Patents Examined by Alexa D. Neckel
  • Patent number: 8172991
    Abstract: A hydrogen generating apparatus is disclosed, which can provide a constant amount of hydrogen regardless of its orientation. The hydrogen generating apparatus can include an electrolyte bath, which contains an electrolyte solution; a free-moving first electrode, which is positioned inside the electrolyte bath, and which generates electrons; a free-moving second electrode, which is positioned inside the electrolyte bath, and which receives the electrons to generate hydrogen; a spacer positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a control unit, which is connected with the first electrode and the second electrode, to control an amount of electrons traveling from the first electrode to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hyoung Gil, Hye-Yeon Cha, Jae-Hyuk Jank
  • Patent number: 8168046
    Abstract: A surface treatment device for applying a surface treatment medium to an article is provided with the surface treatment device having an application member for applying the surface treatment medium to the article and an electrode, which applies an electrical potential between the application member and the article. The device provides localized treatment to the article and can remove oxide layers or the like from metallic materials without removing or damaging the underlying metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Daniel Clark, Stephen Tuppen, Wayne Eric Voice
  • Patent number: 8114266
    Abstract: Basically, I want to use soft, shredded, rusty metal as a sacrificial anode to CO2 and H2SO4. The metal is then grounded by an earth ground. The sulfuric acid (powder/gas) will increase the conductivity of a Galvanic Cell/Battery (Rust) and conscript oxygen to do so. The galvanic cell itself (Rust) also conscripts oxygen in its attraction to less noble and dissimilar materials (ferrous metal) and will be forced to do work in the galvanic cell. As oxygen is conducted between the difference of two potentials (Battery/Galvanic Cell), sulfuric acid (a bond breaker) will both contribute to un-fusing oxygen from its carbon in the galvanic cell (Rust), and depositing that carbon onto the carbon-iron found in mild steel. Oxygen is released through its' “work” in the sacrificial anode (mild steel) during the rust process and binding the carbon both by acid deposition and electrolysis to the remaining iron and carbon of rust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: John Edward Benton
  • Patent number: 8110088
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an implant, in particular an intraluminal endoprosthesis, with a body containing metallic material, preferably iron. To control the degradation of the implant, the method comprises the following steps: a) preparing the body of the implant, and b) incorporating hydrogen into at least a portion of the structure of the implant body near the surface. Furthermore, such an implant is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK VI Patent AG
    Inventors: Ullrich Bayer, Baerbel Becher, Bernd Block, Robert Voegele, Patricia Decker
  • Patent number: 8110083
    Abstract: In a microfluidic device, respective motion of a plurality of objects along corresponding trajectories is achieved by determining a force field, such as an underlying fluid flow which, when applied to the plurality of object, moves each object along its corresponding trajectory. The force field is a linear superposition of a subset of all force fields supported by the physical characteristics of the microfluidic device. Once the fields have been ascertained, a plurality of actuation signals corresponding to the fields is applied to actuators installed on the microfluidic device to cause the force on each object. By implementing a feedback structure, corrections for positional errors may be made by computing a corrective force for each object and adjusting the actuation signals appropriately thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: University of Maryland
    Inventors: Benjamin Shapiro, Satej V. Chaudhary, Michael D. Armani, Roland Probst
  • Patent number: 8093489
    Abstract: Photovoltaic devices, such as solar cells, and methods for their manufacture are disclosed. A device may be characterized by an architecture having a nanostructured template made from an n-type first charge transfer material with template elements between about 1 nm and about 500 nm in diameter with about 1012 to 1016 elements/m2. A p-type second charge-transfer material optionally coats the walls of the template elements leaving behind additional space. A p-type third charge-transfer material fills the additional space volumetrically interdigitating with the second charge transfer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Sager, Martin R. Roscheisen, Karl Pichler
  • Patent number: 8083904
    Abstract: A device for colliding at least one H+ ion and at least one electron may comprise at least one electromagnetic field generator for extracting the at least one H+ ion from a hydrogen-containing compound and transferring the at least one H+ ion toward a cathode. The device also may comprise at least one non-conductive material positioned between at least a portion of the hydrogen-containing compound and the cathode so that the colliding of the at least one H+ ion and the at least one electron occurs within the non-conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ceram Hyd
    Inventor: Arash Mofakhami
  • Patent number: 8080148
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of electrochemical polishing of surfaces of cobalt or cobalt alloys. It employs an electrolyte comprising glycolic acid and at least one alkane-sulfonic acid with an alkyl residue that has 1 to 3 carbon atoms. This electrolyte is also one aspect of the present invention. In one embodiment, at least one alkane-sulfonic acid comprises methane-sulfonic acid. The electrolyte and the method using this electrolyte are suitable in particular for surfaces of cobalt or cobalt alloys, including cobalt-chromium alloys such as stellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Poligrat GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Piesslinger-Schweiger, Olaf Böhme
  • Patent number: 8075745
    Abstract: A polishing pad includes a guide plate having a plurality of holes therein and being affixed to a compressible under-layer; and a plurality of conducting polishing elements each affixed to the compressible under-layer and passing through a sealed contact with a proton exchange membrane and corresponding hole in the guide plate so as to be maintained in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to the compressible under-layer but being translatable in a vertical direction with respect to the guide plate. The polishing pad may also include a slurry distribution material fastened to the guide plate by an adhesive. Pad wear sensors may also be provided in the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Semiquest Inc.
    Inventor: Rajeev Bajaj
  • Patent number: 8070933
    Abstract: The invention is an electrolytic microfinishing process which utilizes a conductive tool as a cathode and a conductive workpiece as an anode both connected to a power supply. Electrolytic fluid is pumped between the tool and workpiece, creating a decomposition of the workpiece surface allowing the surface of the workpiece to be removed or wiped away by the interaction of the flowing electrolyte and rotation of the tool without generating any heat at a rate significantly faster than any other known machining process. The tool has no contact with the workpiece and accordingly, requires very low clamping loads to hold the workpiece in the spindle during the finishing operation. Due to the low clamping loads, the distortion of the workpiece is completely eliminated. Modulating the power supply during the work cycle allows the use of a single tool for both roughing and finishing as a continuous cycle to significantly provide surface finishes previously unobtainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Thielenhaus Microfinishing Corp.
    Inventor: Manfred G. Becker
  • Patent number: 8070922
    Abstract: An oxygen generator includes a monolithic body having first and second channels extending longitudinally therein. An electrode is operatively disposed in the first channels and a counter-electrode is operatively disposed in the second channels. The second channels are formed in the monolithic body so each second channel is electrically isolated from, yet adjacent to a first channel, resulting in an alternating configuration of first and second channels. The first channels have fluid or oxygen flowing therethrough, while the second channels have the other of oxygen or fluid flowing therethrough. An output manifold, having an oxygen collection area separated from a fluid collection area, operatively engages with the monolithic body. The oxygen collection area receives substantially pure oxygen from one of the second or first channels, and the fluid collection area receives oxygen-depleted fluid from the other of the first or second channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Oxus America, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Nelson, Gerald R. Stabel, Joshua J. Titus, Alfred R. Webster
  • Patent number: 8062494
    Abstract: There is a micro-machining apparatus for removing the micro-machining dust generated at the time of machining while a workpiece M is machined within a liquid W using a probe tip. The apparatus includes a stage on which the workpiece is to be placed; a probe having the probe tip, a machining device having a moving means that moves the stage and the probe relative to each other to machine the workpiece by the probe tip, and a micro-machining dust removing device having a first electrode and a second electrode that are arranged in the liquid so as to sandwich the probe tip therebetween, and a voltage application means that applies a voltage to between both the electrodes to move the micro-machining dust in the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignees: National University Corporation Shizuoka University, SII Nano Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Futoshi Iwata, Masatoshi Yasutake, Takuya Nakaue, Syuichi Kikuchi, Osamu Takaoka
  • Patent number: 8062500
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrolytically producing oxidation reduction potential water from aqueous salt solutions for use in disinfection, sterilization, decontamination, wound cleansing. The apparatus includes an electrolysis unit having a three-compartment cell (22) comprising a cathode chamber (18), an anode chamber (16), and a saline solution chamber (20) interposed between the anode and cathode chambers. Two communicating (24, 26) membranes separate the three chambers. The center chamber includes a fluid flow inlet (21a) and outlet (21b) and contains insulative material that ensures direct voltage potential does not travel through the chamber. A supply of water flows through the cathode and anode chambers at the respective sides of the saline chamber. Saline solution flows through the center chamber, either by circulating a pre-prepared aqueous solution containing ionic species, or, alternatively, by circulating pure water or an aqueous solution of, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Osao Sumita
  • Patent number: 8057645
    Abstract: A system and method for electrochemically machining a work-piece contains a fixture capable of receiving a work-piece and securing the work-piece to the fixture. An electrolyte source is also provided. In addition, the system contains a rotary drive subassembly capable of receiving a portion of the work-piece therein, motion of the rotary drive assembly being determined by a received control signal, wherein frequency and amplitude of the control signal increases and decreases motion of the rotary drive subassembly, and wherein the control signal is a trapezoidal waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Turbocam, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. McGee, Marian B. Noronha, Hans Hendrik Wolters
  • Patent number: 8052861
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for partial etching or pattern etching using an electrolysis reaction, wherein, conventionally, there was the problem that an etching line could not be finely formed on a cell edge because of apparatus problems concerning alignment accuracy. The present invention provides a method and apparatus with which fine line etching is possible and which can form a line on a cell edge. Provided is a an electrolytic etching method of a substrate which is formed having a subject etching layer on a surface, having the steps of providing a fixed gap from a substrate end surface which is external to an end surface of the substrate for placing a working part of a working electrode and passing current between the substrate and the working electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Murakami, Koji Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 8048287
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for selectively removing conductive materials from a microelectronic substrate. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes positioning the microelectronic substrate proximate to and spaced apart from an electrode pair that includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode. An electrolytic liquid can be directed through a first flow passage to an interface region between the microelectronic substrate and the electrode pair. A varying electrical signal can be passed through the electrode pair and the electrolytic liquid to remove conductive material from the microelectronic substrate. The electrolytic liquid can be removed through a second flow passage proximate to the first flow passage and the electrode pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Whonchee Lee, Scott E. Moore, Scott G. Meikle
  • Patent number: 8043486
    Abstract: A system providing selective spin modification and reaction in an electrolytic cell. An electrolytic cell is coupled to a magnet that provides a level-splitting magnetic field in a region of electrolyte adjacent to a working electrode, thus establishing a spin resonance for an unpaired electron associated with a chemical species in the region of electrolyte adjacent to the working electrode. The working electrode carries an excitation current produced by a switching source or amplifier. The excitation current produces an alternating magnetic field adjacent to the working electrode that alters the spin state population density for the unpaired electron associated with a chemical species within the electrolyte, thereby enhancing or inhibiting the reaction of the chemical species during subsequent electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventor: Mehlin Dean Matthews
  • Patent number: 8038853
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for the photo-induced reduction/oxidation of carbon nanotubes, and their use in photochemical cells and in electrochemical cells for the generation of hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Vsevolod Rostovtsev, Ming Zheng
  • Patent number: 8038866
    Abstract: Anode foil, preferably aluminum anode foil, is etched using a process of treating the foil in an electrolyte bath composition comprising a sulfate and a halide, such as sodium chloride. The anode foil is etched in the electrolyte bath composition by passing a charge through the bath. The etched anode foil is suitable for use in an electrolytic capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofei Jiang, Tearl Stocker, R. Jason Hemphill, Thomas F. Strange
  • Patent number: 8038959
    Abstract: A reacting device includes a base plate, a first reaction unit provided on the base plate, a reaction material being supplied thereto, the first reaction unit being set at a first temperature, a reaction flow channel being formed such that the reaction material flows therein, the first reaction unit causing a reaction of the reaction material and at least one heating unit which sets the first reaction unit at the first temperature. The first reaction unit has a plurality of reactors that communicate with each other, and the heating unit is provided between the adjacent reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotomo Miyamoto, Tadao Yamamoto, Masaharu Shioya