Patents by Inventor Chang-Fang Hsu
Chang-Fang Hsu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20190168507Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes two groups of interleaved nozzles. First and second sets of drop-formation waveforms are associated with the groups of nozzles to selectively cause portions of a liquid jet to break off into drops. A timing delay device time-shifts the second-group waveforms relative to those associated with the first-group waveforms. A charging-electrode waveform having portions with first and second potentials is provided to a charging electrode. The waveform energies of the second-group waveforms is larger than the waveform energies of the corresponding first-group waveforms so that printing drops break off from the liquid jets while the charging-electrode is at the first potential, and non-printing drops break off from the liquid jets while the charging-electrode is at the second potential.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2017Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Michael Frank Baumer, Chang-Fang Hsu, Randy Lee Fagerquist
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Patent number: 10308013Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes two groups of interleaved nozzles. First and second sets of drop-formation waveforms are associated with the groups of nozzles to selectively cause portions of a liquid jet to break off into drops. A timing delay device time-shifts the second-group waveforms relative to those associated with the first-group waveforms. A charging-electrode waveform having portions with first and second potentials is provided to a charging electrode. The waveform energies of the second-group waveforms is larger than the waveform energies of the corresponding first-group waveforms so that printing drops break off from the liquid jets while the charging-electrode is at the first potential, and non-printing drops break off from the liquid jets while the charging-electrode is at the second potential.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Michael Frank Baumer, Chang-Fang Hsu, Randy Lee Fagerquist
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Publication number: 20160361928Abstract: A catcher (42) for collecting ink from non-printed drops and returning the ink to a fluid reservoir (40), the catcher includes a flow channel (47) having a plurality of branches (110); a structure to split a portion of each branch into two parallel sections to permit fluid to pass through either section; and wherein the flow of the two parallel sections (122) merge into a single flow downstream of the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Robert J. Simon, Chang-Fang Hsu, Seth C. Clark, Charles D. Rike
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Patent number: 9505220Abstract: A catcher (42) for collecting ink from non-printed drops and returning the ink to a fluid reservoir (40), the catcher includes a flow channel (47) having a plurality of branches (110); a structure to split a portion of each branch into two parallel sections to permit fluid to pass through either section; and wherein the flow of the two parallel sections (122) merge into a single flow downstream of the structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Robert J. Simon, Chang-Fang Hsu, Seth C. Clark, Charles D. Rike
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Patent number: 9199462Abstract: A printhead includes a nozzle plate including a plurality of nozzles and a manifold body bonded to the nozzle plate. The manifold body includes a liquid channel in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles. A cavity that dampens pressure modulation in liquid channel of the manifold body is located between the nozzle plate and the manifold body. The cavity is fluidically common to the plurality of nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Michael Frank Baumer, Chang-Fang Hsu, Todd Russell Griffin, Randy Lee Fagerquist, Ronald J. Hill, Robert Link, Gyanendra P. Sasmal, Qing Yang
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Patent number: 9174438Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module that forms liquid drops travelling along a first path. A deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. A catcher includes a stationary porous surface. A liquid film flows over the stationary porous surface of the catcher. The catcher is positioned relative to the first path such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANYInventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang, Roger S. Kerr, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Patent number: 8490282Abstract: According to one feature of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a porous catcher includes providing a catcher face material layer; forming pores in the catcher face material layer using a first etching process that is controlled by a first photolithographic mask; providing a reinforcing structure material layer that is in mechanical contact with the porous catcher face; forming openings in the reinforcing structure material layer using a second etching process that is controlled by a second photolithographic mask; and fluidically connecting the openings in the reinforcing structure and the pores of the catcher face using a material removal process.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2009Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Shan Guan, Yonglin Xie, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Patent number: 8444260Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module that forms liquid drops travelling along a first path. A deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. A catcher includes a liquid outlet, a stationary surface, and a liquid source that causes a liquid film to exit the liquid outlet and flow over the stationary surface of the catcher. The catcher is positioned relative to the first path such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Zhanjun Gao, Jinquan Xu, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Patent number: 8398222Abstract: A method of printing includes providing liquid drops travelling along a first path using a jetting module. A catcher including a liquid outlet, a stationary surface, and a liquid source is also provided. A liquid film provided by the liquid source is caused to exit the liquid outlet of the catcher and flow over the stationary surface of the catcher. Selected liquid drops are caused to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path using a deflection mechanism such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Zhanjun Gao, Jinquan Xu, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Patent number: 8398221Abstract: A method of printing provides liquid drops travelling along a first path using a jetting module. A catcher including a stationary porous surface is also provided. A liquid film is caused to flow over the stationary porous surface of the catcher using a liquid source. Selected liquid drops are caused to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path using a deflection mechanism. The liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Eastman Kodak ComapnyInventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang, Roger S. Kerr, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Patent number: 8337003Abstract: A catcher and a method of printing are provided. The catcher includes a liquid drop contact face. The liquid drop contact face includes an opening that creates an air cushion upon which liquid flows after a liquid drop contacts the drop contact face.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Chang-Fang Hsu, Shan Guan
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Patent number: 8128196Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a jetting module including an array of nozzles; a thermal stimulation device associated with each nozzle of the array of nozzles; and a controller in electrical communication with each thermal stimulation device. The controller is configured to provide a first activation waveform to each thermal stimulation device and to provide a second activation waveform to each thermal stimulation device to clean the associated nozzle with liquid emitted from the associated nozzle. The second activation waveform has a higher activation component when compared to the first activation waveform.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gregory J. Garbacz, Ali G. Lopez, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Publication number: 20120026259Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module that forms liquid drops travelling along a first path. A deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. A catcher includes a liquid outlet, a stationary surface, and a liquid source that causes a liquid film to exit the liquid outlet and flow over the stationary surface of the catcher. The catcher is positioned relative to the first path such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Zhanjun Gao, Jinquan Xu, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Publication number: 20120026253Abstract: A method of printing provides liquid drops travelling along a first path using a jetting module. A catcher including a stationary porous surface is also provided. A liquid film is caused to flow over the stationary porous surface of the catcher using a liquid source. Selected liquid drops are caused to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path using a deflection mechanism. The liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang, Roger S. Kerr, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Publication number: 20120026251Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module that forms liquid drops travelling along a first path. A deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. A catcher includes a stationary porous surface. A liquid film flows over the stationary porous surface of the catcher. The catcher is positioned relative to the first path such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang, Roger S. Kerr, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Publication number: 20120026260Abstract: A method of printing includes providing liquid drops travelling along a first path using a jetting module. A catcher including a liquid outlet, a stationary surface, and a liquid source is also provided. A liquid film provided by the liquid source is caused to exit the liquid outlet of the catcher and flow over the stationary surface of the catcher. Selected liquid drops are caused to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path using a deflection mechanism such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Zhanjun Gao, Jinquan Xu, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Patent number: 7938522Abstract: A printhead includes a catcher and a negative pressure source. The catcher includes a liquid drop contact structure. The liquid drop contact structure includes a plurality of pores, each of the plurality of pores having a substantially uniform size when compared to each other. The plurality of pores have a critical pressure point above which air can displace liquid from the plurality of pores. The negative pressure source is in fluid communication with the plurality of pores of the liquid contact structure. The negative pressure source includes a pressure regulator to control the negative pressure such that the negative pressure remains below the critical pressure point of the plurality of pores of the liquid drop contact structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2009Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang, Shan Guan, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Publication number: 20110012967Abstract: A catcher and a method of printing are provided. The catcher includes a liquid drop contact face. The liquid drop contact face includes an opening that creates an air cushion upon which liquid flows after a liquid drop contacts the drop contact face.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2009Publication date: January 20, 2011Inventors: Chang-Fang Hsu, Shan Guan
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Patent number: 7850283Abstract: A liquid drop ejector is disclosed including a nozzle structure and a thermal actuator. The nozzle structure includes a nozzle and a wall. The nozzle includes an end and the wall extends from the end of the nozzle. The thermal actuator is associated with at least one of the nozzle and the wall, and is operable to add surface energy to at least one of the nozzle and the wall to cause a directional change in a liquid flowing through the nozzle structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Michael J. Piatt, Chang-Fang Hsu, Shan Guan, Richard W. Sexton, Michael F. Baumer
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Publication number: 20100295912Abstract: A catcher for use in a continuous printhead includes a liquid drop contact structure and a reinforcing structure. The liquid drop contact structure includes a plurality of pores with each of the plurality of pores having a substantially uniform size when compared to each other. The reinforcing structure, which is in contact with the liquid drop contact structure, includes a plurality of fluid channels through which liquid from the plurality of pores can be removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang, Shan Guan, Chang-Fang Hsu