Nozzle arrangement with control logic architecture for an ink jet printhead

• US 7,585,047 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thinh H
• Application Number:
  US12/140,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20080246817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 347/5, 347/57, 347/60, 347/20, 347/59
• US Class Current: 347/20
• 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 nozzle arrangement for a pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly includes a substrate that defines an ink supply channel. Walls define an ink chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel and an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and having an ink spreading prevention rim. A thermal actuator mechanism is arranged in the substrate and is configured to eject ink from the chamber via the ejection port. The mechanism has a thermal actuator arm capable of deflection as a result of relative thermal expansion. Control logic architecture is on the substrate for controlling the thermal actuator arm. The architecture has a number of successive shift registers each having a data input and a data output. A transfer register is arranged to receive the data output from a last shift register. A firing control gate has an enabling input and a gate data input that receives an output from the transfer register. The gate operatively drives the thermal actuator according to the enabling and gate data inputs.

Claims

1. A nozzle arrangement for a pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly, the nozzle arrangement comprising:

a substrate that defines an ink supply channel;

walls defining an ink chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel and an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and having an ink spreading prevention rim;

a thermal actuator mechanism arranged in the substrate and configured to eject ink from the chamber via the ejection port, the mechanism having a thermal actuator arm capable of deflection as a result of relative thermal expansion; and

control logic architecture on the substrate for controlling the thermal actuator arm, the architecture having a number of successive shift registers each having a data input and a data output, a transfer register arranged to receive the data output from a last shift register, and a firing control gate having an enabling input and a gate data input receiving an output from the transfer register, the gate operatively driving the thermal actuator according to the enabling and gate data inputs.

2. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1, in which the thermal actuator mechanism has two layers which are formed from a conductive material having a high degree of stiffness, said layers surrounding a central material layer so that said two layers are in thermal balance with the arm in a quiescent state.

3. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1, wherein the ink spreading prevention rim defines a pit for preventing ink from flowing across a surface of the ink jet printhead and effecting operation of said printhead.

4. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1, wherein the thermal actuator mechanism includes an end paddle attached to an actuator arm which pivots at a post proximate the ink chamber.

5. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1, wherein each shift register receives an inverted data input and latches the input under control of shift clocking signals received via suitable clock signal inputs.

6. The nozzle arrangement of claim 5, wherein the data input is output to each successive shift register by a previous shift register to the transfer register, where the data output is latched by said transfer register under control of transfer enable signals.

7. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1, wherein the firing control gate is activated under the control of an enable signal input via the enabling input so as to drive a power transistor which allows for resistive heating of the thermal actuator.

8. The nozzle arrangement of claim 7, wherein the data is latched in the transfer register and a firing phase control signal is utilized to activate the gate for output of a heating pulse to said power transistor.