The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 23, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1998
Wilfred C. Kittler, Jr., Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for producing unsupported thin film particles are provided. The apparatus includes: (a) a vacuum chamber; (b) a rotatable drum disposed within the vacuum chamber; (c) means within the vacuum chamber for depositing a surface coating onto the drum when the drum is rotating; (d) means for depositing at least one thin film layer onto the surface coating to provide a thin film structure disposed atop the surface coating; and (e) a knife blade disposed proximate to the surface of the drum, such that a thin film structure deposited onto the drum can be scraped away from the drum by the rotation of the drum. In the method, a surface coating, such as a wax, is applied directly to the moving surface. Thereafter, one or more thin film layers is deposited upon the surface coating. The thin film layer or layers are thereafter scraped away from the surface coating using the knife blade. Residual surface coating material is removed from the thin film flakes and is then recycled for redeposition onto the drum.