Patents Examined by Bruce Bell
  • Patent number: 8197652
    Abstract: A sensor for specifying a concentration of a predetermined gas component in a measurement gas on the basis of a current flowing in an electrolyte by decomposition of the predetermined gas component, includes an internal space; a reference gas space; a pumping cell capable of pumping out oxygen in the internal space by applying a predetermined voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode; and a measuring cell including third and fourth electrodes and measuring a current flowing when a voltage is applied between the third electrode and the fourth electrode; wherein the first electrode is formed of porous cermet consisted of a noble metal and an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte, and the porosity of the first electrode is greater than or equal to 10% and less than or equal to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumiko Horisaka, San Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 8192602
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of stable solutions of charged inorganic-organic polymers, in which the hydrolysis-condensation reactions of metal alkoxides in alcoholic solutions are controlled using a condensation inhibitor that forms protons. The invention further relates to substrates coated by sol-gel electrophoretic deposition (EPD) with these solutions, and to metal oxide coated substrates obtained therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: 3GSolar Photovoltaics Ltd.
    Inventors: Arie Zaban, Larissa Grinis, Asher Ofir
  • Patent number: 8192595
    Abstract: A transition metal/carbon nanotube composite includes a carbon nanotube and a transition metal oxide coating layer disposed on the carbon nanotube. The transition metal oxide coating layer includes a nickel-cobalt oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University
    Inventors: Ho-jung Yang, Hyo-rang Kang, Kwang-bum Kim, Jin-go Kim
  • Patent number: 8182659
    Abstract: Electrochemical cell comprises, in one embodiment, a proton exchange membrane (PEM), an anode positioned along one face of the PEM, and a cathode positioned along the other face of the PEM. An electrically-conductive, compressible, spring-like, porous pad for defining a fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the cathode or the outer face of the anode. The porous pad comprises a particulate or mat of one or more doped- or reduced-valve metal oxides, which are bound together with one or more thermoplastic resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Giner Electrochemical Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony B. LaConti, Larry L. Swette
  • Patent number: 8183174
    Abstract: A method for preparing a metal-doped ruthenium oxide material by heating a mixture of a doping metal and a source of ruthenium under an inert atmosphere. In some embodiments, the doping metal is in the form of iridium black or lead powder, and the source of ruthenium is a powdered ruthenium oxide. An iridium-doped or lead-doped ruthenium oxide material can perform as an oxygen evolution catalyst and can be fabricated into electrodes for electrolysis cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Thomas I. Valdez, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan
  • Patent number: 8182667
    Abstract: A method for the electrophoretic coating of workpieces with a coating medium, in particular lacquer, and a coating installation are described. In the method, at least one workpiece is immersed in the coating medium. With a voltage source, a d.c. voltage is applied between the workpiece and at least one electrode immersed in the coating medium. The d.c. voltage is increased continuously, in an essentially stepless manner, throughout virtually the entire coating operation in such a way that the coating current density on the surface of the workpiece remains essentially constant over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Eisenmann AG
    Inventors: Juergen Schlecht, Zoltan-Josef Horvath
  • Patent number: 8172992
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and various apparatus components, such as base plates, lipseals, and contact ring assemblies are provided for reducing contamination of the contact area in the apparatuses. Contamination may happen during removal of semiconductor wafers from apparatuses after the electroplating process. In certain embodiments, a base plate with a hydrophobic coating, such as polyamide-imide (PAI) and sometimes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are used. Further, contact tips of the contact ring assembly may be positioned further away from the sealing lip of the lipseal. In certain embodiments, a portion of the contact ring assembly and/or the lipseal also include hydrophobic coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinay Prabhakar, Bryan L. Buckalew, Kousik Ganesan, Shantinath Ghongadi, Zhian He, Steven T. Mayer, Robert Rash, Jonathan D. Reid, Yuichi Takada, James R. Zibrida
  • Patent number: 8172999
    Abstract: A low maintenance reference electrode has a liquid junction body with a multiplicity of micron-sized capillary channels extending through the body for transporting electrolyte to a test solution. A viscosity-increasing agent thickens the electrolyte to limit its flow to a rate on the order of microliters/day so that a few milliliters of electrolyte suffice to provide an extended electrode life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Thermo Orion, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaowen Wen, Hyoungsik Yim, Lori Hrdy, Dawood Bhaijee
  • Patent number: 8168059
    Abstract: A method for inhibiting corrosion in at least one required region of an elongate metal structure, comprising applying a high-frequency electromagnetic signal to the structure in a manner such that a voltage standing wave is established in the structure with a corrosion-inhibiting potential at the required region(s) of the structure. The method is advantageously applied to an oil well riser pipe, to inhibit corrosion of the external surface thereof in the vicinity of an oil production zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Hydropath Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Daniel Stefanini
  • Patent number: 8168057
    Abstract: A method of fluid sealing a workpiece is provided. The method includes providing a force to cause a ring to form a barrier to fluid entry with the workpiece and preventing fluid from crossing the barrier to fluid entry by forming a pressure differential across the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: NEXX Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Keigler, Qunwei Wu, Zhenqiu Liu, John Harrell
  • Patent number: 8163159
    Abstract: Techniques generally describe articles of enclosing manufacture and methods related to containers including a magnesium sacrificial anode for corrosion protection. Example articles of enclosing manufacture may include a liner or a rod that is configured as a sacrificial anode to protect a metallic side or end wall of the enclosing manufacture from corrosion. Other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Angele Sjong
  • Patent number: 8163160
    Abstract: The present invention provides reagent compositions, and analyte measuring devices and methods that utilize the reagent compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Nigel J. Forrow, Shridhara Alva Karinka
  • Patent number: 8157983
    Abstract: The galvanic cathodic protection of steel embedded in concrete structures is enhanced by the utilization of a flexible composite anode assembly containing a sacrificial anode member. The anode member is at least partially covered by a matrix comprising an ionically-conductive material. The conductive material includes at least one electrochemical activating agent such as a mixture of lithium bromide and lithium nitrate and a compressible water-retaining mineral such as a phyllosilicate mineral. The presence of this mineral in the matrix increases the current delivered by the anode, thereby resulting in a greater level of cathodic protection, and a longer effective service life of the anode. Exfoliated vermiculite is a preferred phyllosilicate mineral and is present in an amount of between about 2% and about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventor: John E. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8152987
    Abstract: There is described a method for ensuring and monitoring electrolyzer safety and performances in a manufacturing process which uses at least one electrolyzing cell containing at least one cathode and at least one anode separated by a membrane, comprising the step of: determining a safe single voltage operation range depending of the current and corresponding to the normally working electrolyzing cell; determining a reference voltage deviation depending on the time derivation of the current; measuring the voltage over time at the terminals of the electrolyzing cell; determining the measured voltage deviation by calculating the time derivative of the measured voltage; comparing the measured voltage to the safe single voltage operation range and the measured voltage deviation to the reference voltage deviation over time; stopping the manufacturing process when the measured voltage is outside the safe single voltage operation range or the difference between the measured voltage deviation and the reference voltage
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Recherche 2000 Inc.
    Inventors: Gilles Tremblay, Helmut Lademann, Georges Simard, Michel Veillette, Said Berriah
  • Patent number: 8152974
    Abstract: The invention relates to a porous electrode used in an electrochemical cell, containing a carrier and/or catalytic agent, which is characterized by that it consists of two or more layers with different average pore sizes, out of which layers the contact layer with the smallest average pore size is in contact with the membrane, and one or more supporting layers with a greater average pore size are linked to the other side of this contact layer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a procedure for the manufacturing of such electrodes and to electrochemical cells containing such electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ThalesNano Zrt.
    Inventors: Ferenc Darvas, Dániel Szalay, Lajos Gödörházy
  • Patent number: 8155724
    Abstract: Herein disclosed are an electrode and a method for making an electrode having an enhanced electrically effective surface providing an increased signal to noise ratio. The electrode having a metal surface selected from gold, tungsten, stainless steel, platinum, platinum-tungsten, platinum-iridium, and combinations thereof; and an electrically conductive coating on said metal surface, said coating consisting essentially of polymerized pyrrole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Schlenoff, Gilbert Case
  • Patent number: 8152991
    Abstract: Embodiments of nanoelectronic sensors are described, including sensors for detecting analytes such ammonia. An environmental control system employing nanoelectronic sensors is described. A personnel safety system configured as a disposable badge employing nanoelectronic sensors is described. A method of dynamic sampling and exposure of a sensor providing a number of operational advantages is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nanomix, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Briman, Craig Bryant, Ying-Lan Chang, Jean-Christophe P. Gabriel, Shirpal C. Gandhi, Bradley N Johnson, Willem-Jan Ouborg, John Loren Passmore, Kastooriranganathan Ramakrishnan, Sergei Skarupo, Alexander Star, Christian Valcke
  • Patent number: 8152978
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a probe for measuring hydrogen concentration in molten metals comprising a probe body and a hydrogen sensor. The sensor structure is based on a sensor body having a wall within which a sealed cavity is defined. The cavity contains a solid reference material for generating a reference partial pressure of hydrogen within the cavity. At least a portion of the wall of the cavity is formed from a solid electrolyte material carrying a measurement electrode on a surface of the solid electrolyte outside the cavity and a reference electrode on a surface of the solid electrolyte within the cavity, exposed to the reference partial pressure of hydrogen. An electrical conductor extends from the reference electrode through the wall of the cavity to an external surface of the sensor body. The probe body comprises a chamber for receiving the sensor and a reference-signal connection for connecting to the electrical conductor when the sensor is received in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Environmental Monitoring and Control Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Paul Hills, Mark Anthony Steele Henson
  • Patent number: 8152977
    Abstract: The multichannel potentiostat comprises a reference terminal, a counter-electrode terminal, and at least two working terminals, respectively designed to be connected to a reference electrode, a counter-electrode and at least two working electrodes of an electrochemical cell. The potentiostat comprises first and second regulating circuits to apply a setpoint voltage respectively between the first and second working terminals and the reference terminal. The potentiostat comprises a control circuit of the counter-electrode voltage applied to the counter-electrode terminal. The control circuit comprises a first input terminal connected to a predefined potential and a second input terminal to which a regulating voltage representative of at least one of the voltages of the working terminals is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Alain Bourgerette, Gilles Marchand
  • Patent number: 8147659
    Abstract: A gated electrode structure for altering a potential and electric field in an electrolyte near at least one working electrode is disclosed. The gated electrode structure may comprise a gate electrode biased appropriately with respect to a working electrode. Applying an appropriate static or dynamic (time varying) gate potential relative to the working electrode modifies the electric potential and field in an interfacial region between the working electrode and the electrolyte, and increases electron emission to and from states in the electrolyte, thereby facilitating an electrochemical, electrolytic or electrosynthetic reaction and reducing electrode overvoltage/overpotential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Rakesh K. Lal, Likun Shen, Umesh Kumar Mishra