Patent US3107421A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4067019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Impact position transducer for ink jet
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1976-06-14
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Granted: 1978-01-03
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Expires: 1996-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A sensing arrangement for accurately detecting the position of ink jet or similar drop impact thereon. The drop impact occurs on the surface of a poled piezoelectric between two parallel conductors. The charge generated by drop impact is localized, the degree inversely dependent upon the piezoelectric thickness, so that the signal generated in a conductor is dependent upon the distance of the impact location from the conductor. Thus, using transimpedance amplifiers, the difference of the output signals indicates the impact position.
Inventors
- 👤 John Martin Fleischer
- 👤 Richard Dwight Holmes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:39
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/07; B41J2/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
Apparatus for detecting the location of small projectile impact comprising: a poled piezoelectric member for generating a signal due to mechanical stress produced by impact on a surface thereof by said projectile; two parallel separated conductors on said surface of said piezoelectric member for receiving said signal; and means for detecting the relative signal strength due to said mechanical stress on said conductors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus for detecting the location of small projectile impact comprising: a poled piezoelectric member for generating a signal due to mechanical stress produced by impact on a surface thereof by said projectile; two parallel separated conductors on said surface of said piezoelectric member for receiving said signal; and means for detecting the relative signal strength due to said mechanical stress on said conductors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said piezoelectric member additionally comprises a planar piezoelectric member poled toward one planar surface, said surface comprising said projectile impact surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1: additionally including a grounded electrode on the planar surface of said piezoelectric member which is opposite said projectile impact surface; and said detection means comprises additionally transimpedance amplifier means connected to each said conductor for amplifying said signal received by said conductor, and comparator means connected to said amplifier means for providing a signal representing the relative signal strengths of said amplifier signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 for detecting said impact location in two dimensions wherein: said conductors comprise at least three conductors, each terminating at a separate edge of a multilateral area on said surface of said piezoelectric member, said area forming a projectile impact area, for receiving said signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 4 for detecting said impact location in two dimensions wherein: said conductors comprises four conductors, each terminating at a separate edge of a quadrilateral area on said surface of said piezoelectric member, said quadrilateral area forming a projectile impact area, for receiving said signal; and said detection means comprising separate means, each for detecting the relative signal strength on a pair of said conductors forming opposite sides of said quadrilateral area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for detecting the impact location of an ink jet drop stream comprising: a poled piezoelectric member for generating a localized signal upon impact on a surface thereof by each drop of said stream; two separate parallel conductors on said surface of said piezoelectric member and on opposite sides of said impact location for receiving said localized signal; and means for detecting the relative signal strength on said conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus for detecting the impact location of an ink jet drop stream comprising: a poled piezoelectric member for generating a localized signal upon impact on a surface thereof by each drop of said stream; two separate parallel conductors on said surface of said piezoelectric member and on opposite sides of said impact location for receiving said localized signal; and means for detecting the relative signal strength on said conductors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 6 for detecting the impact location of each of a row of ink jet drop streams, only one stream impacting said apparatus at a time, wherein: said two parallel conductors additionally have a length at least equal to the length of said row and are on said surface on opposite sides of said impact locations for all said streams in said row.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 6 for detecting said impact location in two dimensions wherein: said conductors comprise at least three conductors, each terminating at a separate edge of a multilateral area on said surface of said piezoelectric member, said area forming a drop impact area, for receiving said localized signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 8 for detecting said impact location in two dimensions wherein: said conductors comprises four conductors, each terminating at a separate edge of a quadrilateral area on said surface of said piezoelectric member, said quadrilateral area forming a drop impact area, for receiving said localized signal; and said detecting means comprises separate means, each for detecting the relative signal strength on a pair of said conductors forming opposite sides of said quadrilateral area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said piezoelectric member additionally comprises a planar piezoelectric member poled toward one planar surface, said surface comprising said drop impact surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 10 additionally comprising: a passivation layer on said impact surface overlying said conductors and said area between said conductors for passivating any effect of said ink on said conductors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 10: additionally including a grounded electrode on the planar surface of said piezoelectric member which is opposite said drop impact surface; and said detection means additionally comprises transimpedance amplifier means connected to each said conductor for amplifying said localized signal received by said conductor, and comparator means connected to said amplifier means for providing a signal representing the relative signal strengths of said amplified signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-02 | 1981-07-04 | 1982-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-02 | 1985-07-04 | 1986-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-02 | 1989-07-04 | 1990-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |