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US 11,691,431 B2Granted
Fluid circulation and ejection
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsSi-lam Choy, Michael W. Cumbie, Chien-Hua Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid circulation and ejection system may include a microfluidic die, a single orifice fluid ejector having a drive chamber in the microfluidic die and a pressurized fluid source remote from the microfluidic die to create a pressure gradient across the drive chamber to circulate fluid across the drive chamber.
Claims8
A method comprising:
- supplying fluid under pressure, via a fluid supply passage and a fluid supply channel extending from the fluid supply passage, to a single orifice fluid ejector on a microfluidic die with a pressurized fluid source remote from the microfluidic die, the single orifice fluid ejector having a thermal fluid actuator, a drive chamber, and a fluid discharge channel connecting the drive chamber to a fluid discharge passage in the microfluidic die;
- maintaining a pressure gradient across a drive chamber of the single orifice fluid ejector to circulate fluid through the drive chamber, inhibit particle settling within the drive chamber, and transfer heat out of and away from the thermal fluid actuator and drive chamber;
- and
- directing fluid along a bypass channel directly connecting the fluid supply passage to the fluid discharge passage, the bypass channel extending across a back side of the fluid ejector to carry excess heat away from the fluid ejector, the bypass channel comprising a gap between a substrate of the microfluidic die and an interposer layer, wherein the interposer layer includes the fluid supply channel and the fluid discharge channel.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- supplying fluid under pressure via a fluid supply channel to a single orifice fluid ejector on a microfluidic die with a pressurized fluid source remote from the microfluidic die, the single orifice fluid ejector having a thermal fluid actuator and a drive chamber in the microfluidic die;
- establishing a pressure gradient across a drive chamber of the single orifice fluid ejector to circulate fluid through the drive chamber and inhibit particle settling within the drive chamber;
- and
- discharging fluid from the drive chamber through a fluid discharge channel connected to fluid outlet of the drive chamber;
- and
- directing fluid along a bypass channel extending across a back side of the single orifice fluid ejector to carry excess heat away from the single orifice fluid ejector, the bypass channel comprising a gap between a substrate of the microfluidic die and an interposer layer, wherein the interposer layer includes the fluid supply channel and the fluid discharge channel.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- supplying fluid under pressure to fluid ejectors on a microfluidic die via a fluid supply passage and a fluid supply channel extending from the fluid supply passage, each fluid ejector having a drive chamber with a thermal fluid actuator, a fluid inlet with a first flow dimension connecting the fluid supply passage to the drive chamber, and a fluid outlet connecting the drive chamber to a fluid discharge channel, wherein the fluid supply channel has a second flow dimension greater than the first flow dimension;
- establishing a pressure gradient across the drive chamber of each fluid ejector to circulate fluid through the drive chamber, inhibit particle settling within the drive chamber, and transfer heat out of and away from the thermal fluid actuator and drive chamber;
- and
- discharging fluid from the drive chamber via the fluid discharge channel and a fluid discharge passage extending from the fluid discharge channel;
- and
- directing fluid along a bypass channel directly connecting the fluid supply passage to the fluid discharge passage, the bypass channel extending across a back side of the fluid ejector to carry excess heat away from the fluid ejector, the bypass channel comprising a gap between a substrate of the microfluidic die and an interposer layer, wherein the interposer layer includes the fluid supply channel and the fluid discharge channel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.