Abstract: A thermally-driven ink-jet printhead includes a substrate having an ink chamber to be filled with ink to be ejected, a manifold for supplying ink, and an ink channel for providing flow communication therebetween. First and second sidewalls are formed to a predetermined depth from an upper surface of the substrate and define the ink chamber to have a substantially rectangular shape. A nozzle plate including a plurality of material layers is formed on the substrate. A nozzle passes through the nozzle plate and is in flow communication with the ink chamber. A heater is disposed between the nozzle and one of the first sidewalls above the ink chamber. A conductor is electrically connected to the heater. The conductor and the heater are disposed within the nozzle plate. A shifting feature moves cavitation points beyond an outer edge of the heater.

Abstract: A method of driving an ink-jet printhead, which heats ink contained in an ink chamber using a heater to generate and expand a bubble within the ink chamber and ejects ink from the ink chamber using an expansive force of the bubble, the method including applying a main pulse to the heater to eject ink and applying a post pulse to the heater after ink has been ejected.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead includes a substrate having an ink chamber and a manifold, a nozzle plate formed on the substrate, first and second heaters and conductors, a material layer, and a plurality of ink channels. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of passivation layers formed of an insulating material, a heat dissipation layer formed on the plurality of passivation layers and made of a thermally conductive material, and a nozzle passing through the nozzle plate and in flow communication with the ink chamber. The first and second heaters and conductors are interposed between adjacent passivation layers of the nozzle plate. The material layer is interposed between the ink chamber and the manifold to form a bottom wall of the ink chamber and a top wall of the manifold. The plurality of ink channels is formed in the material layer to provide flow communication between the ink chamber and the manifold.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead includes a substrate having an ink chamber and a manifold, a nozzle plate formed on the substrate, first and second heaters, first and second conductors, and first and second ink channels. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of passivation layers formed of an insulating material, a heat dissipation layer formed on the passivation layers and made of a thermally conductive material, and a nozzle passing through the nozzle plate and in flow communication with the ink chamber. The first and second heaters and conductors are interposed between adjacent passivation layers of the nozzle plate. The ink channels are interposed between the ink chamber and the manifold, for providing flow communication between the ink chamber and the manifold. The first and second heaters, conductors and ink channels are symmetric with respect to the nozzle.

Abstract: A monolithic ink-jet printhead, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes a substrate having an ink chamber, an ink channel, and a manifold, a nozzle plate formed on the substrate, a nozzle, a heater, and a conductor. The ink chamber includes sidewalls formed to a predetermined depth from the front surface of the substrate for defining side surfaces of the ink chamber and a bottom wall formed parallel to the front surface of the substrate at the predetermined depth from the front surface of the substrate for defining a bottom surface of the ink chamber. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of passivation layers, a heat dissipating layer being stacked on the passivation layers, and the nozzle for ejecting ink out of the printhead. The heater is positioned above the ink chamber and heats ink in the ink chamber and the conductor delivers a current to the heater.

Abstract: In an ink-jet printhead and a method for manufacturing the same, the ink-jet printhead includes a substrate, an ink chamber to be filled with ink formed on a front surface of the substrate, a manifold for supplying ink to the ink chamber formed on a rear surface of the substrate, and an ink passage in flow communication with the ink chamber and the manifold formed parallel to the front surface of the substrate; a nozzle plate including a plurality of passivation layers formed of an insulating material on the front surface of the substrate, a heat dissipating layer formed of a metallic material, and a nozzle in flow communication with the ink chamber; and a heater and a conductor, the heater being positioned on the ink chamber and heating ink in the ink chamber, and the conductor for applying a current to the heater.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead using a laser to expel ink includes an ink chamber to be filled with ink and an ink channel to supply the ink chamber with ink, the ink chamber and the ink channel formed in a passageway plate, a cover plate provided on the passageway plate, an ink ejection hole formed through the cover plate at a position corresponding to the ink chamber, a condenser lens provided on a bottom surface of the passageway plate at a position corresponding to the ink chamber, and laser beam irradiating means for irradiating a laser beam through the condenser lens and onto ink contained in the ink chamber, wherein a surface of the ink is vibrated by a pressurized wave generated by the laser beam, and a vibration causes an ink droplet to be expelled through the ink ejection hole from the surface of the ink.

Abstract: In an ink-jet printhead and a method for manufacturing the same, the ink-jet printhead includes a substrate, an ink chamber to be filled with ink to be ejected formed on an upper surface of the substrate, a restrictor, which is a path through which ink is supplied from an ink reservoir to the ink chamber, perforating a bottom surface of the substrate and a bottom surface of the ink chamber, a nozzle plate, which is stacked on the upper surface of the substrate and forms an upper wall of the ink chamber, a nozzle perforating the nozzle plate at a position corresponding to a center of the ink chamber, a heater formed in the nozzle plate to surround the nozzle, and a conductor for applying a current to the heater.

Abstract: In a droplet ejector and an ink-jet printhead using the same, the droplet ejector includes a fluid path through which a fluid moves, a nozzle being formed on one end of the fluid path, a volumetric structure formed in the fluid path, the volumetric structure being sensitive to an external stimulus and being capable of varying in size to eject a droplet of the fluid through the nozzle, and a stimulus generator, which applies a stimulus to the volumetric structure to vary a size of the volumetric structure.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead includes an ink chamber to be filled with ink to be ejected, a manifold, which supplies ink to the ink chamber, an ink channel, which provides communication between the ink chamber and the manifold, a nozzle through which ink is ejected from the ink chamber, first and second heaters, which heat ink in the ink chamber to generate bubbles, and a conductor, which is electrically connected to the first and second heaters and applies a current to the first and second heaters, wherein the first and second heaters are positioned symmetrically around a center of the nozzle, and one of the first and second heaters is positioned adjacent to the ink channel.

Abstract: A micro-pump includes a pumping chamber having a predetermined inner space to be filled with a fluid, at least one fluid entrance and at least one fluid exit, which are connected to the pumping chamber, a heating element provided at one side of the pumping chamber to generate bubbles in the pumping chamber by heating the fluid, and electrodes for applying current to the heating element, wherein the fluid is made to flow into or out of the pumping chamber by expansion and contraction of the bubbles, and wherein a cross-sectional area of at least one of the fluid entrance and the fluid exit varies along a direction in which the fluid flows. The micro-pump has a relatively simple structure, enhanced pumping efficiency and enhanced durability.

Abstract: A method of expelling a fluid includes filling a nozzle with a fluid using a capillary force, generating an ion wind by ionizing air near an outlet of the nozzle, and expelling the fluid from the nozzle as the ion wind decreases a pressure around the outlet of the nozzle. An ink-jet printhead utilizing the method includes a manifold formed in a passageway plate to supply ink, a nozzle to be supplied with ink formed in a nozzle plate provided on the passageway plate, and a ground electrode and a source electrode arranged near an outlet of the nozzle, the ground electrode and the source electrode forming an electric field due to an application of a voltage thereto and ionizing air near the outlet of the nozzle to produce an ion wind to decrease a pressure near the outlet of the nozzle to expel the ink contained in the nozzle.

Abstract: A monolithic ink-jet printhead, and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the monolithic ink-jet printhead includes a manifold for supplying ink, an ink chamber having a hemispheric shape, and an ink channel formed monolithically on a substrate; a silicon oxide layer, in which a nozzle for ejecting ink is centrally formed in the ink chamber, is deposited on the substrate; a heater having a ring shape is formed on the silicon oxide layer to surround the nozzle; a MOS integrated circuit is mounted on the substrate to drive the heater and includes a MOSFET and electrodes connected to the heater. The silicon oxide layer, the heater, and the MOS integrated circuit are formed monolithically on the substrate. Additionally, a DLC coating layer having a high hydrophobic property and high durability is formed on an external surface of the printhead.

Abstract: A bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided, wherein, the printhead includes a substrate integrally having an ink supply manifold, an ink chamber, and an ink channel, a nozzle plate having a nozzle, a heater consisting of resistive heating elements, and an electrode for applying current to the heater. In particular, the ink chamber is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape on a surface of the substrate, a manifold is formed from its bottom side toward the ink chamber, and the ink channel linking the manifold and the ink chamber is formed at the bottom of the ink chamber. Thus, this simplifies the manufacturing process and facilitates high integration and high volume production. Furthermore, a doughnut-shaped bubble is formed to eject ink in the printhead, thereby preventing a back flow of ink as well as formation of satellite droplets that may degrade image resolution.

Abstract: A monolithic ink-jet printhead includes a substrate which has an ink chamber to be supplied with ink, a manifold for supplying ink to the ink chamber, and an ink channel for providing communication between the ink chamber and the manifold, a nozzle plate including a plurality of passivation layers sequentially stacked on the substrate, a metal layer formed on the passivation layers, and a nozzle, through which ink is ejected from the ink chamber, that penetrates the nozzle plate, a heater provided between adjacent passivation layers, the heater being located above the ink chamber for heating ink within the ink chamber, a conductor provided between adjacent passivation layers, the conductor being electrically connected to the heater for applying a current to the heater, and a hydrophobic coating layer formed exclusively on an outer surface of the metal layer.

Abstract: A monolithic ink-jet printhead includes a substrate having a lower ink chamber formed on an upper surface thereof, a manifold for supplying ink to the lower ink chamber formed on a bottom surface thereof, and an ink channel providing communication therebetween; a nozzle plate having a plurality of passivation layers and a metal layer sequentially stacked on the substrate, the nozzle plate having an upper ink chamber formed therein on a bottom surface of the metal layer, a nozzle in communication with the upper ink chamber formed on an upper surface of the metal layer, and a connection hole providing communication between the upper ink chamber and the lower ink chamber; a heater located between the upper ink chamber and the lower ink chamber for heating ink contained in the lower and upper ink chambers; and a conductor electrically connected to the heater to apply a current to the heater.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead includes a substrate on which an ink chamber to be supplied with ink to be ejected is formed on a front surface of the substrate, a manifold for supplying ink to the ink chamber is formed on a rear surface of the substrate, and an ink passage in communication with the ink chamber and the manifold is formed parallel to the front surface of the substrate, a nozzle plate formed on the front surface of the substrate, a nozzle formed through the nozzle plate through which ink is ejected from the ink chamber, a heater formed on the nozzle plate, and an electrode electrically connected to the heater for applying current to the heater.

Abstract: A monolithic ink-jet printhead includes a substrate having an ink chamber, a manifold, and an ink channel in flow communication, a nozzle plate including a plurality of passivation layers stacked on the substrate and a heat dissipating layer stacked on the passivation layers, a nozzle for ejecting ink penetrating the nozzle plate, a heater provided between adjacent passivation layers above the ink chamber, and a conductor between adjacent passivation layers, the conductor being electrically connected to the heater, wherein the heat dissipating layer is made of a thermally conductive metal for dissipating heat from the heater, the lower part of the nozzle is formed by penetrating the plurality of passivation layers, and the upper part of the nozzle is formed by penetrating the heat dissipating layer in a tapered shape in which a cross-sectional area thereof decreases gradually toward an exit thereof.

Abstract: A monolithic ink-jet printhead includes a substrate having an ink chamber to be filled with ink to be ejected on a front surface, a manifold for supplying ink to the ink chamber on a rear surface, and an ink channel communicating between the ink chamber and the manifold, a barrier wall formed on the front surface of the substrate to a predetermined depth and defining at least a portion of the ink chamber in a width-wise direction, a nozzle plate including a plurality of material layers stacked on the substrate and having a nozzle penetrating the nozzle plate, so that ink ejected from the ink chamber is ejected through the nozzle, a heater formed between adjacent material layers and located above the ink chamber for heating ink to be supplied within the ink chamber; and a conductor for providing current across the heater being provided between adjacent material layers.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead includes a substrate having an ink chamber on a front surface thereof, the ink chamber to be supplied with ink to be ejected, a manifold for supplying ink to the ink chamber on a rear surface thereof, and an ink channel in communication with the ink chamber and the manifold, an impurity filtering layer formed on the rear surface of the substrate between the manifold and the ink channel for filtering impurities in ink flowing into the ink channel from the manifold, a nozzle plate formed on the front surface of the substrate, a nozzle formed through the nozzle plate at a position corresponding to a central part of the ink chamber, a heater formed on the nozzle plate, the heater being formed around the nozzle, and an electrode electrically connected to the heater for applying current to the heater.