Patent ID: 7011394

Claim:
A liquid drop emitter comprising: (a) a chamber, formed in a substrate, filled with a liquid and having a nozzle for emitting drops of the liquid; (b) a thermo-mechanical actuator, extending into the chamber from at least one wall of the chamber, and having a movable element residing in a first position proximate to the nozzle; (c) the movable element having a bending portion which bends when heated, the bending portion comprising a first layer having first and second sides, constructed of a first material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, a second layer, attached to the second side of the first layer, and a third layer, attached to the first side of the first layer, constructed of a third material having a low thermal conductivity and a low Young's modulus; (d) apparatus adapted to apply heat pulses to the first layer of the bending portion causing a thermal expansion of the first layer relative to the second layer, rapid deflection of the movable element to a second position and ejection of a liquid drop, without causing substantial degradation or vaporization of the liquid.