Patents by Inventor James Brian Smith
James Brian Smith 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).
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Patent number: 11972906Abstract: A method of producing a capacitor electrode includes forming an oxide layer on a foil. The method also includes inducing defects in the oxide layer followed by reforming the oxide layer. The oxide layer is reformed so as to generate a reformed oxide layer that is an aluminum oxide with a boehmite phase and a pseudo-boehmite phase. The amount of the boehmite phase in the reformed oxide layer is greater than the amount of the pseudo-boehmite phase in the reformed oxide layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, James Brian Smith
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Publication number: 20210074483Abstract: A method of producing a capacitor electrode includes forming an oxide layer on a foil. The method also includes inducing defects in the oxide layer followed by reforming the oxide layer. The oxide layer is reformed so as to generate a reformed oxide layer that is an aluminum oxide with a boehmite phase and a pseudo-boehmite phase. The amount of the boehmite phase in the reformed oxide layer is greater than the amount of the pseudo-boehmite phase in the reformed oxide layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, James Brian Smith
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Patent number: 10872731Abstract: A method of producing an oxide layer on a foil for use in a capacitor includes immersing the foil in a first solution; maintaining a target current between the immersed anodic foil and the first solution until a first target voltage is reached to form an oxide layer overlying the foil; maintaining the target current between the immersed foil and the first solution until a second target voltage is reached to reform the oxide layer; removing the foil from the first solution and heating the foil; immersing the heat treated foil in a second solution; maintaining the target current between the immersed foil and the second solution until a third target voltage is reached; and discharging the immersed foil after each of the first, second, and third target voltages are reached.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, James Brian Smith
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Publication number: 20200294723Abstract: A method of producing an oxide layer on a foil for use in a capacitor includes immersing the foil in a first solution; maintaining a target current between the immersed anodic foil and the first solution until a first target voltage is reached to form an oxide layer overlying the foil; maintaining the target current between the immersed foil and the first solution until a second target voltage is reached to reform the oxide layer; removing the foil from the first solution and heating the foil; immersing the heat treated foil in a second solution; maintaining the target current between the immersed foil and the second solution until a third target voltage is reached; and discharging the immersed foil after each of the first, second, and third target voltages are reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, James Brian Smith
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Patent number: 10707024Abstract: A method of producing an oxide layer on a foil for use in a capacitor includes immersing the foil in a first solution; maintaining a target current between the immersed anodic foil and the first solution until a first target voltage is reached to form an oxide layer overlying the foil; maintaining the target current between the immersed foil and the first solution until a second target voltage is reached to reform the oxide layer; removing the foil from the first solution and heating the foil; immersing the heat treated foil in a second solution; maintaining the target current between the immersed foil and the second solution until a third target voltage is reached; and discharging the immersed foil after each of the first, second, and third target voltages are reached.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, James Brian Smith
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Patent number: 10603694Abstract: A process and apparatus are presented for cleaning the tunnels of an electrochemically etched anode foil. The apparatus includes a tank, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and one or more tranducers. The tank is designed to receive a plurality of cartridges, each of the plurality of cartridges having a reservoir and being designed to hold a metal foil. The fluid inlet and fluid outlet are coupled with at least one of the plurality of cartridges, and are designed to introduce and expel, respectively, a liquid from the reservoir within at least one of the plurality of cartridges. The one or more transducers are coupled to at least one wall of each reservoir, the one or more transducers being designed to sonicate the liquid within each reservoir at a frequency less than 300 Hz.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: PACESETTER, INCInventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, James Brian Smith, Xiaofei Jiang, Troy L. McCurry
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Publication number: 20190371530Abstract: A method of producing an oxide layer on a foil for use in a capacitor includes immersing the foil in a first solution; maintaining a target current between the immersed anodic foil and the first solution until a first target voltage is reached to form an oxide layer overlying the foil; maintaining the target current between the immersed foil and the first solution until a second target voltage is reached to reform the oxide layer; removing the foil from the first solution and heating the foil; immersing the heat treated foil in a second solution; maintaining the target current between the immersed foil and the second solution until a third target voltage is reached; and discharging the immersed foil after each of the first, second, and third target voltages are reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, James Brian Smith
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Patent number: 10422050Abstract: Anode foil, preferably aluminum anode foil, is etched using a process of treating the foil in an electrolyte bath composition comprising a persulfate, a halide, an oxidizing agent, and a sulfate. An etch resist can be added to the anode foil prior to etching. The anode foil and the attached etch resist can be heated prior to immersing both in an electrolyte bath composition. The anode foil is etched in the electrolyte bath composition by passing a charge through the bath, while maintaining a constant level of persulfate. The etched anode foil is suitable for use in an electrolytic capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: PACESETTER, INC.Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, James Brian Smith, Timothy R. Marshall
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Publication number: 20180240604Abstract: A process and apparatus are presented for cleaning the tunnels of an electrochemically etched anode foil. The apparatus includes a tank, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and one or more tranducers. The tank is designed to receive a plurality of cartridges, each of the plurality of cartridges having a reservoir and being designed to hold a metal foil. The fluid inlet and fluid outlet are coupled with at least one of the plurality of cartridges, and are designed to introduce and expel, respectively, a liquid from the reservoir within at least one of the plurality of cartridges. The one or more transducers are coupled to at least one wall of each reservoir, the one or more transducers being designed to sonicate the liquid within each reservoir at a frequency less than 300 Hz.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2018Publication date: August 23, 2018Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, James Brian Smith, Xiaofei Jiang, Troy L. McCurry
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Publication number: 20180155850Abstract: Anode foil, preferably aluminum anode foil, is etched using a process of treating the foil in an electrolyte bath composition comprising a persulfate, a halide, an oxidizing agent, and a sulfate. An etch resist can be added to the anode foil prior to etching. The anode foil and the attached etch resist can be heated prior to immersing both in an electrolyte bath composition. The anode foil is etched in the electrolyte bath composition by passing a charge through the bath, while maintaining a constant level of persulfate. The etched anode foil is suitable for use in an electrolytic capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, James Brian Smith, Timothy R. Marshall
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Patent number: 9991056Abstract: A process and apparatus are presented for cleaning the tunnels of an electrochemically etched anode foil. The apparatus includes a tank, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and one or more tranducers. The tank is designed to receive a plurality of cartridges, each of the plurality of cartridges having a reservoir and being designed to hold a metal foil. The fluid inlet and fluid outlet are coupled with at least one of the plurality of cartridges, and are designed to introduce and expel, respectively, a liquid from the reservoir within at least one of the plurality of cartridges. The one or more transducers are coupled to at least one wall of each reservoir, the one or more transducers being designed to sonicate the liquid within each reservoir at a frequency less than 300 Hz.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, James Brian Smith, Xiaofei Jiang, Troy L. McCurry
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Patent number: 9976226Abstract: Methods are presented that includes replacing oven depolarization of a foil with a sonic vibration process for stressing the oxide. The method includes electrochemically etching the metal foil to form a plurality of tunnels in the metal foil and forming an oxide on a surface of the metal foil. The method further includes applying sonic vibration to the metal foil to induce stress fractures in the oxide, and reforming the oxide to heal at least a portion of the stress fractures.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: PACESETTER, INC.Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, James Brian Smith, Thomas F. Strange
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Publication number: 20180030610Abstract: Methods are presented that includes replacing oven depolarization of a foil with a sonic vibration process for stressing the oxide. The method includes electrochemically etching the metal foil to form a plurality of tunnels in the metal foil and forming an oxide on a surface of the metal foil. The method further includes applying sonic vibration to the metal foil to induce stress fractures in the oxide, and reforming the oxide to heal at least a portion of the stress fractures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2016Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, James Brian Smith, Thomas F. Strange
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Publication number: 20170069430Abstract: A process and apparatus are presented for cleaning the tunnels of an electrochemically etched anode foil. The apparatus includes a tank, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and one or more tranducers. The tank is designed to receive a plurality of cartridges, each of the plurality of cartridges having a reservoir and being designed to hold a metal foil. The fluid inlet and fluid outlet are coupled with at least one of the plurality of cartridges, and are designed to introduce and expel, respectively, a liquid from the reservoir within at least one of the plurality of cartridges. The one or more transducers are coupled to at least one wall of each reservoir, the one or more transducers being designed to sonicate the liquid within each reservoir at a frequency less than 300 Hz.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2015Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, James Brian Smith, Xiaofei Jiang, Troy L. McCurry
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Patent number: 8185836Abstract: An apparatus generating a graphical image of a core of a boiling water reactor (BWR) using at least one data set of channel deformation data including: a computer system including a display device for presenting the graphical image and a processor generating the graphical image using the at least one data set; the graphical image of the core includes symbolic representations of control blades arranged in the core, indicia identify each control blade, and indicia regarding deformation of channels adjacent each control blade, and a viewer software tool executed by the processor which accesses the at least one data set and determines a location in the core of the control blades and channels, and correlates the deformation data with the channels for display on the graphical image.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2006Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel - Americas LLCInventors: Atul Arun Karve, James Brian Smith, John R. Burr, Angelo Peter Chopelas, Gerald A. Potts, Mark A. Dubecky