Electrical Connector Means Patents (Class 347/50)
  • Patent number: 7618123
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a card edge contact having a plurality of electrical contacts for transmission of a driving signal; a recording element substrate having a recording element for generating energy contributable to eject liquid onto a recording material in response to the driving signal; and an electrical flexible cable for electrical connection between the card edge contact and the recording element substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ohashi, Yasuo Kotaki, Hiroaki Mihara, Noriko Sato, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 7614727
    Abstract: The liquid discharge head comprises: a plurality of ejection ports which eject liquid; a plurality of pressure chambers which communicate respectively with the plurality of ejection ports; a plurality of piezoelectric elements which deform the plurality of pressure chambers respectively and are provided on a side of the pressure chambers opposite to a side on which the ejection ports are formed; a common liquid chamber which supplies the liquid to the plurality of pressure chambers and is formed on a side of the piezoelectric element opposite to the pressure chambers; and a plurality of electric wires which stand upright from and substantially perpendicular to a surface on which the piezoelectric elements are mounted, the electric wires passing through a partition wall of the common liquid chamber and being electrically connected to the piezoelectric elements, the electric wires being formed by inserting wiring material for forming the electric wires into holes provided in the partition wall of the common liq
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hisamitsu Hori
  • Patent number: 7614724
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided comprising at least one printhead module comprising at least two printhead integrated circuits, each of which has nozzles formed therein for delivering printing fluid onto the surface of print media, a support member supporting and carrying the printing fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits. The assembly further comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending electrical conductors for providing power from a power supply to the at least two printhead integrated circuits, being arranged as two groups of electrical conductors respectively connected to the power supply at respective ends of the printhead assembly, respective ones of electrical conductors of the two groups of electrical conductors being connected together at abutting regions intermediate the ends of the printhead assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Michael Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 7611223
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cradle unit for a print engine having an inkjet printhead and a PCB controller, the cradle unit configured to receive a cartridge unit having a printhead assembly of the print engine with a controller on a flex PCB. The cradle unit includes a cover assembly movable between a closed position, where the cartridge unit is mechanically secured in the cradle unit and the PCB controller of the print engine electrically contacts the flex PCB controller such that power and data signals can be transferred therebetween, and an open position where the electrical contact is broken and allows the cartridge unit to be removed from the cradle unit. The cradle unit also includes a maintenance drive assembly having a motor operatively connected to a maintenance gear and actuator arrangement and to a wiper gear and actuator arrangement, the maintenance drive assembly operated by the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Michael Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Publication number: 20090267992
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having a plurality of print nozzle integrated circuits, an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the print nozzle integrated circuits, and drive electronics having electrical contacts for electrical connection to the electrical connector, input contacts for receiving print data, and a plurality of controllers for processing the print data. Each controller is connected to a predetermined number of the print nozzle integrated circuits via the electrical contacts and being interconnected to the other controllers. The drive electronics are selected from a range of drive electronics, each having a different number of the interconnected controllers configured to each process the print data applicable to a selected number of the print nozzle integrated circuits such that the ratio of controllers to print nozzle integrated circuits can be varied to change the print speed of the printhead assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 7607758
    Abstract: The printing head has connection terminals for performing an electrical connection of signals including drive signals of print elements by contacting connection terminals on an apparatus side when the head is mounted onto an ink jet printing apparatus. Connections of all terminals can be guaranteed by detecting contacts of a part of terminals. Among the terminals in the head, terminals whose distances from the connection terminals in the printing apparatus become maximum when a deviation occurred in the mounting are used as terminals for contact detection. For example, from among the connection terminals arranged in a planar area, which is rectangular-shaped, terminals positioned in corners are used as the terminals for the contact detection. When the contacts of these terminals are detected, the connections of all the terminals inside the area can be guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hatasa, Kenjiro Watanabe, Kimiyuki Hayasaki, Keiichiro Tsukuda, Takuya Hatsui
  • Patent number: 7604324
    Abstract: An apparatus for ejecting droplets is provided with a ejecting head for discharging droplets, an electric circuit board having an electric circuit formed on a surface of the electric circuit board, the electric circuit being connected to the ejecting head, a holder for supporting the ejecting head and the electric circuit board, and a cover that overlaps the surface of the electric circuit board when the cover is fixed to the holder. The apparatus for ejecting droplets is further provided with a seal member that fills a gap formed between a peripheral region of the surface of the electric circuit board and an inner surface of the cover. The seal member effectively prevents droplets mist from penetrating to the electric circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Takata, Yoichiro Shimizu, Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7604330
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection ports which eject liquid, a plurality of pressure chambers which are connected respectively to the ejection ports, a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are disposed on a side of the pressure chambers reverse to a side adjacent to the ejection ports and respectively deform the pressure chambers, and a laminated body which is disposed on the side of the pressure chambers reverse to the side adjacent to the ejection ports and includes a plurality of ceramic thin plates arranged to overlap each other. The laminated body is formed with a common liquid chamber which supplies the liquid to the pressure chambers, and electrical wires which supply drive signals to the piezoelectric elements and are formed so as to rise upward in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface on which the piezoelectric elements are disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Enomoto, Yasuhiko Maeda
  • Publication number: 20090256889
    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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 7597422
    Abstract: The ink-jet printer head includes a cavity unit which has a plurality of pressure chambers arranged in a plurality of pressure-chamber rows; an actuator unit which has individual surface electrodes corresponding to the pressure chambers respectively, and land portions conducted to the individual surface electrodes respectively; and a flexible cable which has connection terminals and signal lines. The land portions and the connection terminals are electrically connected. In each of the pressure-chamber rows, the land portions are arranged such that a certain land portion is shifted from another land portion adjacent to the certain land portion in a longitudinal direction of the pressure chambers. Accordingly, even when the pressure chambers are arranged highly densely, it is possible to electrically connect the flexible cable and the actuator unit easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Katayama, Yoshikazu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090244186
    Abstract: A fluid discharging head includes a fluid channel unit, an actuator unit, and a wiring unit. The actuator unit includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a first actuator area and a second actuator area, and driving electrodes on the first surface. The wiring unit includes a sheet substrate having an elongated portion, a first substrate area and a second substrate area positioned at opposite ends of the elongated portion of the sheet substrate, feeding terminals positioned at the first substrate area and the second substrate area, a driver positioned at a third substrate area between the first substrate area and the second substrate area, first lines extending from and electrically connecting the driver to the feeding terminals at the first substrate area, and second lines extending from and electrically connecting the driver to the feeding terminals at the second substrate area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi ITO
  • Patent number: 7591538
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head for ejection liquid includes an electric wiring member including a plurality of contact pads which are electrically contactable to a liquid ejecting apparatus; a storing element for storing individual information; and a liquid ejection member, provided with an ejection outlet, for ejecting the liquid using electric energy supplied through a part of the plurality of contact pads. The contact pads include an array of information contact pads electrically connected with the storing element, a voltage source contact pad for supplying the electric energy and a grounding contact pad. Directly adjacent to each of front and rear sides of the information contact pads constituting the array, the voltage source contact pad or the grounding contact pad is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Toge, Yoshiyuki Imanaka
  • Patent number: 7591527
    Abstract: An ink jet printing head is attachable to/detachable from an ink jet printing apparatus and includes an electric wiring member formed of a TAB tape to which terminals are provided, and has a wiring exposed through an end section of the electric wiring member, the terminals accepting signals by making contact with a connection portion on the part of the apparatus when the head is attached to the apparatus. An opening is provided in a supporting member which supports the electric wiring member, the opening extending in a direction traversing an area where the electric wiring member is supported. Thereby, movement of liquid, such as water and ink, to the end section is blocked, the liquid moving through a gap between a back surface of the electric wiring member and a surface of the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Tajima, Minoru Nozawa, Ryoichiro Kurobe
  • Publication number: 20090213182
    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 with in 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: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kunihiro YAMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20090211790
    Abstract: The connecting structure of a flexible circuit board and electronic components, includes: the flexible circuit board having: a pattern of wires, holes passing through the flexible circuit board in a thickness direction of the wires at parts of the wires to which the electronic components are connected, and a weakened part arranged on a bending line in a bending part of the flexible circuit board on which the flexible circuit board bends when the wires are connected with the electronic components; and the electronic components respectively having projections on parts to which the wires are connected, wherein the wires are electrically connected with the electronic components in a state where the projections are inserted in the holes and the flexible circuit board bends on the weakened part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Yokouchi
  • Publication number: 20090213181
    Abstract: The liquid jetting apparatus includes a container installation portion, a first wire line, a control circuit and a first switch. The container installation portion receives installation of a first liquid container having a first electrical device. The first wire line, in a state with the first liquid container installed in the container installation portion, electrically connects to the first electrical device. The control circuit transmits or receives a varying signal of varying potential to or from the first electrical device via the first wire line. The first switch supplies a prescribed potential to the first wire line when the control circuit is not transmitting or receiving the varying signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noboru ASAUCHI
  • Patent number: 7578581
    Abstract: An ink jet printer is provided with an ink jet head. The ink jet head includes an ink passage body and an actuator. The ink passage body includes a nozzle, an ink chamber communicating with the nozzle, and a pressure chamber located between the nozzle and the ink chamber. The actuator includes a piezoelectric element facing the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode connected with a front face of the piezoelectric layer, a second electrode connected with a back face of the piezoelectric layer, and a first insulator located between the second electrode and the ink passage body. The ink jet printer further includes a device for maintaining the electric potentials of the ink passage body and the second electrode such that the electric potential of the ink passage body is equal to or below the electric potential of the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7578580
    Abstract: An inkjet head for ejecting ink droplets is disclosed which includes: a nozzle unit having metal thin plates and a piezoelectric device, adapted to eject the ink droplets; a printed circuit board supplying to the piezoelectric device a drive signal for causing the nozzle unit to eject the ink droplets; a support supporting the nozzle unit and the printed circuit board in opposing relationship to each other; an earth contact disposed on the nozzle unit; a ground contact disposed on the printed circuit board, held at a reference potential; an electrically conductive elastic member disposed between the earth and ground contacts, such that portions of the elastic member are in electrical contact with the earth and ground contacts, respectively; and a movement limiter limiting movement of the elastic member to thereby prevent the elastic member from being disengaged from the earth and ground contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ito, Yasuhiro Kato, Naoya Okazaki, Masayuki Takata
  • Patent number: 7578579
    Abstract: An inkjet recording head, including a channel unit which has, along a reference plane, a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with a plurality of nozzles, respectively, each of which ejects a droplet of ink; and a piezoelectric actuator which changes a volume of an arbitrary one of the pressure chambers so that a corresponding one of the nozzles ejects the droplet of ink. The piezoelectric actuator includes a plurality of individual electrodes corresponding to the plurality of pressure chambers, respectively, a common electrode which is opposed to each of the individual electrodes, a piezoelectric layer which is interposed between the individual electrodes and the common electrode, and a plurality of electric wires which are connected to the plurality of individual electrodes, respectively, so as to supply respective drive voltages to the individual electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 7571985
    Abstract: The liquid ejection head comprises: a nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles are arranged; a diaphragm on which a plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged; a plurality of pressure chambers which are defined between the nozzle surface and the diaphragm, each of the plurality of pressure chambers applying pressure to liquid which is ejected from a corresponding one of the plurality of nozzles; a common liquid chamber which is defined on a side of the diaphragm opposite to a side of the diaphragm on which the plurality of pressure chambers are defined, the common liquid chamber communicating with each of the plurality of pressure chambers via a corresponding supply port, at least a portion of a surface of the common liquid chamber which contacts liquid being made as a thin layer; and a plurality of electrical wires which are formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the diaphragm on which the piezoelectric elements are arranged, at least a portion of each of the electrical
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Sanada
  • Publication number: 20090195611
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having at least one printhead module of at least two print nozzle integrated circuits and respective electrical connectors, at least one controller configured to process print data and to communicate the processed print data to microprocessing circuitry of at least one of the print nozzle integrated circuits via the respective electrical connector so as to control the printing operation of the print nozzle integrated circuit to print the processed print data, and a casing in which the printhead module and controller are removably mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Michael Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 7568786
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having at least one printhead module, a support frame removably supporting the printhead module and at least one mounting element; and drive electronics removably mounted to the mounting element to control operation of the print nozzle integrated circuits. Each printhead module has at least two print nozzle integrated circuits, a support member supporting, and carrying printing fluid for, the nozzle ICs, and an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the nozzle ICs. The drive electronics has contacts for electrical connection to the electrical connector, input contacts for receiving print data, and a controller for processing the print data applicable to a predetermined number of the print nozzle ICs. The drive electronics is selected from a range of drive electronics, each having a different number of controllers such that the ratio of controllers to nozzle ICs can be varied to change the print speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20090189954
    Abstract: An ink jetting structure includes a substrate that has a first surface and a second surface. A heater chip is mounted to the second surface of the substrate, and includes a first set of electrical contacts. A printhead circuit member has a third surface, a fourth surface, and an opening configured to receive the heater chip with the first set of electrical contacts of the heater chip being exposed through the opening. The third surface is mounted to the second surface of the substrate. The fourth surface has a second set of electrical contacts attached by wire bonds to the first set of electrical contacts. The third surface has a third set of electrical contacts electrically coupled to the second set of electrical contacts, and electrically connected to a flexible cable for coupling to corresponding contacts on a printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Frank Edward Anderson, Michael John Dixon, Bryan Dale McKinley, Jeanne Marie Saldanha Singh
  • Patent number: 7566108
    Abstract: A recording apparatus for effecting recording using a head cartridge includes a carriage to which the head cartridge is mountable, the carriage being movable while carrying the head cartridge; an encoder for detecting movement of the carriage; a detecting portion for detecting whether or not the carriage and the head cartridge are electrically connected with each other; and a discriminating section for discriminating that the head cartridge is not properly mounted to the carriage, when the encoder, after an operation of mounting the head cartridge to the carriage, does not detect the movement of the carriage, and the detecting portion, after the operation of mounting the head cartridge to the carriage, does not detect electrical connection between the carriage and the head cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Nojima, Takeshi Sekino
  • Patent number: 7562965
    Abstract: The invention provides for an elongate bi-lithic printhead unit for a pagewidth printer. The unit includes two integrated circuits laid end-to-end, each having a multitude of micro-electromechanical nozzles for operatively 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 appropriate alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 7562827
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an adhesive film for bonding a chip module in a card body. Said adhesive film comprises at least two adhesive layers (i) and (ii), which differ chemically from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Tesa SE
    Inventors: Renke Bargmann, Marc Husemann
  • Patent number: 7562953
    Abstract: A recording liquid container for containing liquid for recording to be supplied to recording means, said recording liquid container being detachably mountable to a mounting portion of a recording device, said recording liquid container includes an information memory medium storing predetermined information; wireless sending means capable of wireless sending of a predetermined information in said information memory medium within a predetermined range; a wireless communication antenna for wirelessly sending radio wave; and communication property changing means for changing a communication property of the wireless sending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hatasa, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20090179965
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head is constituted by a liquid ejection substrate comprising a liquid supply port for supplying liquid, an ejection outlet for ejecting the liquid supplied from the liquid supply port, and ejection energy generating devices for generating energy for ejecting the liquid; and a supporting member having a supporting surface for supporting the liquid ejection substrate and a liquid supply hole for supplying liquid to the liquid ejection substrate, the liquid supply hole communicating with the liquid supply port of the liquid ejection substrate to form a communicating portion, a periphery of which is sealed by a sealant. The liquid supply hole of the supporting member has an opening larger than that of the liquid supply port of the liquid ejection substrate. The support member has an inner wall portion including an edge line portion defined by the liquid supply hole on a side where the liquid ejection substrate is to be disposed. The inner wall portion is covered with the sealant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Hirosawa, Shuzo Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 7559626
    Abstract: An inkjet recording head substrate having an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy used to discharge ink and a drive element for driving the electrothermal transducer mounted thereon includes a first circuit portion for outputting selection signals for selecting the electrothermal transducer to be driven at a amplitude level of a second voltage higher than a first voltage based on an input signal of the amplitude level of the first voltage, a second circuit portion for inputting the selection signals from the first circuit portion and controlling the drive element corresponding to the electrothermal transducer to be driven based on the selection signals subject to the second voltage, and a plurality of signal lines for transmitting the selection signals between the first and second circuit portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Sakurai, Tatsuo Furukawa, Hidenori Watanabe, Nobuyuki Hirayama, Ryo Kasai
  • Patent number: 7556357
    Abstract: The invention provides for an ink jet printhead having a wafer substrate and a plurality of nozzle assemblies arranged in an array on the substrate and the product of dielectric and metal layers deposited on the wafer substrate and etched, such that the wafer substrate and layers define ink inlet apertures. Each nozzle assembly includes a wall portion bounding a respective ink inlet aperture, a crown portion that defines a nozzle opening, and a skirt portion depending from the crown portion to form part of a peripheral wall of the nozzle assembly. The crown and skirt portions are displaceable with respect to the wall portion to alter a volume of a nozzle chamber defined by the wall, crown and skirt portions such that when the volume is altered, ink is ejected from the nozzle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7552999
    Abstract: A circuit board (32) has a board main body (32M), a pair of first electrodes (32d) for contact with and electrical connection to electrodes (91c) of a liquid consuming apparatus, the first electrodes (32d) being formed on a first surface of the board main body (32M), and a pair of second electrodes (32e) for contact with and electrical connection to terminal plates (45) of a sensor unit (35), the second electrodes (32e) being formed on an opposite, second surface of the board main body (32M) and electrically connected respectively to the first electrodes (32d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Wanibe, Minoru Yajima, Akira Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 7553000
    Abstract: A head, for an ink-jet printer, includes a channel unit having a plurality of elongated pressure chambers arranged in a plurality of pressure-chamber rows; an actuator unit having individual surface electrodes corresponding to the pressure chambers respectively, and land portions each of which is conducted to one of the individual surface electrodes; and a flexible cable having connection terminals and signal lines. The land portions are electrically connected to the connection terminals. In each of the pressure-chamber rows, the land portions are arranged such that a certain land portion of the land portions is shifted, in the longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber, from another land portion adjacent to the certain land portion. Accordingly, it is possible to easily connect the flexible cable and the actuator unit easily even when the pressure chambers are arranged highly densely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Katayama
  • Patent number: 7549724
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a printhead. The printhead includes a carrier which carries an integrated circuit (IC) configured to eject ink. The carrier defines a plurality of ink passages each in fluid communication with the IC. An elongate support supports the printhead and defines a plurality of ink chambers each in fluid communication with a respective ink passage. The support includes a core which defines the ink chambers and a multi-layered metal shell in which the core is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7549727
    Abstract: A printhead system is provided having at least one printhead module and at least one controller. The printhead module(s) has at least two print nozzle integrated circuits, a support member supporting and carrying the printing fluid for the print nozzle integrated circuits, and a plurality of electrical connectors individually connected to a respective one of the print nozzle integrated circuits. The controller(s) is arranged to control the printing operation of at least one of the print nozzle integrated circuits. Each electrical connector simultaneously connects a power supply to the controller and the controller to the respective print nozzle integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20090153610
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor storage devices, each of which includes an access determination unit that determines whether the semiconductor storage device is accessed, an input terminal and an output terminal used for connection checking, a normally-closed switching element that electrically disconnects the input terminal from the output terminal when the access determination unit determined that the semiconductor storage device is accessed, and a bypass circuit that electrically connects the input terminal to a reference point through predetermined impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiko KOSUGI
  • Patent number: 7547094
    Abstract: A liquid discharge recording head includes a recording element with a discharge port for discharging liquid and an electrically connecting portion arranged adjacent to the discharge port and receiving an electric signal for controlling the discharge of the discharge port. The liquid discharge recording head further includes a flexible wiring substrate for covering at least a portion of the recording element. The flexible wiring substrate includes each of a device hole for exposing the discharge port and a bonding hole arranged facing the electrically connecting portion independently. The liquid discharge recording head further includes a sealing agent for covering at least a portion of the electrically connecting portion and filled to at least a portion of the bonding hole. Thus, a liquid discharge recording head that enhances recording performance and that has superior productivity while maintaining reliability of the recording performance is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo Kawamura, Toshihiro Mori, Hisashi Fukai, Naoki Nakajo
  • Patent number: 7547083
    Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a printhead drive unit and a cartridge. The cartridge includes the printhead controller. The printhead controller includes a plurality of inverters connected in series to constitute a operation circuit for receiving one or more control signals to control the enable status of the nozzle in order to determine whether to jet out the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: International United Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Lieh Hu, Jui-Hua Hu
  • Publication number: 20090147052
    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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: John Doran
  • Publication number: 20090141084
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that provides an easy installation and separation of a print head thereto and therefrom. The image forming apparatus can include a body, a print head including a nozzle part having a length at least a width as wide as a printable printing medium, a head mount provided at the body to mount the print head, at least one first connector provided at the head mount, and at least one second connector provided at the print head to correspond to the at least one first connector. The first connector and second connector are connected with each other as the print head is mounted to the head mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Young Choon KIM, Karp Sik Youn, Dong Woo Ha
  • Patent number: 7537313
    Abstract: The present invention includes a passage-forming substrate on which pressure generating chambers communicating with nozzle orifices ejecting a liquid are respectively formed separately from each other, and actuator devices each including a vibration plate provided on the passage-forming substrate, wherein, a protective plate is jointed to a side of the passage-forming substrate, the side facing the actuator devices, and driver circuits for driving the actuator devices are provided on the protective plate, and wherein each of the driver circuits is provided with individual terminals to which individual electrodes of the respective actuator devices are electrically connected, and connection terminals to which an external wiring line is directly connected, and each of the driver circuits is also provided with a common terminal electrically connected to a common electrode common to more than one of the actuator devices, and with a common connection terminal which is connected to the common terminal through a cond
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinao Miyata
  • Patent number: 7536762
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a board assembly comprises the steps of: tin-plating a first terminal and a copper-made second terminal that are formed on a circuit board; mounting an electronic component on the circuit board by means of gold-tin eutectic bonding between a gold electrode of the electronic component and the tin-plated first terminal; forming a copper-tin alloy on a surface of the second terminal by heating the circuit board after the mounting step; and bonding the second terminal having the copper-tin alloy formed on its surface to a terminal of another board by means of a thermosetting conductive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Imai, Yuji Shinkai
  • Patent number: 7533972
    Abstract: The inkjet head includes: a plurality of ink discharge nozzles which are arranged two-dimensionally; a plurality of pressure chambers which are in communication with the ink discharge nozzles so as to store ink, the pressure chambers being two-dimensionally arranged in correspondence with the ink discharge nozzles; a plurality of piezoelectric elements; a common electrode which is disposed on pressure chamber sides of the piezoelectric elements; a plurality of discrete electrodes which are disposed on sides of the piezoelectric elements opposite to the common electrode; and a plurality of discrete lead electrodes which feed electricity to the discrete electrodes, wherein: each of the piezoelectric elements is deformed by applying voltage to the common electrode and the discrete electrode so that a volume of the pressure chamber is varied to discharge a droplet of the ink from the ink discharge nozzle; and with respect to each pair of the discrete electrode and discrete lead electrode corresponding to each of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Mita
  • Patent number: 7530669
    Abstract: A printhead module is provided for an inkjet printhead assembly. The printhead module includes a support. An elongate carrier is mounted to the support. The carrier defines a plurality of transverse ribs and an ink channel located between the ribs. A subassembly includes a micro-electromechanical integrated circuit (IC) configured to eject ink. The subassembly is mounted to the carrier so that the support, carrier and subassembly define a plurality of sealed ink chambers which can feed ink to the IC via the ink channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 7527356
    Abstract: A device package structure includes: a base body having a depression portion and a conductive connection portion formed in the depression portion; a device having a connection terminal; and a connector having a plate portion having a first surface on which the device is positioned, a protruding portion protruding from the first surface of the plate portion and having a second surface different from the first surface, a terminal electrode formed on the second surface, and a connection wiring electrically connecting the connection terminal of the device and the terminal electrode, wherein the protruding portion of the connector is inserted into the depression portion of the base body, the terminal electrode is connected to the conductive connection portion, and the conductive connection portion is electrically connected to the connection terminal of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Sato
  • Patent number: 7524038
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-jet head and a liquid-jet apparatus each capable of stabilizing liquid ejection characteristics in favorable states, and also capable of preventing destruction of a vibration plate. Disclosed is a liquid-jet head including a laminated electrode which is provided on the vibration plate outward of a region corresponding to the piezoelectric elements, and is electrically connected to the lower electrode. In the liquid-jet head, a stress relaxing layer is provided at least in regions corresponding to edge portions of the laminated electrode between the laminated electrode and the vibration plate, the stress relaxing layer being made of a material having a linear expansion coefficient greater than that of the vibration plate and less than that of the laminated electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7524024
    Abstract: An electrical connection substrate includes a substrate main body in which an electrical connection through port is formed, and connection target members arranged on both sides of the substrate main body, respectively. The connection target members are electrically connected to each other through the electrical connection through port, and the electrical connection through port is filled with a fluidized conductive material. The fluidized conductive material thus filled can satisfactorily keep connection of the connection target members to each other through the electrical connection through port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michiaki Murata
  • Patent number: 7524046
    Abstract: A printhead assembly for a wallpaper printing system that includes a casing; a printhead module, the printhead module comprised of a plurality of printhead tiles arranged substantially along the length of the printhead module; a fluid channel member held within the casing adjacent the printhead module, the fluid channel member including a plurality of ducts, fluid within each of the ducts being in fluid communication with each of the printhead tiles; and, each printhead tile including a printhead integrated circuit formed to dispense fluid, a printed circuit board to facilitate communication with a processor controlling the printing, and fluid inlet ports to receive fluid from the fluid channel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Publication number: 20090102889
    Abstract: A system for interconnecting a printhead cartridge and a cradle unit for supporting the printhead cartridge is provided. The system has a first printed circuit having print control circuitry of the cradle unit, and a second printed circuit board having connections for connecting the printhead cartridge with a power supply which is remote from the second printhead circuit board and the print control circuitry of the first printed circuit board. The first and second printed circuit boards have complementary connectors which cooperate to provide the connection of the printhead cartridge to the print control circuitry. The complementary connectors being arranged so that the first printed circuit board is able to pivot with respect to the second printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Charles Knight, Kia Silverbrook, Bruce Mervyn Horsburgh, Saminda Jayatileke, Brain Robert Brown
  • Publication number: 20090102888
    Abstract: A printing system comprising: a printhead cartridge comprising a printhead; a cradle unit for supporting the printhead cartridge; and an interface at which the cradle unit is removably engageable with the printhead cartridge, the interface comprising connections for connecting the printhead cartridge with a power supply which is remote from the interface and a power regulation circuit for regulating supply of power from the power supply to the printhead cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Charles Knight, Kia Sliverbrook, Bruce Mervyn Horsburgh, Saminda Jayatileke, Brian Robert Brown
  • Patent number: 7517049
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having at least one printhead module, at least one controller and a casing in which the printhead module and controller are removably mounted. The module is a unitary arrangement of a support member, at least two print nozzle integrated circuits, at least two fluid distribution members each mounting the print nozzle integrated circuits to the support member, and respective electrical connectors. The controller is configured to process print data and to communicate the processed print data to microprocessing circuitry of at least one of the print nozzle integrated circuits via the respective electrical connector so as to control the printing operation of the print nozzle integrated circuit(s) to print the processed print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Michael Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa