Patent ID: 8602535

Claim:
A method of dispensing liquid drops comprising: providing a liquid dispenser array structure including: a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet; a first liquid supply that provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through the liquid dispensing channel and through the outlet of the liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation; a plurality of liquid dispensers located on a substrate that is common to the plurality of liquid dispensers, the plurality of liquid dispensers including: a liquid supply channel; and a drop formation device associated with an interface of the liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel; and a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid to the liquid dispensing channel through the liquid supply channel; and providing a carrier liquid that flows continuously through the liquid dispensing channel and through the outlet of the liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation using the first liquid supply; providing a functional liquid to the liquid dispensing channel through the liquid supply channel using the second liquid supply; selectively actuating the drop formation device to form a discrete drop of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel, the functional liquid being immiscible in the carrier liquid; and causing the discrete drops of the functional liquid to move through the liquid dispensing channel and through the outlet of the liquid dispensing channel during the drop dispensing operation using the flowing carrier liquid.