Patents by Inventor John A. Lebens
John A. Lebens 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).
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Publication number: 20050099463Abstract: A snap-through thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device such as a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve is disclosed. The snap-through actuator is comprised of a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor edges which define a central plane. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element is formed to have a residual shape bowing outward from the central plane in a first direction away from the second layer. The snap-through thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element which causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2004Publication date: May 12, 2005Inventors: Antonio Cabal, John Lebens, David Trauernicht, David Ross
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Publication number: 20050095538Abstract: A method for creating one or more ink jet chambers, the method includes the steps of providing a substrate having a thermal element covered with substantially one type of uncured photo-imageable material; providing a first mask spanning the thermal element which creates both masked and unmasked uncured photo-imageable regions; exposing the unmasked photo-imageable region; providing a second mask covering at least a portion of the thermal element; exposing a portion of the remaining unexposed photo-imageable region for forming an output nozzle; curing the exposed portions of the photo-imageable material; and removing all the remaining uncured photo-imageable material for creating the ink jet chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2003Publication date: May 5, 2005Inventors: John Lebens, Thomas Stephany
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Patent number: 6886920Abstract: An apparatus for a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element extending from the base element and normally residing at a first position before activation. The cantilevered element includes a first layer constructed of an electrically resistive material, such as titanium aluminide, patterned to have a first resistor segment and a second resistor segment each extending from the base element; a coupling device that conducts electrical current serially between the first and second resistor segments; and a second layer constructed of a dielectric material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and attached to the first layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David P. Trauernicht, Edward P. Furlani, John A. Lebens
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Patent number: 6879306Abstract: A display system for providing a user viewable visible color image includes a display for receiving color laser light so that the display, in response to color laser light, produces a viewable visible colored image; a plurality of different color laser light sources arranged in an array with each such laser light source including: a first dielectric stack for receiving and transmitting pump-beam light and being reflective to laser light over a predetermined range of wavelengths; an organic active region for receiving transmitted pump-beam light from the first dielectric stack; and a second dielectric stack for reflecting transmitted pump-beam light and laser light from the organic active region back into the organic active region. The display system projects color laser light from the array onto the display in a pattern to cause a visual image to be produced by the display.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2002Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: John P. Spoonhower, Keith B. Kahen, John A. Lebens
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Patent number: 6879618Abstract: A laser emitting apparatus includes a substrate having on one side an incoherent light-emitting device having a light-emitting layer wherein an electric field is applied across the light-emitting layer to produce light which is transmitted out of the incoherent light-emitting device through an optically transparent layer into a vertical laser cavity structure disposed to receive light transmitted from the incoherent light-emitting device and produce laser light.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Ronald S. Cok, Keith B. Kahen, John A. Lebens, John P. Spoonhower
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Patent number: 6869185Abstract: A display system for providing a user viewable visible image, includes a view screen for receiving organic laser light and having a diffusing optical element so that the view screen, in response to organic laser light, produces a viewable visible image, wherein the diffusing optical element includes a viewing angle greater than 160° in a first viewing direction and greater than 100° in a second viewing direction orthogonal to the first direction; one or more organic laser light sources arranged in an array with each such laser light source including a vertical cavity design and means for projecting and modulating the intensity of the organic laser light from the array onto the view screen in a pattern to cause a visual image to be produced by the view screen; and means associated with the view screen for reducing speckle in the organic laser light.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2002Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Cheryl J. Kaminsky, Robert P. Bourdelais, Keith B. Kahen, John A. Lebens, John P. Spoonhower
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Patent number: 6870868Abstract: An organic vertical cavity laser device includes a substrate; a bottom dielectric stack reflective to light over a predetermined range of wavelengths and being disposed over the substrate, and an organic active region for producing laser light. The device also includes a top dielectric stack spaced from the bottom dielectric stack and reflective to light over a predetermined range of wavelengths, and a thermally conductive transparent layer disposed between the bottom dielectric stack and the organic active region or between the top dielectric stack and the organic active region or both.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Keith B. Kahen, John A. Lebens
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Patent number: 6869169Abstract: A snap-through thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device is provided. The snap-through actuator includes a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor edges which define a central plane. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element is formed to have a residual shape bowing outward from the central plane in a first direction away from the second layer. The snap-through thermal actuator further includes apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element which causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2002Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Antonio Cabal, John A. Lebens, David P. Trauernicht, David S. Ross
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Publication number: 20050052496Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2004Publication date: March 10, 2005Inventors: Christopher Delametter, Edward Furlani, John Lebens, David Trauernicht, Antonio Cabal, David Ross, Stephen Pond
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Publication number: 20050052498Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2004Publication date: March 10, 2005Inventors: Christopher Delametter, Edward Furlani, John Lebens, David Trauernicht, Antonio Cabal, David Ross, Stephen Pond
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Publication number: 20050046672Abstract: A thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter for ink jet printing, is disclosed. The thermal actuator comprises a base element and a movable element extending from the base element and residing at a first position. The movable element includes a barrier layer constructed of a barrier material having low thermal conductivity material, bonded between a first layer and a second layer; wherein the first layer is constructed of a first material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion and the second layer is constructed of a second material having a high thermal conductivity and a high Young's modulus. An apparatus is provided adapted to apply a heat pulse directly to the first layer, causing a thermal expansion of the first layer relative to the second layer and deflection of the movable element to a second position, followed by relaxation of the movable element towards the first position as heat diffuses through the barrier layer to the second layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2003Publication date: March 3, 2005Inventors: Antonio Cabal, John Lebens, Stephen Pond
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Publication number: 20050046671Abstract: An apparatus for a liquid drop emitter, especially for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. A chamber filled with a liquid, a nozzle and a thermo-mechanical actuator, extending into the chamber from at least one wall of the chamber is disclosed. A movable element of the thermo-mechanical actuator is configured with a bending portion which bends when heated. The bending portion comprises a first layer having first and second sides, constructed of a first material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, a second layer, attached to the second side of the first layer, and a third layer, attached to the first side of the first layer, constructed of a third material having a low thermal conductivity and a low Young's modulus. Apparatus is adapted to apply heat pulses to the bending portion resulting in rapid deflection of the movable element, ejection of a liquid drop, without degradation or vaporization of the liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2003Publication date: March 3, 2005Inventors: Antonio Cabal, John Lebens, Stephen Pond
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Publication number: 20050025203Abstract: A vertical cavity laser array device including a substrate, top and bottom dielectric stacks, and an active region for producing laser light. The active region includes one or more periodic gain region(s) and spacer layers disposed on either side of the periodic gain region(s) and arranged so that the periodic gain region(s) is aligned with the antinodes of the device's standing wave electromagnetic field. A structure is provided for modulating the properties of the periodic gain region(s) at spaced locations so as to provide an array of spaced laser pixels which have higher net gain than the interpixel regions; and the spaced laser pixels having the same or different sizes and the spacings between pixels having the same or different lengths to cause the output of the vertical cavity laser array device to produce single or multimode laser output.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2003Publication date: February 3, 2005Inventors: Keith Kahen, John Lebens, Lingadahalli Shantharama
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Publication number: 20040263573Abstract: An apparatus for a liquid drop emitter, especially for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. A chamber filled with a liquid, a nozzle and a thermo-mechanical actuator, extending into the chamber from at least one wall of the chamber is disclosed. A movable element of the thermo-mechanical actuator is configured with a bending portion which bends when heated, the bending portion having at least one actuator opening for passage of the liquid. Apparatus is adapted to apply heat pulses to the bending portion resulting in rapid deflection of the movable element, ejection of a liquid drop, and passage of liquid through the at least one actuator opening. A movable element configured as a cantilever or as a beam extending from anchor walls of the chamber is disclosed. The thermo-mechanical actuator may be formed as a laminate structure including a layer constructed of a deflector material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion and that is electrically resistive, for example, titanium aluminide.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2003Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Antonio Cabal, John A. Lebens
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Patent number: 6824249Abstract: An apparatus for a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bending portion extending from the base element and a free end portion residing in a first position. The thermo-mechanical bending portion has a base end width, wb, adjacent the base element and a free end width, wf, adjacent the free end portion wherein the base end width is substantially greater than the free end width. The thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse directly to the thermo-mechanical bending portion causing the deflection of the free end portion of the cantilevered element to a second position. The width of the thermo-mechanical bending portion may reduce substantially monotonically as a function of the distance away from the base element or in at least one step reduction.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, David P. Trauernicht, John A. Lebens, Edward P. Furlani, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6820964Abstract: An apparatus for a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bending portion extending from the base element and a free end portion residing in a first position. The thermo-mechanical bending portion has a base end width, wb, adjacent the base element and a free end width, wf, adjacent the free end portion wherein the base end width is substantially greater than the free end width. The thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse directly to the thermo-mechanical bending portion causing the deflection of the free end portion of the cantilevered element to a second position. The width of the thermo-mechanical bending portion may reduce substantially quadratically or in an inverse power fashion as a function of the distance away from the base element or in at least one step reduction.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, David P. Trauernicht, John A. Lebens, Edward P. Furlani, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6817702Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, Edward P. Furlani, John A. Lebens, David P. Trauernicht, Antonio Cabal, David S. Ross, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6796641Abstract: A continuous inkjet printer in which a continuous ink stream is deflected at the printhead nozzle bore without the need for charged deflection plates or tunnels. The printhead includes a primary ink delivery channel which delivers a primary flow of pressurized ink through an ink staging chamber to the nozzle bore to create an undeflected ink stream from the printhead. A secondary ink delivery channel adjacent to the primary channel is controlled by a thermally actuated valve to selectively create a lateral flow of pressurized ink into the primary flow thereby causing the emitted ink stream to deflect in a direction opposite to the direction from which the secondary ink stream impinges the primary ink stream in the ink staging chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: John A. Lebens, Christopher N. Delametter, David P. Trauernicht
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Patent number: 6780339Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed using a combination of traditional CMOS technology to form the various controlling electrical circuits on a silicon substrate having insulating layer(s) which provide electrical connections and a MEMS technology for forming nozzle openings. A blocking structure is formed in the insulating layer(s) between a first ink channel formed in the silicon substrate and a second ink channel formed in the insulating layer(s). The blocking structure causes ink to flow around the blocking structure and thereby develop lateral flow components to the liquid entering the second channel so that, for droplets selected for printing, as the stream of droplets emanates from the bore of the nozzle, there is provided a reduced amount of heat needed for operating a heating element adjacent each nozzle opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Constantine N. Anagnostopoulos, John A. Lebens, Christopher N. Delametter
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Publication number: 20040161004Abstract: An organic vertical cavity laser device includes a substrate; a bottom dielectric stack reflective to light over a predetermined range of wavelengths and being disposed over the substrate, and an organic active region for producing laser light. The device also includes a top dielectric stack spaced from the bottom dielectric stack and reflective to light over a predetermined range of wavelengths, and a thermally conductive transparent layer disposed between the bottom dielectric stack and the organic active region or between the top dielectric stack and the organic active region or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2003Publication date: August 19, 2004Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Keith B. Kahen, John A. Lebens