(19)
(11) EP 0 498 292 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
24.02.1993 Bulletin 1993/08

(43) Date of publication A2:
12.08.1992 Bulletin 1992/33

(21) Application number: 92101475.9

(22) Date of filing: 29.01.1992
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: B41J 2/16, B41J 29/377
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL PT SE

(30) Priority: 30.01.1991 AU 4374/91
22.02.1991 AU 4731/91
22.02.1991 AU 4732/91
22.02.1991 AU 4733/91
22.02.1991 AU 4734/91
22.02.1991 AU 4735/91
22.02.1991 AU 4736/91
22.02.1991 AU 4737/91
22.02.1991 AU 4738/91
22.02.1991 AU 4739/91
22.02.1991 AU 4740/91
22.02.1991 AU 4741/91
22.02.1991 AU 4742/91
22.02.1991 AU 4743/91
22.02.1991 AU 4744/91
22.02.1991 AU 4745/91
22.02.1991 AU 4746/91
23.12.1991 AU 89998/91

(71) Applicants:
  • CANON INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.
    North Ryde, NSW 2113 (AU)
  • CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Tokyo (JP)

(72) Inventor:
  • Silverbrook, Kia
    Wollahra NSW 2025 (AU)

(74) Representative: Tiedtke, Harro, Dipl.-Ing. 
Patentanwaltsbüro Tiedtke-Bühling-Kinne & Partner Bavariaring 4
80336 München
80336 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Integrally formed bubblejet print device


    (57) A bubblejet print device (100) is disclosed which is integrally formed having arrays (102,103,104,105) of nozzles (110) which form part of a passageway communicating between opposite surfaces of a semiconductor substrate (130). Each nozzle (110) has an integrally formed heater (120) which permits heating of ink (106) within the respective nozzle (110) for the ejection of an ink drop (108) therefrom. The heater (120) can provide a fault tolerant structure through the provision of a main heater (121,441) and a redundant heater (122,443) each of which can be separately energised from a corresponding electronic drive circuit (160,165). Several methods of manufacturing the device (100) using semiconductor fabrication techniques are also disclosed. A bubblejet print head (200) incorporating the device (100) can form part of an image reproducing apparatus (531,533,535,537) and is capable of printing full colour images at 400 dpi and monochrome images up to 1600 dpi. An ink drop size of about 3 picolitres is used for these image intensities. A thermal shunt (140) or diffuser (491) are used to transport heat away from the heater (120) to prevent formation of hot spots thereabout after the ejection of an ink drop (108). Electronic circuitry (310,302-305) is disclosed which is used to couple data to the device (100) to provide full width page printing using a stationary head (200) and a moving paper medium (220)






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