Abstract: Pillars are formed in a fully integrated thermal inkjet printhead to prevent particles from entering into a nozzle chamber along an ink refill channel. The pillars are formed after a step of applying a thin film structure to a substrate. At one step, pits are etched through the thin film structure. At another step, material for an orifice layer is deposited into the pits. At another step, a firing chamber is etched into the orifice layer. At another step, a trench is etched into the backside of the wafer in the vicinity of the filled pits. The material filling each pit is not removed and remains in place to define the respective pillars. Two or more pillars are formed within the trench for each inkjet nozzle chamber. Alternatively pillars are formed by depositing material into the underside trench and performing photoimaging processes.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fluid ejector is disclosed. In the present embodiment, a plurality of thin film layers are deposited on a first surface of a printhead substrate, the plurality of thin film layers form a thin film membrane. At least one of the layers forms a plurality of fluid ejection elements, and at least another of the layers forms a plurality of conductive leads to the fluid ejection elements. A plurality of fluid feed holes are formed in the thin film membrane. At least one opening in a second surface of the substrate is formed, the opening providing a fluid path from a second surface of the substrate through the substrate. The plurality of fluid feed holes are located over the at least one opening in the substrate, and all portions of the fluid ejection elements and conductive leads overlie the substrate.

Abstract: A fluid ejection assembly includes a platform having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a plurality of fluid feed slots, and a fluid manifold defined therein, and a plurality of fluid ejection devices each mounted on the platform and including an array of drop ejecting elements and a fluid refill slot communicating with the array of drop ejecting elements. The fluid refill slot of each of the fluid ejection devices communicates with at least one of the fluid feed slots of the platform, and the fluid manifold of the platform fluidically couples each of the fluid feed slots with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the platform.

Abstract: Pillars are formed in a fully integrated thermal inkjet printhead to prevent particles from entering into a nozzle chamber along an ink refill channel. The pillars are formed after a step of applying a thin film structure to a substrate. At one step, pits are etched through the thin film structure. At another step, material for an orifice layer is deposited into the pits. At another step, a firing chamber is etched into the orifice layer. At another step, a trench is etched into the backside of the wafer in the vicinity of the filled pits. The material filling each pit is not removed and remains in place to define the respective pillars. Two or more pillars are formed within the trench for each inkjet nozzle chamber. Alternatively pillars are formed by depositing material into the underside trench and performing photoimaging processes.

Abstract: A memory apparatus has a plurality of first electrodes and at least one second electrode separated by an electrolyte solution. Information may be recorded by causing an electrical current to flow between a selected of the first electrodes and the second electrode to deposit an electrochemically active material on one of the selected first or the second electrodes. A method for recording and reading information has steps of writing the information by causing a current to flow between a first and a second electrode through an electrolyte solution to cause an electrochemically active material to electrodeposit, and reading the information by sensing the deposited material with a sensor.

Abstract: A fluid ejection assembly includes a platform having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a plurality of fluid feed slots, and a fluid manifold defined therein, and a plurality of fluid ejection devices each mounted on the platform and including an array of drop ejecting elements and a fluid refill slot communicating with the array of drop ejecting elements. The fluid refill slot of each of the fluid ejection devices communicates with at least one of the fluid feed slots of the platform, and the fluid manifold of the platform fluidically couples each of the fluid feed slots with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the platform.

Abstract: Pillars are formed in a fully integrated thermal inkjet printhead to prevent particles from entering into a nozzle chamber along an ink refill channel. The pillars are formed after a step of applying a thin film structure to a substrate. At one step, pits are etched through the thin film structure. At another step, material for an orifice layer is deposited into the pits. At another step, a firing chamber is etched into the orifice layer. At another step, a trench is etched into the backside of the wafer in the vicinity of the filled pits. The material filling each pit is not removed and remains in place to define the respective pillars. Two or more pillars are formed within the trench for each inkjet nozzle chamber. Alternatively pillars are formed by depositing material into the underside trench and performing photoimaging processes.

Abstract: An inkjet printer printhead utilizes a substrate, an orifice layer, and a directionally biased electrostrictive polymer ink actuator disposed between the orifice layer and the substrate to eject ink from the printhead.

Abstract: Pillars are formed in a fully integrated thermal inkjet printhead to prevent particles from entering into a nozzle chamber along an ink refill channel. The pillars are formed after a step of applying a thin film structure to a substrate. At one step, pits are etched through the thin film structure. At another step, material for an orifice layer is deposited into the pits. At another step, a firing chamber is etched into the orifice layer. At another step, a trench is etched into the backside of the wafer in the vicinity of the filled pits. The material filling each pit is not removed and remains in place to define the respective pillars. Two or more pillars are formed within the trench for each inkjet nozzle chamber. Alternatively pillars are formed by depositing material into the underside trench and performing photoimaging processes.

Abstract: A micro-mirror device includes a substrate having a surface and a plate spaced from and oriented substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate such that the plate and the surface of the substrate define a cavity therebetween. A dielectric liquid is disposed in the cavity and a reflective element is interposed between the surface of the substrate and the plate. As such, the reflective element is adapted to move between a first position and at least one second position.

Abstract: A printhead including a printhead substrate having at least one opening for providing a fluid path through the substrate and a thin film membrane formed on a second surface of the substrate. The thin film membrane includes a plurality of fluid feed holes, each fluid feed hole is located over the opening in the substrate. The thin film membrane, which extends over the opening, also has a plurality of fluid ejection elements and a plurality of conductive leads to the fluid ejection elements. All portions of the fluid ejection elements and conductive leads overlie the substrate.

Abstract: Described herein is a monolithic printhead formed using integrated circuit techniques. Thin film layers, including ink ejection elements, are formed on a top surface of a silicon substrate. The various layers are etched to provide conductive leads to the ink ejection elements. At least one ink feed hole is formed through the thin film layers for each ink ejection chamber. A trench is etched in the bottom surface of the substrate so that ink can flow into the trench and into each ink ejection chamber through the ink feed holes formed in the thin film layers. An orifice layer is formed on the top surface of the thin film layers to define the nozzles and ink ejection chambers. A phosphosilicate glass (PSG) layer, providing an insulation layer beneath the resistive layers, is etched back from the ink feed holes and is protected by a passivation layer to prevent the ink from interacting with the PSG layer. Other layers may also be protected from the ink by being etched back.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical connection for a fluid ejection device including a fluid channel communicating with a first side and a second side of the fluid ejection device and an array of drop ejecting elements formed on the first side of the fluid ejection device includes forming a trench in the second side of the fluid ejection device, depositing a conductive material in the trench, forming a first opening in the fluid ejection device between the first side of the fluid ejection device and the conductive material in the trench, depositing a conductive material in the first opening, and forming a conductive path between the conductive material in the first opening and a wiring line of one of the drop ejecting elements.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer employs non-circular orifices, such as oval or parallelogram, at the surface of the orifice plate to increase the restoring force of the ink meniscus. The reduced tail and diminished spray of an ink droplet expelled from the non-circular orifice results in improved edge roughness and improved quality of print.

Abstract: A porous foam based ink containment system is provided with grooves defined in the exterior portion thereof, for storing ink, while preventing ink leakage from the ink-jet pen. The grooves provide passageways to allow air diffused throughout the ink and trapped air bubbles within the foam to expand and move to the atmosphere. An atmospheric vent is in fluid communication with at least one of the grooves.

Abstract: A printhead including a printhead substrate having at least one opening for providing a fluid path through the substrate and a thin film membrane formed on a second surface of the substrate. The thin film membrane includes a plurality of fluid feed holes, each fluid feed hole is located over the opening in the substrate. The thin film membrane, which extends over the opening, also has a plurality of fluid ejection elements and a plurality of conductive leads to the fluid ejection elements. All portions of the fluid ejection elements and conductive leads overlie the substrate.

Abstract: Described herein is a monolithic printhead formed using integrated circuit techniques. Thin film layers, including ink ejection elements, are formed on a top surface of a silicon substrate. The various layers are etched to provide conductive leads to the ink ejection elements. At least one ink feed hole is formed through the thin film layers for each ink ejection chamber. A trench is etched in the bottom surface of the substrate so that ink can flow into the trench and into each ink ejection chamber through the ink feed holes formed in the thin film layers. An orifice layer is formed on the top surface of the thin film layers to define the nozzles and ink ejection chambers. A phosphosilicate glass (PSG) layer, providing an insulation layer beneath the resistive layers, is etched back from the ink feed holes and is protected by a passivation layer to prevent the ink from interacting with the PSG layer. Other layers may also be protected from the ink by being etched back.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device has a firing chamber with a feature disposed therewithin.

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: A printhead for an inkjet printer employs asymmetric orifices, such as an egg-shaped orifice, at the surface of the orifice plate to cause the ink drop tail to be severed at a predictable location from the orifice. The controlled tail and diminished spray of an ink droplet expelled from the asymmetric orifice results in improved edge roughness and improved quality of print.