Patent ID: 6747396
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A piezoelectric actuator for an ink jet printhead, comprising:a block body of piezoelectric material having a bottom face through which the mechanical energy of the actuator is transferred to a receiving member, said body having an active portion adjacent to the bottom face as well as an inactive portion disposed between said active portion and a top face of said block body, wherein the active portion is divided into a plurality of fingers arranged in parallel to one another and integrally connected with each other by the inactive portion of the block body, a layered structure of alternating signal electrodes and common electrodes arranged in the active portion, substantially parallel with the bottom face and separated by layers of the piezoelectric material; a layered structure of alternating auxiliary electrodes and common electrodes arranged in the inactive portion, substantially parallel with the bottom face and separated by layers of the piezoelectric material; at least one signal lead electrode formed on a first side face of said block body of piezoelectric material and interconnecting the signal electrodes, wherein a separate signal lead electrode is formed on each finger of the active portion and is extended over the inactive portion of the block body; a ground lead electrode formed on a second side face opposite to the first side face and interconnecting the common electrodes; and an auxiliary lead electrode interconnecting the auxiliary electrodes, wherein the auxiliary lead electrode is formed on a third side face of the block body.