Patents by Inventor James F. Nolan
James F. Nolan 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: 9085822Abstract: Apparatus and a method for depositing a material on a substrate utilizes a distributor including a permeable member through which a carrier gas and a material are passed to provide a vapor that is deposited on a conveyed substrate. A secondary gas can be provided to promote uniform distribution of the material on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: First Solar, Inc.Inventor: James F. Nolan
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Publication number: 20110039401Abstract: Apparatus and a method for depositing a material on a substrate utilizes a distributor including a permeable member through which a carrier gas and a material are passed to provide a vapor that is deposited on a conveyed substrate. A secondary gas can be provided to promote uniform distribution of the material on the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: First Solar, Inc.Inventor: James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 7780787Abstract: Apparatus and a method for depositing a material on a substrate utilizes a distributor including a permeable member through which a carrier gas and a material are passed to provide a vapor that is deposited on a conveyed substrate. A secondary gas can be provided to promote uniform distribution of the material on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2004Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: First Solar, Inc.Inventor: James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 5558585Abstract: A device for detecting head movement of an individual during an activity of the individual is provided. The device includes a weighted wheel for establishing a reference with respect to an initial position of the individual's head, and a first angular encoder and second angular encoder for detecting angular movement of the head with respect to the reference. The detected head movement is processed by a controller and the output is provided by a display and a speaker.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1994Date of Patent: September 24, 1996Assignee: Muscle Memory, Inc.Inventor: James F. Nolan, Jr.
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Patent number: 5536333Abstract: A process and apparatus (70) for making a large area photovoltaic device (22) that is capable of generating low cost electrical power. The apparatus (70) for performing the process includes an enclosure (126) providing a controlled environment in which an oven (156) is located. At least one and preferably a plurality of deposition stations (74,76,78) provide heated vapors of semiconductor material within the oven (156) for continuous elevated temperature deposition of semiconductor material on a sheet substrate (24) including a glass sheet (26) conveyed within the oven. The sheet substrate (24) is conveyed on a roller conveyor (184) within the oven (156) and the semiconductor material whose main layer (82) is cadmium telluride is deposited on an upwardly facing surface (28) of the substrate by each deposition station from a location within the oven above the roller conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1995Date of Patent: July 16, 1996Assignee: Solar Cells, Inc.Inventors: James B. Foote, Steven A. F. Kaake, Peter V. Meyers, James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 5470397Abstract: A process and apparatus (70) for making a large area photovoltaic device (22) that is capable of generating low cost electrical power. The apparatus (70) for performing the process includes an enclosure (126) providing a controlled environment in which an oven (156) is located. At least one and preferably a plurality of deposition stations (74,76,78) provide heated vapors of semiconductor material within the oven (156) for continuous elevated temperature deposition of semiconductor material on a sheet substrate (24) including a glass sheet (26) conveyed within the oven. The sheet substrate (24) is conveyed on a roller conveyor (184) within the oven (156) and the semiconductor material whose main layer (82) is cadmium telluride is deposited on an upwardly facing surface (28) of the substrate by each deposition station from a location within the oven above the roller conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1994Date of Patent: November 28, 1995Assignee: Solar Cells, Inc.Inventors: James B. Foote, Steven A. F. Kaake, Peter V. Meyers, James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 5372646Abstract: A process and apparatus (70) for making a large area photovoltaic device (22) that is capable of generating low cost electrical power. The apparatus (70) for performing the process includes an enclosure (126) providing a controlled environment in which an oven (156) is located. At least one and preferably a plurality of deposition stations (74,76,78) provide heated vapors of semiconductor material within the oven (156) for continuous elevated temperature deposition of semiconductor material on a sheet substrate (24) including a glass sheet (26) conveyed within the oven. The sheet substrate (24) is conveyed on a roller conveyor (184) within the oven (156) and the semiconductor material whose main layer (82) is cadmium telluride is deposited on an upwardly facing surface (28) of the substrate by each deposition station from a location within the oven above the roller conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1993Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Assignee: Solar Cells, Inc.Inventors: James B. Foote, Steven A. F. Kaake, Peter V. Meyers, James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 5373304Abstract: The cellular phone antenna reflector of this invention has a tubular configuration. It is made up of three major components, an inner core, a shield and an outer component. The shield is made from a conductive material and encircles only a section of the inner core. The entire reflector of this invention is flexible and all of the components can be flexed for ease of use over an antenna.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1993Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Inventors: James F. Nolan, Douglas A. Taylor
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Patent number: 5248349Abstract: A process and apparatus (70) for making a large area photovoltaic device (22) that is capable of generating low cost electrical power. The apparatus (70) for performing the process includes an enclosure (126) providing a controlled environment in which an oven (156) is located. At least one and preferably a plurality of deposition stations (74,76,78) provide heated vapors of semiconductor material within the oven (156) for continuous elevated temperature deposition of semiconductor material on a sheet substrate (24) including a glass sheet (26) conveyed within the oven. The sheet substrate (24) is conveyed on a roller conveyor (184) within the oven (156) and the semiconductor material whose main layer (82) is cadmium telluride is deposited on an upwardly facing surface (28) of the substrate by each deposition station from a location within the oven above the roller conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1992Date of Patent: September 28, 1993Assignee: Solar Cells, Inc.Inventors: James B. Foote, Steven A. F. Kaake, Peter V. Meyers, James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 4819678Abstract: A cleaning unit for cleaning any type parts used domestically or commerically. The unit has a main containing vessel. The containing vessel is divided into upper and lower chambers by a dividing shelf extending across slightly less than the interior of the vessel. A gap is provided thereby for seepage of liquid from the upper to the lower compartment when in use. A small D.C. pump is used to pump liquid from the lower to upper chamber when used.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1988Date of Patent: April 11, 1989Inventor: James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 4723093Abstract: There is disclosed a gas discharge panel, especially of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,167 or 3,559,190, operated with an ionizable gaseous medium of neon and at least one minority rare gas component selected from argon, krypton, and xenon. In one embodiment, there is used a gaseous medium of about 99.5 to 99.99 percent atoms of neon and 0.5 to 0.01 percent atoms or at least one minority gas component.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1975Date of Patent: February 2, 1988Assignee: Owens-Illinois Television Products Inc.Inventor: James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 4616761Abstract: A vacuum indicating thermoplastic closure for a container for the packaging of a vacuum packed product, the top panel of the closure containing a circular inner portion which is connected to an outer annular portion by an inner annular portion with a circular hinge between the circular inner portion and the inner annular portion and another circular hinge between the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion to permit the circular inner portion to be moved relative to the outer annular portion from a first dimensionally stable position which indicates the presence of a vacuum in the associated container to a second dimensionally stable position which indicates the absence of a vacuum in the container without developing substantial tensile stresses in the top panel of the closure when the circular inner portion is in either such position.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1984Date of Patent: October 14, 1986Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.Inventor: James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 4107577Abstract: There is disclosed the transfer of a gaseous discharge within a display/memory device. There is particularly disclosed a method for conditioning a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory device having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the device being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members which are respectively backed by a series of parallel-like conductor (electrode) members, the conductor members behind each dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the conductor members behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes, each of which constitutes a discharge unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1976Date of Patent: August 15, 1978Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.Inventor: James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 4002828Abstract: A method and circuit for obtaining gray scale in gas discharge display panels which uses only one discharge site per resolution element, does not require extensive electronic memory and provides a continuous, broad intensity range. A maintain voltage is applied to all elements of the matrix display panel which has a magnitude somewhat less than the lower limit of the bistable region in which gas discharge panels are normally operated. Thus, a site cannot be turned "on" in the normal sense of initiating a sequence of discharges which continues indefinitely. However, the application of a trigger voltage can initiate a sequence of discharges which continues for a substantial number of cycles before dying out. The number of cycles for which the discharge sequence persists depends on the magnitude and duration of the addressing trigger voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 1975Date of Patent: January 11, 1977Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.Inventor: James F. Nolan
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Patent number: 3973815Abstract: There is disclosed the manufacture and operation of a gas discharge display/memory panel having a pair of opposed support members carrying conductor arrays with an inorganic dielectric coating on the conductor arrays, and an ionizable gas confined between the opposed dielectric surfaces of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1974Date of Patent: August 10, 1976Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.Inventors: Wolfgang W. Bode, James F. Nolan, Lawrence V. Pfaender, Theodore C. Baker, Richard G. Mathias
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Patent number: 3973164Abstract: There is disclosed a gas discharge display/member panel comprising opposed dielectric charge storage members backed by conductor electrode members and having an ionizable gas confined within the space between the opposed dielectric members, the conductor members being specific standardized visual shapes so as to form upon gas discharge alpha-numeric and other selected forms and shapes.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1971Date of Patent: August 3, 1976Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.Inventors: James F. Nolan, Theodore C. Baker, Wolfgang W. Bode, Richard G. Mathias, Lawrence V. Pfaender