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:
Jan. 29, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 22, 1999
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An electrostatic inkjet head has an accurately controlled, uniform gap between a diaphragm and an electrode. The gap between the electrode and the diaphragm is defined by a depth of a depression formed in the diaphragm substrate or the electrode substrate. The depression is formed by removing an oxidation layer which is formed by selectively oxidizing a portion of the diaphragm substrate or the electrode substrate. The depth of the depression is determined by a thickness of a portion of the oxidation layer, which portion extends from a surface of the diaphragm substrate or the electrode surface. Since the thickness of the oxidation layer is accurately controlled, the depth of the depression is also accurately controlled. Accordingly, a dimension of the gap between the diaphragm and the electrode is extremely accurate.