Patents by Inventor Anthony Muscat

Anthony Muscat has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11085114
    Abstract: Methods for forming thin, pinhole-free conformal metal layers on both conducting and non-conducting surfaces, where the morphology and properties of the metal layers are tuned to meet desired parameters by adjusting the concentration of ionic liquids during the deposition process. The formed metal films contain tunable properties for solar and electronic use and provide specific advantages for non-conducting surfaces, which are otherwise unsuitable for electroplating without the presence of the formed metal films. The disclosed methods do not require the presence of a voltage or external electric field but form the metal films through an electroless technique using electrostatic interactions between negatively charged nanoparticles. In addition, the disclosed methods are compatible with solution phase processing and eliminate the need to transfer the surfaces into a vacuum chamber for a chemical or physical vapor deposition to form a metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventors: Lance R. Hubbard, Anthony Muscat
  • Publication number: 20180135184
    Abstract: Methods for forming thin, pinhole-free conformal metal layers on both conducting and non-conducting surfaces, where the morphology and properties of the metal layers are tuned to meet desired parameters by adjusting the concentration of ionic liquids during the deposition process. The formed metal films contain tunable properties for solar and electronic use and provide specific advantages for non-conducting surfaces, which are otherwise unsuitable for electroplating without the presence of the formed metal films. The disclosed methods do not require the presence of a voltage or external electric field but form the metal films through an electroless technique using electrostatic interactions between negatively charged nanoparticles. In addition, the disclosed methods are compatible with solution phase processing and eliminate the need to transfer the surfaces into a vacuum chamber for a chemical or physical vapor deposition to form a metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the Universi ty of Arizona
    Inventors: Lance R. Hubbard, Anthony Muscat
  • Patent number: 8293658
    Abstract: Methods and structures relating to the formation of mixed SAMs for preventing undesirable growth or nucleation on exposed surfaces inside a reactor are described. A mixed SAM can be formed on surfaces for which nucleation is not desired by introducing a first SAM precursor having molecules of a first length and a second SAM precursor having molecules of a second length shorter than the first. Examples of exposed surfaces for which a mixed SAM can be provided over include reactor surfaces and select surfaces of integrated circuit structures, such as insulator and dielectric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Shero, Mohith Verghese, Anthony Muscat, Shawn Miller
  • Publication number: 20110198736
    Abstract: Methods and structures relating to the formation of mixed SAMs for preventing undesirable growth or nucleation on exposed surfaces inside a reactor are described. A mixed SAM can be formed on surfaces for which nucleation is not desired by introducing a first SAM precursor having molecules of a first length and a second SAM precursor having molecules of a second length shorter than the first. Examples of exposed surfaces for which a mixed SAM can be provided over include reactor surfaces and select surfaces of integrated circuit structures, such as insulator and dielectric layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: ERIC SHERO, Mohith Verghese, Anthony Muscat, Shawn Miller
  • Publication number: 20060199399
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surface preparation process using adsorbed halogen. The halogen is applied in a gas phase with UV light. The adsorbed halogen is subsequently modified in another gas phase reaction. The halogen may be reacted with water to form a hydroxyl-bearing Si—O monolayer that forms a layer for subsequent metal deposition. In one aspect the halogen layer is reacted with an alkyl or alkoxy of the formula R-OH to form a passivation layer. By replacing hydrogen atom termination with alkoxy (e.g.methoxy termination, —OCH3). The selective deposition process can be used for passivating and depositing thin metal films on material surfaces composed of any combination of the group consisting of semiconductors, conductors, insulators, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventor: Anthony Muscat
  • Patent number: 6736743
    Abstract: A belt installation tool. The tool comprises a pair of arms connected at a pivot. Each arm has an end for engaging a pulley axle. A handtool is engaged with an arm. By a torque applied with the handtool through a short arcuate motion to the arms, the pulleys are moved apart, thereby tensioning a belt. A locking member or linkage is available to fix the arms in a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: The Gates Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Fletcher, Mark Anthony Muscat, Joel Patrick Musyj, Christian Joseph Schmutz, John M. Shaw
  • Publication number: 20030139239
    Abstract: The invention comprises a belt installation tool. The tool comprises a pair of arms connected at a pivot. Each arm has an end for engaging a pulley axle. A handtool is engaged with an arm. By a torque applied with the handtool through a short arcuate motion to the arms, the pulleys are moved apart, thereby tensioning a belt. A locking member or linkage is available to fix the arms in a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Barry Fletcher, Mark Anthony Muscat, Joel Patrick Musyj, Christian Joseph Schmutz, John M. Shaw