Patents Represented by Attorney Stephen Pond Consulting
-
Patent number: 7777395Abstract: A continuous drop emitter includes a liquid supply chamber containing a liquid held at a positive pressure. First and second nozzles are in fluid communication with the liquid supply chamber and emit first and second continuous streams of a liquid. First and second stream break-up transducers independently synchronize the break up of the first and second continuous streams of the liquid into first and second streams of drops. An acoustic damping material is located adjacent to or within the liquid supply chamber for damping sound waves generated within the liquid chamber by the first and second stream break-up transducer. The continuous drop emitter can be configured with a Helmholtz resonant chamber tuned to a critical stimulation frequency having an acoustic damping material located therein.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Jinquan Xu, Randolph C. Brost, Qing Yang, Fernando Luis De Souza Lopes, Stephen F. Pond
-
Patent number: 7758171Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a liquid pattern including forming non-print drops by applying non-print drop forming energy pulses during a unit time period, ?0, and forming print drops by applying print drop forming energy pulses during a large drop time period, ?m, wherein the large drop time period is a multiple, m, of the unit time period, ?m=m?0, and m?2; and a corresponding plurality of drop forming energy pulses sequences are formed so as to form non-print drops and print drops according to the liquid pattern data. The corresponding drop forming energy pulse sequences applied to adjacent drop forming transducers are substantially shifted in time so that the print drops formed in adjacent streams of drops are not aligned along the nozzle array direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Randolph C. Brost
-
Patent number: 7673976Abstract: A continuous liquid drop emission apparatus is disclosed comprising a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with a plurality of nozzles formed in a common nozzle member for emitting a plurality of continuous streams of liquid. A jet stimulation apparatus is provided comprising a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of nozzles and adapted to transfer energy to the liquid in corresponding flow communication with the plurality of nozzles sufficient to cause the break-off of the plurality of continuous streams of liquid at a plurality of predetermined break-off times into a plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Michael J. Piatt, Stephen F. Pond, James A. Katerberg, Randy D. Vandagriff
-
Patent number: 7434919Abstract: A jet break-off length measurement apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length measurement apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Heater resistor apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided. A control apparatus is adapted to determine a characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes that is related to the break-off length. Further apparatus is adapted to inductively charge at least one drop and to cause electric field deflection of charged drops.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gilbert A. Hawkins, Michael J. Piatt, John C. Brazas, Stephen F. Pond
-
Patent number: 7401906Abstract: A jet break-off length control apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length control apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Resistive heater apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gilbert A. Hawkins, Stephen F. Pond, Michael J. Piatt
-
Patent number: 7249830Abstract: A jet break-off length control apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length control apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Resistive heater apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gilbert A. Hawkins, Stephen F. Pond, Michael J. Piatt
-
Patent number: 7188931Abstract: A doubly-anchored thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device such as a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve is disclosed. The thermal actuator is comprised of a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element has anchor portions adjacent the anchor edges and a central portion between the anchor portions wherein the flexural rigidity of the anchor portions is substantially less than the flexural rigidity of the central portion. The doubly-anchored thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element that causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Antonio Cabal, Stephen F. Pond
-
Patent number: 7175258Abstract: A doubly-anchored thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device such as a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve is disclosed. The thermal actuator is comprised of a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element has anchor portions adjacent the anchor edges and a central portion between the anchor portions wherein the flexural rigidity of the anchor portions is substantially less than the flexural rigidity of the central portion. The doubly-anchored thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element that causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2004Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Antonio Cabal, Stephen F. Pond