Optomec Design Company

Intelligent Energy Inc.

Optemec Design Company

W Doyle Miller

David Michael Keicher

Anand Chellappa

Marcelino Essien

Thomas Vencill

The present disclosure is generally related to providing thin hydrogen separation membranes coated on porous substrates that are useful in membrane steam reformers and methods for making same. These reformers can be integrated with protein exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells to form power systems.

Methods for providing thin hydrogen separation membranes and associated uses

A method has been developed to exploit the desirable material and process characteristics provided by a low powered laser material deposition system, while overcoming the low material deposition rate imposed by the same process. One application of particular importance for this invention is direct fabrication of functional, solid objects from a CAD solid model. This method of fabrication uses a software interpreter to electronically slice the CAD model into thin horizontal layers that are subsequently used to drive the deposition apparatus. The apparatus uses a single laser beam to outline the features of the solid object and then uses a series of equally spaced laser beams to quickly fill in the featureless regions. Using the lower powered laser provides the ability to create a part that is very accurate, with material properties that meet or exceed that of a conventionally processed and annealed specimen of similar composition. At the same time, using the multiple laser beams to fill in the featureless areas allows the fabrication process time to be significantly reduced.

Multiple beams and nozzles to increase deposition rate

This invention combines the precision spray process with in-flight laser treatment in order to produce direct write electronic components. In addition to these components, the process can lay down lines of conductive, inductive, and resistive materials. This development has the potential to change the approach to electronics packaging. This process is revolutionary in that components can be directly produced on small structures, thus removing the need for printed circuit boards.

Precision spray processes for direct write electronic components

An apparatus and method have been developed to exploit the desirable material and process characteristics provided by a low powered laser material deposition system, while overcoming the low material deposition rate imposed by the same process. One application of particular importance for this invention is direct fabrication of functional, solid objects from a CAD solid model. This apparatus uses a software interpreter to electronically slice the CAD model into thin horizontal layers that are subsequently used to drive the deposition apparatus. This apparatus uses a single laser beam to outline the features of the solid object and then uses a series of equally spaced laser beams to quickly fill in the featureless regions. Using the lower powered laser provides the ability to create a part that is very accurate, with material properties that meet or exceed that of a conventionally processed and annealed specimen of similar composition. At the same time, using the multiple laser beams to fill in the featureless areas allows the fabrication process time to be significantly reduced.

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

W Doyle Miller