Patents Examined by Nicole Blan
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Patent number: 9313379Abstract: A roadway monitoring camera cleaning system includes one or more cameras for capturing images through respective viewing surfaces, which are exposed to outdoor environmental conditions. A controller coupled to the cameras receives the images and determines whether a predetermined wash threshold has been met based on any of various indicia of image degradation. Responsive to the wash threshold being met, the controller operates a supply valve to connect a wash fluid source to a conduit, and operates at least one delivery tube valve to connect the supply conduit to at least one delivery tube. Wash fluid is delivered under pressure to the dirty viewing surface as a result. Subsequently, the controller may disconnect the wash fluid source and connect a pressurized source of inert dry gas, in order to dry the viewing surface and to purge the delivery tube of wash fluid.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Illinois State Toll Highway AuthorityInventors: Arthur C. Manaois, Michael G. Wayne, Michael Catolico
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Patent number: 9305817Abstract: A method for purging a substrate container which accommodates in multiple stages a plurality of substrates to be processed by a substrate processing apparatus, the method includes: mounting the substrate container on a mounting unit; connecting a gas supply port provided in the substrate container and a gas supply line provided in a mounting unit; starting supply of a dry gas into the substrate container from a gas supply line before opening a cover of the substrate container; opening the cover of the substrate container while keeping the supply of the dry gas; closing the cover of the substrate container upon completion of processing of the substrates in the substrate container; and stopping the supply of the dry gas after closing the cover of the substrate container.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Seiichi Kaise, Shigeki Amemiya, Shinobu Onodera, Hiroki Fujita, Masaru Nishino, Atsushi Rikukawa
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Patent number: 9305767Abstract: There is provided a liquid processing apparatus including a rotation unit configured to hold the target substrate and rotate the target substrate around a vertical axis; a processing solution supply nozzle configured to supply the processing solution to the surface of the target substrate being rotated; a first gas supply unit configured to form a downward flow of a first gas that flows over the entire surface of the target substrate and is introduced into a cup in order to form a processing atmosphere suitable for a liquid process to be performed; and a second gas supply unit configured to form a downward flow of a second gas different from the first gas in a region outside the downward flow of the first gas. The first gas supply unit and the second gas supply unit are provided at a ceiling portion of the housing serving as the processing space.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Kenji Nishi, Kazuhiro Takeshita, Nobuhiro Ogata, Satoru Tanaka, Shogo Mizota
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Patent number: 9298022Abstract: A machine is presented for the cleaning of eyewear. The machine allows the manual or automatic cleaning of eyewear. Under both modes of operation, the eyewear is secured by a user to a support bracket inside a transparent, water-tight cylindrical wash chamber. When in manual mode, the user can direct the spray of wash fluid onto the eyewear by rotating the eyewear using a trackball. When used in automatic mode, the machine washes the eyewear during a preset washing cycle. For both modes, the washing cycle is followed by the drying cycle where a blower directs air onto the lenses for a set time period to blow off excess moisture. The drying cycle concludes with a blower venting the cylindrical wash chamber to remove residual moisture from the wash chamber and the eyewear. After the cleaning, the user removes the eyewear from the machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2012Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: SHADE SAVER, INC.Inventor: Bryan K. Myers
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Patent number: 9285674Abstract: A photomask includes at least one feature disposed thereon. The at least one feature has an associated design location, where a distance between a location of the at least one feature and the associated design location defines a positional error of the at least one feature. A method for improving a performance characteristic of the photomask includes directing electromagnetic radiation toward the photomask, the electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength that substantially coincides with a high absorption coefficient of the photomask; generating a thermal energy increase in the photomask through incidence of the electromagnetic radiation thereon; and decreasing the positional error as a result of the generating the thermal energy increase in the photomask.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: RAVE LLCInventors: Jeffrey E. LeClaire, Kenneth G. Roessler, David Brinkley
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Patent number: 9281220Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid processing device, and a liquid processing method. The liquid processing method includes a first process that includes supplying a first processing liquid to the substrate and discharging the first processing liquid within the processing space from a first discharge path, a second process that includes supplying a second processing liquid to the substrate and discharging the second processing liquid within the processing space from the second discharge path, and after stop supplying of the first processing liquid and prior to beginning of the second process, a nozzle switching operation switching from the first nozzle to the second nozzle and a discharge mechanism switching operation switching from the first discharge path to the second discharge path are performed.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventor: Yuuji Takimoto
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Patent number: 9259135Abstract: A condition warning system for an apparatus such as a pot and pan washing machine, a control system and control methods for a pot and pan washing machine are provided. The condition warning system includes a control system that monitors operational, safety or compliance parameters of an apparatus, and a light that illuminates a location below (or above) an operator's direct line of sight, and which is outside of the operator's direct line of sight. The control system and control methods include a punitive wash action lockout, an extended wash cycle time, and a deep clean wash cycle.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2014Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Unified Brands, Inc.Inventors: John Cantrell, Mark Churchill
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Patent number: 9221069Abstract: A powder spray for lengthy parts includes a booth wall structure comprised primarily of doors. A moveable roof may be raised and lowered to clean powder overspray from the interior surfaces of the booth. A cleaning process may be performed with a sideways extraction mode and a downward extraction mode. The mode change occurs when a bulkhead that travels with the moveable roof blocks the inlet duct to the recovery system. The recovery system may be a cyclone system for example. The doors of the booth are hinged so that they can be positioned for spraying operations and cleaning operations. Live hinge designs are provided and hose stress relief designs are also provided. The roof may carry accumulators for pressurized air that feed cleaning nozzles as the roof descends. In addition, exhaust air may be used to assist cleaning the interior surfaces as the roof descends. All of the energy provided for cleaning and color change may be provided by accumulators.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, Joseph G. Schroeder, Jeffrey E. Dailidas, Kenneth Kreeger
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Patent number: 9224589Abstract: A method for eliminating contact bridge in a contact hole process is disclosed, wherein a cleaning menu comprising a multi-step adaptive protective thin film deposition process is provided, so that a stack adaptive protective thin film is formed on the sidewall of the chamber of the HDP CVD equipment. The stack adaptive protective thin film has good adhesivity, compactness and uniformity to protect the sidewall of the chamber of the HDP CVD equipment from being damaged by the plasma, and avoid the generation of defect particles, thereby improving the HDP CVD technical yield and eliminating the contact bridge phenomenon in the contact hole process.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: The Institute of Microelectronics Chinese Academy of ScienceInventors: Guilei Wang, Junfeng Li, Chao Zhao
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Patent number: 9211572Abstract: A system and method for sanitizing pneumatic conveying piping is provided. The system includes a motorized hose reel with a pig attached to the end of the hose. The pig is smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the pipe through which it is conveyed. The decreased size of the pig keeps the conveying speed of the pig through the pipes down, while at the same time providing sufficient force to pull the supply hose attached to the pig through the pipes with the pig. The pig of some embodiments of the inventive concept is shaped as a hollow cone or frustoconical shape. Such a shape reduces weight of the pig and also allows the hose to be inserted through the body of the pig with a spray nozzle at the end. The hollow cone shape deflects relatively easily to allow the pig to go around corners or other obstructions. Also, such a pig design automatically centers the nozzle within the pipe during spraying.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Horizon Systems, Inc.Inventor: Todd Baker
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Patent number: 9200490Abstract: Methods are disclosed for performing operations such as cleaning, inspection or data acquisition on an internal surface of a hollow cylindrical tubular. Preferred embodiments include providing at least one reel on which a hollow articulated lance is spooled. Tools or sensors, for example, are installed on a distal end of each lance. Hoses, electrical conduits, conductors or other similar carrier hardware inside each hollow lance supply the tools or sensors as required. A stabbing mechanism causes the reel to spool and unspool the lance so that the tools or sensors reciprocate up and down the inside of the rotating tubular.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Thomas Engineering Solutions & Consulting, LLCInventors: William C. Thomas, William J. Thomas, III, Perry J. DeCuir, Jr.
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Patent number: 9153464Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus includes an index part including a port on which a container containing a substrate is placed and an index robot, a processing part for processing the substrate, and a buffer unit disposed between the processing part and the index part to allow the substrate transferred between the processing part and the index part to be temporarily stayed therein. The processing part includes a glue removal processing module, a substrate cooling processing module, a heat processing module, and a functional water processing module which are disposed along a transfer passage for transferring the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.Inventors: Byung Chul Kang, Byung Man Kang, Donghyuk Jang, Seong-soo Kim
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Patent number: 9138121Abstract: A scraper attachment for mounting onto sponges used in cleaning applications is described. The inventive attachment comprises a leading scraping edge, a serrated raised edge, a debris catch, finger grips and side flaps formed integrally as a single piece of material. A support rod integral a side flap of the inventive scraper attachment is pierced through the body of a sponge for securely mounting the inventive attachment on a sponge to by fastening to the opposite side flap. The inventive scraper attachment can be easily dismounted from the sponge for reuse and cleaning, and be used independently with any brand of sponge. The serrated raised edge serves to help break up stubborn deposits, while the debris catch collects the loosened material for convenient cleaning. Additionally, a liquid soap or detergent dispensing means is included to infuse liquid soap or detergent into the sponge.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Inventors: Byron Keith Baarsch, Jennette Baarsch
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Patent number: 9138710Abstract: A device and method for automatic unloading of particles from the vertical tubes of a chemical reactor automatically feeds a fish tape into the bottom of the vertical tube to contact and dislodge the particles and automatically retracts the fish tape to allow the particles to fall out of the tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Extundo IncorporatedInventors: Clifford L. Johns, Dennis McAndrews, Munaf Chasmawala, Douglas K. Cornett, Matthew Laughlin
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Patent number: 9129797Abstract: Disclosed is a low-cost and resource-saving cleaning method wherein high cleaning effects are obtained by high-pressure jet cleaning or two-fluid cleaning using a gas-dissolved water. In the high-pressure jet cleaning method or the two-fluid cleaning method, a cleaning liquid or a mixed fluid of the cleaning liquid and a gas is jetted from a cleaning fluid jetting nozzle toward a subject to be cleaned, and the subject is cleaned. The cleaning liquid introduced into the cleaning fluid jetting nozzle contains the dissolved gas in a quantity equal to or more than the saturation solubility at the liquid temperature of the cleaning liquid.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.Inventors: Hiroto Tokoshima, Hiroshi Morita
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Patent number: 9127211Abstract: A method for decoking radiant coils and quench exchangers in ethylene furnaces is disclosed. A chemical mixture containing a metal hydroxide and a metal carbonate is combined with steam to decoke an ethylene furnace.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: SBT TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventor: Vasant Lotu Bhirud
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Patent number: 9119892Abstract: A process and apparatus for cleaning and disinfection of textiles and the air from viruses, bacteria and spores, and also for purifying from dust, pollen, odors, etc. in which the employment of water and various other cleaning agents and disinfectants as well is not required includes a lock or chamberin which living beings are able to stay, and piece-goods and textiles, etc. are able to be treated as well. Therein, airborne aerosols (droplets, particles, dust) as well as aerosols and microbes, respectively, adhering to the clothing or body and to the product, respectively, are to be treated. The basic principle shall also be applicable to rooms (e.g. waiting rooms) or stables and under cleanroom conditions as well. Various aspects of the invention include plasma generation, producing an ion current from the plasma, ozone generation and activation, sterilization, oxidation and decomposition of gaseous components, and separation of microbes and aerosols and decomposition thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Leibniz-Institut fuer Plasmaforschung und Technologie e.V.Inventors: Siegfried Mueller, Rolf-Juergen Zahn, Wolfgang Reich, Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Kirsten Anklam, Diana Neudeck, Tila Krueger, Norman Mleczko, Torsten Koburger, Ivonne Harfenstein
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Patent number: 9114784Abstract: The present invention relates to the control of a window washer system associated with a system for wiping a glazed surface of a motor vehicle, said wiper system comprising a wiper motor for rotating at least one wiper blade holder arm, and this window washer system comprising a liquid reservoir connected to at least one nozzle designed to deliver, over a wiping cycle, at least one liquid jet for at least a first window washer system activation period defined between an instant (td1) for initiating the spraying of the liquid and an instant (ta1) for stopping the spraying of the liquid, these instants each being determined as a function respectively of a first angular position and of a second angular position of the wiper blade holder arm defining a first angular sector in which the spraying of the liquid is continuous.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Valeo Systémes d'EssuyageInventors: Johan Calluiere, Denis Thebault, Pierre-Emmanuel Negre
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Patent number: 9105362Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for cleaning a nuclear fuel element in a liquid filled space. The fuel element comprises an inner space with an opening. The apparatus comprises a connecting element, which is adapted to be connected to a portion of the fuel element, which comprises said opening and flow means, which is adapted to create, at least during a part of a cleaning process of the fuel element, a liquid flow through inner space of the fuel element via said opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Sweden ABInventors: Ilija Bijelovic, Stefan Arlmark
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Patent number: 9105671Abstract: A liquid processing apparatus includes a substrate retaining part that retains a substrate in a horizontal position and rotates the substrate, first and second processing liquid supply nozzles disposed to supply first and second processing liquids, respectively, to the substrate, liquid receiving cups disposed to appropriately position an upper end thereof above the substrate and to receive the first or second processing liquid that has been supplied to the substrate, a first tubular outer cup including an upper opening and disposed around the liquid receiving cup, vertically movable between a lifted position to which the first tubular outer cup is lifted so that its upper end is positioned above the liquid receiving cup, and a lowered position lower than the lifted position, and a second tubular outer cup disposed externally to the first tubular outer cup. The tubular outer cup is selected according to the kind of processing liquid.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Norihiro Itoh, Kazuhiro Aiura