Inkjet printhead heater elements with thin or non-existent coatings

US7448729B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd · AU

Inventors

• Kia Silverbrook · Sydney, AU
• Gregory John McAvoy · Sydney, AU
• Angus John North · Sydney, AU
• Samuel George Mallinson · Sydney, AU
• Mehdi Azimi · Sydney, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 4, 2005
• Grant date: Nov 11, 2008
• Expiry date: Apr 14, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41J2202/20
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A thermal inkjet printhead with a heater element disposed in each of the bubble forming chambers wherein, the heater element has a protective surface coating that is less than 0.1 μm thick while still being capable of ejecting more than 1 billion drops without failure. Removing most or all of the protective coatings from the heater reduces or eliminates the thermal insulation between the heater and the ink. Nucleating a bubble in the ink chamber requires a much shorter pulse of less energy thereby improving printhead efficiency.