Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection apparatus

Abstract

A liquid ejection head includes a substrate in which a pressure generating chamber that communicates with a nozzle opening is formed; and a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode that is formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer on a side of the substrate so as to correspond to the pressure generating chamber, and a second electrode that is formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer opposite to the side on which the first electrode is formed so as to extend over a plurality of the pressure generating chambers, wherein the second electrode is formed to extend to an outside of the pressure generating chamber in a longitudinal direction of the pressure generating chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid ejection head comprising:
 a substrate in which a pressure generating chamber that communicates with a nozzle opening is formed; and   a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode that is formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer on a side of the substrate so as to correspond to the pressure generating chamber, and a second electrode that is formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer opposite to the side on which the first electrode is formed so as to extend over a plurality of the pressure generating chambers, wherein the second electrode is formed to extend to an outside of the pressure generating chamber in a longitudinal direction of the pressure generating chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid ejection head according to  claim 1  wherein an area where the first electrode, the piezoelectric layer and the second electrode overlap is formed to extend to an outside of the pressure generating chamber in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid ejection head according to  claim 1  wherein an opening is formed on the piezoelectric layer by removing the piezoelectric layer at a position that substantially corresponds to an area between the pressure generating chambers, and the opening is formed to extend to an outside of the pressure generating chamber in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid ejection head according to  claim 1  wherein a metal layer that is disposed on the second electrode and serves as a wiring is formed to extend to both inside and outside of the pressure generating chamber. 
     
     
         5 . A liquid ejection apparatus comprising the liquid ejection head according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . A liquid ejection apparatus comprising the liquid ejection head according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         7 . A liquid ejection apparatus comprising the liquid ejection head according to  claim 3 . 
     
     
         8 . A liquid ejection apparatus comprising the liquid ejection head according to  claim 4 .