Patents Issued in November 20, 2018
  • Patent number: 10133170
    Abstract: An air conditioner having a projector and a method for controlling the same output an image to a display plate of the air conditioner and to the periphery of the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-jeong Kim, Jung-ah Seung, So-young Yun, Ji-yoon Yoon, Mi-young Lee, Seong-ryeol Myeong
  • Patent number: 10133171
    Abstract: A system for augmenting the appearance of an object including a plurality of projectors. Each projector includes a light source and a lens in optical communication with the light source, where the lens focuses light emitted by the light source on the object. The system also includes a computer in communication with the plurality of projectors, the computer including a memory component and a processing element in communication with the memory component and the plurality of projectors. The processing element determines a plurality of images to create an augmented appearance of the object and provides the plurality of images to the plurality of projectors to project light corresponding to the plurality of images onto the object to create the augmented appearance of the object. After the images are projected onto the object, the augmented appearance of the objected is substantially the same regardless of a viewing angle for the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zurich (Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zurich)
    Inventors: Anselm Grundhofer, Amit Bermano, Bernd Bickel, Philipp Bruschweiler, Markus Gross, Daisuke Iwai
  • Patent number: 10133172
    Abstract: A lens module includes a lens, a first gravity sensor and a processor. The lens includes an optical axis and an adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly rotates around the optical axis. The first gravity sensor is disposed on the adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly drives the first gravity sensor to rotate. The first gravity sensor is configured to perform detection at different time points. The first gravity sensor generates a first output at a first time point and a second output at a second time point. The processor calculates first and second angles of the first gravity sensor relative to a water level according to the first and second outputs respectively. The processor controls a focus adjustment of the lens according to the first angle and the second angle. A projector employing the aforementioned lens module is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chi-Wen Ke, Hung-Wei Lin, Hui-Ju Lin
  • Patent number: 10133173
    Abstract: A processing liquid supplying apparatus is arranged to discharge a processing liquid from a discharge port to supply the processing liquid to a processing object, and the processing liquid supplying apparatus includes a first piping, through the interior of which the processing liquid can flow, the interior of the first piping being in communication with the discharge port, and an X-ray irradiating means irradiating X-rays onto the processing liquid present inside the first piping. The first piping has an opening in its pipe wall and the opening is closed by a window member formed using a material that can transmit the X-rays, and the X-ray irradiating means irradiates the X-rays onto the processing liquid present inside the first piping via the window member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Miyagi, Hiroyuki Araki, Masanori Suzuki, Tomokatsu Sato, Nobuo Kawase
  • Patent number: 10133174
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a structure includes disposing a liquid photoreactive composition on a substrate, exposing a portion of the liquid photoreactive composition to laser light of sufficient intensity and wavelength to cause polymerization via two-photon excitation of the two-photon sensitizer and polymerization of a portion of the liquid photoreactive composition thereby providing an exposed composition; and developing the exposed composition to provide the structure. The liquid composition includes: at least one cationically polymerizable polyepoxide; at least one compound comprising free-radically polymerizable groups; an effective amount of a two-photon photoinitiator system, wherein the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) is from 25:75 to 75:25, inclusive. The two-photon photoinitiator system includes a two-photon sensitizer and an aromatic onium salt. The liquid photoreactive composition may contain less than about one percent by weight of organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lee, Robert J. DeVoe, Brian K. Nelson, Brian J. Gates
  • Patent number: 10133175
    Abstract: Provided are a photosensitive resin composition from which a cured product having a thin film thickness, excellent light-shielding properties, and a high surface hardness is obtained; as well as a cured product obtained by curing the photosensitive resin composition, a cured film and a method for producing the same, a method for producing a resin pattern, and a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, an infrared cut filter, or a solid-state imaging device, each having the cured film. The photosensitive resin composition of the present invention includes (Component A) a polymer having a constitutional unit containing a group in which an acid group is protected by an acid-decomposable group; (Component B) a photoacid generator; (Component C) a solvent; (Component D) a compound having a crosslinkable group and a molecular weight in the range of 100 to 2,000; and (Component S) titanium black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Kashiwagi, Takeshi Andou, Satoru Yamada, Yasumasa Kawabe, Hisamitsu Tomeba
  • Patent number: 10133176
    Abstract: A hardmask composition includes a plurality of graphene nanosheets doped with boron (B) and/or nitrogen (N) and a solvent. A size of the graphene nanosheet may be in a range of about 5 nm to about 1000 nm. The hardmask composition may include an aromatic ring-containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minsu Seol, Sangwon Kim, Hyeonjin Shin, Seongjun Park, Yeonchoo Cho
  • Patent number: 10133177
    Abstract: An exposure method of exposing a plurality of exposure regions on a substrate includes the steps of acquiring first reference information indicating a reference height of the substrate, measuring heights of some exposure regions among the plurality of exposure regions, acquiring temporary height information indicating a temporary height of the substrate on the basis of a measurement result in the measuring step, and exposing one exposure region among the plurality of exposure regions after the substrate is moved on the basis of second reference information indicating a reference height of the one exposure region and a difference between the first reference information and the temporary height information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuhide Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10133178
    Abstract: There is provided a new coating liquid for resist pattern coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tokio Nishita, Shuhei Shigaki, Noriaki Fujitani, Takafumi Endo, Rikimaru Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10133179
    Abstract: A pattern treatment method, comprising: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a patterned feature on a surface thereof; (b) applying a pattern treatment composition to the patterned feature, wherein the pattern treatment composition comprises: a block copolymer and an organic solvent, wherein the block copolymer comprises: (i) a first block comprising a first unit formed from 4-vinyl-pyridine, and (ii) a second block comprising a first unit formed from a vinyl aromatic monomer; and (c) removing residual pattern shrink composition from the substrate, leaving a coating of the block copolymer over the surface of the patterned feature, thereby providing a reduced pattern spacing as compared with a pattern spacing of the patterned feature prior to coating the pattern treatment composition. The methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices for providing high resolution patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC, Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jin Wuk Sung, Mingqi Li, Jong Keun Park, Joshua A. Kaitz, Vipul Jain, Chunyi Wu, Phillip D. Hustad
  • Patent number: 10133180
    Abstract: Semi-aqueous, alkaline microelectronic cleaning composition of pH ?8 containing: (A) at least one secondary alkanolamine that generates hydroxides when in contact with water; (B) at least one organic alcohol ether solvent having an evaporation rate of 0.3 or less when n-butyl acetate's evaporation rate is taken as the baseline rate of 1.0; (C) at least one corrosion inhibiting cyclic amide compound; (D) at least one pH balancing azole metal corrosion inhibitor in an amount of 0.08% or less by weight of the composition; and (E) water; and optionally (F) at least one polyhydroxylated phenol compound corrosion inhibitor; and (G) at least one polyalcohol or polythiol surface modification agent containing vicinal hydroxyl or vicinal sulfhydryl groups to pair with the polyhydroxylated phenol compound corrosion inhibitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS
    Inventor: Chien-Pin Sherman Hsu
  • Patent number: 10133181
    Abstract: An electron source is formed on a silicon substrate having opposing first and second surfaces. At least one field emitter is prepared on the second surface of the silicon substrate to enhance the emission of electrons. To prevent oxidation of the silicon, a thin, contiguous boron layer is disposed directly on the output surface of the field emitter using a process that minimizes oxidation and defects. The field emitter can take various shapes such as pyramids and rounded whiskers. One or several optional gate layers may be placed at or slightly lower than the height of the field emitter tip in order to achieve fast and accurate control of the emission current and high emission currents. The field emitter can be p-type doped and configured to operate in a reverse bias mode or the field emitter can be n-type doped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Alex Chuang, Yinying Xiao-Li, Xuefeng Liu, John Fielden
  • Patent number: 10133182
    Abstract: An illumination optical assembly for a projection exposure apparatus includes a first facet element having a multiplicity of first facets, which are formed in each case by a multiplicity of displaceable individual mirrors, and a second facet element having a multiplicity of second facets. The displacement positions of the individual mirrors of the first facets are chosen in each case in so that, in the case of a predefined intensity distribution of an illumination radiation in an intermediate focus, the illumination radiation in the region of the facets of the second facet element has an intensity distribution with a maximum which is at most equal to a predefined maximum intensity or which is greater than a mean value of the intensity distribution by at most a predefined factor or absolute value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Endres, Stig Bieling
  • Patent number: 10133183
    Abstract: An optical component for a projection exposure apparatus includes a multiplicity of variably positionable beam-guiding elements which serve as pupil facets. The optical component can be arranged in the beam path of the projection optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Patra, Markus Deguenther, Paul Buettner, Willi Heintel, Henner Baitinger
  • Patent number: 10133184
    Abstract: A process for use in configuring a projection optics lithography system comprising providing a determination of pupil amplitude and phase optimization for the projection optics, for use in configuring the projection optics in accordance with the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Donis G. Flagello
  • Patent number: 10133185
    Abstract: Provided is an illumination optical apparatus for illuminating a mask with light from a light source. The apparatus includes an optical integrator configured to cause a light intensity distribution to be uniform in an emission end surface by reflecting the light incident from an incident end surface in an inner surface a plurality of times, an image forming optical system configured to form an image of the emission end surface of the optical integrator on the mask, and an adjustment unit configured to adjust telecentricity of the light so that a principal ray incident on the mask and a normal line of the mask approach parallelism and configured to be disposed outside the image forming optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10133186
    Abstract: An alignment apparatus for aligning a substrate, and a substrate processing system including such alignment apparatus. The alignment apparatus includes an alignment base for supporting the substrate and/or a substrate support member. A force generating device applies a contact force on the substrate. The force generating device includes an arm including a rigid proximal end and a rigid distal end. The distal end is provided with a contact section for contacting an edge of the substrate and an elastically deformable arm section extending between the proximal and distal ends. The connection part connects the proximal end to the alignment base. The arm is movable with respect to the alignment base via the connection part. The alignment apparatus also includes an actuator for causing a displacement of the proximal end, whereby the contact force, defined by the elastically deformable arm section, is applied to the substrate by the contact section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MAPPER LITHOGRAPHY IP B.V.
    Inventor: Bart Schipper
  • Patent number: 10133187
    Abstract: A light irradiation apparatus (31) includes a light source unit (40) and an irradiation optical system (5). In the light source unit, light source parts (4) arrayed in a plane emit laser light toward the irradiation optical system from different directions along the plane, and by the irradiation optical system, the laser light is guided along an optical axis (J1) to an irradiation plane (320). The irradiation optical system includes a division lens part (62), an optical path length difference generation part (61), and a condensing lens part (63). The division lens part includes element lenses (620) that divide light incident from the light source parts. The optical path length difference generation part includes transparent parts (610) having different optical path lengths from each other, and light that has passed through the element lenses respectively enters the transparent parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Furuya, Masahiko Kokubo, Fujikazu Kitamura, Masaki Sasada
  • Patent number: 10133188
    Abstract: A method, involving illuminating at least a first periodic structure of a metrology target with a first radiation beam having a first polarization, illuminating at least a second periodic structure of the metrology target with a second radiation beam having a second different polarization, combining radiation diffracted from the first periodic structure with radiation diffracted from the second periodic structure to cause interference, detecting the combined radiation using a detector, and determining a parameter of interest from the detected combined radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Martin Jacobus Johan Jak, Arie Jeffrey Den Boef, Martin Ebert
  • Patent number: 10133189
    Abstract: A liquid immersion member is used in a liquid immersion exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate by exposure light via a first liquid between an emitting surface of an optical member and the substrate, and is capable of forming a liquid immersion space on an object movable below the optical member. The liquid immersion member includes a first member that is disposed at at least a portion of surrounding of the optical member; a second member that is capable of being opposite to the object and is movable outside an optical path of the exposure light; and a protection part that protects the optical member. The protection part decreases a change in pressure which the optical member receives from the liquid in the liquid immersion space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Sato, Kenyo Odanaka
  • Patent number: 10133190
    Abstract: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the meniscus pinning feature; and a gas recovery opening radially outward of the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Rogier Hendrikus Magdalena Cortie, Michel Riepen, Cornelius Maria Rops
  • Patent number: 10133191
    Abstract: A method of determining a process window for a lithographic process, the process window describing a degree of acceptable variation in at least one processing parameter during the lithographic process. The method includes obtaining a set of output parameter values derived from measurements performed at a plurality of locations on a substrate, following pattern transfer to the substrate using a lithographic process, and obtaining a corresponding set of actual processing parameter values that includes an actual value of a processing parameter of the lithographic process during the pattern transfer at each of the plurality of locations. The process window is determined from the output parameter values and the actual processing parameter values. This process window may be used to improve the selection of the processing parameter at which a subsequent lithographic process is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Wim Tjibbo Tel, Frank Staals, Paul Christiaan Hinnen, Reiner Maria Jungblut
  • Patent number: 10133192
    Abstract: A structure of interest (T) is irradiated with radiation for example in the x-ray or EUV waveband, and scattered radiation is detected by a detector (19, 274, 908, 1012). A processor (PU) calculates a property such as linewidth (CD) or overlay (OV), for example by simulating (S16) interaction of radiation with a structure and comparing (S17) the simulated interaction with the detected radiation. The method is modified (S14a, S15a, S19a) to take account of changes in the structure which are caused by the inspection radiation. These changes may be for example shrinkage of the material, or changes in its optical characteristics. The changes may be caused by inspection radiation in the current observation or in a previous observation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Patricius Aloysius Jacobus Tinnemans, Simon Gijsbert Josephus Mathijssen, Sander Bas Roobol, Nan Lin
  • Patent number: 10133193
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to adjusting exposure parameters of a substrate in response to an overlay error. The method includes partitioning the substrate into one or more sections. Each section corresponds to an image projection system. A total overlay error of a first layer deposited on the substrate is determined. For each section, a sectional overlay error is calculated. For each overlap area, in which two or more sections overlap, an average overlay error is calculated. The exposure parameters are adjusted in response to the total overlay error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Tamer Coskun, Hwan J. Jeong
  • Patent number: 10133194
    Abstract: A stage device is equipped with a surface plate and a wafer stage which is mounted on the surface plate and has an exhausting port formed on a surface facing the surface plate. In a state where the wafer stage lands on the surface plate, an air chamber is formed in between the surface plate and the wafer stage. Pressurized gas blows out from the exhausting port provided at a stage main section into the air chamber, and self-weight of the wafer stage is cancelled by an inner pressure of the air chamber. This allows to the wafer stage which has stopped on the surface plate to be moved manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 10133195
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with illumination light via a projection optical system, and includes a frame member, a mark detection system that detects a mark of the substrate, a mask stage system having a first movable body to hold a mask, a first encoder system having first heads that each irradiate a first measurement beam to a first grating section, a substrate stage system having a second movable body to hold the substrate, a second encoder system having second heads that each irradiate a second measurement beam to a second grating section, and a controller that controls driving of the first movable body and of the second movable body, based on measurement information of the first and second encoder systems. In each of an exposure operation and a detection operation, the positional information of the second movable body is measured by the second encoder system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 10133196
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning an object, the apparatus including: an object support for supporting the object; a low pressure chamber for exposing a first surface of the object to a low pressure when the object is arranged on the object support, an electrode arranged adjacent to and separated from the first surface of the object when the object is arranged on the object support, the electrode being in electrical communication with a surface of the object support which is adjacent the first surface of the object; and a power supply arranged to apply a voltage between the electrode and the object; thereby generating a discharge between the object and the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Ronald Van Der Wilk, Ger-Wim Jan Goorhuis
  • Patent number: 10133197
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus including: a projection system with an optical axis; an enclosure with an ambient gas; and a physical component accommodated in the enclosure, wherein: the lithographic apparatus is configured to cause the physical component to undergo movement relative to the enclosure, in a predetermined direction and in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; the lithographic apparatus is configured to let the physical component maintain a predetermined orientation with respect to the enclosure during the movement; the movement induces a flow of the ambient gas relative to the component; the physical component has a surface oriented perpendicularly to the optical axis; the component includes a flow direction system configured to direct the flow of ambient gas away from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Günes Nakiboglu, Frank Johannes Jacobus Van Boxtel, Thomas Petrus Hendricus Warmerdam, Jan Steven Christiaan Westerlaken, Johannes Pieter Kroes
  • Patent number: 10133198
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer contains a compound having a structure represented by general formula (I) below: where R1 and R2 each independently represent a C1-12 alkyl group or a C5-12 cycloalkyl group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkoxyl group, a C6-20 aryl group or a heterocycle group; X and Z each represent a single bond or a C1-6 alkylene group which may be substituted; and Y represents a OCO group or COO group. A method for manufacturing the photoreceptor and an electrophotographic device including the photoreceptor are additionally provided. The electrophotographic photoreceptor provides sufficient stain resistance and is less affected by temperature and humidity environments while maintaining various advantageous characteristics of photoreceptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fengqiang Zhu, Shinjiro Suzuki, Toshiki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10133199
    Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The toner may have a morphological surface characteristic that induces high thermal and physical characteristics. The toner may simultaneously improve gloss, charge stability, anti-cohesiveness, storage ability, and low temperature fixability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: S-PRINTING SOLUTION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin-mo Hong
  • Patent number: 10133200
    Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic image developing toner comprising a toner base particle containing a binder resin and a releasing agent, wherein the binder resin comprises an amorphous vinyl resin and a crystalline polyester resin; a weight-average molecular weight of the electrostatic image developing toner is in the range of 50000 to 90000, when calculated from a chromatogram which represents a molecular weight distribution and is measured by gel permeation chromatography; a ratio of content of a resin component having a molecular weight of 100000 or more is in the range of 10 to 20% by area, in the chromatogram which represents the molecular weight distribution; the crystalline polyester resin has a melting point in the range of 65 to 85° C.; and, a ratio of content of the crystalline polyester resin in the binder resin is in the range of 5 to 20% by mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kouji Sugama, Hiroshi Nagasawa, Anju Hori, Noboru Ueda
  • Patent number: 10133201
    Abstract: Provided is a toner including a toner particle containing an amorphous resin, a colorant, a release agent, and a crystalline resin, wherein, when ?0.01 represents the extensional viscosity of the toner at a Hencky strain at 90° C. of 0.01 and ?0.69 represents the extensional viscosity of the toner at a Hencky strain at 90° C. of 0.69, ?0.01 and ?0.69 satisfy the relationships of the following formulas (1) and (2): 3.0×104 Pa??0.01?2.0×105 Pa??formula (1) 2.0?[?0.69/?0.01].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Kamae, Ryuichiro Matsuo, Yosuke Iwasaki, Wakiko Katsumata, Kenta Mitsuiki, Takeshi Ohtsu, Masaharu Miura, Koh Ishigami, Yuichi Mizo
  • Patent number: 10133202
    Abstract: A chemically prepared toner composition according to one example embodiment includes a core including a first polymer binder, a colorant and a release agent; a shell that is formed around the core that includes a second polymer binder; and a borax coupling agent between the core and the shell and an alkoxysilane hydrocarbon or combination of different alkoxysilane hydrocarbons that are bonded to the outer surface of the shell using a hydrolytic deposition process. This successful alkoxysilane hydrocarbon surface treatment on the outer surface of the toner particle results in attaining a desirable charge stability in hot and humid environments and ultimately improving the quality of the toner, especially by reducing toner dusting, toner fuming and ultra-fine particles generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Danielle Renee Ashley, Ligia Aura Bejat, Michael James Bensing, Ashley Schafer Grant, Cory Nathan Hammond, Rick Owen Jones, John Joseph Kraseski, Jing X Sun
  • Patent number: 10133203
    Abstract: A method for producing core shell toner for electrophotography according to one embodiment, includes surface treating the outer surface of a core shell toner particle with a alkoxysilane hydrocarbon or combination of different alkoxysilane hydrocarbons using a hydrolytic deposition process after the core shell toner particle is fully formed. This method results in the bonding of the alkoxysilane hydrocarbon or combination of different alkoxysilane hydrocarbons to the outer surface of the core shell toner particle. In an alternative method, the outer surface of the toner is surface treated with the alkoxysilane hydrocarbon solution and then fused to form toner particles. The alkoxysilane hydrocarbon surface treated core shell toner also can be mixed with magnetic carrier beads to form a developer mix to be used in a dual component development electrophotographic printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Danielle Renee Ashley, Ligia Aura Bejat, Michael James Bensing, Ashley Schafer Grant, Cory Nathan Hammond, Rick Owen Jones, John Joseph Kraseski, Jing X Sun
  • Patent number: 10133204
    Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging device includes a charging device, a cleaning device, and a fuser member that each include hydrophobic carbon nanotubes. The use of hydrophobic carbon nanotubes can increases the charging device's, the cleaning device's, and the fuser member's durability, conductivity, and contaminants deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Liang-Bih Lin, David H. Pan, Daniel Levy, Jin Wu
  • Patent number: 10133205
    Abstract: An imaging device has a photoconductor with a surface that is selectively discharged by a light from a laser diode to create a latent electrostatic image for attracting toner for transfer to a media. A circuit drives the laser diode. The circuit has a switch for turning on and off the light, a resistor complementary to the laser diode selectively connectable to the switch, and a passive circuit component coupled to the laser diode. The passive circuit component is a delay line, inductor, choke, coiled wire, or ferrite bead is contemplated. It may also typify a length of copper tracing on a printed circuit board that supports the laser diode. The circuit causes an initial overshoot voltage spike in an on voltage pulse that is about 20% or more than the settled on voltage. The voltage spike dampens out in about one-fourth of a total voltage on time of the pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: John Bruce Berry, William Pohl Corbett, Jr., Robert Michael Tulenko
  • Patent number: 10133206
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including a photosensitive member, a latent image forming unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, a developing unit configured to store developer containing toner and to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member using the developer, a detector configured to detect an amount of the toner stored in the developing unit, and a supplying unit configured to supply toner to the developing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sumito Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10133207
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a rotating member, and an electrode member. The casing may be configured to accommodate therein developer. The rotating member has a rotational shaft extending in an axial direction. The rotating member is configured to rotate about the rotational shaft and carries the developer thereon. The electrode member is configured to be electrically connected to the rotating member. The electrode member covers at least part of the rotational shaft from an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction and is arranged to confront the casing in the axial direction. The electrode member is configured to move in the orthogonal direction in accordance with a movement in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasumasa Fujii, Tsutomu Suzuki, Hiroshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 10133208
    Abstract: An operation guide label is made to perform a display urging a seal member for sealing a toner replenishment port of a toner container received in an image forming apparatus to be pulled out. The image forming apparatus has a first side surface provided with a power switch and a second side surface adjacent to the first side surface and provided with an opening and closing cover for toner container exchange. The seal member has a grasping part which protrudes from a surface of the toner container. The operation guide label includes a first label part adhered to the first side surface so as to cover at least a part of the power switch, a second label part adhered to a predetermined surface part on the side of the opening and closing cover in the image forming apparatus, and a connection part for connecting the both label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Takashi Tamura
  • Patent number: 10133209
    Abstract: In a toner container, a powder container that includes a container body configured to store toner, and is rotated by input of rotational drive of a drive output section of an image forming device while being set in the image forming device, the toner container includes an incompatible hole group, as a container-side engagement portion, on a front end surface facing downstream in an insertion direction when inserted in a direction parallel to a rotational center line of the rotational drive and set in the image forming device, the incompatible hole group has a hole shape that is engaged with a body-side projection portion of the drive output section protruding upstream in the insertion direction, and the rotational drive is input by rotation of the drive output section with the incompatible hole group and the body-side projection portion engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Junji Yamabe
  • Patent number: 10133210
    Abstract: A nozzle receiver is to be arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus. The nozzle receiver includes a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted in the image forming apparatus; an opening/closing member to open and to close the nozzle receiving opening; and a supporter to support the opening/closing member. The opening/closing member includes a sealing portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening. The supporter includes an end surface portion perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member. The projection area of the end surface portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Junji Yamabe, Keiichi Yano, Michiharu Suzuki, Hideki Kimura, Hideki Zemba, Takahiro Ikuma, Seiji Terazawa
  • Patent number: 10133211
    Abstract: A shutter has two engagement portions projecting from a shielding portion, and extending in an attachment direction of the shutter. A lock portion is formed elastically deformably, and a lock claw portion is provided on a tip portion of each lock portion. The lock claw portion is projected toward an outer side in a width direction intersecting an attachment direction of the shutter. Two different inclined surfaces, a second inclined surface and a first inclined surface, are formed on a tip side of the lock claw portion. According to this arrangement, it becomes possible to realize both weakened sliding resistance between the second inclined surface and the attachment contact portion by minimizing an inclination angle of the second inclined surface, and increased sliding resistance between the first inclined surface and a return contact portion by maximizing the inclination angle of the first inclined surface. Thereby, both shutter attachment and return of the shutter to the initial position can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Yomoda
  • Patent number: 10133212
    Abstract: In a developing apparatus, a housing has a first opening. A shutter is movable between an open position and a closed position. A locking member is movable between a lock position and a release position. The locking member is located between the housing and the shutter in a cartridge-attachment direction. The locking member is located at the lock position in a case where the toner cartridge is detached from the developing apparatus. The locking member is in contact with the toner cartridge, thereby moving from the lock position to the release position in a case where the toner cartridge is attached to the developing apparatus. A cover having a second opening that is in communication with the first opening in a state where the shutter is at the open position is located at an opposite side of the locking member with respect to the shutter in the cartridge-attachment direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 10133213
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a toner cartridge having a toner supply port; and a developing unit including: a developing roller; a developing frame; and a conveyance portion capable of conveying toner contained in the toner cartridge to the developing frame. The conveyance portion including: a coupling tube capable of being coupled to the toner cartridge and having a toner receiving port that faces the toner supply port in a state where the coupling tube is coupled to the toner cartridge; a conveyance tube fixed to the developing frame, the conveyance tube being movable with respect to the coupling tube, in a state where the coupling tube is coupled to the toner cartridge and the toner receiving port faces the toner supply port; and a shutter movable between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10133214
    Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotator, a transmitter, a moving mechanism and a shutter. The case main body has a discharge port. The rotator is stored in the case main body and rotates around a rotation axis. The transmitter is arranged outside the case main body. As the shutter moves along a rotation axis direction of the rotator from a closing position where the shutter closes the discharge port to an opening position where the shutter opens the discharge port, the moving mechanism moves the transmitter from a first position to a second position which is arranged at an outside of the first position in the rotation axis direction. As the shutter moves from the opening position to the closing position, the moving mechanism moves the transmitter from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Mimura, Nobuhiro Fukuma
  • Patent number: 10133215
    Abstract: A developer container includes a developer storage chamber that stores developer and includes an opening, a sealing member that seals the opening, an unsealing member that opens the opening by rotating such that the sealing member, a part of which is attached to the unsealing member, is peeled away, a stirring member that is attached to the unsealing member; and a regulating portion that regulates rotation of the unsealing member by contacting the stirring member. The regulating portion is provided to regulate the rotation of the unsealing member when the developer container receives an external force, and allow the unsealing member to rotate such that the opening is opened when the unsealing member receives driving power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yu Fukasawa, Naoki Hayashi, Ryota Shibuya
  • Patent number: 10133216
    Abstract: An intermediate transfer member includes a resin substrate layer and a surface layer containing a cured product of a composition including a specific polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer and a specific fine particle of metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiro Honya, Shinichi Hamaguchi, Shinichi Yabuki
  • Patent number: 10133217
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer roller, a stripping electrode, and a protective member. The transfer roller transfers a toner image formed on an image bearing member to a sheet in a transfer position. The stripping electrode is arranged downstream from the transfer position to which the sheet is to be carried. The stripping electrode includes a plurality of needle electrodes. The protective member is arranged on the transfer roller side with respect to the stripping electrode and overlaid on the stripping electrode. The protective member includes a cutout provided in a position facing at least one of the needle electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakatani
  • Patent number: 10133218
    Abstract: A phase control device includes: at least one switching element connected to an AC power source, the switching element being capable of: turning on and off at specified timings; delivering AC power to a load upon turn-on and cutting it off upon turn-off; and keeping an on-time from the start to the end of turn-on and an off-time from the start to the end of turn-off, the on-time and off-time being variable; a timing setting portion that sets a turn-on and turn-off timing for turning on and off the switching element; a judgment portion that judges whether or not the turn-on and turn-off timing are on at a phase within a first or second phase range; and a processor that starts turning on and off the switching element at the turn-on and turn-off timing, the processor being capable of adjusting the on-time and off-time depending on the judgment result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Masuda, Mikiyuki Aoki, Toru Kasamatsu, Masahiro Nonoyama, Akimasa Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10133219
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt for heating a toner image on a sheet, a first detector for detecting a temperature of one longitudinal end portion of the endless belt, a second detector for detecting a temperature of the other longitudinal end portion of the endless belt, and a controller for controlling whether notification of generation of an error is provided on the basis of a change amount per unit time of a difference between the temperature detected by the first detector and the temperature detected by the second detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Kawai