| SUPERPOWER, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120065074 | STRUCTURE TO REDUCE ELECTROPLATED STABILIZER CONTENT - A superconducting article includes first and second stacked conductor segments. The first stacked conductor segment includes first and second superconductive segments and has a nominal thickness t | 03-15-2012 |
| 20110319271 | Multifilament Superconductor Having Reduced AC Losses and Method for Forming the Same - A high temperature superconductor structure including: a substrate on which at least one buffer layer is deposited, a superconductor layer on the buffer layer, the superconducting layer composed of superconductor material that forms at least two substantially parallel superconductor filaments that continuously extend along the length of the substrate wherein at least two superconductor filaments are separated from each other by at least one insulating strip wherein the insulating strip continuously extends along the length of the substrate and is composed of insulating material with a resistivity greater than about 1 mΩcm. Also disclosed are methods of producing high temperature superconductors. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110177953 | SUPERCONDUCTING FAULT CURRENT-LIMITER WITH VARIABLE SHUNT IMPEDANCE - A superconducting fault current-limiter is provided, including a superconducting element configured to resistively or inductively limit a fault current, and one or more variable-impedance shunts electrically coupled in parallel with the superconducting element. The variable-impedance shunt(s) is configured to present a first impedance during a superconducting state of the superconducting element and a second impedance during a normal resistive state of the superconducting element. The superconducting element transitions from the superconducting state to the normal resistive state responsive to the fault current, and responsive thereto, the variable-impedance shunt(s) transitions from the first to the second impedance. The second impedance of the variable-impedance shunt(s) is a lower impedance than the first impedance, which facilitates current flow through the variable-impedance shunt(s) during a recovery transition of the superconducting element from the normal resistive state to the superconducting state, and thus, facilitates recovery of the superconducting element under load. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20100273657 | SUPERCONDUCTING STRUCTURE FOR A FAULT CURRENT-LIMITER - A superconducting article and method of fabrication are provided. The superconducting article includes a superconducting structure, which includes a superconducting conductor and multiple discrete overlay regions of higher heat capacity than the superconducting conductor. The multiple discrete overlay regions are disposed along a length of the superconducting conductor, in thermal contact with the superconducting conductor, and positioned to define a heat modulation pattern along the length of the superconducting structure. The multiple discrete overlay regions create a temperature distribution favorable to transition of the superconducting structure under load from a normal resistive state to a superconductive state by facilitating formation of a continuous superconducting path along the length of the superconducting structure. In one implementation, the multiple discrete overlay regions are multiple island regions periodically disposed adjacent to opposing first and second edges of the superconducting conductor along the length of the superconducting conductor. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100254047 | EARLY QUENCH DETECTION IN A SUPERCONDUCTING ARTICLE - A superconducting article is provided which incorporates an early quench detection facility. The superconducting article includes a first superconductive segment and a second superconductive segment, along with a magnetic field sensor(s). The magnetic field sensor(s) is disposed to monitor relative change in strength of a net magnetic field generated by a first current passing through the first superconductive segment and a second current passing through the second superconductive segment. A relative change in strength of the net magnetic field indicates degradation of a critical quench current of the first superconductive segment or the second superconductive segment, caused for example, by formation of one or more hot-spots or quench regions in the first or second superconductive segment. The indication of degradation is thus obtained prior to complete superconductive segment quenching. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100248970 | APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CONTINUOUS HTS TAPE BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION USING LARGE SCALE ION BEAM ASSISTED DEPOSITION - The present invention is a high-throughput ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) system and method of utilizing such a system that enables continuous deposition of thin films such as the buffer layers of HTS tapes. The present invention includes a spool-to-spool feed system that translates a metal substrate tape through the IBAD system as the desired buffer layers are deposited atop the translating substrate tape using an e-beam evaporator assisted by an ion beam. The system further includes a control and monitor system to monitor and regulate all necessary system parameters. The present invention facilitates deposition of a high-quality film over a large area of translating substrate. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100179063 | SUPERCONDUCTING ARTICLES AND METHODS OF FABRICATION THEREOF WITH REDUCED AC MAGNETIC FIELD LOSSES - A superconducting article is provided which includes a superconducting tape assembly. The superconducting tape assembly includes a superconducting tape layer, having one or more superconducting tapes, and a high-permeability magnetic material layer coupled to the superconducting tape layer. The high-permeability magnetic material layer includes a high-permeability magnetic material which remains magnetically soft at a critical temperature T | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100173784 | SUPERCONDUCTING ARTICLES HAVING DUAL SIDED STRUCTURES - A superconducting article includes a substrate; first and second buffer layers overlying the substrate, such that the substrate is positioned so as to be interposed between the first and second buffer layers, first and second superconductor layers overlying the first and second buffer layers. Further, the first and second stabilizer layers respectively overlying the first and second superconductor layers, the first and second stabilizer layers adapted to conduct current and prevent burnout of the first and second superconductor layers when the first and second superconductor layers are in a non-superconductive state. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100065417 | Methods for forming superconducting conductors - A method for producing a superconducting conductor is disclosed, including providing a substrate, depositing a buffer film having a biaxial texture to overlie the substrate by reactive sputtering, and depositing a superconducting layer to overlie the buffer film. Deposition of the buffer film is carried out by exposing the substrate along a deposition zone to a material plume generated by bombarding a target in the presence of a magnetic field, the deposition zone having a length of at least 1.0 m. The assist ions may be generated from a gridless ion source. The buffer film may have a biaxial texture having an out-of-plane crystallographic texture represented by a mosaic spread of not greater than 30°. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100009064 | Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus usable in the manufacture of superconducting conductors - A method for manufacturing a high-temperature superconducting conductor includes translating an elongated substrate through a reactor. Further, a high temperature superconducting layer is formed on the substrate translating through the reactor by deposition of a reaction product of metalorganic precursor materials onto the substrate. Further, partial pressure of oxygen is monitored to indirectly monitor supply of metalorganic precursors into the reactor. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20090298697 | MULTIFILAMENTARY SUPERCONDUCTING ARTICLES AND METHODS OF FORMING THEREOF - A superconducting article is provided that includes a multifilamentary superconducting tape segment having a substrate tape, a buffer layer overlying the substrate, and filaments comprising a high temperature superconducting (HTS) material overlying the buffer layer. The filaments extend along a length of the substrate and are laterally spaced apart from an adjacent filament by a space. The multifilamentary superconducting tape segment comprises a critical current retention ratio is at least about 0.4. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090209429 | METHOD OF FORMING AN HTS ARTICLE - A method of forming a superconducting article includes providing a substrate tape, forming a superconducting layer overlying the substrate tape, and depositing a capping layer overlying the superconducting layer. The capping layer includes a noble metal and has a thickness not greater than about 1.0 micron. The method further includes electrodepositing a stabilizer layer overlying the capping layer using a solution that is non-reactive to the superconducting layer. The superconducting layer has an as-formed critical current I | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090156409 | FAULT CURRENT LIMITER INCORPORATING A SUPERCONDUCTING ARTICLE - A fault current limiter (FCL) article is disclosed including a superconducting tape segment that includes a substrate, a buffer layer overlying the substrate, and a high temperature superconducting (HTS) layer overlying the buffer layer, wherein the superconducting tape segment forms a meandering path that is continuous having a plurality of windings. The article also includes a shunting circuit electrically connected to the superconducting tape segment. | 06-18-2009 |
