Manipulation of digital camera images utilizing stored autofocus settings

[0001] This is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/112,750, filed on Jul. 10, 1998, now issued Pat. No. 6,727,948.

[0002] 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.

[0003] 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.

[0004] 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.

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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:

[0007] capturing a focused image using an automatic focusing technique generating focus settings;

[0008] 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.

[0009] Preferably the focus settings include a current position of a zoom motor of the digital camera.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment the digital image manipulating process includes a step of locating an object within the focused image utilizing the focus settings.

[0011] The method may include the step of printing out the manipulated image by means of a printing mechanism incorporated into the digital camera.

[0012] It is preferred that the digital image manipulating process selectively applies techniques to the focused image on the basis of the focus settings.

[0016] 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'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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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 & Boston, Focal Press, 1988. These techniques primarily rely on measurements of contrast between adjacent pixels over portions of an input image. The image is initally processed by the ACP in order to determine a correct autofocus setting.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] Next, the depth value is utilised in a face detection algorithm 10 running on the ACP 31 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 9 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewidth print heads with 19,200 nozzles.

[0028] 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:

• • [0029] low power (less than 10 Watts)
  • [0030] high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)
  • [0031] photographic quality output
  • [0032] low manufacturing cost
  • [0033] small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)
  • [0034] high speed (<2 seconds per page).

[0035] All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. Fortyfive 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.

[0036] 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

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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:

[0040]

Docket
No.	Reference	Title
IJ01US	6227652	Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer
IJ02US	6213588	Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer
IJ03US	6213589	Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet
IJ04US	6231163	Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer
IJ05US	6247795	Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer
IJ06US	6394581	Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer
IJ07US	6244691	Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ08US	6257704	Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ09US	6416168	Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printer
IJ10US	6220694	Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer
IJ11US	6257705	Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic
		Ink Jet Printer
IJ12US	6247794	Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer
IJ13US	6234610	Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printer
IJ14US	6247793	Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ15US	6264306	Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ16US	6241342	Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ17US	6247792	PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating
		Pressure Ink Jet Printer
IJ18US	6264307	Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ19US	6254220	Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer
IJ20US	6234611	Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer
IJ21US	6302528	Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printer
IJ22US	6283582	Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer
IJ23US	6239821	Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ24US	6338547	Conductive PTFE Ben Activator Vented Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ25US	6247796	Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printer
IJ26US	6557977	Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer
IJ27US	6390603	Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer
IJ28US	6362843	Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printer
IJ29US	6293653	Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer
IJ30US	6312107	Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE
		and Corrugated Copper Ink Jet Printer
IJ31US	6227653	Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ32US	6234609	A High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ33US	6238040	Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink
		jet printer
IJ34US	6188415	Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator
		comprising an external coiled spring
IJ35US	6227654	Trough Container Ink Jet Printer
IJ36US	6209989	Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet
IJ37US	6247791	Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum
		Actuator Ink Jet
IJ38US	6336710	Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet
IJ39US	6217153	A single bend actuator cupped paddle ink
		jet printing device
IJ40US	6416167	A thermally actuated ink jet printer having
		a series of thermal actuator units
IJ41US	6243113	A thermally actuated ink jet printer
		including a tapered heater element
IJ42US	6283581	Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet
IJ43US	6247790	Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic
		Ink Jet
IJ44US	6260953	Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink
		jet printer
IJ45US	6267469	Coil Acutuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printer

Tables of Drop-on-Demand Inkjets

[0041] 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.

[0042] The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of inkjet types.

[0043]

	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)

[0044] 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.

[0045] Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these fortyfive 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables.

[0049]

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 (<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:
	Bend
	Push
	Buckle
	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
	Carbon nanotubes		Pigmented inks may
	Metal fibers		be infeasible, as
	Conductive polymers		pigment particles
	such as doped		may jam the bend
	polythiophene		actuator
	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

[0050]

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 (>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 (>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.

[0051]

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.

[0052]

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

[0053]

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

[0054]

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.

[0055]

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

[0056]

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.

[0057]

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 (<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 (<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

[0058]

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.

[0059]

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

[0060] 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 US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0061]

Austra-
lian
Provi-			US Patent/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

[0062] Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0063]

Austral-			US Patent/
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

[0064] 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 US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0065]

Australian			US Patent/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

[0066] 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.

[0067]

Australian			US Patent/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

[0068] 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 US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0069]

Austral-			US Patent/
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

[0070] 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 US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0071]

Austra-			US Patent/
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

[0072] 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.

[0073]

Austral-			US Patent/
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)