Patents Issued in April 5, 2016
  • Patent number: 9303287
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for hybridizing at least one molecule to an RNA target. The invention may, for example, eliminate the use of, or reduce the dependence on formamide in RNA hybridization applications. Compositions for use in the invention include an aqueous composition comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence and at least one polar aprotic solvent in an amount effective to enable hybridization to RNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: DAKO Denmark A/S
    Inventor: Steen Hauge Matthiesen
  • Patent number: 9303288
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for enhancing the speed and sensitivity of helicase-dependent amplification through the use of an endonuclease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: BioHelix Corporation
    Inventors: Huimin Kong, Yanhong Tong
  • Patent number: 9303289
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for determining phased nucleic acid sequence for a single chromosome of interest and/or a single chromosomal fragment of interest. The present disclosure also provides methods for determining phased nucleic acid sequence for a plurality of single chromosomes of interest and/or a plurality of single chromosomal fragments of interest. The plurality of single chromosomes of interest may be of one chromosome type or of two or more chromosome types. The present disclosure also provides a method for isolating a plurality of chromosomal fragments of a specified size range, where the chromosomal fragments are from one or more specified regions of the genome. The plurality of chromosomal fragments may be separated into single chromosomal fragments and sequenced to provide phased nucleic acid sequence for the single chromosomal fragments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Wing H. Wong, Hong Yang
  • Patent number: 9303290
    Abstract: The invention relates to an additive which can be added to buffers used in nucleotide detection processes and improved methods of nucleic acid sequencing using this additive. In particular the invention relates to use of the additive to improve the efficiency of fluorescence-based multiple cycle nucleic acid sequencing reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Illumina Cambridge Limited
    Inventors: Milan Fedurco, Anthony Romieu, Gerardo Turcatti
  • Patent number: 9303291
    Abstract: Compositions and methods associated with recurrent MIPOL1-ETV1 genetic rearrangements that are useful for cancer diagnosis and therapy are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Arul M. Chinnaiyan, Scott Tomlins, Saravana Mohan Dhanasekaran
  • Patent number: 9303292
    Abstract: A gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay kit for hepatitis C virus RNA that detects unamplified HCV RNA in clinical specimens using unmodified AuNPs and oligotargeter polynucleotides that bind to HCV RNA. A method for detecting hepatitis C virus comprising contacting a sample suspected of containing hepatitis C virus with a polynucleotide that binds to hepatitis C virus RNA and with gold nanoparticles, detecting the aggregation of nanoparticles, and detecting hepatitis C virus in the sample when the nanoparticles aggregate (solution color becomes blue) in comparison with a control or a negative sample not containing the virus when nanoparticles do not aggregate (solution color remains red).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The American University of Cairo
    Inventors: Sherif Mohamed Shawky Abduo, Hassan Mohamed El-Said Azzay El-Badawy
  • Patent number: 9303293
    Abstract: A fluid composition is prepared by esterification of (a) at least one synthetic alcohol and (b) a mixture of fatty acids, including at least oleic and linoleic acids, and at least one of a mixture comprising a Miristic acid, Palmitoleic acid, Margarinic acid, Margaroleic acid, ?-Linoleic acid, Arachidic acid, Eicosenoic Behenic acid, and Erucic acid. The fatty acids can also include at least one of stearic acid and palmitic acid. The composition can be used as, or as part of, a quenching bath for a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: A. & A.Fratelli Parodi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Augusto Parodi, Leandro Marini, Felice Matta, Simone Bianchi
  • Patent number: 9303294
    Abstract: An installation for the dry transformation of a material microstructure of semi-finished products, especially for dry bainitization, includes a quenching chamber and a microstructure transformation chamber situated downstream from it in the processing flow, in each case the inner space of the two chambers having applied to it excess gas pressure, at least during the respective method step, for the transformation of the material microstructure. Device(s) are provided for maintaining a minimum excess gas pressure acting on the semi-finished product, during the moving of the semi-finished product from the quenching chamber into the microstructure transformation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Schluck, Bernhard Mueller, Jochen Schwarzer, Johannes Koke
  • Patent number: 9303295
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include fuel assemblies, fuel element, cladding material, methods of making a fuel element, and methods of using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: TERRAPOWER, LLC
    Inventors: Micah Hackett, Ronald Klueh
  • Patent number: 9303296
    Abstract: A high-strength stainless steel for oil well having corrosion resistance excellent in a high-temperature environment, having excellent SSC resistance at normal temperature, and having better workability than 13% Cr steels has a chemical composition containing, by mass percent, C: at most 0.05%, Si: at most 1.0%, Mn: at most 0.3%, P: at most 0.05%, S: less than 0.002%, Cr: over 16% and at most 18%, Mo: 1.5 to 3.0%, Cu: 1.0 to 3.5%, Ni: 3.5 to 6.5%, Al: 0.001 to 0.1%, N: at most 0.025%, and O: at most 0.01%, the balance being Fe and impurities, a microstructure containing a martensite phase, 10 to 48.5%, by volume ratio, of a ferrite phase and at most 10%, by volume ratio, of a retained austenite phase, yield strength of at least 758 MPa and uniform elongation of at least 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taro Ohe, Hisashi Amaya, Hideki Takabe, Kunio Kondo, Yohei Otome
  • Patent number: 9303297
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for heat treatment of a columnar work. In order to provide the method for heat treatment of a columnar work being able to attain a high productivity, a reduction of cost, and an improvement of quality, as compared with the prior art, the method for heat treatment of a columnar work of the present invention includes a quench-hardening step (S1) and a tempering step (S2) being carried out after the quench-hardening step (S1), the quench-hardening step (S1) includes a first quench-hardening step (S11) and a second quench-hardening step (S12) being carried out after the first quench-hardening step (S11), the entire region of the columnar work (3) from an outer circumferential surface (31f) to a core thereof (32), or a partial region thereof, is heated up to a temperature not lower than a transformation temperature Ac3, and then, the work is quench-hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: TOPY KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Weidong Xue
  • Patent number: 9303298
    Abstract: Porous UO2 sintered pellets to be fed into an electrolytic reduction process for the purpose of metallic nuclear fuel recovery, include one or more hollow spaces formed from the surfaces toward the interiors thereof. When the porous UO2 sintered pellets are used in the electrolytic reduction process, the efficiency increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sang-Ho Na, Dae-Yong Song, Ki Hong Kim, Sang-Oh Bae, Jong-Man Park, Chul Goo Ji, Hyong Jin Hwang
  • Patent number: 9303299
    Abstract: A method of production of inexpensive aluminum alloy is provided which enables precipitation of fine particles of Al—Fe—Si-based compounds and primary crystal Si to an aluminum alloy melt which is comprised of Si: 10 to 20 mass %, Fe: 0.5 to 4 mass %, P: 0.003 to 0.02 mass %, and further, if necessary, one or more of Mn, Ni, and Cr or furthermore, if necessary, one or more of Mg, Ti, Cr, Zr, and V, and has a balance of Al and unavoidable impurities. To the melt is added 0.01 to 1 mass %, in terms of silicide, of a substance, which includes fine particles of a metal silicide which are present as a solid phase in the melt, when the Al—Fe—Si-based compound is crystallized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Oda, Tomohiro Isobe, Hiroshi Okada
  • Patent number: 9303300
    Abstract: A melt-solidified substance includes melt-solidified portions formed by welding, build-up spray welding, metallizing or fusing. The melt-solidified portions have the alloy composition containing Zr: 0.0005 to 0.05 mass %, P: 0.01 to 0.34 mass %, Cu: the remainder and satisfying the relationship between the contents of P and Zr, [P]/[Zr]=0.3 to 20, and the mean grain size in the macrostructure after melt-solidification is 300 ?m or less. If Fe and/or Ni are contained in the melt-solidified portion as inevitable impurities, the content of Fe or Ni is restricted to be 0.3 mass % or less when either Fe or Ni is contained, and the total content of Fe and Ni is restricted to be 0.4 mass % or less when both Fe and Ni are contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI SHINDOH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichiro Oishi
  • Patent number: 9303301
    Abstract: A boron-containing stainless steel having excellent hot workability and weldability and a good surface quality is proposed and is a boron-containing stainless steel comprising C: 0.001-0.15 mass %, Si: 0.1-2 mass %, Mn: 0.1-2 mass %, Ni: 5-25 mass %, Cr: 11-27 mass %, B: 0.05-2.5 mass %, Al: 0.005-0.2 mass %, O: 0.0001-0.01 mass %, N: 0.001-0.1 mass %, S: not more than 0.005 mass %, one or both of Mg: 0.0001-0.005 mass % and Ca: 0.0001-0.005 mass % and the remainder being Fe and inevitable impurities provided that a part of Si, Al, Mg, Ca and S is included as a non-metallic inclusion made of sulfide and/or oxysulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON YAKIN KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hidekazu Todoroki
  • Patent number: 9303302
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steel having high manufacturability and better rolling-contact fatigue properties. The steel contains C of 0.65% to 1.30%, Si of 0.05% to 1.00%, Mn of 0.1% to 2.00%, P of greater than 0% to 0.050%, S of greater than 0% to 0.050%, Cr of 0.15% to 2.00%, Al of 0.010% to 0.100%, N of greater than 0% to 0.025%, Ti of greater than 0% to 0.015%, and O of greater than 0% to 0.0025% and further contains iron and unavoidable impurities. Al-containing nitrogen compound particles dispersed in the steel have an average equivalent circle diameter of 25 to 200 nm, and Al-containing nitrogen compound particles each having an equivalent circle diameter of 25 to 200 nm are present in a number density of 1.1 to 6.0 per square micrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Kaizuka
  • Patent number: 9303303
    Abstract: The invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a process for the heat treatment of a cylinder head-type casting made from an aluminum alloy, in particular an alloy of aluminum, of silicon and of magnesium, and where appropriate of copper, comprising the steps of: —solution annealing (L) of the part for a time between three and ten hours; —quenching (S) of the part in air or in a fluidized bed; —tempering (H) of the part at the peak of resistance, or in the vicinity of the peak of resistance to attain a level of resistance of the part at least equal to 85% of the maximum level of resistance at the tempering temperature in question. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to the castings obtained at the end of the process according to the invention, and which have an improved fatigue resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Montupet S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Meyer, Denis Massinon, Julien Morichon
  • Patent number: 9303304
    Abstract: Processes for producing a uniform grain hot worked spinodal alloy are disclosed. The processes generate a uniform grain spinodal alloy without cracking and without the need for a homogenization step. The processes include providing an as-cast spinodal alloy, heating the as-cast spinodal alloy between 1200 and 1300° F. for approximately 12 hours and hot working, allowing the spinodal alloy to cool, performing a second hot work on the as-cast spinodal alloy after it has been heated to 1700° F. for a defined time period, exposing the alloy to a third temperature, performing a second hot work reduction, and cooling the alloy again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Materion Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Longenberger
  • Patent number: 9303305
    Abstract: A method for applying a non-magnetic, abrasive, wear-resistant hardfacing material to a surface of a drill string member includes providing a non-magnetic drill string member formed of a non-magnetic material, the drill string member having an outer surface. It also includes providing a non-magnetic hardfacing precursor material comprising a plurality of non-magnetic, sintered carbide pellets and a non-magnetic matrix material; heating a portion of the non-magnetic hardfacing precursor material to a temperature above the melting point of the matrix material to melt the matrix material. It further includes applying the molten non-magnetic matrix material and the plurality of non-magnetic, sintered carbide pellets to the exterior surface of the drill string member; and solidifying the molten non-magnetic matrix material to form a layer of a non-magnetic hardfacing material having a plurality of non-magnetic, sintered carbide pellets dispersed in the hardfacing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James L. Overstreet, Jimmy W. Eason, Travis Puzz
  • Patent number: 9303306
    Abstract: Method, and articles therefrom, for providing a hard, abrasion-resistant, attractive, oxide surface layer of selectable thickness and having an outer appearance within the scale from gray to black, to a zirconium titanium alloy article by heating the article in an oxygen containing atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: MARIA DA COSTA DESIGN INC.
    Inventor: Gad Zak
  • Patent number: 9303307
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an alumina-based layer structure having transition regions between layers is disclosed. The method may include ion milling a stainless steel structure surface to partially reduce a metal oxide layer from, and create an exposed portion of, the surface. The method may include oxidizing the exposed portion of the surface to form a crystallized metal oxide bonding layer, growing a crystallized alumina layer onto the metal oxide bonding layer, and diffusing metal from the surface into the crystallized alumina layer, to form a graded aluminate spinel layer. The method may include forming a first transition region from the graded aluminate spinel layer to a crystalline alumina layer, growing the crystalline alumina layer from the first transition region, forming a second transition region from the crystalline alumina layer to an amorphous alumina layer, and growing the amorphous alumina layer from the second transition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Calvin S. Lo, Philip M. Rice, Teya Topuria
  • Patent number: 9303308
    Abstract: A zinc-oxide-based conductive stacked structure 1 includes a substrate 11 and, formed on at least one surface of the substrate, an undercoat layer 12 and a transparent conductive film 13. The transparent conductive film is formed of a plurality of transparent conductive layers formed from a zinc-oxide-based conductive material and has a carrier density of 2.0×1020 to 9.8×1020 cm?3. The zinc-oxide-based conductive stacked structure exhibits a change ratio in sheet resistivity of 50 or less, after bending of the stacked structure around a round bar having a diameter of 15 mm, with the transparent conductive film facing inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: LINTEC CORPORATION, KOCHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Koichi Nagamoto, Takeshi Kondo, Yumiko Amino, Satoshi Naganawa, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Takahiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 9303309
    Abstract: Under one aspect of the present invention, a method for enhancing mobility of an atomic or molecular species on a substrate may include exposing a first region of a substrate to an atomic or molecular species that forms a molecular bond with the substrate in the first region; directing a laser pulse to a second region of the substrate so as to generate an acoustic wave in the second region, the acoustic wave having spatial and temporal characteristics selected to alter the molecular bond; and transmitting the acoustic wave from the second region to the first region, the acoustic wave altering the molecular bond between the substrate and the atomic or molecular species to enhance mobility of the atomic or molecular species on the substrate in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Henry Helvajian
  • Patent number: 9303310
    Abstract: A method for making multiple single molecule receptors in a nanopore structure includes depositing a first material and a second material by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique onto different selected interior surfaces of a nanochannel and functionalizing a surface of the first material, the second material, or both the first and second materials with a chemical compound having at least two functional groups. The first and second materials can be the same or different and form patches having diameters of about 1 to about 100 nanometers (nm). Also disclosed are embodiments of a nanopore structure including multiple single molecule receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Stefan Harrer, Christine Schieber
  • Patent number: 9303311
    Abstract: Substrate processing systems are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate processing system may include a target assembly having a target comprising a source material to be deposited on a substrate; a grounding assembly disposed about the target assembly and having a first surface that is generally parallel to and opposite a backside of the target assembly; a support member coupled to the grounding assembly to support the target assembly within the grounding assembly; one or more insulators disposed between the backside of the target assembly and the first surface of the grounding assembly; and one or more biasing elements disposed between the first surface of the grounding assembly and the backside of the target assembly to bias the target assembly toward the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Donny Young, Alan Ritchie, Uday Pai, Muhammad Rasheed, Keith A. Miller
  • Patent number: 9303312
    Abstract: A deposition system includes a magnetron sputter deposition source that includes a backing frame that includes a window and a closed loop around the window. The backing frame includes inside surfaces towards the window, one or more sputtering targets mounted on inside surfaces of the backing frame, and one or more magnets mounted on outside surfaces of the backing frame. The one or more sputtering targets include sputtering surfaces that define internal walls of the window. The one or more magnets can produce a magnetic field near the one or more sputtering surfaces. A substrate includes a deposition surface oriented towards the window in the backing frame. The deposition surface receives sputtering material(s) from the one or more sputtering targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Areesys Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai-An Wang, Craig W. Marion, Efrain A. Velazquez, Michael Z. Wong, Albert Ting, Jingru Sun
  • Patent number: 9303313
    Abstract: A separated target apparatus includes a base plate; and a plurality of source units including a plurality of separated targets that are adhered on one surface of the base plate and that form a regular array, and a plurality of magnets that are adhered on the other surface of the base plate and that make a pair with the plurality of separated targets. The plurality of source units are arrayed in parallel at an angle between a first direction that is a direction of the regular array and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. Sputtering is performed by using the separated target apparatus having the aforementioned structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Mo Chung, Ki-Yong Lee, Min-Jae Jeong
  • Patent number: 9303314
    Abstract: An ion implantation system having a grid assembly. The system includes a plasma source configured to provide plasma in a plasma region; a first grid plate having a plurality of apertures configured to allow ions from the plasma region to pass therethrough, wherein the first grid plate is configured to be biased by a power supply; a second grid plate having a plurality of apertures configured to allow the ions to pass therethrough subsequent to the ions passing through the first grid plate, wherein the second grid plate is configured to be biased by a power supply; and a substrate holder configured to support a substrate in a position where the substrate is implanted with the ions subsequent to the ions passing through the second grid plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: INTEVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Babak Adibi, Moon Chun
  • Patent number: 9303315
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatuses and methods for fabricating electrochemical cells. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a single chamber configurable to deposit different materials on a substrate spooled between two reels. In one embodiment, the substrate is moved in the same direction around the reels, with conditions within the chamber periodically changed to result in the continuous build-up of deposited material over time. Another embodiment employs alternating a direction of movement of the substrate around the reels, with conditions in the chamber differing with each change in direction to result in the sequential build-up of deposited material over time. The chamber is equipped with different sources of energy and materials to allow the deposition of the different layers of the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sakti3, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabio Albano, Chia-Wei Wang, Ann Marie Sastry
  • Patent number: 9303316
    Abstract: A deposition apparatus includes an input spool located in non-vacuum input module, at least one vacuum process module, an accumulator, and an air to vacuum sealing mechanism. The accumulator and the sealing mechanism are configured to continuously provide a web substrate from the input spool at atmosphere into the at least one process module at vacuum without stopping the web substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: APOLLO PRECISION KUNMING YUANHONG LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Shufflebotham, Robert Martinson, Heinrich von Bunau, Kevin Lynch, Mathew Sheffield
  • Patent number: 9303317
    Abstract: A deposition apparatus includes a deposition source unit that has a crucible heating a deposition material filled therein to vaporize the deposition material and a plurality of nozzles spraying the vaporized deposition material, a substrate disposed to face the nozzles, a blind plate disposed between the deposition source unit and the substrate and including a plurality of first openings to guide a traveling direction of the deposition material sprayed from the nozzles, a mask disposed between the substrate and the blind plate and including a plurality of second openings to provide a path through which the deposition material passing through the first openings of the blind plate is deposited on the substrate, and a heater unit that heats the blind plate at a predetermined temperature to vaporize the deposition material stacked up on the blind plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heung-Cheol Jeong
  • Patent number: 9303318
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first gas distribution assembly that includes a first gas passage for introducing a first process gas into a second gas passage that introduces the first process gas into a processing chamber and a second gas distribution assembly that includes a third gas passage for introducing a second process gas into a fourth gas passage that introduces the second process gas into the processing chamber. The first and second gas distribution assemblies are each adapted to be coupled to at least one chamber wall of the processing chamber. The first gas passage is shaped as a first ring positioned within the processing chamber above the second gas passage that is shaped as a second ring positioned within the processing chamber. The gas distribution assemblies may be designed to have complementary characteristic radial film growth rate profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuoh-Bin Ng, Yuriy Melnik, Lily L Pang, Eda Tuncel, Lu Chen, Son T Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9303319
    Abstract: A gas injection system for a chemical vapor deposition system includes a gas manifold comprising a plurality of valves where each of the plurality of valves has an input that is coupled to a process gas source and an output for providing process gas. Each of a plurality of gas injectors has an input that is coupled to the output of one of the plurality of valves and an output that is positioned in one of a plurality of zones in a chemical vapor deposition reactor. A controller having a plurality of outputs where each of the plurality of outputs is coupled to a control input of one of the plurality of valves. The controller instructs at least some of the plurality of valves to open at predetermined times to provide a desired gas flow to each of the plurality of zones in the chemical vapor deposition reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Quinn, Eric A. Armour
  • Patent number: 9303320
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for accelerated hydriding of metallic substrates to evaluate the effects of hydrogen adsorption on substrate performance. The method includes applying to the substrate a metal that has an activation energy for hydrogen adsorption that is lower than the substrate activation energy for hydrogen adsorption. This is then followed by hydriding and evaluation of the effects of hydriding on substrate mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Xihua He, Maoqi Feng
  • Patent number: 9303321
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a cladding composition. The cladding composition may include cladding powder particles and flux particles. The flux particles may have an average particle size of less than about 40 ?m, and more than about 50% of the flux particles may adhere to the surfaces of the cladding powder particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Thomas Cavanaugh, Daniel Joseph Sordelet, Justin Curtis Embrey
  • Patent number: 9303322
    Abstract: Articles containing fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings/layers on at least part of their exposed surfaces are imprinted with surface structures to raise the contact angle for water in the imprinted areas at room temperature by equal to or greater than 10°, when compared to the flat and smooth metallic material surface of the same composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Integran Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jared J. Victor, Uwe Erb, Klaus Tomantschger, Nandakumar Nagarajan, Diana Facchini
  • Patent number: 9303323
    Abstract: Apparatus for seawater acidification including an ion exchange, cathode and anode electrode compartments and cation-permeable membranes that separate the electrode compartments from the ion exchange compartment. Means is provided for feeding seawater through the ion exchange compartment and for feeding a dissociable liquid media through the anode and cathode electrode compartments. A cathode is located in the cathode electrode compartment and an anode is located in the anode electrode compartment and a means for application of current to the cathode and anode is provided. A method for the acidification of seawater by subjecting the seawater to an ion exchange reaction to exchange H+ ions for Na+ ions. Carbon dioxide may be extracted from the acidified seawater. Optionally, the ion exchange reaction can be conducted under conditions which produce hydrogen as well as carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen may be used to produce hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Felice DiMascio, Dennis R Hardy, M. Kathleen Lewis, Heather D. Willauer, Frederick Williams
  • Patent number: 9303324
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system and method for producing a first product from a first region of an electrochemical cell having a cathode and a second product from a second region of the electrochemical cell having an anode. The method may include a step of contacting the first region with a catholyte comprising carbon dioxide. The method may include another step of contacting the second region with an anolyte comprising a sulfur-based reactant. Further, the method may include a step of applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to produce a first product recoverable from the first region and a second product recoverable from the second region. An additional step of the method may include removing the second product and an unreacted sulfur-based reactant from the second region and recycling the unreacted sulfur-based reactant to the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Liquid Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry J. Kaczur, Kyle Teamey
  • Patent number: 9303325
    Abstract: A system for distributing medium voltage DC electric power from a wind farm to electrolyzer modules requiring low voltage DC power. The system includes one or more of each of central step down DC-DC converters, DC buses, regulated DC-DC converters, respective electrolyzer module controllers, dispatch controllers, alternative loads, and alternative power sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Next Hydrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Jim Hinatsu, Michael Stemp, Philipp Andres, William Stewart
  • Patent number: 9303326
    Abstract: A gold alloy plating solution and plating method thereof that provides a gold plating solution with high deposition selectivity by using a gold plating solution that contains gold cyanide, cobalt ions, hexamethylene tetramine, and specific glossing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventors: Yutaka Morii, Masanori Orihashi
  • Patent number: 9303327
    Abstract: A system, a packaged component and a method for making a packaged component are disclosed. In an embodiment a system comprises a component carrier, a component disposed on the component carrier and an insulating layer disposed on an electrically conductive surface of at least one of the component carrier or the component, wherein the insulating layer comprises a polymer and an inorganic material comprising a dielectric strength of equal or greater than 15 ac-kv/mm and a thermal conductivity of equal or greater than 15 W/m*K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Sung Hoe Yeong, Lay Yeap Lim, Tien Shyang Law
  • Patent number: 9303328
    Abstract: An electroplating system and method has a needle anode associated with an XYZ or multi-direction positioning device and is configured for plating internal surfaces of holes in metal products. The needle anode is positioned such that an insertion portion of the needle anode is centered over a hole and inserted to a predetermined depth in the hole, with a discharge end located a predetermined distance from the inner end of the hole. Plating solution is supplied to the needle anode and flows continuously during plating from the discharge end of the needle, through a gap between the needle anode and inner surface of the hole, and out of the open end of the hole into a drain. In one example, the metal object is a terminal of an electrical connector and the hole is a solder cup at a terminal end of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Teledyne Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: John Bradley Hunter, Chester P. Piechowiak, Theodore M. Heummler
  • Patent number: 9303329
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include an electro-chemical deposition apparatus that provides an efficient circulation system, chemical management that provides reliable and uniform plating, and a configuration that provides short maintenance times and greater tool availability. Techniques include a processing tank containing an anolyte fluid, and one or more plating cells each having a catholyte fluid compartment with a circulation path that connects to a separate or remote catholyte reservoir. Thus, with such a configuration, a single pump can be used to flow catholyte (via manifolds) through one or more plating cells. Thus, with the catholyte reservoir maintained off board, instead of dumping catholyte over a weir into a reservoir, catholyte fluid—after flowing through a plating cell—is returned to the catholyte reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: TEL NEXX, INC.
    Inventors: Arthur Keigler, David Guarnaccia, Demetrius Papapanayiotou, Jonathan Hander
  • Patent number: 9303330
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for manufacturing porous mesh plates for use in ultrasonic mesh nebulizers, and the porous mesh plates manufactured by those methods. Cone-shaped dimples are first drilled in a substrate (e.g. a plate), but do not penetrate the bottom of the substrate. Next, the substrate (e.g. a plate) is subject to an electrochemical process to remove a layer of material from the surface of the substrate. Enough material is removed to allow the dimples to penetrate the substrate, thereby creating holes in the substrate. The size of the holes can be controlled by the conditions of the electrochemical process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guruprasad Sundararajan, Marko Klaus Baller, Swarnagowri Addepalli, Satyanarayanan Seshadri, Dinesh R. Rakwal, Subhashish Dasgupta, Heikki Haveri
  • Patent number: 9303331
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to promote uniform thermal environment to feedstock material (e.g., silicon) in a crucible of a crystal growth apparatus are provided herein. More specifically, a heating system may be arranged in the crystal growth apparatus so as to include at least a first and second heating element which are configured to distribute heat axisymmetrically to the feedstock material and the second heating element that is configured to distribute heat symmetrically to the feedstock material to thereby provide uniform heat distribution to the feedstock material in the crucible to allow for increased consistency in crystal ingot quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventors: Carl Chartier, Parthasarathy Santhanaraghavan, Andriy Andrukhiv, Dave Lackey, Bhuvaragasamy G. Ravi
  • Patent number: 9303332
    Abstract: Silicon single crystal substrates having uniform resistance, few BMDs in a surface layer and a moderate number of BMDs in a center of thickness of the substrate are formed from Czochralski silicon single crystals. The substrates have a resistivity in the center of a first main surface not lower than 50 ?·cm and a rate of change in resistivity in the first main surface not higher than 3%, an average density of bulk micro defects in a region between the first main surface and a plane at a depth of 50 ?m of less than 1×108/cm3, and an average density of bulk micro defects in a region lying between a plane at a depth of 300 ?m and a plane at a depth of 400 ?m from the first main surface not lower than 1×108 /cm3 and not higher than 1×109 /cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Nakai, Masamichi Ohkubo, Hikaru Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9303333
    Abstract: A bismuth-substituted rare-earth iron garnet crystal film (RIG) which has an insertion loss of less than 0.6 dB and which can be produced in a high yield, as well as an optical isolator, which is grown by liquid phase epitaxy on a non-magnetic garnet substrate represented by a chemical formula of Gd3(ScGa)5O12, wherein the RIG is represented by a chemical formula of Nd3-x-yGdxBiyFe5O12, and x and y satisfy 0.89?x?1.43 and 0.85?y?1.19. In contrast to conventional RIGs, the RIG represented by the chemical formula of Nd3-x-yGdxBiyFe5O12 of the present invention has an insertion loss of less than 0.6 dB and makes it possible to reduce the amount of heat generated because of absorption of light at wavelengths of about 1 ?m. Hence, the RIG has such a remarkable effect that the RIG can be used as a Faraday rotator used for an optical isolator in a high-power laser device for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuuji Oosumi, Yasutaka Nomi, Nobuo Nakamura, Hiroshi Hatanaka, Tomio Kajigaya
  • Patent number: 9303334
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for forming a non-woven web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Biax-fiberfilm
    Inventors: Douglas B. Brown, Jeffrey D. Stark, Mohammad A. Hassan
  • Patent number: 9303335
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing cellulosic shaped articles with stabilized inclusions in a microfine dispersion of nonpolar organic compounds and mixtures by a dry-wet extrusion process. The shaped articles produced in this way exhibit by comparison with unmodified cellulose fibers a substantially increased storage capacity for heat and/or nonpolar active substances. They are suitable in particular for use in textiles for clothing, industrial textiles, leisure, medicine and cosmetics. Potential functional effects imparted include the physical effect of heat storage and/or the uniform and finely meterable storage and release of nonpolar active substances and plant extracts from the interior of the fibers of the shaped articles. It is possible through a suitable choice of the nonpolar portion to produce by this process also fibers capable of absorbing liquid or gaseous nonpolar substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: smartpolymer GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Kolbe, Hardy Markwitz, Sabine Riede, Marcus Krieg
  • Patent number: 9303336
    Abstract: Methods are provided to make composite yarns having a filamentary core with at least one elastic performance filament and at least one inelastic control filament. A fibrous sheath, preferably formed from spun staple fibers, surrounds the filamentary core, preferably substantially along the entire length thereof. The at least one elastic performance filament most preferably includes a spandex and/or a lastol filament. The at least one inelastic control filament is most preferably formed of a textured polymer or copolymer of a polyamide, a polyester, a polyolefin and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the fibrous sheath is formed of synthetic and/or natural staple fibers, most preferably staple cotton fibers. The elastic composite fibers find particular utility as a component part of a woven textile fabric, especially as a stretch denim fabric, which exhibits advantageous elastic recovery of at least about 95.0% (ASTM D3107).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: CONE DENIM LLC
    Inventors: Ralph B. Tharpe, Jr., John L. Allen, Jr., Fulton A. Little, Reuben E. Hart