Patent ID: 8393713

Claim:
A method of ejecting ink drops from an ink jet printer comprising: providing an actuator comprising— a nozzle, wherein the actuator is configured to eject an ink drop via the nozzle, an ink feed end, and a membrane comprising— a first dimple disposed proximal to the ink feed end, and a second dimple, disposed proximal to the nozzle, having a length shorter than the first dimple and limiting movement of the membrane toward an opposed landing pad; and applying a voltage waveform to the actuator, wherein the voltage waveform comprises— a pre-fill voltage configured to fill the actuator with a volume of ink via an ink feed end, and a firing voltage configured to be at least substantially continuous with the pre-fill voltage and to eject the ink drop through the nozzle, wherein— the voltage waveform activates the first dimple to approach the ink feed end before the second dimple, approaches the nozzle, and the length of the second dimple is configured to prevent a predetermined maximum electric field from being produced at the membrane.