Patents by Inventor Mauro Cattaneo

Mauro Cattaneo 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: 11498335
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including the steps of: forming, in a first semiconductor wafer that houses a nozzle of the ejection device, a first structural layer; removing selective portions of the first structural layer to form a first portion of a chamber for containing the fluid; removing, in a second semiconductor wafer that houses an actuator of the ejection device, selective portions of a second structural layer to form a second portion of the chamber; and coupling together the first and second semiconductor wafers so that the first portion directly faces the second portion, thus forming the chamber. The first portion defines a part of volume of the chamber that is larger than a respective part of volume of the chamber defined by the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Marco Ferrera, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Mauro Cattaneo, Andrea Nomellini
  • Patent number: 11214061
    Abstract: The microfluidic device has a plurality of ejector elements. Each ejector element includes a first region, accommodating a first fluid flow channel and an actuator chamber; a second region, accommodating a fluid containment chamber; and a third region, accommodating a second fluid flow channel. The fluid containment chamber is fluidically coupled to the first and to the second fluid flow channels. The second region is formed from a membrane layer, from a membrane definition layer, mechanically coupled to the membrane layer and having a membrane definition opening, and a fluid chamber defining body, mechanically coupled to the membrane definition layer and having a chamber defining opening, with a width greater than the width of the membrane definition opening. The width of the membrane is thus defined by the width of the chamber defining opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Mauro Cattaneo, Carlo Luigi Prelini
  • Publication number: 20210078331
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including the steps of: forming, in a first semiconductor wafer that houses a nozzle of the ejection device, a first structural layer; removing selective portions of the first structural layer to form a first portion of a chamber for containing the fluid; removing, in a second semiconductor wafer that houses an actuator of the ejection device, selective portions of a second structural layer to form a second portion of the chamber; and coupling together the first and second semiconductor wafers so that the first portion directly faces the second portion, thus forming the chamber. The first portion defines a part of volume of the chamber that is larger than a respective part of volume of the chamber defined by the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Marco FERRERA, Carlo Luigi PRELINI, Mauro CATTANEO, Andrea NOMELLINI
  • Patent number: 10946653
    Abstract: The fluid ejection microfluidic device, has a substrate; a buried cavity within the first substrate; a membrane formed by the first substrate and extending between the buried cavity and a first main surface of the substrate; and an access channel extending through the substrate, laterally and externally to the buried cavity and to the membrane and isolated with respect to the buried cavity. A sealed actuation structure extends over the first main surface of the substrate. A containment layer, of polymeric material, extends over the first main surface of the substrate and forms a fluid containment chamber accommodating the sealed actuation structure. A nozzle body of semiconductor material closes the fluid containment chamber at the top and is traversed by an ejection opening, forming, together with the fluid containment chamber and the access channel, a fluidic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Mauro Cattaneo, Donata Asnaghi
  • Patent number: 10875307
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including the steps of: forming, in a first semiconductor wafer that houses a nozzle of the ejection device, a first structural layer; removing selective portions of the first structural layer to form a first portion of a chamber for containing the fluid; removing, in a second semiconductor wafer that houses an actuator of the ejection device, selective portions of a second structural layer to form a second portion of the chamber; and coupling together the first and second semiconductor wafers so that the first portion directly faces the second portion, thus forming the chamber. The first portion defines a part of volume of the chamber that is larger than a respective part of volume of the chamber defined by the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Marco Ferrera, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Mauro Cattaneo, Andrea Nomellini
  • Publication number: 20200290355
    Abstract: The microfluidic device has a plurality of ejector elements. Each ejector element includes a first region, accommodating a first fluid flow channel and an actuator chamber; a second region, accommodating a fluid containment chamber; and a third region, accommodating a second fluid flow channel. The fluid containment chamber is fluidically coupled to the first and to the second fluid flow channels. The second region is formed from a membrane layer, from a membrane definition layer, mechanically coupled to the membrane layer and having a membrane definition opening, and a fluid chamber defining body, mechanically coupled to the membrane definition layer and having a chamber defining opening, with a width greater than the width of the membrane definition opening. The width of the membrane is thus defined by the width of the chamber defining opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Mauro CATTANEO, Carlo Luigi PRELINI
  • Patent number: 10703102
    Abstract: The microfluidic device has a plurality of ejector elements. Each ejector element includes a first region, accommodating a first fluid flow channel and an actuator chamber; a second region, accommodating a fluid containment chamber; and a third region, accommodating a second fluid flow channel. The fluid containment chamber is fluidically coupled to the first and to the second fluid flow channels. The second region is formed from a membrane layer, from a membrane definition layer, mechanically coupled to the membrane layer and having a membrane definition opening, and a fluid chamber defining body, mechanically coupled to the membrane definition layer and having a chamber defining opening, with a width greater than the width of the membrane definition opening. The width of the membrane is thus defined by the width of the chamber defining opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Mauro Cattaneo, Carlo Luigi Prelini
  • Publication number: 20190358955
    Abstract: The fluid ejection microfluidic device, has a substrate; a buried cavity within the first substrate; a membrane formed by the first substrate and extending between the buried cavity and a first main surface of the substrate; and an access channel extending through the substrate, laterally and externally to the buried cavity and to the membrane and isolated with respect to the buried cavity. A sealed actuation structure extends over the first main surface of the substrate. A containment layer, of polymeric material, extends over the first main surface of the substrate and forms a fluid containment chamber accommodating the sealed actuation structure. A nozzle body of semiconductor material closes the fluid containment chamber at the top and is traversed by an ejection opening, forming, together with the fluid containment chamber and the access channel, a fluidic path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Mauro CATTANEO, Donata ASNAGHI
  • Publication number: 20190217618
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, comprising the steps of: forming, in a first semiconductor wafer that houses a nozzle of the ejection device, a first structural layer; removing selective portions of the first structural layer to form a first portion of a chamber for containing the fluid; removing, in a second semiconductor wafer that houses an actuator of the ejection device, selective portions of a second structural layer to form a second portion of the chamber; and coupling together the first and second semiconductor wafers so that the first portion directly faces the second portion, thus forming the chamber. The first portion defines a part of volume of the chamber that is larger than a respective part of volume of the chamber defined by the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Marco FERRERA, Carlo Luigi PRELINI, Mauro CATTANEO, Andrea NOMELLINI
  • Patent number: 10245834
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including producing a nozzle plate including: forming a first nozzle cavity, having a first diameter, in a first semiconductor body; forming a hydrophilic layer at least in part in the first nozzle cavity; forming a structural layer on the hydrophilic layer; etching the structural layer to form a second nozzle cavity aligned to the first nozzle cavity in a fluid-ejection direction and having a second diameter larger than the first diameter; proceeding with etching of the structural layer for removing portions thereof in the first nozzle cavity, to reach the hydrophilic layer and arranged in fluid communication the first and second nozzle cavities; and coupling the nozzle plate with a chamber for containing the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mauro Cattaneo, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Lorenzo Colombo, Dino Faralli, Alessandra Sciutti, Lorenzo Tentori
  • Publication number: 20190023014
    Abstract: The microfluidic device has a plurality of ejector elements. Each ejector element includes a first region, accommodating a first fluid flow channel and an actuator chamber; a second region, accommodating a fluid containment chamber; and a third region, accommodating a second fluid flow channel. The fluid containment chamber is fluidically coupled to the first and to the second fluid flow channels. The second region is formed from a membrane layer, from a membrane definition layer, mechanically coupled to the membrane layer and having a membrane definition opening, and a fluid chamber defining body, mechanically coupled to the membrane definition layer and having a chamber defining opening, with a width greater than the width of the membrane definition opening. The width of the membrane is thus defined by the width of the chamber defining opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Domenico GIUSTI, Mauro CATTANEO, Carlo Luigi PRELINI
  • Publication number: 20180065371
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including producing a nozzle plate including: forming a first nozzle cavity, having a first diameter, in a first semiconductor body; forming a hydrophilic layer at least in part in the first nozzle cavity; forming a structural layer on the hydrophilic layer; etching the structural layer to form a second nozzle cavity aligned to the first nozzle cavity in a fluid-ejection direction and having a second diameter larger than the first diameter; proceeding with etching of the structural layer for removing portions thereof in the first nozzle cavity, to reach the hydrophilic layer and arranged in fluid communication the first and second nozzle cavities; and coupling the nozzle plate with a chamber for containing the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Mauro Cattaneo, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Lorenzo Colombo, Dino Faralli, Alessandra Sciutti, Lorenzo Tentori
  • Patent number: 9849674
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including producing a nozzle plate including: forming a first nozzle cavity, having a first diameter, in a first semiconductor body; forming a hydrophilic layer at least in part in the first nozzle cavity; forming a structural layer on the hydrophilic layer; etching the structural layer to form a second nozzle cavity aligned to the first nozzle cavity in a fluid-ejection direction and having a second diameter larger than the first diameter; proceeding with etching of the structural layer for removing portions thereof in the first nozzle cavity, to reach the hydrophilic layer and arranged in fluid communication the first and second nozzle cavities; and coupling the nozzle plate with a chamber for containing the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Mauro Cattaneo, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Lorenzo Colombo, Dino Faralli, Alessandra Sciutti, Lorenzo Tentori
  • Patent number: 9744765
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device, comprising: a first semiconductor body including an actuator, which is operatively coupled to a chamber for containing the fluid and is configured to cause ejection of the fluid; and a channel for inlet of the fluid, which extends in a first direction and has a section having a first dimension; and a second semiconductor body, which is coupled to the first semiconductor body and has an ejection nozzle configured to expel the fluid. The second semiconductor body further comprises a first restriction channel, which is fluidically coupled to the inlet channel, extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and has a respective section with a second dimension smaller than the first dimension so as to form a restriction between the inlet channel and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Lorenzo Colombo, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Mauro Cattaneo
  • Publication number: 20170182778
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including producing a nozzle plate including: forming a first nozzle cavity, having a first diameter, in a first semiconductor body; forming a hydrophilic layer at least in part in the first nozzle cavity; forming a structural layer on the hydrophilic layer; etching the structural layer to form a second nozzle cavity aligned to the first nozzle cavity in a fluid-ejection direction and having a second diameter larger than the first diameter; proceeding with etching of the structural layer for removing portions thereof in the first nozzle cavity, to reach the hydrophilic layer and arranged in fluid communication the first and second nozzle cavities; and coupling the nozzle plate with a chamber for containing the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Mauro Cattaneo, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Lorenzo Colombo, Dino Faralli, Alessandra Sciutti, Lorenzo Tentori
  • Publication number: 20170151784
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device, comprising: a first semiconductor body including an actuator, which is operatively coupled to a chamber for containing the fluid and is configured to cause ejection of the fluid; and a channel for inlet of the fluid, which extends in a first direction and has a section having a first dimension; and a second semiconductor body, which is coupled to the first semiconductor body and has an ejection nozzle configured to expel the fluid. The second semiconductor body further comprises a first restriction channel, which is fluidically coupled to the inlet channel, extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and has a respective section with a second dimension smaller than the first dimension so as to form a restriction between the inlet channel and the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Lorenzo Colombo, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Mauro Cattaneo
  • Patent number: 8998388
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fluid ejection device, comprising the steps of: providing a first semiconductor body having a membrane layer and a piezoelectric actuator which extends over the membrane layer; forming a cavity underneath the membrane layer to form a suspended membrane; providing a second semiconductor body; making, in the second semiconductor body, an inlet through hole configured to form a supply channel of the fluid ejection device; providing a third semiconductor body; forming a recess in the third semiconductor body; forming an outlet channel through the third semiconductor body to form an ejection nozzle of the fluid ejection device; coupling the first semiconductor body with the third semiconductor body and the first semiconductor body with the second semiconductor body in such a way that the piezoelectric actuator is completely housed in the first recess, and the second recess forms an internal chamber of the fluid ejection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Mauro Cattaneo, Roberto Campedelli, Igor Varisco
  • Publication number: 20140313264
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fluid ejection device, comprising the steps of: providing a first semiconductor body having a membrane layer and a piezoelectric actuator which extends over the membrane layer; forming a cavity underneath the membrane layer to form a suspended membrane; providing a second semiconductor body; making, in the second semiconductor body, an inlet through hole configured to form a supply channel of the fluid ejection device; providing a third semiconductor body; forming a recess in the third semiconductor body; forming an outlet channel through the third semiconductor body to form an ejection nozzle of the fluid ejection device; coupling the first semiconductor body with the third semiconductor body and the first semiconductor body with the second semiconductor body in such a way that the piezoelectric actuator is completely housed in the first recess, and the second recess forms an internal chamber of the fluid ejection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Mauro Cattaneo, Roberto Campedelli, Igor Varisco
  • Patent number: 7009154
    Abstract: The microreactor is completely integrated and is formed by a semiconductor body having a surface and housing at least one buried channel accessible from the surface of the semiconductor body through two trenches. A heating element extends above the surface over the channel and a resist region extends above the heating element and defines an inlet reservoir and an outlet reservoir. The reservoirs are connected to the trenches and have, in cross-section, a larger area than the trenches. The outlet reservoir has a larger area than the inlet reservoir. A sensing electrode extends above the surface and inside the outlet reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Flavio Villa, Ubaldo Mastromatteo, Gabriele Barlocchi, Mauro Cattaneo
  • Publication number: 20040164068
    Abstract: The microreactor is completely integrated and is formed by a semiconductor body having a surface and housing at least one buried channel accessible from the surface of the semiconductor body through two trenches. A heating element extends above the surface over the channel and a resist region extends above the heating element and defines an inlet reservoir and an outlet reservoir. The reservoirs are connected to the trenches and have, in cross-section, a larger area than the trenches. The outlet reservoir has a larger area than the inlet reservoir. A sensing electrode extends above the surface and inside the outlet reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Flavio Villa, Ubaldo Mastromatteo, Gabriele Barlocchi, Mauro Cattaneo