Patents by Inventor Darren T. Imai

Darren T. Imai 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).

  • Publication number: 20240042755
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Patent number: 11865837
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Publication number: 20230036902
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Patent number: 11498330
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Publication number: 20210154994
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Patent number: 11001059
    Abstract: A fluid ejector includes a nozzle layer, a body, an actuator and a membrane. The body includes a pumping chamber, a return channel, and a first passage fluidically connecting the pumping chamber to an entrance of the nozzle. A second passage fluidically connects the entrance of the nozzle to the return channel. The actuator is configured to cause fluid to flow out of the pumping chamber such that actuation of the actuator causes fluid to be ejected from the nozzle. The membrane is formed across and partially blocks at least one of the first passage, the second passage or the entrance of the nozzle. The membrane has at least one hole therethrough such that in operation of the fluid ejector fluid flows through the at least one hole in the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Darren T. Imai
  • Patent number: 10913264
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Publication number: 20190248138
    Abstract: A fluid ejector includes a nozzle layer, a body, an actuator and a membrane. The body includes a pumping chamber, a return channel, and a first passage fluidically connecting the pumping chamber to an entrance of the nozzle. A second passage fluidically connects the entrance of the nozzle to the return channel. The actuator is configured to cause fluid to flow out of the pumping chamber such that actuation of the actuator causes fluid to be ejected from the nozzle. The membrane is formed across and partially blocks at least one of the first passage, the second passage or the entrance of the nozzle. The membrane has at least one hole therethrough such that in operation of the fluid ejector fluid flows through the at least one hole in the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Darren T. Imai
  • Publication number: 20180297357
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Patent number: 10022957
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Publication number: 20160311221
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Patent number: 8857020
    Abstract: A method of forming an actuator includes depositing a photoimageable material to form a first photoimageable layer on a piezoelectric layer; patterning the first photoimageable layer to form an aperture; and disposing a first conductive layer on the first photoimageable layer. An actuator device formed by this method includes the photoimageable material. The first conductive layer partially overlies the first photoimageable layer such that a first portion of the first conductive layer contacts the first photoimageable layer and a second portion of the first conductive layer electrically contacts the piezoelectric layer in the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Birkmeyer, Darren T. Imai, Andreas Bibl, Zhenfang Chen
  • Patent number: 8389084
    Abstract: A fluid impermeable protective layer is described for a structure that has a 3-dimensional profile. The 3-dimensional profile can include actuators. The protective layer is applied so that there are no breaches in the protective layer and so that the protective layer is not too thick to prevent the actuators from being able to properly function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Regan Nayve, Darren T. Imai, Alex F. Fong
  • Publication number: 20110115341
    Abstract: A method of forming an actuator and an actuable device formed by this method are disclosed. This method includes depositing a photoimageable material to form a first photoimageable layer on a piezoelectric layer; patterning the first photoimageable layer to form an aperture; and disposing a first conductive layer on the first photoimageable layer. The first conductive layer partially overlies the first photoimageable layer such that a first portion of the first conductive layer contacts the first photoimageable layer and a second portion of the first conductive layer electrically contacts the piezoelectric layer in the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Jeffrey Birkmeyer, Darren T. Imai, Andreas Bibl, Zhenfang Chen
  • Publication number: 20100221497
    Abstract: A fluid impermeable protective layer is described for a structure that has a 3-dimensional profile. The 3-dimensional profile can include actuators. The protective layer is applied so that there are no breaches in the protective layer and so that the protective layer is not too thick to prevent the actuators from being able to properly function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Regan Nayve, Darren T. Imai, Alex F. Fong
  • Patent number: 7095585
    Abstract: An information storage system includes a transducer having a loop of ferromagnetic material with pole tips separated by an nonferromagnetic gap located adjacent to a medium such as a rigid disk. During writing the separation between the pole tips and the media layer of the disk is a small fraction of the gap separation. Due to the small separation between the pole tips and the media layer, the magnetic field generated by the transducer and felt by the media has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component, favoring perpendicular recording over longitudinal recording. The media may have an easy axis of magnetization oriented substantially along the perpendicular direction, so that perpendicular data storage is energetically favored. The transducer may also include a magnetoresistive sensor for reading magnetic information from the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Alexander P. Payne, William C. Cain, Michael E. Devillier, Harold J. Hamilton, Robert D. Hempstead, Darren T. Imai, Dimitre A. Latev, David D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6535361
    Abstract: A hard disk drive head operates in close proximity and dynamic contact with a rapidly spinning rigid disk surface, the head including a transducer with a magnetically permeable path between a poletip disposed adjacent to the disk surface and a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor situated outside the range of thermal noise generated by the surface contact. The magnetically permeable path is the same as that used to write data to the disk, eliminating errors that occur in conventional transducers having MR sensors at a separate location from the writing poletips. Moreover, the magnetically permeable path is preferably formed in a low profile, highly efficient “planar” loop that allows for manufacturing tolerances in throat height and wear of the terminal poletips from disk contact without poletip saturation or poletip smearing. The MR layer is formed in one of the first manufacturing steps atop the substrate, so that the MR layer has a relatively uniform planar template that is free from contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Censtor Corp.
    Inventors: William C. Cain, Michael E. Devillier, Harold J. Hamilton, Robert D. Hempstead, Darren T. Imai, Dimitre A. Latev
  • Patent number: 6493191
    Abstract: A transducer for a hard disk drive system has a planar magnetic core and a pair of poletips that project transversely from the core for sliding contact with the disk during reading and writing. The transducer is formed entirely of thin films in the shape of a low profile table having three legs that slide on the disk, the poletips being exposed at a bottom of one of the legs for high resolution communication with the disk, the throat height of the poletips affording sufficient tolerance to allow for wear. The legs elevate the transducer from the disk sufficiently to minimize lifting by a thin air layer that moves with the spinning disk which, in combination with the small size of the thin film head allows a low load and a flexible beam and gimbal to hold the transducer to the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Censtor Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Cain, Richard D. Anderson, Michael A. Baldwinson, Keith R. Berding, Michael E. Devillier, Garrett A. Garrettson, Randolph S. Gluck, Harold J. Hamilton, Robert D. Hempstead, Darren T. Imai, Kwang K. Kim, Dimitre A. Latev, Alexander P. Payne, David D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20020093761
    Abstract: An information storage system includes a transducer having a loop of ferromagnetic material with pole tips separated by an nonferromagnetic gap located adjacent to a medium such as a rigid disk. During writing the separation between the pole tips and the media layer of the disk is a small fraction of the gap separation. Due to the small separation between the pole tips and the media layer, the magnetic field generated by the transducer and felt by the media has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component, favoring perpendicular recording over longitudinal recording. The media may have an easy axis of magnetization oriented substantially along the perpendicular direction, so that perpendicular data storage is energetically favored. The transducer may also include a magnetoresistive sensor for reading magnetic information from the disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Alexander P. Payne, William C. Cain, Michael E. Devillier, Harold J. Hamilton, Robert D. Hempstead, Darren T. Imai, Dimitre A. Latev, David D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20010055183
    Abstract: A hard disk drive head operates in close proximity and dynamic contact with a rapidly spinning rigid disk surface, the head including a transducer with a magnetically permeable path between a poletip disposed adjacent to the disk surface and a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor situated outside the range of thermal noise generated by the surface contact. The magnetically permeable path is the same as that used to write data to the disk, eliminating errors that occur in conventional transducers having MR sensors at a separate location from the writing poletips. Moreover, the magnetically permeable path is preferably formed in a low profile, highly efficient “planar” loop that allows for manufacturing tolerances in throat height and wear of the terminal poletips from disk contact without poletip saturation or poletip smearing. The MR layer is formed in one of the first manufacturing steps atop the substrate, so that the MR layer has a relatively uniform planar template that is free from contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: William C. Cain, Michael E. Devillier, Harold J. Hamilton, Robert D. Hempstead, Darren T. Imai, Dimtre A. Latev