Patents Examined by Nicholas A. Smith
  • Patent number: 12043898
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a film formation apparatus and a moisture removing method thereof that can facilitate the removement of moisture in the chamber without the complication of the apparatus are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHIBAURA MECHATRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shohei Tanabe, Koji Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 12036530
    Abstract: A method is disclosed in which a gas of hydrogen and nitrogen, or hydrogen and ammonia, or hydrogen, nitrogen, and ammonia, is introduced to a fluidized bed. The gas flows through the fluidized bed, and titanium dioxide particles are introduced to the fluidized bed to form a fluid mixture of the particles and gas in the fluidized bed. The particles are reacted with the gas in the fluid mixture to form particles including titanium dioxide and nitrogen. The particles can be disposed along an air flow path in operative communication with a light source for air treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Randolph Carlton McGee
  • Patent number: 12031217
    Abstract: A thin plate-shaped graphite product is produced by applying a current to an electrochemical reaction system including a graphite-containing anode, a cathode optionally containing graphite, and an electrolyte solution containing tetrafluoroboric acid or hexafluorophosphoric acid as an electrolyte. Flaky graphite is produced by subjecting the thin plate-shaped graphite product to delamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignees: KANEKA CORPORATION, NiSiNa Materials Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Nishikawa, Yuta Nishina
  • Patent number: 12031227
    Abstract: Various technologies are described herein pertaining to electrochemical etching of a semiconductor controlled by way of a laser that emits light with an energy below a bandgap energy of the semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: NIELSON SCIENTIFIC, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Nolan Nielson
  • Patent number: 12023750
    Abstract: Disclosed are a multi-channel electrochemical machining device and method for a blisk, and relate to the technical field of blisk electrochemical machining. The multi-channel electrochemical machining device for a blisk comprises an electrolytic bath used for accommodating an electrolyte, a blisk workpiece, a tube electrode and a top cover plate. The top cover plate is located above the blisk workpiece. An electrolysis chamber used for the tube electrode to electrolyze the blisk workpiece is formed between the lower surface of the top cover plate and the surface of the blisk workpiece. The electrolysis chamber communicates with the electrolytic bath. A drainage seam communicating the electrolysis chamber and the electrolytic bath along the axial direction of the blisk workpiece is formed in the upper surface of the top cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
    Inventors: Jia Liu, Shuanglu Duan, Di Zhu
  • Patent number: 12019025
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for preparing glow discharge sputtering samples for materials microscopic characterization are provided. The apparatus includes a glow discharge sputtering unit, a glow discharge power supply, a gas circuit automatic control unit, a spectrometer, and a computer. The structure of the glow discharge sputtering unit is optimized to be more suitable for sample preparation by simulation. By adding a magnetic field to the glow discharge plasma, uniform sample sputtering is realized within a large size range of the sample surface. The spectrometer monitors multi-element signal in a depth direction of the sample sputtering, so that precise preparation of different layer microstructures is realized. In conjunction with the acquisition of the sample position marks and the precise spatial coordinates (x, y, z) information, the correspondence between the surface space coordinates and the microstructure of the sample is conveniently realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: NCS Testing Technology CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xing Yu, Haizhou Wang, Xuejing Shen, Xiaojia Li, Yifei Zhu, Weihao Wan, Yuhua Lu, Hui Wang, Qun Ren, Yongqing Wang, Zhenzhen Wan
  • Patent number: 12017293
    Abstract: The invention discloses an electrochemical mechanical polishing/planarization equipment for processing a polishing surface of a conductive wafer substrate, which includes a power supply; a polishing table with conductivity; a polishing pad including an insulating active layer and having holes where a conductive chemical liquid is accommodated; a polishing head having conductivity and being attached to the back of the polishing surface. The power supply, the polishing table, the chemical liquid, the conductive wafer substrate, and the polishing head in sequence form a conductive loop, and an electrochemical reaction layer is formed on the polishing surface of the conductive wafer substrate. The polishing head drives the wafer substrate to move relative to the polishing pad, and to implement a mechanical polishing or a chemical mechanical polishing of the electrochemical reaction layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: HANGZHOU SIZONE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Yaomin Deng, Zhengting Zhu, Donghui Wang
  • Patent number: 12006580
    Abstract: Processes and apparatus for electrocatalytically converting carbon dioxide emissions and/or ambient carbon dioxide into useful chemicals are described. The process may include: removing carbon dioxide from ambient air through a carbon capture technique, supplying a carbonate or bicarbonate aqueous solution as cathode feed to a cathode of an electrolytic cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly which includes a bipolar membrane separating an anode from the cathode, and applying an electrical potential difference between the cathode and the anode of the membrane electrode assembly to electrocatalytically reduce the carbonate or bicarbonate aqueous solution to carbon monoxide or another useful chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
    Inventors: Curtis Berlinguette, Danielle Salvatore, Tengfei Li, Maxwell Goldman, Eric Lees
  • Patent number: 12002667
    Abstract: There is provided a sputtering apparatus comprising: a target from which sputtered particles are emitted; a substrate support configured to support a substrate; a substrate moving mechanism configured to move the substrate in one direction; and a shielding member disposed between the target and the substrate support and having an opening through which the sputtered particles pass. The shielding member includes a first shielding member and a second shielding member disposed in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masato Shinada, Tetsuya Miyashita, Einstein Noel Abarra
  • Patent number: 12002668
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provided herein generally provide a substrate processing system that includes: a processing chamber including: a top plate having an array of process station openings disposed therethrough surrounding a central axis, a bottom plate having a first central opening, and a plurality of side walls between the top plate and the bottom plate; a plurality of heaters disposed in the top plate and the bottom plate and configured in a plurality of regions; and a system controller configured to independently control the plurality of heaters in each region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivasa Rao Yedla, Kirankumar Neelasandra Savandaiah, Thomas Brezoczky, Hari Prasath Rajendran
  • Patent number: 11992889
    Abstract: A method for preparing a cross-dimension micro-nano structure array includes: S1. providing a workpiece immersed in the electrolyte as the first electrode, providing a trimming wire electrode as the second electrode and setting it above the workpiece, providing an interference beam adjuster and outputting multi-beam laser interference to irradiate the surface of the workpiece; S2. The power supply between the first electrode and the second electrode forms a loop, and drives the trimming wire electrode to reciprocate relative to the workpiece, and the workpiece undergoes electrochemical dissolution or electrochemical deposition at the corresponding position of the trimming wire electrode, and form a micro-nano structure array without a mask, and solves the problem of low output power of the existing ultrashort pulse power supply, improves the processing accuracy of the micro-nano structure array, does not require electrolyte for high-speed flow, and improves system safety and reduce the cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haidong He, Zijie Xi, Chunju Wang, Lining Sun, Xuezhong Ning
  • Patent number: 11987893
    Abstract: A system for extracting oxygen from powdered metal oxides, the system comprising a container comprising an electrolyte in the form of meltable or molten salt, at least one cathode, at least one anode, a power supply, and a conducting structure, wherein the cathode is shaped as a receptacle having a porous shell, which has an upper opening, the cathode being arranged in the electrolyte with the opening protruding over the electrolyte, wherein the conducting structure comprises a plurality of conducting elements and gaps between the conducting elements, wherein the power supply is connectable to the at least one cathode and the at least one anode to selectively apply an electric potential across the cathode and the anode, wherein the conducting structure is insertable into the cathode, such that the conducting elements reach into an inner space of the cathode, wherein the conducting structure is electrically connectable to the cathode, and wherein the system is adapted for reducing at least one respective metal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignees: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Uday B. Pal, Achim O. Seidel, Peter Quadbeck, Astrid Adrian
  • Patent number: 11980959
    Abstract: An electrochemical machining assembly for boring a passage in an electrically conductive workpiece. The electrochemical machining assembly includes an electrochemical machining tool having a telescoping collar with an articulating head coupled thereto. The telescoping collar is actuated between a contracted configuration and an extended configuration to advance the telescoping collar stepwise in the passage. The articulating head is tiltable relative to the telescoping collar to determine a direction of the passage. The electrochemical machining assembly is configured to remove material from the workpiece upon application of a voltage between the articulating head and the workpiece via a circulating electrolyte fluid to lengthen the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Monahan
  • Patent number: 11976370
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of selection of an electrocatalyst array for a desired product outcome. The method comprises exposing an electrocatalyst system to an active agent dissolved or suspended in a conductive solution; and applying a voltage to the electrocatalyst system. The voltage sufficient to cause a multi-electron oxidation or multi-electron reduction of the active species; the electrocatalyst system comprises a counter electrode; and an electrocatalyst array. The array comprising a support substrate; uniformly sized surface structures protruding from a surface of the support substrate; the uniformly sized surface structures have edges and/or apices comprising a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Manufacturing Systems Limited
    Inventors: Ali Hosseini, Ashton Cyril Partridge, Andrew Leo Haynes
  • Patent number: 11975303
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods for enhancing chemical conversions. One or more embodiments relate to a method for enhancing a multi-step chemical conversion reaction. The method includes providing a reactant mixture comprising one or more reacting specie(s); and providing a catalyst or sorbent comprising one or more support materials and one or more deposited catalytically active materials. The method further includes applying an electromagnetic field with a prescribed power, frequency, and pulsing strategy specific to interactions of reactant species and an electromagnetic field with at least one of the support materials, sorbent, and catalytically active materials in a particular chemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Dushyant Shekhawat, David A Berry, Mark W Smith, Christina Wildfire, Victor Abdelsayed
  • Patent number: 11975969
    Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell-powered system for capturing carbon dioxide produced by a steam methane reformer system. Tail gas from a pressure swing adsorption system is mixed with exhaust gas from the fuel cell anode, then pressurized and cooled to extract liquefied carbon dioxide. The residual low-CO2 gas is directed to an anode gas oxidizer, to the anode, to the reformer to be burned for fuel, and/or to the pressure swing adsorption system. Low-CO2 flue gas from the reformer can be vented to the atmosphere or directed to the anode gas oxidizer. Reduction in the amount of CO2 reaching the fuel cell allows the fuel cell to be sized according to the power demands of the system and eliminates the need to export additional power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Stephen Jolly, Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh
  • Patent number: 11974512
    Abstract: A preparation method of a silicon-based molecular beam heteroepitaxy material, a memristor, and use thereof are provided. A structure of the heteroepitaxy material is obtained by allowing a SrTiO3 layer, a La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 layer, and a (BaTiO3)0.5—(CeO2)0.5 layer to successively grow on a P-type Si substrate. The silicon-based epitaxy structure is obtained by allowing a first layer of SrTiO3, a second layer of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3, and a third layer of (BaTiO3)0.5—(CeO2)0.5 (in which an atomic ratio of BaTiO3 to CeO2 is 0.5:0.5) to successively grow at a specific temperature and a specific oxygen pressure. The preparation method of a silicon-based molecular beam heteroepitaxy material adopts pulsed laser deposition (PLD), which is relatively simple and easy to control, and can achieve the memristor function and neuro-imitation characteristics. A thickness of the first buffer layer of SrTiO3 can reach 40 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hebei University
    Inventors: Xiaobing Yan, Haidong He, Zhen Zhao
  • Patent number: 11952654
    Abstract: A sputtering device to sputter a liquid target. The sputtering device including a trough to receive a liquid target material and a device to stir or agitate the liquid target material. The device configured to degas the liquid target material or/and to dissipate solid particles or islands on a surface of the target or/and to move such particles or islands from an active surface region to a passive surface region and/or vice-versa, whereby the passive surface region is at least 50% less exposed to sputtering as the active surface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: EVATEC AG
    Inventors: Dominik Jaeger, Thomas Tschirky, Marco Rechsteiner, Heinz Felzer, Hartmut Rohrmann
  • Patent number: 11952295
    Abstract: A control system of a dual power supply type electrolyzer includes an electrolyzer, a first power supply circuit, and a second power supply circuit. The electrolyzer includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first power supply circuit connected to the first electrode. The second power supply circuit connected to the second electrode. The first power supply circuit and the second power supply circuit simultaneously supply power respectively to the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode have a same amount of power, but the first electrode and the second electrode have different polarities and their polarities alternate periodically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: DARTPOINT TECH. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chung-Hsin Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11952273
    Abstract: We disclose herein a viable, cost efficient method for the instantaneous production of hydrogen gas. Hydrogen gas production is increased by utilizing solar and lunar energy. The hydrogen gas is generated spontaneously by the reaction of sodium hydroxide and aluminum as corrosion occurs, forming a layer of aluminum oxide upon the aluminum. This aluminum oxide layer prevents further reaction of sodium hydroxide and aluminum, and thus no more hydrogen gas is produced. Production of aluminum oxide can be bypassed by adding acetic acid or sodium acetate to the reaction. In this reaction the products are aluminum hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Thus, we disclose herein a method that prevents of the formation of aluminum oxide by the use of sodium acetate or acetic acid, the use of iron as a catalyst, and the enhancement of the reaction using natural light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventors: Hari Har Parshad Cohly, Rajendram V. Rajnarayanan, Bharat Subodh Agrawal, Hui Chu Tsai