Patents by Inventor Thomas Franco
Thomas Franco 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: 11798804Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Brian Roberts Routh, Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
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Patent number: 11069523Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Brian Roberts Routh, Jr., Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
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Patent number: 11062879Abstract: Method for preparing site-specific, plan-view lamellae from multilayered microelectronic devices. A focused ion beam that is directed, with an etch-assisting gas, toward an uppermost layer of a device removes at least that uppermost layer and thereby exposes an underlying layer over, or comprising, a target area from which the site-specific, plan-view lamella is to be prepared, wherein the focused ion beam is in a face-on orientation in removing the uppermost layer to expose the underlying layer. In a preferred embodiment, the etch-assisting gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the etch-assisting gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Noel Thomas Franco, Kenny Mani, Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Jeffrey Blackwood
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Publication number: 20210118678Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Brian Roberts Routh, Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
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Publication number: 20200126756Abstract: Method for preparing site-specific, plan-view lamellae from multilayered microelectronic devices. A focused ion beam that is directed, with an etch-assisting gas, toward an uppermost layer of a device removes at least that uppermost layer and thereby exposes an underlying layer over, or comprising, a target area from which the site-specific, plan-view lamella is to be prepared, wherein the focused ion beam is in a face-on orientation in removing the uppermost layer to expose the underlying layer. In a preferred embodiment, the etch-assisting gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the etch-assisting gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Noel Thomas Franco, Kenny Mani, Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Jeffrey Blackwood
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Patent number: 10546719Abstract: Method for preparing site-specific, plan-view lamellae from multilayered microelectronic devices. A focused ion beam that is directed, with an etch-assisting gas, toward an uppermost layer of a device removes at least that uppermost layer and thereby exposes an underlying layer over, or comprising, a target area from which the site-specific, plan-view lamella is to be prepared, wherein the focused ion beam is in a face-on orientation in removing the uppermost layer to expose the underlying layer. In a preferred embodiment, the etch-assisting gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the etch-assisting gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Noel Thomas Franco, Kenny Mani, Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Jeffrey Blackwood
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Patent number: 10347463Abstract: Method and system for enhanced charged particle beam processes for carbon removal. With the method and system for enhancing carbon removal, associated method and system for decreasing levels of carbon impurity in depositions, also using a precursor gas in charged particle beam processes (and particularly focused ion beam methodologies), are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the precursor gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the precursor gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Kenny Mani, Noel Thomas Franco
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Patent number: 10312540Abstract: A cathode-electrolyte-anode unit for an electrochemical functional device, in particular a high-temperature fuel cell. The unit has a multi-layer solid-state electrolyte arranged between a porous anode and a porous cathode. The solid-state electrolyte is produced by a vapor deposition process and has a sandwich-type structure consisting of at least one first layer with a lower oxygen content, and at least one second layer with a higher oxygen content. The individual layers have substantially the same composition, with the exception of oxygen.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2014Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignees: Plansee Composite Materials GmbH, Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Markus Haydn, Matthias Ruettinger, Thomas Franco, Sven Uhlenbruck, Thomas Jung, Kai Ortner
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Publication number: 20180350558Abstract: Method for preparing site-specific, plan-view lamellae from multilayered microelectronic devices. A focused ion beam that is directed, with an etch-assisting gas, toward an uppermost layer of a device removes at least that uppermost layer and thereby exposes an underlying layer over, or comprising, a target area from which the site-specific, plan-view lamella is to be prepared, wherein the focused ion beam is in a face-on orientation in removing the uppermost layer to expose the underlying layer. In a preferred embodiment, the etch-assisting gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the etch-assisting gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Noel Thomas Franco, Kenny Mani, Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Jeffrey Blackwood
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Publication number: 20180277361Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Brian Roberts Routh, JR., Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
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Publication number: 20180166272Abstract: Method and system for enhanced charged particle beam processes for carbon removal. With the method and system for enhancing carbon removal, associated method and system for decreasing levels of carbon impurity in depositions, also using a precursor gas in charged particle beam processes (and particularly focused ion beam methodologies), are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the precursor gas comprises methyl nitroacetate. In alternative embodiments, the precursor gas is methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl nitroacetate, propyl acetate, propyl nitroacetate, nitro ethyl acetate, methyl methoxyacetate, or methoxy acetylchloride.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2016Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Chad Rue, Joe Christian, Kenny Mani, Noel Thomas Franco
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Patent number: 9978586Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: FEI CompanyInventors: Brian Roberts Routh, Jr., Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
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Patent number: 9680163Abstract: A fuel cell (1) has a plate (2) produced by powder metallurgy which comprises in one piece a porous substrate area (4) to which the electrochemically active cell layers (6) are applied, and a gastight edge area (5) which is provided with gas passages (17, 18).Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2008Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: PLANSEE SEInventors: Marco Brandner, Thomas Franco, Georg Kunschert, Reinhold Zach, Gebhard Zobl
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Publication number: 20170133220Abstract: A method and apparatus for material deposition onto a sample to form a protective layer composed of at least two materials that have been formulated and arranged according to the material properties of the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: FEI CompanyInventors: Brian Roberts Routh, JR., Thomas G. Miller, Chad Rue, Noel Thomas Franco
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Publication number: 20160118680Abstract: A cathode-electrolyte-anode unit for an electrochemical functional device, in particular a high-temperature fuel cell. The unit has a multi-layer solid-state electrolyte arranged between a porous anode and a porous cathode. The solid-state electrolyte is produced by a vapor deposition process and has a sandwich-type structure consisting of at least one first layer with a lower oxygen content, and at least one second layer with a higher oxygen content. The individual layers have substantially the same composition, with the exception of oxygen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2014Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: MARKUS HAYDN, MATTHIAS RUETTINGER, THOMAS FRANCO, SVEN UHLENBRUCK, THOMAS JUNG, KAI ORTNER
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Publication number: 20160111732Abstract: A plate-shaped, porous, carrier substrate produced by powder metallurgy for a metal-supported electrochemical functional device, includes a marginal region and a central region with a surface configured to receive a layer stack with electrochemically active layers on a cell-facing side of the carrier substrate. A surface section of the marginal region has a melt phase of the carrier substrate material on the cell-facing side of the carrier substrate. At least sections of a region located beneath the surface section having the melt phase have a higher porosity than the surface section disposed above them and having the melt phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Thomas Franco, Markus Haydn, Markus Koegl, Matthias Ruettinger, Gebhard Zobl
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Publication number: 20160093900Abstract: A fuel cell (1) has a plate (2) produced by powder metallurgy which comprises in one piece a porous substrate area (4) to which the electrochemically active cell layers (6) are applied, and a gastight edge area (5) which is provided with gas passages (17, 18).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Marco Brandner, Thomas Franco, Georg Kunschert, Reinhold Zach, Gebhard Zobl
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Patent number: 9048498Abstract: The substrate-supported anode for a high-temperature fuel cell comprises an at least three-layer anode laminate on a metallic substrate. Each of the layers of the anode laminate comprises yttria-stabilized zirconia and nickel, wherein the mean particle size of the nickel decreases from one layer to the next as the distance from the substrate increases. The last layer of the anode laminate, which is provided for contact with the electrolyte, has a root mean square roughness of less than 4 ?m. The overall mean pore size of this layer is typically between 0.3 and 1.5 ?m. Starting powders having a bimodal particle size distribution of yttria-stabilized zirconia and nickel-containing powder are used at least for the first and second layers of the anode laminate. The mean particle size of the nickel-containing powder is reduced from one layer to the next, whereby it is advantageously no more than 0.5 ?m in the last layer of the anode laminate.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2010Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbHInventors: Robert Muecke, Norbert H. Menzler, Hans Peter Buchkremer, Matthias Ruettinger, Marco Brandner, Thomas Franco, Andreas Venskutonis
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Publication number: 20130189606Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly comprising an electrode, an electrolyte, and a carrier substrate. The assembly is suitable for a fuel cell. An adaptation layer for adapting the electrolyte to the electrode is disposed between the electrode and the electrolyte, wherein the mean pore size of the adaptation layer is smaller than the mean pore size of the electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: July 25, 2013Inventors: Matthias Ruettinger, Marco Brandner, Thomas Franco, Andreas Venskutonis, Robert Muecke, Norbert Menzler, Hans Peter Buchkremer
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Publication number: 20120244456Abstract: The substrate-supported anode for a high-temperature fuel cell comprises an at least three-layer anode laminate on a metallic substrate. Each of the layers of the anode laminate comprises yttria-stabilized zirconia and nickel, wherein the mean particle size of the nickel decreases from one layer to the next as the distance from the substrate increases. The last layer of the anode laminate, which is provided for contact with the electrolyte, has a root mean square roughness of less than 4 ?m. The overall mean pore size of this layer is typically between 0.3 and 1.5 ?m. Starting powders having a bimodal particle size distribution of yttria-stabilized zirconia and nickel-containing powder are used at least for the first and second layers of the anode laminate. The mean particle size of the nickel-containing powder is reduced from one layer to the next, whereby it is advantageously no more than 0.5 ?m in the last layer of the anode laminate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2010Publication date: September 27, 2012Inventors: Robert Muecke, Norbert H. Menzler, Hans Peter Buchkremer, Matthias Ruettinger, Marco Brandner, Thomas Franco, Andreas Venskutonis