Patent ID: 7328971

Claim:
A micro-electromechanical fluid ejection device that comprises a substrate; drive circuitry positioned on the substrate; a plurality of fluid supply channels defined in the substrate; an array of nozzle assemblies positioned on the substrate and defining nozzle chambers in fluid communication with the fluid supply channels, each nozzle assembly comprising a fixed nozzle chamber structure extending from the substrate and a movable nozzle chamber structure that is movable towards and away from the substrate to reduce and subsequently expand a nozzle chamber volume, the movable nozzle chamber structure defining an ejection port from which the fluid is ejected as a result of the change in volume of the nozzle chamber; and a plurality of actuators connected to the drive circuitry and operable on respective movable nozzle chamber structures, wherein the nozzle chamber structures of each nozzle assembly are configured and positioned with respect to each other so that, when the nozzle chambers are filled with fluid, menisci are set up between the nozzle chamber structures of respective pairs to define fluidic seals and thereby inhibit the egress of ink from between the nozzle chamber structures of each pair.