Of Electrical Article Or Electrical Component (i.e., Not Insulator, Per Se) Patents (Class 264/614)
  • Patent number: 7083757
    Abstract: Semiconductor wire bonding tools used in the assembly and interconnection of integrated circuits (ICs) are micromolded from a mixture of ultrafine particulate materials mixed with an organic binder. Following extraction of the binder the green bonding tools are sintered during which they undergo isotropic, constant and accurately predetermined shrinkage. Hence semiconductor wire bonding tools can be produced with virtually no limit to miniaturization, thus allowing the fabrication of higher integrated semiconductor products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventors: Romain L. Billiet, Hanh T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7041615
    Abstract: The dielectric composition contains a mixture of a ceramic composition containing BaaREbTicO3, wherein RE represents a rare earth element, with 0.05?a?0.25, 0.525?b?0.70, 0.85?c?1.0, and 2a+3b+4c=6, and free from lead and bismuth, a glass composition, and a metal oxide. The glass composition preferably contains ZnO or MgO, SiO2, and at least 10% by weight of Li2O or TiO2. Preferably, the alkaline earth metal oxide is MgO. By preference, the glass composition essentially consists of 50–80% weight of SiO2, 5–25% weight of MgO, and optionally another alkaline earth metal oxide, and 10–25% by weight of Li2O, and is substantially free from boron. The dielectric composition can be sintered in the presence of Cu electrodes at a temperature below the melting point of Cu so as to manufacture an electronic device such as a ceramic multilayer element. After sintering, the dielectric composition has a relative dielectric constant of at least 55.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Koninkiljke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Ronald Mikkenie, Gerardus Christiaan Marie Dortant, Knuth Albertsen, Heinz Georg Kohler, Tilman Schlenker
  • Patent number: 6984355
    Abstract: A BaTiO3-type semiconducting ceramic material which has undergone firing in a reducing atmosphere and re-oxidation, wherein the relative density of the ceramic material after sintering is about 85–90%. A process for producing the semiconducting ceramic material of the present invention and a thermistor containing the semiconducting ceramic material are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Niimi, Akira Ando, Mitsutoshi Kawamoto, Masahiro Kodama
  • Patent number: 6929772
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of ITO powder with tin dissolved in indium oxide, wherein the ITO powder is obtained by performing spray pyrolysis to a mixed solution or slurry of indium nitrate and tin chloride in which the concentration of indium and tin is 3.0 mol/L or more, thereby providing at low costs ITO powder superior in component dispersibility by dissolving tin in indium oxide as well as a precise target superior in uniformity. It is thereby possible to restrain the deterioration of quality or abnormal protrusions such as nodules in cases where the ITO sputtering target deposition is not uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Nikko Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Yanai, Atsushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6921670
    Abstract: An array of nanostructures has a multiplicity of nanostructures disposed in a predetermined pattern on a substrate, the nanostructures being oriented in a predetermined orientation, and the nanostructures being characterized by interior dimensions commensurate with the dimensions of predetermined microbes. Methods of fabricating the array are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.
    Inventor: Steven E Carpenter
  • Patent number: 6844661
    Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition comprises a composite perovskite type oxide of Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3 and simple perovskite type oxides of PbTiO3 and PbZrO3 as main components. The composition range of the main components exists in an area surrounded by lines for connecting respective composition points, i.e., a point A (X=40, Y=37, Z=23), a point B (X=36, Y=37, Z=27), a point C (X=33, Y=40, Z=27), and a point D (X=37, Y=40, Z=23) in a triangular coordinate system defined by apexes of Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3, PbTiO3, and PbZrO3, provided that Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3 amounts to X molar %, PbTiO3 amounts to Y molar %, and PbZrO3 amounts to Z molar %. The composition makes it possible to realize a large strain amount while suppressing the relative dielectric constant to be low. The composition is preferably usable for an piezoelectric actuator of an ink-jet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20040265674
    Abstract: In a solid-oxide fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of components having electrically-conductive mating surfaces therebetween, the surfaces are sealed by gasket elements that include first and second silver braze alloy layers and a dielectric layer, formed preferably of yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), disposed between the alloy layers. The alloy is capable of bonding to many ceramics, including YSZ, and is readily brazed to the oxide layer formed on many metals at elevated temperatures. Because the braze alloy is electrically conductive, a dielectric layer must be included to break conductivity in bonding applications where electrical insulation is required. YSZ functions as a reliable insulator and will not crystallize or fracture as do prior art glass insulators. The assembly is useful as an auxiliary power unit in a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Karl J. Haltiner, Gary F. Reisdorf
  • Patent number: 6821474
    Abstract: The invention allows the fabrication of small, dense beads of dielectric materials with selected compositions, which are incorporated into a polymeric matrix for use in capacitors, filters, and the like. A porous, generally spherical bead of hydrous metal oxide containing titanium or zirconium is made by a sol-gel process to form a substantially rigid bead having a generally fine crystallite size and correspondingly finely distributed internal porosity. The resulting gel bead may be washed and hydrothermally reacted with a soluble alkaline earth salt (typically Ba or Sr) at elevated temperature and pressure to convert the bead into a mixed hydrous titanium- or zirconium-alkaline earth oxide while retaining the generally spherical shape. Alternatively, the gel bead may be made by coprecipitation. This mixed oxide bead is then washed, dried and calcined to produce the desired (BaTiO3, PbTiO3, SrZrO3) structure. The sintered beads are incorporated into a selected polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Lauf, Kimberly K. Anderson, Frederick C. Montgomery, Jack L. Collins, John J. Felten
  • Patent number: 6808577
    Abstract: A process for producing a monolithic ceramic electronic component, which includes: providing a ceramic slurry, a conductive paste and a ceramic paste; forming a plurality of composite structures each comprising a ceramic green sheet produced by shaping the ceramic slurry, internal circuit element films formed by applying the conductive paste partially onto a main surface of the ceramic green sheet so as to provide step-like sections, and a ceramic green layer which compensates for spaces defined by the step-like sections, the ceramic green layer being formed by applying the ceramic paste onto the region on the main surface of the sheet on which the element films are not formed so as to substantially compensate for the spaces; forming a green laminate by laminating the composite structures; and firing the green laminate. A monolithic ceramic electronic component which is produced through the process; a ceramic paste; and a production process for the paste are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Miyazaki, Satoru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6805763
    Abstract: This invention provides a stacked ceramic body in which de-lamination (inter-layer peeling) does not easily occur, and a production method thereof. In the invention, a predetermined number of unit layers 151 and 152 each including a ceramic layer 111 112, an internal electrode layer 121, 122, a spacer 131, 132 having substantially the same thickness as the internal electrode layer 121, 122 and adhesive layers 14 stacked on the surface of the internal electrode layer and on the surface of the adhesive layer are stacked. A print portion for the internal electrode layer 121, 122 and a print portion for the spacer 131, 132 are formed on a green sheet for the ceramic layer 111, 112, and print portions for the adhesive layer 14 are formed on both of them to give an unsintered unit. The unsintered units are stacked to give an unsintered stacked body, are press-bonded and are then sintered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Iwase, Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tetuji Ito
  • Patent number: 6800240
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic resistor wherein the resisting material of the resistor is a ceramic material prepared by a method comprising the steps of providing four or more types of substance, compound, or composite as starting raw materials, admixing the starting raw materials, forming the resultant mixture, and firing the formed material, characterized in that the admixing step is carried out in a mixing vessel (1) by the use of a first agitating blade (2) as a means for allowing the starting materials to flow over the whole mixing vessel and a second agitating blade (3) as a means for diaggregating the aggregates of the starting materials. The method can be employed for suppressing the variation of resistance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: K-Tech Devices Corp.
    Inventor: Shigeki Takaya
  • Publication number: 20040140595
    Abstract: A multilayer thermistor with a positive temperature coefficient is manufactured by step 41 of forming a green laminate having thermistor green layers and internal electrode layers, step 42 of heat-treating this laminate at a temperature in the range of from 80 to less than 300° C., step 43 of performing dry-barrel polishing for the heat-treated green laminate, step 44 of forming external electrode films on respective end surfaces of this laminate, and step 45 of firing this laminate together with the individual electrode films. According to this method, a highly reliable multilayer thermistor with a positive temperature coefficient can be stably manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Kenjiro Mihara, Atsushi Kishimoto, Hideaki Niimi
  • Publication number: 20040108628
    Abstract: Nanostructured devices with a domain size less than 500 nanometers and low cost manufacturing methods for preparing these are provided. Applications of nanostructured binary oxides, ternary oxides, quaternary oxides, polyatomic forms of oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, chalcogenides, halides, silicides and phosphides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Tapesh Yadav, Clayton Kostelecky
  • Publication number: 20040108629
    Abstract: The method for fabricating a ceramic substrate comprises the step of screen-printing a first dielectric material in a first region of a resin film 30 and screen-printing a second dielectric material of a dielectric constant different from that of the first dielectric material in a second region of the resin film 30 to form a layer including on the resin film 30 a high dielectric layer 20a of the first dielectric material and a base dielectric layer 24a of the second dielectric material, the step of releasing the layer from the resin film 30, and the step of sintering the layer released form the resin film 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Imanaka, Masatoshi Takenouchi
  • Patent number: 6746835
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermally processed image recording material containing, on one side of a support having an image-forming layer, a silver salt of an organic acid, a reducing agent and at least one kind of a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein X and Y represent an electron-withdrawing group and M represents a counter cation, and the conjugate acid of the enolate anion in the formula (1) has a pKa value of 3.0-6.0. This thermally processed image recording material shows low fog, high Dmax, ultrahigh contrast and good storage stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Watanabe, Masaru Takasaki, Toshihide Ezoe, Kohzaburoh Yamada, Yasuhiro Kawanishi, Masahiko Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 6743381
    Abstract: A process for forming a thixotropic ink for use in manufacturing the ceramic of a zinc oxide varistor where the ceramic includes zinc, oxygen and a plurality of additive elements. The process includes the steps of calcining a mixture of powders of zinc oxide and the additive elements to form a calcined product having a particle size larger than the particle size of the zinc ozide powders, mixing said calcined product with an organic liquid, mechanically working the mixture to produce a calcined particulate material in the organic liquid having a particle size less than the particle size of said calcined product, adding an organic binder to the mixture and mixing the composition to produce said ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Littlefuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Cowman, Derek A. Nicker, John M. Shreeve
  • Publication number: 20040097359
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a ceramic substrate hardly causing cracks and damages and the like attributed to pushing pressure and the like since the strength of the above-mentioned ceramic substrate is higher than that of a conventional one even in the case of manufacturing a large size ceramic substrate capable of placing a semiconductor wafer with a large diameter and the like. The present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a ceramic substrate having a conductor formed on the surface thereof or internally thereof, including the steps of: firing a formed body containing a ceramic powder to produce a primary sintered body; and performing an annealing process to the primary sintered body at a temperature of 1400° C. to 1800° C., after the preceding step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Yasuji Hiramatsu, Yasutaka Ito
  • Publication number: 20040089985
    Abstract: Electronically tunable dielectric materials having favorable properties are disclosed. The electronically tunable materials include an electronically tunable dielectric phase such as barium strontium titanate in combination with at least two additional metal oxide phases. The additional metal oxide phases may include, for example, oxides of Mg, Si, Ca, Zr, Ti and Al. The electronically tunable materials may be provided in bulk, thin film and thick film forms for use in devices such as phased array antennas, tunable filters and the like. The materials are useful in many applications, including the area of radio frequency engineering and design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Louise C. Sengupta, Xubai Zhang, Luna H. Chiu
  • Patent number: 6734262
    Abstract: An electrically conductive thermoplastic composition with a superior ability to be heated rapidly in an electromagnetic field comprises a polyetherimide resin, a polyester resin, and electrically conductive filler. Such compositions display good dimensional stability at elevated temperatures especially when heated rapidly using electromagnetic radiation, which renders them useful in articles and operations where rapid assembly is important.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Niraj C. Patel
  • Publication number: 20040065986
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing multilayer ceramic electronic components includes the steps of removing organic materials from multilayer ceramic bodies having internal electrodes and ceramic layers, and then sintering the multilayer ceramic bodies. After finishing the removing step, it is preferable that the amount of the remaining organic materials in the multilayer ceramic body is 0.5 to 8.5 weight %, more preferably 1.0 to 5.0 weight %. The removing process may be performed in a neutral, a reductive or inert atmosphere. It is also preferable that the organic materials removing temperature of the internal electrodes are controlled to be higher than that of the ceramic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Koji Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20040041309
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a ceramic component with high reliability and accuracy in dimension in which electrical characteristics thereof are not largely deteriorated and defects such as cracks around the inner electrodes in the substrate after firing are inhibited, in a firing technique with high accuracy in dimension for sandwiching a glass ceramic laminate with heat-shrinkage inhibiting sheets and firing them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Hidenori Katsumura, Ryuichi Saito, Tsukasa Wakabayashi, Hiroshi Kagata
  • Publication number: 20040043272
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to ceramic anodes for use in solid oxide fuel cells, whereby the anodes are comprised primarily of ceramic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Raymond J. Gorte, John M. Vohs
  • Patent number: 6689308
    Abstract: Methods of forming plasma addressed liquid crystal display ribs are disclosed. An exemplary method includes introducing a glass paste which includes a curable medium into cavities formed in an intaglio collector to define rib structures, which are from the collector to a surface of the substrate, and removing the curable medium from the rib structures on the substrate surface to generate pores in the rib structures. The substrate having rib structures is then dipped into a solution containing an opaque pigment which is absorbed into the rib structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Pascale Laborde, Jean-Pierre Themont
  • Patent number: 6679926
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery including an anode and cathode containing an active material capable of incorporating and releasing lithium ions, wherein the cathode is a porous sintered material made of a lithium-transition metal oxide, the porosity of the sintered material is 15 to 60%, and the electrical conductivity is not less than 0.1 mS/cm. Since the sintered material is sufficiently sintered so that the electrical conductivity may be more than 0.1 mS/cm, the bonding power of the primary particles of the sintered material is strong, and therefore the primary particles do not come off and the electrodes do not collapse even if the sintered material expands or shrinks because of the charge/discharge. Since the mechanical strength is great, the cathode can have a larger area. The electrolyte penetrates well into the sintered material because of its 15 to 60% porosity, and consequently the internal electrical resissitivity is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Kajiura, Atsushi Suzuki, Nobuyuki Isshiki
  • Publication number: 20040007800
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrostatic chuck is disclosed wherein a sintered ceramic body having a dielectric layer made from Alumina (Al2O2) and Titanium Nitride (TiN) having a specific range of particle size is heat treated in an oxygen-rich environment in order to produce a uniform dielectric layer having no pores or micro-cracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Hongy Lin, Jason Eugene Smith, Thomas Michael Laskowski
  • Patent number: 6663794
    Abstract: This invention provides a reducing-atmosphere-resistant thermistor element, the resistance of which does not greatly change even when the element is exposed to a reducing atmosphere, and which has high accuracy and exhibits excellent resistance value stability. The thermistor element has a construction in which an oxygen occlusion-release composition, having oxygen occlusion-release characteristics, such as CeO2 is dispersed in a composition containing a mixed sintered body (M1 M2)O3.AOx as a principal component. The oxygen occlusion-release composition emits absorbed oxygen in a reducing atmosphere and suppresses migration of oxygen from the composition constituting the element. Therefore, the resistance value does not greatly change even when the element is exposed to a reducing atmosphere, and the element can accurately detect the temperature for a long time. The present invention can thus provide a temperature sensor having high reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Itsuhei Ogata, Daisuke Makino, Kaoru Kuzuoka, Atsushi Kurano
  • Patent number: 6641775
    Abstract: Methods for lowering processing and raw material costs are disclosed. Specifically, the use of nanostructured powders is disclosed for faster and lower sintering temperatures whereby electrodes currently employing platinum can be substituted with lower melting point metals and alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: NanoProducts Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Vigliotti, Tapesh Yadav, Clayton Kostelecky, Carrie Wyse
  • Publication number: 20030196740
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric ceramic device having excellent piezoelectric characteristics and high reliability is described. The method includes the steps of coating conductive paste containing Ag as a main component on each of a plurality of ceramic green sheets each containing a piezoelectric ceramic material, laminating the plurality of ceramic green sheets to form a laminate, and burning the laminate under an atmospheric condition in which the oxygen concentrations in a heating process and a retention process are about 21% by volume or more, and the oxygen concentration in a cooling process is about 0.05% by volume to 3% by volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kaji, Yoshimasa Yoshino, Suetake Omiya, Koichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20030183990
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic heater includes mixing a conductive ceramic powder, an insulating ceramic powder, a sintering aid powder, and a solvent so as to obtain a slurry, drying the slurry so as to obtain a heating-element material powder, forming a green resistance-heating element from the heating-element material powder, embedding the green resistance-heating element in a ceramic substrate, and firing a resultant assembly. Water is used as the solvent. Drying of the slurry is performed by use of a fluidized-bed drying apparatus, a rotary drying apparatus, or a vibratory drying apparatus and, the apparatus being employed in combination with a medium for pulverization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shindou Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6627144
    Abstract: The present invention provides a carbon heating element having an arbitrary specific resistance and an arbitrary shape which are arbitrary necessary as a heating element, and a method of producing the same. The carbon heating element is obtained by uniformly dispersing one or at least two metal or metalloid compounds into a composition having shapability and showing a high yield of a carbon residue after firing, shaping the dispersed material-containing mixture thus obtained, and firing the shaped material under a nonoxidizing atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Suda, Osamu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6620370
    Abstract: Plasma addressed liquid crystal display ribs are formed by a method which includes forming a temporary mask on portions of a surface of a substrate, depositing a layer of a glass paste having a curable medium and at least one pigment blended therein over the substrate and temporary mask, micro-molding rib structures from the glass paste on the substrate surface in areas between the masked sections, removing any residual layer of paste material present on the temporary mask, removing the temporary mask from the substrate, and firing the substrate with micro-molded rib structures thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Themont
  • Patent number: 6613270
    Abstract: A novel process of the production and processing of high quality, high Tc BSCCO or (Bi,Pb)SCCO superconductors starts with fabrication of a forming a bundle including a plurality of billets, each billet containing at least one filament comprising a dominant amount of an tetragonal BSCCO phase with selected intermediate phases, and substantially surrounded by a constraining metal. The bundle is thermomechanically consolidated to form a multifilamentary precursor article by applying pressure and heat to the bundle under conditions cooperatively selected to cause interdiffusion of said constraining metal at the interfaces between said metal and said filaments and substantially complete elimination of voids in said bundle, and the consolidation step is completed before any high strain longitudinal deformation is performed on the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Qi Li, Gilbert N. Riley, Jr., Lawrence J. Masur, Eric R. Podtburg, Ronald D. Parella, Martin W. Rupich, Donald R. Parker, William L. Carter, William J. Rosati, Mark D. Teplitsky
  • Patent number: 6607690
    Abstract: A ceramic green sheet is manufactured by preparing a support which includes a releasing layer formed on its top surface and has a smoothness that at least a region of the top surface of the support to be coated with a ceramic slurry has substantially no projections having a height of equal to or more than about 1 &mgr;m, and applying a ceramic slurry to the releasing layer of the support, which ceramic slurry contains a ceramic powder dispersed in a medium. This ceramic green sheet has a small thickness of, for example, about 0.3 to 3 &mgr;m, has no depressions or through holes caused by a filler in the support and is excellent in smoothness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Toshiya Anahara, Ichiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6605202
    Abstract: A mixed potential electrochemical sensor for the detection of gases has a ceria-based electrolyte with a surface for exposing to the gases to be detected, and with a reference wire electrode and a sensing wire electrode extending through the surface and fixed within the electrolyte as the electrolyte is compressed and sintered. The electrochemical sensor is formed by placing a wire reference electrode and a wire sensing electrode in a die, where each electrode has a first compressed planar section and a second section depending from the first section with the second section of each electrode extending axially within the die. The die is filled with an oxide-electrolyte powder and the powder is pressed within the die with the wire electrodes. The wire-electrodes and the pressed oxide-electrolyte powder are sintered to form a ceramic electrolyte base with a reference wire electrode and a sensing wire electrode depending therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Rangachary Mukundan, Eric L. Brosha, Fernando Garzon
  • Publication number: 20030148164
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator or water transport plate is formed of graphite, carbon fibers and an inert thermosetting hydrophilic binder. The materials may be in powdered form, and plates, preferably channeled, are formed using heat and pressure. The hydrophilic properties of the plates may be improved by immersion in an oxidizing bath followed by water rinsing. The active materials included in the plate are substantially limited to graphite, carbon fibers and the binder, and no additional hydrophilic coatings, materials or any high temperature processes are involved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Carol A. Koch, Prakash Mallya, Evgueni Rosenbaoum, Sriram Venkatasanthanam
  • Patent number: 6599463
    Abstract: A process for producing a monolithic ceramic electronic component, which includes: providing a ceramic slurry, a conductive paste, and a ceramic paste; forming a plurality of composite structures each comprising a ceramic green sheet produced by shaping the ceramic slurry, internal circuit element films formed by applying the conductive paste partially onto a main surface of the ceramic green sheet so as to provide step-like sections, and a ceramic green layer which compensates for spaces defined by the step-like sections, the ceramic green layer being formed by applying the ceramic paste onto the region on the main surface of the sheet on which the element films are not formed, so as to substantially compensate for the spaces; forming a green laminate by laminating the composite structures; and firing the green laminate, wherein the ceramic paste contains ceramic powder, an organic solvent, and an organic binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Miyazaki, Satoru Tanaka, Koji Kimura, Koji Kato, Koji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6596199
    Abstract: Carbon fiber-filled PC-ABS resin compositions which have improved electrical properties at a given level of carbon fibers, and which do not suffer from as significant a decrease in impact strength as would result from the introduction of generic carbon fibers are achieved using carbon fibers treated with a polyamide terpolymer binder. The bundles are dispersed within the PC-ABS blend. The compositions can be used for injection molding of articles for use as components in applications requiring static dissipation and/or EMI shielding. Such articles include, but are not limited to electronic devices, dust handling equipment and notebook computer enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Nirajkumar Patel
  • Patent number: 6595819
    Abstract: This invention provides equipment for fabricating partitioning ribs of a plasma display device. The equipment comprises a head, a driver, an X position sensor and a Y position sensor, a laser displacement sensor for detecting the distance of the head from a glass plate or substrate, a motor and a motor driver for moving the head relative to the glass plate, and a CPU for controlling various circuits. The head has nozzle members for ejecting partitioning rib grains by an electrostatic ejection method or ink jet technology to form partitioning ribs. The driver controls the volume of the partitioning rib grains ejected from the head. The X and Y position sensors detect the position of the head relative to the glass plate within a plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kitahara, Hiroshi Hashi, Akihiro Kubota, Susumu Kobayashi, Hidetoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6592805
    Abstract: A method for producing electroceramic materials of high sintered density from hydroxide and/or oxalate precursors is disclosed. In this method the precursor(s) are compacted to form a preform, thermally treated, recompacted and then sintered to form finished products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: John Wang, Junmin Xue, Leong Ming Gan, Ser Choon Ng, Leong Chew Lim
  • Publication number: 20030129646
    Abstract: A multilayered microfluidic DNA analysis system includes a cell lysis chamber, a DNA separation chamber, a DNA amplification chamber, and a DNA detection system. The multilayered microfluidic DNA analysis system is provided as a substantially monolithic structure formed from a plurality of green-sheet layers sintered together. The substantially monolithic structure has defined therein a means for heating the DNA amplification chamber and a means for cooling the DNA amplification chamber. The means for heating and means for cooling operate to cycle the temperature of the DNA amplification chamber as required for performing a DNA amplification process, such as PCR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Cynthia G. Briscoe, Huinan Yu, Piotr Grodzinski, Robert Marrero, Jeremy W. Burdon, Rong-Fong Huang
  • Publication number: 20030119656
    Abstract: The production of low-loss, tunable composite ceramic materials with improved breakdown strengths is disclosed. The composite materials comprise ferroelectric perovskites such as barium strontium titanate or other ferroelectric perovskites combined with other phases such as low-loss silicate materials and/or other low-loss oxides. The composite materials are produced in sheet or tape form by methods such as tape casting. The composite tapes exhibit favorable tunability, low loss and tailorable dielectric properties, and can be used in various microwave devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Paratek Microwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Luna H. Chiu, Xubai Zhang, Louise C. Sengupta
  • Patent number: 6579817
    Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition including at least a first component containing Al2O3, MgO and ROa (R is at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb and Gd; a is a value stoichiometrically determined in accordance with the valence of R); SiO2 as a second component; and a third component containing a glass composition including two or more components containing at least one selected from the group consisting of SiO2 and B2O3. A dielectric ceramic composition stably has a high strength in a high frequency band such as microwave, millimeter wave, etc., and has a small dielectric constant, a low loss, and a small temperature constant at capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Harada, Hiroshi Kagata, Hidenori Katsumura
  • Publication number: 20030085494
    Abstract: A method for producing a ceramic laminate includes a sheet-forming process for forming a green sheet 11 by placing a raw ceramic material on a carrier film 12, a punching process for punching a green sheet piece of a predetermined shape from the green sheet, a stacking process for sequentially stacking a plurality of the green sheet pieces to form a green laminate, and a calcination process for calcining the green laminate to obtain a ceramic laminate consisting of a plurality of ceramic layers, wherein, in the punching process, the green sheet piece only is punched while the green sheet 11 is held on the carrier film 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Akio Iwase, Yukihisa Takeuchi, Shoji Osaki, Tetsuji Ito, Toshio Ooshima, Shige Kadotani
  • Patent number: 6554984
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gas sensor, including a substrate electrode layer forming step, and a surface electrode layer forming step. The gas sensor includes first and second processing spaces, an oxygen concentration detection element, an oxygen pumping element, an oxidation catalyst and a combustible gas component concentration detection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuji Inoue, Shoji Kitanoya, Kenji Kato, Tomohiro Fuma, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 6543107
    Abstract: A method for producing the piezoelectric thin film is based on a sol-gel process and comprises the steps of: coating a substrate with a sol composition comprising a sol, of a metal component for constituting a piezoelectric film, and a polymer compound and then drying the coating to form a film; pre-sintering the film to form a porous thin film of gel comprising an amorphous metal oxide; pre-annealing the porous thin film of gel to convert the film to a film of a crystalline metal oxide; repeating the steps at least once to form laminated films of a crystalline metal oxide; and annealing the films thus prepared to grow crystal grains of perovskite type in the film into a larger size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Miyashita, Masakazu Shinozuka, Tetsushi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6544090
    Abstract: A method for chemically etching of a foam glass layer to provide at least one cavity pattern in the foam glass layer. The method utilizes a substrate with at least one major surface suitable for receiving a glass layer. At least one layer of a glass paste composition in then applied onto the major surface of the substrate. The substrate and glass paste composition are then heated to a temperature sufficient enough to obtain a foam glass layer bonded to the major surface of the substrate. At least a portion of the foam glass layer is chemically etched to obtain at least one cavity pattern in the foam glass layer. The chemical etching of the foam glass layer results in an anisotropic etching rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Paul R. Anderson, Charles J. Barnhart, Randall J. Cutcher, Jill M. Wyse
  • Publication number: 20030062659
    Abstract: A method of making an oxide superconductor article includes converting an oxide superconducting precursor into an oxide superconductor by thermo-mechanical processing using intermediate rolling deformation and heat treatment (including liquid-phase sintering and low temperature baking) and applying an additional heat treatment after the material is fully processed (including optional liquid-phase sintering and low temperature baking) to decompose any secondary phase remaining at the grain boundaries and to promote diffusion of the secondary phase into the oxide grain, where they form 2223 phase. The material has a better superconducting grain connectivity and improved superconducting transport property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yibing Huang, Gilbert N. Riley, Noe DeMedeiros
  • Patent number: 6540945
    Abstract: Carbon fiber-filled, thermoplastic resin compositions having improved electrical properties at a given level of carbon fibers are formed from thermoplastic resin and carbon fibers associated into bundles with a binder. The thermoplastic resin and the binder are selected to be incompatible such that the adhesion of the fiber to the resin is poor. An exemplary composition is formed from a thermoplastic polymer selected from among polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyphenylene ether, polyether imide and blends thereof; and carbon fibers associated into bundles with a polyamide terpolymer binder. The bundles are dispersed within the thermoplastic polymer. The compositions can be used for injection molding of articles for use as components in applications requiring static dissipation and/or EMI shielding. Such articles include electronic devices, dust handling equipment and notebook computer enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kazunao Kubotera, Nirajkumar Patel
  • Patent number: 6539626
    Abstract: A curved multilayer ceramic moulded part, particularly curved in directions perpendicular to one another, is limited by two virtually parallel surfaces and an edge. Electrically conductive path(s) parallel to the surface are provided internally. The molded part may be produced by deforming a dish-shaped green moulding, formed from a composite of a self-supporting ceramic film having at least one electrically conductive path and at least one additional ceramic film, with or without electrically conductive path(s), to pressure from all sides. The deformed part is subjected to burning out and sintering. The moulded articles are virtually free of defects. Absolute deviation from the average shrinking of less than 2% may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: DSM N.V.
    Inventors: Johannes W. H. Kolnaar, Johannes L. M. Op Den Kamp, Jolanda I. M. Colnot, Hans H. H. Hornman
  • Patent number: 6533966
    Abstract: Suspensions and powders based on indium tin oxide are prepared by a method in which indium tin oxide precursors are precipitated from solutions in one or more solvents in the presence of one or more surface-modifying components, the solvent(s) are removed from the precipitate, which is then calcined, one or more surface-modifying components and one or more solvents are added, the mixture is comminuted or dispersed to form a suspension, and the liquid components are separated from the suspension to give a powder. The powder may be converted into a moulding by a shaping process. The materials prepared by this method are especially suitable as coating materials for use in microelectronics and optoelectronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Institut für Neue Materialien gem. GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Nonninger, Christian Goebbert, Helmut Schmidt, Robert Drumm, Stefan Sepeur