Movement sensor in a micro electro-mechanical device
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorKia Silverbrook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A micro electro-mechanical device embodied within an ink ejection nozzle having an actuating arm that is caused to move an ink displacing paddle when heat inducing electric current is passed through the actuating arm. The device incorporates a movement sensor that comprises a moving contact element that is formed integrally with the actuating arm, a fixed contact element that is formed integrally with a support structure of the device and electrical elements formed within the support structure for detecting contact that is made between the fixed contact element and the moving contact element. The movement sensor is provided for the purpose of facilitating testing of the device under various operating conditions.
Claims7
A micro electro-mechanical device incorporated in a liquid ejection device having a nozzle opening and a liquid receiving chamber, the micro electro-mechanical device comprising:
- an actuating arm having a first end coupled to the support structure and a second end that is movable with respect to the support structure, the actuating arm being formed in part from an electrically resistive material and being arranged to conduct heat inducing electrical current from a current source within the support structure to effect movement of the actuating arm to effect ejection of liquid from the chamber via said nozzle opening,
- a moving contact element formed integrally with the actuating arm adjacent the second end of the actuating arm,
- a fixed contact element formed integrally with the support structure and positioned to be contacted by the moving contact element when the actuating arm moves to an extent greater than that necessary to eject liquid from the chamber via said nozzle under the influence of the heat inducing electrical current, and
- electrical circuit elements formed within the support structure for detecting contact between the fixed contact element and the moving contact element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.