Patents by Inventor Renato Conta

Renato Conta 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: 8393710
    Abstract: The printing device is ink jet, parallel or serial-parallel type and comprises a plurality of ejection modules each of which with ejection chambers suitable for containing ink and with associated relative heating elements for ink ejection control. The device includes a support and a nozzle plate common to the modules, and in which the support includes a base plate of rigid material that defines through its thickness a feeding duct for the ink which, in use, is substantially parallel to the line of printing (X axis) and the ejection modules are fixed side by side on the base plate and with the ejection chambers arranged in a line in the same direction (X axis), is a hydraulic, tight connection with the feeding duct. The nozzle plate is fixed on the ejection modules constituting an upper, hydraulically tight, closing surface, for the chambers and comprises a plurality of ejection nozzles in a line, in turn in hydraulic connection with corresponding cells of the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Enrico Manini
  • Patent number: 8109614
    Abstract: An ink jet printhead, made of a silicon substrate and a plurality of metallic and dielectric layers deposited on said substrate. A plurality of chambers for ejection of ink droplets and a plurality of corresponding feeding ducts, connected to the chambers, are produced in a structural layer made of non-photosensitive epoxy or polyamide resin. The chambers and said ducts are delimited by at least one upper wall, the upper wall communicating with at least one nozzle for ejection of the ink droplets. The upper wall and an inner wall of the nozzle are coated with at least one metallic coating layer, suitable for increasing the resistance of the walls to chemically aggressive liquids, in contact with the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Lucia Giovanola, Renato Conta
  • Publication number: 20110267402
    Abstract: The printing device (21) is ink jet, parallel or serial-parallel type and comprises a plurality of ejection modules (22) each of which with ejection chambers suitable for containing ink and with associated relative heating elements (24) for ink ejection control. The device includes a support and a nozzle plate (28) common to the modules (22), and in which the support includes a base plate (27) of rigid material that defines through its thickness a feeding duct (33) for the ink which, in use, is substantially parallel to the line of printing (X axis) and the ejection modules (22) are fixed side by side on the base plate (27) and with the ejection chambers arranged in a line in the same direction (X axis), is a hydraulic, tight connection with the feeding duct (33).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Enrico Manini
  • Patent number: 7984978
    Abstract: The printing device is ink jet, parallel or serial-parallel type and comprises a plurality of ejection modules each of which with ejection chambers suitable for containing ink and with associated relative heating elements for ink ejection control. The device includes a support and a nozzle plate common to the modules, and in which the support includes a base plate of rigid material that defines through its thickness a feeding duct for the ink which, in use, is substantially parallel to the line of printing (X axis) and the ejection modules are fixed side by side on the base plate and with the ejection chambers arranged in a line in the same direction (X axis), is a hydraulic, tight connection with the feeding duct. The nozzle plate is fixed on the ejection modules constituting an upper, hydraulically tight, closing surface, for the chambers and comprises a plurality of ejection nozzles in a line, in turn in hydraulic connection with corresponding cells of the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Enrico Manini
  • Patent number: 7802872
    Abstract: Ink jet printhead comprising one or more ejection module, each with a silicon chip, a plurality of ejector nozzles arranged adjacent to a front of the module, ejection cells for the nozzles and delivery channels for the ink of the cells. The module or modules each include a distribution channel adjacent to the front and in fluid communication with the delivery channels and a nozzle layer integrated with the relative chip and in which the ejector nozzles parallel to the front are made. The head also comprises a support on which the module or modules are mounted and which defines a feeding duct for the ink in fluid communication with the delivery channels and sealing means between the module or modules and the support to guarantee fluid tightness between the feeding duct and the ejection cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Lucia Giovanola
  • Patent number: 7637598
    Abstract: A thermal ink jet printhead (40) for the emission of droplets of ink on a print medium (46) comprises a reservoir (103) containing ink (142), a die (61), a slot (102) engraved in said die (61) and a plurality of ejectors (73), each of which in turn comprises a chamber (74), a resistor (27) and a nozzle (56), each of said chambers (74) being put in fluid communication with said slot (102) through a plurality of elementary ducts (72) lying on a different plane from the bottom (67) of said chamber (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Alessandro Scardovi
  • Patent number: 7595004
    Abstract: The chambers (42) and each corresponding ink feeding duct (56), made in a structural layer of photosensitive resin (38), are delimited by a flat bottom wall (36) made of a protective layer (34, 36) of tantalum and gold and an upper wall (44), consisting of a substantially concave surface, including at least one ejection nozzle (46) and joined to the bottom wall along a continuous perimetral line (52), in which the inner shape of each of the chambers (42) and of each of the feeding ducts (56) represents the complementary impression of the outer form of a sacrificial layer (57), obtained from a controlled and non-contained growth of a metal, deposited starting from the dimensions of the layer of gold (36), laid on top of the layer of tantalum (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Lucia Giovanola, Renato Conta
  • Patent number: 7533463
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a monolithic thermal ink jet printhead (40) comprising a plurality of chambers (74) and of nozzles (56), comprises steps of (206) depositing a plurality of sacrificial layers (31), of obtaining, by means of exposure and development operations, a plurality of casts (156), of (215) applying a structural layer (107), and subsequently steps of (225) removing the casts (156) and of (226) removing the sacrificial layers (31), in order to produce a plurality of chambers (74) and nozzles (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Mara Piano
  • Patent number: 7401521
    Abstract: Pressure sensor with an integrated structure comprising a support (33, 133, 233) and a silicon die (11), which lies substantially on the same plane as the upper surface (37, 137, 237) of the support and is integrated in a seat (34, 134, 234) made in the thickness of the support. On the inside face (23) of the die (11), in contact with the fluid the pressure of which has to be measured, is a protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Bellini, Renato Conta
  • Patent number: 7367655
    Abstract: Ink jet printhead comprising a driving and encoding circuit (20) having a grid-like structure, including a plurality of inputs (24), a plurality of selecting elements (12), a plurality of actuating elements (IC) and at least one identifying element (21) of said printhead. Each identifying element (21) is associated with a corresponding selecting element (12) and corresponds to nodes arranged along a row or column of said grid-like structure, and is scanned, together with said actuating elements (11), during a preliminary checking step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandra Scardovi, Renato Conta
  • Publication number: 20080099341
    Abstract: An ink jet printhead, made of a silicon substrate and a plurality of metallic and dielectric layers deposited on said substrate. A plurality of chambers for ejection of ink droplets and a plurality of corresponding feeding ducts, connected to the chambers, are produced in a structural layer made of non-photosensitive epoxy or polyamide resin. The chambers and said ducts are delimited by at least one upper wall, the upper wall communicating with at least one nozzle for ejection of the ink droplets. The upper wall and an inner wall of the nozzle are coated with at least one metallic coating layer, suitable for increasing the resistance of the walls to chemically aggressive liquids, in contact with the walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Lucia Giovanola, Renato Conta
  • Patent number: 7338580
    Abstract: A thermal ink jet printhead (40) for the emission of drops of ink on a print medium (46) comprises a tank (103) containing ink (142), a lamina (67), a groove (45) and a plurality of ejectors (73), each of which comprises in turn a chamber (74) placed laterally with respect to the groove (45), and fluidly connected thereto by means of a plurality of elementary ducts (75) produced on said lamina (67).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Alessandro Scardovi
  • Patent number: 7332100
    Abstract: Process for protectively coating against aggressive liquids hydraulic microcircuits made in a resin, particularly for an ink jet printhead, consisting of: disposing of a silicon substrate comprising a sacrificial layer of copper, deposited on the substrate and defining the inner shape of the hydraulic microcircuits; depositing on top of the outer surface of the sacrificial layer, by means of an electrochemical process, at least one protective, metallic coating layer; applying on the sacrificial layer a non-photosensitive epoxy or polyamide resin, having a predetermined thickness and suitable for completely covering the sacrificial layer; effecting a polymerization of the resin to increase its mechanical resistance to mechanical and thermal stresses and performing a planarization of the outer surface of the resin, by means of a mechanical lapping and simultaneous chemical treatment; removing the sacrificial layer through a chemical etching in a highly acid bath; and depositing a metallic, protective layer on t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Lucia Giovanola, Renato Conta
  • Patent number: 7279111
    Abstract: An actuating assembly (50) for ink jet printheads consists of a silicon die (61), which comprises a groove (45) and a lamina (64), and of a structure (75) produced monolithically in the same production process. The actuating assembly (50) comprises a microhydraulics (63), the latter in turn comprising a plurality of channels (67) and chambers (57), made inside the structure (75) by means of a sacrificial metallic layer (54). A conducting layer (26) forms a single interconnected equipotential network used as the electrode during the processes of electrochemical etch stopping on the groove (45), of electrodeposition of the sacrificial layer (54) and of the latter's subsequent removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Mara Piano
  • Patent number: 7275814
    Abstract: A thermal ink jet printhead (40) for the emission of drops of ink on a print medium (46) comprises a tank (103) containing ink (142), a lamina (67), a groove (45) and a plurality of ejectors (73), each of which comprises in turn a chamber (74) placed laterally with respect to the groove (45), and fluidly connected thereto by means of a plurality of elementary ducts (75) produced on said lamina (67).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Alessandro Scardovi
  • Publication number: 20070195121
    Abstract: The printing device (21) is ink jet, parallel or serial-parallel type and comprises a plurality of ejection modules (22) each of which with ejection chambers suitable for containing ink and with associated relative heating elements (24) for ink ejection control. The device includes a support and a nozzle plate (28) common to the modules (22), and in which the support includes a base plate (27) of rigid material that defines through its thickness a feeding duct (33) for the ink which, in use, is substantially parallel to the line of printing (X axis) and the ejection modules (22) are fixed side by side on the base plate (27) and with the ejection chambers arranged in a line in the same direction (X axis), is a hydraulic, tight connection with the feeding duct (33).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Telecom Italia S.P.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Enrico Manimi
  • Patent number: 7255799
    Abstract: On a die that has etchings on a surface, firstly a sheet of negative photoresist is laid down which, by means of an exposure and subsequent development, is left only above the etchings; then, upon the negative photoresist, a positive photoresist is applied, which is subjected to exposure and development to produce functional geometries deposited in thin film; subsequently the positive photoresist is removed in a “lift-off” operation, and the negative photoresist is taken off in a plasma operation, thus revealing the etchings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Irma Disegna
  • Patent number: 7229157
    Abstract: In an ink jet printhead, the ink feeding duct (2), passing through the thickness of the silicon substrate, and in hydraulic communication with the ejection cells (8) through an outlet area (2a) on the front surface (5) of the substrate (3), is built in three successive stages of erosion of the substrate (3), the first of which is performed on the rear surface (6) of the substrate, to produce a first cavity (24) having a depth (P1), and a further cavity (26) communicating and having a depth (P2), extending in the direction of the front surface (5), and presenting a back wall (28) separated from the front surface (5) by a diaphragm (30); the second stage is performed on the opposite front surface (5) to cut a channel (40) in the direction of the diaphragm (30), of depth (P4) and defining the contour of the outlet area (2a) on the front surface (5), and the third stage is performed from said rear surface (6) as a continuation of the erosion performed in the first stage, to remove the diaphragm (30) and open the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.P.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Anna Merialdo
  • Publication number: 20070081037
    Abstract: Ink jet printhead comprising one or more ejection module, each with a silicon chip, a plurality of ejector nozzles arranged adjacent to a front of the module, ejection cells for the nozzles and delivery channels for the ink of the cells. The module or modules each include a distribution channel adjacent to the front and in fluid communication with the delivery channels and a nozzle layer integrated with the relative chip and in which the ejector nozzles parallel to the front are made. The head also comprises a support on which the module or modules are mounted and which defines a feeding duct for the ink in fluid communication with the delivery channels and sealing means between the module or modules and the support to guarantee fluid tightness between the feeding duct and the ejection cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Lucia Giovanola
  • Patent number: 7159969
    Abstract: The composite printhead (1) is made up of an active module (7), consisting of a thin plate (8) of silicon, on which a plurality of chambers (14) is produced, housing corresponding heating resistors (10), electrically connected through an interconnection network to corresponding external contact pads (37, 42), and of a support element (3) for the active module, in turn consisting of a portion of plate (22) of a rigid, insulating material, provided with an elongated slot shape, ink feeding duct (5), traversing the thickness of the support element (3). The active module (7) is built separately from the support element (3) and later mounted integrally upon the support element (3). Also mounted later to the support (3) is a frame (16) surrounding the active module (7) to provide hydraulic sealing. Finally the module (7) and the frame (16) are covered with a metallic or resin lamina (17), bearing an array of nozzles (18) aligned with and facing the ejection chambers (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Enrico Manini