Palo Alto Research Center Inc.

Scott Jong Ho Limb

Baomin Xu

Steven A Buhler

Stephen David White

Michael Yu Tak Young

Meng H Lean

Karl Anthony Littau

Eric J Shrader

Uma Srinivasan

Norine E Chang

Peter Johan Nystrom

Robert Anthony Street

William S Wong

Francisco Eduardo Torres

Steven E Ready

Cathie J Burke

Scott Eugene Solberg

Michael C Weisberg

Richard Schmachtenberg, Iii

Kris A Schmidt

Ashutosh Kole

Jeonggi Seo

Sharon S Berger

Beverly Russo

C Wayne Jaeger

Thomas Long

Timothy Trang

This invention is based on size and mass separation of suspended particles, including biological matter, which are made to flow in a spiral channel. On the spiral sections, the inward directed transverse pressure field from fluid shear competes with the outward directed centrifugal force to allow for separation of particles. At high velocity, centrifugal force dominates and particles move outward. At low velocities, transverse pressure dominates and the particles move inward. The magnitudes of the two opposing forces depend on flow velocity, particle size, radius of curvature of the spiral section, channel dimensions, and viscosity of the fluid. At the end of the spiral channel, a parallel array of outlets collects separated particles. For any particle size, the required channel dimension is determined by estimating the transit time to reach the side-wall. This time is a function of flow velocity, channel width, viscosity, and radius of curvature. Larger particles may reach the channel wall earlier than the smaller particles which need more time to reach the side wall. Thus a spiral channel may be envisioned by placing multiple outlets along the channel. This technique is inherently scalable over a large size range from sub-millimeter down to 1 &#x3bc;m.

Particle separation and concentration system

A system and method for in-process yield evaluation and correction in an array type of device are provided. The system and method include measuring electrical resistance between individual GATE lines, DATA lines, a DATA bus I/O pad, and a GATE bus I/O pad; and analyzing the measured electrical resistance to identify at least one of the following: GATE line open defects, GATE line bridge defects, DATA line open defects, DATA line bridge defects, and interlayer shunt defects.

Method of in-process intralayer yield detection, interlayer shunt detection and correction

The presently described embodiments use a printing process, e.g. a wax printing technique, to pattern a mask layer (such as a soldermask layer) of, for example, a printed circuit. Substantially all other conventional processes in developing soldermask and exposure processes can be maintained. According to the presently described embodiments, each printed circuit will have a unique pattern that matches uniform and non-uniform runout. In one form, the pattern is comprised of wax single drops having a specified gap to make the process transparent to the current industry practice. Furthermore, the single drops can be used for both large and small areas without any development time differences. In at least one form, the wax pattern and the soldermask in the gap are removed during development.

Method and system for patterning a mask layer

A method of forming a fluid ejector includes forming a recess well into a silicon wafer on a first side of the silicon wafer, and filling the recess well with a sacrificial material. A thin layer structure is deposited onto the first side of a silicon wafer covering the filled recess well. Then a thin film piezoelectric is bonded or deposited to the thin layer structure, and a hole is formed in the thin layer structure exposing at least a portion of the sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed from the recess well, wherein the hole in the thin layer in the recess well with the sacrificial material removed, form a fluid inlet. An opening area in the silicon wafer is formed on a second side of the silicon wafer. Then a nozzle plate is formed having a recess portion and an aperture within the recess portion. The nozzle plate is attached to the second side of the silicon wafer, with the recess portion positioned within the open area. The thin layer structure and the recess portion of the nozzle plate define a depth of a fluid cavity defined by the thin layer structure, the recess portion of the nozzle plate and the sidewalls of the silicon wafer.

Method of forming micromachined fluid ejectors using piezoelectric actuation

A printed mask derived from a composition comprised of at least one compound including at least one alkaline-hydrolyzable group, and at least one compound including at least one ethylene oxide group. The printed mask is removable using an alkaline solution in about 30 seconds or less.

Solid inks for printed masks

A method of forming a pattern includes forming a first layer on a substrate, forming a second layer on the first layer, depositing a multi-temperature phase-change material on the second layer, patterning the second layer using the multi-temperature phase-change material as a mask, reflowing the multi-temperature phase-change material, and patterning the first layer using the reflowed multi-temperature phase-change material as a mask.

Self-aligned masks using multi-temperature phase-change materials

A system for transporting particles includes a substrate and a plurality of spaced electrically conductive electrodes carried by the substrate. Further included is a carrier medium adapted for the retention and migration of particles disposed therein, wherein the carrier medium is in operational contact with the electrodes, and a vibration generator is positioned in relation to the substrate to impart vibrations into the carrier medium. In an alternative embodiment, the vibration generator is configured to generate an acoustic traveling wave, which includes a vibration component and a motivation component.

Traveling wave grids with agitated surface using piezoelectric effect and acoustic traveling waves

A fluid ejector including a silicon wafer having a first side and a second side. A multi-layer monolithic structure is formed on the first side of the silicon wafer. The multi-layer monolithic structure includes a first structure layer formed on the first side of the silicon wafer, and the first structure layer has an aperture. A second structure layer has a horizontal portion and closed, filled trenches or vertical sidewalls. The first structure layer, horizontal portion and the closed, filled trenches or vertical sidewalls of the second structure layer define a fluid cavity. An actuator is associated with the horizontal portion of the second structure layer, and an etched portion of the silicon wafer defines an open area which exposes the aperture in the first structure layer.

Multi-layer monolithic fluid ejectors using piezoelectric actuation

The presently described embodiments are directed to a calibration method and system for thin film thermistors that are locally heated with integrated thin film heaters. Initially, print head temperature is either measured or referenced. Then, transient thermistor resistances are measured and used to determine the thermistor resistance at a higher temperature. Notably, this calibration method is advantageously implemented as a step of an existing process without having to expose the print heads to operating temperatures. In some implementations of the presently described embodiments, trimming of the thermistors may be required once calibrated.

Method and apparatus for calibrating a thermistor

A method of jet-printing smooth micro-scale features is presented. The desired feature prior to being printed is masked by various decimation filters and the decimation is performed at various pitches. The subsequently printed image is then scanned and analyzed to determine the roughness of the lines. The optimum decimation pitch is determined by the feature that exhibits the least amount of droplet spreading and has the lowest edge roughness. The optimum decimation pitch may also be calculated from the material properties and the dynamics of fluids.

Method of printing smooth micro-scale features

A micromachined fluid ejector includes an ejector body having a fluid cavity for holding fluid to be ejected and a piezoelectric actuator for ejecting the fluid. A nozzle plate is placed in operable association with the ejector body. The configuration of the nozzle plate is selected to adjust a volume of the fluid cavity to obtain a desired mechanical impedance matching between the fluid and the actuator.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Scott Jong Ho Limb