EP0925933A2

Substrate for recording head, recording head and method for producing same

Abstract

A method for producing a substrate for a recording head wherein a plurality of electro-thermal converting elements, a plurality of driving functional elements for respectively driving the electro-thermal converting elements and a plurality of wiring electrodes for respectively connecting each of the driving functional elements and each of the electro-thermal converting elements are formed on a supporting member of photolithography comprises forming the wiring electrodes by etching a material layer for the wiring electrodes while etchingwise removing a photoresist for masking the material layer for the wiring electrodes.

EP0925933A2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 41

Term

Term ended

Projected expiry passed 16 April 2012, 14.4 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Published
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17 claims: 2 independent, 15 dependent

  1. 1
    A method for producing a substrate for a recording head wherein a plurality of electro-thermal converting elements, a plurality of driving functional elements for respectively driving said electro-thermal converting elements, and a plurality of wiring electrodes for respectively connecting each of said driving functional elements and each of said electro-thermal converting elements are formed on a supporting member by photolithography, which comprises forming said wiring electrodes by etching a material layer for said wiring electrodes while etchingwise removing a photoresist for masking said material layer for said wiring electrodes.
  2. 2
    A method according to Claim 1, wherein said wiring electrodes are formed by etching said material layer for said wiring electrodes while etchingwise removing said photoresist for masking said material layer for said wiring electrodes by spraying alternatively an etching liquid for said wiring electrodes and an alkaline solution comprising mainly tetramethylammonium hydroxide.
  3. 3
    A method according to Claim 1, wherein said wiring electrodes are formed by etching said material layer for said electrode wiring while etchingwise removing said photoresist for masking said material layer for said wiring electrodes by spraying alternatively two kinds of alkaline solutions comprising mainly tetramethylammonium hydroxide kept at different temperatures.
  4. 4
    A method according to Claim 1, wherein said material layer for said wiring electrodes is an aluminum layer.
  5. 5
    A method according to Claim 2, wherein the concentration of tetramethylammonium hydroxide in said alkaline solution is 1.5 - 3.0 %.
  6. 6
    A method according to Claim 3, wherein the concentration of tetramethylammonium hydroxide in said alkaline solution is 1.5 - 3.0 %.
  7. 7
    A method according to Claim 2, further comprising a step of developing said photoresist for masking using an alkaline solution comprising mainly tetramethylammonium hydroxide kept at 30 - 55°C.
  8. 8
    A method according to Claim 3, further comprising a step of developing said photoresist for masking using an alkaline solution comprising mainly tetramethylammonium hydroxide kept at 35 - 55°C.
  9. 9
    A method for producing a recording head including a substrate forming step of forming a substrate for said recording head by forming a plurality of electro-thermal converting elements, a plurality of driving functional elements for respectively driving said electro-thermal converting elements and a plurality of wiring electrodes for respectively connecting each of said electro-thermal converting elements and each of said driving functional elements on a supporting member by photolithography and an ink discharging portion forming step of forming an ink discharging portion having a plurality of ink discharging openings for discharging an ink on said substrate for said recording head, which comprises a wiring electrode etching step of forming said wiring electrodes by etching a material layer for said wiring electrodes while etchingwise removing a photoresist for masking said material layer for said wiring electrodes in the step of forming said substrate.
  10. 10
    A method according to Claim 9, wherein in the wiring electrode etching step, said wiring electrodes are formed by etching said material layer while etchingwise removing said photoresist for masking said material layer for said wiring electrodes by spraying alternatively an etching liquid for said wiring electrodes and an alkaline solution comprising mainly tetramethylammonium hydroxide.
  11. 11
    A method according to Claim 9, wherein in the wiring electrode etching step, said wiring electrodes are formed by etching said material layer while etchingwise removing said photoresist for masking said material layer for said wiring electrodes by spraying alternatively two kinds of alkaline solutions comprising mainly tetramethylammonium hydroxide kept at different temperatures.
  12. 12
    A method according to Claim 9, wherein said material layer for said wiring electrodes is an aluminum layer.
  13. 13
    A method according to Claim 10, wherein the concentration of tetramethylammonium hydroxide in said alkaline solution is 1.5 - 3.0 %.
  14. 14
    A method according to Claim 11, wherein the concentration of tetramethylammonium hydroxide in said alkaline solution is 1.5 - 3.0 %.
  15. 15
    A method according to Claim 10, further comprising a step of developing said photoresist for masking using an alkaline solution comprising mainly tetramethylammonium hydroxide kept at 30 - 55°C.
  16. 16
    A method according to Claim 11, further comprising a step of developing said photoresist for masking using an alkaline solution comprising mainly tetramethylammonium hydroxide kept at 30 - 50°C.
  17. 17
    A method according to Claim 12, wherein in the wiring electrode group etching step, the etching is effected by immersing a material layer for said wiring electrodes alternatively in an etching liquid for said wiring electrodes and in an aqueous solution comprising mainly tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide for etching said photoresist for masking.