Patents Examined by Tabassom Tadayyon-Eslami
  • Method of manufacturing electrolytic capacitor
    Patent number: 9373448
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor includes preparing a dielectric film formed on a surface of an anode foil, forming a first conductive polymer layer on a surface of the dielectric film by immersing the anode foil in first dispersion solution including conductive polymer particles and forming a second conductive polymer layer covering the first conductive polymer layer solvent by immersing the anode foil in second dispersion solution including second conductive polymer particles and second solvent. The surface of the anode foil has plural pits formed therein. The second dispersion solution has a pH value farther from 7 than the first dispersion solution does. This configuration can suppress damages to the dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Majima, Hitoshi Ishimoto, Tatsuji Aoyama
  • Abrasion resistant solid oxide fuel cell electrode ink
    Patent number: 9356298
    Abstract: A method for forming a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes co-firing the anode and cathode electrode layers, which involves placing an unfired anode onto a surface during the cathode print cycle. To avoid damage to the electrolyte and cathode production cycle by the green anode ink, an abrasion resistant ink is used to print the anode electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chris Oriakhi, Andres Leming, Shailendra Parihar, Richard Stephenson, Emad El Batawi
  • Systems and methods for protecting a sensitive device from corrosion
    Patent number: 9324343
    Abstract: A magnetic storage system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having a removable organic coating thereon in an amount sufficient for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials. A kit according to one embodiment includes a drive having a magnetic head, and a tape having an applicator portion for applying an organic coating to the magnetic head for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Bradshaw, Icko Eric Timothy Iben, Wayne A. McKinley, Lee C. Randall
  • Method for manufacturing nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
    Patent number: 9287557
    Abstract: When an active material with low ionic conductivity and low electric conductivity is used in a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, it is necessary to reduce the sizes of particles; however, reduction in sizes of particles leads to a decrease in electrode density. Active material particles of an oxide, which include a transition metal and have an average size of 5 nm to 50 nm, are mixed with an electrolyte, a binder, and the like to form a slurry, and the slurry is applied to a collector. Then, the collector coated with the slurry is exposed to a magnetic field. Accordingly, the active material particles aggregate so that the density thereof increases. Alternatively, the active material particles may be applied to the collector in a magnetic field. The use of the aggregating active material particles makes it possible to increase the electrode density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Takemura
  • Methods of production for corrosion-resistant bit patterned media (BPM) and discrete track media (DTM)
    Patent number: 9275670
    Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic recording medium in one embodiment includes forming a magnetic material layer above a substrate, transferring an uneven pattern to the magnetic material layer to form concave portions and convex portions, the convex portions being magnetic regions, depositing a nonmagnetic material above the concave portions to form nonmagnetic regions, forming an oxide layer and/or hydroxide layer above the magnetic regions of the recording layer, and forming an organic material layer which exhibits a corrosion-inhibiting characteristic with respect to cobalt or cobalt alloy above the oxide layer and/or hydroxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Qing Dai, Bruno Marchon, Katsumi Mabuchi, Mina Amo
  • Systems and methods for forming magnetic recording media with improved grain columnar growth for energy assisted magnetic recording
    Patent number: 9269480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for forming magnetic recording media with improved columnar growth for energy assisted magnetic recording are provided. In one such method, a first sub-layer of a magnetic layer is formed on a substrate, the magnetic layer including a magnetic material and a plurality of non-magnetic segregants, a top surface of the first sub-layer is etched to substantially remove the non-magnetic segregants accumulated on the top surface, and a second sub-layer of the magnetic layer is formed on the first sub-layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: WD Media, LLC
    Inventors: Antony Ajan, Alexander Chernyshov, Hua Yuan, B. Ramamurthy Acharya
  • Method for preparing a thin film of thiospinels
    Patent number: 9249495
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a thin film of at least one compound of formula AM4X8, where: A is Ga or Ge; M is V, Nb, Ta or Mo; and X is S or Se. Said method includes the following steps: i) a step of forming a thin film of at least one compound of formula AM4X8 by the magnetron spraying of a target including at least one compound of said formula AM4X8, in an atmosphere including at least one inert gas; and ii) a step of annealing the thin film formed during step i) by heat treating; wherein step i) and/or step ii) are carried out in the presence of sulphur when X is S or in the presence of selenium when X is Se.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Marie-Paule Besland, Emeline Souchier, Laurent Carlo, Benoit Corraze, Etienne Janod, Julie Martial
  • Magnetic recording medium fabrication method and apparatus
    Patent number: 9214178
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a magnetic recording medium sequentially forms a magnetic recording layer, a protection layer, and a lubricant layer on a stacked body. The stacked body is enclosed in a transfer container unit without exposing the stacked body to atmosphere after forming the protection layer on the stacked body by a deposition apparatus, and the transfer container unit is transported to a vapor-phase lubrication deposition apparatus. The stacked body is removed from the transfer container unit without exposing the stacked body to the atmosphere, in order to form the lubricant layer on the stacked body within the vapor-phase lubrication deposition apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Tsutatani, Daisuke Shiomi
  • Magnetic recording medium fabrication method and apparatus
    Patent number: 9196285
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a magnetic recording medium sequentially forms a magnetic recording layer, a protection layer, and a lubricant layer on a stacked body. The stacked body is enclosed in a transfer container unit without exposing the stacked body to atmosphere after forming the protection layer on the stacked body by a deposition apparatus, and the transfer container unit is transported to a vapor-phase lubrication deposition apparatus. The stacked body is removed from the transfer container unit without exposing the stacked body to the atmosphere, in order to form the lubricant layer on the stacked body within the vapor-phase lubrication deposition apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Tsutatani, Daisuke Shiomi, Satoru Ueno
  • Plasma polish for magnetic recording media
    Patent number: 9159353
    Abstract: Fabrication methods for magnetic recording media that use a plasma polish are disclosed. For one exemplary method, a film of a magnetic recording medium is deposited, and a top surface of the film is polished utilizing a plasma formed by a noble gas to smoothen the top surface of the film. A subsequent layer is then deposited onto the polished top surface of the film. A top surface of the subsequent layer has a reduced roughness by being deposited on the polished top surface of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Mark F. Mercado, Mohammad T. Mirzamaani, Kai Tang, Qi-Fan Xiao
  • Systems and methods for protecting a sensitive device from corrosion
    Patent number: 9159341
    Abstract: A product according to one embodiment includes a tape having an applicator portion for applying an organic coating to a magnetic head for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials; the organic coating on the applicator portion of the tape; and a lubricant on a data portion of the tape. A product according to another embodiment includes a tape having a data portion along a portion of a length thereof, and a cleaning portion along another portion of the length of the tape, the cleaning portion being for removing an organic coating from a magnetic head. A magnetic storage system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having a removable organic coating thereon in an amount sufficient for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Bradshaw, Icko Eric Timothy Iben, Wayne A. McKinley, Lee C. Randall
  • Process to form highly conductive feature from silver nanoparticles with reduced processing temperature
    Patent number: 9137902
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for forming highly-conductive features including stabilized silver-containing nanoparticles at low processing temperatures of no more than about 140° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yiliang Wu, Ping Liu, Nan-Xing Hu
  • Method for making separator of lithium ion battery
    Patent number: 9123942
    Abstract: A method for making a separator of a lithium ion battery is provided. In the method, a modifier, and a porous membrane are provided. The modifier is a mixture of a phosphorus source having a phosphate radical, a trivalent aluminum source, and a metallic oxide provided in a liquid phase solvent. The modifier is coated on a surface of the porous membrane to form a coating layer. The coated porous membrane is dried to form a modifier layer disposed on the surface of the porous membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiang-Ming He, Wei-Hua Pu, Li-Chun Zhang, Jian-Guo Ren, Jian-Jun Li, Jian Gao
  • Magnetic nanoparticle fabrication
    Patent number: 9095855
    Abstract: Structures and apparatuses for fabricating magnetic nanoparticles are provided. In one embodiment, a structure for fabricating magnetic nanoparticles is described including a substrate that defines at least one cavity through a portion thereof, and an agglomerate of magnetic nanoparticles within the at least one cavity, wherein the at least one cavity has an aspect ratio of greater than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Kwangyeol Lee
  • Direct deposition of graphene on substrate material
    Patent number: 9090476
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprising causing motion of an enclosed container comprising substrate material and graphite material within the container; and coating surfaces of the substrate material with the graphite material responsive to the motion of the container, the coated surfaces comprising graphene or graphene layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Chang, Tsun-Yu Chang
  • Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) with enhanced magnetic stiffness and method of making same
    Patent number: 9070464
    Abstract: A spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) element and a method of manufacturing the same is disclosed having a free sub-layer structure with enhanced internal stiffness. A first free sub-layer is deposited, the first free sub-layer being made partially of boron (B), annealing is performed of the STTMRAM element at a first temperature after depositing the first free sub-layer to reduce the B content at an interface between the first free sub-layer and the barrier layer, the annealing causing a second free sub-layer to be formed on top of the first free sub-layer and being made partially of B, the amount of B of the second free sub-layer being greater than the amount of B in the first free sub-layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Avalanche Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuchen Zhou, Yiming Huai
  • Method for forming a conductive pattern
    Patent number: 9072209
    Abstract: A method for forming a conductive pattern on a substrate (208) includes providing an image pattern for imaging on the substrate; imaging the image pattern on the substrate creating imaged areas; spraying functional material (240) on the substrate that diffuse molecules of the functional material into the imaged areas and wherein the functional material is in a form of liquid; and applying electro-less copper coating that builds conductive material traces on the imaged areas on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventor: Israel Schuster
  • Graphene nanocomposites
    Patent number: 9050605
    Abstract: A nanocomposite material for use as an electromagnetic wave or radio frequency absorber or as a filter to trap or remove heavy metals. The nanocomposite material may be made with a one-pot synthesis, or thermodecomposition process, of magnetic graphene nanocomposites decorated with core-double-shell nanoparticles, wherein the double shell iron nanoparticles may comprise a crystalline iron core, an inner iron oxide layer around the crystalline iron core, and an outermost amorphous Si—S—O compound shell around the iron oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Lamar University, A Component of the Texas State University System, An Agency of the State of Texas
    Inventor: Zhanhu Guo
  • Magnetoresistive sensor for a magnetic storage system read head, and fabrication method thereof
    Patent number: 9053719
    Abstract: A magnetic read transducer including a magnetoresistive sensor is described, as well as a fabrication method thereof. The magnetoresistive sensor includes a cap layer overlaying a free layer. The cap layer is situated with a first thickness to absorb boron from the free layer. The magnetoresistive sensor is annealed, and boron is diffused from the free layer and absorbed by the cap layer, improving the magnetic performance of the free layer. The cap layer thickness is then reduced to a second thickness, thereby reducing the shield-to-shield (SS) stack spacing of the magnetoresistive sensor and allowing for increased areal recording density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Cheng-Han Yang, Chen-Jung Chien, Christian Kaiser, Yuankai Zheng, Qunwen Leng, Mahendra Pakala
  • Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) with enhanced magnetic stiffness and method of making same
    Patent number: 9054298
    Abstract: A spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) element and a method of manufacturing the same is disclosed having a free sub-layer structure with enhanced internal stiffness. A first free sub-layer is deposited, the first free sub-layer being made partially of boron (B), annealing is performed of the STTMRAM element at a first temperature after depositing the first free sub-layer to reduce the B content at an interface between the first free sub-layer and the barrier layer, the annealing causing a second free sub-layer to be formed on top of the first free sub-layer and being made partially of B, the amount of B of the second free sub-layer being greater than the amount of B in the first free sub-layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Avalanche Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuchen Zhou, Yiming Huai