Patents Examined by Alexander W Keeling
  • Patent number: 11578412
    Abstract: A vessel corrosion protection apparatus includes a specially shaped anode having a smaller diameter, longer portion and a shorter portion with radially extending ribs that are cast with the anode and configured to engage the inside surface of a section of pipe that extends away from the vessel outer wall. A vessel corrosion protection apparatus includes a specially shaped anode having a smaller diameter, longer portion and a shorter portion with radially extending ribs that are configured to engage the inside surface of a section of pipe that extends away from the vessel outer wall, the anode connected to a plate not made of anodic material and which has a face free from penetrations which would allow liquid penetration through the plate when the anode is attached to a vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: GALVOTEC ALLOYS, INC.
    Inventors: Rogelio E. Garza, Edgar H. Garza, James Lenar
  • Patent number: 11579115
    Abstract: An electrochemical substrate holder assembly, including: a first housing and a second housing; wherein the first housing and the second housing collectively define an interior space; a first gasket coupled to the first housing and adapted to contact a first side of a substrate; and a second gasket coupled to the second housing and adapted to contact a second side of the substrate; wherein the first gasket and the second gasket are collectively adapted to hold the substrate within the interior space. The first housing defines a first port adapted to receive a first electrical lead to electrically contact the first side of the substrate. The second housing defines a second port adapted to allow a fluid to pass there through to fluidly contact at least the second side of the substrate. The second housing is adapted to receive one or more of a second and third electrical lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Freiderich, Tasha L. Boyd, Benjamin D. Green
  • Patent number: 11560634
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrally combined electrical current carrier, circulation chamber and frame (CCF) formed as a single or double part (CCF) for use in unipolar electrochemical devices, such as a filter press electrolyser apparatus. The CCF is structured to define an internal circulation chamber for circulation of electrolyte, products, and reactants as well as apertures which form flow passageways when the filter press device is assembled. Affixed on opposed surfaces of the CCFs are electrically conductive planar electroactive structures which are in electrical contact with the CCF. The circulation chamber is formed by the depth of the CCF itself between opposing electroactive structures. Multiple CCFs are assembled and compressed together to form the filter press electrolyser apparatus. The flow passageway apertures within the assembled filter press electrolyser are aligned to form flow pathways, located above and below the circulation chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: KEY DH IP INC./IP STRATÉGIQUES DH, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew T.B. Stuart, Raynald G. Lachance, Edward D.B. Stuart, Samantha E.L. Stuart, Jaideep S. Spal
  • Patent number: 11542627
    Abstract: An electrolytic processing jig configured to perform an electrolytic processing on a processing target substrate includes a base body having a flat plate shape; an electrode provided at the base body; three or more terminals provided at the base body, each having elasticity and configured to be brought into contact with a peripheral portion of the processing target substrate; and a detecting unit configured to electrically detect a contact of at least one of the terminals with the processing target substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomohisa Hoshino, Masato Hamada
  • Patent number: 11535950
    Abstract: A method of plating a metal layer on a work piece includes exposing a surface of the work piece to a plating solution, and supplying a first voltage at a negative end of a power supply source to an edge portion of the work piece. A second voltage is supplied to an inner portion of the work piece, wherein the inner portion is closer to a center of the work piece than the edge portion. A positive end of the power supply source is connected to a metal plate, wherein the metal plate and the work piece are spaced apart from each other by, and are in contact with, the plating solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Yuan Kao, Hung-Wen Su, Minghsing Tsai
  • Patent number: 11540380
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a flexible active species generator comprising: a first electrode of a conductive metal thin film; a second electrode of a ground electrode; a flexible dielectric layer of an insulator formed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a plasma resistant functional layer formed between the dielectric layer and the second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected to an external power supply to generate an atmospheric pressure plasma to generate active species. The flexible active species generator has a plasma resistant function to prevent deformation and decomposition of an insulator caused by the plasma as well as an active species generating function from atmospheric pressure plasma, and has durability and safety, which is thus applicable to articles, foods, garments and human body in various forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Seung Hoon Lee, Do Geun Kim, Sung Hoon Jung, Yu Ri Lee, Doo Ho Choi, Byoung Joon Kim
  • Patent number: 11535949
    Abstract: There is provided the substrate holder for holding a substrate comprising a first holding member, a second holding member, a sealing member, a pin, a ring, and a moving mechanism. The sealing member forms a sealed space inside the substrate holder. The pin is fixed to one of the first holding member and the second holding member. The ring is disposed on another of the first holding member and the second holding member. The ring engages with the pin. The moving mechanism circumferentially moves the ring. The pin and the ring are engaged with one another to fix the first holding member and the second holding member to one another. The pin and the ring are disposed inside the sealed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaya Seki, Hideki Takayanagi, Kiyoshi Suzuki, Masayuki Satake, Jumpei Fujikata
  • Patent number: 11519077
    Abstract: A hybrid sacrificial galvanic anode, an anodic system including the hybrid sacrificial anode, and a method of cathodically protecting steel reinforcement in concrete structures is provided. The hybrid anode provides initial steel polarization followed by long term galvanic protection without the use of batteries or external power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Construction Research & Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Frederick R. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 11519078
    Abstract: Zinc ribbon anodes and methods of making the same are provided herein. In some embodiments, the zinc ribbon anode includes a hollow elongated zinc ribbon having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a hollow space extending from the first end to the second end; and an elongated metal core disposed within the hollow space and in contact with the inner surface, wherein a cross-section of the hollow elongated zinc ribbon taken between the first end and the second end and perpendicular to the outer surface is polygonal in shape, and wherein the cross-section has an aspect ratio of at least 1.5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ARTAZN LLC
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Mather, Vinay Ramankutty Menon
  • Patent number: 11512408
    Abstract: Disclosed are cup assemblies for holding, sealing, and providing electrical power to a semiconductor substrate during electroplating which may include a cup bottom element having a main body portion and a moment arm, an elastomeric sealing element disposed on the moment arm, and an electrical contact element disposed on the elastomeric sealing element. The main body portion may be such that it does not substantially flex when a substrate is pressed against the moment arm, and it may be rigidly affixed to another feature of the cup structure. The ratio of the average vertical thickness of the main body portion to that of the moment arm may be greater than about 5. The electrical contact element may have a substantially flat but flexible contact portion disposed upon a substantially horizontal portion of the sealing element. The elastomeric sealing element may be integrated with the cup bottom element during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingbin Feng, Robert Marshall Stowell, Shantinath Ghongadi, Ashwin Ramesh
  • Patent number: 11492721
    Abstract: The agitation of the plating solution may result in spattering of the plating solution. It have been found that the spattered plating solution can be attached even to portions that are not originally brought into contact with the plating solution in the plating apparatus. There is provided an electroplating apparatus for plating a substrate using a substrate holder, the electroplating apparatus comprising at least one bath for storing the substrate, the substrate holder being provided with a hanger shoulder, and a holder contact, and wherein the electroplating apparatus being provided with a cleaning/drying part provided on at least one side of the bath, the cleaning/drying part being provided for cleaning and/or drying at least one of the hanger shoulder, the holder contact and a contact provided to the bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhito Tsuji, Mizuki Nagai
  • Patent number: 11466371
    Abstract: An anode assembly is disclosed for use in a cathodic protection system. The anode assembly includes an elongated housing, an electrical cable, an anode, and electrically conductive backfill. The housing has a leading end and a trailing end through which the electrical cable extends. The anode is located within the housing and is in the form of a plurality of electrically conductive segments which are spaced apart from each other and which are electrically connected to the electrical cable at respective electrically conductive joints. The backfill surrounds the anode and cable within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Matcor, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Andrew Huck, Glenn Wright Shreffler, III
  • Patent number: 11447881
    Abstract: To provide an ion exchange membrane for alkali chloride electrolysis for which membrane strength is increased while membrane resistance is reduced to reduce electrolysis voltage during alkali chloride electrolysis and which prevents peeling between layers (S) and a layer (C). The ion exchange membrane for alkali chloride electrolysis comprises a layer (C) which comprises a fluorinated polymer having carboxylic acid functional groups, at least two layers (S) which comprise a fluorinated polymer having sulfonic acid functional groups, and a reinforcing material, wherein the layers (S) include a layer (Sa) and a layer (Sb), the layer (Sa) is a layer which is adjacent to the layer (C), the layer (Sb) is a layer which is not adjacent to the layer (C), the reinforcing material is disposed in the layer (Sb) substantially in parallel to the layer (Sb) in a state not in contact with the layer (Sa), and the ion exchange capacity of the layer (Sa) is lower than the ion exchange capacity of the layer (Sb).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Yamaki, Takayuki Kaneko, Hiromitsu Kusano, Takuo Nishio, Kazuo Umemura
  • Patent number: 11441232
    Abstract: A one dimensional (1D) nanoarray of SnO nanostructures on a substrate is disclosed. The nanostructures of SnO have diameters of 200 nm-1 ?m and lengths of 500 nm-3 ?m, and are attached to and substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The one-dimensional nanoarray may have a nanostructure density of 220-300 nanostructures per 100 ?m2 substrate and a band gap energy of 2.36-2.46 eV. The one-dimensional nanoarray may be formed by anodization of Sn foil in an electrochemical cell subjected to a voltage of 15-25 V for 1-3 hours at room temperature. The formed one-dimensional nanoarray may be used for the photo-electrochemical decomposition of water into O2 and H2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Ahsanulhaq Qurashi, Muhammad Raashid, Ibrahim Khan
  • Patent number: 11441230
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing a disulfide compound is provided. The method may include providing an electrochemical cell that has a compartment, an anode, and a cathode. The compartment may contain a solution of one or more thiol compounds, a catalyst, and a solvent. The method may also include providing an electrical current to the electrochemical cell and converting the one or more thiol compounds into the disulfide compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ChampionX USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Matthew Harrington, Yingrui Zhang
  • Patent number: 11434337
    Abstract: To provide an ion exchange membrane for alkali chloride electrolysis which has a low membrane resistance and which is capable of reducing the electrolysis voltage during the alkali chloride electrolysis, while increasing the membrane strength. An ion exchange membrane 1 for alkali chloride electrolysis wherein a reinforcing material 20 obtained by weaving with reinforcing yarns 22 and sacrificial yarns 24 is embedded in a fluoropolymer having ion exchange groups, the ion exchange membrane 1 comprises elution holes (28) formed by eluting at least a portion of a material of the sacrificial yarns 24, and in a cross section perpendicular to the length direction of the yarns, the total area (S) obtained by adding the cross-sectional area of an elution hole 28 and the cross-sectional area of a sacrificial yarn 24 remaining in the elution hole 28 is from 500 to 1,200 ?m2, and the number (n) of elution holes 28 between adjacent reinforcing yarns 22 is at least 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kaneko, Hiromitsu Kusano, Yasushi Yamaki, Takuo Nishio
  • Patent number: 11427923
    Abstract: It is configured that a frame body is locked to a back panel by: inserting a number of first pins of the frame body into a number of first holes of the back panel; moving a fastening body outward by a moving mechanism of a lock mechanism; and fitting a notch into a concave portion at the tip of the first pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: C. Uyemura & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoji Okuda
  • Patent number: 11427483
    Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical cell is presented which comprises a substrate and an electrode material. The electrode material comprises an electrocatalyst and a solid glass phase which binds the electrocatalyst to the substrate. The electrodes of the invention are durable and can be produced by a much simpler, faster technique than is required for preparing conventional electrodes and can incorporate a wider range of electrocatalytic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Daniel Charles Howard Oakes, Christopher Mark Zalitis
  • Patent number: 11427920
    Abstract: An electrolytic processing jig configured to perform an electrolytic processing on a processing target substrate by using a processing liquid supplied to the processing target substrate includes a base body having a flat plate shape; and a direct electrode provided on a front surface of the base body and configured to be brought into contact with the processing liquid to apply a voltage between the processing target substrate and the direct electrode. An irregularity pattern is formed on a front surface of the electrolytic processing jig at a processing target substrate side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomohisa Hoshino, Masato Hamada, Satoshi Kaneko, Kiyomitsu Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11408084
    Abstract: A thin film electrode involving a nanostructured catalytic material deposited onto a surface of a conducting substrate and method of making is described. The nanostructured catalytic material contains cobalt oxide nanoflowers having a central core and nanopetals extending from the central core. The method of making the thin film electrode involves contacting the conducting substrate with an aerosol containing a cobalt complex and a solvent. A method of using the thin film electrode in an electrochemical cell for water splitting is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Muhammad Ali Ehsen, Abbas Saeed Hakeem, Abdul Rehman