Patents by Inventor Howard S. Tom

Howard S. Tom 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: 9133344
    Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to methods and compositions directed at durable ink-jet inks. As such, an ink-jet ink can have a liquid vehicle, a colorant dispersed or dissolved in the liquid vehicle, a high Tg polymer having a Tg of at least 45.degree. C. dispersed in the liquid vehicle, and a near-infrared absorbing dye in the liquid vehicle. The ink can be formulated such that when printed on a substrate and irradiated with a near-infrared energy source, the near-infrared absorbing dye generates enough heat to uniformly melt the high Tg polymer, thereby enhancing the durability of ink-jet ink printed on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou Ng, Jayprakash Bhatt
  • Patent number: 8944579
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes compositions, methods, and systems having an ink-jet ink including 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 have 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: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 8939569
    Abstract: An inkjet ink includes a non-polar carrier, a colorant dispersed in the non-polar carrier, a dispersant, and non-swellable latex particles of a cross-linked polymer dispersed in the non-polar carrier. The colorant is chosen from a pigment, a dye, or a combination of a pigment and a dye. The cross-linked polymer consists of: an acrylic monomer having a molecular weight less than 1000, a vinylic monomer having a molecular weight of less than 1000, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Hou T. Ng, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom
  • Patent number: 8926081
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 8926079
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Howard S Tom, Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 8894194
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 8894761
    Abstract: Emulsion-based thermal inkjet inks include a high boiling point carrier fluid; a colorant; and vesicles comprising a low boiling point expellant fluid, and an ionic surfactant comprising molecules, each having a head with affinity to expellant fluid material and a tail with affinity to carrier fluid, the vesicles having a core defined by the heads of the surfactant molecules, the expellant fluid contained in the core, with the vesicles dispersed in the carrier fluid. A method for preparing the thermal inkjet inks is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Henryk Birecki, Hou T. Ng, Howard S. Tom
  • Patent number: 8857964
    Abstract: An inkjet ink composition includes latex polymer particles. The latex polymer particles are present in the ink composition in an amount ranging from about 0.5 wt % to about 40 wt %. The latex polymer particles have: a Tg ranging from about ?40° C. to about 125° C.; and up to about 100% of total cross-linkable sites being present: on surfaces of the latex polymer particles; throughout a bulk of the latex polymer particles; or combinations thereof. The latex polymer particles are formed from monomers including at least one hydrophobic monomer, at least one acidic monomer, and at least one crosslinkable monomer, the at least one crosslinkable monomer including at least one keto group. The ink composition further includes at least one cross-linker compound selected from the group consisting of diamino compounds, polyamino compounds, and combinations thereof. Yet further, the ink composition includes at least one colorant and at least one aqueous solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 8772372
    Abstract: A method for making a pigment dispersion can include dispersing pigment particles in an aqueous liquid medium to form a dispersion, adding a first monomer to form a dispersive coating on the pigment particles, adding a second monomer to the dispersion, and forming a polymer coating on the surface of the pigment particles by polymerizing the second monomer with the first monomer, wherein the polymer coating includes at least one urethane linkage or urea linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 8764894
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Hou T. Ng, Manoj K. Bhattacharyya, Howard S. Tom
  • Publication number: 20140098164
    Abstract: An inkjet ink includes a non-polar carrier, a colorant dispersed in the non-polar carrier, a dispersant, and non-swellable latex particles of a cross-linked polymer dispersed in the non-polar carrier. The colorant is chosen from a pigment, a dye, or a combination of a pigment and a dye. The cross-linked polymer consists of: an acrylic monomer having a molecular weight less than 1000, a vinylic monomer having a molecular weight of less than 1000, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Hou T. Ng, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom
  • Patent number: 8674001
    Abstract: Polymer-encapsulated pigment which includes a pigment core and a polymer shell, the shell being a polymerized polymer including hydrophobic monomers and acidic monomers, and also including a specific cross-linking agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Laurie S. Mittelstadt
  • Publication number: 20130305958
    Abstract: Emulsion-based thermal inkjet inks include a high boiling point carrier fluid; a colorant; and vesicles comprising a low boiling point expellant fluid, and an ionic surfactant comprising molecules, each having a head with affinity to expellant fluid material and a tail with affinity to carrier fluid, the vesicles having a core defined by the heads of the surfactant molecules, the expellant fluid contained in the core, with the vesicles dispersed in the carrier fluid. A method for preparing the thermal inkjet inks is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Henryk Birecki, Hou T. Ng, Howard S. Tom
  • Patent number: 8562125
    Abstract: A concentrated inkjet ink for packaging includes a liquid composition present in an amount that is less than 60 wt % of the concentrated inkjet ink, and nonvolatile solids present in an amount ranging from about 40 wt % to about 90 wt % of the concentrated inkjet ink. The nonvolatile solids include encapsulated pigment particles having a particle size ranging from about 50 nm to about 500 nm, and a dispersant. The concentrated inkjet ink is dispersible in an ink vehicle to form a print ready inkjet ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Thomas Anthony, Hou T. Ng, Howard S. Tom
  • Patent number: 8430494
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Thomas Anthony, Hou T. Ng, Howard S. Tom
  • Patent number: 8356893
    Abstract: Ink composition including non-VOC liquid carrier and method of making the same are disclosed. A disclosed example ink composition has a viscosity that is below about 70.0 cps and includes non-VOC liquid carrier, dispersing agents and pigment particles having an average size of less than about 10 ?m. Also disclosed are method of use and method of making such ink composition containing non-VOC liquid carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Howard S. Tom, Hou T. Ng
  • 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: 8258204
    Abstract: An inkjet printing composition comprises an aqueous liquid vehicle; at least one pigment having a concentration of about 1 to 5 wt %; and a latex polymer having a concentration of about 2.5 to 8 wt % and comprising a polymerized mixture of styrene, butyl acrylate, at least one of methacrylonitrile and acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. An inkjet ink printing system comprises a vinyl medium; the at least one inkjet printing composition; and a heating device, wherein the system is configured such that upon applying heat from the heating device to the inkjet ink printed on the vinyl medium, the latex particles fuse, thereby forming a printed image with a film encapsulating at least a portion of the pigment on the vinyl medium. A method of forming a printed image of the latex polymer using the inkjet ink printing system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Howard S. Tom, Hou 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