# Patent

## Title
Digital camera system having motion deblurring means

## Abstract

A camera system is disclosed having the ability to overcome the effects of motion blur. The camera system includes an image sensor; a velocity detection means such as a MEMS accelerometer for determining any motion of the image relative to an external environment; a processor means interconnected to the image sensor and the velocity detection means and adapted to process the sensed image so as to deblurr the image and to output the deblurred image to a printer means.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The following Australian provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. For the purposes of location and identification, U.S. patent applications identified by their U.S. patent application serial numbers (U.S. Ser. No.) are listed alongside the Australian applications from which the U.S. patent applications claim the right of priority.
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 U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Australian


US Patent/Patent


Provisional


Application


Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date







PO8066
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,227,652




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ01)


PO8072
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,213,588




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ02)


PO8040
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,213,589




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ03)


PO8071
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,231,163




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ04)


PO8047
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,247,795




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ05)


PO8035
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,394,581




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ06)


PO8044
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,244,691




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ07)


PO8063
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,257,704




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ08)


PO8057
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,416,168




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ09)


PO8056
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,220,694




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ10)


PO8069
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,257,705




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ11)


PO8049
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,247,794




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ12)


PO8036
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,234,610




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ13)


PO8048
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,247,793




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ14)


PO8070
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,264,306




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ15)


PO8067
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,241,342




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ16)


PO8001
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,247,792




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ17)


PO8038
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,264,307




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ18)


PO8033
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,254,220




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ19)


PO8002
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,234,611




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ20)


PO8068
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,302,528)




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ21)


PO8062
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,283,582




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ22)


PO8034
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,239,821




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ23)


PO8039
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,338,547




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ24)


PO8041
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,247,796




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ25)


PO8004
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,557,977




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ26)


PO8037
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,390,603




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ27)


PO8043
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,362,843




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ28)


PO8042
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,293,653




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ29)


PO8064
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Creation
6,312,107




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ30)


PO9389
Sep. 23, 1997
Image Creation
6,227,653




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ31)


PO9391
Sep. 23, 1997
Image Creation
6,234,609




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ32)


PP0888
Dec. 12, 1997
Image Creation
6,238,040




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ33)


PP0891
Dec. 12, 1997
Image Creation
6,188,415




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ34)


PP0890
Dec. 12, 1997
Image Creation
6,227,654




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ35)


PP0873
Dec. 12, 1997
Image Creation
6,209,989




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ36)


PP0993
Dec. 12, 1997
Image Creation
6,247,791




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ37)


PP0890
Dec. 12, 1997
Image Creation
6,336,710




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ38)


PP1398
Jan. 19, 1998
An Image Creation
6,217,153




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ39)


PP2592
Mar. 25, 1998
An Image Creation
6,416,167




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ40)


PP2593
Mar. 25, 1998
Image Creation
6,243,113




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ41)


PP3991
Jun. 9, 1998
Image Creation
6,283,581




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ42)


PP3987
Jun. 9, 1998
Image Creation
6,247,790




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ43)


PP3985
Jun. 9, 1998
Image Creation
6,260,953




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ44)


PP3983
Jun. 9, 1998
Image Creation
6,267,469




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IJ45)









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


Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date







PO7935
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,224,780




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM01)


PO7936
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,235,212




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM02)


PO7937
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,280,643




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM03)


PO8061
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,284,147




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM04)


PO8054
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,214,244




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM05)


PO8065
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,071,750




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM06)


PO8055
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,267,905




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM07)


PO8053
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,251,298




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM08)


PO8078
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,258,285




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM09)


PO7933
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,225,138




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM10)


PO7950
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,241,904




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM11)


PO7949
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,299,786




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM12)


PO8060
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
09/113,124




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM13)


PO8059
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,231,773




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM14)


PO8073
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,190,931




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM15)


PO8076
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,248,249




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM16)


PO8075
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,290,862




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM17)


PO8079
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,241,906




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM18)


PO8050
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,565,762




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM19)


PO8052
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,241,905




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM20)


PO7948
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,451,216




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM21)


PO7951
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,231,772




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM22)


PO8074
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,274,056




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM23)


PO7941
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,290,861




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM24)


PO8077
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,248,248




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM25)


PO8058
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,306,671




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM26)


PO8051
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,331,258




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM27)


PO8045
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,110,754




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM28)


PO7952
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,294,101




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM29)


PO8046
Jul. 15, 1997
A Method of
6,416,679




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM30)


PO8503
Aug. 11, 1997
A Method of
6,264,849




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM30a)


PO9390
Sep. 23, 1997
A Method of
6,254,793




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM31)


PO9392
Sep. 23, 1997
A Method of
6,235,211




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM32)


PP0889
Dec. 12, 1997
A Method of
6,235,211




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM35)


PP0887
Dec. 12, 1997
A Method of
6,264,850




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM36)


PP0882
Dec. 12, 1997
A Method of
6,258,284




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM37)


PP0874
Dec. 12, 1997
A Method of
6,258,284




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM38)


PP1396
Jan. 19, 1998
A Method of
6,228,668




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM39)


PP2591
Mar. 25, 1998
A Method of
6,180,427




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM41)


PP3989
Jun. 9, 1998
A Method of
6,171,875




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM40)


PP3990
Jun. 9, 1998
A Method of
6,267,904




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM42)


PP3986
Jun. 9, 1998
A Method of
6,245,247




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM43)


PP3984
Jun. 9, 1998
A Method of
6,245,247




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM44)


PP3982
Jun. 9, 1998
A Method of
6,231,148




Manufacture of an
(Jul. 10, 1998)




Image Creation




Apparatus (IJM45)









Fluid Supply

Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system to the ink jet head. Delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to a series of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Australian


US Patent/


Provisional


Patent Application


Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date







PO8003
Jul. 15, 1997
Supply Method and
6,350,023




Apparatus (F1)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8005
Jul. 15, 1997
Supply Method and
6,318,849




Apparatus (F2)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9404
Sep. 23, 1997
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 U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Australian


US Patent/Patent


Provisional


Application


Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date







PO7943
Jul. 15, 1997
A device (MEMS01)



PO8006
Jul. 15, 1997
A device (MEMS02)
6,087,638





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8007
Jul. 15, 1997
A device (MIEMS03)
09/113,093





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8008
Jul. 15, 1997
A device (MEMS04)
6,340,222





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8010
Jul. 15, 1997
A device (MEMS05)
6,041,600





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8011
Jul. 15, 1997
A device (MEMS06)
6,299,300





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7947
Jul. 15, 1997
A device (MEMS07)
6,067,797





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7945
Jul. 15, 1997
A device (MEMS08)
Not filed


PO7944
Jul. 15, 1997
A device (MEMS09)
6,286,935





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7946
Jul. 15, 1997
A device (MEMS10)
6,044,646





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO9393
Sep. 23, 1997
A Device and Method
09/113,065




(MEMS11)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0875
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device (MEMS12)
09/113,078





(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0894
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device and Method
09/113,075




(MEMS13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)









IR Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a disposable camera system such as those described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Australian


US Patent/Patent


Provisional


Application


Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date







PP0895
Dec. 12, 1997
An Image Creation
6,231,148




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IR01)


PP0870
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device and Method
09/113,106




(IR02)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0869
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device and Method
6,293,658




(IR04)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0887
Dec. 12, 1997
Image Creation
6,614,560




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IR05)


PP0885
Dec. 12, 1997
An Image Production
6,238,033




System (IR06)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0884
Dec. 12, 1997
Image Creation
6,312,070




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IR10)


PP0886
Dec. 12, 1997
Image Creation
6,238,111




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IR12)


PP0871
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device and Method
09/113,086




(IR13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0876
Dec. 12, 1997
An image Processing
09/113,094




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(IR14)


PP0877
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device and Method
6,378,970




(IR16)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0878
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device and Method
6,196,739




(IR17)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0879
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device and Method
09/112,774




(IR18)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0883
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device and Method
6,270,182




(IR19)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0880
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device and Method
6,152,619




(IR20)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PP0881
Dec. 12, 1997
A Device and Method
09/113,092




(IR21)
(Jul. 10, 1998)









DotCard Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a data distribution system such as that described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.













Australian


US Patent/Patent


Provisional


Application


Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date







PP2370
Mar. 16, 1998
Data Processing
09/112,781




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(Dot01)


PP2371
Mar. 16, 1998
Data Processing
09/113,052




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(Dot02)









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













Australian


US Patent/Patent


Provisional


Application


Number
Filing Date
Title
and Filing Date







PO7991
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
09/113,060




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART01)


PO7988
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
6,476,863




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART02)


PO7993
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
09/113,073




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART03)


PO9395
Sep. 23, 1997
Data Processing
6,322,181




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART04)


PO8017
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
6,597,817




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART06)


PO8014
Jul. 15, 1997
Media Device
6,227,648




(ART07)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8025
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
09/112,750




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART08)


PO8032
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
6,690,419




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART09)


PO7999
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
09/112,743




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART10)


PO7998
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
09/112,742




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART11)


PO8031
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
09/112,741




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART12)


PO8030
Jul. 15, 1997
Media Device
6,196,541




(ART13)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7997
Jul. 15, 1997
Media Device
6,195,150




(ART15)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7979
Jul. 15, 1997
Media Device
6,362,868




(ART16)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO8015
Jul. 15, 1997
Media Device
09/112,738




(ART17)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7978
Jul. 15, 1997
Media Device
09/113,067




(ART18)
(Jul. 10, 1998)


PO7982
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
6,431,669




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART19)


PO7989
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
6,362,869




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART20)


PO8019
Jul. 15, 1997
Media Processing
6,472,052




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART21)


PO7980
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
6,356,715




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART22)


PO8018
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
09/112,777




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART24)


PO7938
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
6,636,216




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART25)


PO8016
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
6,366,693




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART26)


PO8024
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
6,329,990




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART27)


PO7940
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
09/113,072




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART28)


PO7939
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
6,459,495




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART29)


PO8501
Aug. 11, 1997
Image Processing
6,137,500




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART30)


PO8500
Aug. 11, 1997
Image Processing
6,690,416




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART31)


PO7987
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
09/113,071




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART32)


PO8022
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
6,398,328




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART33)


PO8497
Aug. 11, 1997
Image Processing
09/113,090




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART34)


PO8020
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
6,431,704




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART38)


PO8023
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
09/113,222




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART39)


PO8504
Aug. 11, 1997
Image Processing
09/112,786




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART42)


PO8000
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
6,415,054




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART43)


PO7977
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
09/112,782




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART44)


PO7934
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
6,665,454




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART45)


PO7990
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
09/113,059




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART46)


PO8499
Aug. 11, 1997
Image Processing
6,486,886




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART47)


PO8502
Aug. 11, 1997
Image Processing
6,381,361




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART48)


PO7981
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
6,317,192




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART50)


PO7986
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
09/113,057




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART51)


PO7983
Jul. 15, 1997
Data Processing
09/113,054




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART52)


PO8026
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
6,646,757




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART53)


PO8027
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
09/112,759




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART54)


PO8028
Jul. 15, 1997
Image Processing
6,624,848




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART56)


PO9394
Sep. 23, 1997
Image Processing
6,357,135




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART57)


PO9396
Sep. 23, 1997
Data Processing
09/113,107




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART58)


PO9397
Sep. 23, 1997
Data Processing
6,271,931




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART59)


PO9398
Sep. 23, 1997
Data Processing
6,353,772




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART60)


PO9399
Sep. 23, 1997
Data Processing
6,106,147




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART61)


PO9400
Sep. 23, 1997
Data Processing
6,665,008




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART62)


PO9401
Sep. 23, 1997
Data Processing
6,304,291




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART63)


PO9402
Sep. 23, 1997
Data Processing
09/112,788




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART64)


PO9403
Sep. 23, 1997
Data Processing
6,305,770




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART65)


PO9405
Sep. 23, 1997
Data Processing
6,289,262




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART66)


PP0959
Dec. 16, 1997
A Data Processing
6,315,200




Method and Apparatus
(Jul. 10, 1998)




(ART68)


PP1397
Jan. 19, 1998
A Media Device
6,217,165




(ART69)
(Jul. 10, 1998)









FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to digital image processing and in particular discloses A Camera System Having Motion Deblurring Means.
Further the present invention relates to the field of digital image cameras and in particular discloses a camera system having motion blur compensating means.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Motion blur in the taking of images is a common significant problem. The motion blur normally occurs as a result of movement of the camera while taking the picture or otherwise as a result of movement of objects within an image.
As a result of motion blur, it is often the case that the image taken is non optimal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera system having the ability to overcome the effects of motion blur. In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a camera system for outputting deblurred images, said system comprising;

    
    
        an image sensor for sensing an image; a velocity detection means for determining any motion of said image relative to an external environment and to produce a velocity output indicative thereof, a processor means interconnected to said image sensor and said velocity detection means and adapted to process said sensed image utilising the velocity output so as to deblurr said image and to output said deblurred image.
    
    


Preferably, the camera system is connected to a printer means for immediate output of said deblurred image and is a portable handheld unit. The velocity detection means can comprise an accelerometer such as a micro-electro mechanical (MEMS) device.



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 drawing in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic implementation of the preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the main Artcam electronic components (as reproduced from FIG. 2 of Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PO7991).



As described in Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PO7991, the camera system incorporates an Artcard linear sensor 34 which converts the Artcard data image to electrical signals, which are communicated to the ACP. The linear image sensor is illustrated in FIG. 2, which is a reproduction of FIG. 2 of Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PO7991. The linear image sensor can be fabricated using either CCD or APS CMOS technology. The active length of the linear image sensor is 50 mm, equal to the width of the data array on the Artcard. To satisfy Nyquist's sampling theorem, the resolution of the linear image sensor must be at least twice the highest spatial frequency of the Artcard optical image reaching the linear image sensor. In practice, data detection is easier if the linear image sensor resolution is substantially above this. A resolution of 4800 dpi (189 dpmm) is chosen, giving a total of 9,450 pixels. This resolution requires a pixel sensor pitch of 5.3 [mu]m. This can readily be achieved by using four staggered rows of 20 [mu]m pixel sensors.
The linear image sensor is mounted in a special package which includes an LED to illuminate the Artcard via a light-pipe.
The Artcard reader light-pipe can be a molded light-pipe which has several functions:
1. It diffuses the light from the LED over the width of the card using total internal reflection facets.
2. It focuses the light onto a 16 [mu]m wide strip of the Artcard using an integrated cylindrical lens.
3. It focuses light reflected from the Artcard onto the linear image sensor pixels using a molded array of microlenses.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED 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 filed 15 Jul. 1997 entitled “Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART01)”, in addition to Australian Provisional Patent Application entitled “Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART01a)” filed concurrently herewith by the present applicant, the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference.
The aforementioned patent specifications disclose a camera system, hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images can be directly printed out by an internal 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 a two dimensional motion sensor. The motion sensor can comprise a small micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device or other suitable device able to detect motion in two axes. The motion sensor can be mounted on the camera device and its output monitored by the Artcam central processor device which is disclosed in the afore-mentioned patent specifications. Turning now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a schematic of the preferred arrangement of the preferred embodiment. The accelerometer 1 outputs to the Artcard processor 2 which also receives the blurred sensed image from the CCD device. The Artcard processor 2 utilises the accelerometer readings so as to determine a likely angular velocity of the camera when the picture was taken. This velocity factor is then utilised by a suitably programmed Artcard processor 2 to apply a deblurring function to the blurred sensed image 3 thereby outputting a deblurred output image 4. The programming of the Artcard processor 2 so as to perform the deblurring can utilise standard algorithms known to those skilled in the art of computer programming and digital image restoration. For example, reference is made to the “Selected Papers on Digital Image Restoration”, M. Ibrahim Sezan, Editor, SPIE Milestone series, volume 74, and in particular the reprinted paper at pages 167–175 thereof. Further, simplified techniques are shown in the “Image Processing Handbook”, second edition, by John C. Russ, published by CRC Press at pages 336–341 thereof.
It would be therefore obvious to the person skilled in the art that many different techniques for motion blur removal can be utilised in the preferred embodiment. Additionally, other forms of motion sensors may be provided. Once the input image has been deblurred, the image is then able to be printed out by the Artcam device in accordance with the techniques as discussed in the afore-mentioned patent specification.
It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.
Ink Jet Technologies
The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.
The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal inkjet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.
The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewidth print heads with 19,200 nozzles.
Ideally, the inkjet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digital photography, new inkjet technologies have been created. The target features include:
low power (less than 10 Watts)
high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)
photographic quality output
low manufacturing cost
small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)
high speed (<2 seconds per page).
All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. Forty-five 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 under the heading “Cross References to Related Applications”.
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 printhead is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the printhead is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallest printhead designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The printheads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.
Ink is supplied to the back of the printhead 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 printhead is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding.
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 which match the docket numbers in the table under the heading Cross References to Related Applications.
Other inkjet 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 IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into inkjet printheads 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, print technology may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.
Suitable applications include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrial printing systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.
The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables.










ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS)











Actuator






Mechanism
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Thermal
An electrothermal
Large force generated
High power
Canon Bubblejet


bubble
heater heats the ink to
Simple construction
Ink carrier limited to
1979 Endo et al GB



above boiling point,
No moving parts
water
patent 2,007,162



transferring
Fast operation
Low efficiency
Xerox heater-in-pit



significant heat to the
Small chip area required
High temperatures
1990 Hawkins et al



aqueous ink. A
for actuator
required
U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181



bubble nucleates and

High mechanical stress
Hewlett-Packard TIJ



quickly forms,

Unusual materials
1982 Vaught et al U.S. Pat.



expelling the ink,

required
No. 4,490,728



The efficiency of the

Large drive transistors



process is low, with

Cavitation causes



typically less than

actuator failure



0.05% of the

Kogation reduces bubble



electrical energy

formation



being transformed

Large print heads are



into kinetic energy of

difficult to fabricate



the drop.


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



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



lanthanum zirconate
used
Difficult to integrate
Zoltan U.S. Pat. No.



(PZT) is electrically
Fast operation
with electronics
3,683,212



activated, and either
High efficiency
High voltage drive
1973 Stemme U.S. Pat. No.



expands, shears, or

transistors required
3,747,120



bends to apply

Full pagewidth print
Epson Stylus



pressure to the ink

heads impractical due to
Tektronix



ejecting drops.

actuator size
IJ04





Requires electrical





poling in high field





strengths during





manufacture


Electro-
An electric field is
Low power consumption
Low maximum strain
Seiko Epson, Usui et


strictive
used to activate
Many ink types can be
(approx. 0.01%)
all JP 253401/96



electrostriction in
used
Large area required for
IJ04



relaxor materials such
Low thermal expansion
actuator due to low strain



as lead lanthanum
Electric field strength
Response speed is



zirconate titanate
required (approx. 3.5
marginal (~10 μs)



(PLZT) or lead
V/μm) can be generated
High voltage drive



magnesium niobate
without difficulty
transistors required



(PMN).
Does not require
Full pagewidth print




electrical poling
heads impractical due to





actuator size


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



used to induce a
Many ink types can be
with electronics



phase transition
used
Unusual materials such



between the
Fast operation (<1 μs)
as PLZSnT are required



antiferroelectric
Relatively high
Actuators require a large



(AFE) and
longitudinal strain
area



ferroelectric (FE)
High efficiency



phase. Perovskite
Electric field strength of



materials such as tin
around 3 V/μm can be



modified lead around
readily provided



lanthanum zirconate



titanate (PLZSnT)



exhibit large strains



of up to 1%



associated with the



AFE to FE phase



transition.


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


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



compressible or fluid
used
aqueous environment



dielectric (usually
Fast operation
The electrostatic



air). Upon application

actuator will normally need



of a voltage, the

to be separated from the



plates attract each

ink



other and displace

Very large area required



ink, causing drop

to achieve high forces



ejection. The

High voltage drive



conductive plates

transistors may be required



may be in a comb or

Full pagewidth print



honeycomb structure,

heads are not competitive



or stacked to increase

due to actuator size



the surface area and



therefore the force.


Electrostatic
A strong electric field
Low current
High voltage required
1989 Saito et al, U.S. Pat.


pull on ink
is applied to the ink,
consumption
May be damaged by
No. 4,799,068



whereupon
Low temperature
sparks due to air
1989 Miura et al,



electrostatic attraction

breakdown
U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,954



accelerates the ink

Required field strength
Tone-jet



towards the print

increases as the drop size



medium.

decreases





High voltage drive





transistors required





Electrostatic field





attracts dust


Permanent
An electromagnet
Low power consumption
Complex fabrication
IJ07, IJ10


magnet
directly attracts a
Many ink types can be
Permanent magnetic


electro-
permanent magnet,
used
material such as


magnetic
displacing ink and
Fast operation
Neodymium Iron Boron



causing drop ejection.
High efficiency
(NdFeB) required.



Rare earth magnets
Easy extension from
High local currents



with a field strength
single nozzles to
required



around 1 Tesla can be
pagewidth print heads
Copper metalization



used. Examples are:

should be used for long



Samarium Cobalt

electromigration lifetime



(SaCo) and magnetic

and low resistivity



materials in the

Pigmented inks are



neodymium iron

usually infeasible



boron family

Operating temperature



(NdFeB,

limited to the Curie



NdDyFeBNb,

temperature (around 540



NdDyFeB, etc)

K.)


Soft
A solenoid induced a
Low power consumption
Complex fabrication
IJ01, IJ05, IJ08, IJ10


magnetic
magnetic field in a
Many ink types can be
Materials not usually
IJ12, IJ14, IJ15, IJ17


core electro-
soft magnetic core or
used
present in a CMOS fab


magnetic
yoke fabricated from
Fast operation
such as NiFe, CoNiFe, or



a ferrous material
High efficiency
CoFe are required



such as electroplated
Easy extension from
High local currents



iron alloys such as
single nozzles to
required



CoNiFe [1], CoFe, or
pagewidth print heads
Copper metalization



NiFe alloys.

should be used for long



Typically, the soft

electromigration lifetime



magnetic material is

and low resistivity



in two parts, which

Electroplating is



are normally held

required



apart by a spring.

High saturation flux



When the solenoid is

density is required (2.0–2.1



actuated, the two

T is achievable with



parts attract,

CoNiFe [1])



displacing the ink.


Magnetic
The Lorenz force
Low power consumption
Force acts as a twisting
IJ06, IJ11, IJ13, IJ16


Lorenz force
acting on a current
Many ink types can be
motion



carrying wire in a
used
Typically, only a quarter



magnetic field is
Fast operation
of the solenoid length



utilized.
High efficiency
provides force in a useful



This allows the
Easy extension from
direction



magnetic field to be
single nozzles to
High local currents



supplied externally to
pagewidth print heads
required



the print head, for

Copper metalization



example with rare

should be used for long



earth permanent

electromigration lifetime



magnets.

and low resistivity



Only the current

Pigmented inks are



carrying wire need be

usually infeasible



fabricated on the



print-head,



simplifying materials



requirements.


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


striction
giant magnetostrictive
used
motion
4,032,929



effect of materials
Fast operation
Unusual materials such
IJ25



such as Terfenol-D
Easy extension from
as Terfenol-D are required



(an alloy of terbium,
single nozzles to
High local currents



dysprosium and iron
pagewidth print heads
required



developed at the
High force is available
Copper metalization



Naval Ordnance

should be used for long



Laboratory, hence

electromigration lifetime



Ter-Fe-NOL). For

and low resistivity



best efficiency, the

Pre-stressing may be



actuator should be

required



pre-stressed to



approx. 8 MPa.


Surface
Ink under positive
Low power consumption
Requires supplementary
Silverbrook, EP 0771


tension
pressure is held in a
Simple construction
force to effect drop
658 A2 and related


reduction
nozzle by surface
No unusual materials
separation
patent applications



tension. The surface
required in fabrication
Requires special ink



tension of the ink is
High efficiency
surfactants



reduced below the
Easy extension from
Speed may be limited by



bubble threshold,
single nozzles to
surfactant properties



causing the ink to
pagewidth print heads



egress from the



nozzle.


Viscosity
The ink viscosity is
Simple construction
Requires supplementary
Silverbrook, EP 0771


reduction
locally reduced to
No unusual materials
force to effect drop
658 A2 and related



select which drops
required in fabrication
separation
patent applications



are to be ejected. A
Easy extension from
Requires special ink



viscosity reduction
single nozzles to
viscosity properties



can be achieved
pagewidth print heads
High speed is difficult to



electrothermally with

achieve



most inks, but special

Requires oscillating ink



inks can be

pressure



engineered for a

A high temperature



100:1 viscosity

difference (typically 80



reduction.

degrees) is required


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



generated and
nozzle plate
Complex fabrication
al, EUP 550,192



focussed upon the

Low efficiency
1993 Elrod et al,



drop ejection region.

Poor control of drop
EUP 572,220





position





Poor control of drop





volume


Thermoelastic
An actuator which
Low power consumption
Efficient aqueous
IJ03, IJ09, IJ17, IJ18


bend
relies upon
Many ink types can be
operation requires a
IJ19, IJ20, IJ21, IJ22


actuator
differential thermal
used
thermal insulator on the
IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28



expansion upon Joule
Simple planar
hot side
IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32



heating is used.
fabrication
Corrosion prevention
IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36




Small chip area required
can be difficult
IJ37, IJ38 ,IJ39, IJ40




for each actuator
Pigmented inks may be
IJ41




Fast operation
infeasible, as pigment




High efficiency
particles may jam the bend




CMOS compatible
actuator




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 be
Requires special material
IJ09, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20


thermoelastic
very high coefficient
generated
(e.g. PTFE)
IJ21, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24


actuator
of thermal expansion
PTFE is a candidate for
Requires a PTFE
IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30



(CTE) such as
low dielectric constant
deposition process, which
IJ31, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44



polytetrafluoroethylene
insulation in ULSI
is not yet standard in ULSI



(PTFE) is used. As
Very low power
fabs



high CTE materials
consumption
PTFE deposition cannot



are usually non-
Many ink types can be
be followed with high



conductive, a heater
used
temperature (above 350° C.)



fabricated from a
Simple planar
processing



conductive material is
fabrication
Pigmented inks may be



incorporated. A 50
Small chip area required
infeasible, as pigment



μm long PTFE bend
for each actuator
particles may jam the bend



actuator with
Fast operation
actuator



polysilicon heater and
High efficiency



15 mW power input
CMOS compatible



can provide 180 μN
voltages and currents



force and 10 μm
Easy extension from



deflection. Actuator
single nozzles to



motions include:
pagewidth print heads



Bend



Push



Buckle



Rotate


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


polymer
high coefficient of
generated
materials development


thermoelastic
thermal expansion
Very low power
(High CTE conductive


actuator
(such as PTFE) is
consumption
polymer)



doped with
Many ink types can be
Requires a PTFE



conducting
used
deposition process, which



substances to increase
Simple planar
is not yet standard in ULSI



its conductivity to
fabrication
fabs



about 3 orders of
Small chip area required
PTFE deposition cannot



magnitude below that
for each actuator
be followed with high



of copper. The
Fast operation
temperature (above 350° C.)



conducting polymer
High efficiency
processing



expands when
CMOS compatible
Evaporation and CVD



resistively heated.
voltages and currents
deposition techniques



Examples of
Easy extension from
cannot be used



conducting dopants
single nozzles to
Pigmented inks may be



include:
pagewidth print heads
infeasible, as pigment



Carbon nanotubes

particles may jam the bend



Metal fibers

actuator



Conductive polymers



such as doped



polythiophene



Carbon granules


Shape
A shape memory
High force is available
Fatigue limits maximum
IJ26


memory
alloy such as TiNi
(stresses of hundreds of
number of cycles


alloy
(also known as
MPa)
Low strain (1%) is



Nitinol - Nickel
Large strain is available
required to extend fatigue



Titanium alloy
(more than 3%)
resistance



developed at the
High corrosion
Cycle rate limited by



Naval Ordnance
resistance
heat removal



Laboratory) is
Simple construction
Requires unusual



thermally switched
Easy extension from
materials (TiNi)



between its weak
single nozzles to
The latent heat of



martensitic state and
pagewidth print heads
transformation must be



its high stiffness
Low voltage operation
provided



austenic state. The

High current operation



shape of the actuator

Requires pre-stressing to



in its martensitic state

distort the martensitic state



is deformed relative



to the austenic shape.



The shape change



causes ejection of a



drop.


Linear
Linear magnetic
Linear Magnetic
Requires unusual
IJ12


Magnetic
actuators include the
actuators can be
semiconductor materials


Actuator
Linear Induction
constructed with high
such as soft magnetic



Actuator (LIA),
thrust, long travel, and
alloys (e.g. CoNiFe [1])



Linear Permanent
high efficiency using
Some varieties also



Magnet Synchronous
planar semiconductor
require permanent



Actuator (LPMSA),
fabrication techniques
magnetic materials such as



Linear Reluctance
Long actuator travel is
Neodymium iron boron



Synchronous
available
(NdFeB)



Actuator (LRSA),
Medium force is
Requires complex multi-



Linear Switched
available
phase drive circuitry



Reluctance Actuator
Low voltage operation
High current operation



(LSRA), and the



Linear Stepper



Actuator (LSA).



















BASIC OPERATION MODE











Operational mode
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Actuator directly
This is the simplest
Simple operation
Drop repetition
Thermal inkjet


pushes ink
mode of operation: the
No external fields
rate is usually
Piezoelectric inkjet



actuator directly
required
limited to less
IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, IJ04



supplies sufficient
Satellite drops can be
than 10 KHz.
IJ05, IJ06, IJ07, IJ09



kinetic energy to expel
avoided if drop velocity
However, this is
IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, IJ16



the drop. The drop
is less than 4 m/s
not fundamental
IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24



must have a sufficient
Can be efficient,
to the method, but
IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28



velocity to overcome
depending upon the
is related to the
IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32



the surface tension,
actuator used
refill method
IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36





normally used
IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40





All of the drop
IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44





kinetic energy





must be provided





by the actuator





Satellite drops





usually form if





drop velocity is





greater than 4.5





m/s


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



are selected by some
fabrication can be used
proximity
658 A2 and related



manner (e.g. thermally
The drop selection
between the print
patent applications



induced surface tension
means does not need to
head and the print



reduction of
provide the energy
media or transfer



pressurized ink),
required to separate the
roller



Selected drops are
drop from the nozzle
May require



separated from the ink

two print heads



in the nozzle by contact

printing alternate



with the print medium

rows of the image



or a transfer roller.

Monolithic





color print heads





are difficult


Electrostatic pull
The drops to be printed
Very simple print head
Requires very
Silverbrook, EP 0771


on ink
are selected by some
fabrication can be used
high electrostatic
658 A2 and related



manner (e.g. thermally
The drop selection
field
patent applications



induced surface tension
means does not need to
Electrostatic
Tone-Jet



reduction of
provide the energy
field for small



pressurized ink),
required to separate the
nozzle sizes is



Selected drops are
drop from the nozzle
above air



separated from the ink

breakdown



in the nozzle by a

Electrostatic



strong electric field.

field may attract





dust


Magnetic pull on
The drops to be printed
Very simple print head
Requires
Silverbrook, EP 0771


ink
are selected by some
fabrication can be used
magnetic ink
658 A2 and related



manner (e.g. thermally
The drop selection
ink colors other
patent applications



induced surface tension
means does not need to
than black are



reduction of
provide the energy
difficult



pressurized ink),
required to separate the
Requires very



Selected drops are
drop from the nozzle
high magnetic



separated from the ink

fields



in the nozzle by a



strong magnetic field



acting on the magnetic



ink.


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



shutter to block ink
operation can be
are required



flow to the nozzle. The
achieved due to reduced
Requires ink



ink pressure is pulsed
refill time
pressure



at a multiple of the
Drop timing can be
modulator



drop ejection
very accurate
Friction and



frequency.
The actuator energy
wear must be




can be very low
considered





Stiction is





possible


Shuttered grill
The actuator moves a
Actuators with small
Moving parts
IJ08, IJ15, IJ18, IJ19



shutter to block ink
travel can be used
are required



flow through a grill to
Actuators with small
Requires ink



the nozzle. The shutter
force can be used
pressure



movement need only be
High speed (>50 KHz)
modulator



equal to the width of
operation can be
Friction and



the grill holes.
achieved
wear must be





considered





Stiction is





possible


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


pull on ink pusher
attracts an ‘ink pusher’
operation is possible
external pulsed



at the drop ejection
No heat dissipation
magnetic field



frequency. An actuator
problems
Requires



controls a catch, which

special materials



prevents the ink pusher

for both the



from moving when a

actuator and the



drop is not to be

ink pusher



ejected.

Complex





construction



















AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES)











Auxiliary






Mechanism
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





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



the ink drop, and there is
construction
energy must be
including piezoelectric



no external field or other
Simplicity of operation
supplied by
and thermal bubble.



mechanism required.
Small physical size
individual nozzle
IJ01–IJ07, IJ09, IJ11





actuator
IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22






IJ23–IJ45


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


pressure
providing much of the drop
pressure can provide a
external ink
658 A2 and related


(including
ejection energy. The
refill pulse, allowing
pressure oscillator
patent applications


acoustic
actuator selects which
higher operating speed
Ink pressure
IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17


stimulation)
drops are to be fired by
The actuators may
phase and
IJ18, IJ19, IJ21



selectively blocking or
operate with much lower
amplitude must be



enabling nozzles. The ink
energy
carefully



pressure oscillation may be
Acoustic lenses can be
controlled



achieved by vibrating the
used to focus the sound
Acoustic



print head, or preferably by
on the nozzles
reflections in the



an actuator in the ink

ink chamber must



supply.

be designed for


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


proximity
close proximity to the print
High accuracy
assembly required
658 A2 and related



medium. Selected drops
Simple print head
Paper fibers
patent applications



protrude from the print
construction
may cause



head further than

problems



unselected drops, and

Cannot print on



contact the print medium.

rough substrates



The drop soaks into the



medium fast enough to



cause drop separation.


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


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



straight to the print
substrates can be used
Complex
patent applications



medium. A transfer roller
Ink can be dried on the
construction
Tektronix hot melt



can also be used for
transfer roller

piezoelectric inkjet



proximity drop separation.


Any of the IJ series


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



accelerate selected drops
Simple print head
required for
658 A2 and related



towards the print medium.
construction
separation of
patent applications





small drops is
Tone-Jet





near or above air





breakdown


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


magnetic field
accelerate selected drops
Simple print head
magnetic ink
658 A2 and related



of magnetic ink towards
construction
Requires strong
patent applications



the print medium.

magnetic field


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


magnetic field
a constant magnetic field.
magnetic materials to be
external magnet



The Lorenz force in a
integrated in the print
Current



current carrying wire is
head manufacturing
densities may be



used to move the actuator.
process
high, resulting in





electromigration





problems


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


magnetic field
used to cyclically attract a
operation is possible
head construction



paddle, which pushes on
Small print head size
Magnetic



the ink. A small actuator

materials required



moves a catch, which

in print head



selectively prevents the



paddle from moving.



















ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD











Actuator






amplification
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





None
No actuator mechanical
Operational
Many actuator
Thermal Bubble



amplification is used.
simplicity
mechanisms have
Inkjet



The actuator directly

insufficient travel, or
IJ01, IJ02, IJ06,



drives the drop ejection

insufficient force, to
IJ07



process.

efficiently drive the drop
IJ16, IJ25, IJ26





ejection process


Differential
An actuator material
Provides greater
High stresses are
Piezoelectric


expansion
expands more on one
travel in a reduced print
involved
IJ03, IJ09, IJ17–


bend actuator
side than on the other.
head area
Care must be taken that
IJ24



The expansion may be
The bend actuator
the materials do not
IJ27, IJ29–IJ39,



thermal, piezoelectric,
converts a high force
delaminate
IJ42,



magnetostrictive, or other
low travel actuator
Residual bend resulting
IJ43, IJ44



mechanism.
mechanism to high
from high temperature or




travel, lower force
high stress during




mechanism.
formation


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


bend actuator
where the two outside
temperature stability
involved



layers are identical. This
High speed, as a new
Care must be taken that



cancels bend due to
drop can be fired
the materials do not



ambient temperature and
before heat dissipates
delaminate



residual stress. The
Cancels residual



actuator only responds to
stress of formation



transient heating of one



side or the other.


Actuator stack
A series of thin actuators
Increased travel
Increased fabrication
Some piezoelectric



are stacked. This can be
Reduced drive
complexity
ink jets



appropriate where
voltage
Increased possibility of
IJ04



actuators require high

short circuits due to



electric field strength,

pinholes



such as electrostatic and



piezoelectric actuators.


Multiple
Multiple smaller
Increases the force
Actuator forces may not
IJ12, IJ13, IJ18,


actuators
actuators are used
available from an
add linearly, reducing
IJ20



simultaneously to move
actuator
efficiency
IJ22, IJ28, IJ42,



the ink. Each actuator
Multiple actuators

IJ43



need provide only a
can be positioned to



portion of the force
control ink flow



required.
accurately


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



transform a motion with
actuator with higher
for the spring



small travel and high
travel requirements



force into a longer travel,
Non-contact method



lower force motion,
of motion




transformation


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



spring. When the
ink
High stress in the spring



actuator 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, IJ34,


actuator
to provide greater travel
Reduces chip area
planar implementations
IJ35



in a reduced chip area.
Planar
due to extreme fabrication




implementations are
difficulty in other




relatively easy to
orientations.




fabricate.


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


actuator
small region near the
increasing travel of a
to exceed the elastic limit



fixture point, which
bend actuator
in the flexure area



flexes much more readily

Stress distribution is



than the remainder of the

very uneven



actuator. The actuator

Difficult to accurately



flexing is effectively

model with finite element



converted from an even

analysis



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
IJ13



increase travel at the
actuators can be used
required



expense of duration.
Can be fabricated
Several actuator cycles



Circular gears, rack and
using standard surface
are required



pinion, ratchets, and
MEMS processes
More complex drive



other gearing methods

electronics



can be used.

Complex construction





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



movement of an ink
size
pigmented inks



pusher that is controlled



in a bulk manner.


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



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



actuator into a fast

long device life
Proc. IEEE MEMS,



motion. It can also

High stresses involved
February 1996, pp 418–



convert a high force, low

Generally high power
423.



travel actuator into a high

requirement
IJ18, IJ27



travel, medium force



motion.


Tapered
A tapered magnetic pole
Linearizes the
Complex construction
IJ14


magnetic pole
can increase travel at the
magnetic force/distance



expense of force.
curve


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



used to transform a
actuator with higher
fulcrum



motion with small travel
travel requirements



and high force into a
Fulcrum area has no



motion with longer travel
linear movement, and



and lower force. The
can be used for a fluid



lever can also reverse the
seal



direction of travel.


Rotary
The actuator is connected
High mechanical
Complex construction
IJ28


impeller
to a rotary impeller. A
advantage
Unsuitable for



small angular deflection
The ratio of force to
pigmented inks



of the actuator results in
travel of the actuator



a rotation of the impeller
can be matched to the



vanes, which push the ink
nozzle requirements by



against stationary vanes
varying the number of



and out of the nozzle.
impeller vanes


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



(e.g. zone plate) acoustic

Only relevant for
et al, EUP 550,192



lens is used to

acoustic ink jets
1993 Elrod et al,



concentrate sound waves.


EUP 572,220


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


conductive
concentrate an

using standard VLSI


point
electrostatic field.

processes for a surface





ejecting ink-jet





Only relevant for





electrostatic ink jets



















ACTUATOR MOTION











Actuator motion
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





Volume
The volume of the
Simple construction in
High energy is
Hewlett-


expansion
actuator changes,
the case of thermal ink jet
typically required to
Packard Thermal



pushing the ink in all

achieve volume
Inkjet



directions.

expansion. This leads
Canon





to thermal stress,
Bubblejet





cavitation, and





kogation in thermal ink





jet implementations


Linear, normal
The actuator moves in a
Efficient coupling to ink
High fabrication
IJ01, IJ02, IJ04,


to chip surface
direction normal to the
drops ejected normal to the
complexity may be
IJ07



print head surface. The
surface
required to achieve
IJ11, IJ14



nozzle is typically in the

perpendicular motion



line of movement.


Linear, parallel
The actuator moves
Suitable for planar
Fabrication
IJ12, IJ13, IJ15,


to chip surface
parallel to the print head
fabrication
complexity
IJ33,



surface. Drop ejection

Friction
IJ34, IJ35, IJ36



may still be normal to the

Stiction



surface.


Membrane push
An actuator with a high
The effective area of the
Fabrication
1982 Howkins



force but small area is
actuator becomes the
complexity
U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,601



used to push a stiff
membrane area
Actuator size



membrane that is in

Difficulty of



contact with the ink.

integration in a VLSI





process


Rotary
The actuator causes the
Rotary levers may be
Device complexity
IJ05, IJ08, IJ13,



rotation of some element,
used to increase travel
May have friction at
IJ28



such a grill or impeller
Small chip area
a pivot point




requirements


Bend
The actuator bends when
A very small change in
Requires the actuator
1970 Kyser et



energized. This may be
dimensions can be
to be made from at
al U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,398



due to differential
converted to a large
least two distinct
1973 Stemme



thermal expansion,
motion.
layers, or to have a
U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120



piezoelectric expansion,

thermal difference
IJ03, IJ09, IJ10,



magnetostriction, or

across the actuator
IJ19



other form of relative


IJ23, IJ24, IJ25,



dimensional change.


IJ29






IJ30, IJ31, IJ33,






IJ34






IJ35


Swivel
The actuator swivels
Allows operation where
Inefficient coupling
IJ06



around a central pivot,
the net linear force on the
to the ink motion



This motion is suitable
paddle is zero



where there are opposite
Small chip area



forces applied to
requirements



opposite sides of the



paddle, e.g. Lorenz force.


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



bent, and straightens
memory alloys where the
balance of stresses to



when energized.
austenic phase is planar
ensure that the





quiescent bend is





accurate


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



one direction when one
to power two nozzles.
drops ejected by both



element is energized, and
Reduced chip size.
bend directions



bends the other way
Not sensitive to ambient
identical.



when another element is
temperature
A small efficiency



energized.

loss compared to





equivalent single bend





actuators.


Shear
Energizing the actuator
Can increase the
Not readily
1985 Fishbeck



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



the actuator material.
piezoelectric actuators
actuator mechanisms


Radial
The actuator squeezes an
Relatively easy to
High force required
1970 Zoltan


constriction
ink reservoir, forcing ink
fabricate single nozzles
Inefficient
U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212



from a constricted
from glass tubing as
Difficult to integrate



nozzle.
macroscopic structures
with VLSI processes


Coil/uncoil
A coiled actuator uncoils
Easy to fabricate as a
Difficult to fabricate
IJ17, IJ21, IJ34,



or coils more tightly. The
planar VLSI process
for non-planar devices
IJ35



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



the actuator ejects the
therefore low cost
stiffness



ink.


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



buckles) in the middle
of travel
constrained



when energized.
Mechanically rigid
High force required


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



shutter. One actuator
at both ends, so has a high
for inkjets which



pulls the shutter, and the
out-of-plane rigidity
directly push the ink



other pushes it.


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



inwards to reduce the
region behind the actuator



volume of ink that they
increases efficiency



enclose.


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



outwards, pressurizing
construction
area



ink in a chamber



surrounding the



actuators, and expelling



ink from a nozzle in the



chamber.


Iris
Multiple vanes enclose a
High efficiency
High fabrication
IJ22



volume of ink. These
Small chip area
complexity



simultaneously rotate,

Not suitable for



reducing the volume

pigmented inks



between the vanes.


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


vibration
high frequency.
physically distant from the
for efficient operation
Hadimioglu et al,




ink
at useful frequencies
EUP 550,192





Acoustic coupling
1993 Elrod et





and 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
Silverbrook, EP



the actuator does not

tradeoffs are required
0771 658 A2 and



move.

to eliminate moving
related patent





parts
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
Piezoelectric inkjet



returns rapidly to its
Operational
force relatively
IJ01–1107, IJ10–1114



normal position. This
simplicity
small compared to
IJ16, IJ20, IJ22–IJ45



rapid return sucks in air

actuator force



through the nozzle

Long refill time



opening. The ink surface

usually dominates



tension at the nozzle then

the total repetition



exerts a small force

rate



restoring the meniscus to



a minimum area.


Shuttered
Ink to the nozzle
High speed
Requires common
IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17


oscillating ink
chamber is provided at a
Low actuator
ink pressure
IJ18, IJ19, IJ21


pressure
pressure that oscillates at
energy, as the
oscillator



twice the drop ejection
actuator need
May not be



frequency. When a drop
only open or
suitable for



is to be ejected, the
close the shutter,
pigmented inks



shutter is opened for 3
instead of



half cycles: drop
ejecting the ink



ejection, actuator return,
drop



and refill.


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



has ejected a drop a
the nozzle is
independent



second (refill) actuator is
actively refilled
actuators per nozzle



energized. The refill



actuator pushes ink into



the nozzle chamber. The



refill actuator returns



slowly, to prevent its



return from emptying the



chamber again.


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


pressure
positive pressure. After
rate, therefore a
be prevented
A2 and related patent



the ink drop is ejected,
high drop
Highly
applications



the nozzle chamber fills
repetition rate is
hydrophobic print
Alternative for:



quickly as surface
possible
head surfaces are
IJ01–1107, IJ10–IJ14



tension and ink pressure

required
IJ16, IJ20, IJ22–1145



both operate to refill the



nozzle.



















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
Operational simplicity
May result in a
Piezoelectric inkjet



made long and
Reduces crosstalk
relatively large chip
IJ42, IJ43



relatively narrow,

area



relying on viscous drag

Only partially



to reduce inlet back-

effective



flow.


Positive ink
The ink is under a
Drop selection and
Requires a method
Silverbrook, EP


pressure
positive pressure, so
separation forces can be
(such as a nozzle rim or
0771 658 A2 and



that in the quiescent
reduced
effective
related patent



state some of the ink
Fast refill time
hydrophobizing, or
applications



drop already protrudes

both) to prevent
Possible operation



from the nozzle.

flooding of the ejection
of the following:



This reduces the

surface of the print
IJ01–IJ07, IJ09–



pressure in the nozzle

head.
IJ12



chamber which is


IJ14, IJ16, IJ20,



required to eject a


IJ22,



certain volume of ink.


IJ23–IJ34, IJ36–



The reduction in


IJ41



chamber pressure


IJ44



results in a reduction in



ink pushed out through



the inlet.


Baffle
One or more baffles are
The refill rate is not as
Design complexity
HP Thermal Ink Jet



placed in the inlet ink
restricted as the long
May increase
Tektronix



flow. When the
inlet method.
fabrication complexity
piezoelectric ink jet



actuator is energized,
Reduces crosstalk
(e.g. Tektronix hot melt



the rapid ink movement

Piezoelectric print



creates eddies which

heads).



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
Canon


restricts inlet
disclosed by Canon, the
back-flow for edge-
most inkjet



expanding actuator
shooter thermal ink jet
configurations



(bubble) pushes on a
devices
Increased 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 advantage
Restricts refill rate
IJ04, IJ12, IJ24,



between the ink inlet
of ink filtration
May result in
IJ27



and the nozzle
Ink filter may be
complex construction
IJ29, IJ30



chamber. The filter has
fabricated with no



a multitude of small
additional process steps



holes or slots,



restricting ink flow.



The filter also 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

May result in a


nozzle
a substantially smaller

relatively large chip



cross section than that

area



of the nozzle, resulting

Only partially



in easier ink egress Out

effective



of the nozzle than out



of the inlet.


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



controls the position of
ink-jet print head
refill actuator and drive



a shutter, closing off
operation
circuit



the ink inlet when the



main actuator is



energized.


The inlet is
The method avoids the
Back-flow problem is
Requires careful
IJ01, IJ03, IJ05,


located behind
problem of inlet back-
eliminated
design to minimize the
IJ06


the ink-pushing
flow by arranging the

negative pressure
IJ07, IJ10, IJ11,


surface
ink-pushing surface of

behind the paddle
IJ14



the actuator between


IJ16, IJ22, IJ23,



the inlet and the nozzle.


IJ25






IJ28, IJ31, IJ32,






IJ33






IJ34, IJ35, IJ36,






IJ39






IJ40, IJ41


Part of the
The actuator and a wall
Significant reductions
Small increase in
IJ07, IJ20, IJ26,


actuator moves
of the ink chamber are
in back-flow can be
fabrication complexity
IJ38


to shut off the
arranged so that the
achieved


inlet
motion of the actuator
Compact designs



closes off the inlet.
possible


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


does not result
of ink jet, there is no
is eliminated
back-flow on actuation
0771 658 A2 and


in ink back-flow
expansion or movement


related patent



of an actuator which


applications



may cause ink back-


Valve-jet



flow through the 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
Most ink jet systems


firing
fired periodically, before
on the print head
to displace dried ink
IJ01–IJ07, IJ09–IJ12



the ink has a chance to


IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22



dry. When not in use the


IJ23–IJ34, IJ36–IJ45



nozzles are sealed



(capped) against air.



The nozzle firing is



usually performed during



a special clearing cycle,



after first moving the



print head to a cleaning



station.


Extra power to
In systems which heat the
Can be highly
Requires higher drive
Silverbrook, EP 0771


ink heater
ink, but do not boil it
effective if the heater is
voltage for clearing
658 A2 and related



under normal situations,
adjacent to the nozzle
May require larger
patent applications



nozzle clearing can be

drive transistors



achieved by over-



powering the heater and



boiling ink at the nozzle.


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


succession of
rapid succession. In some
extra drive circuits on
depends substantially
IJ01–IJ07, IJ09–IJ11


actuator pulses
configurations, this may
the print head
upon the configuration
IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22



cause heat build-up at the
Can be readily
of the inkjet nozzle
IJ23–IJ25, IJ27–IJ34



nozzle which boils the
controlled and initiated

IJ36–IJ45



ink, clearing the nozzle.
by digital logic



In other situations, it may



cause sufficient



vibrations to dislodge



clogged nozzles.


Extra power to
Where an actuator is not
A simple solution
Not suitable where
May be used with:


ink pushing
normally driven to the
where applicable
there is a hard limit to
IJ03, IJ09, IJ16, IJ20


actuator
limit of its motion,

actuator movement
IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ27



nozzle clearing may be


IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32



assisted by providing an


IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42



enhanced drive signal to


IJ43, IJ44, IJ45



the actuator.


Acoustic
An ultrasonic wave is
A high nozzle
High implementation
IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17


resonance
applied to the ink
clearing capability can
cost if system does not
IJ18, IJ19, IJ21



chamber. This wave is of
be achieved
already include an



an appropriate amplitude
May be implemented
acoustic actuator



and frequency to cause
at very low cost in



sufficient force at the
systems which already



nozzle to clear
include acoustic



blockages. This is easiest
actuators



to achieve if the



ultrasonic wave is at a



resonant frequency of the



ink cavity.


Nozzle clearing
A microfabricated plate
Can clear severely
Accurate mechanical
Silverbrook, EP 0771


plate
is pushed against the
clogged nozzles
alignment is required
658 A2 and related



nozzles. The plate has a

Moving parts are
patent applications



post for every nozzle.

required



The array of posts

There is risk of





damage to the nozzles





Accurate fabrication





is required


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


pulse
temporarily increased so
where other methods
pump or other pressure
IJ series ink jets



that ink streams from all
cannot be used
actuator



of the nozzles. This may

Expensive



be used in conjunction

Wasteful of ink



with actuator energizing.


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


wiper
wiped across the print
print head surfaces
print head surface is



head surface. The blade
Low cost
non-planar or very



is usually fabricated from

fragile



a flexible polymer, e.g.

Requires mechanical



rubber or synthetic

parts



elastomer.

Blade can wear out





in high volume print





systems


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


boiling heater
provided at the nozzle
where other nozzle
complexity
many IJ series ink jets



although the normal drop
clearing methods



e-ection mechanism does
cannot be used



not require it. The
Can be implemented



heaters do not require
at no additional cost in



individual drive circuits,
some inkjet



as many nozzles can be
configurations



cleared 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
simplicity
pressures are required to
Thermal Inkjet



from electroformed

bond nozzle plate



nickel, and bonded to

Minimum thickness



the print head chip.

constraints





Differential thermal





expansion


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


or drilled
are ablated by an
Can be quite fast
individually formed
1988 Sercel et al.,


polymer
intense UV laser in a
Some control over
Special equipment
SPIE, Vol. 998



nozzle plate, which is
nozzle profile is
required
Excimer Beam



typically a polymer
possible
Slow where there are
Applications, pp.



such as polyimide or
Equipment required
many thousands of nozzles
76–83



polysulphone
is relatively low cost
per print head
1993 Watanabe et





May produce thin burrs at
al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,604





exit holes


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


machined
is micromachined from
attainable
High cost
Transactions on



single crystal silicon,

Requires precision
Electron Devices,



and bonded to the print

alignment
Vol. ED-25, No.



head wafer.

Nozzles may be clogged
10, 1978, pp 1185–





by adhesive
1195






Xerox 1990






Hawkins et al., U.S. Pat. No.






4,899,181


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


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



tubing. This method
Simple to make
Not suited for mass



has been used for
single nozzles
production



making individual



nozzles, but is difficult



to use for bulk



manufacturing of print



heads with thousands



of nozzles.


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


surface micro-
deposited as a layer
μm)
under the nozzle plate to
0771 658 A2 and


machined
using standard VLSI
Monolithic
form the nozzle chamber
related patent


using VLSI
deposition techniques.
Low cost
Surface may be fragile to
applications


lithographic
Nozzles are etched in
Existing processes
the touch
IJ01, IJ02, IJ04,


processes
the nozzle plate using
can be used

IJ11



VLSI lithography and


IJ12, IJ17, IJ18,



etching.


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
Requires long etch times
IJ03, IJ05, IJ06,


etched
buried etch stop in the
μm)
Requires a support wafer
IJ07


through
wafer. Nozzle
Monolithic

IJ08, IJ09, IJ10,


substrate
chambers are etched in
Low cost

IJ13



the front of the wafer,
No differential

IJ14, IJ15, IJ16,



and the wafer is thinned
expansion

IJ19



from the back side.


IJ21, IJ23, IJ25,



Nozzles are then etched


IJ26



in the etch stop layer.


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


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



the nozzles entirely, to

Crosstalk problems
5,412,413



prevent nozzle


1993 Hadimioglu



clogging. These include


et al EUP 550,192



thermal bubble


1993 Elrod et al



mechanisms and


EUP 572,220



acoustic lens



mechanisms


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



trough through which a
manufacturing
sensitive to wicking.



paddle moves. There is
complexity



no nozzle plate.
Monolithic


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


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


individual
replacement by a slit

Crosstalk problems


nozzles
encompassing many



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
Cannon Bubblejet


(‘edge shooter’)
surface of the chip, and
No silicon etching
to edge
1979 Endo et al GB



ink drops are ejected
required
High resolution is
patent 2,007,162



from the chip edge.
Good heat sinking via
difficult
Xerox heater-in-pit




substrate
Fast color
1990 Hawkins et al




Mechanically strong
printing requires
U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181




Ease of chip handing
one print head per
Tone-jet





color


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


(’roof shooter’)
surface of the chip, and
required
flow is severely
TIJ 1982 Vaught et al



ink drops are ejected
Silicon can make an
restricted
U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,728



from the chip surface,
effective heat sink

IJ02, IJ11, IJ12,



normal to the plane of the
Mechanical strength

IJ20



chip.


IJ22


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


forward
chip, and ink drops are
Suitable for pagewidth
silicon etching
0771 658 A2 and


(‘up shooter’)
ejected from the front
print

related patent



surface of the chip.
High nozzle packing

applications




density therefore low

IJ04, IJ17, IJ18,




manufacturing cost

IJ24






IJ27–IJ45


Through chip,
Ink flow is through the
High ink flow
Requires wafer
IJ01, IJ03, IJ05,


reverse
chip, and ink drops are
Suitable for pagewidth
thinning
IJ06


(‘down
ejected from the rear
print
Requires special
IJ07, IJ08, IJ09,


shooter’)
surface of the chip.
High nozzle packing
handling during
IJ10




density therefore low
manufacture
IJ13, IJ14, IJ15,




manufacturing cost

IJ16






IJ19, IJ21, IJ23,






IJ25






IJ26


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


actuator
actuator, which is not
piezoelectric print heads
heads require
Tektronix hot melt



fabricated as part of the

several thousand
piezolectric ink jets



same substrate as the

connections to drive



drive transistors.

circuits





Cannot be





manufactured in





standard CMOS





fabs





Complex





assembly required



















INK TYPE











Ink type
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Examples





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



which typically
friendly
Corrosive
All IJ series ink jets



contains: water, dye,
No odor
Bleeds on paper
Silverbrook, EP 0771



surfactant, humectant,

May strikethrough
658 A2 and related



and biocide.

Cockles pater
patent applications



Modern ink dyes



have high water-



fastness, light fastness


Aqueous,
Water based ink
Environmentally
Slow drying
IJ02, IJ04, IJ21, IJ26


pigment
which typically
friendly
Corrosive
IJ27, IJ30



contains: water,
No odor
Pigment may clog
Silverbrook, EP 0771



pigment, surfactant,
Reduced bleed
nozzles
658 A2 and related



humectant, and
Reduced wicking
Pigment may clog
patent applications



biocide.
Reduced
actuator mechanisms
Piezoelectric ink-jets



Pigments have an
strikethrough
Cockles paper
Thermal ink jets (with



advantage in reduced


significant restrictions)



bleed, wicking and



strikethrough.


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


Ketone (MEK)
volatile solvent used
Prints on various
Flammable



for industrial printing
substrates such as



on difficult surfaces
metals and plastics



such as aluminum



cans.


Alcohol
Alcohol based inks
Fast drying
Slight odor
All IJ series ink jets


(ethanol, 2-
can be used where the
Operates at sub-
Flammable


butanol, and
printer must operate
freezing temperatures


others)
at temperatures below
Reduced paper



the freezing point of
cockle



water. An example of
Low cost



this is in-camera



consumer



photographic



printing.


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


(hot melt)
room temperature,
instantly freezes on the
Printed ink typically
piezoelectric ink jets



and is melted in the
print medium
has a ‘waxy’ feel
1989 Nowak U.S. Pat. No.



print head before
Almost any print
Printed pages may
4,820,346



jetting. Hot melt inks
medium can be used
‘block’
All IJ series ink jets



are usually wax
No paper cockle
Ink temperature may



based, with a melting
occurs
be above the curie point



point around 80° C.
No wicking occurs
of permanent magnets



After jetting the ink
No bleed occurs
Ink heaters consume



freezes almost
No strikethrough
power



instantly upon
occurs
Long warm-up time



contacting the print



medium or a transfer



roller.


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



extensively used in
medium for some dyes
significant limitation for



offset printing. They
Does not cockle
use in inkjets, which



have advantages in
paper
usually require a low



improved
Does not wick
viscosity. Some short



characteristics on
through paper
chain and multi-branched



paper (especially no

oils have a sufficiently



wicking or cockle).

low viscosity.



Oil soluble dies and

Slow drying



pigments are



required.


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



stable, self forming
High dye solubility
water



emulsion of oil,
Water, oil, and
Cost is slightly higher



water, and surfactant.
amphiphilic soluble
than water based ink



The characteristic
dies can be used
High surfactant



drop size is less than
Can stabilize pigment
concentration required



100 nm, and is
suspensions
(around 5%)



determined by the



preferred curvature of



the surfactant.

## Claims

1. A camera system for outputting deblurred still images, said system comprising:
a portable handheld camera device comprising an image sensor adapted to capture a still, blurred image comprising at least one blurred pixel;
a velocity detector adapted to determine the velocity of the camera system relative to an external environment and to produce a velocity output indicative thereof;
a linear image sensor for sensing data provided on at least one encoded card inserted into the camera system, the at least one encoded card containing instructions for the manipulation of the blurred images; and
a processor adapted to receive said blurred image from said image sensor and said velocity output from said velocity detector and to process said blurred image under programme control determined from data sensed by the linear image sensor from the at least one encoded card, the programme control utilising the velocity output to deblur said at least one blurred pixel of said blurred image and to output said deblurred still image and wherein said processor is connected to an integral inkjet printer internal to said portable handheld camera device for output of said deblurred still image on print media.

2. A camera system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said velocity detector comprises an accelerometer.

3. A camera system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said accelerometer comprises:
a micro-electro mechanical device.