AU2005202931B2

AU2005202931B2 - Camera including printhead and guillotine mechanism

Info

Publication number: AU2005202931B2
Application number: AU2005202931A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kia Silverbrook
Original assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Google LLC
Priority date: 1997-07-15
Filing date: 2005-07-04
Publication date: 2006-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-15
Also published as: AU2005202931A1

Description

I CAMERA INCLUDING PRINTHEAD AND GUILLOTINE MECHANISM Field of the Invention The present relates substantially to the concept of a disposable camera having instant printing capabilities and in particular, discloses A Low Cost Disposable Camera System.

Backaround of the Invention O Recently, the concept of a "single use" disposable camera has become and increasingly popular consumer item.

SDisposable camera systems presently on the market normally include an internal film roll and a simplified gearing 10 mechanism for traversing the film roll across an imaging system including a shutter and lensing system. The user, after Sutilising a single film roll returns the camera system to a film development centre for processing. The film roll is taken 0 out of the camera system and processed and the prints returned to the user. The camera system is then able to be remanufactured through the insertion of a new film roll into the camera system, the replacement of any worn or wearable parts and the re-packaging of the camera system in accordance with requirements. In this way, the concept of a single use "disposable" camera is provided to the consumer.

Recently, a camera system has been proposed by the present applicant which provides for a handheld camera device having an internal print head, image sensor and processing means such that images sense by the image sensing means, are processed by the processing means and adapted to be instantly printed out by the printing means on demand.

The proposed camera system further discloses a system of internal "print rolls" carrying print media such as film on to which images are to be printed in addition to ink to supplying the printing means for the printing process. The print roll is further disclosed to be detachable and replaceable within the camera system.

Unfortunately, such a system is likely to only be constructed at a substantial cost and it would be desirable to provide for a more inexpensive form of instant camera system which maintains a substantial number of the quality aspects of the aforementioned arrangement.

In particular, in any "disposable camera" it would be desirable to provide for a simple and rapid form of replenishment of the consumable portions in any disposable camera so that the disposable camera can be readily and rapidly serviced by replenishment and return to the market place.

It would be further desirable to provide for a simple means of storage of replenishable portions of a disposable camera system to allow for their rapid replenishment.

It would be further desirable to provide, in such a camera system, an ink cartridge for the storage of inks to be utilized in the printing out of images.

It would be desirable to provide for an extremely low cost camera system having as great quality as possible. In this respect, the camera system, as previously proposed should include mechanisms for sensing and processing sensed images in addition to mechanisms for printing out the images on the print media via a printhead system. It would be further desirable to provide for a system having a convenient and compact arrangement of components such that they can be inexpensively manufactured in an inexpensive manner so as to allow for the readily disposable form of printing.

In any form of disposable camera arrangement, there will be the attraction for clone manufacturers to attempt to copy the process of refurbishing a used camera so as to derive profit from the refurbishment process. Unfortunately, such refurbishment may cause untold damage to the camera in particular in use of inappropriate inks and print media within the camera. The inappropriate use of such material may result in an inferior quality product, especially where the refurbishment is done by a counterfeiter wishing to pass off their product as being one of the "originals". In this respect, the damage to the camera may be permanent, resulting in an inferior product where the consumer will readily blame the manufacturer for the production of such an inferior product even though it may not be the manufacturer's fault.

IR53-AU It would therefore be desirable to provide for a camera and refilling processing system which alleviates these problems thereby providing the consumers with a better quality product and a higher level of quality assurance.

SIn the field of photography, three important effects are of great relevance. The first is the distinction between colour and black an white. A significant portion of photography now utilises colour, however a non-insignificant portion O 5 of photography still is steeped in the field of black and white photography. Additionally, sepia tones have been generally utilised in traditional camera photography and are still highly popular for the production of traditional looking camera photographs especially with wedding photos or the like. It would therefore be desirable to be able to readily provide for the selection between these multiple different types of outputs such that a user can readily utilise any of the different output formats.

C 10 Further, it is desirable to provide as versatile a one time use camera system as possible so that it can produce a Ssubstantially number of different specialised effects instantly on demand.

Unfortunately, on a disposable camera, it is desirable to provide as low a degree of functional complexity as possible in addition to minimising power requirements. In this respect, it is necessary to dispense with as much of the user interface complexity as possible in addition to providing for efficient operation.

It would be further advantageous to provide for the effective interconnection of the sub components of a camera system.

It would be advantageous to provide for a camera system having an effective color correction or gamut remapping capabilities.

It would be further advantageous to provide for the effective interconnection of the sub components of a camera system and for the effective driving of moveable parts within the camera system.

Further, as it is proposed utilising such a re-capping mechanism in a disposable handheld camera system, it will be desirable to provide for an extremely inexpensive form of recapping mechanism that can be utilised in an inexpensive disposable camera.

It would be further desirable to provide for a simplified form of automated picture counting in a disposable camera system.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide for the efficient and effective one time use disposable camera system.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handheld camera system comprising: a core chassis; an ink cartridge unit including an ink supply and print head unit, the ink cartridge unit being mounted on the chassis; a roll of print media rotatably mounted between end portions of the chassis, the print head unit being adapted to print on the print media; a platten unit including mounted below the print head unit; image sensor and control circuitry IR53-AU interconnected to the print head unit and adapted to sense an image for printing by the print head unit; an outer casing for enclosing the chassis, ink cartridge unit, the print media, the platten unit and the circuitry.

Preferably, the camera system further comprises a cutting unit adapted to traverse the print media so as to separate the print media into separate images. The cutting unit can be mounted on the platten unit and the platten unit can further include a print head recapping unit for capping the print head when not in use.

The camera system can further comprise a series of pinch rollers for decurling the print media.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided in a camera system comprising an image sensor device for sensing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media; a print head for printing the sensed image on the print media stored C1 10 internally to the camera system; a portable power supply interconnected to the print head, the sensor and the processing means, a method of providing for the effective storage of the print media and the power supply comprising storing the power supply in a centrally located cavity inside a roll of the print media.

r~l Preferably, the print media and the power supply are stored in a detachable module which is detachable from the camera system. The print media can be adapted to rotate around the power supply when the camera system is printing the sensed image on the print media. The portable power supply can comprise at least on e battery and preferably comprises two standard batteries placed end to end. The batteries can be AA type batteries.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print head ink supply unit for supplying a pagewidth print head for the ejection of ink by the print head having a first surface having a plurality of holes for the supply of ink to a series of ejection nozzles, the print head supply unit comprising a plurality of long columnar chambers for storing an ink supply, one for each output color, the chambers running substantially the length of the printhead adjacent the first surface thereof; and a series of tapered separators separating the chambers from on another, the tapered separators being tapered into an end strip running along the first surface along substantially the length of the printhead.

The unit can further include a series of regularly spaced structural support members for supporting the tapered separators in a predetermined relationship to one another. The tapered separators can be formed in a single ejection moided unit with a wall of the unit abutting the printhead. The tapered separators taper to substantially abut a slot in the wall of the unit, the slot being adapted for the insertion of the print head. The unit can be constructed from two plastic injection moulded portions welded together.

The long columnar chambers can be filled with a sponge like material to aid usage. Preferably, the print head outputs at least three separate colors for the provision of full color output images.

The unit can include a series of air channels communication of each of the chambers with an external ambient atmosphere, the air channels having an erratic wandering path from an end communicating with the chamber to an end connecting the ambient atmosphere. The channel also preferably contains hydrophobic surfaces to prevent ink flow therein. The channel can be manufactured in the form of a channel having an exposed surface which is subsequently sealed by means of an adhesive surface being attached to the unit.

Each chamber can further include an aperture defined in a wall therein for the insertion of a refill needle for refilling the chamber with ink.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print head ink supply unit wherein one a portion of the unit includes a series of air channels defined therein for communication of each of the chambers with an external ambient atmosphere, the air channels having an erratic wandering path from an end communicating with the chamber to an end connecting the ambient atmosphere.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera system comprising an image sensor and processing device for sensing and processing an image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media; a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored internally to the camera system; I R53-AU

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the image sensor and processing device comprising a single integrated circuit chip including the following interconnected components: a processing unit for controlling the operation of the camera system; a program ROM utilised by the processing unit, a CMOS active pixel image sensor for sensing the image; a memory store for storing images and associated program data; a series of motor drive units each including motor drive transistors for the driving of external mechanical system of the camera system; and print head interface unit for driving the print head for printing of the sensed image.

SPreferably, the motor drive transistors are located along one peripheral edge of the integrated circuit and the CMOS pixel image sensor is located along an opposite edge of the integrated circuit.

(-i SPreferably, the image sensor and processing device further include a halftoning unit for halftoning the sensed image into corresponding bi-level pixel elements for printing out by the print head. The halftoning unit can implement a dither operation and includes a halftone matrix ROM utilised by the halftoning unit in performing the halftoning operation.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for authentication of the refill of a camera system having an internal ink supply and print media for the printing out of images sensed by the camera system, the system comprising: refill means for providing a supply of the ink and print media to the camera system; communication connection means within the camera system adapted to interconnect with a corresponding communication connection means within the refill station; a camera system interrogation means stored internally to the camera system and adapted to utilise the communication connection means to interrogate the refill station so as to determine the authenticity there of.

The camera system interrogation means can be created on a silicon chip integrated circuit stored within the camera system, with the camera system interrogation means being created on the same silicon chip as an image sensor for sensing images by the camera system. The communication connection means can be a JTAG interface of the chip.

Preferably, the camera system interrogation means includes a sensitive memory value store such as a flash memory store fabricated with a conductive metal plane covering the sensitive memory value store.

Upon a determination of the authenticity of the refill station, the camera system interrogation means can reset the value of a print counter indicating the number of prints left for output by the camera system.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handheld camera system comprising an image sensor device for sensing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a storage means for storing images and programs for utilisation by the processor means; a print media stored internally to the camera system; a print head for printing the sensed image on the print media; an alterable switch for storing a current state of output types of the camera system; a switch interconnected to the processing means and having a number of predetermined states and the processing means adapted to monitor the switch state and process the sensed image in accordance with the switch state to cause the print head to output a corresponding modified image in accordance with the switch state.

Preferably, the processing means is adapted to output at least two images from the group of: digitally enhanced standard color images, sepia color images, black and white images, black and white images with minor color additions, multi-passport photograph images, sketch simulated images, bordered images, panoramic images, images with additional clip arts, kaleidoscope effect images, or color modified images.

The processing means and the switch can be created on a single integrated circuit device, the device being programmable by an external device with the switch being externally programmable. The camera system can also comprise a detachable jacket having printed information on the surface thereof indicative of the type of effect.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided in a camera system comprising an image sensor device for sensing and storing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media; a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored IR53-AU I cinternally to the camera system; a first button and second button each interconnected to the processing means; a method of operation of the camera system comprising utilising the first button to activate the image sensor device to sense an image; Sand utilising the second button to activate the print head to print out a copy of the image on the print head.

Preferably, the utilisation of the first button also results in the results in the printing out of the sensed image on O 5 the print media using the print head. The camera system can further include an activation indicator such as a light emitting diode and the method can further comprise the steps of activating the activation indicator for a predetermined time interval when the image sensor is initially activated; storing the sensed image for at least the predetermined time Sinterval; deactivating the activation indicator after the predetermined time interval; and deactivating the sensor device after the predetermined time interval. Further, the predetermined interval can be extended if the second button is c-1 10 activated.

SIn accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided in a camera system comprising: an image sensor device for sensingan image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media for printing of images; a page width print head moulding including a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored internally in the print media supply means in addition to a series of ink supply chambers for the storage of ink; a portable power supply interconnected to the print head, the sensor and the processing means; a method of positioning the image sensor device within the camera comprising affixing the image sensor device to a surface of the print head moulding.

Preferably, the print head is of a long strip form having a tape automated bonded interconnect along at least one strip edge thereof and the image sensor device comprises a planar integrated circuit of substantially rectangular dimensions having a further tape automated bonded interconnect along at least one edge thereof and the planar integrated circuit and the print head being interconnected to one another.

Further, preferably, the processing means is incorporated onto the planar integrated circuit and includes a print head controller means for controlling the operation of the print head.

The interconnect can comprise a series of wires in embedded in a non-conductive flexible sheet, the sheet being generally of a rectangular form with the print head being interconnected along one surface thereof and theplanar integrated circuit being mounted within an aperture in the sheet.

Further, the camera system further includes a series of control buttons, the control buttons further being mounted on the flexible sheet.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided in a camera system including: an image sensor device for sensing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; and a printing system for printing out the sensed image; a method of color correcting a sensed image to be printed out by the print head, comprising: utilising the image sensor device to sense a first image; processing the first image to determine color characteristics of a first sensed image; utilising the image sensor device to sense a second image, in rapid succession to the first image; applying color correction methods to the second image based on the determined color characteristics of the first sensed image; and printing out the second image.

Preferable, the second sensed image is sensed within 1 second of the first sensed image and the processing step includes examining the intensity characteristics of the first image. The processing step can include determining a maximum and minimum intensity of the first image and utilising the intensities to rescale the intensities of the second image.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera system comprising: an image sensor device for sensing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of a roll of print media for printing of images; a page width print head moulding including a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored internally in the print media supply means in addition to a series of ink supply chambers for the storage of ink; a portable power supply interconnected to the print head, the sensor IR53-AU and the processing means; a cutting mechanism for cutting portions of print media containing images; a first drive motor adapted to drive the paper media supply means for moving the paper media past the print head; and a second drive motor adapted to drive the cutting mechanism for cutting the portions.

Preferably, each of the drive motors includes a gear chain mechanism for driving corresponding mechanisms in a geared manner. The first drive motor can comprise a stepper motor which is preferably operated in a mutually exclusive manner with the print head.

Further, each of the drive motors can be driven in a forward and reverse manner during normal operation of the camera system.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera system comprising: an C1 10 image sensor device for sensing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of a roll of print media for the printing of images; a page width print head molding including a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored internally in the print media supply means in r~l addition to a series of ink supply chambers for the storage of ink for utilisation by the print head; a series of print rollers interconnected in the path between the print media supply means and the page width print head molding for pinching the paper and driving the paper past the print head.

Preferably, the number of print rollers is at least 3 and the print rollers apply a decurling twist to the print media.

The print rollers are snap fitted to the camera system. Two of the print roller can be mounted on a first chassis which to which the print head molding is also mounted and a third one of the print rollers is mounted on a detachable platten device. The third print roller can be inserted between the other two of the print rollers and the platten snap fitted to the chassis In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided in a camera system comprising: an image sensor device for sensing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means for the supply of print media to a print head; a print head for printing the sensed image on the print media stored internally to the camera system; a portable power supply interconnected to the print head, the sensor and the processing means; and a guillotine mechanism located between the print media supply means and the print head and adapted to cut the print media into sheets of a predetermined size.

Further, preferably, the guillotine mechanism is detachable from the camera system. The guillotine mechanism can be attached to the print media supply means and is detachable from the camera system with the print media supply means. The guillotine mechanism can be mounted on a platten unit below the print head.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print head recapping mechanism for recapping a pagewidth ink jetting print head structure, comprising a first stationary ferrous arm; a solenoid coil wrapped around a portion of the ferrous arm; a second moveable arm located substantially adjacent the first arm and biased towards the printhead structure; a series of membranes attached to the second moveable arm the membranes sealing the print head structure when in a rest portion; the solenoid being activated to cause the moveable arm to move away from the surface of the print head structure sufficient to allow a "paper or film" to be inserted between the membranes and the print head structure for the printing of ink thereon.

Preferably, the membranes are resiliently collapsible against the surface of the print head structure. The membranes can comprise two mutually opposed elastomer strips running substantially the length of the ink jetting portions of the print head structure so as to surround the ink jetting portions.

The solenoid can include an elongated winding of a current carrying wire which is wrapped around a protruding portion of the first arm, the elongation being substantially the length of the print head structure. Further, the second movable arm is biased against the surface of the print head structure. The solenoid can be activated to move the second arm closely adjacent the first arm with a first level of current and the solenoid is retained whilst printing closely adjacent the first arm with a second substantially lower level of current.

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c The present invention has particular application in a hand held camera device.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable camera system comprising an image sensor device for sensing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media in a roll form; a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored internally to the camera system; and a cutter mechanism for cutting the printed sensed images comprising a worm screw extending the length of the printed sensed image; and a worm gear attached to the worm screw Sand adapted to be driven the length of the printed sensed image, the worm gear including a cutting blade for cutting the C print media into separated sheets; The cutting blade can comprise a rotatable wheel having a sharpened outer edge and the cogged wheel can have 4 10 a series of usage indicators printed on one surface thereof and the worm gear can include a lever arm wherein the traversal Sof the worm gear along the length of the printed sensed image results in the engagement of the lever arm with the cogged 21 wheel print indicator so as to rotate the cogged wheel print indicator so that it maintains a current indication of the number of images printed out on the print media.

The camera can further comprise a pawl mechanism which interacts with the coggs of the cogged wheel print indicator in the form of a rachet and pawl mechanism and the lever arm can include a flexible portion for engagement with the cogged wheel print indicator.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided in an integrated circuit type device comprising timing means able to produce a variable period clock signal, the variation being proportional to an input signal; storage means for storing a value for the input signal for input to the timing means; a method comprising the steps of: testing the timing means after the fabrication of the integrated circuit type device to determine a current timing parameter value for rescaling the timing means so as to produce a clock output pulse having a period within a predetermined range.

The clocking signal can be utilised to determine a pulse length with which to drive an actuator of an inkjet printing type device. Ideally, the device is utilised in a print on demand camera system and the timing means provides the clocking signal for the device and the storage means comprises a flash memory circuit on the device.

Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrated a side front perspective view of the assemble camera of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 2 illustrates a back side perspective view, partly exploded, of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 3 is a side perspective view of the chassis of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 4 is a side perspective view of the chassis illustrating the insertion of the electric motors; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective of the ink supply mechanism of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 6 is a side perspective of the assembled form of the ink supply mechanism of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of the assembled form of the ink supply mechanism of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective of the platten unit of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 9 is a side perspective view of the assembled form of the platten unit; Fig. 10 is also a perspective view of the assembled form of the platten unit; Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective unit of the printhead recapping mechanism of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 12 is a close up exploded perspective of the recapping mechanism of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective of the ink supply cartridge of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 14 is a close up perspective partly in section of the internal portions of the ink supply cartridge in an assembled form; IR53-AU I Fig. 15 is a schematic block diagram of one form of chip layer of the image capture and processing chip of the preferred embodiment; SFig. 16 is an exploded perspective illustrating the assembly process of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 17 illustrates a front exploded perspective view of the assembly process of the preferred embodiment; O 5 Fig. 18 illustrates a side perspective view of the assembly process of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 19 illustrates a side perspective view of the assembly process of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the insertion of the platten unit in the preferred embodiment; O Fig. 21 illustrates the interconnection of the electrical components of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 22 illustrates the process of assembling the preferred embodiment; and c, 10 Fig. 23 is a perspective view further illustrating the assembly process of the preferred embodiment.

Description of Preferred and Other Embodiments Turning initially simultaneously to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 there is illustrated perspective views of an assembled camera constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment with Fig. 1 showing a front side perspective view and Fig. 2 showing a back side perspective view. The camera 1 includes a paper or plastic film jacket 2 which can include simplified instructions 3 for the operation of the camera system 1. The camera system 1 includes a first "take" button 4 which is depressed to capture an image. The captured image is output via output slot 6. A further copy of the image can be obtained through depressing a second "printer copy" button 7 whilst an LED light 5 is illuminated. The camera system also provides the usual view finder 8 in addition to a CCD image capture/lensing system 9.

The camera system 1 provides for a standard number of output prints after which the camera system 1 ceases to function. A prints left indicator slot 10 is provided to indicate the number of remaining prints. A refund scheme at the point of purchase is assumed to be operational for the return of used camera systems for recycling.

Turning now to Fig. 3, the assembly of the camera system is based around an internal chassis 12 which can be aplastic injection molded part. A pair of paper pinch rollers 28, 29 utilised for decurling are snap fitted into corresponding frame holes eg. 26, 27.

As shown in Fig. 4 the chassis 12 includes a series of mutually opposed prongs eg.13, 14 into which is snapped fitted a series of electric motors 16, 17. The electric motors 16, 17 can be entirely standard with the motor 16 being of a stepper motor type and include a cogged end portion 19, 20 for driving a series of gear wells. A first set of gear wells is provided for controlling a paper cutter mechanism and a second set is provided for controlling print roll movement.

Turning next to Figs. 5 to 7, there is illustrated an ink supply mechanism 40 utilised in the camera system. Fig.

5 illustrates a back exploded perspective view, Fig. 6 illustrates a back assembled view and Fig. 7 illustrates a front assembled view. The ink supply mechanism 40 is based around an ink supply cartridge 42 which contains printer ink and a print head mechanism for printing out pictures on demand. The ink supply cartridge 42 includes a side aluminium strip 43 which is provided as a shear strip to assist in cutting images from a pater roll.

A dial mechanism 44 is provided for indicating the number of"prints left". The dial mechanism 44 is snap fitted through a corresponding mating portion 46 so as to be freely rotatable.

As shown in Fig. 6, the print head includes a flexible PCB strip 47 which interconnects with the print head and provides for control of the print head. The interconnection between the Flex PCB strip and an image sensor and print head chip can be via Tape Automated Bonding (TAB) Strips 51, 58. A moulded aspherical lens and aperture shim 50 (Fig. 5) is also provided for imaging an image onto the surface of the image sensor chip normally located within cavity 53 and a light box module or hood 52 is provided for snap fitting over the cavity 53 so as to provide for proper light control. A series of decoupling capacitors eg. 34 can also be provided. Further a plug 45 (Fig. 7) is provided for re-plugging ink holes after refilling. A series of guide prongs eg. 55-57 are further provided for guiding the flexible PCB strip 47.

The ink supply mechanism 40 interacts with a platten unit which guides print media under a printhead located in the ink supply mechanism. Fig. 8 shows an exploded view of the platten unit 60, while Figs. 9 and 10 show assembled IR53-AU

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(N2 views of the platten unit. The platten unit 60 includes a first pinch roller 61 which is snap fitted to one side of a platten base 62. Attached to a second side of the platten base 62 is a cutting mechanism 63 which traverses the platten by means Sof a rod 64 having a screwed thread which is rotated by means of cogged wheel 65 which is also fitted to the platten 62.

The screwed thread engages a block 67 which includes a cutting wheel 68 fastened via a fastener 69. Also mounted to the block 67 is a counter actuator which includes a prong 71. The prong 71 acts to rotate the dial mechanism 44 of Fig. 6 upon the return traversal of the cutting wheel. As shown previously in Fig. 6, the dial mechanism 44 includes a cogged surface which interacts with pawl lever 73, thereby maintaining a count of the number of photographs taken on the surface E of dial mechanism 44. The cutting mechanism 63 is inserted into the platten base 62 by means of a snap fit via receptacle (-i eg. 74.

c, 10 The platten 62 includes an internal recapping mechanism 80 for recapping the print head when not in use. The recapping mechanism 80 includes a sponge portion 81 and is operated via a solenoid coil so as to provide for recapping of Sthe print head. In the preferred embodiment, there is provided an inexpensive form of printhead recapping mechanism provided for incorporation into a handheld camera system so as to provide for printhead recapping of an inkjet printhead.

Fig. 11 illustrates an exploded view of the recapping mechanism whilst Fig. 12 illustrates a close up of the end portion thereof. The re-capping mechanism 90 is structured around a solenoid including a 16 turn coil 75 which can comprise insulated wire. The coil 75 is turned around a first stationery solenoid arm 76 which is mounted on a bottom surface of the pattern 62 (Fig. 8) and includes a post portion 77 to magnify effectiveness of operation. The arm 76 can comprise a ferrous material.

A second moveable arm of the solenoid actuator is also provided 78. The armnn 78 being moveable and also made of ferrous material. Mounted on the arm is a sponge portion surrounded by an elastomer strip 79. The elastomer strip 79 is of a generally arcuate cross-section and act as a leaf springs against the surface of the printhead ink supply cartridge 42 (Fig. 5) so as to provide for a seal against the surface of the printhead ink supply cartridge 42. In the quiescent position a elastomer spring units 87, 88 act to resiliently deform the elastomer seal 79 against the surface of the ink supply unit 42.

When it is desired to operate the printhead unit, upon the insertion of paper, the solenoid coil 75 is activated so as to cause the arm 78 to move down to be adjacent to the end plate 76. The arm 78 is held against end plate 76 while the printhead is printing by means of a small "keeper current" in coil 77. Simulation results indicate that the keeper current can be significantly less than the actuation current. Subsequently, after photo printing, the paper is guillotined by the cutting mechanism 63 of Fig. 8 acting against Aluminium Strip 43 of Fig. 5, and rewound so as to clear the area of the recapping mechanism 88. Subsequently, the current is turned off and springs 87, 88 return the arm 78 so that the elastomer seal is again resting against the printhead ink supply cartridge.

It can be seen that the preferred embodiment provides for a simple and inexpensive means of re-capping a printhead through the utilisation of a solenoid type device having a long rectangular form. Further, the preferred embodiment utilises minimal power in that currents are only required whilst the device is operational and additionally, only a low keeper current is required whilst the printhead is printing.

Turning next to Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, Fig. 13 illustrates an exploded perspective of the ink supply cartridge 42 whilst Fig. 14 illustrates a close up sectional view of a bottom of the ink supply cartridge with the printhead unit in place.

The ink supply cartridge 42 is based around a pagewidth printhead 102 which comprises a long slither of silicon having a series of holes etched on the back surface for the supply of ink to a front surface of the silicon wafer for subsequent ejection via a micro electro mechanical system. The form of ejection can be many different forms such as those set out in the relevant provisional patent specifications of the attached appendix. In particular, the ink jet printing system set out in the provisional patent specification entitled "An Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ38)" filed concurrently herewith is highly suitable. Of Course, many other inkjet technologies, as referred to the attached appendix, can also be utilised when constructing a printhead unit 102. The fundamental requirement of the ink supply cartridge 42 being the supply of ink to a series of colour channels etched through the back surface of the printhead 102. In the description of the IR53-AU

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preferred embodiment, it is assumed that a three colour printing process is to be utilised so as to provide full colour picture output. Hence, the print supply unit 42 includes three ink supply reservoirs being a cyan reservoir 104, a magenta reservoir 105 and a yellow reservoir 106. Each of these reservoirs is required to store ink and includes a corresponding sponge type material 107 109 which assists in stabilising ink within the corresponding ink channel and therefore preventing the ink from sloshing back and forth when the printhead is utilised in a handheld camera system. The reservoirs 104, 105, 106 are formed through the mating of first exterior plastic piece 110 mating with the second base piece 111.

At first end of the base piece 11 includes a series of air inlet 113 115. The air inlet leads to a corresponding winding channel which is hydrophobically treated so as to act as an ink repellent and therefore repel any ink that may flow along the air inlet channel. The air inlet channel further takes a convoluted path further assisting in resisting any ink flow out of the chambers 104 -106. An adhesive tape portion 117 is provided for sealing the channels within end portion 118.

At the top end, there is included a series of refill holes for refilling corresponding ink supply chambers 104, 105, 106. A plug 121 is provided for sealing the refill holes.

Turning now to Fig. 14, there is illustrated a close up perspective view, partly in section through the ink supply cartridge 42 of Fig. 13 when formed as a unit. The ink supply cartridge includes the three colour ink reservoirs 104, 105, 106 which supply ink to different portions of the back surface of printhead 102 which includes a series of apertures 128 defined therein for carriage of the ink to the front surface.

The ink supply unit includes two guide walls 124, 125 which separate the various ink chambers and are tapered into an end portion abutting the surface of the printhead 102. The guide walls are further mechanically supported and regular spaces by a block portions eg. 126 which are placed at regular intervals along the length of the printhead supply unit. The block portions 126 leaving space at portions close to the back of printhead 102 for the flow of ink around the back surface thereof.

The printhead supply unit is preferably formed from a multi-part plastic injection mould and the mould pieces eg. 10, 11 (Fig. I) snap together around the sponge pieces 107, 109. Subsequently, a syringe type device can be inserted in the ink refill holes and the ink reservoirs filled with ink with the air flowing out of the air outlets 113 -115.

Subsequently, the adhesive tape portion 117 and plug 121 are attached and the printhead tested for operation capabilities.

Subsequently, the ink supply cartridge 42 can be readily removed for refilling by means of removing the ink supply cartridge, performing a washing cycle, and then utilising the holes for the insertion of a refill syringe filled with ink for refilling the ink chamber before returning the ink supply cartridge 42 to a camera.

Turning now to Fig. 15, there is shown an example layout of the Image Capture and Processing Chip (ICP) 48.

The Image Capture and Processing Chip 48 provides most of the electronic functionality of the camera with the exception of the print head chip. The chip 48 is a highly integrated system. It combines CMOS image sensing, analog to digital conversion, digital image processing, DRAM storage, ROM, and miscellaneous control functions in a single chip.

The chip is estimated to be around 32 mm 2 using a leading edge 0.18 micron CMOS/DRAM/APS process. The chip size and cost can scale somewhat with Moore's law, but is dominated by a CMOS active pixel sensor array 201, so scaling is limited as the sensor pixels approach the diffraction limit.

The ICP 48 includes CMOS logic, a CMOS image sensor, DRAM, and analog circuitry. A very small amount of flash memory or other non-volatile memory is also preferably included for protection against reverse engineering.

Alternatively, the ICP can readily be divided into two chips: one for the CMOS imaging array, and the other for the remaining circuitry. The cost of this two chip solution should not be significantly different than the single chip ICP, as the extra cost of packaging and bond-pad area is somewhat cancelled by the reduced total wafer area requiring the colour filter fabrication steps.

The ICP preferably contains the following functions: IR53-AU I -11- Function megapixel image sensor Analog Signal Processors Image sensor column decoders Image sensor row decoders Analogue to digital Conversion (ADC) Column ADC's SAuto exposure Function C1 10 12Mbits of DRAM DRAM Address Generator Colour interpolator Convolver Colour ALU Halftone matrix ROM Digital halftoning Print head interface 8 bit CPU core Program ROM Flash memory Scratchpad SRAM Parallel interface (8 bit) Motor drive transistors Clock PLL JTAG test interface Test circuits Busses Bond pads The CPU, DRAM, Image sensor, ROM, Flash memory, Parallel interface, JTAG interface and ADC can be vendor supplied cores. The ICP is intended to run on 1.5V to minimise power consumption and allow convenient operation from two AA type battery cells.

illustrates a layout of the ICP 48. The ICP 48 is dominated by the imaging array 201, which consumes around 80% of the chip area. The imaging array is a CMOS 4 transistor active pixel design with a resolution of 1,500 x 1,000. The array can be divided into the conventional configuration, with two green pixels, one red pixel, and one blue pixel in each pixel group. There are 750 x 500 pixel groups in the imaging array.

The latest advances in the field of image sensing and CMOS image sensing in particular can be found in the October, 1997 issue of IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices and, in particular, pages 1689 to 1968. Further, a specific implementation similar to that disclosed in the present application is disclosed in Wong et, al, "CMOS Active Pixel Image Sensors Fabricated Using a 1.8V, 0.25pm CMOS Technology", IEDM 1996, page 915.

The imaging array uses a 4 transistor active pixel design of a standard configuration. To minimise chip area and therefore cost, the image sensor pixels should be as small as feasible with the technology available. With a four transistor cell, the typical pixel size scales as 20 times the lithographic feature size. This allows a minimum pixel area of around 3.6um x 3.6gm. However, the photosite must be substantially above the diffraction limit of the lens. It is also IR53-AU advantageous to have a square photosite, to maximise the margin over the diffraction limited in both horizontal and vertical directions. In this case, the photosite can be specified as 2.5gm x 2.51gm. The photosite can be a photogate, Spinned photodiode, charge modulation device, or other sensor.

The four transistors are packed as an shape, rather than a rectangular region, to allow both the pixel and the O 5 photsite to be square. This reduces the transistor packing density slightly, increasing pixel size. However, the advantage in avoiding the diffraction limit is greater than the small decrease in packing density.

The transistors also have a gate length which is longer than the minimum for the process technology. These C¢3 Shave been increased from a drawn length of 0.18 micron to a drawn length of 0.36 micron. This is to improve the transistor matching by making the variations in gate length represent a smaller proportion of the total gate length.

S 10 The extra gate length, and the shaped packing, mean that the transistors use more area than the minimum for the technology. Normally, around 81tm 2 would be required for rectangular packing. Preferably, 9.751jm 2 has been allowed for the transistors.

rKThe total area for each pixel is 16 gm 2 resulting from a pixel size of 41m x 4jtm. With a reslotution of 1,500 x 1,000, the area of the imaging array 101 is 6,000tm x 4,000jm, or 24mm 2 The presence of a colour image sensor on the chip affects the process required in two major ways: the CMOS fabrication process should be optimised to minimise dark current Colour filters are required. These can be fabricated using dyed photosensitive polyimides, resulting in an added process complexity of three spin coatings, three photolithographic steps, three development steps, and three hardbakes.

There are 15,00 analog signal processors (ASPs) 205, one for each of the columns of the sensor. The ASPs amplify the signal, provide a dark current reference, sample and hold the signal, and suppress the fixed pattern noise

(FPN).

There are 375 analog to digital converters 206, one for each four columns of the sensor array. These may be delta-sigma or successive approximation type ADC's. A row of low column ADC's are used to reduce the conversion 'speed required, and the amount of analogue signal degradation incurred before the signal is converted to digital. This also eliminated the hot spot (affecting local dark current) and the substrate coupled noise that would occur if a single high speed ADC was used. Each ADC also has two four bit DAC's which trim the offset and scale of the ADC to further reduce FPN variations between columns. These DAC's are controlled by data stored in flash memory during chip testing.

The column select logic 204 is a 1:1500 decoder which enables the appropriate digital output of the ADC's onto the output bus. As each ADC is shared by four columns, the least significant two bits of the row select control 4 input analog multiplexers.

A row decoder 207 is a 1:1000 decoder which enables the appropriate row of the active pixel sensor array. This selects which of the 1000 rows of the imaging array is connected to analog signal processors. As the rows are always accessed in sequence, the row select logic can be implemented as a shift register.

An auto exposure system 208 adjusts the reference voltage of the ADC 205 in response to the maximum intensity sensed during the previous frame period. Data from the green pixels is passed through a digital peak detector.

The peak value of the image frame period before capture (the reference frame) is provided to a digital to analogue converter (DAC), which generates the global reference voltage for the column ADCs. The peak detector is reset at the beginning of the reference frame. The minimum and maximum values of the three RGB colour components are also collected for colour correction.

The second largest section of the chip is consumed by a DRAM 210 used to hold the image. To store the 1,500 x 1,000 image from the sensor without compression, 1.5 Mbytes of DRAM 210 are required. This equals 12 Mbits, or slightly less than 5% of a 256 Mbit DRAM. The DRAM technology assumed is of the 256 Mbit generation implemented using 0.18gm CMOS.

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-13- Using a standard 8F cell, the area taken by the memory array is 3.1 mm 2 When row decoders, column sensors, redundancy, and other factors are taken into account, the DRAM requires around 4mm.

This DRAM 210 can be mostly eliminated if analog storage of the image signal can be accurately maintained in the CMOS imaging array for the two seconds required to print the photo. However, digital storage of the image is O 5 preferable as it is maintained without degradation, is insensitive to noise, and allows copies of the photo to be printed considerably later.

A DRAM address generator 211 provides the write and read addresses to the DRAM 210. Under normal Soperation, the write address is determined by the order of the data read from the CMOS image sensor 201. This will typically be a simple raster format. However, the data can be read from the sensor 201 in any order, if matching write 10 addresses to the DRAM are generated. The read order from the DRAM 210 will normally simply match the requirements Sof a colour interpolator and the print head. As the cyan, magenta, and yellow rows of the print head are necessarily offset by a few pixels to allow space for nozzle actuators, the colours are not read from the DRAM simultaneously. However, there is plenty of time to read all of the data from the DRAM many times during the printing process. This capability is used to eliminate the need for FIFOs in the print head interface, thereby saving chip area. All three RGB image components can be read from the DRAM each time colour data is required. This allows a colour space converter to provide a more sophisticated conversion than a simple linear RGB to CMY conversion.

Also, to allow two dimensional filtering of the image data without requiring line buffers, data is re-read from the DRAM array.

The address generator may also implement image effects in certain models of camera. For example, passport photos are generated by a manipulation of the read addresses to the DRAM. Also, image framing effects (where the central image is reduced), image warps, and kaleidoscopic effects can all be generated by manipulating the read addresses of the DRAM.

While the address generator 211 may be implemented with substantial complexity if effects are built into the standard chip, the chip area required for the address generator is small, as it consists only of address counters and a moderate amount of random logic.

A colour interpolator 214 converts the interleaved pattern of red, 2 x green, and blue pixels into RGB pixels. It consists of three 8 bit adders and associated registers. The divisions are by either 2 (for green) or 4 (for red and blue) so they can be implemented as fixed shifts in the output connections of the adders.

A convolver 215 is provided as a sharpening filter which applies a small convolution kernel (5 x 5) to the red, green, and blue planes of the image. The convolution kernel for the green plane is different from that of the red and blue planes, as green has twice as many samples. The sharpening filter has five functions: To improve the colour interpolation from the linear interpolation provided by the colour interpolator, to a close approximation of a since interpolation.

To compensate for the image "softening" which occurs during digitisation.

To adjust the image sharpness to match average consumer preferences, which are typically for the image to be slightly sharper than reality. As the single use camera is intended as a consumer product, and not a professional photographic products, the processing can match the most popular settings, rather than the most accurate.

To suppress the sharpening of high frequency (individual pixel) noise. The function is similar to the "unsharp mask" process.

To antialias Image Warping.

These functions are all combined into a single convolution matrix. As the pixel rate is low (less than 1 Mpixel per second) the total number of multiplies required for the three colour channels is 56 million multiplies per second. This can be provided by a single multiplier. Fifty bytes of coefficient ROM are also required.

IR53-AU -14- A colour ALU 113 combines the functions of colour compensation and colour space conversion into the one matrix multiplication, which is applied to every pixel! of the frame. As with sharpening, the colour correction should match the most popular settings, rather then the most accurate.

A colour compensation circuit of the colour ALU provides compensation for the lighting of the photo. The vast majority of photographs are substantially improved by a simple colour compensation, which independently normalises the contrast and brightness of the three colour components.

rrf A colour look-up table (CLUT) 212 is provided for each colour component. These are three separate 256 x 8 a SRAMs, requiring a total of 6,144 bits. The CLUTs are used as part of the colour correction process. They are also used for colour special effects, such as stochastically selected "wild colour" effects.

A colour space conversion system of the colour ALU converts from the RGB colour space of the image sensor to the CMY colour space of the printer. The simplest conversion is a l's complement of the RGB data. However, this simple conversion assumes perfect linearity of both colour spaces, and perfect dye spectra for both the colour filters of the image sensor, and the ink dyes. At the other extreme is a tri-linear interpolation of a sampled three dimensional arbitrary transform table. This can effectively match any non-linearity or differences in either colour space. Such a system is usually necessary to obtain good colour space conversion when the print engine is a colour electrophotographic.

However, since the non-linearity of a halftoned ink jet output is very small, a simpler system can be used. A simple matrix multiply can provide excellent results. This requires nine multiplies and six additions per contone pixel.

However, since the contone pixel rate is low (less than 1 Mpixel/sec) these operations can share a single multiplier and adder. The multiplier and adder are used in a colour ALU which is shared with the colour compensation function.

Digital halftoning can be performed as a dispersed dot ordered dither using a stochastic optimised dither cell. A halftone matrix ROM 116 is provided for storing dither cell coefficients. A dither cell size of 32 x 32 is adequate to ensure that the cell repeat cycle is not visible. The three colours cyan, magenta, and yellow are all dithered using the same cell, to ensure maximum co-positioning of the ink dots. This minimises "muddying" of the mid-tones which results from bleed of dyes from one dot to adjacent dots while still wet. The total ROM size required is 1 KByte, as the one ROM shared by the halftoning units for each of the three colours.

The digital halftoning used is dispersed dot ordered dither with stochastic optimised dither matrix. While dithering does not produce an image quite as "sharp" as error diffusion, it does produce a more accurate image with fewer artefacts. The image sharpening produced by error diffusion is artificial, and less controllable and accurate than "unsharp mask" filtering performed in the contone domain. The high print resolution (1,600 dpi x 1,600 dpi) results in excellent quality when using a well formed stochastic dither matrix.

Digital halftoning is performed by a digital halftoning unit 217 using a simple comparison between the contone information from the DRAM 210 and the contents of the dither matrix 216. During the halftone process, the resolution of the image is changed from the 250 dpi of the captured contone image to the 1,600 dpi of the printed image. Each contone pixel is converted to an average of 40.96 halftone dots.

The ICP incorporates a 16 bit microcontroller CPU core 219 to run the miscellaneous camera functions, such as reading the buttons, controlling the motor and solenoids, setting up the hardware, and authenticating the refill station. The processing power required by the CPU is very modest, and a wide variety of processor cores can be used. As the entire CPU program is run from a small ROM 220. Program compatibility between camera versions is not important, as no external programs are run. A 2 Mbit (256 Kbyte) program and data ROM 220 is included on chip. Most of this ROM space is allocated to data for outline graphics and fonts for specialty cameras. The program requirements are minor. The single most complex task is the encrypted authentication of the refill station The ROM requires a single transistor per bit.

A Flash memory 221 may be used to store a 128 bit authentication code. This provides higher security than storage of the authentication code in ROM, as reverse engineering can be made essentially impossible. The Flash memory IR53-AU

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is completely covered by third level metal, making the data impossible to extract using scanning probe microscopes or electron beams. The authentication code is stored in the chip when manufactured. At least two other Flash bits are required for the authentication process: a bit which locks out reprogramming of the authentication code, and a bit which indicates that the camera has been refilled by an authenticated refill station. The flash memory can also be used to store FPN correction data for the imaging array. Additionally, a phase locked loop rescaling parameter is stored provided for scaling the clocking cycle to an appropriated correct time. The clock frequency does not require crystal accuracy since no date functions are provided. To eliminate the cost of a crystal, an on-chip oscillator with a phase locked loop 124 is used.

As the frequency of an on-chip oscillator is highly variable from chip to chip, the frequency ratio of the oscillator to the PLL is digitally trimmed during initial testing. The value is stored in Flashmemory 121. This allows the clock PLL to control the inkjet heater pulse width with sufficient accuracy.

A scratchpad SRAM is a small static RAM 222 with a 6T cell. The scratch pad provided temporary memory for the 16 bit CPU. 1024 bytes is adequate.

A print head interface 223 formats the data correctly for the print head. The print head interface also provides all of the timing signals required by the print head. These timing signals may vary depending upon temperature, the number of dots printed simultaneously, the print medium in the print roll, and the dye density of the ink in the print roll.

The following is a table of external connections to the print head surface: Connection Function Pins Databits[0-7] Independent serial data to the eight segments of the print head. 8 BitClock Main data clock for the print head. 1 ColourEnable[0-2] Independent enable signals for the CMY actuators, allowing 3 different pulse times for each colour.

BankEnable[0-l] Allows either simutaneous or interleaved actuation of two banks of 2 nozzles. This allows two different print speed/power consumption tradeoffs.

NozzleSelect[0-4] Selects one of 32 banks of nozzles for simultaneous actuation. ParallelXferClock Loads the parallel transfer register with the data from the shift registers. 1 Total The print head utilised is composed of eight identical segments, each 1.25cm long. There is no connection between the segments on the print head chip. Any connections required are made in the external TAB bonding film, which is double sided. The division into eight identical segments is to simplify lithography using wafer steppers. The segment width of 1.25cm fits easily into a stepper field. As the print head chip is long and narrow (10cm x 0.3mm), the stepper field contains a single segment of 32 print head chips. The stepper field is therefore 1.25cm x 1.6cm. An average of four complete print heads are patterned in each wafer step.

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-16- A single BitClock output line connects to all 8 segments on the print head. The 8 DataBits lines lead one to each segment, and are clocked in to the 8 segments on the print head simultaneously (on a BitClock pulse). For example, dot 0 is transferred to segmento, dot 750 is transferred to segment,, dot 1500 to segment 2 etc simultaneously.

The ParallelXferClock is connected to each of the 8 segments on the print head, so that on a single pulse, all segments transfer their bits at the same time.

The NozzleSelect, BankEnable and ColorEnable lines are connected to each of the 8 segments, allowing the print head interface to independently control the duration of the cyan, magenta, and yellow nozzle energizing pulses. Registers in the Print Head Interface allow the accurate specification of the pulse duration between 0 and 6 mins, with a typical duration of 2 ms to 3 mins.

A parallel interface 125 connects the ICP to individual static electrical signals. The CPU is able to control each of these connections as memory mapped I/O via a low speed bus.

The following is a table of connections to the parallel interface: Connection Direction ins Paper transport stepper motor Output Capping solenoid Output Copy LED Output Photo button InputI Copy button Input 1 Total 8 A serial interface is also included to allow authentication of the refill station. This is included to ensure that the cameras are only refilled with paper and ink at authorized refill stations, thus preventing inferior quality refill industry from occurring. The camera must authenticate the refill station, rather than the other way around. The secure protocol is communicated to the refill station via a serial data connection. Contact can be made to four gold plated spots on the ICP/print head TAB by the refill station as the new ink is injected into the print head.

Seven high current drive transistors eg. 227 are required. Four are for the four phases of the main stepper motor two are for the guillotine motor, and the remaining transistor is to drive the capping solenoid. These transistors are allocated 20,000 square microns (600,000 F) each. As the transistors are driving highly inductive loads, they must either be turned off slowly, or be provided with a high level of back EMF protection. If adequate back EMF protection cannot be provided using the chip process chosen, then external discrete transistors should be used. The transistors are never driven at the same time as the image sensor is used. This is to avoid voltage fluctuations and hot spots affecting the image quality. Further, the transistors are located as far away from the sensor as possible.

A standard JTAG (Joint Test Action Group) interface 228 is included in the ICP for testing purposes and for interrogation by the refill station. Due to the complexity of the chip, a variety of testing techniques are required, including BIST (Built In Self Test) and functional block isolation. An overhead of 10% in chip area is assumed for chip testing circuitry for the random logic portions. The overhead for the large arrays them image sensor and the DRAM is smaller.

The JTAG interface is also used for authentication of the refill station. This is included to ensure that the cameras are only refilled with quality paper and ink at a properly constructed refill station, thus preventing inferior quality refills from occurring. The camera must authenticate the refill station, rather than vice versa. The secure protocol is communicated to the refill station during the automated test procedure. Contact is made to four gold plated spots on the ICP/print head TAB by the refill station as the new ink is injected into the print head.

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-17- ,1 ~Fig. 16 illustrates rear view of the next step in the construction process whilst Fig. 17 illustrates a front camera view.

Turning now to Fig. 16, the assembly of the camera system proceeds via first assembling the ink supply mechanism 40. The flex PCB is interconnected with batteries only one 84 of which is shown, which are inserted in the middle portion of a print roll 85 which is wrapped around a plastic former 86. An end cap 89 is provided at the other end of the print roll 85 so as to fasten the print roll and batteries firmly to the ink supply mechanism.

SThe solenoid coil is interconnected (not shown) to interconnects 97, 98 (Fig. 8) which include leaf spring ends for interconnection with electrical contacts on the Flex PCB so as to provide for electrical control of the solenoid.

Turning now to Figs. 17 -19 the next step in the construction process is the insertion of the relevant gear chains 10 into the side of the camera chassis. Fig. 17 illustrates a front camera view, Fig. 18 illustrates a back side view and Fig. 19 Salso illustrates a back side view. The first gear chain comprising gear wheels 22, 23 are utilised for driving the guillotine Cblade with the gear wheel 23 engaging the gear wheel 65 of Fig. 8. The second gear chain comprising gear wheels 24, and 26 engage one end of the print roller 61 of Fig. 8. As best indicated in Fig. 18, the gear wheels mate with corresponding buttons on the surface of the chassis with the gear wheel 26 being snap fitted into corresponding mating hole 27.

Next, as illustrated in Fig. 20, the assembled platten unit is then inserted between the print roll 85 and aluminium cutting blade 43.

Turning now to Fig. 21, by way of illumination, there is illustrated the electrically interactive components of the camera system. As noted previously, the components are based around a Flex PCB board and include a TAB film 58 which interconnects the printhead 102 with the image sensor and processing chip 51. Power is supplied by two AA type batteries 83, 84 and a paper drive stepper motor 16 is provided in addition to a rotary guillotine motor An optical element 31 is provided for snapping into a top portion of the chassis 12. The optical element 31 includes portions defining an optical view finder 32, 33 which are slotted into mating portions 35, 36 in view finder channel 37. Also provided in the optical element 31 is a lensing system 38 for magnification of the prints left number in addition to an optical pipe element 39 for piping light from the LED 5 for external display.

Turning next to Fig. 22, the assembled unit 90 is then inserted into a front outer case 91 which includes button 4 for activation of printouts.

Turning now to Fig. 23, next, the unit 92 is provided with a snap-on back cover 93 which includes a slot 6 and copy print button 7. A wrapper label containing instructions and advertising (not shown) is then wrapped around the outer surface of the camera system and pinch clamped to the cover by means of clamp strip 96 which can comprise a flexible plastic or rubber strip.

Subsequently, the preferred embodiment is ready for use as a one time use camera system that provides for instant output images on demand. It will be evident that the preferred embodiment further provides for a refillable camera system. A used camera can be collected and its outer plastic cases removed and recycled. A new paper roll and batteries can be added and the ink cartridge refilled. A series of automatic test routines can then be carried out to ensure that the printer is properly operational. Further, in order to ensure only authorised refills are conducted so as to enhance quality, routines in the on-chip program ROM can be executed such that the camera authenticates the refilling station using a secure protocol. Upon authentication, the camera can reset an internal paper count and an external case can be fitted on the camera system with a new outer label. Subsequent packing and shipping can then take place.

It will be further readily evident to those skilled in the art that the program ROM can be modified so as to allow for a variety of digital processing routines. In addition to the digitally enhanced photographs optimised for mainstream consumer preferences, various other models can readily be provided through mere re-programming of the program ROM.

For example, a sepia classic old fashion style output can be provided through a remapping of the colour mapping function.

A further alternative is to provide for black and white outputs again through a suitable colour remapping algorithm.

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-18- Minimumless colour can also be provided to add a touch of colour to black and white prints to produce the effect that was traditionally used to colourize black and white photographs. Further, passport photo output can be provided through Ssuitable address remappings within the address generators. Further, edge filters can be utilised as is known in the field of image processing to produce sketched art styles. Further, classic wedding borders and designs can be placed around an O 5 output image in addition to the provision of relevant clip arts. For example, a wedding style camera might be provided.

Further, a panoramic mode can be provided so as to output the well known panoramic format of images. Further, a postcard style output can be provided through the printing of postcards including postage on the back of a print roll surface. Further, clip arts can be provided for special events such as Holloween, Christmas etc. Further, kaleidoscopic c effects can be provided through address remappings and wild colour effects can be provided through remapping of the i 10 colour look-up table. Many other forms of special event cameras can be provided for example, cameras dedicated to the SOlympics, movie tie-ins, advertising and other special events.

The operational mode of the camera can be programmed so that upon the depressing of the take photo a first image is sampled by the sensor array to determine irrelevant parameters. Next a second image is again captured which is utilised for the output. The captured image is then manipulated in accordance with any special requirements before being initially output on the paper roll. The LED light is then activated for a predetermined time during which the DRAM is refreshed so as to retain the image. If the print copy button is depressed during this predetermined time interval, a further copy of the photo is output. After the predetermined time interval where no use of the camera has occurred, the onboard CPU shuts down all power to the camera system until such time as the take button is again activated. In this way, substantial power savings can be realised.

Jet Technologies The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.

The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal inkjet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.

The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewide print heads with 19,200 nozzles.

Ideally, the inkjet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digital photography, new inkjet technologies have been created. The target features include: low power (less than 10 Watts) high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more) photographic quality output low manufacturing cost small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section) high speed 2 seconds per page).ART-END All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of IR53-AU -19difficulty. 45 different inkjet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in the table below.

The inkjet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print head is designed to be a monolithic micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.

Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool.

Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. The print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding.

Cross-Referenced Applications The following table is a guide to cross-referenced patent applications filed concurrently herewith and discussed hereinafter with the reference being utilized in subsequent tables when referring to a particular case: Docket No.

IJ01US IJ02US IJ03US IJ04US IJ06US IJ07US IJ08US IJ09US IJl US IJ12US IJ13US IJ14US IJ16US IJ17US IJ18US IJ19US IJ21US IJ22US IJ23US IJ24US Reference J101 IJ02 IJ03 IJ04 IJ05 IJ06 IJ07 IJ08 IJ09 IJ10 IJll IJ12 IJ13 IJ14 IJ15 IJ16 IJ17 IJ18 IJ19 IJ20 IJ21 IJ22 IJ23 IJ24 IJ25 Title Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printer Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printer Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink Jet Printer Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printer Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer Conductive PTFE Ben Activator Vented Ink Jet Printer Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printer IR53-AU

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IJ26US IJ27US IJ28US IJ29US IJ31US IJ32US IJ33US IJ34US IJ36US IJ37US IJ38US IJ39US IJ41US IJ42US IJ43US IJ44US IJ26 IJ27 Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer

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IJ28 IJ29 IJ30 IJ31 IJ32 IJ33 IJ34 IJ35 IJ36 IJ37 IJ38 IJ39 IJ40 IJ41 IJ42 IJ43 IJ44 IJ45 Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printer Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE and Corrugated Copper Ink Jet Printer Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink Jet Printer A High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall inkjet printer Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator comprising an external coiled spring Trough Container Ink Jet Printer Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum Actuator Ink Jet Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet A single bend actuator cupped paddle ink jet printing device A thermally actuated inkjet printer having a series of thermal actuator units A thermally actuated ink jet printer including a tapered heater element Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink jet printer Coil Actuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printer Ink Jet Printing A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed to facilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing and data distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can be included in printer devices incorporated as part of the present invention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to these ink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference include: Title Australian Provisional Number P08066 P08072 P08040 P08071 PO8047 P08035 P08044 P08063 P08057 P08056 P08069 P08049 P08036 Filing Date 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 Title Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ01)-W099/03680 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ02) -W099/03680 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ03) -W099/03681 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ04) -W099/03680 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ05) -W099/03680 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ06) -W099/03680 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ07) -W099/03680 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ08) -W099/03680 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ09) -W099/03681 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ 10) -W099/03681 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ 11) -W099/03680 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ12) -W099/03680 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ 13) -W099/03680

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-21- P08048 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ14) -W099/03680 P08070 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ15) -W099/03680 P08067 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ16) -W099/03680 P08001 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ17) -W099/03681 P08038 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ 18) -W099/03681 P08033 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ19)-US 6,254,220 P08002 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ20) -W099/03681 P08068 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ21) -W099/03681 P08062 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ22) -W099/03681 P08034 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ23) -W099/03681 P08039 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ24) -W099/03681 P08041 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ25) -W099/03680 P08004 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ26) -W099/03680 P08037 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ27) -W099/03681 P08043 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ28) -W099/03681 PO8042 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ29) -W099/03681 P08064 15-Jul-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ30) -W099/03681 P09389 23-Sep-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ31) -W099/03681 P09391 23-Sep-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ32)-US6,234,609 PP0888 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ33) -W099/03681 PP0891 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ34) -W099/03681 PP0890 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ35) -W099/03681 PP0873 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ36) -W099/03681 PP0993 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ37)-US 6,247,791 PP0890 12-Dec-97 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ38) -US 6,336,710 PP1398 19-Jan-98 An Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ39) -W099/03681 PP2592 25-Mar-98 An Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ40) -W099/03681 PP2593 25-Mar-98 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ41) -W099/03681 PP3991 9-Jun-98 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ42)-US 6,283,581 PP3987 9-Jun-98 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ43) -W099/03681 PP3985 9-Jun-98 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ44) -W099/03681 PP3983 9-Jun-98 Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ45) -W099/03681 Ink Jet Manufacturing Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference: Australian Filing Date Title Provisional Number P07935 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM01) -W099/03680 IR53-AU

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-22- P07936 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM02) -W099/03680 P07937 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM03) -W099103681 P08061 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM04) -W099/03680 P08054 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM05) -W099/03680 P08065 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM06) -W099/03680 P08055 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM07) -W099/03680 P08053 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM08) -W099/03680 P08078 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM09) -W099/03681 P07933 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM10) -W099/03681 P07950 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM1 1) -W099/03680 P07949 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM 12) -W099/03680 P08060 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM13) -W099/03680 P08059 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM14) -W099/03680 P08073 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM15) -W099/03680 P08076 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM 16) -W099/03680 P08075 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM17) -W099/03681 P08079 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM 18) -W099/03681 P08050 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM 19) -W099/03681 P08052 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM20) -W099/03681 P07948 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM21) -W099/03681 P07951 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM22) -W099/03681 P08074 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM23) -W099/03681 P07941 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM24) -W099/03681 P08077 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM25) -W099/03680 P08058 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM26) -W099/03680 P08051 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM27) -W099/03681 P08045 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM28) -W099/03681 P07952 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM29) -W099/03681 P08046 15-Jul-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM30) -W099/03681 P08503 1 -Aug-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM30a) -W099/03681 P09390 23-Sep-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM31) -W099/03681 P09392 23-Sep-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM32) -W099/03681 PP0889 12-Dec-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM35) -W099/03681 PP0887 12-Dec-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM36)-USSN 09/122,801 PP0882 12-Dec-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM37) -W099/03681 PP0874 12-Dec-97 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM38) -W099/03681 PP1396 19-Jan-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM39) -W099/03681 PP2591 25-Mar-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM41) -W099/03681 PP3989 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM40) -W099/03681 PP3990 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM42) -W099/03681 PP3986 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM43) -W099/03681 IR53-AU 23- PP3984 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM44) -W099/03681 PP3982 9-Jun-98 A Method of Manufacture of an Image Creation Apparatus (IJM45) -W099/03680 Fluid Supply Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system to the ink jet head. Delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to a series of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by cross-reference: Australian Filing Date Title Provisional Number P08003 15-Jul-97 Supply Method and Apparatus (Fl) -W099/03681 P08005 15-Jul-97 Supply Method and Apparatus -W099/04368 P09404 23-Sep-97 A Device and Method (F3)-USSN 09/113,101 MEMS Technology Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor microelectromechanical techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable microelectromechanical techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference:

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Australian Provisional Number P07943 P08006 P08007 P08008 P08010 P08011 P07947 P07945 P07944 P07946 P09393 PP0875 PP0894 Filing Date 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 23-Sep- 9 7 12-Dec-97 12-Dec-97 A device (MEMS01) -W099/03681 A device (MEMS02) -W099/03681 A device (MEMS03) -W099/03681 A device (MEMS04) -W099/03681 A device (MEMS05) -W099/03681 A device (MEMS06) -W099/03681 A device (MEMS07) -W099/03681 A device (MEMS08) -W099/03681 A device (MEMS09) -W099/03681 A device (MEMS10) -W099/03681 A Device and Method (MEMS11) -W099/03681 A Device (MEMS 12) -W099/03681 A Device and Method (MEMS 13) -W099/03681

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IR Technologies Further, the present application may include the utilization of a disposable camera system such as those described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference: Australian Filing Date Title Provisional Number PP0895 12-Dec-97 An Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IR01) -W099/04551 IR53-AU -24- Device and Method (IR02) W099/04551 Device and Method (IR04) W099/04551 DotCard Technologies Further, the present application may include the utilization of a data distribution system such as that described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference: Australian Filing Date Title Provisional Number PP2370 16-Mar-98 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (Dot0l)-USSN 09/112,781 PP2371 16-Mar-98 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (Dot02)-USSN 09/113,052 Artcam Technologies Further, the present application may include the utilization of camera and data processing techniques such as an Artcam type device as described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by crossreference: r 1 Australian Provisional Number P07991 P07988 PO7993 PO8012 PO8017 P08014 P08025 PO8032 PO7999 Filing Date 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART01)-W099/04368 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART02) -W099/04368 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART03) -W099/04368 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART05) -W099/04368 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART06) -W099/04368 Media Device (ART07) -W099/04368 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART08) -W099/04368 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART09) -W099/04368 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART10) -W099/04368 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART11) -W099/04368 Image Processing Method and Apparatus (ART12) -W099/04368 Media Device (ARTI3) -W099/04368 P07998 PO8031 P08030 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 15-Jul-97 IR53-AU P07997 15-Jul-97 Media Device (ARTI 5 -W099/04368 P07979 15-Jul-97 Media Device( RT16)-W099/04368 P08015 15-Jul-97 Media Device( ART17)-W0:99/04368 P07978 15-Jul-97 Media Device (ART18) -USSN 09/113,067 P07982 15-Jul-97 Data Processing MtoanA aausA l9 W099/04368 P07989 15-Jul-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus A0RT20' -W099/04368 P08019 15-Jul-97 Media Processin- MethoadA artu RT21) -W099/04368 P07980 15-Jul-97 Image Pr-ocessin:, Method and Apparatus ART22) -W099/04368 P07942 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method and A aratus (ART23) -W099/04368 P08018 15-Jul-97 Image Processin, Method and A aratus(ART24')-W099104368 P07938 15-Jul-97 Ima eProcesi eho n P08016 15-Jul-97 Im~a eProcsi( ehdadA aau R2 W9/46 P08934 15-Jul-97 Image Processing Method and Apparatus ART27) -W09)/04368 P08501 11-Au -97 ~~Ima e ProcsiehdadAaau R3)U P0801 15-Jul-97 Daa eProcessin, Method and Aparatus(ART4i)-W099/04368 P08499 11-Au -97 I~~a ProcesnMtoanA aausAT7-SN0/1,9 P08026 15-Jul-97 Imae Processing Methd and pparatus 7AS) -WSS99/112,75 P09397 2-Sp-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART5) -W099/03681 I R53-AU

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-26- P09402 23-Sep-97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART64) -USSN 09/112,788 P09403 23-Sep- 97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART65)-US 6,305,770 P09405 23-Sep- 97 Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART66)-US 6,289,262 PP0959 16-Dec-97 A Data Processing Method and Apparatus (ART68) -US 6,315,200 PP1397 19-Jan-98 A Media Device (ART69)US 6,217,165 It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.

Tables of Drop-on-Demand Inkjets Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual inkjet nozzles have been identified.

These characteristics are largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an eleven dimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix include entries developed by the present assignee.

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

Actuator mechanism (18 types) Basic operation mode (7 types) Auxiliary mechanism (8 types) Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types) Actuator motion (19 types) Nozzle refill method (4 types) Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types) Nozzle clearing method (9 types) Nozzle plate construction (9 types) Drop ejection direction (5 types) Ink type (7 types) The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains 36.9 billion possible configurations of inkjet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable inkjet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain inkjet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJO1 to IJ45 above.

Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these 45 examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJO1 to IJ45 examples can be made into inkjet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available inkjet technology.

Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more of these examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below. The IJO 1 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In some cases, a printer may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.

Suitable applications include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Intemrnet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrial printing systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.

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

IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Actuator mechanism (applied only to selected ink drops) I U I Actuator Mechanism Description Advantages uisaavantages -I Aai-i I Thermal bubble An electrothermal heater heats the ink to above boiling point, transferring significant heat to the aqueous ink. A bubble nucleates and quickly forms, expelling the ink.

The efficiency of the process is low, with typically less than 0.05% of the electrical energy being transformed into kinetic energy of the drop.

Large force generated Simple construction No moving parts Fast operation Small chip area required for actuator

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High power Ink carrier limited to water Low efficiency High temperatures required High mechanical stress Unusual materials required Large drive transistors Cavitation causes actuator failure Kogation reduces bubble formation Large print heads are difficult to fabricate Canon Bubblejet 1979 Endo et al GB patent 2,007,162 Xerox heater-in-pit 1990 Hawkins et al USP 4,899,181 Hewlett-Packard TIJ 1982 Vaught et al USP 4,490,728 Piezoelectric A piezoelectric crystal such as lead Low power consumption Very large area required for actuator Kyser et al USP 3,946,398 lanthanum zirconate (PZT) is electrically Many ink types can be used Difficult to integrate with electronics Zoltan USP 3,683,212 activated, and either expands, shears, or Fast operation High voltage drive transistors required 1973 Stemme USP 3,747,120 bends to apply pressure to the ink, ejecting High efficiency Full pagewidth print heads impractical due to Epson Stylus drops. actuator size Tektronix Requires electrical poling in high field strengths IJ04 during manufacture IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Seiko Lpson, Usul et alt ar Electro-strictive An electric field is used to activate electrostriction in relaxor materials such as lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) or lead magnesium niobate (PMN).

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Low power consumption Many ink types can be used Low thermal expansion Electric field strength required (approx. 3.5 V/pm) can be generated without difficulty Does not require electrical poling

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Low maximum strain (approx. 0.01%) Large area required for actuator due to low strain Response speed is marginal 10 ps) High voltage drive transistors required Full pagewidth print heads impractical due to actuator size Seiko Epson, usui et all JP 253401/96 IJ04 I _I -1 Ferroelectric An electric field is used to induce a phase transition between the antiferroelectric (AFE) and ferroelectric (FE) phase. Perovskite materials such as tin modified lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZSnT) exhibit large strains of up to 1% associated with the AFE to FE phase transition.

Low power consumption Many ink types can be used Fast operation 1 ps) Relatively high longitudinal strain High efficiency Electric field strength of around 3 V/pm can be readily provided i Difficult to integrate with electronics Unusual materials such as PLZSnT are required Actuators require a large area ITIn4 d Electrostatic plates Conductive plates are separated by a Low power consumption Difficult to operate electrostatic devices in an IJ02, IJ04 compressible or fluid dielectric (usually air). Many ink types can be used aqueous environment Upon application of a voltage, the plates Fast operation The electrostatic actuator will normally need to be attract each other and displace ink, causing separated from the ink drop ejection. The conductive plates may be Very large area required to achieve high forces in a comb or honeycomb structure, or stacked High voltage drive transistors may be required to increase the surface area and therefore the Full pagewidth print heads are not competitive due force. to actuator size IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Electrostatic pull on A strong electric field is applied to the ink, Low current consumption High voltage required 1989 Saito et al, USP ink whereupon electrostatic attraction accelerates Low temperature May be damaged by sparks due to air breakdown 4,799,068 the ink towards the print medium. Required field strength increases as the drop size 1989 Miura et al, USP decreases 4,810,954 High voltage drive transistors required Tone-jet Electrostatic field attracts dust Permanent magnet An electromagnet directly attracts a Low power consumption Complex fabrication IJ07, electro-magnetic permanent magnet, displacing ink and Many ink types can be used Permanent magnetic material such as Neodymium causing drop ejection. Rare earth magnets Fast operation Iron Boron (NdFeB) required.

with a field strength around 1 Tesla can be High efficiency High local currents required used. Examples are: Samarium Cobalt (SaCo) Easy extension from single nozzles to Copper metalization should be used for long and magnetic materials in the neodymium pagewidth print heads electromigration lifetime and low resistivity iron boron family (NdFeB, NdDyFeBNb, Pigmented inks are usually infeasible NdDyFeB, etc) Operating temperature limited to the Curie temperature (around 540 K) Soft magnetic core A solenoid induced a magnetic field in a soft Low power consumption Complex fabrication IJ01, IJ05, IJ08, 1J10 electro-magnetic magnetic core or yoke fabricated from a Many ink types can be used Materials not usually present in a CMOS fab such IJ12, IJ14, IJ5, IJ17 ferrous material such as electroplated iron Fast operation as NiFe, CoNiFe, or CoFe are required alloys such as CoNiFe CoFe, or NiFe High efficiency High local currents required alloys. Typically, the soft magnetic material Easy extension from single nozzles to Copper metalization should be used for long is in two parts, which are normally held apart pagewidth print heads electromigration lifetime and low resistivity by a spring. When the solenoid is actuated, Electroplating is required the two parts attract, displacing the ink. High saturation flux density is required (2.0-2.1 T is achievable with CoNiFe IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Magnetic The Lorenz force acting on a current carrying Low power consumption Force acts as a twisting motion IJ06, IJ 1, IJ13, IJ16 Lorenz force wire in a magnetic field is utilized. Many ink types can be used Typically, only a quarter of the solenoid length This allows the magnetic field to be supplied Fast operation provides force in a useful direction externally to the print head, for example with High efficiency High local currents required rare earth permanent magnets. Easy extension from single nozzles to Copper metalization should be used for long Only the current carrying wire need be pagewidth print heads electromigration lifetime and low resistivity fabricated on the print-head, simplifying Pigmented inks are usually infeasible materials requirements.

Magneto-striction The actuator uses the giant magnetostrictive Many ink types can be used Force acts as a twisting motion Fischenbeck, USP 4,032,929 effect of materials such as Terfenol-D (an Fast operation Unusual materials such as Terfenol-D are required alloy of terbium, dysprosium and iron Easy extension from single nozzles to High local currents required developed at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory, pagewidth print heads Copper metalization should be used for long hence Ter-Fe-NOL). For best efficiency, the High force is available electromigration lifetime and low resistivity actuator should be pre-stressed to approx. 8 Pre-stressing may be required MPa.

Surface tension Ink under positive pressure is held in a nozzle Low power consumption Requires supplementary force to effect drop Siverbrook, EP 0771658 A2 reduction by surface tension. The surface tension of the Simple construction separationandlated patent ink is reduced below the bubble threshold, No unusual materials required in Requires special ink surfactants applications causing the ink to egress from the nozzle. fabrication Speed may be limited by surfactant properties High efficiency Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Requires supplementary force to effect drop Viscosity reduction Acoustic Thermoelastic bend actuator The ink viscosity is locally reduced to select which drops are to be ejected. A viscosity reduction can be achieved electrothermally with most inks, but special inks can be engineered for a 100:1 viscosity reduction.

An acoustic wave is generated and focussed upon the drop ejection region.

An actuator which relies upon differential thermal expansion upon Joule heating is used.

Simple construction No unusual materials required in fabrication Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads I Requires supplementary force to effect drop separation Requires special ink viscosity properties High speed is difficult to achieve Requires oscillating ink pressure A high temperature difference (typically degrees) is required

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1 Can operate without a nozzle plate Complex drive circuitry Complex fabrication Low efficiency Poor control of drop position Poor control of drop volume Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications 1993 Hadimioglu et al, EUP 550,192 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 572,220 IJ03, IJ09, IJ17, IJ18 IJ19, IJ20, IJ21, IJ22 IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 1J33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 IJ37, IJ38 ,1J39, IJ41 Low power consumption Many ink types can be used Simple planar fabrication Small chip area required for each actuator Fast operation High efficiency CMOS compatible voltages and currents Standard MEMS processes can be used Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads Efficient aqueous operation requires a thermal insulator on the hot side Corrosion prevention can be difficult Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as pigment particles may jam the bend actuator

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IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 04- 1109,1117,1J18, 1J21.) High CTE thermoelastic actuator Conductive polymer thermoelastic actuator A material with a very high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is used. As high CTE materials are usually nonconductive, a heater fabricated from a conductive material is incorporated. A 50 pmn long PTFE bend actuator with polysilicon heater and 15 mW power input can provide 180 pN force and 10 tm deflection. Actuator motions include: Bend Push Buckle Rotate A polymer with a high coefficient of thermal expansion (such as PTFE) is doped with conducting substances to increase its conductivity to about 3 orders of magnitude below that of copper. The conducting polymer expands when resistively heated.

Examples of conducting dopants include: Carbon nanotubes Metal fibers Conductive polymers such as doped polythiophene Carbon granules

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High force can be generated PTFE is a candidate for low dielectric constant insulation in ULSI Very low power consumption Many ink types can be used Simple planar fabrication Small chip area required for each actuator Fast operation High efficiency CMOS compatible voltages and currents Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads

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Requires special material PTFE) Requires a PTFE deposition process, which is not yet standard in ULSI fabs PTFE deposition cannot be followed with high temperature (above 350 OC) processing Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as pigment particles may jam the bend actuator IJ09, 1J17, IJ18, IJ21,IJ22,1123,1J24 IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, 1J30 IJ31, IJ42, I43, IJ44

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4t+ High force can be generated Very low power consumption Many ink types can be used Simple planar fabrication Small chip area required for each actuator Fast operation High efficiency CMOS compatible voltages and currents Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads Requires special materials development (High CTE conductive polymer) Requires a PTFE deposition process, which is not yet standard in ULSI fabs PTFE deposition cannot be followed with high temperature (above 350 processing Evaporation and CVD deposition techniques cannot be used Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as pigment particles may jam the bend actuator

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I 1 IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 ,00, Shape memory alloy A shape memory alloy such as TiNi (also High force is available (stresses of Fatigue limits maximum number of cycles 1J26 known as Nitinol Nickel Titanium alloy hundreds of MPa) Low strain is required to extend fatigue developed at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory) Large strain is available (more than resistance is thermally switched between its weak Cycle rate limited by heat removal martensitic state and its high stiffness High corrosion resistance Requires unusual materials (TiNi) austenic state. The shape of the actuator in its Simple construction The latent heat of transformation must be provided martensitic state is deformed relative to the Easy extension from single nozzles to High current operation austenic shape. The shape change causes pagewidth print heads Requires pre-stressing to distort the martensitic ejection of a drop. Low voltage operation state Linear Magnetic Linear magnetic actuators include the Linear Linear Magnetic actuators can be Requires unusual semiconductor materials such as IJ12 Actuator Induction Actuator (LIA), Linear Permanent constructed with high thrust, long soft magnetic alloys CoNiFe Magnet Synchronous Actuator (LPMSA), travel, and high efficiency using Some varieties also require permanent magnetic Linear Reluctance Synchronous Actuator planar semiconductor fabrication materials such as Neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) (LRSA), Linear Switched Reluctance techniques Requires complex multi-phase drive circuitry Actuator (LSRA), and the Linear Stepper Long actuator travel is available High current operation Actuator (LSA). Medium force is available Low voltage operation IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 ~J-T Basic operation mode Operational mode Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples Actuator directly This is the simplest mode of operation: the Simple operation Drop repetition rate is usually limited to less than Thermal inkjet pushes ink actuator directly supplies sufficient kinetic No external fields required 10 KHz. However, this is not fundamental to the Piezoelectric inkjet energy to expel the drop. The drop must have Satellite drops can be avoided if drop method, but is related to the refill method normally IJ01, 1102, IJ03, IJ04 a sufficient velocity to overcome the surface velocity is less than 4 m/s used 1J05, IJ06, 1107, 1109 tension. Can be efficient, depending upon the All of the drop kinetic energy must be provided by IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, IJ16 actuator used the actuator IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24 Satellite drops usually form if drop velocity is IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28 greater than 4.5 m/s IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, 1J44 Proximity The drops to be printed are selected by some Very simple print head fabrication Requires close proximity between the print head Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 manner thermally induced surface can be used and the print media or transfer roller and related patent tension reduction of pressurized ink). The drop selection means does not May require two print heads printing alternate rows applications Selected drops are separated from the ink in need to provide the energy required to of the image the nozzle by contact with the print medium separate the drop from the nozzle Monolithic color print heads are difficult or a transfer roller.

Electrostatic pull on The drops to be printed are selected by some Very simple print head fabrication Requires very high electrostatic field Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 ink manner thermally induced surface can be used Electrostatic field for small nozzle sizes is above air and related patent tension reduction of pressurized ink). The drop selection means does not breakdown applications Selected drops are separated from the ink in need to provide the energy required to Electrostatic field may attract dust Tone-Jet the nozzle by a strong electric field, separate the drop from the nozzle IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005

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Magnetic pull on ink The drops to be printed are selected by some Very simple print head fabrication Requires magnetic ink Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 manner thermally induced surface can be used Ink colors other than black are difficult and related patent tension reduction of pressurized ink). The drop selection means does not Requires very high magnetic fields applications Selected drops are separated from the ink in need to provide the energy required to the nozzle by a strong magnetic field acting separate the drop from the nozzle on the magnetic ink.

Shutter The actuator moves a shutter to block ink High speed (>50 KHz) operation can Moving parts are required 1J13, 1J17, IJ21 flow to the nozzle. The ink pressure is pulsed be achieved due to reduced refill time Requires ink pressure modulator at a multiple of the drop ejection frequency. Drop timing can be very accurate Friction and wear must be considered The actuator energy can be very low Stiction is possible Shuttered grill The actuator moves a shutter to block ink Actuators with small travel can be Moving parts are required I J08, 1J15, IJ 8, IJ19 flow through a grill to the nozzle. The shutter used Requires ink pressure modulator movement need only be equal to the width of Actuators with small force can be Friction and wear must be considered the grill holes. used Stiction is possible High speed (>50 KHz) operation can be achieved Pulsed magnetic pull A pulsed magnetic field attracts an 'ink Extremely low energy operation is Requires an external pulsed magnetic field 1110 on ink pusher pusher' at the drop ejection frequency. An possible Requires special materials for both the actuator and actuator controls a catch, which prevents the No heat dissipation problems the ink pusher ink pusher from moving when a drop is not to Complex construction be ejected.

IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 OU Auxiliary mechanism (applied to all nozzles) Auxiliary Description Mechanism None The actuator directly fires the ink drop, and there is no external field or other mechanism required.

Disadvntage Advantages Simplicity of construction Simplicity of operation Small physical size Disadvantages Drop ejection energy must be supplied by individual nozzle actuator

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Oscillating ink The ink nressure oscillates, providing much Oscillating ink pressure can provide a Requires external ink pressure oscillator Examples Most inkjets, including piezoelectric and thermal bubble.

IJ01- IJ07, IJ09, I J IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22 IJ23-IJ45 Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications 1108, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 IJ18, IJ19,IJ21 Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications I

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pressure of the drop ejection energy. The actuator (including acoustic selects which drops are to be fired by stimulation) selectively blocking or enabling nozzles. The ink pressure oscillation may be achieved by vibrating the print head, or preferably by an actuator in the ink supply.

Media proximity The print head is placed in close proximity to the print medium. Selected drops protrude from the print head further than unselected drops, and contact the print medium. The drop soaks into the medium fast enough to cause drop separation.

refill pulse, allowing higher operating speed The actuators may operate with much lower energy Acoustic lenses can be used to focus the sound on the nozzles Low power High accuracy Simple print head construction Ink pressure phase and amplitude must be carefully controlled Acoustic reflections in the ink chamber must be designed for Precision assembly required Paper fibers may cause problems Cannot print on rough substrates IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Transfer roller Drops are printed to a transfer roller instead of straight to the print medium. A transfer roller can also be used for proximity drop separation.

Electrostatic An electric field is used to accelerate selected drops towards the print medium.

High accuracy Wide range of print substrates can be used Ink can be dried on the transfer roller Low power Simple print head construction Low power Simple print head construction Does not require magnetic materials to be integrated in the print head manufacturing process Very low power operation is possible Small print head size Bulky Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 Expensive and related patent Complex construction applications Tektronix hot melt piezoelectric inkjet Any of the IJ series Field strength required for separation of small Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 drops is near or above air breakdown and related patent applications Tone-Jet Requires magnetic ink Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 Requires strong magnetic field and related patent applications Reonires external magnet IJ06, 1J16 Direct magnetic field A magnetic field is used to accelerate selected drops of magnetic ink towards the print medium.

Cross magnetic field The print head is placed in a constant magnetic field. The Lorenz force in a current carrying wire is used to move the actuator.

Pulsed magnetic field A pulsed magnetic field is used to cyclically attract a paddle, which pushes on the ink. A small actuator moves a catch, which selectively prevents the paddle from moving.

Current densities may be high, resulting in electromigration problems Complex print head construction Magnetic materials required in print head JI IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Actuator amplification or modification method Actuator Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples amplification None No actuator mechanical amplification is used. Operational simplicity Many actuator mechanisms have insufficient travel, Thermal Bubble Inkjet The actuator directly drives the drop ejection or insufficient force, to efficiently drive the drop IJO1, 1J02, IJ06, IJ07 process. ejection process IJ 16, IJ25, IJ26 Differential An actuator material expands more on one Provides greater travel in a reduced High stresses are involved Piezoelectric expansion bend side than on the other. The expansion may be print head area Care must be taken that the materials do not IJ03, IJ09, Il 7-IJ24 actuator thermal, piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, or The bend actuator converts a high delaminate IJ27, IJ29-IJ39, IJ42, other mechanism, force low travel actuator mechanism Residual bend resulting from high temperature or IJ43, IJ44 to high travel, lower force high stress during formation mechanism.

Transient bend A trilayer bend actuator where the two Very good temperature stability High stresses are involved IJ40, IJ41 actuator outside layers are identical. This cancels bend High speed, as a new drop can be Care must be taken that the materials do not due to ambient temperature and residual fired before heat dissipates delaminate stress. The actuator only responds to transient Cancels residual stress of formation heating of one side or the other.

Actuator stack A series of thin actuators are stacked. This Increased travel Increased fabrication complexity Some piezoelectric ink jets can be appropriate where actuators require Reduced drive voltage Increased possibility of short circuits due to IJ04 high electric field strength, such as pinholes electrostatic and piezoelectric actuators.

Multiple actuators Multiple smaller actuators are used Increases the force available from an Actuator forces may not add linearly, reducing 1112, IJ13, IJ18, simultaneously to move the ink. Each actuator efficiency IJ22, IJ28, IJ42, IJ43 actuator need provide only a portion of the Multiple actuators can be positioned force required, to control ink flow accurately IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Linear Spring A linear spring is used to transform a motion Matches low travel actuator with Requires print head area for the spring IJ with small travel and high force into a longer higher travel requirements travel, lower force motion. Non-contact method of motion transformation Reverse spring The actuator loads a spring. When the Better coupling to the ink Fabrication complexity IJ05, IJ 1I actuator is turned off, the spring releases. High stress in the spring This can reverse the force/distance curve of the actuator to make it compatible with the force/time requirements of the drop ejection.

Coiled actuator A bend actuator is coiled to provide greater Increases travel Generally restricted to planar implementations due IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, travel in a reduced chip area. Reduces chip area to extreme fabrication difficulty in other Planar implementations are relatively orientations.

easy to fabricate.

Flexure bend actuator A bend actuator has a small region near the Simple means of increasing travel of Care must be taken not to exceed the elastic limit in IJ10, IJ19, IJ33 fixture point, which flexes much more readily a bend actuator the flexure area than the remainder of the actuator. The Stress distribution is very uneven actuator flexing is effectively converted from Difficult to accurately model with finite element an even coiling to an angular bend, resulting analysis in greater travel of the actuator tip.

Gears Gears can be used to increase travel at the Low force, low travel actuators can Moving parts are required IJ13 expense of duration. Circular gears, rack and be used Several actuator cycles are required pinion, ratchets, and other gearing methods Can be fabricated using standard More complex drive electronics can be used. surface MEMS processes Complex construction Friction, friction, and wear are possible IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 4 i.omie cosrut Catch Buckle plate Tapered magnetic pole Lever The actuator controls a small catch. The catch either enables or disables movement of an ink pusher that is controlled in a bulk manner.

A buckle plate can be used to change a slow actuator into a fast motion. It can also convert a high force, low travel actuator into a high travel, medium force motion.

Very fast movement achievable Very low actuator energy Very small actuator size

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complex construction Requires external force Unsuitable for pigmented inks Must stay within elastic limits of the materials for long device life High stresses involved Generally high power requirement S. Hirata et al, "An Ink-jet Head Proc. IEEE MEMS, Feb. 1996, pp 418- 423.

IJ18, IJ27 I I A tapered magnetic pole can increase travel at the exoense of force.

Linearizes the magnetic force/distance curve complex construction I J Rotary impeller Acoustic lens A lever and fulcrum is used to transform a motion with small travel and high force into a motion with longer travel and lower force.

The lever can also reverse the direction of travel.

The actuator is connected to a rotary impeller.

A small angular deflection of the actuator results in a rotation of the impeller vanes, which push the ink against stationary vanes and out of the nozzle.

Matches low travel actuator with higher travel requirements Fulcrum area has no linear movement, and can be used for a fluid seal llgll Sa-Ll (UU.L1U LLm I I I I T High mechanical advantage The ratio of force to travel of the actuator can be matched to the nozzle requirements by varying the number of impeller vanes Complex construction Unsuitable for pigmented inks Lill U A U rl,-nm 1311L [J-10 ti.3LJ30.153

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I I i 1993 Hadimioglu et al, EUP

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A refractive or diffractive zone plate) acoustic lens is used to concentrate sound waves.

7- No moving parts Large area required Only relevant for acoustic ink jets

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1993 Hadimioglu et al, EUP 550,192 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 572,220 I I I IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Arhatnr mntlinn Acguator

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Actuator motion Volume expansion Linear, normal to chip surface Linear, parallel to chip surface Membrane push Rotary Description The volume of the actuator changes, pushing the ink in all directions.

The actuator moves in a direction normal to the print head surface. The nozzle is typically in the line of movement.

Advantages Simple construction in the case of thermal inkjet vsadvantagesF

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High energy is typically required to achieve volume expansion. This leads to thermal stress, cavitation, and kogation in thermal ink jet implementations High fabrication complexity may be required to achieve perpendicular motion

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Efficient coupling to ink drops ejected normal to the surface The actuator moves parallel to the print head surface. Drop ejection may still be normal to the surface.

An actuator with a high force but small area is used to push a stiff membrane that is in contact with the ink.

Suitable for planar fabrication Fabrication complexity Friction Stiction Examples Hewlett-Packard Thermal Inkjet Canon Bubblejet 1J01, IJ02, 1J04, IJ07 IJ11,IJ14 IJ12,IJ13,IJ15,IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 1982 Howkins USP 4,459,601 1J05, IJ08, I13, IJ28 I The effective area of the actuator Ibecomes the membrane area Fabrication complexity Actuator size Difficulty of integration in a VLSI process Device complexity The actuator causes the rotation of some element, such a grill or impeller Rotary levers may be used to increase travel Small chip area requirements Device complexity May have friction at a pivot point I

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IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Bend The actuator bends when energized. This may A very small change in dimensions be due to differential thermal expansion, can be converted to a large motion.

piezoelectric expansion, magnetostriction, or other form of relative dimensional change.

Swivel Straighten Double bend Shear Radial constriction The actuator swivels around a central pivot.

This motion is suitable where there are opposite forces applied to opposite sides of the paddle, e.g. Lorenz force.

The actuator is normally bent, and straightens when energized.

The actuator bends in one direction when one element is energized, and bends the other way when another element is energized.

Energizing the actuator causes a shear motion in the actuator material.

The actuator squeezes an ink reservoir, forcing ink from a constricted nozzle.

Allows operation where the net linear force on the paddle is zero Small chip area requirements Can be used with shape memory alloys where the austenic phase is planar One actuator can be used to power two nozzles.

Reduced chip size.

Not sensitive to ambient temperature Can increase the effective travel of piezoelectric actuators Relatively easy to fabricate single nozzles from glass tubing as macroscopic structures Requires the actuator to be made from at least two distinct layers, or to have a thermal difference across the actuator Inefficient coupling to the ink motion Requires careful balance of stresses to ensure that the quiescent bend is accurate Difficult to make the drops ejected by both bend directions identical.

A small efficiency loss compared to equivalent single bend actuators.

Not readily applicable to other actuator mechanisms High force required Inefficient Difficult to integrate with VLSI processes 1970 Kyser et al USP 3,946,398 1973 Stemme USP 3,747,120 IJ03, IJ09, IJ10, IJ19 IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ29 IJ31,IJ33, IJ34 IJ06 IJ26, 1J32 1J36, IJ37, IJ38 1985 Fishbeck USP 4,584,590 1970 Zoltan USP 3,683,212 IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 ~rot n n-lna eie J1.lZI J~,I Coil uncoil Bow Push-Pull Curl inwards Curl outwards Iris Acoustic vibration A coiled actuator uncoils or coils more tightly. The motion of the free end of the actuator ejects the ink.

The actuator bows (or buckles) in the middle when energized.

Two actuators control a shutter. One actuator pulls the shutter, and the other pushes it.

A set of actuators curl inwards to reduce the volume of ink that they enclose.

A set of actuators curl outwards, pressurizing ink in a chamber surrounding the actuators, and expelling ink from a nozzle in the chamber.

Multiple vanes enclose a volume of ink.

These simultaneously rotate, reducing the volume between the vanes.

The actuator vibrates at a high frequency.

Easy to fabricate as a planar VLSI process Small area required, therefore low cost Can increase the speed of travel Mechanically rigid I nl~frillt wo fabricate for non-plariar devices I U 17 1.12 1, U.34, Poor out-of-plane stiffness Poor out-of-plane stiffness Maximum travel is constrained High force required

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The structure is pinned at both ends, so has a high out-of-plane rigidity Not readily suitable for inkjets which directly push the ink IJ16,IJ18,IJ27 IJ18 IJ20, 1J42 IJ43 Good fluid flow to the region behind the actuator increases efficiency Relatively simple construction Design complexity Relatively large chip area High fabrication complexity High efficiency Small chip area High fabrication complexity Not suitable for pigmented inks

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The actuator can be physically distant from the ink Large area required for efficient operation at useful frequencies Acoustic coupling and crosstalk Complex drive circuitry Poor control of drop volume and position Various other tradeoffs are required to eliminate moving parts 1993 Hadimioglu et al, EUP 550,192 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 572,220 Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications Tone-jet not move.

I I_ IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 t,-t Nozzle refill method Nozzle refill method Description Surface tension After the actuator is energized, it typically returns rapidly to its normal position. This rapid return sucks in air through the nozzle opening. The ink surface tension at the nozzle then exerts a small force restoring the meniscus to a minimum area.

Shuttered oscillating Ink to the nozzle chamber is provided at a ink pressure pressure that oscillates at twice the drop ejection frequency. When a drop is to be ejected, the shutter is opened for 3 half cycles: drop ejection, actuator return, and refill.

Refill actuator After the main actuator has ejected a drop a second (refill) actuator is energized. The refill actuator pushes ink into the nozzle chamber.

The refill actuator returns slowly, to prevent its return from emptying the chamber again.

Positive ink pressure The ink is held a slight positive pressure.

After the ink drop is ejected, the nozzle chamber fills quickly as surface tension and ink pressure both operate to refill the nozzle.

Disadvantages Advantages Fabrication simplicity Operational simplicity High speed Low actuator energy, as the actuator need only open or close the shutter, instead of ejecting the ink drop High speed, as the nozzle is actively refilled High refill rate, therefore a high drop repetition rate is possible Disadvantages Low speed Surface tension force relatively small compared to actuator force Long refill time usually dominates the total repetition rate Requires common ink pressure oscillator May not be suitable for pigmented inks Examples Thermal inkjet Piezoelectric inkjet IJ01-IJ07, IJ0-IJ14 IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 IJ08,IJ13, IJ15,IJ17 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 Requires two independent actuators per nozzle IJ09 Surface spill must be prevented Highly hydrophobic print head surfaces are required Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications Alternative for: IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14 J116, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 j a IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 1'tJ Method of restricting ba Inlet back-flow restriction method Long inlet channel Positive ink pressure Baffle ck-flow through inlet Disadvantages Examples

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Description Advantages The ink inlet channel to the nozzle chamber is Design simp made long and relatively narrow, relying on Operational viscous drag to reduce inlet back-flow. Reduces cro The ink is under a positive pressure, so that in Drop selecti the quiescent state some of the ink drop can be redu already protrudes from the nozzle. Fast refill til This reduces the pressure in the nozzle chamber which is required to eject a certain volume of ink. The reduction in chamber pressure results in a reduction in ink pushed out through the inlet.

licity simplicity sstalk on and separation forces ced me Disadvantages Restricts refill rate May result in a relatively large chip area Only partially effective Requires a method (such as a nozzle rim or effective hydrophobizing, or both) to prevent flooding of the ejection surface of the print head.

Design complexity May increase fabrication complexity (e.g.

Tektronix hot melt Piezoelectric print heads).

Not applicable to most inkjet configurations Increased fabrication complexity Inelastic deformation of polymer flap results in creep over extended use Examples Thermal inkjet Piezoelectric inkjet IJ42, IJ43 Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications Possible operation of the following: IJ01-IJ07, IJ09- IJ12 IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, 1J22, IJ23-IJ34, IJ36- IJ41 IJ44 HP Thermal Ink Jet Tektronix piezoelectric inkjet Canon One or more baffles are placed in the inlet ink flow. When the actuator is energized, the rapid ink movement creates eddies which restrict the flow through the inlet. The slower refill process is unrestricted, and does not result in eddies.

In this method recently disclosed by Canon, the expanding actuator (bubble) pushes on a flexible flap that restricts the inlet.

The refill rate is not as restricted as the long inlet method.

Reduces crosstalk Significantly reduces back-flow for edge-shooter thermal inkjet devices Flexible flap restricts inlet IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 -tU Restricts refill rate Inlet filter Small inlet compared to nozzle Inlet shutter The inlet is located behind the inkpushing surface Part of the actuator moves to shut off the inlet A filter is located between the ink inlet and the nozzle chamber. The filter has a multitude of small holes or slots, restricting ink flow.

The filter also removes particles which may block the nozzle.

The ink inlet channel to the nozzle chamber has a substantially smaller cross section than that of the nozzle, resulting in easier ink egress out of the nozzle than out of the inlet.

A secondary actuator controls the position of a shutter, closing off the ink inlet when the main actuator is energized.

The method avoids the problem of inlet backflow by arranging the ink-pushing surface of the actuator between the inlet and the nozzle.

The actuator and a wall of the ink chamber are arranged so that the motion of the actuator closes off the inlet.

Additional advantage of ink filtration Ink filter may be fabricated with no additional process steps Design simplicity Increases speed of the ink-jet print head operation Back-flow problem is eliminated Significant reductions in back-flow can be achieved Compact designs possible Restricts refill rate May result in complex construction Restricts refill rate May result in a relatively large chip area Only partially effective 1J04, 1J12,IJ24, 1I27 IJ29, IJ02, IJ37, IJ44 Requires separate refill actuator and drive circuit IJ09 Requires careful design to minimize the negative pressure behind the paddle Small increase in fabrication complexity IJ01, IJ03, 1J05, IJ06 IJ07,1110, J11, IJ14 IJ16,1J22,IJ23,IJ25 IJ28,1J31,IJ32,IJ33 1J34, IJ35, IJ36, IJ39 IJ41 IJ07, IJ20, IJ26, IJ38 IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 II N Nozzle actuator does not result in ink backflow In some configurations of ink jet, there is no Ink back-flow problem is eliminated expansion or movement of an actuator which may cause ink back-flow through the inlet.

I None related to ink back-ftlow on actuation I Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications Valve-jet Tone-jet 1J08, J13, IJ15, IJ17 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 I Nozzle Clearing Method Nozzle Clearing Description method Normal nozzle firing All of the nozzles are fired periodically, before the ink has a chance to dry. When not in use the nozzles are sealed (capped) against air.

Disadvantages

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The nozzle firing is usually performed during a special clearing cycle, after first moving the print head to a cleaning station.

Extra power to ink In systems which heat the ink, but do not boil heater it under normal situations, nozzle clearing can be achieved by over-powering the heater and boiling ink at the nozzle.

Advantages No added complexity on the print head Can be highly effective if the heater is adjacent to the nozzle Disadvantages May not be sufficient to displace dried ink Requires higher drive voltage for clearing May require larger drive transistors Examples Most inkjet systems I J01- J07, IJ09-IJ12 IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22 IJ23- IJ34, IJ36-IJ45 Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Rapid succession of The actuator is fired in rapid succession. In Does not require extra drive circuits Effectiveness depends substantially upon the actuator pulses some configurations, this may cause heat on the print head configuration of the inkjet nozzle build-up at the nozzle which boils the ink, Can be readily controlled and clearing the nozzle. In other situations, it may initiated by digital logic cause sufficient vibrations to dislodge clogged nozzles.

Extra power to ink Where an actuator is not normally driven to A simple solution where applicable Not suitable where there is a hard limit to actuator pushing actuator the limit of its motion, nozzle clearing may be movement assisted by providing an enhanced drive signal to the actuator.

Acoustic resonance An ultrasonic wave is applied to the ink A high nozzle clearing capability can High implementation cost if system does not chamber. This wave is of an appropriate be achieved already include an acoustic actuator amplitude and frequency to cause sufficient May be implemented at very low cost force at the nozzle to clear blockages. This is in systems which already include easiest to achieve if the ultrasonic wave is at a acoustic actuators resonant frequency of the ink cavity.

Nozzle clearing plate A microfabricated plate is pushed against the Can clear severely clogged nozzles Accurate mechanical alignment is required nozzles. The plate has a post for every nozzle. Moving parts are required The array of posts There is risk of damage to the nozzles Accurate fabrication is required Ink pressure pulse The pressure of the ink is temporarily May be effective where other Requires pressure pump or other pressure actuator increased so that ink streams from all of the methods cannot be used Expensive nozzles. This may be used in conjunction Wasteful of ink with actuator energizing.

May be used with: IJ01-IJ07, IJ09- IJ11 IJ14, IJ16,1J20, IJ22 IJ23-IJ25, IJ27-IJ34 IJ36-IJ45 May be used with: 1J03, IJ09, IJ16, IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ27 IJ29, J30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42 IJ43, IJ44, IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21

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Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications May be used with all IJ series ink jets IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 Print head wiper A flexible 'blade' is wiped across the print Effective for planar print head Difficult to use if print head surface is non-planar Many ink jet systems head surface. The blade is usually fabricated surfaces or very fragile from a flexible polymer, e.g. rubber or Low cost Requires mechanical parts synthetic elastomer. Blade can wear out in high volume print systems Separate ink boiling A separate heater is provided at the nozzle Can be effective where other nozzle Fabrication complexity Can be used with many I heater although the normal drop e-ection clearing methods cannot be used series ink jets mechanism does not require it. The heaters do Can be implemented at no additional not require individual drive circuits, as many cost in some inkjet configurations nozzles can be cleared simultaneously, and no imaging is required.

Nozzle plate construction Nozzle plate Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples construction Electroformed nickel A nozzle plate is separately fabricated from Fabrication simplicity High temperatures and pressures are required to Hewlett Packard Thermal electroformed nickel, and bonded to the print bond nozzle plate Inkjet head chip. Minimum thickness constraints Differential thermal expansion Laser ablated or Individual nozzle holes are ablated by an No masks required Each hole must be individually formed Canon Bubblejet drilled polymer intense UV laser in a nozzle plate, which is Can be quite fast Special equipment required 1988 Sercel et at., SPIE, Vol.

typically a polymer such as polyimide or Some control over nozzle profile is Slow where there are many thousands of nozzles 998 Excimer Beam polysulphone possible per print head Applications, pp. 76-83 Equipment required is relatively low May produce thin burrs at exit holes 1993 Watanabe et al., USP cost 15,208,604 cost IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 ;JU Two part construction Silicon micromachined Glass capillaries Monolithic, surface micro-machined using VLSI lithographic processes A separate nozzle plate is micromachined High accuracy is attainable from single crystal silicon, and bonded to the print head wafer.

Fine glass capillaries are drawn from glass No expensive equipment re tubing. This method has been used for Simple to make single noz2 making individual nozzles, but is difficult to use for bulk manufacturing of print heads with thousands of nozzles.

The nozzle plate is deposited as a layer using High accuracy pm) standard VLSI deposition techniques. Monolithic Nozzles are etched in the nozzle plate using Low cost VLSI lithography and etching. Existing processes can be i

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quired !les used Two part construction High cost Requires precision alignment Nozzles may be clogged by adhesive Very small nozzle sizes are difficult to form Not suited for mass production Requires sacrificial layer under the nozzle plate to form the nozzle chamber Surface may be fragile to the touch Requires long etch times Requires a support wafer K. Bean, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol.

ED-25, No. 10, 1978, pp 1185-1195 Xerox 1990 Hawkins et al., USP 4,899,181 1970 Zoltan USP 3,683,212 Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 and related patent applications IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, I J1 IJ12, IJ17,IJ18,IJ20 IJ22, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 IJ29, IJ30,IJ31, 1I32 IJ33, IJ34, 1136, IJ37 IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41 IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 IJ03, IJ05, IJ06, IJ07 IJ08, IJ09, IJ10, IJ13 IJ14, IJ15, IJ16, IJ19 IJ21,IJ23, IJ25,IJ26 Monolithic, etched The nozzle plate is a buried etch stop in the High accuracy pm) f, e .c -hlmhbers are etched in the Monolithic tnrougn subosrate wa front of the wafer, and the wafer is thinned Low cost from the back side. Nozzles are then etched in No differential expansion the etch stop layer.

IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 bi No nozzle plate Various methods have been tried to eliminate No nozzles to become clogged Difficult to control drop position accurately Rico 1995 Sekiya et al USP the nozzles entirely, to prevent nozzle 1993 Hadimioglu et al EUP clogging. These include thermal bubble 550,192 mechanisms and acoustic lens mechanisms 1993 Elrod et al EUP 572,220 Trough Each drop ejector has a trough through which Reduced manufacturing complexity Drop firing direction is sensitive to wicking. 1J35 a paddle moves. There is no nozzle plate. Monolithic Nozzle slit instead of The elimination of nozzle holes and No nozzles to become clogged Difficult to control drop position accurately 1989 Saito et al USP individual nozzles replacement by a slit encompassing many Crossta problems actuator positions reduces nozzle clogging, but increases crosstalk due to ink surface waves Drop ejection direction sadaas Examples Ejection Description Advantages Disadvantages Exa Dirctionzzles limited Canon Bubblejet 1979 Endo Edge Ink flow is along the surface of the chip, and Simple construction Nozzles lmitedet al GB patent 2,007,162 ('edge shooter') ink drops are ejected from the chip edge. No silicon etching required High resolution is difficult Xerox heater-in-pit 1990 ('edge shooter') Good heat sinking via substrate Fast color printing requires one print head per color Xerox heater-in-al USP 4,899,181 Mechanically strong Tone-jet Ease of chip- ettpackard TIJ 1982 Surface Ink flow is along the surface of the chip, and No bulk silicon etching required Maximum ink flow is severely restrictedHewlett-Packard TIJ 1982 Vaught et al USP 4,490,728 ('roof shooter') ink drops are ejected from the chip surface, Silicon can make an effective heat 1J02, IJ11, IJ12, ('roof shooter') normal to the plane of the chip. sink IJ22 Mechanical strength Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 Through chip, Ink flow is through the chip, and ink drops High ink flow Requires bulk silicon etching and related patent forward are ejected from the front surface of the chip. Suitable for pagewidth print applications High nozzle packing density therefore IJ04, IJ17, IJ18, IJ24 up shooterlow manufacturing cost IJ27-IJ45, 1

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IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005

J&

Through chip, reverse Ink flow is through the chip, and ink drops High ink flow Requires wafer thinning I1, 03, 1 05, 1J06 d n shooter') are ejected from the rear surface of the chip. Suitable for pagewidth print Requires special handling during manufacture IJ07, 1J08, 1I09, 1l10 ('down shooter') ISa3, for4, Iel5, pse6 High nozzle packing density therefore13, 14, IJ, 16 low manufacturing cost IJ19, IJ21, IJ23, IJ26 Through actuator Ink flow is through the actuator, which is not Suitable for piezoelectric print heads Pagewidth print heads require several thousand Epson Stylus fabricated as part of the same substrate as the connections to drive circuits Tektronix hot melt drive transistors. Cannot be manufactured in standard CMOS fabs piezoelectric ink jets Complex assembly required Ink type Ink type Description Advantages Aqueous, dye Water based ink which typically contains: Environmentally friendly water, dye, surfactant, humectant, and No odor biocide.

Modem ink dyes have high water-fastness, light fastness Aqueous, pigment Water based ink which typically contains: Environmentally friendly water, pigment, surfactant, humectant, and No odor biocide. Reduced bleed Pigments have an advantage in reduced bleed, Reduced wicking wicking and strikethrough. Reduced strikethrough Disadvantages Examples Slow drying Most existing inkjets Corrosive All IJ series ink jets Bleeds on paper Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 May strikethrough and related patent Cockles paper applications Slow drying 1J02, 1104, IJ21, IJ26 Corrosive 1J27, Pigment may clog nozzles Silverbrook, EP 0771 658 A2 Pigment may clog actuator mechanisms and related patent Cockles paper applications Piezoelectric ink-jets Thermal ink jets (with significant restrictions) IR53-AU 2005202931 04 Jul 2005 _U0 Odorous Methyl Ethyl Ketone

(MEK)

Alcohol (ethanol, 2-butanol, and others) Phase change (hot melt) Oil MEK is a highly volatile solvent used for industrial printing on difficult surfaces such as aluminum cans.

Alcohol based inks can be used where the printer must operate at temperatures below the freezing point of water. An example of this is in-camera consumer photographic printing.

The ink is solid at room temperature, and is melted in the print head before jetting. Hot melt inks are usually wax based, with a melting point around 80 OC. After jetting the ink freezes almost instantly upon contacting the print medium or a transfer roller.

Oil based inks are extensively used in offset printing. They have advantages in improved characteristics on paper (especially no wicking or cockle). Oil soluble dies and pigments are required.

A microemulsion is a stable, self forming emulsion of oil, water, and surfactant. The characteristic drop size is less than 100 nm, and is determined by the preferred curvature of the surfactant.

Very fast drying Prints on various substrates such as metals and plastics Odorous Flammable All IJ series ink jets All I series ink jets Slight odor Fast drying Operates at sub-freezing temperatures Reduced paper cockle Low cost No drying time- ink instantly freezes on the print medium Almost any print medium can be used No paper cockle occurs No wicking occurs No bleed occurs No strikethrough occurs High solubility medium for some dyes Does not cockle paper Does not wick through paper Stops ink bleed High dye solubility Water, oil, and amphiphilic soluble dies can be used Can stabilize pigment suspensions Slight odor Flammable High viscosity Printed ink typically has a 'waxy' feel Printed pages may 'block' Ink temperature may be above the curie point of permanent magnets Ink heaters consume power Long warm-up time High viscosity: this is a significant limitation for use in inkjets, which usually require a low viscosity. Some short chain and multi-branched oils have a sufficiently low viscosity.

Slow drying Viscosity higher than water Cost is slightly higher than water based ink High surfactant concentration required (around Tektronix hot melt piezoelectric ink jets 1989 Nowak USP 4,820,346 All IJ series inkjets All IJ series inkjets All IJ series inkjets IR53-AU

Claims

1. A camera including: an image sensor device for sensing an image; a processor for processing said sensed image; a printhead for printing said sensed image on a print media; Ca print media supply for storing print media internally to said camera system and for feeding Sprint media to said printhead; and a guillotine mechanism located between said print media supply and said print head, V) 10 wherein said guillotine mechanism is adapted to cut said print media into sheets of a predetermined size.

A camera as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guillotine mechanism is detachable from said camera system.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 2 wherein said guillotine mechanism is attached to said print media supply and is detachable from said camera system with said print media supply.

4. A camera system as claimed in any previous claim wherein said guillotine mechanism is mounted on a platen unit adjacent said printhead. IR53-AU