Abstract: An ink jet printhead has an upper substrate containing a reservoir with ink inlet and a lower substrate having a linear array of droplet generating elements and addressing electrodes thereon. At least two layers of polymeric material are serially deposited and patterned over the droplet generating elements and addressing electrodes prior to mating the two substrates. The patterned polymeric layers define an elongated opening containing an array of posts therein and a plurality of channels, each channel containing a droplet generating element. One end of the channels is open to serve as nozzles and the other end is in communication with the elongated opening with the array of posts. After the two substrates are aligned and mated, the reservoir is in communication with the elongated opening, so that the ink from the reservoir is filtered prior to entering the channels by passing between and over the posts in the elongated opening.

Abstract: A filter structure having a plurality of pores through the structure each of the pores having a cross section with a length (L) and a width (W) wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W. The filter can be used with an improved ink jet printhead having an ink inlet in one of its surfaces, a plurality of nozzles, individual channels connecting the nozzles to an internal ink supplying manifold, the manifold being supplied ink through the ink inlet, and selectively addressable heating elements for expelling ink droplets, the improved ink jet printhead comprising a substantially flat filter having predetermined dimensions and being bonded to the printhead containing the ink inlet, the filter having a plurality of pores, therethrough, each of the pores having a cross section with a length=L and a width=W, wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure from a first wafer and a second wafer. A pit or groove is formed in a lower surface of the first wafer. The lower surface of the first wafer is bonded to an upper surface of the second wafer. A groove is then formed on an upper surface of the first wafer, such that an opening is formed in the first wafer that exposes at least one alignment reference target on the upper surface of the second wafer. The bonded first wafer and second wafer is then diced using the exposed at least one alignment reference target to form a semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure from a first wafer and a second wafer. A pit or groove is formed in a lower surface of the first wafer. The lower surface of the first wafer is bonded to an upper surface of the second wafer. A groove is then formed on an upper surface of the first wafer, such that an opening is formed in the first wafer that exposes at least one alignment reference target on the upper surface of the second wafer. The bonded first wafer and second wafer is then diced using the exposed at least one alignment reference target to form a semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A printhead uses large and small drop ejectors to achieve efficient gray scale printing. The printhead is arranged with a close packed configuration of alternating large and small nozzles positioned to maximize coverage while minimizing the volume of ejected ink. The printhead may be operated in a single pass mode or dual pass mode. In the single pass mode, complete coverage is effected by rippling through the odd numbered jets first and then rippling through the even numbered jets. The position of the small spots from the even numbered jets can be adjusted to maximize coverage and counteract offset between nozzle centers. Printheads with different size nozzles can also be operated by a staggered firing method using dual passes to offset spots in the scan direction by shifting the printhead between passes or alternating between groups of large and small nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead uses large and small drop ejectors to achieve efficient gray scale printing. The printhead is arranged with a close packed configuration of alternating large and small nozzles positioned to maximize coverage while minimizing the volume of ejected ink. The printhead may be operated in a single pass mode or dual pass mode. In the single pass mode, complete coverage is effected by rippling through the odd numbered jets first and then rippling through the even numbered jets. The position of the small spots from the even numbered jets can be adjusted to maximize coverage and counteract offset between nozzle centers. Printheads with different size nozzles can also be operated by a staggered firing method using dual passes to offset spots in the scan direction by shifting the printhead between passes or alternating between groups of large and small nozzles.

Abstract: A filter structure having a plurality of pores through the structure each of the pores having a cross section with a length (L) and a width (W) wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W. The filter can be used with an improved ink jet printhead having an ink inlet in one of its surfaces, a plurality of nozzles, individual channels connecting the nozzles to an internal ink supplying manifold, the manifold being supplied ink through the ink inlet, and selectively addressable heating elements for expelling ink droplets, the improved ink jet printhead comprising a substantially flat filter having predetermined dimensions and being bonded to the printhead containing the ink inlet, the filter having a plurality of pores, therethrough, each of the pores having a cross section with a length=L and a width=W, wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W.

Abstract: A printhead uses large and small drop ejectors to achieve efficient gray scale printing. The printhead is arranged with a close packed configuration of alternating large and small nozzles positioned to maximize coverage while minimizing the volume of ejected ink. The printhead may be operated in a single pass mode or dual pass mode. In the single pass mode, complete coverage is effected by rippling through the odd numbered jets first and then rippling through the even numbered jets. The position of the small spots from the even numbered jets can be adjusted to maximize coverage and counteract offset between nozzle centers. Printheads with different size nozzles can also be operated by a staggered firing method using dual passes to offset spots in the scan direction by shifting the printhead between passes or alternating between groups of large and small nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead uses large and small drop ejectors to achieve efficient gray scale printing. The printhead is arranged with a close packed configuration of alternating large and small nozzles positioned to maximize coverage while minimizing the volume of ejected ink. The printhead may be operated in a single pass mode or dual pass mode. In the single pass mode, complete coverage is effected by rippling through the odd numbered jets first and then rippling through the even numbered jets. The position of the small spots from the even numbered jets can be adjusted to maximize coverage and counteract offset between nozzle centers. Printheads with different size nozzles can also be operated by a staggered firing method using dual passes to offset spots in the scan direction by shifting the printhead between passes or alternating between groups of large and small nozzles.

Abstract: The new heater element design has a pit layer which protects the overglaze passivation layer, PSG step region, portions of the Ta layer and dielectric isolation layer and junctions or regions susceptible to the cavitational pressures. Further, the inner walls of the pit layer define the effective heater area and the dopant lines define the actual heater area. In alternative embodiments, the dopant lines define the actual and effective heater areas, and an inner wall and a dopant line define the actual and effective heater areas. Further, when the new heater element designs are incorporated into printheads having full pit channel geometry and open pit channel geometry, the operating lifetime of the printhead is extended because the added protection of the pit layer prevents: 1) passivation damage and cavitational damages of the heater elements; and 2) degradation of heater robustness, hot spot formations and heater failures well into the 109 pulse range.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet printhead which comprises (i) an upper substrate with a set of parallel grooves for subsequent use as ink channels and a recess for subsequent use as a manifold, the grooves being open at one end for serving as droplet emitting nozzles, and (ii) a lower substrate in which one surface thereof has an array of heating elements and addressing electrodes formed thereon, said lower substrate having an insulative layer deposited on the surface thereof and over the heating elements and addressing electrodes and patterned to form recesses therethrough to expose the heating elements and terminal ends of the addressing electrodes, the upper and lower substrates being aligned, mated, and bonded together to form the printhead with the grooves in the upper substrate being aligned with the heating elements in the lower substrate to form droplet emitting nozzles, said upper substrate comprising a material formed by crosslinking or chain extending a polymer of formula I or II.

Abstract: An efficient fluid filtering device is provided for filtering unwanted contaminants from flowing fluid, such as ink flowing into an ink jet printhead. The efficient fluid filtering device includes a generally flat member having a first side and a second side, and a series of fluid flow holes formed through the flat member from the first side to the second side. Importantly, the efficient fluid filtering device also has a series of pillar members, including pillar members defining a trough portion around each fluid flow hole. The pillar members and the trough portions are arranged around each hole so as to efficiently prevent bubbles and contaminants in flowing fluid from impeding fluid flow from the first side through to the second side.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a filter element to prevent contaminants from entering an ink supply inlet of an ink jet printhead. The filter is formed by laser ablation process in which output laser radiation is directed through a mask system or light transmitting system to create a filter hole pattern in a thin film. Slightly tapered holes are formed in the film, and the formed filter element is laminated to the ink supply inlet. The tapered holes provide improved flow/impedance and add increased structural strength.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus which comprises at least one semiconductor chip mounted on a substrate, said substrate comprising a porous, electrically conductive member having electrophoretically deposited thereon a coating of a polymeric material. In one embodiment, the semiconductor chips are thermal ink jet printhead subunits.

Abstract: An improved temperature compensation method is disclosed in which a temperature sensing thermistor is formed on a substrate whose temperature is to be series of fractional thermistors which are selectively shorted out during a manufacturing process to provide a compensation for manufacturing variabilities of the temperature coefficient of resistance of the thermistor.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead is disclosed which has improved printhead cooling thereby improving operating efficiency. The printhead is constructed so that the manifold bringing ink from an ink reservoir into an ink inlet to the printer directly contacts the thermally conductive surface of the substrate in which the heater elements are formed- The cooler ink removes some of the accumulated heat from the heater substrate and is subsequently ejected. In one embodiment the printhead comprises an upper channel substrate which is bonded to a lower heater substrate which is formed with a ledge which extends past the rear face of the channel substrate. The channel substrate has an ink inlet formed into its rear face and adjacent to an extended portion of the heater silicon surface. An ink reservoir brings ink to the printhead via an ink manifold which is sealed against the exposed silicon surface and against the side of the ink inlet.

Abstract: An ink jet printbar assembly is provided with a plurality of printhead die assemblies mounted on a single flat substrate. The printhead die assemblies are linearly aligned along the substrate length. Each die assembly includes a line of nozzles having the same active print length. The individual die assemblies are spaced from adjacent die assemblies such that the last functional nozzle on one end of a die assembly is spaced a distance which is less than the active print length from the first adjacent functional nozzle on the next adjacent die assembly.

Abstract: A printing machine of the type in which liquid ink is deposited on a recording medium for printing gray scale images. The printing machine includes a printhead having ink ejecting nozzles of different sizes. Nozzles of the same size are arranged in groups and groups of nozzles are offset from one another. Ink drops of one group are deposited at locations corresponding to the points of a grid and ink drops of another group are deposited at locations corresponding to points not on the grid. Gray scale printing is achieved by the variation in drop size produced by different groups of nozzles as well as offsetting nozzles of one or more groups of nozzles from a reference group of nozzles printing on the points of a grid.

Abstract: Individual printheads are joined together in a manner to provide improved alignment and registration. The multiple printhead assembly is then installed and removed from the printer as a single unit. According to a preferred method of forming the assembly, individual printheads are temporarily mounted on a holddown plate. The location and position of the printheads is monitored and a fast-cure adhesive used to monolithically join the individual printheads together as a unitary assembly. Once the adhesive is cured, the temporary securing of the individual printheads is removed and the entire assembly removed as a single unit from the holddown plate.

Abstract: A liquid ink printing apparatus printing images includes a printhead having a plurality of nozzles wherein a single power pulse causes two or more nozzles to eject ink simultaneously. The printhead includes an ink directing element having a plurality of ink conduits coupled to an array of spaced nozzles and a transducer element aligned with and mated to the ink directing element. The transducers are spaced a distance apart and each transducer is substantially aligned with at least two or more of the nozzles. The printhead is stepped in a direction transverse to the array of spaced nozzles a stepping distance approximately equal to or less than the distance between transducers. The ink directing element includes a silicon wafer having etched ink conduits or channels holding ink for ejection through the nozzles connected thereto.