Printer with inkjet printhead having overlapping actuator and drive circuitry
View Patent ↗A printer includes an inkjet printhead having a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles include a thermal actuator and drive circuitry for operating the thermal actuator. The drive circuitry and actuator overlie a common area of the support substrate.
1. A printer having at least one inkjet printhead which comprises
a substrate;
a plurality of nozzles positioned on the substrate, each nozzle comprising
a nozzle chamber and an aperture through which ink form the nozzle chamber is ejected;
an actuator that is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber for causing ejection of ink within the nozzle chamber from the aperture; and
drive circuitry arranged on the substrate and connected to the actuator to control operation of the actuator;
wherein the drive circuitry and the actuator of each nozzle extend over a common portion of the substrate.
2. The printer of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a thermal actuator incorporating a heating circuit, and wherein the drive circuitry is adapted to provide an electrical current to said heating circuit.
3. The printer of claim 2 wherein the thermal actuator includes a paddle disposed within the nozzle chamber and being connected to a lever arm for pivotal movement of the paddle within the nozzle chamber.
4. The printer of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a silicon wafer.
5. The printer of claim 1 wherein the actuator is at least partially external to the nozzle chamber.
6. The printer of claim 1 wherein the drive circuitry and the actuator overlap in plan view.
7. An inkjet printhead which comprises
a substrate;
a plurality of nozzles positioned on the substrate, each nozzle comprising
a nozzle chamber and an aperture through which ink form the nozzle chamber is ejected;
an actuator that is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber for causing ejection of ink within the nozzle chamber from the aperture; and
drive circuitry arranged on the substrate and connected to the actuator to control operation of the actuator;
wherein the drive circuitry and the actuator of each nozzle extend over a common portion of the substrate.
8. The printhead of claim 7 wherein the actuator comprises a thermal actuator incorporating a heating circuit, and wherein the drive circuitry is adapted to provide an electrical current to said heating circuit.
9. The printhead of claim 8 wherein the thermal actuator includes a paddle disposed within the nozzle chamber and being connected to a lever arm for pivotal movement of the paddle within the nozzle chamber.
10. The printhead of claim 7 wherein the substrate is a silicon wafer.
11. The printhead of claim 7 wherein the actuator is at least partially external to the nozzle chamber.
12. The printhead of claim 7 wherein the drive circuitry and the actuator overlap in plan view.