IP Library Granted Patent US 7,637,595
Granted Patent B2
US 7,637,595 · App. 12/116,930 · Granted Dec 29, 2009

Nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead having an ejection actuator and a refill actuator

Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
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 7,637,595
App. No.
12/116,930
Granted
Dec 29, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead is provided. The nozzle arrangement includes a wafer substrate defining a nozzle chamber and drive circuitry and ink passivation layers defining an inlet to the chamber. An etch stop layer forms a roof layer for the chamber with an ink ejection port defined in the roof layer. The nozzle arrangement also includes an ejection actuator and a refill actuator collectively spanning the inlet, said ejection actuator actuatable via the drive circuitry layer to eject ink from the ejection port, and said refill actuator actuatable via the drive circuitry layer to facilitate refilling of the chamber with ink via the inlet.

Claims (10)

1. A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead, said nozzle arrangement comprising:

a wafer substrate defining a nozzle chamber and drive circuitry and ink passivation layers defining an inlet to the chamber;

an etch stop layer forming a roof layer for the chamber, an ink ejection port defined in the roof layer; and

an ejection actuator and a refill actuator collectively spanning the inlet, said ejection actuator actuatable via the drive circuitry layer to eject ink from the ejection port, and said refill actuator actuatable via the drive circuitry layer to facilitate refilling of the chamber with ink via the inlet.

2. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1 , wherein each actuator includes a heater element to facilitate actuation through thermal bending of the actuators.

3. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1 , wherein each heater element is connected to the drive circuitry layer by means of vias through the ink passivation layer.

4. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the roof layer is in the form of a layer of boron doped epitaxial silicon.

5. The nozzle arrangement of claim 1 , having an ink passivation layer deposited on the drive circuitry layer, the ink passivation layer being a layer of silicon nitride.

6. The nozzle arrangement of claim 5 , having a layer of expansion material deposited on the ink passivation layer.

7. The nozzle arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the layer of expansion material is etched to define the ejection actuator and refill actuator, said expansion material having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is such that expansion of the material upon heating can be harnessed to perform work.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2012
From: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY. LIMITED AND CLAMATE PTY LIMITED
To: ZAMTEC LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028581/0495 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2008
From: SILVERBROOK, KIA
To: SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 020916/0364 →
Priority Claims (2)
AU PO7991 · Jul 15, 1997 · national
AU PO8057 · Jul 15, 1997 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 0990016000 · Jul 9, 2001
Continuation In Part 0911277800 · Jul 10, 1998
Related Publication 20080204515A1 · Aug 28, 2008