Patents Assigned to EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS-UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
  • Publication number: 20240026534
    Abstract: The disclosed invention comprises a vacuum system cluster tool (0), comprising a dual chamber setup with at least one chemical vapour deposition chamber (1) and at least one physical vapour deposition chamber (3), with corresponding chemical vapour deposition means (10, 11, 12, 13) and corresponding physical vapour deposition means (30, 31, 32, 33) attached, as compact inexpensive, simply constructed vacuum system cluster tool (1) without mechanical sample transfer is created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: EMPA Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt
    Inventors: Carlos GUERRA, Laszlo PETHO, Johann MICHLER, Aleksandra SZKUDLAREK
  • Publication number: 20230211586
    Abstract: A transparent polymer film for light redirection includes a carrier layer and a structured layer in optical contact with each other. The structured layer has a multitude of curved metallic micromirrors, which are parallel to each other and encapsulated in a transparent material and separated by a periodicity distance (p) of 10 to 1000 micrometer parallel to the film surface. 50% or more of the micromirrors’ surfaces have a cross section, perpendicular to the film surface, in the form of elliptic arcs, whose radii are from the range 5 p to 25 p, and the micromirrors are arranged in a depth (d) perpendicular to the film surface from the range 1.6 p to 3.0 p, especially 2 p to 2.5 p. Glazings can be equipped with the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt
    Inventor: Andre KOSTRO
  • Publication number: 20230114145
    Abstract: A composite multi-layer textile, comprising at least one nanofibre layer with nanofibres with diameters below 100 nm and one support layer with microfibres with diameters below three microns, wherein the layers were produced by electrospinning. The multi-layer textile shows a general transmittance at #=550 nm greater than 60%, which shows improved properties concerning transparency, breathability and robustness. This is achieved in that the at least one nanofibre layer and the support layer are fused, forming solid domains in the multi-layer textile, at closed areas of a pattern used in the production process, wherein the solid domains are separated from each other or connected, showing defined shapes, with regular or irregular spatial distribution, while the fibre morphology of nanofibres of the nanofibre layer and microfibres of support layer is preserved on top of the open areas beside the solid domains, attaining a general transmittance greater than that given by the sum of the individual layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicants: EMPA EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT, ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Davide Barana, Giuseppino Fortunato, Anne Géraldine Guex, René Rossi, Thierry Pelet, Klaus Schönenberger, Sacha Sidjanski, Diane Baatard
  • Patent number: 11534979
    Abstract: Use of a sensor read out system with at least one fiber optical sensor, which is connected via at least one signal line to a processing unit as part of an additive manufacturing setup, for in situ and real time quality control of a running additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: EMPA Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt
    Inventors: Kilian Wasmer, Sergey Shevchik, Farzad Vakili Farahani, Georgios Violakis, Sébastien Vaucher
  • Publication number: 20220089819
    Abstract: A polymeric liquid material formed of molecular building blocks of core-shell type architecture, wherein each building block consists of a hyperbranched polysiloxane core and a functional siloxane shell peripherally attached thereto, the material comprising bridging oxygen moieties (Si—O—Si), hydrolysable alkoxy moieties (Si—O—R) and organofunctional moieties (R?—Si—) and (R1-S1-R2) and less than 0.5 mass percent hydroxy moieties (Si—OH). The core has a degree of polymerization DPcore in the range of 1.3 to 2.7, the shell is formed of R?-substituted siloxane moieties and has a degree of polymerization DPshell in the range of 0.3 to 2.5. At least 75 atomic percent of all Si atoms in the core are bonded exclusively to alkoxy or bridging oxygens, the remainder each being bonded to 3 oxygens and 1 carbon. The total Si to free hydrolysable alkoxy molar ratio in the material is 1:1.25 to 1:2.75, and the material has a viscosity in the range of 10-100,000 cP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: EMPA Eidgenoessische Materialpruefungs- und Forschungsanstalt
    Inventors: Matthias KOEBEL, Ana STOJANOVIC, Wim MALFAIT, Adilien NOUR
  • Publication number: 20210371591
    Abstract: The present invention exploits reactive organophosphorus compounds containing unsaturated vinyl groups, which can be used in a flexible and highly controlled manner to prepare various macromolecular derivatives either via radical reactions or via Michael addition with suitable nucleophiles. Based on the fact that secondary amine groups on the one hand and vinyl groups on the other hand can work as mutual linking sites, an arsenal of novel and useful addition products can be built up. By selecting the number of secondary amine sites and vinyl sites of the participating reaction partners, very different addition products can be formed. In particular, one can form either linear chain type macromolecules (i.e. linear oligomers or polymers) or highly crosslinked network polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: EMPA Eidgenoessische Materialpruefungs- und Forschungsanstalt
    Inventors: Sabyasachi GAAN, Rudolf HUFENUS, Rashid NAZIR, Pietro SIMONETTI, Khalifah SALMEIA, Dambarudhar PARIDA, Ali GOONEIE
  • Patent number: 11067442
    Abstract: A waveguide spectrometer includes at least one substrate layer with at least one waveguide. Each waveguide extends from an inlet face proceeding partly through the substrate layer to a reflecting element. A multiplicity of photo detectors is arranged on a front side of the substrate layer, while the photo detectors are electrically connected to an electronic read out system. The spectrometer can be made lightweight and easier to produce by forming the waveguides as surface waveguides, each showing a longitudinal opening with a width to the front side of the substrate layer between the inlet face and the reflecting element. The photo detectors are in print distributed at the front side on top of the substrate layer at least partly overlapping the longitudinal opening along an overall length of sampled region and the electrical connection of the photo detectors with the electronic read out system is achieved by a multiplicity of printed electrical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: MICOS ENGINEERING GMBH, EMPA EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
    Inventors: Mohammadreza Madi, Edoardo Alberti, Ivan Shorubalko
  • Publication number: 20210210685
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for deposition layers of an electronic device by slot-die deposition. Preferably, the method comprises slot-die deposition of formulation for providing compact inorganic layers, mesoporous inorganic layers, a carbon layer and a layer comprising organic-inorganic perovskite. In a preferred embodiment, the layers of a monolithic perovskite solar cell are entirely deposited by slot-die deposition. The method renders the manufacturing process of such electronic devices more efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicants: EMPA EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT, SOLARONIX S.A.
    Inventors: Anand VERMA, David MARTINEAU, Frank NÜESCH, Jacob HEIER, Tobias MEYER
  • Publication number: 20210039324
    Abstract: Use of a sensor read out system with at least one fiber optical sensor, which is connected via at least one signal line to a processing unit as part of an additive manufacturing setup, for in situ and real time quality control of a running additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: EMPA EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
    Inventors: Kilian WASMER, Sergey SHEVCHIK, Farzad VAKILI FARAHANI, Georgios VIOLAKIS, Sébastien VAUCHER
  • Publication number: 20200208346
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for obtaining densified material comprising the steps of a. providing lignocellulosic material, b. delignification of the lignocellulosic material providing a delignified material, wherein the delignification step is performed in such a way that the lignin of the lignocellulosic material is almost completely removed and wherein the structural integrity of the lignocellulosic material is maintained in the delignified material, c. densification of the delignified material providing a densified material. Furthermore, a densified material is provided. The fibers and fibrils are maintained in the structural directionality of the raw material and that the cellulosic material is whitish.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicants: ETH ZURICH, EMPA, EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
    Inventors: Thomas SCHNIDER, Ingo BURGERT, Jana SEGMEHL, Tobias KEPLINGER
  • Patent number: 10604449
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved concrete elements, particularly to self-prestressed, high-performance concrete elements (SP-HPC elements); to cementitious compositions suitable, for producing such concrete elements; to methods of manufacturing such concrete elements and such cementitious compositions; to the use of specific components in concrete elements and cementitious mixtures. The compositions and elements described herein comprise an effective amount of expansive agents in combination with superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and shrinkage reducing admixtures (SRA), and optional further components as defined in the claims. The present invention further provides for improved tendons, suitable for SP-HPC elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: EMPA EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
    Inventors: Giovanni Pietro Terrasi, Mateusz Ryszard Wyrzykowski, Pietro Lura
  • Publication number: 20190329498
    Abstract: Use of a sensor read out system with at least one fiber optical sensor, which is connected via at least one signal line to a processing unit as part of an additive manufacturing setup, for in situ and real time quality control of a running additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: EMPA EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
    Inventors: Kilian WASMER, Sergey SHEVCHIK, Farzad VAKILI FARAHANI, Georgios VIOLAKIS, Sébastien VAUCHER
  • Patent number: 10366863
    Abstract: A detector supplement device for integration in a spectroscopy setup with the spectroscopy setup including a vacuum chamber, a light source, a sample irradiating a reflected photon beam and a charged particle beam in the same direction of propagation into a radiation detector which is able to detect ultrafast electric currents originating from charged particles. The detector supplement device includes a Rogowski coil placeable inside the vacuum chamber between the sample and radiation detector. The charged particle beam is guided through the hollow core of the Rogowski coil allowing synchronized measurements of electrical currents due to the charged particle beam correlated to the reflected photon beam, while irradiation of the reflected photon beam and the charged particle beam takes place in the same direction of propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: EMPA EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS-UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
    Inventors: Davide Bleiner, Yunieski Arbelo-Pena
  • Publication number: 20190219445
    Abstract: A waveguide spectrometer includes at least one substrate layer with at least one waveguide. Each waveguide extends from an inlet face proceeding partly through the substrate layer to a reflecting element. A multiplicity of photo detectors is arranged on a front side of the substrate layer, while the photo detectors are electrically connected to an electronic read out system. The spectrometer can be made lightweight and easier to produce by forming the waveguides as surface waveguides, each showing a longitudinal opening with a width to the front side of the substrate layer between the inlet face and the reflecting element. The photo detectors are in print distributed at the front side on top of the substrate layer at least partly overlapping the longitudinal opening along an overall length of sampled region and the electrical connection of the photo detectors with the electronic read out system is achieved by a multiplicity of printed electrical conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicants: MICOS ENGINEERING GMBH, EMPA EIDGENÖSSISCHE MATERIALPRÜFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
    Inventors: Mohammadreza MADI, Edoardo ALBERTI, Ivan SHORUBALKO
  • Patent number: 10329378
    Abstract: Provided are graphene nanoribbons with controlled zig-zag edge and cove edge configuration and methods for preparing such graphene nanoribbons. The nanoribbons are selected from the following formulae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignees: BASF SE, EMPA-Eidgenoessische Materialpruefungs-und Forschungsanstalt, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Georg Schwab, Klaus Muellen, Xinliang Feng, Bo Yang, Tim Dumslaff, Roman Fasel, Pascal Ruffieux, Jia Liu, Jinming Cai, Carlos Sanchez-Sanchez, Junzhi Liu
  • Publication number: 20190130886
    Abstract: A unit cell of an artificial phononic crystal for building of an artificial phononic metamaterial, showing reduced mechanical vibrations in a defined frequency range with at least one band gap in the band structure dispersion relation of the unit cell. The unit cell includes at least one building block and at least one mechanical connection connected to the building block, showing reduced mechanical vibrations in a defined frequency range with tailored dispersion properties with at least one band gap is sought. This is accomplished by forming the building block as a toroid, with a central opening and a front surface from which a first multiplicity of struts, which are tiltable relatively to the principal direction, is extending from the front surface. More than one strut is inclined with respect to the principal direction so that a rotation of the toroid around the principal direction is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: EMPA Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt
    Inventors: Tommaso DELPERO, ANDREA BERGAMINI
  • Patent number: 10246887
    Abstract: The method includes a tension element, for example in the form of flat steel, that is placed on the structure or structural part and can be guided around a corner. The flat steel can also wrap as a band around the structure, in which the two ends of the flat steel are either connected to one another or are separately connected to the structure by the end anchors or intersect to produce a clamping connection. The flat steel contracts as a result of a subsequent active and controlled input of heat using a heating element and generates a permanent tensile stress and, correspondingly, a permanent prestress on the structure. The structure, as equipped, has at least one tension element as a shape memory alloy which extends along the outer side of the structure and is connected by one or more end anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignees: RE-FER AG, EIDGENOESSISCHE MATERIALPRUEFUNGS-UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT EMPA
    Inventors: Masoud Motavalli, Benedikt Weber, Wookijn Lee, Rolf Broennimann, Christoph Czaderski, Christian Leinenbach, Julien Michels, Moslem Shahverdi
  • Publication number: 20190088235
    Abstract: In a method for improving the acoustic properties of spruce resonance wood for musical instruments at least one resonance wood blank is subjected to a treatment with Physisporinus vitreus under controlled, sterile conditions. The previously sterilized resonance wood blank is immersed into a liquid medium enriched with fungus myecelium and kept therein in the dark for an exposure time and finally sterilized, wherein during the exposure time a temperature of 18 to 26° C. and a relative humidity of approximately 60 to approximately 80% are maintained. Due to the fact that the liquid medium contains nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) in an amount of 200 to 300 g per liter, a reproducible, uniform improvement of the acoustic properties of the resonance wood free from local defects is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: EMPA Eidgenoessische Materialpruefungs- und Forschungsanstalt
    Inventors: Francis SCHWARZE, Markus HEEB, Marjan GILANI, Sebastien JOSSET
  • Patent number: 10132029
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for finishing fibers and/or fabrics, the intention being to reduce the adhesion of microorganisms, especially of bacteria and/or yeasts, to the fibers and/or fabrics. The method involves applying a composition ZS comprising selected hydrophilic silane derivatives to the fibers and/or fabrics. The invention further relates to a method for the quantitative determination of the adhesion of microorganisms to fibers and/or fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: SANITIZED AG, EMPA EIDGENOESSISCHE MATERIALPRUEFUNGS-UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT
    Inventors: Heinz Katzenmeier, Peter Stutte, Sabrina Schmidt-Emrich, Linda Thoeny-Meyer, Qun Ren Zulian
  • Patent number: 10040720
    Abstract: In order to produce a high performance thermally insulating rendering, a dry blend is provided that consists essentially of: —60 to 90 Vol.-% of a hydrophobized granular silica aerogel; —0.5 to 30 Vol.-% of a purely mineral binder; —0.2 to 20 Vol.-% of an open-porous water-insoluble or slowly water soluble additive having an accessible pore volume from 10 to 90 Vol.-%; —up to 5 Vol.-% reinforcing fibers; and—up to 5 Vol.-% of processing additives. After mixing the dry blend with water, the slurry thus formed can be applied to a surface or shaped to a self-supporting body using an overpressure without adversely affecting the thermal insulation properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: EMPA Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs-Und Forschungsanstalt, FixIt AG
    Inventors: Thomas Stahl, Samuel Brunner, Mark Zimmermann, Matthias Koebel