Electrokinetic fluid ejection
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorFrank R. Carruba
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electrokinetic fluid ejection is disclosed. A mechanism includes a sealed quantity of electrolytic solution, a measured quantity of fluid, and a membrane. The membrane is exposed to the electrolytic solution on one side, and exposed to fluid on another side. An electric potential applied to the electrolytic solution excites the solution, causing the membrane to discharge a droplet of fluid. This can be accomplished by the electrical potential pressuring the electrolytic solution, displacing the membrane and thus the fluid. This can also be accomplished by the electrical potential transferring energy to the solution, which transfers energy to the membrane. Energy is then transferred from the membrane to the fluid. The invention can be used as a manner by which inkjet printing is accomplished.
Claims20
A mechanism comprising:
- a sealed quantity of electrolytic solution;
- a measured quantity of fluid;
- and,
- a membrane exposed to the electrolytic solution on one side and exposed to the fluid on another side,
- wherein an electric potential applied to the electrolytic solution excites the electrolytic solution, causing the membrane to discharge a droplet of the fluid.
A print cartridge comprising:
- a print head mechanism;
- a print head motor to advance the print head mechanism horizontally over the media;
- a die disposed in the print head mechanism and encasing a pair of separated electrodes and a quantity of electrolytic solution;
- a plate disposed in the print head mechanism and holding a quantity of ink;
- and,
- a membrane disposed in the print head mechanism between the die and the plate and exposed to the electrolytic solution on one side and to the ink on another side,
- wherein an electric potential applied between the electrodes excites the electrolytic solution, causing the membrane to discharge a droplet of the ink.
A method comprising:
- applying an electric potential to a sealed quantity of electrolytic solution on one side of a membrane having a measured quantity of fluid on another side of the membrane;
- exciting the electrolytic solution as result of the electric potential applied to the electrolytic solution;
- and,
- discharging a droplet of the fluid by the membrane as a result of the electrolytic solution being excited.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.