Patents Issued in March 6, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030044614
    Abstract: Laminates are prepared from resin-impregnated flexible graphite sheets. Impregnated sheets are calendered and layers of the calendered sheets, which may also be coated with a resin adhesive, are stacked into structures which optionally contains layers of metals or plastics. After curing at elevated temperature and pressure, 2500 psi and 150° C., the laminates form dense machinable structures suitable for uses such as electronic thermal management (ETM) devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Julian Norley, John Joseph Brady, George Getz, Jeremy Klug
  • Publication number: 20030044615
    Abstract: A carbon fiber in which hexagonal carbon layers in the shape of a bottomless cup are stacked. At least part of edges of the hexagonal carbon layers are exposed on an outer surface and an inner surface of the carbon fiber. The exposed large ring end has an armchair edge, a zigzag edge, and a chiral edge on the circumference. This carbon fiber has a high degree of activity on the exposed edges of the hexagonal carbon layers and the surfaces of the carbon fiber. Therefore, the carbon fiber can be used as various types of filters and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: GSI CREOS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Yanagisawa, Shunji Higaki
  • Publication number: 20030044616
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide not only a semiconductor wafer obtained by forming a semiconductor thin film with uniform resistivity and substantially no slip dislocation on a main surface of a semiconductor single crystal substrate having a relatively low dopant concentration, as large as 300 mm or more in diameter but also a vapor phase growth apparatus by means of which such a semiconductor wafer can be produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Shin-Etsu Handotai, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Ose
  • Publication number: 20030044617
    Abstract: A building unit for constructing a multi-layered, finite length structure, and a method of building such a structure is disclosed. Rolls of stock material are stored in cartridge stations adjacent to a build table. Mounted on the build table and capable of traveling the length of the build table is a build shuttle. The stock material is moved onto the build shuttle and as the shuttle travels the length of the table, the material is dispensed and laid onto the table. The shear assembly on the build shuttle cuts the material to a specified length. In this manner, a plurality of layers are laid onto the table until a structure containing a desired number of layers is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Ronald Alan Wellman, Kent Alan Stubbendieck, Mario Antonio Rago
  • Publication number: 20030044618
    Abstract: A polymerizable epoxy (meth)acrylate oligomer obtained by reacting (a) one or more bromine-containing epoxy resins; and (b) one or more (meth)acrylate functional acids, process for preparing the oligomer, coatings and adhesives, and articles comprising the coating or adhesive, especially optical fiber, lens, and communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Mingxin Fan, Gary Ceska, James Horgan
  • Publication number: 20030044619
    Abstract: Single coat coating systems (22), as well as articles coated with such non-stick coating systems, are provided. The single coat system includes a fluoropolymer copolymer (14a), such as a fluoropolymer terpolymer including tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride monomers, which fluoropolymer copolymers are referred to collectively as THV. The single coat system exhibits excellent substrate adhesion and release properties, is resistant to separation failure at the interface between the binder (12) and fluoropolymer components (14a), and exhibits excellent adhesion to smooth substrates (16). The single coat system may also include a high level of fillers to provide increased damage resistance without compromising the above benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Leech, Daniel C. Chung, Michael W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20030044620
    Abstract: Described is an article of a non-elastomeric poly(urea-urethane) substrate having free isocyanato surface groups and at least a partial coating of a photochromic polymeric coating on at least one surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Michael O. Okoroafor, Robert A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030044621
    Abstract: Processes for controlling thickness uniformity of thin organosilicate films as they are deposited on a substrate, and as they finally result. During deposition of the film, which may be accomplished by CVD, PECVD, rapid thermal processing or the like, the substrate temperature is controlled to establish a temperature profile particularly suited to the extreme temperature sensitivities of the deposition rates of organosilicate films such as those deposited from TEOS as a source material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Kyung Won, Takako Takehara, William R. Harshbarger
  • Publication number: 20030044622
    Abstract: A silicon wafer is provided having controlled distribution of defects, in which denuded zones having a sufficient depth inward from the surface of the wafer are combined with a high gettering effect in a bulk region of the wafer. In the silicon wafer, oxygen precipitates, which act as intrinsic gettering sites, show vertical distribution. The oxygen precipitate concentration profile from the top to the bottom surfaces of the wafer includes first and second peaks at first and second predetermined depths from the top and bottom surfaces of the wafer, denuded zones between the top and bottom surfaces of the wafer and each of the first and second peaks, and a concave region between the first and second peaks, which corresponds to a bulk region of the wafer. For such an oxygen precipitate concentration profile, the wafer is exposed to a rapid thermal annealing process in a gas mixture atmosphere comprising ammonia (NH3) and argon (Ar) at temperatures below about 1200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Jea-Gun Park
  • Publication number: 20030044623
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave (EM) absorber is constructed by integrally laminating an EM-absorbing layer having an EM-absorbing filler dispersed in a silicone resin on at least one surface of an EM-reflecting layer having an electrically conductive filler dispersed in a silicone resin. It has satisfactory EM-absorbing and shielding abilities and is workable, flexible, weather resistant and heat resistant due to the nature of the silicone resin itself. The use of the silicone resin in both the EM-absorbing and reflecting layers ensures that a firm bond is established between the layers. In a preferred embodiment wherein a heat conductive filler is blended, the absorber has a satisfactory heat transfer ability as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Ikuo Sakurai, Hironao Fujiki
  • Publication number: 20030044624
    Abstract: An article protected by a thermal barrier coating system is fabricated by providing an article substrate having a substrate surface, thereafter depositing a bond coat on the substrate surface, the bond coat having a bond coat surface, and thereafter processing the bond coat to flatten the bond coat surface. A thermal barrier coating is deposited overlying the bond coat surface. The thermal barrier coating is yttria-stabilized zirconia having a yttria content of from about 3 percent by weight to about 5 percent by weight of the yttria-stabilized zirconia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Robert William Bruce
  • Publication number: 20030044625
    Abstract: An image-receiving sheet for electrophotography having improved gloss is provided, which sheet is capable of preventing reverse transferring of a toner image to the fixing part, i.e., offset. The image-receiving sheet is capable of improving peeling of the image-receiving sheet and the fixing part from each other to provide stable paper feeding ability and a stable image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Yasutomo Goto
  • Publication number: 20030044626
    Abstract: The present invention provides: a coating composition, with which a 1-coat finish of plastic materials such as polyolefin materials can be performed, and which is aqueous and can be baked at 70° C. for 5 min. keep to have the following performance high adhesion, excellent beef tallow resistance and alkaline resistance; and a coated article. The aqueous coating composition comprises: a poly(propylene chloride) resin emulsion including a poly(propylene chloride) resin which has a chlorine content of 15 to 25 weight % and a maleic anhydride moiety content of 1.0 to 5.0 weight %; an acrylic resin emulsion including an acrylic resin which is obtained by modifying the poly(propylene chloride) resin of 0 to 30 weight % and has a glass transition temperature of not lower than 90° C., a polycarbodiimide crosslinking agent; and a resin powder. An coated article is coated with the above aqueous coating composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Toyota Technical Center, U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Juhan Kim, Jeffrey Makarewicz, Mamoru Kozaki, Kenichi Yasunaga, Jesse Fritcher, Takashi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030044627
    Abstract: Disclosed are a resin sheet that has a resin layer which is made up of a thermoplastic resin and which has a degree of orientation of not less than 0.0002 and not more than 0.0020, and a thermoformed article and laminate structure. The resin sheet is preferably employed in a thermoforming process. Particlarly favorable application of the resin sheet is a paintless film, which is usually thermoformed and then laminated to a molten resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenichi Higashi, Kouichi Yanase
  • Publication number: 20030044628
    Abstract: Ultra low haze, co-extruded, thermoplastic polymer film prepared by co-extrusion of a blend of polyethyleneterephthalate with organic and inorganic fillers in at least one skin layer on a virtually particle-free polyethyleneterephthalate core layer; the inorganic fillers are aluminum oxide particles and/or silicon oxide of average particle size of about 0.035 &mgr;m to about 0.3 &mgr;m, and wherein particles of the organic filler have a particle size of less than or equal to about 0.8 &mgr;m and are present in an amount less than about 0.04% by weight, based on the weight of the polyethyleneterephthalate, the skin layer being less than about 3 &mgr;m in thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Butera, Hiroshi Furuya, William Fritz, Yasuo Nishigaki, Steven J. Sargeant
  • Publication number: 20030044629
    Abstract: A wood preservative composition which comprises water soluble acidic copper salts plus water soluble fatty amine salts in a weight ratio of from 0.1 to 10 parts water soluble fatty amine salt for each part of water soluble acidic copper salt. Methods for protecting wood from termites, decay, and mildew, and for reducing the ferrous metal corrosion properties of water soluble copper salts by using the disclosed composition are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Howard West
  • Publication number: 20030044630
    Abstract: Fire-resistant prefabricated structural element having a relatively small average thickness, comprising a substrate based on cured plaster, said substrate being able to be obtained by hydration, for example mixing, of dry matter comprising mostly at least a hydratable calcium sulfate, and a mineral additive in discrete form, comprising a clayey material, characterized in that the mineral additive essentially comprises a clayey material, the quantity of crystalline silica of which is at most equal to approximately 15% by weight of said mineral additive, and an inert mineral supplement compatible with the clayey material and dispersible in the cured-plaster substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Claude Leclercq
  • Publication number: 20030044631
    Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally conductive, elastomeric pads and methods for manufacturing such pads. The methods involve injection-molding a thermally conductive composition comprising about 30 to 60% by volume of an elastomer polymer matrix and about 25 to 60% by volume of a thermally conductive filler material. The resultant pads have heat transfer properties and can be used as a thermal interface to protect heat-generating electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: E. Mikhail Sagal, Kevin A. McCullough, James D. Miller
  • Publication number: 20030044632
    Abstract: A sheet metal profile support (10) for automotive construction, such as a cross member, rocker panel, or frame support is disclosed, with a U-shaped, parabolic, or horseshoe-shaped profile cross section (12), in which, in at least one section (14) of the two legs (16, 18) of the profile, a first and second sheet metal layer (20, 22) rest flush against each other as a sheet doubling and in the region of the free ends of the legs (16, 18), the sheet metal layers (20, 22) are connected to each other in one piece by means of a beaded edge (32) that has a hollow chamber (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Gerhard Schonleber, Alexander Dollischek
  • Publication number: 20030044633
    Abstract: An article protected by a protective coating has a substrate and a protective coating having an outer layer deposited upon the substrate surface and a diffusion zone formed by interdiffusion of the outer layer and the substrate. The protective coating includes platinum, aluminum, no more than about 2 weight percent hafnium, and substantially no silicon. The outer layer is substantially a single phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Bangalore Aswatha Nagaraj, Jeffrey Lawrence Williams
  • Publication number: 20030044634
    Abstract: An article protected by a protective coating includes a substrate made of a first nickel-base superalloy substrate material that is susceptible to the formation of a secondary reaction zone when overlaid by a diffusion aluminide coating or an aluminide overlay coating. A protective coating including a deposited coating at the substrate surface. The deposited coating is a second nickel-base superalloy different from the first nickel-base superalloy and which does not produce a secondary reaction zone when interdiffused with the first nickel-base superalloy. In one version, the deposited coating has a nominal composition, in weight percent, of about 3.1 percent cobalt, about 7.6 percent chromium, about 7.8 percent aluminum, about 5.45 percent tantalum, about 3.85 percent tungsten, about 1.65 percent rhenium, about 0.02 percent carbon, about 0.016 percent hafnium, about 0.015 percent boron, about 0.5 percent silicon, balance nickel and incidental impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Kelly, P. Kennard Wright
  • Publication number: 20030044635
    Abstract: The material for a metal strip for manufacturing electrical contact component parts has, expressed in percent by weight, the following composition: 1 nickel (Ni) 0.5-3.5% silicon (Si) 0.08-1.0%  tin (Sn) 0.1-1.0% zinc (Zn) 0.1-1.0% zirconium (Zr) 0.005-0.2%  silver (Ag) 0.02-0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Udo Adler, Jurgen Gebhardt, Heinz Klenen, Robert Leffers, Thomas Helmenkamp
  • Publication number: 20030044636
    Abstract: A free-space optical communication apparatus includes a storage unit which stores angle-setting information for the mirror for communicating with each of the plurality of other apparatuses, a mirror driving unit which drives the mirror to an angle corresponding to the stored angle-setting information, an optical detecting unit which, on one occasion for communicating with a specified communication apparatus among the plurality of other apparatuses, detects the incident state of an optical beam sent from the specified apparatus, and a control unit which, based on the detected incident state of the optical beam, determines angle-correcting information for correcting the stored angle-setting information for the specified apparatus, and which, on the next occasion for communicating with the specified apparatus, uses the mirror driving unit to drive the mirror to an angle corresponding to the angle-setting information corrected by the angle-correcting information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuo Sakanaka
  • Publication number: 20030044637
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a precision machine part, comprising the steps of: dividing a precision machine part into a plurality of pieces on an arbitrary face in the axial direction of a conveyance passage in which liquid or gas of a pipe line or cylinder passes; interposing a bonding alloy containing V in 1 to 10 atomic % between the divided faces; quickly heating by high frequency induction heating in an oxidizing atmosphere containing oxygen in not less than 0.01 mass %; and controlling a cooling rate after isothermal solidification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Yasushi Hasegawa, Yasuhiro Shinohara, Yutaka Takagi
  • Publication number: 20030044638
    Abstract: A welded steel pipe is formed by heating or soaking an untreated welded steel pipe having a steel composition comprising, on the basis of mass percent: about 0.05% to about 0.3% C; about 2.0% or less of Si; more than about 1.5% to about 5.0% Mn; about 0.1% or less of P; about 0.01% or less of S; about 0.1% or less of Cr; about 0.1% or less of Al; about 0.1% or less of Nb; about 0.3% or less of Ti; and about 0.01% or less of N; and by diameter-reduction-rolling the treated steel pipe at a accumulated diameter reduction rate of at least about 35% and a finish rolling temperature of about 500° C. to about 900° C. The welded steel pipe exhibits excellent hydroformability, i.e., has a tensile strength of about 780 MPa or more and a n×r product of at least about 0.15. The treated steel pipe is preferably diameter-reduction-rolled at a accumulated diameter reduction rate of at least about 20% below the Ar3 transformation point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: KAWASAKI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Toyooka, Masatoshi Aratani, Yoshikazu Kawabata, Yuji Hashimoto, Akira Yorifuji, Takatoshi Okabe, Takuya Nagahama, Mitsuo Kimura
  • Publication number: 20030044639
    Abstract: Disclosed is an organic electroluminescence multi-color display comprising a transparent electrode, a plurality of organic compound material layers including at least light emitting layers, a metal electrode, which are stacked on a transparent substrate in sequence, respectively, and a plurality of organic electroluminescence elements comprising the light emitting layers made of different organic compound materials and taking on different colors of light emission. Each of functional layers, having the same function, of the organic compound material layers excluding the light emitting layers are different in thickness corresponding to a color of emitted light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Yoshinori Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20030044640
    Abstract: Novel styryl compounds represented by the following general formulae (1) and (2): 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Masakazu Funahashi, Hiromasa Arai, Chishio Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20030044641
    Abstract: Provided are spirobifluorene compounds which can provide excellent processibility with improved solubility in organic solvents, an electroluminescence (EL) polymer obtained therefrom and an EL element having the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Jeong Ik Lee, Hyoyoung Lee, Jiyoung Oh, Hye Yong Chu, Lee-Mi Do, Seong Hyun Kim, Taehyoung Zyung
  • Publication number: 20030044642
    Abstract: Provided are bisphenylene-spirobifluorene compounds, a method for synthesizing the same, and EL material and device having the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Hyoyoung Lee, Jiyoung Oh, Hye Yong Chu, Jeong Ik Lee, Seong Hyun Kim, Lee-Mi Do, Taehyoung Zyung
  • Publication number: 20030044643
    Abstract: In an organic electroluminescent element comprising an anode layer, an organic luminescent layer, an inorganic compound layer (or reductive dopant layer) and a cathode layer; the organic luminescent layer comprises an aromatic amine compound of a formula (1), and/or an aromatic amine compound of a formula (2) 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Takashi Arakane, Kenichi Fukuoka, Chishio Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20030044644
    Abstract: Compound for a red organic EL device and an organic EL device using the same, which can improve an luminance efficiency, an emitting light color and a device stability, the compound of the following structural formula: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Uk Kim, Yoon-Heung Tak
  • Publication number: 20030044645
    Abstract: In an organic EL device comprising a cathode, an anode, and two or more stacked organic layers therebetween including a light emitting layer, an electron injecting organic layer containing an organic salt or complex of a metal having a standard electrode potential of more negative than −1.8 V at 25° C. is formed close to the cathode by coating, and an organic layer containing a high molecular weight EL material is disposed close to the electron injecting organic layer. A multilayer structure of organic layers can be formed by coating, and the organic EL device has a high luminance, high efficiency, high reliability, long life and ease of handling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emiko Kambe, Masahiro Shinkai
  • Publication number: 20030044646
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device containing an anode, an organic electroluminescent element, and a cathode wherein the electroluminescent element contains, for example, a fluorescent hydrocarbon component of Formula (I) 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Nan-Xing Hu, Hany Aziz, Poonam Jain, Zoran D. Popovic
  • Publication number: 20030044647
    Abstract: A magnetic disk is provided which comprises a nonmetallic glass or glass ceramic substrate having one or more under layers, a magnetic layer applied over the under layers, and a hard carbon layer applied over the magnetic layer. A plurality of bumps are formed on the magnetic disk by applying a beam from a near infrared wavelength laser to the surface of the carbon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Iraj Kavosh, James Shuster, Andrew Ching Tam
  • Publication number: 20030044648
    Abstract: Magnetic acicular alloy particles containing iron as a main component according to the present invention, have an average major axial diameter of 0.05 to 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Toda Kogyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kohji Mori, Yasutaka Ota
  • Publication number: 20030044649
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium exhibits a high coercive force and suppresses noises caused therefrom at a low level. The magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic substrate, a nonmagnetic undercoating layer on the substrate where the undercoating layer has a hexagonal close packing structure or a combination of the hexagonal close packing structure and a body center cubic structure. The magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic intermediate layer on the undercoating layer, where the intermediate layer has a hexagonal close packing structure or a combination of the hexagonal close packing structure and a body center cubic structure, and a magnetic layer on the intermediate layer. The magnetic layer has a granular structure formed of ferromagnetic crystal grains and oxide grain boundaries or nitride grain boundaries surrounding the ferromagnetic crystal grains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Takizawa, Takahiro Shimizu, Hiroyuki Uwazumi, Tadaaki Oikawa, Miyabi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20030044650
    Abstract: A thin film structure comprising a protective layer structure having at least two different compositions of carbon and nitrogen with the surface of the protective layer having the lowest nitrogen content is disclosed. The protective layer structure of the invention is preferably used over the magnetic material in a thin film magnetic disk. In the protective layer structure of the invention, the durability of a relatively high nitrogen content CNx material is improved by the addition of a surface sublayer of CNx with a relatively low nitrogen concentration. The resulting protective layer structure provides superior durability to either of the thin film compositions used alone achieving a synergistic result. The protective layer structure of the invention has the additional benefit of decreasing the polar surface energy and therefore, improving the corrosion resistance of the film structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Hong Deng, George William Tyndall, Richard Longstreth White
  • Publication number: 20030044651
    Abstract: The optical fluoride crystal treatment device of the invention includes a enclosure (12) separating the device from its external environment, heating means to heat and keep the internal volume (16) of said enclosure (12) at a predetermined temperature, at least one hollow platform (20) delimiting an internal chamber (22) whose upper wall (24) bears at least two independent diffusers (30) each delimiting a cavity (32) able to receive a unitary quantity (100) of said optical fluoride crystal substance, each of said cavities (32) communicating with said internal chamber (22) of the corresponding platform (20), a gas supply source containing said reactive gas, and means (50, 52, 54) for distributing said gas containing said reactive gas from said supply source to the inside of the internal chamber of each platform and having means (44) for regulating the pressure of said distributed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Alain Kerdoncuff, Alexandre M. Mayolet
  • Publication number: 20030044652
    Abstract: A heat treatable coated article includes an oxidation graded layer designed so as to include an at least partially oxided anti-migration or barrier layer(s) portion provided between a solar management layer portion (e.g., NiCr layer portion) and a dielectric layer (e.g., silicon nitride). In certain example embodiments, the anti-migration or barrier layer(s) portion may include a metal oxide, and function(s) to prevent element(s) from migrating between the solar management layer and the dielectric layer upon heat treatment (HT) of the coated article. As a result, the coated article has improved color stability (and thus a lower &Dgr;E* value) upon HT. In certain example embodiments, a single target may be used to sputter the graded layer including the anti-migration layer portions and the more metallic central portion. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, other architectural windows, vehicle windows, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Hong Wang
  • Publication number: 20030044653
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an aluminum nitride sintered body which has excellent mechanical strength and in which ceramic particles is prevented from coming off from the surface and/or side thereof and generation of free particles is suppressed. The aluminum nitride sintered body of the present invention is wherein it contains sulfur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Yasuji Hiramatsu, Yasutaka Ito
  • Publication number: 20030044654
    Abstract: Extending external telephone calls as conference calls with other communicatively proximate wireless devices is disclosed. An external call is established between a primary wireless device and a remote device, through a remote master station for the primary wireless device according to a first communication manner. The primary wireless device invites at least one other communicatively proximate wireless device to join the external call according to a second communication manner. For those of the at least one other wireless device that accepted the invitation to join the external call, the primary wireless device extends the external call as a conference call with these devices according to the second communication manner. The extension of the external call as a conference call is accomplished without a local master station, and without the remote master station being aware of the conference call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Laurence E. Holt
  • Publication number: 20030044655
    Abstract: The technique of the present invention attains simple and accurate evaluation of the performance of a fuel cell and enables produce of a high-performance electrode catalyst and a high-performance fuel cell. The procedure makes platinum, a noble metal, and iron, a base metal, carried on carbon having a large specific surface area, and heats up the carbon with platinum and iron to a specific temperature to reduce iron. A resulting platinum-iron alloy electrode catalyst exerts excellent catalytic functions. A fuel cell using this electrode catalyst has a high IR compensation voltage. The quantity of carbon monoxide adsorbed by this novel electrode catalyst is not less than 14 Ncc per one gram of platinum. The atomic number ratio of iron (Fe) to platinum (Pt) in the catalyst is not lower than 0.14 by EDX analysis, and the ratio of the binding number of Pt atom with Fe atom to the total binding number relating to Pt atom is not lower than 0.10 by EXAFS analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisao Kato, Takahiko Asaoka, Kazutaka Hiroshima
  • Publication number: 20030044656
    Abstract: An improved system for generating electrical power using a fuel cell. More particularly, a system for generating hydrogen gas by reacting water vapor with a substantially non-fluid substance and transporting the generated hydrogen gas to the fuel cell which generates electrical power. Reacting water vapor with the non-fluid hydrogen generating substance rather than liquid water prevents caking of the non-fluid substance and deposition of byproducts onto the non-fluid substance that interfere with continued generation of hydrogen gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Roland A. Wood
  • Publication number: 20030044657
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of unit cells stacked together. End cell stacks are disposed at opposite ends of the unit cells in the stacking direction. The unit cells between the end cell stacks are electrically connected in series. A first unit cell and a second unit cell in each of the end cell stacks are electrically connected in parallel by a cable. In each of the first and second unit cells a membrane electrode assembly is interposed between a first separator, and a second separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Hayashi, Hideo Okamoto, Hideo Kato
  • Publication number: 20030044658
    Abstract: A control system (20) for controlling the state of charge in an energy storage device (28) by manipulating the voltage of a fuel cell (24) through dynamic system modeling of predetermined parameters (21) for the fuel cell (24) as well as the energy storage device (28). According to the method (100) of the present invention, manipulation (108) of predetermined parameters related to the fuel cell and the energy storage device control the energy storage device to a desired state of charge or divides the load current between the two devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Clark Hochgraf, Prabhakar Singh
  • Publication number: 20030044659
    Abstract: A method and apparatus estimate hydrogen concentration in a reformate stream produced by a fuel processor of a fuel cell. A sensor measures carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water in the reformate stream. A fuel meter controls fuel input to the fuel processor. An air meter controls air input to the fuel processor. A water meter controls water input to the fuel processor. A transport delay estimator recursively estimates transport delay of the fuel processor. A hydrogen estimator associated with the transport delay estimator, the air, water and fuel meters, and the sensor estimates hydrogen concentration in the reformate stream. The hydrogen estimator includes a fuel processor model that is adjusted using the estimated transport delay. The carbon monoxide, the carbon dioxide and the water are measured using a nondispersive infrared (NDIR) sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Patricia J. Nelson, Manish Sinha
  • Publication number: 20030044660
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus, powered by a fuel cell, having a detector that monitors the oxygen density in the air provided to the fuel cell. The electronic apparatus has a plurality of power consumption modes one of which is selected based on the oxygen density to ensure steady operation. The electronic apparatus further includes an oxygen density regulator that controls the amount of the air provided to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hideyuki Motoyama, Hideki Tanaka, Satoshi Kazama
  • Publication number: 20030044661
    Abstract: A cooling fan system for a vehicle with fuel cell propulsion, wherein air is moved by means of a cooling fan for cooling purposes through a heat exchanger and can thereafter be supplied to the environmental air either directly or indirectly after satisfying one or more further cooling tasks, characterized in that an air branching device is provided which supplies at least a part of the air delivered by each fan to a duct and thereby enables the use of the branched-off air for the starting of the fuel cells and/or for the maintenance of the operation of the fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Klaus-Peter Harth
  • Publication number: 20030044662
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method and apparatus for thermal management in a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack, and a coolant loop to remove heat from the stack. The coolant loop includes a radiator to remove heat from the coolant loop. The coolant loop also includes a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger that can be used to remove heat form the coolant loop. The coolant from the coolant loop flows through a first side of the heat exchanger. The second side of the heat exchanger is not used by the fuel cell system, but rather is made available to systems outside the fuel cell system, which can circulate a fluid through the heat exchanger to heat the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Plug Power Inc.
    Inventor: Michael M. Walsh
  • Publication number: 20030044663
    Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cell incorporating a thermal management scheme and associated methods of operation. In one aspect, a fuel cell system includes a frame enclosing a fuel cell, a coolant flow circuit and a heat exchanger. The frame has at least one external panel mounted thereon to enclose the fuel cell, a coolant circuit and heat exchanger. The coolant flow circuit is adapted to circulate a coolant through the heat exchanger and across a surface of the fuel cell to provide heat transfer between the fuel cell and the heat exchanger. An inlet orifice and an outlet orifice are coupled to the frame and to the heat exchanger, and are adapted to provide an export flow circuit from the inlet orifice through the heat exchanger to the outlet orifice. An insulating material is fixed to a surface of the external panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Plug Power Inc.
    Inventors: Arne W. Ballantine, Ryan Hallum