Patents by Inventor Melissa Orme-Marmerelis
Melissa Orme-Marmerelis 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: 7029624Abstract: In a high-speed fabrication process for producing highly uniform metallic microspheres, a molten metal is passed through a small orifice, producing a stream of molten metal therefrom. A series of molten metal droplets forms from the break up of the capillary stream. To achieve high uniformity of the spheres and avoid defects, the droplets are cooled before being captured. Separating the droplets, by causing them to travel in different paths than their adjacent droplets, helps to facilitate the cooling of the droplets. The droplets can be separated by electrostatically charging them as they break off from the capillary stream. The droplets are then passed through an electric field, which can be produced by a pair of deflection plates. The droplets are dispersed by varying the electric field—e.g., by rotating the plates or by varying the voltage applied thereto—or by varying the electrostatic charge of the droplets.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2003Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert F. Smith
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Publication number: 20050253905Abstract: The present invention enables the formation of droplets due to capillary stream break-up and minimizes variation in droplet formation time by applying a transverse disturbance to initiate instability on the capillary stream's surface. In one embodiment, a side-shaker apparatus comprises a reservoir adapted to hold molten metal, an orifice plate having an orifice in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a transverse disturbance generating member coupled to the orifice plate. The molten metal in the reservoir is ejected from the orifice to form a capillary stream. Due to capillary stream break-up, droplets pinch off from the capillary stream to form a droplet stream. The transverse disturbance generating member vibrates the orifice plate laterally (i.e., side to side) to apply a transverse disturbance to the capillary stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2003Publication date: November 17, 2005Inventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20030196512Abstract: In a high-speed fabrication process for producing highly uniform metallic microspheres, a molten metal is passed through a small orifice, producing a stream of molten metal therefrom. A series of molten metal droplets forms from the break up of the capillary stream. To achieve high uniformity of the spheres and avoid defects, the droplets are cooled before being captured. Separating the droplets, by causing them to travel in different paths than their adjacent droplets, helps to facilitate the cooling of the droplets. The droplets can be separated by electrostatically charging them as they break off from the capillary stream. The droplets are then passed through an electric field, which can be produced by a pair of deflection plates. The droplets are dispersed by varying the electric field—e.g., by rotating the plates or by varying the voltage applied thereto—or by varying the electrostatic charge of the droplets.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert F. Smith
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Publication number: 20030136222Abstract: In a high-speed fabrication process for producing highly uniform ultra-small metallic micro-spheres, a molten metal is passed through a small orifice, producing a stream of molten metal therefrom. A series of molten metal droplets forms from the break up of the capillary stream. Applied harmonic disturbances are used to control and generate satellite and parent droplets. Significantly, the satellite droplets formed are smaller than the orifice, allowing for the production of smaller metal balls with larger orifices. The satellite droplets are separated from the parent droplets by electrostatic charging and deflection or by aerodynamic or acoustic sorting. Preferably, the satellite droplets are cooled before being collected to avoid defects and achieve high uniformity of the resulting metal balls.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2002Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert F. Smith
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Patent number: 6562099Abstract: In a high-speed fabrication process for producing highly uniform metallic microspheres, a molten metal is passed through a small orifice, producing a stream of molten metal therefrom. A series of molten metal droplets forms from the break up of the capillary stream. To achieve high uniformity of the spheres and avoid defects, the droplets are cooled before being captured. Separating the droplets, by causing them to travel in different paths than their adjacent droplets, helps to facilitate the cooling of the droplets. The droplets can be separated by electrostatically charging them as they break off from the capillary stream. The droplets are then passed through an electric field, which can be produced by a pair of deflection plates. The droplets are dispersed by varying the electric field—e.g., by rotating the plates or by varying the voltage applied thereto—or by varying the electrostatic charge of the droplets.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert F. Smith
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Publication number: 20030062403Abstract: Ultra-small satellite droplets of molten metal, generated from capillary stream break-up, are selectively directed to predetermined locations on a substrate. The satellite droplets are produced at a high rate and are highly uniform because of the nature of capillary stream break-up. Applied harmonic disturbances are used to control and generate the satellite and parent droplets. The satellite droplets are electrostatically charged on a droplet-by-droplet basis and are then deflected by, e.g., an electric field to predetermined locations on a substrate. The substrate is moveable, attached to an x-y table, for facilitating the placement of satellite droplets on the substrate. The satellite droplets can be placed in individual locations on the substrate (e.g., for forming a ball grid array) or can be overlapped to form conductive traces. Because the satellite droplets have small diameters, these traces may have correspondingly small widths or pitches.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2002Publication date: April 3, 2003Inventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert F. Smith
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Patent number: 6520402Abstract: Ultra-small satellite droplets of molten metal, generated from capillary stream break-up, are selectively directed to predetermined locations on a substrate. The satellite droplets are produced at a high rate and are highly uniform because of the nature of capillary stream break-up. Applied harmonic disturbances are used to control and generate the satellite and parent droplets. The satellite droplets are electrostatically charged on a droplet-by-droplet basis and are then deflected by, e.g., an electric field to predetermined locations on a substrate. The substrate is moveable, attached to an x-y table, for facilitating the placement of satellite droplets on the substrate. The satellite droplets can be placed in individual locations on the substrate (e.g., for forming a ball grid array) or can be overlapped to form conductive traces. Because the satellite droplets have small diameters, these traces may have correspondingly small widths or pitches.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert F. Smith
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Patent number: 6491737Abstract: In a high-speed fabrication process for producing highly uniform ultra-small metallic micro-spheres, a molten metal is passed through a small orifice, producing a stream of molten metal therefrom. A series of molten metal droplets forms from the break up of the capillary stream. Applied harmonic disturbances are used to control and generate satellite and parent droplets. Significantly, the satellite droplets formed are smaller than the orifice, allowing for the production of smaller metal balls with larger orifices. The satellite droplets are separated from the parent droplets by electrostatic charging and deflection or by aerodynamic or acoustic sorting. Preferably, the satellite droplets are cooled before being collected to avoid defects and achieve high uniformity of the resulting metal balls.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert F. Smith
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Publication number: 20020043552Abstract: Ultra-small satellite droplets of molten metal, generated from capillary stream break-up, are selectively directed to predetermined locations on a substrate. The satellite droplets are produced at a high rate and are highly uniform because of the nature of capillary stream break-up. Applied harmonic disturbances are used to control and generate the satellite and parent droplets. The satellite droplets are electrostatically charged on a droplet-by-droplet basis and are then deflected by, e.g., an electric field to predetermined locations on a substrate. The substrate is moveable, attached to an x-y table, for facilitating the placement of satellite droplets on the substrate. The satellite droplets can be placed in individual locations on the substrate (e.g., for forming a ball grid array) or can be overlapped to form conductive traces. Because the satellite droplets have small diameters, these traces may have correspondingly small widths or pitches.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Inventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert F. Smith
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Publication number: 20020031677Abstract: In a high-speed fabrication process for producing highly uniform ultra-small metallic micro-spheres, a molten metal is passed through a small orifice, producing a stream of molten metal therefrom. A series of molten metal droplets forms from the break up of the capillary stream. Applied harmonic disturbances are used to control and generate satellite and parent droplets. Significantly, the satellite droplets formed are smaller than the orifice, allowing for the production of smaller metal balls with larger orifices. The satellite droplets are separated from the parent droplets by electrostatic charging and deflection or by aerodynamic or acoustic sorting. Preferably, the satellite droplets are cooled before being collected to avoid defects and achieve high uniformity of the resulting metal balls.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert F. Smith
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Publication number: 20020029659Abstract: In a high-speed fabrication process for producing highly uniform metallic microspheres, a molten metal is passed through a small orifice, producing a stream of molten metal therefrom. A series of molten metal droplets forms from the break up of the capillary stream. To achieve high uniformity of the spheres and avoid defects, the droplets are cooled before being captured. Separating the droplets, by causing them to travel in different paths than their adjacent droplets, helps to facilitate the cooling of the droplets. The droplets can be separated by electrostatically charging them as they break off from the capillary stream. The droplets are then passed through an electric field, which can be produced by a pair of deflection plates. The droplets are dispersed by varying the electric field—e.g., by rotating the plates or by varying the voltage applied thereto—or by varying the electrostatic charge of the droplets.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: Melissa Orme-Marmerelis, Robert F. Smith