Patent ID: 8398210

Claim:
A continuous liquid ejection system comprising: a substrate, portions of the substrate defining a liquid chamber; an orifice plate affixed to the substrate, the orifice plate including: a MEMS transducing member, a first portion of the MEMS transducing member being anchored to the substrate, a second portion of the MEMS transducing member extending over at least a portion of the liquid chamber, the second portion of the MEMS transducing member being free to move relative to the liquid chamber; and a compliant membrane positioned in contact with the MEMS transducing member, a first portion of the compliant membrane covering the MEMS transducing member, and a second portion of the compliant membrane being anchored to the substrate, the compliant membrane including an orifice; and a liquid supply that provides a liquid to the liquid chamber, the liquid being provided under a pressure sufficient to eject a continuous jet of the liquid through the orifice located in the compliant membrane of the orifice plate, the MEMS transducing member being selectively actuatable to cause a portion of the compliant membrane to be displaced relative to the liquid chamber to cause a drop of liquid to break off from the liquid jet.