US5505364A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of manufacturing ink jet printheads
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1993-12-30
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Granted: 1996-04-09
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Expires: 2013-12-30
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are an ink jet printhead and method of manufacturing the same. The method of manufacturing comprises the steps of: (1) coating a substantially flat lower surface of an upper piezoelectric member with a first conductive coating, (2) coating a substantially flat upper surface of a lower piezoelectric member with a second conductive coating, (3) depositing a conductive solder over the first conductive coating, (4) forming a first elongated indentation in the lower surface, the first indentation extending through the first coating and into the upper member, (5) joining the solder with the second conductive coating by placing the upper piezoelectric member over the lower piezoelectric member, (6) heating the upper and lower piezoelectric members to thereby melt the solder and (7) cooling the solder, the solder electrically and mechanically joining the first coating to the second coating, the first indentation and the upper surface thereby forming the channel, the channel capable of containing ink and capable of ejecting ink therefrom when an electric current distorts the upper and lower piezoelectric members.
Inventors
- 👤 Boris Plesinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:05
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/16; B41J2/1621; B41J2/1623; B23; B23K; B23K1/00; B23K1/0008; B23K1/008; B41J2/1607; B41J2/1609; B41J2/1632; B41J2/164; B41J2/1643
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of manufacturing an ink jet printhead having a channel defined therein, comprising the steps of: providing an upper piezoelectric member having a substantially flat lower surface; providing a lower piezoelectric member having a substantially flat upper surface; forming a first elongated indentation in said lower surface, said first indentation extending into said upper member; depositing a conductive solder over said lower surface; joining said solder with said upper surface by placing said upper piezoelectric member over said lower piezoelectric member; heating said upper and lower piezoelectric members to thereby melt said solder; and cooling said solder, said solder electrically and mechanically joining said upper piezoelectric member to said lower piezoelectric member, said first indentation and said upper surface thereby forming said channel, said channel capable of containing ink and capable of ejecting ink therefrom when an electric current distorts said upper and lower piezoelectric members.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of manufacturing an ink jet printhead having a channel defined therein, comprising the steps of: providing an upper piezoelectric member having a substantially flat lower surface; providing a lower piezoelectric member having a substantially flat upper surface; forming a first elongated indentation in said lower surface, said first indentation extending into said upper member; depositing a conductive solder over said lower surface; joining said solder with said upper surface by placing said upper piezoelectric member over said lower piezoelectric member; heating said upper and lower piezoelectric members to thereby melt said solder; and cooling said solder, said solder electrically and mechanically joining said upper piezoelectric member to said lower piezoelectric member, said first indentation and said upper surface thereby forming said channel, said channel capable of containing ink and capable of ejecting ink therefrom when an electric current distorts said upper and lower piezoelectric members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of forming, prior to said step of depositing said solder, a second elongated indentation in said upper surface, said second indentation extending through into said lower member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of heating comprises the step of placing said printhead within an infrared oven for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as recited in claim 2 wherein a top surface of said first indentation forms a top wall of said channel, a bottom surface of said second indentation forms a bottom wall of said channel and sides of said first and second indentations cooperate to form sidewalls of said channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of coating said upper and lower surfaces with a conductive composition comprising Nickel and Chromium prior to said step of forming.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of depositing said solder comprises the steps of: placing a screen over said lower surface, said screen having a selected mesh size; and passing bonding material through said screen to arrange said bonding material into a plurality of dots on said lower surface, said plurality of dots forming said solder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said solder is less than 0.001 inch in thickness following said step of cooling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 2 wherein surface tension in said solder substantially aligns said first and second indentations during said step of heating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said steps of forming said first indentation comprises the step of sawing into said upper member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second members are portions of a single piezoelectric member during said steps of coating and depositing.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of manufacturing an ink jet printhead having a channel defined therein, comprising the steps of: coating a substantially flat lower surface of an upper piezoelectric member with a first conductive coating; coating a substantially flat upper surface of a lower piezoelectric member with a second conductive coating; depositing a conductive solder over said first conductive coating; forming a first elongated indentation in said lower surface, said first indentation extending through said first coating and into said upper member; joining said solder with said second conductive coating by placing said upper piezoelectric member over said lower piezoelectric member; heating said upper and lower piezoelectric members to thereby melt said solder; and cooling said solder, said solder electrically and mechanically joining said first coating to said second coating, said first indentation and said upper surface thereby forming said channel, said channel capable of containing ink and capable of ejecting ink therefrom when an electric current distorts said upper and lower piezoelectric members.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of manufacturing an ink jet printhead having a channel defined therein, comprising the steps of: coating a substantially flat lower surface of an upper piezoelectric member with a first conductive coating; coating a substantially flat upper surface of a lower piezoelectric member with a second conductive coating; depositing a conductive solder over said first conductive coating; forming a first elongated indentation in said lower surface, said first indentation extending through said first coating and into said upper member; joining said solder with said second conductive coating by placing said upper piezoelectric member over said lower piezoelectric member; heating said upper and lower piezoelectric members to thereby melt said solder; and cooling said solder, said solder electrically and mechanically joining said first coating to said second coating, said first indentation and said upper surface thereby forming said channel, said channel capable of containing ink and capable of ejecting ink therefrom when an electric current distorts said upper and lower piezoelectric members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of forming, prior to said step of depositing said solder, a second elongated indentation in said upper surface, said second indentation extending through said second coating and into said lower member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of heating comprises the step of placing said printhead within an infrared oven for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein a top surface of said first indentation forms a top wall of said channel, a bottom surface of said second indentation forms a bottom wall of said channel and sides of said first and second indentations cooperate to form sidewalls of said channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said first and second conductive coatings are a composition comprising Nickel and Chromium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of depositing said solder comprises the steps of: placing a screen over said first coating, said screen having a selected mesh size; and passing bonding material through said screen to arrange said bonding material into a plurality of dots on said first coating, said plurality of dots forming said solder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said solder is less than 0.001 inch in thickness following said step of cooling.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein surface tension in said solder substantially aligns said first and second indentations during said step of heating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said steps of forming said first indentation comprises the step of sawing into said upper member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said first and second members are portions of a single piezoelectric member during said steps of coating and depositing.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of manufacturing an ink jet printhead having a plurality of ink channels defined therein, comprising the steps of: coating a substantially flat surface of a piezoelectric member with a conductive coating; depositing a conductive bonding layer including Indium over said conductive coating; forming a plurality of substantially parallel sawcut grooves in said surface, said sawcut grooves extending through said coating and into said member; dividing said member into a first portion and a second portion along a line substantially perpendicular to said plurality of sawcut grooves; placing said first portion over said second portion, said bonding layer of said first portion contacting said bonding layer of said second portion, said plurality of sawcut grooves in said first portion in substantial alignment with said plurality of sawcut grooves in said second portion; heating said first and second portions to thereby melt said bonding layer; and cooling said bonding layer, said bonding layer electrically and mechanically joining said conductive coating of said first portion to said conductive coating of said second portion, said plurality of sawcut grooves in said first and second portions cooperating to form a plurality of channels, said plurality of said channels capable of containing ink and capable of independently and selectively ejecting ink therefrom when an electric current distorts said first and second portions.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
218 words
A method of manufacturing an ink jet printhead having a plurality of ink channels defined therein, comprising the steps of: coating a substantially flat surface of a piezoelectric member with a conductive coating; depositing a conductive bonding layer including Indium over said conductive coating; forming a plurality of substantially parallel sawcut grooves in said surface, said sawcut grooves extending through said coating and into said member; dividing said member into a first portion and a second portion along a line substantially perpendicular to said plurality of sawcut grooves; placing said first portion over said second portion, said bonding layer of said first portion contacting said bonding layer of said second portion, said plurality of sawcut grooves in said first portion in substantial alignment with said plurality of sawcut grooves in said second portion; heating said first and second portions to thereby melt said bonding layer; and cooling said bonding layer, said bonding layer electrically and mechanically joining said conductive coating of said first portion to said conductive coating of said second portion, said plurality of sawcut grooves in said first and second portions cooperating to form a plurality of channels, said plurality of said channels capable of containing ink and capable of independently and selectively ejecting ink therefrom when an electric current distorts said first and second portions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said step of heating comprises the step of placing said printhead within an infrared oven for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said conductive coating is a composition comprising Nickel and Chromium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said step of depositing said bonding layer comprises the steps of: placing a screen over said conductive coating, said screen having a selected mesh size; and passing bonding material through said screen to arrange said bonding material into a plurality of dots on said conductive coating, said plurality of dots forming said bonding layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said bonding layer is less than 0.001 inch in thickness following said step of cooling.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 21 wherein surface tension in said bonding layer substantially aligns said plurality of sawcut grooves in said first and second portions during said step of heating.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-09 | 1999-10-09 | 2000-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-09 | 2003-10-09 | 2004-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-09 | 2007-10-09 | 2008-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |