Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Marvin Glenn Wong

Arthur Fong

Lewis R Dove

Paul Thomas Carson

John F Casey

Timothy E Beerling

Naoto A Kawamura

You Kondoh

John Ralph Lindsey

Leslie Ann Field

Melissa D Boyd

Julius K Botka

John M Altendorf

Jiansan Sun

Wan Sin Ng

Arief Budiman Suriadi

Juliana Arifin

Paul H McClelland

Douglas A Sexton

David J Waller

Marzio A Leban

Kit C Baughman

James Walter Pearson

Mitsuchika Saito

Eldurkar V Bhaskar

Ling Liu

Evan P Smouse

Gerald E Heppell

Albert A Yeh

Wesley C Whiteley

Barry Welsh

A system for achieving accurate page yields includes a first droplet generator comprising a nozzle aperture with a first cross sectional area and a first passageway to an ink reservoir. A second droplet generator includes a nozzle aperture with a second cross sectional area that is larger than the first cross sectional area and a second passageway to the ink reservoir with minimum cross sectional area that is smaller than the second cross sectional area. A method for achieving accurate page yields is also provided.

Achieving accurate page yields

The present invention relates to an electrical relay in which a solid slug is moved within a channel and used to make or break an electrical connection. The solid slug is moved by electromagnets. In the preferred embodiment, the slug is wetted by a conducting liquid, such as liquid metal, that also adheres to wettable contact pads within the channel to provide a latching mechanism. The relay is amenable to manufacture by micro-machiningtechniques.

Method of manufacturing an electromagnetic relay

A semiconductor substrate is presented which is manufactured from hollow, gas-filled glass or ceramic microspheres, which are bound together in a dried or fired matrix. The microspheres may be glass-coated microspheres, which are bound together by sintering the outer layers of glass together. The semiconductor surface may be smoothed by glazing the surface.

Integrated circuit substrate material and method

Disclosed herein is a channel plate for a fluid-based switch. The channel plate is produced by 1) depositing a photoimagable dielectric layer onto a substrate, 2) photoimaging at least one channel plate feature on the dielectric layer, and 3) developing the dielectric layer to form the at least one channel plate feature in the dielectric layer, thereby forming the channel plate. A method for making a switch with a photoimaged channel plate is also disclosed.

Photoimaged channel plate for a switch, and method for making a switch using same

The present invention is a piezoelectrically actuated relay that latches. The relay operates by means of the longitudinal displacement of a piezoelectric element in extension mode. The piezoelectric element displaces a liquid metal drop and causing it to wet between at least one set of contact pads and at least one other set of contact pads. Positioning of the liquid metal causes the optical path to be blocked. The same motion that causes the liquid metal drop to change position can cause the optical path to be unblocked between the fixed pad and a contact pad on the piezoelectric element or substrate close to it. The motion of the piezoelectric element is rapid and causes the imparted momentum of the liquid metal drop to overcome the surface tension forces that would hold the bulk of the liquid metal drop in contact with the contact pad or pads near the actuating piezoelectric element. The switch latches by means of surface tension and the liquid metal wetting to the contact pads.

Longitudinal piezoelectric optical latching relay

In a method for forming one or more features in a thick-film ink deposited on a substrate, a photoimagable material is used to define a negative of the one or more features on the substrate. A thick-film ink is then deposited on at least part of the substrate, abutting at least some of the photoimagable material. The thick-film ink is cured, and the photoimagable material is removed. One embodiment of the method is used to produce a channel plate. Another embodiment of the method is used to produce a switch.

Feature formation in thick-film inks

Methods for producing waveguides are disclosed. In one embodiment, a waveguide is produced by depositing a first metal layer on a substrate, depositing a sacrificial material on the first metal layer, depositing a second metal layer on the sacrificial material, the second metal layer contacting the first metal layer and defining therebetween a cavity for the waveguide, the cavity filled with the sacrificial material, and removing the sacrificial material.

Methods for producing waveguides

A closed-loop piezoelectric pump is disclosed for use in a fluid delivery system. The pump housing includes a movable diaphragm that defines a pumping chamber within the pump housing, the pumping chamber having an inlet for admitting fluid and an outlet for emitting fluid. A piezoelectric transducer is coupled to the moveable diaphragm and operates to produce a pumping action by varying the volume of the pumping chamber. The piezoelectric transducer may be used to generate an acoustic pressure pulse within the fluid delivery system and to sense reflections of the acoustic pressure pulse caused by impedance changes downstream of the pump. Properties of the fluid path downstream of pump may be determined from the characteristics of the sensed reflections.

Closed-loop piezoelectric pump

Disclosed herein is a switch having a channel plate and a switching fluid. The channel plate defines at least a portion of a number of cavities, a first cavity of which is defined by an ultrasonically milled channel in the channel plate. The switching fluid is held within one or more of the cavities, and is movable between at least first and second switch states in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid. Alternate switch embodiments, and a method for making a switch, are also disclosed.

Ultrasonically milled channel plate for a switch

Disclosed herein is a channel plate for a fluid-based switch. The channel plate is produced by 1) depositing a photoimagable dielectric layer onto a substrate, 2) photoimaging at least one channel plate feature on the dielectric layer, and 3) developing the dielectric layer to form the at least one channel plate feature in the dielectric layer, thereby forming the channel plate. Switches using photoimaged channel plates, and a method for making a switch with a photoimaged channel plate, are also disclosed.

Photoimaged channel plate for a switch

A method and structure for an electrical switch. According to the structure of the present invention, a liquid-filled chamber is housed within a solid material. A plurality of switch contacts within the liquid-filled chamber are coupled to the solid material, while a plurality of piezoelectric elements are coupled to a plurality of membranes. The plurality of membranes are coupled to the liquid-filled chamber. The plurality of switch contacts are coupled to a plurality of liquid metal globules. According to the method, a piezoelectric element is actuated, causing a membrane element to be deflected. The deflection of the membrane element increases pressure of actuator liquid and the increase in pressure of the actuator liquid breaks a liquid metal connection between a first contact and a second contact of the electrical switch.

Method and structure for a pusher-mode piezoelectrically actuated liquid metal switch

A fluid ejection device capable of ejecting fluid onto media and a method of manufacture are provided. The device has a carrier having an upper surface that defines a recess. A fluid ejecting substrate is disposed in the recess and is configured for establishing electrical and fluidic coupling with the carrier. The fluid ejecting substrate has a generally planar orifice layer and a generally planar contact surface positioned below the orifice layer. The orifice layer extends above the upper surface of the carrier and defines a plurality of orifices therein. An encapsulant at least partially encapsulates the fluid ejecting substrate and the carrier.

Fluid ejection device and method of manufacture

A method and structure for an optical switch. According to the structure of the present invention, a liquid-filled chamber is housed within a solid material. A plurality of seal belts within the liquid-filled chamber are coupled to the solid material, while a plurality of piezoelectric elements are coupled to a plurality of membranes. The plurality of membranes are coupled to the liquid-filled chamber, and a plurality of optical waveguides are coupled to the liquid-filled chamber. The plurality of seal belts are coupled to a plurality of liquid metal globules. According to the method, one or more piezoelectric elements are actuated, causing one or more corresponding membrane elements to be deflected. The deflection of the membrane element changes a pressure of actuator liquid and the change in pressure of the actuator liquid breaks a liquid metal connection between a first contact and a second contact of the electrical switch. The breaking of the liquid metal connection is operable to block or unblock one or more of the plurality of optical waveguides.

Method and structure for a pusher-mode piezoelectrically actuated liquid metal optical switch

A method and apparatus for multiplexing and demultiplexing optical signals. The apparatus includes first and second optical waveguides coupled via an optical coupler. The optical coupler has a coupling waveguide and an optical switching wedge attached to a piezoelectric actuator. In operation, first and second optical signals are received by the first and second optical waveguides, respectively. If the signals are to be combined, the optical switching wedge is moved to a first position where it is optically coupled to the first optical waveguide. The first optical signal is then transmitted, via the coupling waveguide, to the second optical waveguide, where it is combined with the second optical signal. If the signals are not to be combined, the optical switching wedge is moved to a second position where it is optically uncoupled from the first optical waveguide.

Reflecting wedge optical wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer

A method and apparatus for maintaining a liquid metal switch in a state of readiness for switching. The liquid metal switch has a liquid metal volume contained in a cavity of a switch body. A signal path though the cavity is made or broken by energizing an actuator to move the liquid metal volume within the cavity in response to a switching signal. To maintain readiness, a signal generator supplies a vibratory signal to the actuator. The resulting vibrations in the liquid metal volume allow the liquid metal volume to be subsequently moved with reduced power.

Growing community of inventors

Woodland Park, CO, United States of America

Marvin Glenn Wong