Superconductor Next To Superconductor Patents (Class 505/234)
  • Patent number: 11659776
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high temperature-superconducting wire having a superconducting layer laminated thereon and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes: preparing a pair of superconducting wires each of which includes a metal substrate, a buffer layer, a superconducting layer, and a protective layer; laminating the pair of superconducting wires to allow respective protective layers to face each other; performing thermal treatment to the laminated superconducting wires to join the protective layers together; separating the metal substrate and the buffer layer from the superconducting layer on one side; and forming a protective layer on an upper part of the superconducting layer having a surface exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventors: Hong Soo Ha, Sang Soo Oh, Sung Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 10804017
    Abstract: There is set forth herein a superconducting lead assembly comprising: a positive superconducting wire; a negative superconducting wire, wherein the positive superconducting wire is configured to conduct inflow current to a cryogenic apparatus and wherein the negative superconducting wire is configured to conduct outflow current away from the cryogenic apparatus; and an electrically insulating separator, wherein the positive superconducting wire and the negative superconducting wire are arranged proximately one another and on opposite sides of the electrically insulating separator for cancellation of electromagnetic forces attributable to current flowing simultaneously in opposite directions within the positive superconducting wire and the negative superconducting wire, and wherein a length of the superconducting lead assembly is flexible. In one embodiment the positive superconducting wire and the negative superconducting wire can include high temperature superconducting (HTS) material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Susumu Mine, Anbo Wu, Minfeng Xu
  • Patent number: 10042017
    Abstract: An NMR spectrometer (131) with an NMR magnet coil (91) having windings of a conductor with a superconducting structure (1), which have a plurality of band-segments (2, 2a, 7a-7e, 8a-8d, 15) made of band-shaped superconductor. Each band-segment (2, 2a, 7a-7e, 8a-8d, 15) has a flexible substrate (3) and a superconducting layer (4) deposited thereon, wherein the band-segments (2, 2a, 7a-7e, 8a-8d, 15) each have a length of 20 m or more. At least one of the band-segments (2, 2a, 7a-7e, 8a-8d, 15) forms a linked band-segment (2, 2a), and each linked band-segment (2, 2a) is connected to at least two further band-segments (7a-7e) in such a way that the combined further band-segments (7a-7e) overlap with at least 95% of the total length (L) of the linked band-segment (2, 2a). The magnet coil generates particularly high magnetic fields in a sample volume and has a low drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Roth, Arne Kasten, Klaus Schlenga, Alexander Usoskin
  • Patent number: 9941032
    Abstract: Provided is a low-resistance connection body for a high-temperature superconducting wire, in which a high-temperature superconducting bulk body and a high-temperature superconducting wire including a high-temperature superconducting layer are connected to each other, wherein a melting point of the high-temperature superconducting layer is higher than a melting point of the high-temperature superconducting bulk body; the high-temperature superconducting layer and the high-temperature superconducting bulk body are in contact at a connection site of the high-temperature superconducting wire and the high-temperature superconducting bulk body; and a surface of the high-temperature superconducting bulk body that is in contact with the high-temperature superconducting layer is crystallized due to crystal growth. Two high-temperature superconducting wires can be connected, with low resistance, through connection of the two high-temperature superconducting wires to one high-temperature superconducting bulk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Riken
    Inventors: Xinzhe Jin, Hideaki Maeda, Yoshinori Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 9177698
    Abstract: An arrangement for electrically conductively connecting two superconductive strip-shaped electrical conductors (1, 2) having at least approximately the same width, where the two conductors (1, 2) rest against each other with their end faces against each other in a connecting point (V). A strip (6) of superconductive material is soldered to the two conductors (1, 2), where the strip extends beyond both conductors so as to cover the connecting point (V). A strip (6) is used which has, only in the area of the connecting point (V) between the two conductors (1, 2), at least approximately the same width as the conductors, and where the strip narrows on both sides of the connecting point (V) and facing away from the connecting point (V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Rainer Soika, Mark Stemmle
  • Publication number: 20140162884
    Abstract: Described is a superconductive layered structure and an article including this superconductive layered structure on a substrate structure. The superconductive layered structure comprises a stack including at least one bi-layered assembly formed by first and second layers of similar superconducting material compositions, the second layer being superconductive at predetermined temperature condition, the first layer being a substantially thin layer and having a c lattice parameter selected in accordance with those of the substrate structure and the second layer, such that said first layer is non-superconductive at said predetermined temperature condition thereby allowing the second superconductive layer to be desirably thick to provide high critical current density of the superconductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd.
    Inventors: Guy DEUTSCHER, Mishael AZOULAY, Boaz ALMOG
  • Patent number: 8716188
    Abstract: A superconducting article includes first and second stacked conductor segments. The first stacked conductor segment includes first and second superconductive segments and has a nominal thickness tn1. The second stacked conductor segment includes third and forth superconductive segments and has a nominal thickness tn2. The superconducting article further includes a joint region comprising a first splice connecting the first and third superconductive segments together and a second splice connecting the second and forth superconductive segments together. The first splice is adjacent to and bridged portions of the first and third superconductive segments along at least a portion of the joint region, and the second splice is adjacent to and bridged portions of the second and forth superconductive segments along at least a portion of the joint region. The joint region has a thickness tjr, wherein tjr is not greater than at least one of 1.8tn1 and 1.8tn2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: SuperPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Yuan Xie, Kenneth P. Lenseth, Justin Waterman, Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Patent number: 8623788
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a high temperature superconductor having a doped, nanoparticulate pinning structure. The method includes providing a nanoparticulate pinning material, providing a cuprate material, doping the nanoparticulate pinning material with a dopant to form a doped nanoparticulate material, depositing a layer of the cuprate material on a substrate, and depositing a layer of the doped nanoparticulate material on the layer of cuprate material. The invention also provides a high temperature superconductor (HTS) having a doped, nanoparticulate pinning structure including a plurality of layers of a cuprate material and a plurality of layers of a doped nanoparticulate pinning material. At least one layer of the doped nanoparticulate pinning material is stacked between two layers of the cuprate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Paul N. Barnes, Timothy J. Haugan
  • Patent number: 8437818
    Abstract: Superconducting integrated circuits require several wiring layers to distribute bias and signals across the circuit, which must cross each other both with and without contacts. All wiring lines and contacts must be fully superconducting, and in the prior art each wiring layer comprises a single metallic thin film. An alternative wiring layer is disclosed that comprises sequential layers of two or more different metals. Such a multi-metallic wiring layer may offer improved resistance to impurity diffusion, better surface passivation, and/or reduction of stress, beyond that which is attainable with a single-metallic wiring layer. The resulting process leads to improved margin and yield in an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of Josephson junctions. Several preferred embodiments are disclosed, for both planarized and non-planarized processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Hypres, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey K. Tolpygo, Denis Amparo, Richard Hunt, John Vivalda, Daniel Yohannes
  • Patent number: 8383552
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a high temperature superconductor having a doped, nanoparticulate pinning structure. The method includes providing a nanoparticulate pinning material, providing a cuprate material, doping the nanoparticulate pinning material with a dopant to form a doped nanoparticulate material, depositing a layer of the cuprate material on a substrate, and depositing a layer of the doped nanoparticulate material on the layer of cuprate material. The invention also provides a high temperature superconductor (HTS) having a doped, nanoparticulate pinning structure including a plurality of layers of a cuprate material and a plurality of layers of a doped nanoparticulate pinning material. At least one layer of the doped nanoparticulate pinning material is stacked between two layers of the cuprate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Paul N. Barnes, Timothy J. Haugan
  • Patent number: 8301214
    Abstract: Superconducting integrated circuits require several wiring layers to distribute bias and signals across the circuit, which must cross each other both with and without contacts. All wiring lines and contacts must be fully superconducting, and in the prior art each wiring layer comprises a single metallic thin film. An alternative wiring layer is disclosed that comprises sequential layers of two or more different metals. Such a multi-metallic wiring layer may offer improved resistance to impurity diffusion, better surface passivation, and/or reduction of stress, beyond that which is attainable with a single-metallic wiring layer. The resulting process leads to improved margin and yield in an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of Josephson junctions. Several preferred embodiments are disclosed, for both planarized and non-planarized processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Hypres, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey K. Tolpygo, Denis Amparo, Richard Hunt, John Vivalda, Daniel Yohannes
  • Patent number: 8263531
    Abstract: Under one aspect, a laminated, spliced superconductor wire includes a superconductor joint, which includes (i) first and second superconductor wires, each wire including a substrate, a superconductor layer overlying the substrate, and a cap layer overlying the superconductor layer; and (ii) a conductive bridge, the conductive bridge including a substrate, a superconductor layer overlying the substrate, and a cap layer overlying the superconductor layer, wherein the cap layer of the conductive bridge is in electrically conductive contact with a portion of the cap layer of each of the first and second superconductor wires through an electrically conductive bonding material. The spliced wire also includes (b) a stabilizer structure surrounding at least a portion of the superconductor joint, wherein the superconductor joint is in electrical contact with the stabilizer structure; and (c) a substantially nonporous electrically conductive filler, wherein the filler substantially surrounds the superconductor joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Otto, Eric R. Podtburg
  • Patent number: 8232232
    Abstract: An oxide target for laser vapor deposition, which is used when an oxide film is formed in a laser vapor deposition system, including: a fixed plate, an Ag-soldering layer bonded onto the fixed plate, an oxide-Ag mixed layer bonded onto the Ag-soldering layer; and an oxide layer bonded onto the oxide-Ag mixed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuomi Kakimoto
  • Patent number: 8216979
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconducting thin film material includes a vapor phase step of forming a superconducting layer by a vapor phase method and a liquid phase step of forming a superconducting layer by a liquid phase method so that the latter superconducting layer is in contact with the former superconducting layer. Preferably, the method further includes the step of forming an intermediate layer between the former superconducting layer and a metal substrate. The metal substrate is made of a metal, and preferably the intermediate layer is made of an oxide having a crystal structure of any of rock type, perovskite type and pyrochlore type, and the former superconducting layer and the latter superconducting layer both have an RE123 composition. Accordingly, the critical current value can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., International Superconducticvity Technology Center
    Inventors: Shuji Hahakura, Kazuya Ohmatsu, Munetsugu Ueyama, Katsuya Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20120172234
    Abstract: A superconductor is provided, including material having stacked first and second layers, each of the layers with a network of cations surrounded by oxygen anions. The material has an ilmenite crystal structure and a basic composition of type ABX3, where A and B are elements dominantly occupying the cation sites of the first and the second layers, correspondingly, at least one of the elements A and B being a transition metal, and X is an anion element dominantly occupying the anion sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Johannes Frantti, Yukari Fujioka
  • Publication number: 20120065074
    Abstract: A superconducting article includes first and second stacked conductor segments. The first stacked conductor segment includes first and second superconductive segments and has a nominal thickness tn1. The second stacked conductor segment includes third and forth superconductive segments and has a nominal thickness tn2. The superconducting article further includes a joint region comprising a first splice connecting the first and third superconductive segments together and a second splice connecting the second and forth superconductive segments together. The first splice is adjacent to and bridged portions of the first and third superconductive segments along at least a portion of the joint region, and the second splice is adjacent to and bridged portions of the second and forth superconductive segments along at least a portion of the joint region. The joint region has a thickness tjr, wherein tjr is not greater than at least one of 1.8 tn1 and 1.8 tn2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SUPERPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Yi-Yuan Xie, Kenneth P. Lenseth, Justin Waterman, Venkat Selvamanickam
  • Patent number: 8124568
    Abstract: An oxide superconductor with superconduction properties being improved by effectively introducing a pinning center thereinto and its fabrication method are disclosed. The superconductor has a high-crystallinity oxide superconductor film which is formed on a substrate with a <001> direction of crystal grain being oriented almost perpendicularly to the substrate and with (100) planes of neighboring crystal grains being oriented to form an oblique angle ranging from 0 to 4 degrees or 86 to 90 degrees. The film has a multilayer structure including a plurality of high-density magnetic field trap layers stacked in almost parallel to the substrate and a low-density magnetic field trap layer sandwiched therebetween. An average grain boundary width of the high-density trap layers in a cross-section horizontal to the substrate is 80 nm or less. The width is less than an average grain boundary width of the low-density trap layer in its cross-section horizontal to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mariko Hayashi, Takeshi Araki
  • Publication number: 20120035057
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus characterized by distinct operating modes are provided. A thin graphite material defined by graphene layers is supported on a silicon substrate. The graphite material is defined by edge sites at the interface with the silicon. The graphite material is characterized by electrical superconductive-like behavior at room-temperatures while electrical current flows there through in a first direction. The graphite material is further characterized by a transition to Ohmic behavior while electrical current flows there through in a second direction opposite to the first. Devices exhibiting diode-like behavior can be formed accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Alexandre Bratkovski, Iakov Kopelevitch
  • Publication number: 20120015816
    Abstract: A current terminal structure of a superconductor has a former, and a superconducting wire wound around the former in one or more layers and including a substrate and a superconducting layer formed on the substrate. A first layer superconducting wire wound around immediately above the former is arranged so that a substrate side thereof becomes outside and a superconducting layer side thereof becomes inside. A surface of the superconducting layer at an end of the first layer superconducting wire, which is directed toward the inside, and part of a surface of the superconducting layer of a connection superconducting wire, which is directed toward the outside, are faced and connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicants: INTERNATIONAL SUPERCONDUCTIVITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER, FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Masashi Yagi, Hirao Hirata, Mitsuo Suzuki, Shinichi Mukoyama, Yuh Shiohara
  • Patent number: 8030246
    Abstract: Under one aspect, a laminated, spliced superconductor wire includes a superconductor joint, which includes (i) first and second superconductor wires, each wire including a substrate, a superconductor layer overlying the substrate, and a cap layer overlying the superconductor layer; and (ii) a conductive bridge, the conductive bridge including a substrate, a superconductor layer overlying the substrate, and a cap layer overlying the superconductor layer, wherein the cap layer of the conductive bridge is in electrically conductive contact with a portion of the cap layer of each of the first and second superconductor wires through an electrically conductive bonding material. The spliced wire also includes (b) a stabilizer structure surrounding at least a portion of the superconductor joint, wherein the superconductor joint is in electrical contact with the stabilizer structure; and (c) a substantially nonporous electrically conductive filler, wherein the filler substantially surrounds the superconductor joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Otto, Eric R. Podtburg
  • Patent number: 8032196
    Abstract: A Josephson device includes a first superconducting electrode layer, a barrier layer and a second superconducting electrode layer that are successively stacked. The first and second superconducting electrode layers are made of an oxide superconductor material having (RE)1(AE)2Cu3Oy as a main component, where an element RE is at least one element selected from a group consisting of Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, and an element AE is at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ba, Sr and Ca. The barrier layer is made of a material that includes the element RE, the element AE, Cu and oxygen, where in cations within the material forming the barrier layer, a Cu content is in a range of 35 At. % to 55 At. % and an RE content is in a range of 12 At. % to 30 At. %, and the barrier layer has a composition different from compositions of the first and second superconducting electrode layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignees: Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc., International Superconductivity Technology Center, The Juridical Foundation
    Inventors: Hironori Wakana, Seiji Adachi, Koji Tsubone, Keiichi Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20110237442
    Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetic shielding are described. A magnetic shield formed of a material having a high magnetic permeability may be degaussed using a toroidal degaussing coil. The toroidal degaussing coil may enclose at least a portion of the shield. Magnetic field gradients may be actively compensated using multiple magnetic field sensors and local compensation coils. Trapped fluxons may be removed by an application of Lorentz force wherein an electrical current is passed through a superconducting plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Sergey V. Uchaykin
  • Patent number: 7858558
    Abstract: A superconducting thin film material that can realize attainment of an excellent property such as a high JC and a high IC and reduction of costs at the same time includes an orientated metal substrate and an oxide superconductor film formed on the orientated metal substrate. The oxide superconductor film includes a physical vapor deposition HoBCO layer formed by a physical vapor deposition method, and a metal organic deposition HoBCO layer formed on the physical vapor deposition HoBCO layer by a metal organic deposition method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., International Superconductivity Technology Center, the Juridical Foundation
    Inventors: Shuji Hahakura, Kazuya Ohmatsu, Munetsugu Ueyama, Katsuya Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20100298150
    Abstract: Described is an article including a sapphire substrate carrying a superconductive layer of a compound of the formula YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO), the layer having surface area of at least 10 cm2, and critical current of at least 100 A/cm width at a temperature of 77K or higher. In one exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the superconductive layer is between 10 nm and 50 nm. In another exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the superconductive layer is more than 600 nm. In preferred embodiment, an YSZ layer and a non-superconductive YBCO layer separate between the superconductive layer and the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Guy Deutscher, Mishael Azoulay, Boaz Almog
  • Patent number: 7781376
    Abstract: A superconducting wire includes first and second superconducting layers disposed on one or more substrates in stacked relationship, the first superconducting layer comprising a high temperature superconducting oxide of a first composition and the second superconducting layer comprising a high temperature superconducting layer of a second composition, wherein the first and second compositions are different. The first superconductor layer optionally includes a high temperature superconductor composition selected to provide enhanced critical current (Ic(c)) in the presence of magnetic fields perpendicular to surface of the superconducting layer (H//c). The second superconductor layer optionally includes a high temperature superconductor composition selected to provide enhanced critical current (Ic) in the presence of magnetic fields parallel to surface of the superconducting layer (H//ab).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Kodenkandath, Wei Zhang, Yibing Huang, Xiaoping Li, Edward J. Siegal, Martin W. Rupich
  • Patent number: 7781377
    Abstract: A superconducting article is provided that includes a substrate, an anti-epitaxial film over the substrate, a buffer film having biaxial crystal texture over the anti-epitaxial film, and a superconductor layer over the second buffer film. Also provided is a superconducting article as a tape, in a power cable, and a power transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Superpower, Inc.
    Inventors: Xuming Xiong, Venkat Selvamanickam, Ping Hou
  • Patent number: 7763569
    Abstract: A wet-chemical method for producing strip-shaped high-temperature superconductors with a substrate, optionally with a buffer layer and with a high-temperature superconductive layer is improved by increasing the texturing and the layer thickness of the high-temperature superconductive layer. To this end, precursor solutions are applied in layers to the substrate, of which the first is low in fluorine or does not contain fluorine, and the following have a fluorine concentration that increases with each layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Zenergy Power GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Bäcker, Brigitte Schlobach, Kerstin Knoth, Barbara Schüpp-Niewa, Bernhard Holzapfel, Martina Falter
  • Patent number: 7756557
    Abstract: An AC-tolerant high temperature superconductor tape with transposed filaments having two layers of high temperature superconducting material with striations and corresponding filaments and an insulating layer positioned therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Paul N. Barnes, Milan Polak, Chakrapani Varanasi
  • Publication number: 20100160169
    Abstract: A superconducting thin film material is provided, including a first superconducting thin film having a surface subjected to smoothing and a second superconducting thin film formed on the surface of the first superconducting thin film subjected to the smoothing. Further, a superconducting wire is provided, including a substrate, an intermediate layer formed on the substrate, and a superconducting layer formed on the intermediate layer, wherein the superconducting layer is made of the superconducting thin film material described above. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing the superconducting thin film material and a method of manufacturing the superconducting wire are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Shuji Hahakura, Kazuya Ohmatsu
  • Patent number: 7684839
    Abstract: A magnesium diboride superconducting wire has excellent conduction property and stability. The superconductive connection of the magnesium diboride superconducting wire covered with a superconducting coating layer and a same or different kind of another superconducting wire are connected in a metal tube filled with a solder by way of the superconductive coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Takahashi, Yoshimichi Numata, Michiya Okada
  • Patent number: 7683009
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Bi2223 based thick film that does not peel off when a thermal or a mechanical shock is applied to a base or an oxide superconductor thick film or the like in the middle of a manufacturing process and a method of manufacturing the same. An oxide superconductor paste 1 having a mixing ratio of Bi2212 composition is applied to a base 3, dried, burned, and thereafter burned at a temperature approximate to its melting point to obtain a partially molten layer 4. Next, an oxide superconductor paste 2 having a mixing ratio of Bi2223 composition is applied to the partially molten layer 4, dried, burned, compressed by a CIP, and thereafter repeatedly burned and compressed for a predetermined number of times to obtain the base 3 having a desired superconductor thick film 5 formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignees: Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, DOWA Electronics Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kojima, Masakazu Kawahara, Michiharu Ichikawa, Hiroyuki Kado, Masatoyo Shibuya
  • Patent number: 7638463
    Abstract: To provide an oxide superconductor thick film formation method that can enhance adhesiveness of a Bi2223 thick film to a body to be processed on which the Bi2223 thick film is formed, and increase a cross-sectional area of the Bi2223 thick film, without a decrease in Jc of the Bi2223 thick film. A mixture of a compound oxide having composition Bi2212 and Pb is applied to a surface of the body to be processed, and burned to form a first thick film. An oxide superconductor thick film expressed by a general formula (Bi, Pb)2+aSr2Ca2Cu3OZ (where ?0.1?a?0.5) is formed on the first thick film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignees: DOWA Electronics Materials Co., Ltd., Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
    Inventors: Masahiro Kojima, Masakazu Kawahara, Michiharu Ichikawa, Hiroyuki Kado
  • Patent number: 7632784
    Abstract: A sintered high temperature superconducting (HTS) ceramic electric lead formed as three-dimensional (3D) HTS macro-ceramic solid product with honeycomb-like superconductive nano-architecture comprises substantially uniformly aligned nano-size HTS ceramic crystal grains, silicate glass nano-thick films, and nano-size silver and/or inorganic dots that locate in nano-thick boundary areas of the superconductor ceramic crystal grains, and the nano-size films or dots provide honeycomb-like 3D nano-size network within the 3D HTS macro-ceramic solid product or HTS ceramic lead, and the electric lead is superconducting at liquid nitrogen cooling temperature. The superconductive nano-architecture facilitates or controls substantially higher electro-magnetic and consumable mechanical properties, reliability and durability of the HTS ceramic electric leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Inventors: Anatoly E. Rokhvarger, Lubov A. Chigirinsky
  • Publication number: 20090239753
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconducting thin film material includes a vapor phase step of forming a superconducting layer by a vapor phase method and a liquid phase step of forming a superconducting layer by a liquid phase method so that the latter superconducting layer is in contact with the former superconducting layer. Preferably, the method further includes the step of forming an intermediate layer between the former superconducting layer and a metal substrate. The metal substrate is made of a metal, and preferably the intermediate layer is made of an oxide having a crystal structure of any of rock type, perovskite type and pyrochlore type, and the former superconducting layer and the latter superconducting layer both have an RE123 composition. Accordingly, the critical current value can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: International Superconductivity Technology Center, the Juridical Foundation
    Inventors: Shuji Hahakura, Kazuya Ohmatsu, Munetsugu Ueyama, Katsuya Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20090215630
    Abstract: An oxide target for laser vapor deposition, which is used when an oxide film is formed in a laser vapor deposition system, including: a fixed plate, an Ag-soldering layer bonded onto the fixed plate, an oxide-Ag mixed layer bonded onto the Ag-soldering layer; and an oxide layer bonded onto the oxide-Ag mixed layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuomi Kakimoto
  • Publication number: 20090149330
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconducting thin film material includes the step of forming an intermediate layer, the step of forming one superconducting layer to be in contact with the intermediate layer and the step of forming another superconducting layer by a vapor phase method to be in contact with the one superconducting layer. Between the step of forming the intermediate layer and the step of forming the one superconducting layer, the intermediate layer is kept in a reduced water vapor ambient or reduced carbon dioxide ambient or, between the step of forming one superconducting layer and the step of forming another superconducting layer, the one superconducting layer is kept in a reduced water vapor ambient or reduced carbon dioxide ambient. Thus, the critical current value can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Shuji Hahakura, Kazuya Ohmatsu, Munetsugu Ueyama, Katsuya Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20090137400
    Abstract: A superconducting thin film material that can realize attainment of an excellent property such as a high JC and a high IC and reduction of costs at the same time includes an orientated metal substrate and an oxide superconductor film formed on the orientated metal substrate. The oxide superconductor film includes a physical vapor deposition HoBCO layer formed by a physical vapor deposition method, and a metal organic deposition HoBCO layer formed on the physical vapor deposition HoBCO layer by a metal organic deposition method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicants: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., International Superconductivity Technology Center, the Juridical Foundation
    Inventors: Shuji Hahakura, Kazuya Ohmatsu, Munetsugu Ueyama, Katsuya Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7300909
    Abstract: A first Josephson junction in a Single Flux Quantum circuit (SFQ circuit) and a second Josephson junction in an interface circuit (latch driver circuit) are formed with junction materials different from each other, and the junction materials are selected so that the hysteresis of the first Josephson junction in a current-voltage characteristic is smaller than the hysteresis of the second Josephson junction in a current-voltage characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tsunehiro Hato, Masahiro Horibe, Keiichi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 7231239
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a superconducting cable conductor which contains a carrying element, on which is wound at least one layer comprising two or more superconducting conductor elements, the individual conductor elements of each layer being arranged next to one another, and the superconducting conducting elements are formed from a tape-type substrate coated with a superconducting material based on rare earth barium cuprate, preferably based on yttrium barium cuprates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Frank Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7155806
    Abstract: Method of producing superconducting cables by using cold plastic deformation operations only including the step of obtaining a bar-like semi-finished product of prefixed dimension through the steps of: forming round-section, mono- or multifilament, superconducting copper bars of relatively long length; assembling the bars about a cylindrical copper core of substantially the same length, using assembly templates, the templates having through holes arranged in a circle to support the bars, and a central through seat for supporting the core; tying the bars onto an outer lateral surface of the core; sliding onto one end of the bar/core assembly a number of metal supporting rings, while sliding the templates off the opposite end thereof; sliding a copper tube onto the bar/core assembly while cutting the ties in axial sequence and sliding off the supporting rings; and subjecting the assembly to a number of drawing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: EMS-Europe Metalli Superconductors S.p.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Rossi
  • Patent number: 7152302
    Abstract: A method of producing an electrical connection structure between at least two superconducting lines. The method comprises adding metal powder or alloy powder to a superconducting material comprising magnesium diboride, intervening the superconducting material between at least two superconducting lines, and heating said superconducting lines and said superconducting material to a temperature lower than the melting point of said superconducting material prior to the addition of said metal powder or alloy powder thereto, but higher than the melting point of said metal powder or alloy powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuhide Tanaka, Yasuo Suzuki, Michiya Okada
  • Patent number: 7071148
    Abstract: A superconducting article includes a first superconductive segment having a nominal thickness tn1, a second superconductive segment having a nominal thickness tn2, and a joint region comprising a splice connecting the first and second superconductive segments together. The splice overlies portions of both the first and second superconductive segments along the joint region, the joint region having a thickness tjr, wherein tjr is not greater than at least one of 1.8 tn1 and 1.8 tn2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Superpower, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkat Selvamanickam, Yi-Yuan Xie, Allan Robert Knoll
  • Patent number: 7001870
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for joining an RE123 oxide superconductor matrix obtained by a melt process by the use of a solder material. The (110) plane of an RE123 oxide superconductor matrix obtained by a melt process is used as the plane to be joined, a solder material composed of an RE123 oxide superconductor having a lower melting point than the above-mentioned RE123 oxide superconductor is interposed between the planes to be joined, and this solder material is melted and then solidified to form a joining layer, thereby joining the matrices. The solder material can be a sinter, a melt-processed material, a powder, a slurry, or a molded powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: International Superconductivity Technology Center, The Juridical Foundation
    Inventors: Kazumasa Iida, Junko Yoshioka, Naomichi Sakai, Masato Murakami
  • Patent number: 6999806
    Abstract: A Josephson junction having a barrier layer sandwiched by two superconductors wherein the superconductors include one or more elements selected from the group of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, one or more elements selected from the group of Ba, Sr and Ca, and Cu and oxygen, wherein the two superconductors each include at least five elements with compositions different from each other, or the barrier layer (5) includes one or more elements selected from the group of La, Nd, Sm and Eu, and one or more elements selected from the group of Y, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: International Superconductivity Technology Center, the Juridical Foundation
    Inventors: Seiji Adachi, Hironori Wakana, Keiichi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 6957093
    Abstract: A structural arrangement of superconducting composites is provided to protect their superconductivity in such a way that these composites are electrically connected in a certain manner. The invention may be practiced with any desired superconducting material, and bismuth based superconducting materials are preferred. The shape and size of the superconducting composites may vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Innova Superconductor Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhenghe Han
  • Patent number: 6943136
    Abstract: A superconductive structure including a dielectric oxide substrate, a thin buffer layer of a superconducting material thereon; and, a layer of a rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconducting film thereon the thin layer of yttrium-barium-copper oxide, the rare earth selected from the group consisting of samarium, gadolinium, ytterbium, erbium, neodymium, dysprosium, holmium, lutetium, a combination of more than one element from the rare earth group and a combination of one or more elements from the rare earth group with yttrium, the buffer layer of superconducting material characterized as having chemical and structural compatibility with the dielectric oxide substrate and the rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconducting film is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Chuhee Kwon, Quanxi Jia, Stephen R. Foltyn
  • Patent number: 6906265
    Abstract: A cabled conductor comprises a plurality of transposed strands each comprising one or more preferably twisted filaments preferably surrounded or supported by a matrix material and comprising textured anisotropic superconducting compounds which have crystallographic grain alignment that is substantially unidirectional and independent of the rotational orientation of the strands and filaments in the cabled conductors. The cabled conductor is made by forming a plurality of suitable composite strands, forming a cabled intermediate from the strands by transposing them about the longitudinal axis of the conductor at a preselected strand lay pitch, and, texturing the strands in one or more steps including at least one step involving application of a texturing process with a primary component directed orthogonal to the widest longitudinal cross-section of the cabled intermediate, at least one such orthogonal texturing step occurring subsequent to said strand transposition step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Snitchler, Jeffrey M. Seuntjens, William L. Barnes, Gilbert N. Riley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6845255
    Abstract: A composite superconducting tape which includes at least one constituent superconducting tape that may be a multiplicity of stacked and bonded tapes including a pair of exposed opposite major faces, and at least one outer layer of metal tape overlying and bonded to one of the exposed major faces. In the case where two outer layer metal tapes are included, the strength thereof differ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Metal Manufacturers Limited
    Inventor: Rupeng Zhao
  • Patent number: 6819948
    Abstract: A composite superconducting tape including a plurality of stacked and diffusion-bonded superconducting. Each of the superconducting tapes includes a filament of superconducting material in a silver-silver alloy cladding. Each of the superconducting tapes are an elongate component extending longitudinally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Metal Manufacturers Limited
    Inventor: Rupeng Zhao
  • Patent number: 6782282
    Abstract: The present invention concerns the improvement of the supercurrent carrying capabilities, i.e. the increase of critical current densities, of bicrystalline or polycrystalline superconductor structures, especially of high-Tc superconductors. By providing an appropriate predetermined dopant profile across the superconductor structure, in particular within or in the vicinity of the grain boundaries, the space-charge layers at the grain boundaries are reduced and thereby the current transport properties of the superconductor significantly improved. Simultaneously, the influence of magnetic fields on the critical current densities is significantly reduced, which in turn enhances the overall supercurrent carrying capabilities while keeping the supercurrent transport properties of the grains at good values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventors: Hartmut Ulrich Bielefeldt, Barbel Martha Gotz, German Hammerl, Johannes Wilhelmus Maria Hilgenkamp, Jochen Dieter Mannhart, Andreas Fritz Albert Schmehl, Christof Walter Schneider, Robert Ralf Schulz