CA2162403C - Differential drive system for an ink jet printhead - Google Patents
Differential drive system for an ink jet printhead Download PDFInfo
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- CA2162403C CA2162403C CA002162403A CA2162403A CA2162403C CA 2162403 C CA2162403 C CA 2162403C CA 002162403 A CA002162403 A CA 002162403A CA 2162403 A CA2162403 A CA 2162403A CA 2162403 C CA2162403 C CA 2162403C
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- electrical connection
- connection portions
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- sidewall sections
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
- B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
- B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
- B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
- B41J2/04543—Block driving
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
- B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
- B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
- B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
- B41J2/04581—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
- B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
- B41J2202/10—Finger type piezoelectric elements
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- Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
Abstract
A differential drive system is used to actuate an ink jet printhead having a spaced, parallel series of internal ink receiving channels opening outwardly through ink discharge orifices formed in the printhead body. The channels are laterally bounded by a spaced series of piezoelectrically deflectable internal sidewall actuator sections of the printhead body interdigitated with the channels. The printhead body is specially configured to facilitate wiring access to spaced apart first and second electrical connection portions on each of the actuators. Electrical leads from a first controller are connected to the first actuator portions and are ganged in groups that are selectively connected to a driving voltage source, or to ground, by the first controller. A second controller has a first set of electrical leads similarly ganged in groups and connected to a first set of the second actuator portions, and a second set of unganged electrical leads individually connected to the rest of the second actuator portions. The second controller is operative to selectively connect any of its individual leads, or any of its ganged lead groups, to the driving voltage source or to ground. In conjunction with the dual controllers, this combination of ganged and individually addressable leads connected to the first and second actuator portions permits the actuators to be differentially driven in a manner digitally synthesizing a more complex bipolar drive system.
Description
DIFFERENTIAL DRIVE SYSTEIyI
FOR AN INK JET PRINTHEAD
The present invention generally relates to ink jet printhead apparatus and more particularly relates to systems for piezoelectrically driving an ink jet printhead.
A piezoelectrically actuated ink jet printhead is a relatively small device used to selectively eject tiny ink droplets onto a paper sheet operatively fed through a printer, in which the printhead is incorporated, to thereby form from the ejected ink droplets selected text and/or graphics on the sheet. In one representative configuration thereof, an ink jet printhead has a horizontally spaced parallel array of internal ink-receiving channels. These internal channels are covered at their front ends by a plate member through which a spaced series of small ink discharge orifices are formed. Each channel opens outwardly through a different one of the spaced orifices.
A spaced series of internal piezoelectric wall portions of the printhead body separate and laterally bound the channels along their lengths.
To eject an ink droplet through a selected one of the discharge orifices, the two printhead sidewall portions that laterally bound the channel associated with the selected orifice are piezoelectrically deflected into the channel and then returned to their normal undeflected positions. The driven inward deflection of the opposite channel wall portions increases the pressure of the ink within the channel sufficiently to force a small quantity of ink, in droplet form, outwardly through the discharge orifice.
According to a recently proposed drive method for this type of ink jet printhead, top sides of the internal channel dividing wall portions are commonly connected to ground, and the bottom sides of the wall portions are individually connected to a series of electrical actuating leads. Each of these leads, in turn, is connected to a drive control system operable to selectively impart to the lead a wave form that sequentially changes (1) 15-- from ground to a first driving polarity, (2) from the first polarity to the opposite polarity, and (3) from the opposite polarity back to ground.
When this electrical wave form is imparted to a piezoelectric wall portion bounding one side of a selected, and a second analog electrical wave form of opposite polarity sequence is simultaneously imparted (via another one of the actuating leads) to the opposite channel wall portion, the opposite channel wall portions, by piezoelectrical action, are sequentially deflected (1) outwardly away from the channel that they laterally bound, (2) into the channel to discharge an ink droplet therefrom, and (3) back to their starting or "neutral" positions.
While the drive system just described provides its printhead with satisfactory printing performance, it has several built-in limitations and disadvantages. For example, the system requires three separate drivers - one for each of the three channel wall drive portions described above. This requirement substantially increases the complexity of the drive system, thereby undesirably increasing its overall cost.
Additionally, it undesirably increases the overall space requirement for the drive system.
It can be readily seen from the foregoing that it would be desirable to provide an improved ink jet printhead drive system that eliminates, or at least substantially reduces, the abovementioned limitations and disadvantages associated with the drive system described above. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide such an improved ink jet printhead drive system.
US-A-4887100 discloses an ink jet printhead with selective piezoelectric ink droplet forming actuators.
The invention in one broad aspect provides an ink jet printhead comprising a body having a front end section with a spaced series of ink discharge orifices extending rearwardly therethrough, the body further having a spaced, parallel series of infernal sidewall sections extending rearwardly through the body from the front end section thereof and laterally bounding a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels interdigitated with the sidewall sections and opening outwardly through the discharge orifices. Each of the sidewall sections has thereon spaced apart first and second electrical connection portions between which electrical current may be flowed in selectively opposite directions through selected ones of the sidewall sections to piezoelectrically deflect the selected ones of the sidewall sections in correspondingly opposite directions. The first electrical connection portions of the sidewall sections are arranged in one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions. A first portion of the second electrical connection portions of the sidewall sections is arranged in one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions and a remaining portion of the second electrical connection portions of the sidewall sections is arranged as one or more individual second electrical connection portions. Drive means a.s provided for piezoelectrically actuating a selected one or more of the channels in a manner causing a quantity of ink disposed in each 2~ fi2403 one of the selected channels to be ejected through each of the discharge orifices associated with one of the selected channels, the drive means being operative to (1) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of a predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of the one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions, (2) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of the predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of the one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions and (3) individually and selectively impose a driving voltage of the predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of the one or more individual second electrical connection portions of the sidewall sections.
Another aspect of the invention provides an ink j et printhead comprising a body having a front end section with a spaced series of ink discharge orifices extending rearwardly therethrough, intersecured first, second and third sections each extending rearwardly from the front end section, the first and second sections meeting along a first juncture area and the second and third sections meeting along a second juncture area. A first exposed side surface area extends along and rearwardly from the first juncture area and a second exposed side surface area extends along and rearwardly from the second juncture area. A spaced, parallel series of internal, piezoelectrically deflectable sidewall sections extend rearwardly through the body from the front end section and laterally bound a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels interdigitated with the sidewall sections and opening outwardly through the discharge orifices, the sidewall sections having first electrical connection portions extending generally along the first juncture area and second electrical connection portions extending generally along the second juncture area. A first spaced series of electrically conductive surface traces extend along the first exposed side surface area and are connected at ends thereof to the first sidewall section electrical connection portions and a second spaced series of electrically conductive surface traces extend along the second exposed side surface area and are connected at ends thereof to the second sidewall section electrical connection portions. Drive means is provided for piezoelectrically deflecting a selected number of the sidewall sections in a manner causing a quantity of ink disposed in a selected one or more of the channels to be forwardly 5 discharged in droplet form from the body, the drive means including first means for selectively imposing a driving voltage on, or grounding, a selectively variable group of the first series of electrically conductive surface traces and second means for selectively imposing a driving voltage on, or grounding, a selectively variable group of the second series of electrically conductive surface traces.
Further still, the invention pertains to a method of actuating an ink jet printhead having a body with a spaced, parallel series of internal, piezoelectrically deflectable sidewall sections having first and second areas and extending rearwardly through the body, the sidewall sections interdigitated with a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels opening outwardly through a spaced series of ink discharge orifices. The first areas of the sidewall sections are arranged into one or more separate groups of first areas, a portion of the second areas of the sidewall sections is arranged into one or more separate groups of second areas and a remaining portion of the second areas of the sidewall sections are arranged as one or more individual second areas. The method comprises the steps of commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of a predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of the one or more separate groups of first areas, commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of the predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of the one or more separate groups of second areas and individually and selectively imposing a driving voltage of the predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of the one or more individual second areas of the sidewall sections, the second areas on the sidewall sections being spaced apart from the first areas thereon.
Still further, the invention in another aspect provides an ink let printhead, comprising a base section formed from an inactive material, the base section having a plurality of ~~:
'""~ 5 A
generally parallel spaced projections extending longitudinally along the base section with each of the projections having a top side. A plurality of intermediate sections are formed from an active piezoelectric material, each intermediate section having a top side and a bottom side mounted to the top side of a corresponding one of the plurality of base section projections.
A cover section is formed from an inactive material and having a bottom side, the top side of each of the plurality of intermediate sections insulatively mounted to the bottom side of the cover section. A first controller is electrically connected to the top side of each one of the intermediate sections, the first controller selectively applying either a positive or ground voltage to the top side of selected ones of the plurality of intermediate sections. A second controller is electrically connected to the bottom side of each one of the intermediate sections, the second controller selectively applying a positive or ground voltage to the bottom side of selected ones of the plurality of intermediate sections.
r...
FOR AN INK JET PRINTHEAD
The present invention generally relates to ink jet printhead apparatus and more particularly relates to systems for piezoelectrically driving an ink jet printhead.
A piezoelectrically actuated ink jet printhead is a relatively small device used to selectively eject tiny ink droplets onto a paper sheet operatively fed through a printer, in which the printhead is incorporated, to thereby form from the ejected ink droplets selected text and/or graphics on the sheet. In one representative configuration thereof, an ink jet printhead has a horizontally spaced parallel array of internal ink-receiving channels. These internal channels are covered at their front ends by a plate member through which a spaced series of small ink discharge orifices are formed. Each channel opens outwardly through a different one of the spaced orifices.
A spaced series of internal piezoelectric wall portions of the printhead body separate and laterally bound the channels along their lengths.
To eject an ink droplet through a selected one of the discharge orifices, the two printhead sidewall portions that laterally bound the channel associated with the selected orifice are piezoelectrically deflected into the channel and then returned to their normal undeflected positions. The driven inward deflection of the opposite channel wall portions increases the pressure of the ink within the channel sufficiently to force a small quantity of ink, in droplet form, outwardly through the discharge orifice.
According to a recently proposed drive method for this type of ink jet printhead, top sides of the internal channel dividing wall portions are commonly connected to ground, and the bottom sides of the wall portions are individually connected to a series of electrical actuating leads. Each of these leads, in turn, is connected to a drive control system operable to selectively impart to the lead a wave form that sequentially changes (1) 15-- from ground to a first driving polarity, (2) from the first polarity to the opposite polarity, and (3) from the opposite polarity back to ground.
When this electrical wave form is imparted to a piezoelectric wall portion bounding one side of a selected, and a second analog electrical wave form of opposite polarity sequence is simultaneously imparted (via another one of the actuating leads) to the opposite channel wall portion, the opposite channel wall portions, by piezoelectrical action, are sequentially deflected (1) outwardly away from the channel that they laterally bound, (2) into the channel to discharge an ink droplet therefrom, and (3) back to their starting or "neutral" positions.
While the drive system just described provides its printhead with satisfactory printing performance, it has several built-in limitations and disadvantages. For example, the system requires three separate drivers - one for each of the three channel wall drive portions described above. This requirement substantially increases the complexity of the drive system, thereby undesirably increasing its overall cost.
Additionally, it undesirably increases the overall space requirement for the drive system.
It can be readily seen from the foregoing that it would be desirable to provide an improved ink jet printhead drive system that eliminates, or at least substantially reduces, the abovementioned limitations and disadvantages associated with the drive system described above. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide such an improved ink jet printhead drive system.
US-A-4887100 discloses an ink jet printhead with selective piezoelectric ink droplet forming actuators.
The invention in one broad aspect provides an ink jet printhead comprising a body having a front end section with a spaced series of ink discharge orifices extending rearwardly therethrough, the body further having a spaced, parallel series of infernal sidewall sections extending rearwardly through the body from the front end section thereof and laterally bounding a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels interdigitated with the sidewall sections and opening outwardly through the discharge orifices. Each of the sidewall sections has thereon spaced apart first and second electrical connection portions between which electrical current may be flowed in selectively opposite directions through selected ones of the sidewall sections to piezoelectrically deflect the selected ones of the sidewall sections in correspondingly opposite directions. The first electrical connection portions of the sidewall sections are arranged in one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions. A first portion of the second electrical connection portions of the sidewall sections is arranged in one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions and a remaining portion of the second electrical connection portions of the sidewall sections is arranged as one or more individual second electrical connection portions. Drive means a.s provided for piezoelectrically actuating a selected one or more of the channels in a manner causing a quantity of ink disposed in each 2~ fi2403 one of the selected channels to be ejected through each of the discharge orifices associated with one of the selected channels, the drive means being operative to (1) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of a predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of the one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions, (2) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of the predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of the one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions and (3) individually and selectively impose a driving voltage of the predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of the one or more individual second electrical connection portions of the sidewall sections.
Another aspect of the invention provides an ink j et printhead comprising a body having a front end section with a spaced series of ink discharge orifices extending rearwardly therethrough, intersecured first, second and third sections each extending rearwardly from the front end section, the first and second sections meeting along a first juncture area and the second and third sections meeting along a second juncture area. A first exposed side surface area extends along and rearwardly from the first juncture area and a second exposed side surface area extends along and rearwardly from the second juncture area. A spaced, parallel series of internal, piezoelectrically deflectable sidewall sections extend rearwardly through the body from the front end section and laterally bound a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels interdigitated with the sidewall sections and opening outwardly through the discharge orifices, the sidewall sections having first electrical connection portions extending generally along the first juncture area and second electrical connection portions extending generally along the second juncture area. A first spaced series of electrically conductive surface traces extend along the first exposed side surface area and are connected at ends thereof to the first sidewall section electrical connection portions and a second spaced series of electrically conductive surface traces extend along the second exposed side surface area and are connected at ends thereof to the second sidewall section electrical connection portions. Drive means is provided for piezoelectrically deflecting a selected number of the sidewall sections in a manner causing a quantity of ink disposed in a selected one or more of the channels to be forwardly 5 discharged in droplet form from the body, the drive means including first means for selectively imposing a driving voltage on, or grounding, a selectively variable group of the first series of electrically conductive surface traces and second means for selectively imposing a driving voltage on, or grounding, a selectively variable group of the second series of electrically conductive surface traces.
Further still, the invention pertains to a method of actuating an ink jet printhead having a body with a spaced, parallel series of internal, piezoelectrically deflectable sidewall sections having first and second areas and extending rearwardly through the body, the sidewall sections interdigitated with a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels opening outwardly through a spaced series of ink discharge orifices. The first areas of the sidewall sections are arranged into one or more separate groups of first areas, a portion of the second areas of the sidewall sections is arranged into one or more separate groups of second areas and a remaining portion of the second areas of the sidewall sections are arranged as one or more individual second areas. The method comprises the steps of commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of a predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of the one or more separate groups of first areas, commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of the predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of the one or more separate groups of second areas and individually and selectively imposing a driving voltage of the predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of the one or more individual second areas of the sidewall sections, the second areas on the sidewall sections being spaced apart from the first areas thereon.
Still further, the invention in another aspect provides an ink let printhead, comprising a base section formed from an inactive material, the base section having a plurality of ~~:
'""~ 5 A
generally parallel spaced projections extending longitudinally along the base section with each of the projections having a top side. A plurality of intermediate sections are formed from an active piezoelectric material, each intermediate section having a top side and a bottom side mounted to the top side of a corresponding one of the plurality of base section projections.
A cover section is formed from an inactive material and having a bottom side, the top side of each of the plurality of intermediate sections insulatively mounted to the bottom side of the cover section. A first controller is electrically connected to the top side of each one of the intermediate sections, the first controller selectively applying either a positive or ground voltage to the top side of selected ones of the plurality of intermediate sections. A second controller is electrically connected to the bottom side of each one of the intermediate sections, the second controller selectively applying a positive or ground voltage to the bottom side of selected ones of the plurality of intermediate sections.
r...
FIG. 1 is a simplified, somewhat schematic perspective view of an ink jet printhead incorporating therein a specially designed differential drive system embodying principles of the present invention:
FIG. 2A is an enlarged scale partial cross-sectional view through the printhead taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and schematically illustrating the ganged electrical connection between controller and sidewall actuator portions of the printhead;
FIGS. 2B - 2D are enlarged scale simplified partial cross-sectional views taken through the printhead along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating a drive method by which a channel is actuated by a 15-~ pair of sidewall actuators portions laterally bounding the actuated channel: and FIGS. 3A - 3D are enlarged scale simplified partial cross-sectional views taken through the printhead along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and sequentially illustrating a representative manner in which the controller portions of the printhead may be utilized to differentially drive selected sidewall actuator portions thereof.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, the present invention provides an ink jet printhead 10 having a specially configured printhead body 12. A left or front end section of the body 12 is defined by a horizontally elongated rectangular orifice plate 14 that is preferably formed from a nonpiezoelectric ceramic material. Extending rearwardly through the plate 14 are a horizontally spaced series of small ink discharge orifices 16.
As illustrated, the orifices 16 are grouped in horizontally successive, vertically sloped sets of four orifices 16a-16d, with the orifices 16a-16d cumulatively forming four vertically spaced horizontal rows Rl - R4 of orifices.
Secured to the rear side of the orifice plate 14, and extending rearwardly therefrom, are three intersecured body sections, each of a rectangular configuration, a top section 18, a bottom section 20, and a vertically intermediate section 22 sandwiched between the top and bottom sections.
Sections 18 and 22 meet along a side surface juncture area 24, while sections 20 and 22 meet along a side surface juncture area 26.
The top and bottom body sections 18 and 20 are preferably formed from a nonpolled ceramic - material, and the vertically intermediate body section 22 is formed a piezoelectrically active ceramic material polled in the direction "P"
indicated in FIG. 2A. For purposes later described, the vertically intermediate body section 22 extends rearwardly beyond the top section 18 and has an exposed top side surface area 28 extending rearwardly from the back end of the juncture area 24. In a similar fashion, the bottom body section 20 extends rearwardly beyond the vertically intermediate section 22 and has an exposed top side surface area 30 extending rearwardly from the back end of the juncture area 26.
Turning now to FIG. 2A, a plurality of vertical grooves of predetermined width and depth are formed in the printhead body sections 20 and 22 to define within the printhead body 12 a spaced, parallel series of internal ink receiving channels 32 that longitudinally extend rearwardly from the orifice plate 14, with the front end of each of the channels opening outwardly through one of the ink _8_ discharge orifices 16. A representative group of channels 32a-32h is shown in the printhead body portion cross-sectionally depicted in FIG. 2A.
The channels 32 are laterally bounded along their lengths by opposed pairs of a series of internal actuator sidewall sections A of the printhead body interdigitated with the channels.
A representative group of sidewall actuator sections Al - A9 are shown in the printhead body portion cross-sectionally depicted in FIG. 2A.
The sidewall sections A have upper parts 34a defined by horizontally separated vertical portions of the body section 22, and lower parts 34b defined by horizontally separated portions of the body 15~- section 20. The top and bottom sides of the actuator sidewall section parts 34a, and the top sides of the actuator sidewall section parts 34b are respectively coated with electrically conductive metal layers 36, 38 and 40. Body sections 18 and 22 are secured to one another by a layer of an insulative adhesive material 44 positioned between lower side surface 18a of the body section 18 and the conductive metal layer 36.
Body sections 20 and 22, on the other hand, are secured to one another by a layer of electrically conductive adhesive material 46 positioned between the metal layers 38 and 40.
The illustrated layer groups of metal and electrically conductive adhesive form vertically separated top and bottom electrical connection portions on each of the actuators A. The top electrical connection portions defined by the metal layers 36 are arrayed generally along the body section juncture area 24 , and the bottom electrical connection portions (defined by the metal layers w 21b24Q~
_g_ 38,40 and the adhesive layers 46) are arrayed generally along the body section juncture area 26.
Each of the channels 32 is filled with ink received from a suitable ink supply reservoir 50 (see FIG. 1) connected to the channels via an ink delivery conduit 52 communicating with the channels via an ink supply manifold cavity (not shown) disposed within the printhead body 12 and coupled to rear end portions of the internal channels 32.
In a manner subsequently described, each horizontally opposed pair of the actuators A are piezoelectrically deflectable into the channel 32 that they laterally bound to force a quantity of ink disposed in the channel outwardly, in droplet ~- form, through its associated orifice. For example, to discharge an ink droplet from the orifice 16d associated with channel 32d, the opposing actuator sidewall sections A, and A5 are each deflected outwardly, relative to the channel 32d, from a rest position as illustrated in FIG. 2A to an expansion position illustrated in FIG. 2B by simultaneously applying a positive voltage to the bottom electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A, and to the top electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A5 while holding the top electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A, and the bottom electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section AS to ground. Deflection of the actuator sidewall sections A, and As into the illustrated expansion position causes the generation of a pressure pulse which propagates both forwardly and rearwardly within the channel 32d. The actuator sidewall sections A, and A5 are then held in the outwardly deflected position illustrated in FIG. 2B
2 ~ ~z~o~
-10_ to allow the rearwardly propagating portion of the generated pressure pulse to ref lect of f a rear wall (not shown) of the ink jet printhead 10 as a forwardly propagating pressure pulse and to travel back to its initial position.
The actuator sidewall sections A, and A~ are then deflected inwardly, relative to the channel 32d, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, by removing the positive voltage applied to the bottom electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A, and to the top electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A5 and holding the aforementioned electrical connection portions to ground while applying a positive voltage to the top ~ electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A, and to the bottom electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A5 which previously had been held to ground. Deflection of the actuator sidewall sections A, and AS into the illustrated contraction position causes the generation of a second pressure pulse which reinforces the forwardly propagating pressure pulse reflected off the rear wall of the ink jet printhead 10. The actuator sidewall sections A, and A5 are then held in the inwardly deflected position illustrated in FIG. 2C while the droplet forming, forwardly propagating pressure pulse propagates towards the orifice 16d. The actuator sidewall sections A, and A5 are then returned to the rest position, as illustrated in FIG. 2D, to terminate formation of the droplet by removing the positive voltage applied to the top electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A, and to the bottom electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A5.
The actuators A and their associated channels 32 are relatively configured in a manner such that an inward deflection of only one of a given channel's opposed actuator sections into the channel does not cause ink to be ejected from the channel. Both of the opposed actuator sidewall sections have to be simultaneously deflected into the channel therebetween to create operative ink droplet discharge from the channel.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2A, the operative piezoelectric deflection of the actuator sidewall sections A is effected by a specially designed differential drive system 54 embodying principles of the present invention. Drive system 54 includes 15~- a spaced series of electrical leads 56 having first end portions connected to a controller 58. Second end portions of the leads 56 are defined by electrically conductive surface traces 56a formed on the exposed top side surface 28 of the printhead body section 18 ( see FIG. 1 ) , each of the traces 56a being connected to one of the top electrical connection portions of the sidewall actuators A as schematically depicted in FIG. 2A.
Traces 56a are ganged into four lead sets LS1 LS, which are respectively coupled to controller 58 by leads 60,62,66 and 64. As schematically illustrated in FIG. 2A, the four lead sets LS1 LS, are each connected to every fourth top electrical connection portion in different interdigitated series of the actuator sidewall sections A. For example, in the actuators Al - A9 shown in FIG. 2A, lead set LS1 is connected to the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A, and A8; lead set LSZ is connected to the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A3 z ~ bz4o~
and A" lead set LS, is connected to the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A2 and A6; and lead set LS, is connected to the top electrical connection portions of actuators Al, A5 and Ag .
The differential drive system 54 also includes a spaced series of leads in the form of electrically conductive traces 68 formed on the exposed top side surface 30 of the printhead body section 20 and interconnected between the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A
and a controller 70 representatively mounted on the top side surface 30.
A first portion of the traces 68 are ganged into two lead sets LS5 and LS6 respectively coupled to controller 70 by leads 72 and 74. As schematically illustrated in FIG. 2A, the lead sets LS5 and LS6 are each connected to every fourth bottom electrical connection portion in different interdigitated series of the actuator sidewall sections A. For example, in the actuators Al - A9 shown in FIG. 2A the lead set LS5 is connected to the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A3 and A." and the lead set LS6 is connected to the actuators Al, A5 and A9.
The remainder of the electrical traces 68, namely traces 68a, are individually interconnected between the controller 70 and alternate ones of the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A. For example, in the actuators Al - A9 shown in FIG. 2A, the individually addressable leads 68a are separately connected to the bottom electrical connection portions of the alternate actuators AZ, A" A6 and A8.
Via suitable internal circuitry (not shown) z ~ 6z~o~
the controller 58 is operable to alternately connect any one or more of the leads 60, 62, 64 and 66 (and thus any one or more of the lead sets LS1 -LS,) to a positive driving voltage source 76 or to ground 78. In a similar manner, controller 70 is operative to alternately connect either or both of the leads 72,74 (and thus either or both of the lead sets LSS and LS6) to the voltage source 76 or to ground 78.
Accordingly, the controllers 58 and 70 may be utilized to create a current flow in either vertical direction between the top and bottom electrical connection portions of selected ones of the actuators A to thereby actuate selectively 15-- variable ones of the channels 32 by piezoelectrically causing the deflection of the opposing actuators A which laterally bound them in the manner previously described.
For example, if it is desired to actuate the channels 32a and 32e, as shown in FIG. 2A, the controller 58 is operated to connect the lead 64 to positive voltage source 76 and the lead 66 to ground while the controller 70 is operated to connect the lead 74 to ground, and couple to the positive voltage source 78 the two individual leads 68a connected to the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A2 and A6. This creates a positive voltage on the top electrical connection portions of actuators Al and A5 and on the bottom electrical connection portions of actuators A2 and A6, and grounds the bottom electrical connection portions of actuators A1 and AS and the top electrical connection portions of actuators AZ and A6. The resulting electrical current flows through the top parts 22 of actuators A1 - A2 and A5 - A6 causes the actuator pairs A1, A2 and A5 , A6 to respectively deflect outwardly relative to the channels 32a and 32e. The aforementioned voltages are then reversed, either from positive to ground or from ground to positive, to cause the actuator pairs Al,A2 and A5,A6 to respectively deflect inwardly relative to the channels 32a and 32e to actuate the channels. With the remaining individual leads 68a neither connected to ground nor to the positive voltage source by the controller 70, it can be seen that no other facing pair of actuators are both deflected into the channel therebetween. Accordingly, no other channels are actuated.
15~- As another example of the operation of the differential drive system 54, all of the channels 32 associated with the orifices 16 in any of the four orifice rows R1 - R4 may be simultaneously actuated if desired as schematically indicated in FIGS. 3A - 3D. For example, to simultaneously "fire" all of the orifices 16a in the top orifice row R1, the controllers 58,70 are operated to first positively charge and ground the top and bottom electrical connection portions of the opposing pairs of actuators bounding the channels associated with the orifices 16a in a manner causing such opposing actuator pairs to deflect outwardly away from their channels and then reverse the aforementioned positive charges and grounds to cause the opposing actuator pairs to deflect inwardly into the channels to force the ejection of a droplet of ink therefrom.
With respect to the actuators Al - A9 illustrated in FIG. 3A, the various ganged lead sets and individually addressable leads are first '" 2162403 connected to the positive voltage source or to ground in a manner imposing a positive voltage "+"
on the top electrical connection portions of the actuators AZ and A6 and on the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A1 and A5, and grounding (as indicated by the symbol "0") the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A1 and A5 and the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators AZ and A6. The connections are then reversed so that the positive voltage "+" is imposed on the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A1 and A5 and on the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators Az and A6, and the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A2 and A6 and the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A1 and A5 are grounded as illustrated in FIG. 3A.
Importantly, the described combination of ganged lead sets and individually addressable leads permits the controllers 58,70 to fire individual orifice rows without firing any of the orifices of the other orifice rows. FIGS. 3B - 3D illustrate, with the symbols "+" and "0", the positive charge and grounding connections obtainable by the controllers 58,70 on the indicated actuators A
during the inward deflection portion of the drive method to respectively fire the orifice rows R2 -R,.
The illustrated four orifice stagger, and corresponding combination of ganged lead sets and individually addressable leads, shown and described herein is merely illustrative, and other orifice stagger arrangements (for example, a three orifice stagger) and corresponding arrangements of ganged lead sets and individually addressable leads could alternatively be utilized if desired.
The differential printhead piezoelectric drive scheme just described is significantly facilitated by the unique configuration of the printhead body which, via the two exposed top side surface areas 28 and 30 of the printhead body, allows direct wiring access to the body section juncture areas 24,26 and thus to the top and bottom electrical connection portions of each of the internal sidewall actuators A. Compared to drive systems which require drive control structure conf figured to actively drive electrical actuating leads associated therewith between three states--15-~ positive, negative and ground, the digital drive system 54 of the present invention requires drive control structure configured to actively drive electrical actuating leads associated therewith between only two states--positive and ground.
Accordingly, the controllers 58, 70 of the digital drive system 54 are considerably less complex and expensive, and require appreciably less space than those contemplated for use in other drive systems.
The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solely by the appended claims.
FIG. 2A is an enlarged scale partial cross-sectional view through the printhead taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and schematically illustrating the ganged electrical connection between controller and sidewall actuator portions of the printhead;
FIGS. 2B - 2D are enlarged scale simplified partial cross-sectional views taken through the printhead along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating a drive method by which a channel is actuated by a 15-~ pair of sidewall actuators portions laterally bounding the actuated channel: and FIGS. 3A - 3D are enlarged scale simplified partial cross-sectional views taken through the printhead along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and sequentially illustrating a representative manner in which the controller portions of the printhead may be utilized to differentially drive selected sidewall actuator portions thereof.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, the present invention provides an ink jet printhead 10 having a specially configured printhead body 12. A left or front end section of the body 12 is defined by a horizontally elongated rectangular orifice plate 14 that is preferably formed from a nonpiezoelectric ceramic material. Extending rearwardly through the plate 14 are a horizontally spaced series of small ink discharge orifices 16.
As illustrated, the orifices 16 are grouped in horizontally successive, vertically sloped sets of four orifices 16a-16d, with the orifices 16a-16d cumulatively forming four vertically spaced horizontal rows Rl - R4 of orifices.
Secured to the rear side of the orifice plate 14, and extending rearwardly therefrom, are three intersecured body sections, each of a rectangular configuration, a top section 18, a bottom section 20, and a vertically intermediate section 22 sandwiched between the top and bottom sections.
Sections 18 and 22 meet along a side surface juncture area 24, while sections 20 and 22 meet along a side surface juncture area 26.
The top and bottom body sections 18 and 20 are preferably formed from a nonpolled ceramic - material, and the vertically intermediate body section 22 is formed a piezoelectrically active ceramic material polled in the direction "P"
indicated in FIG. 2A. For purposes later described, the vertically intermediate body section 22 extends rearwardly beyond the top section 18 and has an exposed top side surface area 28 extending rearwardly from the back end of the juncture area 24. In a similar fashion, the bottom body section 20 extends rearwardly beyond the vertically intermediate section 22 and has an exposed top side surface area 30 extending rearwardly from the back end of the juncture area 26.
Turning now to FIG. 2A, a plurality of vertical grooves of predetermined width and depth are formed in the printhead body sections 20 and 22 to define within the printhead body 12 a spaced, parallel series of internal ink receiving channels 32 that longitudinally extend rearwardly from the orifice plate 14, with the front end of each of the channels opening outwardly through one of the ink _8_ discharge orifices 16. A representative group of channels 32a-32h is shown in the printhead body portion cross-sectionally depicted in FIG. 2A.
The channels 32 are laterally bounded along their lengths by opposed pairs of a series of internal actuator sidewall sections A of the printhead body interdigitated with the channels.
A representative group of sidewall actuator sections Al - A9 are shown in the printhead body portion cross-sectionally depicted in FIG. 2A.
The sidewall sections A have upper parts 34a defined by horizontally separated vertical portions of the body section 22, and lower parts 34b defined by horizontally separated portions of the body 15~- section 20. The top and bottom sides of the actuator sidewall section parts 34a, and the top sides of the actuator sidewall section parts 34b are respectively coated with electrically conductive metal layers 36, 38 and 40. Body sections 18 and 22 are secured to one another by a layer of an insulative adhesive material 44 positioned between lower side surface 18a of the body section 18 and the conductive metal layer 36.
Body sections 20 and 22, on the other hand, are secured to one another by a layer of electrically conductive adhesive material 46 positioned between the metal layers 38 and 40.
The illustrated layer groups of metal and electrically conductive adhesive form vertically separated top and bottom electrical connection portions on each of the actuators A. The top electrical connection portions defined by the metal layers 36 are arrayed generally along the body section juncture area 24 , and the bottom electrical connection portions (defined by the metal layers w 21b24Q~
_g_ 38,40 and the adhesive layers 46) are arrayed generally along the body section juncture area 26.
Each of the channels 32 is filled with ink received from a suitable ink supply reservoir 50 (see FIG. 1) connected to the channels via an ink delivery conduit 52 communicating with the channels via an ink supply manifold cavity (not shown) disposed within the printhead body 12 and coupled to rear end portions of the internal channels 32.
In a manner subsequently described, each horizontally opposed pair of the actuators A are piezoelectrically deflectable into the channel 32 that they laterally bound to force a quantity of ink disposed in the channel outwardly, in droplet ~- form, through its associated orifice. For example, to discharge an ink droplet from the orifice 16d associated with channel 32d, the opposing actuator sidewall sections A, and A5 are each deflected outwardly, relative to the channel 32d, from a rest position as illustrated in FIG. 2A to an expansion position illustrated in FIG. 2B by simultaneously applying a positive voltage to the bottom electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A, and to the top electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A5 while holding the top electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A, and the bottom electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section AS to ground. Deflection of the actuator sidewall sections A, and As into the illustrated expansion position causes the generation of a pressure pulse which propagates both forwardly and rearwardly within the channel 32d. The actuator sidewall sections A, and A5 are then held in the outwardly deflected position illustrated in FIG. 2B
2 ~ ~z~o~
-10_ to allow the rearwardly propagating portion of the generated pressure pulse to ref lect of f a rear wall (not shown) of the ink jet printhead 10 as a forwardly propagating pressure pulse and to travel back to its initial position.
The actuator sidewall sections A, and A~ are then deflected inwardly, relative to the channel 32d, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, by removing the positive voltage applied to the bottom electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A, and to the top electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A5 and holding the aforementioned electrical connection portions to ground while applying a positive voltage to the top ~ electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A, and to the bottom electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A5 which previously had been held to ground. Deflection of the actuator sidewall sections A, and AS into the illustrated contraction position causes the generation of a second pressure pulse which reinforces the forwardly propagating pressure pulse reflected off the rear wall of the ink jet printhead 10. The actuator sidewall sections A, and A5 are then held in the inwardly deflected position illustrated in FIG. 2C while the droplet forming, forwardly propagating pressure pulse propagates towards the orifice 16d. The actuator sidewall sections A, and A5 are then returned to the rest position, as illustrated in FIG. 2D, to terminate formation of the droplet by removing the positive voltage applied to the top electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A, and to the bottom electrical connection portion of actuator sidewall section A5.
The actuators A and their associated channels 32 are relatively configured in a manner such that an inward deflection of only one of a given channel's opposed actuator sections into the channel does not cause ink to be ejected from the channel. Both of the opposed actuator sidewall sections have to be simultaneously deflected into the channel therebetween to create operative ink droplet discharge from the channel.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2A, the operative piezoelectric deflection of the actuator sidewall sections A is effected by a specially designed differential drive system 54 embodying principles of the present invention. Drive system 54 includes 15~- a spaced series of electrical leads 56 having first end portions connected to a controller 58. Second end portions of the leads 56 are defined by electrically conductive surface traces 56a formed on the exposed top side surface 28 of the printhead body section 18 ( see FIG. 1 ) , each of the traces 56a being connected to one of the top electrical connection portions of the sidewall actuators A as schematically depicted in FIG. 2A.
Traces 56a are ganged into four lead sets LS1 LS, which are respectively coupled to controller 58 by leads 60,62,66 and 64. As schematically illustrated in FIG. 2A, the four lead sets LS1 LS, are each connected to every fourth top electrical connection portion in different interdigitated series of the actuator sidewall sections A. For example, in the actuators Al - A9 shown in FIG. 2A, lead set LS1 is connected to the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A, and A8; lead set LSZ is connected to the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A3 z ~ bz4o~
and A" lead set LS, is connected to the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A2 and A6; and lead set LS, is connected to the top electrical connection portions of actuators Al, A5 and Ag .
The differential drive system 54 also includes a spaced series of leads in the form of electrically conductive traces 68 formed on the exposed top side surface 30 of the printhead body section 20 and interconnected between the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A
and a controller 70 representatively mounted on the top side surface 30.
A first portion of the traces 68 are ganged into two lead sets LS5 and LS6 respectively coupled to controller 70 by leads 72 and 74. As schematically illustrated in FIG. 2A, the lead sets LS5 and LS6 are each connected to every fourth bottom electrical connection portion in different interdigitated series of the actuator sidewall sections A. For example, in the actuators Al - A9 shown in FIG. 2A the lead set LS5 is connected to the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A3 and A." and the lead set LS6 is connected to the actuators Al, A5 and A9.
The remainder of the electrical traces 68, namely traces 68a, are individually interconnected between the controller 70 and alternate ones of the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A. For example, in the actuators Al - A9 shown in FIG. 2A, the individually addressable leads 68a are separately connected to the bottom electrical connection portions of the alternate actuators AZ, A" A6 and A8.
Via suitable internal circuitry (not shown) z ~ 6z~o~
the controller 58 is operable to alternately connect any one or more of the leads 60, 62, 64 and 66 (and thus any one or more of the lead sets LS1 -LS,) to a positive driving voltage source 76 or to ground 78. In a similar manner, controller 70 is operative to alternately connect either or both of the leads 72,74 (and thus either or both of the lead sets LSS and LS6) to the voltage source 76 or to ground 78.
Accordingly, the controllers 58 and 70 may be utilized to create a current flow in either vertical direction between the top and bottom electrical connection portions of selected ones of the actuators A to thereby actuate selectively 15-- variable ones of the channels 32 by piezoelectrically causing the deflection of the opposing actuators A which laterally bound them in the manner previously described.
For example, if it is desired to actuate the channels 32a and 32e, as shown in FIG. 2A, the controller 58 is operated to connect the lead 64 to positive voltage source 76 and the lead 66 to ground while the controller 70 is operated to connect the lead 74 to ground, and couple to the positive voltage source 78 the two individual leads 68a connected to the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A2 and A6. This creates a positive voltage on the top electrical connection portions of actuators Al and A5 and on the bottom electrical connection portions of actuators A2 and A6, and grounds the bottom electrical connection portions of actuators A1 and AS and the top electrical connection portions of actuators AZ and A6. The resulting electrical current flows through the top parts 22 of actuators A1 - A2 and A5 - A6 causes the actuator pairs A1, A2 and A5 , A6 to respectively deflect outwardly relative to the channels 32a and 32e. The aforementioned voltages are then reversed, either from positive to ground or from ground to positive, to cause the actuator pairs Al,A2 and A5,A6 to respectively deflect inwardly relative to the channels 32a and 32e to actuate the channels. With the remaining individual leads 68a neither connected to ground nor to the positive voltage source by the controller 70, it can be seen that no other facing pair of actuators are both deflected into the channel therebetween. Accordingly, no other channels are actuated.
15~- As another example of the operation of the differential drive system 54, all of the channels 32 associated with the orifices 16 in any of the four orifice rows R1 - R4 may be simultaneously actuated if desired as schematically indicated in FIGS. 3A - 3D. For example, to simultaneously "fire" all of the orifices 16a in the top orifice row R1, the controllers 58,70 are operated to first positively charge and ground the top and bottom electrical connection portions of the opposing pairs of actuators bounding the channels associated with the orifices 16a in a manner causing such opposing actuator pairs to deflect outwardly away from their channels and then reverse the aforementioned positive charges and grounds to cause the opposing actuator pairs to deflect inwardly into the channels to force the ejection of a droplet of ink therefrom.
With respect to the actuators Al - A9 illustrated in FIG. 3A, the various ganged lead sets and individually addressable leads are first '" 2162403 connected to the positive voltage source or to ground in a manner imposing a positive voltage "+"
on the top electrical connection portions of the actuators AZ and A6 and on the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A1 and A5, and grounding (as indicated by the symbol "0") the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A1 and A5 and the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators AZ and A6. The connections are then reversed so that the positive voltage "+" is imposed on the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A1 and A5 and on the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators Az and A6, and the top electrical connection portions of the actuators A2 and A6 and the bottom electrical connection portions of the actuators A1 and A5 are grounded as illustrated in FIG. 3A.
Importantly, the described combination of ganged lead sets and individually addressable leads permits the controllers 58,70 to fire individual orifice rows without firing any of the orifices of the other orifice rows. FIGS. 3B - 3D illustrate, with the symbols "+" and "0", the positive charge and grounding connections obtainable by the controllers 58,70 on the indicated actuators A
during the inward deflection portion of the drive method to respectively fire the orifice rows R2 -R,.
The illustrated four orifice stagger, and corresponding combination of ganged lead sets and individually addressable leads, shown and described herein is merely illustrative, and other orifice stagger arrangements (for example, a three orifice stagger) and corresponding arrangements of ganged lead sets and individually addressable leads could alternatively be utilized if desired.
The differential printhead piezoelectric drive scheme just described is significantly facilitated by the unique configuration of the printhead body which, via the two exposed top side surface areas 28 and 30 of the printhead body, allows direct wiring access to the body section juncture areas 24,26 and thus to the top and bottom electrical connection portions of each of the internal sidewall actuators A. Compared to drive systems which require drive control structure conf figured to actively drive electrical actuating leads associated therewith between three states--15-~ positive, negative and ground, the digital drive system 54 of the present invention requires drive control structure configured to actively drive electrical actuating leads associated therewith between only two states--positive and ground.
Accordingly, the controllers 58, 70 of the digital drive system 54 are considerably less complex and expensive, and require appreciably less space than those contemplated for use in other drive systems.
The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solely by the appended claims.
Claims (15)
1. An inkjet printhead comprising:
a body having a front end section with a spaced series of ink discharge orifices extending rearwardly therethrough, said body further having a spaced, parallel series of internal sidewall sections extending rearwardly through said body from said front end section thereof and laterally bounding a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels interdigitated with said sidewall sections and opening outwardly through said discharge orifices, each of said sidewall sections having thereon spaced apart first and second electrical connection portions between which electrical current may be flowed in selectively opposite directions through selected ones of said sidewall sections to piezoelectrically deflect said selected ones of said sidewall sections in correspondingly opposite directions, said first electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections arranged in one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions, a first portion of said second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections arranged in one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions and a remaining portion of said second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections arranged as one or more individual second electrical connection portions; and drive means for piezoelectrically actuating a selected one or more of said channels in a manner causing a quantity of ink disposed in each one of said selected channels to be ejected through each of said discharge orifices associated with one of said selected channels, said drive means being operative to:
(1) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of a predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions, (2) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions, and (3) individually and selectively impose a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of said one or more individual second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections.
a body having a front end section with a spaced series of ink discharge orifices extending rearwardly therethrough, said body further having a spaced, parallel series of internal sidewall sections extending rearwardly through said body from said front end section thereof and laterally bounding a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels interdigitated with said sidewall sections and opening outwardly through said discharge orifices, each of said sidewall sections having thereon spaced apart first and second electrical connection portions between which electrical current may be flowed in selectively opposite directions through selected ones of said sidewall sections to piezoelectrically deflect said selected ones of said sidewall sections in correspondingly opposite directions, said first electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections arranged in one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions, a first portion of said second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections arranged in one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions and a remaining portion of said second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections arranged as one or more individual second electrical connection portions; and drive means for piezoelectrically actuating a selected one or more of said channels in a manner causing a quantity of ink disposed in each one of said selected channels to be ejected through each of said discharge orifices associated with one of said selected channels, said drive means being operative to:
(1) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of a predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions, (2) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions, and (3) individually and selectively impose a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of said one or more individual second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections.
2. An ink jet printhead comprising:
a body having a front end section with a spaced series of ink discharge orifices extending rearwardly therethrough, said body further having a spaced, parallel series of internal sidewall sections extending rearwardly through said body from said front end section thereof and laterally bounding a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels interdigitated with said sidewall sections and opening outwardly through said discharge orifices, each of said sidewall sections having thereon spaced apart first and second electrical connection portions between which electrical current may be flowed in selectively opposite directions through selected ones of said sidewall sections to piezoelectrically deflect said selected ones of said sidewall sections in correspondingly opposite directions, said first electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections arranged in one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions and a portion of said second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections arranged in one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions; and drive means for piezoelectrically actuating a selected one or more of said channels in a manner causing a quantity of ink disposed in each one of said selected channels to be ejected through each of said discharge orifices associated with one of said selected channels, said drive means including:
a first series of electrical leads connected in first ganged lead sets to said groups of said first electrical connection portions, a second series of electrical leads divided into second ganged lead sets connected to said groups of said second electrical connection portions, and a series of individual, unganged leads connected to said remaining portion of said second electrical connection portions, first controller means for alternately coupling a selected one or more of said first lead sets to a driving voltage source of said predetermined polarity or to ground, and second controller means for alternately coupling a selected one or more of said second lead sets and said individual, unganged leads to a driving voltage source of said predetermined polarity or to ground, said drive means being operative to:
(1) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of a predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions, (2) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions, and (3) individually and selectively impose a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, a remaining portion of said second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections.
a body having a front end section with a spaced series of ink discharge orifices extending rearwardly therethrough, said body further having a spaced, parallel series of internal sidewall sections extending rearwardly through said body from said front end section thereof and laterally bounding a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels interdigitated with said sidewall sections and opening outwardly through said discharge orifices, each of said sidewall sections having thereon spaced apart first and second electrical connection portions between which electrical current may be flowed in selectively opposite directions through selected ones of said sidewall sections to piezoelectrically deflect said selected ones of said sidewall sections in correspondingly opposite directions, said first electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections arranged in one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions and a portion of said second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections arranged in one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions; and drive means for piezoelectrically actuating a selected one or more of said channels in a manner causing a quantity of ink disposed in each one of said selected channels to be ejected through each of said discharge orifices associated with one of said selected channels, said drive means including:
a first series of electrical leads connected in first ganged lead sets to said groups of said first electrical connection portions, a second series of electrical leads divided into second ganged lead sets connected to said groups of said second electrical connection portions, and a series of individual, unganged leads connected to said remaining portion of said second electrical connection portions, first controller means for alternately coupling a selected one or more of said first lead sets to a driving voltage source of said predetermined polarity or to ground, and second controller means for alternately coupling a selected one or more of said second lead sets and said individual, unganged leads to a driving voltage source of said predetermined polarity or to ground, said drive means being operative to:
(1) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of a predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of first electrical connection portions, (2) commonly and selectively impose a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of second electrical connection portions, and (3) individually and selectively impose a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connect to ground, a remaining portion of said second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections.
3. The inkjet printhead of claim 2 wherein:
said body has intersecured top, bottom and vertically intermediate sections extending rearwardly from said front end section of said body, said top section being joined to said vertically intermediate section along a first juncture area, and said vertically intermediate section being joined to said bottom section along a second juncture area, said first electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections are positioned generally along one of said first and second juncture areas, and said second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections are positioned generally along the other of said first and second juncture areas.
said body has intersecured top, bottom and vertically intermediate sections extending rearwardly from said front end section of said body, said top section being joined to said vertically intermediate section along a first juncture area, and said vertically intermediate section being joined to said bottom section along a second juncture area, said first electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections are positioned generally along one of said first and second juncture areas, and said second electrical connection portions of said sidewall sections are positioned generally along the other of said first and second juncture areas.
4. The inkjet printhead of claim 3 wherein:
said vertically intermediate section of said body has an exposed first top side surface area extending rearwardly beyond said top section of said body, said bottom section of said body has an exposed second top side surface area extending rearwardly beyond said vertically intermediate section of said body, said first series of electrical leads are partially defined by a spaced series of electrically conductive traces formed on said first top side surface area and operatively connected at ends thereof to the sidewall section electrical connection portions positioned along said first juncture area, and said second series of electrical leads are partially defined by a spaced series of electrically conductive traces formed on said second top side surface area and operatively connected at ends thereof to the sidewall section electrical portions positioned along said second juncture area.
said vertically intermediate section of said body has an exposed first top side surface area extending rearwardly beyond said top section of said body, said bottom section of said body has an exposed second top side surface area extending rearwardly beyond said vertically intermediate section of said body, said first series of electrical leads are partially defined by a spaced series of electrically conductive traces formed on said first top side surface area and operatively connected at ends thereof to the sidewall section electrical connection portions positioned along said first juncture area, and said second series of electrical leads are partially defined by a spaced series of electrically conductive traces formed on said second top side surface area and operatively connected at ends thereof to the sidewall section electrical portions positioned along said second juncture area.
5. The inkjet printhead of claim 1 wherein: said driving voltages are DC
voltages that are approximately equal to each other.
voltages that are approximately equal to each other.
6. The ink jet printhead of claim 5 wherein: said DC voltages are positive DC
voltages.
voltages.
7. The ink jet printhead of claim 2 wherein:
said ink discharge orifices are disposed on said front end section of said body in an elongated array of orifices mutually spaced apart from one another in a first direction transverse to the length of said channels, with successive groups of four of said orifices being parallel to one another and sloped relative to said first direction, every fourth electrical connection portion in each of a plurality of different spaced series of said first sidewall section electrical connection portions is connected to a different one of said first ganged lead sets, and every fourth electrical connection portion in each of a plurality of different spaced series of said second sidewall section electrical connection portions is connected to a different one of said second ganged lead sets.
said ink discharge orifices are disposed on said front end section of said body in an elongated array of orifices mutually spaced apart from one another in a first direction transverse to the length of said channels, with successive groups of four of said orifices being parallel to one another and sloped relative to said first direction, every fourth electrical connection portion in each of a plurality of different spaced series of said first sidewall section electrical connection portions is connected to a different one of said first ganged lead sets, and every fourth electrical connection portion in each of a plurality of different spaced series of said second sidewall section electrical connection portions is connected to a different one of said second ganged lead sets.
8. The inkjet printhead of claim 4 wherein:
said ink discharge orifices are disposed on said front end section of said body in an elongated array of orifices mutually spaced apart from one another in a first direction transverse to a length of said channels, with successive groups of four of said orifices being parallel to one another and sloped relative to said first direction, every fourth electrical connection portion in each of a plurality of different spaced series of said first sidewall section electrical connection portions is connected to a different one of said first ganged lead sets, and every fourth electrical connection portion in each of a plurality of different spaced series of said second sidewall section electrical connection portions is connected to a different one of said second ganged lead sets.
said ink discharge orifices are disposed on said front end section of said body in an elongated array of orifices mutually spaced apart from one another in a first direction transverse to a length of said channels, with successive groups of four of said orifices being parallel to one another and sloped relative to said first direction, every fourth electrical connection portion in each of a plurality of different spaced series of said first sidewall section electrical connection portions is connected to a different one of said first ganged lead sets, and every fourth electrical connection portion in each of a plurality of different spaced series of said second sidewall section electrical connection portions is connected to a different one of said second ganged lead sets.
9. An ink jet printhead comprising:
a body having:
a front end section with a spaced series of ink discharge orifices extending rearwardly therethrough, intersecured first, second and third sections each extending rearwardly from said front end section, said first and second sections meeting along a first juncture area, and said second and third sections meeting along a second juncture area, a first exposed side surface area extending along and rearwardly from said first juncture area, a second exposed side surface area extending along and rearwardly from said second juncture area, a spaced, parallel series of internal, piezoelectrically deflectable sidewall sections extending rearwardly through said body from said front end section and laterally bounding a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels interdigitated with said sidewall sections and opening outwardly through said discharge orifices, said sidewall sections having first electrical connection portions extending generally along said first juncture area, and second electrical connection portions extending generally along said second juncture area, a first spaced series of electrically conductive surface traces extending along said first exposed side surface area and connected at ends thereof to said first sidewall section electrical connection portions, and a second spaced series of electrically conductive surface traces extending along said second exposed side surface area and connected at ends thereof to said second sidewall section electrical connection portions; and drive means for piezoelectrically deflecting a selected number of said sidewall sections in a manner causing a quantity of ink disposed in a selected one or more of said channels to be forwardly discharged in droplet form from said body, said drive means including:
first means for selectively imposing a driving voltage on, or grounding, a selectively variable group of said first series of electrically conductive surface traces, and second means for selectively imposing a driving voltage on, or grounding, a selectively variable group of said second series of electrically conductive surface traces.
a body having:
a front end section with a spaced series of ink discharge orifices extending rearwardly therethrough, intersecured first, second and third sections each extending rearwardly from said front end section, said first and second sections meeting along a first juncture area, and said second and third sections meeting along a second juncture area, a first exposed side surface area extending along and rearwardly from said first juncture area, a second exposed side surface area extending along and rearwardly from said second juncture area, a spaced, parallel series of internal, piezoelectrically deflectable sidewall sections extending rearwardly through said body from said front end section and laterally bounding a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels interdigitated with said sidewall sections and opening outwardly through said discharge orifices, said sidewall sections having first electrical connection portions extending generally along said first juncture area, and second electrical connection portions extending generally along said second juncture area, a first spaced series of electrically conductive surface traces extending along said first exposed side surface area and connected at ends thereof to said first sidewall section electrical connection portions, and a second spaced series of electrically conductive surface traces extending along said second exposed side surface area and connected at ends thereof to said second sidewall section electrical connection portions; and drive means for piezoelectrically deflecting a selected number of said sidewall sections in a manner causing a quantity of ink disposed in a selected one or more of said channels to be forwardly discharged in droplet form from said body, said drive means including:
first means for selectively imposing a driving voltage on, or grounding, a selectively variable group of said first series of electrically conductive surface traces, and second means for selectively imposing a driving voltage on, or grounding, a selectively variable group of said second series of electrically conductive surface traces.
10. A method of actuating an inkjet printhead having a body with a spaced, parallel series of internal, piezoelectrically deflectable sidewall sections having first and second areas and extending rearwardly through said body, said sidewall sections interdigitated with a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels opening outwardly through a spaced series of ink discharge orifices, said first areas of said sidewall sections arranged into one or more separate groups of first areas, a portion of said second areas of said sidewall sections arranged into one or more separate groups of second areas and a remaining portion of said second areas of said sidewall sections arranged as one or more individual second areas, said method comprising the steps of:
commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of a predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of first areas, commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of second areas, and individually and selectively imposing a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of said one or more individual second areas of said sidewall sections, said second areas on said sidewall sections being spaced apart from said first areas thereon.
commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of a predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of first areas, commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of second areas, and individually and selectively imposing a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of said one or more individual second areas of said sidewall sections, said second areas on said sidewall sections being spaced apart from said first areas thereon.
11. A method of actuating an ink jet printhead having a body with a spaced, parallel series of internal, piezoelectrically deflectable sidewall sections having first and second areas and extending rearwardly through said body, said sidewall sections interdigitated with a spaced series of internal ink receiving channels opening outwardly through a spaced series of ink discharge orifices, said first areas of said sidewall sections arranged into one or more separate groups of first areas and a portion of said second areas of said sidewall sections arranged into one or more separate groups of second areas, said body having first, second and third intersecured sections extending parallel to a length of said channels, with said first and second sections meeting along a first juncture area, and said second and third sections meeting along a second juncture area, said first areas of said sidewall sections positioned generally along said first juncture area, said second areas of said sidewall sections positioned generally along said first juncture area, said method comprising the steps of:
respectively connecting first and second sets of electrical leads to said first and second areas of said sidewall sections generally along said first and second juncture areas;
commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of first areas;
commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of second areas; and individually and selectively imposing a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, remaining ones of said second areas of said sidewall sections said second areas on said sidewall sections being spaced apart from said first areas thereon.
respectively connecting first and second sets of electrical leads to said first and second areas of said sidewall sections generally along said first and second juncture areas;
commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of first areas;
commonly and selectively imposing a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, selected ones of said one or more separate groups of second areas; and individually and selectively imposing a driving voltage of said predetermined polarity on, or connecting to ground, remaining ones of said second areas of said sidewall sections said second areas on said sidewall sections being spaced apart from said first areas thereon.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein:
said second section has a first exposed side surface extending along and away from said first juncture area, said third section has a second exposed side surface extending along and away from said second juncture area, said first set of electrical leads are partially defined by a spaced series of first electrically conductive surface traces extending along said first exposed side surface and operatively connected at ends thereof to said first areas of said sidewall sections, said second set of electrical leads are partially defined by a spaced series of second electrically conductive surface traces extending along said second exposed side surface and operatively connected at ends thereof to said second areas of said sidewall sections, and said method further comprises the step of grouping said first and second series of electrically conductive surface traces into ganged and unganged sets thereof, and said imposing steps are performed by selectively imposing a driving voltage on, or connecting to ground, selectively variable ones of the ganged and unganged traces.
said second section has a first exposed side surface extending along and away from said first juncture area, said third section has a second exposed side surface extending along and away from said second juncture area, said first set of electrical leads are partially defined by a spaced series of first electrically conductive surface traces extending along said first exposed side surface and operatively connected at ends thereof to said first areas of said sidewall sections, said second set of electrical leads are partially defined by a spaced series of second electrically conductive surface traces extending along said second exposed side surface and operatively connected at ends thereof to said second areas of said sidewall sections, and said method further comprises the step of grouping said first and second series of electrically conductive surface traces into ganged and unganged sets thereof, and said imposing steps are performed by selectively imposing a driving voltage on, or connecting to ground, selectively variable ones of the ganged and unganged traces.
13. An inkjet printhead comprising:
a base having a front side and at least four generally parallel elongated liquid confining channels extending therethrough, each one of said channels terminating at said front side, said base section including:
a base section formed from an inactive material, said base section having a plurality of generally parallel spaced projections extending longitudinally along said base section, each of said projections having a top side;
a cover section formed from an inactive material, said cover section having a bottom side; and a plurality of intermediate sections, each said intermediate section having a top side insulatively mounted to said bottom side of said cover section and a bottom side mounted on said top side of a corresponding one of said plurality of base section projections, each of said intermediate sections formed from an active piezoelectric material;
a cover having a number of apertures formed therein mounted to said front side of said base, said apertures positioned on said cover to define first, second, third and fourth generally parallel aperture rows of at least one aperture each, each one of said apertures in communication with a corresponding one of said channels;
a first controller electrically connected to said top side of each one of said plurality of intermediate sections, said first controller selectively applying either a positive or ground voltage to said top side of selected ones of said plurality of intermediate sections; and a second controller electrically connected to said bottom side of each one of said plurality of intermediate sections, said second controller selectively applying a positive or ground voltage to said bottom side of selected ones of said plurality of intermediate sections.
a base having a front side and at least four generally parallel elongated liquid confining channels extending therethrough, each one of said channels terminating at said front side, said base section including:
a base section formed from an inactive material, said base section having a plurality of generally parallel spaced projections extending longitudinally along said base section, each of said projections having a top side;
a cover section formed from an inactive material, said cover section having a bottom side; and a plurality of intermediate sections, each said intermediate section having a top side insulatively mounted to said bottom side of said cover section and a bottom side mounted on said top side of a corresponding one of said plurality of base section projections, each of said intermediate sections formed from an active piezoelectric material;
a cover having a number of apertures formed therein mounted to said front side of said base, said apertures positioned on said cover to define first, second, third and fourth generally parallel aperture rows of at least one aperture each, each one of said apertures in communication with a corresponding one of said channels;
a first controller electrically connected to said top side of each one of said plurality of intermediate sections, said first controller selectively applying either a positive or ground voltage to said top side of selected ones of said plurality of intermediate sections; and a second controller electrically connected to said bottom side of each one of said plurality of intermediate sections, said second controller selectively applying a positive or ground voltage to said bottom side of selected ones of said plurality of intermediate sections.
14. An ink jet printhead according to claim 13 wherein each one of said channels further comprises a lower wall and wherein each of said at least one aperture of said first, second, third and fourth aperture rows are positioned a first, second, third and fourth distance, respectively, above said lower wall of said corresponding one of said channels.
15. An ink let printhead, comprising:
a base section formed from an inactive material, said base section having a plurality of generally parallel spaced projections extending longitudinally along said base section, each of said projections having a top side;
a plurality of intermediate sections formed from an active piezoelectric material, each said intermediate section having a top side and a bottom side mounted to said top side of a corresponding one of said plurality of base section projections;
a cover section formed from an inactive material and having a bottom side, said top side of each of said plurality of intermediate sections insulatively mounted to said bottom side of said cover section;
a first controller electrically connected to said top side of each one of said intermediate sections, said first controller selectively applying either a positive or ground voltage to said top side of selected ones of said plurality of intermediate sections; and a second controller electrically connected to said bottom side of each one of said intermediate sections, said second controller selectively applying a positive or ground voltage to said bottom side of selected ones of said plurality of intermediate sections.
a base section formed from an inactive material, said base section having a plurality of generally parallel spaced projections extending longitudinally along said base section, each of said projections having a top side;
a plurality of intermediate sections formed from an active piezoelectric material, each said intermediate section having a top side and a bottom side mounted to said top side of a corresponding one of said plurality of base section projections;
a cover section formed from an inactive material and having a bottom side, said top side of each of said plurality of intermediate sections insulatively mounted to said bottom side of said cover section;
a first controller electrically connected to said top side of each one of said intermediate sections, said first controller selectively applying either a positive or ground voltage to said top side of selected ones of said plurality of intermediate sections; and a second controller electrically connected to said bottom side of each one of said intermediate sections, said second controller selectively applying a positive or ground voltage to said bottom side of selected ones of said plurality of intermediate sections.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/060,296 US5444467A (en) | 1993-05-10 | 1993-05-10 | Differential drive system for an ink jet printhead |
| US08/060,296 | 1993-05-10 | ||
| PCT/US1994/005059 WO1994026520A1 (en) | 1993-05-10 | 1994-05-03 | Differential drive system for an ink jet printhead |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2162403A1 CA2162403A1 (en) | 1994-11-24 |
| CA2162403C true CA2162403C (en) | 2000-02-15 |
Family
ID=22028618
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002162403A Expired - Fee Related CA2162403C (en) | 1993-05-10 | 1994-05-03 | Differential drive system for an ink jet printhead |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5444467A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0699133B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2742730B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU684289B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2162403C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69413962T2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994026520A1 (en) |
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| US5498444A (en) * | 1994-02-28 | 1996-03-12 | Microfab Technologies, Inc. | Method for producing micro-optical components |
| US5688391A (en) * | 1996-03-26 | 1997-11-18 | Microfab Technologies, Inc. | Method for electro-deposition passivation of ink channels in ink jet printhead |
| US5681757A (en) * | 1996-04-29 | 1997-10-28 | Microfab Technologies, Inc. | Process for dispensing semiconductor die-bond adhesive using a printhead having a microjet array and the product produced by the process |
| US6188416B1 (en) | 1997-02-13 | 2001-02-13 | Microfab Technologies, Inc. | Orifice array for high density ink jet printhead |
| US6029896A (en) * | 1997-09-30 | 2000-02-29 | Microfab Technologies, Inc. | Method of drop size modulation with extended transition time waveform |
| US6074046A (en) * | 1998-03-06 | 2000-06-13 | Eastman Kodak Company | Printer apparatus capable of varying direction of an ink droplet to be ejected therefrom and method therefor |
| GB2338928B (en) | 1998-07-02 | 2000-08-09 | Tokyo Electric Co Ltd | A driving method of an ink-jet head |
| GB2338927B (en) * | 1998-07-02 | 2000-08-09 | Tokyo Electric Co Ltd | A driving method of an ink-jet head |
| US6805902B1 (en) | 2000-02-28 | 2004-10-19 | Microfab Technologies, Inc. | Precision micro-optical elements and the method of making precision micro-optical elements |
| US6378988B1 (en) * | 2001-03-19 | 2002-04-30 | Microfab Technologies, Inc. | Cartridge element for micro jet dispensing |
| US6642068B1 (en) | 2002-05-03 | 2003-11-04 | Donald J. Hayes | Method for producing a fiber optic switch |
| JP2006231685A (en) * | 2005-02-24 | 2006-09-07 | Toshiba Tec Corp | Inkjet recording device |
| US8418523B2 (en) * | 2008-03-03 | 2013-04-16 | Keith Lueck | Calibration and accuracy check system for a breath tester |
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-
1993
- 1993-05-10 US US08/060,296 patent/US5444467A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1994
- 1994-05-03 CA CA002162403A patent/CA2162403C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-05-03 EP EP94917319A patent/EP0699133B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-05-03 JP JP6525578A patent/JP2742730B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-05-03 AU AU69077/94A patent/AU684289B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1994-05-03 DE DE69413962T patent/DE69413962T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-05-03 WO PCT/US1994/005059 patent/WO1994026520A1/en active IP Right Grant
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU684289B2 (en) | 1997-12-11 |
| DE69413962D1 (en) | 1998-11-19 |
| JP2742730B2 (en) | 1998-04-22 |
| US5444467A (en) | 1995-08-22 |
| JPH08507012A (en) | 1996-07-30 |
| EP0699133A1 (en) | 1996-03-06 |
| EP0699133B1 (en) | 1998-10-14 |
| WO1994026520A1 (en) | 1994-11-24 |
| DE69413962T2 (en) | 1999-04-01 |
| AU6907794A (en) | 1994-12-12 |
| CA2162403A1 (en) | 1994-11-24 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |