Laser Or Electron Beam (e.g., Heat Source, Etc.) Patents (Class 427/596)
  • Publication number: 20130011440
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for the deposition of thin layers, particularly for producing multi-layer coatings, nanolayers, nanostructures and nanocomposites by laser deposition from target materials on a substrate surface, which is characterized by the following features: a) the target is divided into segments with materials having most differing physical and/or chemical properties; b) individual segments of said target are irradiated with an in each case different radiation intensity by means of a controlled energetic distribution of the focused laser energy via the laser beam cross section so that each target segment absorbs the quantity of laser energy during the irradiation, which is required to evaporate or desorb the target material present in the respective segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: VASCOTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Herbst, Valery Serbezov
  • Publication number: 20130011582
    Abstract: A crucible includes a hollow main body defining an opening, a heat body, and a cover. The heat body is received in and connected with the main body. The heat body includes a heat end extending out of the main body through the opening. The heat end can be heated by an electro-beam. The cover is supported by the main body and covers the opening and defines a center hole and a number of gas holes. The heat end passes through the center hole. The main body, the heat body, and the cover are made of thermal conductive refractory material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: JUIN-HONG LIN
  • Patent number: 8350180
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating a work piece includes a process chamber, a coating material supply apparatus located at least partially within the process chamber for delivering a coating material to the work piece, a pre-heater assembly adjoining the process chamber, and a support for holding the work piece. The pre-heater assembly includes a housing that opens to the process chamber, a thermal hood positioned within the housing and configured to reflect thermal energy for reflecting thermal energy toward the work piece. The support is movable to selectively move the work piece between a first position within the housing of the pre-heater assembly and a second position within the process chamber and outside the housing of the pre-heater assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Neal, Kevin W. Schlichting, Peter F. Gero
  • Publication number: 20130000961
    Abstract: A thermal and electrical conducting apparatus includes a few-layer graphene film having a thickness D where D?1.5 nm and a plurality of carbon nanotubes crystallographically aligned with the few-layer graphene film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Douglas Robert Strachan, David Patrick Hunley
  • Publication number: 20120326714
    Abstract: A method for producing printed magnetic functional elements for resistance sensors and printed magnetic functional elements. The invention refers to the field of electronics and relates to a method for producing resistance sensors, such as can be used, for example, in magnetic data storage for read sensors or in the automobile industry. The disclosure includes a simple and cost-effective production method and to obtain such printed magnetic functional elements with properties that can be adjusted as desire, in which a magnetic material is deposited onto a substrate as a film, is removed from the substrate and divided into several components and these components are applied on a substrate by means of printing technologies. Aspects are also directed to a printed magnetic functional element for resistance sensors of several components of a film, wherein at least 5% of the components of the functional element have a magnetoimpedance effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUER FESTKOERPER UND WERKSTOFFFORSCHUNG DRESDEN E.V.
    Inventors: Daniil KARNAUSHENKO, Denys MAKAROV, Oliver G. SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20120314281
    Abstract: In order to produce stress-reduced reflective optical elements (1) for an operating wave length in the soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet wavelength range, in particular for use in EUV lithography, it is proposed to apply, between substrate (2) and a multilayer system (4) optimized for high reflectivity at the operating wavelength, a stress-reducing multilayer system (6) with the aid of particle-forming particles having an energy of 40 eV or more, preferably 90 eV or more. Resulting reflective optical elements are distinguished by low surface roughness, a low number of periods in the stress-reducing multilayer system and also high values of the stress-reducing multilayer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
    Inventor: Gisela Von Blanckenhagen
  • Publication number: 20120305061
    Abstract: A nanocomposite material that is both transparent and electrically conductive is provided. The nanocomposite comprises a nanoporous matrix, preferably formed from nanoparticles, that is internally coated with a transparent conductive material to define an internal conductive path within the nanocomposite. The nanocomposite is substantially transparent over a defined spectral range that preferably includes at least a portion of the visible spectrum, and preferably comprises pores with a mean diameter of less than approximately 25 nm. A bilayer may be formed by depositing a layer of a transparent conductive material on top of a nanocomposite layer, or by depositing a second layer of a nanocomposite having different optical properties. The nanocomposites formed using a combination of sequential and/or concurrent deposition techniques are correspondingly discrete and/or continuously varying structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Paul Gregory O'Brien, Daniel P. Puzzo, Nazir Pyarali Kherani, Geoffrey Alan Ozin, Alongkarn Chutinan, Zheng-Hong Lu, Michael G. Helander
  • Patent number: 8323752
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel carbon-based material in which carbons different in property are combined in such a manner as to be applicable to a device. The carbon-based thin film provides a carbon-based thin film 10 including first phases 1 that contain amorphous carbon and extend in a film thickness direction, and a second phase 2 that contains a graphite structure and intervenes between the first phases 1. In the thin film, at least one selected from the group consisting of the following a) to e) is satisfied: a) the second phase contains more graphite structures per unit volume than the first phases; b) a density of the second phase is larger than that of the first phases; c) an electric resistivity of the second phase is lower than that of the first phases; d) an elastic modulus of the second phase is higher than that of the first phases; and e) in the second phase, a basal plane of the graphite structure is oriented along the film thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventor: Eiji Iwamura
  • Publication number: 20120301673
    Abstract: One oxide film of the present invention is a film of an oxide (which can contain incidental impurities) containing one transition element selected from the group consisting of niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) and copper (Cu). The oxide film is an aggregate of microcrystals, an amorphous form including microcrystals or an amorphous form, which shows no clear diffraction peak in an XRD analysis and has p-type conductivity as shown in the chart of FIG. 5 showing the results of XRD (X-ray diffraction) analyses of a first oxide film and a second oxide film. According to this oxide film, p-type conductivity higher than that of a conventional oxide film is obtained. This oxide film is an aggregate of microcrystals, an amorphous form containing microcrystals or an amorphous form, is consequently easily formed on a large substrate, and is therefore suitable also for industrial production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Ryukoku University
    Inventors: Seiji Yamazoe, Takahiro Wada
  • Publication number: 20120293882
    Abstract: A color filter suitable for being disposed on a substrate is provided. The color filter includes a plurality of pixel units separately disposed on the substrate so as to define a plurality of blank regions thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: E Ink Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: YAO-CHOU TSAI, Fang-An Shu, Wen-Chung Tang, Ted-Hong Shinn
  • Publication number: 20120292500
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes an ion source, which includes a coating or surface formed of a metallic carbide, a metallic boride, a ceramic or DLC, or an ion-implanted transition metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Gordon A. Jones, David S. Douce, Amir Farooq
  • Publication number: 20120286152
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes an Electron Impact (“EI”) or a Chemical Ionisation (“CI”) ion source, and the ion source includes a first coating or surface. The first coating or surface is formed of a metallic carbide, a metallic boride, a ceramic or DLC, or an ion-implanted transition metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Gordon A. Jones, David S. Douce, Amir Farooq
  • Publication number: 20120273229
    Abstract: A method of making a composite downhole article is disclosed. The method include forming at least one corrodible core member comprising a first material that is corrodible in a wellbore fluid at a first corrosion rate; and disposing at least one outer member on the core member, the outer member comprising a second material that is corrodible in the wellbore fluid at a second corrosion rate, wherein the corrodible core member has a composition gradient or a density gradient, or a combination thereof, and wherein the first corrosion rate is substantially greater than the second corrosion rate. A method of using a composite downhole article is also disclosed. The method includes forming a composite downhole article as described above; using the article to perform a first wellbore operation; exposing the article to the wellbore fluid; and selectively corroding the second corrodible member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Zhiyue Xu, Michael Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120276352
    Abstract: A tri-barrier ceramic coating system is provided having a base thermal barrier layer, an intermediate CMAS barrier layer, and a top erosion barrier layer, and the method of applying such a coating system to a substrate. The base layer has a typical columnar structure with inter-columnar gaps and intra-columnar micro-pores that provides the stress tolerance during thermal cycles. The intermediate CMAS barrier layer has the fiber-like columns with inter-columnar nano-pores and a grid structure on the bottom of the layer. The fine structured intermediate layer covers the gaps between the columns of the base layer and will block CMAS infiltration effectively. The top erosion resistant layer contains wider TBC columns with narrow inter-columnar gaps and a modified cauliflower-like TBC head that provides erosion resistance for the underlying layers. The tri-barrier coating microstructure will further reduce the thermal conductivity as comparing to the conventional single layer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Lucy Yourong Liu, Paul Lawton, Patricia Lawton
  • Publication number: 20120270017
    Abstract: A kitchenware with surface patterns and a manufacture method thereof; the kitchenware comprises: a hand-held part and food contact part; the hand-held part and/or food contact part covered with a color layer divided into a first region without a laser engraving process and a second region formed by laser engraving; the thickness of the second region is smaller than that of the first region; the first and second regions form preset patterns; a protection layer covers the color layer. The manufacture method comprises: manufacturing the hand-held and food contact parts of the kitchenware with preset color; covering surfaces of the hand-held and/or food contact parts with a color layer; determining an engraving region and engraving depth according to preset patterns, engraving the color layer with laser; and covering the color layer with a protection layer. The kitchenware has aesthetic patterns, a flat surface, improved non-stick performance, and is cleaned easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Millennium Metal & Plastic Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Chris Pok Man Chau
  • Publication number: 20120270023
    Abstract: A composite material including a carrier g of aluminum, an optically effective multi-layer system applied to a side (A) of the carrier. The system having at least 2 dielectric and/or oxidic layers, namely an upper layer and a lower, light-absorbing layer. The lower, light-absorbing layer contains a titanium-aluminum mixed oxide TiAlqOx and/or a titanium-aluminum makes nitride TiAlqNy and/or a titanium-aluminum mixed oxynitride TiAlqOxNy, while the upper layer is an oxidic layer made of titanium, silicon or tin of the chemical composition TiOz, SiOw, or SnOv, where the indices q, v, w, y and z each denote a stoichiometric or nonstoichiometric ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Frank Templin, Dimitrios Peros, Tobias Titz, Harald Küster
  • Patent number: 8293319
    Abstract: By irradiating a first substrate which is an evaporation donor substrate including a function layer in which films having different refractive indexes (high-refractive index films and low refractive index films) are stacked with first light (wavelength=?1), a material layer over the first substrate is patterned, and by irradiating the first substrate with second light (wavelength=?2) which is different from ?1, the material layer which is patterned is evaporated onto a second substrate which is a deposition target substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Ikeda, Takahiro Ibe
  • Patent number: 8277902
    Abstract: A method for forming a film in which throughput is improved and a desired pattern is obtained smoothly in stacking a plurality of material layers over a substrate and a method for manufacturing a light emitting device are provided. In advance, a material layer is formed selectively by a droplet discharge method to be in contact with a light absorption layer on a first substrate. A second substrate is disposed so that the material layer faces the second substrate. The light absorption layer is irradiated with a laser light so that a film containing a material included in the material layer is formed on the second substrate. When the light absorption layer have a desired pattern, a film reflecting the pattern of the light absorption layer that has undergone the laser light irradiation is formed on the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Satoshi Seo
  • Patent number: 8277877
    Abstract: A method for depositing protective coatings on front and rear facets of an optical device, such as a laser die, is disclosed. The protective coatings help prevent laser facet damage common to laser dies manufactured using known processes. In one embodiment, the method for coating the laser die includes placing the laser in an evacuated coating chamber before applying a first coating portion to a first facet of the laser. The first coating portion is applied to the first facet so as to form a protective covering thereon, but is applied at a coating energy that minimizes damage to the as-yet uncoated second facet. The laser is then rotated within the coating chamber, and a full coating is applied to a second facet of the laser. The laser is again rotated, and a full coating is applied atop the first coating portion to the first facet of the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Roman Dimitrov, Ashish Verma, Tsurugi Sudo, Scott Lehmann
  • Patent number: 8278136
    Abstract: A gate electrode, a gate insulation film and an inorganic oxide film are formed in this order on a substrate, and a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed to partially cover the inorganic oxide film. Then, oxidation treatment is applied to reduce the carrier density at a region of the inorganic oxide film which is not covered by the electrodes and is used as a channel region of a semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanaka, Kenichi Umeda, Kohei Higashi, Maki Nangu
  • Publication number: 20120242987
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is disclosed wherein an inner surface of a container is coated with SERS active materials such as nanoparticles of noble metals. Such a container can provide a partially enclosed, optical diffuse cavity whose inner surfaces serve for dual purposes of enhancing Raman scattering of the contained analyte and optical integration, therefore improving the efficiency of optical excitation and signal collection. The container may be configured to isolate the SERS active material from the external environment. The container, which may be a cylindrical tube, may be referred to as a SERS tube. Methods of coating the inner wall of a container with pulsed laser ablation and with nanoparticle colloids, respectively, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bing LIU, Wei QIAN, Makoto MURAKAMI, Yong CHE
  • Publication number: 20120231212
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a structured coating on a substrate, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a substrate having a surface to be coated and producing a structured coating on the surface of the substrate to be coated by depositing at least one evaporation coating material, namely aluminium oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, or titanium dioxide, on the surface of the substrate to be coated by means of thermal evaporation of the at least one evaporation coating material and using additive structuring. The invention further relates to a coated substrate and a semi-finished product having a coated substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Jürgen Leib, Ulli Hansen, Simon Maus
  • Publication number: 20120225221
    Abstract: A first substrate including, on one of surfaces, a light absorption layer having metal nitride and a material layer which is formed so as to be in contact with the light absorption layer is provided; the surface of the first substrate on which the material layer is formed and a deposition target surface of a second substrate are disposed to face each other; and part of the material layer is deposited on the deposition target surface of the second substrate in such a manner that irradiation with laser light having a repetition rate of greater than or equal to 10 MHz and a pulse width of greater than or equal to 100 fs and less than or equal to 10 ns is performed from the other surface side of the first substrate to selectively heat part of the material layer which overlaps with the light absorption layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Tomoya Aoyama, Takuya Tsurume, Takao Hamada
  • Publication number: 20120225220
    Abstract: A random laser comprising a substrate and a rare earth-doped glass fabricated on the substrate in the form of a waveguide, wherein the glass comprises a germanium glass, a titanium glass, or a chalcogenide glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Gin Jose, Animesh Jha, David Paul Steenson
  • Patent number: 8257559
    Abstract: A turbine engine component includes an electron beam-physical vapor deposition thermal barrier coating covering at least a portion of a substrate. The thermal barrier coating includes an inner layer having a columnar-grained microstructure with inter-columnar gap porosity. The inner layer includes a stabilized ceramic material. The thermal barrier coating also includes a substantially non-porous outer layer, covering the inner layer and including the stabilized ceramic material. The outer layer is deposited with continuous line-of-sight exposure to the vapor source under oxygen deficient conditions. The outer layer may further comprise a dopant oxide that is more readily reducible than the stabilized ceramic material. During deposition, the outer layer may also have an oxygen deficient stoichiometry with respect to the inner layer. Oxygen stoichiometry in the outer layer may be restored by exposure of the coated component to an oxidizing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret M. Floyd, Thomas Strangman, Derek Raybould, Paul J. Mravcak
  • Publication number: 20120221099
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention relate to coated biological material for the manufacture of heart valve prostheses, characterized in that the surface of the biological material is covered entirely or partially with a coating which contains or is composed of a biocompatible anorganic material, and to a process for manufacturing such a coated biological material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander Borck, Alexander Rzany
  • Patent number: 8241700
    Abstract: An object is to provide a deposition method in which an organic material layer which is a material of a common layer is evenly formed over an entire surface of a donor substrate (a first substrate) and can be transferred to an element formation substrate (a second substrate) as transfer layers which are common layers for red (R), green (G), and blue (B) with different thicknesses. An organic material layer over a first absorption layer and a second absorption layer is deposited to a second substrate as a first transfer layer and a second transfer layer by sublimating the organic material layer over the first substrate. The thicknesses of the first and second transfer layers differ in accordance with the ratio of the area of the first absorption layer to the area of the second absorption layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Ikeda, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8236375
    Abstract: The specification describes a method for selectively depositing carbon nanotubes on the end face of an optical fiber. The end face of the optical fiber is exposed to a dispersion of carbon nanotubes while light is propagated through the optical fiber. Carbon nanotubes deposit selectively on the light emitting core of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Nicholson
  • Publication number: 20120196062
    Abstract: Provided are: a conducting polymer composite structure, which does not require any separator between electrodes, can be reduced in size, can be produced at reduced cost and with improved workability, and has excellent impact resistance; a process for producing the conducting polymer composite structure; and an actuator element using the conducting polymer composite structure. The conducting polymer composite structure includes at least one conducting polymer layer, and is a structure in which a surface layer of the conducting polymer layer is an insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: EAMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Sato, Noboru Tanaka, Minoru Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20120193148
    Abstract: A method for applying a non-magnetic, abrasive, wear-resistant hardfacing material to a surface of a drill string member includes providing a non-magnetic drill string member formed of a non-magnetic material, the drill string member having an outer surface. It also includes providing a non-magnetic hardfacing precursor material comprising a plurality of non-magnetic, sintered carbide pellets and a non-magnetic matrix material; heating a portion of the non-magnetic hardfacing precursor material to a temperature above the melting point of the matrix material to melt the matrix material. It further includes applying the molten non-magnetic matrix material and the plurality of non-magnetic, sintered carbide pellets to the exterior surface of the drill string member; and solidifying the molten non-magnetic matrix material to form a layer of a non-magnetic hardfacing material having a plurality of non-magnetic, sintered carbide pellets dispersed in the hardfacing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James L. Overstreet, Jimmy W. Eason, Travis Puzz
  • Patent number: 8231986
    Abstract: For the purpose of solving problems inherent to a white Al2O3 spray coating, i.e. drawbacks that the injury resistance, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, abrasion resistance and the like are poor and the light reflectance is high because the coating is porous and weak in the bonding force among particles, there are proposed a spray coating member having excellent injury resistance and the like in which a surface of a substrate is covered with a colored Al2O3 spray coating of a luminosity lower than grayish white, achromatic or chromatic color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tocalo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Harada, Takema Teratani
  • Patent number: 8226878
    Abstract: A method of forming articles having closed microchannels includes the steps of providing a substrate including a composite material, the composite having metal nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix. The substrate is irradiated with a laser beam at an intensity and time sufficient to selectively remove the polymer below a surface of said substrate to form at least one microchannel, wherein the intensity and time is low enough to avoid removing the polymer above the microchannel, wherein an article having at least one closed microchannel is formed. A metal nanoparticle/polymer composite composition can have functionality that can undergo addition reactions to seal or join pieces of polymers or composites upon irradiation of the composition placed on one or more pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Qun Huo, Hui Chen
  • Publication number: 20120183738
    Abstract: An embodiment of a method of suspending a graphene membrane on a support structure includes attaching graphene to a substrate. A pre-fabricated support structure having the gap is attached to the graphene. The graphene and the pre-fabricated support structure are then separated from the substrate which leaves the graphene membrane suspended on the pre-fabricated support structure. An embodiment of a method of depositing material includes placing a support structure having a suspended graphene membrane under vacuum. A precursor is adsorbed to a surface of the graphene membrane. A portion of the graphene membrane is exposed to a focused electron beam which deposits a material from the precursor onto the graphene membrane. An embodiment of a graphene-based structure includes a support structure having a gap, a graphene membrane suspended across the gap, and a material deposited in a pattern on the graphene membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Alexander K. Zettl, Jannik Christian Meyer
  • Publication number: 20120178015
    Abstract: A method of processing a ceramic electrolyte suitable for use in a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises situating a ceramic electrolyte layer over an anode layer; and subjecting the ceramic electrolyte layer to a stress prior to operation of the fuel cell, by: exposing the top surface of the electrolyte layer to an oxidizing atmosphere and the bottom surface of the electrolyte layer to a reducing atmosphere; and heating the electrolyte layer. The stress causes a substantial increase in the number of microcracks, or in the average size of the microcracks, or in both the number of the microcracks and their average size. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a ceramic electrolyte layer processed by the disclosed method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Shu Ching Quek, Chandra Sekher Yerramalli, Todd-Michael Striker, Badri Narayan Ramamurthi, Sylvia Marie DeCarr, Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani
  • Publication number: 20120167573
    Abstract: A coated part is exposed to a gas flow. The gas flow has a characteristic gas flow direction distribution over a surface of the coated part. The coated part has a substrate having a substrate surface and a coating over the substrate surface. The coating comprises at least one coating layer. A first such layer is columnar and has a column boundary direction distribution. The column boundary direction distribution is selected for partial local alignment with the gas flow direction distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Igor V. Belousov, Yuriy G. Kononenko, Vadim I. Bondarchuk, Anatoly Kuzmichev, John F. Mullooly, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120164478
    Abstract: A process is described for coating parts (1) made of an aluminium alloy, in particular made of a die-cast aluminium alloy, comprising the steps of; pre-treating the parts (1); washing the pre-treated parts (1); and depositing the parts on at least one first layer (3) and at least one second layer (5), each one of the first and the second layer (3, 5) being composed of a mixture of two constituents with variable relative molar fractions: 1) a metallic material, and 2) an oxide-based material of an element of Group IVA of the Periodic Table. A part (1) made of an aluminium alloy is further described, made through the above process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Daniele Ugues, Daniel Milanese, Diego Chiaretta, Luciana Doglione
  • Patent number: 8206792
    Abstract: A method for forming a ceramic containing composite structure is proposed comprising the steps of (a) feeding a ceramic component that sublimes and a metallic or semi-conductor material that does not sublime into a thermal spray apparatus, (b) spraying the ceramic component and the metallic or semi-conductor material onto a substrate, whereby the ceramic component and the metallic or semi-conductor material deposit on the surface of the substrate, and (c) keeping the metallic or semi-conductor material on the substrate surface plastic during spraying at least in the region where the metallic or semi-conductor material actually strikes the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sulzer Metco (US) Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Gollob, Thomas H. Piquette, James Derby, Omar Basil Al-Sabouni, Richard Karl Schmid, Jacobus Cornelis Doesburg
  • Publication number: 20120148762
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of coating a substrate, with the method comprising: providing a substrate; dispersing nanodiamond powder in a liquid to provide a coating precursor; converting the liquid of the coating precursor to a vapor; introducing the coating precursor to a vapor deposition process; and operating the vapor deposition process to produce a nanocrystalline diamond-containing nanocomposite coating on the substrate, the nanocomposite coating produced using the coating precursor and comprising the nanodiamond particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ronghua Wei, Christopher Rincon, Kent E. Coulter
  • Patent number: 8197912
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing thin film panels comprises providing a laser patterning system, depositing a base layer on a glass substrate, separating the base layer by scribing a plurality of separation lines corresponding with a predefined scribe pattern, depositing a functional layer on the base layer, determining a first base layer separation edge, moving the translation stage by a first distance, activating the laser array and moving the translation stage by a second distance, deactivating the laser array, determining subsequent separation edges of the base layer and scribing lines therein, depositing a top layer on the functional layer, determining a first functional layer separation edge, operating the stepper motor to move the translation stage by a third distance, activating the laser array and moving the translation stage by a fourth distance, deactivating the laser array, and determining subsequent separation edges of the functional layer and scribing lines therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rainer Krause, Gerd Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20120138385
    Abstract: An acoustic resistance member includes an air-shielding layer which does not allow air to pass through such that acoustic waves do not propagate, and an acoustic resistance layer which allows air to pass through such that acoustic waves propagate. The air-shielding layer is composed of a resin containing a coloring agent, and a part of the air-shielding layer is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Publication number: 20120135292
    Abstract: A monolithically integrated thin-film solid-state lithium battery device to supply energy to a mobile communication device. The device includes a plurality of layers ranging from greater than 100 layers to less than 20,000 layers of lithium electrochemical cells, which may be connected in parallel or in series to conform to a spatial volume. The device also includes a polymer based coating characterized by a thickness to house the plurality of layers and configured as an exterior region for the battery device, the polymer based coating having a resistivity of 1012 ?.cm and higher. The device further includes a hermetic seal provided by the polymer-based coating to enclose and house the plurality of layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Sakti3, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Buckingham, Svetlana Lukich, Ann Marie Sastry, Marc Langlois
  • Patent number: 8182863
    Abstract: A first substrate including, on one of surfaces, a light absorption layer having metal nitride and a material layer which is formed so as to be in contact with the light absorption layer is provided; the surface of the first substrate on which the material layer is formed and a deposition target surface of a second substrate are disposed to face each other; and part of the material layer is deposited on the deposition target surface of the second substrate in such a manner that irradiation with laser light having a repetition rate of greater than or equal to 10 MHz and a pulse width of greater than or equal to 100 fs and less than or equal to 10 ns is performed from the other surface side of the first substrate to selectively heat part of the material layer which overlaps with the light absorption layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Tomoya Aoyama, Takuya Tsurume, Takao Hamada
  • Publication number: 20120108438
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing superconductors with critical temperature Tc>300K is disclosed. This method is from a theory of high-Tc superconductivity wherein the doping mechanism is found. A kind of superconductors composed by this method is the AlB2-type superconductors obtained by doping AlB2-type intermetallics such as Sr1-xCaxGa2. Another kind of superconductors composed by this method is the CaCu5-type superconductors obtained by doping CaCu5-type intermetallics such as L1-xAxCu5, LCu5(10x)Ni5x(A-Ca, Sr; L-La, Y, Mm,), Sr1-xCaxCu5, La1-xSrx(1-y)CaxCu5. In particular the CaCu5-type intermetallics LaNi5 and MmNi5 are superconductors with critical temperature Tc>300K. These CaCu5-type superconductors are with high critical current densities and thus are applicable for the transmission of electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Sze Kui Ng
  • Publication number: 20120103519
    Abstract: Included within the scope of the invention are plasma etch-resistant films for substrates. The films include a yttria material and a at least a portion of the yttria material is in a crystal phase having an orientation defined by a Miller Index notation {111}. Also included are methods of manufacturing plasma etch-resistant films on a substrate. Such methods include applying a yttria material-containing composition onto at least a portion of a surface of a substrate to form a film. The film includes a yttria material and at least a portion of the yttria material is in a crystal phase having an orientation defined by a Miller Index notation {111}.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Mohammed Aheem, Sang-Ho Lee, Thomas Mercer, Vasil Vorsa
  • Publication number: 20120100313
    Abstract: A vertical laser cladding system is particularly effective for the interior surfaces of tube-like structures. The vertical cladding process works from bottom to top, so that previously clad layers form a shelf for subsequent application of cladding powder. This system is also particularly effective for handling double-bore plasticating barrels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Xaloy, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Colby, David Hotchkiss, James W. Sears
  • Publication number: 20120100368
    Abstract: A process for preparing a pressure sensitive adhesive using a modified planetary roller extruder is described. The process in accordance with one aspect of the invention is a continuous process that includes introducing primary raw materials comprising a non-thermoplastic elastomer into a planetary roller extruder, introducing a heat-activatable crosslinker into the planetary roller extruder for mixing with the primary raw materials, and compounding the primary raw materials and the heat activatable crosslinker to form an adhesive composition while maintaining the temperature of the adhesive composition between about 25° C. and about 100° C. The non-thermoplastic elastomer is masticated during compounding and at least some of the heat-activatable crosslinker remains generally unactivated and is available for later activation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: IPG TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John Kinch Tynan, JR., Richard Walter St. Coeur, David Michael Kovach, Thomas Lombardo
  • Patent number: 8158267
    Abstract: A method for partially metallizing a product comprising a first surface, a first polymer material, and a second surface, a second polymer material, wherein the method comprises the sequential steps of exposing the first and second surfaces to conditions which render the first surface hydrophilic, and the second surface hydrophobic; contacting the first and second surfaces with water or aqueous solution; contacting the first and second surfaces with a solution of a film former in a water-immiscible solvent; evaporating the solvent to allow formation of a film by the film former on the second surface; adherence of a film by the film former on the first surface is prevented by the presence of the water or aqueous solution thereupon; performing a conventional metallization process to deposit a metal layer on the first and second surface; and removing the metallized film from the second surface to render the first surface metallized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Roland Anthony Tacken, Franky Flory Vercauteren, Hendrik Rendering
  • Publication number: 20120088039
    Abstract: The present disclosure demonstrates the synthesis of ordered arrays of GSC's by re-growth from pre-patterned seed crystals, offering an approach for scalable fabrication of single crystal graphene devices while avoiding domain boundaries. Each graphene island is a single crystal and every graphene island is of similar size. The size of graphene island arrays can be as small as less than 1 mm2 or as large as several m2. The distance between each GSC island is also adjustable from several micrometers to millimeters. All of the graphene islands are addressable for devices and electrical circuit fabrication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Qingkai Yu, Shin-Shem Pei
  • Publication number: 20120086330
    Abstract: A formation method of an organic layer (13) includes a transfer process of forming the organic layer (13) by superposing a donor substrate (30) having a light heat converting layer (32) and a transfer layer (34) formed sequentially to cover at least regions corresponding to organic layer formation regions on a support plate (31) and a transfer mask (40) having openings corresponding to the organic layer formation regions, on each other so that the transfer layer-side surface of the donor substrate (30) comes into contact with the transfer mask (40), and, with the resultant structure placed above a transfer target substrate (20) so that the transfer mask (40) is on the lower side, transferring the transfer layer (34) onto the transfer target substrate (20) via the openings of the transfer mask (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tokiyoshi Umeda, Tohru Sonoda, Hideki Uchida
  • Patent number: 8147928
    Abstract: A method for reducing thermal conductivity in thermal barrier coatings broadly includes the steps of depositing a mixture containing a ceramic matrix and a metallic dispersant capable of forming a metal oxide upon a substrate to form one or more layers; and heating the layers at a temperature and for a time sufficient to oxidize the metallic dispersant and form one or more layers of a thermal barrier coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Coporation
    Inventor: Nicolas E. Ulion