(19)

(11)

EP 0 932 504 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 04.08.1999 Bulletin 1999/31 (21) Application number: 97939472.0 (22) Date of filing: 20.08.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  B41J 2/ 205( . ) B41J 2/ 055( . ) B41J 2/ 045( . ) B41J 2/ 21( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1997/014685 (87) International publication number: WO 1998/008687 (05.03.1998 Gazette 1998/09)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 27.08.1996 US 19960703974 05.02.1997 US 19970808608 (71) Applicant: Topaz Technologies, Inc. Sunnyvale, California 94086 (US)	(72) Inventors: OTTOSSON, Mats, G. Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (US) GARDNER, Deane, A. Cupertino, CA 95014 (US) BIBL, Andreas Los Altos, CA 94024 (US) FERRIER, Herman, A. Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (US) (74) Representative: Viering, Hans-Martin, Dipl.-Ing.  Patentanwälte Viering & Jentschura, Postfach 22 14 43 80504 München 80504 München (DE)