Ink jet print head adapted to minimize orientation-induced line-width variation

1. An ink jet print head adapted to minimize orientation-induced line-width variation, the print head comprising:

n nozzles, wherein the n nozzles are located at vertices of a polygon having an average side length s avg , and wherein each side length of the polygon is less than 20% deviation from the average side length s avg ;

wherein the n nozzles are configured to ink jet a line having a line-width w; and

wherein each of the n nozzles is configured to ink jet a spot having an average area-equivalent spot diameter d which satisfies the inequality conditions (I)

0.7 w≦d+ ( n /π) s avg ≦1.3 w   (I).

2. The ink jet print head of claim 1 , wherein the polygon is a regular polygon.

3. The ink jet print head of claim 1 , wherein n ranges from 2 to 10.

4. The ink jet print head of claim 1 , wherein n ranges from 2 to 6.

5. The ink jet print head of claim 1 , wherein d ranges from about 20 μm to about 300 μm.

6. The ink jet print head of claim 1 , wherein w ranges from about 50 μm to about 2000 μm.

7. An ink jet print head adapted to minimize orientation-induced line-width variation, the print head comprising:

n nozzles, wherein the n nozzles are configured to ink jet a line having a line-width w; and

wherein the n nozzles are located at vertices of a polygon having an average side length s avg , and wherein each side length of the polygon is less than 20% deviation from the average side length s avg which satisfies the inequality conditions (IIa, IIb) with the coefficient λ=1.3

w sin(π/ n )/[λ+( n /π)sin(π/ n )]≦ S avg ≦w/ [1 +n /π], where n =2, 3, 4  (IIa), and

w sin(π/ n )/[λ+( n /π)sin(π/ n ) ]≦s avg ≦w tan(π/ n )/[1+( n /π)tan(π/ n )], when n =5, 6, 7,  (IIb).

8. The ink jet print head of claim 7 , wherein the polygon is a regular polygon.

9. The ink jet print head of claim 7 , wherein the n nozzles are configured to ink jet an array of ink spots with each ink spot having an average area-equivalent spot diameter d which satisfies the inequality conditions (IIIa, IIIb) with the coefficient λ=1.3

s avg ≦d≦λs avg csc(π/ n ), where n =2, 3, 4  (IIIa), and

s avg cot(π/ n ) ≦d≦λs avg csc(π/ n ), where n =5, 6, 7,  (IIIb).

10. An ink jet print head adapted to minimize orientation-induced line-width variation, the print head comprising:

n nozzles, wherein the n nozzles are configured to ink jet a line having a line-width w; and

wherein the n nozzles are configured to ink jet a polygonal array of ink spots having an average area-equivalent spot diameter d which satisfy the inequality conditions (IVa, IVb) with the coefficient λ=1.3

w/ [1 +n/π]≦d≦λw /[λ+( n /π)sin(π/ n )], where n =2, 3, 4  (IVa), and

w /[1+( n /π)tan(π/ n ) ]≦d≦λw /[λ+( n /π)sin(π/ n )], where n =5, 6, 7,  (IVb).

11. The ink jet print head of claim 10 , wherein the n nozzles are located at vertices of a polygon having an average side length s avg , and wherein each side length of the polygon is less than 20% deviation from the average side length s avg which satisfies the inequality conditions (Va, Vb) with the coefficient λ=1.3

d sin(π/ n )/ λ≦s avg ≦d , where n =2, 3, 4  (Va),

and d sin(π/ n )/ λ≦s avg ≦d tan(π/ n ), where n =5, 6, 7,  (Vb).

12. The ink jet print head of claim 10 , wherein the n nozzles are located at vertices of a regular polygon having side length s which satisfy the inequality conditions (VIa, VIb) with the coefficient λ=1.3

d sin(π/ n )/ λ≦s≦d , where n =2, 3, 4  (VIa), and

d sin(π/ n )/ λ≦s≦d tan(π/ n ), where n =5, 6, 7,  (VIb).

13. An ink jet print head adapted to minimize orientation-induced line-width variation, the print head comprising:

n nozzles, wherein the n nozzles are located at vertices of a polygon having an average side length s avg , and wherein each side length of the polygon is less than 20% deviation from the average side length s avg ; and

wherein each of the n nozzles is configured to ink jet a spot having an average area-equivalent spot diameter d which satisfies the inequality conditions (VIIa, VIIb) with the coefficient λ=1.3

s avg ≦d≦λs avg csc(π/ n ), where n =2, 3, 4  (VIIa),

and s avg cot(π/ n ) ≦d≦λs avg csc(π/ n ), where n =5, 6, 7,  (VIIb).

14. The ink jet print head of claim 13 , wherein the polygon is a regular polygon.

15. An ink jet print head adapted to minimize orientation-induced line-width variation, the print head comprising:

n nozzles, wherein the n nozzles are located at vertices of a polygon and are configured for ink jetting a polygonal array of ink spots having an average area-equivalent spot diameter d; and

wherein each of the side lengths s of the polygon satisfies the inequality conditions (VIIIa, VIIIb) with the coefficient λ=1.3

d sin(π/ n )/ λ≦s≦d , where n =2, 3, 4  (VIIIa), and

d sin(π/ n )/ λ≦s≦d tan(π/ n ), where n =5, 6, 7,  (VIIIb).

16. The ink jet print head of claim 15 , wherein the polygon is a regular polygon.