Electrodes Patents (Class 204/280)
  • Publication number: 20020029973
    Abstract: An anode is configured to be used within a metal film plating apparatus. The anode has a substantially planar electric field generating portion and an electrolyte solution chemical reaction portion. The planar electric field generating portion is coated with an inert material that is impervious to the electrolyte solution. In one embodiment, the anode is formed as a perforated anode. In one aspect, the electric field generating portion is formed contiguous with the electrolyte solution chemical reaction portion. In another aspects, the planar electric field generating portion is formed as a distinct member from the electrolyte solution chemical reaction portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Maydan
  • Patent number: 6355148
    Abstract: A workholder for an ECM process comprises a set of jaws which define an interior workpiece holding region are mounted on the surface of a diaphragm which is movable under air pressure from a flat to a more generally spheroid shape with the injection of pressurized air between the diaphragm and a backing plate. As the air is injected, and the diaphragm becomes more spheroid, the jaws are moved a substantially equal distance away from the center axis of the workholding region. The workpiece, which typically incorporates or is mounted on a circular shaft, is placed in the center of the workholding region, and the air pressure is removed, causing the diaphragm to return to its original flat shape and the jaws to snap back to their original positions resting against the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Dustin A. Cochran
  • Patent number: 6355166
    Abstract: Materials and methods for making and using magnetically enhanced composite materials are provided. Surfaces coated with such composites can be used to improve fuel cells, material separators, and other applications. A variety of devices can incorporate such composites, including fuel cells, separators, batteries, and electrodes that effect electrolysis of magnetic species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: The University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventors: Sudath Amarasinghe, Shelley Minteer, Lois Anne Zook, Drew C. Dunwoody, Catherine Spolar, Hachull Chung, Johna Leddy
  • Patent number: 6350385
    Abstract: A method and apparatus turbulently exposes water flowing through a water system to a plurality of electrodes of an ion generator and provides a self-contained tank through which water flows. The generally cylindrical containment tank includes a tangential inlet pipe and an elliptical base having an outlet pipe. An aspect ratio, inlet pipe diameter versus containment tank diameter, is defined to achieve optimum ionization. A tank cover serves as the non-electrical conducting head for a plurality of electrodes which extend downwardly from the underside of the cover. The electrodes are functionally configured to maximize water flow between them. The rate of water flow within the containment tank is defined such that residence time of flow within the tank likewise optimizes water ionization. A sight glass allows for visualization of the container contents, and in particular anode wastage or wear, during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Inventors: William Holt, John V. Kraft
  • Patent number: 6350355
    Abstract: The object of this invention was to create starting copper cathodes which prevent a memory effect during copper electrolysis, achieving a high production output of electrolytic copper and which can also be manufactured from directly shaped copper sheeting material in the form of a coil. A suitable method of producing starting cathodes for processing copper sheet produced by conventional methods. The proposed starting cathodes are made of milled copper sheets with a thickness of 0.3 to 1.2 mm, is soft annealed after milling and has a strength of 210 to 240 N/mm2. The copper sheet is cut to the length and width determined by the dimensions of the electrolysis bath and has a flat, fat-free, burless surface. Ear strips of copper sheet with a thickness of 0.3 to 0.6 mm are mounted on the suspension side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Lamitref Industries N.V.
    Inventor: Leon Raphael Lucienne G. Cloostermans-Huwaert
  • Publication number: 20020008038
    Abstract: An array of selectively addressible microelectrodes for combinatorial synthesis of complex polymers or alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: TheraSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Heller , Daren J. Caruana
  • Publication number: 20020005357
    Abstract: A waste treatment apparatus treats radioactive contaminated waste from a nuclear fuel material handling facility to decontaminate the radioactive contaminated waste by using an electrolytic molten salt, and reuses the electrolytic molten salt so that any effluents are not produced. Radioactive contaminated waste (10) from a nuclear fuel material handling facility is subjected to electrolysis by a molten salt electrolysis unit (20) to decontaminate the waste (10). The used salt (16) used for decontaminating the waste (10) is filtered to separate nuclear fuel materials (19) from the used salt (16). The filtered salt (18) is reused by the molten salt electrolysis unit (20). The salt adhering to the decontaminated waste (12) is recovered by an evaporating unit (59), and the recovered salt (15) is reused by the molten salt electrolysis unit (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Naruhito Kondo, Reiko Fujita
  • Publication number: 20020005360
    Abstract: The invention concerns a bipolar electrode with a semiconductor coating and a cathode, as well as a procedure for the electrolytic dissociation of water, especially for the recovery of hydrogen. The body material of the cathode and/or the anode in this procedure is preferably comprised of titanium or platinum coated titanium, whereby, on the anode an additional semiconductor coating is applied, said coating being preferentially titanium dioxide (TiO2), which is dosed with iron (Fe). The advantage of the bipolar electrode is that an increased volume of hydrogen per time unit can be recovered and further, with these bipolar electrodes a simple procedure at ambient surroundings and conditions is achieved without expensive equipment for hydrogen production. In addition the anode of the invented bipolar electrodes can also be radiated with UV-radiation for the purpose of an increase in efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Helmar Haug, Rene Nikolai Janicke
  • Publication number: 20020005350
    Abstract: A double line electrode unit for use in an electro-coagulation printer contains a pair of electrode plates, negative electrodes and a prepreg (or an insulating layer). The negative electrodes are linearly arranged with prescribed intervals of distance therebetween on surfaces of the electrode plates respectively and are embedded in insulating resin materials being solidified. The insulating resin materials contain fillers that are selected from among prescribed materials of boron nitride, aluminum nitride, alumina and silica. In addition, connectors are arranged on other surfaces of the electrode plates in connection with the negative electrodes respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kunimasa Muroi, Koji Toda
  • Publication number: 20020005351
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices that enable the nesting of metal units. One method generally identifies a nesting location on the metal unit, and applies a force at the nesting location to create a nesting feature. In another embodiment, the invention is a nestable metal sheet. The nestable metal sheet is generally a metal sheet, such as a copper cathode, having a nesting feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventor: Richard A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20020000384
    Abstract: A novel process for the continuous preparation of perfluorinated organic compounds by electrochemical fluorination of the parent non-fluorinated or partially fluorinated organic compounds, in which the quantity of charge which the electrolyte can still take up is kept in the range from about 5 Ah per kg of electrolyte to about 600 Ah per kg of electrolyte during the electrochemical fluorination, can be operated continuously over a prolonged period of time without the electrode area-time yield decreasing over time and without the formation of polymeric by products occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Andreas Bulan, Joachim Herzig
  • Publication number: 20010050226
    Abstract: A target and magnetron for a plasma sputter reactor. The target has an annular vault facing the wafer to be sputter coated. Various types of magnetic means positioned around the vault create a magnetic field supporting a plasma extending over a large volume of the vault. An integrated copper via filling process includes a first step of highly ionized sputter deposition of copper, a second step of more neutral, lower-energy sputter deposition of copper to complete the seed layer, and electroplating copper into the hole to complete the metallization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: Praburam Gopalraja, Jianming Fu, Fusen Chen, Girish Dixit, Zheng Xu, Sankaram Athreya, Wei D. Wang, Ashok K. Sinha
  • Publication number: 20010050235
    Abstract: Apparatus for defining patterns electrochemically on conductive materials by forming the patterns as conductive features of a tool, providing insulative properties about the conductive features so the patterns are defined; then providing an immersive medium including an etchant or plating material for defining the pattern on a workpiece, providing an electric direct current so that the immersive medium is concentrated at desired locations defined by the conductive features on the conductive materials; and etching the conductive materials by applying the electric current in a quantity and for an elapsed time to etch or plate patterns in or on the conductive materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC.
    Inventors: Donald J. MacLeod, Klaus D. Kloeppel, Wesley R. Clark, Roger A. Addy
  • Patent number: 6328872
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus that plates/deposits a conductive material on a semiconductor substrate and then polishes the same substrate. This is achieved by providing multiple chambers in a single apparatus, where one chamber can be used for plating/depositing the conductive material and another chamber can be used for polishing the semiconductor substrate. The plating/depositing process can be performed using brush plating or electro chemical mechanical deposition and the polishing process can be performed using electropolishing or chemical mechanical polishing. The present invention further provides a method and apparatus for intermittently applying the conductive material to the semiconductor substrate and also intermittently polishing the substrate when such conductive material is not being applied to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Nutool, Inc.
    Inventors: Homayoun Talieh, Cyprian Emeka Uzoh
  • Patent number: 6322676
    Abstract: Magnetic composites exhibit distinct flux properties due to gradient interfaces. The composites can be used to improve fuel cells and effect transport and separation of different species of materials. A variety of devices can be made utilizing the composites including a separator, a cell, an electrode for channeling flux of magnetic species, an electrode for effecting electrolysis of magnetic species, a system for channeling electrolyte species, a system for separating particles with different magnetic susceptibilities. Some composites can be used to make a dual sensor for distinguishing between two species of materials and a flux switch to regulate the flow of a redox species and a flux switch to regulate the flow of a chemical species. Some composites can control chemical species transport and distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventors: Johna Leddy, Sudath Amarasinghe
  • Patent number: 6319374
    Abstract: A measuring electrode system having a measuring body 2 (22) replaceably provided on a rotatable shaft (21). The rotating shaft is provided with a spring loaded contact pin (25, 26). When the measuring body is attached to the shaft the electrodes (16, 18) running through the measuring body will be brought in electrical connection with the contact pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: CLL Connectors & Cables AB
    Inventor: Magnus Nordling
  • Patent number: 6312757
    Abstract: The invention concerns a diaphragm chlor-alkali electrolysis cell comprising a cover, a conductive base for supporting the anodes and a cathode in the form of a box provided with internal wall, external wall and tubular fingers made of a mesh or perforated sheet covered with a porous diaphragm. One or more copper sheets for electric current distribution are fixed to the cathode external walls. The connection between the copper sheets and the cathode external walls is made by means of bolts with the interposition of a conductive and deformable element provided with residual elasticity under compression. The weldings for the assembling of the cathode walls are free from internal stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignees: De Nora S.p.A., Elf Atochem S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Fort, Corrado Mojana, Pierluigi Borrione
  • Publication number: 20010025785
    Abstract: A cathode arrangement having a mounting rail (1) and a cathode plate (2) bonded to the mounting rail (1). Two parallel flanges extending in its longitudinal direction are formed on the underside (5) of the mounting rail (1). The cathode plate (2) is accommodated and bonded to the flanges (8, 9) by explosion welding between the parallel flanges. A full-surface metal-to-metal bond is thus obtained, which has very good current-conducting properties at the contact surfaces between the flanges (8, 9) and the cathode plate (2). The ends of the mounting rail (1) projecting over the cathode plate (2) have a flangeless design and have oblique surfaces (6, 7) intersecting in the shape of a wedge on the underside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Gunter Knies, Reinhardt Ax
  • Patent number: 6294074
    Abstract: An electrode design is provided for corrosion monitoring using electrochemical noise measurements. Electrochemical probes are used for sensing electrochemical noise voltage values and electrochemical noise current values. The electrochemical probes include a pair of working electrodes formed of the same material of the monitored metal pipes or storage vessels and a reference electrode formed of a corrosion resistant material. Each of the pair of working electrodes has a defined surface roughness. One of the pair of working electrodes has reduced roughness, whereby sensitivity to sustained localized pitting corrosion is increased in the working electrode with reduced roughness. By reducing the surface roughness of one of the pair of working electrodes, increased sensitivity to sustained localized pitting corrosion is provided while the current noise can be used to accurately measure the general corrosion rate on the unpolished electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: YuPo J. Lin, Edward J. St. Martin, James R. Frank, Daniel H. Pope
  • Patent number: 6294067
    Abstract: A cathode assembly for use in a Hall-Heroult electrolytic cell, the assembly including a cathode block which receives two primary cathode collector bars and one secondary cathode collector bar disposed therebetween. The primary collector bars each have an electrical interface with the cathode block which is sized to be equal to or greater than an electrical interface between the secondary collector bar and the cathode block. The primary collector bars are electrically connected to the cathode block only along an interior portion of the cathode block and the secondary collector bar is fully connected to the cathode block. This arrangement improves current distribution through the cathode assembly by minimizing the amount of current passing through the ends of the cathode block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Claude Gauthier, Claude Fradet, Marc Dupuis, Daniel Richard
  • Patent number: 6290823
    Abstract: A corona treatment system (10d) has a corona treatment generator (11d), a first stationary electrode (12d) having a dielectric layer (18d) disposed thereon and a second roller electrode (13d) spaced from the first stationary electrode (12d) by a gap (15d). The second roller electrode (13d) has a layer of dielectric material (19d) disposed around a core (23d) and has a conductive layer (24d) disposed over a substantial portion of a length of the second roller (13d). A switch (20) is electrically connected between the conductive layer (24d) and an electrical ground, and the switch (20) is operable to switch the system between a grounded web mode and a dual dielectric mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: American Roller Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Hyllberg, Gary S. Butters
  • Publication number: 20010020584
    Abstract: The tube inner surface electropolishing device includes an electrolyte delivery system to cause electrolyte to flow through the tube whose inner surface must be electropolished. An electrical cable having an electrode engaged to its distal end is slowly moved through the tube while an electrical current from a power supply passes through the electrode and the tube wall and the electrolyte flowing therebetween. Several electrode embodiments are disclosed including electrodes that include a chain of elements having alternating insulator and electrode elements, an electrode including a quantity of metallic wool enclosed in a permeable insulating member, and a flexible insulating member formed from a cylindrical tubular section which is axially compressible to produce a series of projecting flexible arms, so that any one section can be compressed to enter a smaller opening than the tube to be polished. An electrolyte dam is coupled to the electrode and controls the flow rate of electrolyte through the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas A. Lorincz, Joseph P. Parisi
  • Patent number: 6287831
    Abstract: A micromachined cell lysis device with electrodes that are spaced less than 100 &mgr;m from one another. The cells are attracted to the space between the electrodes and then lysed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yu-Chong Tai, Sang-Wook Lee
  • Publication number: 20010014409
    Abstract: An electroplating method that includes: a) contacting a first substrate with a first article, which includes a substrate and a conformable mask disposed in a pattern on the substrate; b) electroplating a first metal from a source of metal ion onto the first substrate in a first pattern, the first pattern corresponding to the complement of the conformable mask pattern; and c) removing the first article from the first substrate, is disclosed. Electroplating articles and electroplating apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventor: Adam L. Cohen
  • Patent number: 6268430
    Abstract: Disclosed are ionomers comprising functionalized polyolefins having fluoroalkyl sulfonate pendant groups and ionically conductive compositions formed therefrom by the addition of solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Susan Kuharcik Choi, Christopher Marc Doyle, Mark Gerrit Roelofs, Lin Wang, Zhen-Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 6267869
    Abstract: Apparatus for defining patterns electrochemically on conductive materials by forming the patterns as conductive features of a tool, providing insulative properties about the conductive features so the patterns are defined; then providing an immersive medium including an etchant or plating material for defining the pattern on a workpiece, providing an electric direct current so that the immersive medium is concentrated at desired locations defined by the conductive features on the conductive materials; and etching the conductive materials by applying the electric current in a quantity and for an elapsed time to etch or plate patterns in or on the conductive materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. MacLeod, Klaus D. Kloeppel, Wesley R. Clark, Roger A. Addy
  • Patent number: 6264808
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode for electrolytic refining or electrowinning, said electrode (1, 21, 41) being provided with a hanger bar (3, 23, 43) attached to the edge of one plate-like mother plate, and the edges (4, 5, 6; 24, 30, 31; 44, 49, 50) of said electrode, apart from the edge to which the hanger bar is fastened, being protected with an edge strip (11, 12, 13; 29, 32, 33; 48, 51, 52) made of some insulating material, in which electrode at least part of the edge strips is at least partly placed in a groove (7, 25, 45) made in the electrode edge. According to the invention, at least in one electrode edge (4, 5, 6; 24, 30, 31; 44, 49, 50), there is formed a groove (7, 25, 45) for the electrode edge strip (11, 12, 13; 29, 32, 33; 48, 51, 52) made of some insulating material; the front end of said groove, located at the electrode edge (4, 5, 6; 24, 30 31; 44, 49, 50), being essentially equal in width with the rear end (10, 28, 53) of the groove placed inside the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventor: Tom Marttila
  • Patent number: 6258253
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vapor corrosion cell for a real-time and quantitative measurement of corrosion of conductive materials in atmospheres containing chemically reactive gases and water vapor. Two prototypes are provided. Also provided are various applications of this apparatus in industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Dennis D. Davis
  • Patent number: 6251238
    Abstract: A plating apparatus, anode assembly, and method therefor are disclosed herein that improves the uniformity of the plating deposition across the surface of a wafer, substrate or article. This improvement is accomplished by compensating for the uneven plating deposition caused by a seed layer disposed on the article. The seed layer typically has a high resistance. As a result of the high resistance characteristic of the seed layer, plating currents that flow through substantial portion of the seed layer to the cathode contact encounter more resistance than plating currents that flow through less seed layer. This produces non-uniformity in the plating currents across the surface of the wafer, which results in an uneven plating deposition across the surface of the wafer. The plating apparatus, anode, and method therefor provide an anode having a plurality of separate anode sections designed to plate different surface regions of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Technic Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Kaufman, Gary C. Downes
  • Patent number: 6251251
    Abstract: An anode assembly including a perforated anode. A perforated anode holder holds the anode. The anode holder includes perforations at least in a bottom wall such that plating solution may flow through perforations in the anode holder and perforations in the anode. An anode isolator separates the anode and a cathode. The anode isolator includes at least one curvilinear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cyprian E. Uzoh, Panayotis C. Andricacos, John Owen Dukovic, Robert P. Westerfield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6245209
    Abstract: An electro-refining system in which the deposited metal is harvested without the need to remove the cathode from the slurry bath. The cathode has a hollow cavity permitting steam or hot water to be introduced to heat the cathode. During the deposition process, the heating of the cathode encourages the deposition process. When the deposited material is to be harvested, the cathode is heated to “melt” the bonds between the cathode and the deposited metal. Using a bracket which was installed before the deposition process and into which the deposited metal has been formed, the now-released sheet of deposited metal is easily removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Jacobs Bill
  • Patent number: 6238534
    Abstract: Hybrid membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) are presented, having an anode comprising a dense distribution of catalyst that may be borne on small, high-aspect ratio supports, such as nanostructured elements, and a cathode comprising a less dense distribution of catalyst that may be borne on lower-aspect ratio supports, such as carbon particle supported catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Shane S. Mao, Gregory Meis Haugen, Krzysztof A. Lewinski, Mark Kevitt Debe
  • Patent number: 6224736
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus or a method for forming a thin zinc oxide film on a conductive base member by immersing the conductive base member and a counter electrode in an aqueous solution and supplying a current between the conductive base member and the counter electrode, in which (a) a distance between the counter electrode and the base member is 50 mm or more at an end portion of the counter electrode and is 3 mm to 40 mm at a central portion of the counter electrode, and (b) an end portion of the counter electrode is folded by an angle of −1° to −90° with respect to the conductive base member. Thus the thin zinc oxide film of satisfactory film quality can be formed on the conductive base member for a long time with a satisfactory yield, and inexpensive and stable production of the thin zinc oxide film can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6224729
    Abstract: An anode having a passive oxide film thereon and made of an iron alloy consisting essentially of at least 20 wt. % Cr, 5 to 15 wt. % Ni, 1 to 2 wt. % Si, 0.9 to 1.5 wt. % Mn and 0.1 to 0.3 wt. % C with the balance consisting of iron and unavoidable impurities is used for reproducing an image by electrocoagulation of a colloid. Such an anode can be thoroughly cleaned without undergoing abrasion and/or pitting during cleaning. The alloy composition does not adversely affect passivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Elcorsy Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Adrien Castegnier
  • Patent number: 6221235
    Abstract: A sacrificial cores in castings of metallic or non-metallic materials is made from a metal that can be electrolytically dissolved, and is removed from the casting by electrochemical machining. The sacrificial core may be a hollow shell incorporating an integral electrode within the shell and electrically insulated from the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Faraday Technology Marketing Group LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Gebhart
  • Patent number: 6217726
    Abstract: The tube inner surface electropolishing device includes an electrolyte delivery system to cause electrolyte to flow through the tube whose inner surface must be electropolished. An electrical cable having an electrode engaged to its distal end is slowly moved through the tube while an electrical current from a power supply passes through the electrode and the tube wall and the electrolyte flowing therebetween. Several electrode embodiments are disclosed including electrodes that include a chain of elements having alternating insulator and electrode elements, an electrode including a quantity of metallic wool enclosed in a permeable insulating member, and a flexible insulating member formed from a cylindrical tubular section which is axially compressible to produce a series of projecting flexible arms, so that many one section can be compressed to enter a smaller opening than the tube to be polished. An electrolyte dam is coupled to the electrode and controls the flow rate of electrolyte through the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Therma Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Lorincz, Joseph P. Parisi
  • Patent number: 6200435
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrolyzer, which comprises vertical type electrolyzer units with irregular surfaces formed on partition walls on anode side and on partition walls on cathode side, said irregular surfaces being overlapped on each other and integrated, and electrode plates being connected to convex portions of the partition walls, whereby said irregular surfaces are formed as troughs and ridges extending in vertical direction of the electrolyzer units, said irregular surfaces are divided into a plurality of sectors in height direction, said trough in each sector extends along the same straight line as the ridge of another sector, a liquid junction is provided to connect adjacent troughs in the same sector in the connecting portion of the adjacent sector and to connect the troughs in adjacent sectors, and an internal circulation member is provided between the partition wall and the electrode surface, using inclined surfaces of the trough on the partition wall or a member parallel to the incl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignees: Chlorine Engineers Corp., Ltd., Tosoh Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Katayama
  • Patent number: 6200457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electroactivated material comprising fibers and a binder and additionally having an electrocatalytic agent in the form of particles comprising a precious metal oxide or in the form of particles comprising a support and a coating based on such an oxide. The electroactivated material can be used especially as cathode component of an electrolysis cell and in particular of a cell for the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride solutions. The present invention also relates to a composite material comprising the said material and to processes for the preparation of each of the two materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc Chimie
    Inventors: Robert Durand, Jean-Guy Le Helloco
  • Patent number: 6197170
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a conductor roll which obviates burning troubles caused by poor contact between the collector rings (C rings) and the roll shafts, which makes removal and installation of the C rings and operation of sliding contact adjustment unnecessary during the repairing operation of the roll body, and which extends the life of the sliding collector parts. The ringless-collector conductor roll according to the present invention comprises an electroplated Cu layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft ends of the conductor roll and having a Vickers hardness of at least 100 Hv, the electroplated Cu layer being directly contacted with brushes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yokogawa
  • Patent number: 6197171
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for electroplating a pin grid array device having a plurality of pins, the pins having a side surface and an extremity. The apparatus comprises a contact plate defining a plane and having a plurality of electrically conductive flexible contact fingers extending from the contact plate away from the plane, the contact fingers adapted to flex when contacted by the pins. The process comprises contacting each of the plurality of pins with a flexible contact finger extending from a single electrically conductive plate, the conductive plate defining a plane, wherein the flexible contact fingers extend away from the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emanuele F. Lopergolo, Mark A. Brandon, Arden S. Lake, Joseph M. Sullivan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6190530
    Abstract: An anode container, electroplating system, method and object so plated. A feature of the invention is that an anode container has an interior cross-sectional area, at or near a lower end thereof, that is larger than an interior cross-sectional area of an upper end thereof. An anode-receiving container also has a body with a plurality of sides and a lower end having a larger cross-sectional interior area than an upper end. The container may also include punched out apertures positioned to provide strength to the container and an apparatus to vibrate the container coupled to a lower end of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Louis Brodsky, Donald W. Henderson, Lawrence Philip Lehman
  • Patent number: 6183607
    Abstract: An electrodeposition cell for electrodepositing metal onto a surface of a rotating drum that is partially immersed in an electrolytic solution. The cell includes an anode comprised of a main anode body portion and an anode extension portion. The main anode body portion has an arcuate main anode body surface having a radius of curvature slightly larger than the radius of curvature of the drum. The main anode body portion is totally immersed in the electrolytic solution adjacent the drum wherein a generally uniform gap is formed therebetween. The anode extension portion has an anode extension surface facing the drum and at least one opening extending therethrough. The anode extension portion is disposed within the electrolytic solution wherein a portion thereof extends above the electrolytic solution and the electrolytic solution can flow through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: GA-TEK Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney J. Clouser, Jiangtao Wang, John C. Briggs, Michael L. Stevens
  • Patent number: 6181057
    Abstract: An electrode assembly, including a cathode member is provided with a hole enclosed by a frame portion and a contact surface that comes into contact with an object to be plated at one surface of the frame portion. The cathode member include a conductive material such as copper plate. The cathode member is provided with a lead conductor. An insulating member is provided with holes and enclosed by frame portions, with the frame portions and placed on another surface of the frame portion of the cathode member. The frame portion of the first insulating member covers the internal circumferential edge of the cathode member over a width W1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Inoue, Toyoaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6165331
    Abstract: A bipolar metal electrode for the electrolysis of hydrochloric acid, comprising a nickel alloy cathode plate and a titanium anode mesh coupled together by a hydrogen barrier, where the hydrogen barrier is an aluminum plate, where the titanium anode mesh is connected to a titanium backplate by a plurality of titanium supports and where the titanium backplate is spaced apart from the nickel alloy cathode plate by the aluminum plate. An electrolyser comprising one or more bipolar electrodes according to present invention. A method of producing chlorine from hydrochloric acid comprising providing one or more bipolar metal electrodes according to the present invention or an electrolyser according to the present invention, and contacting the one or more bipolar electrodes or the electrolyser with hydrochloric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Cumberland Electrochemical Limited
    Inventor: David A. Hughes
  • Patent number: 6156169
    Abstract: An electroplating anode titanium basket including a fixing section, a resolution section and a surrounding section. The surrounding section can effectively increase the area of the insoluble anode and enhance the load ability of the anode. The increased area of the soluble anode can effectively work without quickly increasing the concentration of the electroplating bath. The supplier is resolved on the face opposite to the work piece so that the effective resolution of the supplier is enhanced to truly increase the production ability of the electroplating operation. In addition, the supplier is prevented from being stuck so that the supplementation of the supplier is facilitated and the using effect is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignees: Jyu Lenq Enterprises Co., Ltd., Chu Li Enterprises Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Chang Yang, Sheng-Hsiung Chang
  • Patent number: 6153824
    Abstract: Disclosed are a photo-semiconductive electrode that has a high light-to-electricity conversion efficiency and excellent stability and can be prepared economically and easily, and a photo-electric cell using the photo-semiconductive electrode. The photo-electric cell comprises a photo-semiconductive electrode having an electroconductive base and a light-to-electricity conversion layer formed thereon, and a counter electrode, such that the photo-semiconductive electrode and the counter electrode contact an electrolyte, wherein the light-to-electricity conversion layer holds an organic pigment. In the photo-electric cell, the photo-semiconductive electrode and the counter electrode are used integrally and disposed so that these electrodes contact the electrolyte. The organic pigment suited for use in the layer is selected from the group consisting of: phthalocyanine pigment such as titanyl phthalocyanine, chlorogallium phthalocyanine and hydroxygallium phthalocyanine; and naphthalocyanine pigments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hokuto Takada, Hidekazu Hirose, Yoshiyuki Ono, Akira Imai, Katsuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 6129820
    Abstract: An electroplating installation for coating the conducting surface of a part. The installation includes electrodes submerged in a bath. The electrodes rest on a support device that serves as a support and a current supply. The electrodes and the support device form an interface defining a plurality of grooves opening into the bath. The grooves may be formed in the electrodes, in the support device, or in both the electrodes and the support device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Sollac
    Inventors: Philippe Gheeraert, Jean-Marie Vienne, Bernard Vandenbussche
  • Patent number: 6120675
    Abstract: An electrochemical electrode of a tube of porous titanium suboxide with a contact connection to an electrical supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Atraverda Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Hill, Peter Charles Steele Hayfield
  • Patent number: 6113759
    Abstract: An anode assembly includes a perforated anode and an electrical contact assembly attached to the anode. A perforated anode holder holds the anode. The anode holder includes perforations at least in a bottom wall such that plating solution may flow through perforations in the anode holder and perforations in the anode. An anode isolator separates the anode and a cathode. The anode isolator includes at least one curvilinear surface. The contact assembly includes a closed or substantially closed cylinder member of titanium or titanium alloy, a copper lining or disk disposed within the cylinder, and a titanium or titanium alloy post fixed and in electrical engagement with the lining or disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Cyprian E. Uzoh
  • Patent number: 6106680
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating electrochemical copper interconnections between the component parts of an integrated circuit on a semiconductor device. A cathodic platter is provided that includes contact pins that contact the surface of a semiconductor wafer at predetermined locations during the electrochemical deposition process. The contact pins are arranged on the cathodic platter so that when placed on the surface of the semiconductor wafer the contact pins surround the perimetrical edges of each respective semiconductor device on the semiconductor wafer. Once the semiconductor wafer is properly positioned on the cathodic platter, a copper conductive layer can be electrochemically and uniformly deposited on the surface of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: AMD
    Inventors: Takeshi Nogami, Axel Preusse, Valery Dubin