Author: claimsbot

I claim:

1. A method of fabricating a printhead that includes a substrate, a plurality of nozzles positioned on the substrate and a nozzle guard that is mounted on the substrate to cover the nozzles, the nozzle guard defining a plurality of apertures that are aligned with respective nozzles so that ink ejected from the nozzles can pass through the apertures and onto a print medium, the method including the steps of:
depositing a layer of a sacrificial material onto the substrate to cover the nozzles;
positioning the nozzle guard on the sacrificial material; and
removing the sacrificial material.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the method includes the step of positioning support struts of the nozzle guard on alignment formations extending from the substrate, subsequent to depositing the layer of sacrificial material on the substrate.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, which includes the step of interposing a seal between each strut and a respective alignment formation.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the step of removing the sacrificial material includes the step of carrying out a plasma etching process through at least one of the apertures of the nozzle guard.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the sacrificial material is removed using an oxygen plasma etch.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An optical module comprising, on the same optical waveguide substrate, a first optical waveguide having transmitted optical signals from a light-emitting element incident thereon and a second optical waveguide guiding received optical signals to a light-receiving element,
wherein the optical module comprises:
optical path conversion means that converts the direction of propagation of optical signals propagating along the second optical waveguide to a first direction spatially divergent from the axis of incidence of the transmitted optical signals going into the first optical waveguide, and guides light arriving from directions different from that of the second optical waveguide in a direction different from the first direction.
2. An optical module comprising, on the same optical waveguide substrate, a light-emitting element, a first optical waveguide optically coupled to the light-emitting element, a light-receiving element, and a second optical waveguide guiding optical signals to the light-receiving element,
wherein the light-receiving element is arranged in a position where the normal to its light-receiving surface is in a spatially divergent relationship with respect to the axis of incidence of optical signals on the first optical waveguide from the light-emitting element,
and comprises optical path conversion means that guides optical signals propagating along the second optical waveguide to the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element, and ensures that an image of the light-emitting spot of the light-emitting element projected onto a plane comprising the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element does not overlap with light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element.
3. The optical module according to claim 2, wherein the optical path conversion means comprises a planar reflector.
4. The optical module according to claim 2, wherein the optical path conversion means comprises a concave reflector.
5. The optical module according to claim 2, wherein the optical path conversion means comprises means for performing optical path conversion using differences in the refractive indices of materials.
6. The optical module according to claim 5, wherein the means for performing optical path conversion is formed integrally with the light-receiving element.
7. The optical module according to claim 2, further comprising, on the optical waveguide substrate, a third optical waveguide having an optical fiber optically coupled thereto and optical multiplexingde-multiplexing means that outputs transmitted optical signals from the first optical waveguide to the third optical waveguide and guides received optical signals from the third optical waveguide to the second optical waveguide.
8. The optical module according to claim 7, wherein the optical multiplexingde-multiplexing means includes a slit formed in the optical waveguide substrate and an optical filter that is inserted in the slit, couples transmitted optical signals from the first optical waveguide to the third optical waveguide by passing or reflecting the transmitted optical signals, and couples received optical signals from the third optical waveguide to the second optical waveguide by reflecting or passing the received optical signals.
9. The optical module according to claim 3, further comprising, on the optical waveguide substrate, a third optical waveguide having an optical fiber optically coupled thereto and optical multiplexingde-multiplexing means that outputs transmitted optical signals from the first optical waveguide to the third optical waveguide and guides received optical signals from the third optical waveguide to the second optical waveguide.
10. The optical module according to claim 4, further comprising, on the optical waveguide substrate, a third optical waveguide having an optical fiber optically coupled thereto and optical multiplexingde-multiplexing means that outputs transmitted optical signals from the first optical waveguide to the third optical waveguide and guides received optical signals from the third optical waveguide to the second optical waveguide.
11. The optical module according to claim 5, further comprising, on the optical waveguide substrate, a third optical waveguide having an optical fiber optically coupled thereto and optical multiplexingde-multiplexing means that outputs transmitted optical signals from the first optical waveguide to the third optical waveguide and guides received optical signals from the third optical waveguide to the second optical waveguide.
12. The optical module according to claim 6, further comprising, on the optical waveguide substrate, a third optical waveguide having an optical fiber optically coupled thereto and optical multiplexingde-multiplexing means that outputs transmitted optical signals from the first optical waveguide to the third optical waveguide and guides received optical signals from the third optical waveguide to the second optical waveguide.

1. A method for focusing a beam comprising atomic species, comprising the steps of:
forming a collimated beam of said atomic species;
providing a first plurality of electromagnetic standing waves of essentially identical spatial period and having their planes parallel to each other, arranged serially across the path of said beam at predetermined distances from each other, said standing waves being aligned laterally such that their nodes are collinear; and
directing said collimated beam through said standing waves.
2. The method of claim 1 and also comprising the step of disposing a substrate at a predetermined location relative to said plurality of standing waves, such that the atomic species of said beam are deposited onto said substrate.
3. The method of claim 2 and wherein at least two of said electromagnetic standing waves have different intensities.
4. The method of claim 2 and wherein the intensities of the standing waves and their locations are determined by optimization of the deposition of said atomic species on said substrate.
5. The method of claim 4 and wherein the effects of longitudinal velocity distribution of said beam are reduced such that said atomic species are deposited on said substrate in sharp edged patterns and having a reduced background of deposited atoms between said patterns.
6. The method of claim 2 and also comprising the step of arranging said predetermined distances such that each serially successive electromagnetic standing wave down said beam path is located at the position of minimal beam width resulting from the traverse of said beam through the previous standing wave of said plurality of standing waves.
7. The method of claim 2 and also comprising the step of performing mutual movement of said substrate relative to said plurality of standing waves.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said mutual movement of said substrate relative to said plurality of standing waves is performed by movement of said plurality of standing waves.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said movement of at least one of said plurality of standing waves is performed by adjusting the mutual phases of said laser beams whose interference generates said standing wave.
10. The method of claim 2 and wherein the effects of transverse velocity distribution of said beam are reduced such that said atomic species are deposited on said substrate in sharp edged patterns and having a reduced background of deposited atoms between said patterns.
11. The method of claim 2 and also comprising the step of disposing at least one plate having at least one aperture in the path of said beam.
12. The method of claim 11 and wherein the dimension of said at least one aperture is smaller than the minimal spatial period of said plurality of standing waves, such that said beam is deposited essentially as a single pile of said atomic species.
13. The method of claim 11, and wherein the dimension of said at least one aperture is larger than at least two spatial periods of said plurality of standing waves, such that said beam is deposited essentially as a plurality of piles of atomic species.
14. The method of claim 1 and wherein said electromagnetic standing waves have essentially the same intensity.
15. The method of claim 1 and wherein at least two of said electromagnetic standing waves have different intensities.
16. The method of claim 1 and wherein at least one of said electromagnetic standing waves is generated by interference between laser beams.
17. The method of claim 16 and wherein at least one of said standing waves is aligned laterally by adjusting the mutual phases of said laser beams whose interference generates said standing waves.
18. The method of claim 1 and wherein the intensities of said standing waves and their locations are determined by optimization of the focusing effect.
19. The method of claim 1 and also comprising the steps of:
providing at least one additional electromagnetic standing wave, having its plane parallel to the planes of said plurality of parallel electromagnetic standing waves; and
aligning said at least one additional electromagnetic standing wave at an angle to said first plurality of electromagnetic standing waves, such that said beam is focused in a two dimensional array.
20. The method of claim 19 and wherein said at least one additional electromagnetic standing wave is co-planar with at least one of the electromagnetic waves of said first plurality of electromagnetic standing waves.
21. The method of claim 19 and wherein said at least one additional electromagnetic wave and said first plurality of parallel electromagnetic standing waves are essentially orthogonal.
22. The method of claim 19 and wherein the spatial periods of said at least one additional electromagnetic standing wave and of said first plurality of parallel electromagnetic standing waves are essentially the same.
23. The method of claim 1 and also comprising the steps of:
providing at least a second plurality of parallel electromagnetic standing waves of an essentially identical spatial period and having their planes parallel to the planes of said first plurality of parallel electromagnetic standing waves, said second plurality of standing waves also being arranged serially across the path of said atomic beam at predetermined distances from each other, and aligned laterally such that their nodes are collinear;
and aligning the direction of the nodes of said second plurality of electromagnetic standing waves at an angle to that of said first plurality of electromagnetic standing waves, such that said beam is focused in a two dimensional array.
24. The method of claim 23 and wherein at least one of the electromagnetic standing waves of said first plurality of electromagnetic standing waves is co-planar with at least one electromagnetic standing wave of said second plurality of electromagnetic standing waves.
25. The method of claim 23 and wherein said first and said second pluralities of parallel electromagnetic standing waves are essentially orthogonal.
26. The method of claim 23 and wherein said spatial periods of said first plurality and said second plurality of parallel electromagnetic standing waves are the same.
27. The method of claim 1 and also comprising the step of arranging said predetermined distances such that each serially successive electromagnetic standing wave down said beam path is located at the position of minimal beam width resulting from the traverse of said beam through the previous standing wave of said plurality of standing waves.
28. The method of claim 1 and also comprising the step of disposing at least one plate having at least one aperture in the path of said beam.
29. The method of claim 28 and wherein the dimension of said at least one aperture is smaller than the minimal spatial period of said plurality of standing waves, such that said beam is focused to a single pile of said atomic species.
30. The method of claim 28, and wherein the dimension of said at least one aperture is larger than at least two spatial periods of said plurality of standing waves, such that said atomic beam is deposited essentially as a plurality of piles of atoms.
31. A system for performing deposition of atomic species comprising:
a source omitting a collimated beam of said atomic species;
a first plurality of electromagnetic standing waves of essentially identical spatial period and having their planes parallel to each other, arranged serially across the path of said beam at predetermined distances from each other, said standing waves being aligned laterally such that their nodes are collinear; and
a substrate disposed at a predetermined location after the last one of said plurality of standing waves, such that said atomic species of said beam are deposited onto said substrate.
32. A system according to claim 31 and wherein at least one of said electromagnetic standing waves is generated by interference between laser beams.
33. A system according to claim 31 and wherein said atomic species are deposited in a set of parallel lines having a first spacing.
34. A system according to claim 33 and wherein mutual movement of said substrate relative to said plurality of standing waves is performed, such that said atomic species are deposited in a set of lines having a spacing closer than that of said first spacing.
35. A system according to claim 31 and also comprising at least one additional electromagnetic standing wave having its plane parallel to the planes of said first plurality of parallel electromagnetic standing waves, and aligned at an angle to said first plurality of electromagnetic standing waves, such that said atomic species are deposited in a two dimensional array.
36. A system according to claim 35 and wherein mutual movement of said substrate relative to said first plurality of standing waves is performed, such that said atomic species are deposited in a two dimensional pattern.
37. A system according to claim 35 and wherein said at least one additional electromagnetic standing wave is a second plurality of electromagnetic standing waves aligned at an angle to said first plurality of electromagnetic standing waves, such that said atomic species are deposited in a two dimensional array having a first spatial density.
38. A system according to claim 37 and wherein mutual movement of said substrate relative to at least one of said plurality of standing waves is performed, such that said atomic species are deposited in a two dimensional array of spatial density greater than said first spatial density.
39. A system according to claim 37 and wherein mutual movement of said substrate relative to said standing waves is performed, such that said atomic species are deposited in a two dimensional pattern.
40. A system according to claim 31 and wherein said atomic species form a mask pattern on said substrate.
41. A system according to claim 31 and wherein said atomic species form a doped region within said substrate.
42. A system according to claim 31 and wherein said atomic species form an optical grating structure on said substrate.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A shortening composition comprising:
(a) between about 8.500 to about 39.995% (ww) of a fully hydrogenated oil;
(b) between about 58.500 to about 89.995% of an oil; and
(c) between about 0.01 to about 3% of an emulsifier;
wherein the shortening composition has less than 5% trans fatty acids and the crystals of the shortening composition exhibit a beta polymorphism.
2. The shortening composition of claim 1 having between about 18.500 to about 39.995% of the fully hydrogenated oil.
3. The shortening composition of claim 1 having between about 29.500 to about 29.995% of the fully hydrogenated oil.
4. The shortening composition of claim 1, wherein the fully hydrogenated oil is a fully hydrogenated vegetable oil.
5. The shortening composition of claim 4, wherein the fully hydrogenated vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of a fully hydrogenated soybean oil, a fully hydrogenated cottonseed oil, a fully hydrogenated canola oil, a fully hydrogenated sunflower oil, a fully hydrogenated safflower oil, a fully hydrogenated colza oil, a fully hydrogenated corn oil, a fully hydrogenated peanut oil, a fully hydrogenated olive oil, a fully hydrogenated microalgae oil and a fully hydrogenated rice bran oil.
6. The shortening composition of claim 4, wherein the fully hydrogenated vegetable oil is a fully hydrogenated soybean oil.
7. The shortening composition of claim 1, wherein the fully hydrogenated oil is a fully hydrogenated fish oil.
8. The shortening composition of claim 1 having between about 58.500 to about 79.995% of the oil.
9. The shortening composition of claim 1 having between about 68.500 to about 69.995% of the oil.
10. The shortening composition of claim 1, wherein the oil is a vegetable oil or a fish oil.
11. The shortening composition of claim 10, wherein the vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of a soybean oil, a cottonseed oil, a canola oil, a sunflower oil, a safflower oil, a colza oil, a corn oil, a peanut oil, an olive oil, a microalgae oil and a rice bran oil.
12. The shortening composition of claim 10, wherein the vegetable oil has a high oleic acid content.
13. The shortening composition of claim 12, wherein the vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of a high oleic-low linoleiclinolenic sunflower oil, a high oleic-low linoleiclinolenic canola oil, a high oleic-low linoleiclinolenic soybean oil, a high oleic-low linoleiclinolenic safflower oil, a high oleic-low linoleiclinolenic microalgae oil and a high oleic-low linoleiclinolenic sunflower oil.
14. The shortening composition of claim 10, wherein the vegetable oil is a soybean oil.
15. (canceled)
16. The shortening composition of claim 1 having about 3% of the emulsifier.
17. The shortening composition of claim 1 having about 1% of the emulsifier.
18. The shortening composition of claim 1, wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylenesorbitan monostearate, glyceryl monopalmitate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, phosphatidylcholine and a combination of mono- and di-glycerides from an hydrogenated palm.
19. The shortening composition of claim 1, wherein the emulsifier is glyceryl monopalmitate.
20. The shortening composition of claim 1 having about 29.500% of the fully hydrogenated oil, about 69.500% of the oil and about 1% of the emulsifier, wherein the fully hydrogenated oil is a fully hydrogenated soybean oil, the oil is a soybean oil and the emulsifier is glyceryl monopalmitate.
21. A process for making the shortening composition defined in any one of claims 1 to 20, said process comprising:
(a) providing a first mixture comprising (i) between about 8.500 to about 39.995% (ww) of a fully hydrogenated oil; (ii) between about 58.500 to about 89.995% of an oil; and (iii) between about 0.01 to about 3% of an emulsifier;
(b) adjusting, under agitation, the temperature of the first mixture to between about \u22125\xb0 C. to about 20\xb0 C. to obtain a second mixture; and
(c) adjusting the temperature of the second mixture to between about 8\xb0 C. to 15\xb0 C.
22.-32. (canceled)