Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130341568 | COMPOSITIONS FOR EXTENDING ION SOURCE LIFE AND IMPROVING ION SOURCE PERFORMANCE DURING CARBON IMPLANTATION - A novel method and system for extending ion source life and improving ion source performance during carbon implantation are provided. Particularly, the carbon ion implant process involves utilizing a dopant gas mixture comprising carbon monoxide and one or more fluorine-containing gas with carbon represented by the formula CxFy wherein x≧1 and y≧1. At least one fluorine containing gases with carbon is contained in the mixture at about 3-12 volume percent (vol %) based on the volume of the dopant gas mixture. Fluoride ions, radicals or combinations thereof are released from the ionized dopant gas mixture and reacts with deposits derived substantially from carbon along at least one of the surfaces of the repeller electrodes, extraction electrodes and the chamber to reduce the overall amount of deposits. In this manner, a single dopant gas mixture provides carbon ions and removes problematic deposits typically encountered during carbon implantation. | 12-26-2013 |
20130341761 | METHODS FOR EXTENDING ION SOURCE LIFE AND IMPROVING ION SOURCE PERFORMANCE DURING CARBON IMPLANTATION - A novel method and system for extending ion source life and improving ion source performance during carbon implantation are provided. Particularly, the carbon ion implant process involves utilizing a dopant gas mixture comprising carbon monoxide and one or more fluorine-containing gas with carbon. At least one fluorine containing gases with carbon is contained in the mixture at about 3-12 volume percent (vol %) based on the volume of the dopant gas mixture. Fluoride ions, radicals or combinations thereof are released from the ionized dopant gas mixture and reacts with deposits derived substantially from carbon along at least one of the surfaces of the repeller electrodes, extraction electrodes and the chamber to reduce the overall amount of deposits. In this manner, a single dopant gas mixture is capable of providing carbon ions and removing and eliminating a wide range of problematic deposits typically encountered during carbon implantation. | 12-26-2013 |
20140061501 | SILICON-CONTAINING DOPANT COMPOSITIONS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF FOR IMPROVING ION BEAM CURRENT AND PERFORMANCE DURING SILICON ION IMPLANTATION - A novel composition, system and method thereof for improving beam current during silicon ion implantation are provided. The silicon ion implant process involves utilizing a first silicon-based co-species and a second species. The second species is selected to have an ionization cross-section higher than that of the first silicon-based species at an operating arc voltage of an ion source utilized during generation and implantation of active silicon ions species. The active silicon ions produce an improved beam current characterized by maintaining or increasing the beam current level without incurring degradation of the ion source when compared to a beam current generated solely from SiF4. | 03-06-2014 |
20140179090 | STORAGE AND SUB-ATMOSPHERIC DELIVERY OF DOPANT COMPOSITIONS FOR CARBON ION IMPLANTATION - A supply source for delivery of a CO-containing dopant gas composition is provided. The composition includes a controlled amount of a diluent gas mixture such as xenon and hydrogen, which are each provided at controlled volumetric ratios to ensure optimal carbon ion implantation performance. The composition can be packaged as a dopant gas kit consisting of a CO-containing supply source and a diluent mixture supply source. Alternatively, the composition can be pre-mixed and introduced from a single source that can be actuated in response to a sub-atmospheric condition achieved along the discharge flow path to allow a controlled flow of the dopant mixture from the interior volume of the device into an ion source apparatus. | 06-26-2014 |
20140322902 | METHODS FOR USING ISOTOPICALLY ENRICHED LEVELS OF DOPANT GAS COMPOSITIONS IN AN ION IMPLANTATION PROCESS - A novel process for using enriched and highly enriched dopant gases is provided herein that eliminates the problems currently encountered by end-users from being able to realize the process benefits associated with ion implanting such dopant gases. For a given flow rate within a prescribed range, operating at a reduced total power level of the ion source is designed to reduce the ionization efficiency of the enriched dopant gas compared to that of its corresponding non-enriched or lesser enriched dopant gas. The temperature of the source filament is also reduced, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of fluorine etching and ion source shorting when a fluorine-containing enriched dopant gas is utilized. The reduced levels of total power in combination with a lower ionization efficiency and lower ion source temperature can interact synergistically to improve and extend ion source life, while beneficially maintaining a beam current that does not unacceptably deviate from previously qualified levels. | 10-30-2014 |
20140329377 | SUPPLY SOURCE AND METHOD FOR ENRICHED SELENIUM ION IMPLANTATION - A novel method for ion implanting isotopically enriched selenium containing source material is provided. The source material is selected and enriched in a specific mass isotope of selenium, whereby the enrichment is above natural abundance levels. The inventive method allows reduced gas consumption and reduced waste. The source material is preferably stored and delivered from a sub-atmospheric storage and delivery device to enhance safety and reliability during the selenium ion implantation process. | 11-06-2014 |
20140357069 | ALUMINUM DOPANT COMPOSITIONS, DELIVERY PACKAGE AND METHOD OF USE - A novel method and system for using aluminum dopant compositions is provided. A composition of the aluminum dopant compositions is selected with sufficient vapor pressure and minimal carbon content, thereby enabling ease of delivery to an ion implant process and substantial reduction of carbon deposition during Al ion implantation. The source material is preferably stored and delivered from a sub-atmospheric storage and delivery device to enhance safety and reliability during the Al ion implantation process. | 12-04-2014 |
20150248992 | BORON-CONTAINING DOPANT COMPOSITIONS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF FOR IMPROVING ION BEAM CURRENT AND PERFORMANCE DURING BORON ION IMPLANTATION - A novel composition, system and method thereof for improving beam current during boron ion implantation are provided. The boron ion implant process involves utilizing B2H6, BF3 and H2 at specific ranges of concentrations. The B2H6 is selected to have an ionization cross-section higher than that of the BF3 at an operating arc voltage of an ion source utilized during generation and implantation of active hydrogen ions species. The hydrogen allows higher levels of B2H6 to be introduced into the BF3 without reduction in F ion scavenging. The active boron ions produce an improved beam current characterized by maintaining or increasing the beam current level without incurring degradation of the ion source when compared to a beam current generated from conventional boron precursor materials. | 09-03-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090018811 | GENERATION OF TEST CASES FOR FUNCTIONAL TESTING OF APPLICATIONS - An automated system and method to generate functional conformance tests for applications are provided. The system and method in one aspect use Inputs, Outputs, Preconditions, Effects (IOPEs) paradigm associated with an application for automatically generating test goals. A planner component may accept these testing goals to generate a sequence of operations or invocations as a test case. Verification sequences are also generated. The system and method also allow generation of executable test cases, which can be applied to the various interfaces through which the application may be accessed. | 01-15-2009 |
20090222275 | RISK REDUCTION - A method and system of reducing risk in the life cycle of a product, in one aspect, obtain one or more tasks required to achieve an overall task, determine risk impact of each task, the risk impact being an impact of each task on the likelihood of failure for the overall task and compute risk of overall task based on risk impacts of the tasks. The method and system utilize said risk impact of each task to schedule the tasks in such a way so as to reduce said risk of overall task as rapidly as possible. | 09-03-2009 |
20110239183 | DERIVING PROCESS MODELS FROM NATURAL LANGUAGE USE CASE MODELS - One or more process models from natural language use case models are derived, for example, by creating, using a processor, an in-memory model of a use case from information in natural language text describing the use case; transforming the in-memory model into a process model in predetermined modeling notation; and generating a selected business process model using the process model. | 09-29-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080236930 | SOFT START FUEL CELL CONTROL STRATEGY - A method of operating an electrochemical conversion assembly is provided. According to the method, an assembly warm-up operation is executed by increasing the temperature T | 10-02-2008 |
20080312849 | Anode Bleed Control Strategy for Improved Water Management and Hydrogen Utilization - A control strategy for bleeding an anode side of fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system that improves water management and addresses durability and performance concerns. The method includes determining when to begin the anode bleed, typically by estimating or measuring the amount of nitrogen in the anode side of the stack. The method also includes determining when to end the anode bleed based on the volume of gas that has been bled. The method determines the mole flow rate of the anode gas flowing through a bleed valve, integrates the mole flow rate to get the number of moles of the gas that have passed through the bleed valve, determines a desired amount of moles to be bled, and ends the bleed when the actual number of moles of the gas equals the desired number of moles of the gas. | 12-18-2008 |
20090081489 | ON-LINE SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL OF FUEL CELL HUMIDIFICATION VIA HFR MEASUREMENTS - A fuel cell system is provided, including an HFR measurement device in electrical communication with a fuel cell stack. The HFR measurement is used online to measure an HFR of the fuel cell stack suitable for calculation of a d(HFR)/d(RH) ratio. A humidity regulator is provided in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack. A controller periodically changes stack operating conditions to perturb an RH of the fuel cell stack, process the HFR response, and compute the d(HFR)/d(RH) ratio. A method for online identification and control of the fuel cell stack humidification is also provided. The d(HFR)/d(RH) ratio is an auxiliary measurement of membrane hydration which is used as a feedback for hydration control. | 03-26-2009 |
20090197126 | Adaptive Gain Scheduled Control for Current Limitation Based on Voltage Performance of a Fuel Cell System - A system and method for limiting the output current of a fuel cell stack as the stack degrades overtime. A look-up table identifies a predetermined voltage set-point for stack current density. A first comparator provides a voltage difference signal between the set-point and the stack voltage. The voltage difference signal is provided to a controller, such as a proportional-integral controller, that provides a current limiting signal. The current limiting signal and a current request signal are provided to a second comparator that selects which signal will be used to limit the maximum output current of the stack. A polarization curve estimator estimates parameters of the stack that will change over the life of the stack. The parameters are provided to a gain scheduler that provides gains to the controller that are based on where in the life of the stack it is currently operating. | 08-06-2009 |
20100028728 | HUMIDIFICATION CONTROL DURING SHUTDOWN OF A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A process for controlling the length of a purge and the purge rate of a fuel cell stack at system shut-down so as to provide the desired amount of stack humidity. The membrane humidification is measured at system shut-down by a high frequency resistance sensor that detects membrane humidification and provides the measurement to a controller. The controller controls the compressor that provides cathode input air to the fuel cell stack so that the time of the purge and the flow rate of the purge provide a desired membrane humidity for the next start-up. | 02-04-2010 |
20100190075 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBSERVING ANODE FLUID COMPOSITION DURING FUEL CELL START-UP - A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells, the fuel cell stack including an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold, a first valve in fluid communication with at least one of the anode supply manifold and the anode exhaust manifold, wherein the first valve includes an inlet for receiving a fluid flow and an outlet for exhausting a fluid, a sensor for measuring at least a fluid pressure at the inlet and the outlet of the first valve, wherein the sensor generates a sensor signal representing the pressure measurement, and a processor for receiving the sensor signal, analyzing the sensor signal, and determining a composition of a fluid in the fuel cell system based upon the analysis of the sensor signal. | 07-29-2010 |
20110113857 | ONLINE ESTIMATION OF CATHODE INLET AND OUTLET RH FROM STACK AVERAGE HFR - A method for estimating cathode inlet and cathode outlet relative humidity (RH) of a fuel cell stack. The method uses a model to estimate the high frequency resistance (HFR) of the fuel cell stack based on water specie balance, and also measures stack HFR. The HFR values from the estimated HFR and the measured HFR are compared, and an error between the HFR values is determined. An online regression algorithm is then utilized to minimize the error and the solution of the regression is the RH profile in the stack including the cathode inlet and outlet relative humidities. | 05-19-2011 |
20110189569 | AUTO-LEARNING OF BASE STACK RESISTANCE FOR HFR BASED RH CONTROL - A method for determining membrane humidification by determining the membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack at humidified conditions, and normalizing the base resistance of the fuel cell stack against the base resistance of a reference fuel cell stack. | 08-04-2011 |
20110189573 | ONLINE ANODE PRESSURE BIAS TO MAXIMIZE BLEED VELOCITY WHILE MEETING EMISSION CONSTRAINT - A method that employs a model based approach to determine a maximum anode pressure set-point based on existing airflow in the exhaust gas line. This approach maximizes anode flow channel velocity during bleed events while meeting the hydrogen emission constraint, which in turn increases the amount of water purged from the anode flow channels to increase stack stability. | 08-04-2011 |
20110200895 | METHOD TO AUTOMATICALLY ENABLE/DISABLE STACK RECONDITIONING PROCEDURE BASED ON FUEL CELL STACK PARAMETER ESTIMATION - A system and method for determining when to trigger reconditioning of a fuel cell stack and when to disable the reconditioning of the fuel cell stack. In one embodiment, the stack reconditioning is triggered when a maximum stack power estimation falls below a first predetermined power threshold. The reconditioning of the stack can be disabled so it is not performed when the trigger occurs if the reconditioning process does not raise the maximum power estimation above a second predetermined power threshold or the time from one reconditioning trigger to a next reconditioning trigger is less than a predetermined time threshold, or both. | 08-18-2011 |
20110223505 | ADAPTIVE METHOD FOR CONVERSION OF EXTERNAL POWER REQUEST TO CURRENT SETPOINT TO A FUEL CELL SYSTEM BASED ON STACK PERFORMANCE - A system and method for converting a fuel cell stack power request signal to a stack current set-point that considers stack performance parameters. The method includes obtaining a power-current relationship curve of the fuel cell stack to provide stack parameters including exchange current density and mass transfer coefficient. The method then calculates a slope for the stack using the parameters from the power-current relationship curve estimation that includes calculating a cell voltage at two predetermined stack current densities. The method then calculates a change in current in response to the power request signal, the stack voltage, the stack current and the calculated slope, and uses the change in current to update the current set-point for the stack. | 09-15-2011 |
20110262822 | CONTROLS GIVING -25.degree. C FREEZE START CAPABILITY TO A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method for shutting down a fuel cell system including operating a fuel cell stack. the method includes providing an increased cathode air flow so as to dry fuel cell membranes in the stack until a first desired level of high frequency resistance is achieved, rehydrating the cell membranes of the stack until a second desired level of high frequency resistance is achieved, and operating the stack with a decreased cathode input relative humidity until a third desired level of high frequency resistance is achieved. | 10-27-2011 |
20130252116 | Model Based Approach For In-Situ WVTD Degradation Detection In Fuel Cell Vehicles - A method of estimating water vapor transfer unit degradation without having to remove the unit from a fuel cell system to which it cooperates, and a device performing the same. The method includes using a combination of a backward-looking model and a forward-looking model. The first of these models is used to evaluate changes in water vapor transfer effectiveness in the unit, while the second is for determining the water transfer rate of the unit. Together, the models provide a more accurate way to estimate and control relative humidity for both stack inlet and outlet flowpaths, as well as provide an indication of when service or replacement of the water vapor transfer unit may be warranted. | 09-26-2013 |
20140033801 | DIAGNOSING INJECTOR FAILURE VIA STACK VOLTAGE RESPONSE ANALYSIS - A system and method for determining whether an anode injector that injects hydrogen gas into an anode side of a fuel cell stack has failed. The method includes monitoring a voltage of the fuel cell stack and performing spectral analysis of the stack voltage to identify amplitude peaks in the stack voltage. The method further includes determining whether the spectral analysis of the stack voltage has identified an amplitude peak at a location where an amplitude peak should occur if the injector is operating properly. If no amplitude peak is identified at that location, then the method determines that the injector is not operating properly. If an amplitude peak is identified at that location, then the method compares the amplitude peak to the desired amplitude peak to identify if it is within a threshold to determine if the injector is operating properly. | 02-06-2014 |
20140120434 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING MEMBRANE PROTONIC RESISTANCE OF A FUEL CELL STACK - A method for determining membrane humidification by determining the membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack at humidified conditions, and normalizing the base resistance of the fuel cell stack against the base resistance of a reference fuel cell stack. | 05-01-2014 |
20140162171 | ANODE LEAK LOCATION DETECTION - A system and method for quantifying an anode leak location in a fuel cell system. The system and method include determining there is a leak in an anode sub-system of a fuel cell stack and estimating a first effective leak area using a first leak flow value and first operating parameters. The system and method also include increasing airflow to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack and estimating a second leak effective area using a second leak flow value and second operating parameters. The system and method further include comparing the first leak effective area to the second leak effective area and determining an anode outflow leak location based on the comparison between the first and second leak effective areas. | 06-12-2014 |
20140199605 | Transient Inlet Relative Humidity Estimation Via Adaptive Cathode Humidification Unit Model And High Frequency Resistance - An apparatus and method to determine the relative humidity of a fuel cell system. A controller is cooperative with a first device and a second device to receive a valve signal and a high frequency resistance value. The controller controls the relative humidity of a fuel cell stack based on the estimation of the relative humidity of the fuel cell stack based on one or more algorithms. The controller modifies the relative humidity of the fuel cell stack through changes in the position of a valve based on at least one of the valve signal and the high frequency resistance value. In one form, the relative humidity of the fuel cell system is determined without the need of a humidity sensor. | 07-17-2014 |
20140335432 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTIMATING FUEL CELL STATES - Apparatus, methods, and systems for estimating hydrogen concentration and/or pressure in an anode compartment of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell vehicle. In some implementations, the estimates are based on a correlation between a transient dip in voltage in response to an anode to cathode bleed event and a concentration of hydrogen in the anode compartment of a fuel cell stack. Some implementations may comprise initiating a bleed event, sensing a transient dip in voltage in response to the bleed event, and using the correlation to calculate an estimate of a concentration and/or pressure of the gas in the anode compartment. The sensitivity of the correlation and hence the accuracy of estimation may change with the power level and may be accounted for in the correlation. | 11-13-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090325078 | HOLOGRAPHIC RECORDING MEDIUM - A holographic recording medium including an optically transparent substrate is provided. The optically transparent substrate includes an optically transparent plastic material and a photochemically active dye. The optically transparent substrate has an absorbance of greater than 1 at a wavelength that is in a range of from about 300 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers. The holograms recorded in the optically transparent substrate are capable of having diffraction efficiencies of greater than about 20 percent. The holographic recording medium may include a photo-product. A method of making the holographic recording medium, an optical writing and reading method, a method for using a holographic recording article, and a method of manufacturing the holographic recording medium are provided. | 12-31-2009 |
20100009269 | HOLOGRAPHIC RECORDING MEDIA - A holographic recording medium includes an optically transparent substrate. The optically transparent substrate includes an optically transparent plastic material, a photochemically active dye, and a protonated form of the photochemically active dye. The protonated form of the photochemically active dye is a composition having a structure as shown in formula I | 01-14-2010 |
20100010262 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHOD FOR MAKING THEREOF - A composition has a structure as shown in formula I: | 01-14-2010 |
20100180937 | HOLOGRAPHIC ENERGY-COLLECTING MEDIUM AND ASSOCIATED DEVICE - An energy-collecting medium including an optically transparent holographic layer is presented. The energy-collecting medium includes a photochemically active dye and an optically transparent polymer material. Also provided is a method for making an optically transparent holographic layer. An energy conversion device including the energy-collecting medium is also provided. | 07-22-2010 |
20100328741 | HOLOGRAPHIC DEVICE - A device comprising an authentication hologram recorded within a defined volume of a holographic recording medium, wherein the authentication hologram is configured to convey authentication information; wherein the authentication hologram comprises a plurality of related volumetric holograms recorded within the defined volume; and wherein the holographic recording medium comprises an optically transparent plastic material and a photochemically active dye. In one embodiment, all the holograms are identical. In one embodiment, the holograms are different. | 12-30-2010 |
20120178019 | METHOD OF MAKING HOLOGRAPHIC RECORDING MATERIALS AND ARTICLES FORMED THEREBY - A method of manufacturing an article for display of a holographic image is described that includes thermally fusing a holographic recording medium containing a photochemically active dye dispersed in a transparent thermoplastic polymer binder to another layer or material; and then exposing the holographic film to intersecting beams of coherent light to form a holographic image therein formed by photoreacted areas of the photochemically active dye and unreacted areas of the photochemically active dye. | 07-12-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120082917 | FUEL CELL ELECTRODES WITH GRADED PROPERTIES AND METHOD OF MAKING - A graded electrode is described. The graded electrode includes a substrate; and at least two electrode layers on the substrate forming a combined electrode layer, a composition of the at least two electrode layers being different, the combined electrode layer having an average level of the property that changes across the substrate. Fuel cells using graded electrodes and methods of making graded electrodes are also described. | 04-05-2012 |
20120274332 | ALGORITHM FOR IN-SITU QUANTIFICATION OF PEMFC MEMBRANE HEALTH OVER ITS LIFE - A method for determining the health of the membranes in a fuel cell stack. The total parasitic current of the fuel cells in the stack is determined. From the total parasitic current, the shorting resistance and the cross-over parasitic current are determined. The health of the membranes is then determined from the cross-over parasitic current and the shorting resistance. | 11-01-2012 |
20120276466 | IN-VEHICLE ALGORITHM FOR FUEL CELL STACK HEALTH QUANTIFICATION - A method for determining the health of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack. The method includes maintaining a constant flow of hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell stack, shutting off a flow of air to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack when a predetermined concentration of hydrogen in the anode side has been achieved, and identifying a catalyst surface area and a catalyst support surface area for catalyst layers in the fuel cell stack. The method also includes determining the total parasitic current of the fuel cell stack to determine a cross-over parasitic current and a shorting resistance of the fuel cell stack. The method further includes calculating the catalyst surface area and the catalyst support surface area of the catalyst layers and comparing the difference between the identified catalyst surface area and the calculated catalyst surface area to estimate the change in the catalyst surface area. | 11-01-2012 |
20120315561 | SMART IN-VEHICLE REACTIVE RECOVERY STRATEGY - A method for determining when to operate a voltage recovery process for recovering a reversible voltage loss of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system. The method includes estimating an irreversible voltage loss of the fuel cell and an actual voltage of the fuel cell stack, and determining whether a difference between the estimated irreversible voltage loss and the estimated actual voltage exceed a threshold, and if so, the voltage recovery process is performed. | 12-13-2012 |