Umicore, S.a.

Texas Instruments Corporation

Raytheon Company

Umicore

William David Autery

Gregory Stewart Tyber

Donald Bryan Christian

Athanasios John Syllaios

Marissa Marie Barnard

Allan Leroy Buehler

Joe W Ayers

James Jay Hudgens

Sheldon H Brown

Alan H Rittman

Andre Deon Walker

Nelson H Chapman

John Michael Trombetta

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for the automated casting of infrared glass optical components is provided. The system includes a mold for casting infrared glass into lenses, a mold chamber operable to heat the mold to a temperature above the melting temperature of the infrared glass, and a casting chamber operable to fill the mold with molten infrared glass. The method includes heating a mold in a mold chamber to a temperature above the melting temperature of infrared glass, casting molten infrared glass into the mold in a casting chamber; and cooling the mold to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the infrared glass.

System and method for automated casting of infrared glass optical components

A system and method for forming infrared glass optical components are provided. The system includes first and second mold halves having first and second respective faces. The first and second mold halves are configured to be removably coupled such that the first face and the second face form an interface that defines a lens-shaped cavity. A tapered surface of the first face cooperates with a tapered surface of the second face to enhance centering of the first face with respect to the second face.

System and method for forming infrared glass optical components

A system and method for preparing chalcogenide glass are provided that allow for larger quantities of glass to be produced with lower production costs and less risks of environmental hazards. The system includes a reaction container operable to hold chalcogenide glass constituents during a glass formation reaction, a stirring rod operable to mix the contents of the reaction container, a thermocouple operable to measure the temperature inside the reaction container, and a reaction chamber operable to hold the reaction container. The method includes placing chalcogenide glass constituents in a reaction container, heating the chalcogenide glass constituents above the melting point of at least one of the constituents, promoting dissolving or reaction of the other constituents, stirring the reaction melt, maintaining an overpressure of at least one atmosphere over the reaction melt, and cooling the reaction melt to below the chalcogenide glass transition temperature.

System and method for vapor pressure controlled growth of infrared chalcogenide glasses

A method of making chalcogenide glass which utilizes liquid encapsulation to prevent the evaporation loss of low boiling point or high vapor pressure glass components while the glass melt is being processed.

Glass reaction via liquid encapsulation

A bellows clamp actuator (10) is provided for holding a semiconductor slice cassette (14) within a container (12). The bellows clamp actuator (10) has a V-bar clamp (40), a hollow bellows (38) and a mounting device (56). The bellows clamp actuator (10) is mounted to the door (18) of the container (12). A hole (72) connects the chamber (67) with the atmosphere external the container (12). When a vacuum is drawn within the container (12), the pressure difference causes the bellows (38) to extend and the V-bar clamp (40) to contact and secure the cassette (14) against the vertical guide posts (36).

Bellows clamp actuator

An information storage system has a magnetic head transducer for reading and/or writing information on a flexible magnetic recording disc. The head has an upper recording/playback surface with a one inch radius of curvature along its major axis and a one half inch radius of curvature along its minor axis for providing optimum contact between the head and disc while at the same time minimizing wear. The head is affixed to a ramp member having an inclined surface sloping away from the upper recording/playback surface of the head for lifting the disc up and over the head as the head and ramp member are moved radially toward the center of the disc, thereby preventing the disc from being damaged by collision with the head and eliminating the need for a solenoid or the like to move the head vertically with respect to the disc. The disc is disposed between upper and lower interior major surfaces of a protective cartridge, the upper major surface having four hump-shaped members affixed thereto for providing biasing pressure to hold the disc in intimate contact with the head. In one embodiment the cartridge further includes a recess on an exterior surface thereof and a WRITE PROTECT switch, having manually settable first and second switch positions, mounted in the recess. The switch includes a slideable button which projects toward the mouth of the recess for mating with and depressing a spring-loaded mechanical member located in the information storage system to open an electrical circuit in the information storage system when the switch is in the second position and the cartridge is inserted in the system. The opening of the circuit generates a WRITE PROTECT signal to prevent information stored on the disc from being erased. Alternatively, when the cartridge switch is shifted to the first position, the spring-loaded member is not depressed, thereby maintaining a closed electrical circuit so that the WRITE PROTECT signal is not generated.

Growing community of inventors

Richardson, TX, United States of America

William David Autery