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:
Jul. 26, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 31, 2008
David Wayne Devore, Richmond, KY (US);
Robert White Milgate, Iii, Lexington, KY (US);
David Wayne DeVore, Richmond, KY (US);
Robert White Milgate, III, Lexington, KY (US);
Other;
Abstract
A technique for detecting a defective printhead nozzle employing acoustical energy. During printhead maintenance, the nozzles of the printhead are sequentially fired to eject ink therefrom. The acoustical energy emitted by a nozzle during ejection of an ink droplet can be detected by a sound receiver. Acoustical energy can also be transmitted in the field of travel of the ink droplet so that when the ink droplet passes therethrough the acoustical energy is perturbated, and such perturbation can be detected. The perturbation can be an attenuation of the received acoustical energy when the ink droplet passes between the acoustical transmitter and a sound receiver. The perturbation can also be a change in the acoustical energy when the ink droplet reflects acoustical energy from the acoustical transmitter to the sound receiver.