US4535343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal ink jet printhead with self-passivating elements
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1983-10-31
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Granted: 1985-08-13
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Expires: 2003-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A passivation layer in a thermal ink jet printhead is formed or "grown" by a reaction between the materials of the ink jet structure to be protected and an element which will form a chemically inert, electrically insulating, thermally conductive compound. The resistor structure may be of tantalum or tantalum nitride and the electrical conductors therefor may be of aluminum. By subjecting this resistor-conductor structure to a reactive oxide atmosphere, the exposed surfaces of both are anodized so that a surface film of aluminum oxide is formed on the aluminum conductor and a surface film of tantalum pentoxide or tantalum oxynitride is formed on the resistor structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Conrad L. Wright
- 👤 James G. Bearrs
- 👤 C. S. Chan
- 👤 Robert R. Hay
- 👤 Frank Ura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:55
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14016; B41J2/14088; B41J2/14112; B41J2/14129
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly comprising a printhead support member, an orifice plate having at least one orifice therein, means for supporting said orifice plate on said support member, heating means formed of a resistive material capable of being anodized insulatingly disposed between said orifice plate and said support member and adjacent said orifice, electrically conductive means capable of being anodized in contact with said heating means, and passivating means disposed on said heating means and said conductive means, said passivating means comprising respectfully different compounds of said resistive material and said conductive means being formed in situ from and integral with said heating means and said conductive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly comprising a printhead support member, an orifice plate having at least one orifice therein, means for supporting said orifice plate on said support member, heating means formed of a resistive material capable of being anodized insulatingly disposed between said orifice plate and said support member and adjacent said orifice, electrically conductive means capable of being anodized in contact with said heating means, and passivating means disposed on said heating means and said conductive means, said passivating means comprising respectfully different compounds of said resistive material and said conductive means being formed in situ from and integral with said heating means and said conductive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly comprising a printhead support member, an orifice plate having at least one orifice therein, means for supporting said orifice plate on said support member, heating means formed of a resistive material capable of being anodized insulatingly disposed between said orifice plate and said support member and adjacent said orifice, electrically conductive means capable of being anodized in contact with said heating means, first passivating means on said heating means comprising an oxide of said resistive material formed therefrom, and second passivating means on said conductive means comprising an oxide formed therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly comprising a printhead support member, an orifice plate having at least one orifice therein, means for supporting said orifice plate on said support member, heating means formed of a resistive material capable of being anodized insulatingly disposed between said orifice plate and said support member and adjacent said orifice, electrically conductive means capable of being anodized in contact with said heating means, first passivating means on said heating means comprising an oxide of said resistive material formed therefrom, and second passivating means on said conductive means comprising an oxide formed therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly according to claim 2 wherein said resistive material is selected from the group consisting of: tantalum, niobium, vanadium, hafnium, titanium, zirconium, yttrium and the nitrides thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly according to claims 2 or 3 wherein said conductive means is aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly according to claim 3 wherein said first passivating means comprises an oxide of said named resistive materials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly according to claim 5 wherein said second passivating means is an oxide of aluminum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly comprising a printhead support member, an orifice plate having at least one orifice therein, means for supporting said orifice plate on said support member, heating means formed of tantalum or tantalum nitride insulatingly disposed between said orifice plate and said support member and adjacent said orifice, electrically conductive means formed of aluminum in contact with said heating means, and passivating means disposed on said heating means and said conductive means, said passivating means comprising respectfully different compounds of tantalum or tantalum nitride and aluminum being formed in situ from and integral with said heating means and said conductive means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly comprising a printhead support member, an orifice plate having at least one orifice therein, means for supporting said orifice plate on said support member, heating means formed of tantalum or tantalum nitride insulatingly disposed between said orifice plate and said support member and adjacent said orifice, electrically conductive means formed of aluminum in contact with said heating means, and passivating means disposed on said heating means and said conductive means, said passivating means comprising respectfully different compounds of tantalum or tantalum nitride and aluminum being formed in situ from and integral with said heating means and said conductive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly comprising a printhead support member, an orifice plate having at least one orifice therein, means for supporting said orifice plate on said support member, heating means formed of tantalum or tantalum nitride insulatingly disposed between said orifice plate and said support member and adjacent said orifice, electrically conductive means formed of aluminum in contact with said heating means, a first passivating means formed on and from said heating means, and a second passivating means formed on and from said conductive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly comprising a printhead support member, an orifice plate having at least one orifice therein, means for supporting said orifice plate on said support member, heating means formed of tantalum or tantalum nitride insulatingly disposed between said orifice plate and said support member and adjacent said orifice, electrically conductive means formed of aluminum in contact with said heating means, a first passivating means formed on and from said heating means, and a second passivating means formed on and from said conductive means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly according to claim 8 wherein said first passivating means is an oxide of tantalum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly according to claim 8 wherein said second passivating means is aluminum oxide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A thermal ink jet printhead assembly according to claim 8 wherein said first passivating means is an oxide of tantalum and said second passivating means is aluminum oxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-12 | 1989-02-11 | 1989-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-12 | 1993-02-11 | 1993-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-12 | 1997-02-11 | 1997-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |