Patents Issued in December 6, 2016
  • Patent number: 9512509
    Abstract: A duplex stainless steel containing, by mass %: C: not more than 0.03%, Si: not more than 0.3%, Mn: not more than 3.0%, P: not more than 0.040%, S: not more than 0.008%, Cu: 0.2 to 2.0%, Ni: 5.0 to 6.5%, Cr: 23.0 to 27.0%, Mo: 2.5 to 3.5%, W: 1.5 to 4.0%, and N: 0.24 to 0.40%, the balance being Fe and impurities, wherein a ? phase susceptibility index X (=2.2Si+0.5Cu+2.0Ni+Cr+4.2Mo+0.2W) is not more than 52.0; a strength index Y (=Cr+1.5Mo+10N+3.5W) is not less than 40.5; and a pitting resistance equivalent PREW (=Cr+3.3(Mo+0.5W)+16N) is not less than 40. This duplex stainless steel is excellent in corrosion resistance and embrittlement cracking resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORTION
    Inventor: Shinnosuke Kurihara
  • Patent number: 9512510
    Abstract: A high-strength aluminum alloy material having a chemical composition which includes Zn: more than 7.2% (mass %, the same applies hereafter) and 8.7% or less, Mg: 1.3% or more and 2.1% or less, Cu: 0.01% or more and 0.10% or less, Zr: 0.01% or more and 0.10% or less, Cr: less than 0.02%, Fe: 0.30% or less, Si: 0.30% or less, Mn: less than 0.05%, Ti: 0.001% or more and 0.05% or less, the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, is provided. It has a proof stress of 350 MPa or more, and a metallographic structure formed of a recrystallized structure, and L* and b* values, as defined in JIS Z8729 (ISO 7724-1), are 85 or more and 95 or less and 0 or more and 0.8 or less, respectively, as measured after anodization using a sulfuric acid bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: UACJ CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidenori Hatta
  • Patent number: 9512511
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide a galvanization method for hot-rolled steel sheet, cold-rolled steel sheet, or plating sheet of various compositions, which can avoid nonplating defects by using an Ni preplating procedure. For example, an exemplary galvanization method can be provided for pickled hot-rolled steel sheet or annealed cold-rolled steel sheet which is free from non-plating defects which includes cleaning the surface of the plating sheet, preplating it with Ni, rapidly heating the sheet in a nonoxidizing or reducing atmosphere to a sheet temperature of about 430 to 500° C. at a heating a rate of about 20° C./sec or more, and then hot dip plating the sheet in a galvanization bath. The exemplary amount of Ni preplating can be determined based on the plate type and amount of Si in the sheet steel to produce a hot dip galvanization that is free from non-plating defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Ishizuka, Kazumi Nishimura, Ikuo Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9512512
    Abstract: A method for coating a component, in particular a component of a gas turbine or of an aircraft engine, is disclosed. The coating is applied to the component by kinetic cold gas spraying, where prior to the deposition of the coating, the surface of the component to be coated is cleaned and compacted by shot peening with a blasting media. A component produced in this manner is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Bamberg, Roland Hessert, Manuel Hertter
  • Patent number: 9512513
    Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing an electrode comprising an iron active material. The process comprises first fabricating an electrode comprising an iron active material, and then treating the electrode with a gaseous oxidant to thereby create an oxidized surface. The resulting iron electrode is preconditioned prior to any charge-discharge cycle to have the assessable surface of the iron active material in the same oxidation state as in discharged iron negative electrodes active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ENCELL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Randy Gene Ogg, Michael Roders, Michael Meese
  • Patent number: 9512514
    Abstract: A method in which a cutting tip is ground to form an intermediate cutting tool; a first predetermined portion of the intermediate cutting tool is masked; a wear-resistant material is deposited onto the exposed portion of the intermediate cutting tool to form a sharpened cutting tool; and a workpiece is cut with the sharpened cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Stout, Miguel Morfin Diaz, Mauro De Donno
  • Patent number: 9512515
    Abstract: An organic layer deposition apparatus, and a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device using the organic layer deposition apparatus. The organic layer deposition apparatus includes: an electrostatic chuck that fixedly supports a substrate that is a deposition target; a deposition unit including a chamber maintained at a vacuum and an organic layer deposition assembly for depositing an organic layer on the substrate fixedly supported by the electrostatic chuck; and a first conveyer unit for moving the electrostatic chuck fixedly supporting the substrate into the deposition unit, wherein the first conveyer unit passes through inside the chamber, and the first conveyer unit includes a guide unit having a receiving member for supporting the electrostatic chuck to be movable in a direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok-Rak Chang, Myeng-Woo Nam, Hee-Cheol Kang, Jong-Heon Kim, Jong-Won Hong, Uno Chang
  • Patent number: 9512516
    Abstract: A sputtering target assembly, including a cylindrical backing tube, a magnet assembly disposed within the backing tube, and a conduit disposed within the backing tube and adapted for transporting coolant. The conduit includes at least one first opening positioned for providing the coolant in a substantially circumferential direction from the conduit toward an inner surface of the backing tube into a gap volume between a front side of the magnet assembly and the inner surface of the backing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BEIJING APOLLO DING RONG SOLAR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Robert Martinson, Paul Shufflebotham, Kevin Lynch, Heinrich von Bunau, Deborah Sloan, Daniel R. Juliano
  • Patent number: 9512517
    Abstract: A method for processing a substrate may include providing a patterning feature on the substrate, the patterning feature having a sidewall. The method may further include implanting a first ion species into the patterning feature during a first exposure, the first ion species having a first implantation depth; and implanting a second ion species into the patterning feature during a second exposure, the second ion species having a second implantation depth less than the first implantation depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Tristan Y. Ma, Maureen K. Petterson, John Hautala, Ludovic Godet
  • Patent number: 9512518
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a gas stream. A plasma generator generates a plasma flare. A first inlet conveys the gas stream into the apparatus. A reaction chamber is located downstream of the plasma generator in which gas is treated. A second inlet receives a liquid into the apparatus for establishing a liquid weir over an interior surface of the reaction chamber for resisting accumulation of solid deposits on the interior surface. A weir guide has an outer annular surface for directing liquid over the interior surface and an inner annular surface in flow communication with the outer surface so that liquid flows form the outer surface to the inner surface to resist depositing on the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventors: Sergey Alexandrovich Voronin, Christopher James Philip Clements, John Leslie Bidder, Joanne Walsh
  • Patent number: 9512519
    Abstract: An atomic layer deposition apparatus includes a chamber including a plurality of regions; and a heating device respectively providing specific temperature ranges for the plurality of regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Yi Chuang, Hsing-Jui Lee, Ming-Te Chen
  • Patent number: 9512520
    Abstract: Apparatus for processing substrates are provided. In some embodiments, a processing system may include a first transfer chamber and a first process chamber coupled to the transfer chamber, the process chamber further comprising a substrate support to support a processing surface of a substrate within the process chamber, an injector disposed to a first side of the substrate support and having a first flow path to provide a first process gas and a second flow path to provide a second process gas independent of the first process gas, wherein the injector provides the first and second process gases across the processing surface of the substrate, a showerhead disposed above the substrate support to provide the first process gas to the processing surface, and an exhaust port disposed to a second side of the substrate support, opposite the injector, to exhaust the first and second process gases from the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, David K. Carlson, Satheesh Kuppurao
  • Patent number: 9512521
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal oxide film is disclosed. The method includes the steps of soaking a substrate on which the metal oxide film is formed in a precursor solution for forming the metal oxide film; and irradiating and scanning a light, the light being collected at an interface between the substrate and the precursor solution, wherein the light is transmitted through the precursor solution, and the metal oxide film is formed on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: RICOH COMPANY, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Akira Watanabe, Eiichi Ohta, Akira Shimofuku
  • Patent number: 9512522
    Abstract: A mthod of metalizing a surface of an insulation substrate includes: applying an ink composition onto the surface to form an ink layer; subjecting the insulation substrate to heat treatment at a temperature of about 500 to 1000 degrees Celsius in a non-reactive atmosphere; plating a metal layer on the ink layer. The ink composition comprises a metal compound and an ink vehicle. The metal compound includes at least one selected from a group consisting of a nano-copper oxide, a nano-cuprous oxide, a compound of formula I, and a compound of formula II, TiO2-?(I), M1M2pOq (II), 0.05??<1.8, where, M1 is at least one element selected from a group consisting of groups 2, 9-12 of the periodic table, M2 is at least one element selected from a group consisting of groups 3-8, 10 and 13 of the periodic table, 0<p?2, and 0<q<4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: SHENZHEN BYD AUTO R&D COMPANY LIMITED, BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Weifeng Miao
  • Patent number: 9512523
    Abstract: Provided are an electrode active material having a plurality of pores and a secondary battery including the same, and more particularly, a porous electrode active material including silicon-based oxide expressed by SiOx (0.5?x?1.2) and having a Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) specific surface area ranging from 2 m2/g to 100 m2/g, and a secondary battery including a cathode including a cathode active material, a separator, an anode including an anode active material, and an electrolyte, in which the anode active material includes a porous electrode active material including silicon-based oxide expressed by SiOx (0.5?x?1.2) and having a BET specific surface area ranging from 2 m2/g to 100 m2/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: LG Chem, Ltd., UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology)
    Inventors: Yong Ju Lee, Soo Jin Park, Dong Sub Jung, Hye Ran Jung, Jung In Lee, Je Young Kim, Jae Phil Cho
  • Patent number: 9512524
    Abstract: The invention relates to use of an aqueous composition for pretreating can body stock, whereby an inorganic-organic conversion layer is formed, which effects outstanding sliding behavior of the shaped can body stock and in addition offers an outstanding holding primer for subsequent coating. The invention comprises a process in which can body stock which is deep-drawn to form a half-open can cylinder, before further shaping processes, is contacted with an acidic aqueous composition which contains water-soluble inorganic compounds of Zr, Ti, Si, Hf or Ce, water-soluble polymers having carboxyl groups or hydroxyl groups and also a dispersed wax. Both outer and inner surfaces of metallic can cylinders can be pretreated in the process. The invention also relates to an acidic aqueous composition for use in the pretreatment process, which contains water-soluble polymers selected from condensation products of glycoluril and aldehydes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Joerg Riesop
  • Patent number: 9512525
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell or a solid oxide electrolyzing cell includes a) a plurality of cathode-anode-electrolyte units, each CAE-unit having a first electrode for an oxidizing agent, a second electrode for a combustible gas, and a solid electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode and b) a metal interconnect between the CAE-units. The interconnect having a first gas distribution element and a gas distribution structure for the combustible gas, wherein the first gas distribution element is in contact with the second electrode of the CAE-unit, and a second gas distribution element having channels for the oxidizing agent and including separate channels for a tempering fluid. The channels for the oxidizing agent are in contact with the first electrode of an adjacent CAE-unit, and the first gas distribution element and the second gas distribution element being electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HTCERAMIX S.A.
    Inventor: Zacharie Wuillemin
  • Patent number: 9512526
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method or process, apparatus and/or composition for catalyzing the oxidation of water to generate hydrogen ions and oxygen. The catalyst includes lithium cobalt germinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth James McDonald, Hongfei Jia, Chen Ling
  • Patent number: 9512527
    Abstract: A reinforced porous metal foil is provided including a porous portion comprising a two-dimensional network structure composed of a metal fiber and a reinforced portion which is substantially non-porous or less porous than the porous portion. The reinforced portion is composed of the same metal the metal fiber and is continuous and integral with the porous portion. Accordingly, it possible to provide a porous metal foil having superior properties at a low cost in a highly productive manner that is also suitable for continuous production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Matsunaga, Joe Nishikawa, Hajime Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9512528
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing a metal foam of at least one metal M having a porous micrometric structure, the method including a step of contact glow discharge electrolysis in an electrolytic plasma reduction conducted in an electrolytic solution in which are immersed an anode and a cathode connected to a continuous electrical power supply, the electrolytic solution including at least one first electrolyte in a solvent, the first electrolyte being the at least one metal M in cationic form, the electrolytic solution further including a gelatine, as well as a metal foam obtained by this method, and a device comprising such a foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Ronan Botrel
  • Patent number: 9512529
    Abstract: Silver and tin alloy electroplating baths include complexing agents which enable the electroplating of either silver rich or tin rich alloys. The silver and tin alloy electroplating baths are substantially free of lead. They may be used to electroplate silver and tin alloys in the manufacture of electronic components such as electrical connectors, finishing layers for metallic substrates, decorative applications and solder bumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventors: Adolphe Foyet, Margit Clauss, Wan Zhang-Beglinger, Julia Woertink, Yi Qin, Jonathan Prange, Pedro O Lopez Montesinos
  • Patent number: 9512530
    Abstract: A molten salt bath includes at least two types selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium; at least one type selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; at least one element selected from the group consisting of scandium, yttrium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium, rhenium, and lanthanoid; and an organic polymer having at least one type of a bond of carbon-oxygen-carbon and a bond of carbon-nitrogen-carbon. A deposit obtained using the molten salt bath, and a method of producing a metal deposit using the molten salt bath are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., KYOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shinji Inazawa, Koji Nitta, Kazunori Okada, Toshiyuki Nohira
  • Patent number: 9512531
    Abstract: A method of stripping, prepping and coating a surface includes first stripping the exiting coating from a surface, using continuous or pulsed fluid jet, followed by prepping the surface by the same fluid jet. The method also provides entraining particles into a fluid stream, if desired to generate a particle-entrained fluid stream that is directed at the surface to be stripped and prepped. The particles act as abrasive particles for prepping the surface to a prescribed surface roughness required for subsequent application of a coating to the surface. The method then entails coating the surface by electrically charging particles having the same chemical composition as the particles used to prep the surface. Finally, a charged-particle-entrained fluid stream is directed at high speed at the charged surface to coat the surface. The particles form both mechanical and electronic bonds with the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Meisheng M. Xu, Emilio Panarella, Wenzhuo Yan, Andrew Hung Tieu, Bruce R. Daniels
  • Patent number: 9512532
    Abstract: Multi-layer structures are electrochemically fabricated by depositing a first material, selectively etching the first material (e.g. via a mask), depositing a second material to fill in the voids created by the etching, and then planarizing the depositions so as to bound the layer being created and thereafter adding additional layers to previously formed layers. The first and second depositions may be of the blanket or selective type. The repetition of the formation process for forming successive layers may be repeated with or without variations (e.g. variations in: patterns; numbers or existence of or parameters associated with depositions, etchings, and or planarization operations; the order of operations, or the materials deposited). Other embodiments form multi-layer structures using operations that interlace material deposited in association with some layers with material deposited in association with other layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Microfabrica Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis R. Smalley
  • Patent number: 9512533
    Abstract: The electroplating equipment disposes a hollow first ring between a first mold and a through hole of a workpiece, and a hollow second ring between a second mold and the through hole of the workpiece, such that the first ring and the second ring provide substantially equivalent channel as the openings of the through hole when the first mold and the second mold are set to hold tight the workpiece. The first ring and the second ring, along with an injection channel of the first mold and a recycling channel of the second mold and the through hole of the workpiece, form a seamless flow channel for an electroplating fluid to flow and be electroplated on the wall of the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MIN AIK PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Cheng Su, Chun-Yang Chang
  • Patent number: 9512534
    Abstract: There is provided a method of well filling copper in a conductivity-rendered non-through hole having an aspect ratio (depth/hole diameter) of 5 or more on a substrate in a short period of time, and the method comprises using an acidic copper plating bath comprising a water-soluble copper salt, sulfuric acid, chlorine ion, a brightener and a copolymer of diallylamines and sulfur dioxide and filling copper in the non-through hole by periodic current reversal copper plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: OSAKA PREFECTURE UNIVERSITY PUBLIC CORPORATION, NITTO BOSEKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kondo, Takeyasu Saito, Naoki Okamoto, Masaru Bunya, Minoru Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9512535
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a moth-eye mold of an embodiment of the present invention employs a mold base including a metal base, an organic insulating layer provided on the metal base, and an aluminum alloy layer provided on the organic insulating layer, the aluminum alloy layer containing aluminum and a non-aluminum metal element M, an absolute value of a difference between a standard electrode potential of the metal element M and a standard electrode potential of aluminum being not more than 0.64 V, and a content of the metal element M in the aluminum alloy layer not exceeding 10 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, GEOMATEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akinobu Isurugi, Kiyoshi Minoura, Hiroyuki Sugawara
  • Patent number: 9512536
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to anodizing and anodized films. The methods described can be used to form opaque and white anodized films on a substrate. In some embodiments, the methods involve forming anodized films having branched pore structures. The branched pore structure provides a light scattering medium for incident visible light, imparting an opaque and white appearance to the anodized film. In some embodiments, the methods involve infusing metal complex ions within pores of an anodized. Once within the pores, the metal complex ions undergo a chemical change forming metal oxide particles. The metal oxide particles provide a light scattering medium for incident visible light, imparting an opaque and white appearance to the anodized film. In some embodiments, aspects of the methods for creating irregular or branched pores and methods for infusing metal complex ions within pores are combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Masashige Tatebe, Jody R. Akana, Takahiro Oshima, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Ayumi Hongou, Kenji Hara
  • Patent number: 9512537
    Abstract: Porous metal oxide layers having a color due to visible light interference effects are disclosed. In particular embodiments the porous metal oxide layers are formed using an anodizing processes, which includes a porous metal oxide layer forming process and a barrier layer thickening process. The barrier layer thickening process increases a thickness of a barrier layer within the porous metal oxide layer to a thickness sufficient to and cause incident visible light waves to be reflected in the form of a new visible light waves, thereby imparting a color to the porous metal oxide layer. Methods for tuning the color of the porous metal oxide layer and for color matching surfaces of different types of metal substrates are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Curran, Sean R. Novak
  • Patent number: 9512538
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are cups for engaging wafers during electroplating in clamshell assemblies and supplying electrical current to the wafers during electroplating. The cup can comprise an elastomeric seal disposed on the cup and configured to engage the wafer during electroplating, where upon engagement the elastomeric seal substantially excludes plating solution from a peripheral region of the wafer, and where the elastomeric seal and the cup are annular in shape, and comprise one or more contact elements for supplying electrical current to the wafer during electroplating, the one or more contact elements attached to and extending inwardly towards a center of the cup from a metal strip disposed over the elastomeric seal. A notch area of the cup can have a protrusion or an insulated portion on a portion of a bottom surface of the cup where the notch area is aligned with a notch in the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhian He, Jingbin Feng, Shantinath Ghongadi, Frederick D. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 9512539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for electrochemically removing a coating from coated workpieces by means of a voltage applied in an electrolyte bath between the workpiece and a counter-electrode. According to the invention, a rising voltage profile is selected during the coating removal process. This has the effect that the voltage applied at the start is low, and therefore the workpieces are not damaged, but nevertheless the rise in the voltage prevents the coating removal process taking an uneconomically long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: OERLIKON SURFACE SOLUTIONS AG, PFAFFIKON
    Inventors: Mirco Elias Kostner, Udo Rauch
  • Patent number: 9512540
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an n-type SiC single crystal, enables the suppression of the variation in nitrogen concentration among a plurality of n-type SiC single crystal ingots manufactured. A method includes the steps of: providing a manufacturing apparatus (100) including a chamber (1) having an area in which a crucible (7) is to be disposed; heating the area in which the crucible (7) is to be disposed and evacuating the gas in the chamber (1); filling, after the evacuation, the chamber (1) with a mixed gas containing a noble gas and nitrogen gas; heating and melting a starting material housed in the crucible (7) disposed in the area to produce a SiC solution (8) containing silicon and carbon; and immersing a SiC seed crystal into the SiC solution under the mixed gas atmosphere to grow an n-type SiC single crystal on the SiC seed crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kusunoki, Kazuhito Kamei, Nobuyoshi Yashiro, Kouji Moriguchi, Nobuhiro Okada, Katsunori Danno, Hironori Daikoku
  • Patent number: 9512541
    Abstract: There is provided a selective growth method of selectively growing a thin film on exposed surfaces of an underlying insulation film and an underlying metal film, which includes: selectively growing a film whose thickness is decreased by combustion on the underlying metal film using metal of the underlying metal film as a catalyst; and selectively growing a silicon oxide film on the underlying insulation film while combusting the film whose thickness is decreased by combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Akira Shimizu, Masayuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9512542
    Abstract: A method of producing silicon carbide is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a sublimation furnace comprising a furnace shell, at least one heating element positioned outside the furnace shell, and a hot zone positioned inside the furnace shell surrounded by insulation. The hot zone comprises a crucible with a silicon carbide precursor positioned in the lower region and a silicon carbide seed positioned in the upper region. The hot zone is heated to sublimate the silicon carbide precursor, forming silicon carbide on the bottom surface of the silicon carbide seed. Also disclosed is the sublimation furnace to produce the silicon carbide as well as the resulting silicon carbide material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GTAT Corporation
    Inventors: Roman V. Drachev, Parthasarathy Santhanaraghavan, Andriy M. Andrukhiv, David S. Lyttle
  • Patent number: 9512543
    Abstract: A method for the spinning of a fiber comprising cellulose nano-fibrils aligned along the main axis of the fiber from a lyotropic suspension of cellulose nano-fibrils, the nano-fibril alignment being achieved through extension of the extrude fiber from a die, spinneret or needle, wherein the fiber is dried under extension and the aligned nano-fibrils aggregate to form a continuous structure and wherein the suspension of nano-fibrils, which has a concentration of solids of at least 7% wt, is homogenized using at least a mechanical, distributive mixing process prior to its extrusion. The fibrils used in this method can be extracted from a cellulose-rich material such as wood. The invention also related to a cellulose-based fiber obtained according to this method and to a cellulose fiber which contains at least 90% wt of crystallized cellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SAPPI Netherlands Services B.V.
    Inventors: Philip Turner, Zurine Hernandez, Callum Hill
  • Patent number: 9512544
    Abstract: Disclosed are interfacially modified particulate and polymer composite material for use in injection molding processes, such as metal injection molding and additive process such as 3D printing. The composite material is uniquely adapted for powder metallurgy processes. Improved products are provided under process conditions through surface modified powders that are produced by extrusion, injection molding, additive processes such as 3D printing, Press and Sinter, or rapid prototyping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Tundra Composites, LLC
    Inventor: Kurt E. Heikkila
  • Patent number: 9512545
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nanofiber yarns, ribbons, and sheets; to methods of making said yarns, ribbons, and sheets; and to applications of said yarns, ribbons, and sheets. In some embodiments, the nanotube yarns, ribbons, and sheets comprise carbon nanotubes. Particularly, such carbon nanotube yarns of the present invention provide unique properties and property combinations such as extreme toughness, resistance to failure at knots, high electrical and thermal conductivities, high absorption of energy that occurs reversibly, up to 13% strain-to-failure compared with the few percent strain-to-failure of other fibers with similar toughness, very high resistance to creep, retention of strength even when heated in air at 450° C. for one hour, and very high radiation and UV resistance, even when irradiated in air. Furthermore these nanotube yarns can be spun as one micron diameter yarns and plied at will to make two-fold, four-fold, and higher fold yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Shaoli Fang, Ray H. Baughman, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Kenneth Ross Atkinson, Ali E. Aliev, Sergey Li, Chris Williams
  • Patent number: 9512546
    Abstract: A method for forming a dispersible nonwoven substrate in an aqueous medium including: a) forming an aqueous nonwoven binder including a selected emulsion polymer wherein the polymer has been modified with a compound comprising a tri-substituted N-atom, the compound having a pKb of from 4 to 7; b) contacting a nonwoven substrate with the aqueous nonwoven binder; c) heating the contacted nonwoven to a temperature of from 120° C. to 220° C.; and d) immersing the contacted heated nonwoven in an aqueous medium having a final pH<5 is provided. A dispersible nonwoven substrate in an aqueous medium formed by the preceding method and a method for providing a dispersed nonwoven in an aqueous medium are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM AND HAAS COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul Nedwick, Maureen B. Nunn, Katherine Sue Rice
  • Patent number: 9512547
    Abstract: A method for stitching an interior component is provided. The method including the steps of: stitching an outer skin layer of the interior component with a single needle chain stitch machine having a rotary looper; descending a needle of the machine through the interior component; retracting the needle after is has descended through the interior component; engaging a thread loop formed during the retraction of the needle after it has descended through the interior component with a hook of the rotary looper, wherein a portion of interior component is located above and below the rotary looper as it rotates; and moving the interior component relative to the needle and rotary looper in order to establish a stitch length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Wenzel, Joseph Anthony Massetti
  • Patent number: 9512548
    Abstract: An overtufting machine/method provides additional yarn per area in an area of design than in areas lacking the overtufted design. Specifically, for many embodiments, a carpet is first tufted, and then run past an overtufting station which preferably moves in a lateral direction relative to the direction of feed to direct at least one needle through the carpet in at least one selectable height option. Rails are preferably used to shuttle the needle supported by a head on at least one carriage to shuttle along the rail(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Robert S. Weiner
  • Patent number: 9512549
    Abstract: A washing machine using ultrasonic vibrations, which can allow a user to at home easily and efficiently wash the laundry that needs hand washing or dry-cleaning. The washing machine includes: a body having an inner space of a predetermined volume; a washing tub installed in the body, with a water supply pipe connected to a side of the washing tub so as to supply washing water or a detergent into the tub and with a drain pipe connected to the side of the tub at a position opposite that of the water supply pipe so as to drain used water or used detergent; a cover mounted to a predetermined portion of the body so as to open or close the tub; and an ultrasonic generator installed in at least one predetermined portion of the tub so as to apply ultrasonic vibrations to a laundry contained in the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Dae Yeong Im, Hyun Rok Cha, Chang Seog Kang, Hyoung Uk Nam, Chang Youn Kang
  • Patent number: 9512550
    Abstract: A method for washing of the present invention, comprises: a turbo wash setting step of setting turbo wash for spraying water into a drum through a spiral nozzle, when laundry rotates while being attached to the drum by a rotation of the drum; a continuous water supply step of supplying water into a tub; and a regular washing step of canceling the turbo wash when a time taken for a water level inside the tub to reach a target level is longer than a target time so that the water is not sprayed through the spiral nozzle when the laundry rotates while being attached to the drum by the rotation of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Myong Hun Im, Chang Woo Son, Won Hyuk Jang
  • Patent number: 9512551
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a main body defining an outer appearance, a tub disposed within the main body, a main drum rotatably mounted in the tub, a sub drum mounted in the main drum to be relatively rotatable with respect to the main drum, an outer shaft for rotating the main drum, an inner shaft for rotating the sub drum, being disposed inside the outer shaft, and a driving motor having a stator, an outer rotor connected to the inner shaft that is rotatable outside the stator, and an inner rotor connected to the outer shaft that is rotatable inside the stator, wherein the driving motor independently drives the main drum and the sub drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chaseung Jun, Byungkeol Choi, Youngmin Kim, Dongwon Kim, Hyundong Kim, Hwanjin Jung, Byungwook Min, Kyeonghwan Kim, Jinwoong Kim, Changwoo Son, Hyunseok Seo
  • Patent number: 9512552
    Abstract: Automatic weighing method for washing machine, where determination of temperature of an engine by frequency modulator is processed, during that measuring of amount of current passing through the winding of the engine of the washing machine during its inaction is done, and afterwards calculation of resistance of the winding of the engine of the washing machine based on amount of measured current is effected, afterwards angular speed of the drum of the washing machine is increased up to distribution angular speed (?0), which is intended to distribute laundry in the drum of the washing machine, afterwards angular speed of the drum of the washing machine is increased up to medium angular speed (?1), which is intended to spread the laundry on the inner surface of the drum of the washing machine, afterwards angular speed of the drum of the washing machine is decreased up to measuring angular speed (?2), during that a value of unbalance of the drum of the washing machine is determined, afterwards angular speed of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ALLIANCE LAUNDRY CE s.r.o.
    Inventors: Zuzana Vasickova, Pavel Stepan, Milan Janicek
  • Patent number: 9512553
    Abstract: An upper cover of a washing machine having an improved structure in which the upper cover may be manufactured in a simple process. The washing machine includes: a main body; and an upper cover configured to cover an upper part of the main body, wherein the upper cover includes: a cover plate formed in a rectangular shape; and a cover frame formed of a material different from a material for the cover plate and coupled to the cover plate along a circumference of the cover plate, and the cover frame includes: at least one first support part configured to support an upper side of the cover plate; and at least one second support part configured to support a lower side of the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Han Kyu Choi
  • Patent number: 9512554
    Abstract: A device that has a component within a process air circuit of a washer dryer or tumble dryer; a condensate water trough in which condensate water is collected that is formed in the process air circuit as a result of drying damp laundry; and a first lever arm rotatably fastened to a rinse tank above the component. The component is to be cleaned and the condensate water is conducted from the condensate water trough to the rinse tank. Further, the condensate water is dispensed from an outlet opening of the rinse tank to the component. The rinse tank has a closure to selectively open and close the outlet opening and an actuator to actuate the closure. Also, the closure has a sealing head that is connected to the first lever arm and that closes the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Baurmann, Frank Kohlrusch, Günter Steffens, Oliver Wuttge
  • Patent number: 9512555
    Abstract: A expandable duct assembly includes a dryer. A duct is structured to have resiliently expandable ends. The duct may be coupled between the dryer and an exhaust port. The duct directs an exhaust from the dryer to the exhaust port. A pair of strips is provided. The strips may be coupled to the dryer and the exhaust port. The duct engages the strips. The duct is retained on the dryer and the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Barry J. Garner
  • Patent number: 9512556
    Abstract: A support stand for drying the inside surfaces of a pair of work gloves. First and second thin flat frames having five vertical projections representing a thumb and fingers are vertically supported by a circular base. Each vertical projection has a finger tip glove contact cap to support the glove vertically and spread open each finger passage. The circular base can be separated into halves for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Saba Jazmin Kazravan
  • Patent number: 9512557
    Abstract: The caddy assembly includes a panel that may be coupled to the ironing board. A coupler is coupled to the panel. The coupler engages the ironing board. The panel is retained on the ironing board. A pocket is coupled to the panel. The panel contains an object. The object is accessible to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventors: Allen B. Snipe, Maria A. Snipe
  • Patent number: 9512558
    Abstract: An amusement system and method for adding an element of playfulness to placing used/soiled clothing within a hamper or other clothing container. A non-motorized mechanical flapper mechanism is rotationally coupled to an opening of a clothing hamper. The flapper mechanism is biased into a reception mode such that placement of soiled clothing on a target panel rotates the target panel to deposit the clothing into the hamper and the biasing mechanism returns the target panel to the reception mode automatically after deposit. An F/X module may be used to add effects to the transitions of the target panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Scott Eckerman