# US 7,465,033 B2 · Self-referencing printhead assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,465,033 B2 - Document ID: US7465033B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/293,804 - Filed: 2005-12-05 - Published: 2007-06-07 - Granted: 2008-12-16 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-05 - Assignees: Silverbrook Research Ptv Ltd - Inventors: Christopher Hibbard; Kia Silverbrook; Akira Nakazawa; Garry Raymond Jackson; John Douglas Peter Morgan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7465033B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/17553: {Outer structure} - B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A printhead assembly having: at least one printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles; and an ink distribution support mounting the, or each, printhead integrated circuit, the ink distribution support being arranged, in use, to distribute ink to the nozzles, the printhead assembly being arranged to be mounted to a printer at the ink distribution support, wherein the ink distribution support is provided with at least one reference feature, the, or each, reference feature serving to provide information on the location of the nozzles upon mounting of the printhead assembly to the printer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printhead assembly comprising: at least one printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles; and an ink distribution support mounting the, or each, printhead integrated circuit, the ink distribution support being arranged, in use, to distribute ink to the nozzles, the printhead assembly being arranged to be mounted to a printer at the ink distribution support, wherein the ink distribution support is provided with at least one reference feature, the, or each, reference feature serving to provide information on the location of the nozzles upon mounting of the printhead assembly to the printer, and the at least one reference feature is a flat surface of a plurality of corners of the ink distribution support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A printhead assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ink distribution support is an elongate support, and the, or each, printhead integrated circuit is mounted to extend longitudinally along the elongate support. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A printhead assembly according to claim 2, wherein the, or each, printhead integrated circuit is mounted along the elongate support so that the nozzles create a printing zone which extends across a pagewidth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A printhead assembly according to claim 3, wherein the pagewidth is 100.9 millimeters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A printhead assembly according to claim 3, wherein the, or each, reference feature is arranged beyond the longitudinal extent of the printing zone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A printhead assembly according to claim 2, wherein the elongate support is formed as a molding, and the, or each, reference feature is molded as part of the support molding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) A printhead assembly according to claim 2, wherein at least one reference feature is provided at either longitudinal end of the elongate support. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A printhead assembly according to claim 1, wherein the, or each, reference feature is configured to cooperate with a corresponding complementary feature of the printer upon mounting of the printhead assembly to the printer, the cooperation providing the information on the location of the nozzles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A printhead assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reference feature is a slot in the ink distribution support. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A printhead assembly according to claim 9, wherein the complementary feature of the printer is a mesa feature configured to cooperate with the slot in the ink distribution support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A printhead assembly according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the reference features are provided, one of the reference features being a slot in the ink distribution support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A printhead assembly according to claim 1, wherein the printhead integrated circuit is formed from a silicon wafer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A printhead assembly according to claim 12, wherein the ink distribution support is a molding formed from liquid crystal polymer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A printhead assembly according to claim 13, wherein the liquid crystal polymer of the ink distribution support has thermal expansion characteristics similar to those of the silicon of the printhead integrated circuit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A printhead assembly according to claim 1, wherein the, or each, printhead integrated circuit has at least 6400 nozzles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A printhead assembly according to claim 15, comprising 32000 nozzles spanned over the, or each, printhead integrated circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A printhead assembly according to claim 16, comprising five printhead integrated circuits which are arranged to span a pagewidth. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A printhead assembly according to claim 17, wherein the pagewidth is 100.9 millimeters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A printhead assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit are arranged to print at a resolution of 1600 dots per inch.