Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
a second layer of a material having a substantial electrical conductivity, the second layer of the printing bar overlying and being continuously in contact with only the first layer of the printing bar except for an uncovered heat-generating element portion of the first layer of the printing bar, the second layer of the printing bar being thereby divided into first and second electrode portions by the heat-generating element portion of the first layer of the corresponding printing bar, the second layer of material having a substantially greater conductivity than said first layer, and
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein the protective layer is beryllium oxide (BeO).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein the protective layer is aluminum oxide (Al2O3).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
335 words
a third layer of a material having a substantial electrical resistivity, the third layer of the printing bar being continuously in contact with the second layer of the printing bar but not in contact with the heat-generating element portion of the first layer of the printing bar, c. an insulating layer of an electrically insulating material on that portion of the third layer of each printing bar which overlies the first electrode portion of the second layer of the corresponding printing bar, d. a plurality of elongated electrical selection conductors on the insulating layer, the elongated electrical selection conductors being electrically connected to the third layer of predetermined printing bars through openings in the insulating layer, e. a plurality of electrical isolation elements on the supporting surface of the substrate, each electrical isolation element having at least a first terminal and a second terminal and each electrical isolation element having its first terminal electrically connected to the second electrode portion of the second layer of a separate one of the printing bars, the electrical isolation elements being constructed to initially have a high impedance state with respect to the first and second terminals thereof when the voltage across the first and second terminals is at a first predetermined value, and to have a low impedance state with respect to the first and second terminals thereof when the voltage across the first and second terminals is at a second predetermined value, f. at least one elongated electrical common conductor on the supporting surface of the substrate that is electrically connected to the second terminals of a plurality of electrical isolation elements, in common, and g. a protective layer of an abrasion-resistive material having a substantial thermal conductivity and sufficient electrical resistivity to prevent electrical shorting of the heat-generating elements to each other, the protective layer being deposited on all of the foregoing elements and being shaped to form a raised area over each of the heat-generating element portions of the first layers of the printing bars.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
134 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein the elongated electrical selection and common conductors comprise: a. a first layer of a material having substantial electrical resistivity, b. a second layer of a material having a substantial electrical conductivity, the second layer of the conductor being continuously in contact with the first layer of the conductor, and c. a third layer of a material having a substantial electrical resistivity, the third layer of the conductor being continuousLy in contact with the second layer of the conductor, and the first layers of each of the elongated electrical selection conductors being electrically connected to the third layer of predetermined printing bars through openings in the insulating layer and the first layers of each of the elongated electrical common conductors being on the supporting surface of the substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein the protective layer is beryllium oxide (BeO).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein the protective layer is aluminum oxide (Al2O3).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein each of the first and third layers of the printing bars, the elongated electrical selection conductors, and the elongated electrical common conductors are formed of the same material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 7 wherein the protective layer is beryllium oxide (BeO).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 7 wherein the protective layer is aluminum oxide (Al2O3).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein a portion of said substrate is covered by an epitaxially grown, single-crystal, semiconductor layer, and wherein said electrical isolation elements are semiconductor diodes which are diffused into said semiconductor layer.