Abstract: An ink-jet head is disclosed. The ink-jet head can include: a chamber for holding ink, an actuator coupled to one side of the chamber to provide pressure to the chamber, a damper portion connected with the other side of the chamber, an accelerator portion extending from a lateral surface of the damper portion, and a nozzle formed at an end of the accelerator portion. Certain embodiments of the invention can be used to increase the speed at which ink is ejected and improve the straightness of the ejection path.

Abstract: A fluid ejection module includes a die having a plurality of substantially identical fluid ejector units formed therein. Each fluid ejector unit includes a flow path formed therethrough, the flow path including a pumping chamber fluidically connected to a nozzle, and an actuator assembly including a membrane providing a wall of the pumping chamber and an actuator, the actuator assembly configured to eject fluid from a pumping chamber through an associated nozzle. The plurality of individually actuatable fluid ejector units includes a plurality of individually actuatable first fluid ejector units and at least one second fluid ejector unit, and the actuator assembly of the at least one second fluid ejector unit includes a material deposited on the actuator such that the actuator assembly of the at least one second fluid ejector unit is stiffer than the actuator assemblies of the first fluid ejector units.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a plurality of functional plates bonded together in a stack by polymeric adhesive(s). The surfaces of the functional plates that contact the polymeric adhesives are subjected to a coating process that includes providing a coating of an adhesion promoter, namely polydopamine, prior to application of the adhesive. The adhesive may be a crosslinkable acrylic adhesive or a thermoplastic polyimide. The polydopamine coating is applied by immersing the functional plate in a buffered dopamine solution for a period sufficient to produce a coating having a pre-determined thickness. The thickness of the coating is controlled by submerging the functional plate in the buffered dopamine solution while the pH value of the dopamine solution is maintained at a value sufficient for polymerization of the dopamine during that time period, and then transferring the plates to a solution having a pH value that is insufficient to sustain the polymerization reaction.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes an ink chamber; an ink supply channel through which ink to be supplied to the ink chamber flows; an ink discharge channel through which the ink discharged from the ink chamber flows; a partition wall constituting a side surface of the ink chamber; an ink inlet opening formed in the partition wall, the ink inlet opening communicating with the ink supply channel; an ink outlet opening formed in the partition wall, the ink outlet opening communicating with the ink discharge channel; a piezo-mounting plate constituting a top surface of the ink chamber; an expandable multilayer piezoelectric element placed inside the ink chamber, the multilayer piezoelectric element having a fixed end secured to the piezo-mounting plate and a movable end directing to the expanding direction of the multilayer piezoelectric element; a nozzle plate constituting a bottom surface of the ink chamber; and a nozzle formed in the nozzle plate, the nozzle communicating with the ink chamber, wherein the multilayer pi

Abstract: An inkjet printer head includes a nozzle plate having nozzles for jetting ink; a flow path plate having flow paths for communicating with the nozzles, each of the flow paths including a pressure chamber and a resistance part having a smaller cross-sectional area than the pressure chamber, wherein piezoelectric elements having smaller horizontal areas than the flow paths are laminated on the flow path plate; and a common liquid chamber configured to guide the ink from an opening to the pressure chamber. The common liquid chamber is formed by a first member and a second member. The first member forms a top part of the common liquid chamber, and the second member forms a side surface and a bottom surface of a bottom part of the common liquid chamber by adhering to an outer wall of the first member and to an ink jetting surface of the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a flow passage substrate having a pressure generation chamber in communication with a nozzle opening. A piezoelectric element includes first and second electrode and a piezoelectric substance layer and is positioned over one surface of the flow passage substrate. The piezoelectric element is deformed to form a convex toward the pressure generation chamber when the piezoelectric element is driven. A protection film formed from an inorganic material covers the piezoelectric element and has an opening through which an upper surface of the second electrode is exposed. An end of the opening in the protection film viewed in a direction of the length of the pressure generation chamber is located closer to the center than is an area at which the center of curvature of a curve of the piezoelectric element that forms near a wall around the pressure generation chamber during deformation operation.

Abstract: A liquid-ejecting head includes a flow-passage-forming substrate that includes a pressure-generating chamber, the pressure-generating chamber being in communication with a nozzle through which droplets are ejected, and a piezoelectric element disposed on the flow-passage-forming substrate, the piezoelectric element altering the internal pressure of the pressure-generating chamber. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer containing titanium (Ti) and zirconium (Zr), a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed on the opposite sides of the piezoelectric layer,. The component ratio Ti/(Zr+Ti) of the piezoelectric layer is 0.40 or more but less than 0.50. At least a portion of the piezoelectric layer formed on the first electrode contains tetragonal crystals formed by phase transition under stress caused by an underlying layer.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head including a pressure generating chamber that communicates with a nozzle opening that ejects liquid and a piezoelectric element that generates a pressure change in the pressure generating chamber. The piezoelectric element includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric body layer that is formed on the first electrode which includes a grain-shaped region, and a second electrode that is formed on a side of the piezoelectric body layer that is opposite to the first electrode.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head comprising: a pressure generating chamber substrate having pressure generating chambers; and a piezoelectric element including first conductive layer, piezoelectric layer, and a second conductive layer provided above the pressure generating chamber substrate, wherein the piezoelectric element includes overlapped areas where the pressure generating chamber and the piezoelectric element overlap one another in plan view, the first conductive layer has a longitudinal direction in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and are provided for each of the overlapped areas, the second conductive layer is provided continuously so as to overlap with a plurality of the pressure generating chambers and includes end areas on the side of the ends of the overlapped areas in the first direction, and the end areas are each reduced in width in the second direction as it goes toward the end in the first direction.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a piezoelectric element includes the steps of: a lower electrode forming step of forming a lower electrode on a surface of a substrate; a piezoelectric film deposition step of depositing a piezoelectric film made of a piezoelectric material by one of epitaxial growth and oriented growth onto a surface of the lower electrode reverse to a surface adjacent to the substrate; an upper electrode forming step of forming an upper electrode onto a surface of the piezoelectric film reverse to a surface adjacent to the lower electrode; and a polarization direction reversal step of reversing a polarization direction of the piezoelectric film by applying an alternating electric field of an intensity not lower than a coercive electric field of the piezoelectric material, between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and then applying a direct electric field of an intensity not lower than the coercive electric field in a direction from the upper electrode toward the lower electrode.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head including a pressure generating chamber which is in communicating with a nozzle orifice, a piezoelectric element having an active portion which is supplied a drive signal and an inactive portion which is not supplied the drive signal, and a film wiring substrate including an active wiring layer which is electrically connected to an individual connecting terminal of the active portion and an inactive wiring layer which is electrically connected to an individual connecting terminal of the inactive portion.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes a piezoelectric element including pressure chambers and partition walls, a nozzle plate including nozzles which are laser-machined, an adhesive which adheres the nozzle plate to the partition walls, a first protection film covering an electrode, and a second protection film which is stacked on the first protection film. The adhesive includes an excess portion which protrudes into the pressure chamber. A cut portion along a direction of radiation of a laser beam is formed at the excess portion. The second protection film includes a damage hole at an area on which the laser beam is made incident. The first protection film is exposed from the damage hole. A part of the first protection film, which corresponds to the damage hole, has a film thickness of 0.1 ?m to 0.5 ?m, and the first protection film has a refractive index of 1.1 to 2.0.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device comprises a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer provided above the first electrode, and a second electrode provided above the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer comprises a mixed crystal containing at least bismuth ferrate and barium titanate. The piezoelectric layer comprises a first piezoelectric layer and a second piezoelectric layer which is disposed between at least one of the first and second electrodes and the first piezoelectric layer. The barium titanate content of the second piezoelectric layer is at least 10 mole percent higher than the barium titanate content of the first piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A droplet ejection head provided with a piezoelectric actuator made by using a KNbO3—NaNbO3 piezoelectric porcelain composition which exhibits a larger piezoelectric constant than those of conventional ones and does not have any secondary phase transition point in the neighborhood of room temperature (from 10 to 40° C.) and which is suitable for use in the piezoelectric actuator of a droplet ejection head, that is, a droplet ejection head characterized by being provided with a piezoelectric actuator made by using a piezoelectric porcelain composition represented by the general formula: (1?y?z?w)(KxNa1-x)NbO3+yLiNbO3+zSrTiO3+wBiFeO3, wherein (KxNa1-x)NbO3 represents potassium sodium niobate; LiNbO3 represents lithium niobate; SrTiO3 represents strontium titanate; and BiFeO3 represents bismuth ferrate; with the proviso that 0.4<x<0.6, 0<y?0.1, 0<z<0.1, 0<w<0.09, and 0.03<y+z+w?0.12.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an ink supply channel extending through a substrate; an ink chamber arranged on the substrate, into which chamber ink from the ink supply channel is supplied, the ink chamber defining an ink ejection port on one surface thereof; an internal rim provided within the ink chamber, the rim interposed between the ink supply channel and the ink ejection port; and a thermal bend actuator extending into the chamber from outside the chamber, the thermal bend actuator terminating in the chamber with a paddle. The periphery of the paddle and the internal rim are shaped with complementary edges turned towards the ink ejection port.

Abstract: A method for driving a liquid ejector (1) provided with a piezoelectric actuator (7) including a piezoelectric ceramic layer (6) having a size covering a plurality of pressurizing chambers (2). An arbitrary piezoelectric deformation region (8) of the liquid ejector (1) is deflected in one thickness direction and the opposite direction individually by applying a driving voltage waveform including a first voltage (?VL) and an equivalent second voltage (+VL) of the opposite polarity in order to vary the volume of the pressurizing chambers (2) of a corresponding liquid droplet ejecting portion (4), and a liquid droplet is ejected through a communicating nozzle (3). Since gradual creep deformation of the inactive region (16) of the piezoelectric ceramic layer (6) is prevented, the ink droplet ejection performance is maintained at a good level over a long period.

Abstract: A liquid-ejecting head including a pressure-generating chamber communicating with an nozzle, and a piezoelectric element having a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer arranged above the first electrode, and a second electrode arranged above the piezoelectric layer. An internal electric field in the piezoelectric layer is biased toward the first electrode or the second electrode and no voltage is applied to the first electrode or the second electrode.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a flow channel forming substrate in which pressure generating chambers in communication with nozzles are formed; a piezoelectric element made up of a first electrode formed over the flow channel forming substrate, a piezoelectric layer formed over the first electrode and a second electrode formed over the piezoelectric layer; and a coating film provided by coating the piezoelectric element, wherein a hollow section formed by removing the coating film and a part of the second electrode is provided at an area opposite to the piezoelectric element, and an inclination angle ?1 of an end face of the coating film defining the hollow section with respect to the flow channel forming substrate and an inclination angle ?2 of an end face of the second electrode defining the hollow section satisfy a relationship of ?2<?1.

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: A liquid ejecting head has a piezoelectric element with a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode. The liquid ejecting head causes pressure changes in a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle opening. The piezoelectric layer has a perovskite structure and is preferentially orientated in a (100) plane. A method for producing the liquid ejecting head includes polarizing the piezoelectric layer by applying an electric field having energy higher than energy required for converting the polarization direction in the <111> direction to the <110> direction and lower than energy required for converting the polarization direction in the <111> direction to the <001> direction when the electric field to be applied to the piezoelectric layer is in the <001> direction vertical to a plane on which the second electrode is provided.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a first piezoelectric layer, a second piezoelectric layer stacked on the first piezoelectric layer, a first electrode arranged on the first piezoelectric layer, a second electrode arranged between the first and second piezoelectric layers, and a third electrode arranged on the second piezoelectric layer. A portion of the third electrode faces the second electrode, and another portion of the third electrode faces the first electrode. The first electrode does not face at least a portion of the second electrode. A portion, of the second piezoelectric layer, sandwiched between the second electrode and the third electrode is polarized in a first direction in a thickness direction thereof, and portions, of the first and the second piezoelectric layers, which are sandwiched between the first electrode and the third electrode and between which the second electrode is not arranged, are polarized in a direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes first active portions corresponding to center portions in a row direction of pressure chambers and second active portions corresponding to left and right portions on outer peripheral sides which are more outside than the center portions of the pressure chambers. When applying voltage to the first active portions, the first active portions deform to project toward pressure chambers. At this time, the second active portions do not deform and the influence of deformation of the first active portions does not reach the adjacent pressure chambers. Accordingly, effect of suppressing crosstalk is exhibited.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method which use a print head having a plurality of ejection port rows to enable high-quality printing without causing uneven density in a conveying direction by varying the printing distribution ratio of the ejection port rows in the print head depending on gray level.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a piezoelectric element includes: a lower electrode forming step of forming a lower electrode on a surface of a substrate; a piezoelectric film deposition step of depositing a piezoelectric film made of a piezoelectric material by one of epitaxial growth and oriented growth onto a surface of the lower electrode reverse to a surface adjacent to the substrate; an upper electrode forming step of forming an upper electrode onto a surface of the piezoelectric film reverse to a surface adjacent to the lower electrode; and a polarization direction reversal step of reversing a polarization direction of the piezoelectric film by maintaining, after the upper electrode forming step, a state for a prescribed duration where a temperature of the piezoelectric film is set to a first temperature while application of an electric field to the piezoelectric film in a direction from the upper electrode toward the lower electrode is performed, then keeping the application of the electric field while lo

Abstract: An inkjet head includes a nozzle to discharge liquid droplets, a pressure chamber which is configured to communicate with the nozzle and filled with liquid, a supply section which is configured to communicate with the pressure chamber and supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber, a recovery section which is configured to communicate with the pressure chamber and recovers the liquid from the pressure chamber, a bypass channel which is independent of the pressure chamber and connects the supply section with the recovery section, a pressure-control liquid chamber which is connected at one end to the bypass channel and connected at the other end to the atmosphere, and a porous member which is contained inside the pressure-control liquid chamber.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator has a first ceramic layer covering openings of pressure chambers, a first electrode provided over the plurality of pressure chambers, a second ceramic layer, a second electrode, a third ceramic layer and a third electrode in this order from the side of the pressure chambers. By measuring insulation resistance between a cavity unit and the first electrode in the state where ink is filled into the pressure chambers, a defect in the ceramic layer is detected.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a flow-passage unit; a plurality of actuators including a plurality of individual electrodes; a plurality of signal output circuits; a power supply device; an electric current detecting device; and a control device including an abnormality judging portion which judges that there exists an abnormality among (a) at least one of the signal output circuits corresponding to at least one test-target individual electrode that is at least a part of the individual electrodes and (b) at least one of the actuators corresponding to the at least one test-target individual electrode, on the basis of a current change amount that is a difference between a first current value and a second current value, the first current value being detected by the detecting device when each of the signal output circuits outputs a first signal for giving a first potential and the second current value being detected by the detecting device when each of the at least one of the signal output circuits ou

Abstract: A multilayer piezoelectric actuator and a liquid discharge head are provided which are equipped with dense piezoelectric ceramics having improved insulation performance. The multilayer piezoelectric actuator comprises a multilayered body comprising a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic layers containing a PZT phase as a main crystal phase; and an electrode layer containing Ag, which is disposed at least one of on the surface and in the interior of the multilayered body. A lattice constant c of c-axis of the PZT phase is 0.4085 nm to 0.4100 nm, and a ratio of the lattice constant c of the c-axis of the PZT phase and a lattice constant a of a-axis, namely, the ratio c/a, is 1.011 or more. A second phase containing Ag different from the PZT phase is not substantially contained in the piezoelectric ceramic layer. A Zn2SiO4 phase is contained at grain boundaries of the PZT phase, and a Pb2SiO4 phase is not substantially contained at the grain boundaries of the PZT phase.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes piezoelectric layers. Individual electrodes are formed on an outermost piezoelectric layer and arranged in a row extending along a first direction. Through holes are formed in the outermost piezoelectric layer and arranged substantially in a row extending in the first direction to contact with first end portions of the individual electrodes. The individual electrodes include at least one first individual electrode and at least one second individual electrode. The first individual electrode comprises a first electrode terminal provided at the first end portion, and the second individual electrode comprises a second electrode terminal provided at a second end portion opposite to the first end portion with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second individual electrode has a thickened portion extending from the second electrode terminal towards the first end portion.

Abstract: A liquid transfer device of the present invention includes a passage unit, an energy supplier, and a supporter. In the passage unit, a common liquid chamber and a plurality of individual passages branching off from the common liquid chamber are formed. Such a passage unit includes a plurality of plates which are laminated on one another and include a first plate having a hole constituting the common liquid chamber and a second plate. The energy supplier supplies, to liquid in the individual passages, energy for transferring the liquid. The supporter projects inwardly from a side wall defining the hole formed on the first plate, and is continuous from one end to the other end of the common liquid chamber in a laminating direction of the plates so as to support the second plate in the laminating direction.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a substrate having a fluid channel, a flexible membrane supported by the substrate and extended a length of the fluid channel, an actuator provided on a first portion of the flexible membrane, and a reinforcement member provided on a second portion of the flexible membrane such that the actuator is adapted to deflect the first portion of the flexible membrane relative to the fluid channel, and the reinforcement member supports the second portion of the flexible membrane.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a piezoelectric actuator configured to displace a vibration plate to cause a nozzle to discharge a liquid drop from a liquid chamber. The piezoelectric actuator includes at least three piezoelectric elements aligned in a line. Each of the at least three piezoelectric elements includes a plurality of piezoelectric element columns and a groove. The plurality of piezoelectric element columns is aligned in a direction in which the at least three piezoelectric elements are aligned. The groove is provided between adjacent piezoelectric element columns. At least one of the at least three piezoelectric elements has a pitch between adjacent piezoelectric element columns that is different from a pitch between adjacent piezoelectric element columns of at least one other piezoelectric element of the at least three piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A plurality of pressure chambers are divided into a first pressure chamber group and a second pressure chamber group, and are arranged such that an interval of the first pressure chamber group and the second pressure chamber group is larger than an interval between nozzles, and sub ink supply passage which supplies the ink to the common liquid chambers through the space is formed. Accordingly, a liquid droplet jetting head which is capable of delivering the ink to all the nozzles without increasing a size is provided.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a nozzle plate includes: a lyophobic film forming step of preparing a nozzle plate having a recess-shaped counterbore section and a nozzle opened in a bottom surface of the counterbore section, and forming a lyophobic film on a surface of the nozzle plate including the bottom surface of the counterbore section of the nozzle plate and at least a portion of an inner wall of the nozzle; an abutting step of preparing a protective plate having a projecting section, and abutting a top surface of the projecting section of the protective plate against the bottom surface of the counterbore section of the nozzle plate in such a manner that the top surface of the projecting section of the protective plate makes tight contact with an opening edge of the nozzle on a liquid ejection side of the nozzle plate; a lyophobic film removing step of removing the lyophobic film from the inner wall of the nozzle of the nozzle plate by etching the nozzle plate from a liquid supply side which is opposite to

Abstract: A liquid discharge device (1) has a pressure chamber (3), a nozzle (4), and a communication path (5) that interconnects the pressure chamber (3) and the nozzle (4). A region that has a specific length L1 and lies from the position (8) of the boundary between the communication path (5) of the pressure chamber (3) toward the nozzle (4) is formed as a narrow section (9) that has an opening area S1 smaller than the opening area S0 of a region closer to the nozzle (4) than the narrow section (9).

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a nozzle plate including a plurality of nozzle holes may include the step of forming a plurality of through-holes extending through a plate member in a thickness direction of the plate member. The manufacturing method may also include the step of forming a water repellant film in a region of one surface of the plate member where apertures of the through-holes are not positioned. The manufacturing method may further include the step of pressing individual regions on the one surface of the plate member, the individual regions respectively including the apertures of the through holes, to separate at least portions of the water repellant film formed in the individual regions from the water repellant film formed on the one surface.

Abstract: An inkjet head comprises a plurality of individual electrodes each of which includes a first part and a second part connected to an end portion B of the first part. The end portion B is one of the end portions of a first part in a longitudinal direction of a pressure chamber. The second part of each of the individual electrodes corresponding to a first pressure chamber line is positioned between two first parts corresponding to two respective pressure chambers neighboring each other in a second pressure chamber line, so that an end portion C of the second part crosses over a line connecting each end portion D of the two first parts.

Abstract: A device, method and system for causing a controlled collapse of cavities formed within liquid droplets wherein a pressurized jet comprising a liquid and nanoparticle material produces droplets from the breakup of the jet stream. The liquid droplets may be irradiated with energy to produce and expand cavities formed within the droplets by irradiation of the nanoparticles contained within the droplets or alternatively, a volatile fluid with or without a metal nanoparticle may form the cavity. The droplets are collided with a target to collapse the cavities within the droplets. The irradiating (if provided) and colliding are timed to enhance implosion energy resulting from the cavities' collapse. The implosion energy and the fuel in the cavity may be used to activate and sustain a fusion reaction or from any other purposes.

Abstract: A droplet ejecting apparatus, including: a head unit having a generally planar shape and including nozzles through which droplets are ejected, a holder holding the head unit, a reinforcing plate via which the head unit is held by the holder and which has an adhesion surface as at least a part of one of opposite surfaces thereof to which an adhesion surface of the head unit as at least a part of one of opposite surfaces thereof is adhered with an adhesive layer interposed between the adhesion surfaces, and an adhesion portion constituted by the adhesion surfaces and the adhesive layer, wherein the adhesion portion has a special region in which (a) first sections in each of which respective parts of the adhesion surfaces are opposed to each other with a part of the adhesive layer interposed therebetween and are adhered to each other and (b) second sections in each of which a part of the adhesion surface of one of the head unit and the reinforcing plate is opposed to a space and is not adhered to the adhesion su

Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a cavity unit having a plurality of nozzles and pressure chambers; and an actuator unit applying jetting pressures to the pressure chambers. The actuator unit has a plurality of stacked ceramics layers, individual electrodes corresponding to the pressure chambers, a common electrode common to all the pressure chambers, and a barrier layer preventing the liquid from being penetrated therethrough. The barrier layer is stacked on a position which is between a contact surface, of the actuator unit, making contact with the cavity unit and the individual electrodes closest to the contact surface, except a position on the contact surface. It is possible to prevent the individual electrodes and the common electrode from being electrically short-circuited due to the liquid even when the ceramics layer in contact with the cavity unit has a crack.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead and a method of driving the inkjet printhead include a flow channel substrate having a pressure chamber, and a piezoelectric actuator formed on the flow channel substrate to apply a driving force to the pressure chamber to eject ink. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric layer formed on the flow channel substrate to correspond to the pressure chamber, and a plurality of common electrodes and a plurality of driving electrodes alternately arranged in a length direction of the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A droplet discharge head including a nozzle substrate having nozzle openings, a cavity substrate having discharge chambers that communicate with the nozzle openings and discharge droplets from the nozzle openings, a reservoir substrate having a reservoir concave portion that serves as a reservoir which communicates commonly with the discharge chambers. The reservoir substrate is provided between the nozzle substrate and the cavity substrate and a resin thin film is formed on a whole inner face of the reservoir concave portion and on a bottom face of a second concave portion. The second concave portion is provided in a peripheral of the reservoir concave portion and has a depth which is smaller than the depth of the reservoir concave portion. The resin thin film is cut circularly so as to surround the reservoir concave portion, and a part of the resin thin film serves as a diaphragm buffering pressure variation. serves as a diaphragm buffering pressure variation.

Abstract: The liquid ejection head comprises: a pressure chamber which is connected to a nozzle; a diaphragm which constitutes one face of the pressure chamber; and a piezoelectric element which deforms the diaphragm for ejecting liquid inside the pressure chamber through the nozzle, wherein the liquid is ejected by driving the piezoelectric element in a temperature region in which a tendency of increase or decrease in viscosity of the liquid with respect to temperature of the liquid and a tendency of increase or decrease in a piezoelectric d constant of the piezoelectric element with respect to temperature of the piezoelectric element have a prescribed relationship.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes first active portion which correspond to a central portion of each of pressure chambers and a second active portion which correspond to a portion, of each of the pressure chambers, located on outer circumferential sides with respect to the central portion of the pressure chamber. The first active portion and the second active portion are deformed by applying the voltage to each of the first and second active portions. The first active portion is polarized in a direction parallel to the electric field generated in the first active portion, and the second active portion is polarized in a direction opposite to the electric field generated in the second active portion, thereby making it possible to suppress the crosstalk even when a high density arrangement of the pressure chambers is realized.

Abstract: A method of driving a piezoelectric actuator which is constituted of a lower electrode film, a piezoelectric film and an upper electrode film that are layered successively onto a diaphragm, includes the step of: applying an electric field to the piezoelectric film in a direction opposite to the orientation direction of the piezoelectric film while continuously changing an intensity of the electric field from a first electric field intensity to a second electric field intensity, the first electric field intensity being smaller than a coercive electric field of the piezoelectric film, the second electric field intensity being larger than the coercive electric field of the piezoelectric film. The piezoelectric film is oriented in the orientation direction from the lower electrode film toward the upper electrode film.

Abstract: A printhead or other droplet emitter is manufactured integrally with a flexible circuit. Preferred methods of manufacturing a droplet emitter comprise the steps of: creating metal traces, preferably deposited using a metal oxide precursor; patterning a sacrificial photoresist to create ink channels and nozzle chambers; depositing piezoelectrically active material over the metal traces and sacrificial photoresist; patterning vias through the piezo-electrically active material to act as nozzles and openings to ink reservoirs; and flushing out the photoresist. The piezo-electrically active material is preferably a mixture of PZT and PVDF.

Abstract: A printhead has an aperture plate on a front side of the printhead, a diaphragm plate on a back side of the printhead, a body intermediate the aperture plate and the diaphragm plate, a chamber disposed within the body, a port boundary defining a port area, the port boundary disposed on the diaphragm plate and adjacent the chamber, a peripheral partially-etched region coinciding with a first portion of the port boundary, and a peripheral non-etched region coinciding with a second portion of the port boundary, wherein the port boundary is fractured at the partially etched peripheral portion and bent at the non-etched peripheral portion, the non-etched peripheral portion structured to prevent separation of the diaphragm plate and a leaflet defined by the partial-etched portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a recording head according to the present invention includes a plurality of steps to describe as follows. In a solder paste application step, solder paste bodies are partially applied onto a plurality of terminals. In a heating step, each of the plurality of solder paste bodies is heated, to thereby form a plurality of solder layers on the plurality of terminals. In a covering step, the plurality of terminals and the plurality of solder layers are covered by an uncured synthetic resin layer. In a contact step, a plurality of bumps formed in a bump forming step and the plurality of solder layers are contacted with each other, by pressing regions of the synthetic resin layer covering the solder layers and the bumps to each other. In a curing step, the uncured synthetic resin layer is cured.

Abstract: A nozzle plate includes a first thermoplastic resin film; a reinforcing plate which is formed of a material having a rigidity higher than that of the first thermoplastic resin film and which has one surface joined to the first thermoplastic resin film; and a second thermoplastic resin film which is joined to the other surface of the reinforcing plate; wherein a nozzle is formed for the first thermoplastic resin film; and through-holes, which are communicated with the nozzle, are formed through the reinforcing plate and the second thermoplastic resin film. Therefore, the nozzle plate can be produced without using any adhesive. Further, the thermoplastic resin films are joined to the both surfaces of the reinforcing plate. Therefore, any warpage is hardly caused in the reinforcing plate and the first and second thermoplastic resin films, which would be otherwise caused by the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a channel unit in which a channel is formed, a piezoelectric unit, and a wiring unit stacked on the piezoelectric unit. The wiring unit has a substrate, an individual supply-terminal group which includes a plurality of individual supply-terminals, a common supply-terminal, and an isolative covering layer, which is stacked on a surface of the substrate facing the piezoelectric unit. In the covering layer, a trap groove which runs between the individual supply-terminals and the common supply-terminal, and surrounds the individual supply-terminal group is formed. Accordingly, there is provided a liquid droplet jetting head which is capable of preventing a shorting between the individual drive electrodes of the piezoelectric unit, and between the individual supply-terminals of the wiring unit, due to the liquid entered from outside.