Laser Evaporative (i.e., Ablative) Coating Patents (Class 505/474)
  • Patent number: 10998492
    Abstract: Provided is a Hall element which is reduced in asymmetrically generated offset voltage. A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a Hall element forming region; an element isolation region of the first conductivity type having a concentration higher than a concentration of the semiconductor layer, the element isolation region being formed so as to surround the Hall element forming region; and a Hall element formed in the Hall element forming region and comprising a magnetism sensing portion of a second conductivity type which is higher in concentration than the semiconductor layer and which is kept apart from the element isolation region through the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Aso
  • Patent number: 8629087
    Abstract: A high temperature superconductor (=HTS) coated conductor (1), comprising an HTS layer (11) deposited epitaxially on a substrate (2), wherein the HTS layer (11) exhibits a lattice with a specific crystal axis being oriented perpendicular to the substrate plane (SP), in particular wherein the HTS layer material is of ReBCO type and the c-axis (c) is oriented perpendicular to the substrate plane (SP), wherein the HIS layer (11) comprises particle inclusions (4), in particular wherein the particle inclusions (4) may be used to introduce pinning of magnetic flux, is characterized in that at least a part (4a) of the particle inclusions (4) are formed of the same material as the HTS layer (11), and/or of chemical fractions of the material of the HTS layer (11), such that the average stoichiometry of said part (4a) of the particle inclusions (4) corresponds to the stoichiometry of the HTS layer (11), and that the particle inclusions of said part (4a) are discontinuities of the lattice of the HTS layer (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Bruker HTS GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Usoskin, Klaus Schlenga
  • Publication number: 20130196856
    Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention, superconducting structures are described. In certain embodiments the superconducting structures described are thin films of iron-based superconductors on textured substrates; in some aspects a method for producing thin films of iron-based superconductors on textured substrates is disclosed. In some embodiments applications of thin films of iron-based superconductors on textured substrates are described. Also contemplated is the formation of a film of iron-based superconductor having a thickness and an in-plane lattice constant formed on a textured substrate having a thickness and an in-plane lattice constant similar to the in-plane lattice constant of the iron-based superconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: BROOKHAVENSCIENCE ASSOICATES, LLC
    Inventors: Qiang Li, Weidong Si
  • Publication number: 20120264612
    Abstract: A superconducting article includes a substrate having a biaxially textured surface. A biaxially textured buffer layer, which can be a cap layer, is supported by the substrate. The buffer layer includes a double perovskite of the formula A2B?B?O6, where A is rare earth or alkaline earth metal and B? and B? are different transition metal cations. A biaxially textured superconductor layer is deposited so as to be supported by the buffer layer. A method of making a superconducting article is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Amit Goyal, Sung-Hun Wee
  • Patent number: 8278136
    Abstract: A gate electrode, a gate insulation film and an inorganic oxide film are formed in this order on a substrate, and a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed to partially cover the inorganic oxide film. Then, oxidation treatment is applied to reduce the carrier density at a region of the inorganic oxide film which is not covered by the electrodes and is used as a channel region of a semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanaka, Kenichi Umeda, Kohei Higashi, Maki Nangu
  • Publication number: 20120015814
    Abstract: A high temperature superconductor (=HTS) coated conductor (1), comprising an HTS layer (11) deposited epitaxially on a substrate (2), wherein the HTS layer (11) exhibits a lattice with a specific crystal axis being oriented perpendicular to the substrate plane (SP), in particular wherein the HTS layer material is of ReBCO type and the c-axis (c) is oriented perpendicular to the substrate plane (SP), wherein the HIS layer (11) comprises particle inclusions (4),in particular wherein the particle inclusions (4) may be used to introduce pinning of magnetic flux, is characterized in that at least a part (4a) of the particle inclusions (4) are formed of the same material as the HTS layer (11), and/or of chemical fractions of the material of the HTS layer (11), such that the average stoichiometry of said part (4a) of the particle inclusions (4) corresponds to the stoichiometry of the HTS layer (11), and that the particle inclusions of said part (4a) are discontinuities of the lattice of the HTS layer (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Bruker HTS GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Usoskin, Klaus Schlenga
  • Publication number: 20110045984
    Abstract: A composition of matter including a thin film of a high temperature superconductive oxide having particles randomly dispersed therein, the particles of an yttrium-barium-ruthenium oxide or of an yttrium-barium-niobium oxide is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Terry G. Holesinger, David M. Feldmann
  • Publication number: 20110034336
    Abstract: A superconducting article includes a substrate having a biaxially textured surface, and an epitaxial biaxially textured superconducting film supported by the substrate. The epitaxial superconducting film includes particles of Ba2RENbO6 and is characterized by a critical current density higher than 1 MA/cm2 at 77K, self-field. In one embodiment the particles are assembled into columns. The particles and nanocolumns of Ba2RENbO6 defects enhance flux pinning which results in improved critical current densities of the superconducting films. Methods of making superconducting films with Ba2RENbO6 defects are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Amit Goyal, Sung-Hun Wee, Eliot Specht, Claudia Cantoni
  • Publication number: 20100081574
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a defect-containing superconducting film, the method comprising (a) depositing a phase-separable layer epitaxially onto a biaxially-textured substrate, wherein the phase-separable layer includes at least two phase-separable components; (b) achieving nanoscale phase separation of the phase-separable layer such that a phase-separated layer including at least two phase-separated components is produced; and (c) depositing a superconducting film epitaxially onto said phase-separated components of the phase-separated layer such that nanoscale features of the phase-separated layer are propagated into the superconducting film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventor: Amit Goyal
  • Patent number: 7560291
    Abstract: A layered article of manufacture and a method of manufacturing same is disclosed. A substrate has a biaxially textured MgO crystalline layer having the c-axes thereof inclined with respect to the plane of the substrate deposited thereon. A layer of one or more of YSZ or Y2O3 and then a layer of CeO2 is deposited on the MgO. A crystalline superconductor layer with the c-axes thereof normal to the plane of the substrate is deposited on the CeO2 layer. Deposition of the MgO layer on the substrate is by the inclined substrate deposition method developed at Argonne National Laboratory. Preferably, the MgO has the c-axes thereof inclined with respect to the normal to the substrate in the range of from about 10° to about 40° and YBCO superconductors are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Uthamalingam Balachandran, Beihai Ma, Dean Miller
  • Patent number: 7501145
    Abstract: A method includes feeding an uncoated substrate from a payout spool into a multi-chambered vacuum apparatus. The vacuum apparatus includes a plurality of deposition chambers defining an extended deposition zone, a multi-zone substrate heater located within the extended deposition zone, and multiple high-temperature superconductor (HTS) targets located within and being arranged linearly along the extended deposition zone. The multiple HTS targets include a first and second HTS target. The first and second HTS targets include a HTS material. The method farther includes translating the uncoated substrate along a translation path through the plurality of deposition chambers, impinging multiple laser beams simultaneously upon the multiple HTS targets and forming multiple overlapping plumes of HTS material within the extended deposition zone, depositing HTS material on a first major surface of the uncoated substrate to provide a coated substrate, and winding the coated substrate onto a take-up spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Superpower, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkat Selvamanickam, Yijie Li, Chan Park
  • Publication number: 20090048113
    Abstract: A superconducting thin film is disclosed having columnar pinning centers utilizing nano dots, and comprising nano dots (3) which are formed insularly on a substrate (2) and three-dimensionally in shape and composed of a material other than a superconducting material and also other than a material of which the substrate is formed, columnar defects (4) composed of the superconducting material and grown on the nano dots (3), respectively, a lattice defect (6) formed on a said columnar defect (4), and a thin film of the superconducting material (5) formed in those areas on the substrate which are other than those where said columnar defects are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicants: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ioan Adrian Crisan, Hideo Ihara, Yoshiko Ihara, Hideyo Ihara, Hidetaka Ihara, Gen-ei Ihara, Chiaki Ihara
  • Publication number: 20080113870
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a filament type high-temperature superconducting wire in which a thin film type high-temperature superconducting wire is fabricated into a filament shape suitable for use with alternating current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: KOREA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hee Gyoun LEE, Gye Won HONG, Kyeong Dal CHOI
  • Patent number: 6809066
    Abstract: Ion texturing methods and articles are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Ronald P. Reade, Paul H. Berdahl, Richard E. Russo, Leslie G. Fritzemeier
  • Patent number: 6797338
    Abstract: A process for forming a thin metal oxide film is disclosed that comprises molding an amorphous powder of organic metal chelate complexes to obtain a target. The process also includes subjecting the target to a PVD process that forms the thin metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignees: Chubu Chelest Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Saitoh, Shigeo Ohshio, Ryo Satoh, Nobuyoshi Nambu, Atsushi Nakamura, Masanori Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6458223
    Abstract: An alloy that contains at least two metals and can be used as a substrate for a superconductor is disclosed. The alloy can contain an oxide former. The alloy can have a biaxial or cube texture. The substrate can be used in a multilayer superconductor, which can further include one or more buffer layers disposed between the substrate and the superconductor material. The alloys can be made a by process that involves first rolling the alloy then annealing the alloy. A relatively large volume percentage of the alloy can be formed of grains having a biaxial or cube texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Cornelis Leo Hans Thieme, Elliott D. Thompson, Leslie G. Fritzemeier, Robert D. Cameron, Edward J. Siegal
  • Patent number: 6428635
    Abstract: An alloy capable of forming a (100) [001] cube-texture by thermo-mechanical techniques has 5 to 45 atomic percent nickel with the balance being copper. The alloy is useful as a conductive substrate for superconducting composites where the substrate is coated with a superconducting oxide. A buffer layer can optionally be coated on the substrate to enhance deposition of the superconducting oxide. Methods for producing the alloys, substrates, and superconductors are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignees: American Superconductor Corporation, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Leslie G. Fritzemeier, Elliott D. Thompson, Edward J. Siegal, Cornelis Leo Hans Thieme, Robert D. Cameron, James L. Smith, W. Larry Hults
  • Patent number: 6296701
    Abstract: The present invention provides a biaxially textured laminate article having a polycrystalline biaxially textured metallic substrate with an electrically conductive oxide layer epitaxially deposited thereon and methods for producing same. In one embodiment a biaxially texture Ni substrate has a layer of LaNiO3 deposited thereon. An initial layer of electrically conductive oxide buffer is epitaxially deposited using a sputtering technique using a sputtering gas which is an inert or forming gas. A subsequent layer of an electrically conductive oxide layer is then epitaxially deposited onto the initial layer using a sputtering gas comprising oxygen. The present invention will enable the formation of biaxially textured devices which include HTS wires and interconnects, large area or long length ferromagnetic and/or ferroelectric memory devices, large area or long length, flexible light emitting semiconductors, ferroelectric tapes, and electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: David K. Christen, Qing He
  • Patent number: 6218341
    Abstract: A process for preparing a superconductor which is a low anisotropy, high temperature superconductor, includes providing a target in molded form comprised of one of the superconductor or constituent elements of the superconductor, the superconductor having a layered crystal structure, having a superconducting transition temperature, Tc, of 110 K or more, and having a composition expressed by Cu1−zMzAe2Cax−1CuxOy where M is at least one member selected from the group consisting of (a) a trivalent ion of Tl, and (b) polyvalent ions of Mo, W, and Re, Ae is at least one of Ba and Sr, x ranges from 1 to 10, and y ranges from 2x+1 to 2x+4, and z ranges from 0<z≦0.5; and forming a film of the superconductor from the target on a substrate by one of sputtering or laser abrasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hideo Ihara, Masayuki Hirabayashi, Akira Iyo
  • Patent number: 6172009
    Abstract: An oxide superconductor article is provided having an oxide superconductor film having a thickness of greater than 0.5 microns disposed on a substrate, said article having a transport critical current density (Jc) of greater than or equal to about 105 A/cm2 at 77 K, zero field. The oxide superconductor film is characterized by high Jc and high volume percent of c-axis epitaxial oxide grains, even with thicknesses of up to 1 micron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John A. Smith, Michael J. Cima, Neville Sonnenberg
  • Patent number: 6114287
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and biaxially textured articles having a deformed epitaxial layer formed therefrom for use with high temperature superconductors, photovoltaic, ferroelectric, or optical devices. A buffer layer is epitaxially deposited onto biaxially-textured substrates and then mechanically deformed. The deformation process minimizes or eliminates grooves, or other irregularities, formed on the buffer layer while maintaining the biaxial texture of the buffer layer. Advantageously, the biaxial texture of the buffer layer is not altered during subsequent heat treatments of the deformed buffer. The present invention provides mechanical densification procedures which can be incorporated into the processing of superconducting films through the powder deposit or precursor approaches without incurring unfavorable high-angle grain boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Dominic F. Lee, Donald M. Kroeger, Amit Goyal
  • Patent number: 6074990
    Abstract: A superconducting garnet thin film system (10) is provided for high frequency microwave applications where a single crystal high temperature superconducting (HTSC) layer (18) is integrated with a garnet substrate (12). A first perovskite compound buffer layer (14) is epitaxially grown on an upper surface of the garnet substrate layer (12) and defines a lattice constant less than the lattice constant of the garnet substrate layer (12) with the first perovskite layer being aligned in a cube on cube parallel orientation with respect to the garnet substrate layer (12). A second perovskite layer (16) is epitaxially grown on an upper surface of the first perovskite layer (14) at an orientation of 45.degree. to first layer (14) and defines a lattice constant less than the lattice constant of the first perovskite layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Neocera, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Pique, Kolagani S. Harshavardhan, Thirumalai Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 6060433
    Abstract: The invention provides a structure comprising a high temperature superconducting layer deposited on a ceramic polycrystalline ferrite plate suitable for making commercial microwave devices. In one embodiment, the high temperature superconductor is yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO), the ferrite is yttrium iron garnet (YIG), and the microwave device is a phase shifter. The method of making this embodiment comprises, polishing the YIG plate, depositing biaxially oriented yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) to form a crystalline template using an ion-beam-assisted-deposition technique, depositing a CeO.sub.2 lattice matching buffer layer using pulsed laser deposition, depositing YBCO using pulsed laser deposition, and annealing the YBCO in oxygen. Etching the YBCO to form a meanderline patterned waveguide results in a high figure-of-merit microwave phase shifter when the device is cooled with liquid nitrogen and an external magnetic field is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: NZ Applied Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Qun Li, Hua Jiang
  • Patent number: 6045932
    Abstract: A thin film structure including a lanthanum aluminum oxide substrate, a thin layer of homoepitaxial lanthanum aluminum oxide thereon, and a layer of a nonlinear dielectric material thereon the thin layer of homoepitaxial lanthanum aluminum oxide is provided together with microwave and electro-optical devices including such a thin film structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: The Regents of the Universitiy of California
    Inventors: Quanxi Jia, Alp T. Findikoglu
  • Patent number: 6037313
    Abstract: The method for forming superconducting films of complex oxide compounds in a process chamber according to the present invention includes the steps of:(a) placing a substrate near a target in a chamber so that the substrate is positioned to be generally perpendicular to a surface of the target, the target comprising a target material of complex oxide compounds; and(b) irradiating a laser beam to the surface of the target to vaporize or sublime the target material forming over the target a flame-shaped plume having on axis generally perpendicular to the surface of the target so that the target material is deposited onto a surface of the substrate, the surface of the substrate maintaining the position to be generally perpendicular to the surface of the target and being generally parallel to the axis of the plume, wherein the target rotates on an axis perpendicular to the surface of the target and the substrate rotates on an axis perpendicular to the surface of the substrate (off-axis geometry), and wherein the l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuoki Nagaishi, Hideo Itozaki
  • Patent number: 6004907
    Abstract: The present invention forms a superconducting junction using a cubic YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 Ox thin film as a barrier layer. The present invention forms a first YBCO superconducting thin film, a SrTiO.sub.3 insulating layer thin film on the substrate, etches a side of them in the form of inclination, subsequently integrates a non-superconducting cubic YBCO barrier thin film, a second YBCO superconducting thin film, a SrTiO.sub.3 protecting layer thin film in series on the whole surface of the substrate, etches an opposite side of the etched part of the SrTiO.sub.3 insulating layer thin film in the form of inclination, fabricates a superconducting junction by forming a metal electrode to said aperture after forming apertures which expose said first YBCO superconducting thin film, the second YBCO superconducting thin film, fabricates a superconducting junction upon forming the metallic electrode to the apertures, and deposits a cubic YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 Ox barrier thin film at a temperature of 600-650.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jeong Dae Suh, Gun Yong Sung
  • Patent number: 5968877
    Abstract: A superconducting article includes a biaxially-textured Ni substrate, and epitaxial buffer layers of Pd (optional), CeO.sub.2 and YSZ, and a top layer of in-plane aligned, c-axis oriented YBCO having a critical current density (J.sub.c) in the range of at least 100,000 A/cm.sup.2 at 77 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp
    Inventors: John D. Budai, David K. Christen, Amit Goyal, Qing He, Donald M. Kroeger, Dominic F. Lee, Frederick A. List, III, David P. Norton, Mariappan Paranthaman, Brian C. Sales, Eliot D. Specht
  • Patent number: 5952271
    Abstract: The method for manufacturing superconducting elements according to the present invention includes the following steps of: (a) placing a substrate near a target in a chamber so that the substrate is positioned to face a surface of the target, wherein the target comprises a target material of a complex oxide superconducting compounds; (b) irradiating a laser beam to the surface of the target to vaporize or sublime the target material so that the target material is deposited onto a surface of the substrate, wherein the surface of the substrate maintains the position facing the surface of the target; and (c) fabricating the surface of the target material layer on the substrate to form a superconducting element by irradiating a laser beam to the surface of the substrate, without removing the substrate from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Moto, Tatsuoki Nagaishi, Hideo Itozaki
  • Patent number: 5945383
    Abstract: A method of producing a high temperature superconductor Josephson element and an improved SNS weak link barrier element is provided. A YBaCuO superconducting electrode film is deposited on a substrate at a temperature of approximately 800.degree. C. A weak link barrier layer of a nonsuperconducting film of N--YBaCuO is deposited over the electrode at a temperature range of 520.degree. C. to 540.degree. C. at a lower deposition rate. Subsequently, a superconducting counter-electrode film layer of YBaCuO is deposited over the weak link barrier layer at approximately 800.degree. C. The weak link barrier layer has a thickness of approximately 50 .ANG. and the SNS element can be constructed to provide an edge geometry junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Brian D. Hunt
  • Patent number: 5906965
    Abstract: A high temperature superconductor (HTS) tri-layer structure and a method for providing the same are described. Preferable two dimensional growth for all layers is provided resulting in smooth surfaces and highly crystalline layers. Full oxygenation of HTS under-layer(s) is provided despite having thick intervening dielectric mid-layer. HTS over- and under-layers are preferably structurally and electrically similar and have high crystallinity, the HTS layers have high T.sub.c (e.g. >90K) comparable to T.sub.c of single layer superconductor layers and a high J.sub.c (e.g. >10.sup.6 A/cm.sup.2), the tri-layer properties do not significantly degrade as the thickness of the layers is increased, and the dielectric mid-layer has high resistivity and is substantially pin-hole free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Superconductor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Muralidhar R. Rao
  • Patent number: 5885939
    Abstract: A process for forming a laminate of 123-type copper oxide superconductor thin films having dissimilar crystal axis orientations, a laminate of 123-type thin copper oxide superconductor layers exhibiting excellent superconducting property, and wiring for Josephson junction. A c-axis oriented single crystalline thin film of an oxide superconductor having a Y:Ba:Cu atomic ratio of substantially 1:2:3 and a lattice constant of 11.60 angstroms.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.11.70 angstroms at a temperature of 20.degree. C. under an oxygen partial pressure of 160 Torr is formed on a single crystalline substrate, and an a-axis oriented single crystalline thin film of said oxide superconductor is formed on the above laminated film relying upon a sputter deposition method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignees: Kyocera Corporation, International Superconductivity Technology Center, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Matsunaga, Shuichi Fujino, Akihiro Odagawa, Youichi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 5846911
    Abstract: A method of producing a superconductive coating (19) on an elongated substrate (12) is indicated, whereby the substrate (12) is drawn through a deposition chamber (1) in which it is also heated in a heating zone (2) and is coated with a superconducting material. To improve the current carrying capacity, the substrate (12) is coated with the superconducting material in a geometric form which differs from the use of the finished product in a way so that a compressive strain is created in the substrate plane of the superconductive coating (19) for the geometric form of the substrate (12) taking place when it is put to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale d'Electricite
    Inventors: Herbert C. Freyhardt, Alexander Usoskin, Francisco Garcia-Moreno
  • Patent number: 5820948
    Abstract: The apparatus for depositing thin films on both a first surface and a second surface of the substrate via off-axis laser ablation according to present invention comprises (1) a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber having (a) a first target of a first deposition material supported by a first target holder, (b) a second target of a second deposition material supported by a second target holder so as to positioned to be substantially coplanar with the first target, (c) a substrate holder for holding a substrate above a space between the first and second targets, the substrate being oriented to be substantially perpendicular to the targets, (d) a heating means for heating the first and second surfaces of the substrate, (e) a first entrance window through which a first laser beam passes to impinge onto the first target with a predetermined angle, and (f) a second entrance window through which a second laser beam passes to impinge onto the second target with a predetermined angle and (2) a laser optical system compri
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Itozaki, Tatsuoki Nagaishi
  • Patent number: 5807809
    Abstract: Improved superconducting thin films are provided having very high T.sub.c (zero) and J.sub.c values, on the order of greater than or equal to 120K and 10.sup.5 A/cm.sup.2 or greater, respectively. The films of the invention are adapted for deposit and support on a compatible substrate, and include a superconductive material, most preferably Tl.sub.2 Ba.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.10, with up to about 10% elemental gold admixed with the superconductive material. The preferred method for fabricating the thin film superconductors comprises first forming a non-superconducting precursor film on a compatible substrate which is placed in contact with an unsintered bulk body containing thallium; the substrate with precursor film are sintered with the bulk body to form the desired superconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignees: Midwest Superconductivity, Inc., The University of Arkansas
    Inventors: Ying Xin, Bingruo Xu, Iatneng Chan, Greg J. Salamo, Fui T. Chan
  • Patent number: 5750474
    Abstract: A superconductor-insulator-superconductor Josephson tunnel junction, comprising: a single crystalline substrate having a perovskite crystal structure; a template layer formed of a b-axis oriented PBCO thin film on the substrate; and a trilayer structure consisting of a lower electrode, a barrier layer and an upper electrode, which serve as a superconductor, an insulator and a superconductor, respectively, the lower electrode and the upper electrode each being formed of an a-axis oriented YBCO superconducting thin film and having an oblique junction edge at an angle of 30.degree. to 70.degree., the barrier layer being formed of an insulating thin film between the two superconducting electrodes, can be operated at a low power with an exceptional speed in calculation and data processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Gun-Yong Sung, Jeong-Dae Suh
  • Patent number: 5739086
    Abstract: A biaxially textured article includes a rolled and annealed, biaxially textured substrate of a metal having a face-centered cubic, body-centered cubic, or hexagonal close-packed crystalline structure; and an epitaxial superconductor or other device epitaxially deposited thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Goyal, John D. Budai, Donald M. Kroeger, David P. Norton, Eliot D. Specht, David K. Christen
  • Patent number: 5716908
    Abstract: A process for controlling crystalline orientation of an oxide superconductive film includes a first-heat-treatment step, and a second-heat-treatment step. In the first-heat-treatment step, an oxide superconductive film is heated and held in non-oxidizing atmosphere. Accordingly, partial oxygen deficiency is caused in the oxide superconductive film. In the second-heat-treatment step, the oxide superconductive film is heated and held in oxygen-rich atmosphere. Consequently, oxygen is re-introduced into the oxide superconductive film. Thus, crystalline orientation of the oxide superconductive film is altered. The process enables to readily form not only an "a"-axis-oriented oxide superconductive film but also a "b"-axis-oriented oxide superconductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Superconductivity Research Laboratory of International Superconductivity Technology Center
    Inventors: Koji Kawamoto, Izumi Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 5691280
    Abstract: A thin film which is substantially free of measurable surface defects due to second-phase inclusions is disclosed. The film is composed of multilayered strata of a first metal oxide interspersed with single molecular layers of a second metal oxide, where the second metal oxide is effective to absorb second-phase defects which form in the first oxide layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Varian Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Eckstein, Ivan Bozovic
  • Patent number: 5677264
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for forming an a-axis superconducting junction by adjusting the deposition temperature of an oxide normal conductor layer/and oxide superconductor layer/an oxide insulating layer/an oxide normal conductor layer/and an oxide superconductor layer, which are sequentially multilayered on an oxide single crystalline substrate. According to the present invention, the oxide superconductor layer and the oxide insulating layer have an a-axis oriented perpendicularly, and the oxide normal conductor layer have a b-axis oriented perpendicularly, so that a superconductor Josephson junction may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Electronics & Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jeong-Dae Suh, Gun-Yong Sung
  • Patent number: 5650377
    Abstract: Fine epitaxial patterns of yttrium barium copper oxide on a strontium titanate substrate are provided by using a silicon nitride mask to define the pattern to be formed. A thin film of yttrium barium copper oxide is placed on the silicon nitride mask and exposed portions of strontium titanate substrate. Where the yttrium barium copper oxide is in contact with the silicon nitride mask, it is nonepitaxial in crystal structure. Where the yttrium barium copper oxide contacts the strontium titanate substrate in the openings, it is epitaxial in structure forming fine patterns that become superconducting below the critical transition temperature. A channel can be formed in the strontium titanate substrate. The epitaxial yttrium barium copper oxide pattern is formed in this channel to minimize possible exposure to the silicon nitride mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dieter Paul Kern, Robert Benjamin Laibowitz, Kim Yang Lee, Mark I. Lutwyche
  • Patent number: 5650378
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polycrystalline thin film deposit acting as a substrate material composed of grains of a cubic structure in which the intergranular misorientation, defined as the orientation difference between the a-axes (or b-axes) of the neighboring grains, is less than 30 degrees. Such a substrate base is produced by depositing a target material on a base material by sputtering while irradiating the substrate base with ion beams at an oblique angle to the base. The preferred range of the oblique angle is between 40 to 60 degrees. Examples are presented of application of such textured polycrystalline substrate base for the production of superconducting oxide thin layer of outstanding superconducting properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Iijima, Nobuo Tanabe
  • Patent number: 5648321
    Abstract: Described is a process for manufacturing thin films by periodically depositing (DEP) a number of block layers consisting of different base materials on a substrate (multilayer deposition), wherein the thickness of the layers (LT) is restricted to one to 20 monolayers and deposition as well as crystallization of the thin film is completed at approximately constant temperature without performing a separate annealing step. The method can be used to produce thin films of high-T.sub.c -superconductors. It allows a better control of the crystal growth of ternary or higher compounds with comparatively large unit cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes Georg Bednorz, Andrei Catana, Jean Pierre Locquet, Erich Maechler, Carl Alexander Mueller
  • Patent number: 5612292
    Abstract: A multilayered structure comprising copper oxide perovskite material having altered superconductive properties is provided by epitaxially depositing on a substrate a layer of a first copper oxide material and then epitaxially depositing on the first layer a layer of a second, different copper oxide perovskite material. Further alternate epitaxially layers of the two copper oxide perovskite materials are then deposited one on the other. The first and second copper oxide perovskite materials in unstressed bulk states have nondistorted crystallographic lattice structures with unit cell dimensions that differ in at least one dimension. In the epitaxial layers, the crystallographic lattice structures of the two copper oxide materials are distorted relative to their nondistorted crystallographic lattice structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Arunava Gupta
  • Patent number: 5612887
    Abstract: The Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) growth process uses a target of a given material and a substrate located within a vacuum chamber. A UV laser beam scans the target to produce a plasma which coats the substrate. Sensors for the vacuum chamber, with a data acquisition channel, are coupled to a process control computer. The bus is also coupled to a mirror gimbal control for directing the laser beam on the target. The process control provides for initializing a PLD instrumentation system, opening a data file, controlling deposit of a PLD film, determining when a desired deposition time or thickness is completed and then shutting down the laser, and closing the data file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Samuel J. P. Laube, Elizabeth F. Stark
  • Patent number: 5607899
    Abstract: A thin film strongly orienting specific crystal axes is deposited on a polycrystalline or amorphous base material in accordance with laser deposition in a simpler device through a simpler process. A target is irradiated with a laser beam, for forming a thin film in accordance with laser ablation of depositing a substance scattered from the target on a base material. In order to form the thin film, prepared are conditions capable of forming a film orienting a specific crystal axis substantially perpendicularly to the base material in substantially parallel arrangement of the target and the base material. Under the conditions, a film is deposited on the base material which is inclined at a prescribed angle .theta. with respect to the target. It is possible to deposit a film strongly orienting a specific crystal axis in a plane substantially parallel to the base material surface by inclining the base material under the specific film forming conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., The Tokyo Electric Power Company Incorporated
    Inventors: Noriyuki Yoshida, Kousou Fujino, Noriki Hayashi, Shigeru Okuda, Tsukushi Hara, Hideo Ishii
  • Patent number: 5585332
    Abstract: A perovskite type superconductor film having a high content, almost a single phase, of the high Tc phase is formed by the steps of: depositing at least one first film of a first material (e.g., a composite oxide of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system or Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O system) constituting a perovskite type superconductor over a substrate; depositing at least one second film of a second material containing an oxide or element (Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, Tl.sub.2 O.sub.3, PbO.sub.x, etc., particularly PbO.sub.x) having a vapor pressure of more than 10.sup.-4 Pa at 800.degree. C. at least as a main component over the substrate; to thereby form a stack of the first and second films; and heat treating the stack of the first and second films to form the perovskite type superconductor film on the substrate. Further, preferred compositions of the as-deposited films or stack are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanaka, Nobuo Kamehara, Koichi Niwa
  • Patent number: 5558905
    Abstract: A substrate free single crystal pyroelectric film particularly suited for use in rapid thermal response sensors is made from a single crystal substrate by a method including the steps of:(A) etching a pattern into the substrate;(B) epitaxially growing a highly oriented superconducting material into the etched pattern to fill the etched pattern,(C) epitaxially growing a highly oriented crystalline film of a pyroelectric material over the entire surface of the substrate, and(D) dissolving away the highly oriented superconducting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Donald W. Eckart
  • Patent number: 5535128
    Abstract: A hierarchical control PLD system controls deposition processes by feedback means, for industrial production of tribological thin films. PLD process system identification, intelligent feedback control architecture, and implementation for ultraviolet pulsed laser deposition processes are provided. This system has three levels of feedback control. The first level of feedback control improves the precision and tracking of sub process variables by linear observer based compensator control. The Mo I plume species density per laser pulse and bulk substrate thickness by the quartz crystal micro balance provide real time sub process data to the observer. The observer based compensator then directly calculates laser energy density per pulse and pulse repetition rate based on the current values predicted by the linear model. The second level consists of a dynamical system design algorithm and nonlinear process map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Samuel J. P. Laube, Elizabeth F. Stark
  • Patent number: 5534489
    Abstract: An oxide superconducting film is formed using laser deposition of applying an excimer laser beam (1, 21) onto a target (3, 23) through a converging lens (2, 22) and depositing atoms and/or molecules scattered from the target (3, 23) on the base material (5). The converging lens (2) is prepared by a cylindrical lens, or the converging lens (22) is moved, so that a portion (4, 25) irradiated with the laser beam (1, 21) on the target (3, 23) is linearized. Thus, it is possible to form an oxide superconducting film which is homogeneous over a region having a relatively large area on the base material (5) not only in film thickness but also in property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriki Hayashi, Noriyuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5512541
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for growing a superconductive film on a superconductive substrate in order to produce a bulk single crystal. According to a preferred embodiment, an oxide superconductive film of a material which is the same or similar to the substrate material is epitaxially grown at a temperature between 450.degree. C. and 800.degree. C. so that the film and substrate have the same lattice orientations. According to the present invention, problems associated with conventional films having non-superconductor substrates (e.g., MgO and SrTiO.sub.3) are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., International Superconductivity Technology Center
    Inventors: Masaya Konishi, Kunihiko Hayashi, Youichi Enomoto, Shoji Tanaka, Yasuji Yamada, Kanshi Ohtsu, Yasuo Kanamori, Yuh Shiohara