Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes drive circuitry for a heating element, wherein at least part of the drive circuitry is positioned proximate to and within 60 microns of the heating element.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes drive circuitry for a heating element, wherein at least part of the drive circuitry is positioned proximate to and within 60 microns of the heating element.

Abstract: A dynamic memory based integrated circuit ink jet firing cell that includes a heater resistor, a drive transistor, and a dynamic memory circuit for storing firing data only for such heater resistor. Also disclosed is an integrated circuit firing array that includes a plurality of dynamic memory based firing cells divided into a plurality of fire groups of firing cells, each fire group having a plurality of subgroups; data lines for providing energizing data to the firing cells; control lines for providing control information to the firing cells wherein all firing cells within a subgroup are connected to a common subset of the control lines so as to be controlled to concurrently store energizing data; and a plurality fire lines for supplying energizing energy to the firing cells, wherein all firing cells of a fire group receive energizing energy from only one fire line.

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 printer and a printer head employing a thermal inkjet method are disclosed. A heater element is arranged so as to overlie a wiring pattern layer carried by a semiconductor substrate, or a wiring pattern portion for power supplying or a wiring pattern portion for grounding, the wiring pattern portions being carried by a semiconductor substrate. This arrangement allows heat generated by the heater element to be efficiently transferred to a liquid ink chamber.

Abstract: A substrate for use of an ink jet recording head comprises a plurality of heat generating resistive members formed on the substrate, a wiring pattern formed to be electrically connected with the heat generating resistive members, and a protection film formed on the heat generating resistive members and the wiring pattern to protect them from ink, and then, a vertically turn-up wiring structure is formed with an insulation film formed on the substrate, and one side of wiring connected with the heat generating resistive members is arranged immediately below the heat generating resistive members in a width and a length larger than those of heat generating resistive members with the insulation film between them. For this substrate, the heat generating resistive members and the wiring positioned immediately below them are formed by polysilicon having impurities in different densities.

Abstract: A flexible-film wire substrate is bent at first, second and third bent portions. Wires of a flexible wire pattern are deflected at least between the second bent portion and the third bent portion so that a pitch increases from the second bent portion toward the third bent portion. By bending the first, second and third bent portions so that the wires are substantially orthogonal to each bending line, the flexible-film wire substrate can be excellently bent without influencing the flexible wire pattern on the flexible-film wire substrate.

Abstract: A drop emitting device that includes a plurality of nozzle openings and a plurality of grooves in the vicinity of the nozzle openings.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical device comprises a movable member having a fixedly supporting portion and movable portion, and a substrate for having the movable member which is supported in a state having a specific gap with the substrate. For this device, a metallic layer which provides the gap for the movable portion is covered by the fixedly supporting portion of the movable member, and remains to be used as a wiring layer. The wiring layer is electrically connected with a plurality of wiring provided for the substrate. With the structure, thus arranged, the electric resistance is made significantly small. The electrical efficiency is enhanced accordingly. Also, the apparatus that adopts this device is made smaller, and the costs of manufacture thereof is made lower as well.

Abstract: A heater chip for use in an inkjet printer which includes a single conductive layer to provide electrical connectivity between power and ground inputs. Wherein the unique power distribution architecture is possible by the formation of a plurality of ink vias in the heater chip which provides for an increase in the chip surface area available for electrical connectivity.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head has an element base plate provided with a plurality of heat generating members and electrode wiring formed by thin-filmed electrode and common thick-filmed electrode for applying driving signals to the heat generating members, and with the structure arranged to form a flow path structural member to constitute discharge ports and liquid flow paths corresponding to each of the heat generating members, the common thick-filmed electrode is covered and sealed by the flow path structural member, and then, the driving IC assembled on an IC assembling and others are sealed by use of sealant, hence making it possible to secure the sealing capability, while making the distance between the common thick-filmed electrode and the driving IC smaller for the effective utilization of the area of the base plate. Thus, the element base plate can be made smaller.

Abstract: A high quality inkjet printhead includes a substrate having a multiplicity of heater resistors formed thereon at a density of at least six heater resistors per square millimeter. Each of the heater resistors also has a total resistance of at least 70 &OHgr; and an overlaying passivation thermal barrier characteristic adjusted to enable ejection of an ink drop of less than 6.5 ng with an energy impulse equal to or less than 1.4 &mgr;joules.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead including a thin film substructure including a plurality of elongated gold traces having openings formed therein. An ink barrier layer is disposed on the thin film substructure in contact with the gold traces and the regions exposed by the openings in the elongated gold traces. The openings are configured to provide for reliable adhesion between the ink barrier layer and the regions exposed by the openings in the elongated gold traces.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead having FET drive circuits that are configured to compensate for power trace parasitic resistances.

Abstract: A narrow ink jet printhead having efficient FET drive circuits that are configured to compensate for parasitic resistances of power traces. The ink jet printhead further includes ground busses that overlap active regions of the FET drive circuits.

Abstract: A substrate for use of an ink jet head that constitutes an ink jet head includes a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid, a plurality of liquid flow paths communicated with the plurality of discharge ports, and first and second heat generating device arranged serially in the liquid flow paths in the flow path direction of the liquid flow paths for generating thermal energy which is utilized for discharging liquid in the liquid flow paths from the discharge ports, the first and second heat generating device being formed on the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate having plural recording elements and electrical leads for supplying electric signals to the recording elements includes electrical contacts for external electrical connection for reception of image signals used for driving the recording elements; and a processing circuit for converting signals which are serially supplied to the connecting contact to parallel signals to be applied to the recording elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printhead in which mixture of noise between the power supplies of analog and digital systems is suppressed, and a circuit for processing a small analog signal, e.g., a temperature sensing circuit, does not decrease in precision even for a high clock frequency. In the printhead including an element board on which a digital circuit including a driver and heater array and an analog circuit including a temperature sensing block are formed by a semiconductor process, and an electrical circuit board having a plurality of external input terminals for inputting/outputting signals from/to the element board, the power supply of the digital circuit and the power supply of the analog circuit are arranged apart from each other on the element board, and commonly connected to one terminal of a capacitor provided on the electrical circuit board with the other terminal grounded on the electrical circuit board.

Abstract: A narrow ink jet printhead having efficient FET drive circuits that are configured to compensate for parasitic resistances of power traces. The ink jet printhead further includes ground busses that overlap active regions of the FET drive circuits.

Abstract: A substrate for an ink-jet element of an ink-jet printing head which ejects ink through ejection openings includes heating elements provided for each of the ejection openings and which generate thermal energy for ejecting the ink, a data holding circuit for holding an image data for driving the heat generating elements, by holding the image data in the number of bits corresponding to the number of ejection openings, and a driving circuit for driving the heating elements in units of the plural heating elements provided for each of the plural ejection openings based on the image data. A selection circuit selects at least one of the plural of heating elements provided corresponding to each of the ejection openings for driving. An ink-jet printing head and ink-jet printing apparatus employ such a substrate.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium comprises a movable recording member facing a recording medium to record on said recording medium by serially moving with respect to the recording apparatus main body; a movement mechanism for serially moving said movable recording member; and plural flexible members for connecting the movable recording member and the recording apparatus main body, which are connected with the movable recording member from the sides opposite to each other with the movement path of the movable recording member between them, hence making it possible to reduce the influence on the positional precision of the movable recording member and the movement precision thereof as well, which is exerted by force given to the movable recording member by the flexible members.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes a plurality of liquid flow paths for ejecting the ink; and a plurality of heat generating resistors for the respective liquid flow paths, the heat generating resistor being independently drivable; wherein adjacent ones of the heat generating resistors are spaced by not more than 8 microns.

Abstract: A dynamic memory based integrated circuit ink jet firing cell that includes a heater resistor, a drive transistor, and a dynamic memory circuit for storing firing data only for such heater resistor. Also disclosed is an integrated circuit firing array that includes a plurality of dynamic memory based firing cells divided into a plurality of fire groups of firing cells, each fire group having a plurality of subgroups; data lines for providing energizing data to the firing cells; control lines for providing control information to the firing cells wherein all firing cells within a subgroup are connected to a common subset of the control lines so as to be controlled to concurrently store energizing data; and a plurality fire lines for supplying energizing energy to the firing cells, wherein all firing cells of a fire group receive energizing energy from only one fire line.

Abstract: An inkjet pen includes a multilayered platform, an electrical interconnection extending through the multilayered platform, and a plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the multilayered platform. The multilayered platform includes a first layer having an ink inlet defined therein, a second layer having a plurality of ink feed slots defined therein, and at least one third layer having an ink manifold defined therein. The ink manifold of the at least one third layer fluidically couples the ink inlet of the first layer with the ink feed slots of the second layer. Each of the printhead dies are mounted on the second layer of the multilayered platform and include an array of printing elements and an ink refill slot communicating with the array of printing elements. The ink refill slot of each of the printhead dies communicates with at least one of the ink feed slots of the multilayered platform, and each of the printhead dies are electrically coupled to the electrical interconnection.

Abstract: A wide-array inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the carrier. The carrier includes a substructure and a substrate mounted on the substructure. The substrate includes a plurality of layers and has a plurality of conductive paths extending therethrough. As such, each of the printhead dies are mounted on the substrate and electrically coupled to at least one of the conductive paths of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a three-dimensional printhead drive scheme for a printhead of an ink jet printer. A method is provided for selectively activating a printing element within an array of printing elements on a printhead of an ink jet printer. The printhead includes an integrated circuit having pass-gate devices and power devices associated with corresponding printing elements. The pass-gate devices and power devices each have a source, drain, and gate, where the source of each pass-gate device is connected to the gate of a corresponding one of the power devices, and where the source of each power device is connected to a corresponding one of the printing elements. According to the method, a quadrant selection signal is provided to a subset of the pass-gate devices, and the subset of printing elements within the array of printing elements is selected based on the quadrant selection signal.

Abstract: The present invention corrects variations in characteristics of each printing element of a printing head to print high-grade images. To achieve this, the present invention provides an ink jet printing head that uses thermal energy generated by a heat-generating resistor to eject an ink from an ink ejection opening, wherein a plurality of wirings with different wiring resistances are connected to the heat-generating resistor. A transistor selected one of the plurality of wirings to conduct current through the heat-generating resistor.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head comprises a flat substrate having an end face and front and back flat main surfaces having a larger area as compared to the end face, an energy generating member for generating energy to be utilized to discharge the ink from a discharge port formed on the front flat main surface side of the substrate, a wiring electrode connected to the energy generating member formed on the front flat main surface of the substrate, and a connection electrode, connected to the wiring electrode, for receiving an electrical signal supplied from the outside of the substrate, wherein the connection electrode is provided on another surface different from the front and back flat main surfaces of the substrate. The ink jet recording apparatus comprises the ink jet recording head and a member for mounting the ink jet recording head.

Abstract: An ink jet printing head for effecting printing by ejection of ink includes a first electrothermal transducer having a heat generating resistor with a first area and wiring electrically connected with the heat generating resistor; a second electrothermal transducer having a second heat generating resistor with an area which is different from the area of the first heat generating resistor; wherein bubbles are produced in ink materials upon application of electric signals to the electrothermal transducers, by which different volumes of ink materials are ejected; wherein the first and second electrothermal transducers have substantially the same bubble production threshold voltage.

Abstract: A substrate for an ink jet recording head is provided with a plurality of heat generating resistors for discharging ink. The wiring for applying the electric power supplied from outside to the plurality of heat generating resistors is divided into plural numbers, and each of the plurally divided wiring is arranged to provide substantially the same wiring resistive value from each of electrode pads arranged together therewith for receiving the supply of electric power from outside to each of the heat generating resistors. With the structure thus arranged, it is made possible to make the difference smaller in the voltage drop at the time of driving all the heat generating resisters simultaneously and driving only one of them, respectively, as well as to perform stabilized discharging of liquid for the formation of recorded images in good condition.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet recording head in which a discharge port forming member including plural discharge ports for discharging droplets of recording liquid is provided on a substrate bearing thereon plural recording elements for providing the recording liquid with discharge energy and electrical circuit elements for driving the recording elements, the head comprising a first metal film covering the upper side of the recording elements and a second metal film covering the upper side of the electrical circuit elements; wherein the discharge ports are so arranged as to form plural arrays and the recording elements are so arranged as to form an array in the vicinity of each array of the discharge ports; the first metal film is provided over the plural arrays of the recording elements; and the first and second metal films are formed in the form of a mutually opposed pair of comb teeth.

Abstract: In an inkjet head acting as a liquid ejecting head for carrying out a print operation by ejecting liquids onto a medium to be recorded, the inkjet head including two rows of orifice arrays, which are disposed approximately parallel with each other and a group of supply ports for feeding the liquids to the orifice arrays, the orifice arrays and the supply ports being arranged integrally, and only one of the two rows of the orifice arrays being used, a dummy heater board having the same shape as that of a heater board is caused to come into intimate contact with an unused side liquid chamber. Further, ribs are disposed in the vicinity of an unused side ink path so as to increase strength. With this arrangements, an intimate contact property can improved, irregular print can be eliminated and the disposition of orifice arrays on a top plate as a single isolated member can be reproduced even at the time the inkjet head is completed.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead having FET drive circuits that are configured to compensate for power trace parasitic resistances.

Abstract: A printer and a printer head employing a thermal inkjet method are disclosed. A heater element is arranged so as to overlie a wiring pattern layer carried by a semiconductor substrate, or a wiring pattern portion for power supplying or a wiring pattern portion for grounding, the wiring pattern portions being carried by a semiconductor substrate. This arrangement allows heat generated by the heater element to be efficiently transferred to a liquid ink chamber.

Abstract: A method and a structure for measuring the temperature of heating elements of an ink-jet printhead are provided, wherein an extra metal layer or semiconductor layer is formed on the ink-jet chip having driving elements to precisely measure the temperature of each individual heating element. The structure includes: an ink-jet device including a heating element for heating liquid ink; a transistor driver for driving a transistor to control heating of the heating element; and a temperature-sensing layer located between the ink-jet device and the transistor driver and under the heating element, the temperature-sensing layer having two terminals, one connecting to the transistor and the other connecting to an electrode terminal connected to a printer, wherein the ink-jet device connects to the transistor driver through the temperature-sensing layer.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead chip structure and a method of estimating the working life through the detection of any defect on the chip structure. The method includes laying a metallic layer such as a tantalum layer over the chip and then shaping the metallic layer into a protective layer circuit. A portion of the metal protective layer covers the heating elements embedded in the chip. In printing, the heating elements heat up the ink to produce jets of ink. However, a portion of the heat is transferred to the metal protective layer thereby raising its temperature. Heat on the metal protective layer combined with any strayed residual ink bubbles that impinge upon the surface of the metal protective layer causes the metal to age. Since resistance of the metal protective layer will increase proportionally to the amount of aging, a measurement of the resistance is capable of estimating how much longer a given chip is suitable for use.

Abstract: The substrate for use of an ink jet recording head is provided with a plurality of heat generating resistive members and the electrode wiring pattern electrically connected with the heat generating resistive members formed on the substrate, and a protection film formed on the heat generating resistive members and the electrode wiring pattern to protect them from ink. For this substrate, each of the heat generating resistive members comprises a first heat generating resistive member arranged on the lower layer of the electrode wiring pattern connected with the heat generating resistive member, and a second heat generating resistive member arranged between the protection film and the electrode wiring pattern. With the structure thus arranged, it becomes possible to make the protection film on the upper layer thinner, and attempt the power saving.

Abstract: An ink jet print head includes a nozzle plate having a substantially linear array of ink jet nozzles through which ink droplets are ejected toward a print medium. An integrated circuit chip, which is disposed adjacent the nozzle plate on the print head, includes a semiconductor substrate, a source voltage conductor connected to a source voltage, and a ground return conductor. A substantially linear array of ink heating resistors are disposed on the substrate substantially parallel to the length of the chip, each associated with a corresponding one of the ink jet nozzles. The chip also includes a plurality of substrate heater resistors disposed on the substrate in a substantially linear arrangement and aligned substantially parallel with the nozzles. The substrate heater resistors are electrically connected in parallel, with one node of each being connected to the source voltage conductor and another node of each being connected to the ground return conductor.

Abstract: The invention provides a printhead cartridge body contained within an inkjet printer which contains a tape automated bonding (TAB) circuit, having a unique architecture, electrically connected to a printhead heater chip and a printed circuit board (PCB). Moreover, the TAB circuit architecture is readily sealable by a variety of methods. The TAB circuit includes elongate apertures which have a length axis aligned perpendicular to electrical traces which run through the apertures. Each trace has a first end running through the apertures and being connected to a PCB by means of a hot bar soldering technique and the second end of the traces being connected to a printhead heater chip. An encapsulant layer substantially encloses the rectangular apertures and electrical connections preventing ink mist from contacting the connections. The TAB circuit design provides improvement in the manufacturing process and enables rework of connections without destroying the TAB circuit.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head comprises heating means for generating a heat energy to be utilized for discharging an ink, and a nonlinear element for driving the heating means, having MIM type current/voltage characteristics in which a resistance value during application of a low voltage indicates a high value regardless of polarity as compared with the resistance value during application of a high voltage, wherein the nonlinear element has an electric field relaxing structure for relaxing generation of a locally strong electric field.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording head comprising a heat generating device for generating thermal energy utilized to discharge ink, a non-linear element having a non-linear current/voltage property and adapted to drive the heat generating means, and a current adjusting device for adjusting current flowing into the non-linear element.

Abstract: A bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead is provided. The ink-jet printhead includes: a substrate; a nozzle plate including a plurality of nozzles, which is separated a predetermined space from the substrate; walls for closing the space between the substrate and the nozzle plate and then forming a common chamber between the substrate and the nozzle plate; a plurality of resistive layers, formed on the substrate within the common chamber corresponding to the plurality of nozzles, each resistive layer encircling the central axis passing through the center of each nozzle; a plurality of pairs of wiring layers formed on the substrate, each pair of wiring layers being connecting to each resistive layer and extending to the outside of the common chamber; and a plurality of pads which are disposed at the outside of the common chamber on the substrate and electrically connected to the wiring layers.

Abstract: A circuit board for an ink-jet recording head which ejects ink includes a plurality of electrothermal transducers for generating thermal energy which is used for ejecting ink; and a plurality of wiring electrodes for supplying electric power to the plurality of electrothermal transducers, the plurality of wiring electrodes each having a thickness of one of at least two values according to the length of each wiring electrode, whereby the resistance of the wiring electrodes are made uniform between each wiring electrode without significantly increasing the width of the wiring electrodes.

Abstract: A substrate for an ink jet recording head is provided with a plurality of heat generating resistors for discharging ink. The wiring for applying the electric power supplied from outside to the plurality of heat generating resistors is divided into plural numbers, and each of the plurally divided wiring is arranged to provide substantially the same wiring resistive value from each of electrode pads arranged together therewith for receiving the supply of electric power from outside to each of the heat generating resistors. With the structure thus arranged, it is made possible to make the difference smaller in the voltage drop at the time of driving all the heat generating resisters simultaneously and driving only one of them, respectively, as well as to perform stabilized discharging of liquid for the formation of recorded images in good condition.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead nozzle array 14 includes a plurality of nozzle assemblies 10. Each nozzle assembly 10 comprises an ink ejection nozzle 22, an actuator 28 and a connecting member 26 interconnecting the nozzle 22 with its actuator 28. The nozzle assemblies 10 are arranged in rows 72, 74. The nozzles 22 of the assemblies 10 of one row 72 nest between the connecting members 26 of adjacent nozzle assemblies 10 of the other rows 74. The actuators 28 of the assemblies 10 of both rows 72, 74 are arranged on the same side of the rows 72, 74.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board has a copper foil serving as a conductive pattern, a nickel layer and a gold layer stacked in sequence on a base film made of polymide at an area to be electrically connected by wire bonding. The wire bonding is made by an aluminum wire and the nickel layer having a thickness of 10 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m. An ink jet recording head for discharging ink droplets from a discharge port onto a recording medium for recording thereon is electrically connected to an ink discharge unit by the flexible printed circuit board.

Abstract: An ink jet pen with a pen body defining an ink chamber. A print head on the pen body communicates with the ink chamber. The pen body includes a number of electrically conductive traces that extend from a printer interface region to the print head. The print head may be surface mounted to the body, or connected with anisotropic or Z-axis conductive adhesive. The traces may be conductive material applied into grooves on the surface of the body, or an insert molded leadframe. The interface region and print head may be on a common surface of the body.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead which includes a substrate having a plurality of individual ink ejection chambers defined by a barrier layer formed on a first surface of said substrate and having an ink ejection element formed on the first surface of said substrate in each of said ink ejection chambers, said ink ejection elements electrically connected to electrodes on said substrate.

Abstract: In a thermal ink jet print head, individually-controlled heating elements are separated into groups of heating elements. Redundant control lines for the separate groups of heating elements increase the print head's reliability by reducing the likelihood that a print head will be completely disabled by an electrical fault on the control lines that in prior art devices extended to all of the heating elements.

Abstract: A driver circuit for an matrix type inkjet printhead having a plurality of first heater resistors arranged in a matrix comprising a plurality of groups of heater resistors. The driver circuit comprises a plurality of first switches and a plurality of second switches. Each of the plurality of first switches is coupled to a heater resistor in each of the plurality of groups and is responsive to one of a plurality of first control signals to supply a current to the associated heater resistor. Each of the plurality of second switches is associated with one of the plurality of first switches, and comprises an input, an output and a gate. The input of each of the plurality of second switches is coupled to one of the plurality of first control signals, and the output of each of the plurality of second switches is coupled to the plurality of first switches for one of the plurality of groups of heater resistors.