Patent ID: 8308275

Claim:
A liquid dispenser comprising: an array of liquid dispensing elements positioned on a substrate, each liquid dispensing element including: a liquid dispensing channel positioned on the substrate, the liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening positioned on a wall opposite the substrate; a diverter member associated with the liquid dispensing channel; a liquid return channel positioned on the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid dispensing channel; a liquid supply channel positioned on the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid dispensing channel, the liquid supply channel including a width as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the direction of liquid flow that varies along the direction of liquid flow; a liquid supply passage extending through the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid supply channel; a liquid return passage extending through the substrate in fluid communication with the liquid return channel; and a liquid supply that provides liquid that flows from each liquid supply channel through each liquid dispensing element to each liquid return channel, each diverter member being selectively activated to divert a portion of the liquid flowing through the associated liquid dispensing channel through the outlet opening of the associated liquid dispensing channel to dispense a drop of the liquid.