Patents Examined by Harry D. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 11396710
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrochemically depositing a layer using a reactor configured to contain an electrolyte solution with an anode array containing a plurality of independently electrically controllable anodes arranged in a two-dimensional array, a cathode, an addressing circuit for receiving a signal containing anode address data, and for outputting a signal causing an anode array pattern; in communication with the addressing circuit, the current controller and the anode array, the second controller operable to communicate with the current controller to command the flow of current to each anode in the anode array thereby causing an electrochemical reaction at the cathode to deposit a layer corresponding to the anode array pattern signal received from the addressing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: FABRIC8 LABS, INC.
    Inventors: David Forrest Pain, David Morgan Wirth, Jeffrey William Herman
  • Patent number: 11390957
    Abstract: An electrode assembly for use in an electrochemical cell for the production of ozone from water is provided, the electrode assembly comprising an electrode body formed from a polycrystalline diamond, the electrode body comprising first and second opposing contact surfaces, the first contact surface for contacting a semi-permeable membrane; wherein the electrode assembly further comprises a first layer comprising an electrically conductive material, the first layer extending across at least a portion of the second contact surface of the electrode body. An electrochemical cell comprising the electrode assembly and its use in the production of ozone by the electrolysis of water is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Patrick Simon Bray
  • Patent number: 11390955
    Abstract: There is provided an electrochemical cell, including a cathode, an anode, and an ion exchange membrane disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein the cathode includes a first catalyst capable of catalyzing a reduction reaction for reducing carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, and the anode includes a second catalyst capable of catalyzing a carbonylation reaction for producing a carbonate compound from carbon monoxide and an alcohol compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naohiro Fujinuma
  • Patent number: 11385125
    Abstract: A leak check method includes: performing a first inspection of measuring a pressure in an internal space formed by a seal of the substrate holder, while evacuating the internal space, and detecting that the pressure reaches a first pressure threshold value within a predetermined first inspection time; performing a second inspection of closing the internal space that has been evacuated, measuring the pressure in the closed internal space, and detecting that the pressure in the closed internal space does not exceed a second pressure threshold value within a predetermined second inspection time; and performing a third inspection of measuring a pressure difference between the pressure in the closed internal space and a vacuum pressure in a master container, and detecting that an amount of increase in the pressure difference within a predetermined third inspection time is kept equal to or below a pressure difference threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Suzuki, Jumpei Fujikata
  • Patent number: 11387108
    Abstract: A composition for metal plating comprising a source of metal ions and at least one leveling agent comprising at least one polyaminoamide comprising a polymer fragment of formula (I) or derivatives thereof obtainable by complete or partial protonation or N-quarternisation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Marcel Patrik Kienle, Cornelia Roeger-Goepfert, Dieter Mayer, Marco Arnold, Alexander Fluegel, Charlotte Emnet
  • Patent number: 11384443
    Abstract: A method for producing metallic silver by electro-deposition, including electrolyzing an electrolyte solution containing Ce(NO3)3 in an anode zone and an electrolyte solution containing AgNO3 in a cathode zone by using an electrolytic cell with a specific diaphragm, wherein the electrolyte solution in the anode zone is not allowed to enter the cathode zone. After the electrolyzing is complete, the metallic silver with a high purity is obtained at the cathode, and a Ce4+-containing solution is obtained in the anode zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF PROCESS ENGINEERING, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Hui Zhang, Tao Qi
  • Patent number: 11383993
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for cleaning materials, such as flooring and upholstery. In some cases, the systems and methods use an electrolytic cell to electrolyze a solution comprising sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium acetate, sodium percarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and/or any other suitable chemical to generate electrolyzed alkaline water and/or electrolyzed oxidizing water. In some cases, the cell comprises a recirculation loop that recirculates anolyte through an anode compartment of the cell. In some cases, the cell further comprises a sensor and a processor, where the processor is configured to automatically change an operation of the cell, based on a reading from the sensor. In some cases, a fluid flows past a magnet before entering the cell. In some additional cases, fluid from the cell is conditioned by being split into multiple conduits that run in proximity to each other. Additional implementations are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Z Intellectual Property Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: Gaylord M. Karren, James K. Stone, John M. Hopkins, William R. Shupe
  • Patent number: 11384441
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a central axis and an anode-cathode pair disposed concentrically within the housing about the central axis and defining an active area between an anode and a cathode of the anode-cathode pair. An active surface area of at least one of the anode and the cathode has a surface area greater than a surface area of an internal surface of the housing. The anode-cathode pair is configured and arranged to direct all fluid passing through the electrochemical cell axially through the active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Paul Beddoes, Li-Shiang Liang, Andrew Green, Jacob Telepciak, Joshua W. Griffis, Simon P. Dukes
  • Patent number: 11377749
    Abstract: A method includes immersing a wafer in an electrolyte including a plurality of compounds having elements of a high damping magnetic alloy with very low impurity and small uniform grain size. The method also includes applying a pulsed current with a certain range of duty cycle and pulse length to the wafer when the wafer is immersed in an electrolyte. The wafer is removed from the electrolyte when a layer of the high damping magnetic alloy is formed on the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Jie Gong, Steven C. Riemer, John A. Rice, Hilton Erskine, Michael C. Kautzky, Xuelian Xu
  • Patent number: 11377748
    Abstract: A cobalt electrodeposition composition comprising cobalt ions, and particular leveling agents comprising X1—CO—O—R11, X1—SO2—O—R11, X1—PO(OR11)2, X1—SO—O—R11 functional groups, wherein X1 is a divalent group selected from (i) a chemical bond (ii) aryl, (iii) C1 to C12 alkandiyl, which may be interrupted by O atoms, (iv) an arylalkyl group —X11—X12—, (v) an alkylaryl group —X12—X11—, and (vi) —(O—C2H3R12)mO—, R11 is selected from H and C1 to C4 alkyl. R12 is selected from H and C1 to C4 alkyl, X12 is a divalent aryl group, X11 is a divalent C1 to C15 alkandiyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Nadine Engelhardt, Dieter Mayer, Marco Arnold, Alexander Fluegel, Charlotte Emnet, Lucas Benjamin Henderson
  • Patent number: 11371155
    Abstract: A method which can perform a soft pre-wetting treatment of a substrate, such as a wafer, with use of a pre-wetting liquid in a smaller amount. This method includes: holding a substrate between a first holding member and a second holding member, with the surface of the substrate being exposed through an opening of the second holding member, and pressing a sealing ridge of the substrate holder against a peripheral portion of the substrate; pressing a sealing block against the substrate holder; forming a vacuum in an external space; performing a seal inspection to check a sealed state provided by the sealing ridge based on a change in pressure in the external space; and performing a pre-wetting treatment by supplying a pre-wetting liquid to the external space while evacuating air from the external space to bring the pre-wetting liquid into contact with the exposed surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Okuzono, Jumpei Fujikata
  • Patent number: 11355757
    Abstract: Disclosed are an electrolytic copper foil the fold and/or wrinkle of which can be avoided or minimized during a roll-to-roll process, a method for manufacturing the same, and an electrode and a secondary battery which are produced with such electrolytic copper foil so that high productivity can be guaranteed. An electrolytic copper foil of the disclosure has a longitudinal rising of 30 mm or less and a transverse rising of 25 mm or less, and the transverse rising is 8.5 times the longitudinal rising or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SK NEXILIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung Min Kim
  • Patent number: 11352703
    Abstract: Bipolar electrochemistry (BPE) concepts are used to provide a single-step and controllable process for simultaneously exfoliating a graphite source and depositing both graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide layers on conductive substrates. A bipolar electrochemical cell can be used for a three-in-one deposition and can include two wired pieces of graphite to monitor the amount of current that passes through the bipolar electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    Inventors: Iman Khakpour, Amin Rabiei Baboukani, Anis Allagui, Chunlei Wang
  • Patent number: 11352710
    Abstract: In any overhead job, operators will feel more relaxed and safer. In any systems, the operators won't have to spend days for masking and sealing. Simple protection will be enough. With this unit operators can use toxic solutions like cadmium and silver without any health concern, because the anode returns the toxic vapors back to the chamber and filtered suction line in front of the exhaust valve will take the toxic vapor away. Pit filling anode save the workers time and effort drastically by filling the pits bottom up in one shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Abdurrahman Ildeniz
  • Patent number: 11339484
    Abstract: The electrolytic cell according to the present invention is an electrolytic cell including a cathode chamber, the cathode chamber including: a cathode; and a reverse current absorbing member having a substrate and a reverse current absorbing body, the reverse current absorbing member being disposed to face the cathode, wherein the cathode and the reverse current absorbing body are electrically connected, and when the height at the bottom of the cathode chamber is defined as 0 and the height at the top of the cathode chamber is defined as h, the ratio of area S3 of the reverse current absorbing body present at position I corresponding to a height of h/2 or more and h or less to area SA of the cathode-facing surface of the substrate corresponding to the position I satisfies 0.20?S3/SA<1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiyasu Funakawa, Toshinori Hachiya
  • Patent number: 11339996
    Abstract: An electrochemical compressor utilizes an anion conducting layer disposed between an anode and a cathode for transporting a working fluid. The working fluid may include carbon dioxide that is dissolved in water and is partially converted to carbonic acid that is equilibrium with bicarbonate anion. An electrical potential across the anode and cathode creates a pH gradient that drives the bicarbonate anion across the anion conducting layer to the cathode, wherein it is reformed into carbon dioxide. Therefore, carbon dioxide is pumped across the anion conducting layer. The compressor may be part of a refrigeration system that pumps the working fluid in a closed loop through a condenser and an evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventor: Bamdad Bahar
  • Patent number: 11339486
    Abstract: An electrocatalytic material includes a bulk material metal including at least one metal, wherein the bulk material metal is in an amorphous form and includes mesopores. A method for making an electrocatalytic material includes forming an amorphous bulk material metal, and forming mesopores in the amorphous bulk material metal. The bulk material metal may in some instances be selected from an alloy of at least one metal and at least one non-metal selected from phosphorus, boron, nitrogen, carbon, and any combination thereof. The at least one metal may in some instances be selected from iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, titanium, manganese, molybdenum, niobium, zirconium, and any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Zhenmeng Peng, Fei Hu
  • Patent number: 11326264
    Abstract: Provided is a membrane electrode assembly for a proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer, including: an oxygen electrode including an iridium oxide (IrO2) layer which is an electrodeposited oxygen electrode catalyst layer on a titanium (Ti) layer which is a diffusion layer; a hydrogen electrode in which a hydrogen electrode catalyst layer is formed on a diffusion layer; and an electrolyte membrane placed between the oxygen electrode catalyst layer and the hydrogen electrode catalyst layer, in which a portion of the pores of the Ti diffusion layer are filled with an electrolyte of the electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jong Hyun Jang, Seunghoe Choe, Youngseung Na, Hye Jin Lee, Hyoung-Juhn Kim, Dirk Henkensmeier, Sung Jong Yoo, Jin Young Kim, So Young Lee, Hyun Seo Park
  • Patent number: 11326267
    Abstract: An electrochemistry device, in particular an electrolysis device, in particular a polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis device, has at least one cell unit, which includes at least one first electrochemical cell and at least one second electrochemical cell, and has at least one fluid supply unit for supplying the cell unit with at least one fluid, in particular with water, which at least one fluid supply unit includes at least one first fluid supply path extending at least section-wise through the first electrochemical cell, and at least one second fluid supply path extending at least section-wise through the second electrochemical cell, the fluid supply unit is designed in such a way that, in at least one normal operating state, a volume flow of the fluid through the first electrochemical cell and through the second electrochemical cell is at least substantially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: H-TEC SYSTEMS GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Herrmann, Frank Allebrod
  • Patent number: 11319635
    Abstract: The electrolysis vessel for alkaline water electrolysis includes an anode end unit, a cathode end unit, anode chamber cells, cathode chamber cells, and separating membranes. The anode/cathode end units each comprise a pressing frame, an insulating plate, and an end cell. The anode/cathode chamber cells are alternately arranged between the anode end unit and the cathode end unit. Electrolyte supply/recovery flow paths are arranged through each chamber cell. Electrolyte supply/recovery pipes each being a metal pipe, at least an inner surface of the metal pipe being coated with an insulating resin, are connected to the electrolyte supply/recovery flow paths respectively via through-holes arranged through the pressing frame(s) and the insulating plate(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TOKUYAMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Tanaka, Ryouta Umebayashi