Patent ID: 6290339
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method of directing fluid flow between a reservoir and a micro-fluidic manifold having a plurality of independent fluid containment chambers, said method including the steps of:(a) providing a piezoelectric actuator element in structural relations with each one of said fluid containment chamber, said piezoelectric actuator element having a substantially planar piezoelectric transducer comprising a slab of piezoelectric material having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a plurality of spatially separated first electrodes arranged on said first surface, wherein each one of said plurality of first electrodes is operably associated with one of said independent ink compartments, and a second electrode extending substantially lengthwise along the opposed second surface, said piezoelectric material having a functionally gradient d-coefficient formed by three or more sequential layers of different compositions of piezoelectric material, each one of said sequential layers having different d-coefficients defining a functionally gradient d-coefficient throughout said slab and selected so that said slab changes geometry in response to an applied voltage which produces an electric field in the slab; and said plurality of first electrodes and said second electrode being arranged so that voltage applied to any one of said plurality of first electrodes and said second electrode induces an electric field in a portion of said slab between said any one of said plurality of first electrodes and said second electrode;(b) providing a source of power operably associated with each one of said plurality of first electrodes and to said second electrode of said piezoelectric transducer for enabling fluid flow through any one of said plurality of fluid containment chambers; and(c) actuating said piezoelectric transducer for pumping fluid from any one of said independent ink compartments through said manifold.