Abrégé

Methods and apparatus for depositing droplets of fluid onto a medium, particularly in the field printing. The apparatus includes an array of chambers having a first plurality of chambers arranged to selectively deposit droplets of fluid and a second plurality of chambers not configured for selective deposition of droplets of fluid. The first plurality of chambers are arranged in pairs separated from adjacent pairs by at least one chamber of the second plurality of chambers. Each chamber is separated from adjacent chambers by walls, the walls being actuable to eject droplets of fluid from the chambers.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B29C 64/209 - TêtesBuses
• B33Y 30/00 - Appareils pour la fabrication additiveLeurs parties constitutives ou accessoires à cet effet
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

Circuits, systems and methods for reducing heat generation at a printhead are disclosed. Inputs are provided for receiving at least two common drive waveforms (411, 412) and a trimming signal (321). An output is also provided for supplying an individual drive waveform to an actuator. A waveform select (330) is configured to couple to the common drive waveforms and to the output for connection to a first electrode of the actuator. The waveform select is configured to provide the individual drive waveform to a selected one of the actuators based on the first common drive waveform, the second common drive waveform and the trimming signal by causing a transition from the first common drive waveform to the second common drive waveform at a time determined by the trimming signal.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A fluid reservoir for a fluid supply system for a recirculation droplet ejection head. The fluid supply system includes a fluid supply pump to transfer fluid from the fluid reservoir to the droplet ejection head, and a fluid return pump to transfer fluid away from the droplet ejection head and into the fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir includes an outlet through which fluid is supplied to the droplet ejection head; and a return inlet through which fluid is received into the fluid reservoir. The fluid return inlet is arranged on a conical portion at a cross-section perpendicular to its main axis, and wherein the angle formed in the plane of the cross-section between the main axis of the fluid return inlet bore and a tangent to the cross-section, at the point where the cross-section is intersected by the fluid return inlet bore main axis, is not equal to 90°.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/18 - Systèmes de recirculation de l'encre
• B41J 2/17 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par la manipulation de l'encre
• B41J 2/175 - Systèmes d'alimentation en encre
• B41J 2/19 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par la manipulation de l'encre pour éliminer les bulles d'air

Abrégé

A nozzle plate for a droplet ejection head. The nozzle plate includes one or more strips, the strips including one or more sub-strips, wherein said one or more sub-strips have one or more droplet ejection nozzles. The nozzle plate also includes one or more frames having one or more openings. Each of said one or more sub-strips fit within a corresponding opening in said one or more frames. Together, said one or more strips and said one or more frames present a media facing surface of the nozzle plate. Also provided are a droplet ejection head including one or more nozzle plates, a droplet ejection apparatus including one or more of said droplet ejection heads, and methods of manufacture of the nozzle plates.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A droplet ejection head includes one or more actuator components, an inlet path to supply fluid to and an outlet path to remove fluid from the actuator components. The actuator components include fluid chambers, each having at least one nozzle and being actuable to eject one or more droplets via the nozzle. The fluid chambers are connected to the inlet path and to the outlet path. The outlet path includes one or more heat exchangers downstream of the actuator components and one or more actuator drive electronic components adjacent to each heat exchanger. The heat exchangers include one or more heat exchanger fluid paths. In use heat transfers from the actuator drive electronic components to the heat exchangers and is removed via the return fluid. An area demarcated by the actuator drive electronic components is substantially contained within an area in the same plane demarcated by the heat exchanger fluid paths.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

An actuator component for a droplet ejection head. The actuator component includes an actuator assembly and a nozzle plate. The actuator assembly includes a plurality of liquid chambers arranged in a liquid chamber array and a plurality of gas channels arranged in a gas channel array. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of ejection nozzles arranged in a nozzle array and a plurality of gas orifices arranged in an orifice array wherein the gas orifices and the ejection nozzles are arranged in a repeating pattern. Each liquid chamber is fluidically connected to one or more of the ejection nozzles and is actuable for the ejection of liquid droplets from the ejection nozzles. The plurality of gas channels is fluidically connected to a respective gas orifice(s). During use, gas flowing through the gas orifices controls one or more properties of the liquid ejected from the ejection nozzles.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A method for depositing fluid droplets onto a medium. For an actuation cycle, the steps include: assigning all fluid chambers in an array as either firing or non-firing chambers to produce bands of one or more contiguous firing chambers separated by bands of one or more contiguous non-firing chambers. For each non-firing chamber adjacent to a band of firing chambers, actuating one wall in the first direction and retaining the other wall in the neutral position. For a single non-firing chamber between bands of firing chambers, actuating both walls concurrently in the first direction. For a non-firing chamber not adjacent to a band of firing chambers, retaining both walls in the neutral position or concurrently actuating both wall in either the first or second direction. And for each firing chamber, actuating the first and second walls consecutively in the first direction.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

The invention relates to methods an apparatuses for droplet deposition, and specifically to methods or apparatuses for correcting errors which can occur. The method includes provisionally assigning fluid chambers 10 as firing or non-firing chambers and provisionally assigning waveforms to electrodes associated with the chambers to selectively induce droplet depositions in desired locations. An allocation of waveforms is also made, based on consistent rules for allocating waveforms to electrodes. Where a conflict is seen between the provisional assignment and the allocation, a correction is applied.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

Circuits, systems and methods for reducing heat generation at a printhead are disclosed. Inputs are provided for receiving at least two common drive waveforms (411, 412) and a trimming signal (321). An output is also provided for supplying an individual drive waveform to an actuator. A waveform select (330) is configured to couple to the common drive waveforms and to the output for connection to a first electrode of the actuator. The waveform select is configured to provide the individual drive waveform to a selected one of the actuators based on the first common drive waveform, the second common drive waveform and the trimming signal by causing a transition from the first common drive waveform to the second common drive waveform at a time determined by the trimming signal.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A method for providing a drive waveform for a droplet ejection apparatus. The method includes the steps of receiving a nominal drive waveform including a droplet ejection pulse having a nominal maximum amplitude Vmax(nominal) and for achieving a nominal droplet velocity vel(nominal) and further including a nominal non-ejecting pulse, ahead of the droplet ejection pulse, wherein the nominal non-ejecting pulse is spaced apart from the droplet ejection pulse by a first delay d1; receiving a target droplet velocity vel(target) and/or a target maximum amplitude of the droplet ejection pulse Vmax(target); adjusting one or more waveform parameters on the basis of the received vel(target) and/or Vmax(target) to provide an adjusted drive waveform to achieve at least one of vel(target) and Vmax(target); and outputting the adjusted drive waveform. A method is also provided for operating a droplet ejection apparatus.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A nozzle plate for a droplet ejection head, the nozzle plate comprising: one or more strips (92), the strips comprising one or more sub-strips (93), wherein said one or more sub-strips comprise one or more droplet ejection nozzles (131); and one or more frames (60), comprising one or more openings (61); wherein each of said one or more sub-strips fit within a corresponding opening in said one or more frames, and wherein said one or more strips and said one or more frames together present a media facing surface (118) of the nozzle plate. Also provided are a droplet ejection head comprising one or more nozzle plates, and a droplet ejection apparatus comprising one or more of said droplet ejection heads, and methods of manufacture of said nozzle plates.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages

Abrégé

A fluid reservoir for a fluid supply system for a recirculation droplet ejection head, the fluid supply system comprising: a fluid supply pump having a fluid supply connection, fluidically connectable between the fluid reservoir and the droplet ejection head so as to transfer fluid from the fluid reservoir to the droplet ejection head; and a fluid return pump having a fluid return connection, fluidically connectable between the droplet ejection head and the fluid reservoir so as to transfer fluid away from the droplet ejection head and into the fluid reservoir; wherein the fluid reservoir comprises: a conical portion having a cross-section on a plane perpendicular to its main axis; a fluid outlet through which fluid is supplied from the fluid reservoir to the droplet ejection head via the fluid supply pump; and a fluid return inlet through which fluid is received from the droplet ejection head via the fluid return pump into the fluid reservoir, the fluid return inlet having a central bore with a main axis; wherein the fluid return inlet is arranged on the conical portion at the cross-section, and wherein the angle formed in the plane of the cross-section between the main axis of the fluid return inlet bore and a tangent to the cross-section, at the point where the cross-section is intersected by the fluid return inlet bore main axis, is not equal to 90° such that, in use, a component of the direction of flow of the fluid entering the conical portion is tangential to the cross-section to encourage flow of fluid around the conical portion.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/175 - Systèmes d'alimentation en encre
• B41J 2/18 - Systèmes de recirculation de l'encre
• B41J 2/19 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par la manipulation de l'encre pour éliminer les bulles d'air

Abrégé

A nozzle plate for a droplet ejection device: comprising a first, media facing surface and, opposing it, a second, back surface; and at least one nozzle: wherein said at least one nozzle passes through the nozzle plate from the second surface to the first surface; and wherein said at least one nozzle comprises an exit bore having an exit bore centreline and wherein the exit bore centreline is inclined at an oblique inclination angle θ to the first surface and is adapted such that, in use, one or more droplets will be ejected from the nozzle at an acute inclination angle θ to the first surface. A droplet ejection device comprising the nozzle plate. A droplet ejection apparatus comprising at least one droplet ejection device and a deposition media movement apparatus and a method of operating the droplet ejection apparatus.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A droplet ejection head comprising one or more actuator components and an inlet path to supply fluid to the one or more actuator components and an outlet path to remove fluid from the one or more actuator components. The one or more actuator components comprise a plurality of fluid chambers; wherein the fluid chambers comprise at least one nozzle; and wherein the fluid chambers are actuable to eject one or more droplets via the at least one nozzle in response to ejection instructions. The plurality of fluid chambers are fluidically connected at a respective first end to the inlet path and are fluidically connected at a respective second end to the outlet path. The outlet path comprises one or more heat exchangers arranged serially downstream of the one or more actuator components and one or more actuator drive electronic components are arranged adjacent to each of the heat exchangers. The one or more heat exchangers comprise one or more heat exchanger fluid paths, such that in use heat transfers from the actuator drive electronic components to the one or more heat exchangers and is removed via the return fluid; and where an area demarcated by the actuator drive electronic components is substantially contained within an area in the same plane demarcated by the one or more heat exchanger fluid paths. A method of cooling the actuator drive electronic components of the droplet ejection head. A droplet ejection apparatus comprising such a droplet ejection head and a method of operating the droplet ejection apparatus to cool the actuator drive electronic components. A method of operating the droplet ejection apparatus to heat the fluid using the actuator drive electronic components.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/18 - Systèmes de recirculation de l'encre
• B41J 29/377 - Dispositions pour le refroidissement ou la ventilation

Abrégé

An actuator component for a droplet ejection head comprising an actuator assembly and a nozzle plate; wherein said actuator assembly comprises a plurality of liquid chambers arranged in a liquid chamber array extending in an array direction, the plurality of liquid chambers arranged to be fluidically connectable to a liquid supply. The actuator component further comprising a plurality of gas channels arranged in a gas channel array extending in the array direction; wherein the plurality of gas channels are arranged to be fluidically connectable to a gas supply. The liquid chamber array and the gas channel array are fluidically independent from each other. The nozzle plate comprises a plurality of droplet ejection nozzles arranged in a nozzle array extending in the array direction and a plurality of gas orifices arranged in an orifice array extending in the array direction, where the gas orifices and the droplet ejection nozzles are arranged in a repeating pattern extending in the array direction. Each liquid chamber is arranged to be fluidically connected to one or more of the droplet ejection nozzles and actuable for ejection of droplets of a liquid. The plurality of gas channels are arranged to be fluidically connected to respective one or more gas orifices for flow of a gas; and the actuator component is configured such that in use gas flowing through said gas orifices controls one or more properties of the liquid ejected from said droplet ejection nozzles. A method of manufacturing said actuator component. A droplet ejection apparatus comprising one or more of said actuator components and further comprising a liquid supply and a gas supply wherein said gas supply may be arranged to be a positive or negative gas supply. A method of operating said droplet ejection apparatus.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A sub-controller (20), controller (30), fluid supply system and apparatus for printing and a method for printing. Provided is a processor controlled sub-controller (20) for controlling the fluid pressure in one or more droplet ejection heads (60); wherein said controller (30) is configured to receive a droplet ejection head movement profile for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads (60), determine a respective induced fluid pressure profile at one or more predetermined locations for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads (60) using the respective droplet ejection head movement profile; and generate respective pressure correction data for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads based on the respective induced fluid pressure profile and a predetermined pressure window to be maintained at said one or more droplet ejection heads (60). Also provided is a method of printing using one or more droplet ejection heads (60) fluidically connected to a fluid supply system wherein said method comprises the steps of receiving droplet ejection head movement profile(s); determining a respective induced fluid pressure profile at one or more predetermined locations for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads using the respective droplet ejection head movement profile(s); generating respective pressure correction file(s) at said one or more predetermined locations based on said induced fluid pressure profile(s) and said predetermined pressure window.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/175 - Systèmes d'alimentation en encre
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 3/407 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression ou de marquage sélectif caractérisés par le but dans lequel ils sont construits pour le marquage sur des matériaux particuliers
• B41J 29/393 - Dispositifs de commande ou d'analyse de l'ensemble de la machine
• B41M 5/00 - Procédés de reproduction ou méthodes de reproduction ou de marquageMatériaux en feuilles utilisés à cet effet

Abrégé

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for depositing droplets of fluid onto a medium, particularly in the field of printing. The apparatus 10 comprises an array of chambers 12, each of which can be actuated to release a droplet of fluid (an active firing chamber), actuated without depositing a droplet of fluid (an active non-firing chamber), or not actuated at all (an inactive non-firing chamber) in a given actuation cycle. The methods described include considering the history of deposition in the system and the impact thereof on a given chamber. Based on this assessment, that chamber is allocated to one of the three categories to address problems associated with non-uniform droplet deposition.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

An actuator component for a droplet ejection head; wherein said actuator component comprises a substrate and one or more strips of piezoelectric material fixedly attached to said substrate; wherein said one or more strips of piezoelectric material comprise one or more layers of piezoelectric material, and an array of fluid chambers defined within said one or more strips of piezoelectric material and extending in an array direction; wherein said actuator component further comprises one or more cover parts; wherein the or each cover part extends in said array direction and is fixedly attached to at least one of a side face of one of said strips of piezoelectric material and/or at least a portion of said substrate; and wherein said one or more cover parts comprise a plurality of openings so as to enable fluid to be supplied to selected ones of said fluid chambers through said openings. Associated methods of manufacturing an actuator component for a droplet ejection head are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages

Abrégé

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for depositing droplets of fluid onto a medium, particularly in the field printing. The apparatus (10) comprises an array of chambers including a first plurality of chambers (12) arranged to selectively deposit droplets of fluid and a second plurality of chambers (13) not configured for selective deposition of droplets of fluid. The plurality of first chambers (12) are arranged in pairs separated from adjacent pairs by at least one chamber (13) of the second plurality of chambers. Each chamber is separated from adjacent chambers by walls (14), the walls (14) being actuable to eject droplets of fluid from the chambers (12).

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A method is provided for depositing droplets of fluid onto a medium utilising a droplet deposition head, the method comprising, for an actuation cycle, the steps of: • receiving input data; • assigning, based on said input data, all the fluid chambers (12) within an array (10) of fluid chambers as either firing chambers or non-firing chambers so as to produce bands of one or more contiguous firing chambers separated by bands of one or more contiguous non-firing chambers; and • actuating the walls (14) of said chambers such that, for each non- firing chamber, if the non-firing chamber is adjacent to a band of firing chambers, on wall is actuated in the first direction while the other wall remains in the neutral position, if the non-firing chamber is a single non-firing chamber between bands of firing chambers, both walls are actuated concurrently in the first direction, and if the non-firing chamber is not adjacent to a band of firing chambers, both walls either remain in the neutral position, or are actuated concurrently in the first direction, or are actuated concurrently in the second direction; and for each firing chamber, each of the first and second walls are actuated consecutively in the first direction. Other methods, a droplet deposition head, a droplet deposition apparatus, and a computer program are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A recirculating fluid supply system for a plurality of droplet ejection heads (107a, 107b), each having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet; the system comprising: a common supply pump (103) for transferring fluid to each of the plurality of droplet ejection heads; a fluid reservoir (101) fluidically connectable via said common supply pump to said plurality of droplet ejection heads so as to supply fluid via said common supply pump to each of said droplet ejection heads; a sensor manifold (106a, 106b) per droplet ejection head for outputting the pressure in the vicinity of the fluid inlet and in the vicinity of the fluid outlet respectively for each droplet ejection head; and a fluid return pump (113a, 113b) per droplet ejection head having a fluid return connection, fluidically connectable to said droplet ejection head so as to transfer fluid away from said droplet ejection head; wherein each of said fluid return pumps is operable to control the meniscus pressure at said respective droplet ejection head based on the output of its respective sensor manifold. Also provided is a droplet ejection apparatus comprising one or more recirculating fluid supply systems and two or more droplet ejection heads per fluid supply system, wherein at least two of said two or more droplet ejection heads are arranged at different vertical positions; a method of operating said droplet ejection apparatus; and a controller to control said fluid supply system or said droplet ejection apparatus.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/175 - Systèmes d'alimentation en encre
• B41J 2/18 - Systèmes de recirculation de l'encre

Abrégé

A droplet deposition apparatus (1) comprising: a first head module (101A, 101B, 102A) and a second head module (101B, 102A, 102B) arranged in at least partially overlapping relationship, each head module having a plurality of nozzles in at least one nozzle array (A1, B1); and a storage (200) configured to store a table of determined best aligned nozzle pairs in an overlap region and corresponding skew angles (Θi) of at least one of the head modules relative to a datum of the droplet deposition apparatus and/or a corresponding positional offset of the second head module relative to the first head module; wherein, in the overlap region, nozzles of the first head module are arranged at a first nozzle pitch (P2) and nozzles of the second head module are arranged at a second nozzle itch (P3). Associated methods in respect of determining misalignment information in respect of such a droplet deposition apparatus, and determining one or more best aligned nozzle pairs in an overlap region between at least two head modules, are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/145 - Leur agencement
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/155 - Leur agencement pour l'impression ligne par ligne
• B41J 2/21 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre pour l'impression à plusieurs couleurs
• B41J 3/54 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression ou de marquage sélectif caractérisés par le but dans lequel ils sont construits avec plusieurs séries de caractères ou d'éléments d'impression
• B41J 11/00 - Dispositifs ou agencements pour supporter ou manipuler un matériau de copie en feuilles ou en bandes
• B41J 25/00 - Mécanismes ou mouvements non prévus ailleurs
• B41J 29/393 - Dispositifs de commande ou d'analyse de l'ensemble de la machine

Abrégé

A nozzle plate for a droplet ejection device; comprising a first, media facing surface and, opposing it, a second, back surface; and at least one nozzle; wherein said at least one nozzle passes through the nozzle plate from the second surface to the first surface; and wherein said at least one nozzle comprises an exit bore having an exit bore centreline and wherein the exit bore centreline is inclined at an oblique inclination angle θ to the first surface and is adapted such that, in use, one or more droplets will be ejected from the nozzle at an acute inclination angle θ to the first surface. A droplet ejection device comprising the nozzle plate. A droplet ejection apparatus comprising at least one droplet ejection device and a deposition media movement apparatus and a method of operating the droplet ejection apparatus.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A method is provided for providing a drive waveform for a droplet ejection apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a nominal drive waveform comprising a droplet ejection pulse having a nominal maximum amplitude Vmax(nominal) and for achieving a nominal droplet velocity vel(nominal); and further comprising a nominal non-ejecting pulse ahead of the droplet ejection pulse, wherein the non-ejecting pulse is spaced apart from the droplet ejection pulse by a first delay d1; receiving a target droplet velocity vel(target) and/or a target maximum amplitude of the droplet ejection pulse Vmax(target); adjusting one or more waveform parameters on the basis of the received vel(target) and/or Vmax(target) to provide an adjusted drive waveform to achieve at least one of vel(target) and Vmax(target); and outputting the adjusted drive waveform. A method is also provided for operating a droplet ejection apparatus, the droplet ejection apparatus comprising an actuator element of the droplet ejection apparatus, the actuator element bounding in part a pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being in fluidic communication with a nozzle, the actuator element arranged to deform so as to cause a droplet to be ejected from the nozzle; the method comprising providing an adjusted drive waveform to the actuator element, wherein the adjusted drive waveform comprises a droplet ejection pulse and a non-ejecting pulse arranged ahead of the droplet ejection pulse, wherein the first delay and/or the duration of the non-ejecting pulse is such that the non-ejecting pulse causes a priming pressure in the chamber below that which causes ejection of the droplet and the droplet ejection pulse causes the ejection of the droplet after the droplet ejection pulse further increases the priming pressure in the chamber to a droplet ejection pressure.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

An electrical component for a microelectromechanical systems device, the electrical component comprising: i) a substrate comprising a first substrate surface and an opposing second substrate surface spaced apart in a thickness direction perpendicular to the first substrate surface; ii) a plurality of electrical elements arranged over the first substrate surface in rows, each row extending in a row direction, wherein each electrical element comprises: a) a first electrode disposed adjacent to the first substrate surface, b) a ceramic member having a first surface disposed in contact with the first electrode and a second surface opposite the first surface, the ceramic member extending in a length direction that is parallel to the first substrate surface and non-parallel to the row direction, and a width direction parallel to the first substrate surface and perpendicular to the length direction; c) a second electrode disposed in contact with the second surface of the ceramic member such that a potential difference may be established between the first and second electrodes and through the ceramic member during operation of the component; d) a passivation layer provided, at least in part, on the second electrode and having vias extending through to the second electrode at opposite ends of the second electrode in the length direction; e) a first electrical trace connecting the first electrode to an external circuit and a second electrical trace connecting the second electrode to the external circuit, wherein each second electrical trace is arranged, at least in part, overlying the respective second electrode and on the passivation layer and each second electrical trace comprises a connecting portion and two electrode connecting points for the respective second electrode, wherein each connecting portion extends in the length direction and is connected to the respective second electrode by said connecting points through said vias of said passivation layer. A microelectromechanical systems device comprising the electrical component. A droplet ejection head comprising the electrical component. A droplet ejection apparatus comprising a droplet ejection head. A method of providing electrical traces to an electrical component for a microelectromechanical systems device.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages

Abrégé

A droplet deposition apparatus comprising a droplet deposition head, a fluid supply and a controller, wherein: the droplet deposition head comprises one or more fluid chambers each having a nozzle, a fluid inlet path having a fluid inlet into the head, and ending in the one or more nozzles, and a fluid return path starting at the one or more nozzles and ending in a fluid return of the head; each fluid chamber comprises two opposing chamber walls comprising piezoelectric material and deformable upon application of an electric drive signal so as to eject a fluid droplet from the nozzle; the fluid supply is configured to supply a fluid to the fluid inlet at a differential pressure as measured between the fluid inlet and the fluid return; and the controller is configured to apply a drive signal to the piezoelectric chamber walls such that the nozzle or nozzles deposit droplets of a fluid having a viscosity in the range from 45 mPa·s to 130 mPa·s at a jetting temperature between 20° C. and 90° C., and wherein the differential pressure applied by the fluid supply causes a fluid return flow into the fluid return at a rate of between 50 ml/min and 200 ml/min. A method of operating the droplet deposition apparatus, and a control system for carrying out the method, are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A nozzle plate for a droplet ejection head, the nozzle plate comprising a first row of nozzles arranged to deposit droplets onto a deposition media; wherein the first row of nozzles extends in a row direction and comprises two or more nozzle clusters, each nozzle cluster being arranged along the row direction for a cluster length c, and extending along a cluster depth direction perpendicular to the row direction by a cluster depth d; wherein each nozzle cluster comprises a plurality of nozzles of which one or more nozzles within each nozzle cluster define the cluster length c and two or more nozzles within each nozzle cluster define the cluster depth d; wherein each nozzle cluster is spaced apart from an adjacent nozzle cluster along the row direction by a cluster spacing a such that an air flow path is created for forced air to pass through the row of nozzles in a controlled manner; and wherein, when the first row is projected in a transverse direction onto the row direction, a transition region between adjacent nozzle clusters comprises two or more nozzles from a first cluster and two or more nozzles from a second cluster, the second cluster being adjacent to the first cluster, and the nozzles in the transition region being equidistantly spaced from one another by a projected nozzle spacing.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/155 - Leur agencement pour l'impression ligne par ligne

Abrégé

An improved electrical element (20) is provided, comprising a ceramic member, wherein said ceramic member comprises at least one layer (31) having a depth; and first (41) and second (42) electrode layers disposed adjacent the at least one layer (31) of the ceramic member, such that a potential difference may be established through at least a portion of the ceramic member during operation. The electrical element (20) is arranged adjacent to a flexible membrane (10). The first electrode layer (41) comprises a first group of electrodes (G1(41)) comprising at least two fingers and a second group of electrodes (G2(41 ) ) comprising at least one finger; the fingers of the first and second groups of electrodes (G1(41), G2(41)) are arranged alternately in the first electrode layer (41) in an interdigitation direction. The second electrode layer (42) comprises a first group of electrodes (G1(42)) comprising at least two fingers and a second group of electrodes (G2(42 ) ) comprising at least one finger; the fingers of the first and second groups of electrodes (G1(42), G2(42)) are arranged alternately in the second electrode layer (42) in an interdigitation direction. For each group of electrodes (G1, G2) all the fingers in said group are electrically connected to each other and to a group electrical contact. The fingers of the first group of electrodes of the first electrode layer (Gl(41)) at least partially overlap in the interdigitation direction with the corresponding fingers of the first group of electrodes of the second electrode layer (G1(42 ) ); and the fingers of the second group of electrodes of the first electrode layer (G2(41)) at least partially overlap in the interdigitation direction with the corresponding fingers of the second group of electrodes of the second electrode layer (G2(42)). The group electrical contacts are arranged to be addressable to establish a potential difference between the fingers of the first (G1) and second (G2) groups of electrodes of the same electrode layer (41, 42) in the interdigitation direction and deformation of the ceramic member in d33 mode, and to be addressable to establish a potential difference in the depth direction between said at least partially overlapping fingers of the first and second groups of electrodes (G1, G2) of the first and second electrode layers (41, 42) and deformation of the ceramic member in d31 mode. Drive signals, suitable for driving said electrical element (20), switching circuits, controllers, and methods of driving the electrical element (2) are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/047 - Electrodes
• H01L 41/04 - DISPOSITIFS À SEMI-CONDUCTEURS; DISPOSITIFS ÉLECTRIQUES À L'ÉTAT SOLIDE NON PRÉVUS AILLEURS - Détails - Détails d'éléments piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs
• H01L 41/09 - Eléments piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs à entrée électrique et sortie mécanique
• H01L 41/113 - Eléments piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs à entrée mécanique et sortie électrique
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a solid solution ceramic material having increased electromechanical strain, as well as ceramic materials obtainable therefrom and uses thereof. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method A method of increasing electromechanical strain in a solid solution ceramic material which exhibits an electric field induced strain derived from a reversible transition from a non-polar state to a polar state; i) determining a molar ratio of at least one polar perovskite compound having a polar crystallographic point group to at least one non-polar perovskite compound having a non-polar crystallographic point group which, when combined to form a solid solution, forms a ceramic material with a major portion of a non-polar state; ii) determining the maximum polarization, Pmax, remanent polarisation, Pr, and the difference, Pmax−Pr, for the solid solution formed in step i); and either: iii)a) modifying the molar ratio determined in step i) to form a different solid solution of the same perovskite compounds which exhibits an electric field induced strain and which has a greater difference, Pmax−Pr, between maximum polarization, Pmax, and remanent polarisation, Pr, than for the solid solution from step i), or; iii)b) adjusting the processing conditions used for preparing the solid solution formed in step i) to increase the difference, Pmax−Pr, in maximum polarization, Pmax, and remanent polarisation, Pr, of the solid solution.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/43 - Matériaux inorganiques par frittage
• C04B 35/49 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de zirconium ou d'hafnium ou de zirconates ou d'hafnates contenant également de l'oxyde de titane ou des titanates
• C04B 35/64 - Procédés de cuisson ou de frittage
• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A method for reducing instability of a nozzle meniscus of a droplet deposition apparatus. The method includes the steps of receiving first and second data blocks for respective first and second line pixels, receiving a data set of forbidden pixel periods, determining a first jitter delay value based on the forbidden pixel periods, generating first and second print data based on the first and second data blocks, the first print data defining a first holding period and one or more drive pulses and the second print data defining one or more drive pulses; wherein the first and second print data generate first and second actuating element signals that cause an actuating element to eject at least one droplet from a nozzle, wherein the first jitter delay value adjusts a first pixel period, defined by the drive pulses, to fall outside of the forbidden pixel periods to reduce nozzle meniscus instability.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

The present invention relates to an electrical component for a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, in particular, but not limited to, an electromechanical actuator. In one aspect, the present invention provides an insulated electrical component for a microelectromechanical systems device comprising: i) a substrate layer comprising first and second sides spaced apart in a thickness direction; ii) one or more electrical elements arranged over the first side of the substrate layer, wherein each of the one or more electrical elements comprises: a) a ceramic member; and b) first and second electrodes disposed adjacent the ceramic member such that a potential difference may be established between the first and second electrodes and through the ceramic member during operation; iii) a continuous insulating layer, or laminate of insulating layers, arranged to overlie each of the one or more electrical elements arranged on the first side of the substrate layer; and iv) a passivation layer, or laminate of multiple passivation layers, disposed adjacent to, and at least partially overlying, each of the one or more electrical elements so as to provide electrical passivation between the first and second electrodes of each of the one or more electrical elements; wherein: a) the passivation layer, or at least an innermost layer of the laminate of multiple passivation layers which is disposed adjacent each of the one or more underlying electrical elements, is discontinuous; and/or b) the laminate of multiple passivation layers is recessed at a side which faces away from each of the underlying electrical elements, wherein a recess is provided in a region overlying each of the one or more electrical elements, such that the laminate of passivation layers is thinner in a thickness direction across the recess compared to other non-recessed regions of the laminate of passivation layers.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/053 - Montures, supports, enveloppes ou boîtiers
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages
• B81B 3/00 - Dispositifs comportant des éléments flexibles ou déformables, p. ex. comportant des membranes ou des lamelles élastiques
• H10N 30/00 - Dispositifs piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs
• H10N 30/20 - Dispositifs piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs à entrée électrique et sortie mécanique, p. ex. fonctionnant comme actionneurs ou comme vibrateurs
• H10N 30/853 - Compositions céramiques
• H10N 30/87 - Électrodes ou interconnexions, p. ex. connexions électriques ou bornes
• H10N 30/88 - MonturesSupportsEnveloppesBoîtiers

Abrégé

The present invention relates to an electrical component for a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, in particular, but not limited to, an electromechanical actuator. In one aspect, the present invention provides an electrical component for a microelectromechanical systems device comprising: i) a substrate layer; ii) a plurality of adjacent electrical elements arranged over the substrate layer, where each electrical element is separated from a neighbouring electrical element by an intermediate region, each of the plurality of electrical elements comprising: a) a ceramic member; and b) first and second electrodes disposed adjacent the ceramic member such that a potential difference may be established between the first and second electrodes and through the ceramic member during operation; iii) a passivation layer, or a laminate of multiple passivation layers, at least partially overlying each of the plurality of electrical elements so as to provide electrical passivation between the first and second electrodes of each of the plurality of electrical elements; wherein the passivation layer, or at least an innermost layer of the laminate of passivation layers which is disposed adjacent each underlying electrical element, is discontinuous over at least one intermediate region between neighbouring electrical elements of the electrical component.

Classes IPC  ?

• H10N 30/88 - MonturesSupportsEnveloppesBoîtiers
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• H10N 30/00 - Dispositifs piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs
• H10N 39/00 - Dispositifs intégrés, ou ensembles de plusieurs dispositifs, comportant au moins un élément piézo-électrique, électrostrictif ou magnétostrictif couvert par les groupes

Abrégé

A droplet deposition apparatus (1) comprising: a first head module (101A, 101B, 102A) and a second head module (101B, 102A, 102B) arranged in at least partially overlapping relationship, each head module having a plurality of nozzles in at least one nozzle array (A1, B1); and a storage (200) configured to store a table of determined best aligned nozzle pairs in an overlap region and corresponding skew angles (Θi) of at least one of the head modules relative to a datum of the droplet deposition apparatus and/or a corresponding positional offset of the second head module relative to the first head module; wherein, in the overlap region, nozzles of the first head module are arranged at a first nozzle pitch (P2) and nozzles of the second head module are arranged at a second nozzle pitch (P3). Associated methods in respect of determining misalignment information in respect of such a droplet deposition apparatus, and determining one or more best aligned nozzle pairs in an overlap region between at least two head modules, are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 25/00 - Mécanismes ou mouvements non prévus ailleurs
• B41J 2/21 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre pour l'impression à plusieurs couleurs
• B41J 29/393 - Dispositifs de commande ou d'analyse de l'ensemble de la machine
• B41J 11/00 - Dispositifs ou agencements pour supporter ou manipuler un matériau de copie en feuilles ou en bandes
• B41J 15/04 - Dispositifs de supports, d'alimentation ou de guidageMontages pour rouleaux ou axes
• B41J 2/155 - Leur agencement pour l'impression ligne par ligne

Abrégé

An actuator component for a droplet ejection head; wherein said actuator component comprises a substrate and one or more strips of piezoelectric material fixedly attached to said substrate; wherein said one or more strips of piezoelectric material comprise one or more layers of piezoelectric material, and an array of fluid chambers defined within said one or more strips of piezoelectric material and extending in an array direction; wherein said actuator component further comprises one or more cover parts; wherein the or each cover part extends in said array direction and is fixedly attached to at least one of a side face of one of said strips of piezoelectric material and/or at least a portion of said substrate; and wherein said one or more cover parts comprise a plurality of openings so as to enable fluid to be supplied to selected ones of said fluid chambers through said openings. Associated methods of manufacturing an actuator component for a droplet ejection head are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages

Abrégé

A manifold component for a droplet ejection head, the manifold component comprising: a mount for receiving an actuator component that provides one or more rows of fluid chambers, each chamber being provided with a respective at least one actuating element and a respective at least one nozzle, the at least one actuating element for each chamber being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid in an ejection direction through the corresponding at least one nozzle, each row extending in a row direction; a manifold chamber, which extends from a first end to a second end, and widens from said first end to said second end, the second end providing fluidic connection, in parallel, to at least a group of chambers within said one or more rows and being located adjacent said mount; and at least one port, each port opening into the manifold chamber at the first end thereof; wherein at least one portion between the first end and second end of the manifold chamber is shaped as a hyperbolic acoustic horn.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A droplet ejection apparatus including a droplet deposition head, actuating circuitry and head controller circuitry. The droplet deposition head having an array of actuating elements and a corresponding array of nozzles. The actuating circuitry applies drive waveforms to the actuating elements causing the ejection of fluid in the form of droplets through the array of nozzles and onto deposition media, which are moved relative to the droplet deposition head. The head controller circuitry is configured to receive an input set of ejection data, generate a series of sub-sets of ejection data based on the input set, and send the series of sub-sets of ejection data to the actuating circuitry. The actuating circuitry is further configured so as to, for each sub-set of ejection data, apply drive waveforms to the actuating elements such that they repeatedly eject droplets from one or more nozzles, thus depositing successive rows of droplets. The one or more nozzles and the sizes of the droplets ejected therefrom are determined by the current sub-set of ejection data. Each of the one or more nozzles ejecting droplets with a substantially constant frequency of 1/T. The apparatus is further configured to receive deposition media speed data, which indicates the current speed of relative movement of the head with respect to the deposition media. The apparatus is further configured such that the head switches from ejecting droplets in accordance with a current sub-set of ejection data to ejecting droplets in accordance with a consecutive sub-set of ejection data in the series at a time determined in accordance with the media speed data, with the time interval between starting ejecting droplets in accordance with successive sub-sets of ejection data varying inversely with the current speed of relative movement of the droplet deposition head.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• G06K 15/10 - Dispositions pour produire une présentation visuelle permanente des données de sortie utilisant des imprimantes par imprimantes en matrices de points

Abrégé

A manifold component for a droplet ejection head, the manifold component comprising: a mount for receiving at least one actuator component that provides one or more rows of fluid chambers, each chamber being provided with at least one respective actuating element and at least one respective nozzle, each at least one actuating element being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid in said ejection direction through the corresponding at least one of said nozzles, each row extending in a row direction; an inlet manifold chamber, which extends from a first end to a second end, the second end providing fluidic connection, in parallel, to at least a group of chambers within said one or more rows of fluid chambers and being located adjacent said mount; at least one inlet port, each inlet port opening into the inlet manifold chamber at the first end thereof; and a plurality of fluid guides disposed within the inlet manifold chamber, each fluid guide extending from a respective first end to a respective second end, the first ends of at least some of said fluid guides being located adjacent the first end of the inlet manifold chamber, and the second ends of at least some of said fluid guides being located adjacent the second end of the inlet manifold chamber; wherein the fluid guides diverge as they progress from the first end towards the second end of the inlet manifold chamber, the fluid guides thereby causing fluid flowing from the first end to the second end of the inlet manifold chamber to be distributed over the width, in the row direction, of the second end thereof.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/175 - Systèmes d'alimentation en encre

Abrégé

A method for depositing droplets onto a medium, utilising a droplet deposition head is provided. The head used in the method includes: an array of fluid chambers separated by interspersed walls, each fluid chamber communicating with an aperture for the release of fluid droplets and each wall separating two neighbouring chambers. Each wall is actuable such that in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one chamber and increase the volume of the other chamber, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of its neighbouring chambers. The method includes the steps of: receiving input data: assigning, based on such input data, all the chambers within the array as either filing chambers or non-firing chambers, so as to produce bands of one or more contiguous filing chambers separated by bands of one or more contiguous non-firing chambers; actuating the walls of certain of the chambers such that: for each non-firing chamber, either one wall is stationary while the other is moved, or the walls move with the same sense, or they remain stationary: and, for each firing chamber the walls move with opposing senses; such actuations result in each firing chamber releasing at least one droplet, the resulting droplets forming bodies of fluid disposed on a line on the medium, such bodies of fluid being separated on the line by respective gaps for each of the bands of non-firing chambers, the size of each such gap generally corresponding in size to the respective band of non-firing chambers. The actuations of the walls of said firing chambers in the actuating step are such that, if only one of the two walls of each firing chamber were actuated in such manner, no droplets would be ejected from that firing chamber. A droplet deposition apparatus, a droplet deposition head and a computer program product are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A sub-controller (20), controller (30), fluid supply system and apparatus for printing and a method for printing. Provided is a processor controlled sub-controller (20) for controlling the fluid pressure in one or more droplet ejection heads (60); wherein said controller (30) is configured to receive a droplet ejection head movement profile for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads (60), determine a respective induced fluid pressure profile at one or more predetermined locations for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads (60) using the respective droplet ejection head movement profile; and generate respective pressure correction data for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads based on the respective induced fluid pressure profile and a predetermined pressure window to be maintained at said one or more droplet ejection heads (60). Also provided is a method of printing using one or more droplet ejection heads (60) fluidically connected to a fluid supply system wherein said method comprises the steps of receiving droplet ejection head movement profile(s); determining a respective induced fluid pressure profile at one or more predetermined locations for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads using the respective droplet ejection head movement profile(s); generating respective pressure correction file(s) at said one or more predetermined locations based on said induced fluid pressure profile(s) and said predetermined pressure window.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 3/407 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression ou de marquage sélectif caractérisés par le but dans lequel ils sont construits pour le marquage sur des matériaux particuliers
• B41J 2/175 - Systèmes d'alimentation en encre

Abrégé

A nozzle plate for a droplet ejection head, the nozzle plate comprising a first row of nozzles arranged to deposit droplets onto a deposition media; wherein the first row of nozzles extends in a row direction and comprises two or more nozzle clusters, each nozzle cluster being arranged along the row direction for a cluster length c, and extending along a cluster depth direction perpendicular to the row direction by a cluster depth d; wherein each nozzle cluster comprises a plurality of nozzles of which one or more nozzles within each nozzle cluster define the cluster length c and two or more nozzles within each nozzle cluster define the cluster depth d; wherein each nozzle cluster is spaced apart from an adjacent nozzle cluster along the row direction by a cluster spacing a such that an air flow path is created for forced air to pass through the row of nozzles in a controlled manner; and wherein, when the first row is projected in a transverse direction onto the row direction, a transition region between adjacent nozzle clusters comprises two or more nozzles from a first cluster and two or more nozzles from a second cluster, the second cluster being adjacent to the first cluster, and the nozzles in the transition region being equidistantly spaced from one another by a projected nozzle spacing.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/145 - Leur agencement
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A piezoelectric thin film element having a first electrode, a second electrode and a piezoelectric thin film between the electrodes, wherein the thin film comprises a laminate having two or more piezoelectric thin film layers and wherein a first thin film layer is doped by one or more dopants and a second film layer is doped by one or more dopants and wherein at least one dopant of the second thin film layer is different from the dopant or dopants of the first thin film layer.

Classes IPC  ?

• H10N 30/85 - Matériaux actifs piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs
• H10N 30/06 - Formation d’électrodes ou d’interconnexions, p. ex. de connections électriques ou de bornes
• H10N 30/078 - Formation de parties ou de corps piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs sur un élément électrique ou sur un autre support par dépôt de couches piézo-électriques ou électrostrictives, p. ex. par impression par aérosol ou par sérigraphie par dépôt en phase liquide par dépôt sol-gel
• H10N 30/87 - Électrodes ou interconnexions, p. ex. connexions électriques ou bornes
• H10N 30/00 - Dispositifs piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs
• H10N 30/20 - Dispositifs piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs à entrée électrique et sortie mécanique, p. ex. fonctionnant comme actionneurs ou comme vibrateurs
• H10N 30/853 - Compositions céramiques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A droplet deposition head including a datum surface arrangement for alignment of the head relative to an external mounting component in either a vertical mounting mode in which the head is held against a vertical mounting plate or a horizontal mounting mode where the head is held against a horizontal mounting plate. The datum surface arrangement comprising at least seven datum surfaces (x1; y1, y2, y3; z1, z2, z3) provided on the head, wherein five of the seven datum surfaces are provided for alignment in both vertical and horizontal mounting modes, and wherein a sixth datum surface (z3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said horizontal mounting mode and a seventh datum surface (y3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said vertical mounting mode.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 25/34 - Têtes ou chariots d'impression remplaçables
• B41J 25/00 - Mécanismes ou mouvements non prévus ailleurs
• B41J 25/308 - Mécanismes mobiles pour têtes d'impression ou chariots mobiles vers ou à partir de la surface du papier avec des mécanismes de réglage de la distance entre l'élément d'impression et le matériau d'impression
• B41J 2/21 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre pour l'impression à plusieurs couleurs
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A method for the manufacture of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device comprising bonded components which together define a chamber in the device, which method comprises forming a bonding material layer on a surface of a first component, patterning the bonding material layer and, optionally, the first component and bonding a second component to the patterned bonding material layer and first component. The forming of the bonding material layer comprises partially curing a curable material and the bonding of the second component to the patterned bonding material layer and the first component comprises fully curing the partially cured material.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A droplet deposition apparatus comprising a droplet deposition head, a fluid supply and a controller, wherein: the droplet deposition head comprises one or more fluid chambers each having a nozzle, a fluid inlet path having a fluid inlet into the head, and ending in the one or more nozzles, and a fluid return path starting at the one or more nozzles and ending in a fluid return of the head; each fluid chamber comprises two opposing chamber walls comprising piezoelectric material and deformable upon application of an electric drive signal so as to eject a fluid droplet from the nozzle; the fluid supply is configured to supply a fluid to the fluid inlet at a differential pressure as measured between the fluid inlet and the fluid return; and the controller is configured to apply a drive signal to the piezoelectric chamber walls such that the nozzle or nozzles deposit droplets of a fluid having a viscosity in the range from 45 mPa∙s to 130 mPa∙s at a jetting temperature between 20°C and 90°C, and wherein the differential pressure applied by the fluid supply causes a fluid return flow into the fluid return at a rate of between 50 ml/min and 200 ml/min. A method of operating the droplet deposition apparatus, and a control system for carrying out the method, are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• C09D 11/00 - Encres

Abrégé

max,r, maxr, maxr, max, maxr, max,r,r, of the solid solution.

Classes IPC  ?

• C04B 35/462 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates
• C04B 35/475 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de bismuth
• C04B 35/626 - Préparation ou traitement des poudres individuellement ou par fournées
• C04B 35/634 - Polymères
• C04B 35/638 - Leur élimination
• C04B 35/64 - Procédés de cuisson ou de frittage
• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques

Abrégé

A method for reducing nozzle meniscus instability of a droplet deposition apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a first data block for a first line pixel and a second data block for a second line pixel; (b) receiving a data set of forbidden pixel periods that cause harmonic/subharmonic excitation of the meniscus surface and lead to meniscus instability; (c) determining a first jitter delay value based on the data set of forbidden pixel periods; (d) generating first print data based on the first data block, wherein the first print data comprises data defining a first holding period, determined by the first jitter delay value, and one or more drive pulses; and (e) generating second print data based on the second data block, wherein the second print data comprises data defining one or more drive pulses, the time between each first of the one or more drive pulses defined by the first and second print data determining a first pixel period; wherein the first and second print data are for generating first and second actuating element signals for controlling at least one actuating element of the droplet deposition apparatus according to the first and second print data; such that each drive pulse causes the actuating element to eject at least one droplet from a respective nozzle of the droplet deposition apparatus; and the first jitter delay value adjusts the first pixel period to fall outside of the data set of forbidden pixel periods so as to reduce the occurrence of nozzle meniscus instability.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A droplet ejection apparatus comprising: a droplet deposition head comprising an array of actuating elements and a corresponding array of nozzles; actuating circuitry, configured to apply drive waveforms to said actuating elements, thereby causing the ejection of fluid in the form of droplets through said array of nozzles onto deposition media, which are moved relative to the head; and head controller circuitry, configured to: receive an input set of ejection data; generate a series of sub-sets of ejection data based on the input set; and send said series of sub-sets of ejection data to said actuating circuitry; wherein the actuating circuitry is further configured so as to, for each sub-set of ejection data, apply drive waveforms to said actuating elements such that they repeatedly eject droplets from one or more nozzles, thus depositing successive rows of droplets, the one or more nozzles and the sizes of the droplets ejected therefrom being determined by the current sub-set of ejection data, each of the one or more nozzles ejecting droplets with a substantially constant frequency of 1/T; wherein the apparatus is configured to receive deposition media speed data, which indicates the current speed of relative movement of the head with respect to the deposition media; and wherein the apparatus is configured such that the head switches from ejecting droplets in accordance with a current sub-set of ejection data to ejecting droplets in accordance with a consecutive sub-set of ejection data in the series at a time determined in accordance with said media speed data, with the time interval between starting ejecting droplets in accordance with successive sub-sets of ejection data varying inversely with the current speed of relative movement of the head.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• G06K 15/10 - Dispositions pour produire une présentation visuelle permanente des données de sortie utilisant des imprimantes par imprimantes en matrices de points

Abrégé

The present invention relates to an electrical component for a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, in particular, but not limited to, an electromechanical actuator. In one aspect, the present invention provides an insulated electrical component for a microelectromechanical systems device comprising: i) a substrate layer comprising first and second sides spaced apart in a thickness direction; ii) one or more electrical elements arranged over the first side of the substrate layer, wherein each of the one or more electrical elements comprises: a) a ceramic member; and b) first and second electrodes disposed adjacent the ceramic member such that a potential difference may be established between the first and second electrodes and through the ceramic member during operation; iii) a continuous insulating layer, or laminate of insulating layers, arranged to overlie each of the one or more electrical elements arranged on the first side of the substrate layer; and iv) a passivation layer, or laminate of multiple passivation layers, disposed adjacent to, and at least partially overlying, each of the one or more electrical elements so as to provide electrical passivation between the first and second electrodes of each of the one or more electrical elements; wherein: a) the passivation layer, or at least an innermost layer of the laminate of multiple passivation layers which is disposed adjacent each of the one or more underlying electrical elements, is discontinuous; and/or b) the laminate of multiple passivation layers is recessed at a side which faces away from each of the underlying electrical elements, wherein a recess is provided in a region overlying each of the one or more electrical elements, such that the laminate of passivation layers is thinner in a thickness direction across the recess compared to other non-recessed regions of the laminate of passivation layers.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/053 - Montures, supports, enveloppes ou boîtiers

Abrégé

The present invention relates to an electrical component for a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, in particular, but not limited to, an electromechanical actuator. In one aspect, the present invention provides an electrical component for a microelectromechanical systems device comprising: i) a substrate layer; ii) a plurality of adjacent electrical elements arranged over the substrate layer, where each electrical element is separated from a neighbouring electrical element by an intermediate region, each of the plurality of electrical elements comprising: a) a ceramic member; and b)first and second electrodes disposed adjacent the ceramic member such that a potential difference may be established between the first and second electrodes and through the ceramic member during operation; iii) a passivation layer, or a laminate of multiple passivation layers, at least partially overlying each of the plurality of electrical elements so as to provide electrical passivation between the first and second electrodes of each of the plurality of electrical elements; wherein the passivation layer, or at least an innermost layer of the laminate of passivation layers which is disposed adjacent each underlying electrical element, is discontinuous over at least one intermediate region between neighbouring electrical elements of the electrical component.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages

Abrégé

A method for depositing droplets onto a medium, utilising a droplet deposition head is provided. The head used in the method includes: an array of fluid chambers separated by interspersed walls, each fluid chamber communicating with an aperture for the release of fluid droplets and each wall separating two neighbouring chambers. Each wall is actuable such that, in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one chamber and increase the volume of the other chamber, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of its neighbouring chambers. The method includes the steps of: receiving input data; assigning, based on such input data, all the chambers within the array as either firing chambers or non-firing chambers, so as to produce bands of one or more contiguous firing chambers separated by bands of one or more contiguous non-firing chambers; actuating the walls of certain of the chambers such that: for each non-firing chamber, either one wall is stationary while the other is moved, or the walls move with the same sense, or they remain stationary; and, for each firing chamber the walls move with opposing senses; such actuations result in each firing chamber releasing at least one droplet, the resulting droplets forming bodies of fluid disposed on a line on the medium, such bodies of fluid being separated on the line by respective gaps for each of the bands of non-firing chambers, the size of each such gap generally corresponding in size to the respective band of non-firing chambers. The actuations of the walls of said firing chambers in the actuating step are such that, if only one of the two walls of each firing chamber were actuated in such manner, no droplets would be ejected from that firing chamber. A droplet deposition apparatus, a droplet deposition head and a computer program product are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a method for identifying a solid solution ceramic material of a plurality of perovskite compounds which exhibits an electric field induced strain derived from a reversible phase transition, as well as a method for making such ceramic materials and ceramic materials obtainable therefrom. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of identifying a solid solution ceramic material of at least three perovskite compounds which exhibits an electric field induced strain derived from a reversible phase transition; said method comprising the steps of: i) determining a molar ratio of at least one tetragonal perovskite compound to at least one non-tetragonal perovskite compound which, when combined to form a solid solution, provides a ceramic material comprising a major portion of a tetragonal phase having an axial ratio c/a of greater than 1.005 to 1.04; and ii) determining a molar ratio of at least one additional non-tetragonal perovskite compound to the combination of perovskite compounds from step i) at the determined molar ratio which, when combined to form a solid solution, provides a ceramic material comprising a major portion of a pseudo-cubic phase having an axial ratio c/a of from 0.995 to 1.005 and/or a rhombohedral angle of 90±0.5 degrees.

Classes IPC  ?

• C04B 35/46 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates
• C04B 35/468 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de métaux alcalino-terreux à base de titanates de baryum
• C04B 35/475 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de bismuth
• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques

Abrégé

A drive circuit (100) for driving actuators of a printhead (97) from a common drive waveform has a switching circuit (32) for coupling the common drive waveform to an actuator (1,2), and a timing circuit (10) to control the switching circuit to form a drive pulse from the common drive waveform. The drive pulse is trimmed by controlling a duration (TTRIM) of a step at an intermediate level (VHOLD) in the drive pulse. This can improve the trade-off between available range of trimming and thermal efficiency because the voltage drop across the switching circuit can be reduced, compared to trimming only the height. Decoupling during a flat portion of the common drive waveform can enable the timing of the decoupling to be more relaxed compared to decoupling during a slope. Such relaxing can enable costs, complexity and thermal loading to be reduced.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

3]; wherein 0.4

Classes IPC  ?

• C04B 35/475 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de bismuth
• C04B 35/47 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de métaux alcalino-terreux à base de titanates de strontium
• C04B 35/472 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de plomb
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• C04B 35/626 - Préparation ou traitement des poudres individuellement ou par fournées
• C04B 35/645 - Frittage sous pression

Abrégé

A droplet deposition head includes: one or more manifold components, providing one or more fluid inlets, each of which is connectable to a fluid supply system so that the head can receive a corresponding droplet fluid; and two or more arrays of fluid chambers, each chamber being provided with a respective actuating element and a respective nozzle, each actuating element being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid in an ejection direction through the corresponding one of the nozzles, each array extending in an array direction. The head extends, in the ejection direction, from a first end, at which the one or more fluid inlets are located, to a second end, at which the arrays of fluid chambers are located. One or more branched inlet paths are provided within the manifold components over a first portion of their height in the ejection direction, each of the branched paths being fluidically connected so as to receive fluid at a main branch thereof from a respective one of the fluid inlets, branching at one or more branching points into two or more sub-branches, and culminating in a plurality of end sub-branches, to which fluid is conveyed. A plurality of widening inlet chambers is provided within the manifold components over a second portion of their height in the ejection direction, the width of each widening inlet chamber in the array direction increasing with distance in the ejection direction from a first end to a second end thereof, the first end being fluidically connected so as to receive fluid from one or more of the branched paths and the second end being fluidically connected so as to supply fluid to one or more of the arrays. Each of the branched inlet paths is fluidically connected so as to supply fluid to two or more of the widening inlet chambers. Also provided are manifold components, which include a plurality of layers, for a droplet deposition head.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/175 - Systèmes d'alimentation en encre

Abrégé

The present invention relates to an electrical componentfor a MEMS device, in particular, but not limited to, an electromechanical actuator. It may find particularly beneficial application as an actuator element for a droplet deposition head. In one aspect, the present inventionprovides anelectrical component comprising: i)a substrate layer; ii)at least one electrical element; and iii)at least one barrier layer comprising amorphous alumina, said at least one barrier layer arranged over at least a portion of the substrate layerso as to separate the substrate layer from the at least one electrical element; wherein each of the at least one electrical element comprises: a)a lead-free thin film ceramic member formed of a lead-free ceramic material having a major proportion of a perovskite phase; and b)first and second electrodes disposed adjacent the lead-free thin film ceramic member such that a potential difference may be established between the first and second electrodes, through the lead-free thin film ceramic member during operation; and wherein the electrical component is configured so that the lead-free thin film ceramic member of each of the at least one electrical element is disposed adjacent to the barrier layer over one or more regions.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/08 - Eléments piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs
• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques
• H01L 27/08 - Dispositifs consistant en une pluralité de composants semi-conducteurs ou d'autres composants à l'état solide formés dans ou sur un substrat commun comprenant des éléments de circuit passif intégrés avec au moins une barrière de potentiel ou une barrière de surface le substrat étant un corps semi-conducteur comprenant uniquement des composants semi-conducteurs d'un seul type

Abrégé

A manifold component for a droplet ejection head, the manifold component comprising: a mount for receiving an actuator component that provides one or more rows of fluid chambers, each chamber being provided with a respective at least one actuating element and a respective at least one nozzle, the at least one actuating element for each chamber being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid in an ejection direction through the corresponding at least one nozzle, each row extending in a row direction; a manifold chamber, which extends from a first end to a second end, and widens from said first end to said second end, the second end providing fluidic connection, in parallel, to at least a group of chambers within said one or more rows and being located adjacent said mount; and at least one port, each port opening into the manifold chamber at the first end thereof; wherein at least one portion between the first end and second end of the manifold chamber is shaped as a hyperbolic acoustic horn.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A manifold component for a droplet ejection head, the manifold component comprising: a mount for receiving at least one actuator component that provides one or more rows of fluid chambers, each chamber being provided with at least one respective actuating element and at least one respective nozzle, each at least one actuating element being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid in said ejection direction through the corresponding at least one of said nozzles, each row extending in a row direction; an inlet manifold chamber, which extends from a first end to a second end, the second end providing fluidic connection, in parallel, to at least a group of chambers within said one or more rows of fluid chambers and being located adjacent said mount; at least one inlet port, each inlet port opening into the inlet manifold chamber at the first end thereof;and a plurality of fluid guides disposed within the inlet manifold chamber, each fluid guide extending from a respective first end to a respective second end, the first ends of at least some of said fluid guides being located adjacent the first end of the inlet manifold chamber, and the second ends of at least some of said fluid guides being located adjacent the second end of the inlet manifold chamber; wherein the fluid guides diverge as they progress from the first end towards the second end of the inlet manifold chamber, the fluid guides thereby causing fluid flowing from the first end to the second end of the inlet manifold chamber to be distributed over the width, in the row direction, of the second end thereof.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

2)≠0.

Classes IPC  ?

• C04B 35/475 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de bismuth
• C04B 35/49 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de zirconium ou d'hafnium ou de zirconates ou d'hafnates contenant également de l'oxyde de titane ou des titanates
• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques
• C04B 35/626 - Préparation ou traitement des poudres individuellement ou par fournées
• C04B 35/634 - Polymères

Abrégé

actuator component for a droplet deposition head made up of a number of patterned layers, each layer extending in a plane normal to a layering direction, with the layers being stacked one upon another in said layering direction. A row of fluid chambers is formed within the layers, with the row extending in a row direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the layering direction. Each fluid chamber is provided with a respective nozzle and a respective actuating element, which is actuable to cause the ejection of fluid from the chamber in question through the corresponding one of the nozzles. A row of inlet passageways is also formed within the layers of the actuator component, with the row extending in the row direction. Each inlet passageway is fluidically connected so as to supply fluid to a respective one of said fluid chambers. In some embodiments, either a row of outlet passageways or a second row of inlet passageways is additionally formed within the layers; in either case, such row extends in the row direction. Where outlet passageways are present, each is fluidically connected so as to receive fluid from a respective one of said fluid chambers. At least one of the rows of passageways is staggered, whereby at least some of the members of the staggered row in question are offset from their neighbours in an offset direction for the staggered row in question that is perpendicular to the row direction. The row of fluid chambers may also be staggered.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

33) phase, said thin film ceramic member having a first side and an opposing second side spaced apart in a thickness direction; ii) first and second electrodes disposed adjacent to the thin film ceramic member, wherein, relative to each other, one of the first or second electrodes is a higher potential electrode and the other one of the first and second electrodes is a lower potential electrode, such that a potential difference may be established between the first and second electrodes and through the thin film ceramic member during operation; wherein the thin film ceramic member comprises: a first layer of ceramic material doped with: I) one or more transition metal ions capable of Jahn-Teller distortion of the perovskite crystal structure of the ceramic material and/or II) one or more non-transition metal ions which have a lower oxidation state and/or one or more transition metal ions which preferentially undergo reduction, compared to the B-site cation of the perovskite crystal structure of the ceramic material; and a second layer of ceramic material not doped with any of the one or more metal ions as defined for the first layer of ceramic material; and wherein said first layer of ceramic material is located, over the thickness of the thin film ceramic member, so as to be: a) in contact with both of the first and second electrodes, wherein the first and second electrodes are both disposed adjacent to one of the first or second sides of the thin film ceramic member; or b) in contact with the one of the first or second electrodes which is the lower potential electrode, wherein first and second electrodes are interposed by the thin film ceramic member.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques

Abrégé

A method of poling piezoelectric elements of an actuator comprises applying an electric pulse heating waveform to the piezoelectric element(s) in order to increase the temperature thereof to a poling temperature (S202), applying an electric field poling waveform to the piezoelectric element(s) for a poling time period (S203), and apply an electric field holding poling waveform to the piezoelectric element(s) to maintain poling whilst the temperature of the actuator decreases (S204).

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/257 - Traitement de dispositifs ou de leurs parties constitutives afin de modifier une propriété piézo-électrique ou électrostrictive, p.ex. les caractéristiques de polarisation, de vibration ou par réglage du mode par polarisation
• H01L 41/09 - Eléments piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs à entrée électrique et sortie mécanique
• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages

Abrégé

CDWONCDWON ON : has a start time that is concurrent with one of said plurality of pulses of the common drive waveform; and/or has an end time that is concurrent with a different one of said plurality of pulses of the common drive waveform.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

11221212122) ≥ 0; said method comprising: performing steps i) and ii) below one or more times: i) depositing a precursor solution for the ceramic material of formula (I) on to the substrate by chemical solution deposition to form a deposited precursor solution on the substrate; ii) drying and pyrolysing the deposited precursor solution to form a coating; followed by performing step iii) below: iii) crystallising the coating by rapid thermal processing to form a film of the solid solution ceramic material of formula (I); wherein crystallising in step iii) involves heating the coating to a crystallisation temperature of from 600 °C to 800 °C; and wherein the temperature is increased at a ramp rate of from 70 to 150 °C/s up to the crystallisation temperature.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/318 - Application de parties ou de corps piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs sur un élément électrique ou sur un autre support par dépôt de couches piézo-électriques ou électrostrictives, p.ex. par impression par aérosol ou par sérigraphie par dépôt en phase liquide par dépôt sol-gel
• C23C 18/12 - Revêtement chimique par décomposition soit de composés liquides, soit de solutions des composés constituant le revêtement, ne laissant pas de produits de réaction du matériau de la surface dans le revêtementDépôt par contact par décomposition thermique caractérisée par le dépôt sur des matériaux inorganiques, autres que des matériaux métalliques

Abrégé

A circuit or a droplet deposition apparatus, the circuit configured to generate a drive waveform having a drive pulse, a first non-ejection pulse and a second non-ejection pulse, and wherein the first non-ejection pulse is inverted with respect to the second non-ejection pulse.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

ACT).

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• G01R 27/26 - Mesure de l'inductance ou de la capacitanceMesure du facteur de qualité, p. ex. en utilisant la méthode par résonanceMesure de facteur de pertesMesure des constantes diélectriques
• G01R 31/28 - Test de circuits électroniques, p. ex. à l'aide d'un traceur de signaux

Abrégé

A droplet deposition head including a datum surface arrangement for alignment of the head relative to an external mounting component in either a vertical mounting mode in which the head is held against a vertical mounting plate or a horizontal mounting mode where the head is held against a horizontal mounting plate. The datum surface arrangement comprising at least seven datum surfaces (x1; y1, y2, y3; z1, z2, z3) provided on the head, wherein five of the seven datum surfaces are provided for alignment in both vertical and horizontal mounting modes, and wherein a sixth datum surface (z3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said horizontal mounting mode and a seventh datum surface (y3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said vertical mounting mode.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 25/34 - Têtes ou chariots d'impression remplaçables
• B41J 25/00 - Mécanismes ou mouvements non prévus ailleurs
• B41J 25/308 - Mécanismes mobiles pour têtes d'impression ou chariots mobiles vers ou à partir de la surface du papier avec des mécanismes de réglage de la distance entre l'élément d'impression et le matériau d'impression
• B41J 2/21 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre pour l'impression à plusieurs couleurs
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

There is disclosed a controller for controlling two or more groups of nozzles in an array, the controller configured to: encode data blocks into a data stream, wherein each data block denotes how a respective group of nozzles is to be controlled for a droplet period; encode fire codes into the data stream, wherein each fire code is a reserved code that denotes when a respective group of nozzles is to be controlled in accordance with the data block for the droplet period; and wherein the data block precedes the fire code for the respective group of nozzles in the data stream and wherein the fire codes are generated independently of the data blocks.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 29/38 - Entraînements, moteurs commandes ou dispositifs d'arrêt automatiques pour le mécanisme d'impression tout entier
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A droplet ejection apparatus comprising: a droplet deposition head comprising an array of actuating elements and a corresponding array of nozzles; actuating circuitry, configured to apply drive waveforms to said actuating elements, thereby causing the ejection of fluid in the form of droplets through said array of nozzles onto deposition media,which are moved relative to the head; and head controller circuitry, configured to: receive an input set of ejection data; generate a series of sub-sets of ejection data based on the input set; and send said series of sub-sets of ejection data to said actuating circuitry; wherein the actuating circuitry is further configured so as to, for each sub-set of ejection data, apply drive waveforms to said actuating elements such that they repeatedly eject droplets from one or more nozzles, thus depositing successive rows of droplets, the one or more nozzles and the sizes of the droplets ejected therefrom being determined by the current sub-set of ejection data, each of the one or more nozzles ejecting droplets with a substantially constant frequency of 1/T; wherein the apparatus is configured to receive deposition media speed data, which indicates the current speed of relative movement of the head with respect to the deposition media; and wherein the apparatus is configured such that the head switches from ejecting droplets in accordance with a current sub-set of ejection data to ejecting droplets in accordance with a consecutive sub-set of ejection data in the series at a time determined in accordance with said media speed data, with the time interval between starting ejecting droplets in accordance with successive sub-sets of ejection data varying inversely with the current speed of relative movement of the head.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A method for the manufacture of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device comprising bonded components which together define a chamber in the device, which method comprises forming a bonding material layer on a surface of a first component, patterning the bonding material layer and, optionally,the first component and bonding a second component to the patterned bonding material layer and first component.The forming of the bonding material layer comprises partially curing a curable material and the bonding of the second component to the patterned bonding material layer and the first component comprises fully curing the partially cured material.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages

Abrégé

An actuator component for a droplet deposition head, comprising: a plurality of fluid chambers, each fluid chamber being provided with a respective nozzle and a respective piezoelectric actuating element, which is actuableto cause the ejection of fluid from the chamber in question through the corresponding one of the nozzles by deforming a membrane, which bounds, in part, the chamber in question; wherein each piezoelectric actuating element comprises: a piezoelectric member having a top side and an opposing bottom side, the bottom side being nearest to the membrane, the top and bottom sides being spaced apart in a thickness direction; a lower electrode, disposed adjacent said bottom side of the piezoelectric member; an upper electrode, disposed adjacent said top side of the piezoelectric member; wherein each upper electrode comprises: a first layer, which is formed of a first conductive material; a second layer, which is formed of a second conductive material, the first layer being disposed between the second layer and piezoelectric member; wherein at least a portion of the first layer overlies the piezoelectric member when viewed from the thickness direction, this overlying portion of the first layer extending over substantially the whole of the top side of the piezoelectric member and having a length in a length direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction in which the extent of the first layer overlying portion is at or near a maximum; wherein at least a portion of the second layer overlies both the first layer and the piezoelectric member when viewed from said thickness direction, this overlying portion of the second layer being formed as a pattern that is shaped so as to accommodate flexing of the piezoelectric actuating element when it is actuated; wherein, as viewed from the thickness direction, the area of the second layer overlying portion is substantially less than half that of the first layer overlying portion; wherein the projection of the second layer overlying portion onto said length of the first layer overlying portion covers at least a majority of said length of the first layer overlying portion.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A droplet deposition head includes: one or more manifold components, providing one or more fluid inlets, each of which is connectable to a fluid supply system so that the head can receive a corresponding droplet fluid; and two or more arrays of fluid chambers, each chamber being provided with a respective actuating element and a respective nozzle, each actuating element being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid in an ejection direction through the corresponding one of the nozzles, each array extending in an array direction. The head extends, in the ejection direction, from a first end, at which the one or more fluid inlets are located, to a second end, at which the arrays of fluid chambers are located. One or more branched inlet paths are provided within the manifold components over a first portion of their height in the ejection direction, each of the branched paths being fluidically connected so as to receive fluid at a main branch thereof from a respective one of the fluid inlets, branching at one or more branching points into two or more sub-branches, and culminating in a plurality of end sub-branches, to which fluid is conveyed. A plurality of widening inlet chambers is provided within the manifold components over a second portion of their height in the ejection direction, the width of each widening inlet chamber in the array direction increasing with distance in the ejection direction from a first end to a second end thereof, the first end being fluidically connected so as to receive fluid from one or more of the branched paths and the second end being fluidically connected so as to supply fluid to one or more of the arrays. Each of the branched inlet paths is fluidically connected so as to supply fluid to two or more of the widening inlet chambers. Also provided are manifold components, which include a plurality of layers, for a droplet deposition head.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/175 - Systèmes d'alimentation en encre

Abrégé

A printhead circuit for providing pulses for driving two or more actuating elements, the circuit comprising a cold switch drive circuit, for driving an actuating element for a first phase of a first pulse, the cold switch drive circuit having a cold drive switch for selectively coupling a drive waveform to the actuating element during the first phase according to a print signal; and a hot switch drive circuit, for driving the actuating element for a second phase of the first pulse, wherein the hot switch drive circuit is configured to drive the actuating element during the second phase according to an actuating element compensation indication signal.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A droplet deposition head having a fluid chamber connected to a droplet ejection nozzle and to a reservoir for the fluid, and a piezoelectric actuator element formed at least in part by a fluid chamber wall having an electrode thereon, which element is displaceable in response to a drive voltage to generate a pressure in the chamber to eject a droplet of fluid from the chamber through the nozzle wherein the electrode is provided with a passivation coating which comprises, at least in part, a laminate comprising an inorganic insulating layer nearest to or contacting the electrode and an organic insulating layer overlying the inorganic insulating layer wherein defects in the insulating layers tend to be misaligned at the interface there between and wherein the inorganic insulating layer has thickness less than or equal to 500 nm and the organic insulating layer has a thickness less than 3 μm.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

An actuator component for a droplet deposition head that includes: a plurality of fluid chambers arranged side-by-side in an array, with certain of the fluid chambers being firing chambers, each of which is provided with at least one piezoelectric actuating element for causing droplet ejection from a nozzle for that firing chamber; and a plurality of non-actuable walls, each of which is formed of piezoelectric material and bounds at least one of the firing chambers.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present technique provide apparatus and methods to print an image using masking techniques that control the operation of a droplet deposition head having at least one faulty nozzle. More specifically, an image is analysed to determine a pixel colour density for each pixel of the image. A masking technique is provided which may distribute the droplets (or sub-droplets) that a faulty nozzle is assigned to print among one or more neighbouring, functioning nozzles.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/21 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre pour l'impression à plusieurs couleurs
• B41J 2/205 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre pour l'impression d'une échelle discrète de tons
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/165 - Prévention du colmatage des ajutages, p. ex. nettoyage, obturation par un capuchon ou humidification des ajutages

Abrégé

There is provided a droplet deposition apparatus comprising: control circuitry configured to generate a common drive waveform; storage to store data, wherein the storage comprises a buffer to store scheduled image data relating to one or more pixels; a droplet deposition head having one or more actuator elements configured to be driven in response to drive pulses derived from the common drive waveform; and wherein the common drive waveform comprises a plurality of pixel periods comprising a firing phase and a non-firing phase, each firing phase comprising a firing pulse and each non-firing phase comprising a non-firing pulse, wherein the characteristics of each non-firing pulse are defined in response to the data in storage, and wherein, the firing pulse of a first pixel period is applied as a drive pulse to an actuator element based on the scheduled image data relating to a first pixel, and wherein the non-firing pulse of the first pixel period is applied as a drive pulse to the actuator element based on past image data and/or the stored scheduled image data.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 29/38 - Entraînements, moteurs commandes ou dispositifs d'arrêt automatiques pour le mécanisme d'impression tout entier
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A method for depositing droplets onto a medium, utilising a droplet deposition head is provided. The head used in the method includes: an array of fluid chambers separated by interspersed walls, each fluid chamber communicating with an aperture for the release of fluid droplets and each wall separating two neighbouring chambers. Each wall is actuable such that, in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one chamber and increase the volume of the other chamber, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of its neighbouring chambers. The method includes the steps of: receiving input data; assigning, based on such input data, all the chambers within the array as either firing chambers or non-firing chambers, so as to produce bands of one or more contiguous firing chambers separated by bands of one or more contiguous non-firing chambers; actuating the walls of certain of the chambers such that: for each non-firing chamber, either one wall is stationary while the other is moved, or the walls move with the same sense, or they remain stationary; and, for each firing chamber the walls move with opposing senses; such actuations result in each firing chamber releasing at least one droplet, the resulting droplets forming bodies of fluid disposed on a line on the medium, such bodies of fluid being separated on the line by respective gaps for each of the bands of non-firing chambers, the size of each such gap generally corresponding in size to the respective band of non-firing chambers. The actuations of the walls of said firing chambers in the actuating step are such that, if only one of the two walls of each firing chamber were actuated in such manner, no droplets would be ejected from that firing chamber. A droplet deposition apparatus, a droplet deposition head and a computer program product are also provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

There is disclosed a piezoelectric ceramic having the composition: a[PbTiO3]- b[SrTiO3] - c[BiFeO3] - d[(KxBi1-x)TiO3]; wherein 0.4 < x < 0.6; 0.1 < a < 0.4; 0.01 < b≤ 0.2; c≥ 0.05; d≥ 0.01; and a + b +c + d =1 optionally comprising an A- or B-site metal dopant in an amount of up to 2 at.%.

Classes IPC  ?

• C04B 35/26 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base de ferrites
• C04B 35/462 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates
• C04B 35/475 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de bismuth
• H01L 41/43 - Matériaux inorganiques par frittage
• H01L 41/00 - DISPOSITIFS À SEMI-CONDUCTEURS; DISPOSITIFS ÉLECTRIQUES À L'ÉTAT SOLIDE NON PRÉVUS AILLEURS - Détails
• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques
• C04B 35/626 - Préparation ou traitement des poudres individuellement ou par fournées
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• C04B 35/64 - Procédés de cuisson ou de frittage
• C04B 35/645 - Frittage sous pression

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a method for identifying a solid solution ceramic material of a plurality of perovskite compounds which exhibits an electric field induced strain derived from a reversible phase transition, as well as a method for making such ceramic materials and ceramic materials obtainable therefrom. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of identifying a solid solution ceramic material of at least three perovskite compounds which exhibits an electric field induced strain derived from a reversible phase transition; said method comprising the steps of: i) determining a molar ratio of at least one tetragonal perovskite compound to at least one non-tetragonal perovskite compound which, when combined to form a solid solution, provides a ceramic material comprising a major portion of a tetragonal phase having an axial ratio c/a of greater than 1.005 to 1.04; and ii) determining a molar ratio of at least one additional non-tetragonal perovskite compound to the combination of perovskite compounds from step i) at the determined molar ratio which, when combined to form a solid solution, provides a ceramic material comprising a major portion of a pseudo-cubic phase having an axial ratio c/a of from 0.995 to 1.005 and/or a rhombohedral angle of 90 ± 0.5 degrees.

Classes IPC  ?

• C04B 35/475 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de bismuth
• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques
• C04B 35/462 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates
• C04B 35/465 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de métaux alcalino-terreux
• C04B 35/468 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de métaux alcalino-terreux à base de titanates de baryum

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a bismuth-based solid solution ceramic material, as well as a process for preparing the ceramic material and uses thereof, particularly in an actuator component employed, for example, in a droplet deposition apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a ceramic material having a general chemical formula (I): (I): x(Bi0.5Na0.5)Ti03-y(Bi0.5K0.5)Ti03-z1SrHf03-z2SrZr03, wherein x+y+Ζ1+Ζ2 = 1; y, (z1+ z2)≠ 0; x ≥ 0. In embodiments, the present invention also relates to a ceramic material having a general chemical formula (II): x(Bi0.5Nao.5)Ti03-y(Bi0.5K0.5)Ti03-ZiSrHf03-z2SrZr03, wherein x+y+z-i+z2 = 1; x, y, fa + z2)≠ 0; as well as a ceramic material of general formula (III): y(Bi0.5K0.5)Ti03-z1SrHf03-z2SrZr03, wherein y+z1,+z2 = 1; y, (z1 + z2)≠ 0.

Classes IPC  ?

• C04B 35/46 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates
• C04B 35/468 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de métaux alcalino-terreux à base de titanates de baryum
• C04B 35/475 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de titane ou de titanates à base de titanates à base de titanates de bismuth
• C04B 35/49 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur compositionCompositions céramiquesTraitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques à base d'oxydes à base d'oxydes de zirconium ou d'hafnium ou de zirconates ou d'hafnates contenant également de l'oxyde de titane ou des titanates
• H01L 41/43 - Matériaux inorganiques par frittage
• H01L 41/00 - DISPOSITIFS À SEMI-CONDUCTEURS; DISPOSITIFS ÉLECTRIQUES À L'ÉTAT SOLIDE NON PRÉVUS AILLEURS - Détails
• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques
• H01L 41/25 - Assemblage de dispositifs incluant des parties piézo-électriques ou électrostrictives
• C04B 35/626 - Préparation ou traitement des poudres individuellement ou par fournées
• C04B 35/634 - Polymères
• C04B 35/64 - Procédés de cuisson ou de frittage
• C01G 23/00 - Composés du titane

Abrégé

An inkjet printhead comprising a printhead die, the printhead die comprising: a plurality of actuators; a plurality of electrical connections in electrical communication with respective first electrodes of the plurality of actuators for providing drive signals thereto; a first electrical bus arranged in common electrical communication with second electrodes of a first group of the actuators for providing first signals thereto; and a second electrical bus arranged in common electrical communication with second electrodes of a second group of the actuators for providing second signals thereto.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A droplet deposition head, such as an inkjet printhead, that includes: an actuator component made up of a plurality of patterned layers, with each layer extending in a plane having a normal in a layering direction and the layers being stacked one upon another in the layering direction. A row of fluid chambers is formed within the plurality of layers, with the fluid chamber row extending in a row direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the layering direction. Each fluid chamber is provided with a respective nozzle and a respective actuating element, which is actuable to cause the ejection of fluid from the chamber in question through the corresponding one of the nozzles. A row of inlet passageways is also formed within the layers of the actuator component, with the inlet passageway row extending in the row direction. Each inlet passageway extends from a first end, where it receives fluid, to a second end, which is fluidically connected to a respective one of the fluid chambers so as to supply fluid thereto. A row of outlet passageways is also formed within the layers of the actuator component, with the outlet passageway row extending in the row direction. Each outlet passageway extends from a first end, which is fluidically connected to a respective one of the fluid chambers so as receive fluid therefrom, to a second end, to which it conveys fluid. THe actuator component further includes a number of conductive traces that extend in a plane having a normal in the layering direction and that are provided on one of the layers of the actuator component. The conductive traces provide at least part of the electrical connection between the actuating elements and drive circuitry. The droplet deposition head further includes one or more manifold components, in which there is provided an inlet manifold chamber and an outlet manifold chamber. The inlet manifold chamber extends from a first end, at which it receives fluid, to a second end, which is fluidically connected in parallel to substantially all of the inlet passageways in the row so as to supply fluid thereto and, thereby, to the row of fluid chambers. The outlet manifold chamber extends from a first end, which is fluidically connected in parallel to substantially all of the outlet passageways in the row so as to receive fluid therefrom and thereby from the row of fluid chambers, to a second end, to which it conveys fluid. Substantially all of the inlet and outlet passageways cross the plane in which the conductive traces extend, passing between the conductive traces.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

actuator component for a droplet deposition head made up of a number of patterned layers, each layer extending in a plane normal to a layering direction, with the layers being stacked one upon another in said layering direction. A row of fluid chambers is formed within the layers, with the row extending in a row direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the layering direction. Each fluid chamber is provided with a respective nozzle and a respective actuating element, which is actuable to cause the ejection of fluid from the chamber in question through the corresponding one of the nozzles. A row of inlet passageways is also formed within the layers of the actuator component, with the row extending in the row direction. Each inlet passageway is fluidically connected so as to supply fluid to a respective one of said fluid chambers. In some embodiments, either a row of outlet passageways or a second row of inlet passageways is additionally formed within the layers; in either case, such row extends in the row direction. Where outlet passageways are present, each is fluidically connected so as to receive fluid from a respective one of said fluid chambers. At least one of the rows of passageways is staggered, whereby at least some of the members of the staggered row in question are offset from their neighbours in an offset direction for the staggered row in question that is perpendicular to the row direction. The row of fluid chambers may also be staggered.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A drive circuit (100) for driving actuators of a printhead (97) from a common drive waveform has a switching circuit (32) for coupling the common drive waveform to an actuator (1,2), and a timing circuit (10) to control the switching circuit to form a drive pulse from the common drive waveform. The drive pulse is trimmed by controlling a duration (TTRIM) of a step at an intermediate level (VHOLD) in the drive pulse. This can improve the trade-off between available range of trimming and thermal efficiency because the voltage drop across the switching circuit can be reduced, compared to trimming only the height. Decoupling during a flat portion of the common drive waveform can enable the timing of the decoupling to be more relaxed compared to decoupling during a slope. Such relaxing can enable costs, complexity and thermal loading to be reduced.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide apparatus and methods to minimise or reduce the effects of actuator component (and therefore, nozzle array) misalignment. In particular, the present techniques provide an actuator component comprising at least one array of nozzles. In the or each array, the nozzles of the array are arranged in at least two portions: a first portion in which the nozzles in a row of the array are separated by a constant nozzle pitch, and a second portion in the nozzles in a row of the array are separated by a variable nozzle pitch.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/21 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre pour l'impression à plusieurs couleurs
• B41J 2/145 - Leur agencement

Abrégé

A test circuit to determine the capacitance of an actuator element in an actuator element array, wherein the test circuit comprises: a controller; a source to generate test inputs; measurement circuitry to measure one or more test values on a test path between the test circuit and the actuator element;wherein the controller is configured to, for a test period: control a first switch associated with the actuator element to connect the actuator element to the test path; control the source to generate a first test input; and determine a total capacitance of the actuator element from a first test value generated in response to the first test input; and determine the capacitance of the actuator element (CACT) from the total capacitance (CPAR + CACT).

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

Disclosed is a method of providing adjustment data for a droplet deposition head (such as a printhead), or a data processing component therefor. The method makes use of test data, which has been collected by operating the droplet deposition head (or a test droplet deposition head of substantially the same construction, e.g from the same batch), using a set of test waveforms, at a number of frequencies within a test range, and by recording the volume and velocity of the thus-ejected droplets, with these recorded values (volr, velr) being represented within the test data. Each of the set of test waveforms includes a basic drive waveform and a number of adjusted drive waveforms, each of which corresponds to the basic drive waveform, but with a particular waveform parameter adjusted by a corresponding amount. This waveform parameter is a continuous variable, such as pulse width or pulse amplitude. The method further includes, determining adjustment values corresponding to a number of adjustment frequencies, each adjustment vale corresponding to an amount of adjustment for the waveform parameter that, based on the test data, is expected to result in adjusted values for droplet volume and velocity of, respectively, vola and vela, which are substantially equal to targeted values for droplet volume and velocity, volT and velT. The method outputs adjustment data representing such adjustment values and their associated adjustment frequencies, for example in the form of values for a look-up-table. Also disclosed is a droplet deposition apparatus that includes a droplet deposition head with data storage having stored thereon a set of adjustment data. The head uses the adjustment data to actuate its actuator elements with a drive waveform that is based on a basic drive waveform, but with a particular waveform parameter being adjusted by an adjustment value, which is represented by the set of adjustment data and which is determined based on it being associated with the current operating frequency of the actuator element in question. The waveform parameter is again a continuous variable. The adjustment data enable the head to eject droplets at frequencies within an operating range for the head whose values for droplet volume and velocity are substantially equal to targeted values for droplet volume and velocity, volT and velT.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 29/393 - Dispositifs de commande ou d'analyse de l'ensemble de la machine

Abrégé

A circuit for a droplet deposition apparatus, the circuit configured to generate a drive waveform having a drive pulse, a first non-ejection pulse and a second non-ejection pulse, and wherein the first non-ejection pulse is inverted with respect to the second non-ejection pulse.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A piezoelectric thin film element (220) is provided comprising a first electrode (260), a piezoelectric layer (240) formed on said first electrode; and a second electrode (280) formed on said piezoelectric layer; wherein said piezoelectric layer is poled, by applying a poling electric field across said piezoelectric layer from said first electrode to said second electrode, wherein said second electrode is at a lower potential relative to said first electrode, to orient dipoles of said piezoelectric layer in a dipole direction from said first electrode to said second electrode, and wherein said first and second electrodes are configured such that said second electrode is at a lower potential relative to said first electrode when said piezoelectric thin film element is deformed in a deformation direction predominantly opposite to said dipole direction.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/09 - Eléments piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs à entrée électrique et sortie mécanique
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• H01L 41/257 - Traitement de dispositifs ou de leurs parties constitutives afin de modifier une propriété piézo-électrique ou électrostrictive, p.ex. les caractéristiques de polarisation, de vibration ou par réglage du mode par polarisation
• H01L 41/113 - Eléments piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs à entrée mécanique et sortie électrique

Abrégé

A droplet deposition head including a datum surface arrangement for alignment of the head relative to an external mounting component in either a vertical mounting mode in which the head is held against a vertical mounting plate or a horizontal mounting mode where the head is held against a horizontal mounting plate. The datum surface arrangement comprising at least seven datum surfaces (x1; y1, y2, y3; z1, z2, z3) provided on the head, wherein five of the seven datum surfaces are provided for alignment in both vertical and horizontal mounting modes, and wherein a sixth datum surface (z3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said horizontal mounting mode and a seventh datum surface (y3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said vertical mounting mode.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 25/34 - Têtes ou chariots d'impression remplaçables

Abrégé

There is disclosed a controller for controlling two or more groups of nozzles in an array, the controller configured to: encode data blocks into a data stream, wherein each data block denotes how a respective group of nozzles is to be controlled for a droplet period; encode fire codes into the data stream, wherein each fire code is a reserved code that denotes when a respective group of nozzles is to be controlled in accordance with the data block for the droplet period; and wherein the data block precedes the fire code for the respective group of nozzles in the data stream and wherein the fire codes are generated independently of the data blocks.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques

Abrégé

A method for the manufacture of a piezoelectric thin film element comprising a first electrode,a second electrode and one or more piezoelectric thin films there between which method comprises forming a piezoelectric thin film comprising PZT by a chemical solution deposition using three solutions wherein the forming of the PZT thin film comprises forming a bulk PZT thin film layer from the three solutions, wherein each solution has a Zr/Ti content which is different from that of any other solution and at least one solution has an excess lead content greater than that of any other solution, such that the bulk PZT thin film layer has a substantially uniform lead content and Zr/(Zr+Ti) ratio in its thickness direction.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques
• H01L 41/318 - Application de parties ou de corps piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs sur un élément électrique ou sur un autre support par dépôt de couches piézo-électriques ou électrostrictives, p.ex. par impression par aérosol ou par sérigraphie par dépôt en phase liquide par dépôt sol-gel

Abrégé

A piezoelectric thin film element comprising a first electrode, a second electrode and one or more piezoelectric thin films there between wherein the first electrode is a platinum metal electrode having an average grain size greater than 50 nm and wherein a piezoelectric thin film adjacent the platinum metal electrode comprises a laminate having a plurality of piezoelectric thin film layers wherein a piezoelectric thin film layer contacting the platinum metal electrode comprises lead zirconate titanate (PZT) of composition at or about PbZrxTi1-xO3 where 0 < x ≤ 0.60 and has a degree of pseudo cubic {100} orientation greater than or equal to 90%.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/187 - Compositions céramiques
• H01L 41/318 - Application de parties ou de corps piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs sur un élément électrique ou sur un autre support par dépôt de couches piézo-électriques ou électrostrictives, p.ex. par impression par aérosol ou par sérigraphie par dépôt en phase liquide par dépôt sol-gel
• H01L 41/08 - Eléments piézo-électriques ou électrostrictifs

Abrégé

A printhead circuit or driving at least two actuating elements has a trim generating circuit for generating a trim signal using a comparator coupled to receive and compare feedback indicative of a present level of a drive voltage, with a configurable reference voltage value. The trim being based on a drive voltage feedback can give a more direct indication of actuating element output than given by timing references. Hence the trim can be more accurate, can be simpler, without accurate digital timing references, and thus costs can be reduced. It can be combined with a cold switch arrangement.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• H03K 3/356 - Circuits bistables

Abrégé

A droplet deposition head includes: one or more manifold components, providing one or more fluid inlets, each of which is connectable to a fluid supply system so that the head can receive a corresponding droplet fluid; and two or more arrays of fluid chambers, each chamber being provided with a respective actuating element and a respective nozzle, each actuating element being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid in an ejection direction through the corresponding one of the nozzles, each array extending in an array direction. The head extends, in the ejection direction, from a first end, at which the one or more fluid inlets are located, to a second end, at which the arrays of fluid chambers are located. One or more branched inlet paths are provided within the manifold components over a first portion of their height in the ejection direction, each of the branched paths being fluidically connected so as to receive fluid at a main branch thereof from a respective one of the fluid inlets, branching at one or more branching points into two or more sub-branches, and culminating in a plurality of end sub-branches, to which fluid is conveyed. A plurality of widening inlet chambers is provided within the manifold components over a second portion of their height in the ejection direction, the width of each widening inlet chamber in the array direction increasing with distance in the ejection direction from a first end to a second end thereof, the first end being fluidically connected so as to receive fluid from one or more of the branched paths and the second end being fluidically connected so as to supply fluid to one or more of the arrays. Each of the branched inlet paths is fluidically connected so as to supply fluid to two or more of the widening inlet chambers. Also provided are manifold components, which include a plurality of layers, for a droplet deposition head.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure
• B41J 2/175 - Systèmes d'alimentation en encre

Abrégé

A droplet deposition head having a fluid chamber connected to a droplet ejection nozzle and to a reservoir for the fluid, and a piezoelectric actuator element formed at least in part by a fluid chamber wall having an electrode thereon, which element is displaceable in response to a drive voltage to generate a pressure in the chamber to eject a droplet of fluid from the chamber through the nozzle wherein the electrode is provided with a passivation coating which comprises, at least in part, a laminate comprising an inorganic insulating layer nearest to or contacting the electrode and an organic insulating layer overlying the inorganic insulating layer wherein defects in the insulating layers tend to be misaligned at the interface there between and wherein the inorganic insulating layer has thickness less than or equal to 500 nm and the organic insulating layer has a thickness less than 3 μιη.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques
• B41J 2/16 - Fabrication d'ajutages
• B41J 2/14 - Leur structure

Abrégé

A print head circuit for providing pulses for driving two or more actuating elements, the circuit comprising a cold switch drive circuit, for driving an actuating element for a first phase of a first pulse, the cold switch drive circuit having a cold drive switch for selectively coupling a drive waveform to the actuating element during the first phase according to a print signal; and a hot switch drive circuit, for driving the actuating element for a second phase of the first pulse, wherein the hot switch drive circuit is configured to drive the actuating element during the second phase according to an actuating element compensation indication signal.

Classes IPC  ?

• B41J 2/045 - Machines à écrire ou mécanismes d'impression sélective caractérisés par le procédé d'impression ou de marquage pour lequel ils sont conçus caractérisés par la mise en contact sélective d'un liquide ou de particules avec un matériau d'impression à jet d'encre caractérisés par le procédé de formation du jet en produisant à la demande des gouttelettes ou des particules séparées les unes des autres par pression, p. ex. à l'aide de transducteurs électromécaniques