Patent · US Expired

Fully integrated thermal inkjet printhead having multiple ink feed holes per nozzle

US6305790A · kind A · utility

31Cited by
17References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 27, 1999
Grant dateOct 23, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2202/03
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Described herein is a monolithic printhead formed using integrated circuit techniques. Thin film layers, including ink ejection elements, are formed on a top surface of a silicon substrate. The various layers are etched to provide conductive leads to the ink ejection elements. At least one ink feed hole is formed through the thin film layers for each ink ejection chamber. In one embodiment, there are more ink feed holes than ink ejection chambers, so that more than one ink feed hole provides ink to each ink ejection chamber. A trench is etched in the bottom surface of the substrate so that ink can flow into the trench and into each ink ejection chamber through the ink feed holes formed in the thin film layers. An orifice layer is formed on the top surface of the thin film layers to define the nozzles and ink ejection chambers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.