Spatial light modulation method for determining droplet motion characteristics
First Claim
1. An apparatus for an ink jet printer, comprising:
- an ejector configured to release an ink droplet along a path within the ink jet printer;
a spatial filter having a plurality of features;
a detector positioned to sense light emanating from the droplet along the path, the sensed light being modulated according to the plurality of features as the droplet moves along the path relative to the spatial filter, the detector configured to generate a time-varying electrical signal in response to the sensed light; and
an analyzer to determine one or more characteristics of the droplet based upon the time-varying signal.
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Abstract
Approaches for determining the delivery success of a droplet from an ink jet print head are disclosed. On approach utilizes an apparatus for the ink jet printer that includes an ejector, a spatial filter, a detector, and an analyzer. The ejector is configured to release an ink droplet along a path and the spatial filter has a plurality of features. The detector is positioned to sense light emanating from the droplet along the path with the sensed light being modulated according to the features as the droplet moves along the path relative to the spatial filter. The detector is configured to generate a time-varying electrical signal in response to the sensed light. The analyzer determines one or more physical, spatial, or dynamic characteristics of the droplet based upon the time-varying signal.
28 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for an ink jet printer, comprising:
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an ejector configured to release an ink droplet along a path within the ink jet printer; a spatial filter having a plurality of features; a detector positioned to sense light emanating from the droplet along the path, the sensed light being modulated according to the plurality of features as the droplet moves along the path relative to the spatial filter, the detector configured to generate a time-varying electrical signal in response to the sensed light; and an analyzer to determine one or more characteristics of the droplet based upon the time-varying signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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an inkjet print head having a plurality of ejectors, each ejector configured to release one or more droplets along one or more paths; an optical component configured to provide a measurement light; one or more detectors positioned to detect light emanating from each of the one or more droplets along the one or more paths in response to the measurement light, the detected light being modulated as the one or more droplets move along a detection region, the one or more detectors configured to generate one or more time-varying signals in response to the detected light; and an analyzer configured to simultaneously distinguish and determine one or more characteristics of the one or more droplets and correlate each of the one or more droplets with one of the plurality of ejectors based upon the one or more time-varying signals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of analyzing delivery of inkjet droplets from a print head, comprising:
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releasing a droplet from an ejector of the print head; sensing a modulated light from the droplet moving along a path relative to a spatial filter; generating a time-varying signal in response to the detected light; and analyzing the time-varying signal to determine one or more characteristics of the droplet based upon the time-varying signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method comprising:
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sensing a modulated light from a ink droplet moving along a path relative to a spatial filter; generating a time-varying signal in response to the detected light; and analyzing the time-varying signal to determine one or more dynamic characteristics of the droplet including a separation of the droplet into a plurality of droplets, a combination of the droplet with one or more additional droplets, and a uniformity or non-uniformity of speed, size, trajectory, and shape of a group of sequentially released droplets including the droplet.
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Specification