Patents Issued in March 21, 2017
  • Patent number: 9598750
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a high Cr Ferritic/Martensitic steel comprising 0.04 to 0.13% by weight of carbon, 0.03 to 0.07% by weight of silicon, 0.40 to 0.50% by weight of manganese, 0.40 to 0.50% by weight of nickel, 8.5 to 9.5% by weight of chromium, 0.45 to 0.55% by weight of molybdenum, 0.10 to 0.25% by weight of vanadium, 0.02 to 0.10% by weight of tantalum, 0.21 to 0.25% by weight of niobium, 1.5 to 3.0% by weight of tungsten, 0.015 to 0.025% by weight of nitrogen, 0.01 to 0.02% by weight of boron and iron balance. By regulating the contents of alloying elements such as nitrogen, born, the high Cr Ferritic/Martensitic steel with superior tensile strength and creep resistance is provided, and can be effectively used as an in-core component material for sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, KOREA HYDRO AND NUCLEAR POWER CO., LTD
    Inventors: Sung Ho Kim, Jong Hyuk Baek, Tae Kyu Kim, Woo Gon Kim, Jun Hwan Kim, Chang Hee Han, Chan Bock Lee, Yeong-Il Kim, Dohee Hahn
  • Patent number: 9598751
    Abstract: In a high strength cold-rolled steel plate having a specific chemical composition, a soft first phase (ferrite) has an area ratio of 20-50%, the remainder being a hard second phase (tempered martensite and/or tempered bainite), among all the ferrite grains, ferrite grains that have an average grain diameter of 10-25 ?m account for a total area ratio of 80% or more, the number of the cementite grains that have an equivalent circle diameter of 0.3 ?m or more is more than 0.15 piece and 1.0 piece or less per 1 ?m2 of ferrite, and the tensile strength is 980 MPa or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Masuda, Katsura Kajihara, Toshio Murakami, Masaaki Miura, Muneaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9598752
    Abstract: Provided is a bearing steel capable of exhibiting excellent cold workability in cold working that follows spheroidizing annealing and also capable of ensuring excellent abrasion resistance and rolling fatigue characteristics as a bearing member or the like. The bearing steel contains C: 0.9 to 1.10%, Si: 0.05 to 0.49%, Mn: 0.1 to 1.0%, P: not more than 0.05% (excluding 0%), S: not more than 0.05% (excluding 0%), Cr: 0.03 to 0.40%, Al: not more than 0.05% (excluding 0%), N: 0.002 to 0.025%, Ti: not more than 0.0030% (excluding 0%), and O: not more than 0.0025% (excluding 0%), with the remainder being iron and unavoidable impurities. The average aspect ratio of cementite is not more than 2.00, the average circle-equivalent diameter of cementite is 0.35 to 0.6 ?m, and the number density of cementite having a circle-equivalent diameter of not less than 0.13 ?m is not less than 0.45/?m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kaizuka, Mutsuhisa Nagahama
  • Patent number: 9598753
    Abstract: A high strength thin steel sheet that is mainly used for structural members and inner and outer panels for a vehicle, a galvanized steel sheet, and methods of manufacturing the same. The high strength thin steel sheet for superior press formability includes, by weight percent, 0.06 to 0.4% C, 1.0 to 5.0% Mn, 0.05 to 2.5% Si, 0.01 to 2.0% Ni, 0.02 to 2% Cu, 0.01 to 0.04% Ti, 0.05 to 2.5% Al, 0.005 to 0.1% Sb, 0.0005 to 0.004% B, 0.007% or less N, and balance Fe and inevitable impurities, and meeting relation of Ni+0.5×Mn+0.3×Cu>0.9, which is defined as Ni*, and Al/Ni*<1.3 at a same time, and relation of Ti?0.028×Al. This thin steel sheet is galvanized or galvannealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: POSCO
    Inventors: Jai Hyun Kwak, Kwang Geun Chin
  • Patent number: 9598754
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for coating a metal product wherein a molten coating is applied to a surface of said metal product and wherein part of said molten coating is wiped off said metal product by an air flow and a nitrogen gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Akin Malas
  • Patent number: 9598755
    Abstract: A high-strength galvanized steel sheet contains C: 0.010% or more and 0.06% or less, Si: more than 0.5% and 1.5% or less, Mn: 1.0% or more and 3.0% or less, P: 0.005% or more and 0.1% or less, S: 0.01% or less, sol.Al: 0.005% or more and 0.5% or less, N: 0.01% or less, Nb: 0.010% or more and 0.090% or less, and Ti: 0.015% or more and 0.15% or less, on a mass percent basis. The Nb and C contents of the steel satisfy the relation of (Nb/93)/(C/12)<0.20. C* satisfies 0.005?C*?0.025. Ferrite constitutes 70% by area ratio or more of the steel sheet. Martensite constitutes 3% by area ratio or more of the steel sheet. C*=C?(12/93)Nb?(12/48){Ti?(48/14)N}, wherein C, Nb, Ti, and N denote the C, Nb, Ti, and N contents of the steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kimura, Kaneharu Okuda, Reiko Sugihara
  • Patent number: 9598756
    Abstract: A method for producing a hot dip plated steel sheet, the method controlling a coating weight by injecting a gas toward a surface of a steel sheet from a time when the steel sheet continuously immersed into a plating bath is pulled up from the plating bath to a time when plating metal adhered onto the surface of the steel sheet is solidified, the method includes: setting an oxygen concentration of a bath surface of the plating bath to be more than or equal to 0.05 vol % and less than or equal to 21 vol % when the gas is injected toward the surface of the steel sheet; and setting an oxygen concentration in a space of an end of the steel sheet at a position where the gas collides with the steel sheet pulled up from the plating bath to be more than or equal to 0.05 vol % and less than or equal to 3 vol % when the gas is injected toward the surface of the steel sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tooru Oohashi, Masato Kageyama, Satoshi Uchida, Katsuhiro Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9598757
    Abstract: A metal sheet including a substrate having at least one face coated by a metallic coating is provided. The metallic coating has an aluminum content by weight tAl of between 3.6 and 3.8% a magnesium content by weight tMg of between 2.7 and 3.3%. The coating has a microstructure comprising a lamellar matrix of eutectic ternary Zn/Al/MgZn2 and possibly: dendrites of Zn with an accumulated surface content exceeding 5.0%, flowers of binary eutectic of Zn/MgZn2 with an accumulated surface content less than or equal to 15.0%, dendrites of binary eutectic Zn/Al surface with an accumulated surface content of less than 1.0% islets of MgZn2 with an accumulated surface content below 1.0%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ARCELORMITTAL INVESTIGACIÓN Y DESARROLLO S.L.
    Inventors: Christian Allely, Luc Diez, Tiago Machado Amorim, Jean-Michel Mataigne
  • Patent number: 9598758
    Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) may be configured to include air or water bearing supports. The VAWT may be configured to float. The VAWT may include a 360° rotor, having a precision machined noncorrosive bearing surface at its perimeter, with a system of wind capturing devices configured to collect kinetic energy of wind. The rotor may be supported by at least three air or water bearing supports positioned substantially at a perimeter of the rotor. Electrical generation components may be located substantially at the perimeter of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: American Offshore Energy
    Inventor: Andrew J. Devitt
  • Patent number: 9598759
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for producing a black-plated steel sheet capable of being blackened in a short amount of time, and exhibiting an excellent ability to maintain a black appearance after processing. As an original sheet, the sheet used is a Zn-plating steel sheet which contains molten Al and Mg and has a Zn-plating layer containing molten Al and Mg, containing Al in the amount of 0.1-22.0 mass %, inclusive, and containing Mg in the amount of 0.1-1.5 mass %, inclusive. The plating layer is blackened by causing the molten-plating steel sheet to contact water vapor inside a tightly sealed container. When doing so, the concentration of oxygen inside the tightly sealed container is 13% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Nakano, Masaya Yamamoto, Hirofumi Taketsu
  • Patent number: 9598760
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nitrided steel member and manufacturing method thereof. the nitrided steel member including: an iron nitride compound layer formed on a surface of a steel member made of carbon steel for machine structural use or alloy steel for machine structural use, in which with regard to X-ray diffraction peak intensity IFe4N (111) of the (111) crystal plane of Fe4N and X-ray diffraction peak intensity IFe3N (111) of the (111) crystal plane of Fe3N obtained by measuring a surface of the nitrided steel member by X-ray diffraction, an intensity ratio represented by IFe4N(111)/{IFe4N (111)+IFe3N (111)} is 0.5 or more, and a thickness of the iron nitride compound layer is 2 to 17 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: DOWA THERMOTECH CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Shimizu, Atsushi Kobayashi, Susumu Maeda, Masao Kanayama, Kiyotaka Akimoto
  • Patent number: 9598761
    Abstract: A razor blade including a substrate with a cutting edge, the substrate includes a mixed nitride-substrate interregion disposed at or beneath a surface of the substrate, the mixed nitride-substrate interregion being substantially free of a compound layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Krassimir Grigorov Marchev, John Madeira
  • Patent number: 9598762
    Abstract: In a DLC film-formed material, an intermediate layer is disposed between a substrate and a DLC film. The intermediate layer is a composite layer containing a component metal atom derived from the substrate and a diamond-like carbon. For example, such intermediate layer can be formed by applying a negative bias to the substrate while reducing the absolute value of the negative bias with time, in a plasma layer formation process. A carbon target or a hydrocarbon gas can be used as a carbon source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Mitsuda, Kenji Nose, Yuya Morihisa
  • Patent number: 9598763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a piston ring which is produced from a carrier material, especially steel or a cast material. The piston ring has a wear-resistant coating from a periodic multilayer system, every periodicity consisting of at least two individual metal nitride layers. Adjacent individual layers within the periodicity have different metallic elements. The thickness of an individual layer is ?15 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Burscheid GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Fischer, Ralf Lammers, Christiane Bauer, Steffen Hoppe
  • Patent number: 9598764
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a sputtering target includes preparing a first powder material including at least one of a tin oxide and a mesh-forming oxide; mixing the first powder material and a second powder material comprising carbon or a tin oxide to prepare a mixture; simultaneously performing a primary compression and primary sintering on the mixture in a reduction atmosphere; and simultaneously performing a secondary compression and secondary sintering on the mixture in the reduction atmosphere to prepare the sputtering target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Wook Shin, Sun-Young Jung, Il-Sang Lee, Jin-Woo Park, Dong-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 9598765
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a touch surface that can be integrated into an electronic device. User input can be received via the touch surface (e.g., a touchscreen, a key cap). The touch surface can include a substrate, a rigid layer for maintaining the contours of the substrate, and a surface layer deposited over the rigid layer for adjusting the surface energy of the touch surface. The substrate can be made with plastic; the rigid layer can be a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating; and the surface layer can be comprised of fluoro- or silicon-rich molecules. The DLC can be deposited over the plastic substrate via physical vapor deposition (PVD) while the surface layer can be deposited over the DLC via a chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The touch surface can be constructed using different layers of material and using different methods to improve the longevity of the touch surface against repeated use and wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Zhaoyang Han, Chienchung Chen, Ken Delaney, Changliang Li, Xiaoling Liu, Jianqing Hu, Wei Han Liao, Tsu Hsien Lee, Yi Ling Cai, Jacques Robert, Stephen Harvey
  • Patent number: 9598766
    Abstract: A vessel for conveying a precursor-containing fluid stream from a precursor material contained within the vessel, the vessel comprising: an interior volume defined by a top, one or more sidewalls, and a base; and at least one fluid outlet for vaporized precursor, and at least one particle barrier that defines at least one particle restricted space within the interior volume, wherein said particle barrier comprises at least one 3-dimensional filter. A method for using the apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Michael Birtcher, Thomas Andrew Steidl, Xinjian Lei, Sergei Vladimirovich Ivanov
  • Patent number: 9598767
    Abstract: A gas processing apparatus includes a process chamber for installing a process target therein, a through-hole being air-tightly in communication with a gas supply pipe, an injector for supplying gas into the process chamber, a sleeve being engaged to an outer peripheral surface of the injector inside the through-hole, an annular sealing member engaged to the outer peripheral surface of the injector, an engagement surface facing the sealing member, and a pressing part for pressing the sleeve toward the outer side of the process chamber. The pressing part compresses the sealing member by exerting pressure to the engagement surface from an end surface of the sleeve toward the sealing member, so that an inside of the injector and an outside of the injector are air-tightly sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Manabu Honma
  • Patent number: 9598768
    Abstract: A method of forming a zinc oxide film or a magnesium zinc oxide film which has a high transmittance. The method of forming a zinc oxide film or a magnesium zinc oxide film includes (A) converting a solution containing zinc, or zinc and magnesium into mist, (B) heating a substrate, and (C) supplying the solution converted into mist, and ozone to a first main surface of the substrate under heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Shirahata, Hiroyuki Orita, Akio Yoshida, Masahisa Kogura
  • Patent number: 9598769
    Abstract: A system and method for continuous atomic layer deposition. The system and method includes a housing, a moving bed which passes through the housing, a plurality of precursor gases and associated input ports and the amount of precursor gases, position of the input ports, and relative velocity of the moving bed and carrier gases enabling exhaustion of the precursor gases at available reaction sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Elam, Angel Yanguas-Gil, Joseph A. Libera
  • Patent number: 9598770
    Abstract: Semiconductor processing chamber showerheads with contoured faceplates, as well as techniques for producing such faceplates, are provided. Data describing deposition rate as a function of gap distance between a reference showerhead faceplate and a reference substrate may be obtained, as well as data describing deposition rate as a function of location on the substrate when the reference showerhead and the reference substrate are in a fixed arrangement with respect to each other. The two data sets may be used to determine offsets from a reference plane associated with the faceplate that determine a contour profile to be used with the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl F. Leeser, James S. Sims
  • Patent number: 9598771
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for methods of depositing a dielectric layer within a reaction chamber including a first electrode configured to support a substrate and a second electrode disposed above the first electrode and the substrate. A method includes flowing at least one reactant gas and at least one dilution gas into the reaction chamber, applying a first maximum low frequency radio frequency (LFRF) reflective power between the first and second electrodes to deposit a dielectric layer on the substrate, and applying a second maximum LFRF reflective power between the first and second electrodes during a termination operation, wherein the second maximum LFRF reflective power is less than the first maximum LFRF reflective power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji-Feng Liu
  • Patent number: 9598772
    Abstract: A method for fabricating bump structure without UBM undercut uses an electroless Cu plating process to selectively form a Cu UBM layer on a Ti UBM layer within an opening of a photoresist layer. After stripping the photoresist layer, there is no need to perform a wet etching process on the Cu UBM layer, and thereby the UBM structure has a non-undercut profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Lin, Ming-Da Cheng, Wen-Hsiung Lu, Chung-Shi Liu
  • Patent number: 9598773
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for producing a black-plated steel sheet capable of being blackened in a short amount of time, and exhibiting an excellent ability to maintain a black appearance after processing. As an original sheet, the sheet used is a Zn-plating steel sheet which contains molten Al and Mg and has a Zn-plating layer containing molten Al and Mg, containing Al in the amount of 1.0-22.0 mass %, inclusive, and containing Mg in the amount of 1.5-10.0 mass %, inclusive. The plating layer is blackened by causing the molten-plating steel sheet to contact water vapor inside a tightly sealed container. When doing so, the concentration of oxygen inside the tightly sealed container is 13% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Nakano, Masaya Yamamoto, Hirofumi Taketsu
  • Patent number: 9598774
    Abstract: Briefly, in one embodiment, a method is disclosed. The method includes introducing a powder feedstock into a cold-spray apparatus, and operating the cold-spray apparatus to deposit the feedstock. The feedstock includes particles including nickel-base alloy having a thermally altered microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Leonardo Ajdelsztajn, Timothy Hanlon
  • Patent number: 9598775
    Abstract: A high surface finish, thermally stable, multilayer slurry-based overlay system suitable for use in a severe thermal environment is disclosed. The disclosed embodiments include a basecoat layer formed from a slurry comprising ceramic pigment filled phosphate-based binder, a second layer formed from a slurry comprising metal oxide pigment or ceramic oxide pigment filled phosphate-based binder, and an optional seal coat layer formed from a phosphate-based binder substantially free of pigments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: PRAXAIR S.T. TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Irina Belov
  • Patent number: 9598776
    Abstract: Micron-sized metal particles in an ink or paste composition are deposited onto a substrate and then photosimered. The substrate may comprise a polymeric material. The polymeric substrate may have a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than two times the coefficient of thermal expansion of the photosimered ink or paste composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: PEN Inc.
    Inventors: Ovadia Abed, Valerie Kaye Ginsberg, James P. Novak
  • Patent number: 9598777
    Abstract: A method of making a multilayer environmental barrier coating for a ceramic matrix composite is provided, comprising the steps of: plasma spray coating an oxide-based bond coat over top of the ceramic matrix composite and depositing a columnar top coat over the oxide-based bond coat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Kang N. Lee
  • Patent number: 9598778
    Abstract: A single anode system used in multiple electrochemical treatments to control steel corrosion in concrete comprises a sacrificial metal that is capable to supporting high impressed anode current densities with an impressed current anode connection detail and a porous embedding material containing an electrolyte. Initially current is driven from the sacrificial metal [1] to the steel [10] using a power source [5] converting oxygen and water [14] into hydroxyl ions [15] on the steel and drawing chloride ions [16] into the porous material [2] around the anode such that corroding sites are moved from the steel to the anode restoring steel passivity and activating the anode. Cathodic prevention is them applied. This is preferably sacrificial cathodic prevention that is applied by disconnecting the power source and connecting the activated sacrificial node directly to the steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventors: Gareth Glass, Adrian Roberts, Nigel Davison
  • Patent number: 9598779
    Abstract: In a carbon dioxide reduction method according to the present disclose, used is a carbon dioxide reduction device comprising a cathode container in which a first electrolyte containing carbon dioxide is stored, an anode container in which a second electrolyte is stored, a solid electrolyte membrane, a condenser, a cathode electrode having a metal or a metal compound on the surface thereof, and anode electrode having a region formed of a nitride semiconductor layer in which a GaN layer and an AlxGa1-xN layer are stacked. The anode electrode is irradiated with light condensed by the condenser and having a wavelength of not more than 360 nanometers to reduce the carbon dioxide contained in the first electrolyte on the cathode electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hashiba, Masahiro Deguchi, Satoshi Yotsuhashi, Yuka Yamada
  • Patent number: 9598780
    Abstract: Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical cells for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kyoung-Shin Choi, Hyun Gil Cha
  • Patent number: 9598781
    Abstract: The carbon dioxide reducing method using light includes: (a) preparing a carbon dioxide reducing cell including: a cathode chamber that holds first electrolytic solution containing carbon dioxide; an anode chamber that holds second electrolytic solution; a proton exchange membrane inserted between the cathode and anode chambers; a cathode set inside the cathode chamber to contact the first electrolytic solution, and the cathode having copper, gold, silver, indium, etc. on the cathode; and an anode set inside the anode chamber to contact the second electrolytic solution, the anode having first semiconductor layer constituted by nitride semiconductor including AlxGa1-xN layer wherein 0?x?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Deguchi, Satoshi Yotsuhashi, Hiroshi Hashiba, Yuka Yamada
  • Patent number: 9598782
    Abstract: A membrane module and method of making are provided. Exemplarily, the membrane module is adapted for use with an electrochemical apparatus. The membrane comprises a fabric made from a synthetic fiber such as nylon, where the nylon is woven into ripstop nylon fabric. The membrane module includes the membrane around which is formed a frame, comprising exemplarily, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene, which frame provides support to the membrane as well as support and structure to internal electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher M. McWhinney, David C. Erbaugh
  • Patent number: 9598783
    Abstract: An aluminum smelter comprising: (i) a series of electrolytic cells, designed for the production of aluminum, forming one or more rows, (ii) a supply station designed to supply the series of electrolytic cells with an electrolysis current, the said electricity supply station comprising two poles, (iii) a main electrical circuit through which the electrolysis current flows, having two extremities each connected to one of the poles of the supply station, (iv) at least one secondary electrical circuit comprising an electrical conductor made of superconducting material through which a current flows, running along the row or rows of electrolytic cells, characterized in that the electrical conductor made of superconducting material in the secondary electrical circuit runs along the row or rows of electrolytic cells at least twice in such a way as to make several turns in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Christian Duval, Steeve Renaudier, Benoit Bardet, Olivier Martin, Stéphane Wan Tang Kuan
  • Patent number: 9598784
    Abstract: A contact element (25) (electroformed product) is produced by electroforming. The contact element (25) has a surface on which an insulating film (28) having been formed by use of a dry film resist or the like is provided. In a process of producing the contact element (25), the insulating film (28) is provided after a step of producing the contact element 25. This makes it possible to provide electroformed components configured so that respective electroformed products (contact terminals) are arranged at narrow pitches while maintaining electrical insulation of the electroformed products from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Hemmi, Takahiro Sakai, Hideaki Ozaki, Hirotada Teranishi
  • Patent number: 9598785
    Abstract: A process of preparing a plurality of nanostructures, each being composed of at least one target material is disclosed. The process comprises sequentially electrodepositing a first material and the at least one target material into pores of a porous membrane having a nanometric pore diameter, to thereby obtain within the pores nanometric rods, each of the nanometric rods having a plurality of segments where any two adjacent segments are made of different materials. The process further comprises and etching the membrane and the first material, thereby obtaining the nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd.
    Inventors: Fernando Patolsky, Roey Elnathan, Raisa Kantaev
  • Patent number: 9598786
    Abstract: Amino sulfonic acid based polymers are reaction products of amino sulfonic acids, an amine, polyepoxide compounds and epihalohydrin. The polymers may be used as levelers in copper electroplating baths, to provide good throwing power. Such reaction products may plate copper or copper alloys with good surface properties and good physical reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: Weijing Lu, Zuhra I. Niazimbetova, Maria Anna Rzeznik
  • Patent number: 9598787
    Abstract: The methods inhibit or reduce dimpling and voids during copper electroplating of through-holes with flash copper layers in substrates such as printed circuit boards. An acid solution containing reaction products of aromatic heterocyclic nitrogen compounds and epoxy-containing compounds is applied to the through-holes of the substrate followed by filling the through-holes with copper using a copper electroplating bath which includes additives such as brighteners and levelers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: Nagarajan Jayaraju, Elie H. Najjar, Leon R. Barstad
  • Patent number: 9598788
    Abstract: An electroplating apparatus has a rotor in a head, with a contact ring on the rotor. A lift/rotate actuator may move the head to position a sector of the contact ring into a deplate channel of a deplating station. Electrical current and a deplate liquid are applied directly onto the contacts of the contact ring, from a position radially inward of the contacts. Electrical current and a deplate liquid may also be separately applied onto the back side of the ring contact, from a position radially to the outside of the contact ring. A seal on the deplating station makes sliding contact with the contact ring as the contact ring rotates through the deplate channel, with the seal associated with an exhaust or vacuum opening that pulls deplating and rinse liquid through openings in the contact ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy A. Harris, Bryan J. Puch
  • Patent number: 9598789
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for lithiation of an intercalation-based anode or a non-reactive plating-capable foil or a reactive alloy capable anode, whereby utilization of said lithiated intercalation-based anode or a plating-capable foil or reactive alloy capable anode in a rechargeable battery or electrochemical cell results in an increased amount of lithium available for cycling, and an improved reversible capacity during charge and discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Nanoscale Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Grant, Matthew Sweetland, Asela Maha Acharige
  • Patent number: 9598790
    Abstract: Provided is a pellicle frame that can prevent generation of haze and reduces a surface glittering defect under irradiation with collected light, and a method of manufacturing the same. The pellicle frame is obtained by using an aluminum frame material having a structure satisfying predetermined conditions on the circle-equivalent diameters of a Mg2Si crystallized product, an AlCuMg crystallized product, an Al—Fe-based crystallized product (AlmFe or Al7Cu2Fe), and an Al2CuMg crystallized product and on the area ratios of those crystallized products each having a circle-equivalent diameter of 1 ?m or more, and in addition, subjecting the aluminum frame material to anodic oxidation processing using an alkaline electrolytic solution containing as an electrolyte a predetermined organic acid salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Taguchi, Takayuki Yamaguchi, Shingo Koizumi, Akira Iizuka, Kiyokazu Koga, Masato Yatsukura
  • Patent number: 9598791
    Abstract: Reducing the microvoid (MV) density in AlN ameliorates numerous problems related to cracking during crystal growth, etch pit generation during the polishing, reduction of the optical transparency in an AlN wafer, and, possibly, growth pit formation during epitaxial growth of AlN and/or AlGaN. This facilitates practical crystal production strategies and the formation of large, bulk AlN crystals with low defect densities—e.g., a dislocation density below 104 cm?2 and an inclusion density below 104 cm?3 and/or a MV density below 104 cm?3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CRYSTAL IS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Bondokov, Kenneth E. Morgan, Glen A. Slack, Leo J. Schowalter
  • Patent number: 9598792
    Abstract: A film-forming apparatus and method comprising a film-forming chamber for supplying a reaction gas into, a cylindrical shaped liner provided between an inner wall of the film-forming chamber and a space for performing a film-forming process, a main-heater for heating a substrate placed inside the liner, from the bottom side, a sub-heater cluster provided between the liner and the inner wall, for heating the substrate from the top side, wherein the main-heater and the sub-heater cluster are resistive heaters, wherein the sub-heater cluster has a first sub-heater provided at the closest position to the substrate, and a second sub-heater provided above the first sub-heater, wherein the first sub-heater heats the substrate in combination with the main-heater, the second sub-heater heats the liner at a lower output than the first sub-heater, wherein each temperature of the main-heater, the first sub-heater, and the second sub-heater is individually controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: NuFlare Technology, Inc., Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiko Suzuki, Hideki Ito, Naohisa Ikeya, Hidekazu Tsuchida, Isaho Kamata, Masahiko Ito, Masami Naito, Hiroaki Fujibayashi, Ayumu Adachi, Koichi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9598793
    Abstract: An electrospinning device includes a rotatable carrier, a collector unit including at least one collector bar, a dispenser for dispensing a polymer composition, and a power supply. The collector bar is disposed on the rotatable carrier and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The power supply is configured to produce a potential difference between the dispenser and the collector bar so as to permit the polymer composition to erupt from the dispenser as a jet of the polymer composition toward the collector bar to thereby permit the resultant electrospun fibers to be collected on the collector bar. By rotating the rotatable carrier at a relatively fast speed, the electrospun fibers are drawn to be arranged along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ray-Quen Hsu, Hsuan-Yu Huang, Yao-Hong Cheng
  • Patent number: 9598794
    Abstract: A garment for therapeutic comfort to the wearer's lower body. The garment includes an outer layer that is usually of color or design in order to be aesthetically pleasing, and an inner layer that is in contact with the wearer when worn. The garment includes a plurality of upper and lower pocket members selectively positioned on the front, rear, outer, and inner sides of the garment, the pocket members each include a chamber in communication with an opening that can be in parallel or perpendicular with the length of leg portions of the garment. Each of the pocket members are defined between the outer and inner sides of the garment, and are seized for receiving a cold compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Mary Lou Jo Isanhart
  • Patent number: 9598795
    Abstract: One embodiment is directed to an oven for heating fibers. The oven comprises a plurality of walls forming a chamber and a supply structure disposed within the chamber between first and second ends of the chamber. The supply structure is in communication with a first heating system and is configured to direct heated gas from the first heating system into a first portion of the chamber. The supply structure is in communication with a second heating system and is configured to direct heated gas from the second heating system into a second portion of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Hans L. Melgaard
  • Patent number: 9598796
    Abstract: A new class of high modulus polypropylene multifilament fiber and/or yarn is provided. Such a multifilament fiber and/or yarn exhibits an exceptional combination of high strength and toughness with low weight and density. The inventive fibers thus permit replacement of expensive polymeric fibers within certain applications with lower cost alternatives, or replacement of high density components with such low density fibers, without sacrificing strength or durability. Such multifilament fibers are produced through melt-spinning processes and exhibit highly unique microstructures therein, including significant void volumes, interspersed and crossed voids, and nanofilament bridges within such voids. Such microstructural characteristics appear to impart the exceptional properties noted above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Innegra Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Morin
  • Patent number: 9598797
    Abstract: A woven fabric suitable for use in arc protection and article of thermal protective clothing comprising the fabric, the fabric having a warp yarn dissimilar to a fill yarn, wherein a majority of the a face of the fabric is a first yarn and a majority of the opposing face of the fabric is a second yarn, wherein the second yarn comprises 25 to 100 parts aramid fiber containing 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles and 0 to 75 parts aramid fiber free of discrete carbon particles; and wherein the first yarn comprises aramid fiber being free of discrete carbon particles; the fabric having a total content of 0.5 to 3 weight percent discrete carbon particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventor: Reiyao Zhu
  • Patent number: 9598798
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for weaving a three-dimensional fabric involves inserting simultaneously a parallel weft yarns into the sheds between multiple warp yarn layers and selectively inserting at least one group of binder yarns between parallel spaced warp yarns. The group of binder yarns are moved relative to the warp yarns between weft insertions. The yarns may be moved between more than two positions relative to the warp yarns during weaving of the fabric so as to insert binder yarns. In one embodiment the binder yarns are moved such that they extend in a direction that is not orthogonal to the warp yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSTIY OF MANCHESTER
    Inventors: Prasad Potluri, Dhavalsinh Jetavat, Sandeep Sharma
  • Patent number: 9598799
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing the physical dimensions and positioning of at least one selected textile region of a knitted garment. The method includes producing the garment including a conductive textile electrode, rigidifying the at least one selected textile region and knitting a preconfigured region proximal to the at least one selected textile region with a lower knitting density than the preconfigured density of the tubular form. The invention further provides a garment having a tubular form, knitted by a seamless knitting machine with base-yarns. The garment includes at least one conductive textile electrode. The garment further includes at least one preconfigured region in proximity to the at least one selected textile region, having a lower knitting density than the preconfigured density of the tubular form and the at least one selected textile region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: HEALTHWATCH LTD.
    Inventors: Boaz Shoshani, Uri Amir