Servicing based on impedance values

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11279131-B2
Application number	US-201716763242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2017
Priority date	Dec 11, 2017
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

A fluid ejection system may include a fluidic die comprising at least one fluid ejection device, at least one electrical impedance sensor to detect at least one impedance value during a plurality of stages of existence of a drive bubble in at least one firing chamber associated with the at least one fluid ejection device, and a service station wherein, based on the impedance values detected, the printing system services the at least one fluid actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid ejection system, comprising:
a fluidic die comprising at least one fluid ejection device;
at least one electrical impedance sensor to detect at least one impedance value during a plurality of stages of existence of a drive bubble in at least one firing chamber associated with the at least one fluid ejection device; and
a service station;
wherein, based on the impedance values detected, the fluid ejection system services the at least one fluid actuator by retracting an amount of fluid within the firing chamber and burning off the fluid with the fluid ejection system based on the impedance values detected.

2. The fluid ejection system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid ejection system services, at the servicing station, the at least one fluid actuator by causing the at least one fluid ejection device to engage in a spitting process based on the impedance values detected.

3. The fluid ejection system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid ejection system detects, based on the impedance values detected, that a pigment vehicle separation has occurred in a fluid within the firing chamber.

4. The fluid election system of claim 3 , wherein the fluid ejection system pumps the fluid within the firing chamber using a microfluidic pump when pigment vehicle separation has occurred.

5. A method of servicing a fluid ejection device, comprising:
detecting at least one impedance values during a plurality of stages of existence of a drive bubble in at least one firing chamber associated with at least one fluid actuator within the fluid ejection device; and
based on the impedance values detected, servicing the at least one fluid actuator by activating a microfluidic pump to, based on the impedance values, pump fluid within the at least one firing chamber.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein servicing the at least one fluid actuator comprises spitting the at least one fluid actuator.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein servicing the at least one fluid actuator comprises retracting an amount of fluid within the firing chamber and burning off the fluid with the fluid ejection device.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein servicing the at least one fluid actuator comprises wiping the fluid ejection device.

9. The method of claim 5 , servicing the at least one fluid actuator comprises:
detecting that pigment vehicle separation has occurred within a fluid of the firing chamber based on the impedance values; and
pumping the fluid within at least the firing chamber using the microfluidic pump.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the microfluidic pump is placed asymmetrically along a fluid flow path within, at least, the firing chamber to cause movement of the fluid through the firing chamber.

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the detection of the at least one impedance value occurs during ejection of the fluid.

12. A fluid ejection device, comprising:
at least one fluid ejection chamber fluidically coupling together:
a drive bubble formation mechanism; and
an electrical impedance sensor positioned to detect a presence of a drive bubble by executing at least one impedance measurement as the drive bubble is formed and collapses;
a servicing determination module to, when executed by a processor, service the fluid ejection chamber by activating a microfluidic pump to based, on the impedance values, pump fluid within the at least one fluid ejection chamber.

13. The fluid ejection device of claim 12 , further comprising a microfluidic channel fluidically coupled to the fluid ejection chamber and wherein the microfluidic pump is placed asymmetrically within the microfluidic channel to cause the fluid to be pumped through the microfluidic channel and fluid ejection chamber.

14. The fluid ejection device of claim 12 , wherein the servicing determination module further initiates a spitting process to eject an amount of fluid from the fluid ejection chamber based on the plurality of impedance measurements.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Anderson Daryl E
• Martin Eric
• Gardner James Michael
• Morris Jordan

Classifications

• B41J2002/14354

  Sensor in each pressure chamber · CPC title

• B41J2/175 Primary

  Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} · CPC title

• B41J2/16579

  Detection means therefor, e.g. for nozzle clogging · CPC title

• B41J2/14153 Primary

  Structures including a sensor · CPC title