Patent ID: 6557977
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: B41J,G06F,G06K,G07F,G11C,H04N,Y10T

Abstract:
An ink jet print head chip that comprisesa wafer substrate; a drive circuitry layer positioned on the wafer substrate; and a plurality of micro-elecromechanical nozzles positioned on the wafer substrate, each nozzle comprising a nozzle chamber defined by the wafer substrate, the nozzle chamber being in fluid communication with an ink supply; and an actuator that is positioned in the nozzle chamber, the actuator being displaceable between a quiescent position and an operative position with respect to the wafer substrate to eject ink from the nozzle chamber, the actuator being connected to the drive circuitry layer and at least part of the actuator being of a shape memory alloy that is capable of being heated on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry layer such that the shape memory alloy undergoes a thermal transition to displace the actuator from the quiescent position to the operative position.