Segmented resistor inkjet drop generator with current crowding reduction

A segmented thin film heater resistor for an inkjet printer comprising:

• a first resistor segment;
• a second resistor segment;
• a conductive shorting bar electrically coupling said first resistor segment to said second resistor segment and comprised of a first shorting bar segment and a second shorting bar segment, said first shorting bar segment coupled to said first resistor segment and having a connection edge disposed with one end of said connection edge proximate said first resistor segment and the other end of said connection edge distal said first resistor segment, and said second shorting bar segment coupled to said second resistor segment and having a connection edge disposed with one end of said connection edge proximate said second resistor segment and the other end of said connection edge distal said second resistor segment;
• and
• a balancing element disposed between said first shorting bar segment connection edge and said second shorting bar segment connection edge and resistively coupling said first shorting bar segment to said second shorting bar segment with a resistance having a magnitude between said proximate first shorting bar segment connection edge and said proximate second shorting bar segment connection edge that is greater than that between said distal first shorting bar segment connection edge and said distal second shorting bar segment connection edge.

A method of current crowding reduction in an inkjet printer print cartridge, comprising the steps of:

• applying an electrical current from a current source to an input port of a first segment of a segmented heater resistor to eject an ink drop from the print cartridge;
• coupling said applied electrical current from an output of said heater resistor first segment to a shorting bar providing a plurality of paths for said applied electrical current to follow, a first path of said plurality of paths having a first parasitic resistance magnitude and a second path of said plurality of paths having a second parasitic resistance magnitude, said first parasitic resistance magnitude being greater than said second parasitic resistance magnitude;
• applying an electrical current following said first path to a balancing element portion having a first resistance magnitude and applying an electrical current following said second path to a balancing element portion having a second resistance magnitude, said first resistance magnitude being less than said second resistance magnitude, whereby said electrical current following said first path is balanced with said electrical current following said second path resulting in a balanced electrical current through said shorting bar;
• and
• coupling said balanced electrical current from said shorting bar to an input port of a second segment of said segmented heater resistor.