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US5177500A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

LED array printhead with thermally coupled arrays

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1991-09-11
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Granted: 1993-01-05
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Expires: 2011-09-11
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Abstract

Abstract An LED printhead that includes a plurality of LED chip arrays arranged in a row has areas adjacent end LEDs on each array connected by wires to provide a direct thermal shunt to reduce a temperature gradient between these LEDs.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yee S. Ng

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 23:00
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/435; B41J2/447; B41J2/45

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 144 words
An optical recording printhead comprising: a support; a plurality of chip arrays arranged in a row on said support, each of the chip arrays including a plurality of uniformly spaced light-emitting diode recording elements arranged in a row, with one of the recording elements located adjacent one end of one of the chip having said uniform spacing from a second of the recording elements located adjacent an end of a second of the chip arrays that is adjacent to the one of the arrays chip; and means, including a plurality of non-signal bearing wires, for providing a direct thermal shunt of heat energy present at areas on a surface of the one of the chip arrays and adjacent said one of the recording elements to areas on a surface of the second of the chip arrays and adjacent said second of the recording elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 144 words
An optical recording printhead comprising: a support; a plurality of chip arrays arranged in a row on said support, each of the chip arrays including a plurality of uniformly spaced light-emitting diode recording elements arranged in a row, with one of the recording elements located adjacent one end of one of the chip having said uniform spacing from a second of the recording elements located adjacent an end of a second of the chip arrays that is adjacent to the one of the arrays chip; and means, including a plurality of non-signal bearing wires, for providing a direct thermal shunt of heat energy present at areas on a surface of the one of the chip arrays and adjacent said one of the recording elements to areas on a surface of the second of the chip arrays and adjacent said second of the recording elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 61 words
The printhead of claim 1 and wherein the wires are connected to a metallized pad located on the surface of the one of the chip arrays adjacent said one of the recording elements and the wires are also connected to a metallized pad located on the surface of the second of the chip arrays adjacent said second of the recording elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
The printhead of claim 2 and wherein the wires are tape-automated bonding wires.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The printhead of claim 1 and wherein the wires are tape automated bonding wires.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 150 words
An optical printhead comprising: a support; a plurality of chip arrays arranged in a row on said support, each of the chip arrays including a plurality of light emitting diode recording elements arranged in said row; and thermal shunt means, including a non-signal bearing wire, for providing a direct thermal connection between a first area on a surface of the chip arrays which first area is adjacent a first of the light-emitting diode recording elements located on and adjacent an end of said one of the chip arrays, to a second area on a surface of a second of the chip arrays, which second area is adjacent a second of the light-emitting diode recording elements that is located on and adjacent an end of said second of the chip arrays and said second of the light-emitting diode recording elements is adjacent to the first of the light-emitting diode recording elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 150 words
An optical printhead comprising: a support; a plurality of chip arrays arranged in a row on said support, each of the chip arrays including a plurality of light emitting diode recording elements arranged in said row; and thermal shunt means, including a non-signal bearing wire, for providing a direct thermal connection between a first area on a surface of the chip arrays which first area is adjacent a first of the light-emitting diode recording elements located on and adjacent an end of said one of the chip arrays, to a second area on a surface of a second of the chip arrays, which second area is adjacent a second of the light-emitting diode recording elements that is located on and adjacent an end of said second of the chip arrays and said second of the light-emitting diode recording elements is adjacent to the first of the light-emitting diode recording elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 137 words
An optical printhead comprising: a support; a plurality of chip arrays arranged in a row on said support, each of the chip arrays including a plurality of light emitting recording elements arranged in the row; and a non-signal bearing thermally conductive wire connecting a first area on a surface of one of the chip arrays, which first area is adjacent a first of the light-emitting recording elements located on and adjacent an end of the one of the chip arrays, to a second area on a surface of a second of the chip arrays, which second area is adjacent a second of the light-emitting recording elements that is located adjacent an end of the second of the chip arrays and said second of the lightemitting recording elements is adjacent to said of the first light-emitting recording elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 137 words
An optical printhead comprising: a support; a plurality of chip arrays arranged in a row on said support, each of the chip arrays including a plurality of light emitting recording elements arranged in the row; and a non-signal bearing thermally conductive wire connecting a first area on a surface of one of the chip arrays, which first area is adjacent a first of the light-emitting recording elements located on and adjacent an end of the one of the chip arrays, to a second area on a surface of a second of the chip arrays, which second area is adjacent a second of the light-emitting recording elements that is located adjacent an end of the second of the chip arrays and said second of the lightemitting recording elements is adjacent to said of the first light-emitting recording elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
The printhead of claim 6 and wherein the recording elements are light-emitting diodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
The printhead of claim 7 and wherein the wire is a tape automated bonding wire.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4807047A Cited
US4916464A Cited
US4851862A Cited
US4821051A Cited
US4951098A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-01-05 1996-07-06 1997-01-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-01-05 2000-07-06 2001-01-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-01-05 2004-07-06 2005-01-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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