US20070126880A1

US20070126880A1 - Handheld device with image sensor and printer

Info

Publication number: US20070126880A1
Application number: US11/672,878
Authority: US
Inventors: Kia Silverbrook
Original assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-07-15
Filing date: 2007-02-08
Publication date: 2007-06-07
Also published as: US20050150963A1; US20070035583A1; US20090135232A1; US6331946B1; US20070201846A1; US20080012905A1; US20090073240A1; US7362971B2; US7506965B2; US20050178846A1; US20050225606A1; US6938990B2; US7773113B2; US20050127191A1; US20110050807A1; US7866797B2; US7980670B2; US6787051B2; AUPO799197A0; US7222799B2

Abstract

A handheld electronic device that has an image sensor for sensing an image in a first color space having three color components such that an image is sensed as an array of pixels, each having three color component intensities captured as analogue values. The device also has an analogue to digital converter for converting the analogue values to digital values, a memory facility for storing the digital values of the color components for each of the pixels in the array in a respective memory location, an address generator for generating an address that uniquely identifies the memory location of the digital values of the color components for each pixel, an inkjet printer for operation in a second color space and, a processor for manipulating the image by remapping at least some of the memory locations in the memory facility, and color converting the digital values of the color components into the second color space.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/113,094 filed on Jul. 10, 1998 all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates substantially to the concept of a disposable camera having instant printing capabilities and in particular, discloses a method of color correction in a digital camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, the concept of a “single use” disposable camera has become an increasingly popular consumer item. Disposable camera systems presently on the market normally include an internal film roll and a simplified gearing mechanism for traversing the film roll across an imaging system including a shutter and lensing system. The user, after utilising a single film roll returns the camera system to a film development centre for processing. The film roll is taken out of the camera system and processed and the prints returned to the user. The camera system is then able to be re-manufactured 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 printhead, 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 for supplying to 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.
It would be advantageous to provide for a camera system having an effective color correction or gamma remapping capability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides a method of colour correcting a sensed image before printing by a hand held camera system, said camera system including:
an image sensor device for sensing an image;
a processing means for processing said sensed image; and
a printing system including a printhead for printing out said sensed image; wherein the method of colour correcting a sensed image before printing comprises:

- utilizing said image sensor device to sense a first image;
- processing said first image to determine colour characteristics of said first image;
- utilizing said image sensor device to sense a second image, in rapid succession to said first image;
- applying colour correction to said second image based on the determined colour characteristics of said first image; and
- printing out said second image by said printhead.
  Optionally said second image is sensed within 1 second of said first image.
  Optionally said processing step includes examining the intensity characteristics of said first image.
  Optionally said processing step includes determining a maximum and minimum intensity of said first image and utilizing said intensities to rescale the intensities of said second image.

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 illustrates a front perspective view of the assembled camera of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view, partly exploded, of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chassis of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chassis illustrating mounting of electric motors;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ink supply mechanism of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 6 is rear 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 view of the platten unit of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a 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 view of the printhead recapping mechanism of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a close up exploded perspective view of the recapping mechanism of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the ink supply cartridge of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 14 is a close up perspective view, partly in section of the internal portions of the ink supply cartridge in an assembled form;
FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of one form of chip layer of the image capture and processing chip of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the assembly process of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 17 illustrates a front exploded perspective view of the assembly process of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of the assembly process of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 19 illustrates a 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;
FIG. 21 illustrates the interconnection of the electrical components of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 22 illustrates the process of assembling the preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 23 is a perspective view further illustrating the assembly process of the preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Turning to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 there an illustrated perspective views of an assembled camera constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment with FIG. 1 showing a front perspective view and FIG. 2 showing a rear 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 a plastic injection molded part. A pair of paper pinch rollers 28, 29 utilized 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 snap 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. The motors 16, 17 include cogs 19, 20 for driving a series of gear wheels. A first set of gear wheels 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 utilized in the camera system. FIG. 5 illustrates a rear exploded perspective view, FIG. 6 illustrates a assembled perspective 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 printhead 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 paper 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 mechanism 40 includes a flexible PCB strip 47 which interconnects with the printhead and provides for control of the printhead. The interconnection between the Flex PCB strip and an image sensor and printhead 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 60 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 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 platen unit 60 by means of a rod 64 having a screw thread which is rotated by means of cogged wheel 65 which is also fitted to the platen base 62. The screw threaded rod 64 mounts 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 pawl 71. The pawl 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 71, thereby maintaining a count of the number of photographs by means of numbers embossed on the surface of dial mechanism 44. The cutting mechanism 63 is inserted into the platten base 62 by means of a snap fit via clips 74.
The platten unit 60 includes an internal recapping mechanism 80 for recapping the printhead 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 the printhead. In the preferred embodiment, there is provided an inexpensive form of printhead re-capping mechanism provided for incorporation into a handheld camera system so as to provide for printhead re-capping 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 80 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 platen base 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 78 of the solenoid actuator is also provided. The arm 78 is moveable and also is 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 acts as a leaf spring 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 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 75. 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, and rewound so as to clear the area of the re-capping mechanism 80. 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 FIGS. 13 and 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 tables below.
Of course, many other inkjet technologies, as referred to the attached tables below, can also be utilised when constructing a printhead unit 102. The fundamental requirement of the ink supply cartridge 42 is the supply of ink to a series of colour channels etched through the back surface of the printhead 102. In the description of the 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 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 inhibiting 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 and a second base piece 111.
At a first end 118 of the base piece 111 a series of air inlets 113-115 are provided. Each 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 (not shown) 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 cartridge 42 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 124, 125 are further mechanically supported by block portions eg. 126 which are placed at regular intervals along the length of the ink supply unit. The block portions 126 leave space at portions close to the back of printhead 102 for the flow of ink around the back surface thereof.
The ink supply unit is preferably formed from a multi-part plastic injection mold and the mold pieces eg. 110, 111 (FIG. 13) 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 printhead 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 mm²using 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 color filter fabrication steps.

The ICP preferably contains the following functions:



Function

	1.5 megapixel image sensor
	Analog Signal Processors
	Image sensor column decoders
	Image sensor row decoders
	Analogue to Digital Conversion (ADC)
	Column ADC's
	Auto exposure
	12 Mbits of DRAM
	DRAM Address Generator
	Color interpolator
	Convolver
	Color ALU
	Halftone matrix ROM
	Digital halftoning
	printhead interface
	8 bit CPU core
	Program ROM
	Flash memory
	Scratchpad SRAM
	Parallel interface (8 bit)
	Motor drive transistors (5)
	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 minimize power consumption and allow convenient operation from two AA type battery cells.
FIG. 15 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 1,500×1,000. 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 750×500 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, 0.25 μm CMOS Technology”, IEDM 1996, page 915
The imaging array uses a 4 transistor active pixel design of a standard configuration. To minimize 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 3.6 μm×3.6 μm. However, the photosite must be substantially above the diffraction limit of the lens. It is also advantageous to have a square photosite, to maximize the margin over the diffraction limit in both horizontal and vertical directions. In this case, the photosite can be specified as 2.5 μm×2.5 μm. The photosite can be a photogate, pinned photodiode, charge modulation device, or other sensor.
The four transistors are packed as an ‘L’ shape, rather than a rectangular region, to allow both the pixel and the photosite 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 have 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.
The extra gate length, and the ‘L’ shaped packing, mean that the transistors use more area than the minimum for the technology. Normally, around 8 μm²would be required for rectangular packing. Preferably, 9.75 μm²has been allowed for the transistors.
The total area for each pixel is 16 μm², resulting from a pixel size of 4 μm×4 μm. With a resolution of 1,500×1,000, the area of the imaging array 101 is 6,000 μm×4,000 μm, or 24 mm².
The presence of a color image sensor on the chip affects the process required in two major ways:

- The CMOS fabrication process should be optimized to minimize dark current

Color 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 15,000 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 analog signal degradation incurred before the signal is converted to digital. This also eliminates 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 ADCs 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 color components are also collected for color correction.
The second largest section of the chip is consumed by a DRAM 210 used to hold the image. To store the 1,500×1,000 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 0.18 μm CMOS.
Using a standard 8F cell, the area taken by the memory array is 3.11 mm². When row decoders, column sensors, redundancy, and other factors are taken into account, the DRAM requires around 4 mm².
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 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 operation, 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 addresses to the DRAM are generated. The read order from the DRAM 210 will normally simply match the requirements of a color interpolator and the printhead. As the cyan, magenta, and yellow rows of the printhead are necessarily offset by a few pixels to allow space for nozzle actuators, the colors 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 printhead interface, thereby saving chip area. All three RGB image components can be read from the DRAM each time color data is required. This allows a color 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 color interpolator 214 converts the interleaved pattern of red, 2× 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 (5×5) 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 color interpolation from the linear interpolation provided by the color interpolator, to a close approximation of a sync interpolation.
- To compensate for the image ‘softening’ which occurs during digitization.
- 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 color channels is 56 million multiplies per second. This can be provided by a single multiplier. Fifty bytes of coefficient ROM are also required.
A color ALU 113 combines the functions of color compensation and color space conversion into the one matrix multiplication, which is applied to every pixel of the frame. As with sharpening, the color correction should match the most popular settings, rather than the most accurate.
A color compensation circuit of the color ALU provides compensation for the lighting of the photo. The vast majority of photographs are substantially improved by a simple color compensation, which independently normalizes the contrast and brightness of the three color components.
A color look-up table (CLUT) 212 is provided for each color component. These are three separate 256×8 SRAMs, requiring a total of 6,144 bits. The CLUTs are used as part of the color correction process. They are also used for color special effects, such as stochastically selected “wild color” effects.
A color space conversion system of the color ALU converts from the RGB color space of the image sensor to the CMY color 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 color spaces, and perfect dye spectra for both the color 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 color space. Such a system is usually necessary to obtain good color space conversion when the print engine is a color 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 color ALU which is shared with the color compensation function.
Digital halftoning can be performed as a dispersed dot ordered dither using a stochastic optimized dither cell. A halftone matrix ROM 216 is provided for storing dither cell coefficients. A dither cell size of 32×32 is adequate to ensure that the cell repeat cycle is not visible. The three colors—cyan, magenta, and yellow—are all dithered using the same cell, to ensure maximum co-positioning of the ink dots. This minimizes ‘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 is shared by the halftoning units for each of the three colors.
The digital halftoning used is dispersed dot ordered dither with stochastic optimized dither matrix. While dithering does not produce an image quite as ‘sharp’ as error diffusion, it does produce a more accurate image with fewer artifacts. 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×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 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 and provided for scaling the clocking cycle to an appropriate 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 224 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 Flash memory 221. This allows the clock PLL to control the ink-jet heater pulse width with sufficient accuracy.
A scratchpad SRAM is a small static RAM 222 with a 6T cell. The scratchpad provides temporary memory for the 16 bit CPU. 1024 bytes is adequate.
A printhead interface 223 formats the data correctly for the printhead. The printhead interface also provides all of the timing signals required by the printhead. 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 printhead interface:



Connection	Function	Pins

DataBits[0-7]	Independent serial data to the eight	8
	segments of the printhead
BitClock	Main data clock for the printhead	1
ColorEnable[0-2]	Independent enable signals for the CMY	3
	actuators, allowing different pulse times
	for each color.
BankEnable[0-1]	Allows either simultaneous or interleaved	2
	actuation of two banks of nozzles. This
	allows two different print speed/power
	consumption tradeoffs
NozzleSelect[0-4]	Selects one of 32 banks of nozzles for	5
	simultaneous actuation
ParallelXferClock	Loads the parallel transfer register with	1
	the data from the shift registers
Total		20

The printhead utilized is composed of eight identical segments, each 1.25 cm long. There is no connection between the segments on the printhead 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 1.25 cm fits easily into a stepper field. As the printhead chip is long and narrow (10 cm×0.3 mm), the stepper field contains a single segment of 32 printhead chips. The stepper field is therefore 1.25 cm×1.6 cm. An average of four complete printheads are patterned in each wafer step.
A single BitClock output line connects to all 8 segments on the printhead. The 8 DataBits lines lead one to each segment, and are clocked in to the 8 segments on the printhead simultaneously (on a BitClock pulse). For example, dot 0 is transferred to segment₀, dot 750 is transferred to segment₁, dot 1500 to segment₂etc simultaneously.
The ParallelXferClock is connected to each of the 8 segments on the printhead, 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 printhead interface to independently control the duration of the cyan, magenta, and yellow nozzle energizing pulses. Registers in the printhead Interface allow the accurate specification of the pulse duration between 0 and 6 ms, with a typical duration of 2 ms to 3 ms.
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	Pins

Paper transport stepper motor	Output		4
Capping solenoid	Output	1
Copy LED	Output	1
Photo button	Input	1
Copy button	Input	1
Total		8

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, the 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/printhead TAB by the refill station as the new ink is injected into the printhead.
FIG. 16 illustrates a 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 84 only one 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.
The 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 trains into the side of the camera chassis. FIG. 17 illustrates a front view. FIG. 18 illustrates a rear view and FIG. 19 also illustrates a rear view. The first gear trains comprising gear wheels 22, 23 are utilised for driving the guillotine blade with the gear wheel 23 engaging the gear wheel 65 of FIG. 8. The second gear chain comprising gear wheels 24, 25 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 pins 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 60 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 48. 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 17.
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 90 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. Minimum 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 photos. Further, passport photo output can be provided through suitable 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 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, cliparts can be provided for special events such as Halloween, Christmas etc. Further, kaleidoscopic effects can be provided through address remappings and wild colour effects can be provided through remapping of the colour lookup table. Many other forms of special event cameras can be provided for example, cameras dedicated to the Olympics, 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 relevant 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 realized.
Ink 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 ink jet 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 ink jet 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 ink jet 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 printhead, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewidth printheads with 19,200 nozzles.
Ideally, the ink jet 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 ink jet 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).
All of these features can be met or exceeded by the ink jet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. Forty five different ink jet 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 under the heading CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS.
The ink jet 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 printhead is designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the printhead is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the ink jet type. The smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The printheads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.
Ink is supplied to the back of the printhead by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 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 printhead 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	Refer-
No.	ence	Title

IJ01US	IJ01	Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer
IJ02US	IJ02	Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer
IJ03US	IJ03	Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet
IJ04US	IJ04	Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer
IJ05US	IJ05	Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer
IJ06US	IJ06	Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer
IJ07US	IJ07	Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer
IJ08US	IJ08	Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer
IJ09US	IJ09	Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printer
IJ10US	IJ10	Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer
IJ11US	IJ11	Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic Ink Jet
		Printer
IJ12US	IJ12	Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer
IJ13US	IJ13	Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printer
IJ14US	IJ14	Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer
IJ15US	IJ15	Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink Jet Printer
IJ16US	IJ16	Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer
IJ17US	IJ17	PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating
		Pressure Ink Jet Printer
IJ18US	IJ18	Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer
IJ19US	IJ19	Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer
IJ20US	IJ20	Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer
IJ21US	IJ21	Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printer
IJ22US	IJ22	Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer
IJ23US	IJ23	Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer
IJ24US	IJ24	Conductive PTFE Ben Activator Vented Ink Jet Printer
IJ25US	IJ25	Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printer
IJ26US	IJ26	Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer
IJ27US	IJ27	Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer
IJ28US	IJ28	Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printer
IJ29US	IJ29	Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer
IJ30US	IJ30	Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE and
		Corrugated Copper Ink Jet Printer
IJ31US	IJ31	Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink Jet Printer
IJ32US	IJ32	A High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink
		Jet Printer
IJ33US	IJ33	Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink jet printer
IJ34US	IJ34	Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator comprising an
		external coiled spring
IJ35US	IJ35	Trough Container Ink Jet Printer
IJ36US	IJ36	Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet
IJ37US	IJ37	Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum Actuator
		Ink Jet
IJ38US	IJ38	Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet
IJ39US	IJ39	A single bend actuator cupped paddle ink jet printing
		device
IJ40US	IJ40	A thermally actuated ink jet printer having a series of
		thermal actuator units
IJ41US	IJ41	A thermally actuated ink jet printer including a tapered
		heater element
IJ42US	IJ42	Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet
IJ43US	IJ43	Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet
IJ44US	IJ44	Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink jet printer
IJ45US	IJ45	Coil Actuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printer

Tables of Drop-on-Demand Ink Jets

Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual ink jet 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 ink jet 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 ink jet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable ink jet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain ink jet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 to IJ45 above which match the docket numbers in the table under the heading Cross References to Related Applications.
Other ink jet configurations can readily be derived from these forty-five examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into ink jet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available ink jet 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 IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In some cases, a print technology may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.
Suitable applications for the ink jet technologies include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet 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.



Actuator
Mechanism	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

Thermal	An electrothermal heater	Large force generated	High power	Canon Bubblejet 1979
bubble	heats the ink to above	Simple construction	Ink carrier limited to water	Endo et al GB patent
	boiling point, transferring	No moving parts	Low efficiency	2,007,162
	significant heat to the	Fast operation	High temperatures required	Xerox heater-in-pit 1990
	aqueous ink. A bubble	Small chip area required for	High mechanical stress	Hawkins et al U.S.
	nucleates and quickly	actuator	Unusual materials required	Pat. No. 4,899,181
	forms, expelling the ink.		Large drive transistors	Hewlett-Packard TIJ
	The efficiency of the		Cavitation causes actuator failure	1982 Vaught et al U.S.
	process is low, with		Kogation reduces bubble formation	Pat. No. 4,490,728
	typically less than 0.05%		Large print heads are difficult to fabricate
	of the electrical energy
	being transformed into
	kinetic energy of the drop.
Piezoelectric	A piezoelectric crystal	Low power consumption	Very large area required for actuator	Kyser et al U.S. Pat. No.
	such as lead lanthanum	Many ink types can be used	Difficult to integrate with electronics	3,946,398
	zirconate (PZT) is	Fast operation	High voltage drive transistors required	Zoltan U.S. Pat. No.
	electrically activated, and	High efficiency	Full pagewidth print heads impractical due	3,683,212 1973 Stemme
	either expands, shears, or		to actuator size	U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120
	bends to apply pressure to		Requires electrical poling in high field	Epson Stylus
	the ink, ejecting drops.		strengths during manufacture	Tektronix
				IJ04
Electro-	An electric field is used	Low power consumption	Low maximum strain (approx. 0.01%)	Seiko Epson, Usui et all
strictive	to activate	Many ink types can be used	Large area required for actuator due to low	JP 253401/96
	electrostriction in relaxor	Low thermal expansion	strain	IJ04
	materials such as lead	Electric field strength required	Response speed is marginal (˜10 μs)
	lanthanum zirconate	(approx. 3.5 V/μm) can be	High voltage drive transistors required
	titanate (PLZT) or lead	generated without difficulty	Full pagewidth print heads impractical due
	magnesium niobate (PMN).	Does not require electrical	to actuator size
		poling
Ferroelectric	An electric field is used	Low power consumption	Difficult to integrate with electronics	IJ04
	to induce a phase	Many ink types can be used	Unusual materials such as PLZSnT are
	transition between the	Fast operation(<1 μs)	required
	antiferroelectric (AFE) and	Relatively high longitudinal	Actuators require a large area
	ferroelectric (FE) phase.	strain
	Perovskite materials such	High efficiency
	as tin modified lead	Electric field strength of around
	lanthanum zirconate	3 V/μm can be readily provided
	titanate (PLZSnT) exhibit
	large strains of up to 1%
	associated with the AFE to
	FE phase transition.
Electrostatic	Conductive plates are	Low power consumption	Difficult to operate electrostatic devices in	IJ02, IJ04
plates	separated by a compressible	Many ink types can be used	an aqueous environment
	or fluid dielectric	Fast operation	The electrostatic actuator will normally
	(usually air). Upon		need to be separated from the ink
	application of a voltage,		Very large area required to achieve high
	the plates attract each		forces
	other and displace ink,		High voltage drive transistors may be
	causing drop ejection. The		required
	conductive plates may be in		Full pagewidth print heads are not
	a comb or honeycomb		competitive due to actuator size
	structure, or stacked to
	increase the surface area
	and therefore the force.
Electrostatic	A strong electric field is	Low current consumption	High voltage required	1989 Saito et al, U.S.
pull on ink	applied to the ink,	Low temperature	May be damaged by sparks due to air	Pat. No. 4,799,068
	whereupon electrostatic		breakdown	1989 Miura et al, U.S.
	attraction accelerates the		Required field strength increases as the drop	Pat. No. 4,810,954
	ink towards the print		size decreases	Tone-jet
	medium.		High voltage drive transistors required
			Electrostatic field attracts dust
Permanent	An electromagnet directly	Low power consumption	Complex fabrication	IJ07, IJ10
magnet	attracts a permanent	Many ink types can be used	Permanent magnetic material such as
electro-	magnet, displacing ink and	Fast operation	Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) required.
magnetic	causing drop ejection. Rare	High efficiency	High local currents required
	earth magnets with a field	Easy extension from single	Copper metalization should be used for long
	strength around 1 Tesla can	nozzles to pagewidth print	electromigration lifetime and low resistivity
	be used. Examples are:	heads	Pigmented inks are usually infeasible
	Samarium Cobalt (SaCo) and		Operating temperature limited to the Curie
	magnetic materials in the		temperature (around 540 K)
	neodymium iron boron family
	(NdFeB, NdDyFeBNb,
	NdDyFeB, etc)
Soft	A solenoid induced a	Low power consumption	Complex fabrication	IJ01, IJ05, IJ08, IJ10
magnetic	magnetic field in a soft	Many ink types can be used	Materials not usually present in a CMOS	IJ12, IJ14, IJ15, IJ17
core	magnetic core or yoke	Fast operation	fab such as NiFe, CoNiFe, or CoFe are
electro-	fabricated from a ferrous	High efficiency	required
magnetic	material such as	Easy extension from single	High local currents required
	electroplated iron alloys	nozzles to pagewidth print	Copper metalization should be used for long
	such as CoNiFe [1], CoFe,	heads	electromigration lifetime and low resistivity
	or NiFe alloys. Typically,		Electroplating is required
	the soft magnetic material		High saturation flux density is required
	is in two parts, which are		(2.0-2.1 T is achievable with CoNiFe [1])
	normally held apart by a
	spring. When the solenoid
	is actuated, the two parts
	attract, displacing the
	ink.
Magnetic	The Lorenz force acting on	Low power consumption	Force acts as a twisting motion	IJ06, IJ11, IJ13, IJ16
Lorenz force	a current carrying wire in	Many ink types can be used	Typically, only a quarter of the solenoid
	a magnetic field is	Fast operation	length provides force in a useful direction
	utilized.	High efficiency	High local currents required
	This allows the magnetic	Easy extension from single	Copper metalization should be used for long
	field to be supplied	nozzles to pagewidth print	electromigration lifetime and low resistivity
	externally to the print	heads	Pigmented inks are usually infeasible
	head, for example with rare
	earth permanent magnets.
	Only the current carrying
	wire need be fabricated on
	the print-head, simplifying
	materials requirements.
Magneto-	The actuator uses the giant	Many ink types can be used	Force acts as a twisting motion	Fischenbeck, U.S.
striction	magnetostrictive effect of	Fast operation	Unusual materials such as Terfenol-D are	Pat. No. 4,032,929
	materials such as Terfenol-	Easy extension from single	required	IJ25
	D (an alloy of terbium,	nozzles to pagewidth print	High local currents required
	dysprosium and iron	heads	Copper metalization should be used for long
	developed at the Naval	High force is available	electromigration lifetime and low resistivity
	Ordnance Laboratory, hence		Pre-stressing may be required
	Ter-Fe-NOL). For best
	efficiency, the actuator
	should be pre-stressed to
	approx. 8 MPa.
Surface	Ink under positive pressure	Low power consumption	Requires supplementary force to effect drop	Silverbrook, EP 0771
tension	is held in a nozzle by	Simple construction	separation	658 A2 and related
reduction	surface tension. The	No unusual materials required	Requires special ink surfactants	patent applications
	surface tension of the ink	in fabrication	Speed may be limited by surfactant
	is reduced below the bubble	High efficiency	properties
	threshold, causing the ink	Easy extension from single
	to egress from the nozzle.	nozzles to pagewidth print
		heads
Viscosity	The ink viscosity is	Simple construction	Requires supplementary force to effect drop	Silverbrook, EP 0771
reduction	locally reduced to select	No unusual materials required	separation	658 A2 and related
	which drops are to be	in fabrication	Requires special ink viscosity properties	patent applications
	ejected. A viscosity	Easy extension from single	High speed is difficult to achieve
	reduction can be achieved	nozzles to pagewidth print	Requires oscillating ink pressure
	electrothermally with most	heads	A high temperature difference (typically 80
	inks, but special inks can		degrees) is required
	be engineered for a 100:1
	viscosity reduction.
Acoustic	An acoustic wave is	Can operate without a nozzle	Complex drive circuitry	1993 Hadimioglu et al,
	generated and focussed upon	plate	Complex fabrication	EUP 550,192
	the drop ejection region.		Low efficiency	1993 Elrod et al, EUP
			Poor control of drop position	572,220
			Poor control of drop volume
Thermo-	An actuator which relies	Low power consumption	Efficient aqueous operation requires a	IJ03, IJ09, IJ17, IJ18
elastic	upon differential thermal	Many ink types can be used	thermal insulator on the hot side	IJ19, IJ20, IJ21, IJ22
bend	expansion upon Joule	Simple planar fabrication	Corrosion prevention can be difficult	IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28
actuator	heating is used.	Small chip area required for	Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as	IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32
		each actuator	pigment particles may jam the bend actuator	IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36
		Fast operation		IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40
		High efficiency		IJ41
		CMOS compatible voltages and
		currents
		Standard MEMS processes can
		be used
		Easy extension from single
		nozzles to pagewidth print
		heads
High CTE	A material with a very high	High force can be generated	Requires special material (e.g. PTFE)	IJ09, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20
thermoelastic	coefficient of thermal	PTFE is a candidate for low	Requires a PTFE deposition process, which	IJ21, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24
actuator	expansion (CTE) such as	dielectric constant insulation in	is not yet standard in ULSI fabs	IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30
	polytetrafluoroethylene	ULSI	PTFE deposition cannot be followed with	IJ31, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44
	(PTFE) is used. As high CTE	Very low power consumption	high temperature (above 350° C.) processing
	materials are usually non-	Many ink types can be used	Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as
	conductive, a heater	Simple planar fabrication	pigment particles may jam the bend actuator
	fabricated from a	Small chip area required for
	conductive material is	each actuator
	incorporated. A 50 μm long	Fast operation
	PTFE bend actuator with	High efficiency
	polysilicon heater and 15 mW	CMOS compatible voltages and
	power input can provide	currents
	180 μN force and 10 μm	Easy extension from single
	deflection. Actuator	nozzles to pagewidth print
	motions include:	heads
	Bend
	Push
	Buckle
	Rotate
Conductive	A polymer with a high	High force can be generated	Requires special materials development	IJ24
polymer	coefficient of thermal	Very low power consumption	(High CTE conductive polymer)
thermoelastic	expansion (such as PTFE) is	Many ink types can be used	Requires a PTFE deposition process, which
actuator	doped with conducting	Simple planar fabrication	is not yet standard in ULSI fabs
	substances to increase its	Small chip area required for	PTFE deposition cannot be followed with
	conductivity to about 3	each actuator	high temperature (above 350° C.) processing
	orders of magnitude below	Fast operation	Evaporation and CVD deposition
	that of copper. The	High efficiency	techniques cannot be used
	conducting polymer expands	CMOS compatible voltages and	Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as
	when resistively heated.	currents	pigment particles may jam the bend actuator
	Examples of conducting	Easy extension from single
	dopants include:	nozzles to pagewidth print
	Carbon nanotubes	heads
	Metal fibers
	Conductive polymers such as
	doped polythiophene
	Carbon granules
Shape	A shape memory alloy such	High force is available (stresses	Fatigue limits maximum number of cycles	IJ26
memory	as TiNi (also known as	of hundreds of MPa)	Low strain (1%) is required to extend
alloy	Nitinol - Nickel Titanium	Large strain is available (more	fatigue resistance
	alloy developed at the	than 3%)	Cycle rate limited by heat removal
	Naval Ordnance Laboratory)	High corrosion resistance	Requires unusual materials (TiNi)
	is thermally switched	Simple construction	The latent heat of transformation must be
	between its weak	Easy extension from single	provided
	martensitic state and its	nozzles to pagewidth print	High current operation
	high stiffness austenic	heads	Requires pre-stressing to distort the
	state. The shape of the	Low voltage operation	martensitic state
	actuator in its martensitic
	state is deformed relative
	to the austenic shape. The
	shape change causes
	ejection of a drop.
Linear	Linear magnetic actuators	Linear Magnetic actuators can	Requires unusual semiconductor materials	IJ12
Magnetic	include the Linear	be constructed with high thrust,	such as soft magnetic alloys (e.g. CoNiFe
Actuator	Induction Actuator (LIA),	long travel, and high efficiency	[1])
	Linear Permanent Magnet	using planar semiconductor	Some varieties also require permanent
	Synchronous Actuator	fabrication techniques	magnetic materials such as Neodymium
	(LPMSA), Linear Reluctance	Long actuator travel is	iron boron (NdFeB)
	Synchronous Actuator	available	Requires complex multi-phase drive
	(LRSA), Linear Switched	Medium force is available	circuitry
	Reluctance Actuator (LSRA),	Low voltage operation	High current operation
	and the Linear Stepper
	Actuator (LSA).



Operational
mode	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

Actuator	This is the simplest mode	Simple operation	Drop repetition rate is usually limited to	Thermal inkjet
directly	of operation: the actuator	No external fields required	less than 10 KHz. However, this is not	Piezoelectric inkjet
pushes ink	directly supplies	Satellite drops can be avoided	fundamental to the method, but is related to	IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, IJ04
	sufficient kinetic energy	if drop velocity is less than 4	the refill method normally used	IJ05, IJ06, IJ07, IJ09
	to expel the drop. The drop	m/s	All of the drop kinetic energy must be	IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, IJ16
	must have a sufficient	Can be efficient, depending	provided by the actuator	IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24
	velocity to overcome the	upon the actuator used	Satellite drops usually form if drop velocity	IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28
	surface tension.		is greater than 4.5 m/s	IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32
				IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36
				IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40
				IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44
Proximity	The drops to be printed are	Very simple print head	Requires close proximity between the print	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	selected by some manner	fabrication can be used	head and the print media or transfer roller	658 A2 and related
	(e.g. thermally induced	The drop selection means does	May require two print heads printing	patent applications
	surface tension reduction	not need to provide the energy	alternate rows of the image
	of pressurized ink).	required to separate the drop	Monolithic color print heads are difficult
	Selected drops are	from the nozzle
	separated from the ink in
	the nozzle by contact with
	the print medium or a
	transfer roller.
Electrostatic	The drops to be printed are	Very simple print head	Requires very high electrostatic field	Silverbrook, EP 0771
pull on ink	selected by some manner	fabrication can be used	Electrostatic field for small nozzle sizes is	658 A2 and related
	(e.g. thermally induced	The drop selection means does	above air breakdown	patent applications
	surface tension reduction	not need to provide the energy	Electrostatic field may attract dust	Tone-Jet
	of pressurized ink).	required to separate the drop
	Selected drops are	from the nozzle
	separated from the ink in
	the nozzle by a strong
	electric field.
Magnetic	The drops to be printed are	Very simple print head	Requires magnetic ink	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	pull onselected by some manner	fabrication can be used	Ink colors other than black are difficult	658 A2 and related
ink	(e.g. thermally induced	The drop selection means does	Requires very high magnetic fields	patent applications
	surface tension reduction	not need to provide the energy
	of pressurized ink).	required to separate the drop
	Selected drops are	from the nozzle
	separated from the ink in
	the nozzle by a strong
	magnetic field acting on
	the magnetic ink.
Shutter	The actuator moves a	High speed (>50 KHz)	Moving parts are required	IJ13, IJ17, IJ21
	shutter to block ink flow	operation can be achieved due	Requires ink pressure modulator
	to the nozzle. The ink	to reduced refill time	Friction and wear must be considered
	pressure is pulsed at a	Drop timing can be very	Stiction is possible
	multiple of the drop	accurate
	ejection frequency.	The actuator energy can be
		very low
Shuttered	The actuator moves a	Actuators with small travel can	Moving parts are required	IJ08, IJ15, IJ18, IJ19
grill	shutter to block ink flow	be used	Requires ink pressure modulator
	through a grill to the	Actuators with small force can	Friction and wear must be considered
	nozzle. The shutter	be used	Stiction is possible
	movement need only be equal	High speed (>50 KHz)
	to the width of the grill	operation can be achieved
	holes.
Pulsed	A pulsed magnetic field	Extremely low energy	Requires an external pulsed magnetic field	IJ10
magnetic	attracts an ‘ink pusher’ at	operation is possible	Requires special materials for both the
pull on ink	the drop ejection	No heat dissipation problems	actuator and the ink pusher
pusher	frequency. An actuator		Complex construction
	controls a catch, which
	prevents the ink pusher
	from moving when a drop is
	not to be ejected.



Auxiliary
Mechanism	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

None	The actuator directly fires	Simplicity of construction	Drop ejection energy must be supplied by	Most inkjets, including
	the ink drop, and there is	Simplicity of operation	individual nozzle actuator	piezoelectric and
	no external field or other	Small physical size		thermal bubble.
	mechanism required.			IJ01-IJ07, IJ09, IJ11
				IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22
				IJ23-IJ45
Oscillating ink	The ink pressure	Oscillating ink pressure can	Requires external ink pressure oscillator	Silverbrook, EP 0771
pressure	oscillates, providing much	provide a refill pulse, allowing	Ink pressure phase and amplitude must be	658 A2 and related
(including	of the drop ejection	higher operating speed	carefully controlled	patent applications
acoustic	energy. The actuator	The actuators may operate with	Acoustic reflections in the ink chamber	IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17
stimulation)	selects which drops are to	much lower energy	must be designed for	IJ18, IJ19, IJ21
	be fired by selectively	Acoustic lenses can be used to
	blocking or enabling	focus the sound on the nozzles
	nozzles. The ink pressure
	oscillation may be achieved
	by vibrating the print
	head, or preferably by an
	actuator in the ink supply.
Media	The print head is placed in	Low power	Precision assembly required	Silverbrook, EP 0771
proximity	close proximity to the	High accuracy	Paper fibers may cause problems	658 A2 and related
	print medium. Selected	Simple print head construction	Cannot print on rough substrates	patent applications
	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.
Transfer roller	Drops are printed to a	High accuracy	Bulky	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	transfer roller instead of	Wide range of print substrates	Expensive	658 A2 and related
	straight to the print	can be used	Complex construction	patent applications
	medium. A transfer roller	Ink can be dried on the transfer		Tektronix hot melt
	can also be used for	roller		piezoelectric inkjet
	proximity drop separation.			Any of the IJ series
Electrostatic	An electric field is used	Low power	Field strength required for separation of	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	to accelerate selected	Simple print head construction	small drops is near or above air breakdown	658 A2 and related
	drops towards the print			patent applications
	medium.			Tone-Jet
Direct	A magnetic field is used to	Low power	Requires magnetic ink	Silverbrook, EP 0771
magnetic	accelerate selected drops	Simple print head construction	Requires strong magnetic field	658 A2 and related
field	of magnetic ink towards the			patent applications
	print medium.
Cross magnetic	The print head is placed in	Does not require magnetic	Requires external magnet	IJ06, IJ16
field	a constant magnetic field.	materials to be integrated in the	Current densities may be high, resulting in
	The Lorenz force in a	print head manufacturing	electromigration problems
	current carrying wire is	process
	used to move the actuator.
Pulsed	A pulsed magnetic field is	Very low power operation is	Complex print head construction	IJ10
magnetic	used to cyclically attract	possible	Magnetic materials required in print head
field	a paddle, which pushes on	Small print head size
	the ink. A small actuator
	moves a catch, which
	selectively prevents the
	paddle from moving.



Actuator
amplification	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

None	No actuator mechanical	Operational simplicity	Many actuator mechanisms have	Thermal Bubble Inkjet
	amplification is used. The		insufficient travel, or insufficient force, to	IJ01, IJ02, IJ06, IJ07
	actuator directly drives		efficiently drive the drop ejection process	IJ16, IJ25, IJ26
	the drop ejection process.
Differential	An actuator material	Provides greater travel in a	High stresses are involved	Piezoelectric
expansion	expands more on one side	reduced print head area	Care must be taken that the materials do not	IJ03, IJ09, IJ17-IJ24
bend	than on the other. The	The bend actuator converts a	delaminate	IJ27, IJ29-IJ39, IJ42,
actuator	expansion may be thermal,	high force low travel actuator	Residual bend resulting from high	IJ43, IJ44
	piezoelectric,	mechanism to high travel,	temperature or high stress during formation
	magnetostrictive, or other	lower force mechanism.
	mechanism.
Transient	A trilayer bend actuator	Very good temperature stability	High stresses are involved	IJ40, IJ41
bend	where the two outside	High speed, as a new drop can	Care must be taken that the materials do not
actuator	layers are identical. This	be fired before heat dissipates	delaminate
	cancels bend due to ambient	Cancels residual stress of
	temperature and residual	formation
	stress. The actuator only
	responds to transient
	heating of one side or the
	other.
Actuator	A series of thin actuators	Increased travel	Increased fabrication complexity	Some piezoelectric ink
stack	are stacked. This can be	Reduced drive voltage	Increased possibility of short circuits due to	jets
	appropriate where actuators		pinholes	IJ04
	require high electric field
	strength, such as
	electrostatic and
	piezoelectric actuators.
Multiple	Multiple smaller actuators	Increases the force available	Actuator forces may not add linearly,	IJ12, IJ13, IJ18, IJ20
actuators	are used simultaneously to	from an actuator	reducing efficiency	IJ22, IJ28, IJ42, IJ43
	move the ink. Each actuator	Multiple actuators can be
	need provide only a portion	positioned to control ink flow
	of the force required.	accurately
Linear	A linear spring is used to	Matches low travel actuator	Requires print head area for the spring	IJ15
Spring	transform a motion with	with higher travel requirements
	small travel and high force	Non-contact method of motion
	into a longer travel, lower	transformation
	force motion.
Reverse	The actuator loads a	Better coupling to the ink	Fabrication complexity	IJ05, IJ11
spring	spring. When the actuator		High stress in the spring
	is turned off, the spring
	releases. This can reverse
	the force/distance curve of
	the actuator to make it
	compatible with the
	force/time requirements of
	the drop ejection.
Coiled	A bend actuator is coiled	Increases travel	Generally restricted to planar	IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35
actuator	to provide greater travel	Reduces chip area	implementations due to extreme fabrication
	in a reduced chip area.	Planar implementations are	difficulty in other orientations.
		relatively easy to fabricate.
Flexure bend	A bend actuator has a small	Simple means of increasing	Care must be taken not to exceed the elastic	IJ10, IJ19, IJ33
actuator	region near the fixture	travel of a bend actuator	limit in the flexure area
	point, which flexes much		Stress distribution is very uneven
	more readily than the		Difficult to accurately model with finite
	remainder of the actuator.		element analysis
	The actuator flexing is
	effectively converted from
	an even coiling to an
	angular bend, resulting in
	greater travel of the
	actuator tip.
Gears	Gears can be used to	Low force, low travel actuators	Moving parts are required	IJ13
	increase travel at the	can be used	Several actuator cycles are required
	expense of duration.	Can be fabricated using	More complex drive electronics
	Circular gears, rack and	standard surface MEMS	Complex construction
	pinion, ratchets, and other	processes	Friction, friction, and wear are possible
	gearing methods can be
	used.
Catch	The actuator controls a	Very low actuator energy	Complex construction	IJ10
	small catch. The catch	Very small actuator size	Requires external force
	either enables or disables		Unsuitable for pigmented inks
	movement of an ink pusher
	that is controlled in a
	bulk manner.
Buckle plate	A buckle plate can be used	Very fast movement achievable	Must stay within elastic limits of the	S. Hirata et al, “An Ink-
	to change a slow actuator		materials for long device life	jet Head . . . ”, Proc.
	into a fast motion. It can		High stresses involved	IEEE MEMS, February
	also convert a high force,		Generally high power requirement	1996, pp 418-423.
	low travel actuator into a			IJ18, IJ27
	high travel, medium force
	motion.
Tapered	A tapered magnetic pole can	Linearizes the magnetic	Complex construction	IJ14
magnetic	increase travel at the	force/distance curve
pole	expense of force.
Lever	A lever and fulcrum is used	Matches low travel actuator	High stress around the fulcrum	IJ32, IJ36, IJ37
	to transform a motion with	with higher travel requirements
	small travel and high force	Fulcrum area has no linear
	into a motion with longer	movement, and can be used for
	travel and lower force. The	a fluid seal
	lever can also reverse the
	direction of travel.
Rotary	The actuator is connected	High mechanical advantage	Complex construction	IJ28
impeller	to a rotary impeller. A	The ratio of force to travel of	Unsuitable for pigmented inks
	small angular deflection of	the actuator can be matched to
	the actuator results in a	the nozzle requirements by
	rotation of the impeller	varying the number of impeller
	vanes, which push the ink	vanes
	against stationary vanes
	and out of the nozzle.
Acoustic	A refractive or diffractive	No moving parts	Large area required	1993 Hadimioglu et al,
lens	(e.g. zone plate) acoustic		Only relevant for acoustic ink jets	EUP 550,192
	lens is used to concentrate			1993 Elrod et al, EUP
	sound waves.			572,220
Sharp	A sharp point is used to	Simple construction	Difficult to fabricate using standard VLSI	Tone-jet
conductive	concentrate an		processes for a surface ejecting ink-jet
point	electrostatic field.		Only relevant for electrostatic ink jets



Actuator
motion	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

Volume	The volume of the actuator	Simple construction in the case	High energy is typically required to achieve	Hewlett-Packard
expansion	changes, pushing the ink in	of thermal ink jet	volume expansion. This leads to thermal	Thermal Inkjet
	all directions.		stress, cavitation, and kogation in thermal	Canon Bubblejet
			ink jet implementations
Linear, normal	The actuator moves in a	Efficient coupling to ink drops	High fabrication complexity may be	IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ07
to chip surface	direction normal to the	ejected normal to the surface	required to achieve perpendicular motion	IJ11, IJ14
	print head surface. The
	nozzle is typically in the
	line of movement.
Linear, parallel	The actuator moves parallel	Suitable for planar fabrication	Fabrication complexity	IJ12, IJ13, IJ15, IJ33,
to chip surface	to the print head surface.		Friction	IJ34, IJ35, IJ36
	Drop ejection may still be		Stiction
	normal to the surface.
Membrane	An actuator with a high	The effective area of the	Fabrication complexity	1982 Howkins U.S.
push	force but small area is	actuator becomes the	Actuator size	Pat. No. 4,459,601
	used to push a stiff	membrane area	Difficulty of integration in a VLSI process
	membrane that is in contact
	with the ink.
Rotary	The actuator causes the	Rotary levers may be used to	Device complexity	IJ05, IJ08, IJ13, IJ28
	rotation of some element,	increase travel	May have friction at a pivot point
	such a grill or impeller	Small chip area requirements
Bend	The actuator bends when	A very small change in	Requires the actuator to be made from at	1970 Kyser et al U.S.
	energized. This may be due	dimensions can be converted to	least two distinct layers, or to have a	Pat. No. 3,946,398
	to differential thermal	a large motion.	thermal difference across the actuator	1973 Stemme U.S.
	expansion, piezoelectric			Pat. No. 3,747,120
	expansion,			IJ03, IJ09, IJ10, IJ19
	magnetostriction, or other			IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ29
	form of relative			IJ30, IJ31, IJ33, IJ34
	dimensional change.			IJ35
Swivel	The actuator swivels around	Allows operation where the net	Inefficient coupling to the ink motion	IJ06
	a central pivot. This	linear force on the paddle is
	motion is suitable where	zero
	there are opposite forces	Small chip area requirements
	applied to opposite sides
	of the paddle, e.g. Lorenz
	force.
Straighten	The actuator is normally	Can be used with shape	Requires careful balance of stresses to	IJ26, IJ32
	bent, and straightens when	memory alloys where the	ensure that the quiescent bend is accurate
	energized.	austenic phase is planar
Double bend	The actuator bends in one	One actuator can be used to	Difficult to make the drops ejected by both	IJ36, IJ37, IJ38
	direction when one element	power two nozzles.	bend directions identical.
	is energized, and bends the	Reduced chip size.	A small efficiency loss compared to
	other way when another	Not sensitive to ambient	equivalent single bend actuators.
	element is energized.	temperature
Shear	Energizing the actuator	Can increase the effective	Not readily applicable to other actuator	1985 Fishbeck U.S.
	causes a shear motion in	travel of piezoelectric actuators	mechanisms	Pat. No. 4,584,590
	the actuator material.
Radial	The actuator squeezes an	Relatively easy to fabricate	High force required	1970 Zoltan U.S.
constriction	ink reservoir, forcing ink	single nozzles from glass	Inefficient	Pat. No. 3,683,212
	from a constricted nozzle.	tubing as macroscopic	Difficult to integrate with VLSI processes
		structures
Coil/uncoil	A coiled actuator uncoils	Easy to fabricate as a planar	Difficult to fabricate for non-planar devices	IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35
	or coils more tightly. The	VLSI process	Poor out-of-plane stiffness
	motion of the free end of	Small area required, therefore
	the actuator ejects the	low cost
	ink.
Bow	The actuator bows (or	Can increase the speed of travel	Maximum travel is constrained	IJ16, IJ18, IJ27
	buckles) in the middle when	Mechanically rigid	High force required
	energized.
Push-Pull	Two actuators control a	The structure is pinned at both	Not readily suitable for inkjets which	IJ18
	shutter. One actuator pulls	ends, so has a high out-of-plane	directly push the ink
	the shutter, and the other	rigidity
	pushes it.
Curl inwards	A set of actuators curl	Good fluid flow to the region	Design complexity	IJ20, IJ42
	inwards to reduce the	behind the actuator increases
	volume of ink that they	efficiency
	enclose.
Curl outwards	A set of actuators curl	Relatively simple construction	Relatively large chip area	IJ43
	outwards, pressurizing ink
	in a chamber surrounding
	the actuators, and
	expelling ink from a nozzle
	in the chamber.
Iris	Multiple vanes enclose a	High efficiency	High fabrication complexity	IJ22
	volume of ink. These	Small chip area	Not suitable for pigmented inks
	simultaneously rotate,
	reducing the volume between
	the vanes.
Acoustic	The actuator vibrates at a	The actuator can be physically	Large area required for efficient operation	1993 Hadimioglu et al,
vibration	high frequency.	distant from the ink	at useful frequencies	EUP 550,192
			Acoustic coupling and crosstalk	1993 Elrod et al, EUP
			Complex drive circuitry	572,220
			Poor control of drop volume and position
None	In various ink jet designs	No moving parts	Various other tradeoffs are required to	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	the actuator does not move,		eliminate moving parts	658 A2 and related
				patent applications
				Tone-jet



Nozzle refill
method	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

Surface tension	After the actuator is	Fabrication simplicity	Low speed	Thermal inkjet
	energized, it typically	Operational simplicity	Surface tension force relatively small	Piezoelectric inkjet
	returns rapidly to its		compared to actuator force	IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14
	normal position. This rapid		Long refill time usually dominates the total	IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45
	return sucks in air through		repetition rate
	the nozzle opening. The ink
	surface tension at the
	nozzle then exerts a small
	force restoring the
	meniscus to a minimum area.
Shuttered	Ink to the nozzle chamber	High speed	Requires common ink pressure oscillator	IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17
oscillating ink	is provided at a pressure	Low actuator energy, as the	May not be suitable for pigmented inks	IJ18, IJ19, IJ21
pressure	that oscillates at twice	actuator need only open or
	the drop ejection	close the shutter, instead of
	frequency. When a drop is	ejecting the ink drop
	to be ejected, the shutter
	is opened for 3 half
	cycles: drop ejection,
	actuator return, and
	refill.
Refill actuator	After the main actuator has	High speed, as the nozzle is	Requires two independent actuators per	IJ09
	ejected a drop a second	actively refilled	nozzle
	(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	The ink is held a slight	High refill rate, therefore a high	Surface spill must be prevented	Silverbrook, EP 0771
pressure	positive pressure. After	drop repetition rate is possible	Highly hydrophobic print head surfaces are	658 A2 and related
	the ink drop is ejected,		required	patent applications
	the nozzle chamber fills			Alternative for:
	quickly as surface tension			IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14
	and ink pressure both			IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45
	operate to refill the
	nozzle.



Inlet back-flow
restriction
method	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

Long inlet	The ink inlet channel to	Design simplicity	Restricts refill rate	Thermal inkjet
channel	the nozzle chamber is made	Operational simplicity	May result in a relatively large chip area	Piezoelectric inkjet
	long and relatively narrow,	Reduces crosstalk	Only partially effective	IJ42, IJ43
	relying on viscous drag to
	reduce inlet back-flow.
Positive ink	The ink is under a positive	Drop selection and separation	Requires a method (such as a nozzle rim or	Silverbrook, EP 0771
pressure	pressure, so that in the	forces can be reduced	effective hydrophobizing, or both) to	658 A2 and related
	quiescent state some of the	Fast refill time	prevent flooding of the ejection surface of	patent applications
	ink drop already protrudes		the print head.	Possible operation of the
	from the nozzle,			following:
	This reduces the pressure			IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12
	in the nozzle chamber			IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22,
	which is required to			IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ41
	eject a certain volume			IJ44
	of ink. The reduction
	in chamber
	pressure results in a
	reduction in ink pushed out
	through the inlet.
Baffle	One or more baffles are	The refill rate is not as	Design complexity	HP Thermal Ink Jet
	placed in the inlet ink	restricted as the long inlet	May increase fabrication complexity (e.g.	Tektronix piezoelectric
	flow. When the actuator is	method.	Tektronix hot melt Piezoelectric print	ink jet
	energized, the rapid ink	Reduces crosstalk	heads).
	movement creates eddies
	which restrict the flow
	through the inlet. The
	slower refill process is
	unrestricted, and does not
	result in eddies.
Flexible flap	In this method recently	Significantly reduces back-flow	Not applicable to most inkjet configurations	Canon
restricts inlet	disclosed by Canon, the	for edge-shooter thermal ink jet	Increased fabrication complexity
	expanding actuator (bubble)	devices	Inelastic deformation of polymer flap
	pushes on a flexible flap		results in creep over extended use
	that restricts the inlet.
Inlet filter	A filter is located between	Additional advantage of ink	Restricts refill rate	IJ04, IJ12, IJ24, IJ27
	the ink inlet and the	filtration	May result in complex construction	IJ29, IJ30
	nozzle chamber. The filter	Ink filter may be fabricated
	has a multitude of small	with no additional process steps
	holes or slots, restricting
	ink flow. The filter also
	removes particles which
	may block the nozzle.
Small inlet	The ink inlet channel to	Design simplicity	Restricts refill rate	IJ02, IJ37, IJ44
compared to	the nozzle chamber has a		May result in a relatively large chip area
nozzle	substantially smaller cross		Only partially effective
	section than that of the
	nozzle, resulting in
	easier ink egress out of
	the nozzle than out of the
	inlet.
Inlet shutter	A secondary actuator	Increases speed of the ink-jet	Requires separate refill actuator and drive	IJ09
	controls the position of a	print head operation	circuit
	shutter, closing off the
	ink inlet when the main
	actuator is energized.
The inlet is	The method avoids the	Back-flow problem is	Requires careful design to minimize the	IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06
located behind	problem of inlet back-flow	eliminated	negative pressure behind the paddle	IJ07, IJ10, IJ11, IJ14
the ink-pushing	by arranging the ink-			IJ16, IJ22, IJ23, IJ25
surface	pushing surface of the			IJ28, IJ31, IJ32, IJ33
	actuator between the inlet			IJ34, IJ35, IJ36, IJ39
	and the nozzle.			IJ40, IJ41
Part of the	The actuator and a wall of	Significant reductions in back-	Small increase in fabrication complexity	IJ07, IJ20, IJ26, IJ38
actuator moves	the ink chamber are	flow can be achieved
to shut off the	arranged so that the motion	Compact designs possible
inlet	of the actuator closes off
	the inlet.
Nozzle actuator	In some configurations of	Ink back-flow problem is	None related to ink back-flow on actuation	Silverbrook, EP 0771
does not result	ink jet, there is no	eliminated		658 A2 and related
in ink	expansion or movement			patent applications
back-flow	of an actuator which			Valve-jet
	may cause ink back-flow			Tone-jet
	through the inlet.			IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17
				IJ18, IJ19, IJ21



Nozzle
Clearing
method	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

Normal nozzle	All of the nozzles are	No added complexity on the	May not be sufficient to displace dried ink	Most ink jet systems
firing	fired periodically, before	print head		IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12
	the ink has a chance to			IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22
	dry. When not in use the			IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ45
	nozzles are sealed (capped)
	against air.
	The nozzle firing is
	usually performed during a
	special clearing cycle,
	after first moving the
	print head to a cleaning
	station.
Extra power to	In systems which heat the	Can be highly effective if the	Requires higher drive voltage for clearing	Silverbrook, EP 0771
ink heater	ink, but do not boil it	heater is adjacent to the nozzle	May require larger drive transistors	658 A2 and related
	under normal situations,			patent applications
	nozzle clearing can be
	achieved by over-powering
	the heater and boiling ink
	at the nozzle.
Rapid	The actuator is fired in	Does not require extra drive	Effectiveness depends substantially upon	May be used with:
succession of	rapid succession. In some	circuits on the print head	the configuration of the inkjet nozzle	IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ11
actuator pulses	configurations, this may	Can be readily controlled and		IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22
	cause heat build-up at the	initiated by digital logic		IJ23-IJ25, IJ27-IJ34
	nozzle which boils the ink,			IJ36-IJ45
	clearing the nozzle. In
	other situations, it may
	cause sufficient vibrations
	to dislodge clogged
	nozzles.
Extra power to	Where an actuator is not	A simple solution where	Not suitable where there is a hard limit to	May be used with:
ink pushing	normally driven to the	applicable	actuator movement	IJ03, IJ09, IJ16, IJ20
actuator	limit of its motion, nozzle			IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ27
	clearing may be assisted by			IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32
	providing an enhanced			IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42
	drive signal to the			IJ43, IJ44, IJ45
	actuator.
Acoustic	An ultrasonic wave is	A high nozzle clearing	High implementation cost if system does	IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17
resonance	applied to the ink chamber.	capability can be achieved	not already include an acoustic actuator	IJ18, IJ19, IJ21
	This wave is of an	May be implemented at very
	appropriate amplitude and	low cost in systems which
	frequency to cause	already include acoustic
	sufficient force at the	actuators
	nozzle to clear blockages.
	This is easiest to achieve
	if the ultrasonic wave is
	at a resonant frequency of
	the ink cavity.
Nozzle clearing	A microfabricated plate is	Can clear severely clogged	Accurate mechanical alignment is required	Silverbrook, EP 0771
plate	pushed against the nozzles.	nozzles	Moving parts are required	658 A2 and related
	The plate has a post for		There is risk of damage to the nozzles	patent applications
	every nozzle. The array of		Accurate fabrication is required
	posts
Ink pressure	The pressure of the ink is	May be effective where other	Requires pressure pump or other pressure	May be used with all IJ
pulse	temporarily increased so	methods cannot be used	actuator	series ink jets
	that ink streams from all		Expensive
	of the nozzles. This may be		Wasteful of ink
	used in conjunction with
	actuator energizing.
Print head	A flexible ‘blade’ is wiped	Effective for planar print head	Difficult to use if print head surface is non-	Many ink jet systems
wiper	across the print head	surfaces	planar or very fragile
	surface. The blade is	Low cost	Requires mechanical parts
	usually fabricated from a		Blade can wear out in high volume print
	flexible polymer, e.g.		systems
	rubber or synthetic
	elastomer.
Separate ink	A separate heater is	Can be effective where other	Fabrication complexity	Can be used with many
boiling heater	provided at the nozzle	nozzle clearing methods cannot		IJ series ink jets
	although the normal drop e-	be used
	ection mechanism does not	Can be implemented at no
	require it. The heaters do	additional cost in some inkjet
	not require individual	configurations
	drive circuits, as many
	nozzles can be cleared
	simultaneously, and no
	imaging is required.



Nozzle plate
construction	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

Electroformed	A nozzle plate is	Fabrication simplicity	High temperatures and pressures are	Hewlett Packard
nickel	separately fabricated from		required to bond nozzle plate	Thermal Inkjet
	electroformed nickel, and		Minimum thickness constraints
	bonded to the print head		Differential thermal expansion
	chip.
Laser ablated	Individual nozzle holes are	No masks required	Each hole must be individually formed	Canon Bubblejet
or drilled	ablated by an intense UV	Can be quite fast	Special equipment required	1988 Sercel et al., SPIE,
polymer	laser in a nozzle plate,	Some control over nozzle	Slow where there are many thousands of	Vol. 998 Excimer Beam
	which is typically a	profile is possible	nozzles per print head	Applications, pp. 76-83
	polymer such as polyimide	Equipment required is	May produce thin burrs at exit holes	1993 Watanabe et al.,
	or polysulphone	relatively low cost		U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,604
Silicon	A separate nozzle plate is	High accuracy is attainable	Two part construction	K. Bean, IEEE
micromachined	micromachined from single		High cost	Transactions on Electron
	crystal silicon, and bonded		Requires precision alignment	Devices, Vol. ED-25,
	to the print head wafer.		Nozzles may be clogged by adhesive	No. 10, 1978, pp
				1185-1195
				Xerox 1990 Hawkins et
				al., U.S. Pat. No.
				4,899,181
Glass	Fine glass capillaries are	No expensive equipment	Very small nozzle sizes are difficult to form	1970 Zoltan
capillaries	drawn from glass tubing.	required	Not suited for mass production	U.S. Pat No.
	This method has been used	Simple to make single nozzles		3,683,212
	for making individual
	nozzles, but is difficult
	to use for bulk
	manufacturing of print
	heads with thousands of
	nozzles.
Monolithic,	The nozzle plate is	High accuracy (<1 μm)	Requires sacrificial layer under the nozzle	Silverbrook, EP 0771
surface	deposited as a layer using	Monolithic	plate to form the nozzle chamber	658 A2 and related
micromachined	standard VLSI deposition	Low cost	Surface may be fragile to the touch	patent applications
using VLSI	techniques. Nozzles are	Existing processes can be used		IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ11
lithographic	etched in the nozzle plate			IJ12, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20
processes	using VLSI lithography and			IJ22, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28
	etching.			IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32
				IJ33, IJ34, IJ36, IJ37
				IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41
				IJ42, IJ43, IJ44
Monolithic,	The nozzle plate is a	High accuracy (<1 μm)	Requires long etch times	IJ03, IJ05, IJ06, IJ07
etched through	buried etch stop in the	Monolithic	Requires a support wafer	IJ08, IJ09, IJ10, IJ13
substrate	wafer. Nozzle chambers are	Low cost		IJ14, IJ15, IJ16, IJ19
	etched in the front of the	No differential expansion		IJ21, IJ23, IJ25, IJ26
	wafer, and the wafer is
	thinned from the back side.
	Nozzles are then etched in
	the etch stop layer.
No nozzle plate	Various methods have been	No nozzles to become clogged	Difficult to control drop position accurately	Ricoh 1995 Sekiya et al
	tried to eliminate the		Crosstalk problems	U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,413
	nozzles entirely, to			1993 Hadimioglu et al
	prevent nozzle clogging.			EUP 550,192
	These include thermal			1993 Elrod et al EUP
	bubble mechanisms and			572,220
	acoustic lens mechanisms
Trough	Each drop ejector has a	Reduced manufacturing	Drop firing direction is sensitive to wicking.	IJ35
	trough through which a	complexity
	paddle moves. There is no	Monolithic
	nozzle plate.
Nozzle slit	The elimination of nozzle	No nozzles to become clogged	Difficult to control drop position accurately	1989 Saito et al
instead of	holes and replacement by a		Crosstalk problems	U.S. Pat. No.
individual	slit encompassing many			4,799,068
nozzles	actuator positions reduces
	nozzle clogging, but
	increases crosstalk due to
	ink surface waves



Ejection
direction	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

Edge	Ink flow is along the	Simple construction	Nozzles limited to edge	Canon Bubblejet 1979
(‘edge	surface of the chip, and	No silicon etching required	High resolution is difficult	Endo et al GB patent
shooter’)	ink drops are ejected from	Good heat sinking via substrate	Fast color printing requires one print head	2,007,162
	the chip edge.	Mechanically strong	per color	Xerox heater-in-pit 1990
		Ease of chip handing		Hawkins et al
				U.S. Pat. No.
				4,899,181
				Tone-jet
Surface	Ink flow is along the	No bulk silicon etching	Maximum ink flow is severely restricted	Hewlett-Packard TIJ
(‘roof shooter’)	surface of the chip, and	required		1982 Vaught et al
	ink drops are ejected from	Silicon can make an effective		U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,728
	the chip surface, normal to	heat sink		IJ02, IJ11, IJ12, IJ20
	the plane of the chip.	Mechanical strength		IJ22
Through chip,	Ink flow is through the	High ink flow	Requires bulk silicon etching	Silverbrook, EP 0771
forward	chip, and ink drops are	Suitable for pagewidth print		658 A2 and related
(‘up shooter’)	ejected from the front	High nozzle packing density		patent applications
	surface of the chip.	therefore low manufacturing		IJ04, IJ17, IJ18, IJ24
		cost		IJ27-IJ45
Through chip,	Ink flow is through the	High ink flow	Requires wafer thinning	IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06
reverse	chip, and ink drops are	Suitable for pagewidth print	Requires special handling during	IJ07, IJ08, IJ09, IJ10
(‘down	ejected from the rear	High nozzle packing density	manufacture	IJ13, IJ14, IJ15, IJ16
shooter’)	surface of the chip.	therefore low manufacturing		IJ19, IJ21, IJ23, IJ25
		cost		IJ26
Through	Ink flow is through the	Suitable for piezoelectric print	Pagewidth print heads require several	Epson Stylus
actuator	actuator, which is not	heads	thousand connections to drive circuits	Tektronix hot melt
	fabricated as part of the		Cannot be manufactured in standard CMOS	piezoelectric ink jets
	same substrate as the drive		fabs
	transistors.		Complex assembly required



Ink type	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages	Examples

Aqueous, dye	Water based ink which	Environmentally friendly	Slow drying	Most existing inkjets
	typically contains: water,	No odor	Corrosive	All IJ series ink jets
	dye, surfactant, humectant,		Bleeds on paper	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	and biocide.		May strikethrough	658 A2 and related
	Modern ink dyes have high		Cockles paper	patent applications
	water-fastness, light
	fastness
Aqueous,	Water based ink which	Environmentally friendly	Slow drying	IJ02, IJ04, IJ21, IJ26
pigment	typically contains: water,	No odor	Corrosive	IJ27, IJ30
	pigment, surfactant,	Reduced bleed	Pigment may clog nozzles	Silverbrook, EP 0771
	humectant, and biocide.	Reduced wicking	Pigment may clog actuator mechanisms	658 A2 and related
	Pigments have an advantage	Reduced strikethrough	Cockles paper	patent applications
	in reduced bleed, wicking			Piezoelectric ink-jets
	and strikethrough.			Thermal ink jets (with
				significant restrictions)
Methyl Ethyl	MEK is a highly volatile	Very fast drying	Odorous	All IJ series ink jets
Ketone (MEK)	solvent used for industrial	Prints on various substrates	Flammable
	printing on difficult	such as metals and plastics
	surfaces such as aluminum
	cans.
Alcohol	Alcohol based inks can be	Fast drying	Slight odor	All IJ series ink jets
(ethanol, 2-	used where the printer must	Operates at sub-freezing	Flammable
butanol, and	operate at temperatures	temperatures
others)	below the freezing point of	Reduced paper cockle
	water. An example of this	Low cost
	is in-camera consumer
	photographic printing.
Phase change	The ink is solid at room	No drying time-ink instantly	High viscosity	Tektronix hot melt
(hot melt)	temperature, and is melted	freezes on the print medium	Printed ink typically has a ‘waxy’ feel	piezoelectric ink jets
	in the print head before	Almost any print medium can	Printed pages may ‘block’	1989 Nowak U.S.
	jetting. Hot melt inks are	be used	Ink temperature may be above the curie	Pat. No. 4,820,346
	usually wax based, with a	No paper cockle occurs	point of permanent magnets	All IJ series ink jets
	melting point around 80° C.	No wicking occurs	Ink heaters consume power
	After jetting the ink	No bleed occurs	Long warm-up time
	freezes almost instantly	No strikethrough occurs
	upon contacting the print
	medium or a transfer
	roller.
Oil	Oil based inks are	High solubility medium for	High viscosity: this is a significant	All IJ series ink jets
	extensively used in offset	some dyes	limitation for use in inkjets, which usually
	printing. They have	Does not cockle paper	require a low viscosity. Some short chain
	advantages in improved	Does not wick through paper	and multi-branched oils have a sufficiently
	characteristics on paper		low viscosity.
	(especially no wicking or		Slow drying
	cockle). Oil soluble dies
	and pigments are required.
Microemulsion	A microemulsion is a	Stops ink bleed	Viscosity higher than water	All IJ series ink jets
	stable, self forming	High dye solubility	Cost is slightly higher than water based ink
	emulsion of oil, water, and	Water, oil, and amphiphilic	High surfactant concentration required
	surfactant. The	soluble dies can be used	(around 5%)
	characteristic drop size is	Can stabilize pigment
	less than 100 nm, and is	suspensions
	determined by the preferred
	curvature of the
	surfactant.

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. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.



			US Patent/Patent
Australian			Application and
Provisional Number	Filing Date	Title	Filing Date

PO8066	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,227,652
		Apparatus (IJ01)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8072	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,213,588
		Apparatus (IJ02)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8040	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,213,589
		Apparatus (IJ03)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8071	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,231,163
		Apparatus (IJ04)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8047	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,247,795
		Apparatus (IJ05)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8035	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,394,581
		Apparatus (IJ06)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8044	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,244,691
		Apparatus (IJ07)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8063	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,257,704
		Apparatus (IJ08)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8057	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,416,168
		Apparatus (IJ09)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8056	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,220,694
		Apparatus (IJ10)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8069	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,257,705
		Apparatus (IJ11)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8049	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,247,794
		Apparatus (IJ12)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8036	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,234,610
		Apparatus (IJ13)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8048	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,247,793
		Apparatus (IJ14)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8070	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,264,306
		Apparatus (IJ15)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8067	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,241,342
		Apparatus (IJ16)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8001	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,247,792
		Apparatus (IJ17)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8038	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,264,307
		Apparatus (IJ18)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8033	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,254,220
		Apparatus (IJ19)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8002	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,234,611
		Apparatus (IJ20)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8068	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,302,528
		Apparatus (IJ21)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8062	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,283,582
		Apparatus (IJ22)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8034	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,239,821
		Apparatus (IJ23)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8039	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,338,547
		Apparatus (IJ24)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8041	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,247,796
		Apparatus (IJ25)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8004	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	09/113,122
		Apparatus (IJ26)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8037	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,390,603
		Apparatus (IJ27)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8043	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,362,843
		Apparatus (IJ28)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8042	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,293,653
		Apparatus (IJ29)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8064	15-Jul-97	Image Creation Method and	6,312,107
		Apparatus (IJ30)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO9389	23-Sep-97	Image Creation Method and	6,227,653
		Apparatus (IJ31)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO9391	23-Sep-97	Image Creation Method and	6,234,609
		Apparatus (IJ32)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0888	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and	6,238,040
		Apparatus (IJ33)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0891	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and	6,188,415
		Apparatus (IJ34)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0890	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and	6,227,654
		Apparatus (IJ35)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0873	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and	6,209,989
		Apparatus (IJ36)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0993	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and	6,247,791
		Apparatus (IJ37)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0890	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method and	6,336,710
		Apparatus (IJ38)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP1398	19-Jan-98	An Image Creation Method and	6,217,153
		Apparatus (IJ39)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP2592	25-Mar-98	An Image Creation Method and	6,416,167
		Apparatus (IJ40)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP2593	25-Mar-98	Image Creation Method and	6,243,113
		Apparatus (IJ41)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP3991	9-Jun-98	Image Creation Method and	6,283,581
		Apparatus (IJ42)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP3987	9-Jun-98	Image Creation Method and	6,247,790
		Apparatus (IJ43)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP3985	9-Jun-98	Image Creation Method and	6,260,953
		Apparatus (IJ44)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP3983	9-Jun-98	Image Creation Method and	6,267,469
		Apparatus (IJ45)	(Jul. 10, 1998

In 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. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.



			US
Australian			Patent/Patent
Provisional			Application and
Number	Filing Date	Title	Filing Date

PO7935	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,224,780
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM01)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7936	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,235,212
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM02)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7937	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,280,643
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM03)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8061	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,284,147
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM04)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8054	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,214,244
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM05)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8065	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,071,750
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM06)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8055	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,267,905
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM07)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8053	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,251,298
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM08)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8078	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,258,285
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM09)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7933	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,225,138
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM10)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7950	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,241,904
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM11)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7949	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,299,786
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM12)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8060	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	09/113,124
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM13)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8059	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,231,773
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM14)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8073	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,190,931
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM15)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8076	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,248,249
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM16)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8075	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,290,862
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM17)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8079	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,241,906
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM18)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8050	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	09/113,116
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM19)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8052	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,241,905
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM20)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7948	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,451,216
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM21)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7951	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,231,772
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM22)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8074	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,274,056
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM23)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7941	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,290,861
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM24)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8077	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,248,248
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM25)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8058	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,306,671
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM26)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8051	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,331,258
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM27)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8045	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,110,754
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM28)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO7952	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,294,101
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM29)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8046	15-Jul-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,416,679
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM30)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO8503	11-Aug-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,264,849
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM30a)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO9390	23-Sep-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,254,793
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM31)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PO9392	23-Sep-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,235,211
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM32)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0889	12-Dec-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,235,211
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM35)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0887	12-Dec-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,264,850
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM36)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0882	12-Dec-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,258,284
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM37)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0874	12-Dec-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,258,284
	97	Creation Apparatus (IJM38)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP1396	19-Jan-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,228,668
	98	Creation Apparatus (IJM39)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP2591	25-Mar-	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,180,427
	98	Creation Apparatus (IJM41)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP3989	9-Jun-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,171,875
		Creation Apparatus (IJM40)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP3990	9-Jun-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,267,904
		Creation Apparatus (IJM42)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP3986	9-Jun-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,245,247
		Creation Apparatus (IJM43)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP3984	9-Jun-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,245,247
		Creation Apparatus (IJM44)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP3982	9-Jun-98	A Method of Manufacture of an Image	6,231,148
		Creation Apparatus (IJM45)	(Jul. 10, 1998

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. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.



Australian			US Patent/Patent
Provisional	Filing		Application and
Number	Date	Title	Filing Date

PO8003	15-Jul-97	Supply Method and	6,350,023
		Apparatus (F1)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8005	15-Jul-97	Supply Method and	6,318,849
		Apparatus (F2)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9404	23-Sep-97	A Device and Method	09/113,101
		(F3)	(Jul. 10, 1998)

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. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.



Australian			US Patent/Patent
Provisional			Application and
Number	Filing Date	Title	Filing Date

PO7943	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS01)
PO8006	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS02)	6,087,638
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8007	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS03)	09/113,093
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8008	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS04)	6,340,222
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8010	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS05)	6,041,600
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8011	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS06)	6,299,300
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7947	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS07)	6,067,797
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7945	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS08)	09/113,081
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7944	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS09)	6,286,935
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7946	15-Jul-97	A device (MEMS10)	6,044,646
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9393	23-Sep-97	A Device and Method	09/113,065
		(MEMS11)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0875	12-Dec-97	A Device (MEMS12)	09/113,078
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0894	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	09/113,075
		(MEMS13)	(Jul. 10, 1998)

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. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.



Australian			US Patent/Patent
Provisional			Application and
Number	Filing Date	Title	Filing Date

PP0895	12-Dec-97	An Image Creation	6,231,148
		Method and Apparatus	(Jul. 10, 1998)
		(IR01)
PP0870	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	09/113,106
		(IR02)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0869	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	6,293,658
		(IR04)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0887	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method	09/113,104
		and Apparatus (IR05)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0885	12-Dec-97	An Image Production	6,238,033
		System (IR06)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0884	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method	6,312,070
		and Apparatus (IR10)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0886	12-Dec-97	Image Creation Method	6,238,111
		and Apparatus (IR12)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0871	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	09/113,086
		(IR13)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0876	12-Dec-97	An Image Processing	09/113,094
		Method and Apparatus	(Jul. 10, 1998)
		(IR14)
PP0877	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	6,378,970
		(IR16)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP0878	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	6,196,739
		(IR17)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0879	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	09/112,774
		(IR18)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0883	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	6,270,182
		(IR19)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0880	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	6,152,619
		(IR20)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0881	12-Dec-97	A Device and Method	09/113,092
		(IR21)	(Jul. 10, 1998)

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. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.



Australian			US Patent/Patent
Provision-	Filing		Application and
al Number	Date	Title	Filing Date

PP2370
	16 Mar. 1998	Data Processing Method	09/112,781
		and Apparatus (Dot01)	(Jul. 10, 1998
PP2371	16 Mar. 1998	Data Processing Method	09/113,052
		and Apparatus (Dot02)	(Jul. 10, 1998

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 cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.



Australian
Provisional	Filing		US Patent/Patent
Number	Date	Title	Application and Filing Date

PO7991	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/113,060
		and Apparatus (ART01)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7988	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	6,476,863
		and Apparatus (ART02)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7993	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/113,073
		and Apparatus (ART03)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9395	23 Sep. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,322,181
		and Apparatus (ART04)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8017	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,747
		and Apparatus (ART06)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8014	15 Jul. 1997	Media Device (ART07)	6,227,648
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8025	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,750
		and Apparatus (ART08)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8032	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,746
		and Apparatus (ART09)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7999	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,743
		and Apparatus (ART10)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7998	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,742
		and Apparatus (ART11)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8031	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,741
		and Apparatus (ART12)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8030	15 Jul. 1997	Media Device (ART13)	6,196,541
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7997	15 Jul. 1997	Media Device (ART15)	6,195,150
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7979	15 Jul. 1997	Media Device (ART16)	6,362,868
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8015	15 Jul. 1997	Media Device (ART17)	09/112,738
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7978	15 Jul. 1997	Media Device (ART18)	09/113,067
			(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7982	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,431,669
		and Apparatus (ART19)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7989	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,362,869
		and Apparatus (ART20)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8019	15 Jul. 1997	Media Processing Method	6,472,052
		and Apparatus (ART21)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7980	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	6,356,715
		and Apparatus (ART22)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8018	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,777
		and Apparatus (ART24)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7938	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/113,224
		and Apparatus (ART25)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8016	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	6,366,693
		and Apparatus (ART26)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8024	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	6,329,990
		and Apparatus (ART27)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7940	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/113,072
		and Apparatus (ART28)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7939	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/112,785
		and Apparatus (ART29)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8501	11 Aug. 1997	Image Processing Method	6,137,500
		and Apparatus (ART30)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8500	11 Aug. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,796
		and Apparatus (ART31)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7987	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/113,071
		and Apparatus (ART32)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8022	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	6,398,328
		and Apparatus (ART33)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8497	11 Aug. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/113,090
		and Apparatus (ART34)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8020	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,431,704
		and Apparatus (ART38)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8023	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/113,222
		and Apparatus (ART39)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8504	11 Aug. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,786
		and Apparatus (ART42)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8000	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,415,054
		and Apparatus (ART43)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7977	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/112,782
		and Apparatus (ART44)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7934	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/113,056
		and Apparatus (ART45)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7990	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/113,059
		and Apparatus (ART46)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8499	11 Aug. 1997	Image Processing Method	6,486,886
		and Apparatus (ART47)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8502	11 Aug. 1997	Image Processing Method	6,381,361
		and Apparatus (ART48)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7981	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,317,192
		and Apparatus (ART50)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7986	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/113,057
		and Apparatus (ART51)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO7983	15 Jul. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/113,054
		and Apparatus (ART52)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8026	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,752
		and Apparatus (ART53)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8027	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,759
		and Apparatus (ART54)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO8028	15 Jul. 1997	Image Processing Method	09/112,757
		and Apparatus (ART56)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9394	23 Sep. 1997	Image Processing Method	6,357,135
		and Apparatus (ART57)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9396	23 Sep. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/113,107
		and Apparatus (ART58)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9397	23 Sep. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,271,931
		and Apparatus (ART59)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9398	23 Sep. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,353,772
		and Apparatus (ART60)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9399	23 Sep. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,106,147
		and Apparatus (ART61)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9400	23 Sep. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/112,790
		and Apparatus (ART62)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9401	23 Sep. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,304,291
		and Apparatus (ART63)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9402	23 Sep. 1997	Data Processing Method	09/112,788
		and Apparatus (ART64)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9403	23 Sep. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,305,770
		and Apparatus (ART65)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PO9405	23 Sep. 1997	Data Processing Method	6,289,262
		and Apparatus (ART66)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP0959	16 Dec. 1997	A Data Processing Method	6,315,200
		and Apparatus (ART68)	(Jul. 10, 1998)
PP1397	19 Jan. 1998	A Media Device (ART69)	6,217,165
			(Jul. 10, 1998)

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device comprising:

an image sensor for sensing an image in a first color space having three color components such that an image is sensed as an array of pixels, each having three color component intensities captured as analogue values;

an analogue to digital converter for converting the analogue values to digital values;

a memory facility for storing the digital values of the color components for each of the pixels in the array in a respective memory location;

an address generator for generating an address that uniquely identifies the memory location of the digital values of the color components for each pixel;

an inkjet printer for operation in a second color space; and,

a processor for manipulating the image by remapping at least some of the memory locations in the memory facility, and color converting the digital values of the color components into the second color space.

2. A handheld electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the image sensor senses a first image and a second image of the same scene, such that the processor determines an image enhancement to be applied to the second image from the characteristics of first image.

3. A handheld electronic device according to claim 2 wherein the processor samples at least some of the intensities of the three color components of the first image and adjusts the operation of the analogue to digital converter to provide per channel color correction of the second image.

4. A handheld electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the processor uses color conversion to achieve special effects in the image printed by the inkjet printer.

5. A handheld electronic device according to claim 4 wherein the special effects are selected from at least of:

sepia style;

black and white; and,

traditional colorized black and white.

6. A handheld electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the image manipulation is selected from at least one of:

resizing to passport;

resizing to panoramic;

wild color effects; and,

kaleidoscopic effects.

7. A handheld electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the processor adds additional elements to the printed image.

8. A handheld electronic device according to claim 7 wherein the additional elements are clip art, borders, edge effects, or blank post card markings.

9. A handheld electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a digital camera.

10. A handheld electronic device according to claim 9 wherein the digital camera carries a supply of media substrate on which the image is printed such that the camera is single use and is discarded once the media substrate supply is exhausted.