Patents by Inventor Hou T. Ng

Hou T. Ng 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: 20130016155
    Abstract: An ink set includes a first ink and a second ink, where each of the inks has a conductivity that is less than 200 pS/cm. The first ink includes a first pigment of a first color; a carrier fluid; and a concentration of a dispersant. The second ink includes a second pigment of a second color that is different from the first color; the same carrier fluid as the first ink; and substantially the same concentration of the dispersant as the first ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Howard S. Tom, Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 8337978
    Abstract: A recording material, containing nonionic surfactants, including: a supporting substrate, a first bottom base coat applied to at least one surface of said substrate, and a second topcoat layer applied over said bottom base coat. The supporting substrate or the bottom base coat includes nonionic surfactants that have HLB values that are inferior to 15. Also disclosed is a method to deink printed waste papers wherein the waste papers contain recording materials, containing nonionic surfactants such as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Manoj K. Bhattacharyya, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 8309630
    Abstract: A polymer-encapsulated pigment and a method of modifying a pigment use functional groups of an interface layer to attach a polymer to a pigment composition. The polymer-encapsulated pigment includes a pigment composition, a polymer and an interface layer. In the polymer-encapsulated pigment and the method, the interface layer is covalently attached to an outer surface of the pigment composition. The polymer is attached to the interface layer with a linking group. The linking group is attached to the interface layer by a covalent bond of a functional group. The linking group includes a nucleophilic carbon atom to which the polymer is covalently attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120252960
    Abstract: An ink composition includes a particulate pigment, a hydrocarbon vehicle, an organic polyamine and an organic polyacid. A ratio by weight percent of the organic polyamine to the organic polyacid in the hydrocarbon vehicle is sufficient to render a conductivity of the ink composition to equal to or less than 15 nanosiemens per centimeter. The ink composition is prepared by combining the particulate pigment with a composition that includes the hydrocarbon vehicle, the organic polyamine and the organic polyacid. The combination is subjected to conditions under which the particulate pigment becomes dispersed in the composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120232215
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and composition directed to towards a single batch latex ink-jet ink. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a single batch latex ink-jet ink can comprise emulsifying a pigment and a monomer in a solvent, and polymerizing the monomer with a reaction condition sufficient to encapsulate the pigment and sufficient to form individual latex particulates thereby forming a single batch latex ink-jet ink. The ink can contain less than about 0.5 wt % of latex particulates having a diameter of 50 nm or less, can contain about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % of latex particulates having a diameter of about 100 nm to about 250 nm and can contain about 3 wt % to about 5 wt % of encapsulated pigment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120206533
    Abstract: An ink coating composition is disclosed herein. The ink coating composition includes a polymer latex and an adhesion promoting agent. A non-ionic surfactant is also included in the ink coating composition. The non-ionic surfactant has an HLB value ranging from about 6 to about 15. The ink coating composition also includes a balance of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Hou T. Ng, Wenjia Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120199537
    Abstract: An apparatus for conducting single-pass filtration of ink waste is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a filter connected to a housing unit and a plurality of absorbent layers within the housing unit, wherein the plurality of absorbent layers are in any order and include: a layer for removing metal and polar compounds, a layer for removing non-polar color impurities, a layer for removing acid functional components, a layer for removing additives with polar or protic functional groups, and a layer for removing residual water. A process and a system that include or utilize the apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120196222
    Abstract: Liquid electrophotographic ink concentrates and methods of preparing the same are disclosed herein. An example of the method includes preparing a mixture of ink components using a first predetermined thermal profile. The ink components include a resin, a pigment, and a carrier. The method further includes preparing a microfluidizer with a composition at a temperature within a predetermined range and processing the mixture in the prepared microfluidizer to form the concentrate. Processing the mixture includes pressure-feeding the mixture into the prepared microfluidizer, passing the mixture through the prepared microfluidizer for a predetermined number of times, and utilizing a second predetermined thermal profile while passing the mixture through the prepared microfluidizer. A viscosity modifier is added to the mixture before and/or during the processing of the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Hou T. Ng, Albert Teishev
  • Publication number: 20120187346
    Abstract: A process for producing positively charged polymer encapsulated particles which have a size of less than 5 ?m and which include a positively charged polymer shell surrounding a core of particle. The process includes the steps of, firstly, dispersing the core particles in an aqueous solution; adding a mixture of monomers either before or after the dispersion step; then, polymerizing the monomers in view of obtaining polymer encapsulated particles, wherein the polymer shell of the particle includes polymers or co-polymers that have a functional group FG. Finally, the process includes the step of dispersing the encapsulated particles with surfactants and charge directors in view of obtaining positively charged encapsulated particle dispersions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Hou T. Ng, Zhang-Lin Zhou
  • Publication number: 20120157608
    Abstract: Methods of surface modification of polymer particle are useful in the development of marking fluids. The surface modification includes saponifying one or more acrylic ester groups on a surface of the polymer particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120147108
    Abstract: An ink-jet ink printing method and associated system can comprise a printer including an ink-jet ink. The ink comprises an aqueous liquid vehicle, 1 wt % to 5 wt % pigment, 1 wt % to 5 wt % acrylic polymer particles, 0.3 wt % to 3 wt % urethane polymer particles, and is formulated to print on a vinyl medium. The system also includes a heating device. Upon applying heat to the ink-jet ink printed on the vinyl medium, the polymer particles in the printed ink fuse, and form a film encapsulating at least a portion of the pigment on the vinyl print medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120140008
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes compositions, methods, and systems having an ink-jet ink comprising a liquid vehicle, a colorant dispersed or dissolved in the liquid vehicle, inter-crosslinkable latex particles dispersed in the liquid vehicle, and an inter-particle crosslinker. The inter-crosslinkable latex particles can comprise at least one hydrophobic monomer; at least one acidic monomer; at least one inter-crosslinkable monomer including at least one keto group; the inter-crosslinkable monomer having the structure described in Formula 1. Additionally, the inter-crosslinkable latex particles can be intra-crosslinked forming an inter-particle crosslinked latex polymer film after printing and upon at least partial depletion of the liquid vehicle or liquid vehicle component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120129092
    Abstract: Methods of encapsulating particles (260) in polymer (280, 382, 384) and compositions of matter using such encapsulated particles (260). Methods include mixing particles (260) of one or more materials with one or more initial radical polymerizable monomers (265) and one or more initial charge-generating components (270) to form a first suspension of monomer-wetted particles (260/265/270), mixing the first suspension with an aqueous dispersant medium (275) to form a second suspension, adding one or more initial reaction initiators to at least one of the first suspension and the second suspension, subjecting the second suspension to homogenization sufficient to form a stable submicron emulsion having an aqueous continuous phase (275), and reacting available radical polymerizable monomers (265) of the emulsion to encapsulate the particles (260) in one or more layers of polymer (280, 382, 384) and to incorporate ionic species from available charge-generating components (270).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120120142
    Abstract: An inkjet printing system (10) includes two inkjet fluid ejectors (14, 15) fluidically coupled to a respective reservoir (16, 17), one of which contains a colorant inkjet ink composition (18), and the other of which contains a latex coating composition (20). One of the fluid ejectors (14, 15) is configured to eject the colorant ink composition (18) onto a medium (24) to form a printed image (26). The other fluid ejector (14, 15) is configured to eject the latex coating composition (20) on the medium (24) i) on a region of the medium (24) surrounding the printed image (26), or ii) on the printed image (26) and on the region of the medium (24) surrounding the image (26). The optical density of the printed image (26) is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Howard S. Tom, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Hou T Ng
  • Publication number: 20120116006
    Abstract: Methods of encapsulating particles (260) in polymer (275, 380, 385) and compositions of matter using such encapsulated particles (260). Methods include mixing particles (260) of one or more materials with one or more initial polymerizable monomers (265) to form a first suspension of monomer-wetted particles (260/265), mixing the first suspension with an aqueous dispersant medium (270) to form a second suspension, adding one or more initial reaction initiators to at least one of the first suspension and the second suspension, subjecting the second suspension to homogenization to form a stable submicron emulsion having an aqueous continuous phase, and reacting available polymerizable monomers (265) of the emulsion to encapsulate the particles (260) in one or more layers of polymer (275, 380, 385).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120105525
    Abstract: An inkjet ink (18) and an intermediate transfer medium (22) for inkjet printing are disclosed herein. During inkjet printing, the inkjet ink (18) forms ink drops (D1, D2) having a contact angle (?) of less than or equal to 50° on the intermediate transfer medium (22), where the contact angle (?) reduces or substantially eliminates coalescence of adjacent ink drops (D1, D2). The contact angle (?) may be obtained by controlling a property of the inkjet ink (18) and/or a property of the surface (20) of the intermediate transfer medium (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Sui-hing Leung, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120103542
    Abstract: An ink dispersion includes an ink vehicle and a colorant dispersed in the ink vehicle. The ink vehicle includes a non-ionic surfactant and a solvent. The non-ionic surfactant has an HLB value ranges from about 5 to about 16, and is chosen from: i) a material represented by one of the formulas R1—O—(OR2)n—H, R1—(OR2)n—OH or R1—C6H4—(OR2)n—OH, wherein: R1 is chosen from a) a linear or cyclic alkyl group including from 3 to 20 carbon atoms, or b) a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group including from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, R2 is chosen from CH2CH2 or CH2CH2CH2, and n is an integer chosen from 2 to 100; or ii) a diester having at least one ethylene oxide repeating unit; or iii) an octylphenol having at least one ethylene oxide repeating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Hou T. Ng, Manoj K. Bhattacharyya, Howard S. Tom
  • Publication number: 20120105554
    Abstract: An ink forming method involves preparing a deagglomerated ink or a modified deagglomerated ink. The deagglomerated ink or the modified deagglomerated ink includes at least deagglomerated colorant particles and a liquid component. The deagglomerated colorant particles are chosen from pigment particles each encapsulated with a dispersant. The colorant particles have a particle size ranging from about 50 nm to about 500 nm. Prior to shipping and/or storing the deagglomerated ink or the modified deagglomerated ink, a portion of the liquid component is removed to form a concentrated ink that has a nonvolatile solids content ranging from about 40 wt % to about 90 wt % of the concentrated ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Thomas Anthony, Hou T. Ng, Howard S. Tom
  • Publication number: 20120092427
    Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to a nanoparticle containing overcoat composition for use in ink jet printing. The composition can include a liquid vehicle and a composite latex particulate. The composite latex particulate can include inorganic nanoparticles at least partially encapsulated by a polymer. The inorganic nanoparticles can be silica, titania, alumina, zinc oxide, silicates, oxides of indium and tin, and combinations thereof. The inorganic nanoparticles can comprise from about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % of the composite latex particulate. The overcoat composition can be used to improve the properties of ink-jetted images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou T. Ng
  • Publication number: 20120092412
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes compositions, methods, and systems including an ink-jet ink comprising a liquid vehicle, a colorant dispersed or dissolved in a liquid vehicle, and self cross-linkable latex particles dispersed in the liquid vehicle. The self cross-linkable latex particle can have at least 0.1 wt % of the self cross-linkable monomer on the surface of the self cross-linkable latex particle providing cross-linking sites on the surface of the self cross-linkable latex particle, and can form an intra- and inter-particle cross-linked latex polymer film after printing the ink-jet ink on a substrate and upon at least partial depletion of the liquid vehicle or a liquid vehicle component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou T. Ng