Metal Base Patents (Class 427/295)
  • Publication number: 20100035034
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light selective absorbing coating and a production process thereof. The light selective absorbing coating consists of a composite material film deposited by reaction of iron chromium alloy and a non-metal gas with vacuum deposition technology. Said non-metal gas comprises gases of nitrogen and oxygen elements. The present invention also relates to a solar energy heat collecting element or solar energy selective absorbing coating system comprising said light selective absorbing coating and a production process thereof. The present invention further relates to use of said composite material film as a light selective absorbing coating of a solar energy heat collecting element or of a solar energy selective absorbing coating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: SHENZHEN COMMONPRAISE SOLAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhiqiang Yin
  • Publication number: 20090311428
    Abstract: In a method of applying a firmly adhering metallic coating onto a steel sheet product, a steel sheet product is inserted into a film bag which contains at least a coating material. Subsequently, the film bag is evacuated to cause the film to evenly bear upon the outer surface of the steel sheet product. This state is fixed by sealing the film bag. The film bag and the steel sheet product are then subjected to a heat treatment to thereby form a coating of the coating material on the steel sheet product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventor: SVEN-LARS ROTZOLL
  • Patent number: 7625515
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing photonic band gap structures operable in the optical spectrum has been presented. The method comprises the steps of filling a plurality of grooves of an elastomeric mold with a UV curable first polymer, each groove in parallel with each other and partially curing the first polymer. A second polymer is coated on the first polymer. A substrate or a multi-layer polymer structure is placed on the filled mold and the resulting structure is exposed to UV light (i.e., is UV cured). The mold is peeled away from the first and second polymers such that a layer of polymer rods is formed on the substrate/multi-layer polymer structure. The process is repeated until a desired number of layers have been formed. The multi-layer structure can be used to create ceramic and metallic photonic band gaps by infiltration, electro-deposition, and/or metal coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae-Hwang Lee, Kai-Ming Ho, Yong-Sung Kim, Kristen Constant, Chang-Hwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20090280350
    Abstract: Steel sheet having a high {222} plane integration comprising steel sheet having an Al content of less than 6.5 mass % characterized by one or both of (1) a {222} plane integration of one or both of an ?Fe phase and ?Fe phase with respect to the steel sheet surface being 60% to 99% and (2) a {200} plane integration of one or both of an ?Fe phase and ?Fe phase with respect to the steel sheet surface being 0.01% to 15%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Tooru Inaguma, Hiroaki Sakamoto, Youji Mizuhara
  • Patent number: 7597934
    Abstract: A method for making a gas turbine engine turbine blade comprising an airfoil section a platform section, an under platform section, and a dovetail section, the exterior surface of the dovetail section comprising a shank exterior surface and a serrated exterior surface. The blade further includes a silicon-modified diffusion aluminide layer a surface of a turbine blade section selected from the group consisting of the exterior surface of the under platform section, the exterior surface of the dovetail section, and combinations thereof, the aluminide layer having a concentration of silicon at a surface of the aluminide layer in the range of about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent and a concentration of aluminum at the surface of the aluminide layer in the range of about 5 weight percent to about 25 weight percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bangalore A. Nagaraj, Mark D. Gorman
  • Patent number: 7598204
    Abstract: A reagent suitable for use as a catalyst comprises a first metal species substrate having a second reduced metal species coated thereon, the second reduced metal species being less electropositive than the first metal. Methods of manufacture are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew M. Mance, Tao Xie, Belabbes Merzougui
  • Patent number: 7579042
    Abstract: Magnetic tunnel junctions and method for making the magnetic tunnel junctions are provided. The magnetic tunnel junctions are characterized by a tunnel barrier oxide layer sandwiched between two ferromagnetic layers. The methods used to fabricate the magnetic tunnel junctions are capable of completely and selectively oxidizing a tunnel junction precursor material using an oxidizing gas containing a mixture of gases to provide a tunnel junction oxide without oxidizing the adjacent ferromagnetic materials. In some embodiments the gas mixture is a mixture of CO and CO2 or a mixture of H2 and H2O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Y. Austin Chang, Jianhua J. Yang, Peter F. Ladwig
  • Publication number: 20090110852
    Abstract: An exemplary housing includes a main body, and a plurality of coatings formed on the main body. The coatings include a plating layer, an outer layer, and an adhesive layer. The plating layer is coated on the main body. The adhesive layer is sandwiched between the plating layer and the outer layer. Surface treating methods for making present housing are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHWAN-HWA CHIANG
  • Publication number: 20090098295
    Abstract: A process for producing a corrosion-protected steel sheet for coating with an organic coating agent, includes vacuum-coating the steel sheet, which is protected against corrosion with a layer of zinc or zinc alloy, with at least one additional metal or a metal alloy. After vacuum-coating, the steel sheet is subjected to a thermal diffusion treatment and finally cooled down. The process is characterized according to the invention in that cooling takes place with a water-based coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL AG
    Inventors: Monika Riemer, Ingo Rogner, Bernd Schuhmacher, Christian Schwerdt
  • Patent number: 7517548
    Abstract: A method of forming a ferroelectric thin film containing vinylidene fluoride homopolymer, including the steps of (i) preparing a green powder of vinylidene fluoride homopolymer of crystal form I alone or as main component by subjecting vinylidene fluoride to radical polymerization in the presence of a radical polymerization initiator, (ii) forming a thin film on a substrate surface by using vinylidene fluoride homopolymer of crystal form I alone or as main component obtained from the green powder product of vinylidene fluoride homopolymer of I-form crystal structure alone or as main component, and (iii) subjecting the thin film of vinylidene fluoride homopolymer formed in step (ii) above to polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Araki, Tetsuhiro Kodani
  • Patent number: 7485334
    Abstract: A method of coating a stent using a pressure mandrel is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Cameron Kerrigan
  • Publication number: 20080118730
    Abstract: Disclosed is a biaxially oriented multilayer film comprising at least two layers A-B, wherein A and B represent separate layers at least one of which layers comprises a polyimide having a Tg of greater than about 200° C., wherein the film has a CTE of less than 35 ppm/° C., and wherein A comprises 60 wt. %-100 wt. % of amorphous polymer with 0 wt. %-40 wt. % of crystallizable polymer, and B comprises 60 wt. %-100 wt. % crystallizable polymer with 0 wt. %-40 wt. % amorphous polymer, the relative thicknesses of layer A to layer B are in a ratio in a range of between 1:5 and 1:100, and the thickness of the film is in a range of between 5 ?m and 125 ?m. Also disclosed is a biaxially oriented monolithic film comprising a polyimide with structural units formally derived from 3,4-diaminodiphenylether and 4,4-oxydiphthalic anhydride. Laminates comprising the films and methods for making film and laminate are also disclosed. Articles comprising a film or laminate of the invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Ta-Hua Yu, James M. White, Sapna Blackburn, Irene Dris, Kapil Sheth, Kevin Durocher, Safwat Tadros
  • Publication number: 20070269982
    Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling a growth rate of films in semiconductor structures are shown. Chemical vapor deposition methods and devices include the use of a reaction inhibitor that selectively varies a deposition rate along a surface. One specific method includes atomic layer deposition. One method shown provides high step coverage over features such as trenches in trench plate capacitors. Also shown are methods and devices to provide uniform batch reactor layer thicknesses. Also shown are methods for forming alloy layers with high control over composition. Also shown are methods to selectively control growth rate to provide growth only on selected surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: M. Noel Rocklein, F. Daniel Gealy
  • Patent number: 7294413
    Abstract: A protected article includes a substrate having a surface, and a protective system overlying and contacting a first portion of the surface of the substrate. The protective system has a nickel-base superalloy bond coat, an aluminide layer overlying and contacting the bond coat, and a dense vertically microcracked ceramic thermal barrier coating overlying and contacting the aluminide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bangalore Aswatha Nagaraj, D. Keith Patrick, Thomas John Tomlinson, David Walter Parry
  • Patent number: 7247348
    Abstract: Methods for making an erosion resistant gas turbine engine compressor airfoil substrates coated with a diamond-like coating (DLC), wherein the coating airfoil substrates are protected from ingested abrasive particulates, may include the step of performing a hydrogen-free chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process by ablation of a graphite target in a vacuum. The DLC may be comprised predominantly of sp3 (tetrahedral) carbon, and may be devoid of detectable amounts of hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Power
  • Patent number: 7241478
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for producing a thin organic film on a substrate using an ultrasonic nozzle to produce a cloud of micro-droplets in a vacuum chamber. The micro-droplets move turbulently within the vacuum chamber, isotropically impacting and adhering to the surface of the substrate. The resulting product has a smooth, continuous, conformal, and uniform organic thin film, when the critical process parameters of micro-droplet size, shot size, vacuum chamber pressure, and timing are well-controlled, and defects such as “orange peel” effect and webbing are avoided. The apparatus includes an improved ultrasonic nozzle assembly that comprises vacuum sealing and a separate, independent passageway for introducing a directed purging gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Allister McNeish, Edmund Popp, Mark Brown, Mark W. Leiby, James J. Cerul, Harvey L. Berger
  • Patent number: 7132130
    Abstract: An environmentally-friendly process for applying a chrome finish on a substrate is provided. The chrome finish comprises a thin film of aluminum and chromium deposited onto the substrate by physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques. The thin layer can consist of three separately deposited metallic layers including a chromium layer sandwiched between a pair of aluminum layers or can consist of a single, simultaneously co-deposited layer of aluminum and chromium in a ratio of 10% to 70% by weight chromium and 30% to 90% aluminum. The structure of a coated substrate is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Innovative Systems Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Terence J. Kloss
  • Patent number: 7070833
    Abstract: A method of passivating the surface of a substrate to protect the surface against corrosion, the surface effects on a vacuum environment, or both. The substrate surface is placed in a treatment environment and is first dehydrated and then the environment is evacuated. A silicon hydride gas is introduced into the treatment environment, which may be heated prior to the introduction of the gas. The substrate and silicon hydride gas contained therein are heated, if the treatment environment was not already heated prior to the introduction of the gas and pressurized to decompose the gas. A layer of silicon is deposited on the substrate surface. The duration of the silicon depositing step is controlled to prevent the formation of silicon dust in the treatment environment. The substrate is then cooled and held at a cooled temperature to optimize surface conditions for subsequent depositions, and the treatment environment is purged with an inert gas to remove the silicon hydride gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Restek Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Smith, Gary A. Barone, Martin E. Higgins, Bruce R. F. Kendall, David J. Lavrich
  • Patent number: 7048972
    Abstract: After forming a primary powder bed (i.e., powder layer) at a toothed portion of an article, such as a gear or a spline shaft, by electrostatic powder coating process, the powder bed/layer is removed from crests of teeth in the toothed portion by a specified thickness by scraping it off while sucking up the scraped powder. Next, the electrostatic powder coating process is performed again to form a secondary powder bed/layer over the entire surface of the toothed portion. Then, the primary and secondary powder beds/layers are melted or fused by induction heating to thereby form a coating film of a substantially uniform thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Kitahata, Takeshi Tojo, Katsura Koyagi, Takanori Kurokawa, Atsuo Suehiro, Yoshifumi Niide, Kouichi Taniguchi, Shingo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7026010
    Abstract: Laminated magnetic recording medium with two Co-containing layers separated by a non-magnetic Ru-containing interlayer is stabilized by Ru-containing layer between the recording layers and Co-containing stabilization layers through anti-ferromagnetic coupling. The insertion of Co layer beneath Ru spacer has resulted in increased coupling, and further coupling enhancement is achieved by low pressure process of Co and Ru layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Zhong Stella Wu, Samuel Dacke Harkness
  • Patent number: 6901659
    Abstract: An electron-emitting device manufacturing method comprising a gas removal step of removing a gas dissolved in a liquid containing a formation material of an electroconductive film in which an electron emitting area is to be formed, a temperature adjusting step of adjusting a temperature of the liquid from which the gas is removed, and a droplet discharge step of discharging droplets of which the temperature is adjusted by droplet discharge means in an ink jet manner, while controlling relative positions of the droplet discharge means and a substrate on which the electroconductive film in which the electron-emitting area is to be formed is formed. The droplets are thereby applied to a predetermined position on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Mishima
  • Patent number: 6852423
    Abstract: In paper coating slips containing, as a binder, a copolymer which is obtainable by free radical polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, at least one of the ethylenically unsaturated compounds is a polymer having at least one copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group, a number average molecular weight of from 500 to 50000 g/mol and at least one carboxyl group (referred to below as ethylenically unsaturated polymer for short).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Schädler, David Christie, Roland Ettl
  • Patent number: 6777028
    Abstract: A cleaned, sterile ceramic, metallic or polymeric substrate surface is vapor-deposited under sterile conditions with silica, is wetted on top of this with a saline coupling agent under sterile conditions, and is provided on top of the latter with a preserving protective layer which is sterile and/or can be sterilized after polymerization and constitutes the activatable first component of a multi-component adhesive which at the time of use is formed by addition of at least one further adhesive component. A workpiece which has been partially or completely coated in this way can be connected with good adhesion to a polymer, even after several months of sterile storage and transportation, by means of the activation of the protective layer with a monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventors: Rudolf Marx, Horst Fischer
  • Patent number: 6767587
    Abstract: Hydrophobic coating compositions are provided as are processes to coat articles with the compositions. Extremely hydrophobic coatings are provided by the compositions. Durable, weatherable and scratch-resistant coatings are provided by compositions comprising a trifluoromethyl-containing component and a hardenable material. Weatherable coatings are also provided by compositions comprising a mobile non-volatile fluorinated component and a hardenable material. Processes are also provided for forming hydrophobic coatings on articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Cytonix Corporation
    Inventor: James F. Brown
  • Patent number: 6759087
    Abstract: An aqueous inorganic solution for sealing the porosity of metal components made of sintered compacted powered metal and castings formed from liquid metal, and a process for applying the solution onto the components. The solution consists primarily of a blend of inorganic metallic salt silicates with the metal ions being taken from Group 1A elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Conspectus, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig J. Reuscher
  • Patent number: 6737109
    Abstract: A method for coating an ink jet printhead with an ink-phobic coating includes applying the coating to an outer surface of the printhead and then drawing or forcing the coating through the apertures of the printhead, preferably with a vacuum. The method coats and renders ink-phobic not only the outer surface, but also the inside surfaces of the apertures. The ink-phobic coating may contain an amorphous fluoropolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Donald S. Stanton, David H. Pan
  • Patent number: 6730349
    Abstract: The present invention has several plausible embodiments. In one embodiment an apparatus for coating a medical device is provided. This apparatus includes a coating chamber, a vibrating structure within the coating chamber the vibrating structure capable of suspending a medical device positioned in the coating chamber, and a coating source, the coating source positioned to introduce coating into the coating chamber. In another embodiment a method of coating a medical device is provided. This method includes moving a medical device into a predetermined coating area, vibrating a structure below the medical device, the vibration of the structure forcing the medical device away from the vibrating structure, and coating at least a portion of the medical device that has moved away from the vibrating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marlene C. Schwarz, Stanley Tocker
  • Patent number: 6723213
    Abstract: A titanium target assembly includes a titanium sputtering target, a copper or copper alloy backing plate and serving as a support member for the target and a silver or silver alloy coating film and formed between the target and backing plate. The coating film is formed on a surface subjected to cleaning treatment on the bonding side or sides of the target and backing plate by physical vapor deposition. The titanium target and backing plate are solid phase diffusion bonded. The face(s) serve as the bonding plane. The assembly can be manufactured by cleaning the surface(s) of the target and/or backing plate on bonding side(s), forming a coating film on the cleaned surface(s) on bonding side(s) and solid phase diffusion-bonding the target and backing plate, while using surface(s) provided with coated film as the bonding plane. The target assembly possesses high bonding strength and excellent bonding stability and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Vacuum Metallurgical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Nakadai, Poong Kim, Weiping Chai, Masahiro Kodera
  • Patent number: 6723176
    Abstract: In a method of producing on the surface of a component which consists of a titanium alloy or an intermetallic phase on the basis of titanium, a protective layer (according to the formula Ti5,0−xAgx+yAl3,0−yO2), a mixture of Ti powder and TiO2 powder, which has been sintered, is applied to the surfaces of the component or, if the titanium alloy includes 40-60 at % Al, a coating of silver is applied to the component and the component is then heat treated at 500 to 900° C. to form the protective layer on its surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Forschungs zentrum Jülich GmbH
    Inventors: Willem Quadakkers, Vladimir Shemet, Lorenz Singheiser
  • Patent number: 6660375
    Abstract: A thin-film magnet formed from a gas-phase reaction of tetracyanoetheylene (TCNE) OR (TCNQ), 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-P-quinodimethane, and a vanadium-containing compound such as vanadium hexcarbonyl (V(CO)6) and bis(benzene)vanalium (V(C6H6)2) and a process of forming a magnetic thin film upon at least one substrate by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at a process temperature not exceeding approximately 90° C. and in the absence of a solvent. The magnetic thin film is particularly suitable for being disposed upon rigid or flexible substrates at temperatures in the range of 40° C. and 70° C. The present invention exhibits air-stable characteristics and qualities and is particularly suitable for providing being disposed upon a wide variety of substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Joel S. Miller, Kostyantyn I. Pokhodnya
  • Patent number: 6649222
    Abstract: A method for treating substrates including the steps of: providing a substrate; exposing said substrate to a plasma glow discharge in the presence of a fluorocarbon gas; maintaining said gas at a pressure between about 50 mTorr and about 400 mTorr; generating said plasma as a modulated glow discharge; pulsing said discharge at an on time of 1-500 milliseconds; pulsing said glow at an off time of 1-1000 milliseconds; maintaining said plasma glow discharge at a power density of 0.02-10 watts/cm2; and applying a hydrophobic coating to said substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Riccardo D'Agostino, Italo Corzani, Pietro Favia, Ritalba Lamendola, Gianfranco Palumbo
  • Patent number: 6638628
    Abstract: Aqueous zinc-containing coating compositions are provided in which the bonding agent is a blend of sodium and/or potassium silicate and lithium polysilicate the latter being in relatively high proportion particularly over 30% up to 70% by weight of silicate. Preferably the composition contains particulate flaked zinc. The composition is of particular value in enhancing corrosion resistance of articles produced from powdered metal or of non-passivated galvanized artefacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald R. Savin
  • Patent number: 6630207
    Abstract: A coating material is deposited on a substrate by vacuum or low-pressure pulsed detonation coating. A detonation chamber receives a detonable mixture containing a coating precursor. The detonable mixture is ignited to produce detonation products laden with the coating precursor. The detonation products are accelerated in a low-pressure or vacuum chamber and discharged through a nozzle into contact with a substrate situated in low pressure to produce a high quality coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventor: Shmuel Eidelman
  • Patent number: 6617042
    Abstract: A degassed polyester varnish is applied to the transduction driver to increase surface dielectric strength (insulation resistance), driver voltage breakdown, physical protection, and heat and water resistance. A vacuum chamber application process is used to apply the polyester varnish. The disclosed coating technique is applicable to all transducer drive materials and all transducer types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew M. DeAngelis
  • Patent number: 6599588
    Abstract: A method for treating a metal enclosure to prevent the enclosure from being contaminated, comprises the steps of: (a) sand-blasting the enclosure; (b) preheating the enclosure to a predetermined temperature, and putting the enclosure into the space in a vacuum chamber between two electrodes; (c) introducing reactive gases into the vacuum chamber, the reactive gases including 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane and oxygen; (d) applying high electrical power to the electrodes to cause the reactive gases to become an ionized plasma, the plasma reacting with a surface of the enclosure to form a layer of silicon oxide thereon. The layer of silicon oxide resists formation of a fingerprint when it is touched by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Shan Chien
  • Patent number: 6572642
    Abstract: A prosthesis having an apertured structure is located in a chamber (11) which is taken to sub-atmospheric pressure. Once sub-atmospheric pressure has been reached, a liquid, optionally containing pharmacological agents, is introduced into the chamber. Drawn by the sub-atmospheric pressure, the liquid saturates the apertured structure of the prosthesis. In this way, the invention eliminates the risk of air being trapped in the apertured structure that could give rise to the formation of blood clots after implantation of the prosthesis. The liquid can contain drugs that penetrate the prosthesis, performing their therapeutic action locally and over time after implantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Sorin Biomedica Cardio S.p.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Rinaldi, Arnaldo Giannetti, Enrico Pasquino
  • Patent number: 6548104
    Abstract: A physical vapor deposition apparatus and process are provided for providing a highly smooth shiny coating to a substrate. The apparatus includes a chamber with a fixture for mounting the components to be coated. The fixture is arranged such that the surfaces to be coated define a “dark side” that faces away from the source of ion bombardment. With this arrangement, heavier multiple ions will travel past the surface to be coated. Lighter single ions will be drawn more readily to the oppositely charged surface to be coated, and hence will undergo a non-linear travel path for deposition onto the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Michael J. Pappas
  • Patent number: 6544582
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for applying a coating to an implantable device. The implantable device can include depots formed in the outer surface thereof to receive the coating. The coating can include a polymer and a solvent applicable to the surface of the implantable device including the depots. The application of the composition is performed under a pressure, which can reduce the surface tension and/or molecular adhesion force of the composition. The reduced surface tension and/or adhesion force allows gas bubbles within the depots to be removed while the composition is being driven into the depots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon J. Yoe
  • Patent number: 6509060
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a filter utilizing a porous ceramic membrane as a separation film is provided, comprising the steps of substituting the air inside fine-pores of the porous substrate with a liquid, isolating the porous substrate face to be provided with a separation film, the other face of the porous substrate face not provided with the separation film, continuously feeding a film deposition slurry containing ceramic framework particles to allow the slurry to contact the face of the porous substrate to be provided with the separation film, applying a differential filtration pressure between the faces of the porous substrate, and depositing the slurry on the surface of the porous substrate. An organic polymer for endowing the deposition film with filtration resistance is added to the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadanori Komoda, Makoto Ito, Tatsuya Hishiki, Masahiro Murasato, Manabu Isomura
  • Publication number: 20030000891
    Abstract: Powdered nickel-based alloys having substantial amounts of chromium and molybdenum are molded and sintered to form tubular filter supports. Metal oxide particulates, preferably titanium oxide, are impregnated into the interior surfaces of the tubular elements and sintered to create 0.1 micron filter membranes. Hastelloy C-22 is a preferred nickel-based alloy for forming the porous metal support, while rutile is preferred as a starting material for forming the filter membrane. The resultant porous metal/metal oxide filter elements have superior resistance to chemical attack in high chloride, low pH environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: GRAVER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: James A. Gill
  • Patent number: 6497916
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating tubular members, such as stents comprises a liquid reservoir and a stent support member for supporting, in use, a tubular member. Support member dipping means places the support member in the liquid reservoir in use and draws the support member therefrom. Pressure differential generating means generates a pressure differential. The stent support member is arranged to provide a central passageway through a stent placed thereon, the central passageway having a plurality of perforations formed therein, and the pressure differential generating means is arranged to generate, in use, a pressure differential between the passageway and the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Biocompatibles Limited
    Inventors: Alistair Stewart Taylor, Lee Alan Tollhurst, Donal Thomas Hempensall
  • Patent number: 6479095
    Abstract: A high-pressure vessel is allowed to be in an initial state, and a first chamber is disposed downward. Copper or copper alloy is placed in the first chamber, and SiC is set in a second chamber. The high-pressure vessel is tightly sealed, and then the inside of the high-pressure vessel is subjected to vacuum suction through a suction pipe. An electric power is applied to a heater to heat and melt the copper or copper alloy in the first chamber. At a stage at which the molten copper in the first chamber arrives at a predetermined temperature, the high-pressure vessel is inverted by 180 degrees to give a state in which SiC is immersed in the molten copper. An impregnating gas is introduced into the high-pressure vessel through a gas inlet pipe to apply a pressure to the inside of the high-pressure vessel. Thus, SiC is impregnated with the molten copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhei Ishikawa, Tsutomu Mitsui
  • Patent number: 6461669
    Abstract: There provided a powder supply means for supplying a powdery mold releasing agent to a basin and a pressure reduction means for reducing a pressure in a cavity, and in a casting work the powdery mold releasing agent is supplied through a basin into a cavity while reducing a pressure in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Hanano Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Hanano, Hisataka Shibuya
  • Patent number: 6455172
    Abstract: A method for producing a laminated metal ribbon comprises the steps of (a) vapor-depositing a third metal layer on at least one welding surface of a first metal ribbon 4 and a second metal ribbon 5 in a vacuum chamber 1, the third metal being the same as or different from a metal or an alloy of the first and second metal ribbons 4, 5; (b) pressure-welding the first metal ribbon 4 to the second metal ribbon 5; and (c) subjecting the resultant laminate 9 to a heat treatment for thermal diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Yano, Noboru Hanai
  • Patent number: 6440499
    Abstract: A method for producing a corrosion-resistant and an oxidation-resistant coating on a component in which a slurry is formed by mixing a binder solution with (1) a base powder selected from the group consisting of (a) MCrAlY wherein M is Ni or Co or both, (b) NiCrAl and (c) mixtures of (a) and (b) with (2) an added powder of Al, Pt, Pd, Si or mixtures thereof, each of the said powders having a grain size between 5 and 120 &mgr;m. The slurry is applied onto a component made of a superalloy based on nickel or cobalt. The slurry is hardened on the component to form a hardened slurry coating by heating the slurry to a temperature between room temperature and 450° C., and the hardened slurry coating is heated, to produce diffusion thereof into the component, at a temperature between 750° C. and 1250° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Wydra, Thomas Cosack, Wolfgang Hinreiner
  • Patent number: 6440490
    Abstract: A method for providing the surface of base bodies of displacement or angle measuring systems with magnetizable material. Hard ferrite powder or materials comprising rare earths are preferred components of the magnetizable coating material. The composition of the material is changed during application of the coating such that the percentage of the ferrite or rare earth compound is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thilo Krumpiegl, Andreas Kuhn
  • Patent number: 6436470
    Abstract: An improved method of applying a particulate material to a substrate, includes the steps of: removing impurities from a surface of the substrate; forming a coating composition having a bonding material and at least one particulate material; applying the coating composition to the substrate surface; and creating a diffusion bond between the substrate, bonding material and particulate material for generating a continuous interface between the substrate surface and particulate material such that the change in mechanical properties between the substrate and particulate material occurs in a direction normal to the plane of the substrate surface, thereby minimizing residual strain and coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the substrate and particulate material, the surfaces of individual particles of said particulate material being chemically wetted by the bonding material. The particulate material and the bonding material comprise a layer on the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ronald G. Iacocca, Karthik Sivaraman, Anand Lal, Randall M. German
  • Publication number: 20020102418
    Abstract: A stable oxidized structure and an improved method of making such a structure, including an improved method of making an interfacial template for growing a crystalline metal oxide structure, are disclosed. The improved method comprises the steps of providing a substrate with a clean surface and depositing a metal on the surface at a high temperature under a vacuum to form a metal-substrate compound layer on the surface with a thickness of less than one monolayer. The compound layer is then oxidized by exposing the compound layer to essentially oxygen at a low partial pressure and low temperature. The method may further comprise the step of annealing the surface while under a vacuum to further stabilize the oxidized film structure. A crystalline metal oxide structure may be subsequently epitaxially grown by using the oxidized film structure as an interfacial template and depositing on the interfacial template at least one layer of a crystalline metal oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Shupan Gan, Yong Liang
  • Patent number: 6403158
    Abstract: A mixture is formed that comprises at least some to about 10 wt % boron nitride and silicon. A body comprising a component that is wetted by or reacts with silicon is contacted with the mixture and the contacted body is infiltrated with silicon from the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gregory Scot Corman
  • Patent number: 6399146
    Abstract: This invention, in one aspect, relates to a method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating on an article and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with a method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating on an Nd—Fe—B magnet. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of applying a coherent coating on the surfaces of the particles of a powder. Such powder may be one which is susceptible to oxidative corrosion and/or one which is used to form a magnet (e.g Nd—Fe—B powder).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Ivor Rex Harris, John D. Speight