Patents by Inventor Erich E. Kunhardt

Erich E. Kunhardt 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: 6879103
    Abstract: A glow plasma discharge device having an electrode (20, 40) covered with perforated dielectric (30) is disclose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Erich E. Kunhardt, Kurt H. Becker
  • Patent number: 6818193
    Abstract: A plasma reactor including a first dielectric having at least one capillary defined therethrough, and a segmented electrode including a plurality of electrode segments, each electrode segment is disposed proximate an associated capillary. Each electrode segment may be formed in different shapes, for example, a pin, stud, washer, ring, or disk. The electrode segment may be hollow, solid, or made from a porous material. The reactor may include a second electrode and dielectric with the first and second dielectrics separated by a predetermined distance to form a channel therebetween into which the plasma exiting from the capillaries in the first dielectric is discharged. The fluid to be treated is passed through the channel and exposed to the plasma discharge. If the electrode segment is hollow or made of a porous material, then the fluid to be treated may be fed into the capillaries in the first dielectric and exposed therein to the maximum plasma density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignees: Plasmasol Corporation, Stevens Institute of Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Christos Christodoulatos, George Korfiatis, Richard Crowe, Erich E Kunhardt
  • Patent number: 6580217
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a plasma display panel device and a method of fabricating the same including first and second substrates, a first electrode on the first substrate, a second electrode on the second substrate, a tape material on the second substrate including the second electrode, a plurality of third electrodes completely buried in the tape material, a plurality of barrier ribs connecting the first and second substrates formed on the second substrate, a UV-visible conversion layer on the second substrate including the second substrate between the barrier ribs, and a discharge chamber where discharge occurs between the first and second substrates, wherein the discharge chamber faces toward the second electrode through a single row of one or more capillaries formed in the tape material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignees: Plasmion Displays LLC, The Trustees of Stevens Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Steven Kim, Erich E. Kunhardt, Seok-Kyun Song, Bhum-Jae Shin, Sooho Park
  • Patent number: 6548957
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a plasma display panel device and a method of fabricating the same including first and second substrates, a first electrode on the first substrate, a second electrode on the second substrate, a dielectric layer on the second substrate including the second electrode, a plurality of third electrodes completely buried in the dielectric layer, a plurality of barrier ribs connecting the first and second substrates formed on the second substrate, a UV-visible conversion layer on the second substrate including the second substrate between the barrier ribs, and a discharge chamber where discharge occurs between the first and second substrates, wherein the discharge chamber faces toward the second electrode through a single row of one or more capillaries formed in the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Plasmion Displays LLC
    Inventors: Steven Kim, Erich E. Kunhardt, Seok-Kyun Song, Bhum-Jae Shin, Sooho Park
  • Patent number: 6509689
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a plasma display panel and a method of fabricating the same. The plasma display panel of the present invention includes a first electrode on the first substrate, a first dielectric layer on the first substrate including the first electrode, a plurality of second electrodes completely buried in the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer including the first electrode, a third dielectric layer on the second substrate, a plurality of UV visible photon conversion layers on the third dielectric layer, a plurality of barrier ribs between each of the UV visible photon conversion layers and connecting the first and second substrates, and a discharge chamber between the first and second substrates defined by the barrier ribs, wherein the first dielectric layer includes at least one trench type discharge space exposing a portion of the first electrode to the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignees: Plasmion Displays, LLC, The Trustees of Stevens Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Steven Kim, Erich E. Kunhardt, Seok-Kyun Song, Bhum-Jae Shin, Sooho Park
  • Patent number: 6475049
    Abstract: The present invention provides a capillary electrode discharge plasma display panel device and method of fabricating the same including first and second substrates a first electrode on the first substrate, a second electrode on the second substrate, a pair of barrier ribs connecting the first and second substrates, a discharge charge chamber between the first and second substrates defined by the barrier ribs, and a dielectric layer on the first substrate including the first electrode, the dielectric layer having a capillary to provide a steady state UV emission in the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Plasmion Displays, LLC
    Inventors: Seong I. Kim, Erich E. Kunhardt
  • Publication number: 20020047521
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a plasma display panel device and a method of fabricating the same including first and second substrates, a first electrode on the first substrate, a second electrode on the second substrate, a tape material on the second substrate including the second electrode, a plurality of third electrodes completely buried in the tape material, a plurality of barrier ribs connecting the first and second substrates formed on the second substrate, a UV-visible conversion layer on the second substrate including the second substrate between the barrier ribs, and a discharge chamber where discharge occurs between the first and second substrates, wherein the discharge chamber faces toward the second electrode through a single row of one or more capillaries formed in the tape material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Applicant: Plasmion Displays LLC
    Inventors: Steven Kim, Erich E. Kunhardt, Seok-Kyun Song, Bhum-Jae Shin, Sooho park
  • Publication number: 20020017863
    Abstract: The present invention provides a capillary electrode discharge plasma display panel device and method of fabricating the same including first and second substrates a first electrode on the first substrate, a second electrode on the second substrate, a pair of barrier ribs connecting the first and second substrates, a discharge charge chamber between the first and second substrates defined by the barrier ribs, and a dielectric layer on the first substrate including the first electrode, the dielectric layer having a capillary to provide a steady state UV emission in the discharge chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: Plasmion Corporation
    Inventors: Seong I. Kim, Erich E. Kunhardt
  • Publication number: 20010031234
    Abstract: A plasma reactor including a first dielectric having at least one capillary defined therethrough, and a segmented electrode including a plurality of electrode segments, each electrode segment is disposed proximate an associated capillary. Each electrode segment may be formed in different shapes, for example, a pin, stud, washer, ring, or disk. The electrode segment may be hollow, solid, or made from a porous material. The reactor may include a second electrode and dielectric with the first and second dielectrics separated by a predetermined distance to form a channel therebetween into which the plasma exiting from the capillaries in the first dielectric is discharged. The fluid to be treated is passed through the channel and exposed to the plasma discharge. If the electrode segment is hollow or made of a porous material, then the fluid to be treated may be fed into the capillaries in the first dielectric and exposed therein to the maximum plasma density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Christos Christodoulatos, George Korfiatis, Richard Crowe, Erich E. Kunhardt
  • Patent number: 6255777
    Abstract: The present invention provides a capillary electrode discharge plasma display panel device and method of fabricating the same including first and second substrates a first electrode on the first substrate, a second electrode on the second substrate, a pair of barrier ribs connecting the first and second substrates, a discharge charge chamber between the first and second substrates defined by the barrier ribs, and a dielectric layer on the first substrate including the first electrode, the dielectric layer having a capillary to provide a steady state UV emission in the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Plasmion Corporation
    Inventors: Seong I. Kim, Erich E. Kunhardt
  • Patent number: 6247671
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for impingement on the sonic wave produced by a supersonic gas flow and the gas flow in a boundary layer of a gas that interfaces with a solid substrate comprising providing a source of a mixture of ions and electrons, introducing said ions and electrons into the region behind the sonic wave and ahead of the boundary layer, separating said ions and said electrons in said region maintaining a substantial portion of said ions proximate said region and maintaining a substantial portion of said electrons remote from said region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Accurate Automation Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E Saeks, Erich E Kunhardt, Lindley A Carlton, Robert M Pap
  • Patent number: 6178275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the generation, manipulation and detection of plasmon, and/or solitons, both linear and non linear, in semi-conductor heterostructures. The apparatus includes a galium arsonide substrate, a two-dimensional electron gas well (2-DEG) (160) form thereon and a thin layer of Aluminum galium arsonide (AlGaAs) placed thereover. Launcher (130) and receiver lines (132, 134, 136) are formed on the AlGaAs layer. Each of the launcher (130) and receiver lines (132, 134, 136) includes coplanar waveguides which preferably consist of two to three metal lines. One line is interconnected with a photoconductive switch (120) and can be pulsed. The other line or lines are grounded. Pulsing the line forms an electric field which can be detected. Between the launcher and (130) and the receiver (140), the plasmon can be modulated by one or more additional gates line extending over the 2-DEG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Annita Nerses, Erich E. Kunhardt
  • Patent number: 6147452
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stabilizing glow plasma discharges by suppressing the transition from glow-to-arc includes a perforated or apertured dielectric plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and one or more holes extending therethrough. The perforated dielectric plate is positioned over the cathode. Each of the holes acts as a separate active current limiting micro-channel that prevents the overall current density from increasing above the threshold for the glow-to-arc transition. This allows for a stable glow discharge to be maintained for a wide range of operating pressures (up to atmospheric pressures) and in a wide range of electric fields include DC and RF fields of varying strength. In another embodiment, the device comprises an AC glow plasma discharge device wherein an apertured dielectric is placed over an electrode. The apertured dielectric may have one or more apertures or capillaries extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Erich E. Kunhardt, Kurt H. Becker
  • Patent number: 6005349
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stabilizing glow plasma discharges by suppressing the transition from glow-to-arc includes a perforated dielectric plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and a plurality of holes extending therethrough. The perforated dielectric plate is positioned over the cathode. Each of the holes acts as a separate active current limiting micro-channel that prevents the overall current density from increasing above the threshold for the glow-to-arc transition. This allows for a stable glow discharge to be maintained for a wide range of operating pressures (up to atmospheric pressures) and in a wide range of electric fields include DC and RF fields of varying strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Erich E. Kunhardt, Kurt H. Becker
  • Patent number: 5872426
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stabilizing glow plasma discharges by suppressing the transition from glow-to-arc includes a perforated dielectric plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and a plurality of holes extending therethrough. The perforated dielectric plate is positioned over the cathode. Each of the holes acts as a separate active current limiting micro-channel that prevents the overall current density from increasing above the threshold for the glow-to-arc transition. This allows for a stable glow discharge to be maintained for a wide range of operating pressures (up to atmospheric pressures) and in a wide range of electric fields include DC and RF fields of varying strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Stevens Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Erich E. Kunhardt, Kurt H. Becker