Abstract: A method forms apertures in a polymer aperture plate configured for use in a piezoelectric print head. The method includes bonding a polymer aperture plate to an outlet plate configured with outlets, and aligning a laser with the outlets in the outlet plate to ablate apertures in the polymer aperture plate that are aligned with the outlets.

Abstract: An electronic device has an electronic signal source electrically connected to a signal routing circuit, an electrically activated transducer to receive electronic signals through the signal routing circuit, and an anisotropic conductive film to provide electrical continuity between the signal routing circuit and the transducer, the anisotropic conductive film having material removed adjacent the transducer to reduce mechanical loading of the transducer.

Abstract: A manifold assembly has been constructed that filters ink before the ink enters an inkjet ejector in an inkjet print head. The manifold assembly includes an adhesive layer having openings, an ink manifold layer having a plurality of openings, the openings in the adhesive layer being aligned with the openings in the ink manifold layer, and a polymer layer having a plurality of filter areas, the filter areas being aligned with the openings in the ink manifold layer and the openings in the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being interposed between the polymer layer and the ink manifold layer.

Abstract: A method for forming an ink jet print head can include attaching a plurality of piezoelectric elements to a diaphragm, dispensing a dielectric fill layer over the diaphragm and the plurality of piezoelectric elements to encapsulate the piezoelectric elements, curing the dielectric fill layer to form an interstitial layer, then removing the interstitial layer from an upper surface of the plurality of piezoelectric elements using a plasma etch.

Abstract: A method for mounting a piezoelectric transducer layer to a diaphragm layer exposes an electrode for each piezoelectric transducer after thermoset polymer filling the interstitial space between the piezoelectric transducers has been cured. The method includes bonding a polymer layer to a diaphragm layer having a plurality of openings, bonding piezoelectric transducers to the diaphragm layer, filling areas between the piezoelectric transducers on the diaphragm layer with thermoset polymer, and removing the thermoset polymer from the piezoelectric transducers with a laser to expose a metal electrode on each piezoelectric transducer.

Abstract: An inkjet ejector provides electrical conductors for grounding electrically isolated layers in the ejector while electrically coupling a transducer of the ejector to a firing signal circuit. The inkjet ejector includes a diaphragm plate have a first side and a second side, a plurality of transducers mounted to the first side of the diaphragm plate, a polymer layer located on the second side of the diaphragm plate, an electrically conductive layer that is isolated from electrical ground by the polymer layer, and a plurality of electrical conductors, at least one of the electrical conductors extends from the electrically conductive layer to electrical ground through the polymer layer and other electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors extend from each transducer to a firing signal circuit, the electrical conductor extending from the electrically conductive layer being the same material as the other electrical conductors in the plurality of electrical conductors.

Abstract: A method for bonding a polymer layer to an outlet plate for an inkjet print head has been developed that enables the polymer layer to be attached to the outlet plate with little or no bowing of the polymer layer. The method includes aligning recesses in a bonding plate with channels in an outlet plate, interposing a polymer layer between the bonding plate and the outlet plate, and pressing the bonding plate against the polymer layer to bond the polymer layer to the outlet plate.

Abstract: A manifold assembly has been constructed that filters ink before the ink enters an inkjet ejector in an inkjet print head. The manifold assembly includes an adhesive layer having openings, an ink manifold layer having a plurality of openings, the openings in the adhesive layer being aligned with the openings in the ink manifold layer, and a polymer layer having a plurality of filter areas, the filter areas being aligned with the openings in the ink manifold layer and the openings in the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being interposed between the polymer layer and the ink manifold layer.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing subassembly has a diaphragm arranged to be operated on by a transducer, a body pressure chamber arranged to be operated on by the diaphragm, and an adhesive attachment layer arranged between the diaphragm and the body pressure chamber. A fluid dispensing subassembly has a body pressure chamber formed of either a single plate or set of plates, a diaphragm arranged to operate on the body pressure chamber, and an adhesive layer arranged between the body pressure chamber and the diaphragm. A method of manufacturing a fluid dispensing subassembly includes forming a body pressure chamber from a body plate or a set of plates including a body plate, and adhesively bonding a diaphragm plate to at least the body plate of the fluid dispensing subassembly.

Abstract: A method for mounting a piezoelectric transducer layer to a diaphragm layer exposes an electrode for each piezoelectric transducer after thermoset polymer filling the interstitial space between the piezoelectric transducers has been cured. The method includes bonding a polymer layer to a diaphragm layer having a plurality of openings, bonding piezoelectric transducers to the diaphragm layer, filling areas between the piezoelectric transducers on the diaphragm layer with thermoset polymer, and removing the thermoset polymer from the piezoelectric transducers with a laser to expose a metal electrode on each piezoelectric transducer.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing assembly has a fluid reservoir, a reservoir structure having at least one opening corresponding to a location of at least one fluid chamber in the reservoir structure, and a compliant film arranged to seal the opening and flex in response to pressure fluctuations in the fluid chamber. A system has a fluid supply, a fluid dispensing assembly having a fluid reservoir to receive fluid from the fluid supply, the fluid dispensing assembly having a reservoir structure with at least one opening corresponding to at least one fluid chamber, and a compliant film arranged to cover the opening such that a side of the film contacts fluid in the chamber and a side opposite the side contacting the fluid contacts air and is arranged to allow the film to flex.

Abstract: An electronic device has an electronic signal source electrically connected to a signal routing circuit, an electrically activated transducer to receive electronic signals through the signal routing circuit, and an anisotropic conductive film to provide electrical continuity between the signal routing circuit and the transducer, the anisotropic conductive film having material removed adjacent the transducer to reduce mechanical loading of the transducer.

Abstract: An inkjet ejector has been developed that enables the ejector to be operated at a frequency greater than 80 kHz. The inkjet ejector includes a body layer in which a pressure chamber is configured with an outlet having a volume that is less than a predetermined volumetric threshold, a flexible diaphragm plate disposed on the pressure chamber to form a wall of the pressure chamber, a piezoelectric transducer having a bottom surface attached to the diaphragm plate, and an inlet layer in which an inlet channel is configured to connect the pressure chamber to a source of liquid ink, a cross-sectional area of the inlet channel at the pressure chamber divided by a length of the inlet channel being greater than a predetermined linear threshold.

Abstract: An aperture plate including a first layer having a first emissivity; a second layer having a second emissivity disposed over the first layer; wherein the first emissivity is higher than the second emissivity; and optionally, at least one additional layer disposed over the second layer. A method for preparing an aperture plate including providing a first layer having a first emissivity; disposing a second layer having a second emissivity over the first layer; wherein the first emissivity is higher than the second emissivity; optionally, disposing at least one additional layer over the second layer; and forming at least one aperture, wherein aperture formation can be before or after disposing the second layer over the first layer.

Abstract: A method enables multiple inkjet printhead dies to be manufactured by bonding a single wafer to a single polymer layer. Multiple die sites on the single wafer are arranged in a predetermined pattern that corresponds to the pattern in which a plurality of aperture arrays are arranged in the polymer layer. The die sites on the wafer and the aperture arrays in polymer layer are aligned, the wafer and polymer layer are bonded, and the bonded wafer and polymer layer are cut to form a plurality of inkjet printhead dies.

Abstract: A drop generator having a via structure configured for electrical and fluidic interconnection. The via structure includes an electrically conductive layer and an electrically insulating layer disposed on the electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A print head has a jet stack having an array of jets, an array of transducers arranged on the jet stack such that each transducer corresponds to a jet in the array of jets, and a flexible circuit substrate arranged adjacent the array of transducers such that contact pads on the flexible circuit substrate make electrical connection to at least some of the array of transducers, the flexible circuit substrate being embossed so that the contact pads extend out of a plane of the flexible circuit substrate.

Abstract: A method for making an electromechanical device including forming an electromechanical transducer that includes a deposited metallic diaphragm, and attaching the electromechanical transducer to a fluid channel substructure.

Abstract: Methods and systems of ejecting ink drops from an inkjet printer are disclosed. The methods and systems can include a printhead with one or more stepped nozzles each with an associated entrance diameter and exit diameter. Ink can be received into the printhead and formed into ink drops in the stepped nozzles. The ink drops can each have an associated drop mass and drop speed. The stepped nozzles can be provided such that the exit diameter can independently dictate the drop mass and the entrance diameter can independently dictate the drop speed. As such, the complexity of jet design optimization is reduced.

Abstract: Material transport systems including a radiation-resistant transport belt and methods of cutting substrates transported in the material transport systems are provided. An exemplary material transport system includes a continuous transport belt entrained on at least a first roll and a second roll. The transport belt includes at least a first layer and a second layer over the first layer. The first layer includes an inner surface of the transport belt and the second layer includes an outer surface of the transport belt. The second layer can be comprised of copper, copper-based alloys, aluminum, aluminum-based alloys or nickel.