Patent ID: 8231199

Claim:
An orifice health detection device, comprising: an array of fluid ejecting orifices, each of said fluid ejecting orifices configured to eject at least one fluid drop; a light source that produces a light beam configured to scatter light from said at least one ejected fluid drop; a light detector configured to detect scattered light from said at least one ejected fluid drop; a cap structure adapted for capping said fluid ejecting orifices, wherein said light source and said light detector are mounted on said cap structure; and a light guide positioned adjacent to said light beam, said light guide configured to direct said scattered light to said light detector, wherein said light guide is chosen from the group consisting of a light pipe and a reflective device, wherein the cap structure comprises a plurality of caps spaced along a first axis and wherein the light guide continuously extends along a second axis parallel to the first axis opposite to each of the plurality of caps.