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.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 06, 2011

Filed:

Dec. 30, 2008
Applicants:

Yimin Guan, Lexington, KY (US);

Zachary Justin Reitmeier, Lexington, KY (US);

Carl Edmond Sullivan, Stamping Ground, KY (US);

Inventors:

Yimin Guan, Lexington, KY (US);

Zachary Justin Reitmeier, Lexington, KY (US);

Carl Edmond Sullivan, Stamping Ground, KY (US);

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/14 (2006.01); B41J 2/04 (2006.01); H01L 21/3213 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A method for forming a floating heater element includes processing a silicon substrate to form a heater stack having the heater element on the substrate with peripheral edge portions, processing the heater stack by depositing and patterning a layer of photoresist or hard mask thereon to substantially mask the heater stack and form a trench through the photoresist or hard mask exposing a surface area of the substrate extending along the peripheral edge portions of the heater element, and processing the masked heater stack and exposed surface area of the substrate by sequentially removing the photoresist and portions of the substrate at the exposed surface area and that underlie the heater element so as to create a well in the substrate undercutting the heater element and open along the peripheral edge portions thereof, the well being capable of filling with a fluid so as to produce the floating heater element.


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