James L Stortz

US Patent:

56661452, Sep 9, 1997

Filed:

Apr 13, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/421198

Inventors:

Donald J. Hayes - Plano TX
James L. Stortz - Spring TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 2045

US Classification:

347 71

Abstract:

A single side interconnectable ink jet printhead. In one embodiment thereof, the ink jet printhead includes a lower body portion having a plurality of conductive sections mounted to a top side of the lower body portion and a corresponding plurality of conductive pins projecting from a bottom side of the lower body portion. Each of the conductive sections is electrically connected to the corresponding one of the conductive pins. A bottom side surface of each one of a plurality of generally parallel, longitudinally extending first intermediate body portions, each formed of an active piezoelectric material poled in a first direction parallel to the top side surface of the lower body portion is conductively mounted to a portion of the top side surface of the lower body portion. A bottom side surface of each one of a plurality of generally parallel, longitudinally extending second intermediate body portions, each formed of an active piezoelectric material poled in a second direction opposite to the first direction is conductively mounted to a top side surface of a corresponding one of the first intermediate body portions and a bottom side surface of an insulative upper body portion is conductively mounted to a top side surface of each of the plurality of second intermediate body portions.

US Patent:

54304709, Jul 4, 1995

Filed:

Oct 6, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/132586

Inventors:

James L. Stortz - Spring TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 204
B41J 214

US Classification:

347 54

Abstract:

A drop on demand type ink jet printhead. The ink jet printhead includes a cover plate formed from an active material, a main body portion having an ink-carrying channel axially extending therein and a device for supplying a pressurized flow of ink to the ink-carrying channel. A rear side surface of the cover plate is mounted to a front side surface of the main body portion to block the ejection of pressurized ink therefrom. When an electric field is applied across the cover plate, the displacement of the cover plate caused thereby provides a path for the ejection of ink from the ink-carrying channel. Specifically, the cover plate includes an edge surface which extends from a front side surface thereof to the rear side surface such that, when the electric field is applied thereacross, an orifice defined by the edge surface and in communication with the ink-carrying channel is formed for the ejection of pressurized ink therefrom. The edge surface may be formed by respective side surfaces of first and second plate sections which lay flush with each other or first and second apertures formed in first and second plate sections which are mounted front to rear.

US Patent:

54366488, Jul 25, 1995

Filed:

May 10, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/060295

Inventors:

James L. Stortz - Spring TX
David B. Wallace - Dallas TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 2045

US Classification:

347 10

Abstract:

A switched digital drive system is used to actuate an ink jet printhead having a spaced, parallel series of internal ink receiving channels opening outwardly at front ends thereof through ink discharge orifices formed in the printhead body. The channels are laterally bounded by a spaced series of piezoelectrically deflectable internal sidewall sections of the printhead body interdigitated with the channels. The drive system includes a series of electrical actuation leads each connected to a different one of the sidewall sections, and dual transistor switch structures connected in the leads with each switch, in turn, connected to positive and negative DC voltage sources. To actuate a selected channel, the switches associated with its opposite bounding sidewall sections are operated in a manner sequentially (1) deflecting the sidewall sections outwardly away from initially undeflected positions thereof by imposing constant, opposite polarity voltages thereon, (2) reversing the polarities of the constant voltages to deflect the sidewall sections into the channel, and then (3) imposing a series of voltage pulses of sequentially opposite polarities on each of the inwardly deflected sidewall sections to controllably return them to their initial undeflected positions.

US Patent:

54444675, Aug 22, 1995

Filed:

May 10, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/060296

Inventors:

James L. Stortz - Spring TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 2045

US Classification:

347 12

Abstract:

A differential drive system is used to actuate an ink jet printhead having a spaced, parallel series of internal ink receiving channels opening outwardly through ink discharge orifices formed in the printhead body. The channels are laterally bounded by a spaced series of piezoelectrically deflectable internal sidewall actuator sections of the printhead body interdigitated with the channels. The printhead body is specially configured to facilitate wiring access to spaced apart first and second electrical connection portions on each of the actuators. Electrical leads from a first controller are connected to the first actuator portions and are ganged in groups that are selectively connected to a driving voltage source, or to ground, by the first controller. A second controller has a first set of electrical leads similarly ganged in groups and connected to a first set of the second actuator portions, and a second set of unganged electrical leads individually connected to the rest of the second actuator portions. The second controller is operative to selectively connect any of its individual leads, or any of its ganged lead groups, to the driving voltage source or to ground.

US Patent:

59008857, May 4, 1999

Filed:

Sep 3, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/708122

Inventors:

James L. Stortz - Spring TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corp. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

345508

Abstract:

A method for providing a video buffer includes reserving an incremental video buffer in system memory, and controlling the use of a dedicated video buffer and the incremental video buffer to provide a composite video buffer.

US Patent:

54264553, Jun 20, 1995

Filed:

May 10, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/060298

Inventors:

Ralph K. Williamson - Spring TX
James L. Stortz - Spring TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 2045

US Classification:

347 10

Abstract:

A digital driver for an ink jet printhead and an associated method for selectively applying voltage to a piezoelectric sidewall actuator of the printhead. The digital driver includes positive, negative and neutral voltage sources, a first switching element having a first control input, a first voltage supply input connected to the positive voltage source and a first output, a second switching element having a second control input, a second voltage supply input connected to the negative voltage source and a second output, and a third switching element having a third control input, a third voltage supply input connected to the neutral voltage source and a third output. The first, second and third outputs are connected together to provide a common output for connection to the piezoelectric sidewall actuator. By asserting the first control input for a first time period, the first switching element generates a positive voltage pulse at the common output to displace the sidewall actuator from a rest position to a first position. Next, by simultaneously deasserting the first control input and asserting the second control input, the second switching element generates a negative voltage pulse at the common output to displace the sidewall actuator from the first position, past the rest position, to a second position.

US Patent:

61084263, Aug 22, 2000

Filed:

Aug 26, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/703361

Inventors:

James L. Stortz - Spring TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

H04B 300

US Classification:

381 77

Abstract:

Power consumption of an audio system of a computer is controlled, in response to an audio power management event, by altering the operation of the audio system in a manner that changes the power consumption of the audio system.

US Patent:

55216188, May 28, 1996

Filed:

May 10, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/060297

Inventors:

James L. Stortz - Spring TX
David B. Wallace - Dallas TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

B41J 2045

US Classification:

347 10

Abstract:

A digital driver for an ink jet printhead and an associated method for selectively applying voltage to a piezoelectric sidewall actuator of the ink jet printhead. The digital driver includes positive and negative voltage sources, a first switching element having a first control input, a first voltage supply input connected to the positive voltage source, and a first output, and a second switching element having a second control input, a second voltage supply input connected to the negative voltage source, and a second output connected to the first output to provide a single output connected to the piezoelectric sidewall actuator. By asserting the first control input for a first time period, the first switching element generates a positive voltage pulse at the single output to displace the sidewall actuator from a rest position to a first position. Next, by simultaneously deasserting the first control input and asserting the second control input, the second switching element generates a negative voltage pulse at the single output to displace the sidewall actuator from the first position, past the rest position, to a second position. Next, by deasserting the second control input, the sidewall actuator passively returns to the rest position.