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: 20240042755Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
-
Patent number: 11865837Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 13, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
-
Publication number: 20230036902Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
-
Patent number: 11498330Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
-
Publication number: 20210154994Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Applicant: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
-
Patent number: 11001059Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 25, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Darren T. Imai
-
Patent number: 10913264Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
-
Publication number: 20190248138Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Darren T. Imai
-
Publication number: 20180297357Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Applicant: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
-
Patent number: 10022957Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatrix, Inc.Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
-
Publication number: 20160311221Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2015Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
-
Patent number: 8857020Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Birkmeyer, Darren T. Imai, Andreas Bibl, Zhenfang Chen
-
Patent number: 8389084Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Regan Nayve, Darren T. Imai, Alex F. Fong
-
Publication number: 20110115341Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2009Publication date: May 19, 2011Inventors: Jeffrey Birkmeyer, Darren T. Imai, Andreas Bibl, Zhenfang Chen
-
Publication number: 20100221497Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: September 2, 2010Inventors: Regan Nayve, Darren T. Imai, Alex F. Fong
-
Patent number: 7095585Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 20, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: 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: 6535361Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 28, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Censtor Corp.Inventors: William C. Cain, Michael E. Devillier, Harold J. Hamilton, Robert D. Hempstead, Darren T. Imai, Dimitre A. Latev
-
Patent number: 6493191Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 15, 1995Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Censtor CorporationInventors: 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: 20020093761Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Inventors: 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: 20010055183Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2001Publication date: December 27, 2001Inventors: William C. Cain, Michael E. Devillier, Harold J. Hamilton, Robert D. Hempstead, Darren T. Imai, Dimtre A. Latev