The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 06, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 22, 1997
Minoru Usui, Shiojiri, JP;
Takahiro Katakura, Okaya, JP;
Munehide Kanaya, Matsumoto, JP;
Motonori Okumura, Suwa, JP;
Tomohiro Yamada, Komaki, JP;
Shinsuke Yano, Nagoya, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, , JP;
NGK Insulators, Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
An actuator for an ink jet printer includes: an ink tank comprising a thick substrate having a cavity structure and a vibrating plate covering a cavity; and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive working portion comprising an upper electrode layer, a lower electrode layer, and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer between the electrode layers, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive working portion being disposed on the ink tank so that the lower electrode layer contacts with the vibrating plate. The upper electrode is trimmed only in the portion where the piezoelectric/electro-strictive layer covers the vibrating plate so as to control an effective electrode area and adjust an ink jet volume to be appropriate. The upper electrode layer is trimmed with the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer covering the vibrating plate at least near the portion to be trimmed of the upper electrode layer so as to control an effective electrode area and adjust an ink jet volume.