Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080230951 | Methods for making microfluidic devices and devices produced thereof - Described herein are methods for making microfluidic devices comprising glass or glass-containing materials, wherein the methods have decreased cost and/or improved dimensional properties over similar formed glass articles produced using current techniques. | 09-25-2008 |
20090025772 | Glass-ceramic thermoelectric module - The invention is directed to a thermoelectric module that utilizes a glass-ceramic material in place of the alumina and aluminum nitride that are commonly used in such modules. The glass-ceramic has a coefficient of thermal expansion of <10×10− | 01-29-2009 |
20090277489 | Thermoelectric Device - A thermoelectric device is provided which comprises a plurality of elements of a thermoelectric material, which are preferably either all of n-type material or all p-type. In this preferred device, each element has a first end region for exposure to a first temperature, and a second end region for exposure to a second temperature, with the temperature gradient being in the same direction in each of the elements, so each element develops a voltage between its end regions in the same direction. The first end regions of the elements are mounted on a substrate, but the second end regions of the elements are at least substantially free to move with respect to one another. The elements are connected electrically in series, so that the series connection produces a net voltage, the electrical connections being designed to produce only a small amount of heat conduction. | 11-12-2009 |
20100071418 | METHODS FOR FORMING COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING GLASS - Methods for molding glass and glass composites, including providing a first structure having a first surface, providing a second structure having a second surface, the second surface being patterned and porous, and disposing between the first and second surfaces an amount of a composition comprising a glass, then heating together the first and second structures and the first amount of the composition sufficiently to soften the first amount of the composition such that the first and second structures, under gravity or an otherwise applied force, move toward each other, such that the pattern of the second surface is formed into the first amount of the composition, then cooling the composition sufficiently to stabilize it, the second structure comprising porous carbon having an open porosity of at least 5% and wherein the amount of the composition is removable from the second surface, without damage to the amount of the composition or to the second surface, such that the second surface is in condition for re-use. | 03-25-2010 |
20100107694 | Ultra Thin Glass Drawing and Blowing - Systems, methods, apparatus and products relate to drawing and blowing of ultra thin glass substrates, such as flexible display glass sheets, for example, organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and/or other flexible substrate applications, such as lighting, and/or other technologies, such as electro-wetting (EW), electro-phoretic display applications, etc. A localized heat source centripetally heats a vertical glass pre-form, while a pressurized air source blows the heated glass to expansion. An air bearing may centripetally blow air against the expanding pre-form to limit expansion and prevent contact of the pre-form with the localized heat source. Meanwhile, the pre-form is pulled vertically to draw the heated glass. The pre-form may float in a floatation mechanism to compensate for gravity when the pre-form is pulled upward. The blown and drawn pre-form may be cooled, coated with a polymer layer, and cut into a ribbon by in-line devices as it exits the air bearing. For example, a laser may helicoidally cut a polymer-coated blown and drawn pre-form into a ribbon, which may be rolled for collection. | 05-06-2010 |
20100126222 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND CUTTING A SHAPED ARTICLE FROM A SHEET OF MATERIAL - An apparatus for forming shaped articles from a sheet of material includes a first mold having a mold surface and a network of gutters formed in the mold surface. The network of gutters has a network gutter profile and defines an array of islands on which an array of bumps is formed. Each of the bumps has a surface with a shaped profile. The apparatus also includes a second adapted for positioning on the mold surface. The second mold has a network of protuberances defining a plurality of cavities. Each of the cavities is sized to overlap one of the bumps of the first mold. The network of protuberances has a network protuberance profile complementary to the network gutter profile. | 05-27-2010 |
20100127420 | METHOD OF FORMING A SHAPED ARTICLE FROM A SHEET OF MATERIAL - An apparatus for forming a shaped article having a first surface with a first surface profile and a second surface with a second surface profile is provided. The apparatus includes a first end mold having a cavity formed therein, where the cavity is defined by a surface having at least a portion of the first surface profile. The apparatus includes an intermediate mold having a hole formed therein. The intermediate mold is distinct from the first end mold and is configured for stacking against the first end mold such that the hole is aligned with the cavity. The apparatus includes a second end mold having a protuberance formed on a surface thereof. The protuberance is defined by a surface having at least a portion of the second surface profile and is sized for insertion into the hole and cavity. | 05-27-2010 |
20100143215 | EXTRUDED BODY DEVICES AND METHODS FOR FLUID PROCESSING - Disclosed is a device for processing fluids, the device comprising an extruded body having multiple elongated cells therein, the body having a first fluidic passage therethrough defined principally within at least some of said cells, the first fluidic passage having a longitudinally serpentine path back and forth along the at least some of said cells. | 06-10-2010 |
20100158763 | MICROCHANNEL REACTORS - Embodiments of a microchannel reactor comprise a microchannel housing comprising a plurality of channels and an upper microstructure disposed above the microchannel housing. The upper microstructure comprising a gas feed circuit, a liquid feed circuit, and at least one mixing cavity. The mixing cavity is in fluid communication with at least one reactive passage of the microchannel housing. The gas feed circuit comprises at least one gas feed inlet, and the liquid feed circuit comprises at least one liquid feed inlet and at least one liquid reservoir adjacent to the mixing cavity, wherein the liquid reservoir is operable to deliver a liquid feed into the mixing cavity. | 06-24-2010 |
20100247401 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR RADIATION ASSISTED CHEMICAL PROCESSING - Disclosed is a device for performing radiation assisted chemical processing including a fluid path, defined at least in part by a first surface of a wall transparent to radiation useful for performing radiation assisted chemical processing, and a gas discharge or plasma chamber arranged for producing the radiation, wherein the chamber is defined at least in part by a second surface of the transparent wall, opposite the first A related method of forming a photocatalytic reactor comprises among other steps the step of wash-coating the fluid path so as to deposit a photocatalytic material therein, wherein the step of wash-coating includes depositing, and not depositing or removing photocatalytic mateπal, respectively, on a first portion or from a second portion of the of non-circular cross section of the path, the second portion including at least some of the first surface of the wall of transparent material | 09-30-2010 |
20100300152 | STACK PROGRESSIVE PRESSING FOR MAKING SHAPED ARTICLES - A method for forming shaped articles ( | 12-02-2010 |
20110067450 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING SHAPED ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL - An apparatus for making shaped articles includes a container having at least one vacuum port and a surface for receiving a sheet of glass-based material. At least one positive mold is supported in the container, where the at least one positive mold has an exterior surface including a profile defining an interior of a shaped article. An open volume is defined between the container and the at least one positive mold and is in communication with the vacuum port. | 03-24-2011 |
20110197941 | ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES AND METHODS - An energy conversion device may include at least one hot source chamber ( | 08-18-2011 |
20120131961 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING A SHEET OF MATERIAL INTO A SHAPED ARTICLE - A method for bending a sheet of material into a shaped article includes providing the sheet of material. A reformable area and a non-reformable area of the sheet of material are heated to a first temperature range corresponding to a first viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is subsequently heated to a second temperature range corresponding to a second viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is reformed into a selected shape by at least one of sagging the reformable area of the sheet of material and applying a force to the sheet of material outside of or near a boundary of the reformable area. | 05-31-2012 |
20120216573 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MASS PRODUCING 3D ARTICLES FROM 2D GLASS-CONTAINING SHEETS - An apparatus for mass production of 3D articles from 2D glass-containing sheets includes a heating section having a heating station that includes a heating chamber adapted to receive a 2D glass-containing sheet, a pneumatic bearing system proximate to the heating chamber for suspending the 2D glass-containing sheet inside the heating chamber, and a heater system proximate to the heating chamber for supplying heat to the heating chamber. A forming section downstream of the heating section has a forming station that includes a mold system adapted to shape a heated 2D glass-containing sheet into a 3D article. A cooling section downstream of the forming section has a cooling chamber adapted to controllably cool off one or more 3D articles. A method of mass producing 3D articles from 2D glass-containing sheets involves use of the apparatus. | 08-30-2012 |
20120279257 | Methods and Apparatus for Reforming a Glass Sheet - A deformation apparatus for reforming a glass sheet comprises a central portion, a first edge mold movably coupled to a first end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along a linear mold axis in a first direction toward the central portion. The deformation apparatus further includes a second edge mold movably coupled to the second end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along the linear mold axis in a second direction opposite the first direction and toward the central portion. Methods are also provided including the step of cooling a reformed glass sheet, wherein a greater shrinkage of the reformed glass sheet relative to a shrinkage of the deformation apparatus is accommodated by a movement of at least the first edge mold in a first direction toward the central portion of the deformation apparatus. | 11-08-2012 |
20120288417 | Assembly of Flat on Structured Glass Layers - A microfluidic device ( | 11-15-2012 |
20130128433 | 3-D GLASS ENCLOSURES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A 3-D glass enclosure comprises a generally planar glass base member, an encircling glass side wall member connected to the base member, and a generally planar glass cover member connected to the side wall member to form a unitary glass enclosure, the base, sidewall and cover members being made by reforming softened glass sheet preforms and subjecting the reformed members to ion-exchange strengthening, thus providing strong transparent enclosures for electronic devices such as tablet computers, cellphones, media players and televisions. | 05-23-2013 |
20130239617 | METHODS OF FORMING A GLASS WIRING BOARD SUBSTRATE - Disclosed is a method or process for forming a glass wiring board substrate for integrated circuit wiring boards, including providing a first molding surface ( | 09-19-2013 |
20130243663 | DIRECT SEALING OF GLASS MICROSTRUCTURES - Embodiments of methods for sealing a glass microstructure assembly comprise providing one or more side retainer members on a base plate adjacent the glass microstructure assembly, the side retainer members having a height less than an uncompressed height defined by the glass microstructure assembly. The methods also comprise compressing the glass microstructure assembly via a load bearing top plate in intimate contact with the top glass layer while heating the glass microstructure assembly and the top plate to a glass sealing temperature, the glass sealing temperature being a temperature sufficient to make glass viscous, wherein the glass microstructure assembly is compressed until the load bearing top plate contacts the side retainer members, and wherein the lower surface of the top plate maintains adhesion to the upper surface of the top glass layer at the glass sealing temperature while the load bearing plate is supported by the side retainer members. | 09-19-2013 |
20130329346 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING A GLASS SHEET AND AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE CASING - A method of bending a glass sheet includes placing the glass sheet on a support and heating the entire glass sheet to a first viscosity. A band of heat is applied and translated along the selected region of the glass sheet in which a predetermined is to be formed over a time period to form the predetermined in the selected region. The band of heat sectionally heats the selected region to a second viscosity that is lower than the first viscosity. An actuated force is applied to the glass sheet to incrementally form the predetermined bend in the selected region according to the location of the band of heat in the selected region. | 12-12-2013 |
20140026621 | PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR PRECISION GLASS SHEET BENDING - Please replace the originally filed abstract with the following amended abstract: An apparatus and method for precision bending a glass sheet that includes an oven for heating the glass sheet to a temperature near the softening temperature of the glass sheet. A stage for supporting the glass sheet. A pair of reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the glass sheet on the stage. At least one bending mechanism on a pair of arms inside the oven for bending an edge portion of the glass sheet. Inward facing first stop surfaces on the arms that contact reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the bending mechanism on the arms relative to the stage and the glass sheet. | 01-30-2014 |
20140033770 | PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR PRECISION GLASS SHEET BENDING - An apparatus and method for precision bending a glass sheet that includes an oven for heating the glass sheet to a temperature near the softening temperature of the glass sheet. A stage for supporting the glass sheet. A pair of reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the glass sheet on the stage. At least one bending mechanism on a pair of arms inside the oven for bending an edge portion of the glass sheet. Inward facing first stop surfaces on the arms that contact reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the bending mechanism on the arms relative to the stage and the glass sheet. | 02-06-2014 |
20140075996 | THERMO-MECHANICAL REFORMING METHOD AND SYSTEM AND MECHANICAL REFORMING TOOL - A reformable area and a non-reformable area of a sheet of glass material are heated to a first temperature corresponding to a first viscosity. The reformable area is subsequently locally heated to a second temperature corresponding to a second viscosity, where the second viscosity is lower than the first viscosity. A bend is formed in the reformable area during the local heating of the reformable area by contacting a first pusher with the non-reformable area and translating the first pusher along a linear path to apply a pushing force to the non-reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area or by contacting a second pusher with an edge area of the reformable area and rotating the pusher along a circular path to apply a pushing force to the edge area of the reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area. | 03-20-2014 |
20140102142 | GLASS TUBES AND METHODS OF MAKING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR GLASS COVER MEMBER - Methods of making a substantially rectangular glass cover member includes the step (I) of providing a glass tube including a plurality of substantially rectangular glass segments including respective edges that are integrally attached to one another at attachment locations. The plurality of substantially rectangular glass segments are radially arranged about an axis of the glass tube to define an outer periphery of the glass tube. The method can further include the step (II) of separating the plurality of substantially rectangular glass segments from one another at the attachment locations to provide a plurality of substantially rectangular glass cover members. In still further examples, glass tubes include a plurality of glass segments that each includes a convex surface and a substantially flat surface. | 04-17-2014 |
20140144182 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SHAPING A GLASS SUBSTRATE - An apparatus and method for shaping a substantially planar glass substrate are disclosed. The glass substrate is supported on a shaping body having a substantially planar central portion and arcuate edge portions. The substrate is heated by a suitable radiant heat source wherein a thermal shield is used to shield a centrally located surface of the glass substrate so that only edge portions of the glass substrate are heated and softened. Gravity causes the glass substrate edge portions to sag and conform to the shape of the shaping body. In some embodiments, shaping members are pressed against the glass substrate edge portions to aid in the conforming. In certain other embodiments, a plurality of glass substrates are sequentially deformed by a shaping die. | 05-29-2014 |
20140157828 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAKING A GLASS ARTICLE WITH UNIFORM MOLD TEMPERATURE - A glass sheet is formed on a mold into a glass article having a three-dimensional shape. The mold, with the glass article thereon, is arranged within an interior space of a radiation shield such that the mold is between a leading end barrier and a trailing end barrier of the radiation shield. The mold, glass article, and radiation shield are translated through a sequence of cooling stations while maintaining the mold between the leading and trailing end barriers, wherein the leading and trailing end barriers inhibit radiation heat transfer at leading and trailing ends of the mold. | 06-12-2014 |
20140352360 | THERMO-MECHANICAL REFORMING METHOD AND SYSTEM AND MECHANICAL REFORMING TOOL - A reformable area and a non-reformable area of a sheet of glass material are heated to a first temperature corresponding to a first viscosity. The reformable area is subsequently locally heated to a second temperature corresponding to a second viscosity, where the second viscosity is lower than the first viscosity. A bend is formed in the reformable area during the local heating of the reformable area by contacting a first pusher with the non-reformable area and translating the first pusher along a linear path to apply a pushing force to the non-reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area or by contacting a second pusher with an edge area of the reformable area and rotating the pusher along a circular path to apply a pushing force to the edge area of the reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area. | 12-04-2014 |
20140369902 | FLUIDIC MODULE PERMANENT STACK ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS - The present disclosure provides an assembled stack of fluidic modules comprising at least first and second fluidic modules assembled in a stacked configuration. The first fluidic module has first and second major planar surfaces and encloses a first fluidic passage extending therethrough from a first passage entrance to a first passage exit with the first passage exit located on the second major planar surface of the first fluidic module. The second fluidic module also has first and second major planar surfaces and encloses a second fluidic passage extending therethrough from a second passage entrance to a second passage exit, with the second passage entrance located on the first major planar surface of the second fluidic module. The second major planar surface of the first fluidic module and the first major planar surface of the second fluidic module are spaced apart and physically joined together by at least three separate glass or glass-ceramic pads fused therebetween, and the at least three pads include at least one pad having no through-hole and at least one pad having a through-hole, with the through-hole forming a sealed fluidic interconnection between the first fluidic passage and the second fluidic passage. A method of forming the assembled stack is also disclosed. | 12-18-2014 |