Patents Examined by Kathryn L. Gorgos
  • Patent number: 5759363
    Abstract: A carrying device for electroplating and method for improving the delivery of current therein. The carrying device comprises a core of a high conductivity material and a cladding shrunk around and sealing the core, the cladding having a second, moderate conductivity material which, however, has a high resistance to acidic corrosion. The device further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive clamping members of the second material for clamping an article to be electroplated and for delivering current thereto. Current flow to the clamping members is improved by respective pins consisting essentially of the second material, the pins being forced into respective undersized apertures provided near the clamping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Inventor: Millard F. Rose
  • Patent number: 5759379
    Abstract: A soldering method for soldering electronic components onto a copper (Cu) substrate using a tin (Sn) solder alloy. The method comprises in pretreating the Cu substrate by depositing a thin layer of zinc (Zn) before the deposition of the Sn solder alloy. This method greatly enhances the mechanical and electrical properties of the solder alloy, allowing the use of lead (Pb) free alloys such as tin-bismuth (Sn--Bi).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pietro Luigi Cavallotti, Adelio Monzani, Vittorio Sirtori, Giovanni Zangari
  • Patent number: 5759372
    Abstract: The invention relates to aqueous electrodeposition coating materials comprising cathodically depositable synthetic resins and further comprising a reaction product (A) and a polymerization initiator (B) which forms free radicals, wherein the cathodically depositable synthetic resin is different from the reaction product (A), and the reaction product (A) is prepared by reacting(a) a polyisocyanate or a mixture of polyisocyanates with(b) an organic compound which contains both at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond and at least one active hydrogen atom per molecule, or a mixture of such organic compounds, and(c) an organic compound which contains both at least one active hydrogen atom and at least one tertiary amino group and/or at least one ketimine and/or at least one aldimine group per molecule, or a mixture of such organic compounds, and if desired(d) an organic compound which is different from (b) and (c) and contains at least one active hydrogen atom per molecule, or a mixture of such organic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: BASF Lacke + Farben AG
    Inventors: Hardy Reuter, Gunther Ott, Walter Jouck
  • Patent number: 5759376
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the electrochemical deposition of hydroxyapatite layers onto metal and ceramic surfaces, the actual electrochemical coating being combined with a pre-coating of the substrates by sol-gel processes, using a calcium and (hydrogen) phosphate-containing electrolyte by means of pulsed direct current. Materials coated in this way are used in the form of biocompatible implants in human and veterinary medicine and are distinguished by particularly high grow-in rates. In contrast to conventional methods of generating hydroxyapatite layers (conventional or microwave sintering of hydroxyapatite produced by the wet-chemical method, deposition by other electrochemical, plasma or laser-aided methods or by sol-gel techniques), this method is distinguished by the application of uniform hydroxyapatite coatings which adhere well and have a small amorphous portion and an optimum layer thickness (5-25 .mu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Dot Dunnschicht- Und Oberflaechen-technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Teller, H. Georg Neumann
  • Patent number: 5756221
    Abstract: The present invention provides a coating method which comprises applying, onto a material to be coated, a cationic electrodepositable coating composition comprising (A) a polyurethane-modified epoxy resin-amine adduct obtained by a reaction of (A-1) a polyurethane-compound having one terminal isocyanate group in the molecule, obtained by a reaction of (a) a polyhydroxy compound having a number-average molecular weight of 50-8,000, (b) a polyisocyanate compound, and (c) a compound having one active hydrogen atom in the molecule; (A-2) a bisphenol type epoxy resin having at least two epoxy groups in the molecule; and (A-3) an active-hydrogen-containing amine compound, and (B) a nonionic film-forming resin, the weight ratio of the resin (A)/the resin (B) being 15/85 to 95/5 and the coating composition comprising substantially no pigment, then heat-curing the formed electrocoating film; and thereafter applying, onto the cured electrocoating film, an aqueous coating composition comprising a metallic pigment and/or
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Kansai Paint Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoichi Horibe, Hidehiko Haneishi, Masaru Mitsuji, Motoshi Yabuta, Yasumasa Okumura
  • Patent number: 5755945
    Abstract: A method for dehydrating capillary materials such as moist walls and/or floors of a building structure of masonry or concrete through the principle of electro-osmosis by applying pulsating DC voltage of a specific pulse pattern to primary electrode means embedded in said structure, said primary electrode means (4) forming anode means, and secondary electrode means (5) embedded in the ground outside the structure and forming cathode means to be interactive with said anode means, said pulsating voltage having a pulse pattern with a total pulse period T, comprised of a positive pulse of duration T+, a negative pulse of duration T-, and a neutral period or pause of duration Tp, wherein:0.8T<T+.ltoreq.0.98T;0.0T<T-.ltoreq.0.05T;0.02T<Tp.ltoreq.0.15T;and3 seconds<T.ltoreq.60 seconds.Suitably, T+=0.95 T; T-=0.01 T; and Tp=0.04 T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Electro Pulse Technologies of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans Kristiansen
  • Patent number: 5755942
    Abstract: A system for processing a plurality of tests or syntheses in parallel comprising a sample channel for moving samples into a microlaboratory array of a plurality of wells connected by one or more channels for the testing or synthesis of samples, a station for housing the array and an optical system comprising at least one light source and at least one light detector for measuring the samples in the array, and a means of electrically connecting said array to an apparatus capable of monitoring and controlling the flow of fluids into the array.Samples are loaded from a common loading channel into the array, processed in the wells and measurements taken by the optical system. The array can process many samples, or synthesize many compounds in parallel, reducing the time required for such processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: David Sarnoff Research Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter John Zanzucchi, Satyam Choudary Cherukuri, Sterling Edward McBride
  • Patent number: 5755946
    Abstract: A flexible abrasive member comprising a first porous layer of mesh, non-woven or perforated sheet, conductive or non-conductive material to which on one side deposits are deposited by way of any metal plating technique of either the electrolytic, electroless or vacuum deposition type, or any galvanic process, abrasive particles being embedded in the metal deposits, a layer of filling material, such as a resin, being present between the deposits which filling material is bonded to said first porous layer and/or the deposits, and at least a second porous layer of mesh, non-woven or perforated sheet, conductive or non-conductive material being present and being laid substantially along one side of the first porous layer. The side edge of the deposit has at least one annular groove along at least part of the circumference of the deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Sandro Giovanni Giuseppe Ferronato
  • Patent number: 5755948
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system and process for electroplating that has plating drums whereby the plating drums are filled, and emptied of parts at each individual plating cell and the parts are cleansed by spraying, wiping and/or drying and whereby only cleansed parts are transported from plating cell to plating cell. This results in less contamination and higher efficiencies in plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Hardwood Line Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Anton Ernest Lazaro, Peter Heinrich Tremmel
  • Patent number: 5756227
    Abstract: A battery assembly has a temperature control mechanism for effecting cooling or heating unit batteries for operation in a desired temperature range. First heat-exchange planar members of respective heat-transfer plates are sandwiched between the unit batteries that are arranged in an array, and second heat-exchange planar members thereof are held against transverse narrow side walls of the unit batteries. The unit batteries and the heat-transfer plates are securely fastened together by holder plates. Heat produced when the unit batteries are in operation is transferred through the first and second heat-exchange planar members of the heat-transfer plates and dissipated into an appropriate cooling medium, such as atmospheric air or another cooling fluid, through a heat-exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Suzuki, Yasuo Kitami, Toshiyuki Watanabe, Minoru Nakajima, Yasuyuki Sando, Yoshinori Mita, Koichiro Ozawa, Harumi Takedomi
  • Patent number: 5755944
    Abstract: A method for creating a solid layer (36A or 52A) through which openings (38 or 54) extend entails subjecting particles (30) suspended in a fluid (26) to an electric field (E.sub.A) to cause a number of the particles to move towards, and accumulate over, a structure placed in the fluid. The structure, including the so-accumulated particles, is removed from the fluid. Solid material is deposited over the structure at least in the space between the so-accumulated particles. The particles, including any overlying material (36B or 52B), are removed. The remaining solid material forms the solid layer through which openings extend at the locations of the so-removed particles. The structure is typically a layer is then typically either a gate layer for the electron-emitting device or a layer used in forming the gate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Candescent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Duane A. Haven, Esther Sluzky, John M. Macaulay
  • Patent number: 5753088
    Abstract: Carbon nanotubes are produced by submerging carbonaceous anode and cathode electrodes in liquid nitrogen or other suitable liquefied materials such as helium or hydrogen, and passing a direct current between the electrodes to strike a plasma arc between the anode and cathode that erodes carbon from the anode and deposits carbon nanotubes on the surface of the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Howard Olk
  • Patent number: 5753193
    Abstract: A device for creating a deposit of silicon oxide on a traveling solid substrate, wherein the substrate is subjected to an electrical discharge with a dielectric barrier in the presence of a controlled atmosphere containing a silane and an oxidizing gas, the atmosphere being at a pressure higher than 10,000 Pa, and wherein the atmosphere is maintained in the immediate vicinity of an electrode in the region where the electrical discharge is produced and further wherein any entrainment of oxygen other than that forming part of the atmosphere in the region is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Softal Electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Slootman, Pascal Bouard, Fran.cedilla.ois Coeuret, Dominique Jouvaud, Eckhard Prinz
  • Patent number: 5753094
    Abstract: A composition, which has utility as a storage buffer and as a sample diluent before analysis by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), is comprised of water, a borate compound, a buffer compound and a pH modifier for maintaining a physiological pH. In addition, a conductivity adjusting compound is present so that the conductivity of the composition is about the same as a prospective capillary electrophoresis running buffer. Containers with storage buffer/sample diluent can be assembled in a kit for conducting serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) or immunosubtraction (IFE/s) analysis. Moreover, the storage buffer/sample diluent can be used in methods of preparing samples for CZE analysis, such as quantitative dilutions and enzymatic or immunological reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Alter, Elsie H. Kim
  • Patent number: 5753101
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the constituents present in conversion coating bath solutions. The method involves using specific ac and dc voltammetry and using platinum or other noble metal working electrodes. First, a selected dc potential is applied to a working electrode which has been subjected to pretreatment and which is present as an in-tank sensor in the bath being analyzed. A constant ac signal is superimposed on the dc potential. The dc potential is then swept over a chosen range at a selected sweep rate. The various constituents in the bath are then monitored by measuring dc current and the ac current at one or more reference phase angles with respect to the constant ac signal between the working electrode and a reference electrode as the dc potential is varied. The resulting dc and ac spectra provide a useful measurement of the make-up of the constituents in the bath solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Inventor: Frank A. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 5753385
    Abstract: The use of vapor deposition techniques enables synthesis of the basic components of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC); namely, the electrolyte layer, the two electrodes, and the electrolyte-electrode interfaces. Such vapor deposition techniques provide solutions to each of the three critical steps of material synthesis to produce a thin film solid oxide fuel cell (TFSOFC). The electrolyte is formed by reactive deposition of essentially any ion conducting oxide, such as defect free, yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) by planar magnetron sputtering. The electrodes are formed from ceramic powders sputter coated with an appropriate metal and sintered to a porous compact. The electrolyte-electrode interface is formed by chemical vapor deposition of zirconia compounds onto the porous electrodes to provide a dense, smooth surface on which to continue the growth of the defect-free electrolyte, whereby a single fuel cell or multiple cells may be fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Alan F. Jankowski, Daniel M. Makowiecki, Glenn D. Rambach, Erik Randich
  • Patent number: 5753087
    Abstract: A corona discharge pollutant destruction reactor employs two or more electrodes to enhance the effective corona discharge treatment volume by distributing a varying electric field pattern over the reactor's interior chamber. Appropriate delay circuitry allows the inner electrodes to be driven out of phase with each other by a sinusoidal voltage waveform, or corona producing voltage pulses to be cyclically supplied to the inner electrodes in sequence, preferably without overlapping the pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics
    Inventors: John H. S. Wang, Weldon S. Williamson, Nelson William Sorbo, Franklin A. Dolezal
  • Patent number: 5750016
    Abstract: A process for electroplating palladium or a palladium alloy onto an iron-nickel alloy substrate, which comprises the steps of: i) electroplating a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, tin, a nickel-tin alloy and a copper-tin alloy onto the substrate to form a first primer layer; ii) electroplating nickel or a gold alloy onto the first primer layer to form a second primer layer; and iii) electroplating palladium or a palladium alloy onto the second primer layer to from a palladium or a palladium alloy electroplating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: Sung-Soo Moon
  • Patent number: 5750014
    Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously anodizing the heads of several aluminum pistons includes a plating tank with an array of apertures extending through one side wall, one aperture for each piston; a fixture on the wall providing a cylindrical bore aligned with each aperture adapted to receive a piston; and a plurality of actuators which, when pivoted and locked into alignment with the fixture bores, operate to secure individual pistons in their respective apertures. A masking/sealing assembly within each fixture bore ensures that each aperture is sealed upon the securing of a piston therein, with only the piston's head and peripheral land being placed in fluid communication with the interior of the plating tank. A remote storage tank provides a supply of an electrolyte which is circulated by a fluid supply network between the storage tank and the thus-sealed plating tank during electrolysis. After the desired coating is achieved, the electrolyte is drained from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: International Hardcoat, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Stadler, Jeffrey R. Pernick
  • Patent number: 5750019
    Abstract: A hydrometallurgic and electrochemical process for processing sulfur antimony ores and residues is disclosed, the end products from which are electrolytic antimony and elemental sulfur. The concentrate of sulfur antimony ore, leached with a solution of caustic alkali according to the known techniques dissolves, as sulfur salts as much Sb as possible, whilst the other heavy and precious metals which accompany the antimony bearing ore remain unchanged in the residue. From the solution of antimony sulfur salts pure Sb.sub.2 S.sub.3 is precipitated by acidification and this sulfide, separated from the solution by filtration, is leached with a ferric fluoborate based electrolyte which oxidizes sulfide into elemental sulfur and dissolves antimony as Sb.sup.3+ fluoborate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Engitec S.p.A.
    Inventor: Marco Olper