Concentric curvilinear heater resistor

Abstract

A concentric curvilinear heater resistor is disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate with first and second electrical contacts mounted to the substrate. A concentric curvilinear resistive material is deposited on the substrate and coupled between the first and second contacts.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a substrate;    first and second electrical contacts mounted to the substrate; and    a concentric curvilinear heater resistor coupled to the first and second electrical contacts.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a) a reservoir, the heater resistor presenting within the reservoir; and    b) a fluid, held within the reservoir and in contact with the heater resistor.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid is ink.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a nozzle to eject said ink from said reservoir, the heater resistor being positioned near the nozzle.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid is an actuating fluid for a switch.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater resistor forms a ring.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater resistor forms an oval.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater resistor has a domed cross-section.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid is of a type that expands when heated.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater resistor is a thick-film resistive material.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater resistor is a thin-film resistive material.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater resistor comprises multiple thick-film layers.  
   
   
       13  The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises mulite.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a low temperature co-fired ceramic.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater resistor comprises platinum.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater resistor comprises tantalum nitride.  
   
   
       17 . A switch comprising: 
 first and second mated substrates defining there between at least portions of a number of cavities;    a switching fluid, held within one or more of the cavities, that is moveable between at least first and second switch states in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid;    an actuating fluid, held within one or more of the cavities, that applies said forces to said switching fluid; and    a concentric curvilinear heater resistor, deposited on the second substrate, and coupling first and second electrical contacts supported by the second substrate.    
   
   
       18 . An ink cartridge, comprising: 
 an ink reservoir comprising an ink ejection orifice and an ink ejection channel;    first and second electrical contacts mounted to the ink reservoir; and    a concentric curvilinear heater resistor coupled to said first and second electrical contacts interior to the ink reservoir.    
   
   
       19 . The ink cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the heater resistor is mounted near the ink ejection channel.