# Patent

## Title
Image processing method using sensed eye position

## Abstract

A method for processing a captured image is provided. The method includes the steps of sensing the position of an eye and processing the captured image using the sensed eye position. In one embodiment, the step of processing involves detecting a face within the image, and applying a graphical object at a location within the image and relative to the detected face. The graphical object may be a speech bubble.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This Application is a Continuation Application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/636,226 filed on Aug. 8, 2003, which is a Continuation Application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,746 filed on Jul. 10, 1998, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,419 all of which are herein incorporated by reference.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus and, in particular, discloses a process for Utilising Eye Detection Methods in a Digital Image Camera.
The present invention relates to the field of digital image processing and in particular, the field of processing of images taken via a digital camera.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, digital cameras have become increasingly popular. These cameras normally operate by means of imaging a desired image utilising 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 utilising a computer system to print out an image, sophisticated software may 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 to which is was taken, relying on the post processing process to perform any necessary or required modifications of the captured image. Further, much of the environmental information available when the picture was taken is lost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for the utilisation of camera eye detection techniques in a digital camera.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of processing an image taken with a digital camera including an eye position sensing means said method comprising the step of utilizing the eye position information within the sensed image to process the image in a spatially varying sense, depending upon said location information.
The utilizing step can comprise utilizing the eye position information to locate an area of interest within said sensed image. The processing can includes the placement of speech bubbles within said image or applying a region specific warp to said image. Alternatively the processing can include applying a brush stroke filter to the image having greater detail in the area of said eye position information. Ideally the camera is able to substantially immediately print out the results of the processing.



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 method of operation of the preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 2 illustrates one form of image processing in accordance with 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 the concurrently filed application entitled “A Digital Image Printing 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.
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, the Artcam device is modified so as to include an eye position sensor which senses a current eye position. The sensed eye position information is utilised to process the digital image taken by the camera so as to produce modifications, transformations etc. in accordance with the sensed eye position.
The construction of eye position sensors is known to those skilled in the art and is utilised within a number of manufacture's cameras. In particular, within those of Canon Inc. Eye position sensors may rely on the projection of an infra red beam from the viewfinder into the viewer's eye and a reflection detected and utilized to determine a likely eye position.
In the preferred embodiment, it is assumed that the eye position sensor is interconnected to the ACP unit of the Artcam device as discussed in the aforementioned Australian Provisional Patent Application which is converted to a digital form and stored in the Artcam memory store for later use.
Turning now to FIG. 1, the eye position information 10 and the image 11 are stored in the memory of the Artcam and are then processed 12 by the ACP to output a processed image 13 for printing out as a photo via a print head. The form of image processing 12 can be highly variable provided it is dependant on the eye position information 10. For example, in a first form of image processing, a face detection algorithm is applied to the image 11 so as to detect the position of faces within an image and to apply various graphical objects, for example, speech bubbles in a particular offset relationship to the face. An example of such process is illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein, a first image 15 is shown of three persons. After application of the face detection algorithm, three faces 16, 17 and 18 are detected. The eye position information is then utilised to select that face which is closest to an estimated eye view within the frame. In a first example, the speech bubble is place relative to the head 16. In a second example 20, the speech bubble is placed relative to the head 17 and in a third example 21, the speech bubble is placed relative to the head 18. Hence, an art card can be provided containing an encoded form of speech bubble application algorithm and the image processed so as to place the speech bubble text above a pre-determined face within the image.
It will be readily apparent that the eye position information could be utilised to process the image 11 in a multitude of different ways. This can include applying regions specific morphs to faces and objects, applying focusing effects in a regional or specific manner. Further, the image processing involved can include applying artistic renderings of an image and this can include applying an artistic paint brushing technique. The artistic brushing methods can be applied in a region specific manner in accordance with the eye position information 10. The final processed image 13 can be printed out as required. Further images can be then taken, each time detecting and utilising a different eye position to produce a different output image.
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 pagewide 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 (<2 seconds per page).
All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. 45 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
Pat.



No
No.
Title







IJ01US
6227652
Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer


IJ02US
6213588
Electrostatic Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ03US
6213589
Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ04US
6231163
Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ05US
6247795
Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ06US
6394581
Paddle Type Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ07US
6244691
Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ08US
6257704
Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ09US
6416168
Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ10US
6220694
Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ11US
6257705
Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic Ink Jet




Printing Mechanism


IJ12US
6247794
Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ13US
6234610
Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ14US
6247793
Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink Jet




Printing Mechanism


IJ15US
6264306
Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ16US
6241342
Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ17US
6247792
PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating




Pressure Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ18US
6264307
Buckle Grill Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ19US
6254220
Shutter Based Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ20US
6234611
Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ21US
6302528
Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ22US
6283582
Iris Motion Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ23U5
6239821
Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink Jet




Printing Mechanism


IJ24US
6338547
Conductive PTFE Bend Actuator Vented Ink Jet




Printing Mechanism


IJ25US
6247796
Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ26US
6557977
Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ27US
6390603
Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ28US
6362843
Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ29US
6293653
Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ30US
6312107
Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE




Corrugated Heater Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ31U5
6227653
Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ32U5
6234609
High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink Jet




Printing Mechanism


IJ33U5
6238040
Thermally Actuated Slotted Chamber Wall Ink Jet




Printing Mechanism


IJ34U5
6188415
Ink Jet Printer having a Thermal Actuator




Comprising an External Coil Spring


IJ35U5
6227654
Trough Container Ink Jet Printing Mechanism with




Paddle


IJ36U5
6209989
Dual Chamber Single Actuator Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ37U5
6247791
Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum Actuator




Ink Jet Printing Mechanism


IJ38U5
6336710
Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet




Printing Mechanism


IJ39U5
6217153
Single Bend Actuator Cupped Paddle Ink Jet




Printing Mechanism


IJ40U5
6416167
Thermally Actuated Ink Jet Printing Mechanism




having a Series of Thermal Actuator Units


IJ41U5
6243113
Thermally Actuated Ink Jet Printing Mechanism




including a Tapered Heater Element


IJ42U5
6283581
Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism


IJ43U5
6247790
Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet




Printing Mechanism


IJ44U5
6260953
Surface Bend Actuator Vented Ink Supply Ink Jet




Printing Mechanism


IJ45U5
6267469
A Solenoid Actuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printing




Mechanism









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 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 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 printer 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
Large force generated
High power
Canon Bubblejet


bubble
heats the ink to above
Simple construction
Ink carrier limited to water
1979 Endo et al



boiling point, transferring
No moving parts
Low efficiency
GB patent



significant heat to the
Fast operation
High temperatures required
2,007,162



aqueous ink. A bubble
Small chip area
High mechanical stress
Xerox heater-in-



nucleates and quickly
required for actuator
Unusual materials required
pit 1990 Hawkins



forms, expelling the ink.

Large drive transistors
et al U.S. Pat. No.



The efficiency of the

Cavitation causes actuator
4,899,181



process is low, with

failure
Hewlett-Packard



typically less than 0.05%

Kogation reduces bubble
TIJ 1982 Vaught



of the electrical energy

formation
et al U.S. Pat. No.



being transformed into

Large print heads are
4,490,728



kinetic energy of the drop.

difficult to fabricate


Piezoelectric
A piezoelectric crystal
Low power consumption
Very large area required for
Kyser et al U.S. Pat. No.



such as lead lanthanum
Many ink types can be
actuator
3,946,398



zirconate (PZT) is
used
Difficult to integrate with
Zoltan U.S. Pat. No.



electrically activated, and
Fast operation
electronics
3,683,212



either expands, shears, or
High efficiency
High voltage drive
1973 Stemme U.S. Pat. No.



bends to apply pressure to

transistors required
3,747,120



the ink, ejecting drops.

Full pagewidth print heads
Epson Stylus





impractical due to actuator
Tektronix





size
IJ04





Requires electrical poling in





high field strengths during





manufacture


Electrostrictive
An electric field is used
Low power consumption
Low maximum strain (approx.
Seiko Epson,



to activate
Many ink types can be
0.01%)
Usui et all JP



electrostriction in relaxor
used
Large area required for
253401/96



materials such as lead
Low thermal expansion
actuator due to low strain
IJ04



lanthanum zirconate
Electric field
Response speed is marginal (~10 μs)



titanate (PLZT) or lead
strength required
High voltage drive



magnesium niobate (PMN).
(approx. 3.5 V/μm)
transistors required




can be generated
Full pagewidth print heads




without difficulty
impractical due to actuator




Does not require
size




electrical poling


Ferroelectric
An electric field is used
Low power consumption
Difficult to integrate with
IJ04



to induce a phase
Many ink types can be
electronics



transition between the
used
Unusual materials such as



antiferroelectric (AFE) and
Fast operation (<1 μs)
PLZSnT are required



ferroelectric (FE) phase.
Relatively high
Actuators require a large



Perovskite materials such
longitudinal strain
area



as tin modified lead
High efficiency



lanthanum zirconate
Electric field



titanate (PLZSnT) exhibit
strength of around 3 V/μm



large strains of up to 1%
can be readily



associated with the AFE to
provided



FE phase transition.


Electrostatic
Conductive plates are
Low power consumption
Difficult to operate
IJ02, IJ04


plates
separated by a compressible
Many ink types can be
electrostatic devices in an



or fluid dielectric
used
aqueous environment



(usually air). Upon
Fast operation
The electrostatic actuator



application of a voltage,

will normally need to be



the plates attract each

separated from the ink



other and displace ink,

Very large area required to



causing drop ejection. The

achieve high forces



conductive plates may be in

High voltage drive



a comb or honeycomb

transistors may be required



structure, or stacked to

Full pagewidth print heads



increase the surface area

are not competitive due to



and therefore the force.

actuator size


Electrostatic
A strong electric field is
Low current
High voltage required
1989 Saito et


pull on ink
applied to the ink,
consumption
May be damaged by sparks due
al, U.S. Pat. No.



whereupon electrostatic
Low temperature
to air breakdown
4,799,068



attraction accelerates the

Required field strength
1989 Miura et



ink towards the print

increases as the drop size
al, U.S. Pat. No.



medium.

decreases
4,810,954





High voltage drive
Tone-jet





transistors required





Electrostatic field attracts





dust


Permanent
An electromagnet directly
Low power consumption
Complex fabrication
IJ07, IJ10


magnet
attracts a permanent
Many ink types can be
Permanent magnetic material


electromagnetic
magnet, displacing ink and
used
such as Neodymium Iron Boron



causing drop ejection. Rare
Fast operation
(NdFeB) required.



earth magnets with a field
High efficiency
High local currents required



strength around 1 Tesla can
Easy extension from
Copper metalization should be



be used. Examples are:
single nozzles to
used for long



Samarium Cobalt (SaCo) and
pagewidth print heads
electromigration lifetime and



magnetic materials in the

low resistivity



neodymium iron boron family

Pigmented inks are usually



(NdFeB, NdDyFeBNb, NdDyFeB,

infeasible



etc)

Operating temperature limited





to the Curie temperature





(around 540 K)


Soft magnetic
A solenoid induced a
Low power consumption
Complex fabrication
IJ01, IJ05,


core
magnetic field in a soft
Many ink types can be
Materials not usually present
IJ08, IJ10


electromagnetic
magnetic core or yoke
used
in a CMOS fab such as NiFe,
IJ12, IJ14,



fabricated from a ferrous
Fast operation
CoNiFe, or CoFe are required
IJ15, IJ17



material such as
High efficiency
High local currents required



electroplated iron alloys
Easy extension from
Copper metalization should be



such as CoNiFe [1], CoFe,
single nozzles to
used for long



or NiFe alloys. Typically,
pagewidth print heads
electromigration lifetime and



the soft magnetic material

low resistivity



is in two parts, which are

Electroplating is required



normally held apart by a

High saturation flux density



spring. When the solenoid

is required (2.0-2.1 T is



is actuated, the two parts

achievable with CoNiFe [1])



attract, displacing the



ink.


Magnetic
The Lorenz force acting on
Low power consumption
Force acts as a twisting
IJ06, IJ11,


Lorenz force
a current carrying wire in
Many ink types can be
motion
IJ13, IJ16



a magnetic field is
used
Typically, only a quarter of



utilized.
Fast operation
the solenoid length provides



This allows the magnetic
High efficiency
force in a useful direction



field to be supplied
Easy extension from
High local currents required



externally to the print
single nozzles to
Copper metalization should be



head, for example with rare
pagewidth print heads
used for long



earth permanent magnets.

electromigration lifetime and



Only the current carrying

low resistivity



wire need be fabricated on

Pigmented inks are usually



the print-head, simplifying

infeasible



materials requirements.


Magnetostriction
The actuator uses the giant
Many ink types can be
Force acts as a twisting
Fischenbeck, U.S. Pat. No.



magnetostrictive effect of
used
motion
4,032,929



materials such as Terfenol-
Fast operation
Unusual materials such as
IJ25



D (an alloy of terbium,
Easy extension from
Terfenol-D are required



dysprosium and iron
single nozzles to
High local currents required



developed at the Naval
pagewidth print heads
Copper metalization should be



Ordnance Laboratory, hence
High force is
used for long



Ter-Fe-NOL). For best
available
electromigration lifetime and



efficiency, the actuator

low resistivity



should be pre-stressed to

Pre-stressing may be required



approx. 8 MPa.


Surface
Ink under positive pressure
Low power consumption
Requires supplementary force
Silverbrook, EP


tension
is held in a nozzle by
Simple construction
to effect drop separation
0771 658 A2 and


reduction
surface tension. The
No unusual materials
Requires special ink
related patent



surface tension of the ink
required in
surfactants
applications



is reduced below the bubble
fabrication
Speed may be limited by



threshold, causing the ink
High efficiency
surfactant properties



to egress from the nozzle.
Easy extension from




single nozzles to




pagewidth print heads


Viscosity
The ink viscosity is
Simple construction
Requires supplementary force
Silverbrook, EP


reduction
locally reduced to select
No unusual materials
to effect drop separation
0771 658 A2 and



which drops are to be
required in
Requires special ink
related patent



ejected. A viscosity
fabrication
viscosity properties
applications



reduction can be achieved
Easy extension from
High speed is difficult to



electrothermally with most
single nozzles to
achieve



inks, but special inks can
pagewidth print heads
Requires oscillating ink



be engineered for a 100:1

pressure



viscosity reduction.

A high temperature difference





(typically 80 degrees) is





required


Acoustic
An acoustic wave is
Can operate without a
Complex drive circuitry
1993 Hadimioglu



generated and focussed upon
nozzle plate
Complex fabrication
et al, EUP



the drop ejection region.

Low efficiency
550,192





Poor control of drop position
1993 Elrod et





Poor control of drop volume
al, EUP 572,220


Thermoelastic
An actuator which relies
Low power consumption
Efficient aqueous operation
IJ03, IJ09,


bend actuator
upon differential thermal
Many ink types can be
requires a thermal insulator
IJ17, IJ18



expansion upon Joule
used
on the hot side
IJ19, IJ20,



heating is used.
Simple planar
Corrosion prevention can be
IJ21, IJ22




fabrication
difficult
IJ23, IJ24,




Small chip area
Pigmented inks may be
IJ27, IJ28




required for each
infeasible, as pigment
IJ29, IJ30,




actuator
particles may jam the bend
IJ31, IJ32




Fast operation
actuator
IJ33, IJ34,




High efficiency

IJ35, IJ36




CMOS compatible

IJ37, IJ38,




voltages and currents

IJ39, IJ40




Standard MEMS

IJ41




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
Requires special material
IJ09, IJ17,


thermoelastic
coefficient of thermal
generated
(e.g. PTFE)
IJ18, IJ20


actuator
expansion (CTE) such as
PTFE is a candidate
Requires a PTFE deposition
IJ21, IJ22,



polytetrafluoroethylene
for low dielectric
process, which is not yet
IJ23, IJ24



(PTFE) is used. As high CTE
constant insulation
standard in ULSI fabs
IJ27, IJ28,



materials are usually non-
in ULSI
PTFE deposition cannot be
IJ29, IJ30



conductive, a heater
Very low power
followed with high
IJ31, IJ42,



fabricated from a
consumption
temperature (above 350° C.)
IJ43, IJ44



conductive material is
Many ink types can be
processing



incorporated. A 50 μm long
used
Pigmented inks may be



PTFE bend actuator with
Simple planar
infeasible, as pigment



polysilicon heater and 15 mW
fabrication
particles may jam the bend



power input can provide
Small chip area
actuator



180 μN force and 10 μm
required for each



deflection. Actuator
actuator



motions include:
Fast operation



1) Bend
High efficiency



2) Push
CMOS compatible



3) Buckle
voltages and currents



4) Rotate
Easy extension from




single nozzles to




pagewidth print heads


Conductive
A polymer with a high
High force can be
Requires special materials
IJ24


polymer
coefficient of thermal
generated
development (High CTE


thermoelastic
expansion (such as PTFE) is
Very low power
conductive polymer)


actuator
doped with conducting
consumption
Requires a PTFE deposition



substances to increase its
Many ink types can be
process, which is not yet



conductivity to about 3
used
standard in ULSI fabs



orders of magnitude below
Simple planar
PTFE deposition cannot be



that of copper. The
fabrication
followed with high



conducting polymer expands
Small chip area
temperature (above 350° C.)



when resistively heated.
required for each
processing



Examples of conducting
actuator
Evaporation and CVD



dopants include:
Fast operation
deposition techniques cannot



1) Carbon nanotubes
High efficiency
be used



2) Metal fibers
CMOS compatible
Pigmented inks may be



3) Conductive polymers such
voltages and currents
infeasible, as pigment



as doped polythiophene
Easy extension from
particles may jam the bend



4) Carbon granules
single nozzles to
actuator




pagewidth print heads


Shape memory
A shape memory alloy such
High force is
Fatigue limits maximum number
IJ26


alloy
as TiNi (also known as
available (stresses
of cycles



Nitinol —Nickel Titanium
of hundreds of MPa)
Low strain (1%) is required



alloy developed at the
Large strain is
to extend fatigue resistance



Naval Ordnance Laboratory)
available (more than
Cycle rate limited by heat



is thermally switched
3%)
removal



between its weak
High corrosion
Requires unusual materials



martensitic state and its
resistance
(TiNi)



high stiffness austenic
Simple construction
The latent heat of



state. The shape of the
Easy extension from
transformation must be



actuator in its martensitic
single nozzles to
provided



state is deformed relative
pagewidth print heads
High current operation



to the austenic shape. The
Low voltage operation
Requires pre-stressing to



shape change causes

distort the martensitic state



ejection of a drop.


Linear
Linear magnetic actuators
Linear Magnetic
Requires unusual
IJ12


Magnetic
include the Linear
actuators can be
semiconductor materials such


Actuator
Induction Actuator (LIA),
constructed with high
as soft magnetic alloys (e.g.



Linear Permanent Magnet
thrust, long travel,
CoNiFe [1])



Synchronous Actuator
and high efficiency
Some varieties also require



(LPMSA), Linear Reluctance
using planar
permanent magnetic materials



Synchronous Actuator
semiconductor
such as Neodymium iron boron



(LRSA), Linear Switched
fabrication
(NdFeB)



Reluctance Actuator (LSRA),
techniques
Requires complex multi-phase



and the Linear Stepper
Long actuator travel
drive circuitry



Actuator (LSA).
is available
High current operation




Medium force is




available




Low voltage operation



















BASIC OPERATION MODE











Operational






mode
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Actuator
This is the simplest mode
Simple operation
Drop repetition rate is
Thermal inkjet


directly
of operation: the actuator
No external fields
usually limited to less than
Piezoelectric


pushes ink
directly supplies
required
10 KHz. However, this is not
inkjet



sufficient kinetic energy
Satellite drops can
fundamental to the method,
IJ01, IJ02,



to expel the drop. The drop
be avoided if drop
but is related to the refill
IJ03, IJ04



must have a sufficient
velocity is less than
method normally used
IJ05, IJ06,



velocity to overcome the
4 m/s
All of the drop kinetic
IJ07, IJ09



surface tension.
Can be efficient,
energy must be provided by
IJ11, IJ12,




depending upon the
the actuator
IJ14, IJ16




actuator used
Satellite drops usually form
IJ20, IJ22,





if drop velocity is greater
IJ23, IJ24





than 4.5 m/s
IJ25, IJ26,






IJ27, IJ28






IJ29, IJ30,






IJ31, IJ32






IJ33, IJ34,






IJ35, IJ36






IJ37, IJ38,






IJ39, IJ40






IJ41, IJ42,






IJ43, IJ44


Proximity
The drops to be printed are
Very simple print
Requires close proximity
Silverbrook, EP



selected by some manner
head fabrication can
between the print head and
0771 658 A2 and



(e.g. thermally induced
be used
the print media or transfer
related patent



surface tension reduction
The drop selection
roller
applications



of pressurized ink).
means does not need
May require two print heads



Selected drops are
to provide the energy
printing alternate rows of



separated from the ink in
required to separate
the image



the nozzle by contact with
the drop from the
Monolithic color print heads



the print medium or a
nozzle
are difficult



transfer roller.


Electrostatic
The drops to be printed are
Very simple print
Requires very high
Silverbrook, EP


pull on ink
selected by some manner
head fabrication can
electrostatic field
0771 658 A2 and



(e.g. thermally induced
be used
Electrostatic field for small
related patent



surface tension reduction
The drop selection
nozzle sizes is above air
applications



of pressurized ink).
means does not need
breakdown
Tone-Jet



Selected drops are
to provide the energy
Electrostatic field may



separated from the ink in
required to separate
attract dust



the nozzle by a strong
the drop from the



electric field.
nozzle


Magnetic pull
The drops to be printed are
Very simple print
Requires magnetic ink
Silverbrook, EP


on ink
selected by some manner
head fabrication can
Ink colors other than black
0771 658 A2 and



(e.g. thermally induced
be used
are difficult
related patent



surface tension reduction
The drop selection
Requires very high magnetic
applications



of pressurized ink).
means does not need
fields



Selected drops are
to provide the energy



separated from the ink in
required to separate



the nozzle by a strong
the drop from the



magnetic field acting on
nozzle



the magnetic ink.


Shutter
The actuator moves a
High speed (>50 KHz)
Moving parts are required
IJ13, IJ17, IJ21



shutter to block ink flow
operation can be
Requires ink pressure



to the nozzle. The ink
achieved due to
modulator



pressure is pulsed at a
reduced refill time
Friction and wear must be



multiple of the drop
Drop timing can be
considered



ejection frequency.
very accurate
Stiction is possible




The actuator energy




can be very low


Shuttered
The actuator moves a
Actuators with small
Moving parts are required
IJ08, IJ15,


grill
shutter to block ink flow
travel can be used
Requires ink pressure
IJ18, IJ19



through a grill to the
Actuators with small
modulator



nozzle. The shutter
force can be used
Friction and wear must be



movement need only be equal
High speed (>50 KHz)
considered



to the width of the grill
operation can be
Stiction is possible



holes.
achieved


Pulsed
A pulsed magnetic field
Extremely low energy
Requires an external pulsed
IJ10


magnetic pull
attracts an ‘ink pusher’ at
operation is possible
magnetic field


on ink pusher
the drop ejection
No heat dissipation
Requires special materials



frequency. An actuator
problems
for both the actuator and the



controls a catch, which

ink pusher



prevents the ink pusher

Complex construction



from moving when a drop is



not to be ejected.



















AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES)











Auxiliary






Mechanism
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





None
The actuator directly fires
Simplicity of
Drop ejection energy must be
Most inkjets,



the ink drop, and there is
construction
supplied by individual nozzle
including



no external field or other
Simplicity of
actuator
piezoelectric



mechanism required.
operation

and thermal




Small physical size

bubble.






IJ01-IJ07,






IJ09, IJ11






IJ12, IJ14,






IJ20, IJ22






IJ23-IJ45


Oscillating
The ink pressure
Oscillating ink
Requires external ink
Silverbrook, EP


ink pressure
oscillates, providing much
pressure can provide
pressure oscillator
0771 658 A2 and


(including
of the drop ejection
a refill pulse,
Ink pressure phase and
related patent


acoustic
energy. The actuator
allowing higher
amplitude must be carefully
applications


stimulation)
selects which drops are to
operating speed
controlled
IJ08, IJ13,



be fired by selectively
The actuators may
Acoustic reflections in the
IJ15, IJ17



blocking or enabling
operate with much
ink chamber must be designed
IJ18, IJ19, IJ21



nozzles. The ink pressure
lower energy
for



oscillation may be achieved
Acoustic lenses can



by vibrating the print
be used to focus the



head, or preferably by an
sound on the nozzles



actuator in the ink supply.


Media
The print head is placed in
Low power
Precision assembly required
Silverbrook, EP


proximity
close proximity to the
High accuracy
Paper fibers may cause
0771 658 A2 and



print medium, Selected
Simple print head
problems
related patent



drops protrude from the
construction
Cannot print on rough
applications



print head further than

substrates



unselected drops, and



contact the print medium.



The drop soaks into the



medium fast enough to cause



drop separation.


Transfer
Drops are printed to a
High accuracy
Bulky
Silverbrook, EP


roller
transfer roller instead of
Wide range of print
Expensive
0771 658 A2 and



straight to the print
substrates can be
Complex construction
related patent



medium. A transfer roller
used

applications



can also be used for
Ink can be dried on

Tektronix hot



proximity drop separation.
the transfer roller

melt






piezoelectric






inkjet






Any of the IJ






series


Electrostatic
An electric field is used
Low power
Field strength required for
Silverbrook, EP



to accelerate selected
Simple print head
separation of small drops is
0771 658 A2 and



drops towards the print
construction
near or above air breakdown
related patent



medium.


applications






Tone-Jet


Direct
A magnetic field is used to
Low power
Requires magnetic ink
Silverbrook, EP


magnetic
accelerate selected drops
Simple print head
Requires strong magnetic
0771 658 A2 and


field
of magnetic ink towards the
construction
field
related patent



print medium.


applications


Cross
The print head is placed in
Does not require
Requires external magnet
IJ06, IJ16


magnetic
a constant magnetic field.
magnetic materials to
Current densities may be


field
The Lorenz force in a
be integrated in the
high, resulting in



current carrying wire is
print head
electromigration problems



used to move the actuator.
manufacturing process


Pulsed
A pulsed magnetic field is
Very low power
Complex print head
IJ10


magnetic
used to cyclically attract
operation is possible
construction


field
a paddle, which pushes on
Small print head size
Magnetic materials required



the ink. A small actuator

in print 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
Many actuator mechanisms have
Thermal Bubble



amplification is used. The
simplicity
insufficient travel, or
Inkjet



actuator directly drives

insufficient force, to
IJ01, IJ02,



the drop ejection process.

efficiently drive the drop
IJ06, IJ07





ejection process
IJ16, IJ25, IJ26


Differential
An actuator material
Provides greater
High stresses are involved
Piezoelectric


expansion
expands more on one side
travel in a reduced
Care must be taken that the
IJ03, IJ09,


bend actuator
than on the other. The
print head area
materials do not delaminate
IJ17-IJ24



expansion may be thermal,
The bend actuator
Residual bend resulting from
IJ27, IJ29-IJ39,



piezoelectric,
converts a high force
high temperature or high
IJ42,



magnetostrictive, or other
low travel actuator
stress during formation
IJ43, IJ44



mechanism.
mechanism to high




travel, lower force




mechanism.


Transient
A trilayer bend actuator
Very good temperature
High stresses are involved
IJ40, IJ41


bend actuator
where the two outside
stability
Care must be taken that the



layers are identical. This
High speed, as a new
materials do not delaminate



cancels bend due to ambient
drop can be fired



temperature and residual
before heat



stress. The actuator only
dissipates



responds to transient
Cancels residual



heating of one side or the
stress of formation



other.


Actuator
A series of thin actuators
Increased travel
Increased fabrication
Some


stack
are stacked. This can be
Reduced drive voltage
complexity
piezoelectric



appropriate where actuators

Increased possibility of
ink jets



require high electric field

short circuits due to
IJ04



strength, such as

pinholes



electrostatic and



piezoelectric actuators.


Multiple
Multiple smaller actuators
Increases the force
Actuator forces may not add
IJ12, IJ13,


actuators
are used simultaneously to
available from an
linearly, reducing efficiency
IJ18, IJ20



move the ink. Each actuator
actuator

IJ22, IJ28,



need provide only a portion
Multiple actuators

IJ42, IJ43



of the force required.
can be positioned to




control ink flow




accurately


Linear Spring
A linear spring is used to
Matches low travel
Requires print head area for
IJ15



transform a motion with
actuator with higher
the spring



small travel and high force
travel requirements



into a longer travel, lower
Non-contact method of



force motion.
motion transformation


Reverse
The actuator loads a
Better coupling to
Fabrication complexity
IJ05, IJ11


spring
spring. When the actuator
the ink
High stress in the spring



is turned off, 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
Increases travel
Generally restricted to
IJ17, IJ21,


actuator
to provide greater travel
Reduces chip area
planar implementations due to
IJ34, IJ35



in a reduced chip area.
Planar
extreme fabrication




implementations are
difficulty in other




relatively easy to
orientations.




fabricate.


Flexure bend
A bend actuator has a small
Simple means of
Care must be taken not to
IJ10, IJ19, IJ33


actuator
region near the fixture
increasing travel of
exceed the elastic limit in



point, which flexes much
a bend actuator
the flexure area



more readily than the

Stress distribution is very



remainder of the actuator.

uneven



The actuator flexing is

Difficult to accurately model



effectively converted from

with finite element analysis



an even coiling to an



angular bend, resulting in



greater travel of the



actuator tip.


Gears
Gears can be used to
Low force, low travel
Moving parts are required
IJ13



increase travel at the
actuators can be used
several actuator cycles are



expense of duration.
Can be fabricated
required



Circular gears, rack and
using standard
More complex drive



pinion, ratchets, and other
surface MEMS
electronics



gearing methods can be
processes
Complex construction



used.

Friction, friction, and wear





are possible


Catch
The actuator controls a
Very low actuator
Complex construction
IJ10



small catch. The catch
energy
Requires external force



either enables or disables
Very small actuator
Unsuitable for pigmented inks



movement of an ink pusher
size



that is controlled in a



bulk manner.


Buckle plate
A buckle plate can be used
Very fast movement
Must stay within elastic
S. Hirata et al,



to change a slow actuator
achievable
limits of the materials for
“An Ink-jet Head . . . ”,



into a fast motion. It can

long device life
Proc. IEEE



also convert a high force,

High stresses involved
MEMS, February 1996,



low travel actuator into a

Generally high power
pp 418-423.



high travel, medium force

requirement
IJ18, IJ27



motion,


Tapered
A tapered magnetic pole can
Linearizes the
Complex construction
IJ14


magnetic pole
increase travel at the
magnetic



expense of force,
force/distance curve


Lever
A lever and fulcrum is used
Matches low travel
High stress around the
IJ32, IJ36, IJ37



to transform a motion with
actuator with higher
fulcrum



small travel and high force
travel requirements



into a motion with longer
Fulcrum area has no



travel and lower force. The
linear movement, and



lever can also reverse the
can be used for a



direction of travel,
fluid seal


Rotary
The actuator is connected
High mechanical
Complex construction
IJ28


impeller
to a rotary impeller. A
advantage
Unsuitable for pigmented inks



small angular deflection of
The ratio of force to



the actuator results in a
travel of the



rotation of the impeller
actuator can be



vanes, which push the ink
matched to the nozzle



against stationary vanes
requirements by



and out of the nozzle.
varying the number of




impeller vanes


Acoustic lens
A refractive or diffractive
No moving parts
Large area required
1993 Hadimioglu



(e.g. zone plate) acoustic

Only relevant for acoustic
et al, EUP



lens is used to concentrate

ink jets
550, 192



sound waves.


1993 Elrod et






al, EUP 572, 220


Sharp
A sharp point is used to
Simple construction
Difficult to fabricate using
Tone-jet


conductive
concentrate an

standard VLSI processes for a


point
electrostatic field.

surface ejecting ink-jet





Only relevant for





electrostatic ink jets



















ACTUATOR MOTION











Actuator






motion
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Volume
The volume of the actuator
Simple construction
High energy is typically
Hewlett-Packard


expansion
changes, pushing the ink in
in the case of
required to achieve volume
Thermal Inkjet



all directions.
thermal ink jet
expansion. This leads to
Canon Bubblejet





thermal stress, cavitation,





and kogation in thermal ink





jet implementations


Linear,
The actuator moves in a
Efficient coupling to
High fabrication complexity
IJ01, IJ02,


normal to
direction normal to the
ink drops ejected
may be required to achieve
IJ04, IJ07


chip surface
print head surface. The
normal to the surface
perpendicular motion
IJ11, IJ14



nozzle is typically in the



line of movement.


Linear,
The actuator moves parallel
Suitable for planar
Fabrication complexity
IJ12, IJ13,


parallel to
to the print head surface.
fabrication
Friction
IJ15, IJ33,


chip surface
Drop ejection may still be

Stiction
IJ34, IJ35, IJ36



normal to the surface.


Membrane push
An actuator with a high
The effective area of
Fabrication complexity
1982 Howkins U.S. Pat. No.



force but small area is
the actuator becomes
Actuator size
4,459,601



used to push a stiff
the membrane area
Difficulty of integration in



membrane that is in contact

a VLSI process



with the ink.


Rotary
The actuator causes the
Rotary levers may be
Device complexity
IJ05, IJ08,



rotation of some element,
used to increase
May have friction at a pivot
IJ13, IJ28



such a grill or impeller
travel
point




Small chip area




requirements


Bend
The actuator bends when
A very small change
Requires the actuator to be
1970 Kyser et al



energized. This may be due
in dimensions can be
made from at least two
U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,398



to differential thermal
converted to a large
distinct layers, or to have a
1973 Stemme U.S. Pat. No.



expansion, piezoelectric
motion.
thermal difference across the
3,747,120



expansion,

actuator
IJ03, IJ09,



magnetostriction, or other


IJ10, IJ19



form of relative


IJ23, IJ24,



dimensional change.


IJ25, IJ29






IJ30, IJ31,






IJ33, IJ34,






IJ35


Swivel
The actuator swivels around
Allows operation
Inefficient coupling to the
IJ06



a central pivot. This
where the net linear
ink motion



motion is suitable where
force on the paddle



there are opposite forces
is zero



applied to opposite sides
Small chip area



of the paddle, e.g. Lorenz
requirements



force.


Straighten
The actuator is normally
Can be used with
Requires careful balance of
IJ26, IJ32



bent, and straightens when
shape memory alloys
stresses to ensure that the



energized.
where the austenic
quiescent bend is accurate




phase is planar


Double bend
The actuator bends in one
One actuator can be
Difficult to make the drops
IJ36, IJ37, IJ38



direction when one element
used to power two
ejected by both bend



is energized, and bends the
nozzles.
directions identical.



other way when another
Reduced chip size.
A small efficiency loss



element is energized.
Not sensitive to
compared to equivalent single




ambient temperature
bend actuators.


Shear
Energizing the actuator
Can increase the
Not readily applicable to
1985 Fishbeck



causes a shear motion in
effective travel of
other actuator mechanisms
U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,590



the actuator material.
piezoelectric




actuators


Radial
The actuator squeezes an
Relatively easy to
High force required
1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No.


constriction
ink reservoir, forcing ink
fabricate single
Inefficient
3,683,212



from a constricted nozzle.
nozzles from glass
Difficult to integrate with




tubing as macroscopic
VLSI processes




structures


Coil/uncoil
A coiled actuator uncoils
Easy to fabricate as
Difficult to fabricate for
IJ17, IJ21,



or coils more tightly. The
a planar VLSI process
non-planar devices
IJ34, IJ35



motion of the free end of
Small area required,
Poor out-of-plane stiffness



the actuator ejects the
therefore low cost



ink.


Bow
The actuator bows (or
Can increase the
Maximum travel is constrained
IJ16, IJ18, IJ27



buckles) in the middle when
speed of travel
High force required



energized.
Mechanically rigid


Push-Pull
Two actuators control a
The structure is
Not readily suitable for
IJ18



shutter. One actuator pulls
pinned at both ends,
inkjets which directly push



the shutter, and the other
so has a high out-of-
the ink



pushes it.
plane rigidity


Curl inwards
A set of actuators curl
Good fluid flow to
Design complexity
IJ20, IJ42



inwards to reduce the
the region behind the



volume of ink that they
actuator increases



enclose.
efficiency


Curl outwards
A set of actuators curl
Relatively simple
Relatively large chip area
IJ43



outwards, pressurizing ink
construction



in a chamber surrounding



the actuators, and



expelling ink from a nozzle



in the chamber.


Iris
Multiple vanes enclose a
High efficiency
High fabrication complexity
IJ22



volume of ink. These
Small chip area
Not suitable for pigmented



simultaneously rotate,

inks



reducing the volume between



the vanes.


Acoustic
The actuator vibrates at a
The actuator can be
Large area required for
1993 Hadimioglu


vibration
high frequency.
physically distant
efficient operation at useful
et al, EUP




from the ink
frequencies
550,192





Acoustic coupling and
1993 Elrod et





crosstalk
al, EUP 572,220





Complex drive circuitry





Poor control of drop volume





and position


None
In various ink jet designs
No moving parts
Various other tradeoffs are
Silverbrook, EP



the actuator does not move.

required to eliminate moving
0771 658 A2 and





parts
related patent






applications






Tone-jet



















NOZZLE REFILL METHOD











Nozzle refill






method
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Surface
After the actuator is
Fabrication
Low speed
Thermal inkjet


tension
energized, it typically
simplicity
Surface tension force
Piezoelectric



returns rapidly to its
Operational
relatively small compared to
inkjet



normal position. This rapid
simplicity
actuator force
IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14



return sucks in air through

Long refill time usually
IJ16, IJ20,



the nozzle opening. The ink

dominates the total
IJ22-IJ45,



surface tension at the

repetition rate



nozzle then exerts a small



force restoring the



meniscus to a minimum area.


Shuttered
Ink to the nozzle chamber
High speed
Requires common ink pressure
IJ08, IJ13,


oscillating
is provided at a pressure
Low actuator energy,
oscillator
IJ15, IJ17


ink pressure
that oscillates at twice
as the actuator need
May not be suitable for
IJ18, IJ19, IJ21



the drop ejection
only open or close
pigmented inks



frequency. When a drop is
the shutter, instead



to be ejected, the shutter
of ejecting the ink



is opened for 3 half
drop



cycles: drop ejection,



actuator return, and



refill.


Refill
After the main actuator has
High speed, as the
Requires two independent
IJ09


actuator
ejected a drop a second
nozzle is actively
actuators per nozzle



(refill) actuator is
refilled



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
High refill rate,
Surface spill must be
Silverbrook, EP


pressure
positive pressure. After
therefore a high drop
prevented
0771 658 A2 and



the ink drop is ejected,
repetition rate is
Highly hydrophobic print head
related patent



the nozzle chamber fills
possible
surfaces are required
applications



quickly as surface tension


Alternative for:



and ink pressure both


IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14



operate to refill the


IJ16, IJ20,



nozzle.


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
Design simplicity
Restricts refill rate
Thermal inkjet


channel
the nozzle chamber is made
Operational
May result in a relatively
Piezoelectric



long and relatively narrow,
simplicity
large chip area
inkjet



relying on viscous drag to
Reduces crosstalk
Only partially effective
IJ42, IJ43



reduce inlet back-flow.


Positive ink
The ink is under a positive
Drop selection and
Requires a method (such as a
Silverbrook, EP


pressure
pressure, so that in the
separation forces can
nozzle rim or effective
0771 658 A2 and



quiescent state some of the
be reduced
hydrophobizing, or both) to
related patent



ink drop already protrudes
Fast refill time
prevent flooding of the
applications



from the nozzle.

ejection surface of the print
Possible



This reduces the pressure

head.
operation of the



in the nozzle chamber which


following:



is required to eject a


IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12



certain volume of ink. The


IJ14, IJ16,



reduction in chamber


IJ20, IJ22,



pressure results in a


IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ41



reduction in ink pushed out


IJ44



through the inlet.


Baffle
One or more baffles are
The refill rate is
Design complexity
HP Thermal Ink



placed in the inlet ink
not as restricted as
May increase fabrication
Jet



flow. When the actuator is
the long inlet
complexity (e.g. Tektronix
Tektronix



energized, the rapid ink
method.
hot melt Piezoelectric print
piezoelectric



movement creates eddies
Reduces crosstalk
heads).
ink jet



which restrict the flow



through the inlet. The



slower refill process is



unrestricted, and does not



result in eddies.


Flexible flap
In this method recently
Significantly reduces
Not applicable to most inkjet
Canon


restricts
disclosed by Canon, the
back-flow for edge-
configurations


inlet
expanding actuator (bubble)
shooter thermal ink
Increased fabrication



pushes on a flexible flap
jet devices
complexity



that restricts the inlet.

Inelastic deformation of





polymer flap results in creep





over extended use


Inlet filter
A filter is located between
Additional advantage
Restricts refill rate
IJ04, IJ12,



the ink inlet and the
of ink filtration
May result in complex
IJ24, IJ27



nozzle chamber. The filter
Ink filter may be
construction
IJ29, IJ30



has a multitude of small
fabricated with no



holes or slots, restricting
additional process



ink flow. The filter also
steps



removes particles which may



block the nozzle.


Small inlet
The ink inlet channel to
Design simplicity
Restricts refill rate
IJ02, IJ37, IJ44


compared to
the nozzle chamber has a

May result in a relatively


nozzle
substantially smaller cross

large chip area



section than that of the

Only partially effective



nozzle, resulting in



easier ink egress out of



the nozzle than out of the



inlet.


Inlet shutter
A secondary actuator
Increases speed of
Requires separate refill
IJ09



controls the position of a
the ink-jet print
actuator and drive circuit



shutter, closing off the
head operation



ink inlet when the main



actuator is energized.


The inlet is
The method avoids the
Back-flow problem is
Requires careful design to
IJ01, IJ03,


located
problem of inlet back-flow
eliminated
minimize the negative
1J05, IJ06


behind the
by arranging the ink-

pressure behind the paddle
IJ07, IJ10,


ink-pushing
pushing surface of the


IJ11, IJ14


surface
actuator between the inlet


IJ16, IJ22,



and the nozzle.


IJ23, IJ25






IJ28, IJ31,






IJ32, IJ33






IJ34, IJ35,






IJ36, IJ39






IJ40, IJ41


Part of the
The actuator and a wall of
Significant
Small increase in fabrication
IJ07, IJ20,


actuator
the ink chamber are
reductions in back-
complexity
IJ26, IJ38


moves to shut
arranged so that the motion
flow can be achieved


off the inlet
of the actuator closes off
Compact designs



the inlet,
possible


Nozzle
In some configurations of
Ink back-flow problem
None related to ink back-flow
Silverbrook, EP


actuator does
ink jet, there is no
is eliminated
on actuation
0771 658 A2 and


not result in
expansion or movement of an


related patent


ink back-flow
actuator which may cause


applications



ink back-flow through the


Valve-jet



inlet.


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
No added complexity
May not be sufficient to
Most ink jet


firing
fired periodically, before
on the print head
displace dried ink
systems



the ink has a chance to


IJ01-IJ07,



dry. When not in use the


IJ09-IJ12



nozzles are sealed (capped)


IJ14, IJ16,



against air.


IJ20, IJ22



The nozzle firing is


IJ23-IJ34,



usually performed during a


IJ36-IJ45



special clearing cycle,



after first moving the



print head to a cleaning



station.


Extra power
In systems which heat the
Can be highly
Requires higher drive voltage
Silverbrook, EP


to ink heater
ink, but do not boil it
effective if the
for clearing
0771 658 A2 and



under normal situations,
heater is adjacent to
May require larger drive
related patent



nozzle clearing can be
the nozzle
transistors
applications



achieved by over-powering



the heater and boiling ink



at the nozzle.


Rapid
The actuator is fired in
Does not require
Effectiveness depends
May be used


succession of
rapid succession. In some
extra drive circuits
substantially upon the
with:


actuator
configurations, this may
on the print head
configuration of the inkjet
IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ11


pulses
cause heat build-up at the
Can be readily
nozzle
IJ14, IJ16,



nozzle which boils the ink,
controlled and

IJ20, IJ22



clearing the nozzle. In
initiated by digital

IJ23-IJ25, IJ27-IJ34



other situations, it may
logic

IJ36-IJ45



cause sufficient vibrations



to dislodge clogged



nozzles.


Extra power
Where an actuator is not
A simple solution
Not suitable where there is a
May be used


to ink
normally driven to the
where applicable
hard limit to actuator
with:


pushing
limit of its motion, nozzle

movement
IJ03, IJ09,


actuator
clearing may be assisted by


IJ16, IJ20



providing an enhanced drive


IJ23, IJ24,



signal to the actuator.


IJ25, IJ27






IJ29, IJ30,






IJ31, IJ32






IJ39, IJ40,






IJ41, IJ42






IJ43, IJ44, IJ45


Acoustic
An ultrasonic wave is
A high nozzle
High implementation cost if
IJ08, IJ13,


resonance
applied to the ink chamber.
clearing capability
system does not already
IJ15, IJ17



This wave is of an
can be achieved
include an acoustic actuator
IJ18, IJ19, IJ21



appropriate amplitude and
May be implemented at



frequency to cause
very low cost in



sufficient force at the
systems which already



nozzle to clear blockages.
include acoustic



This is easiest to achieve
actuators



if the ultrasonic wave is



at a resonant frequency of



the ink cavity.


Nozzle
A microfabricated plate is
Can clear severely
Accurate mechanical alignment
Silverbrook, EP


clearing
pushed against the nozzles.
clogged nozzles
is required
0771 658 A2 and


plate
The plate has a post for

Moving parts are required
related patent



every nozzle. The array of

There is risk of damage to
applications



posts

the nozzles





Accurate fabrication is





required


Ink pressure
The pressure of the ink is
May be effective
Requires pressure pump or
May be used with


pulse
temporarily increased so
where other methods
other pressure actuator
all IJ series



that ink streams from all
cannot be used
Expensive
ink jets



of the nozzles. This may be

Wasteful of ink



used in conjunction with



actuator energizing.


Print head
A flexible ‘blade’ is wiped
Effective for planar
Difficult to use if print
Many ink jet


wiper
across the print head
print head surfaces
head surface is non-planar or
systems



surface. The blade is
Low cost
very fragile



usually fabricated from a

Requires mechanical parts



flexible polymer, e.g.

Blade can wear out in high



rubber or synthetic

volume print systems



elastomer.


Separate ink
A separate heater is
Can be effective
Fabrication complexity
Can be used with


boiling
provided at the nozzle
where other nozzle

many IJ series


heater
although the normal drop e-
clearing methods

ink jets



ection mechanism does not
cannot be used



require it. The heaters do
Can be implemented at



not require individual
no additional cost in



drive circuits, as many
some inkjet



nozzles can be cleared
configurations



simultaneously, and no



imaging is required.



















NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION











Nozzle plate






construction
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Electroformed
A nozzle plate is
Fabrication
High temperatures and
Hewlett Packard


nickel
separately fabricated from
simplicity
pressures are required to
Thermal Inkjet



electroformed nickel, and

bond nozzle plate



bonded to the print head

Minimum thickness constraints



chip.

Differential thermal





expansion


Laser ablated
Individual nozzle holes are
No masks required
Each hole must be
Canon Bubblejet


or drilled
ablated by an intense UV
Can be quite fast
individually formed
1988 Sercel et


polymer
laser in a nozzle plate,
Some control over
Special equipment required
al., SPIE, Vol.



which is typically a
nozzle profile is
Slow where there are many
998 Excimer Beam



polymer such as polyimide
possible
thousands of nozzles per
Applications,



or polysulphone
Equipment required is
print head
pp. 76-83




relatively low cost
May produce thin burrs at
1993 Watanabe et





exit holes
al., U.S. Pat. No.






5,208,604


Silicon
A separate nozzle plate is
High accuracy is
Two part construction
K. Bean, IEEE


micromachined
micromachined from single
attainable
High cost
Transactions on



crystal silicon, and bonded

Requires precision alignment
Electron



to the print head wafer.

Nozzles may be clogged by
Devices, Vol.





adhesive
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
No expensive
Very small nozzle sizes are
1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No.


capillaries
drawn from glass tubing.
equipment required
difficult to form
3,683,212



This method has been used
Simple to make single
Not suited for mass



for making individual
nozzles
production



nozzles, but is difficult



to use for bulk



manufacturing of print



heads with thousands of



nozzles.


Monolithic,
The nozzle plate is
High accuracy (<1 μm)
Requires sacrificial layer
Silverbrook, EP


surface
deposited as a layer using
Monolithic
under the nozzle plate to
0771 658 A2 and


micromachined
standard VLSI deposition
Low cost
form the nozzle chamber
related patent


using VLSI
techniques. Nozzles are
Existing processes
Surface may be fragile to the
applications


lithographic
etched in the nozzle plate
can be used
touch
IJ01, IJ02,


processes
using VLSI lithography and


IJ04, IJ11



etching.


IJ12, IJ17,






IJ18, IJ20






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
High accuracy (<1 μm)
Requires long etch times
IJ03, IJ05,


etched
buried etch stop in the
Monolithic
Requires a support wafer
IJ06, IJ07


through
wafer. Nozzle chambers are
Low cost

IJ08, IJ09,


substrate
etched in the front of the
No differential

IJ10, IJ13



wafer, and the wafer is
expansion

IJ14, IJ15,



thinned from the back side.


IJ16, IJ19



Nozzles are then etched in


IJ21, IJ23,



the etch stop layer.


IJ25, IJ26


No nozzle
Various methods have been
No nozzles to become
Difficult to control drop
Ricoh 1995


plate
tried to eliminate the
clogged
position accurately
Sekiya et al U.S. Pat. No.



nozzles entirely, to

Crosstalk problems
5,412,413



prevent nozzle clogging.


1993 Hadimioglu



These include thermal


et al EUP



bubble mechanisms and


550,192



acoustic lens mechanisms


1993 Elrod et al






EUP 572,220


Trough
Each drop ejector has a
Reduced manufacturing
Drop firing direction is
IJ35



trough through which a
complexity
sensitive to wicking.



paddle moves. There is no
Monolithic



nozzle plate.


Nozzle slit
The elimination of nozzle
No nozzles to become
Difficult to control drop
1989 Saito et al


instead of
holes and replacement by a
clogged
position accurately
U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,068


individual
slit encompassing many

Crosstalk problems


nozzles
actuator positions reduces



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
Simple construction
Nozzles limited to edge
Canon Bubblejet


(‘edge
surface of the chip, and
No silicon etching
High resolution is difficult
1979 Endo et al


shooter’)
ink drops are ejected from
required
Fast color printing requires
GB patent



the chip edge.
Good heat sinking via
one print head per color
2,007,162




substrate

Xerox heater-in-




Mechanically strong

pit 1990 Hawkins




Ease of chip handing

et al U.S. Pat. No.






4,899,181






Tone-jet


Surface
Ink flow is along the
No bulk silicon
Maximum ink flow is severely
Hewlett-Packard


(‘roof
surface of the chip, and
etching required
restricted
TIJ 1982 Vaught


shooter’)
ink drops are ejected from
Silicon can make an

et al U.S. Pat. No.



the chip surface, normal to
effective heat sink

4,490,728



the plane of the chip.
Mechanical strength

IJ02, IJ11,






IJ12, IJ20






IJ22


Through chip,
Ink flow is through the
High ink flow
Requires bulk silicon etching
Silverbrook, EP


forward
chip, and ink drops are
Suitable for

0771 658 A2 and


(‘up
ejected from the front
pagewidth print

related patent


shooter’)
surface of the chip.
High nozzle packing

applications




density therefore low

IJ04, IJ17,




manufacturing cost

IJ18, IJ24






IJ27-IJ45


Through chip,
Ink flow is through the
High ink flow
Requires wafer thinning
IJ01, IJ03,


reverse
chip, and ink drops are
Suitable for
Requires special handling
IJ05, IJ06


(‘down
ejected from the rear
pagewidth print
during manufacture
IJ07, IJ08,


shooter’)
surface of the chip.
High nozzle packing

IJ09, IJ10




density therefore low

IJ13, IJ14,




manufacturing cost

IJ15, IJ16






IJ19, IJ21,






IJ23, IJ25






IJ26


Through
Ink flow is through the
Suitable for
Pagewidth print heads require
Epson Stylus


actuator
actuator, which is not
piezoelectric print
several thousand connections
Tektronix hot



fabricated as part of the
heads
to drive circuits
melt



same substrate as the drive

Cannot be manufactured in
piezoelectric



transistors.

standard CMOS fabs
ink jets





Complex assembly required



















INK TYPE











Ink type
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Aqueous, dye
Water based ink which
Environmentally
Slow drying
Most existing



typically contains: water,
friendly
Corrosive
inkjets



dye, surfactant, humectant,
No odor
Bleeds on paper
All IJ series



and biocide.

May strikethrough
ink jets



Modern ink dyes have high

Cockles paper
Silverbrook, EP



water-fastness, light


0771 658 A2 and



fastness


related patent






applications


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


pigment
typically contains: water,
friendly
Corrosive
IJ21, IJ26



pigment, surfactant,
No odor
Pigment may clog nozzles
IJ27, IJ30



humectant, and biocide.
Reduced bleed
Pigment may clog actuator
Silverbrook, EP



Pigments have an advantage
Reduced wicking
mechanisms
0771 658 A2 and



in reduced bleed, wicking
Reduced strikethrough
Cockles paper
related patent



and strikethrough.


applications






Piezoelectric






ink-jets






Thermal ink jets






(with






significant






restrictions)


Methyl Ethyl
MEK is a highly volatile
Very fast drying
Odorous
All IJ series


Ketone (MEK)
solvent used for industrial
Prints on various
Flammable
ink jets



printing on difficult
substrates such as



surfaces such as aluminum
metals and plastics



cans.


Alcohol
Alcohol based inks can be
Fast drying
Slight odor
All IJ series


(ethanol, 2-
used where the printer must
Operates at sub-
Flammable
ink jets


butanol, and
operate at temperatures
freezing temperatures


others)
below the freezing point of
Reduced paper cockle



water. An example of this
Low cost



is in-camera consumer



photographic printing.


Phase change
The ink is solid at room
No drying time-ink
High viscosity
Tektronix hot


(hot melt)
temperature, and is melted
instantly freezes on
Printed ink typically has a
melt



in the print head before
the print medium
‘waxy’ feel
piezoelectric



jetting. Hot melt inks are
Almost any print
Printed pages may ‘block’
ink jets



usually wax based, with a
medium can be used
Ink temperature may be above
1989 Nowak U.S. Pat. No.



melting point around 80° C.
No paper cockle
the curie point of permanent
4,820,346



After jetting the ink
occurs
magnets
All IJ series



freezes almost instantly
No wicking occurs
Ink heaters consume power
ink jets



upon contacting the print
No bleed occurs
Long warm-up time



medium or a transfer
No strikethrough



roller.
occurs


Oil
Oil based inks are
High solubility
High viscosity: this is a
All IJ series



extensively used in offset
medium for some dyes
significant limitation for
ink jets



printing. They have
Does not cockle paper
use in inkjets, which usually



advantages in improved
Does not wick through
require a low viscosity. Some



characteristics on paper
paper
short chain and multi-



(especially no wicking or

branched oils have a



cockle). Oil soluble dies

sufficiently low viscosity.



and pigments are required.

Slow drying


Microemulsion
A microemulsion is a
Stops ink bleed
Viscosity higher than water
All IJ series



stable, self forming
High dye solubility
Cost is slightly higher than
ink jets



emulsion of oil, water, and
Water, oil, and
water based ink



surfactant. The
amphiphilic soluble
High surfactant concentration



characteristic drop size is
dies can be used
required (around 5%)



less than 100 nm, and is
Can stabilize pigment



determined by the preferred
suspensions



curvature of the



surfactant.









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.
















US Patent/


Australian


Patent


Provi-


Application


sional
Filing

and


Number
Date
Title
Filing Date







PO8066
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,227,652




Apparatus (IJ01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8072
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,213,588




Apparatus (IJ02)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8040
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,213,589




Apparatus (IJ03)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8071
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,231,163




Apparatus (IJ04)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8047
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,247,795




Apparatus (IJ05)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8035
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,394,581




Apparatus (IJ06)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8044
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,244,691




Apparatus (IJ07)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8063
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,257,704




Apparatus (IJ08)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8057
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,416,168




Apparatus (IJ09)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8056
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,220,694




Apparatus (IJ10)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8069
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,257,705




Apparatus (IJ11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8049
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,247,794




Apparatus (IJ12)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8036
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,234,610




Apparatus (IJ13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8048
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,247,793




Apparatus (IJ14)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8070
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,264,306




Apparatus (IJ15)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8067
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,241,342




Apparatus (IJ16)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8001
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,247,792




Apparatus (IJ17)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8038
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,264,307




Apparatus (IJ18)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8033
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,254,220




Apparatus (IJ19)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8002
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,234,611




Apparatus (IJ20)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8068
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,302,528




Apparatus (IJ21)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8062
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,283,582




Apparatus (IJ22)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8034
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,239,821




Apparatus (IJ23)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8039
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,338,547




Apparatus (IJ24)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8041
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,247,796




Apparatus (IJ25)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8004
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
09/113,122




Apparatus (IJ26)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8037
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,390,603




Apparatus (IJ27)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8043
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,362,843




Apparatus (IJ28)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8042
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,293,653




Apparatus (IJ29)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8064
15-Jul-97
Image Creation Method and
6,312,107




Apparatus (IJ30)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9389
23-Sep-97
Image Creation Method and
6,227,653




Apparatus (IJ31)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9391
23-Sep-97
Image Creation Method and
6,234,609




Apparatus (IJ32)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0888
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
6,238,040




Apparatus (IJ33)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0891
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
6,188,415




Apparatus (IJ34)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0890
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
6,227,654




Apparatus (IJ35)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0873
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
6,209,989




Apparatus (IJ36)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0993
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
6,247,791




Apparatus (IJ37)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0890
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
6,336,710




Apparatus (IJ38)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP1398
19-Jan-98
An Image Creation Method and
6,217,153




Apparatus (IJ39)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP2592
25-Mar-98
An Image Creation Method and
6,416,167




Apparatus (IJ40)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP2593
25-Mar-98
Image Creation Method and
6,243,113




Apparatus (IJ41)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3991
9-Jun-98
Image Creation Method and
6,283,581




Apparatus (IJ42)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3987
9-Jun-98
Image Creation Method and
6,247,790




Apparatus (IJ43)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3985
9-Jun-98
Image Creation Method and
6,260,953




Apparatus (IJ44)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3983
9-Jun-98
Image Creation Method and
6,267,469




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.













Australian


US Patent/Patent


Provisional


Application and


Number
Filing Date
Title
Filing Date







PO7935
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,224,780



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7936
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,235,212



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM02)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7937
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,280,643



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM03)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8061
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,284,147



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM04)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8054
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,214,244



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM05)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8065
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,071,750



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM06)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8055
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,267,905



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM07)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8053
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,251,298



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM08)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8078
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,258,285



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM09)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7933
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,225,138



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM10)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7950
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,241,904



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7949
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,299,786



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM12)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8060
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
09/113,124



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8059
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,231,773



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM14)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8073
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,190,931



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM15)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8076
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,248,249



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM16)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8075
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,290,862



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM17)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8079
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,241,906



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM18)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8050
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
09/113,116



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM19)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8052
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,241,905



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM20)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7948
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,451,216



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM21)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7951
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,231,772



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM22)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8074
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,274,056



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM23)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7941
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,290,861



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM24)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8077
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,248,248



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM25)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8058
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,306,671



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM26)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8051
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,331,258



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM27)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8045
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,110,754



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM28)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7952
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,294,101



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM29)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8046
15-Jul-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,416,679



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM30)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8503
11-Aug-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,264,849



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM30a)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9390
23-Sep-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,254,793



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM31)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9392
23-Sep-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,235,211



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM32)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0889
12-Dec-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,235,211



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM35)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0887
12-Dec-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,264,850



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM36)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0882
12-Dec-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,258,284



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM37)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0874
12-Dec-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,258,284



97
Creation Apparatus (IJM38)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP1396
19-Jan-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,228,668



98
Creation Apparatus (IJM39)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP2591
25-Mar-
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,180,427



98
Creation Apparatus (IJM41)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3989
9-Jun-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,171,875




Creation Apparatus (IJM40)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3990
9-Jun-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,267,904




Creation Apparatus (IJM42)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3986
9-Jun-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,245,247




Creation Apparatus (IJM43)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3984
9-Jun-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,245,247




Creation Apparatus (IJM44)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP3982
9-Jun-98
A Method of Manufacture of an Image
6,231,148




Creation Apparatus (IJM45)
(Jul. 10, 1998)









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 U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Australian


US Patent/Patent


Provisional
Filing

Application and Filing


Number
Date
Title
Date







PO8003
15-Jul-97
Supply Method and
6,350,023




Apparatus (F1)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8005
15-Jul-97
Supply Method and
6,318,849




Apparatus (F2)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9404
23-Sep-97
A Device and
09/113,101




Method (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


US Patent/Patent


Provisional
Filing

Application and Filing


Number
Date
Title
Date







PO7943
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS01)



PO8006
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS02)
6,087,638





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8007
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS03)
09/113,093





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8008
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS04)
6,340,222





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8010
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS05)
6,041,600





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8011
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS06)
6,299,300





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7947
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS07)
6,067,797





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7945
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS08)
09/113,081





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7944
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS09)
6,286,935





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7946
15-Jul-97
A device (MEMS10)
6,044,646





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9393
23-Sep-97
A Device and Method
09/113,065




(MEMS11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0875
12-Dec-97
A Device (MEMS12)
09/113,078





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0894
12-Dec-97
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 US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Australian


US Patent/Patent


Provisional


Application and Filing


Number
Filing Date
Title
Date







PP0895
12-Dec-97
An Image Creation Method and
6,231,148




Apparatus (IR01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0870
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR02)
09/113,106





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0869
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR04)
6,293,658





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0887
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
09/113,104




Apparatus (IR05)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0885
12-Dec-97
An Image Production System
6,238,033




(IR06)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0884
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
6,312,070




Apparatus (IR10)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0886
12-Dec-97
Image Creation Method and
6,238,111




Apparatus (IR12)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0871
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR13)
09/113,086





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0876
12-Dec-97
An Image Processing Method
09/113,094




and Apparatus (IR14)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0877
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR16)
6,378,970





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0878
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR17)
6,196,739





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0879
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR18)
09/112,774





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0883
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR19)
6,270,182





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0880
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR20)
6,152,619





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0881
12-Dec-97
A Device and Method (IR21)
09/113,092





(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.
















US


Australian


Patent/Patent


Provisional
Filing

Application


Number
Date
Title
and Filing Date







PP2370
16-Mar-98
Data Processing Method and
09/112,781




Apparatus (Dot01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP2371
16-Mar-98
Data Processing Method and
09/113,052




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.
















US


Australian


Patent/Patent


Provisional
Filing

Application


Number
Date
Title
and Filing Date







PO7991
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/113,060




Apparatus (ART01)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7988
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
6,476,863




Apparatus (ART02)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7993
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/113,073




Apparatus (ART03)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9395
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,322,181




Apparatus (ART04)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8017
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,747




Apparatus (ART06)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8014
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART07)
6,227,648





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8025
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,750




Apparatus (ART08)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8032
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,746




Apparatus (ART09)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7999
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,743




Apparatus (ART10)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7998
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,742




Apparatus (ART11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8031
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,741




Apparatus (ART12)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8030
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART13)
6,196,541





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7997
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART15)
6,195,150





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7979
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART16)
6,362,868





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8015
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART17)
09/112,738





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7978
15-Jul-97
Media Device (ART18)
09/113,067





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7982
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
6,431,669




Apparatus (ART19)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7989
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
6,362,869




Apparatus (ART20)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8019
15-Jul-97
Media Processing Method and
6,472,052




Apparatus (ART21)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7980
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
6,356,715




Apparatus (ART22)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8018
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,777




Apparatus (ART24)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7938
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/113,224




Apparatus (ART25)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8016
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
6,366,693




Apparatus (ART26)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8024
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
6,329,990




Apparatus (ART27)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7940
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,072




Apparatus (ART28)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7939
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/112,785




Apparatus (ART29)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8501
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
6,137,500




Apparatus (ART30)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8500
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,796




Apparatus (ART31)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7987
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,071




Apparatus (ART32)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8022
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
6,398,328




Apparatus (ART33)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8497
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
09/113,090




Apparatus (ART34)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8020
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
6,431,704




Apparatus (ART38)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8023
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,222




Apparatus (ART39)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8504
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,786




Apparatus (ART42)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8000
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
6,415,054




Apparatus (ART43)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7977
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/112,782




Apparatus (ART44)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7934
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,056




Apparatus (ART45)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7990
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,059




Apparatus (ART46)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8499
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
6,486,886




Apparatus (ART47)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8502
11-Aug-97
Image Processing Method and
6,381,361




Apparatus (ART48)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7981
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
6,317,192




Apparatus (ART50)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7986
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,057




Apparatus (ART51)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7983
15-Jul-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,054




Apparatus (ART52)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8026
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,752




Apparatus (ART53)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8027
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,759




Apparatus (ART54)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8028
15-Jul-97
Image Processing Method and
09/112,757




Apparatus (ART56)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9394
23-Sep-97
Image Processing Method and
6,357,135




Apparatus (ART57)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9396
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
09/113,107




Apparatus (ART58)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9397
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,271,931




Apparatus (ART59)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9398
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,353,772




Apparatus (ART60)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9399
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,106,147




Apparatus (ART61)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9400
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
09/112,790




Apparatus (ART62)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9401
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,304,291




Apparatus (ART63)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9402
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
09/112,788




Apparatus (ART64)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9403
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,305,770




Apparatus (ART65)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9405
23-Sep-97
Data Processing Method and
6,289,262




Apparatus (ART66)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0959
16-Dec-97
A Data Processing Method
6,315,200




and Apparatus (ART68)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP1397
19-Jan-98
A Media Device (ART69)
6,217,165





(Jul. 10, 1998)

## Claims

1. A method for processing an image previously captured by a camera and stored in a memory of the camera, the method comprising the steps of:
sensing the position of an eye in the captured image;
generating eye position information; and
processing said captured image using the eye position information, wherein the step of processing involves detecting a face within the capture image, and applying a morph to the detected face to modify the captured image.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of processing involves the step of detecting a face within the image.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of processing involves any one of modifying or transforming the captured image using the sensed eye position.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of processing involves applying focussing effects to a region of the captured image.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of processing involves applying artistic rendering of the captured image.

6. A processed image which has been processed in accordance with the method of claim 1.