Liquid Ejection Head Substrate Integration for Crosstalk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection heads face challenges in reducing the number of components and minimizing crosstalk due to the need for multiple flow path substrates and pressure chamber substrates, which increases complexity and size.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection head design that incorporates a flow path substrate with a first and second plate configuration, where the first plate includes a nozzle and the second plate has a pressure chamber, both communicating through a first communication path in the flow path substrate, and additional communication paths to minimize component count and crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple flow path substrates and pressure chamber substrates are stacked to form flow paths, then the liquid ejection head can achieve proper flow path configuration, but the number of components increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple substrates (flow path substrate and pressure chamber substrate) into a single integrated flow path substrate that contains both the flow paths and pressure chambers. This merging eliminates the need for stacking multiple separate substrates, thereby reducing the number of components and device complexity while maintaining proper flow path configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path substrate is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it forms the flow paths for liquid circulation and also creates the pressure chambers for liquid ejection. This multi-functionality allows a single substrate to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components, reducing overall device complexity.
2Device complexity
If the nozzle plate is enlarged to configure wall surfaces of multiple flow paths, then the flow path structure can be simplified, but the overall size of the liquid ejection head increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of expanding the nozzle plate area in two dimensions to accommodate multiple flow paths, the patent utilizes the thickness dimension of the substrate. Flow paths are formed by etching or machining through the substrate thickness, allowing multiple flow paths to be stacked vertically rather than horizontally, thus maintaining a compact footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where multiple flow paths and pressure chambers are arranged in layers within the substrate thickness. Each layer contains flow paths and chambers that are vertically stacked, allowing the structure to accommodate multiple flow paths without increasing the planar area of the nozzle plate.
3Reliability
If multiple separate substrates are used for flow paths and pressure chambers, then each component can be optimized independently, but crosstalk between adjacent flow paths increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the flow paths and pressure chambers into a single substrate, the patent eliminates the interfaces between separate substrates that would allow crosstalk. The monolithic structure ensures acoustic and pressure isolation between adjacent flow paths, reducing harmful crosstalk while maintaining the ability to optimize the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is segmented into distinct flow path regions and pressure chamber regions through precise etching or machining. These segmented regions are acoustically isolated within the same substrate, allowing independent optimization of each region while preventing crosstalk through the inherent isolation provided by the substrate material and structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection head includes a flow path substrate, a first plate having a nozzle, and a second plate. A flow path substrate includes a first communication path which passes through a flow path substrate in a thickness direction and has an opening on each of a first plate side and a second plate side, and a second communication path communicating with an opening on a first plate side of a first communication path at a first plate side and extending on the second plate side. A pressure chamber communicating with a first communication path and a first flow path through which a liquid flows into a pressure chamber are formed by a part of a second plate and a part of a flow path substrate.