IP Library Granted Patent US 7,147,792
Granted Patent B2
US 7,147,792 · App. 11/071,251 · Granted Dec 12, 2006

Method of fabricating inkjet nozzle chambers

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,147,792
App. No.
11/071,251
Granted
Dec 12, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of fabricating inkjet nozzle chambers on a substrate is provided. Each nozzle chamber comprises a roof having a nozzle aperture defined therein and sidewalls extending from the roof to the substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) depositing one or more layers of sacrificial material onto the substrate; (b) defining openings in the sacrificial material, the openings being complementary to chamber sidewalls; (c) depositing roof material onto the sacrificial material and into the openings, thereby forming the roof and sidewalls of each chamber; (d) etching nozzle apertures through the roof; and (e) removing the sacrificial material exposed through the nozzle apertures.

Claims (14)

1. A method of fabricating inkjet nozzle chambers on a substrate, each nozzle chamber comprising a roof having a nozzle aperture defined therein and sidewalls extending from the roof to the substrate, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) depositing one or more layers of sacrificial material onto the substrate;

(b) defining openings in the sacrificial material, the openings being complementary to chamber sidewalls;

(c) depositing roof material by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) onto the sacrificial material and into the openings, thereby forming the roof and sidewalls of each chamber;

(d) etching nozzle apertures through the roof; and

(e) removing the sacrificial material exposed through the nozzle apertures.

2. The method of claim 1 , which forms part of a printhead fabrication process.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial material is a photosensitive material.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each chamber roof forms part of a nozzle plate spanning a plurality of nozzles.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the roof material is a glass material.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the roof material is silicon nitride.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each nozzle aperture has a respective nozzle rim.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein nozzles rims are etched into each roof prior to etching nozzle apertures through each roof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein an actuator is positioned in the nozzle chamber.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 25, 2014
From: ZAMTEC LIMITED
To: MEMJET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 033244/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2013
From: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LIMITED
To: ZAMTEC LIMITED
Reel/Frame 031506/0621 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2012
From: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LIMITED AND CLAMATE PTY LIMITED
To: ZAMTEC LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028549/0076 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2005
From: SILVERBROOK, KIA
To: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY LTD.
Reel/Frame 016348/0858 →