IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,330,158
Granted Patent B2
US 12,330,158 · App. 17/782,840 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Fluid ejection die with antechamber sidewalls that curve inward

Inventors: Kathryn H. Cyr (Corvallis, OR); Debora J. Thomas (Corvallis, OR)
Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
B01L3/502761B01L2200/0652B01L2200/0663B01L2300/0645B01L2300/0877B01L2400/0406
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,330,158
App. No.
17/782,840
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a fluid ejection die is described. The fluid ejection die includes a fluid feed slot to deliver fluid from a reservoir to an array of ejection chambers fluid connected to the fluid feed slot. Each ejection chamber includes at least one fluid actuator and an opening through which fluid is to be ejected. The fluid ejection die also includes a number of antechambers. An antechamber includes sidewalls that curve inward.

Claims (40)

1. A fluid ejection die, comprising:

a fluid feed slot to receive fluid from a reservoir;

an array of ejection chambers fluidly connected to the fluid feed slot, wherein each ejection chamber comprises:

at least one fluid actuator; and

an opening through which fluid is to be ejected; and

a number of antechambers to direct fluid towards the ejection chambers, wherein each antechamber comprises sidewalls that curve inward.

2. The fluid ejection die of claim 1 , wherein an antechamber outlet is narrower than other portions of the antechamber.

3. The fluid ejection die of claim 1 , further comprising a corridor per antechamber to direct fluid to multiple ejection chambers.

4. The fluid ejection die of claim 3 , further comprising a sensor disposed in at least one of the antechamber, the fluid feed slot, and the corridor.

5. The fluid ejection die of claim 1 , wherein different antechambers on the fluid ejection die are sized differently.

6. The fluid ejection die of claim 1 , wherein a size of an antechamber is selected based on at least one of:

a type of a cell to be ejected;

a size of the cell to be ejected;

a downstream operation to carry out on the cell to be ejected; and

a desired level of shear stress to apply to the cell to be ejected.

7. The fluid ejection die of claim 1 , wherein an antechamber outlet has a cross-sectional area between 65% and 75% of a diameter of a cell to be ejected from a respective ejection chamber.

8. The fluid ejection die of claim 1 , wherein each fluid actuator is individually actuatable to draw fluid to a respective ejection chamber.

9. A fluid ejection device, comprising:

a reservoir to receive a quantity of fluid; and

at least one fluid ejection die, each fluid ejection die comprising:

a fluid feed slot to receive fluid from the reservoir;

an array of ejection chambers fluidly connected to the fluid feed slot to receive fluid from the fluid feed slot, wherein each ejection chamber comprises:

at least one fluid actuator to eject fluid through an opening; and

the opening through which fluid is to be ejected; and

a number of antechambers, wherein an antechamber comprises sidewalls that curve inward.

10. The fluid ejection device of claim 9 , wherein the reservoir is an open reservoir.

11. The fluid ejection device of claim 9 , wherein the antechamber is free of acute angle corners and right-angle corners.

12. The fluid ejection device of claim 9 , wherein ejection chambers are disposed on either side of the fluid feed slot.

13. The fluid ejection device of claim 9 , wherein a reservoir is on an opposite surface of a respective fluid ejection die.

14. A fluid ejection system, comprising:

a number of fluid ejection devices, each fluid ejection device comprising:

a reservoir to receive a quantity of fluid; and

at least one fluid ejection die, the fluid ejection die comprising:

a fluid feed slot to receive fluid from the reservoir;

an array of ejection chambers fluidly connected to the fluid feed slot to receive fluid from the fluid feed slot, wherein each ejection chamber comprises:

at least one fluid actuator to eject fluid through an opening; and

the opening through which fluid is to be ejected; and

a number of antechambers, wherein an antechamber comprises sidewalls that curve inward; and

a frame to retain the number of fluid ejection devices.

15. The fluid ejection system of claim 14 , wherein each antechamber is sized to impart a predetermined level of shear stress on cells that flow to a respective ejection chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2022
From: CYR, KATHRYN H.; THOMAS, DEBORA J.
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 060111/0100 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230015600A1 · Jan 19, 2023
References Cited (15)
US 9863913B2 · Pollack · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10125393B2 · Esfandyarpour et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10508299B2 · Hansen et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20090096839A1 · Olbrich et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090267990A1 · Lee et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20150035904A1 · North · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160339700A1 · Kodoi et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180003611A1 · Sells et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180010179A1 · Hansen et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005001379A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 9622884 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2012149314A1 · 2012 [cited by examiner]
WO 2018022022A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018208276A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019194790A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]