Staggered Nozzle Arrangement for Fluid Ejection Die
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid ejection dies face challenges in achieving accurate drop trajectory and placement due to air flow patterns generated by nozzle arrangements, which can disperse particles and reduce drop placement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement of nozzles across the length and width of the die, with specific spacing and orientation, such as staggered and offset configurations, to control air flow patterns and minimize air disturbance during fluid drop ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If nozzles are arranged in a dense configuration to increase productivity, then the quantity of fluid drops that can be ejected increases, but air flow patterns are generated that disperse particles and reduce drop placement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by staggering nozzles in adjacent rows along the scan direction, creating an asymmetric nozzle arrangement where nozzles in successive rows are offset from one another. This asymmetric configuration disrupts the formation of harmful air flow patterns while maintaining high nozzle density for increased productivity. The offset arrangement ensures that air flows from adjacent nozzles do not constructively interfere to create dispersion zones, thereby maintaining drop placement accuracy while preserving high throughput capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If nozzles are positioned close together to improve manufacturing precision, then drop placement accuracy improves, but air flow disturbances increase that can disperse particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different spacing characteristics in different spatial locations. Specifically, nozzles are spaced closely together in the transverse direction (perpendicular to scan direction) to maintain placement accuracy, while being offset in the scan direction to minimize air flow interference. Each nozzle position is locally optimized with its specific offset relative to adjacent row nozzles, creating a tailored local configuration that balances precision and minimizes harmful air flow effects.
3Ease of manufacture
If nozzles are arranged in a regular grid pattern to simplify manufacturing, then ease of manufacture improves, but air flow patterns create particle dispersion and reduce precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the regular symmetric grid pattern into an asymmetric staggered configuration. While the overall structure remains orderly and manufacturable, the critical feature is the offset arrangement where nozzles in adjacent rows are positioned at different longitudinal positions. This asymmetric modification breaks the symmetry that creates harmful air flow patterns, while the systematic staggering maintains ease of manufacturing through a predictable, rule-based arrangement.
Data Source
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AI summary
Examples include a fluid ejection die having a die length and a die width. The fluid ejection die may include a plurality of nozzles arranged along the die length and a die width. The plurality of nozzles is arranged such that at least one pair of neighboring nozzles are positioned at different die width positions along the width of the fluid ejection die. The example fluid ejection die further includes a plurality of ejection chambers including a respective ejection chamber fluidically coupled to each respective nozzle. The fluid ejection die further includes an array of fluid feed holes. The array of fluid feed holes includes at least one fluid feed hole fluidically each respective ejection chamber.