Patents by Inventor Stephen F. Pond
Stephen F. Pond 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).
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Patent number: 7273269Abstract: A method of printing is provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2004Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gilbert A. Hawkins, James M. Chwalek, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 7249829Abstract: A drop deposition apparatus for laying down a patterned liquid layer on a receiver substrate, for example, a continuous ink jet printer, is disclosed. The liquid deposition apparatus comprises a drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with a linear array of nozzles for emitting a plurality of continuous streams of liquid having nominal stream velocity vj0, wherein the plurality of nozzles have effective nozzle diameters D0 and extend in an array direction with an effective nozzle spacing Ly. Resistive heater apparatus is adapted to transfer thermal energy pulses of period ?0 to the liquid in flow communication with the plurality of nozzles sufficient to cause the break-off of the plurality of continuous streams of liquid into a plurality of streams of drops of predetermined nominal drop volume V0.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2005Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gilbert A. Hawkins, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 7249830Abstract: A jet break-off length control apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length control apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Resistive heater apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gilbert A. Hawkins, Stephen F. Pond, Michael J. Piatt
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Patent number: 7188931Abstract: A doubly-anchored thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device such as a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve is disclosed. The thermal actuator is comprised of a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element has anchor portions adjacent the anchor edges and a central portion between the anchor portions wherein the flexural rigidity of the anchor portions is substantially less than the flexural rigidity of the central portion. The doubly-anchored thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element that causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Antonio Cabal, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 7175258Abstract: A doubly-anchored thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device such as a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve is disclosed. The thermal actuator is comprised of a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element has anchor portions adjacent the anchor edges and a central portion between the anchor portions wherein the flexural rigidity of the anchor portions is substantially less than the flexural rigidity of the central portion. The doubly-anchored thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element that causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2004Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Antonio Cabal, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 7033000Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator includes a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, Edward P. Furlani, John A. Lebens, David P. Trauernicht, Antonio Cabal, David S. Ross, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 7029101Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator includes a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the baffler layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, Edward P. Furlani, John A. Lebens, David P. Trauernicht, Antonio Cabal, David S. Ross, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 7011394Abstract: An apparatus for a liquid drop emitter, especially for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. A chamber filled with a liquid, a nozzle and a thermo-mechanical actuator, extending into the chamber from at least one wall of the chamber is disclosed. A movable element of the thermo-mechanical actuator is configured with a bending portion which bends when heated. The bending portion comprises a first layer having first and second sides, constructed of a first material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, a second layer, attached to the second side of the first layer, and a third layer, attached to the first side of the first layer, constructed of a third material having a low thermal conductivity and a low Young's modulus. Apparatus is adapted to apply heat pulses to the bending portion resulting in rapid deflection of the movable element, ejection of a liquid drop, without degradation or vaporization of the liquid.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2003Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Antonio Cabal, John A. Lebens, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6896346Abstract: An apparatus and method of operating a liquid drop emitter, such as an ink jet device, for emitting liquid drops of different volumes. The liquid drop emitter comprises a chamber, filled with a liquid, having a nozzle for emitting drops of the liquid, a thermo-mechanical actuator having a moveable portion within the chamber for applying pressure to the liquid at the nozzle, and apparatus adapted to apply heat pulses to the thermo-mechanical actuator.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2002Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David P. Trauernicht, John A. Lebens, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6824249Abstract: An apparatus for a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bending portion extending from the base element and a free end portion residing in a first position. The thermo-mechanical bending portion has a base end width, wb, adjacent the base element and a free end width, wf, adjacent the free end portion wherein the base end width is substantially greater than the free end width. The thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse directly to the thermo-mechanical bending portion causing the deflection of the free end portion of the cantilevered element to a second position. The width of the thermo-mechanical bending portion may reduce substantially monotonically as a function of the distance away from the base element or in at least one step reduction.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, David P. Trauernicht, John A. Lebens, Edward P. Furlani, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6820964Abstract: An apparatus for a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bending portion extending from the base element and a free end portion residing in a first position. The thermo-mechanical bending portion has a base end width, wb, adjacent the base element and a free end width, wf, adjacent the free end portion wherein the base end width is substantially greater than the free end width. The thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse directly to the thermo-mechanical bending portion causing the deflection of the free end portion of the cantilevered element to a second position. The width of the thermo-mechanical bending portion may reduce substantially quadratically or in an inverse power fashion as a function of the distance away from the base element or in at least one step reduction.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, David P. Trauernicht, John A. Lebens, Edward P. Furlani, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6817702Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, Edward P. Furlani, John A. Lebens, David P. Trauernicht, Antonio Cabal, David S. Ross, Stephen F. Pond
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Publication number: 20040146055Abstract: An apparatus and method of operating a liquid drop emitter, such as an ink jet device, for emitting liquid drops of different volumes. The liquid drop emitter comprises a chamber, filled with a liquid, having a nozzle for emitting drops of the liquid, a thermo-mechanical actuator having a moveable portion within the chamber for applying pressure to the liquid at the nozzle, and apparatus adapted to apply heat pulses to the thermo-mechanical actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2002Publication date: July 29, 2004Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David P. Trauernicht, John A. Lebens, Stephen F. Pond
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Publication number: 20040090495Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2002Publication date: May 13, 2004Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, Edward P. Furlani, John A. Lebens, David P. Trauernicht, Antonio Cabal, David S. Ross, Stephen F. Pond
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Publication number: 20040036739Abstract: An apparatus for a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bending portion extending from the base element and a free end portion residing in a first position. The thermo-mechanical bending portion has a base end width, wb, adjacent the base element and a free end width, wf, adjacent the free end portion wherein the base end width is substantially greater than the free end width. The thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse directly to the thermo-mechanical bending portion causing the deflection of the free end portion of the cantilevered element to a second position. The width of the thermo-mechanical bending portion may reduce substantially monotonically as a function of the distance away from the base element or in at least one step reduction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2002Publication date: February 26, 2004Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, David P. Trauernicht, John A. Lebens, Edward P. Furlani, Stephen F. Pond
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Publication number: 20040036741Abstract: An apparatus for a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bending portion extending from the base element and a free end portion residing in a first position. The thermo-mechanical bending portion has a base end width, wb, adjacent the base element and a free end width, wf, adjacent the free end portion wherein the base end width is substantially greater than the free end width. The thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse directly to the thermo-mechanical bending portion causing the deflection of the free end portion of the cantilevered element to a second position. The width of the thermo-mechanical bending portion may reduce substantially quadratically or in an inverse power fashion as a function of the distance away from the base element or in at least one step reduction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2002Publication date: February 26, 2004Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Christopher N. Delametter, David P. Trauernicht, John A. Lebens, Edward P. Furlani, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6505902Abstract: An apparatus for producing pieces of mail includes mail handling assemblies; and a printing module connected to the mail handling assemblies and having a first printing position, a second printing position, a moveable carriage for moving to and from the first printing position and the second printing position, and a first printhead cartridge mounted at a first location on the moveable carriage and including a first printhead having a first path of movement with the moveable carriage at and through the first printing position and the second printing position. The printing module also includes a second printhead cartridge mounted at a second location on the moveable carriage for increasing a width of a swath printed by the first printhead cartridge and the second printhead cartridge. The second printhead cartridge includes a second printhead having a second path of movement with the moveable carriage at and through the first printing position and the second printing position.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Roger G. Teumer, W. Keith Gilliland, Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6441774Abstract: A process including: jetting at least one ink from a color ink set onto a substrate to form a first pixel; and jetting a heliosing ink onto the first pixel to form a heliosed pixel, wherein the first pixel is substantially free of resolution diminution in the heliosed pixel. The process can also be accomplished in the reverse jetting order, that is, jetting a heliosing ink onto a substrate to form a patent or latent heliosed first pixel; and jetting at least one ink from a color ink set over the heliosed first pixel to form a heliosed color pixel, wherein the resolution in the heliosed pixel is substantially the same as the resolution in the absence of the heliosing ink. The heliosing ink formulations can include, for example, one or more of: an obscurant, a bleachant, or a penetrant. The processes of the present invention can be used to create heliographic images.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1999Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6344819Abstract: A process including: jetting at least one ink from a color ink set onto a substrate to form a first pixel; and jetting a heliosing ink onto the first pixel to form a heliosed pixel, wherein the first pixel is substantially free of resolution diminution in the heliosed pixel. The process can also be accomplished in the reverse jetting order, that is, jetting a heliosing ink onto a substrate to form a patent or latent heliosed first pixel; and jetting at least one ink from a color ink set over the heliosed first pixel to form a heliosed color pixel, wherein the resolution in the heliosed pixel is substantially the same as the resolution in the absence of the heliosing ink. The heliosing ink formulations can include, for example, one or more of: an obscurant, a bleachant, or a penetrant. The processes of the present invention can be used to create heliographic images.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1999Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Stephen F. Pond
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Patent number: 6234608Abstract: A magnetically actuated ink jet printing device for use in an ink jet printer ejects ink droplets by deforming a diaphragm with the force generated on an electrode in a magnetic field when an electric current pulse is applied thereto. In one embodiment, the diaphragm of the device is provided by anisotropically etching a silicon substrate with an etch stop which provides a thin membrane of silicon material for use as the diaphragm. An electrode having an input and output terminal is patterned over the diaphragm and a sacrificial layer is deposited over the silicon substrate surface containing the diaphragm. The sacrificial layer is patterned to subsequently provide the ink ejection chamber over the diaphragm. A patternable layer is deposited over the silicon substrate surface including the sacrificial layer and patterned to provide the nozzles and expose the electrode terminals. The sacrificial layer is removed and an ink supply is connected to the space previously occupied by the sacrificial layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1997Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Frank C. Genovese, Joel A. Kubby, Eric Peeters, Jinkuang Chen, Dan A. Hays, Stephen F. Pond