Printer incorporating a microelectromechanical printhead

• US 7,083,261 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): JACKSON, JUANITA DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US11/013,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 347/20, 347/44, 347/47, 347/54, 347/56, 347 61- 65, 347/67, 60527-529, 310306-307, 337139-141, 25112901-12902, 251/129.06
• US Class Current: 347/54
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1601 Production of bubble jet print heads B41J2/1606, B41J2/162 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1629 wet etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1637 molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1639 sacrificial molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1645 thin film formation by spincoating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1646 thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 : Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14435 : Moving nozzle made of thermal bend detached actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14475 : characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 : with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 : in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 : Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 : Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 : by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 : Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 : 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 : using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 : the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49083 : Heater type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 : Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 : Contact or terminal manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49401 : Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet

Abstract

A printer includes a microelectromechanical printhead formed upon a wafer by integrated circuit fabrication techniques. The printhead has a plurality of electrically actuated ink ejection assemblies that are include thermal bend actuators responsive to drive signals emanating from electronic drive circuitry formed in a layer of the wafer. Each of the ink ejection assemblies includes a thermal bend actuator that is arranged displace an ink ejection member that extends into an ink chamber of the assembly. An ink ejection port is formed into a roof of the chamber. Upon activation of the thermal bend actuator the ink ejection member disturbs ink within the chamber resulting in the ejection of an ink droplet. A port is formed within a wall of the chamber for ink replenishment.

Claims

1. A printer having a microelectromechanical printhead including:

a substrate with a layer containing electronic drive circuitry;

a plurality of electrically actuated ink ejection assemblies formed into the substrate and responsive to the electronic drive circuitry, the ink ejection assemblies including;

an actuator responsive to an electrical signal from the electronic drive circuitry; and

an ink ejection member responsive to the actuator at a first end and disposed to interact with an ink chamber of the ink ejection assembly at a second end in order to eject ink upon operation of the actuator.

2. A printer according to claim 1 including a motion transmitting structure arranged to transmit force from the actuator to the ink ejection member.

3. A printer according to claim 2, wherein the actuator includes an elongate actuator arm attached to the substrate and a displaceable end distal to the attachment and coupled to the motion transmitting structure.

4. A printer according to claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises a thermal bend actuator arranged to apply force to the motion transmitting structure in response to the electrical signal from the electronic drive circuitry.

5. A printer according to claim 1 including a seal arranged to inhibit passage of ink between the ink ejection member and the actuator in use.

6. A printer according to claim 1 formed by an integrated circuit fabrication process.

7. A printer according to claim 1, in which the ink chamber is formed with a roof that defines an ink outlet port.

8. A printer according to claim 7, including a nozzle rim formed around the outside perimeter of the ink outlet port.

9. A printer according to claim 8, including a number of recesses formed about the nozzle rim to inhibit ink spread.