Piezoelectric actuator for ink jet printhead

A piezoelectric actuator for an ink jet printhead, comprising:

• a block body of piezoelectric material having a bottom face through which the mechanical energy of the actuator is transferred to a receiving member, said body having an active portion adjacent to the bottom face as well as a first inactive portion disposed between said active portion and a top face of said block body, wherein the active portion is divided into a plurality of fingers arranged in parallel to one another and integrally connected with each other by the inactive portion of the block body;
• a layered structure of alternating signal electrodes and common electrodes arranged in the active portion, substantially parallel with the bottom face and separated by layers of the piezoelectric material;
• a layered structure of alternating auxiliary electrodes and common electrodes arranged in the first inactive portion, substantially parallel with the bottom face and separated by layers of the piezoelectric material;
• at least one signal lead electrode formed on a first side face of said block body of piezoelectric material and interconnecting the signal electrodes, wherein a separate signal lead electrode is formed on each finger of the active portion and is extended over the inactive portion of the block body;
• a ground lead electrode formed on a second side face opposite to the first side face and interconnecting the common electrodes;
• and an auxiliary lead electrode interconnecting the auxiliary electrodes, wherein the auxiliary lead electrode is formed on a third side face of the block body, and wherein the block body comprises a second inactive part adjacent to a portion of the bottom face.

An ink jet printhead containing a piezoelectric actuator, said piezoelectric actuator comprising:

• a block body of piezoelectric material having a bottom face through which the mechanical energy of the actuator is transferred to a receiving member, said body haying an active portion adjacent to the bottom face as well as an inactive portion disposed between said active portion and a top face of said block body, wherein the active portion is divided into a plurality of fingers arranged in parallel to one another and integrally connected with each other by the inactive portion of the block body;
• a layered structure of alternating signal electrodes and common electrodes arranged in the active portion, substantially parallel with the bottom face and separated by layers of the piezoelectric material;
• a layered structure of alternating auxiliary electrodes and common electrodes arranged in the inactive portion, substantially parallel with the bottom face and separated by layers of the piezoelectric material;
• at least one signal lead electrode formed on a first side face of said block body of piezoelectric material and interconnecting the signal electrodes, wherein a separate signal lead electrode is formed on each finger of the active portion and is extended over the inactive portion of the block body;
• a ground lead electrode formed on a second side face opposite to the first side face and interconnecting the common electrodes;
• and an auxiliary lead electrode interconnecting the auxiliary electrodes, wherein the auxiliary lead electrode is formed on a third side face of the block body, and wherein at least one ink channel terminates in a nozzle and is covered by a flexible receiving member, said piezoelectric actuator being bonded to said flexible receiving member.