Patent US4459599A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4459599A
Expired / Lapsed
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Drive circuit for a drop-on-demand ink jet printer
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1982-07-29
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Granted: 1984-07-10
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Expires: 2002-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A drive circuit for a drop-on-demand ink jet printer utilizes the inherent capacitance of the driver electromechanical transducer to store at least a portion of the voltage required for droplet ejection. The drive circuit includes circuitry for sensing and terminating, for example, rapid discharge of the electrical potential difference across the electromechanical transducer during jet firing.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald L. Ort
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:11
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/04; B41J2/045; B41J2/04501; B41J2/04541; B41J2/04581; B41J2/04588; B41J2/04596
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A drop-on-demand ink jet ejector which comprises: (a) an ink chamber; (b) means for supplying ink to said ink chamber; (c) an exit orifice in said ink chamber; (d) an electromechanical transducer provided in operating relationship to ink contained in said ink chamber; (e) drive circuit means for applying an electrical potential difference across said electromechanical transducer to maintain said electromechanical transducer in an "off" condition; (f) said drive circuit means including means for rapidly altering said electrical potential difference from said "off" condition in response to drive pulses to eject ink droplets from said exit orifice; (g) said drive circuit means including sensor means for sensing said electrical potential difference and means for terminating said alteration of said electrical potential difference at a predetermined electrical potential difference; and (h) said drive circuit means further including restore means for applying a restore pulse to said electromechanical transducer to return said electrical potential difference across said electromechanical transducer to said "off" condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A drop-on-demand ink jet ejector which comprises: (a) an ink chamber; (b) means for supplying ink to said ink chamber; (c) an exit orifice in said ink chamber; (d) an electromechanical transducer provided in operating relationship to ink contained in said ink chamber; (e) drive circuit means for applying an electrical potential difference across said electromechanical transducer to maintain said electromechanical transducer in an "off" condition; (f) said drive circuit means including means for rapidly altering said electrical potential difference from said "off" condition in response to drive pulses to eject ink droplets from said exit orifice; (g) said drive circuit means including sensor means for sensing said electrical potential difference and means for terminating said alteration of said electrical potential difference at a predetermined electrical potential difference; and (h) said drive circuit means further including restore means for applying a restore pulse to said electromechanical transducer to return said electrical potential difference across said electromechanical transducer to said "off" condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ink ejector of claim 1 wherein said drive circuit means further includes means to provide a dither pulse to said electromechanical transducer to perturbate the meniscus of ink in said ink chamber exit orifice.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ink ejector of claim 1 wherein said drive circuit means further includes a rise time control resistor and a fall time control resistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink ejector of claim 1 wherein said drive circuit means further includes a discharge limiting resistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink ejector of claim 1 wherein said drive circuit means further includes feedback gain means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink ejector of claim 1 wherein said drive circuit means further includes over voltage protection means for the drive circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
171 words
An ink jet ejector array comprising a plurality of ink jet ejectors, each of said ejectors comprising: (a) an ink chamber; (b) means for supplying ink to said ink chamber; (c) an exit orifice in said ink chamber; (d) an electromechanical transducer provided in operating relationship to ink contained in said ink chamber; (e) drive circuit means for applying an electrical potential difference across said electromechanical transducer to maintain said electromechanical transducer in an "off" condition; (f) said drive circuit means including means for rapidly altering said electrical potential difference from said "off" condition in response to drive pulses to eject ink droplets from said exit orifice; (g) said drive circuit means including sensor means for sensing said electrical potential difference and means for terminating said alteration of said electrical potential difference at a predetermined electrical potential difference; and (h) said drive circuit means further including restore means for applying a restore pulse to said electromechanical transducer to return said electrical potential difference across said electromechanical transducer to said "off" condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
171 words
An ink jet ejector array comprising a plurality of ink jet ejectors, each of said ejectors comprising: (a) an ink chamber; (b) means for supplying ink to said ink chamber; (c) an exit orifice in said ink chamber; (d) an electromechanical transducer provided in operating relationship to ink contained in said ink chamber; (e) drive circuit means for applying an electrical potential difference across said electromechanical transducer to maintain said electromechanical transducer in an "off" condition; (f) said drive circuit means including means for rapidly altering said electrical potential difference from said "off" condition in response to drive pulses to eject ink droplets from said exit orifice; (g) said drive circuit means including sensor means for sensing said electrical potential difference and means for terminating said alteration of said electrical potential difference at a predetermined electrical potential difference; and (h) said drive circuit means further including restore means for applying a restore pulse to said electromechanical transducer to return said electrical potential difference across said electromechanical transducer to said "off" condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ink jet ejector array of claim 7 wherein at least two of said ejectors are connected to a common source of electrical potential.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ink jet ejector array of claim 7 wherein at least two of said drive circuit means include means to provide a dither pulse to said electromechanical transducer, and wherein said dither pulses are provided by a common source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink jet ejector array of claim 7 wherein at least two of said restore pulses are provided by a common source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-10 | 1988-01-09 | 1988-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-10 | 1992-01-09 | 1992-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-10 | 1996-01-09 | 1996-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |