Patent · US Expired

Microfluidic printing with optical density control

US6042209A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
1References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 28, 1997
Grant dateMar 28, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 28, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/175
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A microfluidic printing apparatus including at least one ink reservoir; a structure defining a plurality of chambers arranged so that the chambers form an array with each chamber being arranged to form an ink pixel; a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to a chamber; a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink from an ink reservoir through a microchannel for delivery to a particular chamber; and a structure for controlling the starting times of the microfluidic pumps and the time of separation of the receiver from the ink chambers so that the correct amount of ink is delivered from each chamber to each pixel on the receiver.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.