CMOS/MEMS integrated ink jet print head with silicon based lateral flow nozzle architecture and method of forming same

A method of operating a continuous ink jet print head comprising:

• providing liquid ink under pressure in a channel formed in a silicon substrate having a series of integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head;
• causing the ink to flow into a bore formed in an insulating layer or layers overlying the silicon substrate;
• asymmetrically heating of the ink flowing around a heater element to control the direction of an ink droplet;
• and
• providing lateral flow components to an ink jet or stream that is established by having ink flow about a blocking structure formed in the silicon substrate just below the bore.

A method of forming a continuous ink jet print head comprising:

• providing a silicon substrate having integrated circuits for controlling operation of the print head, the silicon substrate having an insulating layer or layers formed thereon, the insulating layer or layers having electrical conductors formed therein that are electrically connected to circuits formed in the silicon substrate;
• forming in the insulating layer or layers a bore;
• forming in the silicon substrate an ink channel that is to communicate with the bore;
• and
• forming a blocking structure in the silicon substrate for controlling lateral flow of ink from the ink channel formed in the silicon substrate to the bore formed in the insulating layer or layers.