Patents Examined by Wesley Markham
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Patent number: 6998152Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for vaporizing and transporting precursor molecules to a process chamber for deposition of thin films on a substrate. The methods and apparatus include CVD solvents that comprise ionic liquids. The ionic liquids comprise salt compounds that have substantially no measurable vapor pressure (i.e., less than about 1 Torr at about room temperature), exhibit a wide liquid temperature range (i.e., greater than about 100° C.), and have low melting points (i.e., less than about 250° C.). A desired precursor is dissolved in a selected CVD solvent comprising an ionic liquid. The solvent and precursor solution is heated to or near the precursor volatilization temperature of the precursor. A stream of carrier gas is directed over or is bubbled through the solvent and precursor solution to distill and transport precursor molecules in the vapor phase to a deposition chamber. Conventional deposition processes may be used to deposit the desired thin film on a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1999Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Stefan Uhlenbrock
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Patent number: 6699525Abstract: Carbon nanotubes are formed on a substrate by providing a coiled filament in a chemical vapor deposition chamber, supporting a substrate having a catalytic coating provided thereon inside the coiled filament, evacuating air, if present, from the chamber, heating the filament and applying a bias voltage between the filament and the substrate, introducing a reactant gas into the chamber, and pyrolyzing the reactant gas to deposit the carbon nanotubes on the catalytic coating. The substrate can be in the form of a rod or fiber and the carbon nanotubes can be deposited in a radially extending cluster on the substrate. The present invention also contemplates an apparatus for carrying out the inventive method.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2001Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Western Michigan UniversityInventor: Ahalapitiya H. Jayatissa
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Patent number: 6673392Abstract: A method of vertically aligning pure carbon nanotubes on a large glass or silicon substrate at a low temperature using a low pressure DC thermal chemical vapor deposition method is provided. In this method, catalytic decomposition with respect to hydro-carbon gases is performed in two steps. Basically, an existing thermal chemical vapor deposition method using hydro-carbon gases such as acetylene, ethylene, methane or propane is used. To be more specific, the hydro-carbon gases are primarily decomposed at a low temperature of 400-500° C. by passing the hydro-carbon gases through a mesh-structure catalyst which is made of Ni, Fe, Co, Y, Pd, Pt, Au or an alloy of two or more of these materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignees: Samsung SDi Co., Ltd., Young-hee LeeInventors: Young-hee Lee, Nae-sung Lee, Jong-min Kim
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Patent number: 6660343Abstract: A composite layer of a sorbent, chemoselective, non-electrically-conducting polymer and nano-particles of an electrically conducting material dispersed throughout the polymer is formed on a substrate by pulsed laser deposition, matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation or matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation direct writing.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: R. Andrew McGill, Douglas B. Chrisey, Alberto Pique
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Patent number: 6660342Abstract: A method of forming a film by a plasma CVD process in which a high density plasma is generated in the presence of a magnetic field wherein the electric power for generating the plasma has a pulsed waveform. The electric power typically is supplied by microwave, and the pulsed wave may be a complex wave having a two-step peak, or may be a complex wave obtained by complexing a pulsed wave with a stationary continuous wave.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2000Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akiharu Miyanaga, Tohru Inoue, Shunpei Yamazaki
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Patent number: 6660341Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes an alignment layer with constituent materials. The constituent materials have a stoichiometric relationship configured to provide a given pretilt angle. Liquid crystal material is provided in contact with the alignment layer. A method for forming an alignment layer for liquid crystal displays includes forming the alignment layer on a substrate by introducing an amount of material to adjust a stoichiometric ratio of constituent materials wherein the amount is determined to provide a given pretilt angle to the alignment layer. Ions are directed at the alignment layer to provide uniformity of the pretilt angle.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Paul S. Andry, Praveen Chaudhari, James P. Doyle, Eileen A. Galligan, James A. Lacey, Shui-Chih A. Lien, Minhua Lu
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Patent number: 6656524Abstract: A continuous process for gas phase coating of polymerization catalyst. The polymerization catalyst is introduced in a gas phase plug flow type reactor wherein it is submitted to polymerization conditions in the presence of at least one monomer such that at least 95% by weight of the produced coated catalysts have a coating yield comprised between 0.5 to 2 times the average coating yield.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: BP Chemicals LimitedInventors: Daniel Claude Durand, Estelle Marie Joelle Meurice, Frederic Robert Marie Michel Morterol
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Patent number: 6649215Abstract: A coated fiber strand including at least one heterogeneous region present in one or more coating layers. The heterogeneous region(s) preferably comprises a material useful for coding of the fiber. The optical fiber can include a primary coating layer and a secondary coating layer where the heterogeneous region(s) defines one or more colored stripes in or on the secondary coating layer. A method for forming a coated fiber, such as an optical fiber, includes introducing at least one coating layer onto a fiber strand such that one or more coating layers cover a portion of the surface of the strand. At least one heterogeneous region is introduced into or onto one or more coating layers, and the strand is cured to provide a desired product. A desired functionality, e.g., coding, can thus be introduced onto a fiber without adversely effecting subsequent processing steps, e.g., curing of the coating layer(s).Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.Inventors: Daniel Harper, Jr., John M. Turnipseed, Carl R. Taylor, Priya L. Tabaddor, James R. Petisce
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Patent number: 6638563Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the renewable surface treatment of medical devices such as contact lenses and medical implants. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of modifying the surface of a medical device to increase its biocompatibility or hydrophilicity by coating the device with a removable hydrophilic polymer by means of reaction between reactive functionalities on the hydrophilic polymer which functionalities are complementary to reactive functionalities on or near the surface of the medical device at reaction temperatures of less than about 55° C.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2002Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Bausch & Lomb IncorporatedInventors: Joseph A. McGee, Paul L. Valint, Jr., James A. Bonafini, Jr., Joseph C. Salamone
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Patent number: 6630199Abstract: A structure protected by a ceramic coating is prepared by providing a substrate having a surface, and depositing a layer of a sacrificial ceramic precursor material, preferably silica, onto the surface of the substrate. The method further includes furnishing a reactive gas, preferably an aluminum-containing gas, that is reactive with the sacrificial ceramic to produce a protective ceramic different from the sacrificial ceramic, and contacting the reactive gas to the layer of the precursor material to produce a protective ceramic layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2000Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Curtiss Mitchell Austin, Richard John Grylls
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Patent number: 6623799Abstract: A method of chemically depositing a copper film in which a bromine or iodine-containing catalyst component is employed to enhance the deposition rate. The present invention is characterized in that the catalyst component floats on the film surface during the film formation. Accordingly, a film deposition having superior step coverage and high deposition rate is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2000Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Genitech Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ji-Hwa Lee, Eui-Seong Hwang
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Patent number: 6623793Abstract: A process for forming a retroreflective layer on a powder coated substrate is provided. The substrate is powder coated and the powder coating is subsequently partially cured. Reflective elements are then partially embedded in the semi-cured powder. The powder is then fully cured to permanently bond the reflective elements with the powder coating. The resultant retroreflective assembly can be used in any application requiring high detectability in poor visibility conditions, such as road signs and the like.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2001Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Litetech, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Mushett, Randall Craft
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Patent number: 6623792Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing a CD-R optical recording medium. A first stack at a first stage is created by forming on a substrate a recording layer containing an organic dyestuff and a metal layer. At least after a formation of the metal layer; the first stack is transported from the first stage along a transport path towards a second stage through an atmosphere having a relative humidity. The relative humidity is maintained at 40% or less. To control the relative humidity, a shielding plate may be provided around the transport path. An air conditioner may locally control the relative humidity of an area encircled by this shielding plate.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2001Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Toshihiro Akimori
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Patent number: 6620465Abstract: An improved method for applying a ceramic material, such as a thermal barrier coating to an article. A method for applying a ceramic material as a coating to a substrate article in which the thermal conductivity of the ceramic material is reduced or lowered is provided. The thermal conductivity of a coating applied by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method is dependent upon its distance from the source(s) of material used for the coating. The thermal conductivity of the applied coating is altered by adjusting the position of the article undergoing the PVD process by increasing the distances of the article or workpiece from the ingot or source of ceramic material to provide a coating of lower thermal conductivity. In accordance with the present invention, the article to be coated is positioned at a distance required to achieve at least a 10% reduction in the thermal conductivity of the applied coating.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1999Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joseph D. Rigney, David J. Wortman
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Patent number: 6599559Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the renewable surface treatment of medical devices such as contact lenses and medical implants. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of modifying the surface of a medical device to increase its biocompatibility or hydrophilicity by coating the device with a removable hydrophilic polymer by means of reaction between reactive functionalities on the hydrophilic polymer which functionalities are complementary to reactive functionalities on or near the surface of the medical device. The present invention is also directed to a contact lens or other medical device having such a surface coating.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2000Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Bausch & Lomb IncorporatedInventors: Joseph A. McGee, Paul L. Valint, Jr., James A. Bonafini, Jr.
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Patent number: 6599572Abstract: A process for growing an electrically conductive metalloid thin film on a substrate with a chemical vapor deposition process. A metal source material and a reducing agent capable of reducing the metal source material to a reduced state are vaporized and fed into a reaction space, where the metal source material and the reducing agent are contacted with the substrate. The reducing agent is a boron compound having at least one boron-carbon bond, and the boron compound forms gaseous by-products when reacted with the metal source material. Generally, the boron compound is an alkylboron compound with 0-3 halogen groups attached to the boron. The metal source material and the reducing agent may be fed continuously or in pulses during the deposition process.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: ASM Microchemistry OyInventors: Ville Antero Saanila, Kai-Erik Elers, Sari Johanna Kaipio, Pekka Juha Soininen
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Patent number: 6582776Abstract: A photo-alignment layer having excellent long-term stability to light and heat is manufactured by coating a material for the photo-alignment layer, which contains a dichroic dye having two or more polymerizable groups per molecule, on a substrate, and exposing the coating layer to polarized light, thereby imparting a photo-alignment function, and polymerizing the polymerizable groups by heating or light exposure.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignees: Hong Kong University of Science And Technology, Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Wing C. Yip, Elena K. Prudnikova, Hoi S. Kwok, Vladimir G. Chigrinov, Vladimir M. Kozenkov, Hirokazu Takada, Masanobu Fukuda
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Patent number: 6537623Abstract: An improved high temperature chemical treatment of deposited silica films wherein they are subjected to a reactive ambient comprising hydrogen and oxygen atoms. This method results in better elimination of residual undesirable oscillators so as to provide improved optical quality silica waveguides with reduced optical absorption.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2001Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Dalsa Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Luc Ouellet, Manuel Grondin
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Patent number: 6506443Abstract: A method of applying surface-modifying auxiliary substances to the working area interior surfaces of die molds for the production of molded products, in particular made of rubber or plastics. The auxiliary substance is supplied in the form of a gas or vapor to the interior surfaces of the die mold, which is integrated into the processing machine, and the gas or vapor is condensed there.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Firma Carl FreudenbergInventors: Klaus-Jürgen Peschges, Steffen Kosack, Andreas Hartmann, Günter Hofmann
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Patent number: 6506446Abstract: An anti-fog article is obtained by coating a substrate with an anti-fog coating material to form thereon an anti-fog coating film that is hydrophillic, moisture-absorptive, insoluble and excellent in surface hardness. The anti-fog coating material contains a polyacrylic acid compound, polyvinyl alcohol and acetylacetone, and optionally sodium silicate.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Nakato Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Tohru Yamamoto, Shigeo Yoshida, Hatsumi Ikari, Keiji Ikemori, Keiji Ohtaka, Hideo Ukuda