Patent ID: 6258284
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: B41J,B82Y,G06K,G11C,H04N

Abstract:
A method of manufacture of a thermally actuated ink jet printer comprising a series of nozzle chambers from each of which ink is ejected via the utilization of a thermal actuator device, the method comprising the steps of:(a) initially providing a silicon wafer having a circuitry wafer layer including electrical circuitry necessary for the operation of the thermal actuator device on demand;(b) etching at least one nozzle chamber pit in said circuitry wafer layer and said silicon wafer;(c) depositing and etching a sacrificial layer filling said at least one nozzle chamber pit, said etching including etching a first portion of a nozzle chamber wall mould and an actuator anchor mould;(d) depositing and etching a first inert material layer filling said nozzle chamber wall mould and said actuator anchor mould, said etching including etching a via to said electrical circuitry;(e) depositing and etching a first conductive material layer defining a lower heater element conductively interconnected via said via with said electrical circuitry;(f) depositing and etching a second inert material layer, said etching defining an actuator arm attached to said lower heater element and a second portion of said nozzle chamber wall;(g) depositing and etching a second conductive material layer defining an upper heater element conductively interconnected via a via through said first and second inert material layers with said electrical circuitry;(h) depositing and etching a third inert material layer defining an actuator anchor and further portions of said nozzle chamber wall;(i) depositing and etching a sacrificial layer;(j) depositing and etching a fourth inert material layer defining remaining portions of said nozzle chamber, said etching including etching at least one ink ejection nozzle in one of said nozzle chamber walls;(k) etching an ink supply channel to said nozzle chamber through said wafer; and(l) etching away said sacrificial layers.