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.

Description:
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&#39;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 (&lt;2 seconds per page). 
   All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. 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 (&lt;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 (&gt;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 (&gt;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 (&lt;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 (&lt;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.