EP2089229A1 - Inkjet nozzle assembly having thermal bend actuator with an active beam defining substantial part of nozzle chamber roof - Google Patents

Inkjet nozzle assembly having thermal bend actuator with an active beam defining substantial part of nozzle chamber roof

Info

Publication number
EP2089229A1
EP2089229A1 EP06827989A EP06827989A EP2089229A1 EP 2089229 A1 EP2089229 A1 EP 2089229A1 EP 06827989 A EP06827989 A EP 06827989A EP 06827989 A EP06827989 A EP 06827989A EP 2089229 A1 EP2089229 A1 EP 2089229A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nozzle assembly
actuator
inkjet nozzle
optionally
roof
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
Application number
EP06827989A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2089229B1 (en
EP2089229A4 (en
Inventor
Gregory John Mcavoy
Misty Bagnat
Vincent Patrick Lawlor
Emma Rose Kerr
Kia Silverbrook
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Zamtec Ltd
Original Assignee
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd filed Critical Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Priority to SI200631460T priority Critical patent/SI2089229T1/en
Priority to PL06827989T priority patent/PL2089229T3/en
Publication of EP2089229A1 publication Critical patent/EP2089229A1/en
Publication of EP2089229A4 publication Critical patent/EP2089229A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2089229B1 publication Critical patent/EP2089229B1/en
Priority to CY20121101049T priority patent/CY1113795T1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • B41J2/14427—Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
    • 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/05—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers produced by the application of heat
    • 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
    • B41J2/14427—Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
    • B41J2002/14435—Moving nozzle made of thermal bend detached actuator
    • 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
    • B41J2202/15—Moving nozzle or nozzle plate

Definitions

  • the first beam is comprised of an aluminium alloy.
  • said porous material is porous silicon dioxide.
  • the second beam is comprised of a porous material.
  • said aluminium alloy comprises aluminium and at least one other metal having a Young's modulus of more than 100 GPa.
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of the nozzle assembly shown in Figure 2(A);
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of a printhead integrated circuit comprising an array of nozzle assemblies, as shown in Figures 2(A) and 3;
  • the nozzle assembly 3QO is constructed (by way of MEMS technology) on a substrate 301 defining an ink supply aperture 302 opening through a hexagonal inlet 303 (which could be of any other suitable configuration) into a chamber 304.
  • the chamber is defined by a floor portion 305, roof portion 306 and peripheral sidewalls 307 and 308 which overlap in a telescopic manner.
  • the sidewalls 307, depending downwardly from roof portion 306, are sized to be able to move upwardly and downwardly within sidewalls 308 which depend upwardly from floor portion 305.
  • the nozzle assembly 500 shown in Figures 13 to 15 is similar to the nozzle assembly 400 insofar as a thermal bend actuator 510, having an upper active beam 511 and a lower passive beam 512, defines a 5 moving portion of a roof 504 of the nozzle chamber 501.
  • the nozzle assembly 500 achieves the same advantages, in terms of increased power, as the nozzle assembly 400.

Landscapes

  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Micromachines (AREA)

Abstract

An inkjet nozzle assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof. The roof has a nozzle opening defined therein, and a moving portion moveable towards the floor. The assembly further comprises a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of cantilever beams, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening. A first active beam of the actuator defines at least 30% of a total area of the roof.

Description

INKJET NOZZLE ASSEMBLY HAVING THERMAL BEND ACTUATOR WITH AN ACTIVE BEAM DEFINING SUBSTANTIAL PART OF NOZZLE CHAMBER ROOF
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to thermal bend actuators. It has been developed primarily to provide improved inkjet nozzles which eject ink via thermal bend actuation.
Cross References
The following patents or patent applications filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention are hereby incorporated by cross-reference.
09/517539 6566858 6331946 6246970 6442525 09/517384 09/505951 6374354 09/517608 6816968 6757832 6334190 6745331 09/517541 10/203559 10/203560 7093139 10/636263 10/636283 10/866608 10/902889. 10/902833 10/940653 10/942858 10/727181 10/727162 10/727163 10/727245 7121639 10/727233 10/727280 10/727157 10/727178 7096137 10/727257 10/727238 . 10/727251 10/727159 10/727180 10/727179 10/727192 10/727274 10/727164 10/727161 10/727198 10/727158 10/754536 10/754938 10/727227 10/727160 10/934720 11/212702 11/272491 11/474278 11/488853 11/488841 ■ 10/296522 6795215 7070098 09/575109 6805419 6859289 6977751 6398332 6394573 6622923 6747760 6921144 10/884881 7092112 10/949294 11/039866 11/123011 6986560 7008033 11/148237 11/248435 11/248426 11/478599 11/499749 10/922846 10/922845 10/854521 10/854522 10/854488 10/854487 10/854503 10/854504 10/854509 10/854510 7093989 10/854497 10/854495 10/854498 10/854511 10/854512 10/854525 10/854526 10/854516 10/854508 10/854507 10/854515 10/854506 10/854505 10/854493 10/854494 10/854489 10/854490 10/854492 10/854491 10/854528 10/854523 10/854527 10/854524 10/854520 10/854514 10/854519 10/854513 10/854499 10/854501 10/854500 10/854502 10/854518 10/854517 10/934628 11/212823 11/499803 11/544764 11/544765 11/544772 11/544773 11/544774 11/544775 11/544776 11/544766 11/544767 11/544771 11/544770 11/544769 11/544777 11/544768 11/544763 10/728804 7128400 7108355 6991322 10/728790 7118197 10/728970 10/728784 10/728783 7077493 6962402 10/728803 10/728780 10/728779 7118198 10/773204 10/773198 10/773199 6830318 10/773201 10/773191 10/773183 7108356 71 18202 10/773186 10/773200 10/773185 10/773192 10/773197 10/773203 10/773187 10/773202 10/773188 7118201 7111926 10/773184 7018021 11/060751 11/060805 11/188017 7128402 11/298774 11/329157 11/490041 11/501767 11/499736 11/505935 11/506172 11/505846 11/505857 11/505856 11/524908 11/524938 11/524900
IJ73-PCT /524912 11/592999 11/592995 6746105 10/407212 10/407207 10/683064/683041 6750901 6476863 6788336 11/097308 11/097309 11/097335/097299 11/097310 11/097213 11/210687 11/097212 11/212637 11/545509/760272 10/760273 7083271 10/760182 7080894 10/760218 7090336/760216 10/760233 10/760246 7083257 10/760243 10/760201 10/760185/760253 10/760255 10/760209 7118192 10/760194 10/760238 7077505/760235 7077504 10/760189 10/760262 10/760232 10/760231 .10/760200/760190 10/760191 10/760227 7108353 7104629 11/446227 11/454904/472345 11/474273 11/478594 11/474279 11/482939 11/482950 11/499709/592984 10/815625 10/815624 10/8-15628 10/913375 10/913373 10/913374/913372 10/913377 10/913378 10/913380 ■ 10/913379 10/913376 7122076/986402 11/172816 11/172815 11/172814 11/482990 11/482986 11/482985/454899 11/583942 11/592990 60/851754 11/003786 11/003616 11/003418/003334 11/003600 11/003404 11/003419 11/003700 11/003601 11/003618/003615 11/003337 11/003698 11/003420 6984017 11/003699 11/071473/003463 11/003701 11/003683 11/003614 11/003702 11/003684 11/003619/003617 11/293800 11/293802 11/293801 11/293808 11/293809 11/482975/482970 11/482968 11/482972 11/482971 11/482969 11/246676 11/246677/246678 11/246679 11/246680 11/246681 11/246714 11/246713 11/246689/246671 11/246670 11/246669 11/246704 11/246710 11/246688 11/246716/246715 11/293832 11/293838 11/293825 11/293841 11/293799 11/293796/293797 11/293798 11/293804 11/293840 11/293803 11/293833 11/293834/293835 11/293836 11/293837 11/293792 11/293794 11/293839 11/293826/293829 11/293830 11/293827 11/293828 ' 11/293795 11/293823 11/293824/293831 11/293815 11/293819 11/293818 11/293817 11/293816 10/760254/760210 10/760202 10/760197 10/760198 10/760249 10/760263 10/760196/760247 10/760223 10/760264 10/760244 7097291 10/760222 10/76024883273 10/760192 10/760203 10/760204 10/760205 10/760206 10/760267/760270 10/760259 10/760271 10/760275 10/760274 7121655 10/760184/760195 10/760186 10/760261 7083272 11/501771 11/583874 11/014764/014763 11/014748 11/014747 11/014761 11/014760 11/014757 11/014714/014713 11/014762 11/014724 11/014723 11/014756 11/014736 11/014759/014758 11/014725 11/014739 11/014738 11/014737 11/014726 11/014745/014712 11/014715 11/014751 11/014735 11/014734 11/014719 . 11/014750/014749 11/014746 11/014769 11/014729 11/014743 11/014733 11/014754/014755 11/014765 11/014766 11/014740 11/014720 11/014753 11/014752/014744 11/014741 11/014768 11/014767 11/014718 11/014717 11/014716/014732 ' 11/014742 11/097268 11/097185 11/097184 11/293820 11/293813/293822 11/293812 11/293821 11/293814 11/293793 11/293842 11/293811/293807 11/293806 11/293805 11/293810 09/575197 7079712 09/575123 6825945 09/575165 6813039 6987506 7038797 6980318 6816274
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Backaround ofthe Invention
The present Applicant has described previously a plethora of MEMS inkjet nozzles using thermal bend actuation. Thermal bend actuation generally means bend movement generated by thermal expansion of one material, having a current passing therethough, relative to another material. The resulting bend movement may be used to eject ink from a nozzle opening, optionally via movement of a paddle or vane, which creates a pressure wave in a nozzle chamber.
Some representative types of thermal bend Lnkjet nozzles are exemplified in the patents and patent applications listed in the cross reference section above, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The Applicant's US Patent No. 6,416, 167 describes an inkjet nozzle having a paddle positioned in a nozzle chamber and a thermal bend actuator positioned externally of the nozzle chamber. The actuator takes the form of a lower active beam of conductive material (e.g. titanium nitride) fused to an upper passive beam of non-conductive material (e.g. silicon dioxide). The actuator is connected to the paddle via an arm received through a slot in the wall of the nozzle chamber. Upon passing a current through the lower active beam, the actuator bends upwards and, consequently, the paddle moves towards a nozzle opening defined in a roof of the nozzle chamber, thereby ejecting a droplet of ink. An advantage of this design is its simplicity of construction. A drawback of this design is that both faces of the paddle work against the relatively viscous ink inside the nozzle chamber.
The Applicant's US Patent No. 6,260,953 (assigned to the present Applicant) describes an inkjet nozzle in which the actuator forms a moving roof portion of the nozzle chamber. The actuator is takes the form of a serpentine core of conductive material encased by a polymeric material. Upon actuation, the actuator bends towards a floor of the nozzle chamber, increasing the pressure within the chamber and forcing a droplet of ink from a nozzle opening defined in the roof of the chamber. The nozzle opening is defined in a non-moving portion of the roof. An advantage of this design is that only one face of the moving roof portion has to work against the relatively viscous ink inside the nozzle chamber. A drawback of this design- is that construction of the actuator from a serpentine conductive element encased by polymeric material is difficult to achieve in a MEMS process. The Applicant's US Patent No. 6,623,101 describes an inkjet nozzle comprising a nozzle chamber with a moveable roof portion having a nozzle opening defined therein. The moveable roof portion is connected via an arm to a thermal bend actuator positioned externally of the nozzle chamber. The actuator takes the form of an upper active beam spaced apart from a Lower passive beam. By spacing the active and 5 passive beams apart, thermal bend efficiency is maximized since the passive beam cannot act as heat sink for the active beam. Upon passing a current through the active upper beam, the moveable roof portion, having the nozzle opening defined therein, is caused to rotate towards a floor of the nozzle chamber, thereby ejecting through the nozzle opening. Since the nozzle opening moves with the roof portion, drop flight direction may be controlled by suitable modification of the shape of the nozzle rim. An advantage of this design is that only 10 one face of the moving roof portion has to work against the relatively viscous ink inside the nozzle chamber. A further advantage is the minimal thermal losses achieved by spacing apart the active and passive beam members. A drawback of this design is the loss of structural rigidity in spacing apart the active and passive . beam members.
There is a need to improve upon the design of thermal bend inkjet nozzles, so as to achieve more • 15 efficient drop ejection and improved mechanical robustness.
Summary of the Invention
In a First aspect the present invention provides an inkjet nozzle assembly comprising: 20 . a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof, said roof having a nozzle opening defined therein, said roof having a moving portion moveable towards the floor; and a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of cantilever beams, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening, said actuator comprising: a first active beam for connection to drive circuitry; and 25 a second passive beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam, resulting in bending of the actuator,
Optionally, the first active beam defines at least 30% of a total area of the roof.
30 Optionally, said moving portion comprises the actuator.
Optionally, the first active beam defines at least part of an exterior surface of said roof.
Optionally, the nozzle opening is defined in the moving portion, such that the nozzle opening is moveable 35 relative to the floor.
Optionally, the actuator is moveable relative to the nozzle opening.
Optionally, the first beam is defined by a tortuous beam element, said tortuous beam element having a 40 plurality of contiguous beam members. Optionally, the plurality of contiguous beam members comprises a plurality of longer beam members extending along a longitudinal axis of the first beam, and at least one shorter beam member extending across a transverse axis of the first beam and interconnecting longer beam members.
.Optionally, one of said plurality of beams is comprised of a porous material
Optionally, said porous material is porous silicon dioxide having a dielectric constant of 2 or less.
Optionally, the thermal bend actuator further comprises a third insulation beam sandwiched between the first beam and the second beam.
Optionally, the third insulation beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, the first beam is fused or bonded to the second beam. ' .
Optionally, the second beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, at least part of the first beam is spaced apart from the second beam.
Optionally, the first beam is comprised of a material selected from the group comprising: titanium nitride, titanium aluminium nitride and an aluminium alloy.
Optionally, the first beam is comprised of an aluminium alloy.
Optionally, said aluminium alloy comprises aluminium and at least one other metal having a Young's modulus of more than 100 GPa.
Optionally, said at least one metal is selected from the group comprising: vanadium, manganese, chromium, cobalt and nickel.
Optionally, said alloy comprises aluminum and vanadium.
Optionally, said alloy comprises at least 80% aluminium.
In a second aspect the present invention provides a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of elements, comprising: • a first active element for connection to drive circuitry; and a second passive element mechanically cooperating with the first element, such that when a current is passed through the first element, the first element expands relative to the second element, resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein the first element is comprised of an aluminium alloy. Optionally, said aluminium alloy comprises aluminium and at least one other metal having a Young's modulus of more than 100 GPa.
Optionally, said at least one metal is selected from the group comprising: vanadium, manganese, chromium, cobalt and nickel.
Optionally, said alloy comprises aluminum and vanadium.
Optionally, said alloy comprises at least 80% aluminium.
Optionally, said first and second elements are cantilever beams.
Optionally, the first beam is fused or bonded to the second beam along a longitudinal axis thereof.
Optionally, at least part of the second beam is spaced apart from the first beam, thereby insulating the first beam from at least part of the second beam.
Optionally, one of said plurality of elements is comprised of a porous material
Optionally, said porous material has a dielectric constant of about 2 or less.
Optionally, said porous material is porous silicon dioxide.
Optionally, a third insulation beam is sandwiched between the first beam and the second beam.
Optionally, the third insulation beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, the second beam is comprised of a porous material.
In a further aspect the present invention provides an inkjet nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet; and a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of cantilever beams, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening, said actuator comprising: a first active beam for connection to drive circuitry; and a second passive beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam, resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein the first beam is comprised of an aluminium alloy. Optionally, the nozzle chamber comprises a floor and a roof having a moving portion, whereby actuation of said actuator moves said moving portion towards said floor.
Optionally, the moving portion comprises the actuator.
Optionally, the first active beam defines at least 30% of a total area of the roof.
Optionally, the first active beam defines at least part of an exterior surface of said nozzle chamber.
■ Optionally, the nozzle opening is defined in the moving portion, such that the nozzle opening is moveable relative to the floor.
In a third aspect the present invention provides a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of elements, comprising: a first active element for connection to drive circuitry; and a second passive element mechanically cooperating with the first element, such that when a current is passed through the first element, the first element expands relative to the second element, resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein one of said plurality of elements is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, said porous material has a dielectric constant of about 2 or less.
Optionally, said porous material is porous silicon dioxide.
Optionally, said first and second elements are cantilever beams.
In a further aspect there is provides a thermal bend actuator further comprising a third insulation beam sandwiched between the first beam and the second beam.
Optionally, the third insulation beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, the first beam is fused or bonded to the second beam along a longitudinal axis thereof.
Optionally, the second beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, the first element is comprised of a material selected from the group comprising: titanium nitride, titanium aluminium nitride and an aluminium alloy-
Optionally, the first element is comprised of an aluminium alloy. Optionally, said aluminium alloy comprises aluminium and at least one other metal having a Young's modulus of more than 100 GPa.
Optionally, said at least one metal is selected from the group comprising: vanadium, manganese, chromium, cobalt and nickel.
Optionally, said alloy comprises aluminum and vanadium.
Optionally, said alloy comprises at least 80% aluminium.
In another aspect the present invention provides an inkjet nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet; and a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of cantilever beams, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening, said actuator comprising: a first active beam for connection to drive circuitry; and a second passive beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam, resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein one of said plurality of beams is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, the nozzle chamber comprises a floor and a roof having a moving portion, whereby actuation of said actuator moves said moving portion towards said floor.
Optionally, the moving portion comprises the actuator.
Optionally, the first active beam defines at least 30% of a total area of the roof.
Optionally, the first active beam defines at least part of an exterior surface of said nozzle chamber.
Optionally, the nozzle opening is defined in the moving portion, such that the nozzle opening is moveable relative to the floor.
In a fourth aspect the present invention provides an inkjet nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof, said roof having a nozzle opening defined therein, said roof having a moving portion moveable towards the floor; and a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of cantilever beams, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening, said actuator comprising: a first active beam for connection to drive circuitry; and a second passive beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam, resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein said moving portion comprises the actuator. Optionally, the first active beam defines at least 30% of a total area ofthe roof.
Optionally, the first active beam defines at least part of an exterior surface of said roof.
Optionally, the nozzle opening is defined in the moving portion, such that the nozzle opening is moveable relative to the floor portion.
Optionally, the actuator is moveable' relative to the nozzle opening. . .
Optionally, the first beam is defined by a tortuous beam element, said tortuous beam element having a plurality of contiguous beam members.
Optionally, the plurality of contiguous beam members comprises a plurality of longer beam members extending along a longitudinal axis ofthe first beam, and at least one shorter beam member extending across a transverse axis ofthe first beam and interconnecting longer beam members.
Optionally, one of said plurality of beams is comprised of a porous material
Optionally, said porous material is porous silicon dioxide having a dielectric constant of 2 or less.
Optionally, the thermal bend actuator further comprises a third insulation beam sandwiched between the first beam and the second beam.
Optionally, the third insulation beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, the first beam is fused or bonded to the second beam.
Optionally, the second beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, at least part ofthe first beam is spaced apart from the second beam.
Optionally, the first beam is comprised of a material selected from the group comprising: titanium nitride, titanium aluminium nitride and an aluminium alloy.
Optionally, the first beam is comprised of an aluminium alloy.
Optionally, said aluminium alloy comprises aluminium and at least one other metal having a Young's modulus of more than 100 GPa. Optionally, said at least one metal is selected from the group comprising: vanadium, manganese, chromium, cobalt and nickel.
Optionally, said alloy comprises aluminum and vanadium.
Optionally, said alloy comprises at least 80% aluminium.
In a fifth aspect the present invention provides an inkjet nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof, said roof having a nozzle opening defined therein, said roof having 'a moving portion moveable towards the floor; and a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of cantilever beams, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening, said actuator comprising: a first active beam for connection to drive circuitry; and a second passive beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam, resulting in bending of the actuator, •wherein the first active beam defines at least part of an exterior surface of said roof.
Optionally, said moving portion comprises the actuator.
Optionally, the first active beam defines at least 30% of a total area of the roof.
Optionally, the nozzle opening is defined in the moving portion, such that the nozzle opening is moveable relative to the floor.
Optionally, the actuator is moveable relative to the nozzle opening.
Optionally, the first beam is defined by a tortuous beam element, said tortuous beam element having a plurality of contiguous beam members.
Optionally, the tortuous beam element comprises a plurality of longer beam members and at least one shorter beam member, each longer beam member extending along a longitudinal axis of the first beam and being interconnected by a shorter beam member extending across a transverse axis of the first beam.
Optionally, one of said plurality of beams is comprised of a porous material
Optionally, said porous material is porous silicon dioxide having a dielectric constant of 2 or less. '
Optionally, the thermal bend actuator further comprises a third insulation beam sandwiched between the first beam and the second beam. Optionally, the third insulation beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, the first beam is fused or bonded to the second beam.
Optionally, the second beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, at least part of the first beam is spaced apart from the second beam.
Optionally, the first beam is comprised of a material selected from the group comprising: titanium nitride, titanium aluminium nitride and an aluminium alloy.
Optionally, the first beam is comprised of an aluminium alloy.
Optionally, said aluminium alloy comprises aluminium and at least one other metal having a Young's modulus of more than 100 GPa.
Optionally, said at least one metal is selected from the group comprising: vanadium, manganese, chromium, cobalt and nickel.
Optionally, said alloy comprises aluminum and vanadium.
Optionally, said alloy comprises at least 80% aluminium.
In a sixth aspect the present invention provides a thermal, bend actuator, having a plurality of elongate cantilever beams, comprising: a first active beam for connection to drive circuitry, said first beam being defined by a tortuous beam element, said tortuous beam element having a plurality of contiguous beam members; and a second passive beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam, resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein the plurality of contiguous beam members comprises a plurality of longer beam members extending • along a longitudinal axis of the first beam, and at least one shorter beam member extending across a transverse axis of the first beam and interconnecting longer beam members.
Optionally, said first beam is connected to said drive circuitry via a pair of electrical contacts positioned at one end of said actuator.
Optionally, a first electrical contact is connected to a first end of said tortuous beam element and a second electrical contact is connected to a second end of said tortuous beam element. Optionally, one of said plurality of beams is comprised of a porous material
Optionally, said porous material is porous silicon dioxide having a dielectric constant of 2 or less.
In a further aspect there is provided<a thermal bend actuator further comprising a third insulation beam sandwiched between the first beam and the second beam.
Optionally, the third insulation beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, the .first beam is fused or bonded to the second beam.
Optionally, the second beam is comprised of a porous material.
Optionally, at least part of the first beam is spaced apart from the second beam.
Optionally, the first beam is comprised of a material selected from the group comprising: titanium nitride, ■ titanium aluminium nitride and an aluminium alloy.
In a further aspect the present invention provides an inkjet nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet; and a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of cantilever beams, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening, said actuator comprising: a first active beam for connection to drive circuitry, said first beam being defined by a tortuous beam element, said tortuous beam element comprising a plurality of contiguous beam members; and a second passive beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first element expands relative to the second beam, resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein the plurality of contiguous beam members comprises a plurality of longer beam members extending along a longitudinal axis of the first beam, and at least one shorter beam member extending across a transverse axis of the first beam and interconnecting longer beam members.
Optionally, the nozzle chamber comprises a floor and a roof having a moving portion, whereby actuation of said actuator moves said moving portion towards said floor.
Optionally, the moving portion comprises the actuator.
Optionally, the first active beam defines at least 30% of a total area of the roof.
Optionally, the first active beam defines at least part of an exterior surface of said nozzle chamber. Optionally, the nozzle opening is defined in the moving portion, such that tne nozzle opening is moveable relative to the floor.
Optionally, the actuator is moveable relative to the nozzle opening.
In a further aspect there is provided an inkjet nozzle assembly further comprising a pair of electrical contacts positioned at one end ofsaid actuator, said electrical contacts providing electrical connection between said tortuous beam element and said drive circuitry.
Optionally, a first electrical contact is connected to a first end ofsaid tortuous beam element and a second electrical contact is connected to a second end of said tortuous beam element.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a bi-layered thermal bend actuator comprising an active beam formed from aluminium- vanadium alloy;
Figures 2(A)-(C) are schematic side sectional views of an inkjet nozzle assembly comprising a fused thermal bend actuator at various stages of operation;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the nozzle assembly shown in Figure 2(A); Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of a printhead integrated circuit comprising an array of nozzle assemblies, as shown in Figures 2(A) and 3;
Figure 5 is a cutaway perspective view of an inkjet nozzle assembly comprising a spaced apart thermal bend actuator and moving roof structure;
Figure 6 is a cutaway perspective view of the inkjet nozzle assembly shown in Figure 5 in an actuated configuration; Figure 7 is a cutaway perspective view of the inkjet nozzle assembly shown in Figure 5 immediately after de-actuation;
Figure 8 is a side sectional view of the nozzle assembly shown in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a side sectional view of an inkjet nozzle assembly comprising a roof having a moving portion defined by a thermal bend actuator; Figure 10 is a cutaway perspective view of the nozzle assembly shown in Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the nozzle assembly shown in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a cutaway perspective view of an array of the nozzle assemblies shown in Figure 10; Figure 13 is a side sectional view of an alternative inkjet nozzle assembly comprising a roof having a moving portion defined by a thermal bend actuator; Figure 14 is a cutaway perspective view of the nozzle assembly shown in Figure 13;
Figure 15 is a perspective view of the nozzle assembly shown in Figure 13; Figure 16 is a schematic side view of a tri-layered thermal bend actuator comprising a sandwiched insulating beam formed of porous material; and
Figure 17 is a schematic side view of a bi-layered thermal bend actuator comprising a passive beam formed of porous material. Detailed Description of the Invention
Thermoelastic Active Element Comprised of Aluminium Alloy
Typically, a MEMS thermal bend actuator (or thermoelastic actuator) comprises a pair of elements in the form of an active element and a passive element, which constrains linear expansion of the active element. The active element is required to undergo greater thermoelastic expansion relative to the passive element, thereby providing a bending motion. The elements may be fused or bonded together for maximum structural integrity or spaced apart for minimizing thermal losses to the passive element.
Hitherto, we described titanium nitride as being a suitable candidate for an active thermoelastic element in a thermal bend actuator (see, for example, US 6,416,167). Other suitable materials described in, for example, Applicant's US Patent No. 6,428,133 are TiB2, MoSi2 and TiAlN.
In terms of its high thermal expansion and low density, aluminium is strong candidate for use as an active thermoelastic element. However, aluminum suffers from a relatively low Young's modulus, which detracts from its overall thermoelastic efficiency. Accordingly, aluminium had previously been disregarded as a suitable material for use an active thermoelastic element.
However, it has now been found that aluminium alloys are excellent materials for use as thermoelastic active elements, since they combine the advantageous properties of high thermal expansion, low density and high Young's modulus.
Typically, aluminium is alloyed with at least one metal having a Young's modulus of > 100 GPa. Typically, aluminium is alloyed with at least one metal selected from the group comprising: vanadium, . manganese, chromium, cobalt and nickel. Surprisingly, it has been found that the excellent thermal expansion properties of aluminium are not compromised when alloyed with such metals.
Optionally, the alloy comprises at least 60%, optionally at least 70%, optionally at least 80% or optionally at least 90% aluminium. Figure 1 shows a bimorph thermal bend actuator 200 in the form of a cantilever beam 201. fixed to a post 202. The cantilever beam 201 comprises a lower active beam 210 bonded to an upper passive beam 220 of silicon dioxide. The thermoelastic efficiencies of the actuator 200 were compared for active beams comprised of: (i) 100% Al; (ii) 95% Al/5% V; and (iii) 90% Al/ 10% V.
Thermoelastic efficiencies were compared by stimulating the active beam 210 with a short electrical pulse and measuring the energy required to establish a peak oscillatory velocity of 3 m/s, as determined by a laser interferometer. The results are shown in the Table below:
Thus, the 95% Al/5% V alloy required 2.08 times less energy than the comparable 100% Al device. Further, the 90% Al/ 10% V alloy required 2.12 times less energy than the comparable 100% Al device. It was therefore concluded that aluminium alloys are excellent candidates for use as active theπno elastic elements in a range of MEMS applications, including thermal bend actuators for inkjet nozzles.
InkJet Nozzles Comprising a Thermal Bend Actuator There now follows a description of typical inkjet nozzles, which may incorporate a thermal bend actuator having an active element comprised of aluminium alloy.
Nozzle Assembly Comprising Fused Thermal Bend Actuator
Turning initially to Figures 2(A) and 3, there are shown schematic illustrations of a nozzle assembly 100 according to a first embodiment. The nozzle assembly 100 is formed by MEMS processes on a passivation layer 2 of a silicon substrate 3, as described in US 6,416,167. The nozzle assembly 100 comprises a nozzle chamber I having a roof 4 and sidewall 5. The nozzle chamber 1 is filled with ink 6 by means of an ink inlet channel 7 etched through the substrate 3. The nozzle chamber 1 further includes a nozzle opening 8 for ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber. An ink meniscus 20 is pinned across a rim 21 of the nozzle opening 8, as shown in Figure 2(A).
The nozzle assembly 100 further comprises a paddle 9, positioned inside the nozzle chamber 1, which is interconnected via an arm 11 to an actuator 10 positioned externally of the nozzle, chamber. As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the arm extends through a slot 12 in nozzle chamber 1. Surface tension of ink within the slot 12 is sufficient to provide a fluidic seal for ink contained in the nozzle chamber 1. The actuator 10 comprises a plurality of elongate actuator units 13, which are spaced apart transversely. Each actuator unit extends between a fixed post 14, which is mounted on the passivation layer 2, and the arm 11. Hence, the post 14 provides a pivot for the bending motion of the actuator 10.
Each actuator unit 13 comprises a first active beam 15 and a second passive beam 16 fused to an upper face of the active beam. The active beam 15 is conductive and connected to drive circuitry in a CMOS layer of the substrate 3. The passive beam 16 is typically non-conductive.
Referring now to Figure 2(B), when current flows through the active beam 15, it is heated and undergoes thermal expansion relative to the passive beam 16. This causes upward bending movement of the actuator 10, which is magnified into a rotational movement of the paddle 9. '
This consequential paddle movement causes a general increase in pressure around the ink meniscus 20 which expands, as illustrated in Figure l(B), in a rapid manner. Subsequently the actuator is deactivated, which causes the paddle 9 to return to its quiescent position (Figure 2(C)).
During this pulsing cycle, a droplet of ink 17 is ejected from the nozzle opening 8 and at the same time ink 6 reflows into the nozzle chamber 1 via the ink inlet 7. The forward momentum of the ink outside the nozzle rim 21 and the corresponding backflow results in a general necking and breaking off of the droplet 17 which proceeds towards a print medium, as shown in Figure 2(C). The collapsed meniscus 20 causes ink 6 to be sucked into the nozzle chamber 1 via the ink inlet 7. The nozzle chamber 1 is refilled such that the position in Figure 2(A) is again reached and the nozzle assembly 100 is ready for the ejection of another droplet of ink.
Turning to Figure 3, it will be seen that the actuator units 13 are tapered with respect to their transverse axes, having a narrower end connected to the post 14 and a wider end connected to the arm 11. This tapering ensures that maximum resistive heating takes place near the post 14, thereby maximizing the thermoelastic bending motion.
Typically, the passive beam 16 is comprised of silicon dioxide or TEOS deposited by CVD. As shown in the Figures 2 to 4, the arm 11 is formed from the same material. In the present invention, the active beam 15 is comprised of an aluminum alloy, preferably an aluminum-vanadium alloy as described above.
Nozzle Assembly Comprising Spaced Apart Thermal Bend Actuator
Turning now to Figures 5 to 8, there is shown a nozzle assembly 300, in accordance with a second embodiment. Referring to Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, the nozzle assembly 3QO is constructed (by way of MEMS technology) on a substrate 301 defining an ink supply aperture 302 opening through a hexagonal inlet 303 (which could be of any other suitable configuration) into a chamber 304. The chamber is defined by a floor portion 305, roof portion 306 and peripheral sidewalls 307 and 308 which overlap in a telescopic manner. The sidewalls 307, depending downwardly from roof portion 306, are sized to be able to move upwardly and downwardly within sidewalls 308 which depend upwardly from floor portion 305.
The ejection nozzle is formed by rim 309 located in the roof portion 306 so as to define an opening for • the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber as will be described further below.
The roof portion 306 and downwardly depending sidewalls 307 are supported by a bend actuator 310 typically made up of layers forming a Joule heated cantilever which is constrained by a non-heated cantilever, so that heating of the Joule heated cantilever causes a differential expansion between the Joule heated cantilever and the non-heated cantilever causing the bend actuator 310 to bend.
The proximal end 311 of the bend actuator is fastened to the substrate 301, and prevented from moving backwards by an anchor member 312 which will be described further below, and the distal end 313 is secured to, and supports, the roof portion 306 and sidewalls 307 of the ink jet nozzle.
In use, ink is supplied into the nozzle chamber through passage 302 and opening 303 in any suitable manner, but typically as described in our previously referenced co-pending patent applications. When it is desired to eject a drop of ink from the nozzle chamber, an electric current is supplied to the bend actuator 310 causing the actuator to bend to the position shown in Figure 6 and move the roof portion 306 downwardly toward the floor portion 305. This relative movement decreases the volume of the nozzle chamber, causing ink to bulge upwardly through the nozzle rim 309 as shown at 314 (Fig. 6) where it is formed to a droplet by the surface tension in the ink.
As the' electric current is withdrawn from the bend actuator 310, the actuator reverts to the straight configuration as shown in Figure 7 moving the roof portion 306 of the nozzle chamber upwardly to the original location. The momentum of the partially formed ink droplet 314 causes the droplet to continue to move upwardly forming an ink drop 315 as shown in Fig. 7 which is projected on to the adjacent paper surface or other article to be printed.
In one form of the invention, the opening 303 in floor portion 305 is relatively large compared with the cross-section of the nozzle chamber and the ink droplet is caused to be ejected through the nozzle rim 309 upon downward movement of the roof portion 306 by viscous drag in the sidewalls of the aperture 302, and in the supply conduits leading from the ink reservoir (not shown) to the opening 302. In order to prevent ink leaking from the nozzle chamber during actuation ie. during bending of the bend actuator 310, a fluidic seal is formed between sidewalk 307 and 308 as will now be further described with specific reference to Figures 7 and 8.
The ink is retained in the nozzle chamber during relative movement of the roof portion 306 and floor portion 305 by the geometric features of the sidewalls 307 and 308 which ensure that ink is retained within the nozzle chamber by surface tension. To this end, there is provided a very fine gap between downwardly depending sidewall 307 and the mutually facing surface 316 of the upwardly depending sidewall 308. As can be clearly seen in Fig. 8 the ink (shown as a dark shaded area) is restrained within the small aperture between the downwardly depending sidewall 307 and inward faces 316 of the upwardly extending sidewall by the proximity of the two sidewalls which ensures that the ink "self seals" across free opening 317 by surface tension, due to the close proximity of the sidewalls.
In order to make provision for any ink which may escape the surface tension restraint due to impurities or other factors which may break the surface tension, the upwardly depending sidewall 308 is provided in the form of an upwardly facing channel having not only the inner surface 316 but a spaced apart parallel outer surface 18 forming a U-shaped channel 319 between the two surfaces. Any ink drops escaping from the surface tension between the surfaces 307 and 316, overflows' into the U-shaped channel where it is retained rather than "wicking" across the surface of the nozzle strata. In this manner, a dual wall fluidic seal is formed which is effective in retaining the ink within the moving nozzle mechanism.
Referring to Figure 8, it will been seen that the actuator 310 is comprised of a first, active beam 358 arranged above and spaced apart from a second, passive beam 360. By spacing apart the two beams, thermal transfer from the active beam 358 to the passive beam 360 is minimized. Accordingly, this spaced apart arrangement has the advantage of maximizing ttiermoelastic efficiency. In the present invention, the active beam 358 may be comprised of an aluminium alloy, as described above, such as aluminium-vanadium alloy.
Thermal Bend Actuator Defining Moving Nozzle Roof
The embodiments exemplified by Figures 5 to 8 showed a nozzle assembly 300 comprising a nozzle chamber 304 having a roof portion 306 which moves relative to a floor portion 305 of. the chamber. The moveable roof portion 306 is actuated to move towards the floor portion 305 by means of a bi-layered thermal bend actuator 310 positioned externally of the nozzle chamber 305. A moving roof lowers the drop ejection energy, since only one face of the moving structure has to do work against the viscous ink. However, there is still a need to increase the amount of power available for drop ejection. By increasing the amount of power, a shorter pulse width can be used to provide the same amount of energy. With shorter pulse widths, improved drop ejection characteristics can be achieved. One means for increasing actuator power is to increase the size of the actuator. However, in the nozzle design shown in Figures 5 to 8, it is apparent that an increase in actuator size would adversely affect nozzle spacing, which is undesirable in the manufacture of high-resolution pagewidth printheads.
A solution to this problem is provided by the nozzle assembly 400 shown in Figures 9 to 12. The nozzle assembly 400 comprises a nozzle chamber 401 formed on a passivated CMOS layer 402 of a silicon substrate 403. The nozzle chamber is defined by a roof 404 and sidewalls 405 extending from the roof to the passivated CMOS layer 402. Ink is supplied to the nozzle chamber 401 by means of an ink inlet 406 in fluid communication with an ink supply channel 407 receiving ink from backside of the silicon substrate. Ink is ejected from the nozzle chamber 401 by means of a nozzle opening 408 defined in the roof 404. The nozzle opening 408 is offset from the ink inlet 406.
As shown more clearly in Figure 10; the roof 404 has a moving portion 409, which defines a substantial part of the total area of the roof. Typically, the moving portion 409 defines at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40% or at least 50% of the total area of the roof 404. In the embodiment shown in Figures 9 to 12, the nozzle opening 408 and nozzle rim 415 are defined in the moving portion 409, such that the nozzle opening and nozzle rim move with the moving portion.
The nozzle assembly 400 is characterized in that the moving portion 409 is defined by a thermal bend actuator 410 having a planar upper active beam411 and a planar lower passive beam 412. Hence, the actuator 410 typically defines at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40% or at least 50% of the total area of the roof 404. Correspondingly, the upper active beam 411 typically defines at least 20%, at least 30%, at'least 40% or at least 50% of the total area of the roof 404.
As shown in Figures 9 and 10, at least part of the upper active beam 411 is spaced apart from the lower passive beam 412 for maximizing thermal insulation of the two beams. More specifically, a layer of Ti is used as a bridging layer 413 between the upper active beam 411 comprised of TiN and the lower passive beam 412 comprised Of SiO2-. The bridging layer 413 allows a gap 414 to be defined in the actuator 410 between the active and passive beams. This gap 414 improves the overall efficiency of the actuator 410 by minimizing thermal transfer from the active beam 411 to the passive beam 412.
However, it will of course be appreciated that the active beam 411 may, alternatively, be fused or bonded directly to the passive beam 412 for improved structural rigidity. Such design modifications would be well within the ambit of the skilled person and are encompassed within the scope of the present invention.
The active beam 411 is connected to a pah" of contacts 416 (positive and ground) via the Ti bridging layer. The contacts 416 connect with drive circuitry in the CMOS layers.
When it is required to eject a droplet of ink from the nozzle chamber 401, a current flows through the active beam 411 between the two contacts 416. The active beam 411 is rapidly heated by the current and expands relative to the passive beam 412, thereby causing the actuator 410 (which defines the moving portion 409 of the roof 404) to bend downwards towards the substrate 403. This movement of the actuator 410 causes ejection of ink from the nozzle opening 408 by a rapid increase of pressure inside the nozzle chamber 401. When current stops flowing, the moving portion 409 of the roof 404 is allowed to return to its quiescent position, which sucks ink from the inlet 406 into the nozzle chamber 401, in readiness for the next ejection.
Accordingly, the principle of ink droplet ejection is analogous to that described above in connection with nozzle assembly 300. However, with the thermal bend actuator 410 defining the moving portion 409 of the roof 404, a much greater amount of power is made available for droplet ejection, because the active beam 411 has a large area compared with the overall size of the nozzle assembly 400.
Turning to Figure 12, it will be readily appreciated that the nozzle assembly 400 (as well as all other nozzle assemblies described herein) may be replicated into an array of nozzle assemblies to define a printhead or printhead integrated circuit. A printhead integrated circuit comprises a silicon substrate, an array of nozzle assemblies (typically arranged in rows) formed on the substrate, and drive circuitry for the nozzle assemblies. A plurality of printhead integrated circuits may be abutted or linked to form a pagewidth inkjet printhead, as described in, for example, Applicant's earlier US Application Nos. 10/854,491 filed on May 27, 2004 and 11/014,732 filed on December 20, 2004, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The nozzle assembly 500 shown in Figures 13 to 15 is similar to the nozzle assembly 400 insofar as a thermal bend actuator 510, having an upper active beam 511 and a lower passive beam 512, defines a 5 moving portion of a roof 504 of the nozzle chamber 501. Hence, the nozzle assembly 500 achieves the same advantages, in terms of increased power, as the nozzle assembly 400.
However, in contrast with the nozzle assembly 400, the nozzle opening 508 and rim 515 are not defined by the moving portion of the roof 504. Rather, the nozzle opening 508 and rim 515 are defined in a fixed portion of the roof 504 such that the actuator 510 moves independently of the nozzle opening and rim 1.0 during droplet ejection. An advantage of this arrangement is that it provides more facile control of drop flight direction.
It will of course be appreciated that the aluminium alloys, with their inherent advantage of improved thermal bend efficiency, may be used as the active beam in either of the thermal bend actuators 410 and 510 described above in connection with the embodiments shown in Figures 9 to 15. 15 The nozzle assemblies 400 and 500 may be constructed using suitable MEMS technologies in an analogous manner to inkjet nozzle manufacturing processes exemplified in the Applicant's earlier US Patent Nos. 6,416,167 and 6,755,509, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Active Beam Having Optimal Stiffness in a Bend Direction
20 Referring now to Figures 11 and 15, it will be seen that the upper active beams 411 and 511 of the actuators 410 and 510 are each comprised of a tortuous beam element having either a bent (in the case of beam 41 1) or serpentine (in the case of beam 511) configuration. The tortuous beam element is elongate and has a relatively small cross-sectional area suitable for resistive heating. In addition, the tortuous configuration enables respective ends of the beam element to be connected to respective contacts positioned at one end of
25 the actuator, simplifying the overall design and construction of the nozzle assembly.
Referring specifically to Figures 14 and 15, an elongate beam element 520 has a serpentine configuration defining the elongate active cantilever beam 511 of the actuator 510. The serpentine beam element 520 has a planar, tortuous path connecting a first electrical contact 516 with a second electrical contact 516. The electrical contacts 516 (positive and ground) are positioned at one end of the actuator 510
30 and provide electrical connection between drive circuitry in the CMOS layers 502 and the active beam 511.
The serpentine beam element 520 is fabricated by standard lithographic etching techniques and . defined by a plurality of contiguous beam members. In general, beam members may be defined as solid portions of beam material, which extend substantially linearly in, for example, a longitudinal or transverse direction. The beam members of beam element 520 are comprised of longer beam members 521, which 5 extend along a longitudinal axis of the elongate cantilever beam 511, and shorter beam members 522, which extend across a transverse axis of the elongate cantilever beam 511. An advantage of this configuration for the serpentine beam element 520 is that it provides maximum stiffness in a bend direction of the cantilever beam 511. Stiffness in the bend direction is advantageous because it facilitates bending of the actuator 510 back to its quiescent position after each actuation. 0 It will be appreciated that the bent active beam configuration for the nozzle assembly 400 shown in
Figure 11 achieves the same or similar advantages to those described above in connection with nozzle assembly 500. In Figure 11, the longer beam members, extending longitudinally, are indicated as 421, whilst the interconnecting shorter beam member, extending transversely, is indicated as 422.
Use of Porous Material For Improving Thermal Efficiency In all the embodiments described above, as well as all other embodiments of thermal bend actuators described by the present Applicant, the active beam is either bonded to the passive beam for structural robustness (see Figures 1 and 2), or the active beam is spaced apart from the passive beam for maximum thermal efficiency (see Figure 8). The thermal efficiency provided by an air gap between the beams is, of course, desirable. However, this improvement in thermal efficiency is usually at the expense of structural robustness and a propensity for buckling of the thermal bend actuator.
US Patent No. 6,163,066, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a porous silicon dioxide insulator, having a dielectric constant of about 2.0 or less. The material is formed by deposition of silicon carbide and oxidation of the carbon component to form porous silicon dioxide. By increasing the ratio of carbon to silicon, the porosity of the resultant porous silicon dioxide can be increased. Porous silicon dioxide are known to be useful as a passivation layer in integrated circuits for reducing parasitic resistance.
However, the present Applicant has found that porous materials of this type are useful for improving the efficiency of thermal bend actuators. A porous material may be used either as an insulating layer between an active beam and a passive beam, or it may be used as the passive beam itself. Figure 16 shows a thermal bend actuator 600 comprising an upper active beam 601, a lower passive beam 602 and an insulating layer.603 sandwiched between the upper and lower beams. The insulating beam is comprised of porous silicon dioxide, while the active and passive beams 601 and 602 may be comprised of any suitable materials, such as TiN and SiO2, respectively. The porosity of the insulating layer 603 provides excellent thermal insulation between the active and passive beams 601 and 602. The insulating layer 603 also provides the actuator 600 with structural robustness. Hence, the actuator 600 combines the advantages of both types of thermal bend actuator described above in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 8.
Alternatively, and as shown in Figure 17, the porous material may simply form the passive layer of a bi-layered thermal bend actuator. Accordingly, the thermal bend actuator 650 comprises an upper active beam 651 comprised of TiN, and a lower passive beam 652 comprised of porous silicon dioxide.
It will, of course, be appreciated that thermal bend actuators of the types shown in Figures 16 and 17 may be incorporated into any suitable inkjet nozzle or other MEMS device. The improvements in thermal efficiency and structural rigidity make such actuators attractive in any MEMS application requiring a mechanical actuator or transducer.
The thermal bend actuators of the types shown in Figures 16 and 17 are particularly suitable for use in the inkjet nozzle assemblies 400 and 500 described above. The skilled person would readily appreciate that appropriate modifications of the thermal bend actuators 410 and 510 would realize the above-mentioned improvements in thermal efficiency and structural robustness. It will be further appreciated that the active beam members 601 and 651 in the thermal bend actuators 600 and 650 described above may be comprised of an aluminum alloy, as described herein, for further improvements in thermal bead efficiency.
It will, of course, be appreciated that the present invention has been described by way of example only and that modifications of detail may be made within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An inkjet nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof, said roof having a nozzle opening defined therein, said roof having a moving portion moveable towards the floor; and a thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of cantilever beams, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening, said actuator comprising: a first active beam for connection to drive circuitry; and a second passive beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam, resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein the first active beam defines at least 30% of a total area of the roof.
2. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein said moving portion comprises the actuator.
3. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first active beam defines at least part of an exterior surface of said roof.
4. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle opening is defined in the moving portion, such that the nozzle opening is moveable relative to the floor.
5. ■ The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator is moveable relative to the nozzle opening.
6. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first beam is defined by a tortuous beam element, said tortuous beam element having a plurality of contiguous beam members.
7. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of contiguous beam members comprises a plurality of longer beam members extending along a longitudinal axis of the first beam, and at least one shorter beam member extending across a transverse axis of the first beam and interconnecting longer beam members.
8. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of beams is comprised of a • porous material
9. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 8, wherein said porous material is porous silicon dioxide having a dielectric constant of 2 or less.
10. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermal bend actuator further comprises a third ■ insulation beam sandwiched between the first beam and the second beam.
11. The inkjet nozzle assembly o f claim 10, wherein the third insulation, beam is comprised of a porous material.
12. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first beam is fused or bonded to the second beam.
13. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 12, wherein the second beam is comprised of a porous material.
14. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the first beam is spaced apart from the second beam.
15. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first beam is comprised of a material selected from the group comprising: titanium nitride, titanium aluminium nitride and an aluminium alloy.
16. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first beam is comprised of an aluminium alloy.
17. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 16, wherein said aluminium alloy comprises aluminium and at least one other metal having a Young's modulus of more than 100 GPa.
18. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 17, wherein said at least one metal is selected from the group comprising: vanadium, manganese, chromium, cobalt and nickel.
19. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 16, wherein said alloy comprises aluminum and vanadium.
20. The inkjet nozzle assembly of claim 16, wherein said alloy comprises at least 80% aluminium.
EP06827989A 2006-12-04 2006-12-04 Inkjet nozzle assembly having thermal bend actuator with an active beam defining substantial part of nozzle chamber roof Not-in-force EP2089229B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SI200631460T SI2089229T1 (en) 2006-12-04 2006-12-04 Inkjet nozzle assembly having thermal bend actuator with an active beam defining substantial part of nozzle chamber roof
PL06827989T PL2089229T3 (en) 2006-12-04 2006-12-04 Inkjet nozzle assembly having thermal bend actuator with an active beam defining substantial part of nozzle chamber roof
CY20121101049T CY1113795T1 (en) 2006-12-04 2012-11-01 INK PROJECTION INJECTION INCREASING A THERMAL BENEFIT INTEGRATED WITH AN INTERFACE BASE SPECIFIED BY A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THIS

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/AU2006/001831 WO2008067581A1 (en) 2006-12-04 2006-12-04 Inkjet nozzle assembly having thermal bend actuator with an active beam defining substantial part of nozzle chamber roof

Publications (3)

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EP2089229A1 true EP2089229A1 (en) 2009-08-19
EP2089229A4 EP2089229A4 (en) 2011-03-16
EP2089229B1 EP2089229B1 (en) 2012-08-15

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JP (1) JP4933629B2 (en)
KR (1) KR101030152B1 (en)
CY (1) CY1113795T1 (en)
DK (1) DK2089229T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2393305T3 (en)
PL (1) PL2089229T3 (en)
PT (1) PT2089229E (en)
SI (1) SI2089229T1 (en)
TW (1) TWI468301B (en)
WO (1) WO2008067581A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2089229B1 (en) 2012-08-15
EP2089229A4 (en) 2011-03-16
KR20090095562A (en) 2009-09-09
JP4933629B2 (en) 2012-05-16
TW200824914A (en) 2008-06-16
KR101030152B1 (en) 2011-04-18
PT2089229E (en) 2012-11-20
WO2008067581A1 (en) 2008-06-12
JP2010511527A (en) 2010-04-15
ES2393305T3 (en) 2012-12-20
DK2089229T3 (en) 2012-12-17
PL2089229T3 (en) 2013-06-28
CY1113795T1 (en) 2016-07-27
TWI468301B (en) 2015-01-11
SI2089229T1 (en) 2012-12-31

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