Patents Examined by Jeffrey Barton
  • Patent number: 9153722
    Abstract: A chip module cooling device includes two fluid circuits corresponding to inlet and outlet fluid circuits, respectively, wherein each comprises orifices and channel portions forming a tree structure, wherein branches represent the orifices, and nodes represent the channel portions, a branch linking a node to one child node only, wherein several nodes having a same parent node are sibling nodes and extends through L levels of the tree structure, with L?3, and in fluidic connection with the other of the two fluid circuits, via channel portions corresponding to leaf nodes. For each fluid circuit, channel portions corresponding to sibling nodes are parallel to each other, and are not parallel to a channel portion corresponding to a parent node of the sibling nodes; and wherein channel portions of one of the fluid circuits are parallel to and interdigitated with channel portions of the other one of the fluid circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Bruno Michel, Stephan Paredes
  • Patent number: 8993879
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a bonding layer connecting a first semiconductor wafer layer to a second semiconductor wafer layer, the bonding layer including an electrically conductive carbonaceous component and a binder component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andreea Boca, Daniel C. Law, Joseph Charles Boisvert, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 7569130
    Abstract: The mechanism of the UV light-induced reaction between the indole moiety of tryptophan and chloroform, and the structure of the modified tryptophan and polypeptides including such modified tryptophan residues. The excited indole moiety, which is formed upon UV light irradiation, emits a solvated electron which initiates a series of events that yield fluorescent derivatives that have CHO group covalently bound to the indole moiety. These derivatives are herein referred to as formyltryptophan, and are relatively stable. Similar reactions are observed when 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-fluorotryptophan, or N-methylindolacetate are used in place of tryptophan, or when other haloalkanes, such as trichloracetic acid, trichlorethanol, trichlorethane, bromoform, and iodoactetate are used in place of chloroform. The derivatives can be used in a variety of applications in fluorescence spectroscopy, and for nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray crystallography, infra-red spectroscopy, circular dicroism and mass spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignees: University Tecnologies International Inc., Montana State University
    Inventors: Robert A. Edwards, Raymond J. Turner, Carol Ladner, Jean Starkey, Eric Larson, Dmitri Kazmin
  • Patent number: 7459068
    Abstract: A multi-capillary electrophoresis apparatus is provided for reducing errors during analysis caused by fluctuations in electrophoresis time among plural capillaries of the apparatus. The multi-capillary electrophoresis apparatus can contain a multi-capillary array that has a separation medium filled therein for isolating a sample. A detector component can be provided at a position remote from a sample injecting end of the array for acquiring information from the sample. A buffer container can be provided for holding a buffer solution into which the sample injecting end can be immersed. One or more temperature controlling component devices can be arranged for controlling a temperature of the buffer solution, of the detector component, or of both the buffer solution and the detector component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Nordman, Miho Ozawa, Masaya Kojima, Ryoji Inaba, Yoshitaka Kodama, Motohiro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7384704
    Abstract: A method and apparatus maintain the temperature of a automobile battery within a predetermined temperature range even though the ambient temperature is outside of the predetermined temperature range. The apparatus and the method utilize a thermoelectric device that provides lower temperatures on one surface and higher temperature on another surface thereof in response to the direction of an electrical current passing through the device. The thermoelectric device is thermally coupled by a fan, air ducts and a heat transfer structure between the automobile battery and the ambient atmosphere. An electrical circuit having a heat sensor is thermally coupled to the automobile battery and selectively controls the current through the thermoelectric device to maintain the temperature of the automobile battery within the predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: David S Scott
  • Patent number: 7381887
    Abstract: A thin solar cell is provided, a decreased amount of an Al paste used for the solar cell without occurrence of a problem of ball-up which is a defect in appearance. A method of manufacturing such a solar cell as well as a manufacturing apparatus used therefor are provided. This manufacturing method is applicable with substantially no change in the conventional material and process. The solar cell has an Al paste electrode on the back surface and at least a part of an outer edge of the Al paste is thicker than any remaining part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7371962
    Abstract: An improved diode energy converter for chemical kinetic electron energy transfer is formed using nanostructures and includes identifiable regions associated with chemical reactions isolated chemically from other regions in the converter, a region associated with an area that forms energy barriers of the desired height, a region associated with tailoring the boundary between semiconductor material and metal materials so that the junction does not tear apart, and a region associated with removing heat from the semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: NeoKismet, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony C. Zuppero, Jawahar M. Gidwani
  • Patent number: 7368658
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device and method of making same. A layer of p-doped microcrystalline diamond is deposited on a layer of n-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond such as by providing a substrate in a chamber, providing a first atmosphere containing about 1% by volume CH4 and about 99% by volume H2 with dopant quantities of a boron compound, subjecting the atmosphere to microwave energy to deposit a p-doped microcrystalline diamond layer on the substrate, providing a second atmosphere of about 1% by volume CH4 and about 89% by volume Ar and about 10% by volume N2, subjecting the second atmosphere to microwave energy to deposit a n-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond layer on the p-doped microcrystalline diamond layer. Electrodes and leads are added to conduct electrical energy when the layers are irradiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Dieter M. Gruen
  • Patent number: 7365265
    Abstract: A thermoelectric material having enhanced Seebeck coefficient is characterized by a microstructure comprising nanoscale Pb inclusions dispersed in matrix substantially composed of PbTe. The excess Pb is obtained either by adding Pb in an amount greater than the stoichiometric amount needed to form PbTe, or by adding an additive effective to getter Te so as to produce the desired excess. The method is generally applicable to enhance thermoelectric properties of compounds of Pb, Sn or Ge, and Te, Se, or S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Pierre Heremans, Christopher M. Thrush, Donald T. Morelli
  • Patent number: 7364808
    Abstract: A substrate with a transparent conductive oxide film (especially a substrate with a transparent conductive oxide film useful as a substrate for a thin-film silicon-based solar cell) being excellent in mass production efficiency and being characterized by having a low resistance, a high transparency and a good light scattering performance over a full wavelength region (300 nm to 3 ?m) of solar ray, a process for its production, and a photoelectric-conversion element (especially, solar cell) employing the substrate, are presented. A substrate with a transparent conductive oxide film, comprising a substrate and a transparent conductive oxide layer formed on the substrate and constituted by a plurality of ridges and a plurality of flat portions, wherein the surfaces of the ridges and the flat portions, have many continuous micron-size protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Sato, Naoki Taneda, Makoto Fukawa, Nobutaka Aomine, Mika Kambe
  • Patent number: 7361260
    Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatus and kits for integrally labeling polymeric gels, such as polyacrylamide and agarose gels, with indicia that can serve, inter alia, unambiguously to identify the individual gel, using polymeric film labeled with detectable indicia and coated with materials that bond to the gel matrix as the gel polymerizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph W Amshey, Allen Bautista
  • Patent number: 7361830
    Abstract: A thermocouple produced by removing insulation from a distal end of each of at least first and second thermocouple conductors, forming a thermocouple junction at the distal ends of the at least first and second thermocouple conductors, placing the thermocouple junction into the heat shrinkable polymer material by sliding a second end of the tube of heat shrinkable polymer material over the thermocouple junction and sealing the thermocouple junction by heating and melting the polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: RTD Company
    Inventors: Audeen Richetto, Pete Bernier
  • Patent number: 7351906
    Abstract: It is often the case that a substrate suitable for epitaxial growth does not match a substrate desirable for the use in functional elements such as thermoelectric conversion elements or the like. The present invention makes it possible to separate a predetermined layered structure formed on a substrate therefrom through an action of water vapor. A method of manufacturing a crystalline film of the present invention includes the steps of: epitaxially growing on a substrate a crystalline film including a layered structure so that the layered structure comes into contact with the substrate; contacting water vapor supplied from a water vapor source with the layered structure in a chamber; and separating the layered structure that has been contacted with the water vapor from the substrate to obtain the crystalline film. The layered structure has a layer containing an alkali metal, and a layer containing an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, Ni, Mn, Ti, Cr, V, Nb, and Mo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yotsuhashi, Hideaki Adachi, Yasunari Sugita, Tsutomu Kanno
  • Patent number: 7351907
    Abstract: A flexible photovoltaically powered display, which may be utilized in a wide variety of display contexts including retail shelf systems, is described. The photovoltaic cell is preferably activated by ambient light (e.g., fluorescent or incandescent).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Alan Montello
  • Patent number: 7347922
    Abstract: A multi-dimensional proteomic analysis method utilizing cationic electrophoresis is described. The method includes separating proteins in one direction using cationic electrophoresis and separating the proteins in a second orthogonal direction using other electrophoresis separation methods such as denaturing electrophoresis and electrophoresis subsequent to proteolytic cleavage or isofocussing. The two dimensional array may be used to determine various protein-protein interactions in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Robert E. Akins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7339110
    Abstract: A solar cell that is readily manufactured using processing techniques which are less expensive than microelectronic circuit processing. In preferred embodiments, printing techniques are utilized in selectively forming masks for use in etching of silicon oxide and diffusing dopants and in forming metal contacts to diffused regions. In a preferred embodiment, p-doped regions and n-doped regions are alternately formed in a surface of the wafer in offset levels through use of masking and etching techniques. Metal contacts are made to the p-regions and n-regions by first forming a seed layer stack that comprises a first layer such as aluminum that contacts silicon and functions as an infrared reflector, second layer such titanium tungsten that acts as diffusion barrier, and a third layer functions as a plating base. A thick conductive layer such as copper is then plated over the seed layer, and the seed layer between plated lines is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: William P. Mulligan, Michael J. Cudzinovic, Thomas Pass, David Smith, Neil Kaminar, Keith McIntosh, Richard M. Swanson
  • Patent number: 7339109
    Abstract: Apparatus and Method for Optimizing the Efficiency of Germanium Junctions in Multi-Junction Solar Cells. In a preferred embodiment, an indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) nucleation layer is disposed between the germanium (Ge) substrate and the overlying dual-junction epilayers for controlling the diffusion depth of the n-doping in the germanium junction. Specifically, by acting as a diffusion barrier to arsenic (As) contained in the overlying epilayers and as a source of n-type dopant for forming the germanium junction, the nucleation layer enables the growth time and temperature in the epilayer device process to be minimized without compromising the integrity of the dual-junction epilayer structure. This in turn allows the arsenic diffusion into the germanium substrate to be optimally controlled by varying the thickness of the nucleation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Emcore Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Stan, Nein Y. Li, Frank A. Spadafora, Hong Q. Hou, Paul R. Sharps, Navid S. Fatemi
  • Patent number: 7335835
    Abstract: A solar cell structure includes a solar cell having a front side and a back side and an active semiconductor structure. The solar cell produces a voltage when the front side is illuminated. The solar cell is protected by a by-pass diode structure including a by-pass diode positioned at the back side of the solar cell. A first electrical interconnection structure extends between the back side of the solar cell and the first diode terminal, and a second electrical interconnection structure extends between the front side of the solar cell and the second diode terminal. An entire length of the second electrical interconnection structure contacts the solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jerry R. Kukulka, David R. Lillington
  • Patent number: 7335892
    Abstract: An energy cell, employed as a passive energy source or a detector for sensing high energy photons, takes advantage of the differing electrical properties of metals to produce an induced electromagnetic force charge when exposed to dosages of high energy photons such as x-ray or gamma rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Williford
  • Patent number: 7326850
    Abstract: A method for generating power is provided. The method including: providing a heat source with an output of radiation in a predetermined spectrum; generating a first portion of the power from the absorption of the radiation; and generating a second portion of the power from a temperature difference between a first element heated by the heat source and a second element at least partially thermally insulated from the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
    Inventors: Jahangir S. Rastegar, Thomas Spinelli