| abstract |
An array of ink ejection nozzles formed on a wafer substrate by lithographic etching and deposition techniques, each nozzle having a chamber with an actuator for ejecting drops of ink through the nozzle, and an ink inlet in fluid communication with the ejection nozzle; and, a plurality elongate ink feed channels connected to each of the ink inlets respectively; wherein, the ink inlet is etched from one side of the wafer and the ink feed channels are etched from the opposite side of the wafer. By etching long ink feed channels for each nozzle eliminates fluidic cross talk between adjacent nozzles. An ink feed channel that supplies several nozzles needs to incorporate special features such as pinch points to deal with fluidic cross talk. The ink can be supplied from the ‘back’ surface of the wafer, thereby removing the need for ink feed channels beside the chambers. This provides more room for the power and print data to be connected to each nozzle along the front surface of the wafer. |