Continuous Strip Or Filament Electrode Patents (Class 204/206)
  • Patent number: 11854714
    Abstract: A tempering process for tempering an aluminum alloy coil includes a first reel-to-reel process including an anneal to solutionize the aluminum alloy followed by a quench, a second reel-to-reel process comprising rolling reduction, and a hardening anneal performed on the aluminum alloy coil. Cladding may be performed during the second reel-to-reel process; or a subsequent reel-to-reel electroplating process may be performed including an alkaline soak clean, an alkaline microetch and seed electroplating, and aqueous electroplating of a contact metal onto the seed electroplating. Electrical interconnect components may be stamped from the tempered and clad or electroplated aluminum alloy coil. The electrical interconnect components may, for example, be connectors, lead frames, or bus bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Materion Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor L Goodrich, Aaron M. Vodnick, Robert P. Willis, Joseph G. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11447871
    Abstract: There is provided a technique capable of forming a plating film excellent in film thickness and quality uniformity on a to-be-plated surface of a semiconductor wafer while suppressing an increase in costs of facilities. An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: a reaction bath; a supply pipe provided inside the reaction bath and including a plurality of ejection holes for ejecting the reaction solution, the ejecting holes being arranged in a longitudinal direction of the supply pipe; and an outer bath serving as a reservoir bath provided adjacent to the reaction bath on a first end side of the supply pipe and storing therein the reaction solution overflowed the reaction bath. The aperture ratio of part of the ejection holes more distant from the outer bath is at least partially higher than that of part of the ejection holes closer to the outer bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shotaro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11332838
    Abstract: A plating apparatus including a plating bath, a substrate holder to be arranged in the plating bath and adapted to hold a substrate, an anode for generating an electric field between the substrate and the anode, and at least one electric field shielding body for shielding the substrate holder and a part or the whole of the electric field, wherein the electric field shielding body has an opening portion for allowing the electric field between the substrate and the anode to pass therethrough, and is configured so as to be capable of adjusting an opening size in a first direction of the opening portion and an opening size in a second direction of the opening portion independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gaku Yamasaki, Tomonori Hirao, Toshio Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10961636
    Abstract: The invention is a metal coating device in which the sheet metal fed to a coating container for being copper-coated by electrolysis in the coating container comprising a first roll device having a roll in contact with the sheet metal forwarded in the vertical position and having a rotational axis perpendicular thereto, a carrier body bearing the roll and a current transmitted via a current plate electrically connected to a power source, a coal device which includes an electric current carrying coals from the carrier body to the roll and a cooling chamber provided around the region where the current plate is connected to the carrier body and through which a cooling liquid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: NET BORU SANAYI VE DIS TICARET KOLLEKTIF SIRKETI BORA SAMAN VE ORTAGI
    Inventor: Bora Saman
  • Patent number: 10686191
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrodeposited copper foil, in which a center line roughness average Ra (?m), a maximum height Rmax (?m), and a ten-point height average Rz (?m) of a matte side satisfy an Equation below, 1.5?(Rmax?Rz)/Ra?6.5. The electrodeposited copper foil according to the present invention maintains low roughness and high strength, and exhibits a high elongation rate, and particularly, has excellent glossiness, so that the electrodeposited copper foil may be used in a current collector of a medium and large lithigum ion secondary battery and a semiconductor packaging substrate for Tape Automated Bonding (TAB) used in a Tape Carrier Package (TCP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: ILJ IN MATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sun Hyoung Lee, Tae Jin Jo, Seul Ki Park, Ki Deok Song
  • Patent number: 10513784
    Abstract: A treatment device for single-stage treatment of a metal object to be treated by at least the steps of pickling and phosphating. The treatment device comprises at least the following: a treatment container for receiving the object to be treated and for receiving a flowable treatment substance; and a pump device for exchanging at least a fraction of the treatment substance. The treatment substance is flowable around at least one part of the object to be treated. The treatment substance comprises a phosphor- or phosphate-containing solution, in particular phosphoric acid. The phosphor- or phosphate-containing solution consists partly of water and partly of a reaction substance, and the reaction substance consists of phosphor or a phosphate and an additional treatment effect-improving substance. The proportion of the phosphor or phosphate in the reaction substance is at least 95%, and the reaction substance does not have a salt acid or sulfuric acid content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: RIO VERWALTUNGS AG
    Inventor: Joachim Schoenberg
  • Patent number: 10513781
    Abstract: A treatment device is provided for single-stage treatment of a metal object, wherein the treatment comprises at least pickling and phosphating of the object. The treatment device comprises a treatment container for holding the object to be treated and for holding a flowable treatment substance, and a pumping apparatus for circulating at least a portion of the treatment substance. The treatment substance is flowable around at least part of the object to be treated, and the treatment substance is a phosphorus- or phosphate-containing solution. The phosphorus- or phosphate-containing solution consists of water and a reaction substance, and the reaction substance consists of phosphorus or of a phosphate and at least one additional substance that improves the treatment effect. The fraction of the phosphorous or the phosphate in the reaction substance is between 75 vol % to 94 vol %, and the reaction substance has no fractions of hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: RETOMAX AG
    Inventor: Joachim Schoenberg
  • Patent number: 10495400
    Abstract: A sear mechanism for a firearm includes a trigger element having one or more contact surfaces on which one or more movable or pivotable components of the sear mechanism selectively contacts or slides. In some embodiments, the trigger element is made by producing an intermediate workpiece of the trigger element by a manufacturing process, and electric discharge machining the intermediate workpiece of the trigger element to provide the contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: WHG Properties, LLC
    Inventor: William H. Geissele
  • Patent number: 10343393
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pattern on a substrate web includes providing a production tool having a surface relief structure of elevations and depressions. The elevations correspond to a desired pattern. A curable material is applied to the elevations. The material is brought into contact with a substrate web at a first location. The substrate web and surface relief structure are transported together in contact from the first location to a second location spaced from one another along the transport direction of the substrate web. The substrate web is separated from the surface relief structure at the second location whereupon the material forming the pattern is affixed to and carried by the substrate web. The material is cured by exposure to a curing energy source, either between the first and second locations and/or after the substrate web has been separated from the surface relief structure at the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Brian William Holmes
  • Patent number: 10309033
    Abstract: Anode foil, preferably aluminum anode foil, is etched using a process of adding an etch resist to the anode foil and treating the foil in an electrolyte bath composition comprising a sulfate, a halide, an oxidizing agent, a surface active agent, and a non-ionic surfactant. The anode foil is etched in the electrolyte bath composition by passing a charge through the bath. The etched anode foil is suitable for use in an electrolytic capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, Timothy R. Marshall, Thomas F. Strange
  • Patent number: 10126493
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing metal-coated optical fiber involves feeding a length of glass fiber through a first solution bath so as to plate a first predetermined metal on the glass fiber via electroless deposition. The length of glass fiber is passed continuously from the first solution bath to a second solution bath adapted to plate thereon a second predetermined metal via electrolytic plating such that the optical fiber contacts an electrode only after at least some of the second predetermined metal has been applied. The length of glass fiber may be passed continuously from the second solution bath to a third solution bath adapted to plate thereon a third predetermined metal via electrolytic plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignees: Fujikura LTD.
    Inventors: Matsuhiro Miyamoto, John J. D'Urso, Takuya Fujimoto, Masateru Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10086457
    Abstract: Provided is a power supply unit, which is to be used for a multi-wire electrical discharge machining apparatus arranged to slice a material to be machined by an electrical discharge generated between a wire group including a plurality of turns of a wire arranged in parallel and the material to be machined, and to which a power supply terminal to be brought into contact with the wire group at a time to supply a voltage to the wire group is mounted, the power supply unit including: a mounting portion to which the power supply terminal to be brought into contact with the wire group at a time is mounted; and an adjusting portion arranged to adjust an inclination of the mounting portion in a direction crossing a running direction of the wire group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: Canon Marketing Japan Kabushiki Kaisha, Makino Milling Machine Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Haruya Kurihara
  • Patent number: 10066309
    Abstract: The method, apparatus and product relate to the electrochemical reduction of a solid feedstock (20) to produce a product. A container (2) is filled with a fused salt (6), and one or more anodes (14) contact the fused salt. A cathode (18) is loaded with feedstock and engages with a transport apparatus (22, 36, 40) which locates and moves the cathode past the anodes(s), while the cathode and the feedstock contact the fused salt. As the cathode moves past the anodes(s), a voltage applied between the cathode and the anode(s) electrochemically reduces the solid feedstock to form the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: METALYSIS LIMITED
    Inventor: Allen Richard Wright
  • Patent number: 10058944
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machine, configured to determine whether or not electrical discharge machining of a workpiece can be performed, includes a determination unit for determining that wire electrical discharge machining of the workpiece can be performed when a wire electrode is moved toward the workpiece and a contact detection unit detects contact, and for determining that the wire electrical discharge machining of the workpiece cannot be performed when a breaking detection unit detects the breaking of the wire electrode before the contact detection unit detects the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9899683
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrolytic copper foil in which an average diameter of a pore which is a region between surface elements protruding from a matte side is 1 mm to 100 nm. The electrolytic copper foil has high elongation while maintaining low roughness and high strength and thus may be used in a current collector of a medium-large size lithium ion secondary battery and a semiconductor packaging substrate, and the like, for tape automated bonding (TAB) which is used in a tape carrier package (TCP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Iljin Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun Hyoung Lee, Tae Jin Jo, Seul Ki Park, Ki Deok Song
  • Patent number: 9862044
    Abstract: Described herein is an electric discharge machining (EDM) assembly having an EDM electrode capable of machining multiple regions of a valve seat within a valve body. The electrode includes two cutting surfaces that are separate from each other. The EDM assembly is capable of removing material from a first region of a valve seat while moving the first cutting surface in a first direction and capable of removing material from a second region while moving the second cutting surface in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: JRV Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Crawford, Victor R. Solomon
  • Patent number: 9765444
    Abstract: The invention discloses a continuous electrochemical machining apparatus, which comprises an electrode wheel and an auxiliary module. The auxiliary module pushes the material tape to the insulating part of the electrode wheel. The electrode wheel drives the material tape to move. Electrochemical machining is performed on the material tape using at least a conductive pattern of the electrode wheel for forming a plurality of patterns on the material tape. Thereby, continuous electrochemical machining can be performed on the material tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Metal Industries Research & Development Centre
    Inventors: You-Lun Chen, Hong-Yi Chen, Da-Yu Lin, Ho-Chung Fu
  • Patent number: 9731498
    Abstract: Apparatus to apply a fluid to a substrate, the apparatus includes a first roller to rotate about an axis and apply a fluid to a first side of the substrate. The first roller includes an outlet to provide gas to the substrate to guide the movement of the substrate subsequent to the application of fluid to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Alex Feygelman, Zvika Cohen, Mordechai Arenson, Ziv Yosef
  • Patent number: 9719171
    Abstract: A roll-to-roll electroless plating system including a sump and a pan containing a plating solution. A web advance system advances a web of substrate though the plating solution in the pan along a web advance direction, wherein a plating substance in the plating solution is plated onto predetermined locations on a surface of the web of substrate. A pan-replenishing pump moves plating solution from the sump to an inlet of the pan through a pipe connected to an outlet of the pan-replenishing pump, the inlet of the pan being located below the web of substrate. A spreader duct includes a channel that is in fluidic communication with the inlet of the pan, wherein the channel is positioned below the web of substrate and includes at least one outlet disposed beyond the first edge or the second edge of the web of substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary P. Wainwright, Shawn A. Reuter
  • Patent number: 9713265
    Abstract: In order to remove treatment liquid (21) from a planar material to be treated (10), which is transported in an assembly for the electrolytic or wet-chemical treatment of the material to be treated (10), or to promote the exchange of material on the surface of the material to be treated (10), a roll with a roll surface (4, 14) is provided. The roll surface (4, 14) is arranged relative to a transport path of the material to be treated (10) so that a gap (8, 18) remains between the roll surface (4, 14) and a useful region of the material to be treated (10) opposing the roll surface (4, 14), which extends over the useful region. The roll is driven rotatably so that at the gap (8, 18) a relative speed is produced between the roll surface (4, 14) and the material to be treated (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Henry Kunze
  • Patent number: 9631294
    Abstract: A method and device for vertical galvanic metal deposition on a substrate, the device including at least first and second device elements arranged vertically parallel to each other, the first device element including at least a first anode element having a plurality of through-going conduits and at least a first carrier element having a plurality of through-going conduits, the at least first anode element and the at least first carrier element firmly connected to each other; and the second device element including at least a first substrate holder adapted to receive at least one substrate to be treated, the at least one substrate holder at least partially surrounding the at least one substrate along its outer frame after receiving it; the distance between the first anode element and the at least first substrate holder ranging from 2 to 15 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Ray Weinhold, Ferdinand Wiener
  • Patent number: 9534310
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a device for vertical galvanic metal, preferably copper, deposition on a substrate, a container suitable for receiving such a device and a substrate holder, which is suitable for receiving a substrate to be treated, and the use of such a device inside of such a container for galvanic metal, in particular copper, deposition on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Rauenbusch, Christian Thomas, Ray Weinhold, Heinz Klingl
  • Patent number: 9484580
    Abstract: An example fuel cell electrode forming method includes covering at least a portion of a copper monolayer with a liquid platinum and replacing the copper monolayer to form a platinum monolayer from the liquid platinum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Minhua Shao, Sathya Motupally, Belabbes Merzougui, Lesia V. Protsailo
  • Patent number: 9434113
    Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing a slide fastener. At least one of a pair of right and left fastener tapes and a pair of right and left fastener element rows is colored in a plurality of colors at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction by inkjet while the pair of right and left fastener element rows are engaged with each other to provide a fastener chain. The pair of right and left fastener element rows are disengaged. One of the pair of right and left fastener tapes is moved in the longitudinal direction. And then, the right and left fastener element rows are reengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshimichi Yamakita
  • Patent number: 9412525
    Abstract: Anode foils suitable for use in electrolytic capacitors, including those having multiple anode configurations, have improved strength, reduced brittleness, and increased capacitance compared to conventional anode foils for electrolytic capacitors. Exemplary methods of manufacturing an anode foil suitable for use in an electrolytic capacitor include disposing a resist material in a predetermined pattern on an exposed surface of an anode foil substrate such that a first portion of the exposed surface of the anode foil substrate is covered by the resist material, and a second portion of the exposed surface remains uncovered; polymerizing the resist material; exposing at least the second portion of the exposed surface to one or more etchants so as to form a plurality of tunnels; stripping the polymerized resist material; and widening at least a portion of the plurality of tunnels. The resist material may be deposited, for example, by ink-jet printing, stamping or screen printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Bowen, Ralph Jason Hemphill, Xiaofei Jiang, Corina Geiculescu, Tearl Stocker
  • Patent number: 9308594
    Abstract: In order to detect a wire breakage as soon as possible, the wire electrical discharge machining apparatus includes a speed fluctuation compensator that generates a speed fluctuation suppression command that is a speed compensation value that suppresses fluctuation of the rotational speed of the tension motor on the basis of the rotational speed of the tension motor and a breakage detecting device that detects a breakage of the wire electrode on the basis of a comparison of a preset breakage detection threshold and a speed fluctuation suppression command output from the speed fluctuation compensator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Onodera, Takayuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9243341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for producing targeted flow and current density patterns in a chemical and/or electrolytic surface treatment. The device comprises a flow distributor body which is disposed, with the front face thereof, plane-parallel to a substrate to be processed, and which has outlet openings on the front face, through which process solution flows onto the substrate surface. The process solution flowing back from the substrate is led off through connecting passages onto the rear face of the flow distributor body. At the same time a targeted distribution of an electrical field on a conductive substrate surface is effected by a specific arrangement of said connecting passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Lothar Dietrich, Ralf Schmidt, Andreas Ostmann
  • Patent number: 9162312
    Abstract: A drive roll assembly is disclosed for a push-pull MIG welding torch including a handle connected to a power cable assembly at one end, and a gooseneck-contact tip assembly at the other end. The drive roll assembly includes a body block disposed in the handle, a motorized driving gear mounted on the body block, and an idler wheel rotatably mounted on a mounting arm via a mount. The mounting arm is pivotally connected to the body block. The idler wheel is cooperable with the driving gear to pull welding wire from the cable assembly through the handle and towards the gooseneck. One of the idler wheel and the driving gear is made of a highly conductive material that allows for transfer of welding current to the welding wire, providing a secondary current transfer channel in addition to the conductive contact tip. The electric resistance from the body block to the surfaces of the idler wheel and driving gear at which they contact welding wire is below 15 milli-ohms, preferably below 2.0 milli-ohms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Tiejun Ma, Romeo N. Cossette
  • Patent number: 9149880
    Abstract: An electrical discharge machine that performs electrical discharge machining on a workpiece by supplying a machining fluid to a machining gap between a machining electrode and the workpiece, the electrical discharge machine including: an air-bubble generation unit that generates air bubbles in the machining fluid; a storage unit that stores therein the machining fluid containing the air bubbles generated by the air-bubble generation unit; and a flow-rate adjustment unit that adjusts a flow rate of the machining fluid that flows in the storage unit, wherein the flow-rate adjustment unit adjusts the flow rate according to a diameter of the air bubbles contained in the machining fluid to be supplied to a machining tank in which the workpiece is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetaka Katougi, Toshiyuki Kamiya, Makoto Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20140349135
    Abstract: A method for coating a steel sheet with a metal layer includes the following steps: application of a first thin metal layer as a flash coating; melting the metal layer from the flash coating; and application of at least one additional metal layer onto the metal layer from the flash coating. To increase the corrosion resistance of the coated steel sheet and to improve the energy and resource efficiency of the coating method, with which a steel sheet having a high corrosion resistance and good weldability and with a good deep drawing and ironing behavior is to be produced, the thickness of the metal layer from the flash coating is at most 200 mg/m2 and the metal layer from the flash coating is melted with electromagnetic radiation of high energy density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP RASSELSTEIN GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut OBERHOFFER, Benjamin LIEBSCHER, Anika SZESNI, Reiner SAUER, Karl-Ernst FRIEDRICH
  • Patent number: 8888967
    Abstract: A process for creating porous anode foil for use in an electrolytic capacitor of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator is provided. The process includes electrochemical drilling a plurality of etched metal foils in sequence one after the other in a bath containing electrochemical drilling (ECD) solution initially having a pH of less than 5. Alternatively, an etched foil sheet may be passed through the bath in a substantially continuous manner such that a portion of said etched foil sheet is in contact with the ECD solution is electrochemically drilled to generate pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Hemphill, Thomas F. Strange
  • Publication number: 20140251815
    Abstract: An electrical brush plating system and method for metal parts wherein a motion control member and a plating bath with a plating pen includes an anode member provided with an anode plate and bristles that are mounted on the motion control member. A part to be plated is disposed within the plating bath with the bristles provided towards the surface of the part to be plated and under the control of the motion control member, the bristles perform a relative friction motion with the surface of the part to be plated. During the relative friction motion, the surface of the part to be plated is opposite to the anode plate of the anode member. The method includes the steps of mounting the plating pen and the part to be plated; electrocleaning; strong activation; weak activation and electrical brush plating. The generation of pinholes, pits and nodules are avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicants: People's Liberation Army Academy of Armored Forces Engineering
    Inventors: Zhenfeng HU, Binshi XU, Xiaohe WANG, Biao LV, XiuBing LIANG, Peijing SHI, Yongxiong CHEN, Zhihai CAI
  • Patent number: 8747640
    Abstract: Arrangements for plating a single surface of a thin foil are described. In one aspect, a metal foil is wrapped tightly at least partially around a plating solution drum. The drum is partially immersed in a plating solution such that the waterline of the metal plating solution is below a break point where the metallic foil strip begins to unwind from the plating solution drum. With this arrangement, one side of the metallic foil strip is exposed to the metal plating solution, while the opposing back side of the metallic foil strip does not come in substantial contact with the metal plating solution. In this manner, the exposed side of the foil is plated while the back surface of the foil is not plated. The drum may be rotated to convey the foil through the plating solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jaime Bayan, Nghia Tu, Will Wong
  • Patent number: 8728295
    Abstract: A cell having an anode compartment and a cathode compartment is used to electrolyze an alkali metal polysulfide into an alkali metal. The cell includes an anode, wherein at least part of the anode is housed in the anode compartment. The cell also includes a quantity of anolyte housed within the anode compartment, the anolyte comprising an alkali metal polysulfide and a solvent. The cell includes a cathode, wherein at least part of the cathode is housed in the cathode compartment. A quantity of catholyte is housed within the cathode compartment. The cell operates at a temperature below the melting temperature of the alkali metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.
    Inventors: John Howard Gordon, Ashok V. Joshi
  • Patent number: 8721863
    Abstract: A method for plating a belt substrate including conveying a belt substrate through a plating tank, contacting an immersed cathode power-supply device and/or an auxiliary cathode power-supply device with the belt substrate conveyed into the interior of the plating tank such that the belt substrate becomes a cathode, and electrically plating a surface of the belt substrate in the interior of the plating tank while the immersed cathode power-supply device and/or the auxiliary cathode power-supply device maintains cathode power-supply to the belt substrate conveyed into the interior portion of the plating tank. The immersed cathode power-supply device and the auxiliary cathode power-supply device are positioned in the interior portion of the plating tank and are electrically connected by a short circuit wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Tachi, Shigeki Sawa, Toshiyuki Kasuga
  • Patent number: 8601973
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for improved sputtering systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, a deposition system for use with a substrate, the system comprising a solution deposition apparatus; at heating chamber; and at least assembly for holding solution over the substrate to allow for a depth of at least about 0.5 microns to 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Yann Roussillon, Piyaphant Utthachoo
  • Patent number: 8551301
    Abstract: An electroplating system is provided for electroplating a workpiece. The system includes a plating wheel having a side and a cylindrical wall extending from the side. The plating wheel has an interior chamber that at least partially defines a solution chamber that is configured to hold an electroplating solution. The cylindrical wall includes an opening extending through the cylindrical wall into fluid communication with the interior chamber. An external anode is located proximate to and positioned outside the cylindrical wall of the plating wheel to define an electroplating work area therebetween. An internal anode is held within the interior chamber of the plating wheel and positioned to align with the work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Mark William Neff, David Jose de Miranda
  • Patent number: 8444832
    Abstract: The invention relates to the electrical contacting of planar goods 1 in the form of segments in in-line plants for the electrolytic and/or wet chemical treatment of the treatment side 10 of the good by applying electrical external current while keeping the upper contacting side 9 dry and dipping the treatment side 10 into the treatment liquid 11. By use of the known transport systems having upper and lower transport and/or contact means, treatment liquid 11 is transferred from the lower means to the upper ones so that the top side of the good is often inadmissibly wetted and the upper contacts are electroplated, therefore needing to be continuously de-metallized, thus requiring a larger effort. According to the invention, the level is lowered in the region of upper contacts 6. Therefore, the same cannot be wetted, even when no good is present in the region of the contacts 6. This is achieved by means of down pipes 5 which are assigned to each contact 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Rena GmbH
    Inventor: Mathias Gutekunst
  • Patent number: 8398827
    Abstract: Two rotating members placed to face each other and nipping a web such that only an end of the web provided with conductivity is pressed are provided, at least one of the rotating members serves as a feeding electrode, and these rotating members are rotated about the same velocity to a transportation velocity of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Toray Industries, Inc., Toray Advanced Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Kawashita, Fumiyasu Nomura, Shintaro Kuge, Toru Miyake
  • Patent number: 8394245
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a production apparatus for electro-deposited metal foil or the like that can reduce thickness fluctuation of electro-deposited metal foil. To achieve the object, a production apparatus for electro-deposited metal foil or the like in which a cathode and an insoluble anode apart from each other, supplying an electrolytic solution through a gap between the cathode and the anode, making the cathode move along to the insoluble anode, electrodepositing a metal component on an electro-deposition surface of the moving cathode is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Ozaki, Akira Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 8377267
    Abstract: Arrangements for plating a single surface of a thin foil are described. In one aspect, a metal foil is wrapped tightly at least partially around a plating solution drum. The drum is partially immersed in a plating solution such that the waterline of the metal plating solution is below a break point where the metallic foil strip begins to unwind from the plating solution drum. With this arrangement, one side of the metallic foil strip is exposed to the metal plating solution, while the opposing back side of the metallic foil strip does not come in substantial contact with the metal plating solution. In this manner, the exposed side of the foil is plated while the back surface of the foil is not plated. The drum may be rotated to convey the foil through the plating solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Jaime A. Bayan, Nghia Thuc Tu, Will K. Wong
  • Patent number: 8293080
    Abstract: A conductive contact ring for an electroplating or electrodeposition process on a cylindrical surface includes a frame defining an opening through which the object can be passed and an array of electrically conductive fibers spanning the opening. The frame is electrically conductive and is connected to a DC power source in the process. Two or more contact rings can be used in a process to provide consistent electrical contact with the surface sliding therethrough. A single contact ring can have first and second groups of filaments spaced from each other along the axial length of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Barnard, Hieyoung W. Oh, Jeffrey W. Richardson
  • Patent number: 8241435
    Abstract: A washing apparatus that easily washes off metal impurities from a porous metal substrate used as an electrode plate core for an alkaline battery. The washing apparatus includes a liquid bath container which holds a solution for washing off the metal impurities. A guide guides movement of the porous metal substrate in the solution held in the liquid bath container. The porous metal substrate is wound into a hoop in a coil-shaped manner, and the guide guides the movement of a sheet portion of the porous metal substrate unwound from the hoop. A winding mechanism winds the sheet portion after being fed through the liquid bath container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Ito, Atsushi Adachi, Yasufumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8192594
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides for, in different embodiments, low-cost deposition techniques to form high-quality, dense, well-adhering Group IBIIIAVIA compound thin films with macro-scale as well as micro-scale compositional uniformities. In one embodiment, there is provided a method of growing a Group IBIIIAVIA semiconductor layer on a base, and includes the steps of depositing on the base a film of Group IB material and at least one layer of Group IIIA material, intermixing the film of Group IB material and the at least one layer of Group IIIA material to form an intermixed layer, and forming over the intermixed layer a metallic film comprising at least one of a Group IIIA material sub-layer and a Group IB material sub-layer. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventor: Bulent M. Basol
  • Patent number: 8182655
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to plating systems configured to strip plate a selected portion of a workpiece (e.g., a lead frame) and methods of plating. In one embodiment, a plating system is configured to plate a selected portion of a workpiece and at least partially compensate for wheel run out. As an alternative, or in addition, to the plating system being configured to at least partially compensate for wheel run out, in another embodiment, a plating system is configured to plate the selected portion of the workpiece and provide for controllably adjusting plating dimensions on the selected portion to be plated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell W. Zielke
  • Patent number: 8128790
    Abstract: An apparatus that performs an electrolytic plating on a plating surface of a belt substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a plating tank, a conveyor device configured to carry a belt substrate through an interior of the plating tank, an immersed cathode power-supply section provided within the interior of the plating tank, an auxiliary cathode power-supply section provided within the interior of the plating tank, and short-circuit wiring configured to short-circuit the immersed cathode power-supply section to the auxiliary cathode power-supply section. A plating method for performing electrolytic plating on a plating surface of a belt substrate is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Tachi, Shigeki Sawa, Toshiyuki Kasuga
  • Patent number: 8110076
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method of producing metal foam is provided which involves optimizing the natural convection of electrolyte through a foam being electroplated by inclining the foam during plating. A diagonal flow of electrolyte though the foam enhances electrolyte turnover within the foam while increasing electroplating efficiency. Further increases in plating efficiency are provided by shifting current density from higher plating zones to lower plating zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Inco Limited
    Inventor: Victor Ettel
  • Publication number: 20120006691
    Abstract: Conventional electrochemical machining process requires fixed shaped tool cathodes, which makes retooling time consuming and expensive. Flexible tool cathodes include elastically deformable cathodes that can deform in two or three dimensions and can adapt to the contour of the workpiece while the workpiece is moving relative to the flexible tool cathode. That is, the flexible tool cathode can perform tracing. Certain flexible tool cathodes can be also used for special configurations such corners and edges. The flexible tool cathodes can be used to polish, finish, or shape the workpiece through electrochemical processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Yuefeng Luo, William Edward Adis, Laurence Scott Duclos
  • Patent number: 8038851
    Abstract: A contacting device for a galvanization apparatus comprises contacting rollers with a continuous rigid external face, which is joined to a jacket section. The jacket section is provided with an inner opening that is wider than a rotating shaft on which the contacting roller sits. This allows the contacting roller to be moved in a radial direction, wherein electric contacting and securing of a basic position is obtained via springs in every one of the radially moved positions. The moveability of the contacting roller ensures good contact as the contacting roller rests against substrates also when the substrates are uneven. The contact pressure can be relatively small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Gebr. Schmid GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz Kappler
  • Patent number: 7955487
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for electrolytically treating flat work pieces (1), more especially for electrolytically treating electrically conductive structures S that are electrically insulated against each other on the surfaces of the work pieces. The method comprises conveying and processing the work pieces (1) on the conveying paths T?, T? in the device, said device comprising at least one assembly A located between tow conveying paths, said assembly including a first and a second rotatable contacting electrode (2, 8) with the contacting electrodes being associated each with one of the conveying paths, and first contacting electrodes (2) abutting against the work pieces being conveyed in a first conveying path T?, and being spaced from the second conveying path T? and second contacting electrodes (8) abutting against the work pieces being conveyed in the second conveying path T? and being spaced to the first conveying path T?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Kohnle, Klaus Hechler