The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 18, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 15, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
Jose Luis Valero, Sant Cugat del Valles, ES;
Francesc Subirada, Barcelona, ES;
Assignee:
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/9393 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/9393 ;
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for testing the operational status of printhead nozzles. High throughput drop detection devices are used to detected ink drops that are fired from the printhead nozzles, and the operational status is determined from the ink drop characteristics. The ink drop characteristics may include the presence or absence of an ink drop. Ink drop characteristics may also include the size and the location of an ink drop. The drop detection devices are capable of detecting a plurality of ink drops that are ejected substantially simultaneously.