(19)

(11)

EP 0 975 465 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 02.02.2000 Bulletin 2000/05 (21) Application number: 98919757.9 (22) Date of filing: 09.04.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B41J 2/14 (86) International application number: PCT/US9807/426 (87) International publication number: WO 9847/712 (29.10.1998 Gazette 1998/43)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 18.04.1997 US 844244 (71) Applicant: Topaz Technologies, Inc. Sunnyvale,California 94086 (US)	(72) Inventors: BIBL, Andreas Los Altos, CA 94024 (US) ROSSELL, Manuel, G. San Jose, CA 95125 (US) (74) Representative: Schlee, Alexander, Dipl.-Ing.  Viering, Jentschura & Partner,Patentanwälte,Postfach 22 14 43 80504 München 80504 München (DE)