Patents by Inventor David L. Bernard

David L. Bernard 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).

  • Patent number: 11746005
    Abstract: An ejection head chip and method for a fluid ejection device and a method for reducing a silicon shelf width between a fluid supply via and a fluid ejector stack. The ejection head chip includes a silicon substrate and a fluid ejector stack deposited on the silicon substrate, wherein at least one metal layer of the fluid ejector stack is isolated from a fluid supply via etched in the ejection head chip by an encapsulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: David L. Bernard
  • Publication number: 20230249190
    Abstract: A method of generating a microfluidic ejection chip is provided. The method includes creating an opening in a silicon substrate through multiple iterations of a deep reactive ion etching process, forming a passivation layer over any exposed portion of silicon at the opening following each iteration of the deep reactive ion etching of the silicon substrate, and not removing the passivation layer at a conclusion of the etching of the silicon substrate to define a fluid passageway at the opening in the silicon substrate, such that the passivation layer is permanent on the silicon substrate at the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, Sean T. Weaver
  • Patent number: 11666918
    Abstract: A microfluidic ejection chip includes a silicon substrate having a fluid passageway. The fluid passageway is defined by a silicon sidewall of the silicon substrate that is covered by a permanent passivation layer to protect the silicon sidewall from exposure to an acidic fluid. The permanent passivation layer is retained on the silicon sidewall at a conclusion of etching of the silicon substrate to form the fluid passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, Sean T. Weaver
  • Publication number: 20220281740
    Abstract: An ejection head chip and method for a fluid ejection device and a method for reducing a silicon shelf width between a fluid supply via and a fluid ejector stack. The ejection head chip includes a silicon substrate and a fluid ejector stack deposited on the silicon substrate, wherein at least one metal layer of the fluid ejector stack is isolated from a fluid supply via etched in the ejection head chip by an encapsulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: David L. BERNARD
  • Publication number: 20210276015
    Abstract: A microfluidic ejection chip includes a silicon substrate having a fluid passageway. The fluid passageway is defined by a silicon sidewall of the silicon substrate that is covered by a permanent passivation layer to protect the silicon sidewall from exposure to an acidic fluid. The permanent passivation layer is retained on the silicon sidewall at a conclusion of etching of the silicon substrate to form the fluid passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, Sean T. Weaver
  • Patent number: 10599034
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) structure for handling fluids, a fluid handling device containing the 3D structure, and a method of making the 3D structure. The method includes providing a composite photoresist material that includes: (a) a first layer devoid of a hydrophobicity agent and (b) at least a second layer comprising the hydrophobicity agent. The composite photoresist material is devoid of an adhesion promotion layer between layers of the composite photoresist material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, Christopher A. Craft, David C. Graham, Sean T. Weaver
  • Publication number: 20190056660
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) structure for handling fluids, a fluid handling device containing the 3D structure, and a method of making the 3D structure. The method includes providing a composite photoresist material that includes: (a) a first layer devoid of a hydrophobicity agent and (b) at least a second layer comprising the hydrophobicity agent. The composite photoresist material is devoid of an adhesion promotion layer between layers of the composite photoresist material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: David L. BERNARD, Christopher A. CRAFT, David C. GRAHAM, Sean T. WEAVER
  • Patent number: 10031415
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) structure for handling fluids, a fluid handling device containing the 3D structure, and a method of making the 3D structure. The method includes providing a composite photoresist material that includes: (a) a first photoresist layer derived from a photoresist resin having a first chemical property selected from the group consisting of epoxide equivalent weight, aromatic content, and crosslink density and (b) at least a second photoresist layer derived from a photoresist resin having a second chemical property selected from the group consisting of epoxide equivalent weight, aromatic content, and crosslink density different from the first chemical property. The composite photoresist material is devoid of an adhesion promotion layer between layers of the composite photoresist material and the composite photoresist material has varying mechanical and/or physical properties through a thickness of the 3D structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, Christopher A. Craft, David C. Graham, Sean T. Weaver
  • Patent number: 9962948
    Abstract: A fluidic delivery device having improved volumetric efficiency. The device includes a fluid container having a standpipe at a lower end of the container and open areas located below a fluid entrance end of the standpipe; a first fluid permeable body located in the fluid container above the fluid entrance end of the standpipe; and one or more second fluid permeable bodies located in the open areas of the fluid container below the first fluid permeable body and below the fluid entrance end of the standpipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, Tim Frasure, Sean T. Weaver, Andrew L. McNees, David C. Graham
  • Patent number: 9855566
    Abstract: A fluid ejection head and a method of making a fluid ejection head. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate containing a plurality fluid ejection actuators on a device surface thereof. The substrate is reactive ion etched to form one or more fluid supply vias therein. A flow feature layer is laminated to the substrate and is exposed to ultra violet (UV) radiation through a photo mask to provide UV exposed areas of the flow feature layer. The flow feature layer is heated to cross-link material in the UV exposed areas. A nozzle plate layer is laminated to the flow feature layer and exposed to UV radiation through a photo mask to provide UV exposed areas for nozzle holes. The nozzle plate layer is cross-linked with heat and the flow feature layer and nozzle plate layer are developed to form the flow features and nozzle holes in the respective layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Craft, David L. Bernard, Andrew L. McNees, Sean T. Weaver
  • Patent number: 8491095
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid ejection device that includes a nozzle plate. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of nozzles for fluid ejection. Further, the fluid ejection device includes a substrate disposed below the nozzle plate. The substrate includes a top surface adapted to adhere to the nozzle plate. The substrate also includes at least one fluid via configured within the substrate for providing fluid to the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle plate. Furthermore, the fluid ejection device includes at least one supporting structure configured within each fluid via of the at least one fluid via. The at least one supporting structure is further configured at a predetermined depth from the top surface of the substrate to regulate the flow of the fluid from the at least one fluid via to the plurality of nozzles. Further, disclosed is a method to fabricate the fluid ejection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew L. McNees, David L. Bernard, Paul W. Dryer, Sean T. Weaver, Eric S. Hall
  • Publication number: 20120229569
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid ejection device that includes a nozzle plate. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of nozzles for fluid ejection. Further, the fluid ejection device includes a substrate disposed below the nozzle plate. The substrate includes a top surface adapted to adhere to the nozzle plate. The substrate also includes at least one fluid via configured within the substrate for providing fluid to the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle plate. Furthermore, the fluid ejection device includes at least one supporting structure configured within each fluid via of the at least one fluid via. The at least one supporting structure is further configured at a predetermined depth from the top surface of the substrate to regulate the flow of the fluid from the at least one fluid via to the plurality of nozzles. Further, disclosed is a method to fabricate the fluid ejection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew L. McNees, David L. Bernard, Paul W. Dryer, Sean T. Weaver, Eric S. Hall
  • Patent number: 7850284
    Abstract: A method of micro-machining a semiconductor substrate to form one or more through slots therein. The semiconductor substrate has a device side and a fluid side opposite the device side. The method includes diffusing a p-type doping material into the device side of the semiconductor substrate in one or more through slot locations to be etched through a thickness of the substrates. The semiconductor substrate is then etched with a dry etch process from the device side of the substrate to the fluid side of the substrate so that one or more through slots having a reentrant profile are formed in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, John W. Krawczyk, Andrew L. McNees
  • Publication number: 20100206840
    Abstract: A substantially planar micro-fluid ejection device, where the micro-fluid ejection head is covalently bound to a substantially planar support material, and a method of making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: David L Bernard, Paul W. Dryer, Andrew L. McNees
  • Patent number: 7767103
    Abstract: A micro-fluid ejection assembly and method therefor. The micro-fluid ejection assembly includes a silicon substrate having a fluid supply slot therein. The fluid supply slot is formed by an etch process conducted on a substrate using, a first etch mask circumscribing the fluid supply slot, and a second etch mask applied over a functional layer on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, John W. Krawczyk, Christopher J. Money, Andrew L. McNees, Girish S. Patil, Karthik Vaideeswaran, Richard L. Warner
  • Patent number: 7735952
    Abstract: A substantially planar micro-fluid ejection device, where the micro-fluid ejection head is covalently bound to a substantially planar support material, and a method of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, Paul W. Dryer, Andrew L. McNees
  • Patent number: 7560223
    Abstract: Methods of forming a fluid channel in a semiconductor substrate may include providing a semiconductor substrate having a backside and a device side, wherein the device side is configured to secure ink ejecting devices thereon and applying a material layer to the backside of the semiconductor substrate. The method may further include providing a gray scale mask configured with a pattern corresponding to a fluid channel having a plurality of slots, exposing the material layer to sufficient light radiation energy through the gray scale mask and etching the exposed material layer and the semiconductor substrate through to the device side of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Krawczyk, Andrew L. McNees, James M. Mrvos, David L. Bernard
  • Patent number: 7479203
    Abstract: A method of making a micro-fluid ejection head structure and structures made by the method. The method includes planarizing a heated substrate component of a micro-fluid ejection head structure by applying a clamping voltage to an electrostatic chuck sufficient to hold the substrate component in a planarized orientation. A polymeric nozzle layer is laminated to the heated substrate component in a manner sufficient to provide a planarized nozzle layer on the substrate component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, Christopher A. Craft, Gary R. Williams
  • Publication number: 20080252692
    Abstract: A substantially planar micro-fluid ejection device, where the micro-fluid ejection head is covalently bound to a substantially planar support material, and a method of making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, Paul W. Dryer, Andrew L. McNees
  • Patent number: 7271104
    Abstract: A method of micro-machining a semiconductor substrate to form one or more through slots therein. The semiconductor substrate has a device side and a fluid side opposite the device side. The method includes diffusing a p-type doping material into the device side of the semiconductor substrate in one or more through slot locations to be etched through a thickness of the substrate. The semiconductor substrate is then etched with a dry etch process from the device side of the substrate to the fluid side of the substrate so that one or more through slots having a reentrant profile are formed in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Bernard, John W. Krawczyk, Andrew L. McNees