This patent describes a method of manufacturing a paddle type ink jet print head wherein an array of nozzles are formed on a substrate utilizing planar monolithic deposition, lithographic and etching processes. Multiple ink jet heads are formed simultaneously on a single planar substrate such as a silicon wafer. The print heads can be formed utilizing standard VLSI/ULSI processing and can include integrated drive electronics formed on the same substrate. The drive electronics preferably are of a...

A thermal actuator comprising a first conductive material encased in a second non-conductive expansive material wherein said first conductive material is constructed in the form of a corrugated heater element so as to increase the rate of thermal transfer to said second non-conductive expansive material.

This patent describes a method of manufacturing a thermoelastic rotary impeller ink jet print head wherein an array of nozzles are formed on a substrate utilizing planar monolithic deposition, lithographic and etching processes. Multiple ink jet heads are formed simultaneously on a single planar substrate such as a silicon wafer. The print heads can be formed utilizing standard VLSI/ULSI processing and can include integrated drive electronics formed on the same substrate. The drive electronics p...

An improved form of thermal actuator suitable for use in a MEMS device. The actuator includes a first material such as polytetrafluoroethylene having a high coefficient of thermal expansion and a serpentine heater material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion in thermal contact with the first material and heating the first material on demand. The serpentine heater material is elongated upon heating so as to accommodate the expansion of the first material.

A micromechanical actuator having the ability to move in two directions. The actuator can be manufactured in planar arrays using semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The planar array of actuators can be used as a microcillia array. The actuators are formed from two layers of electrically resistive material which are used to heat a non-conductive material which has a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The pattern of resistive material in the two layers is arranged such that the actuator can...

A mesh of quantum wires is utilized in a non-conductive material to improve its conductivity. The non-conductive material can be highly expansive interposed in the mesh. The expansive material is ideally polytetrafluoroethylene which has a high coefficient of thermal expansion and the wires can comprise carbon nanotubes.

This patent describes an ink jet printer where ink is ejected from a nozzle chamber by means of the utilisation of the electrostatic attraction between two parallel plates. An electrostatic actuator includes a first planar electrode formed within a bottom and a moveable second planar electrode arranged above the first planar electrode. The second planar electrode is moveable to a pre-firing position adjacent to the first planar electrode, thereby causing a corrugated border portion of the second...

An ink jet printing nozzle arrangement is disclosed including an ink chamber having an ink ejection nozzle in one wall thereof for the ejection of ink from the ink chamber; a moveable paddle vane located within the ink chamber; an actuator means adapted to move the paddle vane so as to cause ink within the ink chamber to be ejected from the ink ejection nozzle; wherein the paddle vane includes a concave surface in the area adjacent the ink ejection nozzle. Preferably, the paddle vane includes a ...

An ink jet nozzle arrangement includes a magnetic actuator that is located between a nozzle chamber and an ink supply reservoir and is actuated by externally supplied magnetic pulse cycles to eject ink. Each nozzle further includes a blocking mechanism for blocking movement of the magnetic actuator of those nozzles from which ink is not to be ejected during one of magnetic pulse cycles.

A portable printer for printing out small, typically business card size, sheets using a pagewidth inkjet printhead. At one end of the printer there is provided a PCMCIA plug for interconnection with a PC card slot. In one form of the invention, the entire printer and paper supply cartridge are approximately the size of a PCMCIA type III card.