Patents Issued in August 31, 2004
  • Patent number: 6783646
    Abstract: An oven insert (110) for a gas generating system of the type that includes heating elements, heat exchanger, a gas generating module (22), an air inlet, and a product gas outlet, includes a furnace enclosure member formed with a plurality of interior chambers. The interior chambers (112) are adapted for holding at least one gas generating module (22). The interior chambers (112) each have an opening (122) formed an exterior face (124) of the furnace enclosure member (110). The openings are spaced along a central axis (126) of the face (124) of the furnace enclosure member (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Carleton Life Support Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Sehlin, Timothy C. Phillis
  • Patent number: 6783647
    Abstract: Microfluidic systems and methods are disclosed which are adapted to transport and lyse cellular components of a test sample for analysis. The disclosed microfluidic systems and methods, which employ an electric field to rupture the cell membrane, cause unusually rapid lysis, thereby minimizing continued cellular activity and resulting in greater accuracy of analysis of cell processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher T. Culbertson, Stephen C. Jacobson, Maxine A. McClain, J. Michael Ramsey
  • Patent number: 6783648
    Abstract: An apparatus for expressing and unloading an isoelectric focusing gel from an electrophoresis gel tube includes a first support for supporting the gel tube, a plunger rod and a second support for supporting the plunger rod. The first support is mounted on a movable carriage and is moved toward the second support so that the gel tube slides onto the plunger rod to unload the gel from the gel tube. A plurality of gel tubes can be mounted in a rack and the rack coupled to the first support. The first support preferably includes a plurality of openings oriented with the gel tubes for guiding a respective plunger rod through the axial passage of the gel tubes. In preferred embodiments, the second support supporting the plunger rods is substantially stationary while the first support moves toward the second support so that the gel tubes slide onto the plunger rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Large Scale Proteomics Corporation
    Inventors: N. Leigh Anderson, Jack Goodman
  • Patent number: 6783649
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a high throughput capillary electrophoresis (CE) system, which comprises multiple mobile CE detector modules that are transportable by a programmable fluid-handling arm assembly to fixed samples in microtiter plate wells for analysis. The CE system of the invention is capable of simultaneously automating sample preparation and multiple CE analysis of the sample in a continuous timely process. The CE detector modules of the invention may be equipped with any suitable detection method, such as an ultraviolet (UV) absorbance or a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Cetek Corporation
    Inventors: Herbert J. Hedberg, Brian Kangas, James L. Waters
  • Patent number: 6783650
    Abstract: A capillary cassette is made up of two separated holders, an array of capillaries and a tube. The capillaries that make up the array are inserted into the first holder, extend through second holder having a detection window and then the capillary array is aligned and then bundled and inserted into a heat shrinkable tube which covers positions to which filler is applied, the tube is heated and shrunk to bundle them in an airtight manner and inserted into a mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignees: The Institute of Physical & Chemical Research, Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihide Hayashizaki, Shin Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6783651
    Abstract: A gel and buffer system for gel electrophoresis wherein separation occurs at neutral pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy V. Updyke, Sheldon C. Engelhorn
  • Patent number: 6783652
    Abstract: A resin plate having wiring pattern recesses and via through holes is made. All of the surfaces of the resin plate including inner walls of the wiring pattern recesses and via through holes are coated with a metal film. An electro-plating is applied using the metal film as a power-supply layer to fill a plated metal into the wiring pattern recesses and via through holes. The metal film formed on the resin plate except for the inner walls of the wiring pattern recesses and via through holes is removed, so that wiring pattern and via are exposed on a surface the same as that of the resin plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Iijima, Akio Rokugawa, Yasuyoshi Horikawa
  • Patent number: 6783653
    Abstract: A new class of solar selective absorption coatings are disclosed. These coatings comprise a structured metallic overlayer such that the overlayer has a sub-micron structure designed to efficiently absorb solar radiation, while retaining low thermal emissivity for infrared thermal radiation. A sol-gel layer protects the structured metallic overlayer from mechanical, thermal, and environmental degradation. Processes for producing such solar selective absorption coatings are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R. Mahoney, Scott T. Reed, Carol S. Ashley, F. Edward Martinez
  • Patent number: 6783654
    Abstract: A plating bath which accommodates an insoluble anode and a printed-circuit board, and a copper dissolved bath which supplies copper ions are arranged. The insoluble anode is arranged as opposed to the printed-circuit board being a cathode, and a forward/reverse current is applied between both of the electrodes. Iron ions are added to a plating solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Toshiki Inoue, Kyoko Kumagai
  • Patent number: 6783655
    Abstract: A refractory boride body or coating made of a boride of titanium, chromium, vanadium, ziconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, molybednum and cerium is produced from a slurry of the refractory boride or a precursor in a collidal carrier preferably composed of two more different grades of the same colloidal carrier selected from colloidal alumina, yttria, ceria, thoria, zirconia, magnesia, lithia, monoaluminum phosphate and cerium acetate. The slurry can also comprise an organic additive selected from polyvinyl alcohol; polyacrylic acid; hydroxyy propyl methyl cellulose; polythylene glycol; ethylene glycol, butyl benzyl phthalate; ammonium polymethacrylate and mixtures thereof. The retractory boride body or coated body is useful as a component of aluminum electrowinning cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Moltech Invent S.A.
    Inventors: Jainagesh Akkaraju Sekhar, Jean-Jacques Duruz, James Jenq Liu
  • Patent number: 6783656
    Abstract: A cell for the electrowinning of aluminum using anodes (10) made from a alloy of iron with nickel and/or cobalt is arranged to produce aluminum of low contamination and of commercial high grade quality. The cell comprises a cathode (20) of drained configuration and operates at reduced temperature without formation of a crust or ledge of solidified electrolyte. The cell is thermally insulated using an insulating cover (65,65a,65b,65c) and an insulating sidewall lining (71). The molten electrolyte (30) is substantially saturated with alumina, particularly on the electrochemically active anode surface, and with species of at least one major metal present at the surface of the nickel-iron alloy based anodes (10). The cell is preferably operated at reduced temperature from 730° to 910° C. to limit the solubility of these metal species and consequently the contamination of the product aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: MoltechInvent S.A.
    Inventors: Vittorio De Nora, Jean-Jacques Duruz
  • Patent number: 6783657
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for the electrolytic removal of platinum and/or other of the Group 8-11 metals from substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene P. Marsh, Stefan Uhlenbrock, Donald L. Westmoreland
  • Patent number: 6783658
    Abstract: A target material is electropolished by applying a voltage between an anode electrode and a counter electrode while bringing the anode electrode into contact with the surface of the target material. The anode electrode is formed of an electrode material having a current density not higher than 10 mA/cm2 upon application of a voltage of +2.5V vs. silver/silver chloride electrode within a 0.1 M perchloric acid solution in an electrochemical measurement using a potentiostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Matsui, Hiroshi Kosukegawa, Masako Kodera, Naoto Miyashita
  • Patent number: 6783659
    Abstract: A process is provided to produce a dilute ethylene stream and a dilute propylene stream to be used as feedstocks for producing olefin-based derivatives. Specifically, the dilute ethylene stream is used as a feedstock to produce ethylbenzene, and the dilute propylene stream is used as a feedstock to produce cumene, acrylic acid, propylene oxide and other propylene based derivatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Rodney L. Porter, Anne M. Balinsky, Eric P. Weber
  • Patent number: 6783660
    Abstract: The instant invention comprises a hydroprocessing method having at least two stages. The first stage employs a hydroprocessing catalyst which may contain hydrotreating catalyst, hydrocracking catalyst, or a combination of both. The second stage is limited to hydrocracking. Conversion in the second stage may be improved by the addition of multiple reaction zones for hydrocracking, with flash separation zones between the stages. Middle distillate yield is thereby increased and the volume of the recycle stream is reduced. This invention reduces the need for equipment which would normally be required for a large recycle stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur J. Dahlberg, Jerome F. Mayer
  • Patent number: 6783661
    Abstract: A process for producing oils with high viscosity indices from oil distillates or effluents from a conversion unit comprises the following steps: a) catalytic hydrotreatment of the feed in the presence of hydrogen and a non zeolitic catalyst; b) fractionation of at least a portion of the effluent from step a) or step d) described below to an oil residue; c) fractionation by thermal diffusion of at least a portion of the oil residue obtained from step b) into oil fractions with different compositions and viscosity indices. Step b) can be preceded by a step d) for hydrocracking the effluent obtained from step a) in the presence of hydrogen and a zeolitic catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Patrick Briot, Christophe Gueret, Jean-Claude Hipeaux, Eric Benazzi, Pierre Marion, Alain Billon
  • Patent number: 6783662
    Abstract: A cavitation enhanced atomizing process comprises forming a flowing solution of the liquid to be atomized and a lower boiling cavitating liquid. This flowing solution is then contacted with a pressure reducing means, at a temperature below the bubble point of the cavitating liquid in the solution, to produce cavitation bubbles. These bubbles comprise cavitation liquid vapor and the bubble nucleation produces a two-phase fluid of the bubbles and liquid solution. The two-phase fluid is passed downstream into and through an atomizing means, such as an orifice, and into a lower pressure atomizing zone, in which the bubbles vaporize to form a spray of liquid droplets. The nucleated bubbles also grow in size as the so-formed two-phase fluid passes downstream to and through the atomizing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Dean C. Draemel, Nicholas C. Nahas, Teh C. Ho
  • Patent number: 6783663
    Abstract: A hydroprocessing process, comprising: contacting a feedstock, at hydrotreating conditions, with a bulk multimetallic catalyst comprised of at least one Group VIII non-noble metal and at least two Group VIB metals and wherein the ratio of Group VIB metal to Group VIII non-noble metal is from about 10:1 to about 1:10 to form a hydrotreated product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Lloyd Riley, Darryl Patrick Klein, Zhiguo Hou, Stuart Leon Soled, Michael Charles Kerby, Gary Brice McVicker, Edward Stanley Ellis, Michele Sue Touvelle, Sabato Miseo
  • Patent number: 6783664
    Abstract: A water-treating device having a water jar, a magnetic agitator, an additive container having a bottom plate and a sleeve attached to the bottom plate, and an agitator driver that rotates the magnetic driver. The sleeve of the additive container has an outer wall, an inner wall, and mineral particles filled between the inner wall and the outer wall. The magnetic agitator has a base and a Y-shaped fin that protrudes upward from the base. The magnetic agitator has a magnetic bar between the fin and the base. The base has a shape of a disc having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the lower surface is convex. A metal plate is attached to the lower surface. The bottom plate also has a metal plate that contacts the metal plate of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Hyun Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 6783665
    Abstract: The unit includes a sensor means (20) positioned in the collection chamber to undergo activation when the water level reaches a predetermined maximum value; there is also provided an electrically operated withdrawal device (30) connected to the vehicle electrical system, to withdraw the water separated within the collection chamber through the bleed outlet, or to close the outlet; a microprocessor (40) is also provided, connected to the sensor (20) and to the switch (50) of the vehicle electrical power system, to electrically power the withdrawal device (30) when the sensor (20) is activated and the ignition key is in a first activation position (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: UFI Universal Filter International S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Girondi
  • Patent number: 6783666
    Abstract: A water softening device and a method for regeneration control thereof, in which the hardness of feedwater to be softened is detected with the lapse of time and regeneration timing is controlled based on the detected value. The invention includes an inlet hardness measurement device for measuring the hardness of feedwater to a water softener, treated water quantity measurement device for measuring a flow rate of treated water after passing through the water softener, brine concentration detection device for detecting the concentration of brine in regeneration operation, and brine consumption detection device for detecting tile consumption of brine in regenerating operation. Further, there are included hardness leakage detecting device for measuring the hardness of treated water after passing through the water softener and detecting hardness leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignees: Miura Co., Ltd., Miura Institute of Research & Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takeda, Hitoshi Asamura
  • Patent number: 6783667
    Abstract: A screen unit for removing solid particles from a viscous mass, for example molten plastic. The screen unit includes a housing provided with a supply channel and a discharge channel for the viscous mass, a screen element in the housing between the supply channel and discharge channel, a backflush channel for discharging during backflushing solid particles screened by the screen element and connected to an outflow channel by a shutoff valve, and a pressure element which can be operated to flush back the viscous mass through the screen element at a pressure higher than the pressure in the supply channel. The shutter element is placed along the screen element, and the shutter element is caused to move with respect to the screen element such that during the screening phase the screen element is gradually more exposed for screening and during the backflushing phase the screen element is gradually less exposed to the backflushing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Goya B.V.
    Inventor: Jan J. M. Van Den Goorbergh
  • Patent number: 6783668
    Abstract: A system for pressurized liquid extraction and purification of solid samples includes a pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) module including a PLE cell, a heating element, a high-pressure source of an extraction solvent, a pressure regulator, and a cooling coil. The PLE module continuously performs high-pressure, high-temperature extraction on the solid sample to yield liquid sample. The liquid sample is concurrently provided to a purification module including one or more columns. The purification module yields a purified liquid sub-sample containing substantially all of a specific trace substance present in the solid sample. The sub-samples are transferred to a concentrator assembly through a collector inlet. The concentrated sub-sample can be used in subsequent analysis to determine the concentration of the trace substance in the original solid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Fluid Management Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hamid Shirkhan
  • Patent number: 6783669
    Abstract: Rotating biological contactor-type sewage treatment equipment of the present invention comprises a treatment tank 4 for storing sewage to be treated, a rotation shaft 3 which extends across opposed side walls 4a, 4b of the treatment tank 4, a plurality of rotating discs 1 mounted at a predetermined interval on the rotation shaft 3 in such a manner that each disc is partly submerged in the sewage stored in the treatment tank 4, and a driving means for supplying a driving force to the rotation shaft 3 in order to rotate the rotating discs 1. This equipment treats sewage by rotating the rotating discs 1 on which aerobic bacteria are attached, thereby allowing the aerobic bacteria to contact the sewage and aerobically decompose pollutants in the sewage. Each of the rotating discs 1 is composed of n portions of sector-shaped segments 11, wherein n is an integer not less than 1, and each of the sector-shaped segments 11 is composed of two equally divided sector-shaped pieces 11a, 11b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sekisui Aqua Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiko Okagawa, Hitoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 6783670
    Abstract: A device suitable for treating liquids, in particular contaminated water, which device comprises a treatment chamber and a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet connected to said treatment chamber, wherein a plurality of substantially parallel ultraviolet lamps are disposed in said treatment chamber, wherein said ultraviolet lamps are movable with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Orben Advisors S.A.
    Inventor: Johannes Jacobus Berson
  • Patent number: 6783671
    Abstract: An enhanced activated sludge wastewater treatment method increases volumetric pollutant loading, hydraulic loading capacity and nutrient removal efficiency at a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant. The method describes the control of return activated sludge rates, and the operation of partitioned aeration and reaeration zones according to measured properties of the mixed liquor to achieve the claimed benefits. Operating an existing treatment plant according to the enhanced treatment method provides a more consistent treatment process that is resistant to shock loading and increases plant capacity without the need for costly construction and operation of additional reactors and clarifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Michael T. Unger
  • Patent number: 6783672
    Abstract: Described is an affinity microcolumn comprising a high surface area material, which has high flow properties and a low dead volume, contained within a housing and having affinity reagents bound to the surface of the high surface area material that are either activated or activatable. The affinity reagents bound to the surface of the affinity microcolumn further comprise affinity receptors for the integration into high throughput analysis of biomolecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventors: Kemmons A. Tubbs, Karl F. Gruber, Randall W. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6783673
    Abstract: Apparatus for chromatography, featuring a composite chromatography column including a tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end, where the tubular member includes an innermost first layer comprised of a first material and a second layer comprised of a second material. The chromatography apparatus can also include a first intermediate layer formed from a third material, where at least a portion of the first intermediate layer is disposed between the innermost first layer and the second layer. A second intermediate layer formed from a fourth material, can further be included in the chromatography apparatus, where at least a portion of the second intermediate layer is disposed between the innermost first layer and the second layer. A portion of the second intermediate layer can be disposed between the second layer and the first intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Biotage, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Horsman, Peter C. Van Davelaar
  • Patent number: 6783674
    Abstract: A strainer for straining food is disclosed wherein. The strainer includes a clamping device for clamping the strainer to a center partition of a sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventors: Paul Iannizzotto, Yvonne Iannizzotto
  • Patent number: 6783675
    Abstract: Said floating group comprises: a drum (20) aligned with a center line (M) which rotates within a wrapping bin (10) driven by a motor (32), and when it rotates it creates, by an effect of masses unbalance, an actual rotation axis (N) different from said center line (M); a counterweigh (40) of mass mCE associated to a front part of the bin (10) and a counterweigh (42) of mass mCT associated to a front part of the drum (20), where the ratio [mCT/(mCE+mCT)]×100≧55, said mass mCT either a given magnitude centered with said center line (M) or a very lower magnitude and in the form of one or more fluid rings (60), the stresses the floating group sustains resulting substantially reduced, it being for it made in a light construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventors: Ramon Sans Rovira, Ignasi Riera Curcoll, Carles Riba Romeva
  • Patent number: 6783676
    Abstract: A process for treating water to remove concentrations of nutrients and pollutants using ozone prior or after the water is exposed to natural filtration by periphyton or other aquatic plants. A system employs a deep water tank containing water to be treated is injected at the bottom with concentrated ozonated water to expose the water to be treated to ozone. The treated water exits from the tope of the tank whereby it is flowed over aquatic plant system to remove the undesired matter, such as pesticides. The process can be repeated successively to further treat the water if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: AquaFiber Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Kyle R. Jensen
  • Patent number: 6783677
    Abstract: An anaerobic digester for digesting a slurry of organic waste comprising: a tank having an outer side wall and a lower inner wall, a first radiant heating floor between the outer wall and a first side of the inner wall forming a first chamber and a second radiant heating floor between the outer wall and a second and opposite side of the inner wall forming a second chamber, an inlet pipe for delivering the slurry to a lower portion of the first chamber and a outlet pipe for removing digested slurry from a lower portion of the second chamber, the slurry maintained at a depth that is greater than a height of the inner wall; and a gas collection chamber sealed to the tank along the length of the upper surface of the outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Mayyar Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mayyar F. Irani
  • Patent number: 6783678
    Abstract: Methods for enhancing bioremediation of ground water contaminated with nonaqueous halogenated solvents are disclosed. A preferred method includes adding a composition to the ground water wherein the composition is an electron donor for microbe-mediated reductive dehalogenation of the halogenated solvents and enhances mass transfer of the halogenated solvents from residual source areas into the aqueous phase of the ground water. Illustrative compositions effective in these methods include surfactants such as C2-C4 carboxylic acids and hydroxy acids, salts thereof, esters of C2-C4 carboxylic acids and hydroxy acids, and mixtures thereof. Especially preferred compositions for use in these methods include lactic acid, salts of lactic acid, such as sodium lactate, lactate esters, and mixtures thereof. The microbes are either indigenous to the ground water, or such microbes can be added to the ground water in addition to the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
    Inventor: Kent S. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 6783679
    Abstract: An integrated process for the treatment of organic waste comprising the steps of subjecting said organic waste to biological digestion with recycle of biosolids; contacting the resulting mixture of biosolids and unconverted organic material with one or more oxidizing agents in a chemical treatment unit; monitoring the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the mixture of biosolids and unconverted organic material in the chemical treatment unit and adjusting the concentrations of the oxidizing agents to maintain the ORP within a selected range greater than 0 mV to condition the mixture so that it is more amenable to biodegradation; and returning the conditioned effluent to the biological reactor. The combined effects of improving biodegradability through chemical conditioning act and controlled recycle of biosolids act to reduce net biosolids production to nearly zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: PMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Rozich
  • Patent number: 6783680
    Abstract: A method of preconcentrating trace analytes is accomplished by extracting polar and non-polar analytes through a sol-gel coating. The sol-gel coating is either disposed on the inner surface of a capillary tube or disposed within the tube as a monolithic bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventor: Abdul Malik
  • Patent number: 6783681
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the treatment and purification of drinking water combines the use of an ion-exchange resin and a membrane filter (12) in a single process tank. The ion-exchange resin is removed from the process tank (14) and regenerated for reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: CH2M Hill, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Mueller, Anthony G. Myers
  • Patent number: 6783682
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved desalination process to produce potable water. The process represents an improvement of hybrid of membrane and desalination technologies. The improvement of the invention comprises the operation of an ion selective membrane at a variable pressure as a function of the cost of electricity to form a softened salt water that is blended in variable proportions, to increase the top operating temperature of the desalination system and increase recovery of potable water, with untreated salt water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: L.E.T., Leading Edge Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Leon Awerbuch
  • Patent number: 6783683
    Abstract: A stormwater pollutant separator system is provided with the system having a stormwater pollutant separator, a by-pass system, an intake conduit and an outflow conduit connected together. The stormwater pollutant separator includes a chamber with a weir plate and siphon plate therein. The chamber has first, second, and third sections. The first section is located between the chamber first end and the weir plate. The second section is located between the weir plate and siphon plate. The third section is located between the siphon plate and the chamber second end. In one embodiment the third section has filter material placed intermediate the siphon (sometimes referred to as the second weir) plate and the second end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick X. Collings
  • Patent number: 6783684
    Abstract: A water softening apparatus (10) comprises a regeneration tank (12) and a brine tank (14). An ion exchange resin (26) is located within the regeneration tank (12) and salt (38) is located within the brine tank (14). Water mixes with the salt (38) in the brine tank (14) to form a brine solution. A tube (56) is connected with the brine tank (14) and receives a flow of brine solution from the brine tank (14). A sensor (86) is mounted in the tube (56) for sensing the conductivity of the brine solution as the brine solution flows through the tube (56). The sensor (86) generates a signal indicative of the conductivity of the brine solution. The conductivity of the brine solution is indicative of an amount of salt in the brine solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Paul A. Teel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6783685
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an oil treatment apparatus and method for treatment of oil which transports oil to be treated from a source through a first conduit to a treatment station. The treatment station includes a filter system capable of extracting particulate material from the oil and removing the particulate material from the filter system as it is removed from the oil. The treated oil may then be transported for reuse, preferably in a continuous cycle with the source of the oil. A prefiltering system may be used to further enhance maintaining the quality of the oil and/or in efficiently treating the oil while accommodating throughput requirements. The prefiltering system may include a comminuter to reduce the size of larger particles in the oil, a coarse filtering system to remove larger particle, a system to introduce a treatment material to the oil or other systems to facilitate processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yong Y. Hwang
  • Patent number: 6783686
    Abstract: A method and product for removing at MTBE molecules from a solution, such as a contaminated aquifer, includes exposing the solution to a plurality of molecularly imprinted polymer beads (MIPS) that have receptor sites on the surfaces thereof that include imprints that match the physical shape of at least a portion of an MTBE molecule. A quantity of the MTBE molecules align with and adhere to some of the receptor sites and, accordingly, they are removed from the solution producing a remediated solution. According to one embodiment, the MIPS are contained in an enclosure having a plurality of openings large enough to permit the solution to pass through and small enough so as to prevent the MIPS from passing through. According to a preferred embodiment the MIPS are applied (i.e., coated) to the inside surface of a conduit and the solution is forced or allowed to flow through the conduit thereby removing some of the MTBE molecules therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventors: Anna Madeleine Leone, Risto Aadolf Rinne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6783687
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating ions from a stream of fluid containing ions. A magnetic field and an electrostatic field are established across a processing zone through which the fluid stream flows so that the flow vector of the fluid stream, the flux lines of the magnetic field, and the vector of the electrostatic field are mutually orthogonal. The resulting high and low ion effluents may be further processed. No thermal input is required. No vacuum, reverse osmosis or reduced pressure distillation is involved. Large volumes of fluid may be processed at relatively low cost. The disclosed method and apparatus is suitable for desalinating seawater, or for removing arsenic or other contaminants from ground water, to produce potable water. Additionally, the invention permits the recovery of valuable constituents from ground or sea water; precious metals may be recovered from sea water and gypsum may be collected from ground water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Gordon L. Richard
  • Patent number: 6783688
    Abstract: A method and device can be used to pattern both regions of a printed circuit board which are provided for coarse conductor structures and regions which are provided for relatively fine conductor structures of the printed circuit board. In each case, this can be done via laser processing. Both regions are firstly coated with a continuous metallization layer and covered with an etch resistor. The coarse conductor structures are predefined with a laser beam with a relatively long wavelength by exposing the metal surfaces which are not required. In addition, the fine conductor structures are also pre-shaped by processing the etch resist with a laser beam with a relatively short wavelength. Then, in a common etching process, all the exposed surface regions of the metal layer are etched away so that only the coarse and fine conductor track structures which are covered by the remaining etch resist are left.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hubert De Steur, Marcel Heerman, Eddy Roelants
  • Patent number: 6783689
    Abstract: Pillars are formed in a fully integrated thermal inkjet printhead to prevent particles from entering into a nozzle chamber along an ink refill channel. The pillars are formed after a step of applying a thin film structure to a substrate. At one step, pits are etched through the thin film structure. At another step, material for an orifice layer is deposited into the pits. At another step, a firing chamber is etched into the orifice layer. At another step, a trench is etched into the backside of the wafer in the vicinity of the filled pits. The material filling each pit is not removed and remains in place to define the respective pillars. Two or more pillars are formed within the trench for each inkjet nozzle chamber. Alternatively pillars are formed by depositing material into the underside trench and performing photoimaging processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Naoto Kawamura, David R Thomas, David J Waller, Timothy L. Weber
  • Patent number: 6783690
    Abstract: A method of stripping silver from a printed circuit board without attacking the underlying base metal. The stripping solution comprises an oxidizing agent, an alkaline pH adjuster, and a silver solubilizing agent. After the silver has been sufficiently removed from the surface of the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board is contacted with a neutralization solution to remove any smut remaining on the surface. The silver stripping solution does not contain cyanide or chromium and does not require the use of anodic current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventors: Donna M. Kologe, Raymond A. Letize, Brian Larson
  • Patent number: 6783691
    Abstract: The present invention relates to azeotrope-like compression refrigerant compositions consisting essentially of difluoromethane (HFC-32), pentafluoroethane (HFC-125), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) and 0.5-5 weight percent of a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of: n-butane; isobutane; n-butane and 2-methylbutane; n-butane and n-pentane; isobutane and 2-methylbutane; and isobutane and n-pentane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Donald Bernard Bivens, Barbara Haviland Minor, Akimichi Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6783692
    Abstract: A heat softening thermally conductive composition comprises: a matrix comprising a silicone resin, and a thermally conductive filler. The composition can be used as a thermal interface material in electronic devices. The composition is formulated to have any desired softening temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventor: Dorab Edul Bhagwagar
  • Patent number: 6783693
    Abstract: Hydraulic fluids, in particular brake fluids for motor vehicles, comprising from 0.01 to 50 wt % of one or more cyclic carboxylates, or cyclic carboxamides, which can carry a linear or branched C1-bis C20 alkyl group on the nitrogen atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bayram Aydin, Uwe Fidorra, Arthur Höhn, Ladislaus Meszaros, Jan Nouwen, Knut Oppenländer, Michael Roida, Michael Stösser, Bernd Wenderoth
  • Patent number: 6783694
    Abstract: An etching method for use in integrated circuit fabrication includes providing a metal nitride layer on a substrate assembly, providing regions of cobalt silicide on first portions of the metal nitride layer, and providing regions of cobalt on second portions of the metal nitride layer. The regions of cobalt and the second portions of the metal nitride layer are removed with at least one solution including a mineral acid and a peroxide. The mineral acid may be selected from the group including HCl, H2SO4, H3PO4, HNO3, and dilute HF (preferably the mineral acid is HCl) and the peroxide may be hydrogen peroxide. Further, the removal of the regions of cobalt and the second portions of the metal nitride layer may include a one step process or a two step process. In the one step process, the regions of cobalt and the second portions of the metal nitride layer are removed with a single solution including the mineral acid and the peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Whonchee Lee, Yongjun Jeff Hu
  • Patent number: 6783695
    Abstract: A method for removing organometallic and organosilicate residues remaining after a dry etch process from semiconductor substrates. The substrate is exposed to a conditioning solution of a fluorine source, a non-aqueous solvent, a complementary acid, and a surface passivation agent. The fluorine source is typically hydrofluoric acid. The non-aqueous solvent is typically a polyhydric alcohol such as propylene glycol. The complementary acid is typically either phosphoric acid or hydrochloric acid. The surface passivation agent is typically a carboxylic acid such as citric acid. Exposing the substrate to the conditioning solution removes the remaining dry etch residues while minimizing removal of material from desired substrate features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Torek, Donald L. Yates