Abstract: A printhead is formed from a plurality of ink ejectors mounted on an inner surface of a rigid substrate while protruding through holes provided in the substrate. Electrical contact is provided on a surface of the ink ejectors common with the ink ejecting nozzles thereby avoiding vias to another surface. The rigid substrate provides a conducting layer on its inner surface such that the ink ejectors may be connected thereto with solder reflow techniques.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device is arranged to employ a first set of multiple nozzle drop generators activated by a first address signal and a second set of multiple nozzle drop generators activated by a second address signal. The multiple nozzles of each drop generator of the first set are arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern, each of which encompasses at least one nozzle of a drop generator of the second set. The ink ejectors of one drop generator of the first drop generator set are arranged in subgroups, one subgroup of which shares a switched power return with one subgroup of ink ejectors of one drop generator of the second drop generator set.

Abstract: In order to overcome inefficient power dissipation in parasitic resistances and to provide economies in the power supply, a higher resistance value segmented heater resistor is employed in a thermal inkjet printhead. A production tolerance early failure mechanism is avoided with the use of a cut introduced into the conductive shorting bar coupling the segments of the heater resistor.

Abstract: In order to overcome inefficient power dissipation in parasitic resistances and to provide economies in the power supply, a higher resistance value heater resistor is employed in a thermal inkjet printhead. Higher current densities in a high resistance segmented heater resistor are reduced by employing a shorting bar divided by a current balancing resistor.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device employs an inkjet printhead with a plurality of drop generators to eject drops of ink. Each drop generator includes a planar heater resistor, comprising three segments. Two of the segments are disposed on either side of the third segment and provide a reduced thermal loss for the third segment. This reduced thermal loss and other features cause a controlled nucleation point to occur over the third segment even though the two segments on either side will create ink vapor bubbles of variable size depending upon the applied energy.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing air from an inkjet print cartridge by collecting the air in a predetermined area and forcing the air from the air collection area using a conduit.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer utilizes an orifice plate having at least two ink ejection orifices associated with one ink firing chamber so that both orifices eject ink. These orifices are manufactured to be non-circular and opposite each other about a midpoint between them.

Abstract: For an inkjet printing apparatus having a large number of ink ejectors, it is desirable to have as few as possible interconnections to the ink ejectors. Sharing electrical ground returns between related ink ejector primitive groups with spaced apart terminals provides a reduction in interconnections while offering redundancy in the interconnection.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device employs an inkjet printhead with a plurality of drop generators to eject drops of ink. Each drop generator includes a planar heater resistor, a protection layer having a first heating surface on the heater resistor and a second heating surface entirely surrounding the first heater surface on the heater resistor, and an ink ejection nozzle. The drop generator vaporizes ink at the first heating surface and ejects a drop of ink of a first mass from the nozzle when a first range of energies is applied to the heater resistor. The drop generator vaporizes ink at the first heating surface and the second heating surface and ejects a drop of ink of a second mass from the nozzle when a second range of energies is applied to the heater resistor.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer employs an integral pump disposed in an ink feed channel, input well, or output well to circulate ink to the ink expulsion chambers in the printhead.

Abstract: A robust printhead is disclosed comprising a substrate, an ink flow channel formed in the substrate, a beveled die having disposed heater resistors and which is inserted into the substrate, a TAB circuit used to electrically couple the beveled die to the substrate, and an encapsulated upper surface. The encapsulant is disposed at least over the electrical coupling between the beveled die and the interconnect.

Abstract: A process for creating and an apparatus employing shaped orifices in a semiconductor substrate. A first layer of material is applied on the semiconductor substrate then a second layer of material is then applied upon the first layer of material. An orifice image is then transferred to the first layer of material and a fluid-well image is transferred to the second layer of material. That portion of the second layer of material where the orifice image is located is then developed along with that portion of the first layer of material where the fluid well is located to define an orifice in the substrate.

Abstract: The photoresist barrier layer of an inkjet printer printhead is processed to enable channels narrower than a predetermined width in the barrier layer to be created without blockage. Relatively large volumes of photoresist which form a wall of the channel are exposed to a partial exposure of electomagnetic radiation to yield a reduced concentration of photoresist barrier layer in the large volume.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving inkjet print quality uses a printhead having an array using a plurality of nozzles in sets in each drop generator mechanism. Where a conventional inkjet pen fires a single droplet of ink at a target pixel per firing cycle, the present invention simultaneously ejects a plurality of droplets at different subdivisions of pixels. Drop generators of a printhead array includes a plurality of nozzles for the drop generators arranged such that the light absorption of the sum of the simultaneously ejected ink droplets is like that of conventionally ejected drops but distributed over an area of the printed medium greater than that of a conventional target pixel.

Abstract: A thermal inkjet printing apparatus employs a segmented heater resistor, a thin passivation layer, and a lower heater resistor activation energy to realize a high density drop generator printhead.

Abstract: A printhead used to eject fluid onto a recording medium has an integrated heat-sink which is used to cool the energy dissipation elements used to propel the fluid from the printhead. The printhead is comprised of a semiconductor substrate that has been processed with thin-film layers. On top of the thin-film layers is an orifice layer that has a pattern of orifices. Fluid feed channels, on the side of the printhead opposite the orifice, supply fluid to the pattern of orifices. Within the thin-film layers are energy dissipating elements which are used to transfer energy to the fluid thereby ejecting fluid from the orifice. The fluid is transferred to the orifice opening through fluid feed slots formed in the thin-film layer adjacent to the energy dissipation elements which is exposed in the fluid feed channel. An integrated heat-sink is attached to the energy dissipation elements to remove heat to the semiconductor substrate and the fluid supply in the fluid feed channel.

Abstract: A printhead having reduced spray includes orifi from which ink is expelled by an ink ejector. The orifi employ an aperture at the outer surface of the orifice plate having two orthogonal dimensions with one dimension having a greater magnitude than the other. The aperture is further defined by two non-intersecting edges spaced apart at one point by a distance of the smaller of the two dimensions and spaced apart at all other points by a distance greater than the smaller dimension such that the orifi are hourglass shaped.