Nozzle arrangement with a movement sensor for an inkjet printer
First Claim
1. A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer, said arrangement comprising:
- a wafer substrate defining a chamber with an ink inlet and ejection port, said substrate having a micro-electromechanical drive layer;
a paddle dividing said chamber into an ink chamber and a nozzle chamber;
an actuating arm coupled to the paddle, said arm having an outer arm portion mechanically linked to an inner arm portion via posts electrically isolating the inner arm portion from said outer arm portion, the arm being pivotal with respect to the substrate during operative electrical thermal expansion of the inner arm portion displacing the paddle towards the ejection port;
a microprocessor arrangement having amplifier elements defined within the micro-electromechanical drive layer; and
a movement sensor having a moving contact element formed integrally with the inner arm portion and a fixed contact element formed integrally with the micro-electromechanical drive layer and connected to the amplifier elements, the moving contact element completing an electrical circuit when contacted with the fixed contact element when the arm pivots to a predetermined extent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides for a nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer. The arrangement includes a wafer substrate defining a chamber with an ink inlet and ejection port, the substrate having a micro-electromechanical drive layer. The arrangement also includes a paddle dividing the chamber into an ink chamber and a nozzle chamber, and an actuating arm coupled to the paddle. The arm includes an outer arm portion mechanically linked to an inner arm portion via posts electrically isolating the inner arm portion from the outer arm portion. The arm is pivotal with respect to the substrate during operative electrical thermal expansion of the inner arm portion displacing the paddle towards the ejection port. The nozzle arrangement also includes a microprocessor arrangement having amplifier elements defined within the drive layer, and a movement sensor having a moving contact element formed integrally with the inner arm portion and a fixed contact element formed integrally with the drive layer and connected to the amplifier elements. The moving contact is arranged to complete an electrical circuit when contacted with the fixed contact element when the arm pivots to a predetermined extent.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer, said arrangement comprising:
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a wafer substrate defining a chamber with an ink inlet and ejection port, said substrate having a micro-electromechanical drive layer; a paddle dividing said chamber into an ink chamber and a nozzle chamber; an actuating arm coupled to the paddle, said arm having an outer arm portion mechanically linked to an inner arm portion via posts electrically isolating the inner arm portion from said outer arm portion, the arm being pivotal with respect to the substrate during operative electrical thermal expansion of the inner arm portion displacing the paddle towards the ejection port; a microprocessor arrangement having amplifier elements defined within the micro-electromechanical drive layer; and a movement sensor having a moving contact element formed integrally with the inner arm portion and a fixed contact element formed integrally with the micro-electromechanical drive layer and connected to the amplifier elements, the moving contact element completing an electrical circuit when contacted with the fixed contact element when the arm pivots to a predetermined extent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification