IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,201,926
Granted Patent B2
US 8,201,926 · App. 12/721,230 · Granted Jun 19, 2012

Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus, and actuator

Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,201,926
App. No.
12/721,230
Granted
Jun 19, 2012
Kind
B2
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 θ1 of an end face of the coating film defining the hollow section with respect to the flow channel forming substrate and an inclination angle θ2 of an end face of the second electrode defining the hollow section satisfy a relationship of θ2<θ1.

Claims (19)

1. A liquid ejecting head, comprising:

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 θ1 of an end face of the coating film defining the hollow section with respect to the flow channel forming substrate and an inclination angle θ2 of an end face of the second electrode defining the hollow section satisfy a relationship of θ2<θ1.

2. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1 ,

wherein in a case in which an inclination angle of an end face of the coated film or the second electrode constituting the hollow section changes in a depth direction of the hollow section,

the inclination angle θ1 is an inclination angle of a straight line connecting an upper end and a lower end of the end face of the coated film with respect to the flow channel forming substrate, and the inclination angle θ2 is an inclination angle of a straight line connecting an upper end and a lower end of the end face of the second electrode with respect to the flow channel forming substrate.

3. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising the liquid ejecting head according to claim 1 .

4. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 2 ,

wherein at least one of the end face of the coated film and the end face of the second electrode constituting the hollow section is formed by a curved surface.

5. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 2 ,

wherein at least one of the end face of the coated film and the end face of the second electrode constituting the hollow section is formed by a plurality of sloping surfaces of different inclination angles.

6. An actuator comprising:

a piezoelectric element made up of a first electrode formed over a 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 θ1 of an end face of the coating film defining the hollow section with respect to the flow channel forming substrate and an inclination angle θ2 of an end face of the second electrode defining the hollow section satisfy a relationship of θ2<θ1.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2010
From: SHIMADA, MASATO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024060/0337 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2009-058759 · Mar 11, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100231658A1 · Sep 16, 2010