Abstract: Methods for fabricating a printhead are described. In one embodiment, a method includes forming on a substrate using a single fabrication technique multiple resistors, some of the resistors to be used as heater resistors configured to eject fluid and some of the resistors to be used as storage resistors that store data, annealing the heater resistors, and intentionally not annealing at least one of the storage resistors, wherein the annealed storage resistors have a first state representing a first digital value and the unannealed storage resistors have a second state representing a second digital value, such that the values associated with the storage resistors can be read by an appropriate detection circuit.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current. A drive transistor provides an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator, and control logic controls the drive transistor. The energy of the energy pulse is less than 1 ?J.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead is disclosed. The printhead includes a substrate defining a plurality of ink inlet passages; a plurality of nozzle chambers formed on the substrate, each nozzle chamber being in fluid communication with at least one of the ink inlet passages, and at least one heater element suspended in each nozzle chamber, each heater element, when energized by an electrical signal, forms a gas bubble in ink in the nozzle chamber so that a drop of ink is ejected from the nozzle chamber.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current, a shift register comprising a plurality of successive registers, the shift register receives input data in a first register, and shifts the input data to successive registers upon receipt of a shift signal, a transfer register for latching data in one of the registers of the shift register; a control gate for outputting a control pulse in response to data in the transfer register, and a drive transistor for providing an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator upon receipt of the control pulse. Each energy pulse has energy of less than 1 microjoule.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a plurality of nozzle apertures, each with a nozzle axis normal to, extending through the center of the nozzle aperture. A chamber corresponds to each of the nozzles respectively. An inlet to supply the bubble forming chamber with liquid. A heater element is disposed in each of the bubble forming chambers respectively. The heater element configured as a beam suspended at its ends for immersion in the liquid such that heating the heater element forms a gas bubble that ejects a drop of the liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that heater element. The heater element is a planar structure parallel to the nozzle aperture and nucleates the gas bubble with a bubble centre offset from the nozzle axis towards the inlet. Offsetting the gas bubble towards the inlet reduces the variation in drop trajectories caused by reverse flow out of the inlet when the pressure pulse is generated.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead that has a nozzle aperture that defines a planar opening having two planes of symmetry, both of which extend perpendicular to the plane of the opening. The printhead also having a heater corresponding to the nozzle aperture for generating a gas bubble in printing fluid to eject a drop of the printing fluid through the nozzle aperture. The heater element is a suspended beam that has two planes of symmetry and at least one of the heater element planes of symmetry is common to one of the nozzle aperture plane of symmetry.

Abstract: Provided are an inkjet printhead and a method of driving the inkjet printhead. The inkjet printhead includes a heater configured to heat ink to produce ink bubbles, an electrode configured to apply or provide the current to the heater, and a resistor connected to the electrode and separated by a distance from the heater. The resistor having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTC) that can be used to compensate for the effects that temperature has on the ejection speed and mass of ejected ink droplets produced by the inkjet printhead and that result from temperature changes that occur during the operation of the inkjet printhead.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet having a diameter of less than 20 ?m from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current. A drive transistor provides an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator, and control logic controls the drive transistor.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead having: an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle and a plurality of heater elements for generating vapour bubbles to eject ink through the nozzle, the heater elements being suspended for immersion in the ink; and, a cross bracing structure for maintaining the spacing between the heater elements.

Abstract: A printhead for an Inkjet Printer is disclosed. The printhead has a large number of nozzle assemblies. Each nozzle assembly has an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current, a drive transistor for providing an energy pulse to the resistive element of said actuator, and control logic for controlling said drive transistor. Nozzles are spaced from other nozzles ejecting ink of a different color by less than 400 microns.

Abstract: A method of ejecting drops of an ejectable liquid from a printhead is provided. The printhead has nozzles with bubble forming chambers, a heater element(s) disposed in the chambers configured for thermal contact with a bubble forming liquid and having bubble nucleation sections of smaller cross section than the rest of the heater element, and drive circuitry for controlling operation of the heater elements via electrodes, with parts of the drive circuitry disposed on opposing sides of the chambers. The method includes heating the heater elements by applying actuation energy of less than 500 nJ to form a gas bubble in the liquid that causes drop ejection from the nozzles and supplying the nozzle with a replacement volume of the liquid equivalent to the ejected drop. The bubble nucleation sections and the rest of the heater elements are co-planar and remain co-planar when heater elements are heated.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet head driven by a drive IC for ejecting an ink droplet having conductivity, comprising a chamber for storing ink, a nozzle plate attached to the chamber, an actuator provided with an electrode electrically contacting ink in the chamber and activated by a current flowing through the electrode from a power supply, a conductive plate including an opening and glued to the nozzle plate such that the nozzle is exposed through the opening, and a current limiter limiting the current when the ink is purged from the nozzle during a period other than that of ink being ejected. Even if the purge is repeatedly carried out, an extraordinarily rising in temperature of the drive IC and resultant breakdown of the IC can be prevented.

Abstract: A MEMS vapor bubble generator with a chamber for holding liquid and a heater positioned in the chamber for heating the liquid above its bubble nucleation point to form a vapour bubble; wherein, the heater is formed from a superalloy.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printhead nozzle arrangement including side walls located on a wafer substrate with a roof layer deposited on said walls to define an ink chamber, the roof layer defining a nozzle aperture, and an inlet defined in the substrate to supply the ink chamber with printing fluid. The arrangement also includes at least one heater element having two opposite sides parallel to a plane of the ejection aperture and configured such that a gas bubble formed by that heater element is formed at both of said sides. The heater elements and associated electrodes are arranged in the chamber so that the electrodes are non-coincident and have an annular shape with a point of collapse of the bubble near a center thereof.

Abstract: A drop emitting apparatus including a manifold, a viscoelastic structure acoustically coupled to the manifold, and a plurality of drop generators fluidically coupled to the manifold.

Abstract: A inkjet printhead with heater elements adjacent an array of respective nozzles for heating a water-based printing fluid to form a gas bubble for ejecting a drop of the printing fluid from the nozzle. The heater is separated from the nozzle by less than 5 ?m at their closest points and the nozzle length is less than 5 ?m. The volume of liquid between the heater and the nozzle determines the inertia of the liquid and its acceleration in response to bubble formation. Moving the heater closer to the nozzle reduces the inertia of the liquid and increases its acceleration, so a lower bubble impulse is needed to eject a drop. This allows the printhead to use smaller heater elements with lower power requirements. Viscous drag in the nozzle reduces the momentum of fluid flowing through the nozzle. The viscous drag increases as the nozzle length (in the direction of fluid flow) increases. By reducing the nozzle length, a lower bubble impulse is needed to eject a drop.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printhead (40) for the emission of droplets of ink on a print medium (46) comprises a reservoir (103) containing ink (142), a die (61), a slot (102) engraved in said die (61) and a plurality of ejectors (73), each of which in turn comprises a chamber (74), a resistor (27) and a nozzle (56), each of said chambers (74) being put in fluid communication with said slot (102) through a plurality of elementary ducts (72) lying on a different plane from the bottom (67) of said chamber (74).

Abstract: A print head includes a substrate with a plurality of row conductors arranged on the substrate, a plurality of column conductors arranged on the substrate, and a plurality of ejectors a arranged on the substrate in rows and columns. Each of the plurality of ejectors includes a resistive element arranged over the substrate and a supply passage through the substrate dedicated to each of the plurality of ejectors. A semiconductor device is associated with each resistive element. The semiconductor device is responsive to a signal from one of the plurality of row conductors or one of the plurality of column conductors to actuate the resistive element associated with the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A heater of a thermal inkjet printhead. The heater is formed of tantalum aluminum oxynitride (Ta—Al—ON), wherein the tantalum aluminum oxynitride is formed of about 30 to about 60 atomic % tantalum, about 10 to about 30 atomic % aluminum, about 5 to about 30 atomic % oxygen, and about 5 to about 30 atomic % nitrogen.

Abstract: A variable resistance device comprises a resistive member having a resistive resilient material. A first conductor is configured to be electrically coupled with the resistive member at a first contact location over a first contact area. A second conductor is configured to be electrically coupled with the resistance member at a second contact location over a second contact area. The first contact location and second contact location are spaced from one another by a distance. The resistance between the first conductor at the first contact location and the second conductor at the second contact location is equal to the sum of a straight resistance component and a parallel path resistance component. At least one of the first location, the second location, the first contact area, and the second contact area is changed to produce a change in resistance between the first conductor and the second conductor.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has a chamber for holding a quantity of ink, a nozzle in fluid communication with the chamber, a pair of electrodes and, a heater for generating a vapor bubble in the ink to eject a drop through the nozzle. The heater has contacts for electrical connection with the pair of contacts, a heater element suspended in the chamber between the contacts and the nozzle, and sloped side portions extending between the heater element and the contacts. The heater element has higher electrical resistance than the contacts and the sloped side portions.

Abstract: A printer system is provided having a printhead including nozzles with bubble forming chambers, a heater element(s) disposed in each chamber configured for thermal contact with a bubble forming liquid, and drive circuitry corresponding to the nozzles for controlling operation of the heater elements via electrodes, such that the heater element forms a gas bubble in the liquid that causes drop ejection from the nozzle. Parts of the drive circuitry is disposed on opposing sides of the chambers. The heater element has a bubble nucleation section of smaller cross section than the rest of the heater element where the bubble nucleation section and the rest of the heater element are co-planar and remain co-planar when the heater element is heated. An actuation energy of less than 500 nanojoules is required to be applied to each heater element to heat it sufficiently to form the bubble.

Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit for an inkjet printer that has a plurality of nozzle apertures 5, each with a nozzle axis normal to, extending through the center of the nozzle aperture. A chamber 7 corresponds to each of the nozzles respectively. An inlet 31 to supply the bubble forming chamber with liquid 11. A heater element 10 is disposed in each of the bubble forming chambers respectively. The heater element configured as a beam suspended at its ends for immersion in the liquid such that heating the heater element forms a gas bubble that ejects a drop of the liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that heater element. The heater element is a planar structure parallel to the nozzle aperture and nucleates the gas bubble with a bubble centre offset from the nozzle axis towards the inlet. Offsetting the gas bubble towards the inlet reduces the variation in drop trajectories caused by reverse flow out of the inlet when the pressure pulse is generated.

Abstract: A heater stack includes first strata configured to support and form a heater element responsive to electrical activation and second strata overlying the first strata and having different thicknesses in various portions overlying the heater element to enhance its protection from adverse effects of cavitation occurrences on the second strata. A first portion of the second strata where adverse effects of cavitation occurrences are more likely overlies opposite ends of the heater element and has a first thickness. A second portion of the second strata where adverse effects of cavitation occurrences are less likely has a planar structure overlying and extending between the opposite ends of the heater element. The second portion also has a second thickness less than the first thickness of the first portion. The first portion has a step-like structure relative to and protruding above the planar structure of the second portion.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead for ejecting printing fluid comprises a plurality of nozzles arranged in an array; a plurality of heater elements, each heater element corresponding to one of the nozzles respectively, each heater element having a double omega shape in which two gaps are defined at an outer circumference thereof at opposite sides of the heater element; and drive circuitry for sending each of the heater elements a pulse of electrical energy to form a vapor bubble in the printing fluid.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printer having a printhead with a plurality of unit cells. Each unit cell includes a wafer substrate having a layer of micro-electromechanical drive circuitry, with a dielectric layer on the drive circuitry layer, and a passivation layer on the dielectric layer, the passivation layer defining a plurality of vias. Each unit cell also has sidewalls located on the passivation layer with a nozzle plate so that the nozzle plate and the sidewalls together form an ink chamber, as well as a heater element suspended from the sidewalls in said ink chamber. The heater element is electrically connected to the drive circuitry layer through the vias, the unit cell having an ink channel defined through the wafer substrate ending in an ejection nozzle in the nozzle plate. The vias through the passivation layer correspond with contact electrodes defined on the heater element, the vias forming a grid of apertures through said passivation layer.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly comprises a substrate defining a plurality of ink inlet passages; drive circuitry arranged on the substrate; a plurality of nozzle chamber structures arranged on the substrate and defining (i) nozzle chambers in fluid communication with respective ink inlet passages, and (ii) ink ejection ports in fluid communication with respective nozzle chambers; and a heater element suspended within and spanning each nozzle chamber, the heater element connected to the drive circuitry to heat ink in the nozzle chamber to form a vapor bubble around the heater element, the heater element being positioned within the nozzle chamber such that a distance between a point of collapse of the vapor bubble and respective ink ejection ports is less than 50 microns. The heater element is provided with a double omega configuration having symmetrical gaps at opposed sides thereof, whereby symmetrical formation of the vapor bubble centered on an axis of the nozzle is effected.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead with an array of nozzles 3. A chamber 7 and a heater 14 correspond to each nozzle respectively. The heater has a heater element 10 extending between a pair of electrodes 15. The heater elemen 10 is suspended in the chamber 7 by the electrodes 15 to heat printing fluid and generate a vapour bubble to cause a drop of the printing fluid to eject through the nozzle 3. Integrated circuit metalization layers corresponding to each of the nozzles supply electrical energy to the heater 14. The heater 14 and the integrated circuit metalization layers 23 are substantially planar and at least partially overlapping, the metallization layers electrically connected to the heater electrodes 15 by vias, the cross sectional area of all the vias being greater than 50% of the surface area of one side of the heater 14. A relatively large number of vias lowers the electrical resistance between the electrodes and the CMOS metalization layers.

Abstract: A printhead manufacturing method includes providing a first wafer, forming a polymer layer over the first wafer, the polymer layer including at least one via, providing a metal layer over the at least one via, providing a solderable or plateable interface layer over the metal layer and the polymer layer, forming a fluid chamber in the polymer layer, providing a fluid nozzle in the first wafer, providing a second wafer, and joining the second wafer to the first layer to form the printhead. A printhead that includes a first wafer, a polymer layer over the first wafer, the polymer layer including at least one via, a metal layer over the at least one via, an interface layer over the metal layer and the polymer layer, a fluid chamber formed in the polymer layer, and a fluid chamber formed in the first wafer.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer, the printhead comprising: a printhead integrated circuit formed on a wafer substrate using lithographically masked etching and deposition techniques; an integrated circuit support structure for mounting in the printer adjacent a media feed path; and, a polymer sealing film between the integrated circuit support structure and the printhead integrated circuit for fixing the printhead integrated circuit to the integrated circuit support structure.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head can, when a smaller liquid droplet is obtained, suppress or reduce stagnation of liquid in a second discharge port portion, prevent an offset meniscus in a discharge port, reduce unstable satellite(s) and realize stable discharging with less image deterioration and less floating mist. Two heaters are provided for each bubble generating chamber and the heaters are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to a center or a center of gravity of a second discharge port portion. In a plan view viewed from a direction perpendicular to a main surface of an element substrate, at least one of two heaters is positioned to straddle an inner area of the second discharge port portion and an outer area outside of the second discharge port portion at a region where the bubble generating chamber is communicated with the liquid supply path.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements 10 corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element 10 is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid 11 in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble 12 therein. The generation of the bubble 12 causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through an ejection aperture 5 in each nozzle, to effect printing. In each nozzle, the heater element 10 requires an electrical pulse with a voltage less than 8 volts and a duration less than 1.5 microseconds, to form the vapor bubble that causes the ejection of the drop. With the realization that drive pulse voltages above, say, 12 volts are not a fixed parameter of printhead design, the benefits of low voltage printhead operation can be incorporated into a design that yields efficiencies that negate the circumstances that created the initial demand for high voltage operation.

Abstract: Thermal inkjet printheads and an inkjet image forming apparatus including the thermal inkjet printheads. Each of the thermal inkjet printheads includes a heater that heats ink by directly contacting the ink and is formed of an alloy of Pt—Ru or an alloy of Pt—Ir—X, where X is at least a material selected from the group consisting of Ta, W, Cr, Al, and O.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprises an array of nozzles extending substantially a width of a print media fed through the inkjet printer; and a plurality of heater elements each corresponding to a nozzle, the heater elements being formed substantially of titanium nitride. The heater elements are provided in contact with a bubble forming liquid and sized to heat the bubble forming liquid above a boiling point thereof upon application of 200 nJ or less of energy to each heater element.

Abstract: Provided is a pagewidth printhead having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes side walls located on a wafer substrate with a roof portion attached to said walls to define a printing fluid chamber. The roof portion defines an ejection port. Each nozzle arrangement also includes an inlet defined in the substrate to supply the fluid chamber with printing fluid, and at least one heater element having a mass of less than 10 nanograms suspended between the side walls in the fluid chamber. In operation, when electrical actuation energy of less than 500 nanojoules is applied to the heater element, the printing fluid undergoes thermal cavitation which increases fluid pressure in the chamber thereby ejecting printing fluid from the ejection port.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having a plurality of chambers on a substrate, each chamber having a nozzle, a heater arranged in each chamber so as to heat fluid within the chamber to form a gas bubble therein and thereby cause ejection of a drop from the corresponding nozzle, and a plurality of passages formed in the substrate so that each passage supplies the fluid to an associated one of the chambers. Each heater includes solid material and has a mass of less than 10 nanograms of the solid material, which is configured to be heated to cause formation of the gas bubble.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead for ejecting drops of a printing fluid onto a media substrate. The inkjet printhead has an array of nozzle apertures defined in a nozzle layer less than 10 microns thick and a heater element adjacent each of the nozzles respectively for heating printing fluid to form a vapor bubble that ejects a drop of the printing fluid through the nozzle aperture corresponding to that heater element. The heater element is a layer of resistive material extending parallel to the nozzle layer and spaced less than 50 microns from the nozzle layer.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has a nozzle layer defining an array of nozzle apertures and a substrate for supporting the nozzle layer, the substrate defining a flow path for an ejectable liquid to each nozzle. Each nozzle aperture has an associated heater element positioned for heating the ejectable liquid above its boiling point to form a vapor bubble to eject a drop of the ejectable liquid through the nozzle aperture. The nozzle aperture is less than 5 microns thick in the drop ejection direction.

Abstract: Provided is a pagewidth printhead with a controller, the printhead having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes a multilayered substrate defining an ink inlet passage and walls extending from the substrate. Also included is a nozzle plate supported by the walls to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage, the nozzle plate having a nozzle rim defining an ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. Each arrangement also includes a plurality of heater elements suspended between the walls in the chamber, so that when electrical actuation energy is applied to respective heater elements a vapour bubble is formed in the fluid leading to a pressure increase in the chamber thereby ejecting the fluid via the ejection port. The controller is configured to individually actuate respective heater elements to facilitate weighted ink drop volumes to be ejected from the nozzle arrangement.

Abstract: A method of priming a fluid-dispensing head includes heating a fluid in fluid pathways of the fluid-dispensing head prior to fluid-dispensing operations to increase a surface area of gas bubbles in the fluid pathways. A fluid-dispensing head includes a plenum configured to house fluid; at least one dispensing head orifice in fluid communication with the ink plenum; and at least one heating element configured to heat fluid in the head such that gas bubbles disposed within the fluid increase in surface area.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead comprising: a substrate; a plurality of chambers supported by the substrate for receiving therewithin bubble forming liquid; a nozzle aperture formed in a surface of each chamber; a beam suspended within each chamber, the beam comprising at least one respective heater element. The at least one respective heater element heats at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein, thereby causing ejection of a drop of the bubble forming liquid through the nozzle aperture corresponding to the heater element.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture.

Abstract: A printhead with drive circuitry for a heating element. At least part of the drive circuitry is positioned proximate to and within 60 microns of the heating element. Moving the drive circuitry within 60 microns of the heating element enhances the nozzle packing on the printhead substrate and improves its energy efficiency.

Abstract: A printhead is provided having a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of chambers for holding a liquid for ejection from the nozzles, and heater and non-heater elements in contact with the liquid in the chambers. Each heater element overlays an associated non-heater element with a space therebetween. The heater elements are heated by connected electrodes to heat the liquid thereby forming gas bubbles in the heated liquid which cause ejection of the liquid from the nozzles. Each chamber has a circular cross section and each heater element has arcuate sections that are concentric with the circular cross section.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a substrate that defines a plurality of ink inlet passages. Drive circuitry is arranged on the substrate. A plurality of nozzle chamber structures is arranged on the substrate and defines nozzle chambers in fluid communication with respective ink inlet passages and ink ejection ports in fluid communication with respective nozzle chambers. A heater element is arranged in each nozzle chamber to span the nozzle chamber and is connected to the drive circuitry to heat ink in the nozzle chamber received from the ink inlet passage. The heater elements are configured and positioned to minimize a momentum necessary for ink drops resulting from heating of the heater elements to overcome a surface tension of the ink during ejection from the ink ejection ports.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead comprising: an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle and an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle; wherein during use, the actuator initiates a quadrupole pressure pulse that is symmetrical about two orthogonal axes parallel to the plane of the nozzle, the orthogonal axes intersecting a mutually orthogonal axis extending through the center of the nozzle.

Abstract: Provided is a pagewidth printhead having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes side walls located on a wafer substrate with a roof portion attached to said walls to define a printing fluid chamber. The roof portion defines an ejection port. Each nozzle arrangement also includes an inlet defined in the substrate to supply the fluid chamber with printing fluid, and at least one heater element having a mass of less than 10 nanograms suspended between the side walls in the fluid chamber. In operation, when electrical actuation energy of less than 500 nanojoules is applied to the heater element, the printing fluid undergoes thermal cavitation which increases fluid pressure in the chamber thereby ejecting printing fluid from the ejection port.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead with a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements 10 corresponding to each nozzle, configured to operate at low voltage and low current. Each heater element 10 vaporises a printing fluid 11 to form a bubble 12 therein. The generation of the bubble 12 causes the ejection of a drop of the printing fluid (such as ink) through the corresponding nozzle 5 to effect printing. Each heater element 10 requires less than 8 volts and a current of less than 60 milliamps for less than 1.5 microseconds, in order to form the gas bubble 12 that causes the ejection of the drop of printing fluid 11. These lower voltages are more suited to CMOS circuitry components and helps to avoid problems such as ‘ground bounce’.

Abstract: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with clearing silicate based kogation from heating resistors employed in ink jet printing are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes a silicate kogation clearing logic configured to pulse the heating resistor at a high frequency and low pulse width to heat the resistor surface to a temperature below that required to form an ink bubble and thus below that required to eject a drop of ink. Heating the resistor facilitates breaking bonds between the silicate based kogation and the heating resistor.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead is provided having ink chambers on a first surface of a substrate. Each ink chamber has an ink ejection nozzle, a heater arranged so as to heat the ink to form a gas bubble and thereby cause ejection of an ink drop from the associated nozzle and ink supply passages formed in the substrate from an opposite, second surface of the substrate, so that each ink supply passage supplies ink to an associated one of the ink chambers. A length of the passages through the substrate from the second surface to the associated ink chambers is configured to prevent reverse ink flow into the passages after ink ejection. Each heater includes solid material and has a mass of less than 10 nanograms of the solid material, which is configured to be heated to cause formation of the gas bubble.