Patents Assigned to National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
  • Publication number: 20060277144
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing simplified electronic transfer of funds in files subject to sender-defined access constraints. In one aspect of the system and method, a digital currency file is transmitted as an attachment to an electronic message. The sender of the digital currency file defines the level of security associated with the file, i.e., what the recipient must provide to access the funds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicants: JOVE CORPORATION, NATIONAL CENTER FOR MANUFACTURING SCIENCES
    Inventors: Stephen Ranzini, John Sheridan
  • Patent number: 7120606
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing simplified electronic transfer of funds in files subject to sender-defined access constraints. In one aspect of the system and method, a digital currency file is transmitted as an attachment to an electronic message. The sender of the digital currency file defines the level of security associated with the file, i.e., what the recipient must provide to access the funds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignees: Jove Corporation, National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Stephen Lange Ranzini, John Sheridan
  • Patent number: 6283386
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for kinetic spray coating of substrate surfaces by impingement of air or gas entrained powders of small particles in a range up to at least 106 microns accelerated to supersonic velocity in a spray nozzle. Preferably powders of metals, alloys, polymers and mixtures thereof or with semiconductors or ceramics are entrained in unheated air and passed through an injection tube into a larger flow of heated air for mixing and acceleration through a supersonic nozzle for coating of an article by impingement of the yieldable particles. A preferred apparatus includes a high pressure air supply carrying entrained particles exceeding 50 microns through an injection tube into heated air in a mixing chamber for mixing and acceleration in the nozzle. The mixing chamber is supplied with high pressure heated air through a main air passage having an area ratio relative to the injection tube of at least 80/1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, John R. Smith, Richard E. Teets, Jerome J. Moleski, Daniel W. Gorkiewicz
  • Patent number: 6268569
    Abstract: A high-performance printed wiring board assembly is disclosed which utilizes a substrate component having a reinforcement material. The substrate has a glass fabric reinforcement embedded in a condensation-reacted and thermally-crosslinked nadic end-capped polyimide resin. There are electrically conductive lamina current pathways directly adhered to the substrate. There are high-temperature soldered or metallurgically bonded connections that electrically join conductor leads of electrical devices to the lamina current pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Daniel Anthony Scola, Richard Thomas Grannells
  • Patent number: 6139913
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for kinetic spray coating of substrate surfaces by impingement of air or gas entrained powders of small particles in a range up to at least 106 microns accelerated to supersonic velocity in a spray nozzle. Preferably powders of metals, alloys, polymers and mixtures thereof or with semiconductors or ceramics are entrained in unheated air and passed through an injection tube into a larger flow of heated air for mixing and acceleration through a supersonic nozzle for coating of an article by impingement of the yieldable particles. A preferred apparatus includes a high pressure air supply carrying entrained particles exceeding 50 microns through an injection tube into heated air in a mixing chamber for mixing and acceleration in the nozzle. The mixing chamber is supplied with high pressure heated air through a main air passage having an area ratio relative to the injection tube of at least 80/1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Thomas H. Van Steenkiste, John R. Smith, Richard E. Teets, Jerome J. Moleski, Daniel W. Gorkiewicz
  • Patent number: 6129948
    Abstract: A high-velocity spray nozzle is used to physically embed conductive particles into the surface of a non-conductive substrate, thereby rendering it electrically conductive. In contrast to existing, chemically based alternatives, the method offers the use of a dry process with no chemical baths and associated environmental concerns; the ability to produce localized modifications, only in areas where actually required; the use of simple materials, such as air and powdered graphite; and a potential cost savings. Methods of modifying localized areas of the underlying substrate are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Howard K. Plummer, Robert C. McCune, Jeffrey H. Helms
  • Patent number: 5966804
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a high-performance printed wiring board assembly, and the resulting product, utilize a substrate component that has a reinforcement material embedded in a condensation-reacted and thermally-crosslinked nadic end-capped polyimide resin electrically conductive lamina component pathways directly adhered to the substrate component resin and high-temperature soldered or otherwise attached connections that electrically join the conductor leads of included electrical devices to the lamina component conductive pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: National Center For Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Daniel Anthony Scola, Richard Thomas Grannells
  • Patent number: 5872316
    Abstract: The measurement of ejection tonnage in a die in forming process uses an embedded, in-die sensor and signal filtering methods for a more refined interpretation of the weaker signals associated with die vibrations. In particular, a self-tuning (adaptive) filter, matched to the embedded sensor, is used to reconstruct the stimulus of the die vibrations to reveal otherwise non-measurable knock-out tonnage parameters from the strain signal output by the sensor. Necessary information is obtained by means of a suitable dynamics identification procedure. Information necessary for self-tuning is obtained by means of a suitable die-set dynamics identification procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Ravi Duggirala, Swavik A. Spiewak
  • Patent number: 5794696
    Abstract: An earth contamination site groundwater testing well having a borehole which passes though subsurface soil zones of interest is provided with a probe assembly that is installed in the borehole, that has a core stem which carries spaced-apart flexible disc seals that divide the borehole into different borehole zones that correspond to the subsurface soil zones of interest, and that includes microporous sampler points in the different borehole zones. The groundwater testing well borehole may be formed with a well casing that is afterwards removed while retaining the probe assembly in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Thomas Loughborough Gibson, Paul David Chalmer, Abdul Shaheed Abdul
  • Patent number: 5659483
    Abstract: A centralized computer system in communication with a measurement system including a multi-point probe is programmed to analyze a plurality of conductor formations on a particular substrate, store information relating to an electrical characteristic of each conductor formation analyzed, and generate a report including information as to the variance in the electrical characteristic as a function of substrate position. To step through all of the conductor formations on a particular substrate, the computer may either be programmed to move a chuck holding the substrate under test relative to the points of the probe, or the system may include switching means disposed in an electrical path between the points of the probe and the resistance measurement system, enabling the computer to step through all of the conductor formations on a particular substrate by instructing the switching means to select points associated with only a single conductor formation for connection to the resistance measurement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Ronald J. Rhodes, Timothy A. Estes
  • Patent number: 5567526
    Abstract: A cemented tungsten carbide substrate is prepared for coating with a layer of diamond film by subjecting the substrate surface to be coated to a process which first removes a small amount of the tungsten carbide at the surface of the substrate while leaving the cobalt binder substantially intact. Murakami's reagent is presently preferred. The substrate is then subjected to a process which removes any residue remaining on the surface as a result of the performance of the process which removes the tungsten carbide. A solution of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide is presently preferred. A diamond coated cemented tungsten carbide tool is formed using an unpolished substrate, which may be prepared by etching as described above or by etching in nitric acid prior to diamond film deposition. Deposition of a substantially continuous diamond film may be accomplished by reactive vapor deposition, thermally assisted (hot filament) CVD, plasma-enhanced CVD, or other techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Michael G. Peters, Robert H. Cummings
  • Patent number: 5559626
    Abstract: A resource-sharing system enables multiple work areas to share an energy resource on a real-time, asynchronous basis in order to perform manufacturing processes. A specific embodiment involves a communication and control structure for a distributed laser processing system wherein the work areas, in communication with a cell controller via a cell-level LAN, share high-power lasers through beam multiplexers and optical fibers. The cell controller, typically in communication with a factory information system computer over a factory-level network, receives information relating to processes to be performed in the workareas, and makes this information available to the workareas as a node in the cell-level LAN. With such an arrangement, tools requiring the laser energy within the work areas may be controlled in real time by their associated station controllers, as cell controller need only be responsible for coordinating more global activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Ami Kestenbaum, Richard S. Armington
  • Patent number: 5422493
    Abstract: A node switch useful for resource sharing within a network environment incorporating computer control uses opto-electronic isolators and switching devices to route bidirectional communications between a common port and at least two I/O ports on an asynchronous basis. Separate power supplies are used for the ports and the internal circuitry, thus providing signal matching between disparate pieces of equipment. Multiple node switches may be cascaded or "daisy-chained" to provide for flexible switching, depending upon the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Ami Kestenbaum, Richard S. Armington
  • Patent number: 5320289
    Abstract: An abrasive waterjet nozzle for intelligent control is illustrated. The invention includes a nozzle cartridge dismountably attached to a holder allowing quick and automatic nozzle changes. Provisions are further included for sensing the condition of nozzle components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Mohamad Hashish, David Monserud, Steve Craigen
  • Patent number: 5236740
    Abstract: A cemented tungsten carbide substrate is prepared for coating with a layer of diamond film by subjecting the substrate surface to be coated to a process which first removes a small amount of the tungsten carbide at the surface of the substrate while leaving the cobalt binder substantially intact. Murakami's reagent is presently preferred. The substrate is then subjected to a process which removes any residue remaining on the surface as a result of the performance of the process which removes the tungsten carbide. A solution of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide is presently preferred. A diamond coated cemented tungsten carbide tool is formed using an unpolished substrate, which may be prepared by etching as described above or by etching in nitric acid prior to diamond film deposition. Deposition of a substantially continuous diamond film may be accomplished by reactive vapor deposition, thermally assisted (hot filament) CVD, plasma-enhanced CVD, or other techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
    Inventors: Michael G. Peters, Robert H. Cummings