Patents Examined by Bernard Pianalto
  • Method of preparing a microporous film, and imaging method
    Patent number: 6689421
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a microporous film comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first polymer which is a hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer and a second polymer which is a hydrophilic polymer or copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone; (b) dissolving said first and second polymers in a solvent system which is compatible with both polymers, said solvent system comprising a blend of an aprotic organic solvent and an alcohol; (c) coating the resulting solution on a support; (d) effecting at least a partial drying of the resulting coating; and (e) washing the coating in an aqueous medium so as to extract at least 50% by weight of the said second polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Kodak Polychrome Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ranjan C. Patel, Jon C. Vogel, Keith P. Parsons, Graham Spence, Alan J. Lindsay, Rachel J. Hobson, Luke C. Williams
  • Method for partially treating a water-repellent glass sheet
    Patent number: 6685992
    Abstract: A method for partially treating a water-repellent glass sheet is disclosed which comprises irradiating part of a water-repellent glass film, formed on the water-repellent glass sheet, with a stream of plasma jets generated by a plasma jet irradiating gun. By such plasma jet irradiation, the film part can be removed easily even when the glass sheet has a curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Ogawa, Hiroaki Yamamoto, Toyoyuki Teranishi, Hiroaki Kobayashi, Shunji Kuramoto
  • Process for producing magnetic recording medium
    Patent number: 6680088
    Abstract: A process for producing a magnetic recording medium is provided in which a magnetic layer including a ferromagnetic powder and a binder is provided on a non-magnetic flexible support. In the process, a magnetic liquid containing mainly a ferromagnetic powder and a binder, and an abrasive liquid paste including an abrasive and a binder are prepared separately, and the abrasive liquid paste is subsequently subjected to an ultrasonic dispersion treatment and then mixed with the magnetic liquid to prepare a magnetic coating solution for the magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Naoe, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Process for curing a polymerizable composition
    Patent number: 6676999
    Abstract: By of means of a curing process combining thermal and UV curing it is possible, using compositons comprising (A) a coating system based on a polyacrylate polyol or polyester polyol with melamine, or a polyacrylate polyol and/or polyester with a blocked or unblocked polyisocyanate, or a carboxyl-, anhydride- or amino-functional polyester and/or polyacrylate with an epoxy-functional polyester or polyacrylate, (B) an OH, NH2-,COOH-, Epoxy- or NCO-functional resin containing, in addition, at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond, which is separated from the functional group by a spacer group, and (C)at least one photoinitiator, to obtain coatings having good surface properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp.
    Inventor: Andreas Valet
  • Method for producing magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording medium
    Patent number: 6677036
    Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic recording medium comprising: dispersing at least a binder and a ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder to prepare a magnetic coating; and applying the magnetic coating to provide at least one magnetic layer, wherein the binder is at least one of: (a) a binder comprising 0.2 to 0.7 meq/g of at least one polar group selected from —SO3M, —OSO3M, —PO(OM)2, —OPO(OM)2 and —COOM wherein M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or ammonium; and (b) a binder comprising 0.5 to 5 meq/g of at least one polar group selected from —CONR1R2, —NR1R2 and —N+R1R2R3 wherein R1, R2 and R3 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and the ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder has an average tabular diameter of from 10 to 40 nm and a water content of from 0.3 to 3% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Noguchi, Nobuo Yamazaki, Shinji Saito
  • EB and/or UV crosslinking and polymerization of material in web form
    Patent number: 6677000
    Abstract: A process for irradiating material in web form by means of electron beams and/or UV rays, wherein the material is applied to a transport means, the material on the transport means is guided through a first irradiation in which the material is irradiated on the open side, the material is transferred from the transport means to a substrate, and the material on the substrate is guided through a second irradiation in which the material is irradiated on the second, hitherto unirradiated, open side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: tesa Akteingesellschaft
    Inventors: Hermann Neuhaus-Steinmetz, Ralf Hirsch
  • Oxide coated cutting tool
    Patent number: 6673393
    Abstract: A body is at least partially coated with one or more refractory layers of which at least one layer is of a finegrained &kgr;-Al2O3. Said &kgr;-Al2O3 layer has equiaxed grains with an average grain size of <0.5 &mgr;m. The Al2O3 layer also has at least one sublayer containing Al, Si and O. The finegrained &kgr;-Al2O3 microstructure is obtained by periodically introducing a silicon halide, preferably SiCl4, during the Al2O3-process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sandvik AB
    Inventor: Björn Ljungberg
  • Method and apparatus for forming pattern onto panel substrate
    Patent number: 6673386
    Abstract: A method for forming a pattern on a surface of a panel substrate, includes electrically charging pattern-forming material particles, jetting out the electrically charged pattern-forming material particles through a nozzle by applying electrostatic force to the pattern-forming material particles to form a pattern, and fixing the pattern onto the panel substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daido Komyoji, Naoko Matsuda, Akira Fukano, Katsutoshi Ogawa, Akira Kumon, Hiroyuki Naka
  • Method of production of a crosslinked perfluorinated polyether release film
    Patent number: 6673397
    Abstract: A novel crosslinkable ambifunctional perfluorinated polyetheris provided wherein the polyether is defined by the formula X1—(CaF2aO)n—X2 where X1 and X2 are different functional terminal groups which are capable of forming a crosslinked perfluorinated polyether by addition, condensation or ring-opening reaction, and n ranges from 1 to 2000 and a is an integer of from 1 to 4. The mole ratio of X1 and X2 is 1:1. A release film may be formed from the cross-linked perfluorinated polyether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Adhesives Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Ranjit Malik
  • Method for producing by evaporation a functionally graded coating with an outer ceramic layer on a metal substrate
    Patent number: 6669989
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the production of protective coatings on parts. A coating formed in accordance with the invention has a chemical composition and structure gradient across its thickness. The coating is obtained by heating of a composite ingot including a body and at least one insert disposed within the body. As the composite ingot is heated it sequentially evaporates to produce a vapor with a chemical composition varying over the evaporation time period. The composition of the body and composition and location of the insert within the body function to determine the chemical composition of the vapor at any time. Condensation and/or deposition of the vapor onto a substrate forms the inventive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: International Center for Electron Beam Technologies of E. O. Paton Electric Welding Institute
    Inventors: Boris A. Movchan, Leonila M. Nerodenko, Jury E. Rudoy
  • Methods for making glued shale shaker screens
    Patent number: 6669985
    Abstract: Methods for making screen assemblies and screens for a vibratory separator or shale shaker, such methods including applying glue in a glue pattern to at least one layer of screening material, said applying done by powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect moving with powered mechanical screen movement apparatus the at least one layer of screening material beneath the powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect, using hot melt moisture-curing glue, and in one aspect facilitating the cure of moisture-curing glue by applying moisture to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Adams, Kerry Ward, Kenneth W. Seyffert, David W. Largent, David L. Schulte, Jr., Charles N. Grichar, Vincent D. Leone, Jefrey E. Walker, Guy L. McClung, III
  • Manufacturing method of thin-film magnetic head with magnetoresistive effect element
    Patent number: 6669983
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a thin-film magnetic head provided with an MR element includes a step of forming an MR multi-layered structure in which a current flows in a direction perpendicular to surfaces of layers of the MR multi-layered structure, on a lower electrode film, a step of depositing an insulation film on the formed MR multi-layered structure and the lower electrode film, a step of flattening the deposited insulation film until at least upper surface of the MR multi-layered structure is exposed, and a step of forming an upper electrode film on the flattened insulation film and the MR multi-layered structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Kagami, Naoki Ohta, Tetsuya Kuwashima
  • Method of coating a liquid film on a support
    Patent number: 6667071
    Abstract: A method of coating a support with a liquid composition having an aqueous or an organic solvent and a surfactant eliminates defects in the coated layer. Temperature gradients between successive zones of the coating layer are eliminated by the application of coating having a preselected surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Baumlin, Aurore J. Calmels
  • Process of applying a cyanoadhesive composition
    Patent number: 6660327
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cyanoacrylate adhesive composition having high shear bond strength, peeling bond strength, tensile strength and impact bond strength and superior wear characteristics particularly in toy applications where hostile play environments demand hot-cold cycle resistance. The cyanoacrylate adhesive composition contains (a) up to 20% by weight of a cyanoacrylate monomer, (b) a styrene-based elastomeric block copolymer, and (c) a specifc solvent which is selected to effect the solution of both components. The invention is also directed to a method of applying the instant adhesives to substrate surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Abimael Cordova
  • Low temperature chemical vapor deposition of thin film magnets
    Patent number: 6660375
    Abstract: A thin-film magnet formed from a gas-phase reaction of tetracyanoetheylene (TCNE) OR (TCNQ), 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-P-quinodimethane, and a vanadium-containing compound such as vanadium hexcarbonyl (V(CO)6) and bis(benzene)vanalium (V(C6H6)2) and a process of forming a magnetic thin film upon at least one substrate by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at a process temperature not exceeding approximately 90° C. and in the absence of a solvent. The magnetic thin film is particularly suitable for being disposed upon rigid or flexible substrates at temperatures in the range of 40° C. and 70° C. The present invention exhibits air-stable characteristics and qualities and is particularly suitable for providing being disposed upon a wide variety of substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Joel S. Miller, Kostyantyn I. Pokhodnya
  • Process for the application of aqueous multi-component coating agents
    Patent number: 6660325
    Abstract: A process for the application of aqueous multi-component coating compositions comprising at least two components and are prepared by premixing said components. The mixture is applied to a substrate using high-speed rotary atomization, wherein the high-speed rotary atomizer(s) is operated with a circumferential velocity of the spray edge(s) in the range of 10,000 to 25,000 m/min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Dirk Holfter, Birgit Laack
  • Method of manufacturing magnetoresistive device, method of manufacturing thin film magnetic head, and method of forming thin film pattern
    Patent number: 6656538
    Abstract: Provided are a method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive device and a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head capable of efficiently forming a magnetoresistive device having an extremely small magnetoresistive film pattern, and capable of reducing variations in dimensions of the magnetoresistive film pattern. Further, provided is a method of forming a thin film pattern capable of efficiently forming a plurality of thin film patterns with different sizes on a same base with accuracy according to the thin film patterns. Electron beam lithography or photolithography is selectively used according to the sizes of patterns to be formed, so while the dimensional accuracy of a portion specifically requiring higher accuracy can be secured, the patterns can be efficiently formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Sato, Noriaki Kasahara, Naoki Ohta
  • Fabrication of a magnetoresistance sensor structure having a spacer layer produced by multiple deposition and oxidation steps
    Patent number: 6652906
    Abstract: A magnetoresistance sensor structure is fabricated by providing a substrate structure, depositing a magnetic pinning structure on the substrate structure, and depositing an oxidized copper spacer layer overlying the magnetic pinning structure. The deposition of the oxidized copper spacer layer includes depositing a first copper sublayer, oxidizing the first copper sublayer, depositing a second copper sublayer, and oxidizing the second copper sublayer. More deposition and oxidation steps may be used as necessary. A sensing structure is deposited overlying the oxidized copper spacer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Method and apparatus for inductively coupled plasma treatment
    Patent number: 6649223
    Abstract: The apparatus for plasma treatment of a non-conductive hollow substrate (5), comprises a plasma chamber (12) provided with two oppositely facing field admission windows (8, 9), and first and second opposite coil arrangements (20, 30) located on an outer surface (8a; 9a) of the first and second windows respectively. The first and second coil arrangements being connected to power supply means (4) such that a current (I) of a same direction flows simultaneously in the first and second coil arrangements. The two coil arrangements (20, 30) induce through the substrate a magnetic flux (7) transversal and perpendicular to a substrate depth (L) for generating an electrical field in the substrate plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: European Community (EC)
    Inventors: Pascal Colpo, François Rossi
  • Modulated plasma glow discharge treatments for making superhydrophobic substrates
    Patent number: 6649222
    Abstract: A method for treating substrates including the steps of: providing a substrate; exposing said substrate to a plasma glow discharge in the presence of a fluorocarbon gas; maintaining said gas at a pressure between about 50 mTorr and about 400 mTorr; generating said plasma as a modulated glow discharge; pulsing said discharge at an on time of 1-500 milliseconds; pulsing said glow at an off time of 1-1000 milliseconds; maintaining said plasma glow discharge at a power density of 0.02-10 watts/cm2; and applying a hydrophobic coating to said substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Riccardo D'Agostino, Italo Corzani, Pietro Favia, Ritalba Lamendola, Gianfranco Palumbo