Thermal bend actuator arrangement with a diagnostic sensor
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorKia Silverbrook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal bend actuator arrangement is provided for an inkjet printer. The actuator arrangement includes an actuating arm. The actuating arm includes a pair of spaced bending portions which are mechanically coupled together and electrically isolated from each other. An active one of the bending portions includes a pair of electrical terminals. A current source is provided to which the electrical terminals are connected and is configured to induce current flow in the active bending portion to thereby cause bending of the actuating arm. A diagnostic sensor is configured to provide diagnostic feedback from the actuating arm to permit fault detection of the actuating arm.
Claims9
A thermal bend actuator arrangement for an inkjet printer, the actuator arrangement comprising:
- an actuating arm comprising a pair of spaced bending portions which are mechanically coupled together and electrically isolated from each other, one of the bending portions being active;
- a pair of electrical terminals connected to the active bending portion;
- a current source to which the electrical terminals are connected and configured to induce current flow in the active bending portion to cause bending of the actuating arm;
- and
- a diagnostic sensor operatively connected to the electrical terminals and configured to provide diagnostic feedback from the actuating arm to permit fault detection of the actuating arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.