Layers, Plates Patents (Class 347/71)
  • Patent number: 8235507
    Abstract: A droplet ejection head provided with a piezoelectric actuator made by using a KNbO3—NaNbO3 piezoelectric porcelain composition which exhibits a larger piezoelectric constant than those of conventional ones and does not have any secondary phase transition point in the neighborhood of room temperature (from 10 to 40° C.) and which is suitable for use in the piezoelectric actuator of a droplet ejection head, that is, a droplet ejection head characterized by being provided with a piezoelectric actuator made by using a piezoelectric porcelain composition represented by the general formula: (1?y?z?w)(KxNa1-x)NbO3+yLiNbO3+zSrTiO3+wBiFeO3, wherein (KxNa1-x)NbO3 represents potassium sodium niobate; LiNbO3 represents lithium niobate; SrTiO3 represents strontium titanate; and BiFeO3 represents bismuth ferrate; with the proviso that 0.4<x<0.6, 0<y?0.1, 0<z<0.1, 0<w<0.09, and 0.03<y+z+w?0.12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Shingo Uraki
  • Patent number: 8230596
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head comprising: bonding together a diaphragm made of a stainless steel substrate containing iron, chromium and aluminum, and a pressure chamber formation substrate which has a space for a pressure chamber and is made of stainless steel containing chromium and aluminum, by diffusion bonding, in such a manner that a structural body including the diaphragm and the pressure chamber formation substrate is formed; carrying out a first heat treatment of the structural body so as to form an aluminum oxide film on a surface of the structural body and form a chromium oxide film between the aluminum oxide film and the structural body; forming a lower electrode on the aluminum oxide film; forming a piezoelectric body on a surface of the lower electrode reverse to a surface of the lower electrode on which the chromium oxide film and the aluminum oxide film are formed; forming an upper electrode on a surface of the piezoelectric body reverse to a surface of the piezoelectric bod
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Mita
  • Publication number: 20120188313
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element, comprises a piezoelectric layer consisting of a complex oxide represented as a mixed crystal including bismuth ferrate and barium titanate and an electrode provided to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer contains 1 to 15 mol % of lithium relative to the complex oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuya KITADA
  • Patent number: 8226214
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an ink supply channel extending through a substrate; an ink chamber arranged on the substrate, into which chamber ink from the ink supply channel is supplied, the ink chamber defining an ink ejection port on one surface thereof; an internal rim provided within the ink chamber, the rim interposed between the ink supply channel and the ink ejection port; and a thermal bend actuator extending into the chamber from outside the chamber, the thermal bend actuator terminating in the chamber with a paddle. The periphery of the paddle and the internal rim are shaped with complementary edges turned towards the ink ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Zamtec Limited
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20120182361
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric layer consisting a complex oxide having a perovskite structure containing bismuth and iron and electrodes provided to the piezoelectric layer. The complex oxide further contains a first dopant element that is at least one of magnesium and zinc and a second dopant element that is cerium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromu MIYAZAWA, Takayuki YONEMURA, Koichi MOROZUMI
  • Patent number: 8220905
    Abstract: A liquid transporting apparatus includes a channel unit having a plurality of pressure chambers, a piezoelectric actuator having a vibration plate, a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a first electrode and second electrodes, and a flexible wiring member connected to the second electrodes. A support section is provided on the surface of the vibration plate, not facing the pressure chambers. A surface of the support section which does not face the vibration plate is joined to the flexible wiring member to support the flexible wiring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8220906
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head 10 is provided which includes: piezoelectric elements 17 as a pressure generation unit that causes pressure change in pressure generation chambers 11 which are communicated with nozzle openings 13 that eject liquid; a driving circuit 60 as a driving unit that generates a driving signal for driving the pressure generation unit; a case head 20 that accommodates therein the driving unit; and a thermal conductor 35 that is in contact with the driving unit and the case head 20, in which the thermal conductor 35 and the case head 20 are fixed to each other via an thermally conductive adhesive layer 72 as a thermally conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Sukehiro Ito
  • Patent number: 8210661
    Abstract: A side-firing printhead comprises a stack that includes a plurality of slices, wherein each slice includes a PCB trigger layer and a diaphragm layer, the PCB trigger layer controls the flow of ink from the diaphragm layer, a first side of the diaphragm layer includes at least one cavity that delivers ink via one or more aperture braces. An aperture plate is coupled to one side of the stack to interface to the diaphragm layers contained therein, wherein the aperture plate contains a plurality of apertures that are located at each aperture brace. A first bracket is disposed on the top of the stack and a second bracket is disposed on the bottom of the stack, wherein at least one fastener couples the second bracket to the first bracket such that a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick C. P. Cheung, Karl A. Littau, Michael Y. Young, Steven A. Buhler
  • Patent number: 8210660
    Abstract: An ink manifold for supplying liquid ink to a heater chip of an inkjet printhead. Ink ports on one side of the manifold feed liquid ink to the ink channels on the other side of the manifold, and thus to the backside ink trenches of the heater chip. The placement and number of ink ports formed in the ink manifold are optimized so that when the heater chip and the ink manifold are scaled down in size, the ink carrying capacity of the printhead components is not compromised. Similarly, when the ink manifold is scaled down, the optimization process allows the seal width between the ink port features of the manifold to be maintained above a specified minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Edward Anderson, James Harold Powers
  • Patent number: 8210659
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: pressure generation chambers which communicate with nozzle orifices; and piezoelectric elements which induce pressure change in the pressure generation chambers and each include a first electrode, a piezoelectric body layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the side opposite to the first electrode of the piezoelectric body layer, wherein the piezoelectric body layer includes two dielectric films having the substantially same interstitial distance and an intervening layer provided between the two dielectric films and having a different interstitial distance from that of the dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Xin-shan Li
  • Publication number: 20120162320
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric layer and an electrode provided to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is made of complex oxide having a Perovskite-type structure containing bismuth and iron, and the complex oxide includes at least one kind of a first doping element selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium and barium and a second doping element formed from cerium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromu MIYAZAWA, Takayuki YONEMURA, Koichi MOROZUMI
  • Publication number: 20120162321
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric layer and an electrode provided to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer has a Perovskite-type structure containing bismuth and iron, and includes nitrogen in an oxygen site of the Perovskite-type structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromu Miyazawa, Hiroaki Tamura
  • Patent number: 8205971
    Abstract: An inkjet ejector provides electrical conductors for grounding electrically isolated layers in the ejector while electrically coupling a transducer of the ejector to a firing signal circuit. The inkjet ejector includes a diaphragm plate have a first side and a second side, a plurality of transducers mounted to the first side of the diaphragm plate, a polymer layer located on the second side of the diaphragm plate, an electrically conductive layer that is isolated from electrical ground by the polymer layer, and a plurality of electrical conductors, at least one of the electrical conductors extends from the electrically conductive layer to electrical ground through the polymer layer and other electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors extend from each transducer to a firing signal circuit, the electrical conductor extending from the electrically conductive layer being the same material as the other electrical conductors in the plurality of electrical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Tygh J. Newton, John R. Andrews, David L. Knierim
  • Patent number: 8205978
    Abstract: A head for ejecting a liquid from ejection holes, including: a first flow-passage member in which are formed (a) a liquid-supply passage, (b) branch passages connected to the liquid-supply passage, and (c) discharge passages each being connected to any of the branch passages; a second flow-passage member in which are formed (a) at least one common passage each communicating with at least one of the branch passages and (b) individual passages having respective pressure chambers, each individual passage being connected to any one of the at least one common passage and introducing the liquid to a corresponding one of the ejection holes via a corresponding one of the pressure chambers; a first filter disposed in the liquid-supply passage; second filters disposed between the branch passages and the at least one common passage: and at least one energy giving member for giving ejection energy to the liquid in each pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8205962
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes multiple head modules and a mount base. The multiple head modules each includes a laminate unit containing a nozzle to eject ink in droplets and an ink chamber in fluid communication with the nozzle. The multiple head modules are mounted on the mount base. The mount base defines a first contact surface facing a first direction in which the ink is ejected. Each laminate unit defines a second contact surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction. The first and second contact surfaces are held in contact with each other to position each head module in the mount base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8205969
    Abstract: A print head for a printer includes a jet stack for passage of ink to media to form an image on the media. The jet stack includes a substrate having a micro actuator. The substrate has an opening through the substrate that is proximate to the micro actuator and a diaphragm bonded to the substrate. The diaphragm has an opening through the diaphragm that is configured for fluid communication with the opening through the substrate. The diaphragm opening has a width that is larger than a width of the opening in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John Richard Andrews, Gerald A. Domoto, Nicholas P. Kladias
  • Patent number: 8205970
    Abstract: A method for bonding a polymer layer to an outlet plate for an inkjet print head has been developed that enables the polymer layer to be attached to the outlet plate with little or no bowing of the polymer layer. The method includes aligning recesses in a bonding plate with channels in an outlet plate, interposing a polymer layer between the bonding plate and the outlet plate, and pressing the bonding plate against the polymer layer to bond the polymer layer to the outlet plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Pinyen Lin, John R. Andrews, Mark S. Maynard, Terrance Lee Stephens, Gregory Lee Friedman
  • Patent number: 8201928
    Abstract: A manifold assembly has been constructed that filters ink before the ink enters an inkjet ejector in an inkjet print head. The manifold assembly includes an adhesive layer having openings, an ink manifold layer having a plurality of openings, the openings in the adhesive layer being aligned with the openings in the ink manifold layer, and a polymer layer having a plurality of filter areas, the filter areas being aligned with the openings in the ink manifold layer and the openings in the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being interposed between the polymer layer and the ink manifold layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley J. Gerner, John R. Andrews, Bryan R. Dolan, Pinyen Lin, Antonio DeCrescentis
  • Patent number: 8201927
    Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus, contains: an ejecting head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a fluid and having a laminated structure in which a flow passage plate, in which a passage for the fluid is formed, is provided via an adhesive, in which the adhesive contains an adhesion resin, to which a hydrophilic function agent that gives hydrophilicity to the adhesive is added in a proportion of from 0.25 wt % to 5.0 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Morikoshi, Takashi Akase, Yusuke Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 8201926
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a flow channel forming substrate in which pressure generating chambers in communication with nozzles are formed; a piezoelectric element made up of a first electrode formed over the flow channel forming substrate, a piezoelectric layer formed over the first electrode and a second electrode formed over the piezoelectric layer; and a coating film provided by coating the piezoelectric element, wherein a hollow section formed by removing the coating film and a part of the second electrode is provided at an area opposite to the piezoelectric element, and an inclination angle ?1 of an end face of the coating film defining the hollow section with respect to the flow channel forming substrate and an inclination angle ?2 of an end face of the second electrode defining the hollow section satisfy a relationship of ?2<?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Shimada
  • Patent number: 8201917
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus may include a flow path unit including a discharge port, an actuator configured to supply discharge energy and non-discharge energy to the ink, a drive controller configured to cause the actuator to supply the discharge energy, and a cap moving unit configured to move a cap between the open position and the covering position. After the supply of the image data is started, the drive controller may cause the actuator to supply the non-discharge energy in both a first period and a second period. The first period begins at starting of the supply of the non-discharge energy. The second period begins at the end of the first period and ends when the supply of the discharge energy is started. A frequency of the supply of the non-discharge energy during the first period is greater than that of the non-discharge energy during the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Ito
  • Publication number: 20120147100
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle aperture, and a piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric layer and electrodes that apply a voltage to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is made of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure. The piezoelectric layer contains bismuth, barium, iron and titanium. The piezoelectric layer has an intensity ratio of a (111) orientation intensity to a (100) orientation intensity of 3 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahisa NAWANO, Tomokazu KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20120147099
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer, and an electrode provided to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is configured of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure containing potassium, sodium, and bismuth, niobium, iron, and chromium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Xiaoxing Wang
  • Publication number: 20120147098
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element has a first electrode containing platinum, a piezoelectric layer formed above the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is composed of an oxide containing potassium, sodium, niobium, bismuth, and iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuya KITADA
  • Publication number: 20120147097
    Abstract: There are provided a micro-ejector and a method of manufacturing the same. The micro-ejector includes an upper substrate including an inlet into which a fluid is drawn from the outside and a chamber groove; a lower substrate including a reservoir groove to provide a reservoir storing the fluid drawn through the inlet; a piezoelectric actuator formed on the upper substrate and supplying a driving force for fluid ejection to a chamber; and at least one support protruding from a bottom of the reservoir groove so as to support the upper substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Sang Jin KIM, Suk Ho Song, Bo Sung Ku
  • Publication number: 20120147101
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element comprises a silicon oxide layer, an intermediate layer provided above the silicon oxide layer, a first electrode provided above the intermediate layer, a piezoelectric layer provided above the intermediate layer, and a second electrode provided above the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is configured of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure and containing at least bismuth and iron. The intermediate layer contains magnesium oxide and/or aluminum oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahisa Nawano
  • Patent number: 8197034
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head has a piezoelectric element with a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode. The liquid ejecting head causes pressure changes in a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle opening. The piezoelectric layer has a perovskite structure and is preferentially orientated in a (100) plane. A method for producing the liquid ejecting head includes polarizing the piezoelectric layer by applying an electric field having energy higher than energy required for converting the polarization direction in the <111> direction to the <110> direction and lower than energy required for converting the polarization direction in the <111> direction to the <001> direction when the electric field to be applied to the piezoelectric layer is in the <001> direction vertical to a plane on which the second electrode is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromu Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 8197048
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a liquid discharger including a liquid discharge head configured to discharge a droplet of liquid so as to form an image. The liquid discharge head includes multiple individual channels communicating with corresponding nozzles from which the liquid is discharged; a common channel configured to supply the liquid to the individual channels; a deformable member configured to form at least one wall face of the common channel; and a vibration damping member formed of a viscoelastic material, the vibration member being provided in contact with the deformable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Yamanaka, Kenichiroh Hashimoto, Hideyuki Makita, Takahiro Yoshida, Kunihiro Miura, Takafumi Sasaki, Kiyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8197036
    Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid, a channel member formed of a metal plate, and a contacted member for being contacted by the channel member. The channel member includes a plurality of liquid chambers, each of which is connected to one of the plurality of nozzles, and a separation wall for separating adjacent liquid chambers from each other. The separation wall includes a center portion and a contact surface. The center portion is provided at a center of the separation wall in a long direction of the separation wall. The contact surface contacts the contacted member, and is tilted in a cross-section of at least the center portion of the separation wall taken in a short direction of the separation wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiro Miura
  • Patent number: 8197037
    Abstract: A method for mounting a piezoelectric transducer layer to a diaphragm layer exposes an electrode for each piezoelectric transducer after thermoset polymer filling the interstitial space between the piezoelectric transducers has been cured. The method includes bonding a polymer layer to a diaphragm layer having a plurality of openings, bonding piezoelectric transducers to the diaphragm layer, filling areas between the piezoelectric transducers on the diaphragm layer with thermoset polymer, and removing the thermoset polymer from the piezoelectric transducers with a laser to expose a metal electrode on each piezoelectric transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley J. Gerner, John R. Andrews, Bryan R. Dolan, Pinyen Lin
  • Patent number: 8197038
    Abstract: An apparatus has a first plate having a first array of holes, with a first plate alignment hole having a smaller size than the other holes in the array, a second plate having a second array of holes to be alignable to the first array of holes, a second plate alignment hole having a smaller size than the other holes in the array, and the first plate alignment hole and the second plate alignment hole having different positions. A method of aligning plates provides a first plate having a top and bottom and first array of holes including a first plate alignment hole having a size smaller than the other holes in the first array, places a second plate having a second array of holes on the top of the first plate such that the first array of holes and the second array of holes align, directs light at the bottom of the first plate, locates a profile of the first plate alignment hole in the second array of holes to verify alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Garry Adam Jones, David Paul Platt
  • Patent number: 8191998
    Abstract: A compact print head enabling high-quality, high-speed printing is provided. A liquid ejecting head includes: a substrate, having elements that generate energy used to eject liquid from ejection openings, and provided with a liquid supply port that communicates with a surface of the substrate having the elements and an opposite surface thereof; a member, provided above the surface of the substrate, and having walls of a liquid flow path that communicates with ejection openings and the supply port; an insulating layer, provided so as to cover the supply port, and provided with a plurality of through-holes; and a conducting layer electrically coupled to the elements, and provided within the insulating layer so as to be insulated with respect to the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Shibata, Hirokazu Komuro, Takuya Hatsui, Takahiro Matsui
  • Patent number: 8191991
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes a base plate that holds a liquid ejecting head. A position determining pin is fitted into a position determining pin inserting hole in one of the liquid ejecting head and the base plate and is positioned on the other. A guide plate has a pin support hole inserted into the position determining pin. The guide plate is configured by a lowermost layer that is bonded to the other in which the position determining pin is positioned, a middle layer, and an uppermost layer. The pin support hole is configured by a first opening portion in the uppermost layer, a second opening portion in the lowermost layer, and a communication opening portion in the middle layer and allows the first and second opening portions to communicate with each other. The position determining pin is supported by the first and second opening portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hagiwara, Takashi Kato
  • Patent number: 8191997
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes piezoelectric material layers, individual electrodes corresponding to pressure chambers, a first common constant electric potential electrode corresponding to outer peripheral portions of the pressure chambers, and a second common constant electric potential electrode corresponding to central portions of the individual electrodes. A plurality of first active portions is formed in areas of the piezoelectric material layers sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the second common constant electric potential electrode, and a plurality of second active portions is formed in areas of the piezoelectric material layers sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the first common constant electric potential electrode. Since the second common constant electric potential electrode has a mesh-shaped form, it is possible to reduce an impedance thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Ono, Yasuhiro Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20120133712
    Abstract: An inkjet head includes an actuator row fixed to a substrate. Plural concave grooves formed in the actuator row at intervals along a row direction serve as pressure chambers. The inkjet head ejects ink in the pressure chambers from nozzles facing the pressure chambers. The actuator row includes a piezoelectric member formed in a convex shape including a trapezoidal section forming sidewalls of the pressure chambers viewed in a latitudinal direction and a flat section projecting sideways from a side of the trapezoidal section. The flat section fits in a recessed section formed in the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masafumi Ohsawa
  • Patent number: 8186807
    Abstract: A droplet ejection device includes a pressure chamber that includes a cavity surrounded by a side wall and a bottom wall, a deformable substrate that is provided above the pressure chamber to cover the cavity and that is parallel to the bottom wall, a magnetic body having an opening that is provided above the deformable substrate and that is fixed to the deformable substrate, and a coil that is disposed above the deformable substrate, that surrounds the magnetic body, and that is fixed to a fixing portion provided above the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Kijima, Minoru Usui
  • Patent number: 8186811
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus according to example embodiments may include a flow channel plate including an ink inlet for introducing ink, a pressure chamber containing the introduced ink, and a nozzle connected to the pressure chamber and configured to eject ink. A piezoelectric voltage applier may apply a piezoelectric driving voltage to the piezoelectric actuator in such a way that the volume of the pressure chamber is reduced so as to eject an ink droplet. An electrohydrodynamic voltage applier may apply a first electrohydrodynamic driving voltage and a second electrohydrodynamic driving voltage to the electrohydrodynamic actuator. The first electrohydrodynamic driving voltage may generate a jet from the ink droplet such that the jet is ejected towards a printing medium, and the second electrohydrodynamic driving voltage (which has an opposite polarity to that of the first electrohydrodynamic driving voltage) may restore the ink droplet to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joonghyuk Kim, Jae-woo Chung, Young-ki Hong
  • Patent number: 8186812
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a first piezoelectric layer, a second piezoelectric layer stacked on the first piezoelectric layer, a first electrode arranged on the first piezoelectric layer, a second electrode arranged between the first and second piezoelectric layers, and a third electrode arranged on the second piezoelectric layer. A portion of the third electrode faces the second electrode, and another portion of the third electrode faces the first electrode. The first electrode does not face at least a portion of the second electrode. A portion, of the second piezoelectric layer, sandwiched between the second electrode and the third electrode is polarized in a first direction in a thickness direction thereof, and portions, of the first and the second piezoelectric layers, which are sandwiched between the first electrode and the third electrode and between which the second electrode is not arranged, are polarized in a direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Kura
  • Publication number: 20120120161
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element comprises a electrode and a piezoelectric layer made of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure containing at least bismuth, barium, iron, and titanium. A layered compound containing iron, barium, titanium and oxygen is formed between the piezoelectric layer and the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro SAKAI, Koichi MOROZUMI, Tsutomu ASAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20120120162
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric layer and electrodes provided to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer has a perovskite structure that includes Bi, Fe, Ba, Ti, and Co, and the mole ratio of Co to the total amount of Co and Fe is 0.02 or more and 0.07 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takahashi, Tomohiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 8177338
    Abstract: An inkjet ejector has been developed that enables the ejector to be operated at a frequency greater than 80 kHz. The inkjet ejector includes a body layer in which a pressure chamber is configured with an outlet having a volume that is less than a predetermined volumetric threshold, a flexible diaphragm plate disposed on the pressure chamber to form a wall of the pressure chamber, a piezoelectric transducer having a bottom surface attached to the diaphragm plate, and an inlet layer in which an inlet channel is configured to connect the pressure chamber to a source of liquid ink, a cross-sectional area of the inlet channel at the pressure chamber divided by a length of the inlet channel being greater than a predetermined linear threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Andrews, Terrance Lee Stephens, Gerald A. Domoto, Bradley J. Gerner
  • Patent number: 8177337
    Abstract: A flow path unit of one aspect of the invention includes: a plurality of plates, each of the plurality of plates having a hole, the plurality of plates being laminated in a lamination direction with a predetermined positional relationship such that a flow path is formed by mutual communication of the holes provided at the plurality of plates. Each of the plurality of plates having a side surface, and a slit portion formed at the side surface, and the slit portions of the plurality of plates are connected to one another in the lamination direction of the plurality of plates. Each of widths of the slit portions of the plurality of plates is equal to or below an allowable error of a positional deviation of the plurality of plates so as to allow a formation of the flow path by the plurality of holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Morimasa Kajiura
  • Patent number: 8176607
    Abstract: A method for fabricating VHF and/or UHF quartz resonators (for higher sensitivity) in a cartridges design with the quartz resonators requiring much smaller sample volumes than required by conventional resonators, and also enjoying smaller size and more reliable assembly. MEMS fabrication approaches are used to fabricate with quartz resonators in quartz cavities with electrical interconnects on a top side of a substrate for electrical connection to the electronics preferably through pressure pins in a plastic module. An analyte is exposed to grounded electrodes on a single side of the quartz resonators, thereby preventing electrical coupling of the detector signals through the analyte. The resonators can be mounted on the plastic cartridge or on arrays of plastic cartridges with the use of inert bonding material, die bonding or wafer bonding techniques. This allows the overall size, cost, and required biological sample volume to be reduced while increasing the sensitivity for detecting small mass changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Randall L. Kubena, Tsung-Yuan Hsu
  • Publication number: 20120113194
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid discharge head less susceptible to crosstalk between displacement elements adjacent to each other, and a recording device using the liquid discharge head. The liquid discharge head includes a plate-shaped passage member providing a plurality of liquid pressurizing chambers of identical shape which open into a main surface and are arranged in a matrix shape, a plurality of liquid discharge holes, and a plurality of individual supply paths; and a plate-shaped piezoelectric actuator having a common electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a plurality of individual electrodes laminated on a diaphragm. The plate-shaped passage member and the plate-shaped piezoelectric actuator are laminated one upon another so that the diaphragm and the piezoelectric layer cover the plurality of liquid pressurizing chambers. In a plan view of the liquid discharge head, an opening of each of the liquid pressurizing chambers is a polygonal shape having at least one acute angle shaped corner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayumu Matsumoto, Wataru Ikeuchi
  • Patent number: 8172374
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head including a plurality of nozzle orifices for liquid ejection, a reservoir plate made of rolled metal rolled in a first direction which includes a liquid reservoir which extends in a longitudinal direction that is capable of communicating with the plurality of nozzle orifices, and a compliance plate laminated on the reservoir plate which is made of rolled metal rolled in a second direction, the compliance plate including a compliance portion that forms a surface of the liquid reservoir which is also capable of absorbing the pressure in the liquid reservoir. The second direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the liquid reservoir and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Sakai, Toru Nagate
  • Publication number: 20120098897
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ink-jet head includes a piezoelectric member which forms an ink pressure chamber, an electrode disposed on a side surface of the piezoelectric member, a nozzle plate attached to the piezoelectric member and including a nozzle hole communicating with the ink pressure chamber, a surface of the nozzle plate including a top surface of the nozzle plate, and a protection film which covers the surface of the nozzle plate, a peripheral portion of an adhesion part between the piezoelectric member and the nozzle plate, and the electrode. A recess is formed in a part of the protection film covering the top surface of the nozzle plate. The part of the protection film corresponds to a peripheral area of the nozzle hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120092423
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element comprising an electrode film and a piezoelectric layer provided above the electrode film. The electrode film is preferentially oriented with (111) surface and contains platinum as the main component. The electrode film has a rhombohedral system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomotaka MORI
  • Publication number: 20120092422
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes: a nozzle plate including plural nozzles; a piezoelectric element including plural pressure chambers corresponding to the nozzles and sidewalls provided adjacent to the pressure chambers and serving as driving elements configured to press the pressure chambers to eject liquid from the nozzles; a substrate to which the piezoelectric element is bonded; and a frame member placed on the substrate to surround the piezoelectric element. Grooves are formed on the upper end, and in which an adhesive is applied to bond the upper ends of the sidewalls and the nozzle plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuaki MUROCHI, Hiroyuki Kushida
  • Publication number: 20120092424
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead (10) has at least one electrode, with exposed metal region(s) (16) of the electrode surface having a coating of inert metal, In use of the printhead, the inert metal coating functions to protect the underlying metal surface of the electrode, and in particular protects the electrode from corrosion to aqueous or other ion-containing inks. The invention is of particular benefit in piezoelectric printheads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: XENNIA TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: James Edward Fox, Olivier Morel
  • Patent number: 8157359
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a first pressure chamber, a second pressure chamber provided at a side of the first pressure chamber, a vibration plate provided above the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, a driving piezoelectric element provided above the first pressure chamber and above the vibration plate, and a non driving piezoelectric element provided above the second pressure chamber and above the vibration plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kinya Ozawa, Hayato Takahashi