Patents by Inventor Caroline Whelan

Caroline Whelan 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).

  • Publication number: 20240073589
    Abstract: An audio device includes a first speaker and a second speaker. A front surface of a membrane of the second speaker faces a rear surface of a membrane of the first speaker. The membrane of the first speaker moves in an opposite direction than the membrane of the second speaker when the audio device outputs audio content. This configuration maintains isobaric pressure for a back volume shared between the first speaker and the second speaker, reducing vibration of the audio device when outputting audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Rex Pinegar Price, Alan Ng, Calvin Bernard Shaw, Peter Mikael Mogren, Caroline Whelan, Trang Fisher, MohanRaj Manoharan
  • Patent number: 8470709
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming metal-silicide catalyst nanoparticles with controllable diameter. The method according to embodiments of the invention leads to the formation of ‘active’ metal-suicide catalyst nanoparticles, with which is meant that they are suitable to be used as a catalyst in carbon nanotube growth. The nano-particles are formed on the surface of a substrate or in case the substrate is a porous substrate within the surface of the inner pores of a substrate. The metal-silicide nanoparticles can be Co-silicide, Ni-silicide or Fe-silicide particles. The present invention relates also to a method to form carbon nanotubes (CNT) on metal-silicide nanoparticles, the metal-silicide containing particles hereby acting as catalyst during the growth process, e.g. during the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Starting from very defined metal-containing nanoparticles as catalysts, the diameter of grown CNT can be well controlled and a homogeneous set of CNT will be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: IMEC, Katholieke Universitet Leuven, K.U. Leuven R&D
    Inventors: Santiago Cruz Esconjauregui, Caroline Whelan, Karen Maex
  • Patent number: 8399986
    Abstract: A method of positioning at least 2 chips simultaneously on a substrate by parallel stochastic assembly in a first liquid is disclosed. In one aspect, the chips are directed to target sites on the substrate within the first liquid. The target sites are covered with a second liquid. The second liquid and the first liquid are immiscible. The chips are attracting the first liquid. A predetermined surface is chosen or treated on each chip such that it is selectively attracted by the second liquid and attracting the first liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
    Inventors: Massimo Mastrangeli, Caroline Whelan, Wouter Ruythooren
  • Publication number: 20110233791
    Abstract: A method of positioning at least 2 chips simultaneously on a substrate by parallel stochastic assembly in a first liquid is disclosed. In one aspect, the chips are directed to target sites on the substrate within the first liquid. The target sites are covered with a second liquid. The second liquid and the first liquid are immiscible. The chips are attracting the first liquid. A predetermined surface is chosen or treated on each chip such that it is selectively attracted by the second liquid and attracting the first liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicants: IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
    Inventors: Massimo Mastrangeli, Caroline Whelan, Wouter Ruythooren
  • Publication number: 20100285656
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming metal-silicide catalyst nanoparticles with controllable diameter. The method according to embodiments of the invention leads to the formation of ‘active’ metal-suicide catalyst nanoparticles, with which is meant that they are suitable to be used as a catalyst in carbon nanotube growth. The nano-particles are formed on the surface of a substrate or in case the substrate is a porous substrate within the surface of the inner pores of a substrate. The metal-silicide nanoparticles can be Co-silicide, Ni-silicide or Fe-silicide particles. The present invention relates also to a method to form carbon nanotubes (CNT) on metal-silicide nanoparticles, the metal-silicide containing particles hereby acting as catalyst during the growth process, e.g. during the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) process. Starting from very defined metal-containing nanoparticles as catalysts, the diameter of grown CNT can be well controlled and a homogeneous set of CNT will be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)
    Inventors: Santiago Cruz Esconjauregui, Caroline Whelan, Karen Maex
  • Patent number: 7790600
    Abstract: A method is provided for incorporating zeolite crystals in patterned structures, the zeolite crystals having pores (channels) with an orientation which is defined by the topology of the zeolite crystal type and the geometry of the patterned structure, resulting in pores parallel with the length axis of the patterned structures. The patterned structures may be vias (vertical contacts) and trenches (horizontal lines) in a semiconductor substrate. These zeolite crystals can advantageously be used for dense and aligned nanocarbon growth or in other words growth of carbon nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes (CNT) within the pores of the zeolite structure. The growth of CNT is achieved within the porous structure of the zeolite crystals whereby the pores can be defined as confined spaces (channels) in nanometer dimensions acting as a micro-reactor for CNT growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignees: IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
    Inventors: Pierre Jacobs, Bert Sels, Jasper Van Noyen, Caroline Whelan, Karen Maex, Filip de Clippel
  • Patent number: 7728436
    Abstract: A method for selective deposition of self-assembled monolayers to the surface of a substrate for use as a diffusion barrier layer in interconnect structures is provided comprising the steps of depositing a first self-assembled monolayer to said surface, depositing a second self-assembled monolayer to the non-covered parts of said surface and subsequently heating said substrate to remove the first self-assembled monolayer. The method of selective deposition of self-assembled monolayers is applied for the use as diffusion barrier layers in a (dual) damascene structure for integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: IMEC, Texas Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Caroline Whelan, Victor Sutcliffe
  • Publication number: 20100047152
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming at least one carbon nanotube (16) by using metal-free catalyst nanoparticles (14), for example Si or Ge comprising nanoparticles. The method uses the step of decomposing a carbon source gas to form carbon fragments which then recombine at the metal-free catalyst nanoparticles (14) to grow carbon nanotubes (16). The method according to embodiments of the invention leads to carbon nanotubes (16) which do not comprise metal impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Caroline Whelan, Santiago Cruz Esconjauregui
  • Publication number: 20090243103
    Abstract: A method is provided for incorporating zeolite crystals in patterned structures, the zeolite crystals having pores (channels) with an orientation which is defined by the topology of the zeolite crystal type and the geometry of the patterned structure, resulting in pores parallel with the length axis of the patterned structures. The patterned structures may be vias (vertical contacts) and trenches (horizontal lines) in a semiconductor substrate. These zeolite crystals can advantageously be used for dense and aligned nanocarbon growth or in other words growth of carbon nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes (CNT) within the pores of the zeolite structure. The growth of CNT is achieved within the porous structure of the zeolite crystals whereby the pores can be defined as confined spaces (channels) in nanometer dimensions acting as a micro-reactor for CNT growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicants: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum vzw (IMEC), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, K.U. Leuven R&D
    Inventors: Pierre Jacobs, Bert Sels, Jasper Van Noyen, Caroline Whelan, Karen Maex, Filip de Clippel
  • Publication number: 20090131245
    Abstract: A method for forming catalyst nanoparticles on a substrate and a method for forming elongate nanostructures on a substrate using the nanoparticles as a catalyst are provided. The methods may advantageously be used in, for example, semiconductor processing. The methods are scalable and fully compatible with existing semiconductor processing technology. Furthermore, the methods allow forming catalyst particles and elongate nanostructures at predetermined locations on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)
    Inventors: Santiago Cruz Esconjauregui, Caroline Whelan
  • Publication number: 20080105979
    Abstract: A method for selective deposition of self-assembled monolayers to the surface of a substrate for use as a diffusion barrier layer in interconnect structures is provided comprising the steps of depositing a first self-assembled monolayer to said surface, depositing a second self-assembled monolayer to the non-covered parts of said surface and subsequently heating said substrate to remove the first self-assembled monolayer. The method of selective deposition of self-assembled monolayers is applied for the use as diffusion barrier layers in a (dual) damascene structure for integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicants: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC), Texas Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Caroline Whelan, Victor Sutcliffe
  • Patent number: 7368377
    Abstract: A method for selective deposition of self-assembled monolayers to the surface of a substrate for use as a diffusion barrier layer in interconnect structures is provided comprising the steps of depositing a first self-assembled monolayer to said surface, depositing a second self-assembled monolayer to the non-covered parts of said surface and subsequently heating said substrate to remove the first self-assembled monolayer. The method of selective deposition of self-assembled monolayers is applied for the use as diffusion barrier layers in a (dual) damascene structure for integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignees: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC) vzw, Texas Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Caroline Whelan, Victor Sutcliffe
  • Publication number: 20060128142
    Abstract: A method for selective deposition of self-assembled monolayers to the surface of a substrate for use as a diffusion barrier layer in interconnect structures is provided comprising the steps of depositing a first self-assembled monolayer to said surface, depositing a second self-assembled monolayer to the non-covered parts of said surface and subsequently heating said substrate to remove the first self-assembled monolayer. The method of selective deposition of self-assembled monolayers is applied for the use as diffusion barrier layers in a (dual) damascene structure for integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Caroline Whelan, Victor Sutcliffe