Pagewidth printhead assembly with flexible tab film for supplying power and data to printhead integrated circuits

• US 7,396,108 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2006
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Lamson D.
• Application Number:
  US11/478,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20060268064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 347/13, 347/42, 347/49, 347/58, 347/59
• US Class Current: 347/42
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04528 aiming at warming up the head
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04541 Specific driving circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04543 Block driving
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04553 detecting ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04563 detecting head temperature; Ink temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04573 Timing; Delays
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04585 controlling heads based on thermal bent actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04588 using a specific waveform
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04591 Width of the driving signal being adjusted
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04596 Non-ejecting pulses
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04598 Pre-pulse
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• 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 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1635 dividing the wafer into individual chips
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1639 sacrificial molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• 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 2/175 : Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 : Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 : Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 : Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing

Abstract

A pagewidth printhead assembly is provided. The assembly comprises: (i) an elongate ink distribution manifold that defines a longitudinally and centrally oriented region for receiving one or more printhead integrated circuits, the manifold having a plurality of ink inlets and a plurality of ink outlets that open into the region; (ii) one or more printhead integrated circuits mounted on the region for receiving ink from the ink outlets, each printhead integrated circuit comprising a plurality of inkjet nozzles, drive circuitry for driving actuators in the nozzles and bond pads connected to the drive circuitry; and (iii) a flexible TAB film for supplying power and data to the or each printhead integrated circuit, the TAB film connecting the bond pads with printer control circuitry. The TAB film extends around one longitudinal side of the ink distribution manifold.

Claims

1. A pagewidth printhead assembly comprising:

an elongate ink distribution manifold that defines a longitudinally and centrally oriented region for receiving one or more printhead integrated circuits, said manifold having a plurality of ink inlets and a plurality of ink outlets that open into said region;

one or more printhead integrated circuits mounted on said region and defining a pagewidth printhead, said printhead receiving ink from said ink outlets, each printhead integrated circuit comprising a plurality of inkjet nozzles, drive circuitry for driving actuators in said nozzles and bond pads connected to said drive circuitry; and

a flexible TAB film for supplying power and data to each printhead integrated circuit, said TAB film connecting said bond pads with printer control circuitry, wherein said TAB film extends around one longitudinal side of the ink distribution manifold.

2. The pagewidth printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an ink storage unit in fluid communication with said ink inlets of said ink distribution manifold.

3. The pagewidth printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ink distribution manifold is a molded member.

4. The pagewidth printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said printhead is configurable to print at 1600 dpi.

5. The pagewidth printhead assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of connections to the printhead is about 100.