Patent ID: 7011392
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: B41J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A thermal bubble inkjet head having off-shooter heaters and a rapid ink refill mechanism comprising: a silicon substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an insulating material layer of at least 1000 Å thick on said top surface; a funnel-shaped manifold formed in said silicon substrate with a narrower end of said manifold oriented towards said top surface; two spaced-apart heaters formed on said first insulating material layer on said top surface, a first of said two spaced-apart heaters being disposed on a first side of said manifold and a second of said two spaced-apart heaters being disposed on a second side of said manifold; two interconnects formed of a conductive metal each in electrical communication with one of said two spaced-apart heaters; another insulating material layer on top of said two spaced-apart heaters and said insulating material layer; a photoresist layer of at least 2000 Å thick on top of said another insulating material layer; a primary and an auxiliary ink chamber formed in said first photoresist layer in fluid communication with each other and with said funnel-shaped manifold, the primary ink chamber being disposed substantially co-extensively with the first side of said manifold, and the auxiliary ink chamber being disposed substantially co-extensively with the second side of said manifold; a metal seed layer on said first photoresist layer and a single inkjet orifice formed in said metal seed layer, said inkjet orifice being positioned on the first side of said manifold such that ink flows in order from said manifold, to said auxiliary chamber, to said primary chamber, and to said inkjet orifice; and one of a Ni and a Ni alloy layer on top of said metal seed layer with an aperture formed therein in fluid communication with said inkjet orifice.