Patent ID: 6443558
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An inkjet printhead constructed by micro-elctromechanical (MEMS) processing techniques with a plurality of ink ejection nozzles, each nozzle comprisinga substrate; a chamber-defining portion arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber and a nozzle opening in communication with the nozzle chamber; a pit located at least partially around a rim of said nozzle opening, said pit being adjacent said chamber-defining portion and extending from a level of said nozzle opening towards said substrate; a thermal bend actuator arranged on the substrate externally of the nozzle chamber defining portion, the actuator having a proximal end anchored to the substrate and a distal end connected to an ink ejection paddle arranged within said chamber; and the thermal bend actuator comprising a series of layers, one of said layers being a planar conductive heating circuit layer having a first portion extending from said proximal end towards said distal end and forming a planar conductive heating circuit for heating said thermal bend actuator, and a second portion extending from said ink ejection paddle towards said proximal end, said second portion being electrically isolated from said fist portion by means of a discontinuity in said planar conductive heating circuit layer, said discontiunity being located externally of said nozzle chamber.