Patents by Inventor John McAvoy

John McAvoy 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).

  • Wafer assembly comprising MEMS wafer with polymerized siloxane attachment surface
    Patent number: 7986039
    Abstract: A wafer assembly comprises a wafer having a MEMS layer formed on a frontside and a polymer coating covering the MEMS layer. A holding means is releasably attached to the polymer coating so that the wafer assembly facilitates performance of backside operations on a backside of the wafer. The polymer coating is comprised of a polymerized siloxane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook, Emma Rose Kerr, Misty Bagnat, Vincent Patrick Lawlor
  • Method of forming thermal bend actuator with connector posts connected to drive circuitry
    Patent number: 7980666
    Abstract: A method of forming a thermal bend actuator in an inkjet nozzle assembly. The method includes: depositing sidewalls and a roof layer to define a nozzle chamber; defining first and second vias in one sidewall to reveal first and second electrodes; filling the vias with a conductive material using electroless plating to provide first and second connector posts; depositing an active beam material onto the roof layer; etching the active beam material to define a planar active beam member comprising a bent or serpentine beam element; and etching the roof layer to define the thermal bend actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook
  • Mechanically-actuated microfluidic valve
    Patent number: 7981386
    Abstract: A mechanically-actuated microfluidic valve. The valve comprises an inlet port; an outlet port; a thermal bend actuator; and a valve closure member cooperating with the actuator. Actuation of the thermal bend actuator causes movement of the closure member, thereby regulating a flow of fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook
  • Printhead having moving roof structure and mechanical seal
    Patent number: 7976132
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is provided. The nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle chamber having a roof, the roof having a moving portion moveable relative to a static portion and a nozzle opening defined in the roof, such that movement of the moving portion relative to the static portion causes ejection of ink through the nozzle opening. The nozzle assembly also comprises an actuator for moving the moving portion relative to the static portion, and a mechanical seal interconnecting the moving portion and the static portion. The mechanical seal comprises a polymeric material selected from the group comprising: polymerized siloxanes and fluorinated polyolefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook, Emma Rose Kerr, Misty Bagnat, Vincent Patrick Lawlor
  • Printhead nozzle arrangement having ink ejecting actuators annularly arranged around ink ejection port
    Patent number: 7971969
    Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer includes a wafer defining a plurality of nozzle chambers and a plurality of ink supply channel in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzle chambers for supplying the plurality of nozzle chambers with ink; an ink ejection port associated with each nozzle chamber; and a plurality of actuators associated with each nozzle chamber, the plurality of actuators each including a petal formation. A plurality of petal formations are arranged around an ink ejection port of each nozzle chamber to annularly surround the ink ejection port. Each actuator is operable to displace a respective petal formation into the nozzle chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Inkjet nozzle assembly having bilayered passive beam
    Patent number: 7971971
    Abstract: An inkjet nozzle assembly includes: a nozzle chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet; and a thermal bend actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening. The actuator includes: an active beam for connection to drive circuitry; a first passive beam fused to the active beam; and a second passive beam fused to the second first passive beam. The first passive beam is sandwiched between the active beam and the second passive beam such that when a current is passed through the active beam, the active beam expands relative to the passive beams, resulting in bending of the actuator and ejection of ink through the nozzle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Vincent Patrick Lawlor, Kia Silverbrook
  • Inkjet printhead nozzle arrangement having non-coincident low mass electrode and heater element
    Patent number: 7967420
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead nozzle arrangement includes side walls provided on a wafer substrate and a roof layer deposited on said side walls to define an ink chamber, the roof layer defining a nozzle aperture; an inlet defined in the substrate to supply the ink chamber with printing fluid; and at least one heater element having two opposite sides parallel to a plane of the ejection aperture, the heater element adapted to generate a gas bubble at both of said opposite sides. The heater elements and associated electrodes are arranged in the chamber to be non-coincident and have an annular shape facilitating a point of collapse of the bubble near a center thereof. The heater element has a mass of less than 10 nanograms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook, Angus John North
  • Ink jet printhead incorporating heater element proportionally sized to drop size
    Patent number: 7967419
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead comprises a plurality of nozzles; a supply of printing fluid in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles; and a plurality of heater elements corresponding respectively to each of the nozzles, the heater elements for heating the printing fluid to form a gas bubble for ejecting a drop of printing fluid of a predetermined volume from the nozzle. Each of the heater elements has an area proportional to the predetermined volume. The area being such that an amount of energy generated by each heater element to form the gas bubble is substantially equal to or less than an amount of energy absorbable by a drop of printing fluid having the predetermined volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Angus John North, Samuel George Mallinson, Mehdi Azimi, Gregory John McAvoy
  • THERMAL BEND ACTUATOR WITH CONDUCTION PAD AT BEND REGION
    Publication number: 20110122203
    Abstract: A thermal bend actuator includes: a first active cantilever beam for connection to drive circuitry, the first beam having a bent planar beam element; a second passive cantilever beam fused to the first beam; a conduction pad sandwiched between the first and second beams; and first and second adjacent electrode contacts positioned at one side of the actuator. A first end of the beam element is connected to the first contact and a second end of the beam element is connected to the second contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook
  • Thermal bend actuator comprising bent active beam having resistive heating bars
    Patent number: 7946687
    Abstract: A thermal bend actuator comprising: (a) a pair of electrical contacts positioned at one end of the actuator; (b) an active beam connected to the electrical contacts and extending longitudinally away from the contacts, the active beam defining a bent current flow path between the contacts; and (c) a passive beam fused to the active beam. When a current is passed through the active beam, the active beam heats and expands relative to the passive beam, resulting in bending of the actuator. The active beam comprises a resistive heating bar having a relatively smaller cross-sectional area than any other part of the current flow path. Heating of the active beam is concentrated in the heating bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Misty Bagnat, Vincent Patrick Lawlor, Kia Silverbrook
  • Ink jet nozzle arrangement with a segmented actuator nozzle chamber cover
    Patent number: 7942507
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer comprises a nozzle chamber; an ink supply channel for supplying ink to the nozzle chamber; a cover for covering the nozzle chamber, the cover defining an ink ejection port through which ink is ejected; a plurality of thermal bend actuators radially arranged around the ink ejection port; and a plurality of heater elements each corresponding to one of the plurality of thermal bend actuators. Each heater element is provided at an end of a corresponding thermal bend actuator opposite the ink ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Method of fabricating printhead using metal film for protecting hydrophobic ink ejection face
    Patent number: 7938974
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a printhead having a hydrophobic ink ejection face, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a partially-fabricated printhead comprising a plurality of nozzle chambers and a nozzle plate having relatively hydrophilic nozzle surface, the nozzle surface at least partially defining the ink ejection face of the printhead; (b) defining a plurality of nozzle openings in the nozzle plate; (c) depositing a hydrophobic polymeric layer onto the nozzle surface; (d) depositing a protective metal film onto the polymeric layer; (e) subjecting the printhead to an oxidizing plasma; and (f) removing the protective metal film, thereby providing a printhead having a relatively hydrophobic ink ejection face. Step (b) may be performed immediately after any of steps (a), (c) or (d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Misty Bagnat, Emma Rose Kerr, Kia Silverbrook
  • Printhead nozzle arrangement with radially disposed actuators
    Patent number: 7938507
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate with a layer of drive circuitry, the substrate defining an ink chamber with an ink supply channel etched through the substrate; and a roof structure having a roof layer over the chamber. The roof structure includes a nozzle rim positioned around an ejection port defined in the roof layer above the chamber; a plurality of actuators radially spaced about, and displaceable with respect to, the nozzle rim, each actuator having an internal copper core for receiving therethrough a current, each actuator configured to thermally expand into the chamber upon receiving the current; and a series of struts interspersed between the actuators to support the nozzle rim with respect to the roof layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Printhead integrated circuit comprising polymeric cover layer
    Patent number: 7934807
    Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit comprises a substrate having drive circuitry and a plurality of nozzle assemblies positioned on the substrate. Each nozzle assembly has a moving portion moveable relative to a stationary portion for ejection of ink. The printhead integrated circuit is covered with a polymeric layer. The polymeric layer covers a gap defined between each moving portion and each stationary portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook, Emma Rose Kerr, Misty Bagnat, Vincent Patrick Lawlor
  • Printhead integrated circuit with petal formation ink ejection actuator
    Patent number: 7934809
    Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit includes an ink chamber for storing a fluid; an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the ink chamber; a plurality of actuators radially positioned about the ink ejection port in a petal formation; and a heater structure provided in each actuator, the heater structure operable to conduct current therethrough to heat a respective actuator, whereby a differential thermal expansion is established in the respective actuator to urge the respective actuator into the ink chamber. The heater structure is positioned in each actuator to heat the actuator unevenly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Nozzle arrangement using unevenly heated thermal actuators
    Patent number: 7931353
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer includes a wafer defining an ink supply channel and a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply channel; a drive circuitry layer positioned on the wafer; a plurality of actuator devices positioned on the wafer and the drive circuitry layer to cover the nozzle chamber, each actuator device having an internal serpentine conductive core surrounded by a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer; and an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. The plurality of actuator devices are radially positioned around the ink ejection port and adapted to bend into the nozzle chamber, and the internal serpentine conductive core is disposed within the PTFE layer to heat the PTFE layer unevenly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • PRINTHEAD INTEGRATED CIRCUIT HAVING EXPOSED ACTIVE BEAM COATED WITH POLYMER LAYER
    Publication number: 20110090286
    Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit includes: a substrate comprising drive circuitry; a ceramic nozzle plate spaced apart from the substrate, the nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle openings and a plurality of moveable portions defined therein; an active beam disposed on each moveable portion of the nozzle plate, such that each moveable portion is moveable towards the substrate when a current from the drive circuitry is passed through a respective active beam; and a polymer layer coating the nozzle plate and the active beams, wherein the polymer layer is comprised of a polymerized siloxane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Misty Bagnat, Emma Rose Kerr, Kia Silverbrook
  • Inkjet nozzle assembly with thermal bend actuator defining moving portion of nozzle chamber roof
    Patent number: 7926915
    Abstract: An inkjet nozzle assembly includes a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof. The roof has a nozzle opening defined therein, and a moving portion moveable towards the floor. The assembly further comprises a thermal bend actuator, defining at least part of the moving portion of the roof, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening. The thermal bend actuator comprises an upper first beam for connection to drive circuitry and a lower second beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam resulting in bending of the moving portion towards the floor of the nozzle chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook
  • METHOD OF FORMING THERMAL BEND ACTUATOR WITH CONNECTOR POSTS CONNECTED TO DRIVE CIRCUITRY
    Publication number: 20110086446
    Abstract: A method of forming a thermal bend actuator in an inkjet nozzle assembly. The method includes: depositing sidewalls and a roof layer to define a nozzle chamber; defining first and second vias in one sidewall to reveal first and second electrodes; filling the vias with a conductive material using electroless plating to provide first and second connector posts; depositing an active beam material onto the roof layer; etching the active beam material to define a planar active beam member comprising a bent or serpentine beam element; and etching the roof layer to define the thermal bend actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook
  • Method of operating a nozzle chamber having radially positioned actuators
    Patent number: 7922296
    Abstract: Provided is a method of operating a nozzle chamber. The nozzle chamber has a wafer defining a chamber with an ink ejection port and ink supply channel along with a plurality of radially positioned actuators about the port. Each actuator has an internal serpentine core arranged in signal communication with a CMOS layer on the wafer. The method includes the steps of supplying the chamber with ink via the ink supply channel, and passing current through the serpentine cores for a predetermined period of time. The current produces thermal expansion of the actuators into the chamber to increase a chamber ink pressure to eject ink from the ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy