Patents Examined by Harry D. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 11319642
    Abstract: To optimize a location of a power feeding point with the use of a square substrate. There is disclosed a method for determining a location of a power feeding point in an electroplating apparatus. The electroplating apparatus is configured to plate a rectangular substrate having a substrate area of S. The rectangular substrate has opposed two sides coupled to a power supply. The rectangular substrate has a length L of the sides coupled to the power supply and a length W of sides not coupled to the power supply meeting a condition of 0.8×L?W?L. The method includes determining a number N of the power feeding points according to the substrate area S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Shamoto, Mizuki Nagai, Naoto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11319637
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for superimposing alternating current on direct current flowing through one or more electrolytic cells, for electro-winning or electro-refining processes, in which the terminals of an alternating current source are connected to the first and last electrode of a cell or a group of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Thor Spa
    Inventor: Juan Pablo Bustos Robledo
  • Patent number: 11306402
    Abstract: Device for obtaining electrolysis products from an alkali metal chloride solution where a cathode circuit contains a circulation pump with an overflow device for the return flow of pump liquid, which continuously secures the forced circulation of the catholyte via a heat exchanger, a cathode compartment and a capacitive separator for separating the hydrogen from the catholyte. In the discharge of the hydrogen from the capacitive separator for separation of the hydrogen from the catholyte, a cooled humidity separator is installed, the condensate collection container of which is connected via a dosage pump with the freshwater feed to the mixing device of the freshwater flow with the gaseous oxidant mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: BLUE SAFETY GMBH
    Inventor: Vitold Bakhir
  • Patent number: 11306408
    Abstract: Disclosed are a device and a method for microelectrodeposition through a laser assisted flexible following tool electrode. Localization of electrodeposition and dimensional precision of members are enhanced by using the flexible following tool electrode to restrict a dispersion region of an electric field and a reaction region of electrodeposition, and a complex-shaped member can be deposited by controlling a motion path of the flexible following tool electrode. Since a laser has a high power density, introducing laser irradiation changes an electrode state in a radiated region, accelerates ion diffusion and electron transfer speeds, and increases a deposition rate, thus reducing defects such as pitting and cracking in a deposit, enhancing deposition quality, and achieving fabrication of a micro-part by a synergistic action of both electrochemical energy and laser energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Jiangsu University
    Inventors: Zhaoyang Zhang, Yucheng Wu, Kun Xu, Xueren Dai, Anbin Wang, Qinming Gu, Hong Wang
  • Patent number: 11293109
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide electrolytic device in an embodiment includes: an electrolysis cell including a cathode including a CO2 gas supply flow path, an anode, and a separator; a CO2 supply unit configured to supply CO2 gas to the gas supply flow path; and a rinse material supply unit configured to make a rinse material containing H2O flow through the CO2 gas supply flow path. The CO2 gas supply flow path includes a first opening provided on one end side, a second opening provided on another end side, and a third opening provided between the first opening and the second opening. The rinse material supply unit is configured to make the rinse material flow at least between the first opening and the third opening of the CO2 gas supply flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akihiko Ono, Yuki Kudo, Yusuke Kofuji, Asahi Motoshige, Ryota Kitagawa, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Satoshi Mikoshiba
  • Patent number: 11293111
    Abstract: An electroplated article is provided comprising a polymeric substrate bearing an electroplated metal layer comprising copper and tin in an atomic ratio of less than 96:4, in some embodiments less than 87:13 and in some embodiments less than 82:18; wherein the atomic ratio of copper to tin is greater than 55:45, and wherein the electroplated metal layer comprises at least 3.5 weight % tin. The electroplated metal layer comprises an alloy having a melting point of less than 1050° C. and in some cases less than 800° C. The electroplated metal layer has a Young's Modulus of less than 15.0 GPa, in some embodiments less than 13.0 GPa, and in some less than 10.0 GPa. In addition, an electroplating solution is provided comprising Cu(II) ions, Sn (II) ions, Zn(II) ions, 1-methionine, and no cyanide anion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven Y. Yu, Gene B. Nesmith, Larry S. Hebert
  • Patent number: 11280018
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method comprising inducing a first current between a source of a countercharge and a first electrode, the first current being through an electrolyte. A second current is induced across the first electrode, the second current being transverse to the first current, and the second current inducing a relativistic charge across the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: lontra LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Konopka, Jason A. Seedig
  • Patent number: 11280021
    Abstract: A method of controlling chemical concentration in electrolyte includes measuring a chemical concentration in an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is contained in a tank; and increasing a vapor flux through an exhaust pipe connected to the tank when the measured chemical concentration is lower than a control lower limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chang Huang, You-Fu Chen, Yu-Chi Tsai, Chu-Ting Chang
  • Patent number: 11280009
    Abstract: A system to remove sodium and Sulfur from a feed stream containing alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides in addition to heavy metals. The system includes an electrolytic cell having an anolyte compartment housing an anode in contact with an anolyte. The anolyte includes alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides dissolved in a polar organic solvent. The anolyte includes heavy metal ions. A separator includes an ion conducting membrane and separates the anolyte compartment from a catholyte compartment that includes a cathode in contact with a catholyte. The catholyte includes an alkali ion-conductive liquid. A power source applies a voltage to the electrolytic cell high enough to reduce the alkali metal and oxidize Sulfur ions to allow recovery of the alkali metal and elemental sulfur. The ratio of sodium to Sulfur is such that the open circuit potential of the electrolytic cell is greater than about 2.3V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Enlighten Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: John Howard Gordon
  • Patent number: 11280022
    Abstract: An example electroplating method comprises feeding fresh electrolyte solution into a bath reservoir via a first inlet of the bath reservoir, and bleeding used electrolyte solution out of the bath reservoir via first outlet of the bath reservoir. Recycled electrolyte solution is received into the bath reservoir via a second inlet of the bath reservoir, and electrolyte solution is discharged from the bath reservoir via a second outlet of the bath reservoir. By-products generated by a plating cell are extracted using an extraction column. A first particle filter is disposed in a fluid pathway between the second outlet of the bath reservoir and the inlet of the plating cell, and a second particle filter is disposed in a fluid pathway between the outlet of the extraction column and the second inlet of the bath reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tighe A. Spurlin, Jonathan D. Reid
  • Patent number: 11268200
    Abstract: A bipolar membrane comprising a first member comprising at least one anion exchange material; a second member comprising at least one cation exchange material, wherein the first member and the second member together form an interface junction; and disposed within the interface junction a first layer comprising a first water dissociation catalyst and a second layer comprising a second water dissociation catalyst, wherein the first water dissociation catalyst is different than the second water dissociation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: University of Oregon
    Inventors: Sebastian Oener, Shannon W. Boettcher, Marc Foster
  • Patent number: 11268913
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a wafer includes: transferring the wafer from a transfer chamber to an annealing station by a robot arm; and monitoring at least one portion of an edge bevel removal area of the wafer over the robot arm when the wafer is transferred from the transfer chamber to the annealing station. The at least one portion of the edge bevel removal area includes a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion. When the wafer is passing through a predetermined location between the transfer chamber and the annealing station, a first charge-coupled device sensor located over the first portion of the edge bevel removal area is used to capture an image of the first portion, and a second charge-coupled device sensor located over the second portion of the edge bevel removal area is used to capture an image of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-Tung Wu, Kuo-Chung Yu, Chung-Hao Hu, Sheng-Ping Weng
  • Patent number: 11268201
    Abstract: An electrolyser operates within an energy system, for example to provide grid services, energy storage or fuel, or to produce hydrogen from electricity produced from renewable resources. The electrolyser may be configured to operate at frequently or quickly varying rates of electricity consumption or to operate at a specified power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ian Joos, Joseph Cargnelli
  • Patent number: 11260361
    Abstract: A device for synthesis of macromolecules is disclosed. In one aspect, the device comprises an ion-releaser having a synthesis surface comprising an array of synthesis locations arranged for synthesis of the macromolecules. The ion-releaser also includes an ion-source electrode, which is arranged to contain releasable ions and is arranged to be in contact with each of the synthesis locations of the synthesis surface, thereby release ions to the synthesis locations. The ion-releaser further comprises activating electrodes, which are arranged to be in contact with the ion-source electrode, wherein each one of the activating electrodes is arranged in association with one of the synthesis locations via the ion-source electrode. The ion-releaser is arranged to release at least a portion of the releasable ions from the ion-source electrode to one of the synthesis locations, by activation of the activating electrode associated with the synthesis location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Philippe Vereecken, Brecht Put, Tim Stakenborg, Arnaud Furnemont, Luca Di Piazza
  • Patent number: 11255020
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide reduction system comprises: an electrolytic unit including an electrolysis cell having a cathode to reduce a first substance containing carbon dioxide and thus produce a first product containing a carbon compound, and an anode to oxidize a second substance containing water or hydroxide ions and thus produce a second product containing oxygen, a detection unit to acquire data defining operation states of the electrolysis cell, and an electrolytic regulator to regulate electrolysis conditions of the electrolysis cell; a compression unit including a compressor to compress the first product, and a compressor regulator to regulate compression conditions of the first product by the compressor; and a controller programmed to predict a flow rate of the carbon compound discharged from the electrolysis cell in accordance with the data to control regulation of the compression conditions in accordance with the predicted flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akihiko Ono, Yuki Kudo, Ryota Kitagawa, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Jun Tamura, Satoshi Mikoshiba, Yoshitsune Sugano, Asahi Motoshige, Takayuki Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 11236428
    Abstract: To provide an electrolysis cell for producing an organic chemical hydride capable of advancing a reduction reaction in a cathode of an organic compound having an unsaturated bond with high current efficiency and a small electric power consumption unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION YOKOHAMA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, DE NORA PERMELEC LTD.
    Inventors: Shigenori Mitsushima, Yasutomo Takakuwa, Yoshinori Nishiki, Akihiro Kato, Akiyoshi Manabe
  • Patent number: 11239507
    Abstract: Lead from lead acid battery scrap is recovered in two separate production streams as clean grid lead and as high-purity lead without smelting. In preferred aspects, lead recovery is performed in a continuous process that uses an aqueous electroprocessing solvent and electro-refining. Spent electroprocessing solvent and/or base utilized to treat lead paste from the lead acid battery scrap can be recycled to the recovery process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: AQUA METALS INC.
    Inventors: Brian Dougherty, Michael John King, Robert Lewis Clarke, Stephen R. Clarke, Michael David Hurwitz
  • Patent number: 11236429
    Abstract: Systems and methods for electrochemically producing chemical products are provided. In certain cases, the systems and methods described herein are capable of producing chemical products such as hydrogen peroxide in solutions with relatively low concentrations of electrolyte or other dissolved species at high efficiencies and/or low energetic cost. In some cases, redox mediators are used to temporally decouple direct electrochemical processes from the production of the chemical product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sahag Voskian, Alexander Murray, Trevor Alan Hatton, Yogesh Surendranath
  • Patent number: 11230772
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide electrolytic device includes: an electrolysis cell; a sensor acquiring data indicating a concentration of a first product containing a carbon compound in an anode flow path of the electrolysis cell; a power controller to apply a voltage between an anode and a cathode of the electrolysis cell; a refresh material source including a gas source to supply a gaseous substance to at least one selected from the group consisting of the anode and cathode flow paths, and a solution supply source to supply a rinse solution to at least one selected from the group consisting of the anode and cathode flow paths; and a controller programmed to stop supply of carbon dioxide and an electrolytic solution, and supply the rinse solution to at least one selected from the group consisting of the anode and cathode flow paths from the refresh material source, in accordance with the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akihiko Ono, Yuki Kudo, Ryota Kitagawa, Masakazu Yamagiwa, Jun Tamura, Satoshi Mikoshiba, Yoshitsune Sugano, Asahi Motoshige
  • Patent number: 11230773
    Abstract: Molten salt electrolytes are described for use in electrochemical synthesis of hydrocarbons from carboxylic acids. The molten salt electrolyte can be used to synthesize a wide variety of hydrocarbons with and without functional groups that have a broad range of applications. The molten salt can be used to synthesize saturated hydrocarbons, diols, alkylated aromatic compounds, as well as other types of hydrocarbons. The molten salt electrolyte increases the selectivity, yield, the energy efficiency and Coulombic efficiency of the electrochemical conversion of carboxylic acids to hydrocarbons while reducing the cell potential required to perform the oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: ENLIGHTEN INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: James Mosby, Sai Bhavaraju