Patent ID: 8657420

Claim:
An apparatus for ejecting fluid droplets, comprising: a fluid manifold comprising a fluid supply chamber and a fluid return chamber; a substrate comprising a flow path, the flow path including a nozzle inlet for receiving fluid, a nozzle for ejecting fluid droplets, and a nozzle outlet for channeling away un-ejected fluid; and a fluid distribution layer between the fluid manifold and the substrate, the fluid distribution layer comprising a fluid supply channel, the fluid supply channel having a supply inlet fluidically connected to the fluid supply chamber and a return-side bypass fluidically connected to the fluid return chamber, and a fluid return channel, the fluid return channel having a return outlet fluidically connected to the fluid return chamber and a supply-side bypass fluidically connected to the fluid supply chamber, wherein the fluid supply channel is fluidically connected to the nozzle inlet of the flow path in the substrate, and to the nozzle outlet of the flow path in the substrate.