Amber Sharma

US Patent:

6929014, Aug 16, 2005

Filed:

Sep 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/661512

Inventors:

Amber Sharma - Fremont CA, US
John Edgar Sheffield - Livermore CA, US

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

B08B003/12

US Classification:

134 13, 134 253, 134 34, 134902

Abstract:

At least one ultrasonic treating apparatus adapted for treating a single workpiece and comprised of a relatively small tank with a sidewall-mounted ultrasonic transducer is provided. The tank may be provided with a movable partition for adjustably partitioning the tank into two sub-chambers, the partition being comprised of a material which is partially reflective and partially transmissive of ultrasonic energy supplied to a liquid within the tank. A reflector is provided within the tank for reflecting the acoustic energy either back to the movable partition or to a material which acts as an absorber of acoustic energy. In the former instance, the acoustic energy can be locally concentrated at a specific spacing from the ultrasonic transducer. In the latter instance, the effectiveness of ultrasonic treatment of the single workpiece is enhanced by favoring formation of progressive waves and minimizing formation of stationary waves.

US Patent:

6619305, Sep 16, 2003

Filed:

Jan 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/756714

Inventors:

Amber Sharma - Fremont CA
John Edgar Sheffield - Livermore CA

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

B08B 312

US Classification:

134184, 134902

Abstract:

According to the invention, conventional ultrasonic treatment apparatus employing relatively large tanks with bottom-mounted ultrasonic transducers for simultaneously processing a large plurality of disc-shaped workpieces are replaced with at least one ultrasonic treating apparatus adapted for treating a single workpiece and comprised of a relatively small tank with a sidewall-mounted ultrasonic transducer. The tank may be provided with a movable partition for adjustably partitioning the tank or vessel into two sub-chambers, the partition being comprised of a material which is partially reflective and partially transmissive of ultrasonic (i. e. , acoustic) energy supplied to a liquid within the tank via the ultrasonic transducer. A reflector is provided within the tank for reflecting the acoustic energy either back to the movable partition or to a material which acts as an absorber of acoustic energy. In the former instance, the acoustic energy can be locally concentrated or focussed at a specific spacing from the ultrasonic transducer, at which spacing the single workpiece is positioned for receiving a desired amount of acoustic energy.