Patents by Inventor Bradley J. Knapp

Bradley J. Knapp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6077569
    Abstract: An abrasion-resistant dielectric composite product is described comprising a substrate and an abrasion wear resistant coating material comprising carbon, hydrogen, silicon, and oxygen and a dielectric material. An improved method is provided for the deposition of highly durable and abrasion-resistant multilayer dielectric antireflective coatings and reflective colored mirror coatings onto plastic lenses such as ophthalmic lenses, safety lenses, sunglass lenses, and sports optics. An adhesion-enhancing polymer layer may be deposited onto the plastic substrate prior to deposition of the abrasion-resistant first coating layer. The multilayer dielectric coating structure consists of a transparent, highly abrasion-resistant first coating, and a second dielectric coating composed of at least one layer of dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradley J. Knapp, Fred M. Kimock, Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl, Norman Donald Galvin, Brian Kenneth Daniels
  • Patent number: 6046758
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal print head with a protective coating of silicon-doped diamond-like carbon (Si-DLC) which imparts superior wear resistance, and improved lifetime. The Si-DLC is comprised of the elements C, H, Si and possibly O, N and Ar. The highly wear and abrasion-resistant Si-DLC diamond-like carbon coating is deposited by ion-assisted plasma deposition including direct ion beam deposition and capacitive radio frequency plasma deposition, from carbon-containing and silicon-containing precursor gases consisting of hydrocarbon, silane, organosilane, organosilazane and organo-oxysilicon compounds, or mixtures thereof. The resulting Si-DLC coating has the properties of Nanoindentation hardness in the range of approximately 10 to 35 GPa, thickness in the range of approximately 0.5 to 20 micrometers, dynamic friction coefficient of less than approximately 0.2, and a silicon concentration in the range of approximately 5 atomic % to approximately 40 atomic %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: David Ward Brown, Melissa Baylog, Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl, Edward George Thear
  • Patent number: 5888593
    Abstract: An ion beam deposition method is provided for manufacturing a coated substrate with improved wear-resistance, and improved lifetime. The substrate is first chemically cleaned to remove contaminants. Secondly, the substrate is inserted into a vacuum chamber onto a substrate holder, and the air therein is evacuated via pump. Then the substrate surface is bombarded with energetic ions from an ion beam source supplied from inert or reactive gas inlets to assist in removing residual hydrocarbons and surface oxides, and activating the surface. After sputter-etching the surface, a protective, wear-resistant coating is deposited by plasma ion beam deposition where a portion of the precursor gases are introduced into the ion beam downstream of the ion source, and hydrogen is introduced directly into the ion source plasma chamber. The plasma ion beam-deposited coating may contain one or more layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl, Leonard Joseph Mahoney, Ray Hays Venable III, Norman Donald Galvin, Bradley J. Knapp, Fred Michael Kimock
  • Patent number: 5846649
    Abstract: An abrasion-resistant dielectric composite product is described comprising a substrate and an abrasion wear resistant coating material comprising carbon, hydrogen, silicon, and oxygen and a dielectric material. An improved method is provided for the deposition of highly durable and abrasion-resistant multilayer dielectric antireflective coatings and reflective colored mirror coatings onto plastic lenses such as ophthalmic lenses, safety lenses, sunglass lenses, and sports optics. An adhesion-enhancing polymer layer may be deposited onto the plastic substrate prior to deposition of the abrasion-resistant first coating layer. The multilayer dielectric coating structure consists of a transparent, highly abrasion-resistant first coating, and a second dielectric coating composed of at least one layer of dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Bradley J. Knapp, Fred M. Kimock, Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl, Brian Kenneth Daniels
  • Patent number: 5844225
    Abstract: The coated substrate product finds particular application in eyeglass and sunglass lenses, architectural glass, analytical instrument windows, automotive windshields and laser bar code scanners for use in retail stores and supermarkets. The product has greatly improved wear resistance for severe abrasive environments and comprises a substantially optically transparent substrate, one or more chemically vapor deposited interlayers bonded to the substrate and a chemically vapor deposited outer layer of optically transparent or substantially optically transparent hard and low friction material bonded to the interlayer and away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Steven James Finke, John V. Galdieri
  • Patent number: 5679413
    Abstract: An abrasion wear resistant coated substrate product is described comprising a substrate and an abrasion wear resistant coating material comprising carbon, hydrogen, silicon, and oxygen. The abrasion wear resistant coating material has the properties of Nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 2 to about 5 GPa and a strain to microcracking greater than about 1% and a transparency greater than 85% in the visible spectrum. The coated products of the present invention are suitable for use in optical applications such as ophthalmic lenses or laser bar code scanner windows. In the method for making the products, the substrate is first chemically cleaned to remove contaminants. In the second step, the substrate is inserted into a vacuum chamber, and the air in said chamber is evacuated. In the third step, the substrate surface is bombarded with energetic ions and/or reactive species to assist in the removal of residual hydrocarbons and surface oxides, and to activate the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl, Bradley J. Knapp, Fred M. Kimock, Brian Kenneth Daniels
  • Patent number: 5643423
    Abstract: The coated substrate product finds particular application in eyeglass and sunglass lenses, architectural glass, analytical instrument windows, automotive windshields and laser bar code scanners for use in retail stores and supermarkets. The product has greatly improved wear resistance for severe abrasive environments and comprises a substantially optically transparent substrate, a chemically vapor deposited first interlayer bonded to the substrate and a chemically vapor deposited outer layer of substantially optically transparent diamond-like carbon bonded to the interlayer and away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Steven James Finke
  • Patent number: 5637353
    Abstract: The coated substrate product finds particular application in eyeglass and sunglass lenses, architectural glass, analytical instrument windows, automotive windshields and laser bar code scanners for use in retail stores and supermarkets. The product has greatly improved wear resistance for severe abrasive environments and comprises a substantially optically transparent substrate, one or more chemically vapor deposited interlayers bonded to the substrate and a chemically vapor deposited outer layer of optically transparent or substantially optically transparent hard and low friction material bonded to the interlayer and away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Steven J. Finke, John V. Galdieri
  • Patent number: 5635245
    Abstract: The coated substrate product finds particular application in eyeglass and sunglass lenses, architectural glass, analytical instrument windows, automotive windshields and laser bar code scanners for use in retail stores and supermarkets. The product has greatly improved wear resistance for severe abrasive environments and comprises a substantially optically transparent substrate, one or more chemically vapor deposited interlayers bonded to the substrate and a chemically vapor deposited outer layer of optically transparent or substantially optically transparent hard and low friction material bonded to the interlayer and away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Steven J. Finke
  • Patent number: 5618619
    Abstract: An abrasion wear resistant coated substrate product is described comprising a substrate and an abrasion wear resistant coating material comprising carbon, hydrogen, silicon, and oxygen. The abrasion wear resistant coating material has the properties of Nanoindentation hardness in the range of about 2 to about 5 GPa and a strain to microcracking greater than about 1% and a transparency greater than 85% in the visible spectrum. The coated products of the present invention are suitable for use in optical applications such as ophthalmic lenses or laser bar code scanner windows. In the method for making the products, the substrate is first chemically cleaned to remove contaminants. In the second step, the substrate is inserted into a vacuum chamber, and the air in said chamber is evacuated. In the third step, the substrate surface is bombarded with energetic ions and/or reactive species to assist in the removal of residual hydrocarbons and surface oxides, and to activate the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Rudolph H. Petrmichl, Bradley J. Knapp, Fred M. Kimock, Brian K. Daniels
  • Patent number: 5527596
    Abstract: The coated substrate product finds particular application in eyeglass and sunglass lenses, architectural glass, analytical instrument windows, automotive windshields and laser bar code scanners for use in retail stores and supermarkets. The product has greatly improved wear resistance for severe abrasive environments and comprises a substantially optically transparent substrate, one or more chemically vapor deposited interlayers bonded to the substrate and a chemically vapor deposited outer layer of optically transparent or substantially optically transparent hard and low friction material bonded to the interlayer and away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Steven J. Finke
  • Patent number: 5508368
    Abstract: An ion beam deposition method is provided for manufacturing a coated substrate with improved abrasion resistance, and improved lifetime. According to the method, the substrate is first chemically cleaned to remove contaminants. In the second step, the substrate is inserted into a vacuum chamber, and the air in said chamber is evacuated. In the third step, the substrate surface is bombarded with energetic ions to assist in the removal of residual hydrocarbons and surface oxides, and to activate the surface. Alter the substrate surface has been sputter-etched, a protective, abrasion-resistant coating is deposited by ion beam deposition. The ion beam-deposited coating may contain one or more layers. Once the chosen thickness of the coating has been achieved, the deposition process on the substrates is terminated, the vacuum chamber pressure is increased to atmospheric pressure, and the coated substrate products having improved abrasion-resistance are removed from the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradley J. Knapp, Fred M. Kimock, Rudolph H. Petrmichl, Norman D. Galvin
  • Patent number: 5508092
    Abstract: The coated substrate product finds particular application in eyeglass and sunglass lenses, architectural glass, analytical instrument windows, automotive windshields and laser bar code scanners for use in retail stores and supermarkets. The product has greatly improved wear resistance for severe abrasive environments and comprises a substantially optically transparent substrate, one or more chemically vapor deposited interlayers bond to the substrate and a chemically vapor deposited outer layer of optically transparent or substantially optically transparent hard and low friction material bonded to the interlayer and away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Steven J. Finke, John V. Galdieri
  • Patent number: 5506038
    Abstract: The coated substrate product finds particular application in eyeglass and sunglass lenses, architectural glass, analytical instrument windows, automotive windshields and laser bar code scanners for use in retail stores and supermarkets. The product has greatly improved wear resistance for severe abrasive environments and comprises a substantially optically transparent substrate, a chemicaly vapor deposited first interlayer bonded to the substrate and a chemically vapor deposited outer layer of substantially optically transparent diamond-like carbon bonded to the interlayer and away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradley J. Knapp, Fred M. Kimock, Steven J. Finke
  • Patent number: 5268217
    Abstract: The coated substrate product finds particular application in eyeglass and sunglass lenses, architectural glass, analytical instrument windows, automotive windshields and laser bar code scanners for use in retail stores and supermarkets. The product has greatly improved wear resistance for severe abrasive environments and comprises a substantially optically transparent substrate, a chemicaly vapor deposited first interlayer bonded to the substrate and a chemically vapor deposited outer layer of substantially optically transparent diamond-like carbon bonded to the interlayer and away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Steven J. Finke
  • Patent number: 5190807
    Abstract: A substantially optically transparent coated substrate product with a highly adherent, abrasion-resistant diamond-like hard carbon coating is disclosed. The substrate product is comprised of a polymeric substrate, an adhesion-mediating polysiloxane polymer layer, one or more intermediate layers and an outer layer of diamond-like hard carbon. In another embodiment of the invention a thin metallic interlayer is disposed between a first interlayer layer and subsequent interlayers and/or diamond-like hard carbon. The invention also allows for the production of adherent thin film interference layer coatings (i.e. quarter wavelength stacks and anti-reflection coatings) using diamond-like hard carbon as the high refractive index layer and the interlayer(s) as the low refractive index layer or, alternatively, using diamond-like hard carbon as the low refractive index layer and the interlayer(s) as the high refractive index layer. The invention further discloses a method for fabricating the coated substrate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Steven J. Finke
  • Patent number: 5135808
    Abstract: The coated substrate product finds particular application in eyeglass and sunglass lenses, architectural glass, analytical instrument windows, automotive windshields and laser bar code scanners for use in retail stores and supermarkets. The product comprises a substantially optically transparent substrate, a chemically vapor deposited first interlayer bonded to the substrate and a chemically vapor deposited outer layer of substantially optically transparent diamond-like carbon bonded to the interlayer and away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: Fred M. Kimock, Bradley J. Knapp, Steven J. Finke
  • Patent number: RE37294
    Abstract: An ion beam deposition method is provided for manufacturing a coated substrate with improved abrasion resistance, and improved lifetime. According to the method, the substrate is first chemically cleaned to remove contaminants. In the second step, the substrate is inserted into a vacuum chamber, and the air in said chamber is evacuated. In the third step, the substrate surface is bombarded with energetic ions to assist in the removal of residual hydrocarbons and surface oxides, and to activate the surface. Alter After the substrate surface has been sputter-etched, a protective, abrasion-resistant coating is deposited by ion beam deposition. The ion beam-deposited coating may contain one or more layers. Once the chosen thickness of the coating has been achieved, the deposition process on the substrates is terminated, the vacuum chamber pressure is increased to atmospheric pressure, and the coated substrate products having improved abrasion-resistance are removed from the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Diamonex, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradley J. Knapp, Fred M. Kimock, Rudolph H. Petrmichl, Norman D. Galvin