Ge- Or Si-base Component Patents (Class 428/641)
  • Patent number: 6255004
    Abstract: A device made of a III-V nitride compound semiconductor comprising a substrate of sapphire, a Si single crystal, a GaAs single crystal, or a GaP single crystal; a GaN single crystal film with a thickness not greater than 3 nm formed on the substrate; and at least one layer of a III-V nitride compound semiconductor formed on the GaN single crystal film. Also a device made of a III-V nitride compound semiconductor comprising a Si single crystal substrate having a natural oxide film; a SiOn film formed by partially nitriding the natural oxide film; and a layer of a III-V nitride compound semiconductor formed on the SiON film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seikoh Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6228512
    Abstract: High reflectance, low intrinsic roughness and low stress multilayer systems for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography comprise amorphous layers MoRu and crystalline Be layers. Reflectance greater than 70% has been demonstrated for MoRu/Be multilayers with 50 bilayer pairs. Optical throughput of MoRu/Be multilayers can be 30-40% higher than that of Mo/Be multilayer coatings. The throughput can be improved using a diffusion barrier to make sharper interfaces. A capping layer on the top surface of the multilayer improves the long-term reflectance and EUV radiation stability of the multilayer by forming a very thin native oxide that is water resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Sasa C. Bajt, Mark A. Wall
  • Patent number: 6221508
    Abstract: In a magnetic storage apparatus having a magnetic recording medium, a drive unit for driving this medium in a prespecified recording direction, a magnetic head assembly including a recorder section and reproduction section, means for causing the magnetic head to move relatively with respect to the magnetic record medium, and a record/playback signal processor means for performing signal inputting to the magnetic head and for effecting reproduction of an output signal from the magnetic head, the reproduction section of said magnetic head is composed of a magnetic head of the magneto-resistance effect type, while said magnetic record medium is structured including a substrate and a magnetic layer formed thereover with one or several underlayers being sandwiched therebetween, wherein at least one of the underlayers is a specific layer that is made of amorphous or microcrystalline materials containing therein Ni as the principal or main component thereof and further containing at least one kind of element as sele
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kanbe, Ichiro Tamai, Yuzuru Hosoe, Kiwamu Tanahashi, Yoshio Takahashi, Fumiyoshi Kirino, Nagatugu Koiso, Satoshi Matsunuma
  • Patent number: 6210813
    Abstract: A metal silicide film and method of forming the same are provided. The method comprises depositing metal silicide layers onto a substrate assembly with alternating layers of silicon. The resulting metal silicide film has a disrupted grain structure and smaller grain sizes than prior art films of the same thickness, which increases the resistance of the material to stress cracks in subsequent thermal processing and reduces the overall residual stress of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Burke, Farrell Good, Anand Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 6207295
    Abstract: A coated article comprises a substrate, an inner environmental resistant coating portion including Al on the substrate, and an outer heat energy reflecting and oxygen diffusion inhibiting coating portion outward of the inner portion. The outer coating portion is multi-layer, comprising 6-48 discrete stacked layers and a total outer coating portion thickness in the range of about 2.5-25 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William R. Stowell, Ching-Pang Lee, John F. Ackerman, George A. Durgin, Robert W. Harris
  • Patent number: 6200691
    Abstract: A coating system (10) formed on a molybdenum substrate (12) includes an oxidation resistance layer (14), a CTE matching layer (16) disposed between the oxidation resistance layer (14) and the substrate (12), and a novel barrier layer (18) disposed between the CTE matching layer (16) and the substrate (12). The CTE matching layer reduces stresses due to differential expansion/contraction as between the substrate (12) and the oxidation resistance layer (14), especially for high temperature applications. The barrier layer (18), which remains amorphous at temperatures up to at least 1000° C., inhibits diffusion of carbon and silicon into substrate (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Colorado School of Mines
    Inventors: John J. Moore, Shrinivas Govindarajan
  • Patent number: 6187412
    Abstract: A silicon article including a silicon base and columns extending from the silicon base. The columns define a gap between the columns which is devoid of material so that the article can act as a filter or heat sink. Also disclosed is a method of making the silicon article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Armacost, Peter D. Hoh, Son V. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6180263
    Abstract: The hard carbon coating-clad base material of the present invention comprises a base material, a substratal metal coating formed on the base material by a wet plating process, an intermediate metal coating comprising a titanium or chromium coating formed on the substratal metal coating by a dry plating process and a silicon coating formed on the titanium or chromium coating by a dry plating process, and a hard carbon coating formed on the silicon coating by a dry plating process. According to the present invention, a highly reliable hard carbon coating which is excellent in corrosion resistance, adhesion and abrasion resistance can be formed even on brass or an iron base material having poor corrosion resistance, such as SK steel and martensitic and ferritic stainless steels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Naoi
  • Patent number: 6165579
    Abstract: Focusing and tracking can be stably performed using an optical information recording medium in which a high reflectivity and a large reflective change amount can be attained, and the reflectivity change amounts of the lands and grooves are set equal to each other by forming, between a transparent substrate and a first protective layer, an interference layer containing at least one material selected from the group consisting of Au, Ag, Cu, Si, and Ge. Even if information is recorded on the lands and the grooves, it can be recorded/reproduced without any crosstalk from an adjacent track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Naomasa Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6165578
    Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a first substrate; at least a first dielectric layer and a recording layer for signal recording provided on a surface of the first substrate; and a second substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate are assembled together in the state of being warped in planar symmetry and flattened. The first dielectric layer and the recording layer is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Ohno, Hidemi Isomura, Akihiro Moteki
  • Patent number: 6165580
    Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a substrate having light transmission properties, which has laminated on a main surface thereof a recording layer and a metal reflection layer. The recording layer is made of a compounded organic dye thin film which contains a specified aromatic amine compound in an amount of not smaller than 3% by weight but below 30% by weight based on the total weight of the recording layer and a specified asymmetric cyanine dye having absorption to light having a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm in an amount of not smaller than 30% by weight but below 97% by weight based on the total weight of the recording layer. The recording layer is applicable to a short-wavelength (500 to 700 nm) semiconductor laser so that an optical recording medium according to the DVD-ROM standards having excellent stability of the dye film and allowing a decrease in jitter component upon high density recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Yamazaki, Toshiyuki Kanno
  • Patent number: 6162520
    Abstract: A novel optical recording medium having at least a recording layer and a reflective layer on a substrate is herein disclosed, wherein at least one dipyrromethene metal chelate compound represented by formula (1) is contained in the recording layer: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.9 are each independently an alkenyl group, an aryl group or a heteroaryl group; R.sub.2 to R.sub.8 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group having 20 or less carbon atoms; and M is a transition metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignees: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Yamamoto Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutami Misawa, Taizo Nishimoto, Hisashi Tsukahara, Akira Ogiso, Kenichi Sugimoto, Kenji Mizoue, Keisuke Takuma, Kenichi Kato, Toshihiro Masaoka, Yojiro Kumagae
  • Patent number: 6162519
    Abstract: To provide an optical disk with high mass producibility and excellent optical properties, mechanical precision, and mechanical strength, as well as a method for the simple and efficient manufacturing of this optical disk.Comprises a substrate 101 of an extrusion molded sheet of a material consisting primarily of a polyolefin polymer which has been processed into a disk, and a data recording medium surface which consists of a photocuring resin layer 102 formed on the substrate 101 and on which bumps have been formed based on prescribed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Takakuwa, Takao Nishikawa, Satoshi Nebashi
  • Patent number: 6159571
    Abstract: A phase-change optical disc that is adapted to weaken a self-sharpening effect and to be driven by a pulse width modulation system. In the disc, a dielectric layer formed on the surface of a recording layer and a heat flow control layer is sequentially disposed. The heat flow control layer is formed to include a material having a high heat conductivity and a material having a low heat conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Tae Hee Jeong
  • Patent number: 6159573
    Abstract: A description is given of a rewritable optical information medium having an IPIAIM stack comprising a phase-change recording layer sandwiched between two dielectric layers, a light-absorbing layer of a material like Si, Ge, Mo, or W, a third dielectric layer, and a metal mirror layer. The light-absorbing layer reduces the difference in light absorption between the amorphous state and the crystalline state to a minimum, thus reducing the recording mark distortion. The presence of the light-absorbing layer in this position ensures that the optical phase difference between the amorphous and the crystalline state is almost zero, making the medium suitable for land-groove recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Guo-Fu Zhou
  • Patent number: 6159572
    Abstract: An information recording medium comprising a substrate having a recording surface provided with emboss pits or guiding grooves, a reflective film formed on the recording surface of the substrate, and a first protective film formed on the reflective film. This information recording medium is featured in that both sides of the information recording medium are constituted by a first surface provided with the protective film and by a second surface formed opposite to the first surface, and that an irradiated light beam is irradiated through the first surface, a recorded information being reproduced based on changes in light intensity of the reflected light beam. The distance between the recording surface of the substrate and the light incident surface is smaller than a thickness of the substrate, and a surface roughness "R" of the light incident surface meets a relationship represented by the following formula (1):R.ltoreq..lambda./(8n) (1)wherein .lambda.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadashi Kobayashi, Hisashi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6156435
    Abstract: Provided are methods for forming a fluorocarbon polymer thin film on the surface of a structure. In one method, a monomer gas is exposed to a source of heat having a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the monomer gas and produce a source of reactive CF.sub.2 species in the vicinity of the structure surface. The structure surface is maintained substantially at a temperature lower than that of the heat source to induce deposition and polymerization of the CF.sub.2 species on the structure surface. In another method for forming a fluorocarbon polymer thin film, the structure is exposed to a plasma environment in which a monomer gas is ionized to produce reactive CF.sub.2 species. The plasma environment is produced by application to the monomer gas of plasma excitation power characterized by an excitation duty cycle having alternating intervals in which excitation power is applied and in which no excitation power is applied to the monomer gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Karen K. Gleason, Scott J. H. Limb, Edward F. Gleason, Herbert H. Sawin, David J. Edell
  • Patent number: 6148542
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an information carrier which cures an adhesive by means of UV radiation in an inert-gas atmosphere. The adhesive is interposed as an adhesive layer between two superposed layers of a disc-shaped information carrier. The device includes a UV source, a supplier for an inert gas, and a holder for holding the information carrier in a centered position with respect to a centering axis. The inert-gas supplier has discharge openings for inert gas, situated in a circular zone around the centering axis, at a distance from the centering axis which substantially corresponds to the radius of the peripheral edge of the information carrier, so as to cause inert gas to flow past the peripheral edge during curing, as a result of which locally present oxygen which would interfere with curing is expelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Petrus H. G. M. Vromans, Remberto L. T. Martis, Paulus W. J. Brugel
  • Patent number: 6149999
    Abstract: A phase-change recording medium having a recording layer (4) made of a Ge--Sb--Te alloy, comprises an interface reflection control layer (3) provided on a laser beam incident side of the recording layer (4). The interface reflection control layer (3) has an extinction coefficient k and a refractive index n, simultaneously satisfying: k.gtoreq.0.22n+0.14, k.ltoreq.0.88n-0.19, and n.ltoreq.2.8. From the foregoing, it follows that the intensity ratio between the reflected wave from and the incident wave on the interface between the recording layer (4) and the interface reflection control layer (3) is led to a specified range.As a result, for the recording layer (4) the ratio (Ac/Aa) of the light absorption rate (Ac) in the crystalline state to the light absorption rate (Aa) in the amorphous state increases. Furthermore, the optical contrast also has a sufficiently high value. It is therefore possible to produce a high quality readout signal in recording by overwriting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Suzuki, Isao Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6150046
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes an upper core layer and a lower core layer which are made of an Fe--M--O alloy, an Fe--M--T--O alloy or an NI--Fe--X alloy so that the upper core layer has a high saturation magnetic flux density, low coercive force and high resistivity, and the lower core layer has a lower saturation magnetic flux density than the upper core layer, low coercive force, high resistivity, and a low magnetostriction constant. Also the lower core layer is formed so that the thickness gradually decreases toward both side ends, and a gap layer can be formed on the lower core layer to have a uniform thickness. Since the lower core layer is formed by sputtering, a material having excellent soft magnetic material can be used, thereby enabling recording at high frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinori Watanabe, Akira Takahashi, Fumihito Koike, Nobuhiro Hayashi, Yoshihiro Kanada, Kiyoshi Sato, Eiji Umetsu, Takashi Hatanai, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 6150038
    Abstract: A reproducing layer, an intermediate layer, and a recording layer are successively stacked. The reproducing layer is made of a perpendicularly magnetized film whose domain wall coercivity is relatively smaller and whose domain wall mobility is relatively larger as compared with the recording layer around a reproducing temperature. When the reproducing layer, the intermediate layer, and the recording layer have Curie temperatures of Tc1, Tc2, and Tc3, Tc1, Tc2, and Tc3 satisfy a relationship of Tc2<Tc1<Tc3. Upon reproducing information, the reproducing layer is partially heated to more than the Curie temperature by irradiating with a light beam. This arrangement makes it possible to expand and reproduce a domain without causing a repetition of reproduction and to reproduce a signal having a period which is not more than an optical diffraction limit without reducing an amplitude of the reproduced signal, thereby dramatically improving a recording density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Hirokane, Noboru Iwata
  • Patent number: 6146733
    Abstract: A phase change type optical recording medium comprises a dielectric layer 1a, a dielectric layer 1b, a phase change type recording layer and a second dielectric layer in the described order. The recording layer satisfies Ac/Aa.gtoreq.0.8 where Ac is an absorption coefficient of the recording layer in a crystalline region and Aa is an absorption coefficient of the recording layer in an amorphous region. The dielectric layer 1a comprises ZnS--SiO.sub.2 as main components and the dielectric layer 1b comprises a metal nitride or ZnS--SiO.sub.2 having an SiO.sub.2 content of 40 to 80 mol % as main components. At least an area of the second dielectric layer that is in contact with the recording layer comprises a metal nitride, a rare earth oxide, silicon oxide or ZnS--SiO.sub.2 having an SiO.sub.2 content of at least 40 mol% as main components. However, an optical recording medium comprising a dielectric layer 1a having an SiO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Inoue, Tatsuya Kato, Hajime Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 6146732
    Abstract: The present invention relates to disposable thermal packs comprising a unified structure having at least one continuous layer of a semirigid material which softens when heated. The thermal packs also comprise a plurality of individual heat cells, which typically comprise an exothermic composition, spaced apart and fixed throughout the unified structure. The material of the continuous layer or layers provide sufficient rigidity to maintain structural support of the heat cells, to prevent unacceptable stretching of structures of the continuous layer or layers during processing or use of the thermal packs, and to deter easy access to heat cell contents, while also providing good overall drape characteristics when heated. The thermal packs, when incorporated into body wraps, pads, and the like, provide efficient and effective heat coverage by having excellent conformity with various body forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Leane Kristine Davis, Ronald Dean Cramer, William Robert Ouellette, Dawn Michele Kimble
  • Patent number: 6146734
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the PCE optical information recording disk under control of not only the crystallization velocity but also the complex index of refraction and thus the reflectance on the disk surface.The PCE optical information recording disk is suitable to be used under the constant angular velocity (the constant rotational numbers wherein the disk has a characteristic that the crystallization velocity is designed to become faster from inside area of the disk to outside area in the radical direction thereof under control of not only the crystallization velocity but also the complex index of refraction and thus the reflectance on the disk surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
    Inventors: Eiji Ohno, Yoshitaka Sakaue, Kenichi Nagata, Nobuo Akahira, Masahide Yokoyama, Hiroshi Hayata, Noboru Yamada
  • Patent number: 6143391
    Abstract: A one-piece, dual-material suction cup includes an inner face having a concave shape when the cup is inactive (that is, unattached to a surface) and an outer portion having a convex shape when the cup is inactive. The inner and outer portions are formed from different elastic materials. The characteristics of the outer material are selected to exhibit relatively high memory, elasticity and recovery to provide a biasing force on the inner face of the cup to increase the vacuum and enhance attachment. The characteristics of the inner material are selected to exhibit conformity, compliance and softness as compared to the outer material. Such characteristics enhance mating and sealing with a surface to which the cup is to be attached. The inner and outer portions are permanently bonded together to form the one-piece suction cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Apogee Designs, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Barnes, Robert W. Flesher, Michael D. Monteleone
  • Patent number: 6143426
    Abstract: The optical recording medium of this invention includes: a first substrate having a first information surface; a semitransparent reflection film formed on the first information surface of the first substrate; a second substrate having a second information surface; a reflection film formed on the second information surface of the second substrate; and an adhesive layer for adhering the first substrate and the second substrate so that the first information surface and the second information surface face each other, wherein the thickness of the first substrate is 0.56 mm or more, the thickness of the adhesive layer is 30 .mu.m or more, and the total thickness of the first substrate and the adhesive layer is 0.68 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsurou Moriya, Shin-ichi Tanaka, Yasuhiro Sugihara, Hiroshi Taniguchi, Michiyoshi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6139933
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical recording medium, in particular to a compact disc, comprising the following layers:a) a transparent substrate with a spiral having an indented or protruding geometry; superposed byb) a recording layer; optionally superposed byc) a protective coating, wherein the recording layer comprises a partially transparent layer; superposed by a transparent buffer layer comprising a cross-linked material; superposed by a thick layer, said layers forming together a Fabry-Perot etalon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N. V.
    Inventor: Freddy Gerhard Hedrikus Van Wijk
  • Patent number: 6136401
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a glass substrate of a disk for recording information, containing oxides of rare earth elements and fine particles dispersed therein, and a disk for recording information and a disk apparatus for recording information using the glass substrate of the disk are provided. The glass substrate of the disk for recording information having preferable mechanical characteristics, as well as superior chemical stability, thermal stability, flatness, and transparency is provided, and a disk for recording information and a disk apparatus for recording information using the glass substrate of the disk are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamamoto, Takashi Naito, Takashi Namekawa, Ken Takahashi, Masahiro Watanabe, Noriyuki Takeo
  • Patent number: 6132843
    Abstract: A glass substrate for a magnetic disk of the present invention is one in which a laser beam is irradiated on a main surface thereby forming a large number of protrusions thereon to form texture thereon, each of said protrusions being formed by a protruded portion having a convex shape, said glass having a composition in which 0.2 to 3 wt % of an oxide of a transition metal is contained and an absorption coefficient with respect to a wavelength of a light at 266 nm being within a range of 0.03 to 2 .mu.m.sup.-1, and by setting the absorption coefficient of the glass with respect to a wavelength of a light at 266 nm within a range of 0.03 to 2 .mu.m.sup.-1 and irradiating a laser beam having a wavelength in a range of ultraviolet rays selectively on the main surface of a glass substrate at predetermined intervals, texture comprising a large number of protrusions formed by protruded portions each having a small diameter and a convex shape is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Do., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunao Kuroda, Yoshihiro Matsuno, Shinya Katayama, Akihiro Koyama, Jyunji Kurachi
  • Patent number: 6132833
    Abstract: A wafer for use in the selective connecting and disconnecting of plastic tubes incorporates a fuse in an aperture. The fuse is made of a three layer laminate having light transmission characteristics which change after the wafer and its laminate have been heated. The three layers comprise two outer transparent layers and an intermediate layer having limited light transmission characteristics. When the wafer is heated the intermediate layer shrinks thereby changing the light transmission characteristics by providing a path for light to pass through the laminate without passing through the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Denco
    Inventor: Dudley W. C. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6129968
    Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change recording medium comprising a crystal section and an amorphous section, characterized in that the difference in reflectivity between the crystal section and the amorphous section is, for example, 15% or more when light with a wavelength of .lambda..sub.1 is applied and the difference in absorptivity between the crystal section and the amorphous section is, for example, 5% or less when light with a wavelength of .lambda..sub.2 is applied. Recording using light with a wavelength of .lambda..sub.2 brings about few opportunities of occurrence of cross-erasure because of a small difference in absorptivity between the crystal section and the amorphous section. Reproduction using light with a wavelength of .lambda..sub.1 after the recording using light with a wavelength of .lambda..sub.2 results in the production of satisfactorily regenerative signals because of a large difference in reflectivity between the crystal section and the amorphous section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masatsugu Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6127016
    Abstract: A sputtering target for fabricating a recording layer of a phase-change type optical recording medium contains a compound or mixture including as constituent elemets Ag, In, Te and Sb with the respective atomic percent (atom. %) of .alpha., .beta., .gamma. and .delta. thereof being in the relationship of 2.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.30, 3.ltoreq..beta..ltoreq.30, 10.ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.50, 15.ltoreq..delta..ltoreq.83 and .alpha.+.beta.+.gamma.+.delta.=100, and a method of producing the above sputtering target is provided. A phase-change type optical recording medium includes a recording layer containing as constituent elements Ag, In, Te and Sb with the respective atomic percent of .alpha., .beta., .gamma. and .delta. thereof being in the relationship of 0<.alpha..ltoreq.30, 0<.beta..ltoreq.30, 10.ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.50, 10.ltoreq..delta..ltoreq.80, and .alpha.+.beta.+.gamma.+.delta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Yamada, Hiroko Iwasaki, Yukio Ide, Makoto Harigaya, Yoshiyuki Kageyama, Hiroshi Deguchi, Masaetsu Takahashi, Yoshitaka Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6127017
    Abstract: A cavity surface-forming plate of a mold for injection-molding a plastic substrate is coarsely polished, and then a surface for defining a cavity is applied with electroless Ni-P plating. The surface of the plating is polished with abrasive grains to obtain surface roughness of Ra.ltoreq.2.0 nm and Rmax.ltoreq.22 nm. The plastic substrate molded with the mold has smoothness equivalent to the polished plating surface. A concave-convex pattern for forming pits may be formed on the cavity surface. A magnetic disk or an optical disk provided with the substrate makes it possible to realize the near contact system for a magnetic or magneto-optical head. Thus, it is possible to realize high density recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hirata, Tatsuo Araki, Osamu Ishizaki, Hideo Daimon, Yasuhiko Kokufuda, Tsuyoshi Maro, Makoto Aihara
  • Patent number: 6127049
    Abstract: A rewritable optical information medium has a phase-change recording layer on the basis of an alloy of Ge--Sb--Te, which composition is situated within the pentagonal area PQRST in a triangular ternary composition diagram. These alloys show a complete erase time of 50 ns or less. CET-values below 45 ns are obtained with alloys situated on the tie-line connecting Te and the compound GeSb.sub.2 Te.sub.4 within the area PQRST. Such a medium is suitable for high speed recording (i.e. at least six times the CD-speed), such as for DVD-RAM and optical tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Guo-Fu Zhou, Bernardus A. J. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 6124012
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an SPE extraction apparatus is provided with a new SPE disk which eliminates radial wicking and weeping and new disk holding apparatus which minimizes the indirect flow region and minimizes the number of sample transfers required. The new SPE disk encapsulates the sorbent/fiber matrix between two porous outer layers which can be filters, united into an essentially non-porous rim around the disk perimeter. The disk holder and ring seal against this disk rim so that the active central portion of the disk is held entirely within the direct flow path. Thus weeping and indirect flow loss are virtually eliminated. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus eliminates the need to manually disassemble the apparatus while in use. Advantageously a flow control mechanism is incorporated into the disk holder to further minimize the amount of solvent needed for extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Whatman Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Leon Jones, Jr., Alfonso Liu, James C. Robbins, Joseph Stefkovich
  • Patent number: 6124011
    Abstract: Information-bearing discs are fabricated from a first disc and a second disc. The first disc has a first substantially planar surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The second surface has first information recorded on it by means of local changes in the distance of the second surface from the first surface. The second disc is thicker than the first disc and has opposite, substantially planar, third and fourth surfaces. The fourth surface may have second information recorded on it by means of local changes in the distance of the fourth surface from the third surface. The second disc is secured to the first disc so that the fourth surface faces the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: WEA Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Ellis E. Kern
  • Patent number: 6120870
    Abstract: An optical disk having high density and excellent quality as well as compatibility with conventional disks is provided. This optical disk is comprised of a disk-shaped substrate formed with a cyclic olefin polymer as its main component and a light-curing resin layer formed on the disk-shaped substrate, wherein a pattern is formed on the light-curing resin layer based on given information. The same effect can be obtained using a heat-curing resin in place of the light-curing resin. Optical disks having superior characteristics can be mass-produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nebashi, Takao Nishikawa, Atsushi Takakuwa
  • Patent number: 6117284
    Abstract: A dual-layer DVD disc that does not require a stamping step (typically, as part of the 2P prior art manufacturing process) during its manufacture. A polycarbonate substrate is molded and coated with a semireflective data layer in the usual way. A PMMA substrate is molded and coated with a fully reflective data layer. Adhesive is placed on the semireflective data layer, and the fully reflective data layer is transferred from its PMMA substrate to the polycarbonate substrate. The polycarbonate substrate thus ends up with two data layers in conformance with the DVD specifications, and the PMMA substrate can even be recycled for another use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: WEA Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Mueller
  • Patent number: 6117511
    Abstract: An optical data recording medium utilizing reversible inter-crystalline-amorphous phase changes for recording, reproducing and erasing data as phase changes of a recording film caused by laser beam irradiation. The medium is formed by a lamination of a transparent substrate having tracking guide grooves for laser beam tracking, a base film formed on the substrate, a first protective film formed on the base film, a phase change type recording film formed on the first protective film, a second protective film formed on the recording film, and a reflecting film formed on the second protective film. Thus formed, the medium improves the over-writing characteristics of phase change type optical discs and permits high density recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuya Okada, Masaki Itoh, Syu-Ichi Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 6117512
    Abstract: An optical information mediumis made up of a transparent substrate, on which are formed a dye recording layer of at least one dyestuff, a reflective layer of metal, and a protective layer in sequence, wherein said protective layer is formed from a plurality layers of resin which are formed sequentially. Further, the reflective layer is made of silver, and the dye recording layer is made of a material which does not contain iodine ion. The protective layer contains a material for trapping molecules and/or ions which corrode the reflective layer. For instance, a metal powder or porous pigment is contained in the protective layer, which is active on or absorbs the molecules and/or ions corroding the reflective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takanobu Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6114001
    Abstract: In an optical recording information recording medium of a structure having protection layers on both surfaces of a recording layer, overwrite cyclability is improved without deteriorating the reliability of recorded data.To achieve this, the first protection layer is deposited by a sputtering method from a target made of a mixture comprising ZnS and SiO.sub.2 without adding an O.sub.2 gas and a H.sub.2 gas to a sputtering atmosphere, the second protection layer is deposited by a sputtering method using a target made of a mixture comprising ZnS and SiO.sub.2 by adding an O.sub.2 gas and an H.sub.2 gas to the sputtering atmosphere.Especially, an optical information recording medium having a high reliability of recorded data and capable of overwriting of 300,000 cycles or more can be obtained, particularly, by controlling the partial pressure of the added O.sub.2 gas to 10.times.10.sup.-6 -50.times.10.sup.-6 Torr and the partial pressure of the added H.sub.2 gas to 20.times.10.sup.-6 -50.times.10.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Suzuki, Akihiko Ohyama
  • Patent number: 6110607
    Abstract: A high reflectance-low stress Mo-Si multilayer reflective coating particularly useful for the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelength region. While the multilayer reflective coating has particular application for EUV lithography, it has numerous other applications where high reflectance and low stress multilayer coatings are utilized. Multilayer coatings having high near-normal incidence reflectance (R.gtoreq.65%) and low residual stress (.ltoreq.100 MPa) have been produced using thermal and non-thermal approaches. The thermal approach involves heating the multilayer coating to a given temperature for a given time after deposition in order to induce structural changes in the multilayer coating that will have an overall "relaxation" effect without reducing the reflectance significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Claude Montcalm, Paul B. Mirkarimi
  • Patent number: 6111849
    Abstract: An optical recording medium comprising a substrate, at least one dielectric layer and a phase change type recording layer. In overwriting, the recording medium should satisfy the condition V.sub.OW /V.sub.OP <1, preferably 0.5.ltoreq.V.sub.OW /V.sub.OP <0.95, where V.sub.OP is the optimum linear velocity and V.sub.OW is a linear velocity for overwriting. This enables the erasability of recorded marks on the medium to be at least 26 dB after the recording medium with the recorded marks has been stored for at least 100 hours at 60 to 80.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Jiro Yoshinari, Masanori Kosuda, Hiroshi Shingai, Takashi Kikukawa
  • Patent number: 6110556
    Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system of the type having an enclosure housing a process chamber and a supply of cleaning gas, features a lid having a base plate with opposed first and second major surfaces and a plurality of throughways extending therebetween to provide an asymmetric flow of cleaning gas into the chamber. Specifically, a subportion of the second major surface lies in a plane of truncation and faces the process chamber when the lid is in a closed position. The remaining portions of the second major surface are recessed, defining central and annular recesses. The annular recess has a base surface and two spaced-apart side surfaces extending from the base surface and terminating proximate to the plane of truncation. The plurality of throughways consists of primary and secondary throughways, each of which extends from an opening in the first major surface and terminates in an orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Won Bang, Ellie Yieh, Thanh Pham
  • Patent number: 6106919
    Abstract: An phase change optical medium compatible with a flying head can include a substrate, a reflective layer, a first dielectric layer, a phase change information carrying layer, a second dielectric layer and a lubricant layer. The structure and materials used both protect the phase change layer from mechanical damage due to impact and from information-altering heat generated by impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Digital Papyrus Corporation
    Inventors: Neville K. S. Lee, John S. Berg, David H. P. Shieh
  • Patent number: 6103331
    Abstract: This invention provides an optical recording medium complying with the DVD standards, having high sensitivity, possessing high dye film stability, having a high C/N ratio during high density recording, and being capable of reducing jitter components contained in reproduced signals, by finding an organic dye thin film and a medium configuration which can be adapted for a short wavelength semiconductor laser (wavelength 500 to 700 nm) and which are satisfactory in optical characteristics, and chemical, photochemical, physical and thermal stability, the optical recording medium comprising at least a recording layer and a metallic reflecting layer laminated on the surface of a grooved resin substrate transparent to laser light; wherein the recording layer comprises an organic thin film consisting essentially of a styrylcyanine dye of a specific structure and adapted for a short wavelength laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kanno
  • Patent number: 6103348
    Abstract: A plastic molding with a plastic carrier (62) comprises several regions (50, 52, 54) separated from one another, at least some of these regions (50, 52, 54) being provided with optionally different films (40, 42). In the production of this non-coherent individual moldings separated from one another by separating spaces (46, 58) and corresponding to the regions (50, 52, 54) are first of all produced. Melt of the plastic carrier (62) is then injected into the separating spaces (46, 58), the individual moldings thereby being joined together. The plastic molding thus constitutes a one-piece whole which can be produced in a single production device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Otto Deuschle Model- und Formenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alfred Scharrenberg, Hans H. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6103330
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of fabricating an optical recording medium comprising a phase change type recording layer containing at least one element selected from In, Ag, Te and Sb. The recording layer is formed by a sputtering technique wherein sputtering is carried out while an inert gas and an oxygen gas are introduced in a vacuum chamber in a sputtering system, so that the number of overwritable cycles can be increased by simple means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Kosuda, Hajime Utsunomiya, Hiroshi Shingai, Takuya Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 6103403
    Abstract: A method including the steps of (a) depositing a metal layer on a selected portion of a silicon substrate under a first set of predetermined conditions to form an metal silicide layer and an intermediate n-type silicon layer; and (b) exposing the metal silicide layer and the n-type silicon layer to a second set of predetermined conditions to form a silicon clathrate film on the selected portion of the silicon substrate, where the intermediate n-type silicon layer acts to bond the silicon clathrate to the silicon substrate to form a silicon clathrate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: University of Kentucky Research Foundation Intellectual Property Development
    Inventors: Leonid Grigorian, Peter Eklund, Shaoli Fang
  • Patent number: 6103399
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a micromachined structure to be at least partly released from a substrate surface. A surface contact area, over which structure and the said substrate surface are in surface contact with each other during the manufacturing step, is divided into at least a first and a second contact zone, the adhesiveness between the structure and the substrate being greater in the first contact zone than in the second contact zone. As a manufacturing step, or as a step subsequent to the manufacturing, the structure can be released from the substrate surface at least over said second contact zone. The completed structure may also be completely loose from the substrate. The invention is also directed to a micromachined structure manufactured according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignees: Elisabeth Smela, Olle Inganas, Ingemar Lundstrom
    Inventors: Elisabeth Smela, Olle Inganas, Ingemar Lundstrom, Ove Ohman