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US 2003/0148027 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for forming coated units
OwnerMatthew J. Holcombinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is provided for forming coated units. A bonding energy between agglomerated particles is overcome to separate the particles into deagglomerated units. Each unit may have one or more particles, and at least 50% of the units preferably have widths of less than 10 microns. A layer is then formed on at least some of the deagglomerated units to form a plurality of coated units. The coated units are then captured.
Claims20
A method of forming coated units, comprising:
- overcoming a bonding energy between agglomerated particles to separate the particles into deagglomerated units, each unit having one or more particles and at least 50% of the units having widths of less than 10 microns;
- forming a layer on at least some of the deagglomerated units to form a plurality of coated units;
- and
- capturing the coated units.
1 more element
A method of forming coated units, comprising:
- overcoming a bonding energy between agglomerated particles to separate the particles into deagglomerated units, each unit having one or more particles;
- directing a laser beam onto an ablation target, ablated coating particles being released from the ablation target and traveling from the ablation target onto the deagglomerated units to form a plurality of coated units;
- and
- capturing the coated units.
1 more element
An apparatus for forming coated units, comprising:
- means for overcoming a bonding energy between agglomerated particles to separate the particles into deagglomerated units, each unit having one or more particles and at least 50% of the units having widths of less than 10 microns;
- means for forming a layer on at least some of the deagglomerated units to form a plurality of coated units;
- and
- means for capturing the coated units.
1 more element
An apparatus for forming a plurality of coated units, comprising:
- a feed system capable of holding and feeding agglomerated particles to a deagglomeration location;
- a component traveling in a closed loop path and having a surface that repeatedly strikes successive amounts of the agglomerated particles at the deagglomeration location to separate the particles into deagglomerated units, each unit having one or more particles;
- a coating chamber where a layer is formed on at least some of the deagglomerated units to form a plurality of coated units;
- and
- a device positioned to capture the coated units.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.