Patents Examined by Alain L. Bashore
  • Patent number: 7252854
    Abstract: A rotatable vacuum chamber receives an optical connector having an output face on which an optical gel is applied substantially without entrapped air. Opposite the output face is placed a gel dispenser with its opened nozzle pointing towards the output face. Uncured gel components contained in the dispenser are outgased prior to application of the gel on the output face while a vacuum is maintained in the chamber. Outgasing takes place at a first chamber orientation with the nozzle pointing upwards through which the outgasing air ventilates. The gel is applied at a second chamber orientation where the output face is horizontal and upwards pointing. Immediately following the gel application, the vacuum is unmade to prevent cooking of the mixed and uncured gel. A glass plate is then pressed against the applied fluid gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Janusz Liberkowski
  • Patent number: 7250190
    Abstract: An applicator including a liquid discharge head for discharging a treatment liquid in droplet form, and a discharge control device for controlling the discharge of droplets from the liquid discharge head. The discharge control device divides a surface of a member into a plurality of regions according to the shape of the surface, and controls the application quantity for each region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Sakurada, Keisuke Takada
  • Patent number: 7247345
    Abstract: A method of controlling film thickness of dielectric multilayer film with high precision, an optical film thickness controlling apparatus and a dielectric multilayer film manufacturing apparatus that can control the film thickness. An optical film thickness controlling apparatus includes a film formation device having a rotatable substrate and a sputtering target, a photodiode that detects each of a plurality of monochromatic light beams applied to the rotatable substrate along a radius thereof at predetermined intervals, in which a movable shutter that moves along the direction of the radius of the rotatable substrate to shut off film formation on the substrate between the substrate and the target. From each of the monochromatic light beams, a quadratic regression function of reciprocal transmittance is calculated by a least squares method, and a CPU and a motor driver move the movable shutter to shut off the film formation at the film formation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: ULVAC, Inc.
    Inventors: Haruo Takahashi, Kouichi Hanzawa, Takafumi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7247347
    Abstract: A method of coating an optical fiber includes a step of coating the fiber with a curable coating composition and a step of curing the composition, which contains an unsaturated compound having a double bond and an oxidation catalyst. The curing step includes an in-line first phase consisting in exposing the coated fiber to UV radiation for a time shorter than the time needed for complete curing followed by an off-line second phase consisting in placing the coated fiber in an oxidizing medium in order to complete curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Draka Comteq B.V.
    Inventors: Xavier Andrieu, Sophie Vanpoulle
  • Patent number: 7247346
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the rapid and parallel synthesis of optoelectronic cell devices and for the high-throughput screening of such devices for useful properties are disclosed. The methods comprise the parallel synthesis of arrays of optoelectronic devices fabricated within an addressable sample-holding matrix. Each optoelectronic device is created and tested within an addressable sample-holder in the fabrication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Sager, Martin R. Roscheisen, Klaus Petritsch
  • Patent number: 7247343
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium for efficiently and certainly manufacturing a magnetic recording medium. The magnetic recording medium has a recording layer formed to have predetermined concavo-convex pattern and an adequately flat surface. According to this method, a non-magnetic material is deposited on and filled into a member to be processed 10 by adjusting sputtering conditions in such a manner as to satisfy the following Eq I: 0.1?V/V0?0.003×(L·d/t)+1.2 Eq I where V represents a deposition rate which is the film thickness per unit of time, V0 represent a deposition rate in a case that the bias power is zero, t represents the film thickness of the deposited non-magnetic material, L represents the width of a recording element, and d represents the depth of a recessed portion between the recording elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Suwa, Mitsuru Takai, Kazuhiro Hattori, Shuichi Okawa
  • Patent number: 7249088
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining private information and risk attitudes of bidders at auctions. By varying auction formats, the underlying risk attitudes and joint distribution of bidders' private information is extracted. Bids submitted in utility-independent auctions are used to determine the bidders private information. Risk attitudes for bidders are determined using utility-dependent auctions and using the determined bidders' private information. When there is insufficient auction data for determining private information and risk attitudes, additional auctions are conducted to obtain the needed auction data. The results can then be used for designing auctions and for determining bids to be made by buyers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kemal Guler, Tongwei Liu, Hsiu-Khuern Tang
  • Patent number: 7244464
    Abstract: A paint spray gun and range finder for positioning the gun with respect to a target surface to be sprayed. The range finder provides a user of the gun with information about the distance between the gun and the target surface, with different indications when the gun is too close, too far or distanced properly from the target surface to be sprayed. A visual or acoustic range finder provides visual or audible indications of the proximity of the gun to the target surface. One range finder has either a single laser diode and a beam splitter or a pair of laser diodes providing a pair of collimated optical beams which indicate distance to the target surface by the relative location of a pair of illuminated spots on the target surface. The spots may be offset when the gun is at the desired distance to the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Robens, Timothy W. Ziegler
  • Patent number: 7244465
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coated sheet that may form a coated layer having a uniform film thickness by a coating liquid even when a substrate has a large area. A method for manufacturing a coated sheet to form a coated layer by a process including a process (1) for coating a coating liquid including a resin material and a solvent on a substrate, and a drying process (2) for drying a coated liquid, wherein a value L obtained in drying process (2) satisfies a following relationship; L = ? 0 T ? ? ? [ mN / m ] × ( h ? [ m ] ) 3 ? ? [ mPa · sec ] ? ? ? t > 1.9 × 10 - 13 ? [ m 4 / sec ] (where: T: total period of drying process [sec]; ?: surface tension of coated liquid [mN/m]; h: thickness of coated liquid [m]; and ?: viscosity of coated liquid [mPa·sec]).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Kondou, Kazuki Tsuchimoto, Tomoaki Masuda
  • Patent number: 7244470
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting electrical power transmissions systems that may or may not be energized. A two part resin composition acting as a dielectric material is distributed on electrical power systems at a location close to the transmissions systems. The dielectric material has dielectric properties suitable for protecting the desired areas in the solid form and that allow for safe application in the liquid form. The dielectric material can be distributed before installation of the electric lines or can be retrofitted to existing installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Cantega Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Martin S. Niles
  • Patent number: 7244471
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for surface treating metal pipes includes introducing a treatment liquid into a first distribution chamber having a flat bottom surface, and dropping the treatment liquid onto at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the metal pipe through a plurality of holes formed in the bottom surface of the first distribution chamber. Preferably, a distance between the bottom surface of the first distribution chamber and the metal pipe is maintained constant as the outer diameter of the pipe varies. The treatment liquid may be introduced into a second distribution chamber having a flat bottom surface, and the treatment liquid may then be introduced into the first distribution chamber through a plurality of holes formed in the bottom surface of the second distribution chamber. It is possible for the first distribution chamber to simultaneously drop the treatment liquid onto at least two metal pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Takano, Mituo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7241478
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for producing a thin organic film on a substrate using an ultrasonic nozzle to produce a cloud of micro-droplets in a vacuum chamber. The micro-droplets move turbulently within the vacuum chamber, isotropically impacting and adhering to the surface of the substrate. The resulting product has a smooth, continuous, conformal, and uniform organic thin film, when the critical process parameters of micro-droplet size, shot size, vacuum chamber pressure, and timing are well-controlled, and defects such as “orange peel” effect and webbing are avoided. The apparatus includes an improved ultrasonic nozzle assembly that comprises vacuum sealing and a separate, independent passageway for introducing a directed purging gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Allister McNeish, Edmund Popp, Mark Brown, Mark W. Leiby, James J. Cerul, Harvey L. Berger
  • Patent number: 7241472
    Abstract: The method produces a plastic lens with an antireflection film which have the advantages of good adhesion of the antireflection film to any type of hard coat film that underlies it and good abrasion resistance and provides a plastic lens with an antireflection film. The method includes the steps of applying water or an aqueous solution to a plastic lens with an organosilicon compound-containing hard coat film to form a liquid film of water or the aqueous solution on the surface of the hard coat film, then allowing ozone gas to contact with the liquid film to treat the surface of the hard coat film with the ozone gas, and thereafter forming an antireflection film on the surface of the hard coat film through vapor deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Akiko Arai
  • Patent number: 7241471
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a low-noise, high-output and large-capacity magnetic recording medium compatible with the AIT3 format in which a metal magnetic film is formed by the vacuum evaporation process under supply of oxygen is disclosed. In the vacuum evaporation process, the running speed of a non-magnetic support is controlled within a range from 150 to 200 m/min, and on thus continuously fast-running, non-magnetic support, a Co magnetic thin film is formed under supply of oxygen so as to achieve a coercive force Hc of the Co magnetic thin film of 100 to 115 kA/m, and a squareness ratio of 0.79 or larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasumi Sato, Jota Ito
  • Patent number: 7238386
    Abstract: A method is provided to manufacture a coated substrate, such as an optical fiber, without undesirable point lumps. The method filters a coating composition while controlling the filtering temperature, pressure drop across a filtering assembly, and filter pore size to achieve a resulting filtration factor not greater than 250,000 s?1. The filtration factor is a function of filtering temperature and pressure drop across the filtering assembly. Typically, the coating composition is filtered by passing the coating composition through one or more filters of the filtering assembly, having an absolute pore size rating in the range from approximately 0.05 to approximately 5 microns, at a temperature less than approximately 105° F. (40° C.), and at a pressure drop ?P across the filtering assembly of at most approximately 80 psig, wherein the ratio of pressure drop (mPa) to viscosity (mPa·s), which is dependent upon filtering temperature, minimizes the filtration factor to ?250,000 s?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Lee Workman, II, Don Leon King, Camille Jeanette Rechel, Timothy Edward Myers
  • Patent number: 7235280
    Abstract: A target for use in photogrammetric analysis that does not distort the object to be analyzed has been developed. The target is formed by mixing a diffuse material with a solvent and then applying the mixture to the surface of the object to be analyzed. The object is then coated with a reflective material so that the diffuse material forms a reflective target suitable for use in photogrammetric analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: SRS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Gierow, Greg Laue, William Clayton, David Murphy
  • Patent number: 7232587
    Abstract: The invention includes a method for the passivation of the surface of an intraocular lens, wherein the surface includes Brönsted sites. The intraocular lens is dipped into a solution of a fluoroalkyl silane having the general formula: Rf—(CH2)n—Si—(O—R)3. The residue R is selected from the group of H, CH3, C2H5 and C3H7 and the fluoroalkyl residue Rf is selected from the series CF3(CF2)m, with m=3 to 11 and n=0 to 4. The Brönsted sites on the surface are thereby deactivated by formation of Si—Q—bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: Dirk Henning Menz, Joachim Dresp, Hans Hoerauf
  • Patent number: 7229663
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid-crystal sheet material, useful for displays, having polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystals, comprising the steps of providing a emulsion comprising dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal domain and a solution comprising gelatin and a hardening agent, coating said emulsion onto a substrate; and drying said emulsion to form polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal domains dispersed in a continuous matrix comprising hardened gelatin. The invention is also directed to a display having an imaging layer comprising domains of polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid-crystal material dispersed in a continuous matrix comprising hardened gelatin, said imaging layer disposed between first and second conductors. The invention is advantageous in reducing sensitivity to temperature and/or high humidity, especially in thin displays or displays that are open to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stanley W. Stephenson, Charles M. Rankin
  • Patent number: 7226638
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement in connection with a production line for optic cable, wherein optical fibers (1) are guided to a coating point (3), where filling gel is applied around the fibres, and a loose tubular casing is formed around the fibres and the filling gel. The fibres (1) are guided to the coating point through a device (4) that is formed from three parts (4a, 4b, 4c), said device being supported on a first base (5) and on a second base (6) moving in the travel direction of the fibres. Sensors (7, 8) are arranged in the first and second bases (5, 6) for measuring the force acting on the bases (5, 6). The arrangement further comprises means (9) for calculating the difference between said measured values for determining the friction force between the fibres and the tubular device (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Nextrom Oy
    Inventors: Simo Kekkonen, Mikko Pfaffli
  • Patent number: 7226642
    Abstract: The invention provides a thin-film forming device, a thin-film forming method, a device for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, a device for manufacturing a thin-film structure, a method for a thin-film structure, a liquid crystal display, a thin-film structure, and an electronic apparatus, objects are to achieve easy control of thickness of a thin film without using rotation means, cost reduction, and miniaturization of the devices. The thin-film forming device for forming a thin film by applying a coating solution onto a substrate, there can be provided an ejection mechanism having a droplet ejection head for ejecting the coating solution onto the substrate, a moving mechanism capable of relatively moving the positions of the droplet ejection head and the substrate, and a control unit for controlling at least one of the ejection mechanism and the moving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sakurada