Protective Layer Patents (Class 347/203)
  • Publication number: 20040104992
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Appleton Papers Inc.
    Inventor: Robert John Kalishek
  • Patent number: 6719407
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20040046857
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Shinichi Yoshida, Minoru Hoshino, Norimitsu Sambongi
  • Patent number: 6698092
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Frank J. Bretl, Gary Powell, Donald L. Michael, Jefferson P. Ward, Joseph E. Scheffelin, Mohammad Akhavain
  • Patent number: 6683636
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Goto, Takao Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20030169326
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Goto, Takao Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20030117480
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Shiraiwa
  • Patent number: 6558563
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junji Nakada
  • Publication number: 20030035044
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nakayama, Masahiro Nakano, Tsukimi Endo
  • Patent number: 6483528
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Yamade, Hiroaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6469724
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Hayashi, Eiji Yokoyama, Takumi Yamade
  • Publication number: 20020145658
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Shirakawa, Toshifumi Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6448993
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Hayashi, Eiji Yokoyama, Takumi Yamade
  • Patent number: 6445402
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Kinjyo, Mitsuru Sawano
  • Patent number: 6441839
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Masutani, Takayuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6411319
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Kengo Sugaya, Terutoshi Nakao
  • Publication number: 20020036686
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Applicant: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Kengo Sugaya, Terutoshi Nakao
  • Patent number: 6362084
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Maki Nakamura, Toshiaki Mizuno, Etsuo Ogino, Toshiaki Anzaki
  • Patent number: 6344868
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Susukida, Katsuto Nagano, Yoshio Saita, Jun Hirabayashi, Jun Hagiwara, Atsushi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6330013
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Fim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junichi Yoneda, Taihei Noshita
  • Patent number: 6304280
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Yamade, Hiroaki Hayashi, Eiji Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 6281921
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Kengo Sugaya, Terutoshi Nakao
  • Patent number: 6256052
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Yoneda
  • Patent number: 6256053
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Taihei Noshita
  • Patent number: 6243941
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junji Nakada
  • Patent number: 6244179
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6236423
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: AOI Electronics Company Limited
    Inventor: Norio Yamaji
  • Patent number: 6201557
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yusuke Kitazawa, Yasuhisa Takamura
  • Patent number: 6184913
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuto Nagano, Masato Susukida, Yoshio Saita, Jun Hirabayashi, Jun Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 6175377
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taihei Noshita, Junichi Yoneda, Makoto Kashiwaya
  • Patent number: 6137520
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junichi Yoneda, Taihei Noshita
  • Patent number: 6115055
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junichi Yoneda
  • Patent number: 6091437
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Yoneda, Makoto Kashiwaya
  • Patent number: 6081287
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taihei Noshita, Junichi Yoneda, Makoto Kashiwaya
  • Patent number: 6061077
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junji Nakata
  • Patent number: 6046758
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: David Ward Brown, Melissa Baylog, Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl, Edward George Thear
  • Patent number: 6041501
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Suzuki, Masami Yokota
  • Patent number: 6002418
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Yoneda, Makoto Kashiwaya, Taihei Noshita
  • Patent number: 5946013
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Suomi Kurihara, Yasumasa Yokoyama, Hiroto Matsuda, Hirokazu Komuro, Isao Kimura
  • Patent number: 5940110
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Nakamura, Yoshinori Sato, Yoshiaki Saita
  • Patent number: 5907346
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Yoneda
  • Patent number: 5847744
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Hoki, Toshihiko Takakura, Haruhiko Yamashita, Kunio Motoyama, Mitsuhiko Fukuda, Yasuzo Matsuo
  • Patent number: 5745147
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David Andrew Johnson, Gilbert Allan Hawkins, James E. Elly, John Alphonse Agostinelli
  • Patent number: 5635974
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yasutomi, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Yoshiaki Kutsuzawa, Toshiaki Michihiro, Kennichi Gakuhari
  • Patent number: 5590969
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nakayama, Masahiro Nakano, Tsukimi Endo
  • Patent number: 5557313
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nakayama, Masahiro Nakano, Tsukimi Endo
  • Patent number: 5491505
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Suzuki, Asao Saito, Makoto Shibata, Junichi Kobayashi, Hirokazu Komuro, Toshihiro Mori, Shuji Koyama, Sakai Yokoyama, Ryoichi Koizumi, Keiichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 5485192
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Rohm Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaya Nagahata, Tokihiko Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 5428373
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Shiraishi, Masahiro Nakano, Satoshi Motegi, Kyouichi Takahashi, Kouzou Maehara
  • Patent number: RE35349
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Taguchi, Yasuo Fukui, Akihiro Imai