Patents by Inventor Steven C. McCool
Steven C. McCool 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).
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Patent number: 10986698Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally processing material on a low-temperature substrate using pulsed light from a flash lamp is disclosed. Material is conveyed past the flash lamp. The pulses of light are formed by Pulse Width Modulation to tailor the shape of the pulses to generate a thermal gradient in the substrate that enables the material to be heated beyond the maximum working temperature of the substrate without damage. Its shaped pulse rate is synchronized to the conveyance speed of a conveyance system. By using the information from a feedback sensor, the thermal gradient is recalculated to alter the shape of the pulses in real time for optimizing subsequent curings in real time without powering down the curing apparatus. The combined pulse shaping and synchronization allow a temperature profile to be tailored in the sample that is uniformly cured in the conveyance direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2014Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: NCC NANO, LLCInventors: Kurt A. Schroder, Steven C. McCool, Douglas K. Jackson
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Patent number: 10422578Abstract: An apparatus for curing thin films is disclosed. The apparatus includes a computer control system, a conveyance system, a flashlamp controller, and a flashlamp. The curing apparatus also includes a high average power, low-inductance cable connected between the flashlamp controller and the flashlamp. The low-inductance cable is smaller in diameter and is more flexible than the prior art and includes at least one liquid cooling line and multiple forward and return path wires interleaved in a regular hexagonal closed packed configuration such that every wire is adjacent to at least one cooling line and at least one wire of opposite polarity.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: NCC NANO, PLLCInventors: Douglas K. Jackson, Kurt A. Schroder, Steven C. McCool
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Publication number: 20190154334Abstract: An apparatus for curing thin films is disclosed. The apparatus includes a computer control system, a conveyance system, a flashlamp controller, and a flashlamp. The curing apparatus also includes a high average power, low-inductance cable connected between the flashlamp controller and the flashlamp. The low-inductance cable is smaller in diameter and is more flexible than the prior art and includes at least one liquid cooling line and multiple forward and return path wires interleaved in a regular hexagonal closed packed configuration such that every wire is adjacent to at least one cooling line and at least one wire of opposite polarity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2017Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: DOUGLAS K. JACKSON, KURT A. SCHRODER, STEVEN C. McCOOL
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Patent number: 10244636Abstract: A composite film is disclosed. The composite film includes a substrate, a thermal barrier layer located on top of the substrate, wherein the thermal barrier layer has a higher decomposition temperature than the substrate, and a thin film located on top of the thermal barrier layer, wherein the thin film is to be thermally processed by a pulsed light from a flashlamp.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: NCC NANO, LLCInventors: Kurt A Schroder, Karl M Martin, Doug K. Jackson, Steven C McCool
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Patent number: 10150230Abstract: A method for drying a thin film stack having a thin film located on a substrate is disclosed. The thin film stack is conveyed past a flashlamp during which the thin film stack is irradiated with a composite light pulse from the flashlamp. The composite light pulse is composed of multiple micropulses. The time duration of the composite light pulse is shorter than a total thermal equilibration time of the thin film stack. In addition, when the thin film stack is being conveyed past the flashlamp, the thin film stack should move less than 10% of the length of the irradiating area in the conveyance direction during the delivery of the composite light pulse.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: NCC NANO, LLCInventors: Kurt A. Schroder, Ian M. Rawson, Steven C. McCool, Andrew E. Edd, Ronald I. Dass
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Publication number: 20170303403Abstract: A composite film is disclosed. The composite film includes a substrate, a thermal barrier layer located on top of the substrate, wherein the thermal barrier layer has a higher decomposition temperature than the substrate, and a thin film located on top of the thermal barrier layer, wherein the thin film is to be thermally processed by a pulsed light from a flashlamp.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: KURT A SCHRODER, KARL M MARTIN, DOUG K. JACKSON, STEVEN C MCCOOL
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Patent number: 9643208Abstract: A curing apparatus for thermally processing thin films on low-temperature substrates at high speeds is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a strobe head, a strobe control module and a conveyor control module. The strobe control module controls the power, duration and repetition rate of a set of pulses generated by a flash lamp on the strobe head. The conveyor control module along with the strobe control module provide real-time synchronization between the repetition rate of the set of pulses and the speed at which the substrate is being moved under the strobe head, according to the speed information.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: NCC NANO, LLCInventors: Kurt A Schroder, Karl M Martin, Doug K. Jackson, Steven C McCool
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Publication number: 20150298167Abstract: A curing apparatus for thermally processing thin films on low-temperature substrates at high speeds is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a strobe head, a strobe control module and a conveyor control module. The strobe control module controls the power, duration and repetition rate of a set of pulses generated by a flash lamp on the strobe head. The conveyor control module along with the strobe control module provide real-time synchronization between the repetition rate of the set of pulses and the speed at which the substrate is being moved under the strobe head, according to the speed information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2015Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: KURT A. SCHRODER, KARL M. MARTIN, DOUG K. JACKSON, STEVEN C. MCCOOL
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Patent number: 9095874Abstract: A curing apparatus for thermally processing thin films on low-temperature substrates at high speeds is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a strobe head, a strobe control module and a conveyor control module. The strobe control module controls the power, duration and repetition rate of a set of pulses generated by a flash lamp on the strobe head. The conveyor control module along with the strobe control module provide real-time synchronization between the repetition rate of the set of pulses and the speed at which the substrate is being moved under the strobe head, according to the speed information.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: NCC NANO, LLCInventors: Kurt A Schroder, Karl M Martin, Doug K. Jackson, Steven C McCool
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Publication number: 20150055943Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally processing material on a low-temperature substrate using pulsed light from a flash lamp is disclosed. Material is conveyed past the flash lamp. The pulses of light are formed by Pulse Width Modulation to tailor the shape of the pulses to generate a thermal gradient in the substrate that enables the material to be heated beyond the maximum working temperature of the substrate without damage. Its shaped pulse rate is synchronized to the conveyance speed of a conveyance system. By using the information from a feedback sensor, the thermal gradient is recalculated to alter the shape of the pulses in real time for optimizing subsequent curings in real time without powering down the curing apparatus. The combined pulse shaping and synchronization allow a temperature profile to be tailored in the sample that is uniformly cured in the conveyance direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: NCC NANO, LLCInventors: KURT A. SCHRODER, STEVEN C. MCCOOL, DOUGLAS K. JACKSON
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Patent number: 8907258Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally processing material on a low-temperature substrate using pulsed light from a flash lamp is disclosed. Material is conveyed past the flash lamp. The pulses of light are formed by Pulse Width Modulation to tailor the shape of the pulses to generate a thermal gradient in the substrate that enables the material to be heated beyond the maximum working temperature of the substrate without damage. Its shaped pulse rate is synchronized to the conveyance speed of a conveyance system. By using the information from a feedback sensor, the thermal gradient is recalculated to alter the shape of the pulses in real time for optimizing subsequent curings in real time without powering down the curing apparatus. The combined pulse shaping and synchronization allow a temperature profile to be tailored in the sample that is uniformly cured in the conveyance direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: NCC Nano, LLCInventors: Kurt A. Schroder, Steven C. McCool, Douglas K. Jackson
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Publication number: 20140145092Abstract: A curing apparatus for thermally processing thin films on low-temperature substrates at high speeds is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a strobe head, a strobe control module and a conveyor control module. The strobe control module controls the power, duration and repetition rate of a set of pulses generated by a flash lamp on the strobe head. The conveyor control module along with the strobe control module provide real-time synchronization between the repetition rate of the set of pulses and the speed at which the substrate is being moved under the strobe head, according to the speed information.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2014Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: NCC NANO, LLCInventors: KURT A. SCHRODER, KARL M. MARTIN, DOUG K. JACKSON, STEVEN C. MCCOOL
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Patent number: 8674618Abstract: A curing apparatus for thermally processing thin films on low-temperature substrates at high speeds is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a strobe head, a strobe control module and a conveyor control module. The strobe control module controls the power, duration and repetition rate of a set of pulses generated by a flash lamp on the strobe head. The conveyor control module along with the strobe control module provide real-time synchronization between the repetition rate of the set of pulses and the speed at which the substrate is being moved under the strobe head, according to the speed information.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: NCC Nano, LLCInventors: Kurt A. Shroder, Karl M. Martin, Doug K. Jackson, Steven C. McCool
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Patent number: 8410712Abstract: A curing apparatus for thermally processing thin films on low-temperature substrates at high speeds is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a strobe head, a strobe control module and a conveyor control module. The strobe control module controls the power, duration and repetition rate of a set of pulses generated by a flash lamp on the strobe head. The conveyor control module along with the strobe control module provide real-time synchronization between the repetition rate of the set of pulses and the speed at which the substrate is being moved under the strobe head, according to the speed information.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2008Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: NCC Nano, LLCInventors: Kurt A. Schroder, Karl M. Martin, Doug K. Jackson, Steven C. McCool
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Publication number: 20120255192Abstract: A method for drying a thin film stack having a thin film located on a substrate is disclosed. The thin film stack is conveyed past a flashlamp during which the thin film stack is irradiated with a composite light pulse from the flashlamp. The composite light pulse is composed of multiple micropulses. The time duration of the composite light pulse is shorter than a total thermal equilibration time of the thin film stack. In addition, when the thin film stack is being conveyed past the flashlamp, the thin film stack should move less than 10% of the length of the irradiating area in the conveyance direction during the delivery of the composite light pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Inventors: Kurt A. Schroder, Ian M. Rawson, Steven C. McCool, Andrew E. Edd, Ronald I. Dass
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Publication number: 20110247851Abstract: An apparatus for curing thin films is disclosed. The apparatus includes a computer control system, a conveyance system, a flashlamp controller, and a flashlamp. The curing apparatus also includes a high average power, low-inductance cable connected between the flashlamp controller and the flashlamp. The low-inductance cable is smaller in diameter and is more flexible than the prior art and includes at least one liquid cooling line and multiple forward and return path wires interleaved in a regular hexagonal closed packed configuration such that every wire is adjacent to at least one cooling line and at least one wire of opposite polarity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: NCC NANO, LLCInventors: DOUGLAS K. JACKSON, KURT A. SCHRODER, STEVEN C. McCOOL
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Publication number: 20110248026Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally processing material on a low-temperature substrate using pulsed light from a flash lamp is disclosed. Material is conveyed past the flash lamp. The pulses of light are formed by Pulse Width Modulation to tailor the shape of the pulses to generate a thermal gradient in the substrate that enables the material to be heated beyond the maximum working temperature of the substrate without damage. Its shaped pulse rate is synchronized to the conveyance speed of a conveyance system. By using the information from a feedback sensor, the thermal gradient is recalculated to alter the shape of the pulses in real time for optimizing subsequent curings in real time without powering down the curing apparatus. The combined pulse shaping and synchronization allow a temperature profile to be tailored in the sample that is uniformly cured in the conveyance direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: NCC NANO, LLCInventors: KURT A. SCHRODER, STEVEN C. McCOOL, DOUGLAS K. JACKSON
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Publication number: 20100007285Abstract: A curing apparatus for thermally processing thin films on low-temperature substrates at high speeds is disclosed. The curing apparatus includes a strobe head, a strobe control module and a conveyor control module. The strobe control module controls the power, duration and repetition rate of a set of pulses generated by a flash lamp on the strobe head. The conveyor control module along with the strobe control module provide real-time synchronization between the repetition rate of the set of pulses and the speed at which the substrate is being moved under the strobe head, according to the speed information.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2008Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventors: KURT A. SCHRODER, KARL M. MARTIN, DOUG K. JACKSON, STEVEN C. McCOOL
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Patent number: 7543170Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling the safety system of equipment, which is used to insure personnel safety and cause the system to “fail safe” in the event of computer or software failure, the failure of a critical piece of hardware, or the opening of any interlock indicating, for example, the unexpected entry of personnel into a dangerous area. Provides an integrated system of timed status monitoring hardware and software for use in a distributed-network computer-controlled environment. The hardware piece of this system includes a digital I/O computer add-on card, or other hardware supporting high-speed alternating state telemetry, and a custom circuit card. Such a circuit, when used within the overall control system can monitor the state of interlock switches and monitor the status of the computer control system(s). Such a safety circuit can then cause a shutdown appropriate to the failure detected.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2004Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Novacentrix Corp.Inventors: Rens Ross, Steven C. McCool
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Patent number: 7477500Abstract: A power and signal distribution system is adaptable to existing building areas and provides a shielded, low resistance and low inductance grounding structure. The distribution system comprises two or more electrically conductive enclosed channels; one for lower current signals and power distribution and one for high current signals and power distribution. The enclosed channels are electrically coupled and are configured as crosses or spokes with branches extending substantially over the length and width of the building area. The earth ground for the building has a direct connection to one of the enclosures. The ground of each device in the building area is directly connected to the enclosed channels by a low impedance connection. Cables are routed through the enclosures and extended to the devices. The walls of the enclosed channels have a thickness that is greater than the skin depth of a predetermined low frequency.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: NovaCentrix Corp.Inventors: Stephen James Schmidt, Steven C. McCool