US5265315A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making a thin-film transducer ink jet head
Assignee: Fujifilm Dimatix Inc
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Filing: 1990-11-20
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Granted: 1993-11-30
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Expires: 2010-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A thin-film transducer ink jet head is prepared by oxidizing one surface of a silicon wafer to provide a dielectric layer, forming electrodes on the layer by photoresist processing techniques, depositing one or more layers of PZT material to provide a thin-film piezoelectric layer having a thickness in the range of 1-25 microns, forming another pattern of electrodes on the surface of the PZT layer by photoresist techniques, and selectively etching the silicon substrate in the region of the electrodes to provide an ink chamber. Thereafter, an orifice plate is affixed to the substrate to enclose the ink chambers and provide an ink orifice for each of the chambers. An ink jet head having chambers 3.34 mm long by 0.17 mm wide by 0.15 mm deep and orifices spaced by 0.305 mm is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul A. Hoisington
- 👤 Edward R. Moynihan
- 👤 David W. Gailus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:15
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/04; B41J2/045; B41J2/04501; B41J2/04581; B41J2/02; B41J2/025; B41J2/04528; B41J2/04531; B41J2/04563; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/42; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49082; Y10T29/49083; Y10T29/49401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for making an ink jet transducer comprising providing a substrate, depositing an inorganic piezoelectric film on the substrate, and firing the inorganic piezoelectric film to form a layer having a thickness between about 1 and about 25 microns, and forming at least one electrode pattern adjacent to a surface of the piezoelectric film to provide a transducer element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for making an ink jet transducer comprising providing a substrate, depositing an inorganic piezoelectric film on the substrate, and firing the inorganic piezoelectric film to form a layer having a thickness between about 1 and about 25 microns, and forming at least one electrode pattern adjacent to a surface of the piezoelectric film to provide a transducer element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 including separating the transducer element from the substrate and applying the transducer element to a membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 including applying the transducer element to a second substrate and removing at least a part of the substrate on which the transducer element was formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of removing a portion of the substrate to provide a chamber adjacent to a region of the transducer element containing at least one electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 4 including the step of affixing an orifice plate to the side of the substrate opposite the transducer element to enclose the chamber and provide an orifice communicating with the chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric film is formed by depositing at least two successive layers of piezoelectric material on the substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein each of the successive layers deposited to form the piezoelectric film has a thickness from about 0.1 to about 5 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 including annealing the piezoelectric film after deposition on the substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is suitable for solid state circuitry fabrication.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 9 including forming a transducer drive circuit for the ink jet head on the substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 9 including forming a memory circuit for the ink jet head on the substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 9 including forming a temperature control element for the ink jet head on the substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 9 including forming a thin-film heater for the ink jet head on the substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9 including forming a drop ejection pulse control element for the ink jet head on the substrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 9 including forming a drop counter circuit for ink supply detection on the substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the substrate is silicon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the piezoelectric film is in the range from about 2 to about 10 microns.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the piezoelectric film is in the range from about 3 to about 5 microns.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of forming at least one electrode adjacent to the other surface of the piezoelectric film.
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) | 1996-11-29 | 1997-05-31 | 1997-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-05-31 | 2001-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-29 | 2005-05-31 | 2005-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |