Patents Examined by Charlie Peng
  • Nozzle plate for improved post-bonding symmetry
    Patent number: 8328330
    Abstract: A nozzle plate for bonding to a chip for configuring a printhead of a printing device is disclosed. The chip comprises a plurality of energizing elements. The nozzle plate comprises a substrate layer, an adhesive layer and a plurality of nozzle holes perforated in the substrate layer and the adhesive layer. The each nozzle hole is capable of being associated with an energizing element of the plurality of energizing elements. The each nozzle hole comprises an asymmetric flow-feature configured by ablating at least a portion of a wall of the each nozzle hole prior to bonding the nozzle plate to the chip. The nozzle plate provides a substantially symmetrical flow-feature for the each nozzle hole on bonding to the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Louis Goin, Christopher Elliot Lingle
  • Optical fibers having a surface light field emulation (-LiFE) segment and method of making the same
    Patent number: 8331750
    Abstract: A modified optical fiber comprises one Surface Light Field Emulation (s-LiFE) segment, comprising a core; a cladding; and multiple controlled nanoscale diffusion centers to emit light through the side of the optical fibers. Optionally, the modified optical fiber has a coating. The nanoscale diffusion centers are physical geometric patterns or composition patterns in the cladding or the coating. The s-LiFE optical fiber is a member of an illumination system further comprising a light source. The method of making of said s-LiFE optical fiber comprises a fiber spooning step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventors: Kung-Li Deng, Daniel Robert Olson, Qing Ye
  • Optical communication system and arrangement converter
    Patent number: 8320724
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical communication system or the like, which comprises a multicore fiber with a plurality of cores that are two-dimensionally arrayed in a cross-section thereof. In the optical communication system, an arrangement converter, provided between a multicore fiber and an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) having light emitting areas arrayed one-dimensionally, comprises first and second end faces, and a plurality of optical waveguides. The optical waveguides are disposed such that one of the end faces coincides with the first end face and the other end face coincides with the second end face. In particular, the optical waveguide end face array on the first end face and the optical waveguide end face array on the second face are different, contributing to an optical link between network resources of different types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eisuke Sasaoka
  • Photonic crystal fibers and medical systems including photonic crystal fibers
    Patent number: 8320725
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to guide radiation from the CO2 laser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: OmniGuide, Inc.
    Inventors: Burak Temelkuran, Charalambos Anastassiou, David Torres, Gil Shapira, Max Shurgalin, Gregor Dellemann, Ori Weisberg, Steven A. Jacobs, Tairan Wang, Uri Kolodny, Jesse Rusk, Robert Payne, Yoel Fink
  • Liquid cartridge determination systems and liquid cartridge determination methods
    Patent number: 8317306
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge determination system includes a liquid cartridge including a main body including a first detect portion. The system also includes a movable member positioned outside the liquid chamber and configured to move relative to the main body in a particular direction. The movable member includes a second detect portion. Moreover, the system includes a resilient member having a first end which is coupled to the main body and a second end which is coupled to the movable member, and a mounting portion configured to receive the liquid cartridge thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shingo Hattori
  • Port array topology for high port count wavelength selective switch
    Patent number: 8315490
    Abstract: An optical apparatus can include an optical port array having an M×N array of fiber collimator ports. The array of ports is configured such that there is a gap within each column of ports located between two rows of ports. The gap is wide enough to permit a hitless beam switching trajectory to pass between the two rows of ports from one side of the array of ports to an opposite side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Long Yang, Mark H. Garrett, Jeffrey E. Ehrlich
  • Laser direct imaging apparatus and imaging method
    Patent number: 8314825
    Abstract: A laser beam direct imaging apparatus and an imaging method which can precisely determine a back-surface-side position with respect to a front-surface-side position even if any kind of photosensitive material is used. In the laser direct imaging apparatus, a laser beam is deflected toward a main scanning direction (X-axis direction) while a workpiece mounted on a table is moved in a sub-scanning direction (Y-axis direction) so that a pattern is imaged on the surface of the workpiece. Hollow pins are disposed on the table so that the tips of the hollow pins 20 project over the surface of the table by a predetermined distance. The workpiece is sucked onto the table so that indentations (indentations by the tips of the hollow pins) are formed on the back surface of the workpiece. When a pattern is imaged on the back surface, imaging is performed with reference to the indentations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Via Mechanics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitatsu Naito, Mitsuhiro Suzuki, Tomotsugu Katoh
  • Universal sliding adapter pack
    Patent number: 8315497
    Abstract: A sliding adapter pack having a plurality of cartridge. Each cartridge being slidable relative to a mounting fixture and independent of the other cartridges. Each cartridge defining a front opening constructed to receive at least four different types of adapters including a quad LC adapter, a duplex LC adapter, a duplex SC adapter, and a simplex SC adapter. Each cartridge further having a snap-fit construction that permits assembly of the cartridge without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Smrha, Chad James Sjodin
  • Fluid delivery system
    Patent number: 8313178
    Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to delivering fluid through a standpipe and one or more slots are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Studer, Mark T. Hardin, Karen A. St. Martin
  • Liquid container and liquid container package
    Patent number: 8313185
    Abstract: When a package in which a tank 1 is wrapped is opened, caused is an action of reversing vertical positions of an end face of the tank 1 having an ink supply portion 10, and an end face opposite to the foregoing end face. Along with this action, air existing inside the tank 1 ascends, and then is separated by air separating portions. Thus, a coloring material component inside the tank is stirred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hatasa, Yasuo Kotaki, Ryoji Inoue
  • Ink jet recording device
    Patent number: 8308282
    Abstract: An ink jet recording device, comprises: a main body equipped with an ink container which accumulate ink, an ink supply pump which supplies the ink, an ink recovery pump which recovers the ink, and a control unit; a printing head equipped with a nozzle which jets the ink supplied from the main body as ink particles, an electrification electrode which electrifies the ink particles, a deflection electrode which deflects the electrified ink particles, and a gutter which collects ink particles which are not used for printing; and a cable in which an ink supply flow path for supplying the ink from the main body to the printing head, an ink recovery flow path for returning the ink particles collected by the gutter into the ink container, an exhaust circulation path which connects the ink container and the gutter, and various signal lines for connecting the control unit and the printing head, are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihide Nagamine, Akira Miyao, Seiji Fujikura, Tadayuki Matsuda, Hiroshi Kotabe, Tomohiro Inoue
  • Sealing device for fluid reservoir
    Patent number: 8308279
    Abstract: A sealing device is disclosed that includes a latching feature configured to facilitate latching of the sealing device to a fluid reservoir; a first region configured to seal or substantially seal a fluid-discharge port on the fluid reservoir from fluid loss when the sealing device is latched to the fluid reservoir; and a second region configured to protect a circuit device on the fluid reservoir when the sealing device is latched to the fluid reservoir. Accordingly, the presently disclosed sealing device provides an effective solution to not only sealing the fluid-discharge ports on the fluid reservoir, but also protecting the circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Diana C. Petranek, Douglas H. Pearson, Charles E. Follett, Mark D. Perkins
  • Ink supply assembly for an ink jet printing device
    Patent number: 8303095
    Abstract: An ink supply assembly includes at least one inlet port. At least one outlet port is connected to the inlet port via an ink cavity and is adapted to be connected to an ink discharge unit of an ink jet device. The ink supply assembly has a sandwich structure formed by at least two plate members and a foil that is interposed therebetween and has a part forming a wall of said ink cavity. At least one of the plate members defines a pressure equalization chamber adjacent to the ink cavity and separated therefrom by the foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik G. J. Rutten, Hans Reinten
  • Inkjet printer, inkjet printer controller and method for controlling the inkjet printer
    Patent number: 8303068
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a first printer head configured to eject ink to a first printing area on a surface of a print medium to form first ink dots in the first printing area, and a second printer head configured to eject ink to a second printing area on the surface of the print medium to form second ink dots in the second printing area. A detector is configured to detect first and second printing states in the first and second printing areas, respectively. A comparing unit is configured to compare the first and second printing states. An ejection controller is configured to control ejection from the first and second printer heads. A printing state compensator is configured to compensate ejection control performed by the ejection controller according to a comparison result output by the comparing unit so that the first and second printing states are substantially equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Ikeda, Shinya Nakano, Shinji Nutazawa, Kaoru Kodaira
  • Surface cleaning using a filament
    Patent number: 8303079
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for use in an inkjet imaging device comprises a wiper filament carriage; a wiper filament; and a filament tensioning system supported by the wiper filament carriage. The filament tensioning system is operably coupled to opposing ends of the wiper filament and configured to tension the wiper filament to form a substantially straight line therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frazier, David L. Platt, Debra Ranee Koehler, Dan Leo Massopust
  • Slim waveguide coupling apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8301002
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an illumination structure includes a discrete light source disposed proximate a bottom surface of a waveguide. A top mirror may be disposed above the discrete light source to convert modes of light emitted from the discrete light source into trapped modes, thereby increasing the coupling efficiency of the illumination structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Oree, Inc.
    Inventor: Yosi Shani
  • Ink cartridge accommodating device
    Patent number: 8297746
    Abstract: An ink cartridge accommodating device is provided. The ink cartridge accommodating device includes: an accommodating portion which is configured to accommodate a plurality of ink cartridges arranged in an arrangement direction; and a plurality of sensors which are provided correspondingly to the plurality of ink cartridges, and which optically detect information related to the plurality of ink cartridges, respectively. Each of the sensors includes a light-emitting element which emits light and a light-receiving element which receives light. The light-emitting elements or the light-receiving elements of adjacent sensors are arranged adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotake Nakamura, Yasuhiro Kato, Hirofumi Kondo
  • Functional liquid supply apparatus, liquid droplet ejection apparatus, method of manufacturing electro-optical apparatus, electro-optical apparatus and electronic apparatus
    Patent number: 8297744
    Abstract: Provided herein is a functional liquid supply apparatus having: a plurality of sub tanks, a tank unit which replenishes the functional liquid to the plurality of sub tanks, an upstream side functional liquid channel of which an upstream side thereof is connected to the tank unit and a downstream side thereof is connected to each of the sub tanks, and a plurality of third opening and closing valves which replenish the functional liquid to each of the sub tanks by its' opening and closing operations. The tank unit 122 has a pair of main tanks, nitrogen gas supply units connected to the pair of the main tanks respectively, and a switching device which is capable of switching a pressurized liquid of the functional liquid fed from the pair of the main tanks alternatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Hayashi, Yasuhiko Asano
  • Head chip usable with inkjet image forming apparatus and manufacturing method of the same
    Patent number: 8297740
    Abstract: A head chip for an inkjet image forming apparatus. The head chip can include a heater formed on a substrate to generate heat, a chamber layer formed on the heater and provided with an ink chamber that receives inks, a nozzle layer formed on the chamber layer and provided with a nozzle in correspondence with the ink chamber, and a heat transfer layer transferring a part of the heat from the heater to the nozzle. According to the head chip, the inks sprayed through the nozzle are heated by the heat transferred through the heat transfer layer. Thus, the viscosity of the inks is reduced, so that the inks can be easily cut into ink droplets having a substantially spherical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Sik Min, Ohyun Beak, Chang Shin Park
  • Thermal marking system
    Patent number: 8294743
    Abstract: One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Minds, LLC
    Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, Randall Adam Yates