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US 5,706,041 AGranted
Thermal ink-jet printhead with a suspended heating element in each ejector
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorJoel A. Kubby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a thermal ink-jet printhead, a set of heating elements are formed in the main surface of a semiconductor chip. Channels are formed within the semiconductor chip underneath each of the heating elements, thereby exposing two main sides of each heating element within each ejector. Because two main surfaces of the heating element are accessible to liquid ink in each ejector, efficiency and thermal characteristics of the printhead are improved.
Claims7
A thermal ink-jet printhead comprising at least one ejector, the ejector comprising
- a semiconductor chip including a functional layer disposed over a main surface of an etchable layer, a heating element being disposed in a portion of the functional layer;
- and
- a cavity defined in the etchable layer, the cavity defining a first opening in the etchable layer adjacent the heating element and a second opening in the etchable layer adjacent the heating element, a portion of the cavity extending under the heating element, the cavity defining a first portion of a capillary channel for passage of liquid ink from the first opening to the second opening, the portion of the functional layer including the heating element thus forming a suspended portion;
- the suspended portion defining a first main surface and a second main surface opposite the first main surface.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.