# Patent

## Title
Image data manipulation system

## Abstract

A system to manipulate image data includes an apparatus having a processor that is responsive to an encoded card reader. The system further includes a number of image effect cards that bear instructions for reading by the card reader. The instructions cause the processor to apply various effects to image data stored in a memory of the apparatus. A further card is provided that contains instructions for the processor to combine effects encoded on the image effect cards in order that multiplicative image effects can be applied to the image data. An operator of the system is able to control the effects that are applied to the image data by varying the order in which cards are applied to the apparatus.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/666,495 filed Sep. 22, 2003, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,324,142.
The following Australian provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference. For the purposes of location and identification, US patents/patent applications identified by their US patent/patent application serial numbers are listed alongside the Australian applications from which the US patents/patent applications claim the right of priority.














CROSS-
U.S. PAT. NO./PATENT



REFERENCED
APPLICATION NO.



AUSTRALIAN
(CLAIMING RIGHT



PROVISIONAL
OF PRIORITY



PATENT
FROM AUSTRALIAN



APPLICATION NO.
PROVISIONAL APPLICATION)









PO7991
6,750,901



PO8505
6,476,863



PO7988
6,788,336



PO9395
6,322,181



PO8017
6,597,817



PO8014
6,227,648



PO8025
6,727,948



PO8032
6,690,419



PO7999
6,727,951



PO8030
6,196,541



PO7997
6,195,150



PO7979
6,362,868



PO7978
6,831,681



PO7982
6,431,669



PO7989
6,362,869



PO8019
6,472,052



PO7980
6,356,715



PO8018
6,894,694



PO7938
6,636,216



PO8016
6,366,693



PO8024
6,329,990



PO7939
6,459,495



PO8501
6,137,500



PO8500
6,690,416



PO7987
7,050,143



PO8022
6,398,328



PO8497
7,110,024



PO8020
6,431,704



PO8504
6,879,341



PO8000
6,415,054



PO7934
6,665,454



PO7990
6,542,645



PO8499
6,486,886



PO8502
6,381,361



PO7981
6,317,192



PO7986
6,850,274



PO7983
09/113,054



PO8026
6,646,757



PO8028
6,624,848



PO9394
6,357,135



PO9397
6,271,931



PO9398
6,353,772



PO9399
6,106,147



PO9400
6,665,008



PO9401
6,304,291



PO9403
6,305,770



PO9405
6,289,262



PP0959
6,315,200



PP1397
6,217,165



PP2370
6,786,420



PO8003
6,350,023



PO8005
6,318,849



PO8066
6,227,652



PO8072
6,213,588



PO8040
6,213,589



PO8071
6,231,163



PO8047
6,247,795



PO8035
6,394,581



PO8044
6,244,691



PO8063
6,257,704



PO8057
6,416,168



PO8056
6,220,694



PO8069
6,257,705



PO8049
6,247,794



PO8036
6,234,610



PO8048
6,247,793



PO8070
6,264,306



PO8067
6,241,342



PO8001
6,247,792



PO8038
6,264,307



PO8033
6,254,220



PO8002
6,234,611



PO8068
6,302,528



PO8062
6,283,582



PO8034
6,239,821



PO8039
6,338,547



PO8041
6,247,796



PO8004
6,557,977



PO8037
6,390,603



PO8043
6,362,843



PO8042
6,293,653



PO8064
6,312,107



PO9389
6,227,653



PO9391
6,234,609



PP0888
6,238,040



PP0891
6,188,415



PP0890
6,227,654



PP0873
6,209,989



PP0993
6,247,791



PP0890
6,336,710



PP1398
6,217,153



PP2592
6,416,167



PP2593
6,243,113



PP3991
6,283,581



PP3987
6,247,790



PP3985
6,260,953



PP3983
6,267,469



PO7935
6,224,780



PO7936
6,235,212



PO7937
6,280,643



PO8061
6,284,147



PO8054
6,214,244



PO8065
6,071,750



PO8055
6,267,905



PO8053
6,251,298



PO8078
6,258,285



PO7933
6,225,138



PO7950
6,241,904



PO7949
6,299,786



PO8060
6,866,789



PO8059
6,231,773



PO8073
6,190,931



PO8076
6,248,249



PO8075
6,290,862



PO8079
6,241,906



PO8050
6,565,762



PO8052
6,241,905



PO7948
6,451,216



PO7951
6,231,772



PO8074
6,274,056



PO7941
6,290,861



PO8077
6,248,248



PO8058
6,306,671



PO8051
6,331,258



PO8045
6,110,754



PO7952
6,294,101



PO8046
6,416,679



PO9390
6,264,849



PO9392
6,254,793



PP0889
6,235,211



PP0887
6,491,833



PP0882
6,264,850



PP0874
6,258,284



PP1396
6,312,615



PP3989
6,228,668



PP2591
6,180,427



PP3990
6,171,875



PP3986
6,267,904



PP3984
6,245,247



PP3982
6,315,914



PP0895
6,231,148



PP0869
6,293,658



PP0887
6,614,560



PP0885
6,238,033



PP0884
6,312,070



PP0886
6,238,111



PP0877
6,378,970



PP0878
6,196,739



PP0883
6,270,182



PP0880
6,152,619



PO8006
6,087,638



PO8007
6,340,222



PO8010
6,041,600



PO8011
6,299,300



PO7947
6,067,797



PO7944
6,286,935



PO7946
6,044,646



PP0894
6,382,769












STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the operation of a digital camera device for the production of useful effects. In particular, the present invention relates to the utilisation of special cards, hereinafter called “Meta-Artcards” which are adapted to be inserted into a camera device so as to produce new and unusual effects. In particular, there is provided an Artcard for the Control of the operation of a camera device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In Australian provisional patent specification PO7991 entitled “Image Processing Method and Apparatus (Art 01)” filed 15 Jul. 1997 and Australian provisional patent specification PO8505 entitled “Image Processing Method and Apparatus (Art 01a)” filed 11 Aug. 1997, filed by the present applicant in addition to a number of associated applications filed simultaneously therewith, there is disclosed a camera system able to print out images on demand through the utilisation of an internal print head and print roll having a print media film in addition to an internal ink supply for utilisation by said camera system.
The aforementioned specifications further disclose the utilisation of a series of cards, hereinafter known as “Artcards” which are adapted to be inserted into the camera device so as to produce significant visual effects to any images captured utilising the camera device. The effects are further designed to be printed out on demand utilising the integral internal print head of the camera device.
It would be advantageous to have a system which allowed for the effective servicing and diagnosis of faults which may occur in the aforementioned camera systems. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide an alternative form for control of the camera which utilises the forgoing Artcard technologies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a series of meta cards which are adapted to uniquely control the operation of a camera device system such as that disclosed in the aforementioned patent specifications.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera system comprising an image sensor for sensing an image; storage means for storing the sensed image and associated system structures; data input means for the insertion of an image modification data module for modification of the sensed image; processor means interconnected to the image sensor, the storage means and the data input means for the control of the camera system in addition to the manipulation of the sensed image; printer means for printing out the sensed image on demand on print media supplied to the printer means; and a method of providing a camera control data module adapted to cause the processor means to modify the manner in which the digital camera system operates upon the insertion of further image modification data modules.
Preferably, the image modification data module comprises a card having the data encoded on the surface thereof and the data encoding is in the form of printing and the data input means includes an optical scanner for scanning a surface of the card. The modification of operation can include applying each image modification in turn of a series of inserted image modification modules to the same image in a cumulative manner.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic of the operation of an Artcam system;
FIG. 2 illustrates a first example modified operation of a Artcam system;
FIG. 3 illustrates a repetition card which modifies the operation of that Artcam device;
FIG. 4 illustrates a Artcard test card for modification of the operation of an Artcam device; and
FIG. 5 illustrates the output test results of an Artcam device.



DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiment is preferably implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PO7991 entitled “Image Processing Method and Apparatus (Art 01)” filed 15 Jul. 1997 with a large number of associated applications in addition to Australian Provisional patent Application No. PO 8505 entitled “Image Processing Method and Apparatus (Art 01a)” filed 11 Aug. 1997, again with a number of associated applications.
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.
The basics of the aforementioned Artcam arrangement are indicated in schematic form 1 in FIG. 1. The arrangement includes a CCD sensor 2 for sensing an image or scene. Additionally, an Artcard reader sensor 3 is provided for sensing the reading of an Artcard 8 upon which is encoded image manipulation algorithms for manipulation for the sensed image. Both the CCD sensor 2 and Artcard reader 3 are interconnected to an Artcard central processing unit (ACP) 4 which provides complex computational power for manipulation of the sensed image. Additionally, a memory unit 5 is provided for the storage of images, sensed data, programs etc. Interconnected to the ACP 4 is a print head 6 for the printing out of final photos 7 on print media supplied from an internal print roll.
In the preferred embodiments, a unique series of Artcards 8 are provided for insertion into Artcard reader 3 for the unique modified control of the Artcam central processor 4. A first example is as illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 and provides for the utilisation of multiple Artcards so as to provide overlapping or multiplicative image effects. A suitable replicative Artcard is as illustrated 10 in FIG. 3 which contains on one surface thereof instructions on how to operate the camera device so as to cause the effects to be combined. The Artcard 10 contains, on the second surface thereof, instructions for the operation of the Artcam device so as to cause the combining effect. Turning to FIG. 2, there is illustrated an example of the operation of the repetition card so as to produce combined effects. The Artcam system will have a sensed or stored image 12 of a particular scene. The first step is to insert a repetition card 13 which contains a code to modify the operation of the Artcam system so as to enter a repetition mode. Next, a first Artcard 14 is inserted in the Artcard reader which results in a first effect 15 being applied to the image in accordance with the instructions on the Artcard 14. Next, the repetition card is again inserted 16 followed by a second Artcard 17 which, produces a second effect 18 which can, for example, be the placement of a text message on the image 18. Next, the repetition card is again inserted 19 before a third Artcard 20 is inserted so as to provide a further effect in the image 21. The process of FIG. 2 can be iteratively continued in accordance with requirements so as to produce a desired output image. In this way, the apparatus of the aforementioned patent specification can be utilised with an increased flexibility for the production of combined effects from single effect Artcards. Further, the user interface provided is simple and effective for the production of combined effects. Of course, many modifications can be provided. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the repetition card may only be inserted once and then a series of Artcards is inserted subsequent to the repetition card being inserted with the system resilient after printout.
Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an alternative Artcard 30 which is provided for internal testing of the Artcam system. Each Artcam system can be provided with a number of internal test routines which are stored in the internal ROM of the Artcam system. The test can be accessed by specialised function calls in the interpretive language provided within the Artcam central processor. The routines can be Artcam device specific and can, for example, include:
the printing out of test patterns to determine the operational state of the print head;
the printing out of test patterns which result in the operational manipulation of the print head (for example, printing all black) so as to clean nozzles and to set up nozzle arrangements which result in improved operation of the print head;
test patterns can be printed for later analysis so as to show the effectiveness of the operation of the print head;
Turning to FIG. 5, there is illustrated an example test output 35 which can include various informative internal data 36 in addition to the printing out of test patterns 37. The test patterns 37 can later be examined by means of automated or manual methods to determine any problems which may exist with the camera system. The preferred embodiment can be implemented through the utilisation of hard wired software routines programmed in the Artcam device and stored in ROM memory.
Of course, many refinements can be envisaged in that the routines can be updated and changed from model to model and the number of tests is virtually unlimited. In this way, the operation of the camera device can be modified in accordance with the inserted card.
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 embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.
Ink Jet Technologies
The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.
The most significant problem with thermal ink jet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal ink jet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.
The most significant problem with piezoelectric ink jet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewidth print heads with 19,200 nozzles.
Ideally, the ink jet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digital photography, new ink jet technologies have been created. The target features include:
low power (less than 10 Watts)
high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)
photographic quality output
low manufacturing cost
small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)
high speed (<2 seconds per page).
All of these features can be met or exceeded by the ink jet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. Forty-five different ink jet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in the list under the heading Cross References to Related Applications.
The ink jet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems
For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print head is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the ink jet type. The smallest print head designed is covered in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/112,764, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.
Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. The print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding.
Tables of Drop-On-Demand Ink Jets
The present invention is useful in the field of digital printing, in particular, ink jet printing. A number of patent applications in this field were filed simultaneously and incorporated by cross reference.
Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual ink jet nozzles have been identified. These characteristics are largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an eleven dimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix include entries developed by the present assignee.
The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of ink jet types.
Actuator mechanism (18 types)
Basic operation mode (7 types)
Auxiliary mechanism (8 types)
Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types)
Actuator motion (19 types)
Nozzle refill method (4 types)
Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types)
Nozzle clearing method (9 types)
Nozzle plate construction (9 types)
Drop ejection direction (5 types)
Ink type (7 types)
The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains 36.9 billion possible configurations of ink jet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable ink jet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain ink jet types have been investigated in detail. Forty-five such inkjet types were filed simultaneously to the present application.
Other ink jet configurations can readily be derived from these forty-five examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the forty-five examples can be made into ink jet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available ink jet technology.
Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more of these examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below. The simultaneously filed patent applications by the present applicant are listed by U.S. Ser. Nos. In some cases, a print technology may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.
Suitable applications for the ink jet technologies include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrial printing systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.
The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables.










ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS)












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Thermal
An electrothermal
Large force
High power
Canon Bubblejet 1979


bubble
heater heats the ink
generated
Ink carrier limited
Endo et al GB patent



to above boiling
Simple
to water
2,007,162



point, transferring
construction
Low efficiency
Xerox heater-in-pit



significant heat to
No moving
High temperatures
1990 Hawkins et al



the aqueous ink. A
parts
required
U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181



bubble nucleates
Fast operation
High mechanical
Hewlett-Packard TIJ



and quickly forms,
Small chip area
stress
1982 Vaught et al U.S. Pat. No. 



expelling the ink.
required for
Unusual materials
4,490,728



The efficiency of the
actuator
required



process is low, with

Large drive



typically less than

transistors



0.05% of the

Cavitation causes



electrical energy

actuator failure



being transformed

Kogation reduces



into kinetic energy

bubble formation



of the drop.

Large print heads





are difficult to





fabricate


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



crystal such as lead
consumption
required for
3,946,398



lanthanum zirconate
Many ink types
actuator
Zoltan U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212



(PZT) is electrically
can be used
Difficult to
1973 Stemme U.S. Pat. No. 



activated, and either
Fast operation
integrate with
3,747,120



expands, shears, or
High efficiency
electronics
Epson Stylus



bends to apply

High voltage drive
Tektronix



pressure to the ink,

transistors
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,803



ejecting drops.

required





Full pagewidth





print heads





impractical due to





actuator size





Requires electrical





poling in high





field strengths





during





manufacture


Electrostrictive
An electric field is
Low power
Low maximum
Seiko Epson, Usui et all



used to activate
consumption
strain (approx.
JP 253401/96



electrostriction in
Many ink types
0.01%)
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,803



relaxor materials
can be used
Large area



such as lead
Low thermal
required for



lanthanum zirconate
expansion
actuator due to



titanate (PLZT) or
Electric field
low strain



lead magnesium
strength
Response speed is



niobate (PMN).
required
marginal (~10 μs)




(approx. 3.5 V/μm)
High voltage drive




can be
transistors




generated
required




without
Full pagewidth




difficulty
print heads




Does not
impractical due to




require
actuator size




electrical poling


Ferroelectric
An electric field is
Low power
Difficult to
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,803



used to induce a
consumption
integrate with



phase transition
Many ink types
electronics



between the
can be used
Unusual materials



antiferroelectric
Fast operation
such as PLZSnT



(AFE) and
(<1 μs)
are required



ferroelectric (FE)
Relatively high
Actuators require



phase. Perovskite
longitudinal
a large area



materials such as tin
strain



modified lead
High efficiency



lanthanum zirconate
Electric field



titanate (PLZSnT)
strength of



exhibit large strains
around 3 V/μm



of up to 1%
can be readily



associated with the
provided



AFE to FE phase



transition.


Electrostatic
Conductive plates
Low power
Difficult to
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,787;


plates
are separated by a
consumption
operate
09/112,803



compressible or
Many ink types
electrostatic



fluid dielectric
can be used
devices in an



(usually air). Upon
Fast operation
aqueous



application of a

environment



voltage, the plates

The electrostatic



attract each other

actuator will



and displace ink,

normally need to



causing drop

be separated from



ejection. The

the ink



conductive plates

Very large area



may be in a comb or

required to



honeycomb

achieve high



structure, or stacked

forces



to increase the

High voltage drive



surface area and

transistors may be



therefore the force.

required





Full pagewidth





print heads are not





competitive due to





actuator size


Electrostatic
A strong electric
Low current
High voltage
1989 Saito et al, U.S. Pat. No. 


pull
field is applied to
consumption
required
4,799,068


on ink
the ink, whereupon
Low
May be damaged
1989 Miura et al, U.S. Pat. No. 



electrostatic
temperature
by sparks due to
4,810,954



attraction

air breakdown
Tone-jet



accelerates the ink

Required field



towards the print

strength increases



medium.

as the drop size





decreases





High voltage drive





transistors





required





Electrostatic field





attracts dust


Permanent
An electromagnet
Low power
Complex
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,084;


magnet
directly attracts a
consumption
fabrication
09/112,779


electromagnetic
permanent magnet,
Many ink types
Permanent



displacing ink and
can be used
magnetic material



causing drop
Fast operation
such as



ejection. Rare earth
High efficiency
Neodymium Iron



magnets with a field
Easy extension
Boron (NdFeB)



strength around 1
from single
required.



Tesla can be used.
nozzles to
High local



Examples are:
pagewidth print
currents required



Samarium Cobalt
heads
Copper



(SaCo) and

metalization



magnetic materials

should be used for



in the neodymium

long



iron boron family

electromigration



(NdFeB,

lifetime and low



NdDyFeBNb,

resistivity



NdDyFeB, etc)

Pigmented inks





are usually





infeasible





Operating





temperature





limited to the





Curie temperature





(around 540 K)


Soft
A solenoid induced
Low power
Complex
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;


magnetic
a magnetic field in a
consumption
fabrication
09/113,097; 09/113,066;


core
soft magnetic core
Many ink types
Materials not
09/112,779; 09/113,061;


electromagnetic
or yoke fabricated
can be used
usually present in
09/112,816; 09/112,772;



from a ferrous
Fast operation
a CMOS fab such
09/112,815



material such as
High efficiency
as NiFe, CoNiFe,



electroplated iron
Easy extension
or CoFe are



alloys such as
from single
required



CoNiFe [1], CoFe,
nozzles to
High local



or NiFe alloys.
pagewidth print
currents required



Typically, the soft
heads
Copper



magnetic material is

metalization



in two parts, which

should be used for



are normally held

long



apart by a spring.

electromigration



When the solenoid

lifetime and low



is actuated, the two

resistivity



parts attract,

Electroplating is



displacing the ink.

required





High saturation





flux density is





required (2.0-2.1 T





is achievable with





CoNiFe [1])


Lorenz
The Lorenz force
Low power
Force acts as a
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,099;


force
acting on a current
consumption
twisting motion
09/113,077; 09/112,818;



carrying wire in a
Many ink types
Typically, only a
09/112,819



magnetic field is
can be used
quarter of the



utilized.
Fast operation
solenoid length



This allows the
High efficiency
provides force in a



magnetic field to be
Easy extension
useful direction



supplied externally
from single
High local



to the print head, for
nozzles to
currents required



example with rare
pagewidth print
Copper



earth permanent
heads
metalization



magnets.

should be used for



Only the current

long



carrying wire need

electromigration



be fabricated on the

lifetime and low



print-head,

resistivity



simplifying

Pigmented inks



materials

are usually



requirements.

infeasible


Magnetostriction
The actuator uses
Many ink types
Force acts as a
Fischenbeck, U.S. Pat. No. 



the giant
can be used
twisting motion
4,032,929



magnetostrictive
Fast operation
Unusual materials
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,121



effect of materials
Easy extension
such as Terfenol-



such as Terfenol-D
from single
D are required



(an alloy of terbium,
nozzles to
High local



dysprosium and iron
pagewidth print
currents required



developed at the
heads
Copper



Naval Ordnance
High force is
metalization



Laboratory, hence
available
should be used for



Ter-Fe-NOL). For

long



best efficiency, the

electromigration



actuator should be

lifetime and low



pre-stressed to

resistivity



approx. 8 MPa.

Pre-stressing may





be required


Surface
Ink under positive
Low power
Requires
Silverbrook, EP 0771


tension
pressure is held in a
consumption
supplementary
658 A2 and related


reduction
nozzle by surface
Simple
force to effect
patent applications



tension. The surface
construction
drop separation



tension of the ink is
No unusual
Requires special



reduced below the
materials
ink surfactants



bubble threshold,
required in
Speed may be



causing the ink to
fabrication
limited by



egress from the
High efficiency
surfactant



nozzle.
Easy extension
properties




from single




nozzles to




pagewidth print




heads


Viscosity
The ink viscosity is
Simple
Requires
Silverbrook, EP 0771


reduction
locally reduced to
construction
supplementary
658 A2 and related



select which drops
No unusual
force to effect
patent applications



are to be ejected. A
materials
drop separation



viscosity reduction
required in
Requires special



can be achieved
fabrication
ink viscosity



electrothermally
Easy extension
properties



with most inks, but
from single
High speed is



special inks can be
nozzles to
difficult to achieve



engineered for a
pagewidth print
Requires



100:1 viscosity
heads
oscillating ink



reduction.

pressure





A high





temperature





difference





(typically 80





degrees) is





required


Acoustic
An acoustic wave is
Can operate
Complex drive
1993 Hadimioglu et al,



generated and
without a nozzle
circuitry
EUP 550,192



focussed upon the
plate
Complex
1993 Elrod et al, EUP



drop ejection region.

fabrication
572,220





Low efficiency





Poor control of





drop position





Poor control of





drop volume


Thermo-
An actuator which
Low power
Efficient aqueous
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,802;


elastic
relies upon
consumption
operation requires
09/112,778; 09/112,815;


bend
differential thermal
Many ink types
a thermal insulator
09/113,096; 09/113,068;


actuator
expansion upon
can be used
on the hot side
09/113,095; 09/112,808;



Joule heating is
Simple planar
Corrosion
09/112,809; 09/112,780;



used.
fabrication
prevention can be
09/113,083; 09/112,793;




Small chip area
difficult
09/112,794; 09/113,128;




required for
Pigmented inks
09/113,127; 09/112,756;




each actuator
may be infeasible,
09/112,755; 09/112,754;




Fast operation
as pigment
09/112,811; 09/112,812;




High efficiency
particles may jam
09/112,813; 09/112,814;




CMOS
the bend actuator
09/112,764; 09/112,765;




compatible

09/112,767; 09/112,768




voltages and




currents




Standard




MEMS




processes can




be used




Easy extension




from single




nozzles to




pagewidth print




heads


High CTE
A material with a
High force can
Requires special
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,778;


thermo-
very high coefficient
be generated
material (e.g.
09/112,815; 09/113,096;


elastic
of thermal
Three methods
PTFE)
09/113,095; 09/112,808;


actuator
expansion (CTE)
of PTFE
Requires a PTFE
09/112,809; 09/112,780;



such as
deposition are
deposition
09/113,083; 09/112,793;



polytetrafluoroethyl
under
process, which is
09/112,794; 09/113,128;



ene (PTFE) is used.
development:
not yet standard in
09/113,127; 09/112,756;



As high CTE
chemical vapor
ULSI fabs
09/112,807; 09/112,806;



materials are usually
deposition
PTFE deposition
09/112,820



non-conductive, a
(CVD), spin
cannot be



heater fabricated
coating, and
followed with



from a conductive
evaporation
high temperature



material is
PTFE is a
(above 350° C.)



incorporated. A 50 μm
candidate for
processing



long PTFE bend
low dielectric
Pigmented inks



actuator with
constant
may be infeasible,



polysilicon heater
insulation in
as pigment



and 15 mW power
ULSI
particles may jam



input can provide
Very low power
the bend actuator



180 μN force and 10 μm
consumption



deflection.
Many ink types



Actuator motions
can be used



include:
Simple planar



Bend
fabrication



Push
Small chip area



Buckle
required for



Rotate
each actuator




Fast operation




High efficiency




CMOS




compatible




voltages and




currents




Easy extension




from single




nozzles to




pagewidth print




heads


Conductive
A polymer with a
High force can
Requires special
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,083


polymer
high coefficient of
be generated
materials


thermo-
thermal expansion
Very low power
development


elastic
(such as PTFE) is
consumption
(High CTE


actuator
doped with
Many ink types
conductive



conducting
can be used
polymer)



substances to
Simple planar
Requires a PTFE



increase its
fabrication
deposition



conductivity to
Small chip area
process, which is



about 3 orders of
required for
not yet standard in



magnitude below
each actuator
ULSI fabs



that of copper. The
Fast operation
PTFE deposition



conducting polymer
High efficiency
cannot be



expands when
CMOS
followed with



resistively heated.
compatible
high temperature



Examples of
voltages and
(above 350° C.)



conducting dopants
currents
processing



include:
Easy extension
Evaporation and



Carbon nanotubes
from single
CVD deposition



Metal fibers
nozzles to
techniques cannot



Conductive
pagewidth print
be used



polymers such as
heads
Pigmented inks



doped

may be infeasible,



polythiophene

as pigment



Carbon granules

particles may jam





the bend actuator


Shape
A shape memory
High force is
Fatigue limits
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,122


memory
alloy such as TiNi
available
maximum number


alloy
(also known as
(stresses of
of cycles



Nitinol - Nickel
hundreds of
Low strain (1%) is



Titanium alloy
MPa)
required to extend



developed at the
Large strain is
fatigue resistance



Naval Ordnance
available (more
Cycle rate limited



Laboratory) is
than 3%)
by heat removal



thermally switched
High corrosion
Requires unusual



between its weak
resistance
materials (TiNi)



martensitic state and
Simple
The latent heat of



its high stiffness
construction
transformation



austenic state. The
Easy extension
must be provided



shape of the actuator
from single
High current



in its martensitic
nozzles to
operation



state is deformed
pagewidth print
Requires pre-



relative to the
heads
stressing to distort



austenic shape. The
Low voltage
the martensitic



shape change causes
operation
state



ejection of a drop.


Linear
Linear magnetic
Linear Magnetic
Requires unusual
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,061


Magnetic
actuators include the
actuators can be
semiconductor


Actuator
Linear Induction
constructed with
materials such as



Actuator (LIA),
high thrust, long
soft magnetic



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



Magnet
efficiency using
CoNiFe)



Synchronous
planar
Some varieties



Actuator (LPMSA),
semiconductor
also require



Linear Reluctance
fabrication
permanent



Synchronous
techniques
magnetic



Actuator (LRSA),
Long actuator
materials such as



Linear Switched
travel is
Neodymium iron



Reluctance Actuator
available
boron (NdFeB)



(LSRA), and the
Medium force is
Requires complex



Linear Stepper
available
multi-phase drive



Actuator (LSA).
Low voltage
circuitry




operation
High current





operation



















BASIC OPERATION MODE












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Actuator
This is the simplest
Simple
Drop repetition
Thermal ink jet


directly
mode of operation:
operation
rate is usually
Piezoelectric ink jet


pushes ink
the actuator directly
No external
limited to around
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;



supplies sufficient
fields required
10 kHz.
09/112,787; 09/112,802;



kinetic energy to
Satellite drops
However, this is
09/112,803; 09/113,097;



expel the drop. The
can be avoided
not fundamental
09/113,099; 09/113,084;



drop must have a
if drop velocity
to the method,
09/112,778; 09/113,077;



sufficient velocity to
is less than 4 m/s
but is related to
09/113,061; 09/112,816;



overcome the
Can be efficient,
the refill method
09/112,819; 09/113,095;



surface tension.
depending upon
normally used
09/112,809; 09/112,780;




the actuator
All of the drop
09/113,083; 09/113,121;




used
kinetic energy
09/113,122; 09/112,793;





must be provided
09/112,794; 09/113,128;





by the actuator
09/113,127; 09/112,756;





Satellite drops
09/112,755; 09/112,754;





usually form if
09/112,811; 09/112,812;





drop velocity is
09/112,813; 09/112,814;





greater than 4.5 m/s
09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820


Proximity
The drops to be
Very simple
Requires close
Silverbrook, EP 0771



printed are selected
print head
proximity
658 A2 and related



by some manner
fabrication can
between the print
patent applications



(e.g. thermally
be used
head and the



induced surface
The drop
print media or



tension reduction of
selection means
transfer roller



pressurized ink).
does not need to
May require two



Selected drops are
provide the
print heads



separated from the
energy required
printing alternate



ink in the nozzle by
to separate the
rows of the



contact with the
drop from the
image



print medium or a
nozzle
Monolithic color



transfer roller.

print heads are





difficult


Electrostatic
The drops to be
Very simple
Requires very
Silverbrook, EP 0771


pull
printed are selected
print head
high electrostatic
658 A2 and related


on ink
by some manner
fabrication can
field
patent applications



(e.g. thermally
be used
Electrostatic field
Tone-Jet



induced surface
The drop
for small nozzle



tension reduction of
selection means
sizes is above air



pressurized ink).
does not need to
breakdown



Selected drops are
provide the
Electrostatic field



separated from the
energy required
may attract dust



ink in the nozzle by
to separate the



a strong electric
drop from the



field.
nozzle


Magnetic
The drops to be
Very simple
Requires
Silverbrook, EP 0771


pull on ink
printed are selected
print head
magnetic ink
658 A2 and related



by some manner
fabrication can
Ink colors other
patent applications



(e.g. thermally
be used
than black are



induced surface
The drop
difficult



tension reduction of
selection means
Requires very



pressurized ink).
does not need to
high magnetic



Selected drops are
provide the
fields



separated from the
energy required



ink in the nozzle by
to separate the



a strong magnetic
drop from the



field acting on the
nozzle



magnetic ink.


Shutter
The actuator moves
High speed
Moving parts are
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,818;



a shutter to block
(>50 kHz)
required
09/112,815; 09/112,808



ink flow to the
operation can be
Requires ink



nozzle. The ink
achieved due to
pressure



pressure is pulsed at
reduced refill
modulator



a multiple of the
time
Friction and wear



drop ejection
Drop timing can
must be



frequency.
be very accurate
considered




The actuator
Stiction is




energy can be
possible




very low


Shuttered
The actuator moves
Actuators with
Moving parts are
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,066;


grill
a shutter to block
small travel can
required
09/112,772; 09/113,096;



ink flow through a
be used
Requires ink
09/113,068



grill to the nozzle.
Actuators with
pressure



The shutter
small force can
modulator



movement need
be used
Friction and wear



only be equal to the
High speed
must be



width of the grill
(>50 kHz)
considered



holes.
operation can be
Stiction is




achieved
possible


Pulsed
A pulsed magnetic
Extremely low
Requires an
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,779


magnetic
field attracts an ‘ink
energy
external pulsed


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


pusher
ejection frequency.
possible
Requires special



An actuator controls
No heat
materials for both



a catch, which
dissipation
the actuator and



prevents the ink
problems
the ink pusher



pusher from moving

Complex



when a drop is not

construction



to be ejected.



















AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES)












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





None
The actuator directly
Simplicity of
Drop ejection
Most ink jets, including



fires the ink drop,
construction
energy must be
piezoelectric and thermal



and there is no
Simplicity of
supplied by
bubble.



external field or
operation
individual nozzle
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;



other mechanism
Small physical
actuator
09/112,787; 09/112,802;



required.
size

09/112,803; 09/113,097;






09/113,084; 09/113,078;






09/113,077; 09/113,061;






09/112,816; 09/113,095;






09/112,809; 09/112,780;






09/113,083; 09/113,121;






09/113,122; 09/112,793;






09/112,794; 09/113,128;






09/113,127; 09/112,756;






09/112,755; 09/112,754;






09/112,811; 09/112,812;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820


Oscillating
The ink pressure
Oscillating ink
Requires external
Silverbrook, EP 0771


ink
oscillates, providing
pressure can
ink pressure
658 A2 and related


pressure
much of the drop
provide a refill
oscillator
patent applications


(including
ejection energy. The
pulse, allowing
Ink pressure
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,066;


acoustic
actuator selects
higher operating
phase and
09/112,818; 09/112,772;


stimulation)
which drops are to
speed
amplitude must
09/112,815; 09/113,096;



be fired by
The actuators
be carefully
09/113,068; 09/112,808



selectively blocking
may operate
controlled



or enabling nozzles.
with much
Acoustic



The ink pressure
lower energy
reflections in the



oscillation may be
Acoustic lenses
ink chamber



achieved by
can be used to
must be designed



vibrating the print
focus the sound
for



head, or preferably
on the nozzles



by an actuator in the



ink supply.


Media
The print head is
Low power
Precision
Silverbrook, EP 0771


proximity
placed in close
High accuracy
assembly
658 A2 and related



proximity to the
Simple print
required
patent applications



print medium.
head
Paper fibers may



Selected drops
construction
cause problems



protrude from the

Cannot print on



print head further

rough substrates



than unselected



drops, and contact



the print medium.



The drop soaks into



the medium fast



enough to cause



drop separation.


Transfer
Drops are printed to
High accuracy
Bulky
Silverbrook, EP 0771


roller
a transfer roller
Wide range of
Expensive
658 A2 and related



instead of straight to
print substrates
Complex
patent applications



the print medium. A
can be used
construction
Tektronix hot melt



transfer roller can
Ink can be dried

piezoelectric ink jet



also be used for
on the transfer

Any of U.S. Ser. No.



proximity drop
roller

09/112,751; 09/112,787;



separation.


09/112,802; 09/112,803;






09/113,097; 09/113,099;






09/113,084; 09/113,066;






09/112,778; 09/112,779;






09/113,077; 09/113,061;






09/112,818; 09/112,816;






09/112,772; 09/112,819;






09/112,815; 09/113,096;






09/113,068; 09/113,095;






09/112,808; 09/112,809;






09/112,780; 09/113,083;






09/113,121; 09/113,122;






09/112,793; 09/112,794;






09/113,128; 09/113,127;






09/112,756; 09/112,755;






09/112,754; 09/112,811;






09/112,812; 09/112,813;






09/112,814; 09/112,764;






09/112,765; 09/112,767;






09/112,768; 09/112,807;






09/112,806; 09/112,820;






09/112,821


Electrostatic
An electric field is
Low power
Field strength
Silverbrook, EP 0771



used to accelerate
Simple print
required for
658 A2 and related



selected drops
head
separation of
patent applications



towards the print
construction
small drops is
Tone-Jet



medium.

near or above air





breakdown


Direct
A magnetic field is
Low power
Requires
Silverbrook, EP 0771


magnetic
used to accelerate
Simple print
magnetic ink
658 A2 and related


field
selected drops of
head
Requires strong
patent applications



magnetic ink
construction
magnetic field



towards the print



medium.


Cross
The print head is
Does not
Requires external
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,099;


magnetic
placed in a constant
require
magnet
09/112,819


field
magnetic field. The
magnetic
Current densities



Lorenz force in a
materials to be
may be high,



current carrying
integrated in the
resulting in



wire is used to move
print head
electromigration



the actuator.
manufacturing
problems




process


Pulsed
A pulsed magnetic
Very low power
Complex print
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,779


magnetic
field is used to
operation is
head construction


field
cyclically attract a
possible
Magnetic



paddle, which
Small print head
materials



pushes on the ink. A
size
required in print



small actuator

head



moves a catch,



which selectively



prevents the paddle



from moving.



















ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





None
No actuator
Operational
Many actuator
Thermal Bubble Ink jet



mechanical
simplicity
mechanisms
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;



amplification is

have
09/112,787; 09/113,099;



used. The actuator

insufficient
09/113,084; 09/112,819;



directly drives the

travel, or
09/113,121; 09/113,122



drop ejection

insufficient



process.

force, to





efficiently drive





the drop





ejection process


Differential
An actuator material
Provides greater
High stresses
Piezoelectric


expansion
expands more on
travel in a
are involved
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,802;


bend
one side than on the
reduced print
Care must be
09/112,778; 09/112,815;


actuator
other. The
head area
taken that the
09/113,096; 09/113,068;



expansion may be

materials do not
09/113,095; 09/112,808;



thermal,

delaminate
09/112,809; 09/112,780;



piezoelectric,

Residual bend
09/113,083; 09/112,793;



magnetostrictive, or

resulting from
09/113,128; 09/113,127;



other mechanism.

high
09/112,756; 09/112,755;



The bend actuator

temperature or
09/112,754; 09/112,811;



converts a high

high stress
09/112,812; 09/112,813;



force low travel

during
09/112,814; 09/112,764;



actuator mechanism

formation
09/112,765; 09/112,767;



to high travel, lower


09/112,768; 09/112,807;



force mechanism.


09/112,806; 09/112,820


Transient
A trilayer bend
Very good
High stresses
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,767;


bend
actuator where the
temperature
are involved
09/112,768


actuator
two outside layers
stability
Care must be



are identical. This
High speed, as a
taken that the



cancels bend due to
new drop can be
materials do not



ambient temperature
fired before heat
delaminate



and residual stress.
dissipates



The actuator only
Cancels residual



responds to transient
stress of



heating of one side
formation



or the other.


Reverse
The actuator loads a
Better coupling
Fabrication
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,097;


spring
spring. When the
to the ink
complexity
09/113,077



actuator is turned

High stress in



off, the spring

the spring



releases. This can



reverse the



force/distance curve



of the actuator to



make it compatible



with the force/time



requirements of the



drop ejection.


Actuator
A series of thin
Increased travel
Increased
Some piezoelectric ink


stack
actuators are
Reduced drive
fabrication
jets



stacked. This can be
voltage
complexity
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,803



appropriate where

Increased



actuators require

possibility of



high electric field

short circuits



strength, such as

due to pinholes



electrostatic and



piezoelectric



actuators.


Multiple
Multiple smaller
Increases the
Actuator forces
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,061;


actuators
actuators are used
force available
may not add
09/112,818; 09/113,096;



simultaneously to
from an actuator
linearly,
09/113,095; 09/112,809;



move the ink. Each
Multiple
reducing
09/112,794; 09/112,807;



actuator need
actuators can be
efficiency
09/112,806



provide only a
positioned to



portion of the force
control ink flow



required.
accurately


Linear
A linear spring is
Matches low
Requires print
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,772


Spring
used to transform a
travel actuator
head area for



motion with small
with higher
the spring



travel and high force
travel



into a longer travel,
requirements



lower force motion.
Non-contact




method of




motion




transformation


Coiled
A bend actuator is
Increases travel
Generally
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,815;


actuator
coiled to provide
Reduces chip
restricted to
09/112,808; 09/112,811;



greater travel in a
area
planar
09/112,812



reduced chip area.
Planar
implementations




implementations
due to extreme




are relatively
fabrication




easy to
difficulty in




fabricate.
other





orientations.


Flexure
A bend actuator has
Simple means
Care must be
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,779;


bend
a small region near
of increasing
taken not to
09/113,068; 09/112,754


actuator
the fixture point,
travel of a bend
exceed the



which flexes much
actuator
elastic limit in



more readily than

the flexure area



the remainder of the

Stress



actuator. The

distribution is



actuator flexing is

very uneven



effectively

Difficult to



converted from an

accurately



even coiling to an

model with



angular bend,

finite element



resulting in greater

analysis



travel of the actuator



tip.


Catch
The actuator
Very low
Complex
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,779



controls a small
actuator energy
construction



catch. The catch
Very small
Requires



either enables or
actuator size
external force



disables movement

Unsuitable for



of an ink pusher that

pigmented inks



is controlled in a



bulk manner.


Gears
Gears can be used to
Low force, low
Moving parts
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,818



increase travel at the
travel actuators
are required



expense of duration.
can be used
Several actuator



Circular gears, rack
Can be
cycles are



and pinion, ratchets,
fabricated using
required



and other gearing
standard surface
More complex



methods can be
MEMS
drive electronics



used.
processes
Complex





construction





Friction,





friction, and





wear are





possible


Buckle
A buckle plate can
Very fast
Must stay
S. Hirata et al, “An Ink-jet


plate
be used to change a
movement
within elastic
Head Using Diaphragm



slow actuator into a
achievable
limits of the
Microactuator”, Proc.



fast motion. It can

materials for
IEEE MEMS, Feb. 1996,



also convert a high

long device life
pp 418-423.



force, low travel

High stresses
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,096;



actuator into a high

involved
09/112,793



travel, medium force

Generally high



motion.

power





requirement


Tapered
A tapered magnetic
Linearizes the
Complex
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,816


magnetic
pole can increase
magnetic
construction


pole
travel at the expense
force/distance



of force.
curve


Lever
A lever and fulcrum
Matches low
High stress
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,755;



is used to transform
travel actuator
around the
09/112,813; 09/112,814



a motion with small
with higher
fulcrum



travel and high force
travel



into a motion with
requirements



longer travel and
Fulcrum area



lower force. The
has no linear



lever can also
movement, and



reverse the direction
can be used for



of travel.
a fluid seal


Rotary
The actuator is
High
Complex
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,794


impeller
connected to a
mechanical
construction



rotary impeller. A
advantage
Unsuitable for



small angular
The ratio of
pigmented inks



deflection of the
force to travel



actuator results in a
of the actuator



rotation of the
can be matched



impeller vanes,
to the nozzle



which push the ink
requirements by



against stationary
varying the



vanes and out of the
number of



nozzle.
impeller vanes


Acoustic
A refractive or
No moving
Large area
1993 Hadimioglu et al,


lens
diffractive (e.g. zone
parts
required
EUP 550,192



plate) acoustic lens

Only relevant
1993 Elrod et al, EUP



is used to

for acoustic ink
572,220



concentrate sound

jets



waves.


Sharp
A sharp point is
Simple
Difficult to
Tone-jet


conductive
used to concentrate
construction
fabricate using


point
an electrostatic field.

standard VLSI





processes for a





surface ejecting





ink-jet





Only relevant





for electrostatic





ink jets



















ACTUATOR MOTION












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Volume
The volume of the
Simple
High energy is
Hewlett-Packard Thermal


expansion
actuator changes,
construction in
typically
Ink jet



pushing the ink in
the case of
required to
Canon Bubblejet



all directions.
thermal ink jet
achieve volume





expansion. This





leads to thermal





stress,





cavitation, and





kogation in





thermal ink jet





implementations


Linear,
The actuator moves
Efficient
High fabrication
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;


normal to
in a direction normal
coupling to ink
complexity may
09/112,787; 09/112,803;


chip
to the print head
drops ejected
be required to
09/113,084; 09/113,077;


surface
surface. The nozzle
normal to the
achieve
09/112,816



is typically in the
surface
perpendicular



line of movement.

motion


Parallel to
The actuator moves
Suitable for
Fabrication
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,061;


chip
parallel to the print
planar
complexity
09/112,818; 09/112,772;


surface
head surface. Drop
fabrication
Friction
09/112,754; 09/112,811;



ejection may still be

Stiction
09/112,812; 09/112,813



normal to the



surface.


Membrane
An actuator with a
The effective
Fabrication
1982 Howkins U.S.


push
high force but small
area of the
complexity
Pat. No. 4,459,601



area is used to push
actuator
Actuator size



a stiff membrane
becomes the
Difficulty of



that is in contact
membrane area
integration in a



with the ink.

VLSI process


Rotary
The actuator causes
Rotary levers
Device
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,097;



the rotation of some
may be used to
complexity
09/113,066; 09/112,818;



element, such a grill
increase travel
May have
09/112,794



or impeller
Small chip area
friction at a




requirements
pivot point


Bend
The actuator bends
A very small
Requires the
1970 Kyser et al U.S.



when energized.
change in
actuator to be
Pat. No. 3,946,398



This may be due to
dimensions can
made from at
1973 Stemme U.S.



differential thermal
be converted to
least two
Pat. No. 3,747,120



expansion,
a large motion.
distinct layers,
09/112,802; 09/112,778;



piezoelectric

or to have a
09/112,779; 09/113,068;



expansion,

thermal
09/112,780; 09/113,083;



magnetostriction, or

difference
09/113,121; 09/113,128;



other form of

across the
09/113,127; 09/112,756;



relative dimensional

actuator
09/112,754; 09/112,811;



change.


09/112,812


Swivel
The actuator swivels
Allows
Inefficient
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,099



around a central
operation where
coupling to the



pivot. This motion is
the net linear
ink motion



suitable where there
force on the



are opposite forces
paddle is zero



applied to opposite
Small chip area



sides of the paddle,
requirements



e.g. Lorenz force.


Straighten
The actuator is
Can be used
Requires careful
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,122;



normally bent, and
with shape
balance of
09/112,755



straightens when
memory alloys
stresses to



energized.
where the
ensure that the




austenic phase
quiescent bend




is planar
is accurate


Double
The actuator bends
One actuator
Difficult to
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,813;


bend
in one direction
can be used to
make the drops
09/112,814; 09/112,764



when one element is
power two
ejected by both



energized, and
nozzles.
bend directions



bends the other way
Reduced chip
identical.



when another
size.
A small



element is
Not sensitive to
efficiency loss



energized.
ambient
compared to




temperature
equivalent





single bend





actuators.


Shear
Energizing the
Can increase the
Not readily
1985 Fishbeck U.S.



actuator causes a
effective travel
applicable to
Pat. No. 4,584,590



shear motion in the
of piezoelectric
other actuator



actuator material.
actuators
mechanisms


Radial
The actuator
Relatively easy
High force
1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No. 


constriction
squeezes an ink
to fabricate
required
3,683,212



reservoir, forcing
single nozzles
Inefficient



ink from a
from glass
Difficult to



constricted nozzle.
tubing as
integrate with




macroscopic
VLSI processes




structures


Coil/
A coiled actuator
Easy to
Difficult to
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,815;


uncoil
uncoils or coils
fabricate as a
fabricate for
09/112,808; 09/112,811;



more tightly. The
planar VLSI
non-planar
09/112,812



motion of the free
process
devices



end of the actuator
Small area
Poor out-of-



ejects the ink.
required,
plane stiffness




therefore low




cost


Bow
The actuator bows
Can increase the
Maximum
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,819;



(or buckles) in the
speed of travel
travel is
09/113,096; 09/112,793



middle when
Mechanically
constrained



energized.
rigid
High force





required


Push-Pull
Two actuators
The structure is
Not readily
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,096



control a shutter.
pinned at both
suitable for ink



One actuator pulls
ends, so has a
jets which



the shutter, and the
high out-of-
directly push



other pushes it.
plane rigidity
the ink


Curl
A set of actuators
Good fluid flow
Design
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,095;


inwards
curl inwards to
to the region
complexity
09/112,807



reduce the volume
behind the



of ink that they
actuator



enclose.
increases




efficiency


Curl
A set of actuators
Relatively
Relatively large
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,806


outwards
curl outwards,
simple
chip area



pressurizing ink in a
construction



chamber



surrounding the



actuators, and



expelling ink from a



nozzle in the



chamber.


Iris
Multiple vanes
High efficiency
High fabrication
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,809



enclose a volume of
Small chip area
complexity



ink. These

Not suitable for



simultaneously

pigmented inks



rotate, reducing the



volume between the



vanes.


Acoustic
The actuator
The actuator
Large area
1993 Hadimioglu et al,


vibration
vibrates at a high
can be
required for
EUP 550,192



frequency.
physically
efficient
1993 Elrod et al, EUP




distant from the
operation at
572,220




ink
useful





frequencies





Acoustic





coupling and





crosstalk





Complex drive





circuitry





Poor control of





drop volume





and position


None
In various ink jet
No moving
Various other
Silverbrook, EP 0771 658



designs the actuator
parts
tradeoffs are
A2 and related patent



does not move.

required to
applications





eliminate
Tone-jet





moving parts



















NOZZLE REFILL METHOD












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples















Surface
This is the normal
Fabrication
Low speed
Thermal ink jet


tension
way that ink jets are
simplicity
Surface tension
Piezoelectric ink jet



refilled. After the
Operational
force relatively
U.S. Ser. No.-09/112,751;



actuator is energized,
simplicity
small
09/113,084; 09/112,779;



it typically returns

compared to
09/112,816; 09/112,819;



rapidly to its normal

actuator force
09/113,095; 09/112,809;



position. This rapid

Long refill
09/112,780; 09/113,083;



return sucks in air

time usually
09/113,121; 09/113,122;



through the nozzle

dominates the
09/112,793; 09/112,794;



opening. The ink

total repetition
09/113,128; 09/113,127;



surface tension at the

rate
09/112,756; 09/112,755;



nozzle then exerts a


09/112,754; 09/112,811;



small force restoring


09/112,812; 09/112,813;



the meniscus to a


09/112,814; 09/112,764;



minimum area. This


09/112,765; 09/112,767;



force refills the


09/112,768; 09/112,807;



nozzle.


09/112,806; 09/112,820;






09/112,821


Shuttered
Ink to the nozzle
High speed
Requires
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,066;


oscillating
chamber is provided
Low actuator
common ink
09/112,818; 09/112,772;


ink
at a pressure that
energy, as the
pressure
09/112,815; 09/113,096;


pressure
oscillates at twice the
actuator need
oscillator
09/113,068; 09/112,808



drop ejection
only open or
May not be



frequency. When a
close the
suitable for



drop is to be ejected,
shutter, instead
pigmented inks



the shutter is opened
of ejecting the



for 3 half cycles:
ink drop



drop ejection,



actuator return, and



refill. The shutter is



then closed to prevent



the nozzle chamber



emptying during the



next negative



pressure cycle.


Refill
After the main
High speed, as
Requires two
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,778


actuator
actuator has ejected a
the nozzle is
independent



drop a second (refill)
actively
actuators per



actuator is energized.
refilled
nozzle



The refill actuator



pushes ink into the



nozzle chamber. The



refill actuator returns



slowly, to prevent its



return from emptying



the chamber again.


Positive
The ink is held a
High refill rate,
Surface spill
Silverbrook, EP 0771 658


ink
slight positive
therefore a
must be
A2 and related patent


pressure
pressure. After the
high drop
prevented
applications



ink drop is ejected,
repetition rate
Highly
Alternative for: U.S. Ser. No.



the nozzle chamber
is possible
hydrophobic
09/112,751; 09/112,787;



fills quickly as

print head
09/112,802; 09/112,803;



surface tension and

surfaces are
09/113,097; 09/113,099;



ink pressure both

required
09/113,084; 09/112,779;



operate to refill the


09/113,077; 09/113,061;



nozzle.


09/112,818; 09/112,816;






09/112,819; 09/113,095;






09/112,809; 09/112,780;






09/113,083; 09/113,121;






09/113,122; 09/112,793;






09/112,794; 09/113,128,






09/113,127; 09/112,756;






09/112,755; 09/112,754;






09/112,811; 09/112,812;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820; 09/112,821



















METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples















Long inlet
The ink inlet
Design
Restricts refill
Thermal ink jet


channel
channel to the
simplicity
rate
Piezoelectric ink jet



nozzle chamber is
Operational
May result in a
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,807;



made long and
simplicity
relatively large
09/112,806



relatively narrow,
Reduces
chip area



relying on viscous
crosstalk
Only partially



drag to reduce inlet

effective



back-flow.


Positive
The ink is under a
Drop selection
Requires a
Silverbrook, EP 0771 658


ink
positive pressure, so
and separation
method (such
A2 and related patent


pressure
that in the quiescent
forces can be
as a nozzle rim
applications



state some of the ink
reduced
or effective
Possible operation of the



drop already
Fast refill time
hydrophobizing,
following:



protrudes from the

or both) to
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;



nozzle.

prevent
09/112,787; 09/112,802;



This reduces the

flooding of the
09/112,803; 09/113,097;



pressure in the

ejection
09/113,099; 09/113,084;



nozzle chamber

surface of the
09/112,778; 09/112,779;



which is required to

print head.
09/113,077; 09/113,061;



eject a certain


09/112,816; 09/112,819;



volume of ink. The


09/113,095; 09/112,809;



reduction in


09/112,780; 09/113,083;



chamber pressure


09/113,121; 09/113,122;



results in a reduction


09/112,793; 09/112,794;



in ink pushed out


09/113,128; 09/113,127;



through the inlet.


09/112,756; 09/112,755;






09/112,754; 09/112,811;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;


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



are placed in the
not as restricted
complexity
Tektronix piezoelectric ink



inlet ink flow. When
as the long inlet
May increase
jet



the actuator is
method.
fabrication



energized, the rapid
Reduces
complexity



ink movement
crosstalk
(e.g. Tektronix



creates eddies which

hot melt



restrict the flow

Piezoelectric



through the inlet.

print heads).



The slower refill



process is



unrestricted, and



does not result in



eddies.


Flexible
In this method
Significantly
Not applicable
Canon


flap
recently disclosed
reduces back-
to most ink jet


restricts
by Canon, the
flow for edge-
configurations


inlet
expanding actuator
shooter thermal
Increased



(bubble) pushes on a
ink jet devices
fabrication



flexible flap that

complexity



restricts the inlet.

Inelastic





deformation of





polymer flap





results in creep





over extended





use


Inlet filter
A filter is located
Additional
Restricts refill
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,803;



between the ink inlet
advantage of
rate
09/113,061; 09/113,083;



and the nozzle
ink filtration
May result in
09/112,793; 09/113,128;



chamber. The filter
Ink filter may
complex
09/113,127



has a multitude of
be fabricated
construction



small holes or slots,
with no



restricting ink flow.
additional



The filter also
process steps



removes particles



which may block the



nozzle.


Small inlet
The ink inlet
Design
Restricts refill
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,787;


compared
channel to the
simplicity
rate
09/112,814; 09/112,820


to nozzle
nozzle chamber has

May result in a



a substantially

relatively large



smaller cross section

chip area



than that of the

Only partially



nozzle, resulting in

effective



easier ink egress out



of the nozzle than



out of the inlet.


Inlet
A secondary
Increases speed
Requires
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,778


shuffer
actuator controls the
of the ink-jet
separate refill



position of a shutter,
print head
actuator and



closing off the ink
operation
drive circuit



inlet when the main



actuator is



energized.


The inlet is
The method avoids
Back-flow
Requires
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;


located
the problem of inlet
problem is
careful design
09/112,802; 09/113,097;


behind the
back-flow by
eliminated
to minimize
09/113,099; 09/113,084;


ink-
arranging the ink-

the negative
09/112,779; 09/113,077;


pushing
pushing surface of

pressure
09/112,816; 09/112,819;


surface
the actuator between

behind the
09/112,809; 09/112,780;



the inlet and the

paddle
09/113,121; 09/112,794;



nozzle.


09/112,756; 09/112,755;






09/112,754; 09/112,811;






09/112,812; 09/112,813;






09/112,765; 09/112,767;






09/112,768


Part of the
The actuator and a
Significant
Small increase
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,084;


actuator
wall of the ink
reductions in
in fabrication
09/113,095; 09/113,122;


moves to
chamber are
back-flow can
complexity
09/112,764


shut off
arranged so that the
be achieved


the inlet
motion of the
Compact



actuator closes off
designs possible



the inlet.


Nozzle
In some
Ink back-flow
None related to
Silverbrook, EP 0771 658


actuator
configurations of
problem is
ink back-flow
A2 and related patent


does not
ink jet, there is no
eliminated
on actuation
applications


result in
expansion or


Valve-jet


ink back-
movement of an


Tone-jet


flow
actuator which may



cause ink back-flow



through the inlet.



















NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples















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


nozzle
are fired
complexity on
sufficient to
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;


firing
periodically, before
the print head
displace dried
09/112,787; 09/112,802;



the ink has a chance

ink
09/112,803; 09/113,097;



to dry. When not in


09/113,099; 09/113,084;



use the nozzles are


09/112,778; 09/112,779;



sealed (capped)


09/113,077; 09/113,061;



against air.


09/112,816; 09/112,819;



The nozzle firing is


09/113,095; 09/112,809;



usually performed


09/112,780; 09/113,083;



during a special


09/113,121; 09/113,122;



clearing cycle, after


09/112,793; 09/112,794;



first moving the


09/113,128; 09/113,127;



print head to a


09/112,756; 09/112,755;



cleaning station.


09/112,754; 09/112,811;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820; 09/112,821


Extra
In systems which
Can be highly
Requires
Silverbrook, EP 0771 658


power to
heat the ink, but do
effective if the
higher drive
A2 and related patent


ink heater
not boil it under
heater is
voltage for
applications



normal situations,
adjacent to the
clearing



nozzle clearing can
nozzle
May require



be achieved by over-

larger drive



powering the heater

transistors



and boiling ink at



the nozzle.


Rapid
The actuator is fired
Does not
Effectiveness
May be used with: U.S. Ser. No.


succession
in rapid succession.
require extra
depends
09/112,751; 09/112,787;


of
In some
drive circuits on
substantially
09/112,802; 09/112,803;


actuator
configurations, this
the print head
upon the
09/113,097; 09/113,099;


pulses
may cause heat
Can be readily
configuration
09/113,084; 09/112,778;



build-up at the
controlled and
of the ink jet
09/112,779; 09/113,077;



nozzle which boils
initiated by
nozzle
09/112,816; 09/112,819;



the ink, clearing the
digital logic

09/113,095; 09/112,809;



nozzle. In other


09/112,780; 09/113,083;



situations, it may


09/113,121; 09/112,793;



cause sufficient


09/112,794; 09/113,128;



vibrations to


09/113,127; 09/112,756;



dislodge clogged


09/112,755; 09/112,754;



nozzles.


09/112,811; 09/112,813;






09/112,814; 09/112,764;






09/112,765; 09/112,767;






09/112,768; 09/112,807;






09/112,806; 09/112,820;






09/112,821


Extra
Where an actuator is
A simple
Not suitable
May be used with: U.S. Ser. No.


power to
not normally driven
solution where
where there is
09/112,802; 09/112,778;


ink
to the limit of its
applicable
a hard limit to
09/112,819; 09/113,095;


pushing
motion, nozzle

actuator
09/112,780; 09/113,083;


actuator
clearing may be

movement
09/113,121; 09/112,793;



assisted by


09/113,128; 09/113,127;



providing an


09/112,756; 09/112,755;



enhanced drive


09/112,765; 09/112,767;



signal to the


09/112,768; 09/112,807;



actuator.


09/112,806; 09/112,820;






09/112,821


Acoustic
An ultrasonic wave
A high nozzle
High
U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,066;


resonance
is applied to the ink
clearing
implementation
09/112,818; 09/112,772;



chamber. This wave
capability can
cost if
09/112,815; 09/113,096;



is of an appropriate
be achieved
system does
09/113,068; 09/112,808



amplitude and
May be
not already



frequency to cause
implemented at
include an



sufficient force at
very low cost in
acoustic



the nozzle to clear
systems which
actuator



blockages. This is
already include



easiest to achieve if
acoustic



the ultrasonic wave
actuators



is at a resonant



frequency of the ink



cavity.


Nozzle
A microfabricated
Can clear
Accurate
Silverbrook, EP 0771 658


clearing
plate is pushed
severely
mechanical
A2 and related patent


plate
against the nozzles.
clogged nozzles
alignment is
applications



The plate has a post

required



for every nozzle. A

Moving parts



post moves through

are required



each nozzle,

There is risk of



displacing dried ink.

damage to the





nozzles





Accurate





fabrication is





required


Ink
The pressure of the
May be
Requires
May be used with ink jets


pressure
ink is temporarily
effective where
pressure pump
covered by U.S. Ser. No.


pulse
increased so that ink
other methods
or other
09/112,751; 09/112,787;



streams from all of
cannot be used
pressure
09/112,802; 09/112,803;



the nozzles. This

actuator
09/113,097; 09/113,099;



may be used in

Expensive
09/113,084; 09/113,066;



conjunction with

Wasteful of
09/112,778; 09/112,779;



actuator energizing.

ink
09/113,077; 09/113,061;






09/112,818; 09/112,816;






09/112,772; 09/112,819;






09/112,815; 09/113,096;






09/113,068; 09/113,095;






09/112,808; 09/112,809;






09/112,780; 09/113,083;






09/113,121; 09/113,122;






09/112,793; 09/112,794;






09/113,128; 09/113,127;






09/112,756; 09/112,755;






09/112,754; 09/112,811;






09/112,812; 09/112,813;






09/112,814; 09/112,764;






09/112,765; 09/112,767;






09/112,768; 09/112,807;






09/112,806; 09/112,820;






09/112,821


Print head
A flexible ‘blade’ is
Effective for
Difficult to use
Many ink jet systems


wiper
wiped across the
planar print
if print head



print head surface.
head surfaces
surface is non-



The blade is usually
Low cost
planar or very



fabricated from a

fragile



flexible polymer,

Requires



e.g. rubber or

mechanical



synthetic elastomer.

parts





Blade can wear





out in high





volume print





systems


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


ink boiling
provided at the
where other
complexity
jets covered by U.S. Ser. No.


heater
nozzle although the
nozzle clearing

09/112,751; 09/112,787;



normal drop e-
methods cannot

09/112,802; 09/112,803;



ection mechanism
be used

09/113,097; 09/113,099;



does not require it.
Can be

09/113,084; 09/113,066;



The heaters do not
implemented at

09/112,778; 09/112,779;



require individual
no additional

09/113,077; 09/113,061;



drive circuits, as
cost in some ink

09/112,818; 09/112,816;



many nozzles can be
jet

09/112,772; 09/112,819;



cleared
configurations

09/112,815; 09/113,096;



simultaneously, and


09/113,068; 09/113,095;



no imaging is


09/112,808; 09/112,809;



required.


09/112,780; 09/113,083;






09/113,121; 09/113,122;






09/112,793; 09/112,794;






09/113,128; 09/113,127;






09/112,756; 09/112,755;






09/112,754; 09/112,811;






09/112,812; 09/112,813;






09/112,814; 09/112,764;






09/112,765; 09/112,767;






09/112,768; 09/112,807;






09/112,806; 09/112,820;






09/112,821



















NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples















Electroformed
A nozzle plate is
Fabrication
High
Hewlett Packard Thermal


nickel
separately fabricated
simplicity
temperatures
Ink jet



from electroformed

and pressures



nickel, and bonded

are required to



to the print head

bond nozzle



chip.

plate





Minimum





thickness





constraints





Differential





thermal





expansion


Laser
Individual nozzle
No masks
Each hole must
Canon Bubblejet


ablated or
holes are ablated by
required
be individually
1988 Sercel et al., SPIE,


drilled
an intense UV laser
Can be quite
formed
Vol. 998 Excimer Beam


polymer
in a nozzle plate,
fast
Special
Applications, pp. 76-83



which is typically a
Some control
equipment
1993 Watanabe et al.,



polymer such as
over nozzle
required
U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,604



polyimide or
profile is
Slow where



polysulphone
possible
there are many




Equipment
thousands of




required is
nozzles per




relatively low
print head




cost
May produce





thin burrs at





exit holes


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


micromachined
plate is
is attainable
construction
Transactions on Electron



micromachined

High cost
Devices, Vol. ED-25, No.



from single crystal

Requires
10, 1978, pp 1185-1195



silicon, and bonded

precision
Xerox 1990 Hawkins et al.,



to the print head

alignment
U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181



wafer.

Nozzles may





be clogged by





adhesive


Glass
Fine glass
No expensive
Very small
1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No. 


capillaries
capillaries are drawn
equipment
nozzle sizes
3,683,212



from glass tubing.
required
are difficult to



This method has
Simple to make
form



been used for
single nozzles
Not suited for



making individual

mass



nozzles, but is

production



difficult to use for



bulk manufacturing



of print heads with



thousands of



nozzles.


Monolithic,
The nozzle plate is
High accuracy
Requires
Silverbrook, EP 0771 658


surface
deposited as a layer
(<1 μm)
sacrificial layer
A2 and related patent


micromachined
using standard VLSI
Monolithic
under the
applications


using VLSI
deposition
Low cost
nozzle plate to
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;


lithographic
techniques. Nozzles
Existing
form the
09/112,787; 09/112,803;


processes
are etched in the
processes can
nozzle
09/113,077; 09/113,061;



nozzle plate using
be used
chamber
09/112,815; 09/113,096;



VLSI lithography

Surface may
09/113,095; 09/112,809;



and etching.

be fragile to
09/113,083; 09/112,793;





the touch
09/112,794; 09/113,128;






09/113,127; 09/112,756;






09/112,755; 09/112,754;






09/112,811; 09/112,813;






09/112,814; 09/112,764;






09/112,765; 09/112,767;






09/112,768; 09/112,807;






09/112,806; 09/112,820


Monolithic,
The nozzle plate is a
High accuracy
Requires long
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,802;


etched
buried etch stop in
(<1 μm)
etch times
09/113,097; 09/113,099;


through
the wafer. Nozzle
Monolithic
Requires a
09/113,084; 09/113,066;


substrate
chambers are etched
Low cost
support wafer
09/112,778; 09/112,779;



in the front of the
No differential

09/112,818; 09/112,816;



wafer, and the wafer
expansion

09/112,772; 09/112,819;



is thinned from the


09/113,068; 09/112,808;



back side. Nozzles


09/112,780; 09/113,121;



are then etched in


09/113,122



the etch stop layer.


No nozzle
Various methods
No nozzles to
Difficult to
Ricoh 1995 Sekiya et al


plate
have been tried to
become clogged
control drop
U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,413



eliminate the

position
1993 Hadimioglu et al EUP



nozzles entirely, to

accurately
550,192



prevent nozzle

Crosstalk
1993 Elrod et al EUP



clogging. These

problems
572,220



include thermal



bubble mechanisms



and acoustic lens



mechanisms


Trough
Each drop ejector
Reduced
Drop firing
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,812



has a trough through
manufacturing
direction is



which a paddle
complexity
sensitive to



moves. There is no
Monolithic
wicking.



nozzle plate.


Nozzle slit
The elimination of
No nozzles to
Difficult to
1989 Saito et al


instead of
nozzle holes and
become clogged
control drop
U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,068


individual
replacement by a slit

position


nozzles
encompassing many

accurately



actuator positions

Crosstalk



reduces nozzle

problems



clogging, but



increases crosstalk



due to ink surface



waves



















DROP EJECTION DIRECTION












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples















Edge
Ink flow is along the
Simple
Nozzles
Canon Bubblejet 1979


(‘edge
surface of the chip,
construction
limited to edge
Endo et al GB patent


shooter’)
and ink drops are
No silicon
High
2,007,162



ejected from the
etching required
resolution is
Xerox heater-in-pit 1990



chip edge.
Good heat
difficult
Hawkins et al U.S. Pat. No.




sinking via
Fast color
4,899,181




substrate
printing
Tone-jet




Mechanically
requires one




strong
print head per




Ease of chip
color




handing


Surface
Ink flow is along the
No bulk silicon
Maximum ink
Hewlett-Packard TIJ 1982


(‘roof
surface of the chip,
etching required
flow is
Vaught et al U.S. Pat. No.


shooter’)
and ink drops are
Silicon can
severely
4,490,728



ejected from the
make an
restricted
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,787,



chip surface, normal
effective heat

09/113,077; 09/113,061;



to the plane of the
sink

09/113,095; 09/112,809



chip.
Mechanical




strength


Through
Ink flow is through
High ink flow
Requires bulk
Silverbrook, EP 0771 658


chip,
the chip, and ink
Suitable for
silicon etching
A2 and related patent


forward
drops are ejected
pagewidth print

applications


(‘up
from the front
heads

U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,803;


shooter’)
surface of the chip.
High nozzle

09/112,815; 09/113,096;




packing density

09/113,083; 09/112,793;




therefore low

09/112,794; 09/113,128;




manufacturing

09/113,127; 09/112,756;




cost

09/112,755; 09/112,754;






09/112,811; 09/112,812;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820; 09/112,821


Through
Ink flow is through
High ink flow
Requires wafer
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;


chip,
the chip, and ink
Suitable for
thinning
09/112,802; 09/113,097;


reverse
drops are ejected
pagewidth print
Requires
09/113,099; 09/113,084;


(‘down
from the rear surface
heads
special
09/113,066; 09/112,778;


shooter’)
of the chip.
High nozzle
handling
09/112,779; 09/112,818;




packing density
during
09/112,816; 09/112,772;




therefore low
manufacture
09/112,819;




manufacturing

09/113,068; 09/112,808;




cost

09/112,780; 09/113,121;






09/113,122


Through
Ink flow is through
Suitable for
Pagewidth
Epson Stylus


actuator
the actuator, which
piezoelectric
print heads
Tektronix hot melt



is not fabricated as
print heads
require several
piezoelectric ink jets



part of the same

thousand



substrate as the

connections to



drive transistors.

drive circuits





Cannot be





manufactured





in standard





CMOS fabs





Complex





assembly





required



















INK TYPE












Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples















Aqueous,
Water based ink
Environmentally
Slow drying
Most existing ink jets


dye
which typically
friendly
Corrosive
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;



contains: water, dye,
No odor
Bleeds on
09/112,787; 09/112,802;



surfactant,

paper
09/112,803; 09/113,097;



humectant, and

May
09/113,099; 09/113,084;



biocide.

strikethrough
09/113,066; 09/112,778;



Modern ink dyes

Cockles paper
09/112,779; 09/113,077;



have high water-


09/113,061; 09/112,818;



fastness, light


09/112,816; 09/112,772;



fastness


09/112,819; 09/112,815;






09/113,096; 09/113,068;






09/113,095; 09/112,808;






09/112,809; 09/112,780;






09/113,083; 09/113,121;






09/113,122; 09/112,793;






09/112,794; 09/113,128;






09/113,127; 09/112,756;






09/112,755; 09/112,754;






09/112,811; 09/112,812;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820; 09/112,821






Silverbrook, EP 0771 658






A2 and related patent






applications


Aqueous,
Water based ink
Environmentally
Slow drying
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,787;


pigment
which typically
friendly
Corrosive
09/112,803; 09/112,808;



contains: water,
No odor
Pigment may
09/113,122; 09/112,793;



pigment, surfactant,
Reduced bleed
clog nozzles
09/113,127



humectant, and
Reduced
Pigment may
Silverbrook, EP 0771 658



biocide.
wicking
clog actuator
A2 and related patent



Pigments have an
Reduced
mechanisms
applications



advantage in reduced
strikethrough
Cockles paper
Piezoelectric ink-jets



bleed, wicking and


Thermal ink jets (with



strikethrough.


significant restrictions)


Methyl
MEK is a highly
Very fast
Odorous
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;


Ethyl
volatile solvent used
drying
Flammable
09/112,787; 09/112,802;


Ketone
for industrial printing
Prints on

09/112,803; 09/113,097;


(MEK)
on difficult surfaces
various

09/113,099; 09/113,084;



such as aluminum
substrates such

09/113,066; 09/112,778;



cans.
as metals and

09/112,779; 09/113,077;




plastics

09/113,061; 09/112,818;






09/112,816; 09/112,772;






09/112,819; 09/112,815;






09/113,096; 09/113,068;






09/113,095; 09/112,808;






09/112,809; 09/112,780;






09/113,083; 09/113,121;






09/113,122; 09/112,793;






09/112,794; 09/113,128;






09/113,127; 09/112,756;






09/112,755; 09/112,754;






09/112,811; 09/112,812;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820; 09/112,821


Alcohol
Alcohol based inks
Fast drying
Slight odor
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;


(ethanol,
can be used where
Operates at
Flammable
09/112,787; 09/112,802;


2-butanol,
the printer must
sub-freezing

09/112,803; 09/113,097;


and
operate at
temperatures

09/113,099; 09/113,084;


others)
temperatures below
Reduced paper

09/113,066; 09/112,778;



the freezing point of
cockle

09/112,779; 09/113,077;



water. An example of
Low cost

09/113,061; 09/112,818;



this is in-camera


09/112,816; 09/112,772;



consumer


09/112,819; 09/112,815;



photographic


09/113,096; 09/113,068;



printing.


09/113,095; 09/112,808;






09/112,809; 09/112,780;






09/113,083; 09/113,121;






09/113,122; 09/112,793;






09/112,794; 09/113,128;






09/113,127; 09/112,756;






09/112,755; 09/112,754;






09/112,811; 09/112,812;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820; 09/112,821


Phase
The ink is solid at
No drying
High viscosity
Tektronix hot melt


change
room temperature,
time-ink
Printed ink
piezoelectric ink jets


(hot melt)
and is melted in the
instantly
typically has a
1989 Nowak U.S. Pat. No.



print head before
freezes on the
‘waxy’ feel
4,820,346



jetting. Hot melt inks
print medium
Printed pages
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;



are usually wax
Almost any
may ‘block’
09/112,787; 09/112,802;



based, with a melting
print medium
Ink
09/112,803; 09/113,097;



point around 80° C.
can be used
temperature
09/113,099; 09/113,084;



After jetting the ink
No paper
may be above
09/113,066; 09/112,778;



freezes almost
cockle occurs
the curie point
09/112,779; 09/113,077;



instantly upon
No wicking
of permanent
09/113,061; 09/112,818;



contacting the print
occurs
magnets
09/112,816; 09/112,772;



medium or a transfer
No bleed
Ink heaters
09/112,819; 09/112,815;



roller.
occurs
consume
09/113,096; 09/113,068;




No
power
09/113,095; 09/112,808;




strikethrough
Long warm-up
09/112,809; 09/112,780;




occurs
time
09/113,083; 09/113,121;






09/113,122; 09/112,793;






09/112,794; 09/113,128;






09/113,127; 09/112,756;






09/112,755; 09/112,754;






09/112,811; 09/112,812;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820; 09/112,821


Oil
Oil based inks are
High solubility
High viscosity:
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;



extensively used in
medium for
this is a
09/112,787; 09/112,802;



offset printing. They
some dyes
significant
09/112,803; 09/113,097;



have advantages in
Does not
limitation for
09/113,099; 09/113,084;



improved
cockle paper
use in ink jets,
09/113,066; 09/112,778;



characteristics on
Does not wick
which usually
09/112,779; 09/113,077;



paper (especially no
through paper
require a low
09/113,061; 09/112,818;



wicking or cockle).

viscosity.
09/112,816; 09/112,772;



Oil soluble dies and

Some short
09/112,819; 09/112,815;



pigments are

chain and
09/113,096; 09/113,068;



required.

multi-branched
09/113,095; 09/112,808;





oils have a
09/112,809; 09/112,780;





sufficiently
09/113,083; 09/113,121;





low viscosity.
09/113,122; 09/112,793;





Slow drying
09/112,794; 09/113,128;






09/113,127; 09/112,756;






09/112,755; 09/112,754;






09/112,811; 09/112,812;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820; 09/112,821


Microemulsion
A microemulsion is a
Stops ink bleed
Viscosity
U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,751;



stable, self forming
High dye
higher than
09/112,787; 09/112,802;



emulsion of oil,
solubility
water
09/112,803; 09/113,097;



water, and surfactant.
Water, oil, and
Cost is slightly
09/113,099; 09/113,084;



The characteristic
amphiphilic
higher than
09/113,066; 09/112,778;



drop size is less than
soluble dies
water based
09/112,779; 09/113,077;



100 nm, and is
can be used
ink
09/113,061; 09/112,818;



determined by the
Can stabilize
High surfactant
09/112,816; 09/112,772;



preferred curvature of
pigment
concentration
09/112,819; 09/112,815;



the surfactant.
suspensions
required
09/113,096; 09/113,068;





(around 5%)
09/113,095; 09/112,808;






09/112,809; 09/112,780;






09/113,083; 09/113,121;






09/113,122; 09/112,793;






09/112,794; 09/113,128;






09/113,127; 09/112,756;






09/112,755; 09/112,754;






09/112,811; 09/112,812;






09/112,813; 09/112,814;






09/112,764; 09/112,765;






09/112,767; 09/112,768;






09/112,807; 09/112,806;






09/112,820; 09/112,821

## Claims

1. A system to manipulate image data including:
an apparatus comprising a processor responsive to an encoded card reader, and a memory device coupled to the processor including storage for the image data;
a number of image effect cards, each card encoded with machine readable image manipulation instructions; and
a combiner card bearing machine readable instructions instructing the processor to apply to the image data image manipulation instructions of an image effect card previously inserted into the encoded card reader with image manipulation instructions of an image effect card to be later inserted into the encoded card reader, in combination.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the image effect cards further bears indicia indicating the nature of said image manipulation instructions to an operator of the system.

3. A system according to claim 1, further including an imaging device in communication with the processor to capture the image data.

4. A system according to claim 1, further including a printhead under control of the microprocessor.

5. A system to manipulate image data according to claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to apply multiplicative image effects to the image data in response to the insertion of an alternating sequence of an image effect card and the combiner card.

6. A system to manipulate image data according to claim 1, including memory accessible to the processor storing a number of system test routines.

7. A system according to claim 6, further including a card for reading by the encoded card reader bearing instructions for the processor to execute one or more of said system test routines.