Patents Examined by Michael Wieczorek
  • Patent number: 9793123
    Abstract: Provided are a nano structure, a fabrication method thereof, and an application device thereof. The method for fabricating a nano structure includes: forming a substrate; forming a plurality of linkers over the substrate; forming a plurality of metal ions over the linkers; and forming one or more metallic nanoparticles over the linkers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun-Hyung Kim
  • Patent number: 9789458
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for increasing the order of an array of polymeric micelles or of nanoparticles on a substrate surface comprising a) providing an ordered array of micelles or nanoparticles coated with a polymer shell on a substrate surface and b) annealing the array of micelles or nanoparticles by ultrasonication in a liquid medium which is selected from the group comprising H2O, a polar organic solvent and a mixture of H2O and a polar organic solvent. In a related aspect, the invention provides the highly ordered arrays of micelles or nanoparticles obtainable by the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Christian Williges, Christoph Morhard, Joachim P. Spatz, Robert Brunner
  • Patent number: 9782981
    Abstract: The invention describes a method of printing onto a balloon that includes the steps of: coating the printable outer surface of a balloon with a primer material; attaching the balloon about a supporting substrate to form a balloon blank; flattening the printable outer surface of the balloon on the upper surface of the substrate; attaching a first tab on a first end of the balloon blank; attaching a second tab on a second end opposite the first end of the balloon blank; applying the balloon blank to a printer, via the first tab, which in use prints a first image onto the printable surface; and moving the balloon blank back through the printer via the second tab, which in use prints a second image onto the printable surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventors: Aamer Shams, Kazveen Aamer
  • Patent number: 9771485
    Abstract: A metallic nanoparticle dispersion includes a dispersion medium characterized in that the dispersion medium includes a solvent according to Formula I, wherein R1 and R2 represent an optionally substituted alkyl group, and R1 and R2 may form a ring. When using a solvent according to Formula I as a dispersion medium, no polymeric dispersants are necessary to obtain stable metallic nanoparticle dispersions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: AGFA-GEVAERT
    Inventors: Xavier Andre, Dirk Bollen
  • Patent number: 9773513
    Abstract: A chromium oxide film is formed at room temperature. The chromium oxide film has at least one partially polycrystalline portion and/or at least one amorphous portion depending upon the substrate(s) over which the chromium oxide film is formed. Partially polycrystalline portion(s) of the chromium oxide film are exposed, at room temperature, to an electron beam that has an accelerating voltage of at least 100 kilovolts to further crystallize the partially polycrystalline portion(s). Amorphous portion(s) of the chromium oxide film are exposed, at room temperature, to an electron beam that has an accelerating voltage of more than 100 kilovolts to crystallize the amorphous portion(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Calvin S. Lo, Charles T. Rettner, Philip M. Rice, Teya Topuria, Kumar R. Virwani
  • Patent number: 9765435
    Abstract: A process for producing a titanium load-bearing structure, which comprises cold-gas dynamic spraying of titanium particles on to a suitably shaped support member, and a titanium load bearing structure so-produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Saden Zahiri, Mahnaz Jahedi, Jeffrey Lang, Timothy Fox, Richard Fox
  • Patent number: 9765464
    Abstract: A method for washing articles in a wash chamber of the washing machine appliance is provided. The method includes receiving user input of a user-selected water fill amount for a wash cycle, the user-selected water fill amount being the largest water fill amount available for selection by a user. The method also includes determining a characteristic of a load of the washing machine appliance and determining that an amount of water associated with the user-selected water fill amount is inadequate for the load. In response, the method includes providing the wash chamber of the washing machine appliance with an amount of water greater than an amount associated with the user-selected water fill amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Edward Hettinger, Ryan Ellis Leonard
  • Patent number: 9752398
    Abstract: An apparatus for servicing pipes includes a pipe holder having a frame configured to support the pipe and a movement assembly coupled to the frame and configured to rotate the pipe about a longitudinal axis of the pipe, and a first pipe servicing tool disposed proximate to an end of the pipe holder, where the first pipe servicing tool is configured to operably engage an end of the pipe when the pipe is rotated by the movement assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: Jaroslav Belik
  • Patent number: 9745701
    Abstract: Methods are generally disclosed for forming and using a casting paper. In one embodiment, the casting paper can be made by coating a first surface of a base sheet with a release coating such that the release coating covers the entire first surface of the base sheet. A printed release coating is then applied on a portion of the first release coating, and is dried or cured as needed to form the casting paper having a textured surface defined by elevated areas corresponding to the printed release coating and valley areas corresponding to exposed areas of the printed release coating. In another embodiment, the casting paper can be made by first printing a base sheet with a patterned, structured coating, then coating over the patterned, structured coating with a release coating such that the release coating covers at least the unprinted areas of the base sheet. The casting paper can be used to form a texturized surface in a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Neenah Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Kronzer, Stephen C. Lapin, Steven E. Rosenberg, John A. Pugliano
  • Patent number: 9744542
    Abstract: A method of forming a material structure from structural units contained within a liquid solution in a spray head is described. The liquid solution includes a solvent and a solute, the solute comprising a plurality of the structural units, the structural units including monomer units, oligomer units, or combinations thereof. The method comprises forming droplets of the liquid solution including the structural units, and spraying the droplets on a substrate, thereby substantially increasing the reactivity of the structural units within the droplets relative to the structural units within the liquid solution in the spray head. The increase in reactivity can result from the droplets containing an excess of a particular ion, the ion excess resulting from a voltage applied to conductive walls of the device which dispenses the droplets. The material structure is then formed on the substrate from the more highly reactive structural units within the droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: aPEEL Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9738561
    Abstract: A coated article is provided with at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer. The IR reflecting layer may be of silver or the like. In certain example embodiments, a titanium oxide layer is provided over the IR reflecting layer, and it has been found that this surprisingly results in an IR reflecting layer with a lower specific resistivity (SR) thereby permitting thermal properties of the coated article to be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches Pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.), Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Jochen Butz, Uwe Kriltz, Artur Siwek, Anton Dietrich, Jens-Peter Müller, Jean-Marc Lemmer, Richard Blacker
  • Patent number: 9732457
    Abstract: Provided are a washing method and washing machine. In the washing method, an eco-rinsing process where a drum rotates in a state where at least a portion of laundry is pressed against the inner wall of the drum and wash water is sprayed into the drum is performed. A spinning process where the spraying of the wash water is stopped and the wash water is removed from the laundry by accelerating the drum is performed. Here, at least a portion of the laundry remains pressed against the wall of the drum in the eco-rinsing process and the spinning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Changoh Kim, Jaehyun Kim, Jaewon Chang, Jongmin Lee, Sangheon Lee, Youngho Kim
  • Patent number: 9724738
    Abstract: A spray cleaning device for cleaning the interior of a vessel or the like through an access opening in an underside thereof. The cleaning device includes a wheeled carriage positionable in selected relation to a vessel to be cleaned, an elongated frame having a central drive shaft extending along its length, and a rotatable spray head supported in an upstanding relation to a downstream end of said elongated housing for rotation about multiple axes. The elongated frame is pivotably supported by said wheeled carriage for selective positioning of the spray head within the vessel to be cleaned, and the spray head has a liquid supply which communicates with a liquid inlet to an upstanding support thereof downstream of the central drive shaft so said liquid is not transmitted along the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Spraying Systems Co.
    Inventor: Boland Buhl
  • Patent number: 9718221
    Abstract: Cured flexible sealant may be removed from a substrate if the cured flexible sealant includes within its volume a susceptor such as metal susceptor particles. Removal proceeds by exposing the sealant with the susceptor to radio-frequency radiation sufficient to cause dielectric heating in the susceptor. The consequent heating in the cured sealant reduces the bond strength of the cured sealant. The reduced bond-strength sealant may be removed by physical methods, such as scraping etc., much more easily than the original (unexposed) cured sealant. Also disclosed are sealant compositions with susceptor, susceptor tools to introduce susceptor into cured sealant, and handheld radio-frequency heaters to apply radio-frequency radiation to cured sealant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Darrin M. Hansen, Carissa Ann Pajel
  • Patent number: 9713905
    Abstract: The presently disclosed technology relates to carbon-on-carbon (C/C) manufacturing techniques and the resulting C/C products. One aspect of the manufacturing techniques disclosed herein utilizes two distinct curing operations that occur at different times and/or using different temperatures. The resulting C/C products are substantially non-porous, even though the curing operation(s) substantially gasify a liquid carbon-entrained filler material that saturates a carbon fabric that makes up the C/C products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory S. Mungas, Larry Buchanan, Jose T. Banzon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9708714
    Abstract: A photochemical process for decorating hydrophobic surfaces with nanoparticles includes the steps of providing a metal precursor having hydrophobic parts adapted to interact with assistance of a photosensitizer; and forming a reactive adduct photosensitizer/precursor-metal/surface, preparing the surface to grow metal nanoparticles in situ having sizes and shapes governed by the morphology of the surface. The formed nanoparticles are sufficiently isolated, not aggregated and not interconnected, and do not create a film but maintain the chemical properties of substrate and metal. Surfaces so selectively decorated have hydrophobic properties even with hydrophilic substrates. Substrates with multiple chemical functionalities are thereby obtained, which can selectively bind different molecules or biomolecules onto the substrate and the surface of the metal nanoparticles surface. A process according to the invention also allows decorating surfaces with two or more metallic species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventors: Salvatore Petralia, Giorgio Ventimiglia
  • Patent number: 9707696
    Abstract: A device for injecting a fluid internally of a flow of loose material, comprising: a feeder (2) of loose material (100), provided with a lower discharge mouth (24) through which the loose material (100) flows along a descending direction (Y); an injector (3), predisposed to inject a fluid onto the loose material (100), which injector (3) is located below the discharge mouth (24) such as to be positioned internally of the flow of loose material (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: IMAL S.R.L.
    Inventor: Paolo Benedetti
  • Patent number: 9704719
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A substrate having an oxide layer is provided. At least a portion of the oxide layer is removed and forms a nitride layer. The nitride layer is removed, leaving nitride precipitates. The nitride precipitates are removed using phosphoric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Jui Li
  • Patent number: 9698454
    Abstract: A process for forming a coating for an RF window which has improved secondary electron emission and reduced multipactor for high power RF waveguides is formed from a substrate with low loss tangent and desirable mechanical characteristics. The substrate has an RPAO deposition layer applied which oxygenates the surface of the substrate to remove carbon impurities, thereafter has an RPAN deposition layer applied to nitrogen activate the surface of the substrate, after which a TiN deposition layer is applied using Titanium tert-butoxide. The TiN deposition layer is capped with a final RPAN deposition layer of nitridation to reduce the bound oxygen in the TiN deposition layer. The resulting RF window has greatly improved titanium layer adhesion, reduced multipactor, and is able to withstand greater RF power levels than provided by the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Calabazas Creek Research, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Lawrence Ives, Gerald Lucovsky, Daniel Zeller
  • Patent number: 9693670
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance including a tub defining a wash chamber is provided. The dishwasher appliance also includes a sump positioned at a bottom portion of the tub, the sump including a bottom wall that defines a recessed chamber. A drain pump is provided in flow communication with the recessed chamber defined by the bottom wall of the sump. Moreover, a filter assembly is positioned at least partially within the sump and movable along an axial direction of the sump between a first position and a second position. The filter assembly is positioned over the recessed chamber of the bottom wall when in the first position and is seated on the bottom wall of the sump around the recessed chamber when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: John Edward Dries