Patents by Inventor Xin Wen

Xin Wen 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: 6022752
    Abstract: A mandrel for forming a nozzle plate having orifices of precise size and location, and method of making the mandrel. The nozzle plate is formed by overcoating a substrate with a metal film. The film is covered with a photoresist material. Portions of the photoresist are exposed to light passing through a photomask having an annular light-transparent regions, of precise diameters and pitch. The photoresist is subjected to a developer bath which dissolves the photoresist exposed to the light, thereby revealing selected portion of the film. Next, an etchant is brought into contact with the film for etching-away the film so as to an annular opening in the film defining a column of precise diameter at the center of each opening. A new photoresist layer is then applied to the film. Portions of the new photoresist layer is exposed to light passing through a second photomask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey I. Hirsh, Xin Wen
  • Patent number: 6019151
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for digital printing images in annular-radial coordinates onto discs having an axis of rotation, the printing to occur between an inner radius R.sub.1 of the disc and an outer radius R.sub.2 of the disk. The Apparatus includes a linear printhead array extending radially of the disc at least between inner radius R.sub.1 and outer radius R.sub.2 ; and a drive adapted to rotate the disc about the axis while the printhead is imagewise addressed to create an imaged area that is symmetric to the center of the disc. The drive is adapted to rotate the disc at an annular velocity such that the spatial resolution of the printed image along the outer edge of the image is the same as that of an original image being printed. The image area may be continuous about substantially the entire annular surface of the disc or divided into discrete sections to be printed in associated tiles located on the disc such that:(x.sub.i, y.sub.i)=>(r.sub.i, .theta..sub.i),where (x.sub.i, y.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Wen, James T. Stoops
  • Patent number: 6008825
    Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus includes at least one ink reservoir; a structure defining a plurality of chambers arranged so that the chambers form an array with each chamber being arranged to form an ink pixel; a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to a chamber; and a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink from an ink reservoir through a microchannel for delivery to a particular chamber. The printing apparatus provides an electrical signal representing the orientation of the printing apparatus; and control circuit responsive to the electrical signal and for controlling the microfluidic pumps for causing an array of pixels to be printed when the microfluidic pumps supply ink through the microchannels to the chambers so that the correct amount of ink is delivered into each chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Werner Fassler, Xin Wen, Charles D. DeBoer
  • Patent number: 5992973
    Abstract: Ink jet printing apparatus for forming a color ink image on a receiver in response to a digital image that includes a plurality of color planes, includes a plurality of color ink jet print head located at spaced apart transfer positions adapted to deliver color ink to the receiver to form a color ink image at an image receiving position, and the spacing between color ink jet print heads being selected to be a distance longer than the length of a color ink image to be formed on the receiver. The receiver is moved along a path past the color ink jet print heads, a registration mark formed on the receiver before the image receiving position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Xin Wen
  • Patent number: 5986680
    Abstract: A method for presenting a microfluidic displayed image of a plurality of pixels including providing at least one reservoir containing a meltable ink having a colorant; providing an array of ink delivery chambers from which hot-melted ink is delivered to form a display; and heating the meltable ink and delivering such meltable ink to the ink delivery chambers to form a display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Wen, Werner Fassler, Charles D. DeBoer
  • Patent number: 5986678
    Abstract: A method for microfluidic printing continuous tone color pixels on a reflective receiver by using cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, including supplying a fourth, colorless ink along with the cyan, magenta, and yellow inks needed for color printing and pumping the inks through capillary microchannels by microfluidic pumps. The method further includes mixing the correct amount of colorless ink with the cyan, magenta, or yellow inks to produce mixtures of ink having a desired correct hue and tone scale; and transferring the pixels of the ink mixtures to the reflective receiver to form colored pixels on the receiver comprising a support, a layer formed over the support of an ink impermeable material and cavities defined in a surface of the ink impermeable layer and an ink absorbing material disposed in the cavities for absorbing a determinable amount of ink until saturated such that ink is not conveyed to adjacent cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles D. DeBoer, Werner Fassler, Xin Wen
  • Patent number: 5982401
    Abstract: A microfluidic printing system for delivering ink to a receive including at least one ink reservoir, a structure defining a plurality of chambers arranged so that the chambers from an array with each chamber being arranged to form an ink pixel for delivery to the receiver, and a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to the chambers. The printing system further includes a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink from an ink reservoir through a microchannel for delivery to a particular chamber. The system is responsive to the flow of the ink through the chambers to determine the amount of ink being delivered to a receiver through the chambers, and further controls the microfluidic pumps to prevent the further flow of ink to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Werner Fassler, Xin Wen, Charles D. Deboer
  • Patent number: 5975672
    Abstract: Ink jet printing apparatus accommodating printing mode control for printing an output image on a receiver medium in response to an input image file having a plurality of pixel values. The printing mode is selected in such a manner that image artifacts are eliminated without excessively increasing printing time or ink laydown. The apparatus comprises a printhead and at least one nozzle integrally connected to the printhead, which nozzle is capable of ejecting an ink droplet therefrom. The apparatus also comprises a waveform generator associated with the nozzle for generating an electronic waveform to be supplied to the nozzle, so that the nozzle ejects the ink droplet in response to the waveform supplied thereto. In addition, a printer mode look-up table is also provided for storing a printing mode assigned to the waveform. A calibrator is connected to the first calibrator and is also associated with the waveform generator for adjusting the electronic waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Xin Wen
  • Patent number: 5973708
    Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus for transferring ink to a receiver includes at least one ink reservoir; a structure defining a plurality of chambers arranged so that the chambers form an array with each chamber being arranged to form an ink pixel; a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to a chamber; and a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink from an ink reservoir through a microchannel for delivery to a particular chamber. Air is delivered to isolate ink in the chamber so that a predetermined amount of ink in the chamber can be transferred to a receiver, and the microfluidic pumps are operated for delivering the predetermined amount of ink to each chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Werner Fassler, Xin Wen, Charles D. DeBoer
  • Patent number: 5932517
    Abstract: A process of forming a dye transfer image comprising:a) imagewise-heating a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the dye being a deprotonated cationic dye which is capable of being reprotonated to a cationic dye having a N-H group which is part of a conjugated system,b) imagewise transferring the dye to a dye image-receiving layer of a dye-receiver element which contains acid moieties capable of reprotonating the deprotonated cationic dye, andc) subjecting the dye-receiver element to heat from a heat source immediately prior to, during, or after the imagewise transfer of the dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Wen, Teh-Ming Kung, David A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5915858
    Abstract: A printing apparatus and printing method for separating, image processing, and printing image objects on CD labels according to whether the image objects require multiple or two density levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Xin Wen
  • Patent number: 5897258
    Abstract: A platen-driven thermal dye printer mechanism (1), and more particularly to a cone-shaped scuff roller (7) which aligns a dye print receiver media sheet (2) with the receiver guide wall (8) during printing in a reciprocating direction (5). Using at least one conical shaped scuff roller (7) at one end of a platen roller (4) to transport the precut dye receiver media (2). The conical scuff roller (7) presses the back surface of the dye receiver media (2) against the non-imaging margin of the thermal dye printer mechanism (1). The invention uses a smooth guiding plate (28) and platen (4) thus, preventing scratches on the front surface of the receiver media (2). The invention is not subject to costly breakdowns, in that it uses the clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of the platen (4) to provide perfect alignment of the receiver media (2) and printer head (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Wen, John D. Delorme
  • Patent number: 5894069
    Abstract: A method for transferring colorant from a donor element to a compact disc (CD) includes holding a CD in the focal plane of a focused laser beam with a colorant donor element being positioned in transferable relationship with the CD and focusing a laser beam on the colorant donor element to heat the donor element to a sufficient temperature to transfer colorant to the CD to thereby effect the transfer of colorant from the donor element to the CD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Wen, Charles D. DeBoer, Alfred J. Amell
  • Patent number: 5865548
    Abstract: A resistive thermal printer has a platen drive mechanism which includes (1) a thermal printhead having an array of selectively-activatable thermal elements and (2) a rotatably-driven platen roller opposed to the printhead and forming a nip with the printhead through which a receiver medium is driven by the platen roller while the thermal elements are selectively activated. The platen roller has an outer layer of perfluorinated polymer. The platen roller includes a compliant layer below the outer layer of perfluorinated polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Wen, William Irvin Morris, Steven J. Sparer
  • Patent number: 5854175
    Abstract: A method for transferring colorant from a donor element to a dye receiving layer to form a desired label includes providing an embossed surface on the dye receiving layer having desired spacing to minimize mottling; positioning the embossed surface of the dye receiving layer in the focal plane of a focused laser beam with a colorant donor element being positioned in transferable relationship with the dye receiving element; and focusing a laser beam on the colorant donor element to heat the donor element to a sufficient temperature to transfer colorant to the dye receiving element to thereby effect the transfer of colorant from the donor element to the dye receiving layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles D. DeBoer, Xin Wen, Lee W. Tutt
  • Patent number: 5841459
    Abstract: A color thermal dye transfer printer that produces superposed color plane images of varying image densities on a receiver medium includes a printhead movable in a print direction relative to the receiver medium to produce images on the receiver medium at a printing rate, the images being of selectable resolution along the print direction. The image density of each color plane image is determined, and the image resolution for each color plane is set according to the image densities of the color plane images. The image resolution may be set by adjusting the angular velocity of the media drive motor, by adjusting the velocity of relative movement of the printhead relative to the receiver medium, or by adjusting the printing rate. Each color plane image may be divided into a plurality of sectors of varying image densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Xin Wen
  • Patent number: 5822660
    Abstract: Disclosed is a copy protection method for identifying copied images that have been captured or generated in electronic form. The method generates information in electronic form for causing the printing of copy restrictive information as a plurality of contiguous pixels, of substantially yellow color onto the hard copy. The visibility of the yellow pixels is very low until a cyan illumination is applied to the protected image then the copy restrictive information becomes highly visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Xin Wen
  • Patent number: 5797688
    Abstract: Apparatus for printing labels onto circular discs of predetermined diameter includes a linear printhead having a length equal to at least the diameter of the discs to be printed. A carrier has a planar surface with a circular recess into which a compact disc can be tightly inserted. The recess is of a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the disc to be printed, whereby the planar surface and a surface of an inserted disc form a substantially flat surface. The carrier is formed of a substrate and a member which defines the outer boundary of the recess. The substrate is at least partially formed of an elastic material having a compliance selected so as to provide a pressure on the printhead optimal for dye transfer. A second rigid member fits into a center hole in the inserted compact disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Xin Wen
  • Patent number: 5795088
    Abstract: A resistive thermal printer has a platen drive mechanism which includes (1) a thermal printhead having an array of selectively-activatable thermal elements and (2) a rotatably-driven platen roller opposed to the printhead and forming a nip with the printhead through which a receiver medium is driven by the platen roller while the thermal elements are selectively activated. The platen roller has an inner core and an outer sleeve formed of a heat shrunk material. The platen roller includes a compliant layer below the outer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Wen, Joseph C. Olsovsky
  • Patent number: 5792380
    Abstract: An ink jet printing ink composition is disclosed for use with an ink jet printing apparatus comprising a printhead, an ink delivery system adapted to provide the ink to the printhead, and a sensor associated with the ink delivery system adapted to produce a signal which is characteristic of the concentration of a label material in a printing ink, where said signal is used to indicate the appropriateness of using a particular printing ink. The ink composition comprises a carrier, a colorant, and a predetermined concentration of a distinct label material, the weight ratio of the label material to the colorant being less than 1. The label material may be easily detected by a sensor associated with the ink delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Wen, George L. Oltean, Robert O. James