US6496250B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Combinatorial method foe development of optical ceramics
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 2000-09-29
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Granted: 2002-12-17
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Expires: 2020-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of preparing and testing an array of ceramics for optical properties, comprising: providing a host material that is capable of being made optically transparent or translucent upon sintering; forming the host material into an array of pixels attached to a base plate; doping the host material; reacting the host material and the dopant, to form an array of products; and testing the products for optical properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Jude Duclos
- 👤 Charles David Greskovich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/38; G01N33/388; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/0046; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/00274; B01J2219/00583; B01J2219/00596; B01J2219/00603; B01J2219/00659; B01J2219/00664; B01J2219/00668; B01J2219/0068; B01J2219/00702; B01J2219/00718; B01J2219/00745; B01J2219/0075; B01J2219/00754; B01J2219/00756; C; C40; C40B; C40B40/00; C40B40/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of preparing and testing an array of ceramics for optical properties, the method comprising: providing a block of the host material that is capable of being made optically transparent or translucent upon sintering; forming the block into an array of pixels; doping each of the pixels with at least a dopant; reacting the host material of each of the pixel with said at least a dopant to form an array of products; sintering the array of products to produce the array of ceramics; and testing the array of ceramics for the optical properties.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of preparing and testing an array of ceramics for optical properties, the method comprising: providing a block of the host material that is capable of being made optically transparent or translucent upon sintering; forming the block into an array of pixels; doping each of the pixels with at least a dopant; reacting the host material of each of the pixel with said at least a dopant to form an array of products; sintering the array of products to produce the array of ceramics; and testing the array of ceramics for the optical properties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising evaporating a doping medium prior to reacting the host material and the dopant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method of claim 1 , wherein the host material is a powder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 3 , wherein the host material is pressed into a shape prior to doping.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of claim 4 , wherein the array of pixels is formed by dicing the host material shape above a base plate area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 3 , wherein the array of pixels is formed by injection molding of the host material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of claim 3 , wherein the array of pixels is formed by pressing the powder into a sacrificial mold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 7 , further comprising removing the sacrificial mold prior to reacting the host material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 8 , wherein the sacrificial mold is removed by burning, evaporation or melting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 1 , wherein the array of the host material has a porosity of from about 30% to about 70%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the base from the pixels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 1 , wherein the dopant is in the form of a precursor in a liquid solution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of claim 12 , wherein the dopant is a transition metal ion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of claim 13 , wherein the dopant is select from the group consisting of: Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Sr, Zr, Mo, Nd, Ba, Hf, Ta, and W.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method of claim 12 , wherein the dopant is a lanthanide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of claim 15 , wherein the dopant is select from the group consisting of: Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of claim 12 , wherein the dopant has a counter ion selected from the group consisting of: nitrate, acetate, bromide, chlorate, chloride, nitrate, salicylate, stearate, sulfate, or tartrate salt dissolved in water, alcohol, or a mixture of water and alcohol.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method of claim 11 , wherein more than one dopant is added.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of claim 18 , wherein dopants are adding with drying steps between each addition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 11 , wherein a solvent is removed prior to reacting the dopant and the host material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of claim 20 , wherein a solvent is removed by evaporation or freeze drying.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising placing a metal foil or plate between the individual pixels prior to reacting the dopant and the host material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising flowing a gas over the host material and the dopants while they are being reacted.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the base from the array.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 24 , wherein the base is removed by dicing, grinding, polishing or lapping.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising smoothing or polishing a surface of the array.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of claim 1 , wherein the testing comprises supplying a laser beam, a diode array or an optical beam to evaluate light output under an input of electromagnetic energy.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of claim 27 , wherein the electromagnetic energy input is an X-ray input.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 28 , wherein emission efficiency, afterglow, radiation damage or pump up is tested.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method of claim 1 , wherein the host material is Al 2 O 3 , Y 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , Th 2 O 3 , Gd 2 O 3 , oxide garnets, Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 , and Y 3 Al 5 O 12 , oxysulfides, Gd 2 O 2 S, and salt solutions of Y 2 O 3 and Gd 2 O 3 .
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of claim 1 , wherein the dopant is delivered at a concentration of 10 mole percent or less in a doping medium.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of preparing and testing an array of ceramics for optical properties, comprising: providing a host material that is capable of being made optically transparent or translucent upon sintering; forming the host material into an array of pixels attached to a base plate; doping the host material with at least a dopant; reacting the host material and said at least a dopant, to form an array of products; placing a material between the pixels; and testing the products for optical properties.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of preparing and testing an array of ceramics for optical properties, comprising: providing a host material that is capable of being made optically transparent or translucent upon sintering; forming the host material into an array of pixels attached to a base plate; doping the host material with at least a dopant; reacting the host material and said at least a dopant, to form an array of products; placing a material between the pixels; and testing the products for optical properties.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 32 , wherein the material between the pixels is optically opaque or light scattering.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of claim 32 , wherein the material between the pixels is transparent.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of preparing and testing an array of ceramic scintillators for optical properties, the method comprising: providing a block of the host material that is capable of being made optically transparent or translucent upon sintering; forming the block into an array of pixels; doping each of the pixels with at least a dopant; reacting the host material of each of the pixel with said at least a dopant to form an array of ceramic products; sintering the array of ceramic products to produce the array of ceramic scintillators; and testing the array of ceramic scintillators for the optical properties.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of preparing and testing an array of ceramic scintillators for optical properties, the method comprising: providing a block of the host material that is capable of being made optically transparent or translucent upon sintering; forming the block into an array of pixels; doping each of the pixels with at least a dopant; reacting the host material of each of the pixel with said at least a dopant to form an array of ceramic products; sintering the array of ceramic products to produce the array of ceramic scintillators; and testing the array of ceramic scintillators for the optical properties.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of preparing and testing an array of ceramic scintillators for optical properties, the method comprising: providing a block of the host material that is capable of being made optically transparent or translucent upon sintering, the block having a porosity; forming the block into an array of porous pixels; doping each of the porous pixels with at least a dopant by imbibing said at least a dopant thereinto; reacting the host material of each of the pixel with said at least a dopant to form an array of ceramic products; sintering the array of ceramic products to produce the array of ceramic scintillators; and testing the array of ceramic scintillators for the optical properties.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of preparing and testing an array of ceramic scintillators for optical properties, the method comprising: providing a block of the host material that is capable of being made optically transparent or translucent upon sintering, the block having a porosity; forming the block into an array of porous pixels; doping each of the porous pixels with at least a dopant by imbibing said at least a dopant thereinto; reacting the host material of each of the pixel with said at least a dopant to form an array of ceramic products; sintering the array of ceramic products to produce the array of ceramic scintillators; and testing the array of ceramic scintillators for the optical properties.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-16 | 2006-06-17 | 2006-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-16 | 2010-06-17 | 2010-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-16 | 2014-06-17 | 2014-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |