Protective Layer Patents (Class 347/203)
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Publication number: 20040104992Abstract: A secure point of sale imageable substrate is disclosed comprising a heat sensitive recording material for recording confidential information. The heat sensitive recording material comprises a heat transmissive optically opaque paper support, a heat sensitive imaging layer coated on the paper support, a removable cover sheet, and a transparent layer or sheet positioned between the heat sensitive layer and the removeable cover sheet. A method for recording confidential information using such a secure point of sale imageable substrate is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Applicant: Appleton Papers Inc.Inventor: Robert John Kalishek
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Patent number: 6719407Abstract: In a thermal head capable of performing printing of high quality while preventing foreign matters such as dirt or the like from accumulating in a portion, on which a heat reserving layer is formed, at the time of printing, the heat reserving layer comprising a projection formed by partially projecting a surface of the layer and having a top, the projection being provided on a surface thereof with heating elements, the projection being shaped in cross section in a direction perpendicular to a direction of arrangement of the heating elements to form an inclined surface on one surface side, which is formed to be lower than the other surface side. The projection is formed so that a height thereof from the one surface side is 5 to 50 &mgr;m.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2002Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20040046857Abstract: Providing a thermal head capable of preventing the adherence of a thermally active component, a thermal activation device for thermally active sheet employing the thermal head, and a printer assembly employing the thermal activation device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Shinichi Yoshida, Minoru Hoshino, Norimitsu Sambongi
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Patent number: 6698092Abstract: The described embodiments relate to methods and systems for forming die packages. In one exemplary embodiment, the method for forming die packages contacts interface areas of a die assembly to keep the interface areas free of an insulative material. The method distributes a flowable insulative material around portions of the die assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2001Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Frank J. Bretl, Gary Powell, Donald L. Michael, Jefferson P. Ward, Joseph E. Scheffelin, Mohammad Akhavain
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Patent number: 6683636Abstract: In a thermal head, a partial glaze layer is formed on an alumina basal plate, and on that laminated are a heating body, an electrode and a protective layer. A photocatalytic layer composed of titanium oxide is provided on the protective layer. Stains of organic substances, adhered to the photocatalytic layer because of a transparent protective layer of a color thermal recording sheet softened in thermography, is photolized by ultraviolet ray from a magenta-fixing lamp, which loses a coloring capacity of a magenta thermal coloring layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2003Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoru Goto, Takao Miyazaki
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Publication number: 20030169326Abstract: In a thermal head, a partial glaze layer is formed on an alumina basal plate, and on that laminated are a heating body, an electrode and a protective layer. A photocatalytic layer composed of titanium oxide is provided on the protective layer. Stains of organic substances, adhered to the photocatalytic layer because of a transparent protective layer of a color thermal recording sheet softened in thermography, is photolized by ultraviolet ray from a magenta-fixing lamp, which loses a coloring capacity of a magenta thermal coloring layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2003Publication date: September 11, 2003Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoru Goto, Takao Miyazaki
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Publication number: 20030117480Abstract: Disclosed herein are an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording, wherein a surface for thermal transfer treatment arranged in opposed relation to an image-receiving paper sheet has at least one of the portions divided into first and second ink layer regions each provided with a thermal transfer type ink layer and a light-shielding-layer-forming region provided with a thermal transfer type light-shielding-layer-forming layer, the first ink layer region is used for thermal transfer to the image-receiving paper sheet before the formation of a light-shielding layer, and the second ink layer region is used for thermal transfer to the image-receiving paper sheet after the formation of the light-shielding layer, and a thermal transfer recording process and a thermal transfer recording apparatus which provide a double-side recorded article using the ink sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshinobu Shiraiwa
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Patent number: 6558563Abstract: A thermal head fabricating method forms a lower protective layer made of ceramics for protecting a plurality of heat-generating resistors and electrodes, subjects the lower protective layer to etching processing by a plasma and forms a carbon protective layer on the thus subjected lower protective layer. The etching processing is performed using a mask which defines an area where the carbon protective layer is formed, a protective layer is formed on a surface of the mask, and the protective layer is made of a material which is etched at an extremely slow rate or substantially not etched compared with ceramics composing the lower protective layer and/or which does not impart an adverse effect to the carbon protective layer that is subsequently formed.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junji Nakada
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Publication number: 20030035044Abstract: A method of producing a wear-resistant protective film for a thermal head comprises depositing a wear-resistant protective film by sputtering on a thermal head which includes a substrate, and a heat-developing layer and a pair of electrodes formed on either the substrate or a heat-regenerative layer formed thereon. A layer of the wear resistant protective film is formed under a RF larger bias and another layer without a bias or with a smaller bias. Good step coverage is obtained by the RF sputter layer of the wear-resistant and the protective film prevents the intrusion of water that can cause cracking, and the layer formed under no or smaller bias reduces internal stresses and inhibits the development of cracks due to internal stresses as well as the cracking by RF sputtering.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2002Publication date: February 20, 2003Applicant: TDK CorporationInventors: Masatoshi Nakayama, Masahiro Nakano, Tsukimi Endo
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Patent number: 6483528Abstract: A thermal printhead (1) comprises a substrate (2), an electrode pattern (3) formed on the substrate, including a common electrode and a plurality of individual electrodes, a heating resister (5)connected to the electrode pattern (3), and a protective coating (8) including a plurality of layers (81, 82, 83, 84) covering the electrode pattern (3) and the heating resister (5). The protective coating includes an outermost layer (84) composed mainly of SiC and an admixture of carbon.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takumi Yamade, Hiroaki Hayashi
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Patent number: 6469724Abstract: The thermal printhead (1) includes an insulating substrate (2), a heating resister (5) formed on the substrate (2), a first glass coat layer (7) formed on the substrate (2) for covering the heating resister (5), and a second glass coat layer (8) formed on the first glass coat layer (7). The heating resister (5) has a centerline average roughness not greater than 0.3 &mgr;m. The first glass coat layer (7) has a centerline average roughness not greater than 0.1 &mgr;m.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Hayashi, Eiji Yokoyama, Takumi Yamade
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Publication number: 20020145658Abstract: In a thermal head according to the present invention, a sacrificial layer of transition metal is formed on a top surface of a heat radiation substrate; a bridge layer of cermet or ceramic material is formed on a top surface of a heat insulation layer including the sacrificial layer; a cavity is made between the bridge layer and the heat insulation layer; a plurality of slits are made in the bridge layer overlying the cavity to expose the cavity; a highly adiabatic inorganic heat insulation layer is formed on a top surface of the bridge layer including the slits; and an inorganic protective layer of a material selected from among silicon or aluminum oxide, nitride and carbide is formed on a top surface of the inorganic heat insulation layer, where heating elements are formed between the slits over the inorganic heat insulation layer and the inorganic protective layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2002Publication date: October 10, 2002Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Shirakawa, Toshifumi Nakatani
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Patent number: 6448993Abstract: A thermal printhead includes a head substrate (1), a heating resistor (5) provided on the head substrate, a plurality of individual electrodes (2) connected to the heating resistor, and a common electrode (3) connected to the heating resistor. The thermal printhead is further provided with a first coating layer (6) covering the heating resistor, the individual electrodes and the common electrode, and a second coating layer (7) which is formed on the first coating layer and made of sialon containing a conductive material as an additive. The first coating layer is formed with at least one through-hole (6a) or notch (6a′), so that the second coating layer is electrically connected to the common electrode via the through-hole or the notch.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1999Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Hayashi, Eiji Yokoyama, Takumi Yamade
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Patent number: 6445402Abstract: In a contact type recording head which moves relatively with respect to the recording material while its one portion is coming into contact with the recording material, and directly prints an image onto the recording material or indirectly prints an image onto the recording material through the recording material, the microscopic irregularity is provided on a material contact portion S of the heating element 45 which comes into contact with the recording material. It is preferable that the microscopic irregularity is formed in a streak-like manner in the direction of the relative movement with the recording material, and the average roughness Ra of the microscopic irregularity in the perpendicular direction to the relative movement direction is 0.03-0.5 &mgr;m.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2000Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuaki Kinjyo, Mitsuru Sawano
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Patent number: 6441839Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a thermal head provided with an excellent protective layer where a dielectric breakdown is hardly caused even when printing is performed on a recording medium of low moisture absorbency. In a thermal head of the invention, heating resistors are provided on an insulating substrate, and the heating resistors are coated with a protective layer containing carbon and silicon. The protective layer contains 65 to 90 atm % carbon, and carbon-to-carbon bonds of the protective layer include 95.0% or more covalent bonds related to an sp2 hybrid orbital.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2000Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Kyocera CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Masutani, Takayuki Yamamoto
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Patent number: 6411319Abstract: A protective layer of a thermal head is treated with a surface-treating agent containing a chlorosilyl group-containing compound and a fluoroalkyl group-containing silane compound to form a water-repellent oil-repellent dry film thereon. Both compounds are dissolved or suspended into an organic solvent such is an alcohol solvent. The solvent can contain 0 to 10 wt % of water based on the total weight of the solvent. The surface-treating agent may have a pH of 0 to 3, and both compounds are contained in an amount of 0.01 to 10 wt % in total based on the total amount of the treating agent. The treatment lowers the surface tension of the protective layer and thus prevents deposition of melt on the thermal head for a long period of time while maintaining thermal conduction and surface smoothness of the thermal head.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2001Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Riso Kagaku CorporationInventors: Kengo Sugaya, Terutoshi Nakao
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Publication number: 20020036686Abstract: A protective layer of a thermal head is treated with a surface-treating agent containing a chlorosilyl group-containing compound and a fluoroalkyl group-containing silane compound to form a water-repellent oil-repellent dry film thereon. Both compounds are dissolved or suspended into an organic solvent such as an alcohol solvent. The solvent can contain 0 to 10 wt % of water based on the total weight of the solvent. The surface-treating agent may have a pH of 0 to 3, and both compounds are contained in an amount of 0.01 to 10 wt % in total based on the total amount of the treating agent. The treatment lowers the surface tension of the protective layer and thus prevents deposition of melt on the thermal head for a long period of time while maintaining thermal conduction and surface smoothness of the thermal head.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2001Publication date: March 28, 2002Applicant: Riso Kagaku CorporationInventors: Kengo Sugaya, Terutoshi Nakao
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Patent number: 6362084Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate for displays is provided, which can easily control the surface electrical resistance of the anti-electrification film formed on a surface of the substrate, and a substrate for displays manufactured by the same method. The film is formed by preparing a target from a metal oxide, and forming a thin film of a metal oxynitride on a surface of the substrate by sputtering using the target in an atmosphere of a mixture gas of an inert gas and nitrogen, a mixing ratio of the inert gas and nitrogen in the atmosphere being adjusted such that the thin film has a desired surface electrical resistance.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2000Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co, Ltd.Inventors: Maki Nakamura, Toshiaki Mizuno, Etsuo Ogino, Toshiaki Anzaki
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Patent number: 6344868Abstract: A thermal head including a protection layer having mutually opposed first and second surfaces, said first surface having a flat or protruded printing surface which is brought into contact with a heat sensitive record medium, a heat generating section including resistors and electrodes connected to the electrodes and provided on said second surface of the protection layer, and a reinforcing member made of a low melting pint glass and provided on a side of the heat generating section remote from the protection layer. The reinforcing member improves a mechanical strength of the thermal head. The reinforcing member made of a glass also serves as a heat storage member, and thus a thermal property of the thermal head is improved. The reinforcing member may be formed by an aggregate of ceramic particles. The reinforcing member may contain a heat storage layer made of a low melting point glass and a heat conduction layer provided on the heat storage layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1998Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Masato Susukida, Katsuto Nagano, Yoshio Saita, Jun Hirabayashi, Jun Hagiwara, Atsushi Yoshida
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Patent number: 6330013Abstract: The invention provides an improved thermal head having a protective film of a heater which comprises a carbon-based protective layer having a hardness difference in its thickness direction. The invention also provides an improved method of manufacturing the thermal head. A thermal head is thus obtained having a protective layer which is significantly protected from corrosion and wear, also from cracks and peeling-off due to heat and mechanical impact, and which allows the thermal head to have a sufficient durability to exhibit a high reliability over an extended period of time, thereby ensuring that the thermal recording of high-quality images is performed consistently over an extended period of operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1998Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Fuji Photo Fim Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junichi Yoneda, Taihei Noshita
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Patent number: 6304280Abstract: A thermal printhead 1 according to the present invention includes a multiplicity of heating elements 4a formed in a row on an obverse surface of an elongated substrate 2 at a portion which is offset widthwise toward one longitudinal side of the substrate, and a protective film 8 formed on the obverse surface of the substrate 2 at the widthwise offset portion for covering the heating elements 4a. The protective film 8 is formed to extend on the obverse surface of the substrate 2 continuously from the widthwise offset portion onto one longitudinal side surface 2a of the substrate. A longitudinal edge 8b of the protective film 8 directed toward the other longitudinal side of the substrate 2 is tapered.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2000Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takumi Yamade, Hiroaki Hayashi, Eiji Yokoyama
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Patent number: 6281921Abstract: A thermal head is provided which comprises an insulation substrate, a heat-generating resistor on the insulation substrate, a conductive layer for supplying electric power thereto, and a protective layer provided thereon. In the thermal head, the protective layer is surface-treated with a water- and oil-repellent and heat-resistant organosilicon-containing compound to provide a contact angle with respect to water of 95 degrees or more. The organosilicon-containing compound is preferably a fluoroalkyl silane with a fluorinated carbon chain length of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, having a hydrolyzable reactive group at a terminal thereof. The compound is strongly bonded to the protective layer via a silanol group by heat-treatment at 50° C. or more. The protective layer surface may be properly pretreated with an organosilicon compound having an isocyanate group bonded to a silicon atom.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2000Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: Riso Kagaku CorporationInventors: Kengo Sugaya, Terutoshi Nakao
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Patent number: 6256052Abstract: There is provided a thermal head having a protective film including a carbon-based protective layer and a lower insulating protective layer which is composed of one or more sub-layers and formed below the carbon-based protective layer, wherein at least one of the sub-layers of the lower protective layer contains not more than 5 atm % of oxygen. The protective layer has significantly reduced corrosion and wear and is protected from cracking and peeling, whereupon the thermal head obtained can have a sufficient durability to ensure that high reliability is exhibited over an extended period of time to perform thermal recording of high-quality images consistently over an extended period of operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Junichi Yoneda
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Patent number: 6256053Abstract: A thermal head has a protective coating of heating elements. The protective coating includes an insulating protective layer and an electrically conductive protective layer formed above the insulating protective layer. The electrically conductive protective layer covers at least a region of the insulating protective layer under which an under-glaze heat-accumulating layer is located and does not overlie at least one of the negative and positive electrode layers in other regions than the region. The thermal head can prevent abnormal current flow due to pinholes of the insulating protective layer formed under the electrically conductive protective layer, exhibit high reliability over an extended period of time and perform thermal recording of high-quality images consistently over an extended period of operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2000Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Taihei Noshita
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Patent number: 6243941Abstract: The thermal head fabrication method provides a thermal head having a lower protective layer composed of at least one sub-layer on heat generators and electrodes, an intermediate protective layer composed of at least one sub-layer on the lower protective layer and an upper protective layer composed of at least one sub-layer with carbon as a main component on the intermediate protective layer. At least one of surfaces of the lower and intermediate protective layers is cleaned by ion irradiation processing, by polishing with a lapping tape or an adhesive tape, or by heating processing in vacuum before forming a higher protective layer. This allows the thermal head to have excellent adhesion between any individual layers and sufficient durability to ensure that the thermal recording of high-quality images is consistently performed over an extended period of time.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1999Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junji Nakada
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Patent number: 6244179Abstract: It is one objective of the present invention to precisely bring into contact with a recording drum or an image receiving sheet a adhesive roller that can remove dust therefrom, so as to prevent recording failures that occur because of dust that interferes with the proper adhesion of image receiving sheets and toner sheets. According to the invention, a recording apparatus comprises: a recording drum, to which an image receiving sheet is secured; a recording head; a step portion, which is provided on the recording drum to avoid an adverse affect resulting from the thickness of the image receiving sheet; and a adhesive roller, which has a stepped portion corresponding to the step portion on the recording drum and which is located near the recording drum for cleaning the surface of the recording drum and the surface of an image receiving sheet that is secured to the recording drum.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2000Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshiharu Sasaki
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Patent number: 6236423Abstract: In a thermal head, individual electrodes, a common electrode and a heating body are formed on an insulated base plate, and an insulating protective film is formed on the heating body. A conductive protective film is mounted on the insulating protective film to laminate on and connect with the common electrode. The conductive protective film has a thermal conductivity higher than that of the insulating protective film. Since the conductive protective film is connected to the common electrode, effects by static electricity due to friction with thermal-sensitive paper are prevented.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2000Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: AOI Electronics Company LimitedInventor: Norio Yamaji
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Patent number: 6201557Abstract: A process for producing a protective layer or a primer layer for a heat-generating resistor for a thermal head by sputtering using a target comprising a sinter of a silicon nitride/silicon dioxide/magnesium oxide powder. By regulating the particle diameter of the powder, the target is prevented from suffering partial peeling during the sputtering.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1999Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yusuke Kitazawa, Yasuhisa Takamura
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Patent number: 6184913Abstract: A thermal head including a protection layer having mutually opposed first and second surfaces, said first surface having a printing surface which is brought into contact with a heat sensitive record medium and is protruded from the remaining portion of the first surface of the protection layer, a heat generating sections including resistors and electrodes connected to the electrodes and provided on said second surface of the protection layer at said protruded printing surface, a heat control section including a heat storage layer and a heat conduction layer and provided on said heat generating section, and a driving IC connected to said electrodes. In order to improve the mechanical strength of the thermal head, a reinforcing layer made of a glass is provided on said first surface of the protection layer except for said printing surface such that a surface of said reinforcing layer is not higher than said first surface of the protection layer at said protruded printing surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1998Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Katsuto Nagano, Masato Susukida, Yoshio Saita, Jun Hirabayashi, Jun Hagiwara
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Patent number: 6175377Abstract: The improved thermal head of the invention is the one having a protective film of a heater formed on the heater, the protective film comprising a ceramic-based lower protective layer composed of at least one sub-layer and a carbon-based upper protective layer formed on the lower protective layer, wherein a surface of the lower protective layer on which the upper protective layer is to be formed has a surface roughness value Ra of 0.005 to 0.5 &mgr;m; or the one in which the depth of a depression step which may be formed on the surface of the lower protective layer due to the thickness of the electrodes used for supplying power to the heater (or heat-generating resistor) was reduced to 0.2 &mgr;m or less.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2000Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Taihei Noshita, Junichi Yoneda, Makoto Kashiwaya
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Patent number: 6137520Abstract: The improved thermal head has a protective film of a heater formed on the heater, the protective film comprising a ceramic-based lower protective layer composed of at least one sub-layer, an intermediate protective layer also composed of at least one sub-layer and formed on the lower protective layer, and a carbon-based upper protective layer formed on the intermediate protective layer. The thermal head of the invention has a protective film which has significantly reduced corrosion and wear, which is advantageously protected from cracking and peeling due to heat and mechanical impact and which allows the thermal head to have a sufficient durability to ensure that the thermal recording of high-quality images is consistently performed over an extended period of operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1998Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junichi Yoneda, Taihei Noshita
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Patent number: 6115055Abstract: The thermal head having a protective film of a heating element, the protective film comprising at least one protective layer including a carbon-based carbon protective layer, wherein an oxygen amount in an interface between the carbon protective layer and a lower layer formed under the carbon protective layer is not more than 20 atm %. The thermal head includes a protective film which has significantly reduced corrosion and wear, which is free from cracking and peeling due to heat and mechanical impact and which allows the thermal head to have sufficient durability to ensure that the thermal recording of high-quality images is consistently performed over an extended period of time. Even for an application in which recording under high-energy and high-pressure conditions is performed on a thermal film using a high rigid substrate to be employed in the medical use and the like, the thermal head also has sufficient durability to exhibit high reliability over an extended period of time.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junichi Yoneda
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Patent number: 6091437Abstract: The improved thermal recording system uses both a thermal head having a layer to protect heaters and a thermal recording material in which a thermal recording layer unit has a water content of no more than 6 wt. %, the protective layer of the thermal head comprising at least one ceramic-based lower sub-layer which is overlaid with a carbon-based upper sub-layer. This thermal recording system improves the wear resistance and electrical insulation of the protective layer on the thermal head so markedly that high operational reliability is insured for an extended period of time.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1997Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junichi Yoneda, Makoto Kashiwaya
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Patent number: 6081287Abstract: The improved thermal head of the invention is the one having a protective film of a heater formed on the heater, the protective film comprising a ceramic-based lower protective layer composed of at least one sub-layer and a carbon-based upper protective layer formed on the lower protective layer, wherein a surface of the lower protective layer on which the upper protective layer is to be formed has a surface roughness value Ra of 0.005 to 0.5 .mu.m; or the one in which the depth of a depression step which may be formed on the surface of the lower protective layer due to the thickness of the electrodes used for supplying power to the heater (or heat-generating resistor) was reduced to 0.2 .mu.m or less.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1998Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Taihei Noshita, Junichi Yoneda, Makoto Kashiwaya
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Patent number: 6061077Abstract: There is provided a thermal head having protective layers comprising a lower protective layer, an intermediate layer and a carbon-based protective layer which is composed of a plurality of sub-layers, wherein the carbon-based protective layer has stress values that become sequentially higher from one of the sub-layers located undermost toward another of the sub-layers located uppermost. The protective layers have significantly reduced corrosion and wear and is protected from cracking and peeling, whereupon the thermal head obtained can have sufficient durability and reliability to ensure that thermal recording of high-quality images is consistently performed over an extended period of operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1999Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junji Nakata
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Highly wear-resistant thermal print heads with silicon-doped diamond-like carbon protective coatings
Patent number: 6046758Abstract: The invention provides a thermal print head with a protective coating of silicon-doped diamond-like carbon (Si-DLC) which imparts superior wear resistance, and improved lifetime. The Si-DLC is comprised of the elements C, H, Si and possibly O, N and Ar. The highly wear and abrasion-resistant Si-DLC diamond-like carbon coating is deposited by ion-assisted plasma deposition including direct ion beam deposition and capacitive radio frequency plasma deposition, from carbon-containing and silicon-containing precursor gases consisting of hydrocarbon, silane, organosilane, organosilazane and organo-oxysilicon compounds, or mixtures thereof. The resulting Si-DLC coating has the properties of Nanoindentation hardness in the range of approximately 10 to 35 GPa, thickness in the range of approximately 0.5 to 20 micrometers, dynamic friction coefficient of less than approximately 0.2, and a silicon concentration in the range of approximately 5 atomic % to approximately 40 atomic %.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1999Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: Diamonex, IncorporatedInventors: David Ward Brown, Melissa Baylog, Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl, Edward George Thear -
Patent number: 6041501Abstract: The process of the present invention for producing an ink-jet recording head is simple and does not require an additional solid layer on a first solid layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1997Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Suzuki, Masami Yokota
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Patent number: 6002418Abstract: The improved thermal head comprises heating elements which were provided with heating histories to previously change their resistance values by predetermined values; and a carbon-based protective layer which was formed after the heating elements were provided with the heating histories. The invention provides the thermal head in which corrosion and wear of the protective film, and the resistance variation of the heating elements due to thermal recording were significantly reduced, and which has a sufficient durability and stability with the passage of time to perform thermal recording of high-quality images in a consistent manner over an extended period of operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1998Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junichi Yoneda, Makoto Kashiwaya, Taihei Noshita
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Patent number: 5946013Abstract: Disclosed is a thin-film resistor element for an ink jet head. In the thin-film resister element, a protective film is used having a multi-layered structure, the proportion of Ar atoms contained in a lower area of the protective film located in contact with the heating resistor is set between 0.2 wt % and 6.0 wt %, and that in an upper area of the protective film is set between 1.0 wt % and 9.0 wt %.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1996Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Suomi Kurihara, Yasumasa Yokoyama, Hiroto Matsuda, Hirokazu Komuro, Isao Kimura
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Patent number: 5940110Abstract: A thermal head comprises an insulative substrate, a heating-element layer disposed over the insulative substrate, at least one electrode disposed over the heating-element layer for supplying power to the heating-element layer, and a protective film disposed over the heating element layer and the electrode. The electrode has a tapered peripheral edge portion, and the protective film has a Vickers hardness of at least 1200 Kg/mm.sup.2 or more.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1996Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.Inventors: Yuji Nakamura, Yoshinori Sato, Yoshiaki Saita
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Patent number: 5907346Abstract: According to the improved method of thermal recording with a thermal head, each time a specified amount of thermal recording has been performed, a coating layer is formed in a specified area of the surface of the protective layer on the glaze of the thermal head and, thereafter, the thermal recording operation is resumed. The improved thermal recording method and the improved thermal recording apparatus to which this method is applied permit a coating layer to be present at all times on the surface of the protective layer on the glaze of a thermal head; hence, a great number of prints can be produced without causing the wear and corrosion of the protective layer, thereby assuring that the thermal head is long-lived to maintain high operational reliability over a prolonged period.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1997Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Junichi Yoneda
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Patent number: 5847744Abstract: A thin-film type thermal print head has a resistor layer formed over an insulative substrate, a conductor layer having a specified planar pattern overlapping the resistor layer, a portion of the resistor layer serving as a heat-emitting part which is not covered by the conductor layer, and a protective layer formed over the heat-emitting part and at least a portion of the conductor layer adjacent to the heat-emitting part. The protective layer may be formed as a conductive layer with resistance greater than that of the heat-emitting part such that static electricity which may be generated by the friction with printing paper can quickly escape to the conductor layer. The protective layer may also include a wear-resisting layer of a prior art type between the conductive layer and the conductor layer, a portion of the conductive layer being preferably connected to the conductor layer. The conductive layer is preferably a mixed layer of SiC and ZrB.sub.2 containing ZrB.sub.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1996Date of Patent: December 8, 1998Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Hoki, Toshihiko Takakura, Haruhiko Yamashita, Kunio Motoyama, Mitsuhiko Fukuda, Yasuzo Matsuo
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Patent number: 5745147Abstract: A thermal print head which includes an array of individually addressable resistors on a substrate is provided to substantially reduce undesirable drift in the resistance values of the resistors. The thermal print head includes a thermally stable glaze having a smooth surface formed on the substrate, and an electrically resistive doped-semiconductive layer formed on the smooth glaze surface. An array of first and second electrode pairs is formed on the resistive layer such that each of the electrodes forms a gap therebetween. A protective layer is formed over the electrode pairs and over the resistive layer at the gap. An electrically conductive layer is formed on the protective layer. The thermal print head includes a structure for applying first and second potentials respectively to the first and second electrodes of each of the pairs for selectably heating each of the resistors, and applying a third potential to the conductive layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1996Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David Andrew Johnson, Gilbert Allan Hawkins, James E. Elly, John Alphonse Agostinelli
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Patent number: 5635974Abstract: A thermal head comprising a resistance heating element and electrodes for feeding electric power to the resistance heating element formed on an insulating substrate, and a protective layer of filler-containing-glass formed so as to cover the resistance heating element and electrodes, wherein the specific gravity of the glass for forming the protective layer is equal to or higher than the specific gravity of the filler. In this manner, while maintaining the smoothness and enhancing the ear resistance of the protective layer surface, the thermal expansion coefficient of the protective layer is decrease to reduce the thermal stress due to pulse heat generation from the resistance heating element, and moreover the thermal conductivity of the protective layer is enhanced, so that a favorable recorded image is obtained for a long period.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1995Date of Patent: June 3, 1997Assignee: Kyocera CorporationInventors: Tsuyoshi Yasutomi, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Yoshiaki Kutsuzawa, Toshiaki Michihiro, Kennichi Gakuhari
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Patent number: 5590969Abstract: A wear-resistant protective film for thermal printing heads comprising Si, O, and N as principal constituent elements, contains additionally at least one alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Ra. Preferably, the film has a composition SiM.sub.x O.sub.y N.sub.z in which M stands for an alkaline earth metal, x is 0.01-0.5, y is 0.1-2.0, and z is 0.2-1.8.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1995Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Masatoshi Nakayama, Masahiro Nakano, Tsukimi Endo
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Patent number: 5557313Abstract: A method of producing a wear-resistant protective film for a thermal head comprises depositing a wear-resistant protective film by sputtering on a thermal head which includes a substrate, and a heat-developing layer and a pair of electrodes formed on either the substrate or a heat-regenerative layer formed thereon. A layer of the wear resistant protective film is formed under a RF larger bias and another layer without a bias or with a smaller bias. Good step coverage is obtained by the RF sputter layer of the wear-resistant and the protective film prevents the intrusion of water that can cause cracking, and the layer formed under no or smaller bias reduces internal stresses and inhibits the development of cracks due to internal stresses as well as the cracking by RF sputtering.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1993Date of Patent: September 17, 1996Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Masatoshi Nakayama, Masahiro Nakano, Tsukimi Endo
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Patent number: 5491505Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes energy generators for generating the energy used to discharge ink and a substrate on which a circuit electrically connected to the energy generators is formed. Also provided is a protective member on an insulating layer on the substrate above the energy generators. The area of a protective member which is in contact with the ink is made to be as small as possible.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1994Date of Patent: February 13, 1996Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Suzuki, Asao Saito, Makoto Shibata, Junichi Kobayashi, Hirokazu Komuro, Toshihiro Mori, Shuji Koyama, Sakai Yokoyama, Ryoichi Koizumi, Keiichi Murakami
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Patent number: 5485192Abstract: A thermal printhead is provided which comprises an insulating head substrate, a conductor pattern formed on the head substrate, a row of heating dots formed on the head substrate in electrical conduction with the conductor pattern, an array of drive ICs mounted on the head substrate and spaced from the row of heating dots, a resin body enclosing the array of drive ICs, and a protective coating covering the conductor pattern together with the row of heating dots. The protective coating comprises a smaller thickness portion at least at the row of heating dots, and a larger thickness portion held in contact with the resin body and extending to a position short of the row of heating dots.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 1994Date of Patent: January 16, 1996Assignee: Rohm Co. Ltd.Inventors: Takaya Nagahata, Tokihiko Kishimoto
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Patent number: 5428373Abstract: A thermal head for thermal recording or thermal transfer recording and a method of manufacturing the head. The head has a heat sink having an upper surface, a heating element substrate, disposed on the upper surface of the heat sink, having a projected convex portion on which an array of heating resistor elements are arranged, an electrical structure mounted on the same side as that of the upper surface of the heat sink and electrically connected to the heating resistor elements, and a protection structure for mechanically protecting the electrical structure. The substrate is constituted such that the height of the substrate from the surface of the heat sink is higher than the height of the protection structure, and the height of the projected convex portion is equal to or more than 0.6 mm.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1992Date of Patent: June 27, 1995Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Masashi Shiraishi, Masahiro Nakano, Satoshi Motegi, Kyouichi Takahashi, Kouzou Maehara
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Patent number: RE35349Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of resistive sheet transfer recording using a recording member and an electrode head comprising oppositely aligned electrode pair trains embedded in the insulating support member and also relates to an electrode head use therefor, wherein abrasive wear of the electrode pair by sliding contact of the recording member is optimized in a manner that the resistive sheet usually contacts to a fresh surface of the electrode pair train.The present invention makes it possible to give a high quality image with high recording speed and high sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1993Date of Patent: October 8, 1996Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyoshi Taguchi, Yasuo Fukui, Akihiro Imai