Fluid-ejecting integrated circuit utilizing electromagnetic displacement
A fluid ejecting integrated circuit (IC) includes a nozzle chamber defined by chamber side walls extending from a wafer substrate, and a roof wall provided on the chamber side walls; a fluid ejecting member provided within the nozzle chamber between the roof wall of the nozzle chamber and the wafer substrate; a support formation provided within the nozzle chamber and spaced inwardly away from the chamber side walls, the support formation extending from the wafer substrate to support the fluid ejecting member thereon; a first planar electrode layered to the fluid ejecting member; a second planar electrode layered on the wafer substrate; and a projection provided on the first planar electrode on a side facing the second planar electrode, the projection for contacting the second planar electrode to prevent contact between the first planar electrode and the second planar electrode. The first and second planar electrode establish a potential therebetween to deform the first planar electrode towards the second planar electrode.
1. A fluid ejecting integrated circuit (IC), the IC comprising:
a nozzle chamber defined by chamber side walls extending from a wafer substrate, and a roof wall provided on the chamber side walls;
a fluid ejecting member provided within the nozzle chamber between the roof wall of the nozzle chamber and the wafer substrate;
a support formation provided within the nozzle chamber and spaced inwardly away from the chamber side walls, the support formation extending from the wafer substrate to support the fluid ejecting member thereon;
a first planar electrode layered to the fluid ejecting member;
a second planar electrode layered on the wafer substrate; and
a projection provided on the first planar electrode on a side facing the second planar electrode, the projection for contacting the second planar electrode to prevent contact between the first planar electrode and the second planar electrode, wherein
the first and second planar electrode establish a potential therebetween to deform the first planar electrode towards the second planar electrode,
the chamber side walls define air spaces that are in fluid communication with an air gap between the planar electrodes, and
one of the planar electrodes includes corrugated portion configured to expand when said one of the electrodes is displaced in the air gap towards the other electrode and is provided with a layer of silicon nitride for imparting a resilient flexibility to the corrugated portion.
2. A fluid ejecting IC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second planar electrode is coated with a plastic layer on a side facing the first planar electrode.
3. A fluid ejecting IC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the roof wall defines a raised rim defining a fluid ejection port.
4. A fluid ejecting IC as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a drive circuitry layer provided on the wafer substrate.
5. A fluid ejecting IC as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a fluid inlet opening defined through the chamber side wall, the fluid inlet opening providing fluid communication into the nozzle chamber.