CMOS/MEMS integrated ink jet print head and method of operating same

An ink jet print head comprising:

• a silicon substrate including an integrated circuit formed therein for controlling operation of the print head, the silicon substrate having one or more ink channels formed therein;
• an insulating layer or layers overlying the silicon substrate, the insulating layer or layers having a series of ink jet nozzle bores formed therein along the length of the substrate and forming a generally planar surface and each bore communicates with an ink channel;
• and
• a heater element associated with each nozzle bore that is located proximate the bore for asymmetrically heating ink as it passes through the bore, wherein the heater element is supported over an ink channel in the insulating layer or layers and is defined in a very narrow layer or layers relative to the thickness of the insulating layer or layers in which the ink channel is formed.

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

• providing a silicon substrate having an integrated circuit formed therein for controlling operation of the print head, the silicon substrate having one or more ink channels formed therein, the silicon substrate being covered by one or more insulating layers having a channel formed therein and terminating at a nozzle opening, the surface of the printhead being relatively planar for facilitating maintenance of the printhead around the nozzle openings;
• moving ink under pressure from the one or more channels formed in the silicon substrate to a respective ink channel formed in the insulating layer or layers;
• and
• asymmetrically heating the ink at the nozzle opening formed in a relatively thin membrane formed covering the insulating layer or layers to affect deflection of ink droplet(s), each nozzle communicating with an ink channel formed in the insulating layer or layers.

An ink jet print head comprising:

• a silicon substrate including an integrated circuit formed therein for controlling operation of the print head, the silicon substrate having one or more ink channels formed therein;
• an insulating layer or layers overlying the silicon substrate, the insulating layer or layers having a series of ink jet nozzle bores formed therein along the length of the substrate and each bore being formed in a thin membrane that communicates with an ink channel;
• the ink channel being formed in the insulating layer or layers;
• and
• a heater element associated with each nozzle bore that is located within the membrane and proximate the bore for asymmetrically heating ink as it passes through the bore.