Patents Examined by G. Nagesh Rao
  • Patent number: 7542546
    Abstract: Sample mounts (10) for mounting microcrystals of biological macromolecules for X-ray crystallography are prepared by using patterned thin polyimide films (12) that have curvature imparted thereto, for example, by being attached to a curved outer surface of a small metal rod (16). The patterned film (12) preferably includes a tip end (24) for holding a crystal. Preferably, a small sample aperture is disposed in the film for reception of the crystal. A second, larger aperture can also be provided that is connected to the sample aperture by a drainage channel, allowing removal of excess liquid and easier manipulation in viscous solutions. The curvature imparted to the film (12) increases the film's rigidity and allows a convenient scoop-like action for retrieving crystals. The polyimide contributes minimally to background and absorption, and can be treated to obtain desired hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Thorne, Zachary Stum, Kevin O'Neill, Jan Kmetko
  • Patent number: 7537659
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of CdTe or CdZnTe single crystal production and to an improved solid-phase method of obtaining large CdTe or CdZnTe crystals having an excellent crystalline structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Georges Lucien Triboulet, Said Assoumani Said Hassani
  • Patent number: 7537657
    Abstract: A process for producing a single-crystal silicon wafer, comprises the following steps: producing a layer on the front surface of the silicon wafer by epitaxial deposition or production of a layer whose electrical resistance differs from the electrical resistance of the remainder of the silicon wafer on the front surface of the silicon wafer, or production of an external getter layer on the back surface of the silicon wafer, and heat treating the silicon wafer at a temperature which is selected to be such that an inequality (1) [ Oi ] < [ Oi ] eq ? ( T ) ? exp ? 2 ? ? SiO ? ? 2 ? ? rkT is satisfied, where [Oi] is an oxygen concentration in the silicon wafer, [Oi]eq(T) is a limit solubility of oxygen in silicon at a temperature T, ?SiO2 is the surface energy of silicon dioxide, ? is a volume of a precipitated oxygen atom, r is a mean COP and k the Boltzmann constant, with the silicon wafer, during the heat treatment, at least part of the time being exposed to an oxygen-con
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Christoph Seuring, Robert Hoelzl, Reinhold Wahlich, Wilfried Von Ammon
  • Patent number: 7531036
    Abstract: The present invention provides a single crystal heat treatment method, having a step of heating a single crystal of a cerium-doped silicate compound represented by any of general formulas (1) to (4) below in an oxygen-containing atmosphere Y2?(x+y)LnxCeySiO5??(1) (wherein Ln represents at least one elemental species selected from a group consisting of elements belonging to the rare earth elements, x represents a numerical value from 0 to 2, and y represents a numerical value greater than 0 but less than or equal to 0.2) Gd2?(z+w)LnzCewSiO5??(2) (wherein Ln represents at least one elemental species selected from a group consisting of elements belonging to the rare earth elements, z represents a numerical value greater than 0 but less than or equal to 2, and w represents a numerical value greater than 0 but less than or equal to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoaki Shimura, Yasushi Kurata, Tatsuya Usui, Kazuhisa Kurashige
  • Patent number: 7520930
    Abstract: A bulk silicon carbide single crystal of good crystalline quality which includes a minimized number of structural defects and is free from micropipe defects can be produced by crystal growth in a melt of an alloy comprising Si, C, and M (wherein M is either Mn or Ti) and having an atomic ratio between Si and M in which the value of x, when express as Si1-xMx, is 0.1?x?0.7 in the case where M is Mn or 0.1?x?0.25 in the case where M is Ti at a temperature of the melt which is below 2000° C. The C component is preferably supplied into the melt by dissolution of a graphite crucible which contains the melt such that the melt is free from undissolved C. One method of crystal growth is performed by cooling the melt after a seed substrate is immersed in the melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Shinji Munetoh, Kazuhito Kamei
  • Patent number: 7518187
    Abstract: The present invention is an SOI wafer in which at least a silicon active layer is formed over a support substrate via an insulator film or on a support substrate directly, wherein, at least, the silicon active layer consists of a P(phosphorus)-doped silicon single crystal grown by Czochralski method, which is occupied by N region and/or defect-free I region, and contains Al (aluminum) with concentration of 2×1012 atoms/cc or more. There can be provided with ease and at low cost an SOI wafer with high electrical reliability in a device fabrication process, that has an excellent electric property without generation of micro pits by cleaning with hydrofluoric acid etc. even in the case of forming an extremely thin silicon active layer, or that retains high insulation property even in the case of forming an extremely thin inter-layer insulator film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Sakurada
  • Patent number: 7488386
    Abstract: The invention includes atomic layer deposition methods and chemical vapor deposition methods. In a particular aspect of the invention, a source of microwave radiation is provided proximate a reaction chamber. At least a fragment of a precursor material is chemisorbed on a substrate within the reaction chamber while not exposing the precursor material to microwave radiation from the source. Excess precursor material is removed from the chamber, and the chemisorbed material is subsequently exposed to microwave radiation from the source within the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian A. Vaartstra
  • Patent number: 7477819
    Abstract: A two-dimensional photonic crystal, wherein on a plane in which four adjoining unit lattices L are arranged so as to have one angle in common with the unit lattice L being a rectangle whose shorter side X1 has a length of x1 and whose longer side Y1 has a length of y1, columnar first dielectric regions each having a rectangular cross section whose shorter side X2 has a length of x2 and whose longer side Y2 has a length of y2 are arranged on shorter sides X1 and longer sides Y1 of each rectangular unit lattice L. In this two-dimensional photonic crystal, the first dielectric region is arranged so that the midpoint of the shorter side X1 and the midpoint of the longer side Y1 and the center of the rectangular cross section substantially coincide, and longer sides Y2 of each first dielectric region are substantially parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Enokido, Isao Nakahata
  • Patent number: 7445673
    Abstract: Gallium nitride substrates are grown by epitaxial lateral overgrowth using multiple steps. On a masked substrate having openings areas, selective growth produces first triangular stripes in which most of the threading dislocations are bent at 90°. In a second step, growth conditions are changed to increase the lateral growth rate and produce a flat (0001) surface. At this stage the density of dislocations on the surface is <5×107 cm 2. Dislocations are primarily located at the coalescence region between two laterally grown facets pinching off together. To further decrease the dislocation density a second masking step is achieved, with the openings exactly located above the first ones. Threading dislocations (TDs) of the coalescence region do not propagate in the top layer. Therefore the density of dislocations is lowered below <1×107 cm lover the entire surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Lumilog
    Inventors: Bernard Beaumont, Jean-Pierre Faurie, Pierre Gibart
  • Patent number: 7445674
    Abstract: A first optical modulation element irradiates a non-single-crystal substance with a light beam which is to have a first light intensity distribution on the non-single crystal substance by modulating an intensity of an incident first light beam, thereby melting the substance. A second optical modulation element irradiates the substance with a light beam which is to have a second light intensity distribution on the substance by modulating an intensity of an incident second light beam, thereby melting the substance. An illumination system causes the light beam having the second light intensity distribution to enter the molten part of the substance in a period that the substance is partially molten by irradiation of the light beam having the first light intensity distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced LCD Technologies Development Center Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Taniguchi, Masayuki Jyumonji, Hiroyuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7442252
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing a multi-element oxide single crystal which contains Bi, which has high crystallinity independently of a preparation process, and which is represented by the formula (Bi2O2)Am?1BmO3m+1, wherein A is Sr, Ba, Ca, or Bi and B is Ti, Ta, or Nb. A flux layer, containing a composition satisfying the inequality 0<CuO/Bi2O3<2 and/or 0?TiO/Bi2O3<7/6 on a molar basis is deposited on a wafer and a single-crystalline thin-film is then deposited on the flux layer placed on the wafer. A melt of a composition which contains raw materials and a flux and which satisfies the above inequality is prepared and the melt is cooled such that a single crystal is grown. A CuO flux layer is deposited on a wafer and Bi—Ti—O is supplied to the flux layer using a Bi6Ti3O12, Bi7Ti3O12, or Bi8Ti3O12 target of which the Bi content is greater than that of an object film such that a Bi4Ti3O12 single-crystalline thin-film is formed above the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Hideomi Koinuma, Yuji Matsumoto, Ryota Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7438760
    Abstract: Methods of making Si-containing films that contain relatively high levels of substitutional dopants involve chemical vapor deposition using trisilane and a dopant precursor. Extremely high levels of substitutional incorporation may be obtained, including crystalline silicon films that contain 2.4 atomic % or greater substitutional carbon. Substitutionally doped Si-containing films may be selectively deposited onto the crystalline surfaces of mixed substrates by introducing an etchant gas during deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Bauer, Keith Doran Weeks, Pierre Tomasini, Nyles Cody
  • Patent number: 7435297
    Abstract: A method for growing Group III nitride materials using a molten halide salt as a solvent to solubilize the Group-III ions and nitride ions that react to form the Group III nitride material. The concentration of at least one of the nitride ion or Group III cation is determined by electrochemical generation of the ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Karen E. Waldrip, Jeffrey Y. Tsao, Thomas M. Kerley
  • Patent number: 7435072
    Abstract: A method of producing an object through solid freeform fabrication, the method including fabricating a support structure about at least a portion of the object by applying a binder or focused energy to a build material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David C Collins, Shawn D Hunter, Jeffrey Allen Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7431764
    Abstract: The axial temperature gradient G at the vicinity of the solid-liquid interface 24 in an ingot is calculated in consideration of the heating value of a heater 18, the dimensions and physical property values of furnace inside components and the convection of the melt 12 before pulling up the single crystal ingot 15 by a puller 10 by use of a numerical simulation of synthetic heater transfers and a numerical simulation of melt convection. Then, the pulling velocity V of the single crystal ingot is determined from an value experienced of the ratio C=V/G of the pulling velocity V and the axial temperature gradient G of the single crystal ingot at which the single crystal ingot becomes defect-free, obtained when the single crystal ingot was pulled up by a same type puller as the puller in the past, and the axial temperature gradient G calculated by use of the simulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Sumco Corporation
    Inventors: Senlin Fu, Naoki Ono
  • Patent number: 7429296
    Abstract: A photoconductive layer formed of a Bi12MO20 sintered body is manufactured without being fused with a setter. An oxide material in which a content of silicon oxide is 1 wt %, and more preferably, 0.3 wt % or less, is used as a setter which mounts a Bi12MO20 molded body (where M is at least one of Ge, Si and Ti) thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Tanaka, Kiyoteru Miyake
  • Patent number: 7427556
    Abstract: A method for blanket depositing a SiGe film comprises intermixing a silicon source, a germanium source and an etchant to form a gaseous precursor mixture. The method further comprises flowing the gaseous precursor mixture over a substrate under chemical vapor deposition conditions to deposit a blanket layer of epitaxial SiGe onto the substrate, whether patterned or un-patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Tomasini, Nyles Cody, Chantal Arena
  • Patent number: 7425237
    Abstract: The deposition of material (3) on a growth area (4) may be highly temperature-sensitive. In order to reduce temperature inhomogeneities on the growth area (4) of a substrate wafer (1), a thermal radiation absorption layer (2) is applied on a rear side (5) of the substrate wafer (1) lying opposite to the growth area (4). The thermal radiation absorption layer (2) exhibits good radiation absorption in the spectral range of a heating source. Since the deposition of semiconductor materials, in particular AllnGaN, may lead to (depending on the deposition temperature) different emission wavelengths of the deposited material, the use of a thermal radiation absorption layer (2) may produce a narrower emission wavelength distribution of the deposited material (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Bader, Hans-Jurgen Lugauer, Volker Haerle, Berthold Hahn
  • Patent number: 7417119
    Abstract: The invention teaches the use of an addressable nanoscale device to create a programmable substrate useful in selectively attracting proteins, nucleating protein crystals and growing protein crystals of a size amenable to diffraction analysis. Further taught is the use of nanoscale assemblies to create charge patterns, where such charge patterns are useful in purifying, nucleating or crystallizing protein molecules. Charge extension moieties, including water, are taught. The invention provides rapid and efficient identification, purification and detection of proteins and protein-related complexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventor: Patrick Denis Lincoln
  • Patent number: 7413430
    Abstract: The upper block 12 contacts the bearing block 20, and the bearing block 20 is coupled to the upper plate 21. The upper block 12 has a protruding part 22 on the upper surface that is worked into a convex surface with a radius of R1, and the bearing block 20 has a recessed part 23 in the undersurface that is worked into a concave surface with a radius of R2 (R2>R1). As a result of such a construction being used, the pressing surface of the upper pressing plate 15 always conforms to the surface of the quartz crystal substrate 11 during pressing, so that a uniform load is applied to the quartz crystal substrate 11. As a result, the surface of the quartz crystal can be uniformly pressed in the hot pressing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: National Institute for Materials Science
    Inventors: Sunao Kurimura, Masaki Harada