Abstract: An EWOD device includes opposing substrates defining a gap and each including an insulating surface facing the gap. Array elements include electrode elements to which actuation voltages are applied. A pre-charging structure defines a channel in fluid communication with the gap wherein the channel receives an input of a fluid reservoir for generation of the liquid droplet, and the pre-charging structure includes an electrical element electrically exposed to the channel. The electrical element pre-charges the fluid reservoir within the channel, and a portion of the gap containing the liquid droplet spaced apart from the channel is electrically isolated from the electrical element such that the liquid droplet is at a floating electrical potential when located within said portion of the gap. The electrical element may be an electrode portion that is exposed to the channel, or an externally connected pre-charging element inserted into the channel.

Abstract: Provided are a liquid jet head with which the size-reduction can be achieved, while the resistance of wiring formed on a wiring plate such as a sealing plate is lowered, and a method for manufacturing the liquid jet head. The liquid jet head includes: a sealing plate 33 having a first surface 41 to which a pressure chamber-forming plate 29 including multiple piezoelectric elements 32 is joined and a second surface 42 which is on a side opposite from the first surface 41 and to which a drive IC 34 that outputs signals for driving the piezoelectric elements 32 is joined, wherein a lower surface-side embedded wire 51 connected to a common wire 38 common to the driving elements 32 are formed on the first surface 41 of the sealing plate 33, and the lower surface-side embedded wire 51 is at least partially embedded in the sealing plate 33.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a plurality of nozzles from which a liquid is discharged, a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the plurality of nozzles, respectively, a substrate in which the plurality of pressure chamber is arranged in a predetermined direction, a diaphragm provided on a first side of the substrate opposite a second side of the substrate facing the plurality of nozzles, the diaphragm forming walls of the plurality of pressure chambers, and a plurality of electromechanical transducer elements provided on the diaphragm corresponding to the plurality of pressure chambers, respectively. A groove is formed in the substrate on an end side of the plurality of pressure chambers in the predetermined direction, and the groove includes an opening that opens toward a direction opposite to the diaphragm.

Abstract: A liquid jet head includes ejection channels and dummy channels alternately arrayed across partitions to configure a channel row, and drive electrodes that are side surfaces of the partitions and are positioned from upper ends of the partitions in a depth direction, and an average depth of two drive electrodes positioned on facing side surfaces of the ejection channel is different from an average depth of two drive electrodes positioned on facing side surfaces of the dummy channel adjacent to the ejection channel.

Abstract: A printing device includes a nozzle and an extractor. An electrostatic extraction field is generated at the extractor and at a discharge opening of the nozzle to extract polarized ink from the nozzle for deposition on a printing substrate. The extractor includes an electrically conductive portion for application of one side of a voltage potential to generate the electrostatic field. The extractor can be in the form of an extractor plate with an opening through which the extracted ink passes, or the extractor can be in the form of another nozzle. The printing device provides a directionality field that affects the trajectory of the extracted ink. The directionality field can include the electrostatic field or a gas flow field. The printing device is useful for electrohydrodynamic jet, or e-jet, printing on a non-conductive substrate.

Abstract: A liquid jet head includes a piezoelectric substrate having ejection grooves formed in an upper surface thereof and arranged in a reference direction. A side flow path is formed in a first side surface of the piezoelectric substrate and communicates with the ejection grooves. A cover plate is bonded to the upper surface, and a nozzle plate is bonded to the first side surface and has nozzles communicating with the respective ejection grooves.

Abstract: An inkjet head has a head chip. The head chip has driving walls of piezoelectric material, which deform by applying voltage, to jet ink. Channels are arranged alternatively, alongside the driving walls and contain ink. Each channel has an outlet and an inlet port at a front and rear surface of the head chip. Driving electrodes, formed on surfaces of the driving walls, apply voltage to the driving walls. Connection electrodes, formed on the rear surface of the head chip, electrically connect to the driving electrodes. A wiring substrate, having wiring electrodes apply voltage to the driving electrode through the connection electrode. The wiring substrate is bonded to the rear surface of the head chip to protrude from the head chip in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the channels so that all the channels are exposed at the rear surface of the head chip.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid jet head includes: a groove forming step of alternately forming ejection grooves and non-ejection grooves in a reference direction on an upper surface of an actuator substrate; a cover plate processing step of forming a recessed portion on an upper surface of a cover plate and slits penetrating the cover plate from a bottom surface of the recessed portion through a lower surface located opposite to the upper surface of the cover plate; a substrate bonding step of bonding the lower surface of the cover plate to the upper surface of the actuator substrate to allow the slits to communicate with the respective ejection grooves; and an electrode forming step of simultaneously forming conductive films on side surfaces of the ejection grooves, side surfaces of the non-ejection grooves, and inner surfaces of the slits and the recessed portion.

Abstract: A liquid-jet head includes: a plurality of individual passages communicating with nozzle orifices that jet liquid; a manifold communicating with the plurality of individual passages, in which a surface of the manifold on the liquid-jetting face side is sealed with a sealing member; and a rib provided in the manifold on the sealing member side.

Abstract: A liquid jet head includes an actuator substrate having a principal surface on which ejection channels and non-ejection channels are formed, common electrodes formed on side surfaces of the ejection channels, individual electrodes formed on side surfaces of the non-ejection channels, individual electrode pads for connection to the individual electrodes, and common electrode pads for connection to the common electrodes. A groove is formed on the principal surface of the actuator substrate for isolating the individual electrode pads and the common electrode pads from one another. An external substrate has individual electrode terminals and common electrode terminals for connection to the individual electrode pads and common electrode pads, respectively. A connection wiring that connects the common electrode terminals to each other is formed along the groove to prevent an electrical short circuit between the connection wiring and the individual electrodes.

Abstract: A liquid jet head has a piezoelectric body substrate which includes a groove row in which ejection grooves penetrating the piezoelectric body substrate from an upper surface through a lower surface and non-ejection grooves open on the upper surface are alternately arranged in a reference direction, common drive electrodes formed on both side surfaces of each of the ejection grooves, and individual drive electrodes formed on both side surfaces of each of the non-ejection grooves. A cover plate is bonded to the upper surface of the piezoelectric body substrate and includes a liquid chamber communicating with the ejection grooves, first through electrodes which penetrate the cover plate in a thickness direction and are electrically connected to the individual drive electrodes, and individual terminals placed on a front surface of the cover plate opposite to the piezoelectric body substrate and electrically connected to the first through electrodes.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a pressure control unit provided in a liquid flow path so as to control pressure. The pressure control unit includes a liquid introduction unit, a liquid chamber having a diaphragm, a communication hole that allows communication between the liquid introduction unit and the liquid chamber, and a wall portion provided on the side of the liquid chamber, so as to switch between a first mode in which the wall portion forms a first flow path for the liquid flowing through the communication hole toward the liquid outlet without contacting the diaphragm in accordance with a pressure in the liquid chamber, and a second mode in which the wall portion forms a second flow path different from the first flow path, in contact with the diaphragm.

Abstract: A piezoelectric mechanism includes first and second electrodes and a thin film sheet of piezoelectric material. The second electrode is interdigitated in relation to the first electrode. The first and the second electrodes are embedded within the thin film sheet. The thin film sheet is polarized in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to a surface of the thin film sheet. The thin film sheet is to physically deform in a shear mode due to polarization of the thin film sheet at least substantially perpendicular to the surface of the thin film sheet, responsive to an electric field induced within the thin film sheet at least substantially parallel to the sheet via application of a voltage across the first and the second electrodes.

Abstract: A process for producing a liquid ejection head having a piezoelectric body provided with an ejection orifice for ejecting liquid and a pressure chamber communicating therewith for retaining the liquid, wherein an electrode is formed on an inner wall surface of the pressure chamber to deform the pressure chamber by piezoelectric action caused by applying voltage to the electrode to eject the liquid, comprising providing the piezoelectric body in which a surface thereof having the ejection orifice has an arithmetic mean roughness of 0.1-1 ?m, forming a dry film resist pattern on the surface of the piezoelectric body so as to expose the ejection orifice and a linear region connected thereto, and forming a metal thin film pattern being connected to the electrode on the inner wall surface and continuously extending from the inner wall surface to the linear region by using the dry film resist pattern as a mask.

Abstract: A liquid jet head includes a nozzle guard attached to a nozzle plate. The nozzle guard functions as a liquid storage unit and is configured to store residual liquid that attaches to the nozzle plate. Channel lines include ejection and non-ejection channels and a dummy channel incapable of driving. Liquid is supplied into the dummy channel while being brought to a negative pressure. The nozzle plate includes a dummy nozzle hole that communicates with the dummy channel, and the dummy nozzle hole is provided at a position to aspirate stored residual liquid using the nozzle guard.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head includes forming a first electrode made of platinum, forming a buffer layer made of a compound having a pyrochlore structure that contains bismuth or platinum on the first electrode, forming an oxide layer made of an oxide containing bismuth on the buffer layer, forming a piezoelectric layer made of a compound having a perovskite structure that contains bismuth by burning the oxide layer, and forming a second electrode on the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejection head, including: multiple ejection orifices for ejecting liquid; multiple pressure chambers that communicate with the respective ejection orifices, and are arranged in a first direction and a second direction that intersect each other, the multiple pressure chambers including first electrodes formed on inner walls of the multiple pressure chambers; a piezoelectric block including the multiple pressure chambers and multiple air chambers, the multiple air chambers being arranged in the first direction and the second direction alternately with the multiple pressure chambers, the inner walls of the respective pressure chambers being deformable by application of voltage between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to cause liquid to flow out of open ends of the respective pressure chambers; an orifice plate in which the multiple ejection orifices are arranged; and a plate-like member that is interposed between the piezoelectric block.

Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric device comprising a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer that is formed above the first electrode, a second electrode that is formed above the piezoelectric layer and a coating layer that is formed above the second electrode consisting of tungsten or titanium.

Abstract: When protective portions are independently provided for each energy generation element, a leakage current inspection between the protective portions and the energy generation elements cannot be performed at once. Therefore, there is a concern that the inspection in manufacturing a substrate for liquid ejection head requires time. Therefore, the substrate for liquid ejection head is manufactured by performing a leakage current inspection between a connecting portion that is electrically connected to plurality of protective portions and a terminal to which the plurality of energy generation elements are connected, and thereafter removing the connecting portion.

Abstract: A pulse generator forms, from setting data respectively stored in an ejection relevant waveform setting register and a first high impedance setting register, an ejection relevant driving pulse for setting an electrode of an ink chamber communicating with an ejection relevant nozzle to a high impedance state for a predetermined period. The pulse generator forms, from setting data respectively stored in an ejection both-side waveform setting register and a second high impedance setting register, an ejection both-side driving pulse for setting electrodes of ink chambers communicating with ejection both-side nozzles to the high impedance state for the predetermined period. The pulse generator outputs signals of the formed driving pulses to an inkjet head.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical component is provided. The method comprises preparing a subassembly by electrically connecting an integrated circuit to a flexible circuit; and attaching the subassembly to a multilayer ceramic capacitor having a mounting surface with a curvature deviation exceeding 0.008 inches per inch.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ink-jet head includes an insulated substrate, a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are formed on the insulated substrate in the form of a line, a pressure chamber formed between the two adjacent piezoelectric elements to which ink is supplied, an electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric element and a surface of the insulated substrate, an organic protection film to cover a face of the electrode contacting the ink, a hydrophilic film which is formed to cover the organic protection film at a temperature of not more than 100° C., a frame which is provided on the electrode on the insulated substrate to surround the line of the piezoelectric elements, and a nozzle plate provided on the frame having nozzles each opening into the pressure chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet jetting apparatus including: a channel unit, a piezoelectric actuator disposed on the channel unit, and a drive unit. The piezoelectric actuator includes first and second piezoelectric layers, an inner electrode disposed between the first and second piezoelectric layers, a first outer electrode disposed in an area facing the inner electrode, of a surface of the first piezoelectric layer, a second outer electrode disposed in an area facing the inner electrode, of a surface of the second piezoelectric layer, a first low-permittivity portion having a permittivity lower than a permittivity of the first piezoelectric layer, and a second low-permittivity portion having a permittivity lower than a permittivity of the second piezoelectric layer. The drive unit generates a predetermined electric potential difference between the inner electrode and the first outer electrode.

Abstract: An inkjet head includes a substrate, a piezoelectric member provided on the substrate and having predetermined length, plural pressure chamber grooves provided on the piezoelectric member in a longitudinal direction, opposed walls forming the pressure chamber grooves being configured to function as driving elements that eject ink, a chamber groove provided along the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric member, the chamber groove being formed on the substrate continuously to a slope of the piezoelectric member, an insulating member provided in the chamber groove, a wire through which a signal for driving the walls of the pressure chamber grooves passes, the wire being formed on the substrate and the insulating member, a cover member opposed to the substrate and configured to cover the piezoelectric member and the chamber groove, and plural nozzles configured to pierce through the cover member, respectively communicate with the pressure chamber grooves, and discharge the ink.

Abstract: A drive signal generating unit that generates a drive signal applying, in one pixel period, at least one drive waveform for causing ink droplets to be discharged can generate two types of drive waveforms, a large droplet waveform and a small droplet waveform. The large droplet waveform includes an expansion pulse expanding the volumes of pressure chambers and a contraction pulse making the volumes of the pressure chambers contract. The expansion pulse width of the large droplet waveform is 2.8 AL or longer but 3.4 AL or shorter. The small droplet waveform includes an expansion pulse, a pause period, and a contraction pulse, and the expansion pulse width of the small droplet waveform is 0.8 AL or longer but 1.2 AL or shorter, where AL represents a half of an acoustic resonance period of a pressure wave in the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A driving waveform has a first driving waveform (PLSTM1) composed of non-GND waveform, a second driving waveform (PLSTM2) composed of a non-GND waveform different from the first driving waveform, and a third driving waveform (PLSTM0) composed of a GND waveform, and a driving voltage V1 of the first driving waveform and a driving voltage V2 of the second driving waveform is |V1|>|V2|; and the driving circuit selects at least the first driving waveform and the second driving waveform or only the first driving waveform at every predetermined time in 1 pixel cycle in accordance with the discharge data, applies this to one of the two driving electrodes of the pressure generating unit and also applies only the second driving waveform to the other so as to operate the pressure generating unit by a differential waveform between the two driving electrodes.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ink-jet head includes a substrate, a piezoelectric member, electrically conductive portions, a frame member, an insulating film, an electronic component and a protective agent. The piezoelectric member is mounted on the substrate and includes pressure chambers. The electrically conductive portions extend from the pressure chambers and are disposed on the substrate. The frame member inside which the piezoelectric member is disposed is attached to the substrate from above the electrically conductive portions. The insulating film covers the piezoelectric member, the frame member, and a part of the electrically conductive portions. The electronic component is connected to the electrically conductive portions. The protective agent covers an end portion of the insulating film located between the frame member and the electronic component and the electrically conductive portions between the electronic component and the end portion of the insulating film.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet head comprises a substrate, and a nozzle plate. The substrate includes grooves. The nozzle plate includes nozzles that are formed by laser processing to communicate with the grooves. Electrodes are formed on respective internal surfaces of the grooves. Each of the electrodes is formed of a plurality of metal layers, and includes a flat surface that is apart from the internal surfaces of the grooves. A first inorganic film is superposed on the surfaces of the electrodes. A second inorganic film is superposed on the first inorganic film.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes piezoelectric members including: a pressure chamber applying a pressure for discharging liquid to liquid; a first electrode provided on an inner surface side of the pressure chamber; and a second electrode provided outside the pressure chamber, the piezoelectric members being arranged in a first direction intersecting with an ink flow direction and in a second direction crossing the ink flow direction and the first direction so that the flow directions of the liquid flowing through the pressure chamber of the piezoelectric members are arranged along one another. The head includes first common wiring lines connected to the first electrodes arranged in the first direction; and second common wiring lines connected to the second electrodes 23 arranged in the second direction. The first common wiring lines are arranged in the second direction and the second common wiring lines are arranged in the first direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet head for ejecting an ink droplet to form an image on a recording medium, including a pressure chamber to which ink is supplied, an actuator which applies a pressure on the ink filled in the pressure chamber to eject the ink droplet, a circuit applying to the actuator a drive-waveform for sequentially ejecting one or more ink droplets to form one pixel, the one ink droplet having V in volume, and a nozzle plate which has a nozzle fluidly communicating with the pressure chamber to eject ink droplet therefrom, the nozzle having a stepped inner surface shaped to include an inlet communicating with the pressure chamber and having a first sectional area in an orthogonal plane to ink-ejecting direction, and to include an outlet communicating with the inlet and having a length Ln1 in the ink-ejecting direction and a second sectional area C1 in the orthogonal plane smaller than the first sectional area, the Ln1, C1, and V being satisfied the relationship of 0.5?Ln1/(V/C1)?1.0.

Abstract: Provided is an ink-jet apparatus that: has a wide control range of the direction for ink ejection; can correct a variation in the direction for ink ejection; and can improve the yield of a product when used for manufacture of electronic devices. The ink-jet apparatus includes: pressure chamber 110 configured with a pair of partition walls 111; nozzle plate 101 having nozzle 100; diaphragm 112 supported by partition walls 111; piezoelectric elements 131 and 132 that are in contact with diaphragm 112 for pressurizing pressure chamber 110; and piezoelectric elements 141, 142 and 143 supporting partition walls 111. A voltage can be applied individually to piezoelectric elements 131, 132, and 141 to 143. The widths of part A and part B of diaphragm 112, part A being in contact with a piezoelectric element, and part B being in contact with partition wall 111 satisfy a particular relationship.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ink-jet head includes an insulative substrate, a nozzle plate opposed to the insulative substrate, a partition wall disposed between the insulative substrate and the nozzle plate, and including a bottom surface with a first width which is in contact with the insulative substrate, and a top surface with a second width less than the first width, which is in contact with the nozzle plate, and an adhesive which attaches the partition wall and the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A liquid jet head has a nozzle plate including nozzles for ejecting liquid and side walls placed over the nozzle plate, the side walls forming grooves having a fixed depth in a longitudinal direction thereof. Drive electrodes are formed on wall surfaces of the side walls. A cover plate is placed on upper surfaces of the side walls and has a supply port for supplying liquid to the grooves and a discharge port for discharging liquid from the grooves. Sealing materials are placed for closing the grooves outside communicating portions between the grooves and the supply port and between the grooves and the discharge port to prevent leakage of liquid from the grooves.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer and electrodes. The piezoelectric layer is 3 ?m or less in thickness. The piezoelectric layer is made of a piezoelectric material containing a perovskite compound including bismuth manganate ferrate and barium titanate. The piezoelectric layer is preferentially oriented with the (110) plane. The position (2?) of the X-ray diffraction peak attributed to the (110) plane is 31.80° or more and 32.00° or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ultrasound transducers for ultrasonic imaging systems and, in particular, to improved grip assemblies for ultrasound transducers. One grip assembly includes a locking plate defining first and second apertures and a coupling post extending from the locking plate. An interface plate has a first elongate extension being extendable at least partially through the first aperture and a second elongate extension being extendable at least partially through the second aperture. A handle is coupled to the locking plate and includes a grip, a coupling interface, and a neck extending between the grip and the coupling interface. The coupling interface defines a coupling aperture for receiving the coupling post.

Abstract: A configuration is provided in which at least one end of a piezoelectric body active portion is defined by an end of a second electrode, a portion of configuring the piezoelectric body active portion of a first electrode is covered with a piezoelectric body layer, the first electrode and the piezoelectric body layer are extended to the outside of the end of the second electrode which defines the end of the piezoelectric body active portion, the first electrode includes an exposure portion which is not covered with the piezoelectric body layer and extends further outside than the end of the second electrode, and on the end of the piezoelectric body layer which forms the exposure portion, an independent electrode which is electrically independent from the second electrode is provided.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet head comprises a substrate, and a nozzle plate. The substrate includes grooves. The nozzle plate includes nozzles that are formed by laser processing to communicate with the grooves. Electrodes are formed on respective internal surfaces of the grooves. Each of the electrodes is formed of a plurality of metal layers, and includes a flat surface that is apart from the internal surfaces of the grooves. A first inorganic film is superposed on the surfaces of the electrodes. A second inorganic film is superposed on the first inorganic film.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer includes an array of PZT elements mounted on a non-recessed distal surface of a backing block. Between each element and the backing block is a conductive region formed as a portion of a metallic layer sputtered onto the distal surface. Traces on a longitudinally extending circuit board—preferably, a substantially rigid printed circuit board, which may be embedded within the block—connect the conductive region, and thus the PZT element, with any conventional external ultrasound imaging system. A substantially “T” or “inverted-L” shaped electrode is thereby formed for each element, with no need for soldering. At least one longitudinally extending metallic member mounted on a respective lateral surface of the backing block forms a heat sink and a common electrical ground. A thermally and electrically conductive layer, such as of foil, transfers heat from at least one matching layer mounted on the elements to the metallic member.

Abstract: A liquid jet head includes a base plurality of pressure chambers which include recesses, respectively, arranged in a front surface of a base. A piezoelectric substrate is joined to upper surfaces of side walls of the recesses and is uniformly polarized in a direction parallel to a substrate surface of the piezoelectric substrate. A pair of a front surface drive electrode and a back surface drive electrode are provided on a front surface of the piezoelectric substrate, which is opposite to the pressure chamber side, and on a back surface of the piezoelectric substrate on the pressure chamber side, respectively, for each chamber and sandwich the piezoelectric substrate therebetween and extend to a side wall of the recess substantially from a center of the open end. A liquid chamber is formed in the base and communicates with the pressure chambers via openings formed in bottom surfaces or side wall surfaces of the recesses, respectively.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a direct current voltage which has positive and negative potentials relative to a ground potential interposed therebetween is used as a drive voltage for electric charging/discharging to/from an actuator.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes a nozzle plate, a piezoelectric member, a substrate, a frame member, and a wiring circuit. The nozzle plate has nozzles. The piezoelectric member has pressure chambers associated with the nozzles, sidewalls configured to pressurize the pressure chambers, and electrode wiring lines that are connected to electrodes provided on the respective sidewalls and alternately provided on one of both end sides of each of the pressure chambers which is different from the end side of respective adjacent pressure chambers. Further, the piezoelectric member applies a drive pulse voltage to the sidewalls from the electrodes to pressurize the pressure chambers. The piezoelectric member is bonded to the substrate. The frame member is bonded to the substrate and the nozzle plate to surround the piezoelectric member. The wiring circuit is provided on the substrate and has the electrode wiring lines.

Abstract: A piezoelectric mechanism includes first and second electrodes and a thin film sheet of piezoelectric material. The second electrode is interdigitated in relation to the first electrode. The first and the second electrodes are embedded within the thin film sheet. The thin film sheet is polarized in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to a surface of the thin film sheet. The thin film sheet is to physically deform in a shear mode due to polarization of the thin film sheet at least substantially perpendicular to the surface of the thin film sheet, responsive to an electric field induced within the thin film sheet at least substantially parallel to the sheet via application of a voltage across the first and the second electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink-jet head which comprises an ink supply channel configured to allow ink to flow, two or more ink chambers each having a bottom surface with a nozzle and an upper surface constituting of a vibrating plate, the two or more ink chambers being arranged in a row along a direction in which the ink flows in the ink supply channel, a partition wall partitioning the ink chambers. and a piezo-mounting plate having two or more multilayer piezoelectric elements and two or more columns fixed thereto. The two or more multilayer piezoelectric elements are arranged in a row, and the two or more columns are arranged between the multilayer piezoelectric elements. And also, the piezo-mounting plate is arranged on the upper surface of the ink chambers. In the ink-jet head, the vibrating plate constituting the upper surface of the ink chamber is held between the partition wall and the column.

Abstract: Depositing droplets onto a substrate using an array of channels, acting as fluid chambers, separated by actuable walls. In response to a first voltage, each wall deforms to decrease the volume of one channel and increase the volume of the other channel, and, in response to a second voltage, the wall deforms so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of the neighboring channels. Receiving input data; assigning, based on the input data, all channels within the array as firing or non-firing to produce groups of one or more contiguous firing channels separated by groups of one or more contiguous non-firing channels; actuating walls of certain channels resulting in each of the firing channels releasing at least one droplet of fluid, the resulting droplets forming dots disposed on a straight line on a substrate, separated on the line by gaps corresponding to the non-firing channels.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet jetting apparatus including: a channel unit, a piezoelectric actuator disposed on the channel unit, and a drive unit. The piezoelectric actuator includes first and second piezoelectric layers, an inner electrode disposed between the first and second piezoelectric layers, a first outer electrode disposed in an area facing the inner electrode, of a surface of the first piezoelectric layer, a second outer electrode disposed in an area facing the inner electrode, of a surface of the second piezoelectric layer, a first low-permittivity portion having a permittivity lower than a permittivity of the first piezoelectric layer, and a second low-permittivity portion having a permittivity lower than a permittivity of the second piezoelectric layer. The drive unit generates a predetermined electric potential difference between the inner electrode and the first outer electrode.

Abstract: A liquid jet head chip has a jet plate with jet holes for jetting liquid. A piezoelectric actuator has first and second actuator plates superimposed over one another to form channels communicating with the jet holes. The first actuator plate has first partitions spaced apart from one another to form first groove portions and has first electrodes each disposed on only a portion of a side surface of a respective one of the first partitions. The second actuator plate has second partitions spaced apart from one another to form second groove portions and has second electrodes each disposed on only a portion of a side surface of a respective one of the second partitions. The first partitions of the first actuator plate extend into respective second groove portions of the second actuator plate, and the second partitions of the second actuator plate extend into respective first groove portions of the first actuator plate to form the channels communicating with the jet holes.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus comprising an array of fluid chambers defined by a pair of opposing chamber walls, and in fluid communication with a nozzle for droplet ejection therefrom; a cover member is joined to the edges of the chamber walls and thus seals one side of the chambers. The cover member has a ratio of cover thickness to chamber wall separation less than or equal to 1:1.

Abstract: A material jet system, comprising a container for molten jet material (3) to be ejected, a heater (4) for melting and/or keeping molten said jet material, and a jetting unit (5, 6, 7) which is arranged to form and eject droplets (8) of said jet material. The system, moreover, comprises supply structures (2) which are arranged for providing an uninterrupted supply of said material, which comprises a metal in solid form (1), and which preferably have the shape of a wire, bar or tape. Furthermore the system comprises a structure for sealing the material in solid form and a pressure controller to control a heat insulating fluid pressure in the container.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, when an electrode protection film of an inorganic material, which is apt to form a pin hole by influence of roughness of a ground, is used, an electrode as a smoothed electrode is formed on the ground of the electrode protection film by a plating method, or a film is formed as a smoothed layer (film) by an inorganic coating material such as SIRAGUSITAL (trade name: New Technology Creating Institute Co., Ltd.), such that the thickness of the electrode protection film is 1.0 ?m or more, and the average surface roughness of the ground of the electrode protection film is 0.6 ?m or less.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ink jet head that includes a polymer film, for example a flex print, located between the piezoelectric element and the reservoirs in the jet body. The film provides an efficient seal for the reservoirs and also positions the electrodes on the side of the piezoelectric element in which motion is effected, which can reduce the magnitude of the drive voltage. This location of the compliant flex print material also can enhance electrical and mechanical isolation between reservoirs, which improves jetting accuracy. The compliance of the polymer also reduces strain on the ink jet head.