Patents by Inventor James N. Middleton

James N. Middleton 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: 20110149000
    Abstract: A microdeposition system includes a stage, a printhead carriage, and a controller. The stage holds a substrate. The printhead carriage includes N printhead modules, where N is an integer greater than one. Each of the N printhead modules includes a printhead and an alignment mechanism. The printhead includes a plurality of nozzles that deposit droplets of fluid manufacturing material onto the substrate while relative movement between the substrate and the printhead is along a first axis. The alignment mechanism adjusts the printhead with respect to the printhead module. The controller controls the alignment mechanisms of the N printhead modules to set effective nozzle spacing for the pluralities of nozzles to a uniform value. The effective nozzle spacing is defined as spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of nozzles as projected onto a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ULVAC, INC.
    Inventors: David ALBERTALLI, James N. MIDDLETON, Roy M. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7901026
    Abstract: A drop analysis/drop check system allows a plurality of printheads to remain stationary during analysis to emulate operation of an actual piezoelectric microdeposition system. The system provides accurate tuning of individual nozzle ejectors and allows for substrate loading and alignment in parallel with drop analysis/drop check. The drop analysis/drop check system includes a motion controller directing movement of a stage, a printhead controller controlling a printhead to selectively eject drops of fluid material to be deposited on a substrate, and a camera supported by the stage for movement relative to the printheads. The camera receives a signal from the motion controller to initiate exposure of the camera and captures an image of the drops of fluid material ejected by the printheads. A light-emitting device includes a strobe controller that receives a signal from the camera to supply light to an area including the liquid drops during camera exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ULVAC, Inc.
    Inventors: David Albertalli, Robert G. Boehm, Jr., Oleg N. Gratchev, James N Middleton, Perry West
  • Patent number: 7887156
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integral printhead assembly for use in association with an industrial printing apparatus. The integral printhead assembly is a self-contained unit which can be quickly removed and replaced with another assembly with minimum downtime to the printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Middleton, David Albertalli, Paul A. Parks, Daniel Sramek
  • Publication number: 20080192077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integral printhead assembly for use in association with an industrial printing apparatus. The integral printhead assembly is a self-contained unit which can be quickly removed and replaced with another assembly with minimum downtime to the printing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: LITREX CORPORATION
    Inventors: James N. Middleton, David Albertalli, Paul A. Parks, Daniel Sramek
  • Publication number: 20080151270
    Abstract: A drop analysis/drop check system allows a plurality of printheads to remain stationary during analysis to emulate operation of an actual piezoelectric microdeposition system. The system provides accurate tuning of individual nozzle ejectors and allows for substrate loading and alignment in parallel with drop analysis/drop check. The drop analysis/drop check system includes a motion controller directing movement of a stage, a printhead controller controlling a printhead to selectively eject drops of fluid material to be deposited on a substrate, and a camera supported by the stage for movement relative to the printheads. The camera receives a signal from the motion controller to initiate exposure of the camera and captures an image of the drops of fluid material ejected by the printheads. A light-emitting device includes a strobe controller that receives a signal from the camera to supply light to an area including the liquid drops during camera exposure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: LITREX CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Albertalli, Robert G. Boehm Jr, Oleg N. Gratchev, James N. Middleton, Perry West