3m Innovative Properties Company

University of Pennsylvania

Drexel University

Don Vincent West

Aaron K Nienaber

Joseph B Eckel

Thomas J Nelson

Gilles J Benoit

Brian E Brooks

Nicholas A Johnson

Louis S Moren

Frederick J Arsenault

Thomas J Anderson

Himanshu Nayar

Peter O Olson

Tyler W Olson

Mark A Lukowski

Naiyong Jing

Ronald David Jesme

Catherine A Leatherdale

Negus B Adefris

Jonathan Eli Spanier

Brandon Alan Bartling

Andrew Marshall Rappe

Yuyang Liu

Adam D Miller

Taisiya Skorina

Sergei A Manuilov

Peter K Davies

Vincent J Laraia

Ilya Grinberg

Vincent Jl Chevrier

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing a process of polishing semiconductor wafers. In one aspect, the method comprises repeatedly performing the following: i) selecting a configuration of input settings for polishing a semiconductor wafer, based on a causal model that measures current causal relationships between input settings and a quality of semiconductor wafers; ii) receiving a measure of the quality of the semiconductor wafer polished with the configuration of input settings; and iii) adjusting, based on the measure of the quality of the semiconductor wafer polished with the configuration of input settings, the causal model.

Polishing semiconductor wafers using causal models

Method for active battery management to optimize battery performance. The method includes providing signal injections for charging and discharging of a battery. The signal injections include various charging and discharging profiles, rates, and endpoints. Response signals corresponding with the signal injections are received, and a utility of those signals is measured. Based upon the utility of the response signals, data relating to charging and discharging of the battery is modified to optimize battery performance and to determine when to discharge the battery into a power grid in order to return power to the grid in exchange for an economic benefit such as a payment or rebate from a utility company.

Active battery management method for economic optimization

Magnetizable abrasive particles are described comprising ceramic particles having outer surfaces comprising a coating of unsintered polyion and magnetic particles bonded to the polyion. In favored embodiments, the magnetic particles have a magnetic saturation of at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 emu/gram. In another embodiment, an abrasive article is described comprising a plurality of magnetizable abrasive particles as described herein retained in a binder material. Also described are method of making magnetizable abrasive particles and methods of making an abrasive article comprising magnetizable abrasive particles.

Magnetizable abrasive particle and method of making the same

A bonded abrasive wheel comprises magnetizable abrasive particles retained in an organic binder. The bonded abrasive wheel has a central portion adjacent to a central hub, an outer circumference and a rotational axis extending through the central hub. The magnetizable abrasive particles adjacent to the central hub are aligned at an average angle of less than 35 degrees with respect to the rotational axis, and the magnetizable abrasive particles adjacent to the outer circumference of the bonded abrasive wheel are aligned at an average angle that is from 35 and 90 degrees, inclusive, with respect to the rotational axis. Methods of making a bonded abrasive wheel are also disclosed.

Bonded abrasive wheel and method of making the same

A method of making magnetizable abrasive particles includes: moistening the outer surfaces of ceramic particles with waterglass to provide moistened ceramic particles. Magnetizable particles are contacted with the moistened ceramic particles to provide powder-coated ceramic particles. The powder-coated ceramic particles are heated to at least a temperature sufficient to bond the magnetizable particles of the powder-coated ceramic particles to the respective ceramic particles thereby providing the magnetizable abrasive particles. On a respective basis, each magnetizable abrasive particle comprises a respective ceramic particle having a magnetizable particles bonded thereto.

A functional abrasive particle comprises a ceramic body having at least one hole extending therethrough. A functional material is at least partially disposed within the hole. The functional material contains a binder and functional particles that are magnetizable, metallic, or both. Methods of making functional abrasive particles, and abrasive articles including them are also disclosed.

Functional abrasive particles, abrasive articles, and methods of making the same

Disclosed herein are ferroelectric perovskites characterized as having a band gap, Egap, of less than 2.5 eV. Also disclosed are compounds comprising a solid solution of KNbO3 and BaNi1/2Nb1/2O3-delta, wherein delta is in the range of from 0 to about 1. The specification also discloses photovoltaic devices comprising one or more solar absorbing layers, wherein at least one of the solar absorbing layers comprises a semiconducting ferroelectric layer. Finally, this patent application provides solar cell, comprising: a heterojunction of n- and p-type semiconductors characterized as comprising an interface layer disposed between the n- and p-type semiconductors, the interface layer comprising a semiconducting ferroelectric absorber layer capable of enhancing light absorption and carrier separation.

Semiconductor ferroelectric compositions and their use in photovoltaic devices

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Don Vincent West