Electrical Connector Means Patents (Class 347/50)
  • Patent number: 7997684
    Abstract: A flexible circuit for use within a printhead assembly and to connect a printhead body to an external circuit includes a substantially planar portion having one or more layers of conductive material and having a top surface substantially parallel to a top surface of the printhead body. One or more integrated circuits can be mounted onto the planar portion. Multiple leads extend from each integrated circuit, the leads electrically connected to the printhead body. One or more arms are attached to, and substantially perpendicular to, the planar portion, each arm including one or more external connectors configured to connect to the external circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin von Essen, Antai Xu, Andreas Bibl, John A. Higginson
  • Patent number: 7992967
    Abstract: A liquid drop ejection head unit includes plural lines of plural nozzles formed on a nozzle plate, plural lines of plural drive elements that generate energy for ejecting liquid drop through the plural nozzles, and plural sheets of flexible printed circuit boards that input signals to the plural drive elements. The sheets of flexible printed circuit boards include input and output terminals for taking in and output a signal to one of the plural drive elements. A wiring board is provided to connect to the input terminals of the plural sheets of flexible printed circuit boards. The wiring board is arranged in parallel to the nozzle line within a width of nozzle plate. The plural sheets of the flexible printed boards are arranged opposing to each other via the wiring board. The input terminals are positioned not to face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiro Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20110181665
    Abstract: An inkjet head includes a discharge element substrate including a base material provided with an energy generation element for generating energy to be used for discharging ink, a discharge port provided corresponding to the energy generation element, and an electrode pad electrically connected to the energy generation element, an electric contact substrate including an electric contact terminal for receiving an electric signal from an inkjet apparatus, and an electric wiring tape for electrically connecting the electric contact substrate and the discharge element substrate to each other, wherein a sealing member sealing a vicinity of an electric connection portion between the electric contact substrate and the electric wiring tape is a cured product of a composition including a silicone-modified resin, a boron trifluoride compound, and a mercaptosilane compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsubasa Takaoka, Isao Imamura
  • Publication number: 20110181643
    Abstract: A wiring connection structure of driver IC is provided. The wiring connection structure includes: a driver IC installed on a wiring substrate; output wires connected to output terminals of the driver IC; input wires including multiple kinds of signal input wires for transmitting multiple kinds of signals different from each other in susceptibility to an influence of noise; and bonding wires which connect input terminals of the driver IC to connection terminals of the input wires, and have an identical length to each other and a different loop height from the wiring substrate. The intervals between the input terminals are narrower than those between the connection terminals, and the loop height is higher with respect to the bonding wire connected to the connection terminal of the signal input wire for transmitting a signal more susceptible to the influence of noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Toru YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 7980665
    Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly for a pagewidth printer. The assembly includes a substrate channel, and a plurality of printhead modules positioned in the channel to form a pagewidth printhead module assembly. Also included are an extrusion for housing bus bars operatively providing electrical power to the printhead modules, and a cover plate securing a flex printed circuit board (PCB) in the assembly, the PCB forming a data bus to the printhead modules. The assembly further includes compressible conductive strips between the busbars abutting contacts on an upper side of parts of the flex PCB, wherein the substrate channel defines a series of groups of holes through which the printhead modules are supplied with differently colored inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Angus John North, Samuel George Mallinson
  • Patent number: 7980666
    Abstract: A method of forming a thermal bend actuator in an inkjet nozzle assembly. The method includes: depositing sidewalls and a roof layer to define a nozzle chamber; defining first and second vias in one sidewall to reveal first and second electrodes; filling the vias with a conductive material using electroless plating to provide first and second connector posts; depositing an active beam material onto the roof layer; etching the active beam material to define a planar active beam member comprising a bent or serpentine beam element; and etching the roof layer to define the thermal bend actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7971966
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a recording element substrate having an energy generating member for generating energy in accordance with an electric signal, and an electrode portion for receiving the electric signal to be supplied to the energy generating member; an electric line member including an opening in which the recording element substrate is contained, an electric line extending toward an inside of the opening and connected to the electrode portion, an inclined electric wiring extending in a direction crossing with the electric line and contacted to the recording element substrate. The electric line member is disposed above a surface, having the electrode, of the recording element substrate, wherein the inclined member extends in a direction of an arrangement of a plurality of such electric lines, and constitutes an inclined surface descending from the electric wiring toward the surface of the recording element substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Shimazu, Yuki Kozuka
  • Patent number: 7971973
    Abstract: The electrical connection structure includes: a first substrate which has a first electrode part; a second substrate which has a second electrode part opposing the first electrode part, and a wiring pattern connected to the second electrode part; an insulating cavity substrate which is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and has a through hole in a position corresponding to the first electrode part, the through hole being deeper that a sum of a height of the first electrode part and a height of the second electrode part and having an opening surface area not smaller that an area of the first electrode part; and conductive material which is filled in the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Maeda
  • Patent number: 7967415
    Abstract: Ink cartridge 70 is attached to cartridge holder 62 of printing apparatus 20 by being inserted in a predetermined insertion direction R until it is touching locating member. Ink cartridge 70 includes a plurality of low voltage circuit terminals 111-113 and a plurality of high voltage circuit terminals 114, 115 on body 71. Low voltage circuit terminals 111-113 are arranged so as to form row A2 orthogonal to insertion direction R. High voltage circuit terminals 114, 115 are arranged so as to form row B2 orthogonal to insertion direction R. Row B2 is arranged further towards the insertion direction R side than row A2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Asauchi, Akihisa Wanibe
  • Publication number: 20110141196
    Abstract: One of an electric wiring substrate and a retaining member includes a section having an absorptance with respect to a laser beam, and the other one of the electric wiring substrate and the retaining member includes a section having a transmittance with respect to the laser beam. The electric wiring substrate and the retaining member are welded to each other by irradiation with a laser beam. At this time, the electric wiring substrate and the retaining member are welded to each other at least at a part of an outer peripheral section of the electric wiring substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7959261
    Abstract: Micro-fluid ejection devices, methods for making micro-fluid ejection, heads, and micro-fluid ejection heads having N actuators on a first substrate and logic capable of driving the N actuators on a second substrate. The ejection heads also have less than N electrical connections between the first and second substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Edward Anderson, Michael John Dixon, Jeanne Marie Saldanha Singh, Timothy Lowell Strunk, George Nelson Woolcott
  • Patent number: 7959257
    Abstract: Provided is a print engine pipeline subsystem of a printer controller. The subsystem includes a print engine pipeline controller for reading and writing print engine pipeline registers, and a contone decoder unit for expanding JPEG compressed continuous tone (“contone”) layers. Also included are a lossless bi-level decoder for expanding compressed bi-level layers, a line loader unit for expanding page images for a printhead, and a printhead interface for sending dot data to the printhead and for providing line synchronization between multiple printer controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb
  • Patent number: 7959262
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head substrate is provided with: an array of a plurality of energy generating bodies for generating energy utilized to discharge ink; and an ink supply port arranged along the array to supply ink to the plurality of energy generating bodies, the array and the ink supply port each extending in a longitudinal direction of the ink jet recording head substrate, the ink jet recording head substrate comprising: a first terminal electrically connected with the plurality of energy generating bodies, the first terminal being arranged along beside a first side of the ink jet recording head substrate, the first side extending in a cross direction intersecting the longitudinal direction; and a second terminal electrically connected with the plurality of energy generating bodies, the second terminal being arranged beside a second side of the ink jet recording head substrate, the second side extending in the longitudinal direction, so as to be arranged in an area between the first side and a phantom li
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Omata, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Souta Takeuchi, Takaaki Yamaguchi, Kousuke Kubo
  • Patent number: 7961107
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses an apparatus for producing RFID label includes: a cartridge holder detachable with respect to a cartridge having a base tape provided with a RFID circuit element provided with an IC circuit part and a tag antenna, a loop antenna configured to transmit/receive information with the RFID circuit element via radio communication, and a cartridge connector configured to supply power to the loop antenna; a tape feeding roller configured to feed the base tape; and an apparatus connector configured to supply power to the cartridge connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Hirota
  • Patent number: 7954928
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes an elongate ink distribution assembly defining elongate ink ducts from which ink transfer ports extend. The ink distribution assembly further defines a recess in which a laminated stack structure is received in fluid communication with the ink transfer ports. The laminated stack structure has layers between which ink channels in fluid communication with the ports are interleaved. The laminated stack defines at least one cavity in which respective ink ejection print head integrated circuits (ICs) can be received in fluid communication with the ink channels. The cavity is formed in the laminated stack structure so that the ICs can be disposed at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the ink distribution assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7954937
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus capable of improving reliability of an electrical connecting portion between a carriage side and head cartridge side. When an ink tank is mounted on a head cartridge, a hook of a set lever is obstructed to be operated in a lock releasing direction by a restricting surface of the ink tank. This prevents the head cartridge from being removed from the carriage, and maintains an electrical connecting condition between the carriage and the head cartridge. Therefore, for removing the head cartridge, it is necessary to remove the ink tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shusuke Inamura, Takashi Horiba
  • Publication number: 20110128325
    Abstract: A printed wiring member includes a dielectric substrate; a patterned copper layer formed on the dielectric substrate. The patterned copper layer includes i) contact pads for wire bonding; ii) connector pads for making electrical connection with an electrical connector; and iii) conductor traces between contact pads and corresponding connector pads. A nickel coating is formed on the contact pads and the connector pads, and a gold layer is formed on the nickel coating on the contact pads and the connector pads. A palladium deposit is formed on the gold layer on at least the connector pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Samuel Chen, Charles I. Levey
  • Publication number: 20110115852
    Abstract: A fluid ejector includes a fluid ejection module and an integrated circuit element. The fluid ejection module includes a substrate having a plurality of fluid paths, a plurality of actuators, and a plurality of conductive traces, each actuator configured to cause a fluid to be ejected from a nozzle of an associated fluid path. The integrated circuit element is mounted on the fluid ejection module and is electrically connected with the conductive traces of the fluid ejection module such that an electrical connection of the module enables a signal sent to the fluid ejection module to be transmitted to the integrated circuit element, processed on the integrated circuit element, and output to the fluid ejection module to drive the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Andreas Bibl, Deane A. Gardner, John A. Higginson, Kevin von Essen
  • Patent number: 7944060
    Abstract: A device package structure includes: a base body having a conductive connection portion and a level difference portion; a device arranged on the base body, having a connection terminal electrically connected to the conductive connection portion via the level difference portion on the base body; and a connector electrically connecting the connection terminal and the conductive connection portion, having substantially the same height as a height of the level difference portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Mizuno, Yoshihide Nishiyama, Eiichi Sato
  • Patent number: 7942500
    Abstract: A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer that has a print engine controller for receiving print data and sending it to the printhead. The printhead has a printhead IC for ejecting ink and a support structure for mounting the printhead IC in the printer adjacent a paper path. The printhead IC is mounted on a face of the support structure that, in use, faces the paper path. A flexible printed circuit board (flex PCB) that has contacts for receiving print data mounted to the support structure on a face that does not face the paper path. The bent section reduces the likelihood of trace cracking by holding the flex PCB at a set radius rather than allowing the flex to follow an irregular curve and thereby risking localized points of high stress on the traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Brian Robert Brown, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Paul Timothy Sharp, John Douglas Peter Morgan, Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Michael John Hudson, Christopher Hibbard, Samuel George Mallinson, Paul Justin Reichl
  • Patent number: 7938508
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead having a housing having a top face and a bottom face, an ink ejection device and a contact circuit. The contact circuit is affixed to the housing in a substantially horizontal orientation and is in communication with the ink ejection device. The contact circuit is configured to connect the ink ejection device to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E. Anderson, Curtis R. Droege, Sam Norasak
  • Publication number: 20110102510
    Abstract: A liquid feeding device includes: a flexible tube to be arranged so as to be curved at the midsection thereof for feeding liquid to a liquid ejecting head for ejecting the liquid toward a target; a resilient longitudinally extending member to be arranged so as to extend along the tube; and a binding member for binding the longitudinally extending member with the tube at a distance from each other. The binding member is fixed to the tube and slidably supports the longitudinally extending member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio KUMAGAI, Tsuyoshi OTANI
  • Patent number: 7934801
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a recording head according to the present invention includes a plurality of steps to describe as follows. In a solder paste application step, solder paste bodies are partially applied onto a plurality of terminals. In a heating step, each of the plurality of solder paste bodies is heated, to thereby form a plurality of solder layers on the plurality of terminals. In a covering step, the plurality of terminals and the plurality of solder layers are covered by an uncured synthetic resin layer. In a contact step, a plurality of bumps formed in a bump forming step and the plurality of solder layers are contacted with each other, by pressing regions of the synthetic resin layer covering the solder layers and the bumps to each other. In a curing step, the uncured synthetic resin layer is cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Ito
  • Patent number: 7931354
    Abstract: Second individual electrodes are formed and arranged in zigzag in two rows on one surface of a flexible sheet, and wirings connected to the second individual electrodes are arranged to pass between adjacent second individual electrodes of the other row. Formed on the other surface of the flexible sheet are electrode connection sections to be connected to the second individual electrodes through through-holes going through the flexible sheet. The electrode connection section has an area larger than the second individual electrode and is connected to an external electrode through solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Imai
  • Patent number: 7922291
    Abstract: An ink jet head, includes: an actuator including a plurality of terminals; a wiring material including a base made of a flexible resin film on which a plurality of lands are arranged in arrays corresponding to the plurality of terminals, the wiring material of which one end is superimposed on a surface of the actuator, and which is extended in a direction parallel to the surface of the actuator; and a drive circuit for driving the actuator, wherein: the wiring material includes a small width portion, of which a width in a direction, perpendicular to an extended direction is smaller than that of the one end superimposed on the actuator, arranged on an extended portion; and the drive circuit is mounted on the extended portion; and wiring patterns are formed on the wiring material, for connecting the drive circuit and the plurality of lands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kubo, Seiji Shimizu, Hiroo Ogawa, Hiromitsu Mizutani, Atsushi Ito
  • Patent number: 7922304
    Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a channel unit in which a channel is formed, a piezoelectric unit, and a wiring unit stacked on the piezoelectric unit. The wiring unit has a substrate, an individual supply-terminal group which includes a plurality of individual supply-terminals, a common supply-terminal, and an isolative covering layer, which is stacked on a surface of the substrate facing the piezoelectric unit. In the covering layer, a trap groove which runs between the individual supply-terminals and the common supply-terminal, and surrounds the individual supply-terminal group is formed. Accordingly, there is provided a liquid droplet jetting head which is capable of preventing a shorting between the individual drive electrodes of the piezoelectric unit, and between the individual supply-terminals of the wiring unit, due to the liquid entered from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kubo
  • Patent number: 7922290
    Abstract: A printhead assembly comprises an elongate support structure; a series of side wall sections extending a length of the support structure and defining a plurality of ink supply channels, edges of the walls delineating a gap; a plurality of carriers positioned end-to-end in the gap and supported at a bottom surface thereof by said edges of the walls; and a printhead integrated circuit mounted to each carrier. The bottom surface of each carriers defines a plurality of apertures each in fluid communication with a respective ink supply passage defined through the carrier and respective ink supply channels defined by the series of side wall sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7922310
    Abstract: A modular printhead assembly includes an elongate substrate member that defines a plurality of holes. An ink conduit is mounted longitudinally on one side of the substrate member and defines a plurality of ink holes to be in fluid communication with the ink holes defined by the elongate substrate member. A plurality of printhead module assemblies is mounted along an opposite side of the substrate member. Each module assembly includes an ink feed structure in fluid communication with the ink holes defined by the elongate substrate member and a printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink feed structure. A bus bar assembly is arranged on the substrate member for providing the printhead integrated circuits with power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7918536
    Abstract: An ink jet head includes a recording element substrate includes a plurality of ink supply ports and a supply port partition between adjacent ink supply ports; a substrate supporting portion supporting the recording element substrate at a back side thereof, the substrate supporting portion including ink supply passages corresponding to the ink supply ports and a supply passage partition corresponding to the supply port partition; a sealing material contacted to a side surface of the recording element substrate and to the substrate supporting portion; adhesive material fixing the opening partition and the supply passage partition to each other, wherein back sides of opposite ends of the recording element substrate with respect to an arranging direction of the ink supply ports are unfixed by the adhesive material to the substrate supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Ono
  • Patent number: 7920936
    Abstract: A three dimensional object creation system for printing a three dimensional object comprised of layers stacked vertically with respect to each other includes a series of printheads for printing the layers, the series of printheads simultaneously printing at least two layers of different vertical positions within the stack; and a semiconductor memory for storing data defining at least one layer. The series of printheads are arranged in groups of one or more printheads per group, each group being fixedly positioned downstream of a preceding group with respect to the three dimensional object. Each group of printheads is adapted to print a layer at a predetermined vertical position within the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110074886
    Abstract: A liquid droplet discharge apparatus includes a liquid droplet discharge head having a plurality of nozzles which discharge liquid droplets and a pressure applying mechanism which selectively applies a pressure to discharge the liquid droplets from the nozzles; a first wiring board which is flexible and which is connected to the pressure applying mechanism; and a second wiring board which is connected to the first wiring board; and the first wiring board has a pair of extending portions which extend on mutually opposite sides from a connecting portion to be connected to the pressure applying mechanism, the pair of extending portions are bent so that forward end portions thereof face each other, and the second wiring board is connected to the pair of extending portions so that the second wiring board overlaps the mutually facing forward end portions of the pair of extending portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki KUBO
  • Publication number: 20110074885
    Abstract: A droplet ejecting apparatus, including: a head having a cavity unit with pressure chambers and a piezoelectric actuator; and a voltage application device, the actuator including: first and second active portions; a first potential electrode; a second potential electrode including a second trunk portion; and individual electrodes each having a connection portion, wherein the connection portion is disposed to overlap the second trunk portion as seen in a superposition direction of the cavity unit and the actuator, wherein the individual electrodes are arranged in rows to correspond to rows of the pressure chambers, and all connecting portions belonging to any one row are disposed on the same side in a direction of arrangement of the rows, and wherein the connecting portions of the individual electrodes that belong to one and the other of any adjacent two rows are disposed on mutually opposite sides with respect to the corresponding pressure chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Takamasa Usui, Yasuhiro Sekiguchi, Yoshitsugu Morita
  • Patent number: 7901045
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording head which includes a substrate, an energy generating element which is disposed on the substrate and generates energy for discharging a liquid, an electrode which is disposed on the substrate and is electrically connected to the energy generating element, a passage-forming member which is disposed on the substrate, an adhesion layer which is disposed on the substrate and facilitates adhesion between the passage-forming member and the substrate, and a bump disposed on the electrode. The area of an upper surface of the bump is larger than the area of a lower surface of the bump, the lower surface being located on the substrate side, the upper surface being located opposite the lower surface, and a side face of the bump is covered with the adhesion layer. Thereby, a protective film is formed around the bump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuya Abe, Kenji Ono, Toshiyasu Sakai, Hiroyuki Abo, Noriyasu Ozaki, Mitsuru Chida
  • Patent number: 7896472
    Abstract: A recording-head driving device for driving a recording head including a plurality of actuator sections each provided for recording on a recording medium, the recording-head driving device including: a wiring board elongated in a longitudinal direction to be connected, at a connected portion near to one of longitudinally opposite ends thereof, to the plurality of actuator sections of the recording head; two drive-circuit units mounted on respective portions of the wiring board such that the connected portion of the wiring board is interposed between the mount portions, in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the wiring board includes: (a) a plurality of wires a part of which connects one of the two drive-circuit units and a part of the plurality of actuator sections, and the rest of which connects the other of the two drive-circuit units and the rest of the plurality of actuator sections; and (b) a plurality of input terminals electrically connected to the two drive-circuit units and provided on the other
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kondo
  • Patent number: 7896476
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead board and inkjet printhead is provided having a reliable storage element which allows for print without causing damages to an interlayer insulation film and protection film upon printing data unique to the printhead and is free from the restriction in arrangement position. For this purpose, a printing device board uses therein an information storage element formed common in material and process to electro-thermal converter element, the resistance value of which is changed to enable information storage so that information can be read out of the information storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kousuke Kubo, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Takuya Hatsui, Souta Takeuchi, Takaaki Yamaguchi, Takahiro Matsui
  • Patent number: 7896470
    Abstract: An assembly includes a flexible electrical circuit and a housing having a support surface configured to receive the flexible electrical circuit. A plurality of three-dimensional impressions are symmetrically positioned across the support surface and extending below the support surface. The plurality of three-dimensional impressions are deformed when the flexible circuit is joined to the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: John Doran
  • Patent number: 7896469
    Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a head substrate capable of increasing the layout efficiency by arranging circuit elements in a free area of the head substrate on which ink supply channels are staggered. More specifically, the circuit elements connected to a plurality of element arrays are arranged on the free area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuo Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7896471
    Abstract: A recording head includes: an actuator having a plurality of operable portions operable to cause the recording head to perform a recording; a drive circuit for driving the operable portions of the actuator; a wiring member on which the drive circuit is mounted, which is joined to the actuator, and which has a plurality of conductor wires including a first common voltage wire connected to a common voltage portion of the actuator that is common to the operable portions and a second common voltage wire connected to a common voltage portion of the drive circuit. The recording head further includes (A) a conductor for establishing, in an outer surface of the wiring member, an electrical conduction between the first common voltage wire and the second common voltage wire, or (B) conducting means for establishing, in the outer surface of the wiring member, the electrical conduction between the first and second common voltage wires. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing and inspecting the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7891771
    Abstract: A connector holder unit that is formed separately from a carriage capable of housing an ink cartridge and can be attached to the inside of the carriage includes a connector holder, a connector having a plurality of contact arms that is installed to the connector holder, and a circuit substrate having a plurality of conductive connection portions that is installed to the connector holder, wherein contact terminals of the plurality of contact arms of the connector are configured to elastically contact the conductive connection portions of the circuit substrate and conductive connection portions of the ink cartridge so as to electrically conduct between the circuit substrate and the ink cartridge when the connector holder unit is attached to the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Nakano, Takashi Sato, Keiichiro Fukumasu
  • Patent number: 7891772
    Abstract: The invention provides for a pagewidth printhead unit for a printer. The unit includes two integrated circuits laid end-to-end, each having micro-electromechanical nozzles for ejecting printing fluid. The unit also includes an ink distribution plate for feeding printing fluid into apertures defined in the integrated circuits, and an ink distribution molding defining a plurality of elongate conduits for distributing printing fluid to the plate along a length of the printhead. The unit further includes a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to relay data signals from a printer controller to respective ends of the integrated circuits, as well as a support member for holding the integrated circuits, plate, molding and PCB in alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun
  • Publication number: 20110037808
    Abstract: A liquid ejector includes an electrically insulating support having a first surface and a second surface. An electrical trace begins on the first surface of the support and ends on the second surface of the support. An ejector die is positioned on the first surface of the support and electrically connected to the portion of the electrical trace located on the first surface of the support. A polymer material is molded on a portion of the ejector die and at least a portion of the first surface of the support. A portion of the electrical trace remains free of the polymer material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Mario J. Ciminelli, Eric A. Merz, Dwight J. Petruchik
  • Patent number: 7887168
    Abstract: A main tank has a storage space which stores a liquid. A sub tank has a predetermined interior space and an atmosphere communicating hole which makes the interior space communicate with an atmosphere, formed therein, and has an opening and closing valve which opens and closes the atmosphere communicating hole. When the main tank is not mounted on a main tank installing portion, the opening and closing valve closes the atmosphere communicating hole. When the main tank is mounted on the main tank installing portion, a discharge operation of discharging the liquid from the nozzles of the head with the atmosphere communicating hole closed by the opening and closing valve is carried out. Thereafter, the opening and closing valve opens the atmosphere communicating hole. Accordingly, the liquid is prevented from being leaked out from the sub tank when the main tank is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichiro Shimizu, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110032309
    Abstract: An inkjet head according to an aspect of the invention may include: an inkjet head body having an ink chamber provided therein and an electrode portion provided on a surface thereof adjacent to the ink chamber; a piezoelectric actuator being mounted on the surface of the inkjet head body so that the piezoelectric actuator is electrically connected to the electrode portion; and a substrate being pressed using a bonding tool so that the substrate is electrically connected to the electrode portion and the piezoelectric actuator, arranged in different planes, through a conductive adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Sung Park, Jae Woo Joung, Jae Sung Kim, Ju Hwan Yang, Yoon Sok Park
  • Publication number: 20110032295
    Abstract: This invention relates to an element substrate capable of confirming an electrical connection status before a printhead malfunctions. The element substrate is a substrate for a printhead, which is detachable from a printing apparatus and includes a plurality of printing elements, a logical circuit for controlling the printing elements, and a voltage application terminal for applying a driving voltage to drive the printing elements. The logical circuit is driven at a voltage lower than the driving voltage. The element substrate includes a connection status output circuit which outputs a signal reflecting the electrical connection status between the printhead and the printing apparatus on the basis of the driving voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Souta Takeuchi, Takuya Hatsui, Takaaki Yamaguchi, Takahiro Matsui, Kousuke Kubo
  • Publication number: 20110025782
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes first and second substrates bonded together. The first substrate has first and second opposed surfaces. A die pocket is formed in the first opposed surface, and a through slot extends from the die pocket to the second opposed surface. The second substrate is bonded to the second opposed surface of the first substrate whereby an outlet of a channel formed in the second substrate substantially aligns with the through slot. The channel of the second substrate has an inlet that is larger than the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Charles C. Haluzak, Chien-Hua Chen, Kirby Sand
  • Publication number: 20110025738
    Abstract: A printing system that has a print zone, a media path extending through the print zone along a paper axis, a printhead carriage with a plurality of printhead mounting sites for mounting a plurality of printhead modules adjacent the print zone such that the printhead modules collectively span the media path, the printhead carriage having a long side extending transverse to the paper axis, the long side having access formations for ink conduits and a plurality of interfaces for connection to the ink conduits to supply ink to each of the printhead modules respectively. All ink for the plurality of printhead modules is supplied by ink conduits extending through the access formations on said long side of the printhead carriage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Rosati, David Petch, David Burney, Jim Sykora, Kenneth A. Regas, Andy Bound, Neil Doherty, Scott Dennis, Ben Jones, Oksana Buyda, Locson Tonthat, Andrew Buyda, Patrick Kirk, Loren Hunt, Jason Dewey, Jim Trinchera, Bill Cressman, Ron Zech
  • Publication number: 20110018942
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a plurality of head main bodies in which nozzle openings are arranged and manifolds communicate with the nozzle openings; and a passage member which includes a plurality of passages supplying a liquid supplied from an upstream side to the plurality of manifolds of the head main bodies. The plurality of head main bodies is disposed so that the manifolds are arranged in a first direction. The plurality of passages of the passage member includes a passage group in which an outflow port communicating with the manifold is disposed in the first direction and an inflow port to which the liquid is supplied from the upstream side is disposed in a second direction intersecting the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki SUZUKI, Katsuhiro OKUBO
  • Publication number: 20110018939
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly comprising an ink supply manifold; printhead integrated circuits and a connector film for supplying power to drive circuitry in the printhead integrated circuits. Each printhead integrated circuit has a frontside comprising the drive circuitry and inkjet nozzle assemblies, a backside attached to the ink supply manifold, and ink supply channels providing fluid communication between the backside and the inkjet nozzle assemblies. A connection end of the connector film is sandwiched between part of the ink supply manifold and the printhead integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Rónán Pádraig Seán O'Reilly, David McLeod Johnstone, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110018941
    Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit comprising a silicon substrate defining a frontside and a backside, inkjet nozzle assemblies positioned at the frontside, drive circuitry for supplying power to the inkjet nozzle assemblies and through-silicon connectors extending from the frontside towards the backside. The through-silicon connectors provides electrical connections between the drive circuitry and corresponding integrated circuit contacts. The integrated circuit contacts are positioned for connection to a backside-mounted connector film supplying power to the drive circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Rónán Pádraig Seán O'Reilly, David McLeod Johnstone, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110018940
    Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit has a frontside comprising drive circuitry and inkjet nozzle assemblies, a backside for attachment to an ink supply manifold and ink supply channels providing fluid communication between the backside and the inkjet nozzle assemblies. The backside has a recessed portion for accommodating part of a connector film, which supplies power to the drive circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Rónán Pádraig Seán O'Reilly, David McLeod Johnstone, Kia Silverbrook