With Piezoelectric Force Ejection Patents (Class 347/68)
  • Patent number: 10011906
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating a surface (44), in particular a microstructured surface, of a component (55) comprising different materials, in particular glass and silicon, wherein the surface (44) is first activated and then coated, wherein an oxidising solution, a basic solution or an acid-oxidising solution is used to activate the surface (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Beohringer Ingelheim International GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Schuy, Martin Meisenheimer, Florian Witte
  • Patent number: 10005281
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head is provided. The liquid ejection head includes at least two nozzle lines configured to have a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid disposed in respective lines, a plurality of individual liquid chambers configured to be in communication with corresponding nozzles of the nozzle lines, and at least two circulation channels corresponding to the nozzle lines, configured to be in communication with the individual liquid chambers. The at least two circulation channels are in communication with each other through a bridging channel disposed in a direction intersecting with the nozzle line direction, and the bridging channel and the circulation channels are disposed at different positions in a thickness direction of a member which forms the bridging channel and the circulation channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yoshida, Tomohiko Kohda, Takeshi Shimizu, Kanshi Abe, Ryo Kasahara, Takayuki Nakai, Shiomi Andou
  • Patent number: 10000696
    Abstract: A light-emitting ceramic that contains, as a major component thereof, a pyrochlore compound represented by ABOw, wherein A includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Y, Gd, Yb and Lu, B includes Bi and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sn and Hf, and W is a positive number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kuretake
  • Patent number: 9987843
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle plate, a substrate, a diaphragm, and a piezoelectric element. The nozzle plate includes a nozzle from which liquid is discharged. The substrate is disposed on the nozzle plate and includes a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle. The diaphragm is disposed on a first side of the substrate opposite a second side of the substrate on which the nozzle plate is disposed, the diaphragm constituting one wall of the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric element is disposed on the diaphragm to deform the diaphragm to discharge liquid in the pressure chamber from the nozzle. The piezoelectric element includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric film, and a second electrode. The first electrode is disposed on the diaphragm. The piezoelectric film is disposed on the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Mizukami
  • Patent number: 9969164
    Abstract: An example provides a plurality of nozzles; a common fluid supply channel in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles and a compressible material forming, at least in part, a compressible wall of the common fluid supply channel, wherein the compressible wall has a volume and wherein the volume changes in response to changes in pressure in the common fluid supply channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James McKinnell, Tony S. Cruz-Uribe
  • Patent number: 9969161
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and deformable with a voltage applied in accordance with a drive signal. The piezoelectric material is made of a composite oxide having a perovskite structure preferentially oriented in at least one of a (100) plane and a (001) plane. A drop in diffraction intensity is included in a rocking curve corresponding to at least one of a (200) plane and a (002) plane measured at a position of 2? where the diffraction intensity is largest at a peak of diffraction intensity corresponding to the (200) plane out of peaks of diffraction intensity measured by an X-ray diffraction ?-2? method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Shinkai, Satoshi Mizukami, Toshiaki Masuda
  • Patent number: 9962933
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device is disclosed. One liquid ejection device includes a plurality of first contacts connected to a plurality of first piezoelectric elements, respectively, and positioned at a more outer position than a first piezoelectric element row and a second piezoelectric element row from a center of the device in a second direction. The liquid ejection device includes a plurality of second contacts connected to a plurality of second piezoelectric elements, respectively, and positioned at a more outer position than a third piezoelectric element row and a fourth piezoelectric element row from the center of the liquid ejection device in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kyohei Naito
  • Patent number: 9962935
    Abstract: An empty chamber component includes a pressure chamber formation substrate where a pressure chamber as an empty chamber is defined and a communication substrate bonded to the pressure chamber formation substrate. A piezoelectric element is provided on one side of the pressure chamber formation substrate. A flexible surface is located between the piezoelectric element and the pressure chamber. Empty portions are defined by the communication substrate closing recessed portions in the pressure chamber formation substrate. The empty portions are formed at positions where ends of the active section of the piezoelectric element pass through the empty portions in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Takabe, Shiro Yazaki, Yuma Fukuzawa, Eiju Hirai
  • Patent number: 9960339
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element that includes a piezoelectric unit including a ferroelectric, which has an asymmetric bipolar P-E curve, a capacitor connected to the piezoelectric unit in series, and a resistor connected to the capacitor in series and connected to the ferroelectric in parallel; and a drive unit that inputs a drive waveform Vd, which includes a DC offset component of which polarity is opposite to polarization of the ferroelectric, to the piezoelectric element to drive the piezoelectric element. A value of a coercive electric field Ec1, a value of a coercive electric field Ec2, the capacitance Cs of the capacitor, the capacitance Cpz of the ferroelectric, combined resistance Rp of the resistance of the resistor and the resistance of the ferroelectric, and a fundamental angular frequency ? of the drive waveform satisfy Expressions I to III, wherein 1 / 3 ? ? Ec 1 + Ec 2 ? / ? Ec 1 - Ec 2 ? Expression ? ? I C s ? 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Naono
  • Patent number: 9960260
    Abstract: A Metal Oxide Thin Film Transistor (MOTFT) and a preparation method thereof are provided. The preparation method includes the following steps in turn: Step a: a metal conductive layer is prepared and patterned as a gate on a substrate; Step b: a first insulating thin film is deposited as a gate insulating layer on the metal conductive layer; Step c: a metal oxide thin film is deposited and patterned as an active layer on the gate insulating layer; Step d: an organic conductive thin film is deposited as a back channel etch protective layer on the active layer; Step e: a metal layer is deposited on the back channel etch protective layer and then patterned as pattern of a source electrode and a drain electrode; Step f: a second insulating thin film is deposited as a passivation layer on the source electrode and the drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Guang Zhou New Vision Opto-Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Miao Xu, Dongxiang Luo, Hongmeng Li, Jiawei Pang, Ying Guo, Lang Wang
  • Patent number: 9944078
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head of the present disclosure includes a flow path member having a plurality of discharge holes, a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of first common flow paths, a plurality of second common flow paths, and a plurality of pressure sections. The first common flow paths and the second common flow paths are linked through a connection flow path outside a connection range C, the connection range C being linked through the pressure chambers. The flow path member is configured by laminating a plurality of flat plates. The connection flow path includes holes and/or grooves disposed in plates other than the common flow path plates that constitute the first common flow paths and the second common flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Kobayashi, Yuka Kushima
  • Patent number: 9937718
    Abstract: According to one embodiment in an ink jet head, the common electrodes for all the actuators, without overlapping with the first wiring pattern formed by individual electrodes, are connected to a second wiring pattern that passes between the outer peripheral portion of piezoelectric bodies, and a third wiring pattern that extends in a direction different from a direction of the second wiring pattern. The first wiring pattern and the third wiring pattern are electrically insulated at intersections thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Meng Fei Wong, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryuichi Arai
  • Patent number: 9931841
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a liquid jet head includes: a groove formation step of forming ejection grooves and non-ejection grooves alternately in the upper surface of an actuator substrate; a cover plate processing step of forming a recessed portion in the upper surface of a cover plate and slits penetrating from the bottom surface of the recessed portion to the lower surface opposite to the upper surface; an electrode formation step of forming conductive films on the both side surfaces and front surface of the ejection grooves, the both side surfaces of the non-ejection grooves, the inner surfaces of the slits and the recessed portion, and the lower surface of the cover plate; and a substrate joining step of joining the lower surface of the cover plate to the upper surface of the actuator substrate so as to communicate the slits with the ejection grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SII Printek Inc.
    Inventors: Yuzuru Kubota, Taihei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9927038
    Abstract: Pressure control in fluidic systems is generally described. In some cases, a system comprises a fluid-permeable (e.g., liquid-permeable) medium and a pressure regulator. The medium and the pressure regulator can be positioned between a first fluidic channel and a second fluidic channel. The medium is arranged, in certain cases, such that fluid (e.g., liquid) can be transported from the first fluidic channel, through the medium, and into the second fluidic channel. In certain cases, when a first pressure within the first fluidic channel is below a sum of the permeability pressure differential of the medium with respect to the fluid and a second pressure within the second fluidic channel, the fluid is substantially prevented from being transported through an outlet of the first fluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Andrea Adamo, Alexander P. Clayton, Patrick Louis Heider, Nopphon Weeranoppanant, Klavs F. Jensen
  • Patent number: 9925768
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle plate, a diaphragm, an electromechanical transducer element, and a characteristic fluctuation suppressor. The nozzle plate has a nozzle orifice communicated with a chamber to discharge a discharge liquid stored in the chamber. The diaphragm divides a part of the chamber. The transducer element is disposed on the diaphragm and includes a lamination of a lower electrode, an electromechanical transducer film, and an upper electrode. The suppressor applies a characteristic fluctuation suppression voltage to suppress characteristic fluctuation of the transducer element in a section between a drive waveform applied to the transducer element and a subsequent drive waveform. The suppressor sets the suppression voltage to be larger than a negative coercive electric field of the transducer film and smaller than a positive coercive electric field of the transducer film and have a waveform that does not discharge the liquid in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoya Kondo
  • Patent number: 9925769
    Abstract: A MEMS chip having at least two chip components bonded together by means of an adhesive layer that is applied to at least one of two mating bonding surfaces of the two components, wherein a pattern of finely distributed micro-cavities is formed in at least one of the two mating bonding surfaces, said micro-cavities being arranged to accommodate a major part of the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Reinten, Hendrik J. Stolk, Alex N. Westland
  • Patent number: 9919527
    Abstract: A liquid jet head manufacturing method, a method for integrally manufacturing a liquid jet apparatus, a liquid jet head, a printing apparatus and a liquid jet apparatus. The manufacturing method includes: forming multiple pressure-generating members arranged spaced apart on a first substrate; forming, on a first surface of first substrate, pressure chambers corresponding to multiple pressure-generating members, and a common chamber in communication with multiple pressure chambers; forming a transition layer on pressure chambers, and forming a jet orifice plate on transition layer; and forming, on jet orifice plate and transition layer, jet orifices in communication with pressure chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, ZHUHAI SEINE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Helin Zou, Jingzhi He, Yue Li, Xiaokun Chen
  • Patent number: 9919521
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a liquid ejection substrate and a liquid reservoir. The liquid ejection substrate includes a plurality of liquid ejection sections. The liquid ejection sections include pressure chambers configured to hold liquid and ejection ports communicating with the pressure chambers. The pressure chambers each include a pressure unit configured to apply pressure to the liquid in each of the pressure chambers. The pressed liquid is ejected through the ejection ports. The liquid reservoir is in contact with a back of the liquid ejection substrate opposite to the ejection ports. The liquid reservoir is partitioned into at least one common liquid channel and a first common liquid chamber. The common liquid channel communicates with one of inlets and outlets of the plurality of pressure chambers. The first common liquid chamber communicates with another of the inlets and the outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakamura, Yasuyuki Tamura
  • Patent number: 9917245
    Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric element including a substrate, electrodes, and a piezoelectric film, the piezoelectric film including an oxide including Ba, Ca, Ti, and Zr, and at least one element of Mn and Bi in which: 0.09?x?0.30 is satisfied, where x is a mole ratio of Ca to a sum of Ba and Ca; 0.025?y?0.085 is satisfied, where y is a mole ratio of Zr to a sum of Ti, Zr, and Sn; and 0?z?0.02 is satisfied, where z is a mole ratio of Sn to the sum of Ti, Zr, and Sn; a total content Save of Mn and Bi is 0.0020 moles or more and 0.0150 moles or less for 1 mole of the oxide; and a total content Sbou of Mn and Bi in a region of the piezoelectric film adjacent to one of the electrodes is smaller than Save.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Kubota, Takanori Matsuda, Kaoru Miura
  • Patent number: 9902152
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a piezoelectric package integrated jet device. In one example, the jet device includes a vibrating membrane positioned between first and second cavities of an organic substrate, a piezoelectric material coupled to the vibrating membrane which acts as a first electrode, and a second electrode in contact with the piezoelectric material. The vibrating membrane generates fluid flow through an orifice in response to application of an electrical signal between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Feras Eid, Shawna M. Liff, Sasha N. Oster, Thomas L. Sounart, Georgios C. Dogiamis, Adel A. Elsherbini, Johanna M. Swan
  • Patent number: 9893268
    Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric element containing no lead therein and having satisfactory and stable piezoelectric properties in a temperature range in which the piezoelectric element is used. In order to attain this, the piezoelectric element includes a substrate, a first electrode, a piezoelectric film, and a second electrode. The piezoelectric film contains barium zirconate titanate, manganese, and bismuth in a charge disproportionation state in which trivalent Bi and pentavalent Bi coexist. The piezoelectric film satisfies 0.02?x?0.13, where x is a mole ratio of zirconium to the sum of zirconium and titanium. A manganese content is 0.002 moles or more and 0.015 moles or less for 1 mole of barium zirconate titanate, and a bismuth content is 0.00042 moles or more and 0.00850 moles or less for 1 mole of barium zirconate titanate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takanori Matsuda, Makoto Kubota, Kaoru Miura
  • Patent number: 9889662
    Abstract: A liquid droplet discharging head includes discharging orifices to discharge a liquid droplet, pressure generating chambers to apply a pressure to liquid inside the liquid droplet discharging head, a common liquid supplying chamber to accommodate the liquid to the pressure generating chambers, individual supplying paths to communicate the pressure generating chambers with the common liquid supplying chamber, a displacing film for discharging to conduct self displacement to individually apply a pressure to the liquid inside the pressure generating chambers to discharge the liquid from the discharging orifices, a liquid supplying chamber displacing film to conduct self displacement according to a pressure change of the liquid in the common liquid supplying chamber, and individual supplying holes existing at each border between the individual supplying paths and the common liquid supplying chamber and facing the liquid supplying chamber displacing film via the liquid in the common liquid supplying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Ryohta Matsufuji
  • Patent number: 9884975
    Abstract: An ultraviolet curing ink jet ink composition includes a trifunctional or tetrafunctional (meth)acrylate having a pentaerythritol skeleton; and inorganic metal-based fine particles as a color material, in which the viscosity is 8 to 22 mPa·s at 20° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ito, Mitsuaki Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 9887347
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a substrate, a first electrode, a piezoelectric film and a second electrode that are sequentially placed in the above-mentioned order. The piezoelectric film contains oxides of Ba, Bi, Ti, Zr, Fe and Mn and has a perovskite structure, wherein the molar ratio y of Bi relative to the sum of Ba and Bi is 0.001?y?0.015, the molar ratio x of Zr relative to the sum of Ti, Zr, Fe and Mn is 0.010?x?0.060, the molar ratio z of Fe relative to the sum of Ti, Zr, Fe and Mn is 0.001?z?0.015, and the molar ratio m of Mn relative to the sum of Ti, Zr, Fe and Mn is 0.0020?m?0.0150, while the relationship between y and z is expressed by 0.90?y/z?1.10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Kubota, Takanori Matsuda, Kaoru Miura
  • Patent number: 9887349
    Abstract: A coating method for producing a function layer on mechanically loaded components or surfaces includes providing or applying a first material layer of a first material or substrate matrix having a mechanical flexibility higher than that of a second material on a substrate constituting the component or the surface, respectively, structuring the first material layer such that the material layer surface of the first material layer, which is opposite to the substrate, obtains a three-dimensionally molded basic structure with projections and recesses, and coating the material layer surface of the first material layer with a second material layer of the second material in such a way that the second material layer adopts substantially the basic structure of the material layer surface with the projections and recesses. Also, surface layer structures can be produced by this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Storm, Erhard Brandl, Dominik Raps
  • Patent number: 9880000
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an inertial sensor which includes a movable body that is disposed in a cavity formed by a base body and a lid, and in which a wiring groove of wiring communicating with the cavity and electrically connected to the movable body is formed in the base body, includes forming a first opening section, which does not penetrate through the lid by wet etching; accommodating the movable body in the cavity by bonding the base body and the lid; forming a first sealing material with which the wiring groove is sealed after the accommodating of the movable body; forming a through-hole communicating with the cavity by penetrating through the first opening section by dry etching after the forming of the first sealing material; and forming a second sealing material with which the through-hole is sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Teruo Takizawa, Atsuki Naruse, Shigekazu Takagi
  • Patent number: 9876067
    Abstract: The invention provides a dielectric layer having high relative permittivity with low leakage current and excellent flatness. A dielectric layer 30a according to the invention is made of multilayer oxide including a first oxide layer 31 made of oxide consisting of bismuth (Bi) and niobium (Nb) or oxide consisting of bismuth (Bi), zinc (Zn), and niobium (Nb) (possibly including inevitable impurities) and a second oxide layer 32 made of oxide of one type (possibly including inevitable impurities) selected from the group of oxide consisting of lanthanum (La) and tantalum (Ta), oxide consisting of lanthanum (La) and zirconium (Zr), and oxide consisting of strontium (Sr) and tantalum (Ta).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shimoda, Eisuke Tokumitsu, Masatoshi Onoue, Takaaki Miyasako
  • Patent number: 9863941
    Abstract: A microchip with flow-through inlet (104) and outlet (106) channels and test channels (108). The test channels (108) are in fluid communication with the inlet (104) and outlet (106) channels, through inlets (114) and outlets (116) respectively. Each test channel (108) has one test site therein for detection of specific molecules or molecular interactions. The inlet (114) in a test channel (108) is elevated from the outlet (116) of the test channel (108) and the outlet (116) is elevated from a fluid level (124) in the outlet channel (106). Back diffusion from outlet channel (106) to the test channels (108) and from the test channels (108) to the inlet channel (104) can thus be inhibited to reduce or eliminate cross-interference between different test sites. The microchip can be useful as a flow-through high density enzyme immunoassay array device with high-throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
    Inventor: Changming Li
  • Patent number: 9855745
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejection unit including a liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid, a housing accommodating the liquid ejection unit, and a sealing section provided between the liquid ejection unit and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Morikoshi, Haruki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9849673
    Abstract: A printhead includes a plurality of firing chambers, a plurality of fluid ejectors, and at least one field generating member. Each one of the firing chambers includes a nozzle region to receive printing fluid. The printing fluid includes an ink vehicle having pigments disposed therein. At least one field generating member generates a non-uniform electric field to apply forces to maintain respective pigments in the ink vehicle of the printing fluid in the nozzle region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Nicholas Matthew Cooper McGuinness, Manish Giri, Chantelle Elizabeth Domingue, Melinda M. Valencia, Jeremy Sells
  • Patent number: 9844938
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting head which includes head bodies aligned in a direction of liquid ejection surface thereof, a flow-path member in which distribution flow path is provided to supply liquid to the head bodies, and flexible wiring substrates connected to the head bodies. The distribution flow path extends in the first direction. In addition, the flexible wiring substrates adjacent in the first direction overlap when viewed from the first direction. The distribution flow path is disposed in an area on one side with respect to the flexible wiring substrates, in a direction perpendicular to the first direction in the liquid ejection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Isamu Togashi
  • Patent number: 9840076
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes driving elements and electrodes each extending a second direction for ejecting liquid of pressure chambers through nozzles. The driving elements are classified into a first element group and a second element group. The electrodes are arranged along a first direction intersecting the second direction and are classified into a first electrode group electrically connected to the first element group, a second electrode group electrically connected to the second element group and a third electrode group not contribute to the ejecting liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Okui, Takayuki Shimosaka, Naoya Sato, Hitoshi Takaai
  • Patent number: 9821342
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic sensor including a piezoelectric elements arranged along a first direction and a second direction on a vibration plate, an insulation layer, and conductive lines. Each piezoelectric element including a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode. The first electrode is partially removed in a regions between the piezoelectric elements. The second electrode is a separate electrode provided for each piezoelectric element. The insulation layer covers the second electrodes and has holes through which portions at opposite ends of the second electrodes along the first direction are partially exposed. Each conductive line is provided between adjacent ones of the second electrodes along the first direction and electrically connects, via the holes, the adjacent ones of the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Chikara Kojima, Koji Ohashi, Yoshinao Miyata
  • Patent number: 9808592
    Abstract: A nebulizing catheter for bronchial therapy includes a catheter having a sheath defining an interior space and an open tip. A nebulizer is positioned in the interior space and located adjacent the open tip. The nebulizer includes a piezoelectric device. A liquid mixture is provided and placed in flow communication with the piezoelectric device for nebulizing a portion of that liquid mixture into small droplets for use in the bronchial therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Muffin Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffry S. Melsheimer, Frank J. Fischer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9796180
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a piezoelectric transducer having a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of partitions dividing the plurality of pressure chambers, and a plurality of electrodes formed in the plurality of pressure chambers, respectively. The plurality of partitions each includes a first side wall and a second side wall that is positioned on a back surface side of the first side wall. The first side wall includes a first wall surface positioned at an upper portion thereof, the first wall surface being positioned so as to be set back in a normal direction from a second wall surface positioned below the first wall surface. A first electrode is formed on the second wall surface, and a second electrode is formed on the second side wall. An upper end of the second electrode is higher than an upper end of the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kitani, Hidehiko Fujimura, Shumpei Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 9793464
    Abstract: To produce a ferroelectric film formed of a lead-free material. The ferroelectric film according to an aspect of the present invention includes a (K1-XNaX)NbO3 film or a BiFeO3 film having a perovskite structure and a crystalline oxide preferentially oriented to (001) formed on at least one of the upper side and lower side of the (K1-XNaX)NbO3 film or BiFeO3 film, and X satisfies the formula below 0.3?X?0.7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: YOUTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kijima, Yuuji Honda
  • Patent number: 9776406
    Abstract: Provided are a method for manufacturing an ink jet head and an ink jet head. The method includes: arranging a vibrating plate on lower surface of a substrate; arranging a piezoelectric actuator on surface of the vibrating plate; arranging a protective film on surface of the piezoelectric actuator for sealing the piezoelectric actuator along with the vibrating plate, thus preventing the piezoelectric actuator from corrosion; etching the substrate and the vibrating plate to form a groove on the substrate at a position corresponding to the piezoelectric actuator, and form a liquid feeding hole on the substrate and vibrating plate; forming a pressure chamber and a nozzle orifice on lower surface of the vibrating plate, allowing the pressure chamber to cover the position where the piezoelectric actuator is arranged in the vibrating plate, enabling communication of the pressure chamber with the nozzle orifice and the liquid feeding hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, ZHUHAI SEINE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Helin Zou, Sha Sun, Yi Zhou
  • Patent number: 9770907
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a drive region having a stacked structural body in which a first electrode layer, a first dielectric layer, and a second electrode layer are stacked in that order. The stacked structural body extends from the drive region to a non-drive region that is outer than the drive region and, in an extending direction of the stacked structural body, the first electrode layer and the first dielectric layer extend farther outward than the second electrode layer. A second dielectric layer covering an end of the second electrode layer in the extending direction is stacked on the second electrode layer in the non-drive region and the first dielectric layer that is formed outer in the extending direction than the second electrode layer. A third electrode layer electrically connected to the second electrode layer is stacked on the second dielectric layer and on the second electrode layer in a region outside the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutomo Tsukahara, Motoki Takabe, Eiju Hirai, Masao Nakayama, Munehide Saimen
  • Patent number: 9770905
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a wiring substrate; and a liquid ejecting head, in which the liquid ejecting head includes a plurality of electrodes, an ejecting unit, and a non-ejecting unit, the wiring substrate is connected to the plurality of electrodes, the ejecting unit includes a driven element which is displaced due to a signal waveform applied to an electrode which is provided so as to correspond to at least one of the plurality of electrodes, a pressure chamber, and nozzles, the non-ejecting unit is provided so as to correspond to at least another electrode among the plurality of electrodes, and does not include at least one of the nozzle, the driven element, and the pressure chamber, and the signal waveform which is applied to an electrode which corresponds to the non-ejecting unit is designated by a dummy signal in the printing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kyohei Date
  • Patent number: 9768375
    Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material that is free of lead and potassium, has satisfactory insulation property and piezoelectricity, and has a high Curie temperature. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1): General formula (1) (NaxM1-y)(Zrz(Nb1-wTaw)y(Ti1-vSnv)(1-y-z))O3 where M represents at least any one of Ba, Sr, and Ca, and relationships of 0.80?x?0.95, 0.85?y?0.95, 0<z?0.03, 0?v<0.2, 0?w<0.2, and 0.05?1?y?z?0.15 are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Watanabe, Shunsuke Murakami, Miki Ueda
  • Patent number: 9738074
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a head main body in which a nozzle N that ejects liquid is formed; a case member which includes a space that stores liquid to be supplied to the nozzle and an opening that communicates with the space; a flexible seal plate that closes the opening from an outside of the case member; and an overhang portion disposed on an end of the opening and having an inclined surface that overhangs from an inner peripheral surface of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Tomimatsu
  • Patent number: 9731505
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a plurality of individual electrodes, a piezoelectric layer formed on each of individual electrodes, and a common electrode which is formed on the piezoelectric layer and is an electrode common to the individual electrodes. Further, a protection film covering a region, which is not covered by the common electrode on the individual electrode, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Yazaki, Takahiro Kamijo, Tatsuro Torimoto, Motoki Takabe
  • Patent number: 9726328
    Abstract: A first flow path through which liquid flows in an intersection direction intersecting a vertical direction and a second flow path which is connected to the first flow path and through which liquid flows downward in the vertical direction are provided. The first flow path includes an intersection portion which has a surface intersecting the intersection direction and which allows a cross-sectional area of the first flow path to be gradually reduced in a plane perpendicular to the intersection direction as the first flow path extends to the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ayumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9724914
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a first piezoelectric element that includes a pair of electrodes including a first electrode and that is displaced according to a potential change of a driving signal in a case where the driving signal is supplied to the first electrode, a reference piezoelectric element that includes a pair of electrodes including a reference electrode, an internal space of which a volume changes in response to displacement of the reference piezoelectric element, and a detecting unit that detects a potential of the first electrode via a first wire and detects a potential of the reference electrode via a second wire in a first detection period which is a period after the first piezoelectric element is displaced due to the driving signal, in which the internal space is not filled with the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhito Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 9718270
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a plurality of nozzles to discharge liquid droplets; a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each corresponding to a corresponding one of the plurality of nozzles and disposed along a nozzle alignment direction along which the plurality of nozzles is aligned; an actuator member on which the plurality of piezoelectric elements is aligned; and wiring disposed along the nozzle alignment direction, connected to the plurality of piezoelectric elements, and included in the actuator member, the wiring including a first wiring pattern to which the plurality of piezoelectric elements is connected, the first wiring pattern including a near side proximal to and a far side distal from a source of a drive signal for the piezoelectric elements. The near side and the far side are connected via a second wiring pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Kida
  • Patent number: 9694579
    Abstract: A fluid level sensor is configured for identifying a fluid level in a small volume reservoir, such as a fluid reservoir in an ejector head. The reservoir includes a plurality of vertically arranged chambers. A plurality of piezoelectric transducers is distributed over the chambers in a one-to-one correspondence. At least one electrical conductor is electrically connected to each piezoelectric transducer in the plurality of piezoelectric transducers to enable each piezoelectric sensor to receive an electrical signal to a portion of a wall of the chamber to produce an acoustical wave in the chamber and to transmit an electrical signal from each piezoelectric transducer in response to a fluctuating pressure on each piezoelectric transducer produced by the acoustical wave in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Faming Li, Jing Zhou, Xuejin Wen
  • Patent number: 9688076
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head, including a flow-path unit that includes: first and second nozzle groups disposed alongside each other in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which nozzles are arranged; first and second common liquid chambers respectively communicating with the first and second nozzle groups, the first and second common liquid chambers being disposed alongside each other in the second direction; a liquid supply opening communicating with the first common liquid chamber and a liquid discharge opening communicating with the second common liquid chamber, on one side of the flow-path unit in the first direction; and a connecting path connecting the first and second common liquid chambers on the other side of the flow-path unit in the first direction, wherein the first common liquid chamber is disposed nearer to an outer periphery of the flow-path unit in the second direction than the second common liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Shohei Koide, Taisuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9682551
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a plurality of pressure generating chambers communicating with nozzles through which a liquid is ejected; a manifold communicating with the plurality of pressure generating chambers; a flexible member that has a surface on one side which defines at least a part of a wall of the manifold, that has a surface on the other side, on which an adhesive layer is formed, and that has a compliance region, which is able to perform deflection in response to pressure fluctuation in the manifold, in a region in which the adhesive layer is formed; a compliance space disposed on a side opposite to the manifold through the flexible member; a cap member facing the flexible member through the compliance space; and a frame-like member that is disposed between the flexible member and the cap member and has a cantilever, in which the cantilever is fixed to at least a part of the flexible member of the compliance region and has an unfixed region which is not fixed to the cap member on the distal end
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Kanegae
  • Patent number: 9662880
    Abstract: A method and structure for a piezoelectric ink jet printhead. The method can include forming a piezoelectric composite from a liquid sol-gel solution. A first layer of the liquid sol-gel solution can be deposited onto a substrate using, for example, a spin coat process, wherein the substrate may be a printhead diaphragm. The first layer may be partially cured, then a second layer of the liquid sol-gel solution can be deposited onto the partially cured first layer, which is then partially cured. Any number of layers of liquid sol-gel solution can be deposited to result in a piezoelectric composite having a suitable thickness. Subsequently, all of the partially cured layers are fully cured. Printhead processing can continue to form a completed piezoelectric ink jet printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: XEROX CORPORATION, BROWN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Andrew W. Hays, Peter J. Nystrom, Angus I. Kingon, Seunghyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9656468
    Abstract: By appropriately defining a flow path capacity from an opening of an ink supply path to a nozzle in a pressure chamber, a progress of thickening ink toward the pressure chamber is suppressed. In other words, by setting the individual flow path capacity to be large, specifically, to 4400 pl or higher, desirably 6210 pl or higher, it is possible to suppress the progress of the thickening of the ink even in a small-sized liquid ejecting head of which the shortest formation pitch between each of the nozzles is 1/300 inches. More specifically, a nozzle communication opening is provided between the pressure chamber and the nozzle, and a total capacity of the nozzle communication opening and the pressure chamber is configured to be 4400 pl or higher, desirably 6210 pl or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunya Fukuda