Patents Examined by Saeed T. Chaudhry
  • Patent number: 9427765
    Abstract: A tank system is described for dropping fluid onto a passing vehicle. The tank system includes a tank with a fluid supply inlet. Optionally, a soap injector is included for injecting soap into the water flow to create a fluid mix that is supplied to the tank. A lighting system is attached to the tank. The fluid mix, or any other chemical in the tank, may be heated with the heating unit. An air motor is included for providing air to an air manifold that is disposed within the tank. When air is introduced into the fluid mix, bubbles are created. As the fluid mix and bubbles fill the tank, they fall from the tank via an overflow lip, with the fluid mix and/or bubbles being illuminated by the lighting system as they fall onto a vehicle passing below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: G. Thomas Ennis
  • Patent number: 9421289
    Abstract: A washing device includes a top compartment capable of receiving a manifold dispenser. The manifold dispenser is coupled to a rack and comprises at least one liquid input and a plurality of liquid outputs that operably direct fluid to contact a plurality of laboratory consumables held by the rack. A middle compartment is attached to the top compartment and comprises a washing chamber capable of receiving fluid output by the plurality of liquid outputs of the manifold dispenser. The washing chamber has a floor comprising a material transparent to ultraviolet (UV) light. A bottom compartment is attached to the washing chamber. The cottom compartment includes a light source mounted thereto. The light source is capable of outputting UV light in the direction of the washing chamber and through the floor of the washing chamber. A method of washing laboratory consumables is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: GRENOVA, LLC
    Inventor: Ali Safavi
  • Patent number: 9420933
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, and in particular a steam mop, comprises a steam generator and a cleaning pad. Steam from the steam generator can be applied to a cleaning composition applied to a stain on a floor surface. The cleaning composition can be applied directly to the floor surface, or indirectly via the cleaning pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay M. Kellis, Kevin Haley, Jeffrey A. Scholten, Joseph Michael White
  • Patent number: 9409215
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for cleansing a glass substrate and a device for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Shihying Sun
  • Patent number: 9400425
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning a photomask. This apparatus, suitable for use in removing an adhesive residue from a photomask, includes a photomask disposed such that a surface thereof on which an adhesive residue is left behind is directed downwards, a metal plate formed adjacent to the adhesive residue, and a laser generator for irradiating a laser onto the metal plate so that the adhesive residue is removed by heat generated from the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: AP Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Ho Kwak, Min Young Cho
  • Patent number: 9394618
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for removing cuprous oxide deposits from a copper-containing water-based cooling system, such as those used to cool stators in industrial generators, without disrupting operation of the cooling system. A complexing agent, such as a 1,10-phenanthroline, e.g., 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine), a 2,2-bipyridine compound, or the like can be introduced into the coolant fluid to facilitate dissolution of the deposits by forming a complex with the cuprous ions. The complexing agent can be dissolved in an alcohol at a concentration of about 4-5%, and then added to the coolant fluid to a concentration of about 6e-3 M or less to avoid undesirable precipitation of the agent. The complexing agent can be recovered by flowing the coolant mixture through an adsorbent material such as activated carbon, and the copper can be removed from the agent by reacting it with sodium sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: James C. Bellows, Christopher D. Mize
  • Patent number: 9392853
    Abstract: A smart phone carrying case that is capable of cleaning and disinfecting a smart phone touch screen every time the phone is removed from the case is disclosed. The smart phone carrying case includes a pocket, inside of which is a cleaning and disinfecting pad, and further includes a flap that supports a drying pad. The touch screen can be cleaned by wiping it across the cleaning and disinfecting pad when the smart phone is removed from the pocket of the carrying case. The touch screen may then be wiped across the drying pad on the flap before the smart phone is operated by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas Lawler
  • Patent number: 9380919
    Abstract: A method is provided for cleaning at least one filter of a vacuum cleaner, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a suction inlet and a dirt collection container, which can be subjected to negative pressure by a suction unit via the at least one filter and a suction extraction line, and wherein for cleaning purposes the at least one filter can be acted upon by external air on the clean side via at least one external air valve, which moves from a closed valve position via an open valve position back into the closed valve position for cleaning the at least one filter. So that the at least one filter can be cleaned particularly effectively, the suction power of the suction unit can be increased before transfer of the external air valve to the open valve position and reduced again later. A vacuum cleaner for performing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Maic Hensel, Julien Scholl, Frank Fuchs, Ulrich Engenhardt, Britt Wirbel, Steffen Kunz
  • Patent number: 9375129
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system for spraying liquid within the washing chamber, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotating filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9371651
    Abstract: A gutter-cleaning device includes a body defining a forward drive direction and configured to fit into a residential gutter. The device also includes a drive system supporting the body and configured to maneuver across the gutter. A driven impeller disposed on the body defines an axis of rotation. The impeller has at least one agitator oriented about the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is arranged at an angle to the forward drive direction to aim toward an inside corner of the gutter to eject agitated debris from the gutter and away from the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas C. Dayton, Sung Park, Karl Eaton Abele, Jason Robinson
  • Patent number: 9364131
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system for spraying liquid into the washing chamber, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path from the washing chamber to the spraying system, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotating filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan R. Fountain, Todd M. Jozwiak, Antony M. Rappette, Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 9333623
    Abstract: A method for removing a layer made of a first material from a surface of a body made of a second material is disclosed. The body is subjected to a pressurized jet containing a blasting medium composed of particles, where the pressurized jet at least intermittently has an Almen intensity of at most 0.35 Almen A, preferably at most 0.3 Almen A and particularly preferably at most 0.25 Almen A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Pillhoefer, Johann Oettl, Markus Niedermeier, Thomas Cosack, Dirk Ruhlig
  • Patent number: 9337066
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wafer cleaning module for post CMP processes that reduces defects (e.g., watermarks, deposited particles) on a substrate, and an associated method. In some embodiments, the wafer cleaning module has a cleaning tank that may receive a semiconductor substrate within a cleaning medium. A pusher is may vertically move the semiconductor substrate from a starting position within the cleaning tank to an ending position. A position sensor may determine a position of the semiconductor substrate relative to a meniscus of the cleaning medium. Based upon the determined position, a control unit is may adjust a location of the starting position to a predetermined distance below the meniscus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Ting Yen, Kao-Feng Liao, Ying-Ho Chen
  • Patent number: 9328979
    Abstract: A tool for cleaning a heat exchanger that includes a lance, and an articulated arm fixedly attached to the heat exchanger at a first end, and associated with the lance at a second end. The articulated arm has at least two joints so that the articulated arm can move the lance along two axes in a plane substantially parallel to the tube face of the heat exchanger. The tool further includes a lance transport mechanism attached to the second end of the articulated arm that moves toward and away from the tube face of the heat exchanger in a direction substantially perpendicular to the tube face, the lance transport mechanism attached to the lance so that the lance moves toward and away from the tube face along with the lance transport mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Veolia ES Industrial Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Kenneth Brumfield
  • Patent number: 9301668
    Abstract: A dishwasher capable of efficiently washing dishes is provided. A dishwasher includes a washing tub, a rack, an area input unit and a spray module. The washing tub forms a space in which dishes are washed. The rack has the dishes loaded thereto, being provided inside the washing tub. The area input unit receives an area selected from a plurality of areas into which the rack is divided. The spray module sprays washing water toward the selected area input to the area input unit in the plurality of areas of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sanghoon Lee, Jongmin Lee, Kiyoung Kang, Minhan Kim
  • Patent number: 9305768
    Abstract: A method for processing flat articles with acoustical energy. The inventive system method can remove particles from both sides of a wafer more efficiently and effectively. In one aspect, the invention is a method for processing flat articles wherein a liquid is applied to both major surfaces of the flat article. A first transducer assembly is positioned adjacent to a first of the major surfaces of the flat article and a second member is positioned adjacent to a second of the major surfaces. The first transducer assembly generates and transmits acoustical energy to the first major surface of the flat article while the second member either: (1) reflects the acoustical energy generated by the first transducer assembly back to the second major surface of the flat article; and/or (2) generates and transmits acoustical energy to the second major surface of the flat article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventors: Fani Pejman, Mark Rouillard, John Korbler, James Brown, Chad Hosack
  • Patent number: 9307653
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning method is capable of preventing a liquid stream on a substrate from being cut and circuit patterns thereon from being damaged. The substrate cleaning method includes a liquid film forming process that forms a liquid film on an entire substrate surface by supplying a cleaning liquid L from a central portion of the substrate W toward a peripheral portion thereof while rotating the substrate; a drying region forming process that discharges a gas G on the substrate surface and removes the cleaning liquid on the substrate surface; and a residual liquid removing process that removes the cleaning liquid remaining between the circuit patterns by discharging a gas G while moving in a diametrical direction of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kousuke Yoshihara, Keiichi Tanaka, Hiroshi Ichinomiya
  • Patent number: 9303239
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning method by which the performance of a microchip can be recovered and a cleaning liquid. A method for cleaning a microfluidic device comprising: cleaning a channel that is formed in the microfluidic device, has a surface having a polymer coating, and has been brought into contact with a sample containing nucleic acid and/or protein, by bringing the channel into contact with a cleaning liquid comprised only of an organic solvent having solubility in at least the same volume of water at 25° C., or a cleaning liquid containing 50 vol % or more of the organic solvent in a buffer solution. The method wherein the buffer solution has a pH of 8 to 10. The method wherein the buffer solution further contains 3 to 8M of a protein denaturant. The method wherein the buffer solution has a pH of 2 to 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro Arai
  • Patent number: 9296022
    Abstract: A sonication cleaning system is provided. The sonication cleaning system includes a cleaning tank configured to contain a liquid and a flow control system configured to cause a gradient cross flow of the liquid through the cleaning tank. The system further includes a sonication generator configured to agitate the liquid in the cleaning tank and a controller configured to vary a power applied to the sonication generator to agitate the liquid in the cleaning tank based on an oscillation position of a workpiece within the cleaning tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: WD Media, LLC
    Inventors: Chaoyuan C. Chen, Bing-Shiuan Chang
  • Patent number: 9296025
    Abstract: A pumping unit is provided that allows at least four passes to be made simultaneously with a single pumping unit. A single engine is used to drive two pumps, each connected into separate pumping circuits. Fluid flow in each of the pumping circuits is controlled by respective flow control elements on the pumping circuits, as for example a variable flow valve. Two engines may thus be used to drive four pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Orlande Sivacoe