Patents by Inventor Rich Wells

Rich Wells 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: 8394575
    Abstract: Environmentally friendly thick film layers for a micro-fluid ejection head and micro-fluid ejection heads are disclosed. The environmentally friendly thick film layer includes a negative photoresist layer derived from a composition comprising a multi-functional epoxy compound, a low molecular weight polymeric difunctional epoxy compound, a monomeric difunctional epoxy compound, a methide-based photoacid generator that does not contain antimony, a chromophore and an aryl ketone solvent. Optionally the photoresist layer contains an adhesion enhancer. The negative photoresist layer is environmentally friendly and provides good resolution, well defined critical dimensions, straight side walls, and a large processing window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoming Wu, David Graham, Sean Weaver, Bart Mansdorf, Rich Wells, Joel Provence
  • Patent number: 8292402
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to photoresist compositions suitable for thin layer photoimageable nozzle plates for micro-fluid ejection devices and methods of making and using such thin layer nozzle plates. The photoresist compositions may comprise a high-molecular weight phenoxy resin, a di-functional epoxy resin, and a multi-functional epoxy resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Terrance Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Patent number: 8173031
    Abstract: Nozzle members, such as for a micro-fluid ejection head, micro-fluid ejection heads, and a method for making the same. One such nozzle member includes a negative photoresist composition derived from a first di-functional epoxy compound, a relatively high molecular weight polyhydroxy ether, a photoacid generator devoid of aryl sulfonium salts, an adhesion enhancer, and an aliphatic ketone solvent. The nozzle member has a thickness ranging from about 10 microns to about 30 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean T. Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Patent number: 8163819
    Abstract: Adhesive compositions, micro-fluid ejection devices, and methods for attaching micro-fluid ejection heads to devices. One such adhesive composition is provided for use in attaching a micro-fluid ejection head to a device, such as to reduce chip bowing and/or to decrease chip fragility upon curing of the adhesive. Such an exemplary composition may include one having from about 50.0 to about 95.0 percent by weight of at least one cross-linkable resin selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, siloxane resins, urethane resins, and functionalized olefin resins; from about 0.1 to about 25.0 percent by weight of at least one thermal curative agent; and from about 0.0 to about 30.0 percent by weight filler, and exhibit a relatively low shear modulus upon curing (e.g., less than about 10.0 MPa at 25° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Christopher Graham, Gary Anthony Holt, Jr., Jonathan Harold Laurer, Johnny Dale Massie, II, Melissa Marie Waldeck, Sean Terrence Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Publication number: 20120082933
    Abstract: Environmentally friendly thick film layers for a micro-fluid ejection head and micro-fluid ejection heads are disclosed. The environmentally friendly thick film layer includes a negative photoresist layer derived from a composition comprising a multi-functional epoxy compound, a low molecular weight polymeric difunctional epoxy compound, a monomeric difunctional epoxy compound, a methide-based photoacid generator that does not contain antimony, a chromophore and an aryl ketone solvent. Optionally the photoresist layer contains an adhesion enhancer. The negative photoresist layer is environmentally friendly and provides good resolution, well defined critical dimensions, straight side walls, and a large processing window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: XIAOMING WU, David Graham, Sean Weaver, Bart Mansdorf, Rich Wells, Joel Provence
  • Patent number: 8007990
    Abstract: Thick film layers for a micro-fluid ejection head, micro-fluid ejection heads, and methods for making micro-fluid ejection head and thick film layers. One such thick film layer is derived from a difunctional epoxy component having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 2500 to about 4000 Daltons, a photoacid generator, an aryl ketone solvent, and an adhesion enhancing component. One such thick film layer has a cross-link density upon curing that increases the dimensional stability of the thick film layer sufficient to provide flow features therein having substantially vertical walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish S. Patil, Sean T. Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Patent number: 7819506
    Abstract: Thermally curable encapsulant compositions, micro-fluid ejection devices, and methods for protecting micro-fluid ejection heads. One such encapsulant composition may include one having from about 50.0 to about 95.0 percent by weight of at least one cross-linkable resin having a flexible backbone; from about 0.1 to about 20.0 percent by weight of at least one thermal curative agent; and from about 0.0 to about 50.0 percent by weight filler, and exhibits a relatively low shear modulus upon curing (e.g., less than about 10.0 MPa at 25° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Christopher Graham, Eric Spencer Hall, Gary Anthony Holt, Jr., Richard Leo Hubert, II, Johnny Dale Massie, Sean Terrance Weaver, Jonathan Harold Laurer, Rich Wells
  • Publication number: 20100210759
    Abstract: Adhesive compositions, micro-fluid ejection devices, and methods for attaching micro-fluid ejection heads to devices. One such adhesive composition is provided for use in attaching a micro-fluid ejection head to a device, such as to reduce chip bowing and/or to decrease chip fragility upon curing of the adhesive. Such an exemplary composition may include one having from about 50.0 to about 95.0 percent by weight of at least one cross-linkable resin selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, siloxane resins, urethane resins, and functionalized olefin resins; from about 0.1 to about 25.0 percent by weight of at least one thermal curative agent; and from about 0.0 to about 30.0 percent by weight filler, and exhibit a relatively low shear modulus upon curing (e.g., less than about 10.0 MPa at 25° C.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: David Christopher Graham, Gary Anthony Holt, JR., Jonathan Harold Laurer, Johnny Dale Massie, II, Melissa Marie Waldeck, Sean Terrence Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Patent number: 7654637
    Abstract: Nozzle members, such as for a micro-fluid ejection head, micro-fluid ejection heads, and a method for making the same. One such nozzle member includes a negative photoresist composition derived from a first di-functional epoxy compound, a relatively high molecular weight polyhydroxy ether, a photoacid generator devoid of aryl sulfonium salts, an adhesion enhancer, and an aliphatic ketone solvent. The nozzle member has a thickness ranging from about 10 microns to about 30 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc
    Inventors: Sean T. Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Publication number: 20090269707
    Abstract: Thick film layers for a micro-fluid ejection head, micro-fluid ejection heads, and methods for making micro-fluid ejection head and thick film layers. One such thick film layer is derived from a difunctional epoxy component having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 2500 to about 4000 Daltons, a photoacid generator, an aryl ketone solvent, and an adhesion enhancing component. One such thick film layer has a cross-link density upon curing that increases the dimensional stability of the thick film layer sufficient to provide flow features therein having substantially vertical walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish S. Patil, Sean T. Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Publication number: 20090201338
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to photoresist compositions suitable for thin layer photoimageable nozzle plates for micro-fluid ejection devices and methods of making and using such thin layer nozzle plates. The photoresist compositions may comprise a high-molecular weight phenoxy resin, a di-functional epoxy resin, and a multi-functional epoxy resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Sean Terrance Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Patent number: 7571979
    Abstract: Thick film layers for a micro-fluid ejection head, micro-fluid ejection heads, and methods for making micro-fluid ejection head and thick film layers. One such thick film layer is derived from a difunctional epoxy component having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 2500 to about 4000 Daltons, a photoacid generator, an aryl ketone solvent, and an adhesion enhancing component. One such thick film layer has a cross-link density upon curing that increases the dimensional stability of the thick film layer sufficient to provide flow features therein having substantially vertical walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish S. Patil, Sean T. Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Publication number: 20090155729
    Abstract: Nozzle members, such as for a micro-fluid ejection head, micro-fluid ejection heads, and a method for making the same. One such nozzle member includes a negative photoresist composition derived from a first di-functional epoxy compound, a relatively high molecular weight polyhydroxy ether, a photoacid generator devoid of aryl sulfonium salts, an adhesion enhancer, and an aliphatic ketone solvent. The nozzle member has a thickness ranging from about 10 microns to about 30 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Sean T. Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Publication number: 20090098488
    Abstract: Thick film layers for a micro-fluid ejection head, micro-fluid ejection heads, and methods for making micro-fluid ejection head and thick film layers. One such thick film layer is derived from a difunctional epoxy component having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 2500 to about 4000 Daltons, a photoacid generator, an aryl ketone solvent, and an adhesion enhancing component. One such thick film layer has a cross-link density upon curing that increases the dimensional stability of the thick film layer sufficient to provide flow features therein having substantially vertical walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Girish S Patil, Sean T. Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Publication number: 20070236542
    Abstract: Adhesive compositions, micro-fluid ejection devices, and methods for attaching micro-fluid ejection heads to devices. One such adhesive composition is provided for use in attaching a micro-fluid ejection head to a device, such as to reduce chip bowing and/or to decrease chip fragility upon curing of the adhesive. Such an exemplary composition may include one having from about 50.0 to about 95.0 percent by weight of at least one cross-linkable resin selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, siloxane resins, urethane resins, and functionalized olefin resins; from about 0.1 to about 25.0 percent by weight of at least one thermal curative agent; and from about 0.0 to about 30.0 percent by weight filler, and exhibit a relatively low shear modulus upon curing (e.g., less than about 10.0 MPa at 25° C.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: David Graham, Gary Holt, Jonathan Laurer, Johnny Massie, Melissa Waldeck, Sean Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Publication number: 20070229575
    Abstract: Thermally curable encapsulant compositions, micro-fluid ejection devices, and methods for protecting micro-fluid ejection heads. One such encapsulant composition may include one having from about 50.0 to about 95.0 percent by weight of at least one cross-linkable resin having a flexible backbone; from about 0.1 to about 20.0 percent by weight of at least one thermal curative agent; and from about 0.0 to about 50.0 percent by weight filler, and exhibits a relatively low shear modulus upon curing (e.g., less than about 10.0 MPa at 25° C.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Christopher Graham, Eric Spencer Hall, Gary Anthony Holt, Richard Leo Hubert, Johnny Dale Massie, Sean Terrance Weaver, Jonathan Harold Laurer, Rich Wells
  • Publication number: 20070076060
    Abstract: Nozzle members, such as for a micro-fluid ejection head, micro-fluid ejection heads, and a method for making the same. One such nozzle member includes a negative photoresist composition derived from a first di-functional epoxy compound, a relatively high molecular weight polyhydroxy ether, a photoacid generator devoid of aryl sulfonium salts, an adhesion enhancer, and an aliphatic ketone solvent. The nozzle member has a thickness ranging from about 10 microns to about 30 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Sean Weaver, Rich Wells
  • Publication number: 20070076059
    Abstract: Thick film layers for a micro-fluid ejection head, micro-fluid ejection heads, and methods for making micro-fluid ejection head and thick film layers. One such thick film layer is derived from a difunctional epoxy component having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 2500 to about 4000 Daltons, a photoacid generator, an aryl ketone solvent, and an adhesion enhancing component. One such thick film layer has a cross-link density upon curing that increases the dimensional stability of the thick film layer sufficient to provide flow features therein having substantially vertical walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Girish Patil, Sean Weaver, Rich Wells