Abstract: A nozzle plate for ink jet cartridges which are manufactured from a relatively thin film of material, such as, for example, polyimide, polyarylene ether, or composite of a number of materials deposited on a rigid substrate, such as a silicon wafer, and photolithographically processed from the rigid substrate to produce a large quantity of interconnected nozzle plates which may be removed as a sheet of interconnected nozzle plates for ease of handling. The nozzle plates are aligned and bonded to the nozzle bearing front faces of the cartridges.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead fabrication technique enables capillary channels for liquid ink to be formed with square or rectangular cross-sections. A sacrificial layer is placed over the main surface of a silicon chip, the sacrificial layer being patterned in the form of the void formed by the desired ink channels. A permanent layer, comprising a polybenzoxazole, is applied over the sacrificial layer. After polishing the two layers to form a uniform surface, the sacrificial layer is removed.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead fabrication technique enables capillary channels for liquid ink to be formed with square or rectangular cross-sections. A sacrificial layer is placed over the main surface of a silicon chip, the sacrificial layer being patterned in the form of the void formed by the desired ink channels. A permanent layer, comprising permanent material, is applied over the sacrificial layer, and, after polishing the two layers to form a uniform surface, the sacrificial layer is removed. Preferred materials for the sacrificial layer include polyimide while preferred materials for the permanent layer include polyarylene ether, although a variety of material combinations are possible.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead has improved resistance to the corrosive effects of ink by coating ink sensitive areas with a photo-imageable benzocyclobutene (BCB) polymer. The BCB can be patterned so as to provide a protective coating over selected areas while leaving other areas uncoated. In one described embodiment, a thermal ink jet printer is formed by bonding together a channel plate and a heater plate. Resistors and electrical connections are formed in the surface of the heater plate. A BCB layer is formed so as to overlie the heater plate to protect the electrical elements while providing pit structure for the heater and for ink flow bypass.