Patents by Inventor Christoph Menzel
Christoph Menzel 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: 20140267481Abstract: Described herein is a method, apparatus, and system for driving a droplet ejection device with multi-pulse waveforms. In one embodiment, a method for driving a droplet ejection device having an actuator includes applying a first subset of a multi-pulse waveform to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a first droplet of a fluid in response to the first subset. The method includes applying a second subset of the multi-pulse waveform to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a second droplet of the fluid in response to the second subset. The first subset includes a drive pulse that is positioned in time near a beginning of a clock cycle of the first subset. The first droplet has a smaller volume than the second droplet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventor: Christoph Menzel
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Patent number: 8807719Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a fluid distribution layer between a fluid manifold and a substrate. The fluid distribution layer includes fluid supply channels and fluid return channels. Each fluid supply channel receives fluid from the fluid supply chamber and circulates a fraction of the received fluid back to the fluid return chamber through a return-side bypass. The substrate include a plurality of flow paths, each flow path includes a nozzle for ejecting fluid droplets. Each flow path receives fluid from a respective fluid supply channel, and channel un-ejected fluid into a respective fluid return channel. Each fluid return channel can collect the un-ejected fluid from one or more flow paths and a supply-side bypass, and return the collected fluid back to the fluid supply chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2013Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Paul A. Hoisington, Christoph Menzel, Mats G. Ottosson, Kevin von Essen
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Publication number: 20140169592Abstract: Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Christoph MENZEL, Amir A. ABOLFATHI
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Patent number: 8727475Abstract: A method is described wherein one or more parameters are measured that affect the nozzle velocity at which a printing fluid is ejected from a pumping chamber through a nozzle. The printing fluid is contained in the pumping chamber actuated by deflection of a piezoelectric layer. A surface area of an electrode actuating the piezoelectric layer is reduced based at least in part on the measured one or more parameters. Reducing the surface area of the electrode reduces the actuated area of the piezoelectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.Inventors: Andreas Bibl, Christoph Menzel, Corina Nistorica, Gregory DeBrabander
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Patent number: 8727471Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for drive a pumping chamber of a fluid ejection system are disclosed. In one implementation, the actuator for drive the pumping chamber includes a continuous piezoelectric layer between a pair of drive electrodes and a continuous reference electrode. The pair of drive electrodes includes an inner electrode and an outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode. The actuator is further coupled to a controller which, during a fluid ejection cycle, applies a negative voltage pulse differential to the outer electrode to expand the pumping chamber for a first time period, then applies another negative voltage pulse differential to the inner electrode during a second time period after the first time period to contract the pumping chamber to eject a fluid drop.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Mats G. Ottosson, Christoph Menzel, Paul A. Hoisington
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Patent number: 8657420Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a fluid distribution layer between a fluid manifold and a substrate. The fluid distribution layer includes fluid supply channels and fluid return channels. Each fluid supply channel receives fluid from the fluid supply chamber and circulates a fraction of the received fluid back to the fluid return chamber through a return-side bypass. The substrate include a plurality of flow paths, each flow path includes a nozzle for ejecting fluid droplets. Each flow path receives fluid from a respective fluid supply channel, and channel un-ejected fluid into a respective fluid return channel. Each fluid return channel can collect the un-ejected fluid from one or more flow paths and a supply-side bypass, and return the collected fluid back to the fluid supply chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Paul A. Hoisington, Christoph Menzel, Mats G. Ottosson, Kevin Von Essen
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Publication number: 20140043404Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a fluid distribution layer between a fluid manifold and a substrate. The fluid distribution layer includes fluid supply channels and fluid return channels. Each fluid supply channel receives fluid from the fluid supply chamber and circulates a fraction of the received fluid back to the fluid return chamber through a return-side bypass. The substrate include a plurality of flow paths, each flow path includes a nozzle for ejecting fluid droplets. Each flow path receives fluid from a respective fluid supply channel, and channel un-ejected fluid into a respective fluid return channel. Each fluid return channel can collect the un-ejected fluid from one or more flow paths and a supply-side bypass, and return the collected fluid back to the fluid supply chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Paul A. Hoisington, Christoph Menzel, Mats G. Ottosson, Kevin von Essen
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Patent number: 8649535Abstract: Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Amir A. Abolfathi
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Publication number: 20130293632Abstract: A method for cleaning a nozzle plate includes applying a first solution to a surface of the nozzle plate, and applying a second solution different from the first solution to the surface of nozzle plate to remove the first solution from the surface of nozzle plate. The first solution wets the nozzle plate and is a solvent to dried ink deposited on the surface of the nozzle plate. The surface of the nozzle plate is non-wetting to the second solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Deane A. Gardner
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Patent number: 8573508Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a substrate having a plurality of fluid passages for fluid flow and a plurality of nozzles fluidically connected to the fluid passages, a plurality of actuators positioned on top of the substrate to cause fluid in the plurality of fluid passages to be ejected from the plurality of nozzles, a housing component with a descending portion that projects down to the substrate, an integrated circuit chip supported on the substrate, a potting barrier secured to the housing component and positioned between the integrated circuit chip and the actuators, and a potting material between the integrated circuit chip and the barrier.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Christoph Menzel, Andreas Bibl, Paul A. Hoisington
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Publication number: 20130249987Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for drive a pumping chamber of a fluid ejection system are disclosed. In one implementation, the actuator for drive the pumping chamber includes a continuous piezoelectric layer between a pair of drive electrodes and a continuous reference electrode. The pair of drive electrodes includes an inner electrode and an outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode. The actuator is further coupled to a controller which, during a fluid ejection cycle, applies a negative voltage pulse differential to the outer electrode to expand the pumping chamber for a first time period, then applies another negative voltage pulse differential to the inner electrode during a second time period after the first time period to contract the pumping chamber to eject a fluid drop.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Inventors: Mats G. Ottosson, Christoph Menzel, Paul A. Hoisington
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Publication number: 20130248618Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a substrate having a plurality of fluid passages for fluid flow and a plurality of nozzles fluidically connected to the fluid passages, a plurality of actuators positioned on top of the substrate to cause fluid in the plurality of fluid passages to be ejected from the plurality of nozzles, and a protective layer formed over at least a portion of the plurality of actuators, the protective layer having an intrinsic permeability to moisture less than 2.5×10?3 g/m·day.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Andreas Bibl, Paul A. Hoisington
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Patent number: 8460940Abstract: A mass spectrometry method for analysing the presence or absence of at least one target analyte in a complex sample is provided. The method uses a sample carrier suitable for mass spectrometry with a pre-applied microcrystalline MALDI matrix spot which is at least partially encompassed by a hydrophobic region. A complex sample is applied such that it becomes located on the microcrystalline MALDI matrix spot. The sample is washed on the microcrystalline MALDI matrix spot and then analyzed for the presence or absence of at least one target analyte via mass spectrometry. The method is in particular suitable for quantitatively analysing target analytes such as hepcidin and other peptides, drug compounds and metabolites in body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2009Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Qiagen GmbHInventors: Christoph Menzel, Christian Feckler, Udo Roth, Kerstin Steinert
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Patent number: 8454132Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a substrate having a plurality of fluid passages for fluid flow and a plurality of nozzles fluidically connected to the fluid passages, a plurality of actuators positioned on top of the substrate to cause fluid in the plurality of fluid passages to be ejected from the plurality of nozzles, and a protective layer formed over at least a portion of the plurality of actuators, the protective layer having an intrinsic permeability to moisture less than 2.5×10?3 g/m·day.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Christoph Menzel, Andreas Bibl, Paul A. Hoisington
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Patent number: 8425014Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for drive a pumping chamber of a fluid ejection system are disclosed. In one implementation, the actuator for drive the pumping chamber includes a continuous piezoelectric layer between a pair of drive electrodes and a continuous reference electrode. The pair of drive electrodes includes an inner electrode and an outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode. The actuator is further coupled to a controller which, during a fluid ejection cycle, applies a negative voltage pulse differential to the outer electrode to expand the pumping chamber for a first time period, then applies another negative voltage pulse differential to the inner electrode during a second time period after the first time period to contract the pumping chamber to eject a fluid drop.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Mats Ottosson, Christoph Menzel, Paul A. Hoisington
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Patent number: 8403465Abstract: A fluid droplet ejection apparatus includes a substrate having a fluid inlet passage, a plurality of nozzles, and a plurality of flow paths each fluidically connecting the fluid inlet passage to an associated nozzle of the plurality of nozzles. Each flow path includes a pumping chamber connected to the associated nozzle and an ascender fluidically connected between the fluid inlet passage and the pumping chamber. The ascender is located proximate to an outside edge of the fluid inlet passage.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Kevin Von Essen, Mats G. Ottosson, Paul A. Hoisington, Christoph Menzel
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Patent number: 8403452Abstract: A method for causing fluid to be ejected from a fluid chamber of a jet in a printhead. An actuator is actuated with a first energy imparting pulse to push fluid away from the actuator and toward a nozzle. Following a lapse of a first interval, the actuator is actuated with second energy imparting pulse to push fluid away from the actuator and toward the nozzle. Following a lapse of a second interval as measured from the second energy imparting pulse, the actuator is actuated with a break-off pulse to cause fluid extending out of an orifice of the nozzle to break off from fluid within the nozzle, wherein the second lapse is longer than the first lapse and is an inverse of the meniscus-jet mass frequency.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Christoph Menzel, Masakazu Okuda, Steven H. Barss
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Patent number: 8393702Abstract: A method for causing fluid to be ejected from a fluid chamber of a jet in a printhead. An actuator is actuated with a first energy imparting pulse to push fluid away from the actuator and toward a nozzle. Following a lapse of a first interval, the actuator is actuated with second energy imparting pulse to push fluid away from the actuator and toward the nozzle. Following a lapse of a second interval as measured from the second energy imparting pulse, the actuator is actuated with a break-off pulse to cause fluid extending out of an orifice of the nozzle to break off from fluid within the nozzle, wherein the second lapse is longer than the first lapse and is an inverse of the meniscus-jet mass frequency.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2009Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Christoph Menzel, Masakazu Okuda, Steven H. Barss
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Patent number: 8358792Abstract: Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Amir Abolfathi
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Publication number: 20130003996Abstract: Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Christoph MENZEL, Amir ABOLFATHI