Composite Ejector Patents (Class 347/63)
  • Patent number: 7325905
    Abstract: A printer includes a support structure and at least one printhead module to be retained between opposed walls of the support structure. The module includes a first edge for contacting a first of the opposed walls and a second edge for contacting a second of the opposed walls. The first edge includes at least one resilient mounting member for resiliently contacting the first wall thereby urging the second edge against the second opposed wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7322679
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly, in turn, including an electrical drive circuitry layer and defining an ink inlet channel. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly. The nozzle chamber structure defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel and an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. An anchor extends from the substrate assembly. A thermal bend actuator extends from the anchor. The thermal bend actuator includes an active portion electrically coupled to the drive circuitry layer and a passive portion which is electrically isolated from the active portion so that differential thermal expansion between the portions can cause the actuator to bend. A lever arm is coupled to the thermal bend actuator, is pivotally supported by the substrate assembly and terminates in a paddle within the nozzle chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080018710
    Abstract: A system and method for image correction in a direct marking system is provided using input scaling. The system and method utilize spatial dependent scale factors for each color of a liquid ink printer in the direct marking system. The value of each scale factor depends upon the ratio of the target mass to the average mass of the ink drops in the region to be corrected. The target mass is typically equal to or near the lowest average mass to insure that all regions can be adjusted to common output color. All input values received by the direct marking system and corresponding to a region to be corrected are multiplied by the appropriate scale factor to correct for drop volume variations among different printheads of the direct marking system. Each printhead includes a plurality of ejectors for depositing ink on a recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: David A. Mantell
  • Publication number: 20080012906
    Abstract: Thermal inkjet printheads and an inkjet image forming apparatus including the thermal inkjet printheads. Each of the thermal inkjet printheads includes a heater that heats ink by directly contacting the ink and is formed of an alloy of Pt—Ru or an alloy of Pt—Ir—X, where X is at least a material selected from the group consisting of Ta, W, Cr, Al, and O.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myong-jong Kwon, Young-ung Ha, Sung-joon Park, Kyong-il Kim
  • Publication number: 20070296768
    Abstract: A printer head is provided that enhances energy efficiency of a heater layer and substantially prevents heat from being excessively transmitted to ink in an ink chamber, thereby improving ink-ejecting performance and/or printing performance. A method of fabricating such a printer head is also provided. The print head includes a substrate having an ink chamber and a nozzle disposed in the top thereof, an insulating layer layered on the substrate, and a heater layer layered on the insulating layer. A heat transmitting part transmits heat to the ink chamber. The insulating layer is formed so that a portion thereof that faces the heat transmitting part of the heater layer has a thickness larger than that of the rest of the insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Jae-sik Min, You-seop Lee
  • Publication number: 20070285470
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a passage-forming substrate, a plurality of pressure-generating elements, and an IC chip. The passage-forming substrate has a nozzle opening, and a pressure-generating chamber communicating with the nozzle opening. The plurality of pressure-generating elements are provided on a surface of the passage-forming substrate with a diaphragm interposed therebetween. The pressure-generating elements have electrodes and cause pressure change in the pressure-generating chamber. The IC chip is mounted on the surface of the passage-forming substrate with the pressure-generating elements. In this liquid ejecting head, the electrodes of the pressure-generating elements include individual electrodes, and at least the individual electrodes are electrically connected to the driver circuit via the through electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Munehide KANAYA
  • Publication number: 20070285469
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head comprising a liquid discharge substrate in which a first liquid supply port being a penetration port for supplying a liquid is formed and is provided with a first electrode receiving electric energy for discharging the liquid on a surface thereof on one side, a supporting member which is opposed to the first electrode and a second liquid supply port being a penetration port for supplying the liquid is formed to communicate with the first liquid supply port, the supporting member provided with a second electrode for transmitting the electric energy to the first electrode on a surface opposed to the first electrode, and a conductive first intermediate member abutting with both of the first electrode and the second electrode to electrically connect the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein an abutting surface of the first intermediate member abutting with the first electrode is flattened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu SATO, Toshiaki Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 7306327
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate for ink jet including a heating resistor generating thermal energy for discharging an ink from an ink discharge port and an upper protective layer which is formed above the heating resistor and has a contacting surface with the ink. Furthermore, the upper protective layer is made of an amorphous alloy consisting of Ta and Cr in which the content of Ta is more than that of Cr. This constitution allows for the substrate excellent in cavitation resistance and corrosion resistance, and capable of high durability while having similar discharge performance to that of a conventional protective layer made of a Ta film. The present invention further provides an ink jet head comprising the above-mentioned substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Sakai, Ichiro Saito, Sakai Yokoyama, Teruo Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7296880
    Abstract: A heat transfer type ink-jet print head and a method of fabricating the same. A method of fabricating an ink-jet print head includes operations of sequentially laminating a heat generation layer and an electrode layer on a substrate, laminating a protective layer on the top surfaces of the electrode layer and the heat generation layer by sequentially laminating a first protective layer and a second protective layer on the top surfaces of the electrode layer and the heat generation layer, and laminating an ink chamber barrier and a nozzle plate on the top surface of the protective layer to form an ink chamber, wherein defects such as “pin-holes” generated during the formation of the first protective layer are removed by applying a plasma on the first protective layer, and the second protective layer is laminated on the top surface of the first protective layer after any defect produced when laminating the first protective layer is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-sik Min, Young-ung Ha
  • Publication number: 20070252872
    Abstract: The ink jet head producing method includes: forming a first flow path forming member in a portion constituting a flow path side wall, which constitutes at least a partitioning portion between flow paths on a substrate; forming a pattern as a mold for the flow path; wherein the pattern is formed over the substrate and a portion of the first flow path forming member, constituting a flow path side wall, and a portion constituting the flow path side wall is covered with the pattern and another portion is not covered with the pattern; forming a second flow path forming member on the first flow path forming member and the pattern; wherein the second flow path forming member is formed by a material corresponding to the first flow path forming member; forming the discharge port in the second flow path forming member; and forming the flow path by removing the pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Fujii, Junichi Kobayashi, Yoshinori Tagawa, Hideo Tamura, Hiroyuki Murayama, Keiji Watanabe, Taichi Yonemoto, Isamu Horiuchi, Aya Yoshihira, Masamichi Yoshinari, Jun Kawai, Tamaki Sato
  • Patent number: 7287838
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head substrate has improved protection performance of protective films for protecting heaters while effective bubble-forming regions are being secured. The protective films for protecting a plurality of heating elements provided on a substrate are formed using a platinum group element and are separately provided for the respective heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Tsuchii, Mineo Kaneko, Masaki Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20070242105
    Abstract: The present invention relates to filler fluids for droplet operations. According to one embodiment of this aspect, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a first substrate comprising electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (b) a second substrate spaced from the surface of the substrate by a distance sufficient to define an interior volume between the first substrate and second substrate, wherein the distance is sufficient to contain a droplet disposed in the space on the first substrate; and (c) a droplet arranged in the interior volume and arranged with respect to the electrodes in a manner which permits droplet operations to be effected on the droplet using the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Vijay Srinivasan, Michael G. Pollack, Philip Y. Paik, Vamsee K. Pamula
  • Patent number: 7275308
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing the same, wherein the monolithic ink-jet printhead includes a manifold for supplying ink, an ink chamber having a hemispheric shape, and an ink channel formed monolithically on a substrate; a silicon oxide layer, in which a nozzle for ejecting ink is centrally formed in the ink chamber, is deposited on the substrate; a heater having a ring shape is formed on the silicon oxide layer to surround the nozzle; a MOS integrated circuit is mounted on the substrate to drive the heater and includes a MOSFET and electrodes connected to the heater. The silicon oxide layer, the heater, and the MOS integrated circuit are formed monolithically on the substrate. Additionally, a DLC coating layer having a high hydrophobic property and high durability is formed on an external surface of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyeon-cheol Kim, Yong-soo Oh, Keon Kuk, Kwang-joon Yoon, Jae-sik Min, Sang-hyun Lee, Chang-seung Lee, Seog Soon Baek, Sang-wook Lee, Jong-cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 7270398
    Abstract: A circuit board for a liquid discharging apparatus in which coating performance of a protective layer and a cavitation resistive film on a heat generating element is excellent and durability is excellent and a manufacturing method of such a circuit board are provided. A surface portion of a wiring material layer is processed so that an etching speed of the surface portion is made higher than that of the material forming the wiring material layer. It is desirable to execute a process for forming at least one selected from a fluoride, a chloride, and a nitride of the material forming the wiring material layer into the surface portion of the wiring material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Sasaki, Masato Kamiichi, Ershad Ali Chowdhury, Yukihiro Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20070211117
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head comprises a substrate, on which are formed energy generating means for generating energy to be used for the discharge of a liquid through a discharge port, and a precious metal protective layer for protecting the energy generating means, an inorganic adhesive layer formed of at least one material selected from titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum nitride and chromium nitride, said inorganic adhesive layer being closely adhered to the precious metal protective layer, an organic adhesive layer made of an organic material, and a flow path formation member, serving as a wall of a flow path communicated with the discharge port. The substrate, the inorganic adhesive layer, the adhesive layer and the flow path formation member are bonded to the substrate in the this order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji KITANI
  • Patent number: 7267430
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead heater chip includes a resistor layer, a dielectric layer on the resistor layer and a cavitation layer on the dielectric layer. A grounded-gate MOSFET electrically attaches to the cavitation layer to protect the dielectric layer from breakdown during an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. Protection typically embodies the safe distribution of ESD current to ground during user printhead installation. Locations of the grounded-gate MOSFET(s) include terminal ends of one or more columns of ink ejecting elements formed by the resistor layer. Also, the MOSFET source electrically connects to the gate while the drain attaches to the cavitation layer. The drain attaches via first and second metallization lines, including attachment generally above the cavitation layer. The dielectric layer is diamond like carbon layer and is about 2000 angstroms thick. Inkjet printheads and printers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: George K. Parish
  • Patent number: 7255418
    Abstract: An ink supply port is opened in an Si substrate on which an ink discharge energy generating element is formed, by anisotropic etching, from a back surface opposite to a surface on which the ink discharge energy generating element is formed. When the anisotropic etching is effected, OSF (oxidation induced laminate defect) is remained on the back surface of the Si substrate with OSF density equal to or greater than 2×104 parts/cm2 and a length of OSF equal to or greater than 2 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Koyama, Teruo Ozaki, Shingo Nagata
  • Patent number: 7252368
    Abstract: The fluid injector includes a base, a first through hole, a fluid actuator, a passivation layer, and a thick hydrophobic film. The base includes a chamber and a surface. The first through hole communicates with the chamber, and is disposed in the base. The fluid actuator is disposed on the surface near the first through hole, and is located outside the chamber. The passivation layer is disposed on the surface. The thick hydrophobic film formed of a crosslink defines a second through hole, and is disposed on the passivation layer outside the chamber. The second through hole communicates with the first through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Lin Chen, Hung-Sheng Hu
  • Patent number: 7244014
    Abstract: An improved ink jet printhead for an ink jet printer and method therefor. The printhead includes a semiconductor substrate containing ink ejection devices. A thick film layer is attached to the substrate. A nozzle plate is attached to the thick film layer. The nozzle plate contains a plurality of ink ejection nozzles corresponding to the ink ejection devices. The printhead contains flow features having a height dimension and a width dimension formed therein for flow of ink to the plurality of ink ejection devices for ejection through the nozzles. At least a portion of the flow feature dimensions for at least one of the nozzles is formed in both the thick film layer and laser ablated in the nozzle plate, wherein the thick film layer contains at least 12% of the flow feature dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Louis Goin, Colin Geoffrey Maher, James Harold Powers
  • Patent number: 7240433
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a thermal inkjet head equipped with a symmetrical heater and the head fabricated by the method are provided. The method incorporates two thick photoresist deposition processes and a nickel electroplating process. The first thick photoresist deposition process is carried out to form an ink chamber in fluid communication with a funnel-shaped manifold and an injector orifice. The second thick photoresist deposition process forms a mold for forming an injector passageway that leads to the injector orifice. The nickel electroplating process provides an orifice plate on top of the inkjet head through which an injector passageway that leads to the injector orifice is provided for injecting ink droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chen-Kuei Chung, Chun-Jun Lin, Chung-Chu Chen
  • Patent number: 7240997
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device comprises a first metal layer and a second metallayer. The first metal layer comprises an address path portion and a nonaddress path portion. The second metal layer, which overlies the first metal layer, comprises a first portion which comprises a power conducting portion. The power conducting portion is routed only over the non-address path portion of the first metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Bruce, Joseph M. Torgerson, Trudy Benjamin, Michael D. Miller
  • Patent number: 7229158
    Abstract: An ink-jet print head and a method of making the same comprising the steps of sequentially laminating a heating layer and an electric conductive layer on a substrate, patterning the electric conductive layer to expose a predetermined area of the top surface of the heating layer, forming a protective layer on the top surfaces of the electric conductive layer and exposed heating layer, and laminating an ink chamber barrier and a nozzle plate on the top surface of the protective layer, thereby forming an ink chamber. The protective layer is provided by forming a cavitation layer by alternately laminating at least two types of thin film layers of different materials over the exposed heating layer and the electric conductive layer to resist fractures and oxidization resulting from use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-joon Park, O-hyun Beak, Young-ung Ha, Jae-sik Min
  • Patent number: 7229157
    Abstract: In an ink jet printhead, the ink feeding duct (2), passing through the thickness of the silicon substrate, and in hydraulic communication with the ejection cells (8) through an outlet area (2a) on the front surface (5) of the substrate (3), is built in three successive stages of erosion of the substrate (3), the first of which is performed on the rear surface (6) of the substrate, to produce a first cavity (24) having a depth (P1), and a further cavity (26) communicating and having a depth (P2), extending in the direction of the front surface (5), and presenting a back wall (28) separated from the front surface (5) by a diaphragm (30); the second stage is performed on the opposite front surface (5) to cut a channel (40) in the direction of the diaphragm (30), of depth (P4) and defining the contour of the outlet area (2a) on the front surface (5), and the third stage is performed from said rear surface (6) as a continuation of the erosion performed in the first stage, to remove the diaphragm (30) and open the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.P.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Anna Merialdo
  • Patent number: 7226146
    Abstract: Fluid ejection devices include a substrate having a cavity, a counter electrode formed on the substrate, a actuator membrane formed on the substrate, a roof layer formed on the substrate and a nozzle formed in the roof layer. Methods for forming fluid ejection devices include forming a cavity in a substrate, forming a counter electrode on the substrate, forming a actuator membrane on the substrate, forming a roof layer on the substrate and forming a nozzle in the roof layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jingkuang Chen, Nancy Y Jia, Pinyen Lin
  • Patent number: 7226148
    Abstract: An ink-jet printhead, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes a substrate, an ink chamber, a manifold, and an ink channel formed between the ink chamber and the manifold to provide flow communication between the ink chamber and the manifold, a substantially flat nozzle plate formed on the upper surface of the substrate, the nozzle plate including a plurality of passivation layers, a heat dissipation layer disposed on the plurality of passivation layers, the heat dissipation layer formed of a thermally conductive material and including a first thermally conductive layer formed on the plurality of passivation layers and a second thermally conductive layer formed on the first thermally conductive layer, and a nozzle extending through the nozzle plate in flow communication with the ink chamber, and a heater and a conductor, the heater heating ink filled in the ink chamber and the conductor applying current to the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoon Song, Yong-soo Oh, Jong-woo Shin, Hyung-taek Lim
  • Patent number: 7216961
    Abstract: A base member for an ink jet head in which a heat accumulation layer, a heat generating member generating heat energy used to discharge ink, and protection film for protecting the heat generating member are formed in succession on a substrate, characterized in that the heat resistance value of a portion of the heat accumulation layer which is under the heat generating member is two times or greater and less than five times as great as the heat resistance value of a portion of the protection film which is on the heat generating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Oikawa, Mineo Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7207662
    Abstract: An ink-jet printhead includes a substrate having an ink chamber and a manifold, a nozzle plate formed on the substrate, first and second heaters and conductors, a material layer, and a plurality of ink channels. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of passivation layers formed of an insulating material, a heat dissipation layer formed on the plurality of passivation layers and made of a thermally conductive material, and a nozzle passing through the nozzle plate and in flow communication with the ink chamber. The first and second heaters and conductors are interposed between adjacent passivation layers of the nozzle plate. The material layer is interposed between the ink chamber and the manifold to form a bottom wall of the ink chamber and a top wall of the manifold. The plurality of ink channels is formed in the material layer to provide flow communication between the ink chamber and the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-joo Shin, Yong-soo Oh, Su-ho Shin, Min-soo Kim, Hyung-taek Lim, Chang-seung Lee, You-seop Lee, Keon Kuk
  • Patent number: 7204574
    Abstract: A polyimide photoresist for thick film flow features adheres to a polyimide nozzle plate or other materials, without the use of an adhesive material between the two surfaces. Further, the photoresist can utilize an acrylate UV initiator, which can reduce the potential for HF to interact with the ink, and which can cause flocculation and eliminate the need for extremely long postbake cures used to remove HF from the photoresist. In another embodiment, an epoxy adhesive containing a dicyandiamide catalyst can be used to improve adhesion between polyimide films and a respective substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Bertelsen, Sean T. Weaver
  • Patent number: 7198358
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a heating element including a substrate, a conductive layer disposed over the substrate to define a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace with a spacer therebetween and a resistive layer covering the first conductive trace, the second conductive trace and the spacer wherein the resistive layer at least partially electrically connects the first and the second conductive traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jiansan Sun, Vineet Sharma, Hong Choon Lee
  • Patent number: 7195343
    Abstract: A micro-fluid ejection device structure and method therefor having improved low energy design. The devices includes a semiconductor substrate and an insulating layer deposited on the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of heater resistors are formed on the insulating layer from a resistive layer selected from the group consisting of TaAl, Ta2N, TaAl(O,N), TaAlSi, Ti(N,O), WSi(O,N), TaAlN, and TaAl/TaAlN. A sacrificial layer selected from an oxidizable metal and having a thickness ranging from about 500 to about 5000 Angstroms is deposited on the plurality of heater resistors. Electrodes are formed on the sacrificial layer from a first metal conductive layer to provide anode and cathode connections to the plurality of heater resistors. The sacrificial layer is oxidized in a plasma oxidation process to provide a fluid contact layer on the plurality of heater resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E. Anderson, Byron V. Bell, Robert W. Cornell, Yimin Guan
  • Patent number: 7182430
    Abstract: An ink jet module is provided. The ink jet module comprises: (a) a first micromolding having a first inner face and a first outer face, the first inner face defining a plurality of elongate grooves, each groove being in fluid communication with a respective first inlet in the first outer face; (b) a second micromolding having a second inner face opposing the first inner face, the second inner face having a plurality of arrays of second inlets, each array of second inlets corresponding to each elongate groove, the second inlets in each array being positioned to receive fluid flowing tortuously from its respective first inlet, through its respective elongate groove to each of the second inlets; and (c) a film sandwiched between the first inner face and the opposing second inner face, the film having a plurality of arrays of openings therethrough, each array of openings being positioned to allow fluid flow from each elongate groove to each corresponding array of second inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7178904
    Abstract: A micro-fluid ejection device for ultra-small droplet ejection and method of making a micro-fluid ejection device. The micro-fluid ejection device includes a semiconductor substrate containing a plurality of thermal ejection actuators disposed thereon. Each of the thermal ejection actuators includes a resistive layer and a protective layer for protecting a surface of the resistive layer. The resistive layer and the protective layer together define an actuator stack thickness. The actuator stack thickness ranges from about 500 to about 2000 Angstroms and provides an ejection energy per unit volume of from about 10 to about 20 gigajoules per cubic meter. A nozzle plate is attached to the semiconductor substrate to provide the micro-fluid ejection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E. Anderson, Robert W. Cornell, Daniel L. Huber
  • Patent number: 7150516
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device including: a substrate having a first surface having an non-doped region; a first insulative material disposed on a portion of the first surface, the first insulative material having a plurality of openings forming a path to the first surface; a first conductive material disposed on the first insulative material, the first conductive material being disposed so that the plurality of openings are substantially free of the first conductive material; a second insulative material disposed on the first conductive material and portions of the first insulative material, the second insulative material being disposed so that the plurality of openings are substantial free of the second insulative material and a second conductive material being disposed on second insulative material and within plurality of openings so that some of the second conductive material disposed upon the second insulative material is in electrical contact with the non-doped region on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Simon Dodd, S. Jonathan Wang, Dennis W. Tom, Frank R. Bryant, Terry E. McMahon, Richard Todd Miller, Gregory T. Hindman
  • Patent number: 7137687
    Abstract: The present invention fixes a nozzle sheet on a substrate with a predetermined material (5, 6), which has an excellent chemical resistance and sufficient adhesiveness, or more specifically, fixes the nozzle sheet on the substrate with cyclized rubber or with patternable, adhesive elastic material. Moreover, the present invention forms walls for liquid chambers and liquid channels with polyimide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Igarashi, Minoru Kohno, Manabu Tomita, Shogo Ono, Takaaki Murakami
  • Patent number: 7134608
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead with an array of ink ejectors 1 for printing onto a media substrate, each ink ejector 1 having a chamber 2 for holding ink 3, a nozzle 11 and an actuator 5 for movement within the chamber 2; such that, movement of the actuator 5 in one direction forces a quantity of ink out of the chamber 2 and towards the media substrate and subsequent movement of the actuator 5 in an opposing direction assists the quantity of ink to form a droplet 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7134187
    Abstract: A structure of inkjet-head chip and a method for making the same are disclosed. Driven by the need of making a thin insulator layer to lower the working power of the inkjet-head chip, we separately manufacture a passivation layer and a second conductive layer. The passivation layer and the second conductive layer have to be formed from different materials. The defining means for the passivation layer and the second conductive layer have high selectivity and do not overetch or damage the structure of inkjet-head chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chien-Hung Liu, Jian-Chiun Liou, Chi-Ming Huang, Chia-Cheng Chiao, Chun-Jung Chen
  • Patent number: 7128398
    Abstract: Pulse jet printhead assemblies having multiple reservoirs and multiple printhead dies, as well as methods for their use in the deposition of fluids, typically fluids containing a biopolymer or precursor thereof, onto a substrate surface, are provided. The subject printheads are characterized by having a multiple printhead die printhead and a multiple reservoir housing affixed to the multiple die printhead. In using the subject printhead assemblies, the firing chambers of the printhead assembly are loaded with a volume of fluid that includes a biopolymer or precursor thereof. The loaded printhead assembly is then placed in opposing relation to a surface of a substrate and actuated to deposit a volume of fluid on the substrate. The subject printhead assemblies find use in a variety of applications, including the production of biopolymeric arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. DaQuino, Yat-Kwong Ip
  • Patent number: 7125097
    Abstract: An ink-jet printing head including a cavity unit and an actuator superposed on each other. The cavity unit is provided by a plurality of plates superposed on each other in a vertical direction of the cavity unit, and has (a) a plurality of nozzles arranged in at least one row, (b) a plurality of pressure chambers arranged in a direction of the above-described at least one row of the nozzles, and (c) a plurality of communication passages for communication between the respective pressure chambers and the respective nozzles. The pressure chambers are arranged with a first spacing pitch between each adjacent pair of the pressure chambers, except at least one adjacent pair of the pressure chambers which are spaced apart from each other by a second spacing pitch that is larger than the first spacing pitch. Each of the communication passages includes at least one horizontally extending portion which extends in parallel with a horizontal direction of the cavity unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 7097282
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes an elongate support structure and printhead modules positioned in the support structure, along a length of the support structure. Each printhead module includes an ink feed member that defines a number of ink channels in fluid communication with an ink supply. The ink feed member has a plurality of outlet openings from which ink can be fed. An ink delivery assembly is positioned on the ink feed member. The ink delivery assembly defines a mounting formation to permit a printhead chip to be mounted on the ink delivery system. A plurality of ink inlets are in fluid communication with the outlet openings of the ink feed member. The ink delivery assembly defines a plurality of exit holes and tortuous ink flow paths from each ink inlet to a number of respective exit holes. An elongate printhead chip is mounted on the mounting formation. The printhead chip incorporates a plurality of nozzle arrangements that extend along a length of the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7090334
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head having a nozzle shape capable of promptly curbing meniscus vibrations occurring on refilling and stably performing discharge is provided. In the ink jet recording head, a second discharge port portion has a form in which, with a lower side of a square on a bubbling chamber side, angles on an upper side of the square are curved respectively on any cross section perpendicular to a principal surface of an element substrate on which heaters are formed and going through the center of a discharge port, and these curves are shaped as arcs of circles of a radius R inscribed in the angles on the upper side of the square respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Tomizawa, Shuichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 7077509
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead heater chip has an ink via asymmetrically arranged in a reciprocating direction of inkjet printhead movement. The ink via has two sides and a longitudinal extent substantially parallel to a print medium advance direction. A column of fluid firing elements exists exclusively along a single side of the two sides. The heater chip and ink via each have a centroid and neither resides coincidentally with one another. Preferably, the heater chip centroid resides externally to a boundary of the ink via. In other aspects, the column of fluid firing elements can be a sole column or plural and may be centered in the reciprocating direction. The ink via can be a sole via or plural. The heater chip can be rectangular and the ink vias can be closer to either the long or short ends thereof. Inkjet printers for housing the printheads are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: George Keith Parish, Kristi Maggard Rowe
  • Patent number: 7077503
    Abstract: An ink jet head according to the present invention includes multiple discharge ports for discharging ink, multiple ink flow paths for communicating with the discharge ports, and heat generating elements for generating bubbles in ink filling the ink flow paths. For each ink flow path, two heat generating elements are arranged therein, and the discharge port is arranged along a line that is extended, from the center of a pressure generation region formed by the two heat generating elements, in the normal direction relative to the surface of the substrate. The arrangement pitch of the heat generating elements is equal to or greater than 600 dpi, and the interval dhn between a partition wall defining an ink flow path and the heat generating element adjacent to the partition wall is equal to or smaller than 4 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mineo Kaneko, Ken Tsuchii, Keiichiro Tsukuda, Masaki Oikawa, Kenji Yabe
  • Patent number: 7070261
    Abstract: An actuating assembly (50) for ink jet printheads consists of a silicon die (61), which comprises a groove (45) and a lamina (64), and of a structure (75) produced monolithically in the same production process. The actuating assembly (50) comprises a microhydraulics (63), the latter in turn comprising a plurality of channels (67) and chambers (57), made inside the structure (75) by means of a sacrificial metallic layer (54). A conducting layer (26) forms a single interconnected equipotential network used as the electrode during the processes of electrochemical etch stopping on the groove (45), of electrodeposition of the sacrificial layer (54) and of the latter's subsequent removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Olivetti Tecnost S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Mara Piano
  • Patent number: 7070262
    Abstract: The droplet ejecting head includes heating elements each of which has a thermal energy applying surface which imparts energy to a viscous fluid with a viscosity of at least 20 mPa·sec so as to evolve a bubble, fluid supply channels each of which has the heating element on a wall and supplies the fluid toward the heating element and ejection nozzles through each of which the fluid is ejected as a droplet and each of which is in a position opposite the energy applying surface of the heating element across the supply channel. A distance between the energy applying surface and a foremost end of the ejection nozzle from which the droplet is ejected is in a range of from 2 ?m to 8 ?m or the distance is smaller than a growth height of the bubble that has evolved in the fluid by means of the heating element and which has been left to expand by itself until its internal pressure once exceeding one atmosphere decreases to a point below one atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Yamamoto, Kenichi Kodama, Kazuo Sanada
  • Patent number: 7066581
    Abstract: A monolithic thermal ink jet printhead (40) comprising a groove (45), a plurality of chambers (74) and nozzles (56) is manufactured by means of steps of: (203, 205) partially etching the groove (45) by means of a “dry” process and a “wet” process; (210) depositing a plurality of sacrificial layers (54); (212) obtaining a plurality of casts (156); (216) completing the etching of the groove (45) by means of an electrochemical process; and (220) removing the casts (156) and the sacrificial layers (54) in such a way as to obtain a plurality of nozzles (56) and chambers (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Anna Merialdo
  • Patent number: 7063799
    Abstract: A base member for use in manufacturing an ink jet recording head, which includes a supply port, an ejection outlet, a liquid flow path for directing liquid supplied from the supply port to the ejection outlet, and an ejection pressure generating element, disposed in the liquid flow path, for ejecting the liquid. The supply port is formed as a through-opening in a substrate on which the ejection pressure generation element is provided. The base member includes a recessed portion formed on the side of the substrate provided with the ejection pressure generation. The recessed portion extends from an edge of the supply port to a neighborhood of the ejection pressure generation element. A protection layer is provided at least on a portion of the substrate surface constituting the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hayakawa, Makoto Terui
  • Patent number: 7059708
    Abstract: The inkjet head ejects ink droplets through ejection nozzles with pressurizing elements and includes ink channels and ink circulation paths. Each ink channel is provided in a gap between a substrate and a nozzle plate and closed at one end and permitting ink to be supplied at another end and flow toward an ink pressurizing zone where the pressurizing element and the ejection nozzle of the nozzle plate are positioned on wall surfaces in the ink channel. Each ink circulation path is provided in the ink channel such that ink pressurizing energy which has been produced by pressurizing the ink with the pressurizing element and which is traveling from the ink pressurizing zone toward downstream of ink supply flow is allowed to propagate toward more upstream of the ink supply flow than the ink pressurizing zone, whereby the ink pressurizing energy is returned toward the ink pressurizing zone. The inkjet printer mounts the inkjet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Sanada
  • Patent number: 7048359
    Abstract: An ink-jet printhead is provided having a thin film substrate comprising a plurality of thin film layers; a plurality of ink firing heater resistors defined in said plurality of thin film layers; a polymer fluid barrier layer; and a carbon rich layer disposed on said plurality of thin film layers, for bonding said polymer fluid barrier layer to said thin film substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Brian J. Keefe, Ali Emamjomeh, Roger J. Kolodziej, Michael J. Regan, Harold Lee Van Nice
  • Patent number: 7040740
    Abstract: A fluid injector and method of manufacturing the same. The fluid injector includes a base, a first through hole, a bubble generator, a passivation layer, and a metal layer. The base includes a chamber and a surface. The first through hole communicates with the chamber, and is disposed in the base. The bubble generator is disposed on the surface near the first through hole, and is located outside the chamber. The passivation layer is disposed on the surface. The metal layer defines a second through hole, and is disposed on the passivation layer outside the chamber. The second through hole communicates with the first through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventors: Hung-Sheng Hu, Wei-Lin Chen, In-Yao Lee, Tsung-Ping Hsu, Chung-Cheng Chou, ShangShi Wu
  • Patent number: 7036913
    Abstract: In an ink-jet printhead and a method for manufacturing the same, the ink-jet printhead includes a substrate, an ink chamber to be filled with ink formed on a front surface of the substrate, a manifold for supplying ink to the ink chamber formed on a rear surface of the substrate, and an ink passage in flow communication with the ink chamber and the manifold formed parallel to the front surface of the substrate; a nozzle plate including a plurality of passivation layers formed of an insulating material on the front surface of the substrate, a heat dissipating layer formed of a metallic material, and a nozzle in flow communication with the ink chamber; and a heater and a conductor, the heater being positioned on the ink chamber and heating ink in the ink chamber, and the conductor for applying a current to the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-soo Kim, Su-ho Shin, Yong-soo Oh, Hyung-taek Lim, Jong-woo Shin, Seog-soon Baek