Patents by Inventor Craig S. Alford

Craig S. Alford 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: 6521101
    Abstract: Beryllium-based multilayer structures and a process for fabricating beryllium-based multilayer mirrors, useful in the wavelength region greater than the beryllium K-edge (111 Å or 11.1 nm). The process includes alternating sputter deposition of beryllium and a metal, typically from the fifth row of the periodic table, such as niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), ruthenium (Ru), and rhodium (Rh). The process includes not only the method of sputtering the materials, but the industrial hygiene controls for safe handling of beryllium. The mirrors made in accordance with the process may be utilized in soft x-ray and extreme-ultraviolet projection lithography, which requires mirrors of high reflectivity (>60%) for x-rays in the range of 60-140 Å (60-14.0 nm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Skulina, Richard M. Bionta, Daniel M. Makowiecki, Craig S. Alford
  • Patent number: 6355146
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for coating small particles and fibers. The process involves agitation by vibrating or tumbling the particles or fibers to promote coating uniformly, removing adsorbed gases and static charges from the particles or fibers by an initial plasma cleaning, and coating the particles or fibers with one or more coatings, a first coating being an adhesion coating, and with subsequent coatings being deposited in-situ to prevent contamination at layer interfaces. The first coating is of an adhesion forming element (i.e. W, Zr, Re, Cr, Ti) of a 100-10,000 Å thickness and the second coating or final coating of a multiple (0.1-10 microns) being Cu or Ag, for example for brazing processes, or other desired materials that defines the new surface related properties of the particles. An essential feature of the coating process is the capability to deposit in-situ without interruption to prevent the formation of a contaminated interface that could adversely affect the coating adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Daniel M. Makowiecki, John A. Kerns, Craig S. Alford, Mark A. McKernan
  • Patent number: 6149785
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for coating small particles and fibers. The process involves agitation by vibrating or tumbling the particles or fibers to promote coating uniformly, removing adsorbed gases and static charges from the particles or fibers by an initial plasma cleaning, and coating the particles or fibers with one or more coatings, a first coating being an adhesion coating, and with subsequent coatings being deposited in-situ to prevent contamination at layer interfaces. The first coating is of an adhesion forming element (i.e. W, Zr, Re, Cr, Ti) of a 100-10,000 .ANG. thickness and the second coating or final coating of a multiple (0.1-10 microns) being Cu or Ag, for example for brazing processes, or other desired materials that defines the new surface related properties of the particles. An essential feature of the coating process is the capability to deposit in-situ without interruption to prevent the formation of a contaminated interface that could adversely affect the coating adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Daniel M. Makowiecki, John A. Kerns, Craig S. Alford, Mark A. McKernan
  • Patent number: 5284539
    Abstract: Anisotropic pyrolytic graphite wafers are oriented and bonded together such that the graphite's high thermal conductivity planes are maximized along the back surface of the segmented pyrolytic graphite target to allow for optimum heat conduction away from the sputter target's sputtering surface and to allow for maximum energy transmission from the target's sputtering surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Mark A. McKernan, Craig S. Alford, Daniel M. Makowiecki, Chih-Wen Chen