Low cost piezo printhead based on microfluidics in printed circuit board and screen-printed piezoelectrics

A method of forming a printhead comprising:

• acquiring a printed circuit board having at least one base;
• forming at least one electrical trace on the at least one base;
• forming at least one fluidic passage on the at least one base;
• forming at least one fluidic chamber on the at least one base;
• connecting a fluidic actuator arrangement to the at least one base;
• connecting an aperture plate to the at least one base;
• and
• connecting a control chip to the at least one base,
• wherein the electrical trace, fluidic passage, fluidic chamber, fluidic actuator arrangement, aperture plate, and control chip are formed or connected to the at least one base of the printed circuit board using printed circuit board processing techniques.

A printed circuit board designed with elements of a printhead formed or carried on the printed circuit board, the printhead comprising:

• at least one base layer;
• at least one electrical trace incorporated into the at least one base layer;
• at least one fluidic passage incorporated into the at least one base layer;
• at least one fluidic chamber incorporated into the at least one base layer,
• wherein the electrical trace, fluidic passage and fluidic chamber are formed using printed circuit board manufacturing processes;
• at least one fluidic actuator arrangement connected to a first surface of the printed circuit board;
• and
• an aperture plate having at least one nozzle, connected to a second surface of the printed circuit board,
• wherein the fluidic actuator arrangement and aperture plate are attached to the printed circuit board using printed circuit board manufacturing processes.