IJ15, IJ18, IJ19 
               
               
                   
                 ink flow through a grill to the nozzle. 
                 can be used 
                 Requires ink pressure modulator 
               
               
                   
                 The shutter movement need only be 
                 Actuators with small force 
                 Friction and wear must be considered 
               
               
                   
                 equal to the width of the grill holes. 
                 can be used 
                 Stiction is possible 
               
               
                   
                   
                 High speed (&gt;50 KHz) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 operation can be achieved 
               
               
                 Pulsed 
                 A pulsed magnetic field attracts an 
                 Extremely low energy 
                 Requires an external pulsed magnetic 
                 IJ10 
               
               
                 magnetic pull 
                 ‘ink pusher’ at the drop ejection 
                 operation is possible 
                 field 
               
               
                 on ink pusher 
                 frequency. An actuator controls a 
                 No heat dissipation 
                 Requires special materials for both the 
               
               
                   
                 catch, which prevents the ink pusher 
                 problems 
                 actuator and the ink pusher 
               
               
                   
                 from moving when a drop is not to 
                   
                 Complex construction 
               
               
                   
                 be ejected. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Auxiliary 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Mechanism 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 None 
                 The actuator directly fires the ink 
                 Simplicity of construction 
                 Drop ejection energy must be supplied 
                 Most inkjets, 
               
               
                   
                 drop, and there is no external field or 
                 Simplicity of operation 
                 by individual nozzle actuator 
                 including 
               
               
                   
                 other mechanism required. 
                 Small physical size 
                   
                 piezoelectric and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 thermal bubble 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ09, IJ11 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ23-IJ45 
               
               
                 Oscillating ink 
                 The ink pressure oscillates, providing 
                 Oscillating ink pressure can 
                 Requires external ink pressure 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 pressure 
                 much of the drop ejection energy. 
                 provide a refill pulse, 
                 oscillator 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                 (including 
                 The actuator selects which drops are 
                 allowing higher operating 
                 Ink pressure phase and amplitude must 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                 acoustic 
                 to be fired by selectively blocking or 
                 speed 
                 be carefully controlled 
                 IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 
               
               
                 stimulation) 
                 enabling nozzles. The ink pressure 
                 The actuators may operate 
                 Acoustic reflections in the ink chamber 
                 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 
               
               
                   
                 oscillation may be achieved by 
                 with much lower energy 
                 must be designed for 
               
               
                   
                 vibrating the print head, or 
                 Acoustic lenses can be used 
               
               
                   
                 preferably by an actuator in the ink 
                 to focus the sound on the 
               
               
                   
                 supply. 
                 nozzles 
               
               
                 Media 
                 The print head is placed in close 
                 Low power 
                 Precision assembly required 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 proximity 
                 proximity to the print medium. 
                 High accuracy 
                 Paper fibers may cause problems 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 Selected drops protrude from the 
                 Simple print head 
                 Cannot print on rough substrates 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 print head further than unselected 
                 construction 
               
               
                   
                 drops, and contact the print medium. 
               
               
                   
                 The drop soaks into the medium fast 
               
               
                   
                 enough to cause drop separation. 
               
               
                 Transfer roller 
                 Drops are printed to a transfer roller 
                 High accuracy 
                 Bulky 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 instead of straight to the print 
                 Wide range of print 
                 Expensive 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 medium. A transfer roller can also be 
                 substrates can be used 
                 Complex construction 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 used for proximity drop separation. 
                 Ink can be dried on the 
                   
                 Tektronix hot melt 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transfer roller 
                   
                 piezoelectric inkjet 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Any of the IJ series 
               
               
                 Electrostatic 
                 An electric field is used to accelerate 
                 Low power 
                 Field strength required for separation 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 selected drops towards the print 
                 Simple print head 
                 of small drops is near or above air 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 medium. 
                 construction 
                 breakdown 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Tone-Jet 
               
               
                 Direct 
                 A magnetic field is used to accelerate 
                 Low power 
                 Requires magnetic ink 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 magnetic field 
                 selected drops of magnetic ink 
                 Simple print head 
                 Requires strong magnetic field 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 towards the print medium. 
                 construction 
                   
                 patent applications 
               
               
                 Cross 
                 The print head is placed in a constant 
                 Does not require magnetic 
                 Requires external magnet 
                 IJ06, IJ16 
               
               
                 magnetic field 
                 magnetic field. The Lorenz force in a 
                 materials to be integrated in 
                 Current densities may be high, 
               
               
                   
                 current carrying wire is used to move 
                 the print head 
                 resulting in electromigration problems 
               
               
                   
                 the actuator. 
                 manufacturing process 
               
               
                 Pulsed 
                 A pulsed magnetic field is used to 
                 Very low power operation 
                 Complex print head construction 
                 IJ10 
               
               
                 magnetic field 
                 cyclically attract a paddle, which 
                 is possible 
                 Magnetic materials required in print 
               
               
                   
                 pushes on the ink. A small actuator 
                 Small print head size 
                 head 
               
               
                   
                 moves a catch, which selectively 
               
               
                   
                 prevents the paddle from moving. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Actuator 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 amplification 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 None 
                 No actuator mechanical 
                 Operational simplicity 
                 Many actuator mechanisms have 
                 Thermal Bubble 
               
               
                   
                 amplification is used. The actuator 
                   
                 insufficient travel, or insufficient force, 
                 Inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 directly drives the drop ejection 
                   
                 to efficiently drive the drop ejection 
                 IJ01, IJ02, IJ06, IJ07 
               
               
                   
                 process. 
                   
                 process 
                 IJ16, IJ25, IJ26 
               
               
                 Differential 
                 An actuator material expands more 
                 Provides greater travel in a 
                 High stresses are involved 
                 Piezoelectric 
               
               
                 expansion 
                 on one side than on the other. The 
                 reduced print head area 
                 Care must be taken that the materials 
                 IJ03, IJ09, IJ17-IJ24 
               
               
                 bend actuator 
                 expansion may be thermal, 
                 The bend actuator converts 
                 do not delaminate 
                 IJ27, IJ29-IJ39, IJ42, 
               
               
                   
                 piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, or 
                 a high force low travel 
                 Residual bend resulting from high 
                 IJ43, IJ44 
               
               
                   
                 other mechanism. 
                 actuator mechanism to high 
                 temperature or high stress during 
               
               
                   
                   
                 travel, lower force 
                 formation 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mechanism. 
               
               
                 Transient bend 
                 A trilayer bend actuator where the 
                 Very good temperature 
                 High stresses are involved 
                 IJ40, IJ41 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 two outside layers are identical. This 
                 stability 
                 Care must be taken that the materials 
               
               
                   
                 cancels bend due to ambient 
                 High speed, as a new drop 
                 do not delaminate 
               
               
                   
                 temperature and residual stress. The 
                 can be fired before heat 
               
               
                   
                 actuator only responds to transient 
                 dissipates 
               
               
                   
                 heating of one side or the other. 
                 Cancels residual stress of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 formation 
               
               
                 Actuator stack 
                 A series of thin actuators are stacked. 
                 Increased travel 
                 Increased fabrication complexity 
                 Some piezoelectric 
               
               
                   
                 This can be appropriate where 
                 Reduced drive voltage 
                 Increased possibility of short circuits 
                 ink jets 
               
               
                   
                 actuators require high electric field 
                   
                 due to pinholes 
                 IJ04 
               
               
                   
                 strength, such as electrostatic and 
               
               
                   
                 piezoelectric actuators. 
               
               
                 Multiple 
                 Multiple smaller actuators are used 
                 Increases the force 
                 Actuator forces may not add linearly, 
                 IJ12, IJ13, IJ18, IJ20 
               
               
                 actuators 
                 simultaneously to move the ink. Each 
                 available from an actuator 
                 reducing efficiency 
                 IJ22, IJ28, IJ42, IJ43 
               
               
                   
                 actuator need provide only a portion 
                 Multiple actuators can be 
               
               
                   
                 of the force required. 
                 positioned to control ink 
               
               
                   
                   
                 flow accurately 
               
               
                 Linear Spring 
                 A linear spring is used to transform a 
                 Matches low travel actuator 
                 Requires print head area for the spring 
                 IJ15 
               
               
                   
                 motion with small travel and high 
                 with higher travel 
               
               
                   
                 force into a longer travel, lower force 
                 requirements 
               
               
                   
                 motion. 
                 Non-contact method of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 motion transformation 
               
               
                 Reverse spring 
                 The actuator loads a spring. When 
                 Better coupling to the ink 
                 Fabrication complexity 
                 IJ05, IJ11 
               
               
                   
                 the actuator is turned off; the spring 
                   
                 High stress in the spring 
               
               
                   
                 releases. This can reverse the 
               
               
                   
                 force/distance curve of the actuator 
               
               
                   
                 to make it compatible with the 
               
               
                   
                 force/time requirements of the drop 
               
               
                   
                 ejection. 
               
               
                 Coiled 
                 A bend actuator is coiled to provide 
                 Increases travel 
                 Generally restricted to planar 
                 IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 greater travel in a reduced chip area. 
                 Reduces chip area 
                 implementations due to extreme 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Planar implementations are 
                 fabrication difficulty in other 
               
               
                   
                   
                 relatively easy to fabricate. 
                 orientations. 
               
               
                 Flexure bend 
                 A bend actuator has a small region 
                 Simple means of increasing 
                 Care must be taken not to exceed the 
                 IJ10, IJ19, IJ33 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 near the fixture point, which flexes 
                 travel of a bend actuator 
                 elastic limit in the flexure area 
               
               
                   
                 much more readily than the 
                   
                 Stress distribution is very uneven 
               
               
                   
                 remainder of the actuator. The 
                   
                 Difficult to accurately model with 
               
               
                   
                 actuator flexing is effectively 
                   
                 finite element analysis 
               
               
                   
                 converted from an even coiling to an 
               
               
                   
                 angular bend, resulting in greater 
               
               
                   
                 travel of the actuator tip. 
               
               
                 Gears 
                 Gears can be used to increase travel 
                 Low force, low travel 
                 Moving parts are required 
                 IJ13 
               
               
                   
                 at the expense of duration. Circular 
                 actuators can be used 
                 Several actuator cycles are required 
               
               
                   
                 gears, rack and pinion, ratchets, and 
                 Can be fabricated using 
                 More complex drive electronics 
               
               
                   
                 other gearing methods can be used. 
                 standard surface MEMS 
                 Complex construction 
               
               
                   
                   
                 processes 
                 Friction, friction, and wear are possible 
               
               
                 Catch 
                 The actuator controls a small catch. 
                 Very low actuator energy 
                 Complex construction 
                 IJ10 
               
               
                   
                 The catch either enables or disables 
                 Very small actuator size 
                 Requires external force 
               
               
                   
                 movement of an ink pusher that is 
                   
                 Unsuitable for pigmented inks 
               
               
                   
                 controlled in a bulk manner. 
               
               
                 Buckle plate 
                 A buckle plate can be used to change 
                 Very fast movement 
                 Must stay within elastic limits of the 
                 S. Hirata et al, “An 
               
               
                   
                 a slow actuator into a fast motion. It 
                 achievable 
                 materials for long device life 
                 Ink-jet Head. . .”, 
               
               
                   
                 can also convert a high force, low 
                   
                 High stresses involved 
                 Proc. IEEE MEMS, 
               
               
                   
                 travel actuator into a high travel, 
                   
                 Generally high power requirement 
                 Feb. 1996, pp 418- 
               
               
                   
                 medium force motion. 
                   
                   
                 423. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ18, IJ27 
               
               
                 Tapered 
                 A tapered magnetic pole can increase 
                 Linearizes the magnetic 
                 Complex construction 
                 IJ14 
               
               
                 magnetic pole 
                 travel at the expense of force. 
                 force/distance curve 
               
               
                 Lever 
                 A lever and fulcrum is used to 
                 Matches low travel actuator 
                 High stress around the fulcrum 
                 IJ32, IJ36, IJ37 
               
               
                   
                 transform a motion with small travel 
                 with higher travel 
               
               
                   
                 and high force into a motion with 
                 requirements 
               
               
                   
                 longer travel and lower force. The 
                 Fulcrum area has no linear 
               
               
                   
                 lever can also reverse the direction of 
                 movement, and can be used 
               
               
                   
                 travel. 
                 for a fluid seal 
               
               
                 Rotary 
                 The actuator is connected to a rotary 
                 High mechanical advantage 
                 Complex construction 
                 IJ28 
               
               
                 impeller 
                 impeller. A small angular deflection 
                 The ratio of force to travel 
                 Unsuitable for pigmented inks 
               
               
                   
                 of the actuator results in a rotation of 
                 of the actuator can be 
               
               
                   
                 the impeller vanes, which push the 
                 matched to the nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 ink against stationary vanes and out 
                 requirements by varying the 
               
               
                   
                 of the nozzle. 
                 number of impeller vanes 
               
               
                 Acoustic lens 
                 A refractive or diffractive (e.g. zone 
                 No moving parts 
                 Large area required 
                 1993 Hadimioglu et 
               
               
                   
                 plate) acoustic lens is used to 
                   
                 Only relevant for acoustic ink jets 
                 al, EUP 550,192 
               
               
                   
                 concentrate sound waves. 
                   
                   
                 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 572,220 
               
               
                 Sharp 
                 A sharp point is used to concentrate 
                 Simple construction 
                 Difficult to fabricate using standard 
                 Tone-jet 
               
               
                 conductive 
                 an electrostatic field. 
                   
                 VLSI processes for a surface ejecting 
               
               
                 point 
                   
                   
                 ink-jet 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Only relevant for electrostatic ink jets 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTUATOR MOTION 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Actuator 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 motion 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Volume 
                 The volume of the actuator changes, 
                 Simple construction in the 
                 High energy is typically required to 
                 Hewlett-Packard 
               
               
                 expansion 
                 pushing the ink in all directions. 
                 case of thermal ink jet 
                 achieve volume expansion. This leads 
                 Thermal Ink jet 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to thermal stress, cavitation, and 
                 Canon Bubblejet 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 kogation in thermal ink jet 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 implementations 
               
               
                 Linear, normal 
                 The actuator moves in a direction 
                 Efficient coupling to ink 
                 High fabrication complexity may be 
                 IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ07 
               
               
                 to chip surface 
                 normal to the print head surface. The 
                 drops ejected normal to the 
                 required to achieve perpendicular 
                 IJ11, IJ14 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle is typically in the line of 
                 surface 
                 motion 
               
               
                   
                 movement. 
                   
               
               
                 Linear, parallel 
                 The actuator moves parallel to the 
                 Suitable for planar 
                 Fabrication complexity 
                 IJ12, IJ13, IJ15, IJ33, 
               
               
                 to chip surface 
                 print head surface. Drop ejection 
                 fabrication 
                 Friction 
                 IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 
               
               
                   
                 may still be normal to the surface. 
                   
                 Stiction 
               
               
                 Membrane 
                 An actuator with a high force but 
                 The effective area of the 
                 Fabrication complexity 
                 1982 Howkins 
               
               
                 push 
                 small area is used to push a stiff 
                 actuator becomes the 
                 Actuator size 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 membrane that is in contact with the 
                 membrane area 
                 Difficulty of integration in a VLSI 
                 4,459,601 
               
               
                   
                 ink. 
                   
                 process 
               
               
                 Rotary 
                 The actuator causes the rotation of 
                 Rotary levers may be used 
                 Device complexity 
                 IJ05, IJ08, IJ13, IJ28 
               
               
                   
                 some element, such a grill or 
                 to increase travel 
                 May have friction at a pivot point 
               
               
                   
                 impeller 
                 Small chip area 
               
               
                 Bend 
                 The actuator bends when energized. 
                 requirements 
               
               
                   
                 This may be due to differential 
                 A very small change in 
                 Requires the actuator to be made from 
                 1970 Kyser et al 
               
               
                   
                 thermal expansion, piezoelectric 
                 dimensions can be 
                 at least two distinct layers, or to have a 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 expansion, magnetostriction, or other 
                 converted to a large motion. 
                 thermal difference across the actuator 
                 3,946,398 
               
               
                   
                 form of relative dimensional change. 
                   
                   
                 1973 Stemme 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 3,747,120 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ03, IJ09, IJ10, IJ19 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ29 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ30, IJ31, IJ33, IJ34 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ35 
               
               
                 Swivel 
                 The actuator swivels around a central 
                 Allows operation where the 
                 Inefficient coupling to the ink motion 
                 IJ06 
               
               
                   
                 pivot. This motion is suitable where 
                 net linear force on the 
               
               
                   
                 there are opposite forces applied to 
                 paddle is zero 
               
               
                   
                 opposite sides of the paddle, e.g. 
                 Small chip area 
               
               
                   
                 Lorenz force. 
                 requirements 
               
               
                 Straighten 
                 The actuator is normally bent, and 
                 Can be used with shape 
                 Requires careful balance of stresses to 
                 IJ26, IJ32 
               
               
                   
                 straightens when energized. 
                 memory alloys where the 
                 ensure that the quiescent bend is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 austenic phase is planar 
                 accurate 
               
               
                 Double bend 
                 The actuator bends in one direction 
                 One actuator can be used to 
                 Difficult to make the drops ejected by 
                 IJ36, IJ37, IJ38 
               
               
                   
                 when one element is energized, and 
                 power two nozzles. 
                 both bend directions identical. 
               
               
                   
                 bends the other way when another 
                 Reduced chip size. 
                 A small efficiency loss compared to 
               
               
                   
                 element is energized. 
                 Not sensitive to ambient 
                 equivalent single bend actuators. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 temperature 
               
               
                 Shear 
                 Energizing the actuator causes a 
                 Can increase the effective 
                 Not readily applicable to other actuator 
                 1985 Fishbeck 
               
               
                   
                 shear motion in the actuator material. 
                 travel of piezoelectric 
                 mechanisms 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 actuators 
                 4,584,590 
               
               
                 Radial 
                 The actuator squeezes an ink 
                 Relatively easy to fabricate 
                 High force required 
                 1970 Zoltan 
               
               
                 constriction 
                 reservoir, forcing ink from a 
                 single nozzles from glass 
                 Inefficient 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 constricted nozzle. 
                 tubing as macroscopic 
                 Difficult to integrate with VLSI 
                 3,683,212 
               
               
                   
                   
                 structures 
                 processes 
               
               
                 Coil/uncoil 
                 A coiled actuator uncoils or coils 
                 Easy to fabricate as a planar 
                 Difficult to fabricate for non-planar 
                 IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35 
               
               
                   
                 more tightly. The motion of the free 
                 VLSI process 
                 devices 
               
               
                   
                 end of the actuator ejects the ink. 
                 Small area required, 
                 Poor out-of-plane stiffness 
               
               
                   
                   
                 therefore low cost 
               
               
                 Bow 
                 The actuator bows (or buckles) in the 
                 Can increase the speed of 
                 Maximum travel is constrained 
                 IJ16, IJ18, IJ27 
               
               
                   
                 middle when energized. 
                 travel 
                 High force required 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Mechanically rigid 
               
               
                 Push-Pull 
                 Two actuators control a shutter. One 
                 The structure is pinned at 
                 Not readily suitable for inkjets which 
                 IJ18 
               
               
                   
                 actuator pulls the shutter, and the 
                 both ends, so has a high 
                 directly push the ink 
               
               
                   
                 other pushes it. 
                 out-of-plane rigidity 
               
               
                 Curl inwards 
                 A set of actuators curl inwards to 
                 Good fluid flow to the 
                 Design complexity 
                 IJ20, IJ42 
               
               
                   
                 reduce the volume of ink that they 
                 region behind the actuator 
               
               
                   
                 enclose. 
                 increases efficiency 
               
               
                 Curl outwards 
                 A set of actuators curl outwards, 
                 Relatively simple 
                 Relatively large chip area 
                 IJ43 
               
               
                   
                 pressurizing ink in a chamber 
                 construction 
               
               
                   
                 surrounding the actuators, and 
                   
               
               
                   
                 expelling ink from a nozzle in the 
                   
               
               
                   
                 chamber. 
                   
               
               
                 Iris 
                 Multiple vanes enclose a volume of 
                 High efficiency 
                 High fabrication complexity 
                 IJ22 
               
               
                   
                 ink. These simultaneously rotate, 
                 Small chip area 
                 Not suitable for pigmented inks 
               
               
                   
                 reducing the volume between the 
                   
               
               
                   
                 vanes. 
               
               
                 Acoustic 
                 The actuator vibrates at a high 
                 The actuator can be 
                 Large area required for efficient 
                 1993 Hadimioglu et 
               
               
                 vibration 
                 frequency. 
                 physically distant from the 
                 operation at useful frequencies 
                 al, EUP 550,192 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ink 
                 Acoustic coupling and crosstalk 
                 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Complex drive circuitry 
                 572,220 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Poor control of drop volume and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 position 
               
               
                 None 
                 In various ink jet designs the actuator 
                 No moving parts 
                 Various other tradeoffs are required to 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 does not move. 
                   
                 eliminate moving parts 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Tone-jet 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 NOZZLE REFILL METHOD 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Nozzle refill 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 method 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Surface 
                 After the actuator is energized, it 
                 Fabrication simplicity 
                 Low speed 
                 Thermal inkjet 
               
               
                 tension 
                 typically returns rapidly to its normal 
                 Operational simplicity 
                 Surface tension force relatively small 
                 Piezoelectric inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 position. This rapid return sucks in 
                   
                 compared to actuator force 
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14 
               
               
                   
                 air through the nozzle opening. The 
                   
                 Long refill time usually dominates the 
                 IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 
               
               
                   
                 ink surface tension at the nozzle then 
                   
                 total repetition rate 
               
               
                   
                 exerts a small force restoring the 
               
               
                   
                 meniscus to a minimum area. 
               
               
                 Shuttered 
                 Ink to the nozzle chamber is provided 
                 High speed 
                 Requires common ink pressure 
                 IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 
               
               
                 oscillating ink 
                 at a pressure that oscillates at twice 
                 Low actuator energy, as the 
                 oscillator 
                 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 
               
               
                 pressure 
                 the drop ejection frequency. When a 
                 actuator need only open or 
                 May not be suitable for pigmented inks 
               
               
                   
                 drop is to be ejected, the shutter is 
                 close the shutter, instead of 
               
               
                   
                 opened for 3 half cycles: drop 
                 ejecting the ink drop 
               
               
                   
                 ejection, actuator return, and refill. 
                   
               
               
                 Refill actuator 
                 After the main actuator has ejected a 
                 High speed, as the nozzle is 
                 Requires two independent actuators per 
                 IJ09 
               
               
                   
                 drop a second (refill) actuator is 
                 actively refilled 
                 nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 energized. The refill actuator pushes 
               
               
                   
                 ink into the nozzle chamber. The 
               
               
                   
                 refill actuator returns slowly, to 
               
               
                   
                 prevent its return from emptying the 
               
               
                   
                 chamber again. 
               
               
                 Positive ink 
                 The ink is held a slight positive 
                 High refill rate, therefore a 
                 Surface spill must be prevented 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 pressure 
                 pressure. After the ink drop is 
                 high drop repetition rate is 
                 Highly hydrophobic print head surfaces 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 ejected, the nozzle chamber fills 
                 possible 
                 are required 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 quickly as surface tension and ink 
                   
                   
                 Alternative for: 
               
               
                   
                 pressure both operate to refill the 
                   
                   
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle. 
                   
                   
                 IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Inlet back-flow 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 restriction 
               
               
                 method 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Long inlet 
                 The ink inlet channel to the nozzle 
                 Design simplicity 
                 Restricts refill rate 
                 Thermal inkjet 
               
               
                 channel 
                 chamber is made long and relatively 
                 Operational simplicity 
                 May result in a relatively large chip 
                 Piezoelectric inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 narrow, relying on viscous drag to 
                 Reduces crosstalk 
                 area 
                 IJ42, IJ43 
               
               
                   
                 reduce inlet back-flow. 
                   
                 Only partially effective 
               
               
                 Positive ink 
                 The ink is under a positive pressure, 
                 Drop selection and 
                 Requires a method (such as a nozzle 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 pressure 
                 so that in the quiescent state some of 
                 separation forces can be 
                 rim or effective hydrophobizing, or 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 the ink drop already protrudes from 
                 reduced 
                 both) to prevent flooding of the 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 the nozzle. 
                 Fast refill time 
                 ejection surface of the print head. 
                 Possible operation of 
               
               
                   
                 This reduces the pressure in the 
                   
                   
                 the following: 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle chamber which is required to 
                   
                   
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ09- IJ12 
               
               
                   
                 eject a certain volume of ink. The 
                   
                   
                 IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22, 
               
               
                   
                 reduction in chamber pressure results 
                   
                   
                 IJ23-IJ34, IJ36- IJ41 
               
               
                   
                 in a reduction in ink pushed out 
                   
                   
                 IJ44 
               
               
                   
                 through the inlet. 
               
               
                 Baffle 
                 One or more baffles are placed in the 
                 The refill rate is not as 
                 Design complexity 
                 HP Thermal Ink Jet 
               
               
                   
                 inlet ink flow. When the actuator is 
                 restricted as the long inlet 
                 May increase fabrication complexity 
                 Tektronix 
               
               
                   
                 energized, the rapid ink movement 
                 method. 
                 (e.g. Tektronix hot melt Piezoelectric 
                 piezoelectric ink jet 
               
               
                   
                 creates eddies which restrict the flow 
                 Reduces crosstalk 
                 print heads). 
               
               
                   
                 through the inlet. The slower refill 
               
               
                   
                 process is unrestricted, and does not 
               
               
                   
                 result in eddies. 
               
               
                 Flexible flap 
                 In this method recently disclosed by 
                 Significantly reduces back- 
                 Not applicable to most inkjet 
                 Canon 
               
               
                 restricts inlet 
                 Canon, the expanding actuator 
                 flow for edge-shooter 
                 configurations 
               
               
                   
                 (bubble) pushes on a flexible flap 
                 thermal ink jet devices 
                 Increased fabrication complexity 
               
               
                   
                 that restricts the inlet. 
                   
                 Inelastic deformation of polymer flap 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 results in creep over extended use 
               
               
                 Inlet filter 
                 A filter is located between the ink 
                 Additional advantage of ink 
                 Restricts refill rate 
                 IJ04, IJ12, IJ24, IJ27 
               
               
                   
                 inlet and the nozzle chamber. The 
                 filtration 
                 May result in complex construction 
                 IJ29, IJ30 
               
               
                   
                 filter has a multitude of small holes 
                 Ink filter may be fabricated 
               
               
                   
                 or slots, restricting ink flow. The 
                 with no additional process 
               
               
                   
                 filter also removes particles which 
                 steps 
               
               
                   
                 may block the nozzle. 
               
               
                 Small inlet 
                 The ink inlet channel to the nozzle 
                 Design simplicity 
                 Restricts refill rate 
                 IJ02, IJ37, IJ44 
               
               
                 compared to 
                 chamber has a substantially smaller 
                   
                 May result in a relatively large chip 
               
               
                 nozzle 
                 cross section than that of the nozzle, 
                   
                 area 
               
               
                   
                 resulting in easier ink egress out of 
                   
                 Only partially effective 
               
               
                   
                 the nozzle than out of the inlet. 
               
               
                 Inlet shutter 
                 A secondary actuator controls the 
                 Increases speed of the ink- 
                 Requires separate refill actuator and 
                 IJ09 
               
               
                   
                 position of a shutter, closing off the 
                 jet print head operation 
                 drive circuit 
               
               
                   
                 ink inlet when the main actuator is 
               
               
                   
                 energized. 
               
               
                 The inlet is 
                 The method avoids the problem of 
                 Back-flow problem is 
                 Requires careful design to minimize 
                 IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06 
               
               
                 located behind 
                 inlet back-flow by arranging the ink- 
                 eliminated 
                 the negative pressure behind the paddle 
                 IJ07, IJ10, IJ11, IJ14 
               
               
                 the ink- 
                 pushing surface of the actuator 
                   
                   
                 IJ16, IJ22, IJ23, IJ25 
               
               
                 pushing 
                 between the inlet and the nozzle. 
                   
                   
                 IJ28, IJ31, IJ32, IJ33 
               
               
                 surface 
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ34, IJ35, IJ36, IJ39 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ40, IJ41 
               
               
                 Part of the 
                 The actuator and a wall of the ink 
                 Significant reductions in 
                 Small increase in fabrication 
                 IJ07, IJ20, IJ26, IJ38 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 chamber are arranged so that the 
                 back-flow can be achieved 
                 complexity 
               
               
                 moves to shut 
                 motion of the actuator closes off the 
                 Compact designs possible 
               
               
                 off the inlet 
                 inlet. 
               
               
                 Nozzle 
                 In some configurations of ink jet, 
                 Ink back-flow problem is 
                 None related to ink back-flow on 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 actuator does 
                 there is no expansion or movement 
                 eliminated 
                 actuation 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                 not result in 
                 of an actuator which may cause ink 
                   
                   
                 patent applications 
               
               
                 ink back-flow 
                 back-flow through the inlet. 
                   
                   
                 Valve-jet 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Tone-jet 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Nozzle 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Clearing 
               
               
                 method 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Normal nozzle 
                 All of the nozzles are fired 
                 No added complexity on 
                 May not be sufficient to displace dried 
                 Most ink jet systems 
               
               
                 firing 
                 periodically, before the ink has a 
                 the print head 
                 ink 
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12 
               
               
                   
                 chance to dry. When not in use the 
                   
                   
                 IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22 
               
               
                   
                 nozzles are sealed (capped) against 
                   
                   
                 IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ45 
               
               
                   
                 air. 
               
               
                   
                 The nozzle firing is usually 
               
               
                   
                 performed during a special clearing 
               
               
                   
                 cycle, after first moving the print 
               
               
                   
                 head to a cleaning station. 
               
               
                 Extra power to 
                 In systems which heat the ink, but do 
                 Can be highly effective if 
                 Requires higher drive voltage for 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 ink heater 
                 not boil it under normal situations, 
                 the heater is adjacent to the 
                 clearing 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle clearing can be achieved by 
                 nozzle 
                 May require larger drive transistors 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 over-powering the heater and boiling 
               
               
                   
                 ink at the nozzle. 
               
               
                 Rapid 
                 The actuator is fired in rapid 
                 Does not require extra drive 
                 Effectiveness depends substantially 
                 May be used with: 
               
               
                 succession of 
                 succession. In some configurations, 
                 circuits on the print head 
                 upon the configuration of the inkjet 
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ09- IJ11 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 this may cause heat build-up at the 
                 Can be readily controlled 
                 nozzle 
                 IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22 
               
               
                 pulses 
                 nozzle which boils the ink, clearing 
                 and initiated by digital logic 
                   
                 IJ23-IJ25, IJ27-IJ34 
               
               
                   
                 the nozzle. In other situations, it may 
                   
                   
                 IJ36-IJ45 
               
               
                   
                 cause sufficient vibrations to 
               
               
                   
                 dislodge clogged nozzles. 
               
               
                 Extra power to 
                 Where an actuator is not normally 
                 A simple solution where 
                 Not suitable where there is a hard limit 
                 May be used with: 
               
               
                 ink pushing 
                 driven to the limit of its motion, 
                 applicable 
                 to actuator movement 
                 IJ03, IJ09, IJ16, IJ20 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 nozzle clearing may be assisted by 
                   
                   
                 IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ27 
               
               
                   
                 providing an enhanced drive signal 
                   
                   
                 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 
               
               
                   
                 to the actuator. 
                   
                   
                 IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ43, IJ44, IJ45 
               
               
                 Acoustic 
                 An ultrasonic wave is applied to the 
                 A high nozzle clearing 
                 High implementation cost if system 
                 IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 
               
               
                 resonance 
                 ink chamber. This wave is of an 
                 capability can be achieved 
                 does not already include an acoustic 
                 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 
               
               
                   
                 appropriate amplitude and frequency 
                 May be implemented at 
                 actuator 
               
               
                   
                 to cause sufficient force at the nozzle 
                 very low cost in systems 
               
               
                   
                 to clear blockages. This is easiest to 
                 which already include 
               
               
                   
                 achieve if the ultrasonic wave is at a 
                 acoustic actuators 
               
               
                   
                 resonant frequency of the ink cavity. 
               
               
                 Nozzle 
                 A microfabricated plate is pushed 
                 Can clear severely clogged 
                 Accurate mechanical alignment is 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 clearing plate 
                 against the nozzles. The plate has a 
                 nozzles 
                 required 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 post for every nozzle. The array of 
                   
                 Moving parts are required 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 posts 
                   
                 There is risk of damage to the nozzles 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Accurate fabrication is required 
               
               
                 Ink pressure 
                 The pressure of the ink is 
                 May be effective where 
                 Requires pressure pump or other 
                 May be used with all 
               
               
                 pulse 
                 temporarily increased so that ink 
                 other methods cannot be 
                 pressure actuator 
                 IJ series ink jets 
               
               
                   
                 streams from all of the nozzles. This 
                 used 
                 Expensive 
               
               
                   
                 may be used in conjunction with 
                   
                 Wasteful of ink 
               
               
                   
                 actuator energizing. 
               
               
                 Print head 
                 A flexible ‘blade’ is wiped across the 
                 Effective for planar print 
                 Difficult to use if print head surface is 
                 Many ink jet systems 
               
               
                 wiper 
                 print head surface. The blade is 
                 head surfaces 
                 non-planar or very fragile 
               
               
                   
                 usually fabricated from a flexible 
                 Low cost 
                 Requires mechanical parts 
               
               
                   
                 polymer, e.g. rubber or synthetic 
                   
                 Blade can wear out in high volume 
               
               
                   
                 elastomer. 
                   
                 print systems 
               
               
                 Separate ink 
                 A separate heater is provided at the 
                 Can be effective where 
                 Fabrication complexity 
                 Can be used with 
               
               
                 boiling heater 
                 nozzle although the normal drop e- 
                 other nozzle clearing 
                   
                 many IJ series ink 
               
               
                   
                 ection mechanism does not require it. 
                 methods cannot be used 
                   
                 jets 
               
               
                   
                 The heaters do not require individual 
                 Can be implemented at no 
               
               
                   
                 drive circuits, as many nozzles can 
                 additional cost in some 
               
               
                   
                 be cleared simultaneously, and no 
                 inkjet configurations 
               
               
                   
                 imaging is required. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Nozzle plate 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 construction 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Electroformed 
                 A nozzle plate is separately 
                 Fabrication simplicity 
                 High temperatures and pressures are 
                 Hewlett Packard 
               
               
                 nickel 
                 fabricated from electroformed nickel, 
                   
                 required to bond nozzle plate 
                 Thermal Inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 and bonded to the print head chip. 
                   
                 Minimum thickness constraints 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Differential thermal expansion 
               
               
                 Laser ablated 
                 Individual nozzle holes are ablated 
                 No masks required 
                 Each hole must be individually formed 
                 Canon Bubblejet 
               
               
                 or drilled 
                 by an intense UV laser in a nozzle 
                 Can be quite fast 
                 Special equipment required 
                 1988 Sercel et al., 
               
               
                 polymer 
                 plate, which is typically a polymer 
                 Some control over nozzle 
                 Slow where there are many thousands 
                 SPIE, Vol. 998 
               
               
                   
                 such as polyimide or polysulphone 
                 profile is possible 
                 of nozzles per print head 
                 Excimer Beam 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Equipment required is 
                 May produce thin burrs at exit holes 
                 Applications, pp. 76- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 relatively low cost 
                   
                 83 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 1993 Watanabe et al., 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 5,208,604 
               
               
                 Silicon micro- 
                 A separate nozzle plate is 
                 High accuracy is attainable 
                 Two part construction 
                 K. Bean, IEEE 
               
               
                 machined 
                 micromachined from single crystal 
                   
                 High cost 
                 Transactions on 
               
               
                   
                 silicon, and bonded to the print head 
                   
                 Requires precision alignment 
                 Electron Devices, 
               
               
                   
                 wafer. 
                   
                 Nozzles may be clogged by adhesive 
                 Vol. ED-25, No. 10, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 1978, pp 1185-1195 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Xerox 1990 Hawkins 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 et al., 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 4,899,181 
               
               
                 Glass 
                 Fine glass capillaries are drawn from 
                 No expensive equipment 
                 Very small nozzle sizes are difficult to 
                 1970 Zoltan 
               
               
                 capillaries 
                 glass tubing. This method has been 
                 required 
                 form 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 used for making individual nozzles, 
                 Simple to make single 
                 Not suited for mass production 
                 3,683,212 
               
               
                   
                 but is difficult to use for bulk 
                 nozzles 
               
               
                   
                 manufacturing of print heads with 
               
               
                   
                 thousands of nozzles. 
               
               
                 Monolithic, 
                 The nozzle plate is deposited as a 
                 High accuracy (&lt;1 μm) 
                 Requires sacrificial layer under the 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 surface micro- 
                 layer using standard VLSI deposition 
                 Monolithic 
                 nozzle plate to form the nozzle 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                 machined 
                 techniques. Nozzles are etched in the 
                 Low cost 
                 chamber 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                 using VLSI 
                 nozzle plate using VLSI lithography 
                 Existing processes can be 
                 Surface may be fragile to the touch 
                 IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ11 
               
               
                 lithographic 
                 and etching. 
                 used 
                   
                 IJ12, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20 
               
               
                 processes 
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ22, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ33, IJ34, IJ36, IJ37 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 
               
               
                 Monolithic, 
                 The nozzle plate is a buried etch stop 
                 High accuracy (&lt;1 μm) 
                 Requires long etch times 
                 IJ03, IJ05, IJ06, IJ07 
               
               
                 etched 
                 in the wafer. Nozzle chambers are 
                 Monolithic 
                 Requires a support wafer 
                 IJ08, IJ09, IJ10, IJ13 
               
               
                 through 
                 etched in the front of the wafer, and 
                 Low cost 
                   
                 IJ14, IJ15, IJ16, IJ19 
               
               
                 substrate 
                 the wafer is thinned from the back 
                 No differential expansion 
                   
                 IJ21, IJ23, IJ25, IJ26 
               
               
                   
                 side. Nozzles are then etched in the 
               
               
                   
                 etch stop layer. 
               
               
                 No nozzle 
                 Various methods have been tried to 
                 No nozzles to become 
                 Difficult to control drop position 
                 Ricoh 1995 Sekiya et 
               
               
                 plate 
                 eliminate the nozzles entirely, to 
                 clogged 
                 accurately 
                 al U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 prevent nozzle clogging. These 
                   
                 Crosstalk problems 
                 5,412,413 
               
               
                   
                 include thermal bubble mechanisms 
                   
                   
                 1993 Hadimioglu et 
               
               
                   
                 and acoustic lens mechanisms 
                   
                   
                 al EUP 550,192 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 1993 Elrod et al EUP 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 572,220 
               
               
                 Trough 
                 Each drop ejector has a trough 
                 Reduced manufacturing 
                 Drop firing direction is sensitive to 
                 IJ35 
               
               
                   
                 through which a paddle moves. 
                 complexity 
                 wicking. 
               
               
                   
                 There is no nozzle plate. 
                 Monolithic 
               
               
                 Nozzle slit 
                 The elimination of nozzle holes and 
                 No nozzles to become 
                 Difficult to control drop position 
                 1989 Saito et al 
               
               
                 instead of 
                 replacement by a slit encompassing 
                 clogged 
                 accurately 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                 individual 
                 many actuator positions reduces 
                   
                 Crosstalk problems 
                 4,799,068 
               
               
                 nozzles 
                 nozzle clogging, but increases 
               
               
                   
                 crosstalk due to ink surface waves 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DROP EJECTION DIRECTION 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Ejection 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 direction 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Edge 
                 Ink flow is along the surface of the 
                 Simple construction 
                 Nozzles limited to edge 
                 Canon Bubblejet 
               
               
                 (‘edge 
                 chip, and ink drops are ejected from 
                 No silicon etching required 
                 High resolution is difficult 
                 1979 Endo et al GB 
               
               
                 shooter’) 
                 the chip edge. 
                 Good heat sinking via 
                 Fast color printing requires one print 
                 patent 2,007,162 
               
               
                   
                   
                 substrate 
                 head per color 
                 Xerox heater-in-pit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Mechanically strong 
                   
                 1990 Hawkins et al 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Ease of chip handing 
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 4,899,181 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Tone-jet 
               
               
                 Surface 
                 Ink flow is along the surface of the 
                 No bulk silicon etching 
                 Maximum ink flow is severely 
                 Hewlett-Packard TIJ 
               
               
                 (‘roof shooter’) 
                 chip, and ink drops are ejected from 
                 required 
                 restricted 
                 1982 Vaught et al 
               
               
                   
                 the chip surface, normal to the plane 
                 Silicon can make an 
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No 
               
               
                   
                 of the chip. 
                 effective heat sink 
                   
                 4,490,728 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Mechanical strength 
                   
                 IJ02, IJ11, IJ12, IJ20 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ22 
               
               
                 Through chip, 
                 Ink flow is through the chip, and ink 
                 High ink flow 
                 Requires bulk silicon etching 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 forward 
                 drops are ejected from the front 
                 Suitable for pagewidth print 
                   
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                 (‘up shooter’) 
                 surface of the chip. 
                 High nozzle packing density 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                   
                 therefore low 
                   
                 IJ04, IJ17, IJ18, IJ24 
               
               
                   
                   
                 manufacturing cost 
                   
                 IJ27-IJ45 
               
               
                 Through chip, 
                 Ink flow is through the chip, and ink 
                 High ink flow 
                 Requires wafer thinning 
                 IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06 
               
               
                 reverse 
                 drops are ejected from the rear 
                 Suitable for pagewidth print 
                 Requires special handling during 
                 IJ07, IJ08, IJ09, IJ10 
               
               
                 (‘down 
                 surface of the chip. 
                 High nozzle packing density 
                 manufacture 
                 IJ13, IJ14, IJ15, IJ16 
               
               
                 shooter’) 
                   
                 therefore low 
                   
                 IJ19, IJ21, IJ23, IJ25 
               
               
                   
                   
                 manufacturing cost 
                   
                 IJ26 
               
               
                 Through 
                 Ink flow is through the actuator, 
                 Suitable for piezoelectric 
                 Pagewidth print heads require several 
                 Epson Stylus 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 which is not fabricated as part of the 
                 print heads 
                 thousand connections to drive circuits 
                 Tektronix hot melt 
               
               
                   
                 same substrate as the drive 
                   
                 Cannot be manufactured in standard 
                 piezoelectric ink jets 
               
               
                   
                 transistors. 
                   
                 CMOS fabs 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Complex assembly required 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 INK TYPE 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Ink type 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Aqueous, dye 
                 Water based ink which typically 
                 Environmentally friendly 
                 Slow drying 
                 Most existing inkjets 
               
               
                   
                 contains: water, dye, surfactant, 
                 No odor 
                 Corrosive 
                 All IJ series inkjets 
               
               
                   
                 humectant, and biocide. 
                   
                 Bleeds on paper 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 Modern ink dyes have high water- 
                   
                 May strikethrough 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 fastness, light fastness 
                   
                 Cockles paper 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                 Aqueous, 
                 Water based ink which typically 
                 Environmentally friendly 
                 Slow drying 
                 IJ02, IJ04, IJ21, IJ26 
               
               
                 pigment 
                 contains: water, pigment, surfactant, 
                 No odor 
                 Corrosive 
                 IJ27, IJ30 
               
               
                   
                 humectant, and biocide. 
                 Reduced bleed 
                 Pigment may clog nozzles 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 Pigments have an advantage in 
                 Reduced wicking 
                 Pigment may clog actuator 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 reduced bleed, wicking and 
                 Reduced strikethrough 
                 mechanisms 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 strikethrough. 
                   
                 Cockles paper 
                 Piezoelectric ink-jets 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Thermal ink jets 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (with significant 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 restrictions) 
               
               
                 Methyl Ethyl 
                 MEK is a highly volatile solvent 
                 Very fast drying 
                 Odorous 
                 All IJ series ink jets 
               
               
                 Ketone (MEK) 
                 used for industrial printing on 
                 Prints on various substrates 
                 Flammable 
               
               
                   
                 difficult surfaces such as aluminum 
                 such as metals and plastics 
               
               
                   
                 cans. 
               
               
                 Alcohol 
                 Alcohol based inks can be used 
                 Fast drying 
                 Slight odor 
                 All IJ series ink jets 
               
               
                 (ethanol, 2- 
                 where the printer must operate at 
                 Operates at sub-freezing 
                 Flammable 
               
               
                 butanol, and 
                 temperatures below the freezing 
                 temperatures 
               
               
                 others) 
                 point of water. An example of this is 
                 Reduced paper cockle 
               
               
                   
                 in-camera consumer photographic 
                 Low cost 
               
               
                   
                 printing. 
               
               
                 Phase change 
                 The ink is solid at room temperature, 
                 No drying time-ink 
                 High viscosity 
                 Tektronix hot melt 
               
               
                 (hot melt) 
                 and is melted in the print head before 
                 instantly freezes on the print 
                 Printed ink typically has a 
                 piezoelectric ink jets 
               
               
                   
                 jetting. Hot melt inks are usually wax 
                 medium 
                 ‘waxy’ feel 
                 1989 Nowak 
               
               
                   
                 based, with a melting point around 
                 Almost any print medium 
                 Printed pages may ‘block’ 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 80° C. After jetting the ink freezes 
                 can be used 
                 Ink temperature may be above the 
                 4,820,346 
               
               
                   
                 almost instantly upon contacting the 
                 No paper cockle occurs 
                 curie point of permanent magnets 
                 All IJ series ink jets 
               
               
                   
                 print medium or a transfer roller. 
                 No wicking occurs 
                 Ink heaters consume power 
               
               
                   
                   
                 No bleed occurs 
                 Long warm-up time 
               
               
                   
                   
                 No strikethrough occurs 
               
               
                 Oil 
                 Oil based inks are extensively used 
                 High solubility medium for 
                 High viscosity: this is a significant 
                 All IJ series ink jets 
               
               
                   
                 in offset printing. They have 
                 some dyes 
                 limitation for use in inkjets, which 
               
               
                   
                 advantages in improved 
                 Does not cockle paper 
                 usually require a low viscosity. Some 
               
               
                   
                 characteristics on paper (especially 
                 Does not wick through 
                 short chain and multi-branched oils 
               
               
                   
                 no wicking or cockle). Oil soluble 
                 paper 
                 have a sufficiently low viscosity. 
               
               
                   
                 dies and pigments are required. 
                   
                 Slow drying 
               
               
                 Microemulsion 
                 A microemulsion is a stable, self 
                 Stops ink bleed 
                 Viscosity higher than water 
                 All IJ series ink jets 
               
               
                   
                 forming emulsion of oil, water, and 
                 High dye solubility 
                 Cost is slightly higher than water 
               
               
                   
                 surfactant. The characteristic drop 
                 Water, oil, and amphiphilic 
                 based ink 
               
               
                   
                 size is less than 100 nm, and is 
                 soluble dies can be used 
                 High surfactant concentration 
               
               
                   
                 determined by the preferred 
                 Can stabilize pigment 
                 required (around 5%) 
               
               
                   
                 curvature of the surfactant. 
                 suspensions 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Ink Jet Printing 
     A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed to facilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing and data distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can be included in printer devices incorporated as part of the present invention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to these ink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Australian 
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No./ 
               
               
                 Provisional 
                 Filing 
                   
                 Pat. application 
               
               
                 Number 
                 Date 
                 Title 
                 and Filing Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 P08066 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,227,652 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ01) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08072 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,213,588 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ02) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08040 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,213,589 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ03) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08071 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,231,163 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ04) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08047 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,247,795 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ05) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08035 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,394,581 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ06) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08044 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,244,691 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ07) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08063 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,257,704 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ08) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08057 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,416,168 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ09) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08056 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,220,694 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ10) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08069 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,257,705 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ11) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08049 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,247,794 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ12) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08036 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,234,610 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ13) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08048 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,247,793 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ14) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08070 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,264,306 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ15) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08067 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,241,342 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ16) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08001 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,247,792 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ17) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08038 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,264,307 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ18) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08033 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,254,220 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ19) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08002 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,234,611 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ20) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08068 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,302,528 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ21) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08062 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,283,582 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ22) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08034 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,239,821 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ23) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08039 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,338,547 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ24) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08041 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,247,796 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ25) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08004 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 09/113,122 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ26) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08037 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,390,603 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ27) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08043 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,362,843 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ28) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08042 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,293,653 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ29) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08064 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,312,107 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ30) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09389 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,227,653 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ31) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09391 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,234,609 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ32) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0888 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,238,040 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ33) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0891 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,188,415 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ34) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0890 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,227,654 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ35) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0873 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,209,989 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ36) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0993 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,247,791 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ37) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0890 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,336,710 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ38) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP1398 
                 Jan. 19, 1998 
                 An Image Creation 
                 6,217,153 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Method and Apparatus 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IJ39) 
               
               
                 PP2592 
                 Mar. 25, 1998 
                 An Image Creation 
                 6,416,167 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Method and Apparatus 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IJ40) 
               
               
                 PP2593 
                 Mar. 25, 1998 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,243,113 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ41) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP3991 
                 Jun. 9, 1998 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,283,581 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ42) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP3987 
                 Jun. 9, 1998 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,247,790 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ43) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP3985 
                 Jun. 9, 1998 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,260,953 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ44) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP3983 
                 Jun. 9, 1998 
                 Image Creation Method 
                 6,267,469 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (IJ45) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Ink Jet Manufacturing 
     Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Austra- 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 lian Pro- 
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No./ 
               
               
                 visional 
                 Filing 
                   
                 Pat. application 
               
               
                 Number 
                 Date 
                 Title 
                 and Filing Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 P07935 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,224,780 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM01) 
               
               
                 P07936 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,235,212 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM02) 
               
               
                 P07937 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,280,643 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM03) 
               
               
                 P08061 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,284,147 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM04) 
               
               
                 P08054 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,214,244 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM05) 
               
               
                 P08065 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,071,750 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM06) 
               
               
                 P08055 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,267,905 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM07) 
               
               
                 P08053 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,251,298 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM08) 
               
               
                 P08078 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,258,285 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM09) 
               
               
                 P07933 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,225,138 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM10) 
               
               
                 P07950 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,241,904 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM11) 
               
               
                 P07949 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,299,786 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM12) 
               
               
                 P08060 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 09/113,124 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM13) 
               
               
                 P08059 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,231,773 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM14) 
               
               
                 P08073 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,190,931 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM15) 
               
               
                 P08076 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,248,249 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM16) 
               
               
                 P08075 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,290,862 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM17) 
               
               
                 P08079 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,241,906 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM18) 
               
               
                 P08050 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 09/113,116 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM19) 
               
               
                 P08052 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,241,905 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM20) 
               
               
                 P07948 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,451,216 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM21) 
               
               
                 P07951 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,231,772 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM22) 
               
               
                 P08074 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,274,056 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM23) 
               
               
                 P07941 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,290,861 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM24) 
               
               
                 P08077 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,248,248 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM25) 
               
               
                 P08058 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,306,671 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM26) 
               
               
                 P08051 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,331,258 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM27) 
               
               
                 P08045 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,110,754 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM28) 
               
               
                 P07952 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,294,101 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM29) 
               
               
                 P08046 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,416,679 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM30) 
               
               
                 P08503 
                 Aug. 11, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,264,849 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM30a) 
               
               
                 P09390 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,254,793 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM31) 
               
               
                 P09392 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,235,211 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM32) 
               
               
                 PP0889 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,235,211 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM35) 
               
               
                 PP0887 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,264,850 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM36) 
               
               
                 PP0882 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,258,284 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM37) 
               
               
                 PP0874 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,258,284 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM38) 
               
               
                 PP1396 
                 Jan. 19, 1998 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,228,668 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM39) 
               
               
                 PP2591 
                 Mar. 25, 1998 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,180,427 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM41) 
               
               
                 PP3989 
                 Jun. 9, 1998 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,171,875 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM40) 
               
               
                 PP3990 
                 Jun. 9, 1998 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,267,904 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM42) 
               
               
                 PP3986 
                 Jun. 9, 1998 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,245,247 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM43) 
               
               
                 PP3984 
                 Jun. 9, 1998 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,245,247 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM44) 
               
               
                 PP3982 
                 Jun. 9, 1998 
                 A Method of Manufacture 
                 6,231,148 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of an Image Creation 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (IJM45) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Fluid Supply 
     Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system to the ink jet head. Delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to a series of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Australian 
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No./ 
               
               
                 Provisional 
                 Filing 
                   
                 Pat. application 
               
               
                 Number 
                 Date 
                 Title 
                 and Filing Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 P08003 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Supply Method and 
                 6,350,023 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (F1) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08005 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Supply Method and 
                 6,318,849 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Apparatus (F2) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09404 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 09/113,101 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (F3) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     MEMS Technology 
     Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor microelectromechanical techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable microelectromechanical techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Australian 
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No./ 
               
               
                 Provisional 
                 Filing 
                   
                 Pat. application 
               
               
                 Number 
                 Date 
                 Title 
                 and Filing Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 P07943 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A device (MEMS01) 
                   
               
               
                 P08006 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A device (MEMS02) 
                 6,087,638 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08007 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A device (MEMS03) 
                 09/113,093 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08008 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A device (MEMS04) 
                 6,340,222 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08010 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A device (MEMS05) 
                 6,041,600 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08011 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A device (MEMS06) 
                 6,299,300 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07947 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A device (MEMS07) 
                 6,067,797 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07945 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A device (MEMS08) 
                 09/113,081 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07944 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A device (MEMS09) 
                 6,286,935 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07946 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 A device (MEMS10) 
                 6,044,646 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09393 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 09/113,065 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (MEMS11) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0875 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device (MEMS12) 
                 09/113,078 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0894 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 09/113,075 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (MEMS13) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     IR Technologies 
     Further, the present application may include the utilization of a disposable camera system such as those described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Australian 
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No./ 
               
               
                 Provisional 
                 Filing 
                   
                 Pat. application 
               
               
                 Number 
                 Date 
                 Title 
                 and Filing Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 PP0895 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 An Image Creation 
                 6,231,148 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Method and Apparatus 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR01) 
               
               
                 PP0870 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 09/113,106 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR02) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0869 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 6,293,658 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR04) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0887 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 Image Creation 
                 09/113,104 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Method and Apparatus 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR05) 
               
               
                 PP0885 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 An Image Production 
                 6,238,033 
               
               
                   
                   
                 System (IR06) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0884 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 Image Creation 
                 6,312,070 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Method and Apparatus 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR10) 
               
               
                 PP0886 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 Image Creation 
                 6,238,111 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Method and Apparatus 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR12) 
               
               
                 PP0871 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 09/113,086 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR13) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0876 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 An Image Processing 
                 09/113,094 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Method and Apparatus 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR14) 
               
               
                 PP0877 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 6,378,970 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR16) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0878 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 6,196,739 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR17) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0879 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 09/112,774 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR18) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0883 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 6,270,182 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR19) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0880 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 6,152,619 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR20) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0881 
                 Dec. 12, 1997 
                 A Device and Method 
                 09/113,092 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (IR21) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DotCard Technologies 
     Further, the present application may include the utilization of a data distribution system such as that described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Australian 
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No./ 
               
               
                 Provisional 
                   
                   
                 Pat. application 
               
               
                 Number 
                 Filing Date 
                 Title 
                 and Filing Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 PP2370 
                 Mar. 16, 1998 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/112,781 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (Dot01) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP2371 
                 Mar. 16, 1998 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,052 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (Dot02) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Artcam Technologies 
     Further, the present application may include the utilization of camera and data processing techniques such as an Artcam type device as described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Austra- 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 lian Pro- 
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No./ 
               
               
                 visional 
                   
                   
                 Pat. application 
               
               
                 Number 
                 Filing Date 
                 Title 
                 and Filing Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 P07991 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/113,060 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART01) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07988 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,476,863 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART02) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07993 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/113,073 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART03) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09395 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,322,181 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART04) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08017 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,747 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART06) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08014 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Media Device (ART07) 
                 6,227,648 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08025 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,750 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART08) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08032 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,746 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART09) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07999 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,743 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART10) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07998 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,742 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART11) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08031 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,741 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART12) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08030 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Media Device (ART13) 
                 6,196,541 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07997 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Media Device (ART15) 
                 6,195,150 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07979 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Media Device (ART16) 
                 6,362,868 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08015 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Media Device (ART17) 
                 09/112,738 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07978 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Media Device (ART18) 
                 09/113,067 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07982 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,431,669 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART19) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07989 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,362,869 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART20) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08019 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Media Processing Method 
                 6,472,052 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART21) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07980 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,356,715 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART22) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08018 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,777 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART24) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07938 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/113,224 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART25) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08016 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,366,693 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART26) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08024 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,329,990 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART27) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07940 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,072 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART28) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07939 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/112,785 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART29) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08501 
                 Aug. 11, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,137,500 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART30) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08500 
                 Aug. 11, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,796 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART31) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07987 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,071 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART32) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08022 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,398,328 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART33) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08497 
                 Aug. 11, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/113,090 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART34) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08020 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,431,704 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART38) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08023 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,222 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART39) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08504 
                 Aug. 11, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,786 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART42) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08000 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,415,054 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART43) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07977 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/112,782 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART44) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07934 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,056 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART45) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07990 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,059 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART46) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08499 
                 Aug. 11, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,486,886 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART47) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08502 
                 Aug. 11, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,381,361 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART48) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07981 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,317,192 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART50) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07986 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,057 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART51) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P07983 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,054 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART52) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08026 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,752 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART53) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08027 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,759 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART54) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P08028 
                 Jul. 15, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,757 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART56) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09394 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,357,135 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART57) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09396 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,107 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART58) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09397 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,271,931 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART59) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09398 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,353,772 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART60) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09399 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,106,147 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART61) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09400 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/112,790 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART62) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09401 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,304,291 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART63) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09402 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/112,788 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART64) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09403 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,305,770 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART65) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 P09405 
                 Sep. 23, 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,289,262 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART66) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0959 
                 Dec. 16, 1997 
                 A Data Processing Method 
                 6,315,200 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART68) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP1397 
                 Jan. 19, 1998 
                 A Media Device (ART69) 
                 6,217,165 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998)