Seiko Epson Corporation has announced that the invention of a compact and cost-effective piezoelectric inkjet printhead structure (Japanese patent No. 5958568) has received the WIPO Prize at the 2026 National Commendation for Invention (sponsored by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation).
This is Epson’s first WIPO Prize. It is the company’s fifth recognition at the National Commendation for Invention since 2019 and its first in two years following the Prize of the President of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association in 2024.
A ceremony was held on 15 June at The Okura Tokyo, Minato Ward, Tokyo.
The National Commendation for Invention is held for the purpose of encouraging and fostering inventions and contributing to the improvement of science and technology and the development of industry in Japan by honoring those who have completed outstanding Japanese inventions and designs, as well as those who have made achievements in the implementation and encouragement of invention.
The WIPO Prize, which was received this time, is a special prize given for inventions that are recognized to be particularly excellent in the first award category, which targets inventions that have an outstanding scientific and technological inventive step and that have achieved remarkable effects upon implementation.
The last time Epson received a special prize in the National Commendation for Invention for an invention related to inkjet printers was in 2022, when it was awarded the Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize for its “Invention of method to reduce printing unevenness during bidirectional printing with inkjet printer,” making this the first such recognition in four years.
This invention enables a compact and cost-effective inkjet printhead by configuring an actuator, which ejects ink through the displacement of a piezoelectric element, with a minimum number of constituent layers.
In conventional inkjet printheads, the interlayer insulating film and protective film of the actuator limit the displacement of the piezoelectric element. Consequently, securing a sufficient ink ejection volume inevitably resulted in larger and more costly inkjet printheads.
In contrast, this invention integrates multiple functions into a piezoelectric layer composed of a thin-film piezoelectric material and the electrode structure, eliminating interlayer insulating and protective films while simplifying the structure and reducing the number of constituent layers. The resulting increase in displacement of the piezoelectric element enables miniaturization of the actuator, thereby achieving a compact and cost-effective inkjet printhead.
Printing Applications
Furthermore, in regions where stress is concentrated, local stiffness is increased through optimization of the electrode arrangement and refinement of the wiring structure. This suppresses crack formation and ensures high reliability.
This invention is used in Epson’s PrecisionCore Micro TFP printheads and is incorporated into a wide range of Epson-branded inkjet printers for office as well as commercial and industrial applications.
These printers are used not only in Japan but around the world, delivering high-resolution and stable printing performance. In addition, they help promote the transition from conventional printing methods to inkjet printing, thereby contributing to reduced environmental impact through lower power consumption and reduced waste.
Epson also supplies these printheads to many commercial and industrial printer manufacturers in Japan and overseas. By being adopted in a wide range of third-party products, Epson is helping to meet diverse societal needs through high-resolution printing technologies.
In addition, the use of these printheads in new application areas, including semiconductor manufacturing processes, is currently under consideration.
Going forward, Epson will continue to contribute to industrial development and the realization of a sustainable society through its proprietary inkjet technologies.
