Patents by Inventor Ian F. Haehnlein

Ian F. Haehnlein 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: 12009192
    Abstract: A system and associated method are described for depositing high-quality films for providing a coating on a three-dimensional surface such as an internal surface of a bellows structure. The system includes a magnetic array comprising multiple sets of magnets arranged to have Hall-Effect regions that run lengthwise along a sputter target. The system further includes an elongated sputtering electrode material tube surrounding the magnetic array comprising multiple sets of magnets arranged to have Hall-Effect regions that run lengthwise along the sputter target. During operation, the system generates and controls ion flux for direct current high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. During operation logic circuitry issues a control signal to control a kick pulse property of a sustained positive voltage kick pulse taken from the group consisting of: onset delay, amplitude and duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Starfire Industries LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Houlahan, Jr., Daniel P. Menet, Ian F. Haehnlein, Ivan A. Shchelkanov, Robert A. Stubbers, Brian E. Jurczyk
  • Publication number: 20230360898
    Abstract: A system and associated method are described. The system includes a controlled power supply for generating electrical pulses for a plasma discharge source. The controlled power supply includes an output pulse rail, a direct current power source, and energy storage capacitors, coupled to the direct current power source. The energy storage capacitors are configured to supply: a main negative rail voltage, a positive kick rail voltage, and at least one intermediate rail voltage. A controlled pulse power transistor group includes: a plurality of transistors interposed between the energy storage capacitors and the output pulse rail, and a transmission control configured to control power transmission. The transmission control is configured to specify a positive kick pulse waveform defined by user-specified parameters that configure operation of the plurality of transistors to control timing and voltage of the positive kick rail voltage and the at least one intermediate rail voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Robert A. Stubbers, Brian E. Jurczyk, Ian F. Haehnlein, Elizabeth Atkinson, Thomas J. Houlahan, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220230859
    Abstract: A radial magnetron system for plasma surface modification and deposition of high-quality coatings for multi-dimensional structures is described. The system includes an axial electrode, a target material disposed on a portion of the axial electrode, an applied potential from an external electrical power source, and a high-current contact attached to the axial electrode for the applied potential. The system further includes a primary permanent magnet assembly comprising individual magnetic material elements configured to produce a target-region magnetic field for generating a Hall-effect dense plasma region under application of the applied potential to the axial electrode, and a magnet substrate that supports the primary permanent magnet assembly within the axial electrode. The magnet substrate is configured to provide a passageway for cooling the primary permanent magnet assembly and the axial electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas J. Houlahan, JR., Daniel P. Menet, Ian F. Haehnlein, Robert A. Stubbers, Brian E. Jurczyk
  • Publication number: 20210327694
    Abstract: A system and associated method are described for depositing high-quality films for providing a coating on a three-dimensional surface such as an internal surface of a bellows structure. The system includes a magnetic array comprising multiple sets of magnets arranged to have Hall-Effect regions that run lengthwise along a sputter target. The system further includes an elongated sputtering electrode material tube surrounding the magnetic array comprising multiple sets of magnets arranged to have Hall-Effect regions that run lengthwise along the sputter target. During operation, the system generates and controls ion flux for direct current high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. During operation logic circuitry issues a control signal to control a kick pulse property of a sustained positive voltage kick pulse taken from the group consisting of: onset delay, amplitude and duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas J. Houlahan, JR., Daniel P. Menet, Ian F. Haehnlein, Ivan A. Shchelkanov, Robert A. Stubbers, Brian E. Jurczyk
  • Patent number: 11008650
    Abstract: A system and associated method are described for depositing high-quality films for providing a nanolayered coating on a three-dimensional surface. The system includes a magnetic array comprising multiple sets of magnets arranged to have Hall-Effect regions that run lengthwise along a sputter target. The system further includes an elongated sputtering electrode material tube surrounding the magnetic array comprising multiple sets of magnets arranged to have Hall-Effect regions that run lengthwise along the sputter target. During operation, the system generates and controls ion flux for direct current high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. During operation logic circuitry issues a control signal to control a kick pulse property of a sustained positive voltage kick pulse taken from the group consisting of: onset delay, amplitude and duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Starfire Industries LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Houlahan, Jr., Daniel P. Menet, Ian F. Haehnlein, Ivan A. Shchelkanov, Robert A. Stubbers, Brian E. Jurczyk
  • Publication number: 20200377995
    Abstract: A system and associated method are described for depositing high-quality films for providing a nanolayered coating on a three-dimensional surface. The system includes a magnetic array comprising multiple sets of magnets arranged to have Hall-Effect regions that run lengthwise along a sputter target. The system further includes an elongated sputtering electrode material tube surrounding the magnetic array comprising multiple sets of magnets arranged to have Hall-Effect regions that run lengthwise along the sputter target. During operation, the system generates and controls ion flux for direct current high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. During operation logic circuitry issues a control signal to control a kick pulse property of a sustained positive voltage kick pulse taken from the group consisting of: onset delay, amplitude and duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. Houlahan, JR., Daniel P. Menet, Ian F. Haehnlein, Ivan A. Shchelkanov, Robert A. Stubbers, Brian E. Jurczyk
  • Publication number: 20200273684
    Abstract: A system is described that includes a sputter target and a magnetic element array including multiple sets of magnets arranged to have a Hall-Effect region that extends along a length of the sputter target. The elongated sputtering electrode material tube is interposed between the magnetic array and an object to be deposited with a sputtered material from the sputter target. During a direct current high-power impulse magnetron sputtering operation, the system performs a depositing on a surface of the object by generating and controlling an ion and neutral particle flux by: providing a vacuum apparatus containing a sputter target holder electrode; first generating a high-power pulsed plasma magnetron discharge with a high-current negative direct current (DC) pulse to the sputter a target holder electrode; and second generating a configurable positive voltage kick pulse to the sputter target holder electrode after terminating the negative DC pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Starfire Industries LLC
    Inventors: Brian E. Jurczyk, Robert A. Stubbers, Ivan Shchelkanov, Thomas James Houlahan, JR., Ian F. Haehnlein