Forming Or Treating Thermal Ink Jet Article (e.g., Print Head, Liquid Jet Recording Head, Etc.) Patents (Class 216/27)
  • Patent number: 8858812
    Abstract: Provided is a processing method for an ink jet head substrate, including: forming a barrier layer on a substrate and forming a seed layer on the barrier layer; forming a resist film on the seed layer and patterning the resist film so that the patterned resist film corresponds to a pad portion for electrically connecting an ink jet head to an outside of the ink jet head; forming the pad portion in an opening of the patterned resist film; removing the resist film; subjecting the substrate to anisotropic etching to form an ink supply port; removing the barrier layer and the seed layer; and performing laser processing from a surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenta Furusawa, Keiji Matsumoto, Keisuke Kishimoto, Kazuhiro Asai, Shuji Koyama
  • Publication number: 20140300668
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an oleophobic membrane arranged at a location that allows the oleophobic membrane to simultaneously vent air from an ink flow channel of the printhead and to retain ink within the ink flow channel. The oleophobic membrane includes a metal structure having a nanostructured surface and low-surface energy coating disposed on the metal structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
  • Patent number: 8851637
    Abstract: An inkjet device includes a pumping chamber bounded by a wall, a piezoelectric layer disposed above the pumping chamber, a ring electrode having an annular lower portion disposed on the piezoelectric layer. A moisture barrier layer covers a remainder of the piezoelectric layer over the pumping chamber that is not covered by the annular lower portion of the ring electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Youming Li, Yoshikazu Hishinuma, Jeffrey Birkmeyer
  • Publication number: 20140295064
    Abstract: A nanoprinthead including an array of nanotip cantilevers, where each nanotip cantilever includes a nanotip at an end of a cantilever, and a method for forming the nanoprinthead. Each nanotip may be individually addressable through use of an array of piezoelectric actuators. Embodiments for forming a nanoprinthead including an array of nanotip cantilevers can include an etching process from a material such as a silicon wafer, or the formation of a metal or dielectric nanotip cantilever over a substrate. The nanoprinthead may operate to provide uses for technologies such as dip-pen nanolithography, nanomachining, and nanoscratching, among others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter J. Nystrom, Andrew W. Hays, Bijoyraj Sahu
  • Publication number: 20140291285
    Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of a liquid ejecting head having a flow-path forming substrate in which a liquid flow path is provided to communicate with a nozzle opening through which liquid is discharged. The method includes performing wet etching on both surfaces of the flow-path forming substrate and forming the liquid flow path by removing a burr that is formed when the wet etching is performed on the flow-path forming substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Junhua ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20140292935
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a flow passage structure in which a liquid flow passage including a nozzle for discharging a liquid and a pressure chamber communicated with the nozzle, and a liquid sealing layer for covering the pressure chamber are formed; and a piezoelectric actuator which is arranged to contact with the liquid sealing layer of the flow passage structure. The piezoelectric actuator includes: an actuator substrate, which is arranged on a surface of the liquid sealing layer on a side opposite to the pressure chamber and which has a vibration layer and a columnar portion arranged between the liquid sealing layer and the vibration layer; and a piezoelectric portion which is formed as a film on a surface of the vibration layer disposed on a side opposite to the columnar portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi ITO
  • Publication number: 20140284305
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator which is provided on the flow path formation substrate, and a protection substrate which is bonded to the flow path formation substrate on the piezoelectric actuator side, the method including: bonding the flow path formation substrate on which the piezoelectric actuator is formed, and the protection substrate to form a bonded body; bonding a sealing member to the protection substrate of the bonded body on the surface side opposite the flow path formation substrate, and disposing a protection material containing a nitro compound in a space between the sealing member and the protection substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji ASADA
  • Patent number: 8834729
    Abstract: A method for making a printed wiring member including wire-bondable contact pads and wear-resistant connector pads, the method includes the steps of a) providing a blank printed wiring member comprising a copper foil laminated to a dielectric substrate; b) masking the blank printed wiring member to protect regions of the copper foil; c) removing copper in unprotected regions of the blank printed wiring member to form a patterned printed wiring member including contact pads and connector pads; d) depositing a nickel coating on the patterned printed wiring member using an electroless nickel deposition process; e) depositing a gold layer on the nickel coating using an electroless gold deposition process; and f) depositing palladium on the gold layer using an electroless palladium deposition process to improve wear resistance of the connector pads while preserving bondability of the contact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Samuel Chen, Charles I. Levey
  • Patent number: 8808555
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a substrate for a liquid discharge head including a first face, energy generating elements which generate the energy to be used to discharge a liquid to a second face opposite to the first face, and liquid supply ports for supplying the liquid to the energy generating elements. The method includes preparing a silicon substrate having, at the first face, an etching mask layer having an opening corresponding to a portion where the liquid supply ports are to be formed, and having first recesses provided within the opening, and second recesses provided in the region of the second face where the liquid supply ports are to be formed, the first recesses and the second recesses being separated from each other by a portion of the substrate; and etching the silicon substrate by crystal anisotropic etching from the opening of the first face to form the liquid supply ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Watanabe, Shuji Koyama, Hiroyuki Abo, Keiji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8801152
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a substrate; a first conductive layer disposed on or above the substrate; a piezoelectric layer covering a top and a side of the first conductive layer; a relaxing layer disposed on or above the piezoelectric layer and along an edge of a top surface of the piezoelectric layer; and a second conductive layer covering at least the relaxing layer and the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8778202
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatuses for creating a textured press plate by spreading ink over the press plate using a heater. Some embodiments provide a method that includes: (a) dispensing radiation-curable ink onto a press plate; (b) spreading the ink over the press plate by heating the ink; and (c) irradiating the ink so that the ink is at least partially cured and/or fixed, and/or such that the spreading of the ink is at least partially slowed and/or stopped. In some embodiments, the irradiating the ink occurs after the spreading the ink. In other embodiments, the ink acts to resist a chemical solution, and the method further includes etching a surface portion of the press plate by exposing the portion to a chemical solution, where the surface portion includes the ink, and where the etching the surface portion occurs after the irradiating the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Kings Mountain International, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Lee Bumgardner
  • Patent number: 8778200
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid discharge head including a substrate on which supply ports for supplying a liquid are provided, includes forming a first supply port among the supply ports by performing crystal anisotropic etching on the substrate from one surface of the substrate, and forming a plurality of second supply ports among the supply ports by performing dry etching on the substrate using a crystal anisotropic etching method from a surface exposed toward the one surface of the substrate to a rear surface so that the independent second supply ports are respectively opened on the rear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Kubota, Akihiko Okano
  • Patent number: 8771531
    Abstract: A substrate for a liquid ejection head, including: forming a sacrifice layer on a first surface of a silicon substrate in a region in which a liquid supply port is to open, the sacrifice layer containing aluminum which is selectively etched with respect to the silicon substrate; forming an etching mask on a second surface which is a rear surface of the first surface of the silicon substrate, the etching mask having an opening corresponding to the sacrifice layer; a first etching step of etching the silicon substrate by using the etching mask as a mask and by using a first etchant containing 8 mass % or more and less than 15 mass % of tetramethylammonium hydroxide; and after the first etching step, a second etching step of removing the sacrifice layer by using a second etchant containing 15 mass % or more and 25 mass % or less of tetramethylammonium hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenta Furusawa, Shuji Koyama, Hiroyuki Abo, Taichi Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 8771528
    Abstract: A through-hole forming method includes steps of forming a first impurity region (102a) around a region where a through-hole is to be formed in the first surface of a silicon substrate (101), the first impurity region (102) being higher in impurity concentration than the silicon substrate (101), forming a second impurity region (102b) at a position adjacent to the first impurity region (102a) in the depth direction of the silicon substrate (101), the second impurity region (102b) being higher in impurity concentration than the first impurity region (102a), forming an etch stop layer (103) on the first surface, forming an etch mask layer (104) having an opening on the second surface of the silicon substrate (101) opposite to the first surface, and etching the silicon substrate (101) until at least the etch stop layer (103) is exposed via the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Sasaki, Yukihiro Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20140160203
    Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printing apparatus. The inkjet printing apparatus includes a nozzle. The nozzle includes at least two nozzle parts. A first of the at least two nozzle parts has a first tapered shape, and a second of the at least two nozzle parts has a second tapered shape and extends from the first nozzle part. The first and second tapered shapes have a same taper direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-gyu KANG, Young-ki HONG
  • Publication number: 20140138349
    Abstract: A method for renewing an organic solvent includes an ultraviolet irradiation step in which an organic solvent containing a resin is irradiated with ultraviolet rays so as to enhance the ability of the organic solvent to dissolve the resin. A method for using an organic solvent and a method for producing an inkjet recording head utilize the method for renewing an organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Masanori Jinnoh, Masashi Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 8727499
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a fluid ejection device includes forming a resistor on the front side of a substrate, depositing a dielectric film on the resistor to protect the resistor from chemical exposure during a slot formation process, and forming a slot in the substrate that extends from the back side to the front side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Roberto A. Pugliese, Jr., Timothy R. Emery, Ed Friesen, Rio Rivas
  • Patent number: 8721904
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing an inkjet head includes forming metal films respectively on a surface of a base member and a surface of a driving element attached to the base member, and shaving the metal film formed on the base member with a first laser beam and shaving the metal film formed on the driving element with a second laser beam having power different from power of the first laser beam to form a conductor pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Kobari
  • Patent number: 8707890
    Abstract: A method of depositing an imprintable medium onto a target area of a substrate for imprint lithography is disclosed. The method includes moving the substrate, a print head comprising a nozzle to eject an imprintable medium onto the substrate, or both, relative to the other in a first direction across the target area while ejecting a first series of droplets of imprintable medium onto the substrate and moving the substrate, the print head, or both, relative to the other in a second opposing direction across the target area while ejecting a second series of droplets of imprintable medium onto the substrate on or adjacent to droplets from the first series of droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Ivar Schram, Johan Frederik Dijksman, Sander Frederik Wuister, Yvonne Wendela Kruijt-Stegeman, Jeroen Herman Lammers
  • Patent number: 8709266
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate for a liquid discharge head having a supply port passing through a silicon substrate provided with an energy-generating element generating the energy used to discharge a liquid and allowing liquid to be supplied to the energy-generating element, includes preparing a silicon substrate in which a first etching mask having a first opening is provided on a first face, and a second etching mask having a second opening is provided on a second face that is the rear face of the first face; forming a first recess towards the second face from the first face within the first opening, and forming a second recess towards the first face from the second face within in the second opening; and performing crystalline anisotropic etching using the first and second etching masks as masks from both of the first and second faces, to form the supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kokubo, Masahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 8696919
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nozzle and an associated funnel in a single plate comprises providing the single plate, the plate being etchable; providing an etch resistant mask on the plate, the mask having a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises a first pattern part for etching the nozzle and a second pattern part for etching the funnel; covering one of the first pattern part and the second pattern part using a first cover; etching one of the nozzle and funnel corresponding to the pattern part not covered in step (c); removing the first cover; etching the other one of the nozzle and funnel; and removing the etch resistant mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: René J. Van Der Meer, Hubertus M. J. M. Boesten, Maarten J. Bakker, David D. L. Wijngaards
  • Patent number: 8691101
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an ejection element substrate, which is provided with a flow-channel-forming member having an ejection orifice for ejecting a liquid and a liquid flow channel that is communicated with the ejection orifice, a substrate having a supply port for supplying the liquid to the liquid flow channel, and a filter structure formed in the bottom of the supply port, includes: forming the supply port by forming a through-hole by etching the substrate from a second face of the substrate on the side opposite to a first face of the substrate, on which the flow-channel-forming member is disposed; providing a resinous protection film on the side face and the bottom of the supply port; and forming a minute opening in the resinous protection film in the bottom of the supply port by carrying out a laser processing from the side of the second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Souta Takeuchi, Hirokazu Komuro, Sadayoshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8685763
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nozzle plate includes: a mask pattern layer forming step of, with respect to a laminated substrate constituted of a first silicon substrate having a (111) surface orientation and a second silicon substrate having a (100) surface orientation, forming a frame-shaped mask pattern layer on the second silicon substrate; a non-through hole forming step of forming a straight section of the nozzle in the first silicon substrate; a protective film forming step of forming a protective film over a first portion on the second silicon substrate that is not covered with the mask pattern layer, and over inner surfaces of the first and second silicon substrates defining the non-through hole; and an anisotropic etching step of anisotropically etching the second silicon substrate so as to form a tapered section of the nozzle defined with {111} surfaces exposed in the second silicon substrate by the anisotropic etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140061152
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid ejection head includes the steps of: disposing an etching mask layer on a substrate having a first face and a second face that is on an opposite side of the first face, the etching mask layer being disposed on the second face; forming a concave line pattern at a region of the etching mask layer other than a region where an opening for the support port is to be formed; providing an etching opening at the etching mask layer; performing anisotropic etching from a side of the second face using the etching mask layer provided with the etching opening as a mask, thus forming the supply port at the substrate; comparing the line pattern with a recess generated at the substrate, thus selecting a device chip for liquid ejection; and connecting the selected device chip to a liquid supply part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Yamamuro, Yoshinori Tagawa, Satoshi Ibe, Hiroto Komiyama, Kouji Hasegawa, Shiro Sujaku
  • Patent number: 8647896
    Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a substrate for a liquid ejection head, including forming a liquid supply port in a silicon substrate, the process including the steps of (a) forming an etch stop layer at a portion of a front surface of the silicon substrate at which portion the liquid supply port is to be formed; (b) performing dry etching using a Bosch process from a rear surface side of the silicon substrate up to the etch stop layer with use of an etching mask formed on a rear surface of the silicon substrate to thereby form the liquid supply port; and (c) simultaneously removing the etch stop layer and a deposition film formed inside the liquid supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiyasu Sakai
  • Publication number: 20140034604
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a substrate with a piercing aperture, the piercing aperture being formed by conducting dry etching from the side of a second surface opposite to a first surface of a substrate to the first surface, the process comprising, in the following order, the steps of (a) forming a groove around a region where the piercing aperture is formed in the first surface of the substrate, (b) forming an etch-stop layer in the region where the piercing aperture is formed in the first surface of the substrate and in the interior of the groove, and (c) forming the piercing aperture by conducting the dry etching from the side of the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventor: Toshiyasu Sakai
  • Publication number: 20140008322
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dry etching method which carries out patterning of a resin film provided on a substrate, by reactive ion etching using a resist mask, wherein a gas mixture containing CF4 gas with a percentage flow rate of 1.0 to 5.0% is used as an etching gas; and pressure in an etching reaction chamber in an apparatus used for the reactive ion etching is 1.0 Pa or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Abo, Toshiyasu Sakai, Kazuya Abe
  • Patent number: 8623674
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head substrate including a silicon substrate having a liquid supply port as hollow and slots as through holes connecting the hollow and a liquid channel arranged opposite sides of the substrate. The method includes etching the substrate to form the hollow; forming a first resist on the hollow; etching the first resist on the bottom of the hollow under conditions of securing an equal etching rate to both the silicon substrate and the first resist; forming a second resist on the hollow; patterning the second resist into an etching mask; and etching the substrate using the etching mask to form the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaya Uyama
  • Publication number: 20130341302
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid discharge head includes a step of preparing a first substrate having an energy generating element at a front surface side thereof; a step of forming a wall member, which is to become a wall for a liquid flow passage, at the front surface side of the first substrate; a step of forming a mask having an opening on the wall member and forming a second substrate, which is composed of silicon and is to become an orifice plate, on the mask; and a step of forming a liquid supply port in the first substrate and a liquid discharge port in the second substrate by supplying an etchant from a back surface side of the first substrate, the back surface being a surface opposite the front surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Abo, Keiji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8613141
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a liquid ejection head provided with a flow passage communicating with an ejection outlet for ejecting liquid includes steps of preparing a substrate on which a flow passage wall forming member for forming a part of a wall of the flow passage and a solid layer having a shape of a part of the flow passage contact each other, wherein the flow passage wall forming member has a height, from a surface of the substrate, substantially equal to that of the solid layer; providing on the solid layer a pattern having a shape of another part of the flow passage; providing a coating layer, for forming another part of the wall of the flow passage, so as to coat the pattern; providing the ejection outlet to the coating layer; and forming the flow passage by removing the solid layer and the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Okano, Maki Kato, Masaki Ohsumi, Yoshinori Tagawa, Kazuhiro Asai, Masahiko Kubota, Tamaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8613862
    Abstract: A manufacturing method, for a liquid discharge head substrate that includes a silicon substrate in which a liquid supply port is formed, includes the steps of: preparing the silicon substrate, on one face of which a mask layer, in which an opening has been formed, is deposited; forming a first recessed portion in the silicon substrate, so that the recessed portion is extended through the opening from the one face of the silicon substrate to the other, reverse face of the silicon substrate; forming a second recessed portion by performing wet etching for the substrate, via the first recessed portion, using the mask layer; and performing dry etching for the silicon substrate in a direction from the second recessed portion to the other face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Asai, Hirokazu Komuro, Satoshi Ibe, Takuya Hatsui, Shimpei Otaka, Hiroto Komiyama, Keisuke Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 8608286
    Abstract: A method of forming an inkjet nozzle chamber includes the steps of: (a) depositing a layer of chamber material onto a substrate, the layer of chamber material defining a depth of the nozzle chamber; (b) removing a predetermined region of the layer of chamber material to define sidewalls of the nozzle chamber and an internal volume of the nozzle chamber; (c) depositing a sacrificial material to fill the internal volume contained within the sidewalls; (d) depositing a roof layer onto the sacrificial material and the sidewalls; (e) etching the roof layer to define a nozzle opening therein; and (f) removing the sacrificial material contained in the internal volume so as to form the nozzle chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Zamtec Limited
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8597529
    Abstract: A method for processing a substrate includes preparing a substrate having a first layer on a first surface side thereof, the first layer having a material capable of suppressing transmission of laser light, processing the substrate with laser light from a second surface that is opposite the first surface of the substrate toward the first surface of the substrate, and allowing the laser light to reach the first layer to form a hole in the substrate, and performing etching of the substrate from the second surface through the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Kishimoto, Satoshi Ibe, Takuya Hatsui, Shimpei Otaka, Hiroto Komiyama, Hiroyuki Morimoto, Masahiko Kubota, Toshiyasu Sakai
  • Patent number: 8585910
    Abstract: A process for producing a micromachined tube (microtube) suitable for microfluidic devices. The process entails isotropically etching a surface of a first substrate to define therein a channel having an arcuate cross-sectional profile, and forming a substrate structure by bonding the first substrate to a second substrate so that the second substrate overlies and encloses the channel to define a passage having a cross-sectional profile of which at least half is arcuate. The substrate structure can optionally then be thinned to define a microtube and walls thereof that surround the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Integrated Sensing Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Ray Sparks, Nader Najafi
  • Patent number: 8585913
    Abstract: A printhead and a method of manufacturing a printhead are provided. The printhead includes a polymeric substrate including a surface. Portions of the polymeric substrate define a liquid chamber. A material layer is disposed on the surface of the polymeric substrate. Portions of the material layer define a nozzle bore. The nozzle bore is in fluid communication with the liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kathleen M. Vaeth, John A. Lebens, Constantine N. Anagnostopoulos
  • Patent number: 8580126
    Abstract: An exemplary method for a producing a piezoelectric vibrating piece having at least one mesa step includes forming a metal film on a main surface of a piezoelectric wafer. A through-groove is formed through the thickness of the wafer to form a plan profile of a desired piezoelectric substrate. A film of photoresist is formed on the surface of the metal film. A resist is applied, exposed, and formed into a resist pattern that defines a first mesa step along at least a portion of the plan profile. In regions not protected by the metal film, the piezoelectric substrate is etched to a defined depth to form a mesa step. The denuded edge surface of the metal film is edge-etched. A second mesa step, inboard of the first mesa step, can be formed by repeating the edge-etching and substrate-etching steps using the metal film as an etch protective film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sasaki, Kenji Shimao, Manabu Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20130293628
    Abstract: A printhead is disclosed herein. The printhead includes a die substrate having a surface. A trench is defined in the die substrate surface, and a support is positioned in the trench. A compliant membrane is attached to the die substrate surface, and a gap is defined between a distal end of the support and the compliant membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Vandenberghe, David Pidwerbecki
  • Publication number: 20130286105
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a fluid ejection device includes a substrate with a fluid slot and a membrane adhered to the substrate that spans the fluid slot. A resistor is disposed on top of the membrane over the fluid slot, and a fluid feed hole next to the resistor extends through the membrane to the slot. A shelf extends from the edge of the resistor to the edge of the feed hole, and a passivation layer covers the resistor and part the shelf. An etch-resistant layer is formed partly on the shelf and in between the fluid feed hole and the resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Sadiq Bengali, Galen P. Cook, Michael W. Cumbie, Robert K. Messenger
  • Publication number: 20130284694
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ejection device for an inkjet printer that includes an ejection chip having a substrate and at least one fluid ejecting element. The ejection device further includes a fluidic structure configured over the ejection chip. The fluidic structure includes a nozzle plate composed of an organic material and includes a plurality of nozzles. The fluidic structure further includes a flow feature layer configured in between the ejection chip and the nozzle plate. The flow feature layer is composed of an organic material and includes a plurality of flow features. Furthermore, the fluidic structure includes a liner layer encapsulating the nozzle plate. The liner layer further at least partially encapsulates each flow feature of the plurality of flow features. The liner layer is composed of an inorganic material. Further disclosed is a method for fabricating the ejection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Xiaorong CAI, Jiandong FANG, Xiaoming WU, Elaine Yeap MONEY, Eunki HONG, Yimin GUAN, Burton JOYNER, II, Sean Terrance WEAVER, David GRAHAM, Zach REITMEIER
  • Patent number: 8567910
    Abstract: A method of forming a nozzle plate of a fluid ejection device includes etching a bore in the first side of the multi-layer substrate, depositing a liner in the bore, removing a layer from a second side of the multi-layer substrate, wherein the removing exposes a closed end of the liner, applying a non-wetting coating to the closed end of the liner and an area surrounding the closed end of the liner, and removing the closed end of the liner, wherein removing the closed end of the liner opens a nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Nepomnishy, Gregory De Brabander, Andreas Bibl
  • Publication number: 20130278679
    Abstract: In a liquid droplet discharge head, a first groove-shaped cavity is formed on a cavity plate, a second groove-shaped cavity is formed on a nozzle plate in addition to nozzle holes, when bonding the cavity plate and the nozzle plate to each other, the first groove-shaped cavity and the second groove-shaped cavity overlap to form a pressure chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi TAKEUCHI, Kiyoshi MIYAZAWA
  • Patent number: 8562845
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet print head having a channel shape that meets an intended purpose, and a method for manufacturing the ink jet print head. In the method for manufacturing the ink jet print head, an SIO SOI substrate is prepared which has a first silicon layer, a second silicon layer, and an insulating layer. A sacrifice layer is formed on the first monocrystal silicon layer. An etching stop layer is formed over the sacrifice layer. An energy generating element is formed on a surface of the SOI substrate. Etching is performed on the second silicon layer and the insulating layer to form an ink supply port. The supply port is formed by etching. The first silicon layer is etched to form a liquid channel. A part of the etching stop layer is removed to form an ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20130265368
    Abstract: A method for producing a liquid ejecting head of the present invention includes the steps of: forming an etching stop layer on a portion corresponding to a region in which an independent supply port is formed, on a first face of a substrate; conducting dry etching treatment for the substrate from a second face side until the etched portion reaches the etching stop layer; and removing the etching stop layer by isotropic etching to form the independent supply port, after having conducted the dry etching treatment, wherein the isotropic etching is conducted in such a state that a side etching stopper portion having etching resistance to the isotropic etching is formed in the side face perimeter of the etching stop layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiko Kubota, Ryoji Kanri, Akihiko Okano, Atsushi Hiramoto, Masataka Sakurai, Yoshiyuki Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 8551692
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for making a funnel-shaped nozzle in a semiconductor substrate. The funnel-shaped recess includes a straight-walled bottom portion and a curved top portion having a curved sidewall gradually converging toward and smoothly joined to the straight-walled bottom portion, and the curved top portion encloses a volume that is substantially greater than a volume enclosed by the straight-walled bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: FUJILFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory De Brabander, Mark Nepomnishy, John A. Higginson
  • Patent number: 8551351
    Abstract: A nozzle plate has a nozzle hole for ejecting liquid, which penetrates in a thickness direction of the nozzle plate. An ejection face of the nozzle plate having an ejection opening of the nozzle hole is covered with a water-repellent coat having a through hole communicating with the nozzle hole. The through hole has a straight portion and a diameter expansion portion. The straight portion is contiguous to the nozzle hole and having the same diameter as the ejection opening. The diameter expansion portion is provided to interpose the straight portion with the nozzle hole and gradually expanding so that a part thereof farther from the straight portion has a larger diameter than a part thereof closer to the straight portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hikaru Nakamoto
  • Publication number: 20130256260
    Abstract: A method of forming a substrate for a fluid ejection device includes forming an opening in the substrate from a second side of the substrate toward a first side of the substrate, further forming the opening in the substrate to the first side of the substrate, anisotropically wet etching the substrate, including increasing the opening at the second side of the substrate and forming the opening with converging sidewalls from the second side to the first side, and after anisotropically wet etching the substrate, isotropically etching the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Siddhartha Bhowmik, J. Daniel Smith
  • Patent number: 8540834
    Abstract: A nozzle plate holding device having a holding section which holds a nozzle plate arranged with a plurality of nozzles, and the nozzle plate holding device being used for bonding the nozzle plate, while the holding section holds the nozzle plate, onto a head chip arranged with a plurality of channels, wherein the holding section is configured to be capable of causing a distortion deformation of the nozzle plate in a direction that is parallel to a surface of the nozzle plate and crosses a length direction of the nozzle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta IJ Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hikaru Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 8518725
    Abstract: A method for processing a silicon substrate includes providing a combination of a first silicon substrate, a second silicon substrate, and an intermediate layer including a plurality of recessed portions, which is provided between the first silicon substrate and the second silicon substrate, forming a first through hole that goes through the first silicon substrate by executing etching of the first silicon substrate on a surface of the first silicon substrate opposite to a bonding surface with the intermediate layer by using a first mask, and exposing a portion of the intermediate layer corresponding to the plurality of recessed portions of the intermediate layer, forming a plurality of openings on the intermediate layer by removing a portion constituting a bottom of the plurality of recessed portions, and forming a second through hole that goes through the second silicon substrate by executing second etching of the second silicon substrate by using the intermediate layer on which the plurality of openings ar
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsunori Terasaki, Masahiko Kubota, Ryoji Kanri, Yoshiyuki Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20130206723
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a substrate having an ejection energy generating element formed at a first surface side thereof, a common liquid chamber formed at a second surface of the substrate, and a liquid supply port extending from the bottom of the common liquid chamber to the first surface. The liquid ejection head is manufactured by preparing a substrate having the common liquid chamber formed at the second surface side, then arranging a material to be filled in the common liquid chamber, subsequently forming an aperture in the filled material as corresponding to the liquid supply port to be formed, and thereafter forming the liquid supply port by reactive ion etching, using at least the filled material as a mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: RE44945
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a substrate for an ink jet head, including formation of an ink supply port in a silicon substrate, the method includes a step of forming, on one side of the substrate, an etching mask layer having an opening at a position corresponding ink supply port; a step of forming unpenetrated holes through the opening of the etching mask layer in at least two rows in a longitudinal direction of the opening; and a step of forming the ink supply port by crystal anisotropic etching of the substrate in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Sakai, Shuji Koyama, Kenji Ono, Jun Yamamuro