Patents by Inventor James L. Maxwell
James L. Maxwell 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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Method and apparatus for fabricating fibers and microstructures from disparate molar mass precursors
Patent number: 11499230Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Dynetics, Inc.Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, James Allen -
Method and Apparatus for Fabricating Fibers and Microstructures from Disparate Molar Mass Precursors
Publication number: 20220074051Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, James Allen -
Publication number: 20220033999Abstract: The disclosed materials, methods, and apparatus, provide novel ultra-high temperature materials (UHTM) in fibrous forms/structures; such “fibrous materials” can take various forms, such as individual filaments, short-shaped fiber, tows, ropes, wools, textiles, lattices, nano/microstructures, mesostructured materials, and sponge-like materials. At least four important classes of UHTM materials are disclosed in this invention: (1) carbon, doped-carbon and carbon alloy materials, (2) materials within the boron-carbon-nitride-X system, (3) materials within the silicon-carbon-nitride-X system, and (4) highly-refractory materials within the tantalum-hafnium-carbon-nitride-X and tantalum-hafnium-carbon-boron-nitride-X system. All of these material classes offer compounds/mixtures that melt or sublime at temperatures above 1800° C.—and in some cases are among the highest melting point materials known (exceeding 3000° C.).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, Ryan Hooper, James Allen
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Method and apparatus for fabricating fibers and microstructures from disparate molar mass precursors
Patent number: 10947622Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2020Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Dynetics, Inc.Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, James Allen -
Method and Apparatus for Fabricating Fibers and Microstructures from Disparate Molar Mass Precursors
Publication number: 20200332417Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, James Allen -
Method and apparatus for fabricating fibers and microstructures from disparate molar mass precursors
Patent number: 10683574Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Dynetics, Inc.Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, James Allen -
Method and Apparatus for Fabricating Fibers and Microstructures from Disparate Molar Mass Precursors
Publication number: 20200149167Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2018Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, James Allen -
Method and apparatus for fabricating fibers and microstructures from disparate molar mass precursors
Patent number: 10167555Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Dynetics, Inc.Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, James Allen -
Method and apparatus for fabricating fibers and microstructures from disparate molar mass precursors
Patent number: 10106894Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2015Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Dynetics, Inc.Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, James Allen -
Method and Apparatus for Fabricating Fibers and Microstructures from Disparate Molar Mass Precursors
Publication number: 20160369400Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2015Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, James Allen -
Publication number: 20160237595Abstract: The disclosed materials, methods, and apparatus, provide novel ultra-high temperature materials (UHTM) in fibrous forms/structures; such “fibrous materials” can take various forms, such as individual filaments, short-shaped fiber, tows, ropes, wools, textiles, lattices, nano/microstructures, mesostructured materials, and sponge-like materials. At least four important classes of UHTM materials are disclosed in this invention: (1) carbon, doped-carbon and carbon alloy materials, (2) materials within the boron-carbon-nitride-X system, (3) materials within the silicon-carbon-nitride-X system, and (4) highly-refractory materials within the tantalum-hafnium-carbon-nitride-X and tantalum-hafnium-carbon-boron-nitride-X system. All of these material classes offer compounds/mixtures that melt or sublime at temperatures above 1800° C.—and in some cases are among the highest melting point materials known (exceeding 3000° C.).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2015Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Nicholas Webb, Ryan Hooper, James Allen
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Patent number: 8669164Abstract: Microelectronic structures and devices, and method of fabricating a three-dimensional microelectronic structure is provided, comprising passing a first precursor material for a selected three-dimensional microelectronic structure into a reaction chamber at temperatures sufficient to maintain said precursor material in a predominantly gaseous state; maintaining said reaction chamber under sufficient pressures to enhance formation of a first portion of said three-dimensional microelectronic structure; applying an electric field between an electrode and said microelectronic structure at a desired point under conditions whereat said first portion of a selected three-dimensional microelectronic structure is formed from said first precursor material; positionally adjusting either said formed three-dimensional microelectronic structure or said electrode whereby further controlled growth of said three-dimensional microelectronic structure occurs; passing a second precursor material for a selected three-dimensional miType: GrantFiled: April 2, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: James L. Maxwell, Chris R. Rose, Marcie R. Black, Robert W. Springer
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Patent number: 8361566Abstract: A method of growing a plurality of free-standing structures comprises providing a plurality of free-standing structures, each free-standing structure having a first end coupled to a substrate, and a terminal end; providing at least one laser beam, the laser beam having a beam waste at a point proximate to the terminal end of the free-standing structure; and moving one of the plurality of freestanding structures or the beam waste to provide a growth zone proximate to the terminal end of each of the free-standing structures such that the free-standing structures grow into the growth zones by addition of decomposing precursor components. The growth rates of each of the free-standing structures are substantially the same.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventor: James L. Maxwell
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Patent number: 8157948Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article comprises providing a first sheet, wetting the first sheet with a liquid precursor to provide a first wet sheet, and irradiating the first wet sheet in a pattern corresponding to a first cross section of the article such that the liquid precursor is at least partially converted to a solid in the first cross section. A second sheet is disposed adjacent to the first sheet. The method further comprises wetting the second sheet with the liquid precursor to provide a second wet sheet, and irradiating the second wet sheet in a pattern corresponding to a second cross section of the article such that the liquid precursor is at least partially converted to a solid in the second cross section. In particular the liquid precursor may be converted to a metal, ceramic, semiconductor, semimetal, or a combination of these materials.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: James L. Maxwell, Craig A. Chavez, Marcie R. Black
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Publication number: 20120031644Abstract: Ultraconducting devices and methods of making thereof, said ultraconducting devices comprising continuous, aligned carbon nanotubes and a metallic matrix which substantially surrounds the carbon nanotubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventors: James L. Maxwell, Chris Randall Rose, Fred Michael Mueller
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Publication number: 20100289060Abstract: Microelectronic structures and devices, and method of fabricating a three-dimensional microelectronic structure is provided, comprising passing a first precursor material for a selected three-dimensional microelectronic structure into a reaction chamber at temperatures sufficient to maintain said precursor material in a predominantly gaseous state; maintaining said reaction chamber under sufficient pressures to enhance formation of a first portion of said three-dimensional microelectronic structure; applying an electric field between an electrode and said microelectronic structure at a desired point under conditions whereat said first portion of a selected three-dimensional microelectronic structure is formed from said first precursor material; positionally adjusting either said formed three-dimensional microelectronic structure or said electrode whereby further controlled growth of said three-dimensional microelectronic structure occurs; passing a second precursor material for a selected three-dimensional miType: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2010Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventors: James L. Maxwell, Chris R. Rose, Marcie R. Black, Robert W. Springer
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Publication number: 20100055352Abstract: A method of growing a plurality of free-standing structures comprises providing a plurality of free-standing structures, each free-standing structure having a first end coupled to a substrate, and a terminal end; providing at least one laser beam, the laser beam having a beam waste at a point proximate to the terminal end of the free-standing structure; and moving one of the plurality of freestanding structures or the beam waste to provide a growth zone proximate to the terminal end of each of the free-standing structures such that the free-standing structures grow into the growth zones by addition of decomposing precursor components. The growth rates of each of the free-standing structures are substantially the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventor: James L. MAXWELL
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Publication number: 20090250844Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article comprises providing a first sheet, wetting the first sheet with a liquid precursor to provide a first wet sheet, and irradiating the first wet sheet in a pattern corresponding to a first cross section of the article such that the liquid precursor is at least partially converted to a solid in the first cross section. A second sheet is disposed adjacent to the first sheet. The method further comprises wetting the second sheet with the liquid precursor to provide a second wet sheet, and irradiating the second wet sheet in a pattern corresponding to a second cross section of the article such that the liquid precursor is at least partially converted to a solid in the second cross section. In particular the liquid precursor may be converted to a metal, ceramic, semiconductor, semimetal, or a combination of these materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2008Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventors: James L. Maxwell, Craig A. Chavez, Marcie R. Black
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Publication number: 20090110848Abstract: A method for carrying out pulsed laser deposition is disclosed. The method comprises providing a target having a desired composition; irradiating the target with a pulsed laser beam to provide a plume of target material; and directing the plume in a desired direction by use of an inert carrier gas. The plume of target material is passed through an aperture to create an atomic beam. One or both of the plume or the atomic beam is irradiated to reduce the amount of agglomerated particles in the atomic beam. The atomic beam is directed onto a substrate to produce a deposition product. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2007Publication date: April 30, 2009Applicant: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventors: James L. MAXWELL, Robert W. SPRINGER
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Patent number: 5786023Abstract: Method and apparatus for the selective heat-induced deposition of solid material from gas-phase or super-critical fluids to produce three-dimensional parts by pyrolysis of the fluids. The apparatus involves computer/feedback control of the evolving shape by direct monitoring of the volumetric deposition rate or growth profile, and modifying light beam focal properties, the position and orientation of the deposit relative to the beam foci, and/or the pressure and flow of reactants to the growth zone. The precursor gases may be pressurized and heated to the critical point or beyond, becoming super-critical fluids, without condensation. Growth occurs by diffusion of reactants to the growth zone through a boundary layer over the deposit. One method of growth includes directing a large-area impinging jet of precursor fluid(s) onto a deposit interface, while limiting the reaction zone to a smaller area determined solely by size of the heated zone (through use of a radiant beam, e.g.).Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1996Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Inventors: James L. Maxwell, Joseph Pegna