# Patent

## Title
Forming a manipulated image using a printed medium having an image manipulation instruction

## Abstract

A camera for creating a manipulated image. The camera has an image capture device, an input device, an image manipulator, an output device and a display device. The image capture device is designed to capture a captured image. The input device is designed to receive an input image. The image manipulator is designed to receive the input image from the input device and to manipulate the input image to form a manipulated image. The output device is designed to receive the manipulated image from the image manipulator and to output the manipulated image. The display device is designed to receive the manipulated image from the image manipulator and to display the manipulated image. The image manipulator is designed to manipulate the input image by combining at least part of the input image with at least part of the captured image to form the manipulated image.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/112,757 filed Jul. 10, 1998, now Issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,848.
The following Australian provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. For the purposes of location and identification, US patent applications identified by their US patent application serial numbers (USSN) are listed alongside the Australian applications from which the US patent applications claim the right of priority.











CROSS-REFERENCED
U.S. Pat. No./PATENT APPLICATION


AUSTRALIAN
(CLAIMING RIGHT OF PRIORITY FROM


PROVISIONAL PATENT
AUSTRALIAN PROVISIONAL


APPLICATION NO.
APPLICATION)







PO7991
6750901


PO8505
6476863


PO7988
6788336


PO9395
6322181


PO8017
6597817


PO8014
6227648


PO8025
6727948


PO8032
6690419


PO7999
6727951


PO8030
6196541


PO7997
6195150


PO7979
6362868


PO7978
6831681


PO7982
6431669


PO7989
6362869


PO8019
6472052


PO7980
6356715


PO8018
6894694


PO7938
6636216


PO8016
6366693


PO8024
6329990


PO7939
6459495


PO8501
6137500


PO8500
6690416


PO7987
7050143


PO8022
6398328


PO8497
7110024


PO8020
6431704


PO8504
6879341


PO8000
6415054


PO7934
6665454


PO7990
6542645


PO8499
6486886


PO8502
6381361


PO7981
6317192


PO7986
6850274


PO7983
09/113054


PO8026
6646757


PO8028
6624848


PO9394
6357135


PO9397
6271931


PO9398
6353772


PO9399
6106147


PO9400
6665008


PO9401
6304291


PO9403
6305770


PO9405
6289262


PP0959
6315200


PP1397
6217165


PP2370
6786420


PO8003
6350023


PO8005
6318849


PO8066
6227652


PO8072
6213588


PO8040
6213589


PO8071
6231163


PO8047
6247795


PO8035
6394581


PO8044
6244691


PO8063
6257704


PO8057
6416168


PO8056
6220694


PO8069
6257705


PO8049
6247794


PO8036
6234610


PO8048
6247793


PO8070
6264306


PO8067
6241342


PO8001
6247792


PO8038
6264307


PO8033
6254220


PO8002
6234611


PO8068
6302528


PO8062
6283582


PO8034
6239821


PO8039
6338547


PO8041
6247796


PO8004
6557977


PO8037
6390603


PO8043
6362843


PO8042
6293653


PO8064
6312107


PO9389
6227653


PO9391
6234609


PP0888
6238040


PP0891
6188415


PP0890
6227654


PP0873
6209989


PP0993
6247791


PP0890
6336710


PP1398
6217153


PP2592
6416167


PP2593
6243113


PP3991
6283581


PP3987
6247790


PP3985
6260953


PP3983
6267469


PO7935
6224780


PO7936
6235212


PO7937
6280643


PO8061
6284147


PO8054
6214244


PO8065
6071750


PO8055
6267905


PO8053
6251298


PO8078
6258285


PO7933
6225138


PO7950
6241904


PO7949
6299786


PO8060
6866789


PO8059
6231773


PO8073
6190931


PO8076
6248249


PO8075
6290862


PO8079
6241906


PO8050
6565762


PO8052
6241905


PO7948
6451216


PO7951
6231772


PO8074
6274056


PO7941
6290861


PO8077
6248248


PO8058
6306671


PO8051
6331258


PO8045
6110754


PO7952
6294101


PO8046
6416679


PO9390
6264849


PO9392
6254793


PP0889
6235211


PP0887
6491833


PP0882
6264850


PP0874
6258284


PP1396
6312615


PP3989
6228668


PP2591
6180427


PP3990
6171875


PP3986
6267904


PP3984
6245247


PP3982
6315914


PP0895
6231148


PP0869
6293658


PP0887
6614560


PP0885
6238033


PP0884
6312070


PP0886
6238111


PP0877
6378970


PP0878
6196739


PP0883
6270182


PP0880
6152619


PO8006
6087638


PO8007
6340222


PO8010
6041600


PO8011
6299300


PO7947
6067797


PO7944
6286935


PO7946
6044646


PP0894
6382769











STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data processing method and apparatus and, in particular, discloses a Multi Artcam System.
The present invention further relates to the field of image processing and to user interface mechanisms for performing image processing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, in Australia Provisional Patent Specification entitled “Image Processing Method and Apparatus (Art01)” filed concurrently by the present applicant, a system has been proposed known colloquially as “Artcam” which is a digital camera having an integral printer for printing out sensed images in addition to manipulations of the sensed image which are manipulated as a result of the insertion of a “Artcard” having manipulation instructions thereon into the camera.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide for a multi effect system to provide enhanced image effects.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention as provided a method of creating a manipulated image comprising interconnecting a series of camera manipulation units, each of said camera manipulation unit applying an image manipulation to an inputted image so as to produce a manipulated output image, an initial one of said camera manipulation units sensing an image from an environment and at least a final one of said camera manipulation units producing a permanent output image.



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 which:
FIG. 1 illustrates the form of interconnection of the preferred embodiment.



DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiment is preferable implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in Australian Provisional Patent Application entitled “Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART01)” filed concurrently herewith by the present applicant the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference.
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. Further, the aforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performing various manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing device leading to the production of various effects in any output image. 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 hereinafter being known as Artcards. The Artcam further has significant onboard processing power by an Artcam Central Processor unit (ACP) which is interconnected to a memory device for the storage of important data and images.
In the preferred embodiment, multiple Artcams as described in the aforementioned patent specification are interconnected via their USB ports so as to provide a cascading of imaging effects. Through suitable programming of the internal computer portions of each Artcam, a cascading of imaging effects can be achieved.
The preferred arrangement is as illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein a series of Artcams, e.g. 2, 3, 4, are interconnected 5 via their USB ports. Each Artcam 2, 3, 4 is provided with a corresponding Artcard 7, 8, 9 having a suitable image manipulation program stored thereon. Further, the instructions for utilisation in a network environment can be provided on the Artcard 7, 8, 9. The image 10 sensed by the Artcam 2 is then manipulated by the manipulation program on Artcard 7 with the result being forwarded 5 to Artcam device 3 which applies the image manipulation function provided on Artcard 8 producing a corresponding output which is forwarded to the next Artcam in the series. The chained Artcam has been modified so as to have two USB ports for this purpose. The final Artcam 4 applies its Artcard manipulation stored on Artcard 9 for producing output 12 which is a conglomeration of each of the previous image manipulations.
The arrangement 1 on FIG. 1 thereby provides the opportunity to apply multiple effects to a single sensed image. Of course, a number of further refinements are possible. For example, each Artcam could print out its own manipulated image in addition to forwarding the image to the next Artcam in the series. Additionally, splitting of paths where one Artcam outputs to two different downstream Artcams which result in different final images being output could also be provided. Additionally, loops, etc., could be utilised.
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.
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 ink jet 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 ink jet 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 ink jet 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 pagewide print heads with 19,200 nozzles.
Ideally, the ink jet 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 ink jet 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 (<2 seconds per page).
All of these features can be met or exceeded by the ink jet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. 45 different ink jet 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 ink jet 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 ink jet 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.
Tables of Drop-On-Demand Ink Jets
Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual ink jet 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 ink jet 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 ink jet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable ink jet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain ink jet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 to IJ45 above.
Other ink jet configurations can readily be derived from these 45 examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into ink jet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available ink jet 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 printer may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.
Suitable applications for the ink jet technologies 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.
















Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples
















ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS)











Thermal
An electrothermal
Large force
High power
Canon


bubble
heater heats the
generated
Ink carrier
Bubblejet 1979



ink to above
Simple
limited to water
Endo et al GB



boiling point,
construction
Low
patent 2,007,162



transferring
No moving
efficiency
Xerox



significant heat to
parts
High
heater-in-pit



the aqueous ink. A
Fast
temperatures
1990 Hawkins et



bubble nucleates
operation
required
al U.S. Pat. No.



and quickly forms,
Small chip
High
4,899,181



expelling the ink.
area required for
mechanical
Hewlett-



The efficiency of
actuator
stress
Packard TIJ



the process is low,

Unusual
1982 Vaught et



with typically less

materials
al U.S. Pat. No.



than 0.05% of the

required
4,490,728



electrical energy

Large drive



being transformed

transistors



into kinetic energy

Cavitation



of the drop.

causes actuator





failure





Kogation





reduces bubble





formation





Large print





heads are





difficult to





fabricate


Piezoelectric
A piezoelectric
Low power
Very large
Kyser et al



crystal such as
consumption
area required for
U.S. Pat. No.



lead lanthanum
Many ink
actuator
3,946,398



zirconate (PZT) is
types can be
Difficult to
Zoltan



electrically
used
integrate with
U.S. Pat. No.



activated, and
Fast
electronics
3,683,212



either expands,
operation
High
1973



shears, or bends to
High
voltage drive
Stemme U.S. Pat. No.



apply pressure to
efficiency
transistors
3,747,120



the ink, ejecting

required
Epson Stylus



drops.

Full
Tektronix





pagewidth print
IJ04





heads





impractical due





to actuator size





Requires





electrical poling





in high field





strengths during





manufacture


Electrostrictive
An electric field is
Low power
Low
Seiko



used to activate
consumption
maximum strain
Epson, Usui et



electrostriction in
Many ink
(approx. 0.01%)
all JP 253401/96



relaxor materials
types can be
Large area
IJ04



such as lead
used
required for



lanthanum
Low
actuator due to



zirconate titanate
thermal
low strain



(PLZT) or lead
expansion
Response



magnesium
Electric
speed is



niobate (PMN).
field strength
marginal (~10 μs)




required
High




(approx. 3.5 V/μm)
voltage drive




can be
transistors




generated
required




without
Full




difficulty
pagewidth print




Does not
heads




require electrical
impractical due




poling
to actuator size


Ferroelectric
An electric field is
Low power
Difficult to
IJ04



used to induce a
consumption
integrate with



phase transition
Many ink
electronics



between the
types can be
Unusual



antiferroelectric
used
materials such as



(AFE) and
Fast
PLZSnT are



ferroelectric (FE)
operation (<1 μs)
required



phase. Perovskite
Relatively
Actuators



materials such as
high longitudinal
require a large



tin modified lead
strain
area



lanthanum
High



zirconate titanate
efficiency



(PLZSnT) exhibit
Electric



large strains of up
field strength of



to 1% associated
around 3 V/μm



with the AFE to
can be readily



FE phase
provided



transition.


Electrostatic
Conductive plates
Low power
Difficult to
IJ02, IJ04


plates
are separated by a
consumption
operate



compressible or
Many ink
electrostatic



fluid dielectric
types can be
devices in an



(usually air). Upon
used
aqueous



application of a
Fast
environment



voltage, the plates
operation
The



attract each other

electrostatic



and displace ink,

actuator will



causing drop

normally need to



ejection. The

be separated



conductive plates

from the ink



may be in a comb

Very large



or honeycomb

area required to



structure, or

achieve high



stacked to increase

forces



the surface area

High



and therefore the

voltage drive



force.

transistors may





be required





Full





pagewidth print





heads are not





competitive due





to actuator size


Electro-
A strong electric
Low current
High
1989 Saito


static pull
field is applied to
consumption
voltage required
et al, U.S. Pat. No.


on ink
the ink, whereupon
Low
May be
4,799,068



electrostatic
temperature
damaged by
1989 Miura



attraction

sparks due to air
et al, U.S. Pat. No.



accelerates the ink

breakdown
4,810,954



towards the print

Required
Tone-jet



medium.

field strength





increases as the





drop size





decreases





High





voltage drive





transistors





required





Electrostatic





field attracts





dust


Permanent
An electromagnet
Low power
Complex
1J07, IJ10


magnet
directly attracts a
consumption
fabrication


electro-
permanent magnet,
Many ink
Permanent


magnetic
displacing ink and
types can be
magnetic



causing drop
used
material such as



ejection. Rare
Fast
Neodymium Iron



earth magnets with
operation
Boron (NdFeB)



a field strength
High
required.



around 1 Tesla can
efficiency
High local



be used. Examples
Easy
currents required



are: Samarium
extension from
Copper



Cobalt (SaCo) and
single nozzles to
metalization



magnetic materials
pagewidth print
should be used



in the neodymium
heads
for long



iron boron family

electromigration



(NdFeB,

lifetime and low



NdDyFeBNb,

resistivity



NdDyFeB, etc)

Pigmented





inks are usually





infeasible





Operating





temperature





limited to the





Curie





temperature





(around 540 K.)


Soft
A solenoid
Low power
Complex
IJ01, 1J05,


magnetic
induced a
consumption
fabrication
1J08, IJ10, 1J12,


core
magnetic field in a
Many ink
Materials
1J14, 1J15, 1J17


electro-
soft magnetic core
types can be
not usually


magnetic
or yoke fabricated
used
present in a



from a ferrous
Fast
CMOS fab such



material such as
operation
as NiFe,



electroplated iron
High
CoNiFe, or CoFe



alloys such as
efficiency
are required



CoNiFe [1], CoFe,
Easy
High local



or NiFe alloys,
extension from
currents required



Typically, the soft
single nozzles to
Copper



magnetic material
pagewidth print
metalization



is in two parts,
heads
should be used



which are

for long



normally held

electromigration



apart by a spring.

lifetime and low



When the solenoid

resistivity



is actuated, the two

Electroplating



parts attract,

is required



displacing the ink.

High





saturation flux





density is





required (2.0-2.1





T is achievable





with CoNiFe





[1])


Lorenz
The Lorenz force
Low power
Force acts
1J06, 1J11,


force
acting on a current
consumption
as a twisting
1J13, 1J16



carrying wire in a
Many ink
motion



magnetic field is
types can be
Typically,



utilized,
used
only a quarter of



This allows the
Fast
the solenoid



magnetic field to
operation
length provides



be supplied
High
force in a useful



externally to the
efficiency
direction



print head, for
Easy
High local



example with rare
extension from
currents required



earth permanent
single nozzles to
Copper



magnets.
pagewidth print
metalization



Only the current
heads
should be used



carrying wire need

for long



be fabricated on

electromigration



the print-head,

lifetime and low



simplifying

resistivity



materials

Pigmented



requirements.

inks are usually





infeasible


Magneto-
The actuator uses
Many ink
Force acts
Fischenbeck,


striction
the giant
types can be
as a twisting
U.S. Pat. No. 



magnetostrictive
used
motion
4,032,929



effect of materials
Fast
Unusual
1J25



such as Terfenol-D
operation
materials such as



(an alloy of
Easy
Terfenol-D are



terbium,
extension from
required



dysprosium and
single nozzles to
High local



iron developed at
pagewidth print
currents required



the Naval
heads
Copper



Ordnance
High force
metalization



Laboratory, hence
is available
should be used



Ter-Fe-NOL). For

for long



best efficiency, the

electromigration



actuator should be

lifetime and low



pre-stressed to

resistivity



approx. 8 MPa.

Pre-





stressing may be





required


Surface
Ink under positive
Low power
Requires
Silverbrook,


tension
pressure is held in
consumption
supplementary
EP 0771 658 A2


reduction
a nozzle by surface
Simple
force to effect
and related



tension. The
construction
drop separation
patent



surface tension of
No unusual
Requires
applications



the ink is reduced
materials
special ink



below the bubble
required in
surfactants



threshold, causing
fabrication
Speed may



the ink to egress
High
be limited by



from the nozzle.
efficiency
surfactant




Easy
properties




extension from




single nozzles to




pagewidth print




heads


Viscosity
The ink viscosity
Simple
Requires
Silverbrook,


reduction
is locally reduced
construction
supplementary
EP 0771 658 A2



to select which
No unusual
force to effect
and related



drops are to be
materials
drop separation
patent



ejected. A
required in
Requires
applications



viscosity reduction
fabrication
special ink



can be achieved
Easy
viscosity



electrothermally
extension from
properties



with most inks, but
single nozzles to
High speed



special inks can be
pagewidth print
is difficult to



engineered for a
heads
achieve



100:1 viscosity

Requires



reduction.

oscillating ink





pressure





A high





temperature





difference





(typically 80





degrees) is





required


Acoustic
An acoustic wave
Can operate
Complex
1993



is generated and
without a nozzle
drive circuitry
Hadimioglu et



focussed upon the
plate
Complex
al, EUP 550,192



drop ejection

fabrication
1993 Elrod



region.

Low
et al, EUP





efficiency
572,220





Poor control





of drop position





Poor control





of drop volume


Thermoelastic
An actuator which
Low power
Efficient
IJ03, IJ09,


bend
relies upon
consumption
aqueous
IJ17, IJ18, IJ19,


actuator
differential
Many ink
operation
IJ20, IJ21, IJ22,



thermal expansion
types can be
requires a
IJ23, IJ24, IJ27,



upon Joule heating
used
thermal insulator
IJ28, IJ29, IJ30,



is used.
Simple
on the hot side
IJ31, IJ32, IJ33,




planar
Corrosion
IJ34, IJ35, IJ36,




fabrication
prevention can
IJ37, IJ38, IJ39,




Small chip
be difficult
IJ40, IJ41




area required for
Pigmented




each actuator
inks may be




Fast
infeasible, as




operation
pigment particles




High
may jam the




efficiency
bend actuator




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
High force
Requires
IJ09, IJ17,


thermoelastic
very high
can be generated
special material
IJ18, IJ20, IJ21,


actuator
coefficient of
Three
(e.g. PTFE)
IJ22, IJ23, IJ24,



thermal expansion
methods of
Requires a
IJ27, IJ28, IJ29,



(CTE) such as
PTFE deposition
PTFE deposition
IJ30, IJ31, IJ42,



polytetrafluoroethylene
are under
process, which is
IJ43, IJ44



(PTFE) is
development:
not yet standard



used. As high CTE
chemical vapor
in ULSI fabs



materials are
deposition
PTFE



usually non-
(CVD), spin
deposition



conductive, a
coating, and
cannot be



heater fabricated
evaporation
followed with



from a conductive
PTFE is a
high temperature



material is
candidate for
(above 350° C.)



incorporated. A 50 μm
low dielectric
processing



long PTFE
constant
Pigmented



bend actuator with
insulation in
inks may be



polysilicon heater
ULSI
infeasible, as



and 15 mW power
Very low
pigment particles



input can provide
power
may jam the



180 μN force and
consumption
bend actuator



10 μm deflection.
Many ink



Actuator motions
types can be



include:
used



Bend
Simple



Push
planar



Buckle
fabrication



Rotate
Small chip




area required for




each actuator




Fast




operation




High




efficiency




CMOS




compatible




voltages and




currents




Easy




extension from




single nozzles to




pagewidth print




heads


Conductive
A polymer with a
High force
Requires
IJ24


polymer
high coefficient of
can be generated
special materials


thermoelastic
thermal expansion
Very low
development


actuator
(such as PTFE) is
power
(High CTE



doped with
consumption
conductive



conducting
Many ink
polymer)



substances to
types can be
Requires a



increase its
used
PTFE deposition



conductivity to
Simple
process, which is



about 3 orders of
planar
not yet standard



magnitude below
fabrication
in ULSI fabs



that of copper. The
Small chip
PTFE



conducting
area required for
deposition



polymer expands
each actuator
cannot be



when resistively
Fast
followed with



heated.
operation
high temperature



Examples of
High
(above 350° C.)



conducting
efficiency
processing



dopants include:
CMOS
Evaporation



Carbon nanotubes
compatible
and CVD



Metal fibers
voltages and
deposition



Conductive
currents
techniques



polymers such as
Easy
cannot be used



doped
extension from
Pigmented



polythiophene
single nozzles to
inks may be



Carbon granules
pagewidth print
infeasible, as




heads
pigment particles





may jam the





bend actuator


Shape
A shape memory
High force
Fatigue
IJ26


memory
alloy such as TiNi
is available
limits maximum


alloy
(also known as
(stresses of
number of cycles



Nitinol —Nickel
hundreds of
Low strain



Titanium alloy
MPa)
(1%) is required



developed at the
Large strain
to extend fatigue



Naval Ordnance
is available
resistance



Laboratory) is
(more than 3%)
Cycle rate



thermally switched
High
limited by heat



between its weak
corrosion
removal



martensitic state
resistance
Requires



and its high
Simple
unusual



stiffness austenic
construction
materials (TiNi)



state. The shape of
Easy
The latent



the actuator in its
extension from
heat of



martensitic state is
single nozzles to
transformation



deformed relative
pagewidth print
must be



to the austenic
heads
provided



shape. The shape
Low
High



change causes
voltage
current operation



ejection of a drop.
operation
Requires





pre-stressing to





distort the





martensitic state


Linear
Linear magnetic
Linear
Requires
IJ12


Magnetic
actuators include
Magnetic
unusual


Actuator
the Linear
actuators can be
semiconductor



Induction Actuator
constructed with
materials such as



(LIA), Linear
high thrust, long
soft magnetic



Permanent Magnet
travel, and high
alloys (e.g.



Synchronous
efficiency using
CoNiFe)



Actuator
planar
Some



(LPMSA), Linear
semiconductor
varieties also



Reluctance
fabrication
require



Synchronous
techniques
permanent



Actuator (LRSA),
Long
magnetic



Linear Switched
actuator travel is
materials such as



Reluctance
available
Neodymium iron



Actuator (LSRA),
Medium
boron (NdFeB)



and the Linear
force is available
Requires



Stepper Actuator
Low
complex multiphase



(LSA).
voltage
drive




operation
circuitry





High





current operation







BASIC OPERATION MODE











Actuator
This is the
Simple
Drop
Thermal ink


directly
simplest mode of
operation
repetition rate is
jet


pushes
operation: the
No external
usually limited
Piezoelectric


ink
actuator directly
fields required
to around 10 kHz.
ink jet



supplies sufficient
Satellite
However,
IJ01, IJ02,



kinetic energy to
drops can be
this is not
IJ03, IJ04, IJ05,



expel the drop.
avoided if drop
fundamental to
IJ06, IJ07, IJ09,



The drop must
velocity is less
the method, but
IJ11, IJ12, IJ14,



have a sufficient
than 4 m/s
is related to the
IJ16, IJ20, IJ22,



velocity to
Can be
refill method
IJ23, IJ24, IJ25,



overcome the
efficient,
normally used
IJ26, IJ27, IJ28,



surface tension.
depending upon
All of the
IJ29, IJ30, IJ31,




the actuator used
drop kinetic
IJ32, IJ33, IJ34,





energy must be
IJ35, IJ36, IJ37,





provided by the
IJ38, IJ39, IJ40,





actuator
IJ41, IJ42, IJ43,





Satellite
IJ44





drops usually





form if drop





velocity is





greater than 4.5 m/s


Proximity
The drops to be
Very simple
Requires
Silverbrook,



printed are
print head
close proximity
EP 0771 658 A2



selected by some
fabrication can
between the
and related



manner (e.g.
be used
print head and
patent



thermally induced
The drop
the print media
applications



surface tension
selection means
or transfer roller



reduction of
does not need to
May require



pressurized ink).
provide the
two print heads



Selected drops are
energy required
printing alternate



separated from the
to separate the
rows of the



ink in the nozzle
drop from the
image



by contact with the
nozzle
Monolithic



print medium or a

color print heads



transfer roller.

are difficult


Electrostatic
The drops to be
Very simple
Requires
Silverbrook,


pull
printed are
print head
very high
EP 0771 658 A2


on ink
selected by some
fabrication can
electrostatic field
and related



manner (e.g.
be used
Electrostatic
patent



thermally induced
The drop
field for small
applications



surface tension
selection means
nozzle sizes is
Tone-Jet



reduction of
does not need to
above air



pressurized ink).
provide the
breakdown



Selected drops are
energy required
Electrostatic



separated from the
to separate the
field may



ink in the nozzle
drop from the
attract dust



by a strong electric
nozzle



field.


Magnetic
The drops to be
Very simple
Requires
Silverbrook,


pull on
printed are
print head
magnetic ink
EP 0771 658 A2


ink
selected by some
fabrication can
Ink colors
and related



manner (e.g.
be used
other than black
patent



thermally induced
The drop
are difficult
applications



surface tension
selection means
Requires



reduction of
does not need to
very high



pressurized ink).
provide the
magnetic fields



Selected drops are
energy required



separated from the
to separate the



ink in the nozzle
drop from the



by a strong
nozzle



magnetic field



acting on the



magnetic ink.


Shutter
The actuator
High speed
Moving
IJ13, IJ17,



moves a shutter to
(>50 kHz)
parts are
IJ21



block ink flow to
operation can be
required



the nozzle. The ink
achieved due to
Requires



pressure is pulsed
reduced refill
ink pressure



at a multiple of the
time
modulator



drop ejection
Drop timing
Friction and



frequency.
can be very
wear must be




accurate
considered




The
Stiction is




actuator energy
possible




can be very low


Shuttered
The actuator
Actuators
Moving
IJ08, IJ15,


grill
moves a shutter to
with small travel
parts are
IJ18, IJ19



block ink flow
can be used
required



through a grill to
Actuators
Requires



the nozzle. The
with small force
ink pressure



shutter movement
can be used
modulator



need only be equal
High speed
Friction and



to the width of the
(>50 kHz)
wear must be



grill holes.
operation can be
considered




achieved
Stiction is





possible


Pulsed
A pulsed magnetic
Extremely
Requires an
IJ10


magnetic
field attracts an
low energy
external pulsed


pull on
‘ink pusher’ at the
operation is
magnetic field


ink
drop ejection
possible
Requires


pusher
frequency. An
No heat
special materials



actuator controls a
dissipation
for both the



catch, which
problems
actuator and the



prevents the ink

ink pusher



pusher from

Complex



moving when a

construction



drop is not to be



ejected.







AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES)











None
The actuator
Simplicity
Drop
Most ink



directly fires the
of construction
ejection energy
jets, including



ink drop, and there
Simplicity
must be supplied
piezoelectric and



is no external field
of operation
by individual
thermal bubble.



or other
Small
nozzle actuator
IJ01, IJ02,



mechanism
physical size

IJ03, IJ04, IJ05,



required.


IJ07, IJ09, IJ11,






IJ12, IJ14, IJ20,






IJ22, IJ23, IJ24,






IJ25, IJ26, IJ27,






IJ28, IJ29, IJ30,






IJ31, IJ32, IJ33,






IJ34, IJ35, IJ36,






IJ37, IJ38, IJ39,






IJ40, IJ41, IJ42,






IJ43, IJ44


Oscillating
The ink pressure
Oscillating
Requires
Silverbrook,


ink
oscillates,
ink pressure can
external ink
EP 0771 658 A2


pressure
providing much of
provide a refill
pressure
and related


(including
the drop ejection
pulse, allowing
oscillator
patent


acoustic
energy. The
higher operating
Ink pressure
applications


stimulation)
actuator selects
speed
phase and
IJ08, IJ13,



which drops are to
The
amplitude must
IJ15, IJ17, IJ18,



be fired by
actuators may
be carefully
IJ19, IJ21



selectively
operate with
controlled



blocking or
much lower
Acoustic



enabling nozzles.
energy
reflections in the



The ink pressure
Acoustic
ink chamber



oscillation may be
lenses can be
must be



achieved by
used to focus the
designed for



vibrating the print
sound on the



head, or preferably
nozzles



by an actuator in



the ink supply.


Media
The print head is
Low power
Precision
Silverbrook,


proximity
placed in close
High
assembly
EP 0771 658 A2



proximity to the
accuracy
required
and related



print medium.
Simple print
Paper fibers
patent



Selected drops
head
may cause
applications



protrude from the
construction
problems



print head further

Cannot



than unselected

print on rough



drops, and contact

substrates



the print medium.



The drop soaks



into the medium



fast enough to



cause drop



separation.


Transfer
Drops are printed
High
Bulky
Silverbrook,


roller
to a transfer roller
accuracy
Expensive
EP 0771 658 A2



instead of straight
Wide range
Complex
and related



to the print
of print
construction
patent



medium. A
substrates can be

applications



transfer roller can
used

Tektronix



also be used for
Ink can be

hot melt



proximity drop
dried on the

piezoelectric ink



separation.
transfer roller

jet






Any of the






IJ series


Electrostatic
An electric field is
Low power
Field
Silverbrook,



used to accelerate
Simple print
strength required
EP 0771 658 A2



selected drops
head
for separation of
and related



towards the print
construction
small drops is
patent



medium.

near or above air
applications





breakdown
Tone-Jet


Direct
A magnetic field is
Low power
Requires
Silverbrook,


magnetic
used to accelerate
Simple print
magnetic ink
EP 0771 658 A2


field
selected drops of
head
Requires
and related



magnetic ink
construction
strong magnetic
patent



towards the print

field
applications



medium.


Cross
The print head is
Does not
Requires
IJ06, IJ16


magnetic
placed in a
require magnetic
external magnet


field
constant magnetic
materials to be
Current



field. The Lorenz
integrated in the
densities may be



force in a current
print head
high, resulting in



carrying wire is
manufacturing
electromigration



used to move the
process
problems



actuator.


Pulsed
A pulsed magnetic
Very low
Complex
IJ10


magnetic
field is used to
power operation
print head


field
cyclically attract a
is possible
construction



paddle, which
Small print
Magnetic



pushes on the ink.
head size
materials



A small actuator

required in print



moves a catch,

head



which selectively



prevents the



paddle from



moving.







ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD











None
No actuator
Operational
Many
Thermal



mechanical
simplicity
actuator
Bubble Ink jet



amplification is

mechanisms
IJ01, IJ02,



used. The actuator

have insufficient
IJ06, IJ07, IJ16,



directly drives the

travel, or
IJ25, IJ26



drop ejection

insufficient



process.

force, to





efficiently drive





the drop ejection





process


Differential
An actuator
Provides
High
Piezoelectric


expansion
material expands
greater travel in
stresses are
IJ03, IJ09,


bend
more on one side
a reduced print
involved
IJ17, IJ18, IJ19,


actuator
than on the other.
head area
Care must
IJ20, IJ21, IJ22,



The expansion

be taken that the
IJ23, IJ24, IJ27,



may be thermal,

materials do not
IJ29, IJ30, IJ31,



piezoelectric,

delaminate
IJ32, IJ33, IJ34,



magnetostrictive,

Residual
IJ35, IJ36, IJ37,



or other

bend resulting
IJ38, IJ39, IJ42,



mechanism. The

from high
IJ43, IJ44



bend actuator

temperature or



converts a high

high stress



force low travel

during formation



actuator



mechanism to high



travel, lower force



mechanism.


Transient
A trilayer bend
Very good
High
IJ40, IJ41


bend
actuator where the
temperature
stresses are


actuator
two outside layers
stability
involved



are identical. This
High speed,
Care must



cancels bend due
as a new drop
be taken that the



to ambient
can be fired
materials do not



temperature and
before heat
delaminate



residual stress. The
dissipates



actuator only
Cancels



responds to
residual stress of



transient heating of
formation



one side or the



other.


Reverse
The actuator loads
Better
Fabrication
IJ05, IJ11


spring
a spring. When the
coupling to the
complexity



actuator is turned
ink
High stress



off, the spring

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.


Actuator
A series of thin
Increased
Increased
Some


stack
actuators are
travel
fabrication
piezoelectric ink



stacked. This can
Reduced
complexity
jets



be appropriate
drive voltage
Increased
IJ04



where actuators

possibility of



require high

short circuits due



electric field

to pinholes



strength, such as



electrostatic and



piezoelectric



actuators.


Multiple
Multiple smaller
Increases
Actuator
IJ12, IJ13,


actuators
actuators are used
the force
forces may not
IJ18, IJ20, IJ22,



simultaneously to
available from
add linearly,
IJ28, IJ42, IJ43



move the ink. Each
an actuator
reducing



actuator need
Multiple
efficiency



provide only a
actuators can be



portion of the
positioned to



force required.
control ink flow




accurately


Linear
A linear spring is
Matches
Requires
IJ15


Spring
used to transform a
low travel
print head area



motion with small
actuator with
for the spring



travel and high
higher travel



force into a longer
requirements



travel, lower force
Non-contact



motion.
method of




motion




transformation


Coiled
A bend actuator is
Increases
Generally
IJ17, IJ21,


actuator
coiled to provide
travel
restricted to
IJ34, IJ35



greater travel in a
Reduces
planar



reduced chip area.
chip area
implementations




Planar
due to extreme




implementations
fabrication




are relatively
difficulty in




easy to fabricate.
other





orientations.


Flexure
A bend actuator
Simple
Care must
IJ10, IJ19,


bend
has a small region
means of
be taken not to
IJ33


actuator
near the fixture
increasing travel
exceed the



point, which flexes
of a bend
elastic limit in



much more readily
actuator
the flexure area



than the remainder

Stress



of the actuator.

distribution is



The actuator

very uneven



flexing is

Difficult to



effectively

accurately model



converted from an

with finite



even coiling to an

element analysis



angular bend,



resulting in greater



travel of the



actuator tip.


Catch
The actuator
Very low
Complex
IJ10



controls a small
actuator energy
construction



catch. The catch
Very small
Requires



either enables or
actuator size
external force



disables movement

Unsuitable



of an ink pusher

for pigmented



that is controlled

inks



in a bulk manner.


Gears
Gears can be used
Low force,
Moving
IJ13



to increase travel
low travel
parts are



at the expense of
actuators can be
required



duration. Circular
used
Several



gears, rack and
Can be
actuator cycles



pinion, ratchets,
fabricated using
are required



and other gearing
standard surface
More



methods can be
MEMS
complex drive



used.
processes
electronics





Complex





construction





Friction,





friction, and





wear are





possible


Buckle
A buckle plate can
Very fast
Must stay
S. Hirata et


plate
be used to change
movement
within elastic
al, “An Ink-jet



a slow actuator
achievable
limits of the
Head Using



into a fast motion.

materials for
Diaphragm



It can also convert

long device life
Microactuator”,



a high force, low

High
Proc. IEEE



travel actuator into

stresses involved
MEMS, Feb.



a high travel,

Generally
1996, pp 418-423.



medium force

high power
IJ18, IJ27



motion.

requirement


Tapered
A tapered
Linearizes
Complex
IJ14


magnetic
magnetic pole can
the magnetic
construction


pole
increase travel at
force/distance



the expense of
curve



force.


Lever
A lever and
Matches
High stress
IJ32, IJ36,



fulcrum is used to
low travel
around the
IJ37



transform a motion
actuator with
fulcrum



with small travel
higher travel



and high force into
requirements



a motion with
Fulcrum



longer travel and
area has no



lower force. The
linear



lever can also
movement, and



reverse the
can be used for a



direction of travel,
fluid seal


Rotary
The actuator is
High
Complex
IJ28


impeller
connected to a
mechanical
construction



rotary impeller. A
advantage
Unsuitable



small angular
The ratio of
for pigmented



deflection of the
force to travel of
inks



actuator results in
the actuator can



a rotation of the
be matched to



impeller vanes,
the nozzle



which push the ink
requirements by



against stationary
varying the



vanes and out of
number of



the nozzle.
impeller vanes


Acoustic
A refractive or
No moving
Large area
1993


lens
diffractive (e.g.
parts
required
Hadimioglu et



zone plate)

Only
al, EUP 550,192



acoustic lens is

relevant for
1993 Elrod



used to concentrate

acoustic ink jets
et al, EUP



sound waves.


572,220


Sharp
A sharp point is
Simple
Difficult to
Tone-jet


conductive
used to concentrate
construction
fabricate using


point
an electrostatic

standard VLSI



field.

processes for a





surface ejecting





ink-jet





Only





relevant for





electrostatic ink





jets







ACTUATOR MOTION











Volume
The volume of the
Simple
High energy
Hewlett-


expansion
actuator changes,
construction in
is typically
Packard Thermal



pushing the ink in
the case of
required to
Ink jet



all directions.
thermal ink jet
achieve volume
Canon





expansion. This
Bubblejet





leads to thermal





stress, cavitation,





and kogation in





thermal ink jet





implementations


Linear,
The actuator
Efficient
High
IJ01, IJ02,


normal to
moves in a
coupling to ink
fabrication
IJ04, IJ07, IJ11,


chip
direction normal to
drops ejected
complexity may
IJ14


surface
the print head
normal to the
be required to



surface. The
surface
achieve



nozzle is typically

perpendicular



in the line of

motion



movement.


Parallel to
The actuator
Suitable for
Fabrication
IJ12, IJ13,


chip
moves parallel to
planar
complexity
IJ15, IJ33, , IJ34,


surface
the print head
fabrication
Friction
IJ35, IJ36



surface. Drop

Stiction



ejection may still



be normal to the



surface.


Membrane
An actuator with a
The
Fabrication
1982


push
high force but
effective area of
complexity
Howkins



small area is used
the actuator
Actuator
U.S. Pat. No.



to push a stiff
becomes the
size
4,459,601



membrane that is
membrane area
Difficulty



in contact with the

of integration in



ink.

a VLSI process


Rotary
The actuator
Rotary
Device
IJ05, IJ08,



causes the rotation
levers may be
complexity
IJ13, IJ28



of some element,
used to increase
May have



such a grill or
travel
friction at a pivot



impeller
Small chip
point




area




requirements


Bend
The actuator bends
A very
Requires
1970 Kyser



when energized.
small change in
the actuator to be
et al U.S. Pat. No.



This may be due to
dimensions can
made from at
3,946,398



differential
be converted to a
least two distinct
1973



thermal expansion,
large motion.
layers, or to have
Stemme U.S. Pat. No.



piezoelectric

a thermal
3,747,120



expansion,

difference across
IJ03, IJ09,



magnetostriction,

the actuator
IJ10, IJ19, IJ23,



or other form of


IJ24, IJ25, IJ29,



relative


IJ30, IJ31, IJ33,



dimensional


IJ34, IJ35



change.


Swivel
The actuator
Allows
Inefficient
IJ06



swivels around a
operation where
coupling to the



central pivot. This
the net linear
ink motion



motion is suitable
force on the



where there are
paddle is zero



opposite forces
Small chip



applied to opposite
area



sides of the paddle,
requirements



e.g. Lorenz force.


Straighten
The actuator is
Can be used
Requires
IJ26, IJ32



normally bent, and
with shape
careful balance



straightens when
memory alloys
of stresses to



energized.
where the
ensure that the




austenic phase is
quiescent bend is




planar
accurate


Double
The actuator bends
One
Difficult to
IJ36, IJ37,


bend
in one direction
actuator can be
make the drops
IJ38



when one element
used to power
ejected by both



is energized, and
two nozzles.
bend directions



bends the other
Reduced
identical.



way when another
chip size.
A small



element is
Not
efficiency loss



energized.
sensitive to
compared to




ambient
equivalent single




temperature
bend actuators.


Shear
Energizing the
Can
Not readily
1985



actuator causes a
increase the
applicable to
Fishbeck



shear motion in the
effective travel
other actuator
U.S. Pat. No.



actuator material.
of piezoelectric
mechanisms
4,584,590




actuators


Radial
The actuator
Relatively
High force
1970 Zoltan


constriction
squeezes an ink
easy to fabricate
required
U.S. Pat. No.



reservoir, forcing
single nozzles
Inefficient
3,683,212



ink from a
from glass
Difficult to



constricted nozzle.
tubing as
integrate with




macroscopic
VLSI processes




structures


Coil/
A coiled actuator
Easy to
Difficult to
IJ17, IJ21,


uncoil
uncoils or coils
fabricate as a
fabricate for
IJ34, IJ35



more tightly. The
planar VLSI
non-planar



motion of the free
process
devices



end of the actuator
Small area
Poor out-of-



ejects the ink.
required,
plane stiffness




therefore low




cost


Bow
The actuator bows
Can
Maximum
IJ16, IJ18,



(or buckles) in the
increase the
travel is
IJ27



middle when
speed of travel
constrained



energized.
Mechanically
High force




rigid
required


Push-Pull
Two actuators
The
Not readily
IJ18



control a shutter.
structure is
suitable for ink



One actuator pulls
pinned at both
jets which



the shutter, and the
ends, so has a
directly push the



other pushes it.
high out-of-
ink




plane rigidity


Curl
A set of actuators
Good fluid
Design
IJ20, IJ42


inwards
curl inwards to
flow to the
complexity



reduce the volume
region behind



of ink that they
the actuator



enclose.
increases




efficiency


Curl
A set of actuators
Relatively
Relatively
IJ43


outwards
curl outwards,
simple
large chip area



pressurizing ink in
construction



a chamber



surrounding the



actuators, and



expelling ink from



a nozzle in the



chamber.


Iris
Multiple vanes
High
High
IJ22



enclose a volume
efficiency
fabrication



of ink. These
Small chip
complexity



simultaneously
area
Not suitable



rotate, reducing

for pigmented



the volume

inks



between the vanes.


Acoustic
The actuator
The
Large area
1993


vibration
vibrates at a high
actuator can be
required for
Hadimioglu et



frequency.
physically
efficient
al, EUP 550,192




distant from the
operation at
1993 Elrod




ink
useful
et al, EUP





frequencies
572,220





Acoustic





coupling and





crosstalk





Complex





drive circuitry





Poor control





of drop volume





and position


None
In various ink jet
No moving
Various
Silverbrook,



designs the
parts
other tradeoffs
EP 0771 658 A2



actuator does not

are required to
and related



move.

eliminate
patent





moving parts
applications






Tone-jet







NOZZLE REFILL METHOD











Surface
This is the normal
Fabrication
Low speed
Thermal ink


tension
way that ink jets
simplicity
Surface
jet



are refilled. After
Operational
tension force
Piezoelectric



the actuator is
simplicity
relatively small
ink jet



energized, it

compared to
IJ01-IJ07,



typically returns

actuator force
IJ10-IJ14, IJ16,



rapidly to its

Long refill
IJ20, IJ22-IJ45



normal position.

time usually



This rapid return

dominates the



sucks in air

total repetition



through the nozzle

rate



opening. The ink



surface tension at



the nozzle then



exerts a small



force restoring the



meniscus to a



minimum area.



This force refills



the nozzle.


Shuttered
Ink to the nozzle
High speed
Requires
IJ08, IJ13,


oscillating
chamber is
Low
common ink
IJ15, IJ17, IJ18,


ink
provided at a
actuator energy,
pressure
IJ19, IJ21


pressure
pressure that
as the actuator
oscillator



oscillates at twice
need only open
May not be



the drop ejection
or close the
suitable for



frequency. When a
shutter, instead
pigmented inks



drop is to be
of ejecting the



ejected, the shutter
ink drop



is opened for 3



half cycles: drop



ejection, actuator



return, and refill.



The shutter is then



closed to prevent



the nozzle



chamber emptying



during the next



negative pressure



cycle.


Refill
After the main
High speed,
Requires
IJ09


actuator
actuator has
as the nozzle is
two independent



ejected a drop a
actively refilled
actuators per



second (refill)

nozzle



actuator is



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
The ink is held a
High refill
Surface
Silverbrook,


ink
slight positive
rate, therefore a
spill must be
EP 0771 658 A2


pressure
pressure. After the
high drop
prevented
and related



ink drop is ejected,
repetition rate is
Highly
patent



the nozzle
possible
hydrophobic
applications



chamber fills

print head
Alternative



quickly as surface

surfaces are
for:, IJ01-IJ07,



tension and ink

required
IJ10-IJ14, IJ16,



pressure both


IJ20, IJ22-IJ45



operate to refill the



nozzle.







METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET











Long inlet
The ink inlet
Design
Restricts
Thermal ink


channel
channel to the
simplicity
refill rate
jet



nozzle chamber is
Operational
May result
Piezoelectric



made long and
simplicity
in a relatively
ink jet



relatively narrow,
Reduces
large chip area
IJ42, IJ43



relying on viscous
crosstalk
Only



drag to reduce

partially



inlet back-flow.

effective


Positive
The ink is under a
Drop
Requires a
Silverbrook,


ink
positive pressure,
selection and
method (such as
EP 0771 658 A2


pressure
so that in the
separation forces
a nozzle rim or
and related



quiescent state
can be reduced
effective
patent



some of the ink
Fast refill
hydrophobizing,
applications



drop already
time
or both) to
Possible



protrudes from the

prevent flooding
operation of the



nozzle.

of the ejection
following: IJ01-IJ07,



This reduces the

surface of the
IJ09-IJ12,



pressure in the

print head.
IJ14, IJ16, IJ20,



nozzle chamber


IJ22, IJ23-IJ34,



which is required


IJ36-IJ41, IJ44



to eject a certain



volume of ink. The



reduction in



chamber pressure



results in a



reduction in ink



pushed out through



the inlet.


Baffle
One or more
The refill
Design
HP Thermal



baffles are placed
rate is not as
complexity
Ink Jet



in the inlet ink
restricted as the
May
Tektronix



flow. When the
long inlet
increase
piezoelectric ink



actuator is
method.
fabrication
jet



energized, the
Reduces
complexity (e.g.



rapid ink
crosstalk
Tektronix hot



movement creates

melt



eddies which

Piezoelectric



restrict the flow

print heads).



through the inlet.



The slower refill



process is



unrestricted, and



does not result in



eddies.


Flexible
In this method
Significantly
Not
Canon


flap
recently disclosed
reduces back-
applicable to


restricts
by Canon, the
flow for edge-
most ink jet


inlet
expanding actuator
shooter thermal
configurations



(bubble) pushes on
ink jet devices
Increased



a flexible flap that

fabrication



restricts the inlet.

complexity





Inelastic





deformation of





polymer flap





results in creep





over extended





use


Inlet filter
A filter is located
Additional
Restricts
IJ04, IJ12,



between the ink
advantage of ink
refill rate
IJ24, IJ27, IJ29,



inlet and the
filtration
May result
IJ30



nozzle chamber.
Ink filter
in complex



The filter has a
may be
construction



multitude of small
fabricated with



holes or slots,
no additional



restricting ink
process steps



flow. The filter



also removes



particles which



may block the



nozzle.


Small
The ink inlet
Design
Restricts
IJ02, IJ37,


inlet
channel to the
simplicity
refill rate
IJ44


compared
nozzle chamber

May result


to nozzle
has a substantially

in a relatively



smaller cross

large chip area



section than that of

Only



the nozzle,

partially



resulting in easier

effective



ink egress out of



the nozzle than out



of the inlet.


Inlet
A secondary
Increases
Requires
IJ09


shutter
actuator controls
speed of the ink-
separate refill



the position of a
jet print head
actuator and



shutter, closing off
operation
drive circuit



the ink inlet when



the main actuator



is energized.


The inlet
The method avoids
Back-flow
Requires
IJ01, IJ03,


is located
the problem of
problem is
careful design to
IJ05, IJ06, IJ07,


behind
inlet back-flow by
eliminated
minimize the
IJ10, IJ11, IJ14,


the ink-
arranging the ink-

negative
IJ16, IJ22, IJ23,


pushing
pushing surface of

pressure behind
IJ25, IJ28, IJ31,


surface
the actuator

the paddle
IJ32, IJ33, IJ34,



between the inlet


IJ35, IJ36, IJ39,



and the nozzle.


IJ40, IJ41


Part of
The actuator and a
Significant
Small
IJ07, IJ20,


the
wall of the ink
reductions in
increase in
IJ26, IJ38


actuator
chamber are
back-flow can be
fabrication


moves to
arranged so that
achieved
complexity


shut off
the motion of the
Compact


the inlet
actuator closes off
designs possible



the inlet.


Nozzle
In some
Ink back-
None
Silverbrook,


actuator
configurations of
flow problem is
related to ink
EP 0771 658 A2


does not
ink jet, there is no
eliminated
back-flow on
and related


result in
expansion or

actuation
patent


ink back-
movement of an


applications


flow
actuator which


Valve-jet



may cause ink


Tone-jet



back-flow through



the inlet.







NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD











Normal
All of the nozzles
No added
May not be
Most ink jet


nozzle
are fired
complexity on
sufficient to
systems


firing
periodically,
the print head
displace dried
IJ01, IJ02,



before the ink has

ink
IJ03, IJ04, IJ05,



a chance to dry.


IJ06, IJ07, IJ09,



When not in use


IJ10, IJ11, IJ12,



the nozzles are


IJ14, IJ16, IJ20,



sealed (capped)


IJ22, IJ23, IJ24,



against air.


IJ25, IJ26, IJ27,



The nozzle firing


IJ28, IJ29, IJ30,



is usually


IJ31, IJ32, IJ33,



performed during a


IJ34, IJ36, IJ37,



special clearing


IJ38, IJ39, IJ40,



cycle, after first


IJ41, IJ42, IJ43,



moving the print


IJ44,, IJ45



head to a cleaning



station.


Extra
In systems which
Can be
Requires
Silverbrook,


power to
heat the ink, but do
highly effective
higher drive
EP 0771 658 A2


ink heater
not boil it under
if the heater is
voltage for
and related



normal situations,
adjacent to the
clearing
patent



nozzle clearing can
nozzle
May require
applications



be achieved by

larger drive



over-powering the

transistors



heater and boiling



ink at the nozzle.


Rapid
The actuator is
Does not
Effectiveness
May be


succession
fired in rapid
require extra
depends
used with: IJ01,


of
succession. In
drive circuits on
substantially
IJ02, IJ03, IJ04,


actuator
some
the print head
upon the
IJ05, IJ06, IJ07,


pulses
configurations, this
Can be
configuration of
IJ09, IJ10, IJ11,



may cause heat
readily
the ink jet nozzle
IJ14, IJ16, IJ20,



build-up at the
controlled and

IJ22, IJ23, IJ24,



nozzle which boils
initiated by

IJ25, IJ27, IJ28,



the ink, clearing
digital logic

IJ29, IJ30, IJ31,



the nozzle. In other


IJ32, IJ33, IJ34,



situations, it may


IJ36, IJ37, IJ38,



cause sufficient


IJ39, IJ40, IJ41,



vibrations to


IJ42, IJ43, IJ44,



dislodge clogged


IJ45



nozzles.


Extra
Where an actuator
A simple
Not suitable
May be


power to
is not normally
solution where
where there is a
used with: IJ03,


ink
driven to the limit
applicable
hard limit to
IJ09, IJ16, IJ20,


pushing
of its motion,

actuator
IJ23, IJ24, IJ25,


actuator
nozzle clearing

movement
IJ27, IJ29, IJ30,



may be assisted by


IJ31, IJ32, IJ39,



providing an


IJ40, IJ41, IJ42,



enhanced drive


IJ43, IJ44, IJ45



signal to the



actuator.


Acoustic
An ultrasonic
A high
High
IJ08, IJ13,


resonance
wave is applied to
nozzle clearing
implementation
IJ15, IJ17, IJ18,



the ink chamber.
capability can be
cost if system
IJ19, IJ21



This wave is of an
achieved
does not already



appropriate
May be
include an



amplitude and
implemented at
acoustic actuator



frequency to cause
very low cost in



sufficient force at
systems which



the nozzle to clear
already include



blockages. This is
acoustic



easiest to achieve
actuators



if the ultrasonic



wave is at a



resonant frequency



of the ink cavity.


Nozzle
A microfabricated
Can clear
Accurate
Silverbrook,


clearing
plate is pushed
severely clogged
mechanical
EP 0771 658 A2


plate
against the
nozzles
alignment is
and related



nozzles. The plate

required
patent



has a post for

Moving
applications



every nozzle. A

parts are



post moves

required



through each

There is



nozzle, displacing

risk of damage



dried ink.

to the nozzles





Accurate





fabrication is





required


Ink
The pressure of the
May be
Requires
May be


pressure
ink is temporarily
effective where
pressure pump
used with all IJ


pulse
increased so that
other methods
or other pressure
series ink jets



ink streams from
cannot be used
actuator



all of the nozzles.

Expensive



This may be used

Wasteful of



in conjunction

ink



with actuator



energizing.


Print
A flexible ‘blade’
Effective
Difficult to
Many ink


head
is wiped across the
for planar print
use if print head
jet systems


wiper
print head surface.
head surfaces
surface is non-



The blade is
Low cost
planar or very



usually fabricated

fragile



from a flexible

Requires



polymer, e.g.

mechanical parts



rubber or synthetic

Blade can



elastomer.

wear out in high





volume print





systems


Separate
A separate heater
Can be
Fabrication
Can be used


ink
is provided at the
effective where
complexity
with many IJ


boiling
nozzle although
other nozzle

series ink jets


heater
the normal drop e-ection
clearing methods



mechanism
cannot be used



does not require it.
Can be



The heaters do not
implemented at



require individual
no additional



drive circuits, as
cost in some ink



many nozzles can
jet



be cleared
configurations



simultaneously,



and no imaging is



required.







NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION











Electroformed
A nozzle plate
Fabrication
High
Hewlett


nickel
is separately
simplicity
temperatures and
Packard Thermal



fabricated from

pressures are
Ink jet



electroformed

required to bond



nickel, and

nozzle plate



bonded to the

Minimum



print head chip.

thickness





constraints





Differential





thermal





expansion


Laser
Individual
No masks
Each hole
Canon


ablated or
nozzle holes are
required
must be
Bubblejet


drilled
ablated by an
Can be
individually
1988 Sercel


polymer
intense UV
quite fast
formed
et al., SPIE, Vol.



laser in a nozzle
Some
Special
998 Excimer



plate, which is
control over
equipment
Beam



typically a
nozzle profile is
required
Applications, pp.



polymer such as
possible
Slow where
76-83



polyimide or
Equipment
there are many
1993



polysulphone
required is
thousands of
Watanabe et al.,




relatively low
nozzles per print
U.S. Pat. No.




cost
head
5,208,604





May





produce thin





burrs at exit





holes


Silicon
A separate
High
Two part
K. Bean,


micromachined
nozzle plate is
accuracy is
construction
IEEE



micromachined
attainable
High cost
Transactions on



from single

Requires
Electron



crystal silicon,

precision
Devices, Vol.



and bonded to

alignment
ED-25, No. 10,



the print head

Nozzles
1978 pp 1185-1195



wafer.

may be clogged
Xerox 1990





by adhesive
Hawkins et al.,






U.S. Pat. No.






4,899,181


Glass
Fine glass
No
Very small
1970 Zoltan


capillaries
capillaries are
expensive
nozzle sizes are
U.S. Pat. No.



drawn from
equipment
difficult to form
3,683,212



glass tubing.
required
Not suited



This method
Simple to
for mass



has been used
make single
production



for making
nozzles



individual



nozzles, but is



difficult to use



for bulk



manufacturing



of print heads



with thousands



of nozzles.


Monolithic,
The nozzle
High
Requires
Silverbrook,


surface
plate is
accuracy (<1 μm)
sacrificial layer
EP 0771 658 A2


micromachined
deposited as a
Monolithic
under the nozzle
and related


using VLSI
layer using
Low cost
plate to form the
patent


lithographic
standard VLSI
Existing
nozzle chamber
applications


processes
deposition
processes can be
Surface
IJ01, IJ02,



techniques.
used
may be fragile to
IJ04, IJ11, IJ12,



Nozzles are

the touch
IJ17, IJ18, IJ20,



etched in the


IJ22, IJ24, IJ27,



nozzle plate


IJ28, IJ29, IJ30,



using VLSI


IJ31, IJ32, IJ33,



lithography and


IJ34, IJ36, IJ37,



etching.


IJ38, IJ39, IJ40,






IJ41, IJ42, IJ43,






IJ44


Monolithic,
The nozzle
High
Requires
IJ03, IJ05,


etched
plate is a buried
accuracy (<1 μm)
long etch times
IJ06, IJ07, IJ08,


through
etch stop in the
Monolithic
Requires a
IJ09, IJ10, IJ13,


substrate
wafer. Nozzle
Low cost
support wafer
IJ14, IJ15, IJ16,



chambers are
No

IJ19, IJ21, IJ23,



etched in the
differential

IJ25, IJ26



front of the
expansion



wafer, and the



wafer is thinned



from the back



side. Nozzles



are then etched



in the etch stop



layer.


No nozzle
Various
No nozzles
Difficult to
Ricoh 1995


plate
methods have
to become
control drop
Sekiya et al



been tried to
clogged
position
U.S. Pat. No.



eliminate the

accurately
5,412,413



nozzles entirely,

Crosstalk
1993



to prevent

problems
Hadimioglu et al



nozzle


EUP 550,192



clogging. These


1993 Elrod



include thermal


et al EUP 572,220



bubble



mechanisms



and acoustic



lens



mechanisms


Trough
Each drop
Reduced
Drop firing
IJ35



ejector has a
manufacturing
direction is



trough through
complexity
sensitive to



which a paddle
Monolithic
wicking.



moves. There is



no nozzle plate.


Nozzle slit
The elimination
No nozzles
Difficult to
1989 Saito


instead of
of nozzle holes
to become
control drop
et al U.S. Pat. No.


individual
and replacement
clogged
position
4,799,068


nozzles
by a slit

accurately



encompassing

Crosstalk



many actuator

problems



positions



reduces nozzle



clogging, but



increases



crosstalk due to



ink surface



waves







DROP EJECTION DIRECTION











Edge
Ink flow is
Simple
Nozzles
Canon


(‘edge
along the
construction
limited to edge
Bubblejet 1979


shooter’
surface of the
No silicon
High
Endo et al GB



chip, and ink
etching required
resolution is
patent 2,007,162



drops are
Good heat
difficult
Xerox



ejected from the
sinking via
Fast color
heater-in-pit



chip edge.
substrate
printing requires
1990 Hawkins et




Mechanically
one print head
al U.S. Pat. No.




strong
per color
4,899,181




Ease of chip

Tone-jet




handing


Surface
Ink flow is
No bulk
Maximum
Hewlett-


(‘roof
along the
silicon etching
ink flow is
Packard TIJ


shooter’)
surface of the
required
severely
1982 Vaught et



chip, and ink
Silicon can
restricted
al U.S. Pat. No.



drops are
make an

4,490,728



ejected from the
effective heat

IJ02, IJ11,



chip surface,
sink

IJ12, IJ20, IJ22



normal to the
Mechanical



plane of the
strength



chip.


Through
Ink flow is
High ink
Requires
Silverbrook,


chip,
through the
flow
bulk silicon
EP 0771 658 A2


forward
chip, and ink
Suitable for
etching
and related


(‘up
drops are
pagewidth print

patent


shooter’)
ejected from the
heads

applications



front surface of
High nozzle

IJ04, IJ17,



the chip.
packing density

IJ18, IJ24, IJ27-IJ45




therefore low




manufacturing




cost


Through
Ink flow is
High ink
Requires
IJ01, IJ03,


chip, reverse
through the
flow
wafer thinning
IJ05, IJ06, IJ07,


(‘down
chip, and ink
Suitable for
Requires
IJ08, IJ09, IJ10,


shooter’)
drops are
pagewidth print
special handling
IJ13, IJ14, IJ15,



ejected from the
heads
during
IJ16, IJ19, IJ21,



rear surface of
High nozzle
manufacture
IJ23, IJ25, IJ26



the chip.
packing density




therefore low




manufacturing




cost


Through
Ink flow is
Suitable for
Pagewidth
Epson


actuator
through the
piezoelectric
print heads
Stylus



actuator, which
print heads
require several
Tektronix



is not fabricated

thousand
hot melt



as part of the

connections to
piezoelectric ink



same substrate

drive circuits
jets



as the drive

Cannot be



transistors.

manufactured in





standard CMOS





fabs





Complex





assembly





required







INK TYPE











Aqueous,
Water based ink
Environmentally
Slow drying
Most


dye
which typically
friendly
Corrosive
existing ink jets



contains: water,
No odor
Bleeds on
All IJ series



dye, surfactant,

paper
ink jets



humectant, and

May
Silverbrook,



biocide.

strikethrough
EP 0771 658 A2



Modern ink dyes

Cockles
and related



have high water-

paper
patent



fastness, light


applications



fastness


Aqueous,
Water based ink
Environmentally
Slow drying
IJ02, IJ04,


pigment
which typically
friendly
Corrosive
IJ21, IJ26, IJ27,



contains: water,
No odor
Pigment
IJ30



pigment,
Reduced
may clog
Silverbrook,



surfactant,
bleed
nozzles
EP 0771 658 A2



humectant, and
Reduced
Pigment
and related



biocide.
wicking
may clog
patent



Pigments have an
Reduced
actuator
applications



advantage in
strikethrough
mechanisms
Piezoelectric



reduced bleed,

Cockles
ink-jets



wicking and

paper
Thermal ink



strikethrough.


jets (with






significant






restrictions)


Methyl
MEK is a highly
Very fast
Odorous
All IJ series


Ethyl
volatile solvent
drying
Flammable
ink jets


Ketone
used for industrial
Prints on


(MEK)
printing on
various



difficult surfaces
substrates such



such as aluminum
as metals and



cans.
plastics


Alcohol
Alcohol based inks
Fast drying
Slight odor
All IJ series


(ethanol,
can be used where
Operates at
Flammable
ink jets


2-butanol,
the printer must
sub-freezing


and
operate at
temperatures


others)
temperatures
Reduced



below the freezing
paper cockle



point of water. An
Low cost



example of this is



in-camera



consumer



photographic



printing.


Phase
The ink is solid at
No drying
High
Tektronix


change
room temperature,
time-ink
viscosity
hot melt


(hot melt)
and is melted in
instantly freezes
Printed ink
piezoelectric ink



the print head
on the print
typically has a
jets



before jetting. Hot
medium
‘waxy’ feel
1989



melt inks are
Almost any
Printed
Nowak U.S. Pat. No.



usually wax based,
print medium
pages may
4,820,346



with a melting
can be used
‘block’
All IJ series



point around 80° C.
No paper
Ink
ink jets



After jetting
cockle occurs
temperature may



the ink freezes
No wicking
be above the



almost instantly
occurs
curie point of



upon contacting
No bleed
permanent



the print medium
occurs
magnets



or a transfer roller.
No
Ink heaters




strikethrough
consume power




occurs
Long warm-





up time


Oil
Oil based inks are
High
High
All IJ series



extensively used in
solubility
viscosity: this is
ink jets



offset printing.
medium for
a significant



They have
some dyes
limitation for use



advantages in
Does not
in ink jets, which



improved
cockle paper
usually require a



characteristics on
Does not
low viscosity.



paper (especially
wick through
Some short



no wicking or
paper
chain and multi-



cockle). Oil

branched oils



soluble dies and

have a



pigments are

sufficiently low



required.

viscosity.





Slow drying


Microemulsion
A microemulsion
Stops ink
Viscosity
All IJ series



is a stable, self
bleed
higher than
ink jets



forming emulsion
High dye
water



of oil, water, and
solubility
Cost is



surfactant. The
Water, oil,
slightly higher



characteristic drop
and amphiphilic
than water based



size is less than
soluble dies can
ink



100 nm, and is
be used
High



determined by the
Can
surfactant



preferred curvature
stabilize pigment
concentration



of the surfactant.
suspensions
required (around





5%)

## Claims

1. A camera for creating a manipulated image comprising:
(a) an image capture device adapted to capture a captured image;
(b) an input device adapted to receive an input image;
(c) an image manipulator adapted to receive the input image from the input device and to manipulate the input image to form a manipulated image;
(d) an output device adapted to receive the manipulated image from the image manipulator and to output the manipulated image;
(e) a display device adapted to receive the manipulated image from the image manipulator and to display the manipulated image; and
(f) an instruction reader adapted to read at least one image manipulation instruction disposed in or on a manipulation instruction printed medium, the instruction reader being adapted to provide the at least one image manipulation instruction to the image manipulator, the image manipulator being adapted to manipulate the captured image to form the manipulated image in response to receiving the at least one image manipulation instruction.

2. The camera of claim 1 wherein the image manipulator is adapted to manipulate the input image by combining at least part of the input image with at least part of the captured image to form the manipulated image.

3. The camera of claim 1 wherein the input device comprises one or more of the following:
(a) a USB port;
(b) a serial port; and
(c) an electromagnetic signal receiver adapted to receive one or more of radio, optical, infra-red and Bluetooth signals.

4. The camera of claim 1 wherein the output device comprises one or more of the following:
(a) a USB port;
(b) a serial port; and
(c) an electromagnetic signal transmitter adapted to transmit one or more of radio, optical, infra-red and Bluetooth signals.

5. The camera of claim 1 wherein the display device comprises a printer device built into the camera.

6. The camera of claim 1 wherein the printer device comprises a page-width inkjet-type printhead.

7. The camera of claim 1 wherein the instruction reader is further adapted to read the at least one image manipulation instruction disposed in or on the manipulation instruction printed medium in encoded form.

8. A camera system for creating a manipulated image comprising:
(a) a primary camera comprising:
(i) a primary image capture device adapted to capture a primary captured image;
(ii) a primary image manipulator adapted to manipulate the primary captured image to form a primary manipulated image;
(iii) a primary instruction reader adapted to read at least one primary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on a primary manipulation instruction printed medium, the primary instruction reader being adapted to provide the at least one primary image manipulation instruction to the primary image manipulator, the primary image manipulator being adapted to manipulate the primary captured image to form the primary manipulated image in response to receiving the at least one primary image manipulation instruction; and
(iv) a primary image provider adapted to receive the primary manipulated image from the primary image manipulator and to provide the primary manipulated image to a secondary camera; and

(b) a secondary camera comprising:
(i) a secondary image capture device adapted to capture a secondary captured image;
(ii) an image receiver adapted to receive the primary manipulated image from the primary camera; and
(iii) a secondary image manipulator adapted to receive the primary manipulated image from the image receiver and to manipulate the primary manipulated image to form a secondary manipulated image.

9. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the secondary camera further comprises a secondary image provider adapted to receive the secondary manipulated image from the secondary image manipulator and to provide the secondary manipulated image to a further camera.

10. The camera system of claim 9 wherein the secondary image provider comprises one or more of the following:
(a) a USB port;
(b) a serial port; and
(c) an electromagnetic signal transmitter adapted to transmit one or more of radio, optical, infra-red and Bluetooth signals.

11. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the primary image provider comprises one or more of the following:
(a) a USB port;
(b) a serial port; and
(c) an electromagnetic signal transmitter adapted to transmit one or more of radio, optical, infra-red and Bluetooth signals.

12. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the image receiver of the secondary camera comprises one or more of the following:
(a) a USB port;
(b) a serial port; and
(c) an electromagnetic signal receiver adapted to transmit one or more of radio, optical, infra-red and Bluetooth signals.

13. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the secondary image manipulator is adapted to manipulate the primary manipulated image by combining at least part of the secondary captured image with at least part of the primary manipulated image to form the secondary manipulated image.

14. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the secondary camera further comprises a printer device built into the secondary camera.

15. The camera system of claim 14 wherein the printer device comprises a page-width inkjet-type printhead.

16. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the primary instruction reader is further adapted to read the at least one primary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on the primary manipulation instruction printed medium in encoded form.

17. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the secondary camera further comprises a secondary instruction reader adapted to read at least one secondary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on a secondary manipulation instruction printed medium, the secondary instruction reader being adapted to provide the at least one secondary image manipulation instruction to the secondary image manipulator, the secondary image manipulator being adapted to manipulate the primary manipulated image to form the secondary manipulated image in response to receiving the at least one secondary image manipulation instruction.

18. The camera system of claim 17 wherein the secondary instruction reader is further adapted to read the at least one secondary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on the secondary manipulation instruction printed medium in encoded form.

19. A method for forming a manipulated image using a primary camera and a secondary camera, the primary camera comprising a primary image capture device, a primary image manipulator, a primary instruction reader adapted to read at least one primary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on a primary manipulation instruction medium, and a primary image provider, the secondary camera comprising a secondary image capture device, a secondary image receiver and a secondary image manipulator,
the method comprising the steps of, in the primary camera:
(a) capturing a primary captured image using the primary image capture device;
(b) manipulating the primary captured image using the primary image manipulator to form a primary manipulated image comprising:
(i) reading, using the primary instruction reader, the at least one primary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on the primary manipulation instruction printed medium;
(ii) providing the at least one primary image manipulation instruction to the primary image manipulator; and
(iii) manipulating the primary captured image, using the primary image manipulator and in accordance with the at least one primary image manipulation instruction, to form the primary manipulated image; and

(c) providing the primary manipulated image to a secondary camera via the primary image provider,

and, in the secondary camera:
(d) receiving the primary manipulated image from the primary camera via the secondary image receiver; and
(e) manipulating the primary manipulated image using the secondary image manipulator to form a secondary manipulated image.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the secondary camera further comprises a secondary image provider and wherein the method further comprises the step of, in the secondary camera, providing the secondary manipulated image to a further camera via the secondary image provider.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of providing the secondary manipulated image to a further camera via the secondary image provider comprises providing the secondary manipulated image to a further camera via one or more of the following:
(a) a USB port;
(b) a serial port; and
(c) an electromagnetic signal transmitter adapted to transmit one or more of radio, optical, infra-red and Bluetooth signals.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of providing the primary manipulated image to a secondary camera via the primary image provider comprises providing the primary manipulated image to a secondary camera via one or more of the following:
(a) a USB port;
(b) a serial port; and
(c) an electromagnetic signal transmitter adapted to transmit one or more of radio, optical, infra-red and Bluetooth signals.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of receiving the primary manipulated image from the primary camera via the secondary image receiver comprises receiving the primary manipulated image from the primary camera via one or more of the following:
(a) a USB port;
(b) a serial port; and
(c) an electromagnetic signal receiver adapted to receive one or more of radio, optical, infra-red and Bluetooth signals.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of, in the secondary camera:
capturing a secondary captured image using the secondary image capture device,
and wherein the step of manipulating the primary manipulated image using the secondary image manipulator to form the secondary manipulated image comprises:
manipulating, using the secondary image manipulator, the primary manipulated image by combining at least part of the secondary captured image with at least part of the primary manipulated image to form the secondary manipulated image.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the secondary camera further comprises a printer device built in to the secondary camera, and wherein the step of manipulating the primary manipulated image using the secondary image manipulator to form a secondary manipulated image is followed by the step of printing the secondary manipulated image using the printer device.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of printing the secondary manipulated image using the printer device comprises printing the secondary manipulated image using a page-width inkjet-type printhead.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of:
reading, using the primary instruction reader, the at least one primary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on the primary manipulation instruction printed medium
comprises reading, using the primary instruction reader, the at least one primary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on the primary manipulation instruction printed medium in encoded form.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein the secondary camera further comprises a secondary instruction reader adapted to read at least one secondary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on a secondary manipulation instruction printed medium,
and wherein the step of, in the secondary camera:
manipulating the primary manipulated image using the secondary image manipulator to form the secondary manipulated image
comprises the steps of:
(i) reading, using the secondary instruction reader, the at least one secondary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on the secondary manipulation instruction printed medium;
(ii) providing the at least one secondary image manipulation instruction to the secondary image manipulator; and
(iii) manipulating the primary manipulated image, using the secondary image manipulator and in accordance with the at least one secondary image manipulation instruction, to form the secondary manipulated image.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of:
reading, using the secondary instruction reader, the at least one secondary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on the secondary manipulation instruction printed medium
comprises reading, using the secondary instruction reader, the at least one secondary image manipulation instruction disposed in or on the secondary manipulation instruction printed medium in encoded form.

30. A manipulated image formed using the camera as claimed in claim 1.

31. The manipulated image of claim 30 comprising a printed manipulated image.

32. A secondary manipulated image formed using the camera system as claimed in claim 8.

33. The secondary manipulated image of claim 32 comprising a printed secondary manipulated image.

34. A secondary manipulated image formed by the method as claimed in claim 19.

35. The secondary manipulated image of claim 34 comprising a printed secondary manipulated image.