Abstract:
A method of processing a digital image comprising: capturing the image utilizing an adjustable focusing technique; utilizing the focusing settings as an indicator of the position of structures within the image; and processing the image, utilizing the said focus settings to produce effects specific to said focus settings.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/112,750, filed on Jul. 10, 1998, now Issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,948. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus and, in particular, discloses a process for utilising autofocus information in a digital image camera. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Recently, digital cameras have become increasingly popular. These cameras normally operate by means of imaging a desired image utilizing a charge coupled device (CCD) array and storing the imaged scene on an electronic storage medium for later down loading onto a computer system for subsequent manipulation and printing out. Normally, when utilizing a computer system to print out an image, sophisticated software may be available to manipulate the image in accordance with requirements. 
     Unfortunately such systems require significant post processing of a captured image and normally present the image in an orientation in which is was taken, relying on the post processing process to perform any necessary or required modifications of the captured image. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for enhanced processing of images captured by a digital camera utilising autofocus settings. 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of generating a manipulated output image by means of a digital camera, the method comprising the steps of:
         capturing a focused image using an automatic focusing technique generating focus settings;   generating a manipulated output image by applying a digital image manipulating process to the focused image, the digital image manipulating process utilizing the focus settings.       

     Preferably the focus settings include a current position of a zoom motor of the digital camera. 
     In a preferred embodiment the digital image manipulating process includes a step of locating an object within the focused image utilizing the focus settings. 
     The method may include the step of printing out the manipulated image by means of a printing mechanism incorporated into the digital camera. 
     It is preferred that the digital image manipulating process selectively applies techniques to the focused image on the basis of the focus settings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the method of the preferred embodiment; and 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of the ARTCAM type camera. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiment is preferably implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in the concurrently filed application, Applicant&#39;s reference ART01, U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,060 entitled “A Digital Camera with Image Processing Capability” filed concurrently herewith by the present applicant the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference and the details of which, and other related applications are set out in the tables below.  FIG. 2  shows a block diagram thereof. 
     The aforementioned patent specification discloses a camera system, hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images can be directly printed out by an Artcam portable camera unit such as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Further, the aforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performing various manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing device  30  leading to the production of various effects in any output image  40 . 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  9  hereinafter being known as Artcards. The Artcam further has significant onboard processing power by an Artcam Central Processor unit (ACP)  32  which is interconnected to a memory device  34  for the storage of important data and images. 
     In the preferred embodiment, autofocus is achieved by processing of a CCD data stream to ensure maximum contrast. Techniques for determining a focus position based on a CCD data stream are known. For example, reference is made to “The Encyclopedia of Photography” editors Leslie Stroebel and Richard Zakia, published 1993 by Butterworth-Heinemann and “Applied Photographic Optics” by London &amp; Boston, Focal Press, 1988. These techniques primarily rely on measurements of contrast between adjacent pixels over portions of an input image. The image is initially processed by the ACP in order to determine a correct autofocus setting. 
     This autofocus information is then utilized by the ACP  32  in certain modes, for example, when attempting to locate faces within the image, as a guide to the likely size of any face within the image, thereby simplifying the face location process. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an example of the method utilized to determine likely image characteristics for examination by a face detection algorithm  10 . 
     Various images eg.  2 ,  3  and  4  are imaged by the camera device  28 . As a by product of the operation of the auto-focusing the details of the focusing settings of the autofocus unit  5  are stored by the ACP  32 . Additionally, a current position of the zoom motor  38  is also utilized as zoom setting  6 . Both of these settings are determined by the ACP  32 . Subsequently, the ACP  32  applies analysis techniques in heuristic system  8  to the detected values before producing an output  29  having a magnitude corresponding to the likely depth location of objects of interest  21 ,  31  or  41  within the image  2 ,  3  or  4  respectively. 
     Next, the depth value is utilised in a face detection algorithm  10  running on the ACP  32  in addition to the inputted sensed image  11  so as to locate objects within the image. A close output  29  corresponding to a range value indicates a high probability of a portrait image, a medium range indicates a high probability of a group photograph and a further range indicates a higher probability of a landscape image. This probability information can be utilized as an aid for the face detection algorithm and also can be utilised for selecting between various parameters when producing “painting” effects within the image or painting the image with clip arts or the like, with different techniques or clip arts being applied depending on the distance to an object. 
     It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. 
     The present invention is further best utilized in the Artcam device, the details of which are set out in the following paragraphs although it is not restricted thereto. 
     Ink Jet Technologies 
     The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable. 
     The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal inkjet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out. 
     The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of page width 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 (page width 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 below. 
     The inkjet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems 
     For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print head is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry. 
     Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. The print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding. 
     Cross-Referenced Applications 
     The following table is a guide to cross-referenced patent applications filed concurrently herewith and discussed hereinafter with the reference being utilized in subsequent tables when referring to a particular case: 
                                     Docket   Reference   Title                   IJ01US   6,227,652   Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer       IJ02US   6,213,588   Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer       IJ03US   6,213,589   Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet       IJ04US   6,231,163   Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer       IJ05US   6,247,795   Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer       IJ06US   6,394,581   Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer       IJ07US   6,244,691   Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Ink               Jet Printer       IJ08US   6,257,704   Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink               Jet Printer       IJ09US   6,416,168   Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printer       IJ10US   6,220,694   Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer       IJ11US   6,257,705   Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic               Ink Jet Printer       IJ12US   6,247,794   Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer       IJ13US   6,234,610   Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printer       IJ14US   6,247,793   Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink               Jet Printer       IJ15US   6,264,306   Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink               Jet Printer       IJ16US   6,241,342   Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink               Jet Printer       IJ17US   6,247,792   PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating               Pressure Ink Jet Printer       IJ18US   6,264,307   Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink               Jet Printer       IJ19US   6,254,220   Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer       IJ20US   6,234,611   Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer       IJ21US   6,302,528   Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printer       IJ22US   6,283,582   Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer       IJ23US   6,239,821   Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink               Jet Printer       IJ24US   6,338,547   Conductive PTFE Ben Activator Vented Ink               Jet Printer       IJ25US   6,247,796   Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printer       IJ26US   6,557,977   Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer       IJ27US   6,390,603   Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer       IJ28US   6,362,843   Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printer       IJ29US   6,293,653   Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer       IJ30US   6,312,107   Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE               and Corrugated Copper Ink Jet Printer       IJ31US   6,227,653   Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink               Jet Printer       IJ32US   6,234,609   A High Young&#39;s Modulus Thermoelastic Ink               Jet Printer       IJ33US   6,238,040   Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink               jet printer       IJ34US   6,188,415   Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator               comprising an external coiled spring       IJ35US   6,227,654   Trough Container Ink Jet Printer       IJ36US   6,209,989   Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet       IJ37US   6,247,791   Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum               Actuator Ink Jet       IJ38US   6,336,710   Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet       IJ39US   6,217,153   A single bend actuator cupped paddle ink               jet printing device       IJ40US   6,416,167   A thermally actuated ink jet printer having               a series of thermal actuator units       IJ41US   6,243,113   A thermally actuated ink jet printer               including a tapered heater element       IJ42US   6,283,581   Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet       IJ43US   6,247,790   Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic               Ink Jet       IJ44US   6,260,953   Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink               jet printer       IJ45US   6,267,469   Coil Acutuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printer                    
Tables of Drop-on-Demand Inkjets
 
     Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual inkjet nozzles have been identified. These characteristics are largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an eleven dimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix include entries developed by the present assignee. 
     The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of inkjet types. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Actuator mechanism (18 types) 
               
               
                   
                 Basic operation mode (7 types) 
               
               
                   
                 Auxiliary mechanism (8 types) 
               
               
                   
                 Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types) 
               
               
                   
                 Actuator motion (19 types) 
               
               
                   
                 Nozzle refill method (4 types) 
               
               
                   
                 Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types) 
               
               
                   
                 Nozzle clearing method (9 types) 
               
               
                   
                 Nozzle plate construction (9 types) 
               
               
                   
                 Drop ejection direction (5 types) 
               
               
                   
                 Ink type (7 types) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains 36.9 billion possible configurations of inkjet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable inkjet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain inkjet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 to IJ45 above. 
     Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these 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 print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available inkjet technology. 
     Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more of these examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below. The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In some cases, a 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 bubble 
                 An electrothermal heater 
                 Large force generated 
                 High power 
                 Canon Bubblejet 1979 
               
               
                   
                 heats the ink to 
                 Simple construction 
                 Ink carrier limited 
                 Endo et al GB patent 
               
               
                   
                 above boiling point, 
                 No moving parts 
                 to water 
                 2,007,162 
               
               
                   
                 transferring significant 
                 Fast operation 
                 Low efficiency 
                 Xerox heater-in-pit 1990 
               
               
                   
                 heat to the aqueous ink. 
                 Small chip area required for 
                 High temperatures 
                 Hawkins et al U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 A bubble nucleates and 
                 actuator 
                 required 
                 4,899,181 
               
               
                   
                 quickly forms, expelling 
                   
                 High mechanical 
                 Hewlett-Packard TIJ 
               
               
                   
                 the ink. The efficiency 
                   
                 stress 
                 1982 Vaught et al 
               
               
                   
                 of the process is low, 
                   
                 Unusual materials 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,728 
               
               
                   
                 with typically less than 
                   
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 0.05% of the electrical 
                   
                 Large drive 
               
               
                   
                 energy being transformed 
                   
                 transistors 
               
               
                   
                 into kinetic energy of 
                   
                 Cavitation causes 
               
               
                   
                 the drop. 
                   
                 actuator failure 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Kogation reduces 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 bubble formation 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Large print heads 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 are difficult to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 fabricate 
               
               
                 Piezoelectric 
                 A piezoelectric 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Very large area 
                 Kyser et al U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 crystal such as lead 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 required for 
                 3,946,398 
               
               
                   
                 lanthanum zirconate 
                 Fast operation 
                 actuator 
                 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212 
               
               
                   
                 (PZT) is electrically 
                 High efficiency 
                 Difficult to 
                 1973 Stemme U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 activated, and either 
                   
                 integrate with 
                 3,747,120 
               
               
                   
                 expands, shears, or 
                   
                 electronics 
                 Epson Stylus 
               
               
                   
                 bends to apply pressure 
                   
                 High voltage drive 
                 Tektronix 
               
               
                   
                 to the ink, ejecting 
                   
                 transistors required 
                 IJ04 
               
               
                   
                 drops. 
                   
                 Full pagewidth print 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 heads impractical due 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to actuator size 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Requires electrical 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 poling in high field 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 strengths during 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 manufacture 
               
               
                 Electro-strictive 
                 An electric field is 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Low maximum strain 
                 Seiko Epson, Usui et all 
               
               
                   
                 used to activate 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 (approx. 0.01%) 
                 JP 253401/96 
               
               
                   
                 electrostriction in 
                 Low thermal expansion 
                 Large area required 
                 IJ04 
               
               
                   
                 relaxor materials such 
                 Electric field strength required 
                 for actuator due to 
               
               
                   
                 as lead lanthanum 
                 (approx. 3.5 V/μm) can be 
                 low strain 
               
               
                   
                 zirconate titanate 
                 generated without difficulty 
                 Response speed is 
               
               
                   
                 (PLZT) or lead 
                 Does not require electrical 
                 marginal (~10 μs) 
               
               
                   
                 magnesium niobate 
                 poling 
                 High voltage drive 
               
               
                   
                 (PMN). 
                   
                 transistors required 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Full pagewidth print 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 heads impractical due 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to actuator size 
               
               
                 Ferroelectric 
                 An electric field is 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Difficult to 
                 IJ04 
               
               
                   
                 used to induce a 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 integrate with 
               
               
                   
                 phase transition 
                 Fast operation (&lt;1 μs) 
                 electronics 
               
               
                   
                 between the 
                 Relatively high longitudinal 
                 Unusual materials 
               
               
                   
                 antiferroelectric 
                 strain 
                 such as PLZSnT are 
               
               
                   
                 (AFE) and ferroelectric 
                 High efficiency 
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 (FE) phase. Perovskite 
                 Electric field strength of around 
                 Actuators require 
               
               
                   
                 materials such as 
                 3 V/μm can be readily 
                 a large area 
               
               
                   
                 tin modified lead 
                 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 used 
                 electrostatic devices 
               
               
                   
                 compressible or fluid 
                 Fast operation 
                 in an aqueous 
               
               
                   
                 dielectric (usually 
                   
                 environment 
               
               
                   
                 air). Upon application 
                   
                 The electrostatic 
               
               
                   
                 of a voltage, the 
                   
                 actuator will normally 
               
               
                   
                 plates attract each 
                   
                 need to be separated 
               
               
                   
                 other and displace ink, 
                   
                 from the ink 
               
               
                   
                 causing drop ejection. 
                   
                 Very large area 
               
               
                   
                 The conductive plates 
                   
                 required to achieve 
               
               
                   
                 may be in a comb or 
                   
                 high forces 
               
               
                   
                 honeycomb structure, or 
                   
                 High voltage drive 
               
               
                   
                 stacked to increase the 
                   
                 transistors may be 
               
               
                   
                 surface area and 
                   
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 therefore the force. 
                   
                 Full pagewidth print 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 heads are not 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 competitive due to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 actuator size 
               
               
                 Electrostatic pull 
                 A strong electric field 
                 Low current consumption 
                 High voltage required 
                 1989 Saito et al, U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                 on ink 
                 is applied to the 
                 Low temperature 
                 May be damaged by 
                 4,799,068 
               
               
                   
                 ink, whereupon 
                   
                 sparks due to air 
                 1989 Miura et al, U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 electrostatic attraction 
                   
                 breakdown 
                 4,810,954 
               
               
                   
                 accelerates the ink 
                   
                 Required field 
                 Tone-jet 
               
               
                   
                 towards the print 
                   
                 strength increases 
               
               
                   
                 medium. 
                   
                 as the drop 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 size decreases 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 High voltage drive 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 transistors required 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Electrostatic field 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 attracts dust 
               
               
                 Permanent 
                 An electromagnet 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Complex fabrication 
                 IJ07, IJ10 
               
               
                 magnet electro- 
                 directly attracts a 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Permanent magnetic 
               
               
                 magnetic 
                 permanent magnet, 
                 Fast operation 
                 material such as 
               
               
                   
                 displacing ink and 
                 High efficiency 
                 Neodymium Iron Boron 
               
               
                   
                 causing drop ejection. 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 (NdFeB) required. 
               
               
                   
                 Rare earth magnets 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 High local currents 
               
               
                   
                 with a field strength 
                 heads 
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 around 1 Tesla can be 
                   
                 Copper metalization 
               
               
                   
                 used. Examples are: 
                   
                 should be used for 
               
               
                   
                 Samarium Cobalt 
                   
                 long electromigration 
               
               
                   
                 (SaCo) and magnetic 
                   
                 lifetime and low 
               
               
                   
                 materials in the 
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                 neodymium iron boron 
                   
                 Pigmented inks are 
               
               
                   
                 family (NdFeB, 
                   
                 usually infeasible 
               
               
                   
                 NdDyFeBNb, NdDyFeB, etc) 
                   
                 Operating temperature 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 limited to the Curie 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 temperature (around 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 540 K) 
               
               
                 Soft magnetic core 
                 A solenoid induced a 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Complex fabrication 
                 IJ01, IJ05, IJ08, IJ10 
               
               
                 electro-magnetic 
                 magnetic field in a 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Materials not usually 
                 IJ12, IJ14, IJ15, IJ17 
               
               
                   
                 soft magnetic core or 
                 Fast operation 
                 present in a CMOS fab 
               
               
                   
                 yoke fabricated from a 
                 High efficiency 
                 such as NiFe, CoNiFe, 
               
               
                   
                 ferrous material such as 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 or CoFe are 
               
               
                   
                 electroplated iron 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 alloys such as CoNiFe 
                 heads 
                 High local currents 
               
               
                   
                 [1], CoFe, or NiFe 
                   
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 alloys. Typically, the 
                   
                 Copper metalization 
               
               
                   
                 soft magnetic material 
                   
                 should be used for 
               
               
                   
                 is in two parts, 
                   
                 long electromigration 
               
               
                   
                 which are normally held 
                   
                 lifetime and low 
               
               
                   
                 apart by a spring. When 
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                 the solenoid is actuated, 
                   
                 Electroplating is 
               
               
                   
                 the two parts attract, 
                   
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 displacing the ink. 
                   
                 High saturation flux 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 density is required 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (2.0-2.1 T is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 achievable with 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 CoNiFe [1]) 
               
               
                 Magnetic 
                 The Lorenz force acting 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Force acts as a 
                 IJ06, IJ11, IJ13, IJ16 
               
               
                 Lorenz force 
                 on a current carrying 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 twisting motion 
               
               
                   
                 wire in a magnetic field 
                 Fast operation 
                 Typically, only a 
               
               
                   
                 is utilized. 
                 High efficiency 
                 quarter of the sole- 
               
               
                   
                 This allows the 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 noid length provides 
               
               
                   
                 magnetic field to be 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 force in a useful 
               
               
                   
                 supplied externally to 
                 heads 
                 direction 
               
               
                   
                 the print head, for 
                   
                 High local currents 
               
               
                   
                 example with rare earth 
                   
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 permanent magnets. 
                   
                 Copper metalization 
               
               
                   
                 Only the current 
                   
                 should be used for 
               
               
                   
                 carrying wire need be 
                   
                 long electromigration 
               
               
                   
                 fabricated on the print- 
                   
                 lifetime and low 
               
               
                   
                 head, simplifying 
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                 materials requirements. 
                   
                 Pigmented inks are 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 usually infeasible 
               
               
                 Magneto-striction 
                 The actuator uses the 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 Force acts as a 
                 Fischenbeck, U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 giant magnetostrictive 
                 Fast operation 
                 twisting motion 
                 4,032,929 
               
               
                   
                 effect of materials such 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 Unusual materials 
                 IJ25 
               
               
                   
                 as Terfenol-D (an 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 such as Terfenol-D 
               
               
                   
                 alloy of terbium, 
                 heads 
                 are required 
               
               
                   
                 dysprosium and iron 
                 High force is available 
                 High local currents 
               
               
                   
                 developed at the 
                   
                 required 
               
               
                   
                 Naval Ordnance 
                   
                 Copper metalization 
               
               
                   
                 Laboratory, hence Ter- 
                   
                 should be used for 
               
               
                   
                 Fe-NOL). For best 
                   
                 long electromigration 
               
               
                   
                 efficiency, the 
                   
                 lifetime and low 
               
               
                   
                 actuator should be 
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                 pre-stressed to 
                   
                 Pre-stressing may 
               
               
                   
                 approx. 8 MPa. 
                   
                 be required 
               
               
                 Surface tension 
                 Ink under positive 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Requires supplementary 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 reduction 
                 pressure is held in 
                 Simple construction 
                 force to effect drop 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 a nozzle by surface 
                 No unusual materials required 
                 separation 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 tension. The surface 
                 in fabrication 
                 Requires special ink 
               
               
                   
                 tension of the ink is 
                 High efficiency 
                 surfactants 
               
               
                   
                 reduced below the 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 Speed may be limited 
               
               
                   
                 bubble threshold, 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 by surfactant 
               
               
                   
                 causing the ink to 
                 heads 
                 properties 
               
               
                   
                 egress from the nozzle. 
               
               
                 Viscosity 
                 The ink viscosity is 
                 Simple construction 
                 Requires supplementary 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 reduction 
                 locally reduced to 
                 No unusual materials required 
                 force to effect drop 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 select which drops 
                 in fabrication 
                 separation 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 are to be ejected. A 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 Requires special ink 
               
               
                   
                 viscosity reduction 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 viscosity properties 
               
               
                   
                 can be achieved 
                 heads 
                 High speed is 
               
               
                   
                 electrothermally with 
                   
                 difficult to achieve 
               
               
                   
                 most inks, but 
                   
                 Requires oscillating 
               
               
                   
                 special inks can be 
                   
                 ink pressure 
               
               
                   
                 engineered for a 100:1 
                   
                 A high temperature 
               
               
                   
                 viscosity reduction. 
                   
                 difference (typically 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 80 degrees) is required 
               
               
                 Acoustic 
                 An acoustic wave is 
                 Can operate without a nozzle 
                 Complex drive circuitry 
                 1993 Hadimioglu et al, 
               
               
                   
                 generated and 
                 plate 
                 Complex fabrication 
                 EUP 550,192 
               
               
                   
                 focussed upon the 
                   
                 Low efficiency 
                 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 
               
               
                   
                 drop ejection region. 
                   
                 Poor control of drop 
                 572,220 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 position 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Poor control of drop 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 volume 
               
               
                 Thermoelastic 
                 An actuator which 
                 Low power consumption 
                 Efficient aqueous 
                 IJ03, IJ09, IJ17, IJ18 
               
               
                 bend actuator 
                 relies upon 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 operation requires 
                 IJ19, IJ20, IJ21, IJ22 
               
               
                   
                 differential thermal 
                 Simple planar fabrication 
                 a thermal insulator 
                 IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 
               
               
                   
                 expansion upon 
                 Small chip area required for 
                 on the hot side 
                 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 
               
               
                   
                 Joule heating is used. 
                 each actuator 
                 Corrosion prevention 
                 IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Fast operation 
                 can be difficult 
                 IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40 
               
               
                   
                   
                 High efficiency 
                 Pigmented inks may 
                 IJ41 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CMOS compatible voltages and 
                 be infeasible, as 
               
               
                   
                   
                 currents 
                 pigment particles 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Standard MEMS processes can 
                 may jam the bend 
               
               
                   
                   
                 be used 
                 actuator 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Easy extension from single 
               
               
                   
                   
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
               
               
                   
                   
                 heads 
               
               
                 High CTE 
                 A material with a very 
                 High force can be generated 
                 Requires special 
                 IJ09, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20 
               
               
                 thermoelastic 
                 high coefficient of 
                 PTFE is a candidate for low 
                 material (e.g. PTFE) 
                 IJ21, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 thermal expansion (CTE) 
                 dielectric constant insulation 
                 Requires a PTFE 
                 IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30 
               
               
                   
                 such as 
                 in ULSI 
                 deposition process, 
                 IJ31, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 
               
               
                   
                 polytetrafluoroethylene 
                 Very low power consumption 
                 which is not yet 
               
               
                   
                 (PTFE) is used. 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 standard in ULSI fabs 
               
               
                   
                 As high CTE materials 
                 Simple planar fabrication 
                 PTFE deposition 
               
               
                   
                 are usually non- 
                 Small chip area required for 
                 cannot be followed 
               
               
                   
                 conductive, a heater 
                 each actuator 
                 with high temperature 
               
               
                   
                 fabricated from a 
                 Fast operation 
                 (above 350 °C.) 
               
               
                   
                 conductive material 
                 High efficiency 
                 processing 
               
               
                   
                 is incorporated. A 50 
                 CMOS compatible voltages and 
                 Pigmented inks may 
               
               
                   
                 μm long PTFE bend 
                 currents 
                 be infeasible, as 
               
               
                   
                 actuator with 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 pigment particles 
               
               
                   
                 polysilicon heater 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 may jam the bend 
               
               
                   
                 and 15 mW power 
                 heads 
                 actuator 
               
               
                   
                 input can provide 180 
               
               
                   
                 μN force and 10 
               
               
                   
                 μm deflection. 
               
               
                   
                 Actuator motions include: 
               
               
                   
                 1) Bend 
               
               
                   
                 2) Push 
               
               
                   
                 3) Buckle 
               
               
                   
                 4) Rotate 
               
               
                 Conductive 
                 A polymer with a 
                 High force can be generated 
                 Requires special 
                 IJ24 
               
               
                 polymer 
                 high coefficient of 
                 Very low power consumption 
                 materials development 
               
               
                 thermoelastic 
                 thermal expansion 
                 Many ink types can be used 
                 (High CTE conductive 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 (such as PTFE) is 
                 Simple planar fabrication 
                 polymer) 
               
               
                   
                 doped with conducting 
                 Small chip area required for 
                 Requires a PTFE 
               
               
                   
                 substances to 
                 each actuator 
                 deposition process, 
               
               
                   
                 increase its 
                 Fast operation 
                 which is not yet 
               
               
                   
                 conductivity to about 
                 High efficiency 
                 standard in ULSI fabs 
               
               
                   
                 3 orders of magnitude 
                 CMOS compatible voltages and 
                 PTFE deposition cannot 
               
               
                   
                 below that of 
                 currents 
                 be followed with high 
               
               
                   
                 copper. The conducting 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 temperature (above 
               
               
                   
                 polymer expands 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 350 °C.) processing 
               
               
                   
                 when resistively heated. 
                 heads 
                 Evaporation and CVD 
               
               
                   
                 Examples of conducting 
                   
                 deposition techniques 
               
               
                   
                 dopants include: 
                   
                 cannot be used 
               
               
                   
                 1) Carbon nanotubes 
                   
                 Pigmented inks may 
               
               
                   
                 2) Metal fibers 
                   
                 be infeasible, as 
               
               
                   
                 3) Conductive polymers 
                   
                 pigment particles 
               
               
                   
                 such as doped 
                   
                 may jam the bend 
               
               
                   
                 polythiophene 
                   
                 actuator 
               
               
                   
                 4) Carbon granules 
               
               
                 Shape memory 
                 A shape memory alloy 
                 High force is available (stresses 
                 Fatigue limits 
                 IJ26 
               
               
                 alloy 
                 such as TiNi (also 
                 of hundreds of MPa) 
                 maximum number of 
               
               
                   
                 known as Nitinol - 
                 Large strain is available (more 
                 cycles 
               
               
                   
                 Nickel Titanium alloy 
                 than 3%) 
                 Low strain (1%) is 
               
               
                   
                 developed at the 
                 High corrosion resistance 
                 required to extend 
               
               
                   
                 Naval Ordnance 
                 Simple construction 
                 fatigue resistance 
               
               
                   
                 Laboratory) is 
                 Easy extension from single 
                 Cycle rate limited 
               
               
                   
                 thermally switched 
                 nozzles to pagewidth print 
                 by heat removal 
               
               
                   
                 between its weak 
                 heads 
                 Requires unusual 
               
               
                   
                 martensitic state and 
                 Low voltage operation 
                 materials (TiNi) 
               
               
                   
                 its high stiffness 
                   
                 The latent heat of 
               
               
                   
                 austenic state. The 
                   
                 transformation must 
               
               
                   
                 shape of the actuator 
                   
                 be provided 
               
               
                   
                 in its martensitic 
                   
                 High current operation 
               
               
                   
                 state is deformed 
                   
                 Requires pre-stressing 
               
               
                   
                 relative to the 
                   
                 to distort the 
               
               
                   
                 austenic shape. 
                   
                 martensitic state 
               
               
                   
                 The shape change 
               
               
                   
                 causes ejection 
               
               
                   
                 of a drop. 
               
               
                 Linear Magnetic 
                 Linear magnetic 
                 Linear Magnetic actuators can 
                 Requires unusual semi- 
                 IJ12 
               
               
                 Actuator 
                 actuators include the 
                 be constructed with high 
                 conductor materials 
               
               
                   
                 Linear Induction 
                 thrust, long travel, and high 
                 such as soft magnetic 
               
               
                   
                 Actuator (LIA), Linear 
                 efficiency using planar 
                 alloys (e.g. CoNiFe 
               
               
                   
                 Permanent Magnet 
                 semiconductor fabrication 
                 [1]) 
               
               
                   
                 Synchronous Actuator 
                 techniques 
                 Some varieties also 
               
               
                   
                 (LPMSA), Linear 
                 Long actuator travel is available 
                 require permanent 
               
               
                   
                 Reluctance Synchronous 
                 Medium force is available 
                 magnetic materials 
               
               
                   
                 Actuator (LRSA), Linear 
                 Low voltage operation 
                 such as Neodymium 
               
               
                   
                 Switched Reluctance 
                   
                 iron boron (NdFeB) 
               
               
                   
                 Actuator (LSRA), 
                   
                 Requires complex 
               
               
                   
                 and the Linear Stepper 
                   
                 multi-phase drive 
               
               
                   
                 Actuator (LSA). 
                   
                 circuitry 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 High current operation 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 BASIC OPERATION MODE 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Operational mode 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Actuator directly 
                 This is the simplest 
                 Simple operation 
                 Drop repetition rate is usually limited to less 
                 Thermal inkjet 
               
               
                 pushes ink 
                 mode of operation: 
                 No external fields required 
                 than 10 KHz. However, this is not 
                 Piezoelectric inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 the actuator directly 
                 Satellite drops can be avoided if 
                 fundamental to the method, but is related 
                 IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, IJ04 
               
               
                   
                 supplies sufficient 
                 drop velocity is less than 4 
                 to the refill method normally used 
                 IJ05, IJ06, IJ07, IJ09 
               
               
                   
                 kinetic energy to 
                 m/s 
                 All of the drop kinetic energy must be 
                 IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, IJ16 
               
               
                   
                 expel the drop. The 
                 Can be efficient, depending 
                 provided by the actuator 
                 IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24 
               
               
                   
                 drop must have a 
                 upon the actuator used 
                 Satellite drops usually form if drop velocity 
                 IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28 
               
               
                   
                 sufficient velocity 
                   
                 is greater than 4.5 m/s 
                 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 
               
               
                   
                 to overcome the 
                   
                   
                 IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 
               
               
                   
                 surface tension. 
                   
                   
                 IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 
               
               
                 Proximity 
                 The drops to be 
                 Very simple print head 
                 Requires close proximity between the print 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 printed are selected 
                 fabrication can be used 
                 head and the print media or transfer roller 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 by some manner (e.g. 
                 The drop selection means does 
                 May require two print heads printing 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 thermally induced 
                 not need to provide the 
                 alternate rows of the image 
               
               
                   
                 surface tension 
                 energy required to separate 
                 Monolithic color print heads are difficult 
               
               
                   
                 reduction of pressur- 
                 the drop from the nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 ized ink). Selected 
               
               
                   
                 drops are separated 
               
               
                   
                 from the ink in the 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle by contact with 
               
               
                   
                 the print medium or 
               
               
                   
                 a transfer roller. 
               
               
                 Electrostatic pull 
                 The drops to be printed 
                 Very simple print head 
                 Requires very high electrostatic field 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 on ink 
                 are selected by 
                 fabrication can be used 
                 Electrostatic field for small nozzle sizes is 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 some manner (e.g. 
                 The drop selection means does 
                 above air breakdown 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 thermally induced 
                 not need to provide the 
                 Electrostatic field may attract dust 
                 Tone-Jet 
               
               
                   
                 surface tension 
                 energy required to separate 
               
               
                   
                 reduction of pressur- 
                 the drop from the nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 ized ink). Selected 
               
               
                   
                 drops are separated 
               
               
                   
                 from the ink in the 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle by a strong 
               
               
                   
                 electric field. 
               
               
                 Magnetic pull on 
                 The drops to be 
                 Very simple print head 
                 Requires magnetic ink 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 ink 
                 printed are selected 
                 fabrication can be used 
                 Ink colors other than black are difficult 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 by some manner (e.g. 
                 The drop selection means does 
                 Requires very high magnetic fields 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 thermally induced 
                 not need to provide the 
               
               
                   
                 surface tension 
                 energy required to separate 
               
               
                   
                 reduction of pressur- 
                 the drop from the nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 ized ink). Selected 
               
               
                   
                 drops are separated 
               
               
                   
                 from the ink 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 are required 
                 IJ13, IJ17, IJ21 
               
               
                   
                 shutter to block ink 
                 operation can be achieved 
                 Requires ink pressure modulator 
               
               
                   
                 flow to the nozzle. 
                 due to reduced refill time 
                 Friction and wear must be considered 
               
               
                   
                 The ink pressure is 
                 Drop timing can be very 
                 Stiction is possible 
               
               
                   
                 pulsed at a multiple 
                 accurate 
               
               
                   
                 of the drop ejection 
                 The actuator energy can be 
               
               
                   
                 frequency. 
                 very low 
               
               
                 Shuttered grill 
                 The actuator moves a 
                 Actuators with small travel can 
                 Moving parts are required 
                 IJ08, IJ15, IJ18, IJ19 
               
               
                   
                 shutter to block ink 
                 be used 
                 Requires ink pressure modulator 
               
               
                   
                 flow through a grill 
                 Actuators with small force can 
                 Friction and wear must be considered 
               
               
                   
                 to the nozzle. The 
                 be used 
                 Stiction is possible 
               
               
                   
                 shutter movement need 
                 High speed (&gt;50 KHz) 
               
               
                   
                 only be equal to 
                 operation can be achieved 
               
               
                   
                 the width of the 
               
               
                   
                 grill holes. 
               
               
                 Pulsed magnetic 
                 A pulsed magnetic 
                 Extremely low energy operation 
                 Requires an external pulsed magnetic field 
                 IJ10 
               
               
                 pull on ink pusher 
                 field attracts an ‘ink 
                 is possible 
                 Requires special materials for both the 
               
               
                   
                 pusher’ at the drop 
                 No heat dissipation problems 
                 actuator and the ink pusher 
               
               
                   
                 ejection frequency. 
                   
                 Complex construction 
               
               
                   
                 An actuator controls 
               
               
                   
                 a catch, which 
               
               
                   
                 prevents the ink 
               
               
                   
                 pusher from moving 
               
               
                   
                 when a drop is not 
               
               
                   
                 to be ejected. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Auxiliary 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Mechanism 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 None 
                 The actuator directly 
                 Simplicity of construction 
                 Drop ejection energy must be supplied 
                 Most inkjets, including 
               
               
                   
                 fires the ink drop, 
                 Simplicity of operation 
                 by individual nozzle actuator 
                 piezoelectric and 
               
               
                   
                 and there is no 
                 Small physical size 
                   
                 thermal bubble. 
               
               
                   
                 external field or other 
                   
                   
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ09, IJ11 
               
               
                   
                 mechanism required. 
                   
                   
                 IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ23-IJ45 
               
               
                 Oscillating ink 
                 The ink pressure 
                 Oscillating ink pressure can 
                 Requires external ink pressure oscillator 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 pressure 
                 oscillates, providing 
                 provide a refill pulse, 
                 Ink pressure phase and amplitude must 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                 (including 
                 much of the drop 
                 allowing higher operating 
                 be carefully controlled 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                 acoustic 
                 ejection energy. The 
                 speed 
                 Acoustic reflections in the ink chamber 
                 IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 
               
               
                 stimulation) 
                 actuator selects 
                 The actuators may operate with 
                 must be designed for 
                 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 
               
               
                   
                 which drops are to be 
                 much lower energy 
               
               
                   
                 fired by selectively 
                 Acoustic lenses can be used to 
               
               
                   
                 blocking or enabling 
                 focus the sound on the 
               
               
                   
                 nozzles. The ink 
                 nozzles 
               
               
                   
                 pressure oscillation 
               
               
                   
                 may be achieved by 
               
               
                   
                 vibrating the print 
               
               
                   
                 head, or preferably 
               
               
                   
                 by an actuator in 
               
               
                   
                 the ink supply. 
               
               
                 Media proximity 
                 The print head is 
                 Low power 
                 Precision assembly required 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 placed in close 
                 High accuracy 
                 Paper fibers may cause problems 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 proximity to the 
                 Simple print head construction 
                 Cannot print on rough substrates 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 print medium. Selected 
               
               
                   
                 drops protrude from 
               
               
                   
                 the print head further 
               
               
                   
                 than unselected drops, 
               
               
                   
                 and contact the print 
               
               
                   
                 medium. The drop soaks 
               
               
                   
                 into the medium fast 
               
               
                   
                 enough to cause 
               
               
                   
                 drop separation. 
               
               
                 Transfer roller 
                 Drops are printed to 
                 High accuracy 
                 Bulky 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 a transfer roller 
                 Wide range of print substrates 
                 Expensive 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 instead of straight 
                 can be used 
                 Complex construction 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 to the print medium. 
                 Ink can be dried on the transfer 
                   
                 Tektronix hot melt 
               
               
                   
                 A transfer roller 
                 roller 
                   
                 piezoelectric inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 can also be used for 
                   
                   
                 Any of the IJ series 
               
               
                   
                 proximity drop 
               
               
                   
                 separation. 
               
               
                 Electrostatic 
                 An electric field is 
                 Low power 
                 Field strength required for separation 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 used to accelerate 
                 Simple print head construction 
                 of small drops is near or above air 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 selected drops towards 
                   
                 breakdown 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 the print medium. 
                   
                   
                 Tone-Jet 
               
               
                 Direct magnetic 
                 A magnetic field is 
                 Low power 
                 Requires magnetic ink 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 field 
                 used to accelerate 
                 Simple print head construction 
                 Requires strong magnetic field 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 selected drops of 
                   
                   
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 magnetic ink towards 
               
               
                   
                 the print medium. 
               
               
                 Cross magnetic 
                 The print head is 
                 Does not require magnetic 
                 Requires external magnet 
                 IJ06, IJ16 
               
               
                 field 
                 placed in a constant 
                 materials to be integrated in 
                 Current densities may be high, resulting 
               
               
                   
                 magnetic field. The 
                 the print head manufacturing 
                 in electromigration problems 
               
               
                   
                 Lorenz force in a 
                 process 
               
               
                   
                 current carrying wire 
               
               
                   
                 is used to move the 
               
               
                   
                 actuator. 
               
               
                 Pulsed magnetic 
                 A pulsed magnetic 
                 Very low power operation is 
                 Complex print head construction 
                 IJ10 
               
               
                 field 
                 field is used to 
                 possible 
                 Magnetic materials required in print head 
               
               
                   
                 cyclically attract a 
                 Small print head size 
               
               
                   
                 paddle, which pushes 
               
               
                   
                 on the ink. A small 
               
               
                   
                 actuator moves a 
               
               
                   
                 catch, which 
               
               
                   
                 selectively prevents 
               
               
                   
                 the paddle from moving. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Actuator 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 amplification 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 None 
                 No actuator mechanical 
                 Operational simplicity 
                 Many actuator mechanisms have insuf- 
                 Thermal Bubble InkJet 
               
               
                   
                 amplification is 
                   
                 ficient travel, or insufficient force, 
                 IJ01, IJ02, IJ06, IJ07 
               
               
                   
                 used. The actuator 
                   
                 to efficiently drive the drop ejection 
                 IJ16, IJ25, IJ26 
               
               
                   
                 directly drives the 
                   
                 process 
               
               
                   
                 drop ejection process. 
               
               
                 Differential 
                 An actuator material 
                 Provides greater travel in a 
                 High stresses are involved 
                 Piezoelectric 
               
               
                 expansion bend 
                 expands more on 
                 reduced print head area 
                 Care must be taken that the materials 
                 IJ03, IJ09, IJ17-IJ24 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 one side than on 
                 The bend actuator converts a 
                 do not delaminate 
                 IJ27 IJ29-IJ39, IJ42, 
               
               
                   
                 the other. The 
                 high force low travel actuator 
                 Residual bend resulting from high 
                 IJ43, IJ44 
               
               
                   
                 expansion may be 
                 mechanism to high travel, 
                 temperature or high stress during 
               
               
                   
                 thermal, piezoelectric, 
                 lower force mechanism. 
                 formation 
               
               
                   
                 magnetostrictive, or 
               
               
                   
                 other mechanism. 
               
               
                 Transient bend 
                 A trilayer bend 
                 Very good temperature stability 
                 High stresses are involved 
                 IJ40, IJ41 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 actuator where the two 
                 High speed, as a new drop can 
                 Care must be taken that the materials 
               
               
                   
                 outside layers are 
                 be fired before heat dissipates 
                 do not delaminate 
               
               
                   
                 identical. This cancels 
                 Cancels residual stress of 
               
               
                   
                 bend due to ambient 
                 formation 
               
               
                   
                 temperature and 
               
               
                   
                 residual stress. 
               
               
                   
                 The actuator only 
               
               
                   
                 responds to transient 
               
               
                   
                 heating of one side 
               
               
                   
                 or the other. 
               
               
                 Actuator stack 
                 A series of thin 
                 Increased travel 
                 Increased fabrication complexity 
                 Some piezoelectric ink 
               
               
                   
                 actuators are stacked. 
                 Reduced drive voltage 
                 Increased possibility of short circuits 
                 jets 
               
               
                   
                 This can be 
                   
                 due to pinholes 
                 IJ04 
               
               
                   
                 appropriate where 
               
               
                   
                 actuators require high 
               
               
                   
                 electric field 
               
               
                   
                 strength, such as 
               
               
                   
                 electrostatic and 
               
               
                   
                 piezoelectric 
               
               
                   
                 actuators. 
               
               
                 Multiple actuators 
                 Multiple smaller 
                 Increases the force available 
                 Actuator forces may not add linearly, 
                 IJ12, IJ13, IJ18, IJ20 
               
               
                   
                 actuators are used 
                 from an actuator 
                 reducing efficiency 
                 IJ22, IJ28, IJ42, IJ43 
               
               
                   
                 simultaneously to 
                 Multiple actuators can be 
               
               
                   
                 move the ink. Each 
                 positioned to control ink flow 
               
               
                   
                 actuator need 
                 accurately 
               
               
                   
                 provide only a portion 
               
               
                   
                 of the force required. 
               
               
                 Linear Spring 
                 A linear spring is 
                 Matches low travel actuator 
                 Requires print head area for the spring 
                 IJ15 
               
               
                   
                 used to transform a 
                 with higher travel 
               
               
                   
                 motion with small 
                 requirements 
               
               
                   
                 travel and high force 
                 Non-contact method of motion 
               
               
                   
                 into a longer travel, 
                 transformation 
               
               
                   
                 lower force motion. 
               
               
                 Reverse spring 
                 The actuator loads a 
                 Better coupling to the ink 
                 Fabrication complexity 
                 IJ05, IJ11 
               
               
                   
                 spring. When the 
                   
                 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 actuator 
                 A bend actuator is 
                 Increases travel 
                 Generally restricted to planar 
                 IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35 
               
               
                   
                 coiled to provide 
                 Reduces chip area 
                 implementations due to extreme 
               
               
                   
                 greater travel in a 
                 Planar implementations are 
                 fabrication difficulty in other 
               
               
                   
                 reduced chip area. 
                 relatively easy to fabricate. 
                 orientations. 
               
               
                 Flexure bend 
                 A bend actuator has 
                 Simple means of increasing 
                 Care must be taken not to exceed the 
                 IJ10, IJ19, IJ33 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 a small region near 
                 travel of a bend actuator 
                 elastic limit in the flexure area 
               
               
                   
                 the fixture point, 
                   
                 Stress distribution is very uneven 
               
               
                   
                 which flexes much 
                   
                 Difficult to accurately model with finite 
               
               
                   
                 more readily than 
                   
                 element analysis 
               
               
                   
                 the remainder of the 
               
               
                   
                 actuator. The 
               
               
                   
                 actuator flexing is 
               
               
                   
                 effectively converted 
               
               
                   
                 from an even 
               
               
                   
                 coiling to an angular 
               
               
                   
                 bend, resulting in 
               
               
                   
                 greater travel of 
               
               
                   
                 the actuator tip. 
               
               
                 Gears 
                 Gears can be used to 
                 Low force, low travel actuators 
                 Moving parts are required 
                 IJ13 
               
               
                   
                 increase travel at 
                 can be used 
                 Several actuator cycles are required 
               
               
                   
                 the expense of 
                 Can be fabricated using 
                 More complex drive electronics 
               
               
                   
                 duration. Circular 
                 standard surface MEMS 
                 Complex construction 
               
               
                   
                 gears, rack and pinion, 
                 processes 
                 Friction, friction, and wear are possible 
               
               
                   
                 ratchets, and other 
               
               
                   
                 gearing methods can 
               
               
                   
                 be used. 
               
               
                 Catch 
                 The actuator controls 
                 Very low actuator energy 
                 Complex construction 
                 IJ10 
               
               
                   
                 a small catch. The 
                 Very small actuator size 
                 Requires external force 
               
               
                   
                 catch either enables 
                   
                 Unsuitable for pigmented inks 
               
               
                   
                 or disables movement of 
               
               
                   
                 an ink pusher that is 
               
               
                   
                 controlled in a bulk 
               
               
                   
                 manner. 
               
               
                 Buckle plate 
                 A buckle plate can be 
                 Very fast movement achievable 
                 Must stay within elastic limits of the 
                 S. Hirata et al, “An Ink- 
               
               
                   
                 used to change a 
                   
                 materials for long device life 
                 jet Head . . . ”, Proc. 
               
               
                   
                 slow actuator into a 
                   
                 High stresses involved 
                 IEEE MEMS, February 
               
               
                   
                 fast motion. It can 
                   
                 Generally high power requirement 
                 1996, pp 418-423. 
               
               
                   
                 also convert a high 
                   
                   
                 IJ18, IJ27 
               
               
                   
                 force, low travel 
               
               
                   
                 actuator into a high 
               
               
                   
                 travel, medium force 
               
               
                   
                 motion. 
               
               
                 Tapered magnetic 
                 A tapered magnetic 
                 Linearizes the magnetic 
                 Complex construction 
                 IJ14 
               
               
                 pole 
                 pole can increase 
                 force/distance curve 
               
               
                   
                 travel at the expense 
               
               
                   
                 of force. 
               
               
                 Lever 
                 A lever and fulcrum 
                 Matches low travel actuator 
                 High stress around the fulcrum 
                 IJ32, IJ36, IJ37 
               
               
                   
                 is used to transform 
                 with higher travel 
               
               
                   
                 a motion with small 
                 requirements 
               
               
                   
                 travel and high force 
                 Fulcrum area has no linear 
               
               
                   
                 into a motion with 
                 movement, and can be used 
               
               
                   
                 longer travel and 
                 for a fluid seal 
               
               
                   
                 lower force. The 
               
               
                   
                 lever can also 
               
               
                   
                 reverse the direction 
               
               
                   
                 of travel. 
               
               
                 Rotary impeller 
                 The actuator is 
                 High mechanical advantage 
                 Complex construction 
                 IJ28 
               
               
                   
                 connected to a rotary 
                 The ratio of force to travel of 
                 Unsuitable for pigmented inks 
               
               
                   
                 impeller. A small 
                 the actuator can be matched 
               
               
                   
                 angular deflection of 
                 to the nozzle requirements by 
               
               
                   
                 the actuator results 
                 varying the number of 
               
               
                   
                 in a rotation of the 
                 impeller vanes 
               
               
                   
                 impeller vanes, which 
               
               
                   
                 push the ink against 
               
               
                   
                 stationary vanes and 
               
               
                   
                 out of the nozzle. 
               
               
                 Acoustic lens 
                 A refractive or 
                 No moving parts 
                 Large area required 
                 1993 Hadimioglu et al, 
               
               
                   
                 diffractive (e.g. zone 
                   
                 Only relevant for acoustic ink jets 
                 EUP 550,192 
               
               
                   
                 plate) acoustic lens 
                   
                   
                 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 
               
               
                   
                 is used to concentrate 
                   
                   
                 572,220 
               
               
                   
                 sound waves. 
               
               
                 Sharp conductive 
                 A sharp point is used 
                 Simple construction 
                 Difficult to fabricate using standard 
                 Tone-jet 
               
               
                 point 
                 to concentrate an 
                   
                 VLSI processes for a surface ejecting 
               
               
                   
                 electrostatic field. 
                   
                 ink-jet 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Only relevant for electrostatic ink 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 jets 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTUATOR MOTION 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Actuator motion 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Volume 
                 The volume of the 
                 Simple construction 
                 High energy is typically required to 
                 Hewlett-Packard 
               
               
                 expansion 
                 actuator changes, 
                 in the case 
                 achieve volume expansion. This leads to 
                 Thermal InkJet 
               
               
                   
                 pushing the ink in 
                 of thermal ink jet 
                 thermal stress, cavitation, and kogation 
                 Canon Bubblejet 
               
               
                   
                 all directions. 
                   
                 in thermal ink jet implementations 
               
               
                 Linear, 
                 The actuator moves in 
                 Efficient coupling 
                 High fabrication complexity may be 
                 IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ07 
               
               
                 normal to 
                 a direction normal 
                 to ink drops 
                 required to achieve perpendicular motion 
                 IJ11, IJ14 
               
               
                 chip surface 
                 to the print head 
                 ejected normal to 
               
               
                   
                 surface. The nozzle 
                 the surface 
               
               
                   
                 is typically in the 
               
               
                   
                 line of movement. 
               
               
                 Linear, 
                 The actuator moves 
                 Suitable for planar 
                 Fabrication complexity 
                 IJ12, IJ13, IJ15, IJ33, 
               
               
                 parallel to 
                 parallel to the print 
                 fabrication 
                 Friction 
                 IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 
               
               
                 chip surface 
                 head surface. Drop 
                   
                 Stiction 
               
               
                   
                 ejection may still be 
               
               
                   
                 normal to the surface. 
               
               
                 Membrane push 
                 An actuator with a 
                 The effective 
                 Fabrication complexity 
                 1982 Howkins U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 high force but small 
                 area of the 
                 Actuator size 
                 4,459,601 
               
               
                   
                 area is used to push 
                 actuator becomes 
                 Difficulty of integration in a VLSI 
               
               
                   
                 a stiff membrane that 
                 the membrane area 
                 process 
               
               
                   
                 is in contact with 
               
               
                   
                 the ink. 
               
               
                 Rotary 
                 The actuator causes 
                 Rotary levers may 
                 Device complexity 
                 IJ05, IJ08, IJ13, IJ28 
               
               
                   
                 the rotation of some 
                 be used to 
                 May have friction at a pivot point 
               
               
                   
                 element, such a grill 
                 increase travel 
               
               
                   
                 or impeller 
                 Small chip area 
               
               
                   
                   
                 requirements 
               
               
                 Bend 
                 The actuator bends 
                 A very small 
                 Requires the actuator to be made from 
                 1970 Kyser et al U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 when energized. This 
                 change in 
                 at least two distinct layers, or to 
                 3,946,398 
               
               
                   
                 may be due to 
                 dimensions can 
                 have a thermal difference across the 
                 1973 Stemme U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 differential thermal 
                 be converted 
                 actuator 
                 3,747,120 
               
               
                   
                 expansion, piezo- 
                 to a large 
                   
                 IJ03, IJ09, IJ10, IJ19 
               
               
                   
                 electric expansion, 
                 motion. 
                   
                 IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ29 
               
               
                   
                 magnetostriction, 
                   
                   
                 IJ30, IJ31, IJ33, IJ34 
               
               
                   
                 or other form of 
                   
                   
                 IJ35 
               
               
                   
                 relative dimensional 
               
               
                   
                 change. 
               
               
                 Swivel 
                 The actuator swivels 
                 Allows operation 
                 Inefficient coupling to the ink motion 
                 IJ06 
               
               
                   
                 around a central 
                 where the net 
               
               
                   
                 pivot. This motion is 
                 linear force on 
               
               
                   
                 suitable where there 
                 the paddle is 
               
               
                   
                 are opposite forces 
                 zero 
               
               
                   
                 applied to opposite 
                 Small chip area 
               
               
                   
                 sides of the paddle, 
                 requirements 
               
               
                   
                 e.g. Lorenz force. 
               
               
                 Straighten 
                 The actuator is 
                 Can be used 
                 Requires careful balance of stresses to 
                 IJ26, IJ32 
               
               
                   
                 normally bent, and 
                 with shape 
                 ensure that the quiescent bend is 
               
               
                   
                 straightens when 
                 memory alloys 
                 accurate 
               
               
                   
                 energized. 
                 where the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 austenic phase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 is planar 
               
               
                 Double bend 
                 The actuator bends in 
                 One actuator can 
                 Difficult to make the drops ejected by 
                 IJ36, IJ37, IJ38 
               
               
                   
                 one direction when one 
                 be used to power 
                 both bend directions identical. 
               
               
                   
                 element is energized, 
                 two nozzles. 
                 A small efficiency loss compared to 
               
               
                   
                 and bends the other way 
                 Reduced chip size. 
                 equivalent single bend actuators. 
               
               
                   
                 when another element is 
                 Not sensitive to 
               
               
                   
                 energized. 
                 ambient temperature 
               
               
                 Shear 
                 Energizing the actuator 
                 Can increase the 
                 Not readily applicable to other actuator 
                 1985 Fishbeck U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 causes a shear motion in 
                 effective travel 
                 mechanisms 
                 4,584,590 
               
               
                   
                 the actuator material. 
                 of piezoelectric 
               
               
                   
                   
                 actuators 
               
               
                 Radial 
                 The actuator squeezes 
                 Relatively easy 
                 High force required 
                 1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                 constriction 
                 an ink reservoir, 
                 to fabricate 
                 Inefficient 
                 3,683,212 
               
               
                   
                 forcing ink from a 
                 single nozzles 
                 Difficult to integrate with VLSI 
               
               
                   
                 constricted nozzle. 
                 from glass 
                 processes 
               
               
                   
                   
                 tubing as 
               
               
                   
                   
                 macroscopic 
               
               
                   
                   
                 structures 
               
               
                 Coil/uncoil 
                 A coiled actuator 
                 Easy to fabricate 
                 Difficult to fabricate for non-planar 
                 IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35 
               
               
                   
                 uncoils or coils more 
                 as a planar 
                 devices 
               
               
                   
                 tightly. The motion of 
                 VLSI process 
                 Poor out-of-plane stiffness 
               
               
                   
                 the free end of the 
                 Small area 
               
               
                   
                 actuator ejects the ink. 
                 required, therefore 
               
               
                   
                   
                 low cost 
               
               
                 Bow 
                 The actuator bows (or 
                 Can increase the 
                 Maximum travel is constrained 
                 IJ16, IJ18, IJ27 
               
               
                   
                 buckles) in the 
                 speed of travel 
                 High force required 
               
               
                   
                 middle when energized. 
                 Mechanically rigid 
               
               
                 Push-Pull 
                 Two actuators control 
                 The structure is 
                 Not readily suitable for inkjets which 
                 IJ18 
               
               
                   
                 a shutter. One 
                 pinned at both 
                 directly push the ink 
               
               
                   
                 actuator pulls the 
                 ends, so has a 
               
               
                   
                 shutter, and the other 
                 high out-of- 
               
               
                   
                 pushes it. 
                 plane rigidity 
               
               
                 Curl inwards 
                 A set of actuators curl 
                 Good fluid flow 
                 Design complexity 
                 IJ20, IJ42 
               
               
                   
                 inwards to reduce 
                 to the region 
               
               
                   
                 the volume of ink that 
                 behind the 
               
               
                   
                 they enclose. 
                 actuator increases 
               
               
                   
                   
                 efficiency 
               
               
                 Curl outwards 
                 A set of actuators 
                 Relatively simple 
                 Relatively large chip area 
                 IJ43 
               
               
                   
                 curl outwards, 
                 construction 
               
               
                   
                 pressurizing ink in 
               
               
                   
                 a chamber surrounding 
               
               
                   
                 the actuators, and 
               
               
                   
                 expelling ink from a 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle in the chamber. 
               
               
                 Iris 
                 Multiple vanes enclose 
                 High efficiency 
                 High fabrication complexity 
                 IJ22 
               
               
                   
                 a volume of ink. These 
                 Small chip area 
                 Not suitable for pigmented inks 
               
               
                   
                 simultaneously rotate, 
               
               
                   
                 reducing the volume 
               
               
                   
                 between the vanes. 
               
               
                 Acoustic vibration 
                 The actuator vibrates 
                 The actuator can 
                 Large area required for efficient 
                 1993 Hadimioglu et al, 
               
               
                   
                 at a high frequency. 
                 be physically 
                 operation at useful frequencies 
                 EUP 550,192 
               
               
                   
                   
                 distant from the 
                 Acoustic coupling and crosstalk 
                 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ink 
                 Complex drive circuitry 
                 572,220 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Poor control of drop volume and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 position 
               
               
                 None 
                 In various ink jet 
                 No moving parts 
                 Various other tradeoffs are required 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                   
                 designs the actuator 
                   
                 to eliminate moving parts 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 does not move. 
                   
                   
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Tone-jet 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 NOZZLE REFILL METHOD 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Nozzle refill 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 method 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Surface tension 
                 After the actuator 
                 Fabrication simplicity 
                 Low speed 
                 Thermal inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 is energized, it 
                 Operational simplicity 
                 Surface tension force relatively small 
                 Piezoelectric inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 typically returns 
                   
                 compared to actuator force 
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14 
               
               
                   
                 rapidly to its normal 
                   
                 Long refill time usually dominates the 
                 IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 
               
               
                   
                 position. This rapid 
                   
                 total repetition rate 
               
               
                   
                 return sucks in air 
               
               
                   
                 through the nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 opening. The ink 
               
               
                   
                 surface tension at 
               
               
                   
                 the nozzle then 
               
               
                   
                 exerts a small force 
               
               
                   
                 restoring the meniscus 
               
               
                   
                 to a minimum area. 
               
               
                 Shuttered 
                 Ink to the nozzle 
                 High speed 
                 Requires common ink pressure oscillator 
                 IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 
               
               
                 oscillating ink 
                 chamber is provided 
                 Low actuator energy, as the 
                 May not be suitable for pigmented inks 
                 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 
               
               
                 pressure 
                 at a pressure that 
                 actuator need only open or 
               
               
                   
                 oscillates at twice 
                 close the shutter, instead of 
               
               
                   
                 the drop ejection 
                 ejecting the ink drop 
               
               
                   
                 frequency. When a drop 
               
               
                   
                 is to be ejected, the 
               
               
                   
                 shutter is opened for 
               
               
                   
                 3 half cycles: drop 
               
               
                   
                 ejection, actuator 
               
               
                   
                 return, and refill. 
               
               
                 Refill actuator 
                 After the main actuator 
                 High speed, as the nozzle is 
                 Requires two independent actuators per 
                 IJ09 
               
               
                   
                 has ejected a drop a 
                 actively refilled 
                 nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 second (refill) actuator 
               
               
                   
                 is energized. The refill 
               
               
                   
                 actuator pushes ink 
               
               
                   
                 into the nozzle chamber. 
               
               
                   
                 The refill actuator 
               
               
                   
                 returns slowly, to 
               
               
                   
                 prevent its return from 
               
               
                   
                 emptying the chamber 
               
               
                   
                 again. 
               
               
                 Positive ink 
                 The ink is held a slight 
                 High refill rate, therefore a 
                 Surface spill must be prevented 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 pressure 
                 positive pressure. After 
                 high drop repetition rate is 
                 Highly hydrophobic print head surfaces 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 the ink drop is ejected, 
                 possible 
                 are required 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 the nozzle chamber fills 
                   
                   
                 Alternative for: 
               
               
                   
                 quickly as surface 
                   
                   
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14 
               
               
                   
                 tension and ink pressure 
                   
                   
                 IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 
               
               
                   
                 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 
                 Design simplicity 
                 Restricts refill rate 
                 Thermal inkjet 
               
               
                 channel 
                 to the nozzle chamber 
                 Operational simplicity 
                 May result in a relatively large chip 
                 Piezoelectric inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 is made long and 
                 Reduces crosstalk 
                 area 
                 IJ42, IJ43 
               
               
                   
                 relatively narrow, 
                   
                 Only partially effective 
               
               
                   
                 relying on viscous 
               
               
                   
                 drag to reduce 
               
               
                   
                 inlet back-flow. 
               
               
                 Positive ink 
                 The ink is under a 
                 Drop selection and separation 
                 Requires a method (such as a nozzle rim 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 pressure 
                 positive pressure, 
                 forces can be reduced 
                 or effective hydrophobizing, or both) to 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 so that in the 
                 Fast refill time 
                 prevent flooding of the ejection surface 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 quiescent state some 
                   
                 of the print head. 
                 Possible operation of the 
               
               
                   
                 of the ink drop already 
                   
                   
                 following: 
               
               
                   
                 protrudes from the 
                   
                   
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle. This reduces 
                   
                   
                 IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22, 
               
               
                   
                 the pressure in the 
                   
                   
                 IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ41 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle chamber which 
                   
                   
                 IJ44 
               
               
                   
                 is required to eject 
               
               
                   
                 a certain volume of 
               
               
                   
                 ink. The reduction in 
               
               
                   
                 chamber pressure 
               
               
                   
                 results in a 
               
               
                   
                 reduction in ink 
               
               
                   
                 pushed out through 
               
               
                   
                 the inlet. 
               
               
                 Baffle 
                 One or more baffles 
                 The refill rate is not as 
                 Design complexity 
                 HP Thermal Ink Jet 
               
               
                   
                 are placed in the 
                 restricted as the long 
                 May increase fabrication complexity 
                 Tektronix piezoelectric 
               
               
                   
                 inlet ink flow. When 
                 inlet method. 
                 (e.g. Tektronix hot melt Piezoelectric 
                 inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 the actuator is 
                 Reduces crosstalk 
                 print heads). 
               
               
                   
                 energized, the rapid 
               
               
                   
                 ink movement 
               
               
                   
                 creates eddies which 
               
               
                   
                 restrict the flow 
               
               
                   
                 through the inlet. 
               
               
                   
                 The slower refill 
               
               
                   
                 process is unre- 
               
               
                   
                 stricted, and does 
               
               
                   
                 not result in eddies. 
               
               
                 Flexible flap 
                 In this method 
                 Significantly reduces back-flow 
                 Not applicable to most inkjet config- 
                 Canon 
               
               
                 restricts inlet 
                 recently disclosed by 
                 for edge-shooter thermal ink 
                 urations 
               
               
                   
                 Canon, the expanding 
                 jet devices 
                 Increased fabrication complexity 
               
               
                   
                 actuator (bubble) 
                   
                 Inelastic deformation of polymer flap 
               
               
                   
                 pushes on a flexible 
                   
                 results in creep over extended use 
               
               
                   
                 flap that restricts 
               
               
                   
                 the inlet. 
               
               
                 Inlet filter 
                 A filter is located 
                 Additional advantage of ink 
                 Restricts refill rate 
                 IJ04, IJ12, IJ24, IJ27 
               
               
                   
                 between the ink inlet 
                 filtration 
                 May result in complex construction 
                 IJ29, IJ30 
               
               
                   
                 and the nozzle chamber. 
                 Ink filter may be fabricated 
               
               
                   
                 The filter has a 
                 with no additional process 
               
               
                   
                 multitude of small 
                 steps 
               
               
                   
                 holes or slots, 
               
               
                   
                 restricting ink flow. 
               
               
                   
                 The filter also 
               
               
                   
                 removes particles 
               
               
                   
                 which may block the 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle. 
               
               
                 Small inlet 
                 The ink inlet channel 
                 Design simplicity 
                 Restricts refill rate 
                 IJ02, IJ37, IJ44 
               
               
                 compared to 
                 to the nozzle chamber 
                   
                 May result in a relatively large chip 
               
               
                 nozzle 
                 has a substantially 
                   
                 area 
               
               
                   
                 smaller cross section 
                   
                 Only partially effective 
               
               
                   
                 than that of the nozzle, 
               
               
                   
                 resulting in easier ink 
               
               
                   
                 egress out of the nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 than out of the inlet. 
               
               
                 Inlet shutter 
                 A secondary actuator 
                 Increases speed of the ink- 
                 Requires separate refill actuator and 
                 IJ09 
               
               
                   
                 controls the position 
                 jet print head operation 
                 drive circuit 
               
               
                   
                 of a shutter, closing 
               
               
                   
                 off the ink inlet when 
               
               
                   
                 the main actuator is 
               
               
                   
                 energized. 
               
               
                 The inlet is 
                 The method avoids 
                 Back-flow problem is 
                 Requires careful design to minimize the 
                 IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06 
               
               
                 located behind 
                 the problem of inlet 
                 eliminated 
                 negative pressure behind the paddle 
                 IJ07, IJ10, IJ11, IJ14 
               
               
                 the ink-pushing 
                 back-flow by arrang- 
                   
                   
                 IJ16, IJ22, IJ23, IJ25 
               
               
                 surface 
                 ing the ink-pushing 
                   
                   
                 IJ28, IJ31, IJ32, IJ33 
               
               
                   
                 surface of the 
                   
                   
                 IJ34, IJ35, IJ36, IJ39 
               
               
                   
                 actuator between the 
                   
                   
                 IJ40, IJ41 
               
               
                   
                 inlet and the nozzle. 
               
               
                 Part of the 
                 The actuator and a 
                 Significant reductions in back- 
                 Small increase in fabrication complexity 
                 IJ07, IJ20, IJ26, IJ38 
               
               
                 actuator moves 
                 wall of the ink 
                 flow can be achieved 
               
               
                 to shut off 
                 chamber are arranged 
                 Compact designs possible 
               
               
                 the inlet 
                 so that the motion 
               
               
                   
                 of the actuator 
               
               
                   
                 closes off the inlet. 
               
               
                 Nozzle actuator 
                 In some configura- 
                 Ink back-flow problem is 
                 None related to ink back-flow on 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 does not result 
                 tions of ink jet, 
                 eliminated 
                 actuation 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                 in ink back-flow 
                 there is no expan- 
                   
                   
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 sion or movement of 
                   
                   
                 Valve-jet 
               
               
                   
                 an actuator which may 
                   
                   
                 Tone-jet 
               
               
                   
                 cause ink back-flow 
                   
                   
                 IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 
               
               
                   
                 through the inlet. 
                   
                   
                 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Nozzle Clearing 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 method 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Normal nozzle 
                 All of the nozzles are 
                 No added complexity on the 
                 May not be sufficient to displace dried 
                 Most ink jet systems 
               
               
                 firing 
                 fired periodically, 
                 print head 
                 ink 
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12 
               
               
                   
                 before the ink has a 
                   
                   
                 IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22 
               
               
                   
                 chance to dry. When 
                   
                   
                 IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ45 
               
               
                   
                 not in use the nozzles 
               
               
                   
                 are sealed (capped) 
               
               
                   
                 against air. 
               
               
                   
                 The nozzle firing is 
               
               
                   
                 usually performed 
               
               
                   
                 during a special clear- 
               
               
                   
                 ing cycle, after first 
               
               
                   
                 moving the print head 
               
               
                   
                 to a cleaning station. 
               
               
                 Extra power to 
                 In systems which heat 
                 Can be highly effective if the 
                 Requires higher drive voltage for 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 ink heater 
                 the ink, but do not 
                 heater is adjacent to the 
                 clearing 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 boil it under normal 
                 nozzle 
                 May require larger drive transistors 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 situations, nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 clearing can be 
               
               
                   
                 achieved by over- 
               
               
                   
                 powering the heater 
               
               
                   
                 and boiling ink at 
               
               
                   
                 the nozzle. 
               
               
                 Rapid succession 
                 The actuator is fired 
                 Does not require extra drive 
                 Effectiveness depends substantially 
                 May be used with: 
               
               
                 of actuator pulses 
                 in rapid succession. 
                 circuits on the print head 
                 upon the configuration of the inkjet 
                 IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ11 
               
               
                   
                 In some configurations, 
                 Can be readily controlled and 
                 nozzle 
                 IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22 
               
               
                   
                 this may cause heat 
                 initiated by digital logic 
                   
                 IJ23-IJ25, IJ27-IJ34 
               
               
                   
                 build-up at the nozzle 
                   
                   
                 IJ36-IJ45 
               
               
                   
                 which boils the ink, 
               
               
                   
                 clearing the nozzle. 
               
               
                   
                 In other situations, 
               
               
                   
                 it may cause sufficient 
               
               
                   
                 vibrations to dislodge 
               
               
                   
                 clogged nozzles. 
               
               
                 Extra power to 
                 Where an actuator is 
                 A simple solution where 
                 Not suitable where there is a hard limit 
                 May be used with: 
               
               
                 ink pushing 
                 not normally driven 
                 applicable 
                 to actuator movement 
                 IJ03, IJ09, IJ16, IJ20 
               
               
                 actuator 
                 to the limit of its 
                   
                   
                 IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ27 
               
               
                   
                 motion, nozzle clearing 
                   
                   
                 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 
               
               
                   
                 may be assisted by 
                   
                   
                 IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42 
               
               
                   
                 providing an enhanced 
                   
                   
                 IJ43, IJ44, IJ45 
               
               
                   
                 drive signal to the 
               
               
                   
                 actuator. 
               
               
                 Acoustic 
                 An ultrasonic wave is 
                 A high nozzle clearing 
                 High implementation cost if system does 
                 IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 
               
               
                 resonance 
                 applied to the ink 
                 capability can be achieved 
                 not already include an acoustic actuator 
                 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 
               
               
                   
                 chamber. This wave is 
                 May be implemented at very 
               
               
                   
                 of an appropriate 
                 low cost in systems which 
               
               
                   
                 amplitude and fre- 
                 already include acoustic 
               
               
                   
                 quency to cause 
                 actuators 
               
               
                   
                 sufficient force at 
               
               
                   
                 the nozzle to clear 
               
               
                   
                 blockages. This is 
               
               
                   
                 easiest to achieve if 
               
               
                   
                 the ultrasonic wave 
               
               
                   
                 is at a resonant 
               
               
                   
                 frequency of the ink 
               
               
                   
                 cavity. 
               
               
                 Nozzle clearing 
                 A microfabricated plate 
                 Can clear severely clogged 
                 Accurate mechanical alignment is re- 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 plate 
                 is pushed against the 
                 nozzles 
                 quired 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                   
                 nozzles. The plate has 
                   
                 Moving parts are required 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 a post for every nozzle. 
                   
                 There is risk of damage to the nozzles 
               
               
                   
                 The array of posts 
                   
                 Accurate fabrication is required 
               
               
                 Ink pressure pulse 
                 The pressure of the 
                 May be effective where other 
                 Requires pressure pump or other 
                 May be used with all IJ 
               
               
                   
                 ink is temporarily 
                 methods cannot be used 
                 pressure actuator 
                 series ink jets 
               
               
                   
                 increased so that ink 
                   
                 Expensive 
               
               
                   
                 streams from all of 
                   
                 Wasteful of ink 
               
               
                   
                 the nozzles. This may 
               
               
                   
                 be used in con- 
               
               
                   
                 junction with actuator 
               
               
                   
                 energizing. 
               
               
                 Print head wiper 
                 A flexible ‘blade’ 
                 Effective for planar print head 
                 Difficult to use if print head surface is 
                 Many ink jet systems 
               
               
                   
                 is wiped across the 
                 surfaces 
                 non-planar or very fragile 
               
               
                   
                 print head surface. 
                 Low cost 
                 Requires mechanical parts 
               
               
                   
                 The blade is usually 
                   
                 Blade can wear out in high volume print 
               
               
                   
                 fabricated from a 
                   
                 systems 
               
               
                   
                 flexible polymer, e.g. 
               
               
                   
                 rubber or synthetic 
               
               
                   
                 elastomer. 
               
               
                 Separate ink 
                 A separate heater is 
                 Can be effective where other 
                 Fabrication complexity 
                 Can be used with many 
               
               
                 boiling heater 
                 provided at the 
                 nozzle clearing methods 
                   
                 IJ series ink jets 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle although the 
                 cannot be used 
               
               
                   
                 normal drop e-ection 
                 Can be implemented at no 
               
               
                   
                 mechanism does not 
                 additional cost in some inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 require it. The 
                 configurations 
               
               
                   
                 heaters do not require 
               
               
                   
                 individual drive 
               
               
                   
                 circuits, as many 
               
               
                   
                 nozzles can be cleared 
               
               
                   
                 simultaneously, and 
               
               
                   
                 no imaging is required. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Nozzle plate 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 construction 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Electroformed 
                 A nozzle plate is 
                 Fabrication simplicity 
                 High temperatures and pressures are 
                 Hewlett Packard 
               
               
                 nickel 
                 separately fabricated 
                   
                 required to bond nozzle plate 
                 Thermal Inkjet 
               
               
                   
                 from electroformed 
                   
                 Minimum thickness constraints 
               
               
                   
                 nickel, and bonded 
                   
                 Differential thermal expansion 
               
               
                   
                 to the print head chip. 
               
               
                 Laser ablated or 
                 Individual nozzle holes 
                 No masks required 
                 Each hole must be individually formed 
                 Canon Bubblejet 
               
               
                 drilled polymer 
                 are ablated by an 
                 Can be quite fast 
                 Special equipment required 
                 1988 Sercel et al., 
               
               
                   
                 intense UV laser in a 
                 Some control over nozzle 
                 Slow where there are many thousands 
                 SPIE, Vol. 998 Excimer 
               
               
                   
                 nozzle plate, which 
                 profile is possible 
                 of nozzles per print head 
                 Beam Applications, 
               
               
                   
                 is typically a polymer 
                 Equipment required is 
                 May produce thin burrs at exit holes 
                 pp. 76-83 
               
               
                   
                 such as polyimide or 
                 relatively low cost 
                   
                 1993 Watanabe et al., 
               
               
                   
                 polysulphone 
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 5,208,604 
               
               
                 Silicon micro- 
                 A separate nozzle 
                 High accuracy is attainable 
                 Two part construction 
                 K. Bean, IEEE 
               
               
                 machined 
                 plate is micromachined 
                   
                 High cost 
                 Transactions on 
               
               
                   
                 from single crystal 
                   
                 Requires precision alignment 
                 Electron Devices, Vol. 
               
               
                   
                 silicon, and bonded 
                   
                 Nozzles may be clogged by adhesive 
                 ED-25, No. 10, 1978, 
               
               
                   
                 to the print head 
                   
                   
                 pp 1185-1195 
               
               
                   
                 wafer. 
                   
                   
                 Xerox 1990 Hawkins et 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 al., U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 4,899,181 
               
               
                 Glass 
                 Fine glass capillaries 
                 No expensive equipment 
                 Very small nozzle sizes are difficult to 
                 1970 Zoltan U.S. 
               
               
                 capillaries 
                 are drawn from glass 
                 required 
                 form 
                 Pat. No. 3,683,212 
               
               
                   
                 tubing. This method 
                 Simple to make single nozzles 
                 Not suited for mass production 
               
               
                   
                 has been used for 
               
               
                   
                 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 μm) 
                 Requires sacrificial layer under the 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 surface micro- 
                 deposited as a layer 
                 Monolithic 
                 nozzle plate to form the nozzle chamber 
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                 machined using 
                 using standard VLSI 
                 Low cost 
                 Surface may be fragile to the touch 
                 patent applications 
               
               
                 VLSI litho- 
                 deposition techniques. 
                 Existing processes can be 
                   
                 IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ11 
               
               
                 graphic 
                 Nozzles are etched in 
                 used 
                   
                 IJ12, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20 
               
               
                 processes 
                 the nozzle plate using 
                   
                   
                 IJ22, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 
               
               
                   
                 VLSI lithography and 
                   
                   
                 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 
               
               
                   
                 etching. 
                   
                   
                 IJ33, IJ34, IJ36, IJ37 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 
               
               
                 Monolithic, 
                 The nozzle plate is a 
                 High accuracy (&lt;1 μm) 
                 Requires long etch times 
                 IJ03, IJ05, IJ06, IJ07 
               
               
                 etched through 
                 buried etch stop in 
                 Monolithic 
                 Requires a support wafer 
                 IJ08, IJ09, IJ10, IJ13 
               
               
                 substrate 
                 the wafer. Nozzle 
                 Low cost 
                   
                 IJ14, IJ15, IJ16, IJ19 
               
               
                   
                 chambers are etched in 
                 No differential expansion 
                   
                 IJ21, IJ23, IJ25, IJ26 
               
               
                   
                 the front of the 
               
               
                   
                 wafer, and the wafer 
               
               
                   
                 is thinned from the 
               
               
                   
                 back side. Nozzles are 
               
               
                   
                 then etched in the 
               
               
                   
                 etch stop layer. 
               
               
                 No nozzle plate 
                 Various methods have 
                 No nozzles to become clogged 
                 Difficult to control drop position accu- 
                 Ricoh 1995 Sekiya et al 
               
               
                   
                 been tried to eliminate 
                   
                 rately 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,413 
               
               
                   
                 the nozzles entirely, 
                   
                 Crosstalk problems 
                 1993 Hadimioglu et al 
               
               
                   
                 to prevent nozzle 
                   
                   
                 EUP 550,192 
               
               
                   
                 clogging. These include 
                   
                   
                 1993 Elrod et al EUP 
               
               
                   
                 thermal bubble mecha- 
                   
                   
                 572,220 
               
               
                   
                 nisms and acoustic lens 
               
               
                   
                 mechanisms 
               
               
                 Trough 
                 Each drop ejector has 
                 Reduced manufacturing 
                 Drop firing direction is sensitive to 
                 IJ35 
               
               
                   
                 a trough through 
                 complexity 
                 wicking. 
               
               
                   
                 which a paddle moves. 
                 Monolithic 
               
               
                   
                 There is no nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 plate. 
               
               
                 Nozzle slit 
                 The elimination of 
                 No nozzles to become clogged 
                 Difficult to control drop position accu- 
                 1989 Saito et al 
               
               
                 instead of 
                 nozzle holes and 
                   
                 rately 
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                 individual 
                 replacement by a 
                   
                 Crosstalk problems 
                 4,799,068 
               
               
                 nozzles 
                 slit encompassing 
               
               
                   
                 many actuator posi- 
               
               
                   
                 tions reduces nozzle 
               
               
                   
                 clogging, but in- 
               
               
                   
                 creases crosstalk due 
               
               
                   
                 to ink surface waves 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DROP EJECTION DIRECTION 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Ejection 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 direction 
                 Description 
                 Advantages 
                 Disadvantages 
                 Examples 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Edge 
                 Ink flow is along the 
                 Simple construction 
                 Nozzles limited to edge 
                 Canon Bubblejet 1979 
               
               
                 (‘edge shooter’) 
                 surface of the chip, 
                 No silicon etching required 
                 High resolution is difficult 
                 Endo et al GB patent 
               
               
                   
                 and ink drops are 
                 Good heat sinking via sub- 
                 Fast color printing requires one print 
                 2,007,162 
               
               
                   
                 ejected from the chip 
                 strate 
                 head per color 
                 Xerox heater-in-pit 1990 
               
               
                   
                 edge. 
                 Mechanically strong 
                   
                 Hawkins et al U.S. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Ease of chip handing 
                   
                 Pat. No. 4,899,181 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Tone-jet 
               
               
                 Surface 
                 Ink flow is along the 
                 No bulk silicon etching 
                 Maximum ink flow is severely restricted 
                 Hewlett-Packard TIJ 
               
               
                 (‘roof shooter’) 
                 surface of the chip, 
                 required 
                   
                 1982 Vaught et al 
               
               
                   
                 and ink drops are 
                 Silicon can make an effective 
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
               
               
                   
                 ejected from the chip 
                 heat sink 
                   
                 4,490,728 
               
               
                   
                 surface, normal to 
                 Mechanical strength 
                   
                 IJ02, IJ11, IJ12, IJ20 
               
               
                   
                 the plane of the chip. 
                   
                   
                 IJ22 
               
               
                 Through chip, 
                 Ink flow is through 
                 High ink flow 
                 Requires bulk silicon etching 
                 Silverbrook, EP 0771 
               
               
                 forward 
                 the chip, and ink 
                 Suitable for pagewidth print 
                   
                 658 A2 and related 
               
               
                 (‘up shooter’) 
                 drops are ejected 
                 High nozzle packing density 
                   
                 patent applications 
               
               
                   
                 from the front sur- 
                 therefore low manufacturing 
                   
                 IJ04, IJ17, IJ18, IJ24 
               
               
                   
                 face of the chip. 
                 cost 
                   
                 IJ27-IJ45 
               
               
                 Through chip, 
                 Ink flow is through 
                 High ink flow 
                 Requires wafer thinning 
                 IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06 
               
               
                 reverse 
                 the chip, and ink 
                 Suitable for pagewidth print 
                 Requires special handling during 
                 IJ07, IJ08, IJ09, IJ10 
               
               
                 (‘down shooter’) 
                 drops are ejected 
                 High nozzle packing density 
                 manufacture 
                 IJ13, IJ14, IJ15, IJ16 
               
               
                   
                 from the rear surface 
                 therefore low manufacturing 
                   
                 IJ19, IJ21, IJ23, IJ25 
               
               
                   
                 of the chip. 
                 cost 
                   
                 IJ26 
               
               
                 Through actuator 
                 Ink flow is through 
                 Suitable for piezoelectric 
                 Pagewidth print heads require several 
                 Epson Stylus 
               
               
                   
                 the actuator, which 
                 print heads 
                 thousand connections to drive circuits 
                 Tektronix hot melt 
               
               
                   
                 is not fabricated as 
                   
                 Cannot be manufactured in standard 
                 piezoelectric ink jets 
               
               
                   
                 part of the same 
                   
                 CMOS fabs 
               
               
                   
                 substrate as the 
                   
                 Complex assembly required 
               
               
                   
                 drive transistors. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
                                                   INK TYPE            Ink type   Description   Advantages   Disadvantages   Examples               Aqueous, dye   Water based ink   Environmentally friendly   Slow drying   Most existing inkjets           which typically   No odor   Corrosive   All IJ series ink jets           contains: water,       Bleeds on paper   Silverbrook, EP 0771           dye, surfactant,       May strikethrough   658 A2 and related           humectant, and       Cockles paper   patent applications           biocide.           Modern ink dyes           have high water-           fastness, light           fastness       Aqueous, pigment   Water based ink   Environmentally friendly   Slow drying   IJ02, IJ04, IJ21, IJ26           which typically   No odor   Corrosive   IJ27, IJ30           contains: water,   Reduced bleed   Pigment may clog nozzles   Silverbrook, EP 0771           pigment, surfactant,   Reduced wicking   Pigment may clog actuator mechanisms   658 A2 and related           humectant, and   Reduced strikethrough   Cockles paper   patent applications           biocide.           Piezoelectric ink-jets           Pigments have an           Thermal ink jets (with           advantage in reduced           significant           bleed, wicking           restrictions)           and strikethrough.       Methyl Ethyl   MEK is a highly vola-   Very fast drying   Odorous   All IJ series ink jets       Ketone (MEK)   tile solvent used for   Prints on various substrates   Flammable           industrial printing   such as metals and plastics           on difficult surfaces           such as aluminum cans.       Alcohol   Alcohol based inks   Fast drying   Slight odor   All IJ series ink jets       (ethanol, 2-   can be used where   Operates at sub-freezing   Flammable       butanol, and   the printer must   temperatures       others)   operate at tempera-   Reduced paper cockle           tures below the   Low cost           freezing point of           water. An example of           this is in-camera           consumer photographic           printing.       Phase change   The ink is solid at   No drying time - ink instantly   High viscosity   Tektronix hot melt       (hot melt)   room temperature, and   freezes on the print medium   Printed ink typically has a ‘waxy’ feel   piezoelectric ink jets           is melted in the   Almost any print medium can   Printed pages may ‘block’   1989 Nowak U.S. Pat.           print head before jet-   be used   Ink temperature may be above the curie   No. 4,820,346           ting. Hot melt inks   No paper cockle occurs   point of permanent magnets   All IJ series ink jets           are usually wax based,   No wicking occurs   Ink heaters consume power           with a melting point   No bleed occurs   Long warm-up time           around 80° C. After   No strikethrough occurs           jetting the ink freezes           almost instantly upon           contacting the print           medium or a transfer           roller.       Oil   Oil based inks are   High solubility medium for   High viscosity: this is a significant   All IJ series ink jets           extensively used in   some dyes   limitation for use in inkjets, which           offset printing. They   Does not cockle paper   usually require a low viscosity. Some           have advantages in   Does not wick through paper   short chain and multi-branched oils           improved characteris-       have a sufficiently low viscosity.           tics on paper (especi-       Slow drying           ally no wicking or           cockle). Oil soluble           dies and pigments are           required.       Microemulsion   A microemulsion is a   Stops ink bleed   Viscosity higher than water   All IJ series ink jets           stable, self forming   High dye solubility   Cost is slightly higher than water based           emulsion of oil, water,   Water, oil, and amphiphilic   ink           and surfactant. The   soluble dies can be used   High surfactant concentration required           characteristic drop   Can stabilize pigment   (around 5%)           size is less than   suspensions           100 nm, and is deter-           mined by the preferred           curvature of the           surfactant.                    
Ink Jet Printing
 
     A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed to facilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing and data distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can be included in printer devices incorporated as part of the present invention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to these ink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
                                         Austra-                   lian           U.S.       Provi-           Pat. No./Patent       sional           application       Number   Filing Date   Title   and Filing Date                   PO8066   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,227,652               and Apparatus (IJ01)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8072   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,213,588               and Apparatus (IJ02)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8040   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,213,589               and Apparatus (IJ03)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8071   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,231,163               and Apparatus (IJ04)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8047   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,247,795               and Apparatus (IJ05)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8035   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,394,581               and Apparatus (IJ06)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8044   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,244,691               and Apparatus (IJ07)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8063   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,257,704               and Apparatus (IJ08)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8057   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,416,168               and Apparatus (IJ09)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8056   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,220,694               and Apparatus (IJ10)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8069   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,257,705               and Apparatus (IJ11)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8049   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,247,794               and Apparatus (IJ12)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8036   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,234,610               and Apparatus (IJ13)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8048   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,247,793               and Apparatus (IJ14)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8070   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,264,306               and Apparatus (IJ15)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8067   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,241,342               and Apparatus (IJ16)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8001   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,247,792               and Apparatus (IJ17)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8038   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,264,307               and Apparatus (IJ18)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8033   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,254,220               and Apparatus (IJ19)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8002   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,234,611               and Apparatus (IJ20)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8068   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,302,528               and Apparatus (IJ21)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8062   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,283,582               and Apparatus (IJ22)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8034   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,239,821               and Apparatus (IJ23)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8039   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,338,547               and Apparatus (IJ24)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8041   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,247,796               and Apparatus (IJ25)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8004   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   09/113,122               and Apparatus (IJ26)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8037   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,390,603               and Apparatus (IJ27)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8043   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,362,843               and Apparatus (IJ28)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8042   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,293,653               and Apparatus (IJ29)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8064   15 Jul. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,312,107               and Apparatus (IJ30)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO9389   23 Sep. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,227,653               and Apparatus (IJ31)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO9391   23 Sep. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,234,609               and Apparatus (IJ32)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0888   12 Dec. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,238,040               and Apparatus (IJ33)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0891   12 Dec. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,188,415               and Apparatus (IJ34)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0890   12 Dec. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,227,654               and Apparatus (IJ35)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0873   12 Dec. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,209,989               and Apparatus (IJ36)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0993   12 Dec. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,247,791               and Apparatus (IJ37)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0890   12 Dec. 1997   Image Creation Method   6,336,710               and Apparatus (IJ38)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP1398   19 Jan. 1998   An Image Creation   6,217,153               Method and Apparatus   (Jul. 10, 1998)               (IJ39)       PP2592   25 Mar. 1998   An Image Creation   6,416,167               Method and Apparatus   (Jul. 10, 1998)               (IJ40)       PP2593   25 Mar. 1998   Image Creation Method   6,243,113               and Apparatus (IJ41)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP3991   9 Jun. 1998   Image Creation Method   6,283,581               and Apparatus (IJ42)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP3987   9 Jun. 1998   Image Creation Method   6,247,790               and Apparatus (IJ43)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP3985   9 Jun. 1998   Image Creation Method   6,260,953               and Apparatus (IJ44)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP3983   9 Jun. 1998   Image Creation Method   6,267,469               and Apparatus (IJ45)   (Jul. 10, 1998)                    
Ink Jet Manufacturing
 
     Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
                                         Austral-           U.S. Pat. No./       ian           Patent       Provi-           application       sional           and Filing       Number   Filing Date   Title   Date                   PO7935   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,224,780               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM01)       PO7936   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,235,212               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM02)       PO7937   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,280,643               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM03)       PO8061   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,284,147               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM04)       PO8054   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,214,244               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM05)       PO8065   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,071,750               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM06)       PO8055   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,267,905               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM07)       PO8053   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,251,298               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM08)       PO8078   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,258,285               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM09)       PO7933   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,225,138               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM10)       PO7950   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,241,904               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM11)       PO7949   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,299,786               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM12)       PO8060   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   09/113,124               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM13)       PO8059   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,231,773               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM14)       PO8073   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,190,931               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM15)       PO8076   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,248,249               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM16)       PO8075   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,290,862               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM17)       PO8079   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,241,906               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM18)       PO8050   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   09/113,116               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM19)       PO8052   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,241,905               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM20)       PO7948   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,451,216               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM21)       PO7951   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,231,772               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM22)       PO8074   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,274,056               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM23)       PO7941   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,290,861               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM24)       PO8077   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,248,248               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM25)       PO8058   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,306,671               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM26)       PO8051   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,331,258               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM27)       PO8045   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,110,754               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM28)       PO7952   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,294,101               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM29)       PO8046   15 Jul. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,416,679               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM30)       PO8503   11 Aug. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,264,849               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM30a)       PO9390   23 Sep. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,254,793               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM31)       PO9392   23 Sep. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,235,211               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM32)       PP0889   12 Dec. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,235,211               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM35)       PP0887   12 Dec. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,264,850               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM36)       PP0882   12 Dec. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,258,284               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM37)       PP0874   12 Dec. 1997   A Method of Manufacture   6,258,284               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM38)       PP1396   19 Jan. 1998   A Method of Manufacture   6,228,668               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM39)       PP2591   25 Mar. 1998   A Method of Manufacture   6,180,427               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM41)       PP3989   9 Jun. 1998   A Method of Manufacture   6,171,875               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM40)       PP3990   9 Jun. 1998   A Method of Manufacture   6,267,904               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM42)       PP3986   9 Jun. 1998   A Method of Manufacture   6,245,247               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM43)       PP3984   9 Jun. 1998   A Method of Manufacture   6,245,247               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IJM44)       PP3982   9 Jun. 1998   A Method of Manufacture   6,231,148               of an Image Creation   (Jul. 10, 1998)               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. 
                                                     U.S.       Australian           Pat. No./Patent       Provisional           application and       Number   Filing Date   Title   Filing Date                   PO8003   15 Jul. 1997   Supply Method and   6,350,023               Apparatus (F1)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8005   15 Jul. 1997   Supply Method and   6,318,849               Apparatus (F2)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO9404   23 Sep. 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 US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
                                                     U.S.       Australian           Pat. No./Patent       Provisional           application and       Number   Filing Date   Title   Filing Date                   PO7943   15 Jul. 1997   A device (MEMS01)           PO8006   15 Jul. 1997   A device (MEMS02)   6,087,638                   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8007   15 Jul. 1997   A device (MEMS03)   09/113,093                   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8008   15 Jul. 1997   A device (MEMS04)   6,340,222                   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8010   15 Jul. 1997   A device (MEMS05)   6,041,600                   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO8011   15 Jul. 1997   A device (MEMS06)   6,299,300                   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO7947   15 Jul. 1997   A device (MEMS07)   6,067,797                   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO7945   15 Jul. 1997   A device (MEMS08)   09/113,081                   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO7944   15 Jul. 1997   A device (MEMS09)   6,286,935                   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO7946   15 Jul. 1997   A device (MEMS10)   6,044,646                   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PO9393   23 Sep. 1997   A Device and   09/113,065               Method (MEMS11)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0875   12 Dec. 1997   A device (MEMS12)   09/113,078                   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0894   12 Dec. 1997   A Device and   09/113,075               Method (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. 
                                         Austral-           U.S. Pat. No./       ian           Patent       Provis-           application       ional           and Filing       Number   Filing Date   Title   Date                   PP0895   12 Dec. 1997   An Image Creation   6,231,148               Method and   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IR01)       PP0870   12 Dec. 1997   A Device and   09/113,106               Method (IR02)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0869   12 Dec. 1997   A Device and   6,293,658               Method (IR04)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0887   12 Dec. 1997   Image Creation   09/113,104               Method and   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IR05)       PP0885   12 Dec. 1997   An Image   6,238,033               Production   (Jul. 10, 1998)               System (IR06)       PP0884   12 Dec. 1997   Image Creation   6,312,070               Method and   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IR10)       PP0886   12 Dec. 1997   Image Creation   6,238,111               Method and   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (IR12)       PP0871   12 Dec. 1997   A Device and   09/113,086               Method (IR13)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0876   12 Dec. 1997   An Image   09/113,094               Processing   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Method and               Apparatus (IR14)       PP0877   12 Dec. 1997   A Device and   6,378,970               Method (IR16)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0878   12 Dec. 1997   A Device and   6,196,739               Method (IR17)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0879   12 Dec. 1997   A Device and   09/112,774               Method (IR18)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0883   12 Dec. 1997   A Device and   6,270,182               Method (IR19)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0880   12 Dec. 1997   A Device and   6,152,619               Method (IR20)   (Jul. 10, 1998)       PP0881   12 Dec. 1997   A Device and   09/113,092               Method (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. 
                                         Austra-           U.S. Pat. No./       lian           Patent       Provis-           application       ional           and Filing       Number   Filing Date   Title   Date                   PP2370   16 Mar. 1998   Data Processing   09/112,781               Method and   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus (Dot01)       PP2371   16 Mar. 1998   Data Processing   09/113,052               Method and   (Jul. 10, 1998)               Apparatus               (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 US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Austral- 
                   
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No./ 
               
               
                 ian 
                   
                   
                 Patent 
               
               
                 Provi- 
                   
                   
                 application 
               
               
                 sional 
                   
                   
                 and Filing 
               
               
                 Number 
                 Filing Date 
                 Title 
                 Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 PO7991 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/113,060 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART01) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7988 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,476,863 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART02) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7993 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/113,073 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART03) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9395 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,322,181 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART04) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8017 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,747 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART06) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8014 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Media Device (ART07) 
                 6,227,648 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8025 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,750 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART08) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8032 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,746 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART09) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7999 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,743 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART10) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7998 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,742 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART11) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8031 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,741 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART12) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8030 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Media Device (ART13) 
                 6,196,541 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7997 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Media Device (ART15) 
                 6,195,150 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7979 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Media Device (ART16) 
                 6,362,868 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8015 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Media Device (ART17) 
                 09/112,738 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7978 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Media Device (ART18) 
                 09/113,067 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7982 
                 15 Jul 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,431,669 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART 19) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7989 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,362,869 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART20) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8019 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Media Processing Method 
                 6,472,052 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART21) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7980 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,356,715 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART22) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8018 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,777 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART24) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7938 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/113,224 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART25) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8016 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,366,693 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART26) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8024 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,329,990 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART27) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7940 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,072 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART28) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7939 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/112,785 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART29) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8501 
                 11 Aug. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,137,500 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART30) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8500 
                 11 Aug. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,796 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART31) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7987 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,071 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART32) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8022 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,398,328 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART33) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8497 
                 11 Aug. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/113,090 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART34) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8020 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,431,704 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART38) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8023 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,222 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART39) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8504 
                 11 Aug. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,786 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART42) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8000 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,415,054 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART43) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7977 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/112,782 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART44) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7934 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,056 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART45) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7990 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,059 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART46) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8499 
                 11 Aug. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,486,886 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART47) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8502 
                 11 Aug. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,381,361 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART48) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7981 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,317,192 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART50) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7986 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,057 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART51) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO7983 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,054 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART52) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8026 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,752 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART53) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8027 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,759 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART54) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO8028 
                 15 Jul. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 09/112,757 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART56) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9394 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Image Processing Method 
                 6,357,135 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART57) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9396 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/113,107 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART58) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9397 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,271,931 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART59) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9398 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,353,772 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART60) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9399 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,106,147 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART61) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9400 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/112,790 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART62) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9401 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,304,291 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART63) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9402 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 09/112,788 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART64) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9403 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,305,770 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART65) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PO9405 
                 23 Sep. 1997 
                 Data Processing Method 
                 6,289,262 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART66) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP0959 
                 16 Dec. 1997 
                 A Data Processing Method 
                 6,315,200 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Apparatus (ART68) 
                 (Jul. 10, 1998) 
               
               
                 PP1397 
                 19 Jan. 1998 
                 A Media Device (ART69) 
                 6,217,165 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Jul. 10, 1998)