Patent ID: 7025439

Claim:
A micro-fluid ejection device, comprising: a fluid ejection chip having a first length and a first width and having a first side and a second side, the first side including a plurality of fluid ejection actuators and a plurality of bond pads; a flexible circuit having a first side and a second side, a window therein, and leads disposed in the window, wherein the window of the flexible circuit circumscribes the chip and each of the leads is electrically connected to corresponding bond pads on the first side of the chip through the window to supply electrical impulses to activate the fluid ejection actuators; and a nozzle plate structure containing a plurality of nozzle holes therein, the nozzle plate structure having a second length and a second width and being attached to the flexible circuit and chip, wherein the nozzle plate structure overlaps the first side of the chip and at least the leads and bond pads, wherein the nozzle plate structure is effective to retard fluid contact with the bond pads and leads in the absence of an encapsulant.