Patents by Inventor James Fife

James Fife 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: 6870727
    Abstract: Surface mount electrolytic capacitors are provided with anode and cathode terminations having respective first termination portions provided on the bottom surface of a molded package in a generally coplanar configuration. A second cathode termination portion is bent in a generally perpendicular fashion to the first cathode termination portion and may then be adhered to the external cathode layer of a capacitor body. A second anode termination portion is bent in a generally perpendicular fashion to the first anode termination portion and may then be welded to an anode wire connected to and extending from the capacitor body. An insulation pad may be provided between the first anode termination portion and the capacitor body to prevent device shorting. A planar termination frame may be provided to form the electrolytic capacitors of the present subject matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Edson, Glenn M. Vaillancourt, Walter Koda, Scott A. McCarthy, James A. Fife
  • Patent number: 6864147
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that comprises an anode that contains a valve-action metal (e.g., tantalum, niobium, and the like) and a dielectric film overlying the anode is provided. The capacitor also comprises a protective coating overlying the dielectric film, wherein the protective coating contains a relatively insulative, resinous material. For example, in one embodiment, the resinous material can be a drying oil, such as olive oil, linseed oil, tung oil, castor oil, soybean oil, shellac, and derivatives thereof. The capacitor also comprises a conductive polymer coating overlying the protective coating. As a result of the present invention, it has been discovered that a capacitor can be formed that can have a relatively low leakage current, dissipation factor, and equivalents series resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Fife, Zebbie L. Sebald
  • Publication number: 20050039577
    Abstract: Methods of forming niobium powders and other metal powders are described. The method involves milling the metal powders at elevated temperatures and in the presence of at least one liquid solvent. The methods of the present invention have the ability to reduce DC leakage and/or increase capacitance capabilities of metal powders when formed into capacitor anodes. The present invention further has the ability to significantly reduce the milling time necessary to form high surface area metal powders and leads to reducing the amount of contaminants in the metal powders. Metal powders such as niobium powders having reduced amount of contaminants and/or having DC leakage or capacitance capabilities are also described. A process is further described for forming a flaked metal by wet-milling a metal powder into a flaked metal wherein at least one liquid fluorinated fluid is present during the wet-milling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Kurt Habecker, James Fife
  • Publication number: 20040237714
    Abstract: A niobium powder is described which when formed into an electrolytic capacitor anode, the anode has the capacitance of at least 62,000 CV/g. Methods of making flaked niobium powder which have high capacitance capability when formed into electrolytic capacitor anodes is also described. Besides niobium, the present invention is also applicable to other metals, including valve metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Kurt A. Habecker, James A. Fife
  • Patent number: 6759026
    Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material, and for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Niobium oxides and/or suboxides are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the niobium oxides and suboxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathon L. Kimmel, Ricky W. Kitchell, James A. Fife
  • Publication number: 20040089100
    Abstract: A nitrogen containing niobium powder is disclosed as well as electrolytic capacitors formed from the niobium powders. Methods to reduce DC leakage in a niobium anode are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: James A. Fife
  • Publication number: 20040066607
    Abstract: Surface mount electrolytic capacitors are provided with anode and cathode terminations having respective first termination portions provided on the bottom surface of a molded package in a generally coplanar configuration. A second cathode termination portion is bent in a generally perpendicular fashion to the first cathode termination portion and may then be adhered to the external cathode layer of a capacitor body. A second anode termination portion is bent in a generally perpendicular fashion to the first anode termination portion and may then be welded to an anode wire connected to and extending from the capacitor body. An insulation pad may be provided between the first anode termination portion and the capacitor body to prevent device shorting. A planar termination frame may be provided to form the electrolytic capacitors of the present subject matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Applicant: AVX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas M. Edson, Glenn M. Vaillancourt, Walter Koda, Scott A. McCarthy, James A. Fife
  • Patent number: 6706240
    Abstract: Methods of forming niobium powders and other metal powders are described. The method involves milling the metal powders at elevated temperatures and in the presence of at least one liquid solvent. The methods of the present invention have the ability to reduce DC leakage and/or increase capacitance capabilities of metal powders when formed into capacitor anodes. The present invention further has the ability to significantly reduce the milling time necessary to form high surface area metal powders and leads to reducing the amount of contaminants in the metal powders. Metal powders such as niobium powders having reduced amount of contaminants and/or having DC leakage or capacitance capabilities are also described. A process is further described for forming a flaked metal by wet-milling a metal powder into a flaked metal wherein at least one liquid fluorinated fluid is present during the wet-milling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt A. Habecker, James A. Fife
  • Patent number: 6702869
    Abstract: A niobium powder is described which when formed into an electrolytic capacitor anode, the anode has the capacitance of at least 62,000 CV/g. Methods of making flaked niobium powder which have high capacitance capability when formed into electrolytic capacitor anodes is also described. Besides niobium, the present invention is also applicable to other metals, including valve metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt A. Habecker, James A. Fife
  • Patent number: 6696162
    Abstract: A coating formulation is described in which includes a solvent, a binder, and a metal additive comprising tantalum, niobium, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof. Also described is a cellulose-based substrate which contains a cellulose-based reinforcing agent, a binder, and a metal additive comprising tantalum, niobium, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof. Also described is a cement-based or plaster-based substrate containing a cement-based or plaster-based material and a metal additive comprising tantalum, niobium, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Fife
  • Publication number: 20040033183
    Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material, and for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Niobium oxides and/or suboxides are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the niobium oxides and suboxides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: James A. Fife
  • Patent number: 6674635
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor having an anode that contains a valve-action metal (e.g., tantalum, niobium, and the like) and a dielectric film overlying the anode is provided. The capacitor also include a protective coating overlying the dielectric film, wherein the protective coating contains a relatively insulative, resinous material. For example, in one embodiment, the resinous material can be a drying oil, such as olive oil, linseed oil, tung oil, castor oil, soybean oil, shellac, and derivatives thereof. The capacitor also includes a conductive polymer coating overlying the protective coating. As a result of the present invention, it has been discovered that a capacitor can be formed that can have a relatively low leakage current, dissipation factor, and equivalents series resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Fife, Zebbie L. Sebald
  • Patent number: 6616728
    Abstract: A nitrogen containing niobium powder is disclosed as well as electrolytic capacitors formed from the niobium powders. Methods to reduce DC leakage in a niobium anode are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Fife
  • Patent number: 6592740
    Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material, and for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Niobium oxides and/or suboxides are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made by fabricating a pellet of niobium oxide and heat treating the pellet in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen to a getter material, and for a sufficient time and temperature to form an electrode body, and anodizing the electrode body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Fife
  • Patent number: 6527937
    Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material, and for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Niobium oxides and/or suboxides are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the niobium oxides and suboxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Fife
  • Patent number: 6517645
    Abstract: Valve metal articles such as wire, sheet or powder having a second metal, preferably in a peripheral margin, prepared by coating the valve metal with a salt solution of the metal additive and heat treating in the presence of an oxygen getter to remove the oxygen from the valve metal and the anion of the metal salt to form the metal additive. For tantalum wire a preferred second metal is nickel. A preferred oxygen getter is magnesium. Nickel-containing tantalum wire is useful for enhance bonding to sintered pressed tantalum powder pellets in the production of electrolytic capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Fife
  • Publication number: 20030024436
    Abstract: A coating formulation is described in which includes a solvent, a binder, and a metal additive comprising tantalum, niobium, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof. Also described is a cellulose-based substrate which contains a cellulose-based reinforcing agent, a binder, and a metal additive comprising tantalum, niobium, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof. Also described is a cement-based or plaster-based substrate containing a cement-based or plaster-based material and a metal additive comprising tantalum, niobium, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: James A. Fife
  • Publication number: 20030003044
    Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material, and for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Niobium oxides and/or suboxides are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the niobium oxides and suboxides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: James A. Fife
  • Publication number: 20020179753
    Abstract: Methods of forming niobium powders and other metal powders are described. The method involves milling the metal powders at elevated temperatures and in the presence of at least one liquid solvent. The methods of the present invention have the ability to reduce DC leakage and/or increase capacitance capabilities of metal powders when formed into capacitor anodes. The present invention further has the ability to significantly reduce the milling time necessary to form high surface area metal powders and leads to reducing the amount of contaminants in the metal powders. Metal powders such as niobium powders having reduced amount of contaminants and/or having DC leakage or capacitance capabilities are also described. A process is further described for forming a flaked metal by wet-milling a metal powder into a flaked metal wherein at least one liquid fluorinated fluid is present during the wet-milling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Kurt A. Habecker, James A. Fife
  • Patent number: 6462934
    Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material, and for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Niobium oxides and/or suboxides are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the niobium oxides and suboxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathon L. Kimmel, Ricky W. Kitchell., James A. Fife