Patents by Inventor Thierry Duffar

Thierry Duffar 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: 9493889
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for the crystallogenesis of a material that is electrically conducting at the molten state, by drawing from a molten mass of the material in a crucible, that comprises: progressively subjecting the molten material to a decreasing temperature so that a liquid-solid interface is formed; controlling the flatness of the liquid-solid interface of the material; subjecting the molten material, before and during solidification, to an electromagnetic kneading; the method including that the electromagnetic kneading is obtained by applying an alternating magnetic field. The disclosure also relates to a device for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS), INSTITUT POLYTECHNIQUE DE GRENOBLE
    Inventors: Thierry Duffar, Gilbert Vian
  • Publication number: 20110000424
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for the crystallogenesis of a material that is electrically conducting at the molten state, by drawing from a molten mass of the material in a crucible, that comprises: progressively subjecting the molten material to a decreasing temperature so that a liquid-solid interface is formed; controlling the flatness of the liquid-solid interface of the material; subjecting the molten material, before and during solidification, to an electromagnetic kneading; the method including that the electromagnetic kneading is obtained by applying an alternating magnetic field. The disclosure also relates to a device for implementing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Thierry Duffar, Gilbert Vian
  • Patent number: 7465355
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing a single-crystal solid phase by solidification of a liquid phase, comprising: a crucible capable of containing the solid phase and the liquid phase, the liquid phase being in contact with the crucible and the solid phase being separated from the crucible by an interstice; and a heating mechanism for heating the liquid phase capable of creating a thermal gradient at the level of an interface between the liquid phase and the solid phase, electromagnetic field generation, distinct from the heating mechanism, for applying an electromagnetic pressure on the junction surface of the liquid phase at the level of the interface comprising at least one spiral surrounding the crucible, and placed opposite to the area in which the interface forms in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Thierry Duffar, Annie Fournier-Gagnoud
  • Publication number: 20070277729
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing a single-crystal solid phase by solidification of a liquid phase, comprising: a crucible capable of containing the solid phase and the liquid phase, the liquid phase being in contact with the crucible and the solid phase being separated from the crucible by an interstice; and a heating mechanism for heating the liquid phase capable of creating a thermal gradient at the level of an interface between the liquid phase and the solid phase, electromagnetic field generation, distinct from the heating mechanism, for applying an electromagnetic pressure on the junction surface of the liquid phase at the level of the interface comprising at least one spiral surrounding the crucible, and placed opposite to the area in which the interface forms in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Thierry Duffar, Annie Fournier-Gagnoud
  • Patent number: 6663711
    Abstract: A process produces a crystal of a material with non-congruent melting using at least one first element and a second element. The process includes (a) placing, in a vertical alignment and maintaining under a controlled atmosphere, a bar of the first element gripped between a lower bar and an upper bar made out of the material, (b) transforming the bar of the first element into a floating zone by heating to a temperature that avoids the evaporation of the first element, the heating being obtained by heating means that provides a temperature gradient in the floating zone so that the lower face of the upper bar appears as a cold face, and (c) contra-rotating the lower and upper bars around the alignment axis and moving the whole bar assembly upwards in relation to the heating means in order to obtain the crystal on the cold face by growth in solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Commissarat a l′Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jürgen Wollweber, Thierry Duffar, Jean-Louis Santailler, Véronique Chevrier
  • Patent number: 6652647
    Abstract: The device according to invention comprises an ampoule (4) at the bottom of a crucible (3) for crystal growing by progressive solidification of a liquid, and a specific means of heating (9) to adjust the temperature of the volume of this gas pocket and establish an overpressure at the bottom of the crucible compared to the top in order to ensure a contraction of the crystal (2) at the moment of its solidification and to avoid defects in the crystals. By eliminating a pressure regulating circuit linking these two extreme regions in order to establish the overpressure directly, the lay out is considerably simplified and at the same time avoids condensations of the vaporised portions of the crystal in the pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
    Inventors: Thierry Duffar, Pierre Dusserre, Nathalie Giacometti
  • Patent number: 6554895
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solid single crystal of an electrically conductive material by pulling from a molten mass of this material, the material presenting atom clusters at melt. The method includes: a melt stage so as to obtain a molten mass, the melt stage procuring a colder zone of the molten mass, from which the single crystal will be pulled, and a hotter zone having sufficient temperature to melt the atom clusters; a stage of application to the molten mass of a rotating magnetic field allowing the atom clusters to be displaced from the colder zone to the hotter zone; and a stage of growth by pulling of the single crystal after the atom clusters have been displaced from the colder zone to the hotter zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Comissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Thierry Duffar, Jean-Paul Garandet
  • Publication number: 20030019421
    Abstract: The device according to invention comprises an ampoule (4) at the bottom of a crucible (3) for crystal growing by progressive solidification of a liquid, and a specific means of heating (9) to adjust the temperature of the volume of this gas pocket and establish an overpressure at the bottom of the crucible compared to the top in order to ensure a contraction of the crystal (2) at the moment of its solidification and to avoid defects in the crystals. By eliminating a pressure regulating circuit linking these two extreme regions in order to establish the overpressure directly, the lay out is considerably simplified and at the same time avoids condensations of the vaporised portions of the crystal in the pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Thierry Duffar, Pierre Dusserre, Nathalie Giacometti
  • Publication number: 20010052315
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for manufacturing a solid single crystal of a material which is electrically conductive in the molten state, by pulling from a molten mass of this material, the material presenting atom clusters at melt, the method including:
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Commissariat A L' Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Thierry Duffar, Jean-Paul Garandet
  • Patent number: 6090201
    Abstract: A piston-activated crystal-growing apparatus includes a crucible for containing a seed and a solidifiable liquid covering the seed. In operation, thermal gradient is established in the crucible, and a piston moves within the crucible in the direction of the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Thierry Duffar, Pierre Dusserre
  • Patent number: 5932005
    Abstract: The material of the crystal (2) formed by solidification is deposited in a crucible (1), whose wall is perforated by two ducts for the injection of pressure at different heights (6, 7). A differential pressure is created between the two ducts, the pressure of the lower duct (7) being higher by a value roughly equal to the hydrostatic pressure of the remaining liquid (3), so that a clearance (5) is spontaneously formed between the crystal (2) and the crucible (1) and problems caused by differential thermal contractions on cooling are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignees: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique, Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales
    Inventors: Thierry Duffar, Jacques Abadie, Pierre Dusserre
  • Patent number: 5879098
    Abstract: This device is for the tight crossing of a partition or bulkhead by a mobile member. The object of the invention is to supply a device permitting the transfer of simultaneous, complex mechanical movements through a tight partition, whilst maintaining the seal of the partition. This object is achieved with the aid of a device having at least one shell or sleeve (4) mounted on a partition so as to pivot about a pivoting axis perpendicular to the crossing axis of the partition by the member and the displacement direction of the member. The member passes in the interior of the sleeve. A plate (12) is tightly traversed by the member (10) and mobile with the member for its displacements in the displacement direction. First and second tight membranes (14 and 16) tightly connect the plate (12)/sleeve (4) and sleeve (4)/partition (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean Delepine, Thierry Duffar, Jean-Philippe Nabot, Bernard Wales