EP0852539A2 - Ink-jet printing head and method of manufacturing it - Google Patents
Ink-jet printing head and method of manufacturing itInfo
- Publication number
- EP0852539A2 EP0852539A2 EP96944566A EP96944566A EP0852539A2 EP 0852539 A2 EP0852539 A2 EP 0852539A2 EP 96944566 A EP96944566 A EP 96944566A EP 96944566 A EP96944566 A EP 96944566A EP 0852539 A2 EP0852539 A2 EP 0852539A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- layer
- channel
- substrate
- print head
- channels
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims description 13
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 title abstract 2
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 59
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 238000005530 etching Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000000206 photolithography Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000001312 dry etching Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 claims description 72
- 229910021420 polycrystalline silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 13
- 229920005591 polysilicon Polymers 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000011241 protective layer Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000003628 erosive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004642 Polyimide Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 150000004767 nitrides Chemical class 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920001721 polyimide Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000005380 borophosphosilicate glass Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- YCKRFDGAMUMZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fluorine atom Chemical compound [F] YCKRFDGAMUMZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910005091 Si3N Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052581 Si3N4 Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052731 fluorine Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011737 fluorine Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011368 organic material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- HQVNEWCFYHHQES-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon nitride Chemical compound N12[Si]34N5[Si]62N3[Si]51N64 HQVNEWCFYHHQES-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 2
- 229910052729 chemical element Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- 229910052814 silicon oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 description 8
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 5
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
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- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
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- 238000003672 processing method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052715 tantalum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- GUVRBAGPIYLISA-UHFFFAOYSA-N tantalum atom Chemical compound [Ta] GUVRBAGPIYLISA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910004298 SiO 2 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BOTDANWDWHJENH-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tetraethyl orthosilicate Chemical compound CCO[Si](OCC)(OCC)OCC BOTDANWDWHJENH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- VRZFDJOWKAFVOO-UHFFFAOYSA-N [O-][Si]([O-])([O-])O.[B+3].P Chemical group [O-][Si]([O-])([O-])O.[B+3].P VRZFDJOWKAFVOO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000004026 adhesive bonding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052797 bismuth Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N bismuth atom Chemical compound [Bi] JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 230000006641 stabilisation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011105 stabilization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010186 staining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1621—Manufacturing processes
- B41J2/164—Manufacturing processes thin film formation
- B41J2/1646—Manufacturing processes thin film formation thin film formation by sputtering
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
- B41J2/14016—Structure of bubble jet print heads
- B41J2/14072—Electrical connections, e.g. details on electrodes, connecting the chip to the outside...
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
- B41J2/14016—Structure of bubble jet print heads
- B41J2/14088—Structure of heating means
- B41J2/14112—Resistive element
- B41J2/14129—Layer structure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
- B41J2/14201—Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1601—Production of bubble jet print heads
- B41J2/1603—Production of bubble jet print heads of the front shooter type
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1607—Production of print heads with piezoelectric elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1621—Manufacturing processes
- B41J2/1623—Manufacturing processes bonding and adhesion
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1621—Manufacturing processes
- B41J2/1626—Manufacturing processes etching
- B41J2/1628—Manufacturing processes etching dry etching
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1621—Manufacturing processes
- B41J2/1626—Manufacturing processes etching
- B41J2/1629—Manufacturing processes etching wet etching
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1621—Manufacturing processes
- B41J2/1631—Manufacturing processes photolithography
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1621—Manufacturing processes
- B41J2/1632—Manufacturing processes machining
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1621—Manufacturing processes
- B41J2/164—Manufacturing processes thin film formation
- B41J2/1642—Manufacturing processes thin film formation thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
- B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
- B41J2202/13—Heads having an integrated circuit
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S29/00—Metal working
- Y10S29/016—Method or apparatus with etching
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
- Y10T29/49117—Conductor or circuit manufacturing
- Y10T29/49124—On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.
- Y10T29/49155—Manufacturing circuit on or in base
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
- Y10T29/49117—Conductor or circuit manufacturing
- Y10T29/49124—On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.
- Y10T29/49155—Manufacturing circuit on or in base
- Y10T29/49165—Manufacturing circuit on or in base by forming conductive walled aperture in base
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49401—Fluid pattern dispersing device making, e.g., ink jet
Definitions
- the invention relates to an inkjet printhead with channels arranged parallel to one another within a substrate and separated by partitions, which are provided with a cover plate and at one of their ends each with an outlet opening, and with a thermal or piezoelectric element assigned to each channel, which upon excitation and in the case of ink liquid located within the channel, an ink droplet is ejected from the outlet opening, and a method for producing such an ink jet print head.
- Inkjet printheads are used extensively in inkjet printers today.
- the inkjet print head mostly works according to the known drop-on-demand method, for example, described in DE 30 12 698 C2, in short DoD method.
- a ⁇ re mentioned Here is used to create a dot on a medium to be printed, z.
- an ink droplet is ejected from a channel of the ink jet print head as soon as a thermal or piezoelectric element assigned to the channel is driven with a current pulse suitable for this purpose from a control circuit.
- the suggestion follows z. B. by a current pulse of 2 ⁇ s to lO ⁇ s duration, wherein a thermal energy of about 15 to 50 ⁇ Joule is released. This heating leads to the local evaporation of the ink liquid (formation of bubbles), the liquid column being forced out of the corresponding channel outlet opening without first staining. After the end of the current pulse, the bubble collapses over the thermal element.
- the thermal or piezoelectric elements of the parallel adjacent channels must be supplied in a suitable manner by the drive circuit with current pulses so that the points necessary for this letter on the paper are visible by the impact of appropriate ink droplets.
- heating resistors can be arranged on or in the channel for thermal excitation.
- the channels are often formed by orientation-dependent etching in a silicon substrate.
- the heating resistors can be attached to the ducts by bonding.
- a glass plate can be used as the cover plate be applied by anodic bonding on the channel plate and thus in the first substrate.
- the channels of the ink jet print head can also be formed by adjusting a cover plate provided with partition walls on a first substrate which is provided with heating resistors.
- a flat cover plate can also be glued to the first substrate if the channels mentioned have already been incorporated into the first substrate in the form of channel bottoms and two channel side walls. The glued-on cover plate then forms the duct ceiling for these ducts.
- the invention has for its object to provide an ink jet printhead and a method for producing an ink jet printhead, in which a complicated adjustment and gluing or bonding of two separately manufactured substrates is not necessary.
- the cover plate consists of at least two layers, in that a first layer with a plurality of openings lying above the channel is arranged directly on the channel, and in that on the side facing away from the channel Surface of the first layer, a second layer is arranged, which covers the openings. Further developments of the ink jet print head are specified in subclaims 2 to 14.
- a method for producing such an inkjet printhead has the following method steps:
- FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through an ink jet head in the region of the thermal element of a channel in the longitudinal extension of the channel
- FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the ink jet head from FIG. 1 in the area of the thermal element, but orthogonal to the longitudinal extent of the channel,
- FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a top view of the top of the ink jet print head shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the second layer of the cover plate has not yet been applied,
- FIG. 4 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1, but with a thermal element arranged inside the channel space
- FIG. 5 shows a sectional illustration of the ink jet print head from FIG. 4 along the section line E-F there,
- FIG. 6 shows a section of two channel ends of an inkjet print head with outlet openings arranged orthogonally to the longitudinal extent of the channels
- Figure 7 is a fragmentary schematic representation of the inkjet printhead with an integrated transistor on a silicon substrate.
- the structure of a possible embodiment of an ink jet print head according to the invention is clear from a summary of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
- the top view of the ink jet print head is shown schematically in detail in FIG. 3, the second layer 7 of a cover plate, which will be explained in more detail below, being removed for the sake of clarity.
- the inkjet printhead has a plurality of parallel adjacent channels Kl, K2, K3, K 4, which may for example have a width of 50 .mu.m. Between the emzelnene channels Kl, K2 or K2, K3 or K3, K4 are disposed partitions 10 with a width of for example 30 microns. The channels K1, K2, K3 and K4 are still closed at their ends shown in FIG. 3 above.
- the channels K1, K2, K3 and K4 can have a total length of 1 cm, for example, and end on their underside in a reservoir R which is provided for receiving ink liquid.
- This reservoir R can be provided with support points S which connect the bottom and top walls of the reservoir R to one another to increase stability.
- a supply channel Z can open into the reservoir R, via which the ink liquid is supplied from a storage container.
- Each of the channels K1, K2, K3 and K4 has an area with an associated thermal element 2 in order to emit droplets from the front end of the respective channel K1, K2, K3 according to the known DOD method when excited by a suitable current pulse and launch K4.
- the ink jet print head shown in FIG. 3 is cut at the cutting line S1 in one production step.
- the ink jet print head is shown enlarged in FIGS. 1 and 2 along the section line AB and CD shown in FIG. 3 in the area of the thermal element 2.
- the thermal element 2 is, for example, a bar made of polysilicon arranged on an upper main surface of a substrate 1. The bar extends orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of the channel K, has a width of approximately 1.5 to 2 ⁇ m and a length which is somewhat shorter than the width of a channel K.
- the thermal elements 2 of the individual channels K1, K2, K3, K4 are, as shown in FIG.
- the thermal element 2 serves as a heating resistance zone.
- the substrate 1 may e.g. B. contain a complete integrated drive circuit on a silicon substrate.
- a sufficiently thick heat-storing layer is preferably to be arranged below the thermal element 2, which prevents the main part of the thermal energy generated in the thermal element 2 from being applied
- the heat-storing layer is e.g. B. SiO 2 with a thickness greater than or equal to about 1.0 ⁇ m.
- z. B. a field oxide, preferably with an additional layer of plasma oxide or TEOS, can be used.
- the z. B. may consist of 300 nm plasma oxide and 600 nm plasma nitride.
- This protective layer 3 can completely cover the upper main surface of the substrate 1 and serves to protect the thermal element 2 from erosion by the imploding bubbles in the ink liquid. Furthermore, this protective layer 3 can also protect an inside of the substrate 1 integrated drive circuit in front of mobile ions, which may possibly be contained in the ink liquid.
- a further protective layer 4, which protects against erosion, is preferably provided in the area of the thermal element 2.
- This protective layer 4 extends, as can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, completely beyond the outer contour of the thermal element 2 and additionally beyond the width of the channel K.
- This additional protective layer 4 can, for. For example, from sputtered tantalum (Ta) which is patterned by photolithography and a CF 4/0 2 -Plasmatrockenfordung exist.
- a further substrate 5 with a thickness of preferably 5 to 50 ⁇ m is arranged over the substrate 1 thus prepared on the main surface.
- This substrate 5 determines the depth of the channels K and thus the height of the side walls of the channel K.
- the substrate 5 can, for. B. from plasma oxide (Si0 2 ), so-called Spm-On glasses (SOG), polysiloksanes or polyimide.
- This layer 6 can e.g. B. consist of plasma nitride or polysilicon and have a thickness of about 1 to 3 microns.
- the openings 0, which can be formed by photolithography and subsequent dry etching, are arranged in the layer 6 such that the cavities necessary for the channels K1, K2, K3, K4 and the reservoir R are formed in the substrate 5 in a subsequent isotropic etching process .
- the openings 0 have, for example, a diameter of 1 ⁇ m and are in a row with one another in the region of the channels K1, K2, K3 and K4 and lie in the region of the reservoir, apart from the mentioned support points S, in a large number next to one another and with one another. Furthermore, a window for the feed channel Z from FIG. 3 can be etched out in the layer 6.
- the channels K1, K2, K3 and K4 and the reservoir R are etched by an isotropic etching, which must be sufficiently selective to the layers 3, 4 and 6 mentioned.
- the isotropic etching can be carried out dry with a fluorine-containing plasma, in HF steam or wet with BHF (buffered HF).
- the isotropic etching can be carried out using an O2 plasma.
- a second layer 7 is applied to the layer 6, e.g. B. again by deposition.
- This layer 7 should preferably be sufficiently non-compliant. A complete closure of the openings 0 is thereby facilitated.
- the layer 7 is deposited until the openings 0 are closed (for example plasma Si3N 4 deposition) or is ended beforehand (for example CVD deposition of boron-phosphorus-silicate glass BPSG).
- the sealing with BPSG is preferably accomplished by a subsequent flow process at high temperatures.
- the described method enables closed channels K and reservoirs R to be produced using only a single substrate, a mechanical assembly process of two components as in the prior art no longer being necessary.
- layer 7 can be applied to layer 7 for further stabilization or as protection Layers are applied.
- layer 7 for further stabilization or as protection Layers are applied.
- a large number of the structures shown in FIG. 3 can of course be produced simultaneously on a common substrate and then isolated.
- thermal elements 2 are arranged in the region of the channel bottom of the channels K, it is also possible, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the thermal element 2 to be arranged within the channel K.
- a resistance layer is arranged within the substrate 5, which is then structured by photolithography and etching.
- the resistance layer of the thermal element 2 is arranged at approximately half the height of the substrate 5.
- the substrate 5 is first deposited on a base plate (not shown in FIG. 4) in order to achieve its desired half thickness.
- the resistance layer is then deposited on the substrate 5 and structured, as shown in FIG. 5.
- the thermal element 2 is designed in such a way that a thin beam 2 a hangs within the channel K em, which is suspended on the edge side via wider webs within the substrate 5.
- the thermal element 2 is thus not in contact with the substrate 1, but is suspended within the channel K, so that the energy generated by the thermal element 2 can advantageously be released exclusively to the ink liquid within the channel K.
- the thermal element 2 is automatically exposed. 5, which shows a top view from above along the section line EF in FIG. 4, to the left and right of the beam 2a, wider webs serve as resistance connections and can either from above or below be contacted. Since, in contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermal element 2 is exposed to the ink liquid, it is recommended that the thermal element 2 be made of an erosion-resistant material, e.g. B. tantalum. After the deposition and structuring of the resistance layer forming the thermal element 2, the second part of the substrate 5 is deposited.
- the upper ends of the channels K1, K2, K3 and K4 are provided with outlet openings 15 which are arranged on the end faces of the respective channels K1, K2, K3 and K4.
- the channels K1, K2 of an ink jet print head which are shown in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6, likewise have outlet openings 15 at their channel ends. However, these outlet openings 15 are formed on the upper channel wall by circular openings.
- the outlet openings 15 are located in the layer 6, which is arranged above the substrate 5.
- the diameters of the outlet openings 15 are chosen so large that the openings 0 are securely closed during the isotropic etching process, but the outlet openings 15 themselves are certainly not closed.
- the outlet openings 15 lie parallel to the substrate surface.
- the outlet openings 15 are preferably larger than 1.0 ⁇ m.
- the diameter is expediently chosen between 5 and 50 ⁇ m.
- the outlet openings 15 can be arranged not only in a row but also in a flat manner in a matrix. Furthermore, there is no sawing or breaking like in the Embodiment of Fig. 3 necessary, whereby contamination of the outlet opening 15 can be avoided.
- thermal element 2 consisting of polysilicon with an integrated transistor on a silicon substrate.
- the already known reference symbols stand for the known parts. For the sake of clarity, the representation of the channel K and the layers 6 and 7 has been omitted.
- the thermal element 2 made of low-doped polysilicon is contacted at the edge by highly doped polysilicon.
- the highly doped polysilicon sections are marked with the reference symbol 31.
- the two highly doped polysilicon sections 31 are contracted by metal tracks 30 which act as leads.
- Two heat-storing layers 20, 21 are arranged below the thermal element 2.
- the layer 20, which consists for example of TEOS-Si0 2 is located directly below the thermal element 2. Below this layer 20 there is a further heat-storing layer 21 which, for. B. consists of FOX-Si0 2 .
- the metal track 30 can consist of aluminum or bismuth.
- protective layer 3 is made of plasma-Si0 2 and a layer of plasma-Si ⁇ ß, which extends over the metal track 30 in the area of the MOS transistor.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE19536429A DE19536429A1 (en) | 1995-09-29 | 1995-09-29 | Ink jet printhead and method of making such an ink jet printhead |
DE19536429 | 1995-09-29 | ||
PCT/DE1996/001858 WO1997011849A2 (en) | 1995-09-29 | 1996-09-27 | Ink-jet printing head and method of manufacturing it |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0852539A2 true EP0852539A2 (en) | 1998-07-15 |
EP0852539B1 EP0852539B1 (en) | 1999-07-28 |
Family
ID=7773644
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP96944566A Expired - Lifetime EP0852539B1 (en) | 1995-09-29 | 1996-09-27 | Ink-jet printing head and method of manufacturing it |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US6099106A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0852539B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3065105B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR19990063906A (en) |
DE (2) | DE19536429A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997011849A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6322201B1 (en) | 1997-10-22 | 2001-11-27 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Printhead with a fluid channel therethrough |
JP3327246B2 (en) * | 1999-03-25 | 2002-09-24 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Ink jet recording head and method of manufacturing the same |
US6482574B1 (en) | 2000-04-20 | 2002-11-19 | Hewlett-Packard Co. | Droplet plate architecture in ink-jet printheads |
NL1016735C2 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2002-05-31 | Ocu Technologies B V | Method for forming a nozzle in a member for an inkjet printhead, a nozzle member, an inkjet printhead provided with this nozzle member and an inkjet printer provided with such a printhead. |
US7125731B2 (en) | 2001-10-31 | 2006-10-24 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Drop generator for ultra-small droplets |
US6627467B2 (en) | 2001-10-31 | 2003-09-30 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, Lp. | Fluid ejection device fabrication |
US6698868B2 (en) | 2001-10-31 | 2004-03-02 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Thermal drop generator for ultra-small droplets |
GB2410465A (en) * | 2004-01-29 | 2005-08-03 | Hewlett Packard Development Co | Method of making an inkjet printhead |
JP4706850B2 (en) * | 2006-03-23 | 2011-06-22 | 富士フイルム株式会社 | Nozzle plate manufacturing method, droplet discharge head, and image forming apparatus |
Family Cites Families (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4463359A (en) * | 1979-04-02 | 1984-07-31 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Droplet generating method and apparatus thereof |
JPS58220754A (en) | 1982-06-18 | 1983-12-22 | Canon Inc | Ink jet recording head |
US4609427A (en) * | 1982-06-25 | 1986-09-02 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Method for producing ink jet recording head |
JPH0613219B2 (en) | 1983-04-30 | 1994-02-23 | キヤノン株式会社 | Inkjet head |
US4513298A (en) | 1983-05-25 | 1985-04-23 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Thermal ink jet printhead |
US4532530A (en) | 1984-03-09 | 1985-07-30 | Xerox Corporation | Bubble jet printing device |
US4719477A (en) | 1986-01-17 | 1988-01-12 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Integrated thermal ink jet printhead and method of manufacture |
US4863560A (en) * | 1988-08-22 | 1989-09-05 | Xerox Corp | Fabrication of silicon structures by single side, multiple step etching process |
GB8910961D0 (en) * | 1989-05-12 | 1989-06-28 | Am Int | Method of forming a pattern on a surface |
DE3917434A1 (en) * | 1989-05-29 | 1989-11-09 | Siemens Ag | Multi-layer ink printhead with ink channels which are produced by selective etching |
US5010355A (en) * | 1989-12-26 | 1991-04-23 | Xerox Corporation | Ink jet printhead having ionic passivation of electrical circuitry |
DE69119622T2 (en) * | 1990-01-25 | 1996-10-17 | Canon Kk | Inkjet recording system |
JPH042790A (en) * | 1990-04-18 | 1992-01-07 | Seiko Epson Corp | Method for etching silicon substrate |
US5265315A (en) * | 1990-11-20 | 1993-11-30 | Spectra, Inc. | Method of making a thin-film transducer ink jet head |
JP3231096B2 (en) * | 1991-10-15 | 2001-11-19 | キヤノン株式会社 | Base for liquid jet recording head, method of manufacturing the same, liquid jet recording head, and liquid jet recording apparatus |
JP3402618B2 (en) * | 1991-11-12 | 2003-05-06 | キヤノン株式会社 | Method and apparatus for manufacturing ink jet recording head |
SE9304145D0 (en) * | 1993-12-10 | 1993-12-10 | Pharmacia Lkb Biotech | Ways to manufacture cavity structures |
-
1995
- 1995-09-29 DE DE19536429A patent/DE19536429A1/en not_active Ceased
-
1996
- 1996-09-27 KR KR1019980702379A patent/KR19990063906A/en active IP Right Grant
- 1996-09-27 JP JP9513083A patent/JP3065105B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-09-27 DE DE59602566T patent/DE59602566D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-09-27 WO PCT/DE1996/001858 patent/WO1997011849A2/en active IP Right Grant
- 1996-09-27 EP EP96944566A patent/EP0852539B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1998
- 1998-03-30 US US09/052,346 patent/US6099106A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2000
- 2000-03-17 US US09/528,417 patent/US6397467B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9711849A2 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0852539B1 (en) | 1999-07-28 |
WO1997011849A2 (en) | 1997-04-03 |
DE19536429A1 (en) | 1997-04-10 |
JP3065105B2 (en) | 2000-07-12 |
DE59602566D1 (en) | 1999-09-02 |
JPH10512205A (en) | 1998-11-24 |
WO1997011849A3 (en) | 1997-06-05 |
US6397467B1 (en) | 2002-06-04 |
KR19990063906A (en) | 1999-07-26 |
US6099106A (en) | 2000-08-08 |
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