Patents by Inventor Kia Silverbrook

Kia Silverbrook 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).

  • Modular Printer With Printheads Proximate Feed Roller Nip
    Publication number: 20090273644
    Abstract: A modular printer which has a pair of opposed printhead assemblies for duplexed printing. Print media is fed along a print media path extending between the printhead assemblies. Each printhead assembly has pinch rollers to feed the print media along the print media path. Each printhead assembly also includes a printhead module configured to eject ink onto the print media. The printhead module defines a curved end portion in which the pinch rollers are received. The printhead is located at the end of the curved end portion proximal to the nip of the pinch roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • FORCE-SENSING ELECTRONIC PEN WITH USER-REPLACEABLE CARTRIDGE
    Publication number: 20090273588
    Abstract: A force-sensing electronic pen comprises a user-replaceable cartridge, a retaining boot for securely retaining the cartridge, a force sensor coupled to the retaining boot, a spring for biasing the retaining boot towards engagement with the force sensor; and an end-stop for limiting travel of the retaining boot against the bias of the spring. The cartridge is extractable from the pen by pulling the cartridge against the bias of the spring until the retaining boot engages with the end-stop. When the retaining boot engages with the end-stop, further pulling of the cartridge releases the cartridge from the retaining boot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Tobin Allen King, Kia Silverbrook
  • Printhead Integrated Circuit With Small Nozzle Apertures
    Publication number: 20090273640
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The nozzle apertures each have an area less than 600 microns squared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Printhead Integrated Circuit With More Than Two Metal Layer CMOS
    Publication number: 20090273638
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a single printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The printhead IC also has drive circuitry for providing the actuators with power, the drive circuitry having patterned layers of metal separated by interleaved layers of dielectric material. The layers of metal being interconnected by conductive vias, wherein the drive circuitry has more than two of the metal layers and each of the metal layers are less than 2 microns thick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Inkjet Printhead With Nozzle Layer Defining Etchant Holes
    Publication number: 20090273649
    Abstract: The current invention provides for an inkjet printhead for an inkjet printer. The inkjet printhead includes a wafer substrate defining an ink supply channel. Side wall portions extend away from one surface of the wafer substrate, and a nozzle layer supported on the side wall portions and extending parallel to said one surface of the wafer substrate. The nozzle layer and the side wall portions define an array of nozzle chambers for receiving ink. The nozzle layer defines ink ejection ports and etchant holes. The etchant holes are of sufficient diameter to retain ink in the nozzle chamber by surface tension. Each nozzle chamber has a thermal actuators cantilevered on the wafer substrate. The actuator partitions the nozzle chamber and has a heater layer which produces thermal expansion of said actuator upon activation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Printhead With Columns Extending Across Chamber Inlet
    Publication number: 20090273650
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead for a printer that prints via an array of ink ejection devices. Each ink ejection device has a chamber for holding a quantity of ink. The chamber is partially defined by at least one sidewall and has an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber. The inlet defines a flow path into the chamber and has a series of columns extending across the flow path. The series of chambers form a barrier structure that creates a flow constriction that traps contaminants in the ink flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Slitting And Cutting Mechanism
    Publication number: 20090274506
    Abstract: A slitting mechanism for a roll media printer is provided. The slitting mechanism has a rotatable carousel of rotatable slitting shafts which extend across the width of a media web arranged to pass the slitting shafts along a path. Each slitting shaft has at least one slitter misaligned with at least one of the slitters of the other slitting shafts. Each slitter has a cutting edge. The slitting mechanism is selectively movable and the carousel is selectively rotatable to a plurality of cutting positions within the path. Each cutting position results in a different width of roll media being output from the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Janette Faye Lee
  • Printhead Integrated Circuit With High Density Nozzle Array
    Publication number: 20090273633
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a single printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The array has a nozzle aperture density of more than 100 nozzle apertures per square millimetre and all the nozzle apertures are formed in a printhead surface layer on one face of the printhead IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Printhead IC With Ink Supply Channel For Multiple Nozzle Rows
    Publication number: 20090273641
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The array of droplet ejectors is arranged in a plurality of rows and an ink supply channel extending parallel to the plurality of rows, and an inlet conduit extending from the supply channel to an opposing surface of the printhead IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Printhead Integrated Circuit With Ink Supply Through Wafer Thickness
    Publication number: 20090273643
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on one face of a printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The printhead IC having a printhead surface layer on one face which defines all the nozzle apertures on the array. The printhead IC also having a back face that is opposite said one face on which the printhead surface layer is formed, and at least one supply conduit extending from the back face to the array of droplet ejectors. The at least one supply conduit is in fluid communication with a plurality of the droplet ejectors in the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Printhead Integrated Circuit With Large Nozzle Array
    Publication number: 20090273632
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a single printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The array has more than 2000 droplet ejectors and all the nozzle apertures are formed in a printhead surface layer on one face of the printhead IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Printhead Integrated Circuit For Low Volume Droplet Ejection
    Publication number: 20090273635
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture and is configured to eject droplets with a volume less than 3 pico-litres each.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • THERMAL BEND ACTUATOR COMPRISING BENT ACTIVE BEAM HAVING RESISTIVE HEATING BARS
    Publication number: 20090273646
    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: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Misty Bagnat, Vincent Patrick Lawlor, Kia Silverbrook
  • Ink refill cartridge with an internal spring assembly for a printer
    Patent number: 7611234
    Abstract: An ink refill cartridge for a printer including an outer portion containing an internal spring assembly. A base portion contains a deformable ink membrane for containing ink, at least part of the base portion able to be slidingly received within the outer portion, the internal spring assembly acting to compress the deformable ink membrane to expel ink therefrom as the at least part of the base portion is slidingly received within the outer portion by application of a force. An ink outlet is provided to dispense the ink expelled from the deformable ink membrane. The ink outlet is mated with an ink inlet of a printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Norman Michael Berry
  • Cylindrical camera module with pivot assembly
    Patent number: 7612825
    Abstract: A camera is provided having a first image capture portion connected to a base by means of a pivot assembly. An electronic imaging sensor is located in the image capture portion and signals from the camera are conveyed by electrical contacts disposed about the base. In order to facilitate electrical communication between the imaging sensor and the electrical contacts over the full pivoting range, an integrated image processing circuit is mounted to a flexible PCB that interconnects the image capture portion with the contacts. The flexible PCB is sufficiently slack to accommodate pivoting of the image capture portion relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley, Paul Lapstun
  • Inkjet printhead that prints keep-wet dots to avoid clogging
    Patent number: 7611218
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead with a plurality of nozzles, a heater element adjacent each of the nozzles respectively for heating an ejectable liquid to form a gas bubble that causes the ejection of a drop of the ejectable liquid from the nozzle, and, a print engine controller for controlling the operation of the heater elements. During use, the print engine controller ensures that the time interval between successive actuations of each of the heater elements is less than a predetermined time in which the viscosity of the ejectable liquid at the nozzle increases to a threshold, known as the decap time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley, Angus John North, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Interactive system
    Patent number: 7613533
    Abstract: A system including a sensing device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system has (a) an article comprising: (i) a surface having a plurality of positions and a plurality of different print elements respectively at the plurality of positions, and (ii) a plurality of substantially invisible codes respectively at the plurality of positions and associated with the plurality of positions on the surface. The system also has (b) a sensing device comprising (i) an optical sensor for reading the codes (ii) a processor coupled to the optical sensor for determining a position of the sensing device using the read code (iii) a memory unit comprising data for different audio outputs corresponding to the different print elements, the memory unit coupled to the processor, and (iv) an audio output device coupled to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Tobin Allen King, Simon Robert Walmsley, Kia Silverbrook
  • Nozzle arrangement for a printhead integrated circuit
    Patent number: 7611227
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for a printhead integrated circuit is disclosed. The arrangement includes an ink chamber having an ink ejection port, an ink ejecting member angularly displaceable within the ink chamber, a thermal bend actuator reciprocally displaceable upon receipt of a drive signal, a motion transmitting structure comprising an effort formation, a lever arm formation and a load formation, the lever arm formation being interposed between the effort formation and the load formation, the effort formation being connected to the thermal bend actuator and the ink election member being connected to the load formation, and a resiliently deformable sealing structure, interposed between a substrate upon which the nozzle arrangement is formed and the lever arm formation, to permit pivotal movement of the lever arm formation with respect to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Printhead and method for controlling print quality using printhead temperature
    Patent number: 7611220
    Abstract: A printhead and method of operation for controlling the print quality using temperature. A sensor senses the printhead temperature before printing begins. The controller compares it to a threshold temperature that represents desired ink drop characteristics. If the printhead temperature is below the threshold, it initiates heating elements and adjusts the heating elements until the threshold temperature has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Cabinet for a web printing system
    Patent number: 7611237
    Abstract: A cabinet for a printing system for producing wallpaper printed on a media web, the cabinet comprising: a support adapted to hold at least one media cartridge, containing the media web, and to hold a printhead; at least one guide to direct the media web past the printhead; a further support adapted to hold at least one ink reservoir in fluid communication with the printhead; at least one module adapted to hold at least one processor; a user interface to forward user instructions to the at least one processor; a drying compartment to dry printed wallpaper; and a receiving stage to receive printed wallpaper onto a roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King