De-blurring in a digital image system

[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/113,090 filed on Jul. 10, 1998, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,110,024, all of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0002] The following Australian provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. For the purposes of location and identification, U.S. patent applications identified by their U.S. patent application serial numbers (USSN) are listed alongside the Australian applications from which the U.S. patent applications claim the right of priority.

Ink Jet Printing

[0003] A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed to facilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing and data distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can be included in printer devices incorporated as part of the present invention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to these ink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0004]

Australian			US Patent/
Provisional			Patent Application
Number	Filing Date	Title	and Filing Date
PO8066	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ01)	6,227,652
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8072	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ02)	6,213,588
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8040	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ03)	6,213,589
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8071	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ04)	6,231,163
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8047	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ05)	6,247,795
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8035	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ06)	6,394,581
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8044	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ07)	6,244,691
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8063	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ08)	6,257,704
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8057	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ09)	6,416,168
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8056	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ10)	6,220,694
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8069	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ11)	6,257,705
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8049	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ12)	6,247,794
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8036	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ13)	6,234,610
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8048	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ14)	6,247,793
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8070	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ15)	6,264,306
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8067	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ16)	6,241,342
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8001	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ17)	6,247,792
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8038	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ18)	6,264,307
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8033	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ19)	6,254,220
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8002	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ20)	6,234,611
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8068	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ21)	6,302,528)
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8062	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ22)	6,283,582
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8034	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ23)	6,239,821
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8039	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ24)	6,338,547
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8041	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ25)	6,247,796
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8004	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ26)	6,557,977
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8037	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ27)	6,390,603
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8043	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ28)	6,362,843
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8042	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ29)	6,293,653
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8064	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ30)	6,312,107
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9389	23-Sep-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ31)	6,227,653
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9391	23-Sep-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ32)	6,234,609
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0888	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ33)	6,238,040
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0891	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ34)	6,188,415
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0890	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ35)	6,227,654
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0873	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ36)	6,209,989
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0993	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ37)	6,247,791
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0890	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ38)	6,336,710
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP1398	19-Jan-98	An Image Creation Method and Apparatus	6,217,153
		(IJ39)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP2592	25-Mar-98	An Image Creation Method and Apparatus	6,416,167
		(IJ40)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP2593	25-Mar-98	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ41)	6,243,113
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP3991	9-Jun-98	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ42)	6,283,581
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP3987	9-Jun-98	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ43)	6,247,790
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP3985	9-Jun-98	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ44)	6,260,953
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP3983	9-Jun-98	Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ45)	6,267,469
			(Jul. 10, 1998)

Ink Jet Manufacturing

[0005] Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0006]

Australian			US Patent/
Provisional			Patent Application
Number	Filing Date	Title	and Filing Date
PO7935	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,224,780
		Apparatus (IJM01)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7936	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,235,212
		Apparatus (IJM02)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7937	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,280,643
		Apparatus (IJM03)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8061	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,284,147
		Apparatus (IJM04)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8054	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,214,244
		Apparatus (IJM05)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8065	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,071,750
		Apparatus (IJM06)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8055	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,267,905
		Apparatus (IJM07)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8053	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,251,298
		Apparatus (IJM08)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8078	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,258,285
		Apparatus (IJM09)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7933	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,225,138
		Apparatus (IJM10)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7950	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,241,904
		Apparatus (IJM11)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7949	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,299,786
		Apparatus (IJM12)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8060	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	09/113,124
		Apparatus (IJM13)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8059	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,231,773
		Apparatus (IJM14)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8073	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,190,931
		Apparatus (IJM15)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8076	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,248,249
		Apparatus (IJM16)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8075	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,290,862
		Apparatus (IJM17)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8079	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,241,906
		Apparatus (IJM18)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8050	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,565,762
		Apparatus (IJM19)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8052	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,241,905
		Apparatus (IJM20)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7948	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,451,216
		Apparatus (IJM21)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7951	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,231,772
		Apparatus (IJM22)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8074	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,274,056
		Apparatus (IJM23)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7941	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,290,861
		Apparatus (IJM24)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8077	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,248,248
		Apparatus (IJM25)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8058	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,306,671
		Apparatus (IJM26)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8051	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,331,258
		Apparatus (IJM27)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8045	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,110,754
		Apparatus (IJM28)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7952	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,294,101
		Apparatus (IJM29)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8046	15-Jul-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,416,679
		Apparatus (IJM30)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8503	11-Aug-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,264,849
		Apparatus (IJM30a)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9390	23-Sep-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,254,793
		Apparatus (IJM31)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9392	23-Sep-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,235,211
		Apparatus (IJM32)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0889	12-Dec-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,235,211
		Apparatus (IJM35)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0887	12-Dec-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,264,850
		Apparatus (IJM36)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0882	12-Dec-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,258,284
		Apparatus (IJM37)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0874	12-Dec-97	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,258,284
		Apparatus (IJM38)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP1396	19-Jan-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,228,668
		Apparatus (IJM39)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP2591	25-Mar-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,180,427
		Apparatus (IJM41)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP3989	9-Jun-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,171,875
		Apparatus (IJM40)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP3990	9-Jun-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,267,904
		Apparatus (IJM42)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP3986	9-Jun-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,245,247
		Apparatus (IJM43)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP3984	9-Jun-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,245,247
		Apparatus (IJM44)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP3982	9-Jun-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation	6,231,148
		Apparatus (IJM45)	(Jul. 10, 1998)

Fluid Supply

[0007] Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system to the ink jet head. Delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to a series of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0008]

Australian			US Patent/Patent
Provisional			Application and
Number	Filing Date	Title	Filing Date
PO8003	15-Jul-97	Supply Method and	6,350,023
		Apparatus (F1)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8005	15-Jul-97	Supply Method and	6,318,849
		Apparatus (F2)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9404	23-Sep-97	A Device and Method	09/113,101
		(F3)	(Jul. 10, 1998)

MEMS Technology

[0009] 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 U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0010]

Australian			US Patent/Patent
Provisional			Application and
Number	Filing Date	Title	Filing Date
PO7943	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS01)
PO8006	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS02)	6,087,638
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8007	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS03)	09/113,093
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8008	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS04)	6,340,222
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8010	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS05)	6,041,600
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8011	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS06)	6,299,300
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7947	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS07)	6,067,797
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7945	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS08)	Not filed
PO7944	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS09)	6,286,935
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7946	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS10)	6,044,646
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9393	23-Sep-97	A Device and Method	09/113,065
		(MEMS11)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0875	12-Dec-97	A Device (MEMS12)	09/113,078
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0894	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	09/113,075
		(MEMS13)	(Jul. 10, 1998)

IR Technologies

[0011] Further, the present application may include the utilization of a disposable camera system such as those described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0012]

Australian			US Patent/Patent
Provisional			Application and
Number	Filing Date	Title	Filing Date
PP0895	12-Dec-97	An Image Creation Method and Apparatus	6,231,148
		(IR01)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0870	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method (IR02)	09/113,106
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0869	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method (IR04)	6,293,658
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0887	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus	6,614,560
		(IR05)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0885	12-Dec-97	An Image Production System (IR06)	6,238,033
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0884	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus	6,312,070
		(IR10)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0886	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and Apparatus	6,238,111
		(IR12)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0871	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method (IR13)	09/113,086
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0876	12-Dec-97	An Image Processing Method and	09/113,094
		Apparatus (IR14)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0877	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method (IR16)	6,378,970
			(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0878	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method (IR17)	6,196,739
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0879	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method (IR18)	09/112,774
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0883	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method (IR19)	6,270,182
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0880	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method (IR20)	6,152,619
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0881	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method (IR21)	09/113,092
			(Jul. 10, 1998)

DotCard Technologies

[0013] Further, the present application may include the utilization of a data distribution system such as that described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0014]

Australian			US Patent/Patent
Provisional			Application and
Number	Filing Date	Title	Filing Date
PP2370	16-Mar-98	Data Processing Method	09/112,781
		and Apparatus (Dot01)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP2371	16-Mar-98	Data Processing Method	09/113,052
		and Apparatus (Dot02)	(Jul. 10, 1998

Artcam Technologies

[0015] 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 U.S. patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

[0016]

Australian			US Patent/
Provisional			Patent Application and
Number	Filing Date	Title	Filing Date
PO7991	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	09/113,060
		(ART01)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7988	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,476,863
		(ART02)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7993	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	09/113,073
		(ART03)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9395	23-Sep-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,322,181
		(ART04)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8017	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,597,817
		(ART06)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8014	15-Jul-97	Media Device (ART07)	6,227,648
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8025	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	09/112,750
		(ART08)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8032	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,690,419
		(ART09)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7999	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	09/112,743
		(ART10)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7998	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	09/112,742
		(ART11)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8031	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	09/112,741
		(ART12)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8030	15-Jul-97	Media Device (ART13)	6,196,541
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7997	15-Jul-97	Media Device (ART15)	6,195,150
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7979	15-Jul-97	Media Device (ART16)	6,362,868
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8015	15-Jul-97	Media Device (ART17)	09/112,738
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7978	15-Jul-97	Media Device (ART18)	09/113,067
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7982	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,431,669
		(ART19)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7989	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,362,869
		(ART20)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8019	15-Jul-97	Media Processing Method and Apparatus	6,472,052
		(ART21)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7980	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,356,715
		(ART22)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8018	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	09/112,777
		(ART24)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7938	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,636,216
		(ART25)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8016	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,366,693
		(ART26)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8024	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,329,990
		(ART27)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7940	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	09/113,072
		(ART28)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7939	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,459,495
		(ART29)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8501	11-Aug-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,137,500
		(ART30)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8500	11-Aug-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,690,416
		(ART31)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7987	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	09/113,071
		(ART32)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8022	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,398,328
		(ART33)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8497	11-Aug-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	09/113,090
		(ART34)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8020	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,431,704
		(ART38)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8023	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	09/113,222
		(ART39)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8504	11-Aug-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	09/112,786
		(ART42)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8000	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,415,054
		(ART43)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7977	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	09/112,782
		(ART44)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7934	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,665,454
		(ART45)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7990	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	09/113,059
		(ART46)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8499	11-Aug-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,486,886
		(ART47)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8502	11-Aug-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,381,361
		(ART48)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7981	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,317,192
		(ART50)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7986	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	09/113,057
		(ART51)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7983	15-Jul-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	09/113,054
		(ART52)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8026	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,646,757
		(ART53)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8027	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	09/112,759
		(ART54)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8028	15-Jul-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,624,848
		(ART56)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9394	23-Sep-97	Image Processing Method and Apparatus	6,357,135
		(ART57)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO9396	23-Sep-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	09/113,107
		(ART58)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9397	23-Sep-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,271,931
		(ART59)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9398	23-Sep-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,353,772
		(ART60)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9399	23-Sep-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,106,147
		(ART61)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9400	23-Sep-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,665,008
		(ART62)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9401	23-Sep-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,304,291
		(ART63)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9402	23-Sep-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	09/112,788
		(ART64)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9403	23-Sep-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,305,770
		(ART65)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9405	23-Sep-97	Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,289,262
		(ART66)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0959	16-Dec-97	A Data Processing Method and Apparatus	6,315,200
		(ART68)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP1397	19-Jan-98	A Media Device (ART69)	6,217,165
			(Jul. 10, 1998)

[0017] The present invention relates to digital image processing and in particular discloses A Camera System Having Motion Deblurring Means.

[0018] Further the present invention relates to the field of digital image cameras and in particular discloses a camera system having motion blur compensating means.

[0019] Motion blur in the taking of images is a common significant problem. The motion blur normally occurs as a result of movement of the camera while taking the picture or otherwise as a result of movement of objects within an image.

[0020] As a result of motion blur, it is often the case that the image taken is non optimal.

[0021] It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera system having the ability to overcome the effects of motion blur.

[0022] In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a camera system for outputting deblurred images, said system comprising;

• • [0023] an image sensor for sensing an image; a velocity detection means for determining any motion of said image relative to an external environment and to produce a velocity output indicative thereof; a processor means interconnected to said image sensor and said velocity detection means and adapted to process said sensed image utilising the velocity output so as to deblurr said image and to output said deblurred image.

[0024] Preferably, the camera system is connected to a printer means for immediate output of said deblurred image and is a portable handheld unit. The velocity detection means can comprise an accelerometer such as a micro-electro mechanical (MEMS) device.

[0028] As described in Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PO7991, the camera system incorporates an Artcard linear sensor 34 which converts the Artcard data image to electrical signals, which are communicated to the ACP. The linear image sensor is illustrated in FIG. 2, which is a reproduction of FIG. 2 of Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PO7991. The linear image sensor can be fabricated using either CCD or APS CMOS technology. The active length of the linear image sensor is 50 mm, equal to the width of the data array on the Artcard. To satisfy Nyquist's sampling theorem, the resolution of the linear image sensor must be at least twice the highest spatial frequency of the Artcard optical image reaching the linear image sensor. In practice, data detection is easier if the linear image sensor resolution is substantially above this. A resolution of 4800 dpi (189 dpmm) is chosen, giving a total of 9,450 pixels. This resolution requires a pixel sensor pitch of 5.3 [mu]m. This can readily be achieved by using four staggered rows of 20 [mu]m pixel sensors.

[0029] The linear image sensor is mounted in a special package which includes an LED to illuminate the Artcard via a light-pipe.

[0030] The Artcard reader light-pipe can be a molded light-pipe which has several functions:

[0031] 1. It diffuses the light from the LED over the width of the card using total internal reflection facets.

[0032] 2. It focuses the light onto a 16 [mu]m wide strip of the Artcard using an integrated cylindrical lens.

[0033] 3. It focuses light reflected from the Artcard onto the linear image sensor pixels using a molded array of microlenses.

[0034] The preferred embodiment is preferably implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PO7991 filed 15 Jul., 1997 entitled “Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART01)”, in addition to Australian Provisional Patent Application entitled “Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART01a)” filed concurrently herewith by the present applicant, the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference.

[0035] The aforementioned patent specifications disclose a camera system, hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images can be directly printed out by an internal Artcam portable camera unit. Further, the aforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performing various manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing device leading to the production of various effects in any output image. 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 hereinafter being known as “Artcards”. The Artcam further has significant onboard processing power by an Artcam Central Processor unit (ACP) which is interconnected to a memory device for the storage of important data and images.

[0036] In the preferred embodiment, the Artcam device is modified so as to include a two dimensional motion sensor. The motion sensor can comprise a small micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device or other suitable device able to detect motion in two axes. The motion sensor can be mounted on the camera device and its output monitored by the Artcam central processor device which is disclosed in the afore-mentioned patent specifications.

[0037] Turning now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a schematic of the preferred arrangement of the preferred embodiment. The accelerometer 1 outputs to the Artcard processor 2 which also receives the blurred sensed image from the CCD device. The Artcard processor 2 utilises the accelerometer readings so as to determine a likely angular velocity of the camera when the picture was taken. This velocity factor is then utilised by a suitably programmed Artcard processor 2 to apply a deblurring function to the blurred sensed image 3 thereby outputting a deblurred output image 4. The programming of the Artcard processor 2 so as to perform the deblurring can utilise standard algorithms known to those skilled in the art of computer programming and digital image restoration. For example, reference is made to the “Selected Papers on Digital Image Restoration”, M. Ibrahim Sezan, Editor, SPIE Milestone series, volume 74, and in particular the reprinted paper at pages 167-175 thereof. Further, simplified techniques are shown in the “Image Processing Handbook”, second edition, by John C. Russ, published by CRC Press at pages 336-341 thereof.

[0038] It would be therefore obvious to the person skilled in the art that many different techniques for motion blur removal can be utilised in the preferred embodiment. Additionally, other forms of motion sensors may be provided. Once the input image has been deblurred, the image is then able to be printed out by the Artcam device in accordance with the techniques as discussed in the afore-mentioned patent specification.

[0039] 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.

Ink Jet Technologies

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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:

[0044] low power (less than 10 Watts)

[0045] high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)

[0046] photographic quality output

[0047] low manufacturing cost

[0048] small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)

[0049] high speed (<2 seconds per page).

[0050] All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. Forty-five different inkjet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in the table under the heading “Cross References to Related Applications”.

[0051] 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.

[0052] For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the printhead is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the printhead is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallest printhead designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The printheads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.

[0053] Ink is supplied to the back of the printhead 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 printhead is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding.

Tables of Drop-on-Demand Inkjets

[0054] 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.

[0055] The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of inkjet types.

[0056] Actuator mechanism (18 types)

[0057] Basic operation mode (7 types)

[0058] Auxiliary mechanism (8 types)

[0059] Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types)

[0060] Actuator motion (19 types)

[0061] Nozzle refill method (4 types)

[0062] Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types)

[0063] Nozzle clearing method (9 types)

[0064] Nozzle plate construction (9 types)

[0065] Drop ejection direction (5 types)

[0066] Ink type (7 types)

[0067] 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 which match the docket numbers in the table under the heading Cross References to Related Applications.

[0068] Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these forty-five examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into inkjet printheads with characteristics superior to any currently available inkjet technology.

[0069] 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, print technology may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.

[0070] 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.

[0071] The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables.

[0072]

ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS)
Actuator
Mechanism	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
Thermal	An electrothermal	Large force generated	High power	Canon Bubblejet
bubble	heater heats the ink to	Simple construction	Ink carrier limited to	1979 Endo et al GB
	above boiling point,	No moving parts	water	patent 2,007,162
	transferring	Fast operation	Low efficiency	Xerox heater-in-pit
	significant heat to the	Small chip area required	High temperatures	1990 Hawkins et al
	aqueous ink. A	for actuator	required	U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181
	bubble nucleates and		High mechanical stress	Hewlett-Packard TIJ
	quickly forms,		Unusual materials	1982 Vaught et al
	expelling the ink.		required	U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,728
	The efficiency of the		Large drive transistors
	process is low, with		Cavitation causes
	typically less than		actuator failure
	0.05% of the		Kogation reduces bubble
	electrical energy		formation
	being transformed		Large print heads are
	into kinetic energy of		difficult to fabricate
	the drop.
Piezoelectric	A piezoelectric	Low power consumption	Very large area required	Kyser et al U.S. Pat. No.
	crystal such as lead	Many ink types can be	for actuator	3,946,398
	lanthanum zirconate	used	Difficult to integrate	Zoltan U.S. Pat. No.
	(PZT) is electrically	Fast operation	with electronics	3,683,212
	activated, and either	High efficiency	High voltage drive	1973 Stemme U.S. Pat. No.
	expands, shears, or		transistors required	3,747,120
	bends to apply		Full pagewidth print	Epson Stylus
	pressure to the ink,		heads impractical due to	Tektronix
	ejecting drops.		actuator size	IJ04
			Requires electrical
			poling in high field
			strengths during
			manufacture
Electrostrictive	An electric field is	Low power consumption	Low maximum strain	Seiko Epson, Usui et
	used to activate	Many ink types can be	(approx. 0.01%)	all JP 253401/96
	electrostriction in	used	Large area required for	IJ04
	relaxor materials such	Low thermal expansion	actuator due to low strain
	as lead lanthanum	Electric field strength	Response speed is
	zirconate titanate	required (approx. 3.5 V/μm)	marginal (~10 μs)
	(PLZT) or lead	can be generated	High voltage drive
	magnesium niobate	without difficulty	transistors required
	(PMN).	Does not require	Full pagewidth print
		electrical poling	heads impractical due to
			actuator size
Ferroelectric	An electric field is	Low power consumption	Difficult to integrate	IJ04
	used to induce a	Many ink types can be	with electronics
	phase transition	used	Unusual materials such
	between the	Fast operation (<1 μs)	as PLZSnT are required
	antiferroelectric	Relatively high	Actuators require a large
	(AFE) and	longitudinal strain	area
	ferroelectric (FE)	High efficiency
	phase. Perovskite	Electric field strength of
	materials such as tin	around 3 V/μm can be
	modified lead	readily 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	electrostatic devices in an
	compressible or fluid	used	aqueous environment
	dielectric (usually	Fast operation	The electrostatic
	air). Upon application		actuator will normally need
	of a voltage, the		to be separated from the
	plates attract each		ink
	other and displace		Very large area required
	ink, causing drop		to achieve high forces
	ejection. The		High voltage drive
	conductive plates		transistors may be required
	may be in a comb or		Full pagewidth print
	honeycomb structure,		heads are not competitive
	or stacked to increase		due to actuator size
	the surface area and
	therefore the force.
Electrostatic	A strong electric field	Low current	High voltage required	1989 Saito et al, U.S. Pat. No.
pull on ink	is applied to the ink,	consumption	May be damaged by	4,799,068
	whereupon	Low temperature	sparks due to air	1989 Miura et al,
	electrostatic attraction		breakdown	U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,954
	accelerates the ink		Required field strength	Tone-jet
	towards the print		increases as the drop size
	medium.		decreases
			High voltage drive
			transistors required
			Electrostatic field
			attracts dust
Permanent	An electromagnet	Low power consumption	Complex fabrication	IJ07, IJ10
magnet	directly attracts a	Many ink types can be	Permanent magnetic
electromagnetic	permanent magnet,	used	material such as
	displacing ink and	Fast operation	Neodymium Iron Boron
	causing drop ejection.	High efficiency	(NdFeB) required.
	Rare earth magnets	Easy extension from	High local currents
	with a field strength	single nozzles to	required
	around 1 Tesla can be	pagewidth print heads	Copper metalization
	used. Examples are:		should be used for long
	Samarium Cobalt		electromigration lifetime
	(SaCo) and magnetic		and low resistivity
	materials in the		Pigmented inks are
	neodymium iron		usually infeasible
	boron family		Operating temperature
	(NdFeB,		limited to the Curie
	NdDyFeBNb,		temperature (around 540 K)
	NdDyFeB, etc)
Soft	A solenoid induced a	Low power consumption	Complex fabrication	IJ01, IJ05, IJ08, IJ10
magnetic	magnetic field in a	Many ink types can be	Materials not usually	IJ12, IJ14, IJ15, IJ17
core electromagnetic	soft magnetic core or	used	present in a CMOS fab
	yoke fabricated from	Fast operation	such as NiFe, CoNiFe, or
	a ferrous material	High efficiency	CoFe are required
	such as electroplated	Easy extension from	High local currents
	iron alloys such as	single nozzles to	required
	CoNiFe [1], CoFe, or	pagewidth print heads	Copper metalization
	NiFe alloys.		should be used for long
	Typically, the soft		electromigration lifetime
	magnetic material is		and low resistivity
	in two parts, which		Electroplating is
	are normally held		required
	apart by a spring.		High saturation flux
	When the solenoid is		density is required (2.0–2.1 T
	actuated, the two		is achievable with
	parts attract,		CoNiFe [1])
	displacing the ink.
Magnetic	The Lorenz force	Low power consumption	Force acts as a twisting	IJ06, IJ11, IJ13, IJ16
Lorenz force	acting on a current	Many ink types can be	motion
	carrying wire in a	used	Typically, only a quarter
	magnetic field is	Fast operation	of the solenoid length
	utilized.	High efficiency	provides force in a useful
	This allows the	Easy extension from	direction
	magnetic field to be	single nozzles to	High local currents
	supplied externally to	pagewidth print heads	required
	the print head, for		Copper metalization
	example with rare		should be used for long
	earth permanent		electromigration lifetime
	magnets.		and low resistivity
	Only the current		Pigmented inks are
	carrying wire need be		usually infeasible
	fabricated on the
	print-head,
	simplifying materials
	requirements.
Magnetostriction	The actuator uses the	Many ink types can be	Force acts as a twisting	Fischenbeck, U.S. Pat. No.
	giant magnetostrictive	used	motion	4,032,929
	effect of materials	Fast operation	Unusual materials such	IJ25
	such as Terfenol-D	Easy extension from	as Terfenol-D are required
	(an alloy of terbium,	single nozzles to	High local currents
	dysprosium and iron	pagewidth print heads	required
	developed at the	High force is available	Copper metalization
	Naval Ordnance		should be used for long
	Laboratory, hence		electromigration lifetime
	Ter-Fe-NOL). For		and low resistivity
	best efficiency, the		Pre-stressing may be
	actuator should be		required
	pre-stressed to
	approx. 8 MPa.
Surface	Ink under positive	Low power consumption	Requires supplementary	Silverbrook, EP 0771
tension	pressure is held in a	Simple construction	force to effect drop	658 A2 and related
reduction	nozzle by surface	No unusual materials	separation	patent applications
	tension. The surface	required in fabrication	Requires special ink
	tension of the ink is	High efficiency	surfactants
	reduced below the	Easy extension from	Speed may be limited by
	bubble threshold,	single nozzles to	surfactant properties
	causing the ink to	pagewidth print heads
	egress from the
	nozzle.
Viscosity	The ink viscosity is	Simple construction	Requires supplementary	Silverbrook, EP 0771
reduction	locally reduced to	No unusual materials	force to effect drop	658 A2 and related
	select which drops	required in fabrication	separation	patent applications
	are to be ejected. A	Easy extension from	Requires special ink
	viscosity reduction	single nozzles to	viscosity properties
	can be achieved	pagewidth print heads	High speed is difficult to
	electrothermally with		achieve
	most inks, but special		Requires oscillating ink
	inks can be		pressure
	engineered for a		A high temperature
	100:1 viscosity		difference (typically 80
	reduction.		degrees) is required
Acoustic	An acoustic wave is	Can operate without a	Complex drive circuitry	1993 Hadimioglu et
	generated and	nozzle plate	Complex fabrication	al, EUP 550,192
	focussed upon the		Low efficiency	1993 Elrod et al,
	drop ejection region.		Poor control of drop	EUP 572,220
			position
			Poor control of drop
			volume
Thermoelastic	An actuator which	Low power consumption	Efficient aqueous	IJ03, IJ09, IJ17, IJ18
bend	relies upon	Many ink types can be	operation requires a	IJ19, IJ20, IJ21, IJ22
actuator	differential thermal	used	thermal insulator on the	IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28
	expansion upon Joule	Simple planar	hot side	IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32
	heating is used.	fabrication	Corrosion prevention	IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36
		Small chip area required	can be difficult	IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40
		for each actuator	Pigmented inks may be	IJ41
		Fast operation	infeasible, as pigment
		High efficiency	particles may jam the bend
		CMOS compatible	actuator
		voltages and currents
		Standard MEMS
		processes can be used
		Easy extension from
		single nozzles to
		pagewidth print heads
High CTE	A material with a	High force can be	Requires special material	IJ09, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20
thermoelastic	very high coefficient	generated	(e.g. PTFE)	IJ21, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24
actuator	of thermal expansion	PTFE is a candidate for	Requires a PTFE	IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30
	(CTE) such as	low dielectric constant	deposition process, which	IJ31, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44
	polytetrafluoroethylene	insulation in ULSI	is not yet standard in ULSI
	(PTFE) is used. As	Very low power	fabs
	high CTE materials	consumption	PTFE deposition cannot
	are usually non-	Many ink types can be	be followed with high
	conductive, a heater	used	temperature (above 350° C.)
	fabricated from a	Simple planar	processing
	conductive material is	fabrication	Pigmented inks may be
	incorporated. A 50 μm	Small chip area required	infeasible, as pigment
	long PTFE bend	for each actuator	particles may jam the bend
	actuator with	Fast operation	actuator
	polysilicon heater and	High efficiency
	15 mW power input	CMOS compatible
	can provide 180 μN	voltages and currents
	force and 10 μm	Easy extension from
	deflection. Actuator	single nozzles to
	motions include:	pagewidth print heads
	Bend
	Push
	Buckle
	Rotate
Conductive	A polymer with a	High force can be	Requires special	IJ24
polymer	high coefficient of	generated	materials development
thermoelastic	thermal expansion	Very low power	(High CTE conductive
actuator	(such as PTFE) is	consumption	polymer)
	doped with	Many ink types can be	Requires a PTFE
	conducting	used	deposition process, which
	substances to increase	Simple planar	is not yet standard in ULSI
	its conductivity to	fabrication	fabs
	about 3 orders of	Small chip area required	PTFE deposition cannot
	magnitude below that	for each actuator	be followed with high
	of copper. The	Fast operation	temperature (above 350° C.)
	conducting polymer	High efficiency	processing
	expands when	CMOS compatible	Evaporation and CVD
	resistively heated.	voltages and currents	deposition techniques
	Examples of	Easy extension from	cannot be used
	conducting dopants	single nozzles to	Pigmented inks may be
	include:	pagewidth print heads	infeasible, as pigment
	Carbon nanotubes		particles may jam the bend
	Metal fibers		actuator
	Conductive polymers
	such as doped
	polythiophene
	Carbon granules
Shape	A shape memory	High force is available	Fatigue limits maximum	IJ26
memory	alloy such as TiNi	(stresses of hundreds of	number of cycles
alloy	(also known as	MPa)	Low strain (1%) is
	Nitinol - Nickel	Large strain is available	required to extend fatigue
	Titanium alloy	(more than 3%)	resistance
	developed at the	High corrosion	Cycle rate limited by
	Naval Ordnance	resistance	heat removal
	Laboratory) is	Simple construction	Requires unusual
	thermally switched	Easy extension from	materials (TiNi)
	between its weak	single nozzles to	The latent heat of
	martensitic state and	pagewidth print heads	transformation must be
	its high stiffness	Low voltage operation	provided
	austenic state. The		High current operation
	shape of the actuator		Requires pre-stressing to
	in its martensitic state		distort the martensitic state
	is deformed relative
	to the austenic shape.
	The shape change
	causes ejection of a
	drop.
Linear	Linear magnetic	Linear Magnetic	Requires unusual	IJ12
Magnetic	actuators include the	actuators can be	semiconductor materials
Actuator	Linear Induction	constructed with high	such as soft magnetic
	Actuator (LIA),	thrust, long travel, and	alloys (e.g. CoNiFe [1])
	Linear Permanent	high efficiency using	Some varieties also
	Magnet Synchronous	planar semiconductor	require permanent
	Actuator (LPMSA),	fabrication techniques	magnetic materials such as
	Linear Reluctance	Long actuator travel is	Neodymium iron boron
	Synchronous	available	(NdFeB)
	Actuator (LRSA),	Medium force is.	Requires complex multi-
	Linear Switched	available	phase drive circuitry
	Reluctance Actuator	Low voltage operation	High current operation
	(LSRA), and the
	Linear Stepper
	Actuator (LSA).

[0073]

BASIC OPERATION MODE
Operational mode	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
Actuator directly	This is the simplest	Simple operation	Drop repetition	Thermal inkjet
pushes ink	mode of operation: the	No external fields	rate is usually	Piezoelectric inkjet
	actuator directly	required	limited to less	IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, IJ04
	supplies sufficient	Satellite drops can be	than 10 KHz.	IJ05, IJ06, IJ07, IJ09
	kinetic energy to expel	avoided if drop velocity	However, this is	IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, IJ16
	the drop. The drop	is less than 4 m/s	not fundamental	IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24
	must have a sufficient	Can be efficient	to the method, but	IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28
	velocity to overcome	depending upon the	is related to the	IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32
	the surface tension.	actuator used	refill method	IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36
			normally used	IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40
			All of the drop	IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44
			kinetic energy
			must be provided
			by the actuator
			Satellite drops
			usually form if
			drop velocity is
			greater than 4.5 m/s
Proximity	The drops to be printed	Very simple print head	Requires close	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	are selected by some	fabrication can be used	proximity	658 A2 and related
	manner (e.g. thermally	The drop selection	between the print	patent applications
	induced surface tension	means does not need to	head and the print
	reduction of	provide the energy	media or transfer
	pressurized ink).	required to separate the	roller
	Selected drops are	drop from the nozzle	May require
	separated from the ink		two print heads
	in the nozzle by contact		printing alternate
	with the print medium		rows of the image
	or a transfer roller.		Monolithic
			color print heads
			are difficult
Electrostatic pull	The drops to be printed	Very simple print head	Requires very	Silverbrook, EP 0771
on ink	are selected by some	fabrication can be used	high electrostatic	658 A2 and related
	manner (e.g. thermally	The drop selection	field	patent applications
	induced surface tension	means does not need to	Electrostatic	Tone-Jet
	reduction of	provide the energy	field for small
	pressurized ink).	required to separate the	nozzle sizes is
	Selected drops are	drop from the nozzle	above air
	separated from the ink		breakdown
	in the nozzle by a		Electrostatic
	strong electric field.		field may attract
			dust
Magnetic pull on	The drops to be printed	Very simple print head	Requires	Silverbrook, EP 0771
ink	are selected by some	fabrication can be used	magnetic ink	658 A2 and related
	manner (e.g. thermally	The drop selection	Ink colors other	patent applications
	induced surface tension	means does not need to	than black are
	reduction of	provide the energy	difficult
	pressurized ink).	required to separate the	Requires very
	Selected drops are	drop from the nozzle	high magnetic
	separated from the ink		fields
	in the nozzle by a
	strong magnetic field
	acting on the magnetic
	ink.
Shutter	The actuator moves a	High speed (>50 KHz)	Moving parts	IJ13, IJ17, IJ21
	shutter to block ink	operation can be	are required
	flow to the nozzle. The	achieved due to reduced	Requires ink
	ink pressure is pulsed	refill time	pressure
	at a multiple of the	Drop timing can be	modulator
	drop ejection	very accurate	Friction and
	frequency.	The actuator energy	wear must be
		can be very low	considered
			Stiction is
			possible
Shuttered grill	The actuator moves a	Actuators with small	Moving parts	IJ08, IJ15, IJ18, IJ19
	shutter to block ink	travel can be used	are required
	flow through a grill to	Actuators with small	Requires ink
	the nozzle. The shutter	force can be used	pressure
	movement need only be	High speed (>50 KHz)	modulator
	equal to the width of	operation can be	Friction and
	the grill holes.	achieved	wear must be
			considered
			Stiction is
			possible
Pulsed magnetic	A pulsed magnetic field	Extremely low energy	Requires an	IJ10
pull on ink pusher	attracts an ‘ink pusher’	operation is possible	external pulsed
	at the drop ejection	No heat dissipation	magnetic field
	frequency. An actuator	problems	Requires
	controls a catch, which		special materials
	prevents the ink pusher		for both the
	from moving when a		actuator and the
	drop is not to be		ink pusher
	ejected.		Complex
			construction

[0074]

AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES)
Auxiliary
Mechanism	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
None	The actuator directly fires	Simplicity of	Drop ejection	Most inkjets,
	the ink drop, and there is	construction	energy must be	including piezoelectric
	no external field or other	Simplicity of operation	supplied by	and thermal bubble.
	mechanism required.	Small physical size	individual nozzle	IJ01–IJ07, IJ09, IJ11
			actuator	IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22
				IJ23–IJ45
Oscillating ink	The ink pressure oscillates,	Oscillating ink	Requires	Silverbrook, EP 0771
pressure	providing much of the drop	pressure can provide a	external ink	658 A2 and related
(including	ejection energy. The	refill pulse, allowing	pressure oscillator	patent applications
acoustic	actuator selects which	higher operating speed	Ink pressure	IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17
stimulation)	drops are to be fired by	The actuators may	phase and	IJ18, IJ19, IJ21
	selectively blocking or	operate with much lower	amplitude must be
	enabling nozzles. The ink	energy	carefully
	pressure oscillation may be	Acoustic lenses can be	controlled
	achieved by vibrating the	used to focus the sound	Acoustic
	print head, or preferably by	on the nozzles	reflections in the
	an actuator in the ink		ink chamber must
	supply.		be designed for
Media	The print head is placed in	Low power	Precision	Silverbrook, EP 0771
proximity	close proximity to the print	High accuracy	assembly required	658 A2 and related
	medium. Selected drops	Simple print head	Paper fibers	patent applications
	protrude from the print	construction	may cause
	head further than		problems
	unselected drops, and		Cannot print on
	contact the print medium.		rough substrates
	The drop soaks into the
	medium fast enough to
	cause drop separation.
Transfer	Drops are printed to a	High accuracy	Bulky	Silverbrook, EP 0771
roller	transfer roller instead of	Wide range of print	Expensive	658 A2 and related
	straight to the print	substrates can be used	Complex	patent applications
	medium. A transfer roller	Ink can be dried on the	construction	Tektronix hot melt
	can also be used for	transfer roller		piezoelectric inkjet
	proximity drop separation.			Any of the IJ series
Electrostatic	An electric field is used to	Low power	Field strength	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	accelerate selected drops	Simple print head	required for	658 A2 and related
	towards the print medium.	construction	separation of	patent applications
			small drops is	Tone-Jet
			near or above air
			breakdown
Direct	A magnetic field is used to	Low power	Requires	Silverbrook, EP 0771
magnetic field	accelerate selected drops	Simple print head	magnetic ink	658 A2 and related
	of magnetic ink towards	construction	Requires strong	patent applications
	the print medium.		magnetic field
Cross	The print head is placed in	Does not require	Requires	IJ06, IJ16
magnetic field	a constant magnetic field.	magnetic materials to be	external magnet
	The Lorenz force in a	integrated in the print	Current
	current carrying wire is	head manufacturing	densities may be
	used to move the actuator.	process	high, resulting in
			electromigration
			problems
Pulsed	A pulsed magnetic field is	Very low power	Complex print	IJ10
magnetic field	used to cyclically attract a	operation is possible	head construction
	paddle, which pushes on	Small print head size	Magnetic
	the ink. A small actuator		materials required
	moves a catch, which		in print head
	selectively prevents the
	paddle from moving.

[0075]

ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD
Actuator
amplification	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
None	No actuator mechanical	Operational	Many actuator	Thermal Bubble
	amplification is used.	simplicity	mechanisms have	Inkjet
	The actuator directly		insufficient travel, or	IJ01, IJ02, IJ06,
	drives the drop ejection		insufficient force, to	IJ07
	process.		efficiently drive the drop	IJ16, IJ25, IJ26
			ejection process
Differential	An actuator material	Provides greater	High stresses are	Piezoelectric
expansion	expands more on one	travel in a reduced print	involved	IJ03, IJ09, IJ17–IJ24
bend actuator	side than on the other.	head area	Care must be taken that	IJ27, IJ29–IJ39,
	The expansion may be	The bend actuator	the materials do not	IJ42,
	thermal, piezoelectric,	converts a high force	delaminate	IJ43, IJ44
	magnetostrictive, or other	low travel actuator	Residual bend resulting
	mechanism.	mechanism to high	from high temperature or
		travel, lower force	high stress during
		mechanism.	formation
Transient	A trilayer bend actuator	Very good	High stresses are	IJ40, IJ41
bend actuator	where the two outside	temperature stability	involved
	layers are identical. This	High speed, as a new	Care must be taken that
	cancels bend due to	drop can be fired	the materials do not
	ambient temperature and	before heat dissipates	delaminate
	residual stress. The	Cancels residual
	actuator only responds to	stress of formation
	transient heating of one
	side or the other.
Actuator stack	A series of thin actuators	Increased travel	Increased fabrication	Some piezoelectric
	are stacked. This can be	Reduced drive	complexity	ink jets
	appropriate where	voltage	Increased possibility of	IJ04
	actuators require high		short circuits due to
	electric field strength,		pinholes
	such as electrostatic and
	piezoelectric actuators.
Multiple	Multiple smaller	Increases the force	Actuator forces may not	IJ12, IJ13, IJ18,
actuators	actuators are used	available from an	add linearly, reducing	IJ20
	simultaneously to move	actuator	efficiency	IJ22, IJ28, IJ42,
	the ink. Each actuator	Multiple actuators		IJ43
	need provide only a	can be positioned to
	portion of the force	control ink flow
	required.	accurately
Linear Spring	A linear spring is used to	Matches low travel	Requires print head area	IJ15
	transform a motion with	actuator with higher	for the spring
	small travel and high	travel requirements
	force into a longer travel,	Non-contact method
	lower force motion.	of motion
		transformation
Reverse spring	The actuator loads a	Better coupling to the	Fabrication complexity	IJ05, IJ11
	spring. When the	ink	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	A bend actuator is coiled	Increases travel	Generally restricted to	IJ17, IJ21, IJ34,
actuator	to provide greater travel	Reduces chip area	planar implementations	IJ35
	in a reduced chip area.	Planar	due to extreme fabrication
		implementations are	difficulty in other
		relatively easy to	orientations.
		fabricate.
Flexure bend	A bend actuator has a	Simple means of	Care must be taken not	IJ10, IJ19, IJ33
actuator	small region near the	increasing travel of a	to exceed the elastic limit
	fixture point, which	bend actuator	in the flexure area
	flexes much more readily		Stress distribution is
	than the remainder of the		very uneven
	actuator. The actuator		Difficult to accurately
	flexing is effectively		model with finite element
	converted from an even		analysis
	coiling to an angular
	bend, resulting in greater
	travel of the actuator tip.
Gears	Gears can be used to	Low force, low travel	Moving parts are	IJ13
	increase travel at the	actuators can be used	required
	expense of duration.	Can be fabricated	Several actuator cycles
	Circular gears, rack and	using standard surface	are required
	pinion, ratchets, and	MEMS processes	More complex drive
	other gearing methods		electronics
	can be used.		Complex construction
			Friction, friction, and
			wear are possible
Catch	The actuator controls a	Very low actuator	Complex construction	IJ10
	small catch. The catch	energy	Requires external force
	either enables or disables	Very small actuator	Unsuitable for
	movement of an ink	size	pigmented inks
	pusher that is controlled
	in a bulk manner.
Buckle plate	A buckle plate can be	Very fast movement	Must stay within elastic	S. Hirata et al, “An
	used to change a slow	achievable	limits of the materials for	Ink-jet Head . . . ”,
	actuator into a fast		long device life	Proc. IEEE MEMS,
	motion. It can also		High stresses involved	February 1996, pp 418–423.
	convert a high force, low		Generally high power	IJ18, IJ27
	travel actuator into a high		requirement
	travel, medium force
	motion.
Tapered	A tapered magnetic pole	Linearizes the	Complex construction	IJ14
magnetic pole	can increase travel at the	magnetic force/distance
	expense of force.	curve
Lever	A lever and fulcrum is	Matches low travel	High stress around the	IJ32, IJ36, IJ37
	used to transform a	actuator with higher	fulcrum
	motion with small travel	travel requirements
	and high force into a	Fulcrum area has no
	motion with longer travel	linear movement, and
	and lower force. The	can be used for a fluid
	lever can also reverse the	seal
	direction of travel.
Rotary	The actuator is connected	High mechanical	Complex construction	IJ28
impeller	to a rotary impeller. A	advantage	Unsuitable for
	small angular deflection	The ratio of force to	pigmented inks
	of the actuator results in	travel of the actuator
	a rotation of the impeller	can be matched to the
	vanes, which push the ink	nozzle requirements by
	against stationary vanes	varying the number of
	and out of the nozzle.	impeller vanes
Acoustic lens	A refractive or diffractive	No moving parts	Large area required	1993 Hadimioglu
	(e.g. zone plate) acoustic		Only relevant for	et al, EUP 550,192
	lens is used to		acoustic ink jets	1993 Elrod et al,
	concentrate sound waves.			EUP 572,220
Sharp	A sharp point is used to	Simple construction	Difficult to fabricate	Tone-jet
conductive	concentrate an		using standard VLSI
point	electrostatic field.		processes for a surface
			ejecting ink-jet
			Only relevant for
			electrostatic ink jets

[0076]

ACTUATOR MOTION
Actuator motion	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
Volume	The volume of the	Simple construction in	High energy is	Hewlett-
expansion	actuator changes,	the case of thermal ink jet	typically required to	Packard Thermal
	pushing the ink in all		achieve volume	Inkjet
	directions.		expansion. This leads	Canon
			to thermal stress,	Bubblejet
			cavitation, and
			kogation in thermal ink
			jet implementations
Linear, normal	The actuator moves in a	Efficient coupling to ink	High fabrication	IJ01, IJ02, IJ04,
to chip surface	direction normal to the	drops ejected normal to the	complexity may be	IJ07
	print head surface. The	surface	required to achieve	IJ11, IJ14
	nozzle is typically in the		perpendicular motion
	line of movement.
Linear, parallel	The actuator moves	Suitable for planar	Fabrication	IJ12, IJ13, IJ15,
to chip surface	parallel to the print head	fabrication	complexity	IJ33,
	surface. Drop ejection		Friction	IJ34, IJ35, IJ36
	may still be normal to the		Stiction
	surface.
Membrane push	An actuator with a high	The effective area of the	Fabrication	1982 Howkins
	force but small area is	actuator becomes the	complexity	U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,601
	used to push a stiff	membrane area	Actuator size
	membrane that is in		Difficulty of
	contact with the ink.		integration in a VLSI
			process
Rotary	The actuator causes the	Rotary levers may be	Device complexity	IJ05, IJ08, IJ13,
	rotation of some element,	used to increase travel	May have friction at	IJ28
	such a grill or impeller	Small chip area	a pivot point
		requirements
Bend	The actuator bends when	A very small change in	Requires the actuator	1970 Kyser et
	energized. This may be	dimensions can be	to be made from at	al U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,398
	due to differential	converted to a large	least two distinct	1973 Stemme
	thermal expansion,	motion.	layers, or to have a	U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120
	piezoelectric expansion,		thermal difference	IJ03, IJ09, IJ10,
	magnetostriction, or		across the actuator	IJ19
	other form of relative			IJ23, IJ24, IJ25,
	dimensional change.			IJ29
				IJ30, IJ31, IJ33,
				IJ34
				IJ35
Swivel	The actuator swivels	Allows operation where	Inefficient coupling	IJ06
	around a central pivot,	the net linear force on the	to the ink motion
	This motion is suitable	paddle is zero
	where there are opposite	Small chip area
	forces applied to	requirements
	opposite sides of the
	paddle, e.g. Lorenz force.
Straighten	The actuator is normally	Can be used with shape	Requires careful	IJ26, IJ32
	bent, and straightens	memory alloys where the	balance of stresses to
	when energized.	austenic phase is planar	ensure that the
			quiescent bend is
			accurate
Double bend	The actuator bends in	One actuator can be used	Difficult to make the	IJ36, IJ37, IJ38
	one direction when one	to power two nozzles,	drops ejected by both
	element is energized, and	Reduced chip size.	bend directions
	bends the other way	Not sensitive to ambient	identical.
	when another element is	temperature	A small efficiency
	energized.		loss compared to
			equivalent single bend
			actuators.
Shear	Energizing the actuator	Can increase the	Not readily	1985 Fishbeck
	causes a shear motion in	effective travel of	applicable to other	U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,590
	the actuator material.	piezoelectric actuators	actuator mechanisms
Radial	The actuator squeezes an	Relatively easy to	High force required	1970 Zoltan
constriction	ink reservoir, forcing ink	fabricate single nozzles	Inefficient	U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212
	from a constricted	from glass tubing as	Difficult to integrate
	nozzle.	macroscopic structures	with VLSI processes
Coil/uncoil	A coiled actuator uncoils	Easy to fabricate as a	Difficult to fabricate	IJ17, IJ21, IJ34,
	or coils more tightly. The	planar VLSI process	for non-planar devices	IJ35
	motion of the free end of	Small area required,	Poor out-of-plane
	the actuator ejects the	therefore low cost	stiffness
	ink.
Bow	The actuator bows (or	Can increase the speed	Maximum travel is	IJ16, IJ18, IJ27
	buckles) in the middle	of travel	constrained
	when energized.	Mechanically rigid	High force required
Push-Pull	Two actuators control a	The structure is pinned	Not readily suitable	IJ18
	shutter. One actuator	at both ends, so has a high	for inkjets which
	pulls the shutter, and the	out-of-plane rigidity	directly push the ink
	other pushes it.
Curl inwards	A set of actuators curl	Good fluid flow to the	Design complexity	IJ20, IJ42
	inwards to reduce the	region behind the actuator
	volume of ink that they	increases efficiency
	enclose.
Curl outwards	A set of actuators curl	Relatively simple	Relatively large chip	IJ43
	outwards, pressurizing	construction	area
	ink in a chamber
	surrounding the
	actuators, and expelling
	ink from a nozzle in the
	chamber.
Iris	Multiple vanes enclose a	High efficiency	High fabrication	IJ22
	volume of ink. These	Small chip area	complexity
	simultaneously rotate,		Not suitable for
	reducing the volume		pigmented inks
	between the vanes.
Acoustic	The actuator vibrates at a	The actuator can be	Large area required	1993
vibration	high frequency.	physically distant from the	for efficient operation	Hadimioglu et al,
		ink	at useful frequencies	EUP 550,192
			Acoustic coupling	1993 Elrod et
			and crosstalk	al, EUP 572,220
			Complex drive
			circuitry
			Poor control of drop
			volume and position
None	In various ink jet designs	No moving parts	Various other	Silverbrook, EP
	the actuator does not		tradeoffs are required	0771 658 A2 and
	move.		to eliminate moving	related patent
			parts	applications
				Tone-jet

[0077]

NOZZLE REFILL METHOD
Nozzle refill
method	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
Surface	After the actuator is	Fabrication	Low speed	Thermal inkjet
tension	energized, it typically	simplicity	Surface tension	Piezoelectric inkjet
	returns rapidly to its	Operational	force relatively	IJ01–IJ07, IJ10–IJ14
	normal position. This	simplicity	small compared to	IJ16, IJ20, IJ22–IJ45
	rapid return sucks in air		actuator force
	through the nozzle		Long refill time
	opening. The ink surface		usually dominates
	tension at the nozzle then		the total repetition
	exerts a small force		rate
	restoring the meniscus to
	a minimum area.
Shuttered	Ink to the nozzle	High speed	Requires common	IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17
oscillating ink	chamber is provided at a	Low actuator	ink pressure	IJ18, IJ19, IJ21
pressure	pressure that oscillates at	energy, as the	oscillator
	twice the drop ejection	actuator need	May not be
	frequency. When a drop	only open or	suitable for
	is to be ejected, the	close the shutter,	pigmented inks
	shutter is opened for 3	instead of
	half cycles: drop	ejecting the ink
	ejection, actuator return,	drop
	and refill.
Refill actuator	After the main actuator	High speed, as	Requires two	IJ09
	has ejected a drop a	the nozzle is	independent
	second (refill) actuator is	actively refilled	actuators per nozzle
	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	Surface spill must	Silverbrook, EP 0771 658
pressure	positive pressure. After	rate, therefore a	be prevented	A2 and related patent
	the ink drop is ejected,	high drop	Highly	applications
	the nozzle chamber fills	repetition rate is	hydrophobic print	Alternative for:
	quickly as surface	possible	head surfaces are	IJ01–IJ07, IJ10–IJ14
	tension and ink pressure		required	IJ16, IJ20, IJ22–IJ45
	both operate to refill the
	nozzle.

[0078]

METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET
Inlet back-flow
restriction
method	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
Long inlet	The ink inlet channel to	Design simplicity	Restricts refill rate	Thermal inkjet
channel	the nozzle chamber is	Operational simplicity	May result in a	Piezoelectric inkjet
	made long and	Reduces crosstalk	relatively large chip	IJ42, IJ43
	relatively narrow,		area
	relying on viscous drag		Only partially
	to reduce inlet back-		effective
	flow.
Positive ink	The ink is under a	Drop selection and	Requires a method	Silverbrook, EP
pressure	positive pressure, so	separation forces can be	(such as a nozzle rim or	0771 658 A2 and
	that in the quiescent	reduced	effective	related patent
	state some of the ink	Fast refill time	hydrophobizing, or	applications
	drop already protrudes		both) to prevent	Possible operation
	from the nozzle.		flooding of the ejection	of the following:
	This reduces the		surface of the print	IJ01–IJ07, IJ09–IJ12
	pressure in the nozzle		head.	IJ14, IJ16, IJ20,
	chamber which is			IJ22,
	required to eject a			IJ23–IJ34, IJ36–IJ41
	certain volume of ink.			IJ44
	The reduction in
	chamber pressure
	results in a reduction in
	ink pushed out through
	the inlet.
Baffle	One or more baffles are	The refill rate is not as	Design complexity	HP Thermal Ink Jet
	placed in the inlet ink	restricted as the long	May increase	Tektronix
	flow. When the	inlet method.	fabrication complexity	piezoelectric ink jet
	actuator is energized,	Reduces crosstalk	(e.g. Tektronix hot melt
	the rapid ink movement		Piezoelectric print
	creates eddies which		heads).
	restrict the flow
	through the inlet. The
	slower refill process is
	unrestricted, and does
	not result in eddies.
Flexible flap	In this method recently	Significantly reduces	Not applicable to	Canon
restricts inlet	disclosed by Canon, the	back-flow for edge-	most inkjet
	expanding actuator	shooter thermal ink jet	configurations
	(bubble) pushes on a	devices	Increased fabrication
	flexible flap that		complexity
	restricts the inlet.		Inelastic deformation
			of polymer flap results
			in creep over extended
			use
Inlet filter	A filter is located	Additional advantage	Restricts refill rate	IJ04, IJ12, IJ24,
	between the ink inlet	of ink filtration	May result in	IJ27
	and the nozzle	Ink filter may be	complex construction	IJ29, IJ30
	chamber. The filter has	fabricated with no
	a multitude of small	additional process steps
	holes or slots,
	restricting ink flow.
	The filter also removes
	particles which may
	block the nozzle.
Small inlet	The ink inlet channel to	Design simplicity	Restricts refill rate	IJ02, IJ37, IJ44
compared to	the nozzle chamber has		May result in a
nozzle	a substantially smaller		relatively large chip
	cross section than that		area
	of the nozzle, resulting		Only partially
	in easier ink egress out		effective
	of the nozzle than out
	of the inlet.
Inlet shutter	A secondary actuator	Increases speed of the	Requires separate	IJ09
	controls the position of	ink-jet print head	refill actuator and drive
	a shutter, closing off	operation	circuit
	the ink inlet when the
	main actuator is
	energized.
The inlet is	The method avoids the	Back-flow problem is	Requires careful	IJ01, IJ03, IJ05,
located behind	problem of inlet back-	eliminated	design to minimize the	IJ06
the ink-pushing	flow by arranging the		negative pressure	IJ07, IJ10, IJ11,
surface	ink-pushing surface of		behind the paddle	IJ14
	the actuator between			IJ16, IJ22, IJ23,
	the inlet and the nozzle.			IJ25
				IJ28, IJ31, IJ32,
				IJ33
				IJ34, IJ35, IJ36,
				IJ39
				IJ40, IJ41
Part of the	The actuator and a wall	Significant reductions	Small increase in	IJ07, IJ20, IJ26,
actuator moves	of the ink chamber are	in back-flow can be	fabrication complexity	IJ38
to shut off the	arranged so that the	achieved
inlet	motion of the actuator	Compact designs
	closes off the inlet.	possible
Nozzle actuator	In some configurations	Ink back-flow problem	None related to ink	Silverbrook, EP
does not result	of ink jet, there is no	is eliminated	back-flow on actuation	0771 658 A2 and
in ink back-flow	expansion or movement			related patent
	of an actuator which			applications
	may cause ink back-			Valve-jet
	flow through the inlet.			Tone-jet
				IJ08, IJ13, IJ15,
				IJ17
				IJ18, IJ19, IJ21

[0079]

NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD
Nozzle Clearing
method	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
Normal nozzle	All of the nozzles are	No added complexity	May not be sufficient	Most ink jet systems
firing	fired periodically, before	on the print head	to displace dried ink	IJ01–IJ07, IJ09–IJ12
	the ink has a chance to			IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22
	dry. When not in use the			IJ23–IJ34, IJ36–IJ45
	nozzles are sealed
	(capped) against air.
	The nozzle firing is
	usually performed during
	a special clearing cycle,
	after first moving the
	print head to a cleaning
	station.
Extra power to	In systems which heat the	Can be highly	Requires higher drive	Silverbrook, EP 0771
ink heater	ink, but do not boil it	effective if the heater is	voltage for clearing	658 A2 and related
	under normal situations,	adjacent to the nozzle	May require larger	patent applications
	nozzle clearing can be		drive transistors
	achieved by over-
	powering the heater and
	boiling ink at the nozzle.
Rapid	The actuator is fired in	Does not require	Effectiveness	May be used with:
succession of	rapid succession. In some	extra drive circuits on	depends substantially	IJ01–IJ07, IJ09–IJ11
actuator pulses	configurations, this may	the print head	upon the configuration	IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22
	cause heat build-up at the	Can be readily	of the inkjet nozzle	IJ23–IJ25, IJ27–IJ34
	nozzle which boils the	controlled and initiated		IJ36–IJ45
	ink, clearing the nozzle.	by digital logic
	In other situations, it may
	cause sufficient
	vibrations to dislodge
	clogged nozzles.
Extra power to	Where an actuator is not	A simple solution	Not suitable where	May be used with:
ink pushing	normally driven to the	where applicable	there is a hard limit to	IJ03, IJ09, IJ16, IJ20
actuator	limit of its motion,		actuator movement	IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ27
	nozzle clearing may be			IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32
	assisted by providing an			IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42
	enhanced drive signal to			IJ43, IJ44, IJ45
	the actuator.
Acoustic	An ultrasonic wave is	A high nozzle	High implementation	IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17
resonance	applied to the ink	clearing capability can	cost if system does not	IJ18, IJ19, IJ21
	chamber. This wave is of	be achieved	already include an
	an appropriate amplitude	May be implemented	acoustic actuator
	and frequency to cause	at very low cost in
	sufficient force at the	systems which already
	nozzle to clear	include acoustic
	blockages. This is easiest	actuators
	to achieve if the
	ultrasonic wave is at a
	resonant frequency of the
	ink cavity.
Nozzle clearing	A microfabricated plate	Can clear severely	Accurate mechanical	Silverbrook, EP 0771
plate	is pushed against the	clogged nozzles	alignment is required	658 A2 and related
	nozzles. The plate has a		Moving parts are	patent applications
	post for every nozzle.		required
	The array of posts		There is risk of
			damage to the nozzles
			Accurate fabrication
			is required
Ink pressure	The pressure of the ink is	May be effective	Requires pressure	May be used with all
pulse	temporarily increased so	where other methods	pump or other pressure	IJ series ink jets
	that ink streams from all	cannot be used	actuator
	of the nozzles. This may		Expensive
	be used in conjunction		Wasteful of ink
	with actuator energizing.
Print head	A flexible ‘blade’ is	Effective for planar	Difficult to use if	Many ink jet systems
wiper	wiped across the print	print head surfaces	print head surface is
	head surface. The blade	Low cost	non-planar or very
	is usually fabricated from		fragile
	a flexible polymer, e.g.		Requires mechanical
	rubber or synthetic		parts
	elastomer.		Blade can wear out
			in high volume print
			systems
Separate ink	A separate heater is	Can be effective	Fabrication	Can be used with
boiling heater	provided at the nozzle	where other nozzle	complexity	many IJ series ink jets
	although the normal drop	clearing methods
	e-ection mechanism does	cannot be used
	not require it. The	Can be implemented
	heaters do not require	at no additional cost in
	individual drive circuits,	some inkjet
	as many nozzles can be	configurations
	cleared simultaneously,
	and no imaging is
	required.

[0080]

NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION
Nozzle plate
construction	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
Electroformed	A nozzle plate is	Fabrication	High temperatures and	Hewlett Packard
nickel	separately fabricated	simplicity	pressures are required to	Thermal Inkjet
	from electroformed		bond nozzle plate
	nickel, and bonded to		Minimum thickness
	the print head chip.		constraints
			Differential thermal
			expansion
Laser ablated	Individual nozzle holes	No masks required	Each hole must be	Canon Bubblejet
or drilled	are ablated by an	Can be quite fast	individually formed	1988 Sercel et al.,
polymer	intense UV laser in a	Some control over	Special equipment	SPIE, Vol. 998
	nozzle plate, which is	nozzle profile is	required	Excimer Beam
	typically a polymer	possible	Slow where there are	Applications, pp.
	such as polyimide or	Equipment required	many thousands of nozzles	76–83
	polysulphone	is relatively low cost	per print head	1993 Watanabe et
			May produce thin burrs at	al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,604
			exit holes
Silicon micromachined	A separate nozzle plate	High accuracy is	Two part construction	K. Bean, IEEE
	is micromachined from	attainable	High cost	Transactions on
	single crystal silicon,		Requires precision	Electron Devices,
	and bonded to the print		alignment	Vol. ED-25, No.
	head wafer.		Nozzles may be clogged	10, 1978, pp 1185–1195
			by adhesive	Xerox 1990
				Hawkins et al., U.S. Pat. No.
				4,899,181
Glass	Fine glass capillaries	No expensive	Very small nozzle sizes	1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No.
capillaries	are drawn from glass	equipment required	are difficult to form	3,683,212
	tubing. This method	Simple to make	Not suited for mass
	has been used for	single nozzles	production
	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	Silverbrook, EP
surface micromachined	deposited as a layer	Monolithic	under the nozzle plate to	0771 658 A2 and
using VLSI	using standard VLSI	Low cost	form the nozzle chamber	related patent
lithographic	deposition techniques.	Existing processes	Surface may be fragile to	applications
processes	Nozzles are etched in	can be used	the touch	IJ01, IJ02, IJ04,
	the nozzle plate using			IJ11
	VLSI lithography and			IJ12, IJ17, IJ18,
	etching.			IJ20
				IJ22, IJ24, IJ27,
				IJ28
				IJ29, IJ30, IJ31,
				IJ32
				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,
etched	buried etch stop in the	Monolithic	Requires a support wafer	IJ07
through	wafer. Nozzle	Low cost		IJ08, IJ09, IJ10,
substrate	chambers are etched in	No differential		IJ13
	the front of the wafer,	expansion		IJ14, IJ15, IJ16,
	and the wafer is thinned			IJ19
	from the back side.			IJ21, IJ23, IJ25,
	Nozzles are then etched			IJ26
	in the etch stop layer.
No nozzle	Various methods have	No nozzles to	Difficult to control drop	Ricoh 1995
plate	been tried to eliminate	become clogged	position accurately	Sekiya et al U.S. Pat. No.
	the nozzles entirely, to		Crosstalk problems	5,412,413
	prevent nozzle			1993 Hadimioglu
	clogging. These include			et al EUP 550,192
	thermal bubble			1993 Elrod et al
	mechanisms and			EUP 572,220
	acoustic lens
	mechanisms
Trough	Each drop ejector has a	Reduced	Drop firing direction is	IJ35
	trough through which a	manufacturing	sensitive to wicking.
	paddle moves. There is	complexity
	no nozzle plate.	Monolithic
Nozzle slit	The elimination of	No nozzles to	Difficult to control drop	1989 Saito et al
instead of	nozzle holes and	become clogged	position accurately	U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,068
individual	replacement by a slit		Crosstalk problems
nozzles	encompassing many
	actuator positions
	reduces nozzle
	clogging, but increases
	crosstalk due to ink
	surface waves

[0081]

DROP EJECTION DIRECTION
Ejection
direction	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
Edge	Ink flow is along the	Simple construction	Nozzles limited	Canon Bubblejet
(‘edge shooter’)	surface of the chip, and	No silicon etching	to edge	1979 Endo et al GB
	ink drops are ejected	required	High resolution is	patent 2,007,162
	from the chip edge.	Good heat sinking via	difficult	Xerox heater-in-pit
		substrate	Fast color	1990 Hawkins et al
		Mechanically strong	printing requires	U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181
		Ease of chip handing	one print head per	Tone-jet
			color
Surface	Ink flow is along the	No bulk silicon etching	Maximum ink	Hewlett-Packard
(‘roof shooter’)	surface of the chip, and	required	flow is severely	TIJ 1982 Vaught et al
	ink drops are ejected	Silicon can make an	restricted	U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,728
	from the chip surface,	effective heat sink		IJ02, IJ11, IJ12,
	normal to the plane of the	Mechanical strength		IJ20
	chip.			IJ22
Through chip,	Ink flow is through the	High ink flow	Requires bulk	Silverbrook, EP
forward	chip, and ink drops are	Suitable for pagewidth	silicon etching	0771 658 A2 and
(‘up shooter’)	ejected from the front	print		related patent
	surface of the chip.	High nozzle packing		applications
		density therefore low		IJ04, IJ17, IJ18,
		manufacturing cost		IJ24
				IJ27–IJ45
Through chip,	Ink flow is through the	High ink flow	Requires wafer	IJ01, IJ03, IJ05,
reverse	chip, and ink drops are	Suitable for pagewidth	thinning	IJ06
(‘down	ejected from the rear	print	Requires special	IJ07, IJ08, IJ09,
shooter’)	surface of the chip.	High nozzle packing	handling during	IJ10
		density therefore low	manufacture	IJ13, IJ14, IJ15,
		manufacturing cost		IJ16
				IJ19, IJ21, IJ23,
				IJ25
				IJ26
Through	Ink flow is through the	Suitable for	Pagewidth print	Epson Stylus
actuator	actuator, which is not	piezoelectric print heads	heads require	Tektronix hot melt
	fabricated as part of the		several thousand	piezoelectric ink jets
	same substrate as the		connections to drive
	drive transistors.		circuits
			Cannot be
			manufactured in
			standard CMOS
			fabs
			Complex
			assembly required

[0082]

INK TYPE
Ink type	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples
Aqueous, dye	Water based ink	Environmentally	Slow drying	Most existing inkjets
	which typically	friendly	Corrosive	All IJ series ink jets
	contains: water, dye,	No odor	Bleeds on paper	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	surfactant, humectant,		May strikethrough	658 A2 and related
	and biocide.		Cockles paper	patent applications
	Modern ink dyes
	have high water-
	fastness, light fastness
Aqueous,	Water based ink	Environmentally	Slow drying	IJ02, IJ04, IJ21, IJ26
pigment	which typically	friendly	Corrosive	IJ27, IJ30
	contains: water,	No odor	Pigment may clog	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	pigment, surfactant,	Reduced bleed	nozzles	658 A2 and related
	humectant, and	Reduced wicking	Pigment may clog	patent applications
	biocide.	Reduced	actuator mechanisms	Piezoelectric ink-jets
	Pigments have an	strikethrough	Cockles paper	Thermal ink jets (with
	advantage in reduced			significant restrictions)
	bleed, wicking and
	strikethrough.
Methyl Ethyl	MEK is a highly	Very fast drying	Odorous	All IJ series ink jets
Ketone (MEK)	volatile solvent used	Prints on various	Flammable
	for industrial printing	substrates such as
	on difficult surfaces	metals and plastics
	such as aluminum
	cans.
Alcohol	Alcohol based inks	Fast drying	Slight odor	All IJ series ink jets
(ethanol, 2-	can be used where the	Operates at sub-	Flammable
butanol, and	printer must operate	freezing temperatures
others)	at temperatures below	Reduced paper
	the freezing point of	cockle
	water. An example of	Low cost
	this is in-camera
	consumer
	photographic
	printing.
Phase change	The ink is solid at	No drying time-ink	High viscosity	Tektronix hot melt
(hot melt)	room temperature,	instantly freezes on the	Printed ink typically	piezoelectric ink jets
	and is melted in the	print medium	has a ‘waxy’ feel	1989 Nowak U.S. Pat. No.
	print head before	Almost any print	Printed pages may	4,820,346
	jetting. Hot melt inks	medium can be used	‘block’	All IJ series ink jets
	are usually wax	No paper cockle	Ink temperature may
	based, with a melting	occurs	be above the curie point
	point around 80° C.	No wicking occurs	of permanent magnets
	After jetting the ink	No bleed occurs	Ink heaters consume
	freezes almost	No strikethrough	power
	instantly upon	occurs	Long warm-up time
	contacting the print
	medium or a transfer
	roller.
Oil	Oil based inks are	High solubility	High viscosity: this is a	All IJ series ink jets
	extensively used in	medium for some dyes	significant limitation for
	offset printing. They	Does not cockle	use in inkjets, which
	have advantages in	paper	usually require a low
	improved	Does not wick	viscosity. Some short
	characteristics on	through paper	chain and multi-branched
	paper (especially no		oils have a sufficiently
	wicking or cockle).		low viscosity.
	Oil soluble dies and		Slow drying
	pigments are
	required.
Microemulsion	A microemulsion is a	Stops ink bleed	Viscosity higher than	All IJ series ink jets
	stable, self forming	High dye solubility	water
	emulsion of oil,	Water, oil, and	Cost is slightly higher
	water, and surfactant.	amphiphilic soluble	than water based ink
	The characteristic	dies can be used	High surfactant
	drop size is less than	Can stabilize pigment	concentration required
	100 nm, and is	suspensions	(around 5%)
	determined by the
	preferred curvature of
	the surfactant.