Patent ID: 6951622

Claim:
A method for fabricating an integrated nozzle plate by depositing two photoresist layers and a light-absorbing layer comprising the steps of: providing a silicon substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; forming a first and a second insulating material layer on said top and bottom surfaces, respectively; etching an opening for a manifold in said second insulating material layer on said bottom surface; etching a manifold in said silicon substrate; depositing a metal conductive layer on said first insulating material layer and patterning in the metal conductive layer two interconnects spaced apart from each other; forming a heater electrode on each of said two interconnects, said heater electrodes being separated apart from each other and each being; in electrical communication with one of said two interconnects; depositing a third insulating material layer on top of said two spaced-apart heaters electrodes and said first insulating material layer; spin-coating a first photoresist layer on said third insulating material layer; patterning by UV exposure a primary ink chamber in said first photoresist layer; depositing a light-absorbing layer on said first photoresist layer; depositing a metal seed layer on said light-absorbing layer and patterning an orifice in said metal seed layer; spin-coating a second photoresist layer on said metal seed layer and patterning said orifice; removing said second photoresist layer except an area on top of said orifice; electroplating a metal material on top of said metal seed layer encapsulating said second photoresist layer on top of said orifice; removing said second photoresist layer on top of said orifice; etching away said second insulating material layer on said bottom surface of said silicon substrate; etching said first insulating material layer and said third insulating material layer from said manifold to exposed said primary ink chamber; and removing said first photoresist layer in said primary ink chambers.