Patents Represented by Attorney Rene E. Grossman
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High strength, high modulus continuous polymeric material for durable, impact resistant applications
Patent number: 5573824Abstract: A protective, impact resistant material and method, the material comprising a fabric of thermoplastic polymeric fibers having a strength of at least 0.5 GPa and an elastic modulus of at least 25 GPa and a matrix of polymeric material disposed in the interstices between the fibers, the matrix having an elastic modulus in the range 0.2 to 3.times.10.sup.6 psi. The polymeric fibers can be gel spun polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene terephthalate. In a second embodiment, the matrix is derived from the fabric.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1994Date of Patent: November 12, 1996Assignees: Texas Instruments, University of MassachusettsInventors: Paul Klocek, William J. MacKnight, Richard J. Farris, Christian Lietzau -
Patent number: 5572104Abstract: An electric control for gas furnaces which controls a two speed main blower fan and an induction draft fan based on inputs from a room thermostat, a high limit and an ignition control including a gas valve. The control has a circuit board having a power supply for providing 24 volts DC current source to drive DC relays and a 5 volt DC power source to power a microprocessor. 24 volt AC input signals are coupled to the input ports of the microprocessor through current limiting resistors and to AC ground through pull down resistors. AC ground is also connected to the IRQ port of the microprocessor. The output ports of the microprocessor are connected to a relay driver which in turn is connected to the relays. Several breakaway tabs in the board provide optional features such as eliminating a normally provided draft delay timing function. Test pads are provided on the board so that the board can be tested during manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1995Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Craig M. Nold, Mark E. Miller, Mitchell R. Rowlette, Robert B. Brown
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Patent number: 5570257Abstract: A phase sequence protection circuit is shown in which first and second resistors (R1, R2) and a first capacitor (C1) all having equivalent impedance are connected in a Y configuration and coupled to power source leads (A, C, B) of a three phase power supply, resistor R1 being coupled to phase A, capacitor C1 to phase B and resistor R2 to phase C. A comparator network (12) is connected in line with the first resistor (R1) and, in one embodiment will cause a solid state switch (Q1) to conduct when the phases are out of sequence. In a second embodiment a buffer portion (COMP2) is provided to add switching hysteresis which also reverses the switching logic causing the solid state switch (Q1) to conduct when the phases are in sequence. In another embodiment the comparator network (12") is provided with the buffer portion (COMP2) for switching hysteresis and arranged to cause the solid state switch (Q1) to conduct when the phases are out of sequence.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1994Date of Patent: October 29, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: William R. Manning, Mark C. Carlos, Stanley J. Nacewicz
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Patent number: 5565764Abstract: The parameters of a digital signal are extracted by the application of autocorrelation and crosscorrelation techniques to effectively measure the frequency and time behavior of a digital signal. The method employs digital autocorrelation and crosscorrelation to determine these parameters. Autocorrelation allows the measurement of signal frequency by measurement of instantaneous signal phase. Crosscorrelation allows measurement of relative phase between two or more signals in two or more channels by measurement of instantaneous phase and by referencing the instantaneous phase to the autocorrelation function. The autocorrelation function and crosscorrelation function preserve relative amplitude and phase. Measurement of relative amplitude and phase allows direction finding calculation for any current class of system that uses amplitude and/or phase to derive angle or arrival.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1995Date of Patent: October 15, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Leslie A. Priebe, Michael C. Stephens, William D. Daniels
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Patent number: 5562473Abstract: A socket (100) for the temporary mounting of an electric part such as an IC package (130) for burn-in testing and the like is shown in which a plurality of contact elements (10, 10') are mounted in the socket each having a stationary part (10a), a spring cantilever arm part (10b) and a contact edge part (10e). The contact elements (10, 10') are mounted so that the leads (130a) of an IC package (130) are each received on a respective contact edge part (10e). When the cover (102) of the socket is closed, wall member (105a) engages the top portion of the leads (130a) and exerts a generally vertical downward force on the contact edges (10e) causing them to be depressed to effect electrical connection between leads (130a) and respective contact elements (10, 10').Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1994Date of Patent: October 8, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Kiyokaza Ikeya, Osamu Yamazaki
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Patent number: 5561582Abstract: A failsafe device is shown in which a solid state surge suppressor (12) is mounted thermally coupled to a heat transfer element (42). A shorting bar (60) is attached to element (42) by a thin layer of solder chosen to melt at a selected maximum temperature. A spring (70) places a preload on the shorting bar and, upon melting the solder, rapidly moves the shorting bar into engagement with leads (T, G, R) attached to the surge suppressor to short the T and R leads to ground (G).Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1995Date of Patent: October 1, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Stephen Geishecker, Theresa A. Howarth, Vincent F. Suttmeier
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Patent number: 5555766Abstract: An acceleration sensor is shown having a substrate (16, 16', 16", 16'") on which a capacitor detect plate (24) and source plate mounting portion (28c) are disposed. An electrically conductive blade member (40, 44) having an attachment portion (40a, 44h), a source plate portion (40i, 44a) and integrally attached beams (40b, 40c; 44b) extending along opposite sides of the blade member is mounted on the substrate by welding the attachment portion to a mounting element (36, 36', 36", 36'") which is closely received in a bore (32, 32', 32", 32'") formed through the substrate at the source plate mounting portion. The mounting element or the bore is formed with a surface suitable for forming an interference fit and for making electrical engagement with a conductive layer received in the bore. The mounting element has one end (36b, 36b', 36b") which extends above the top surface (26, 26") an adjustable selected amount(s) to provide desired spacing between the source plate portion and the detect plate.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1993Date of Patent: September 17, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Larry K. Johnson, Eric P. Reidemeister, Robert O. Southworth, Michael D. Gouin, William Silva, Andrew A. Amatruda, Jr.
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Patent number: 5548464Abstract: A electronic motor protection system is shown having a power supply (12) usable with multivoltage supplies and providing protection from over-temperature conditions caused by various fault conditions. The system also has optional features of a time delay (20) for re-energization and for low voltage protection (22). The system is mounted on a circuit board and encased in potting material which also locks two housing parts together (30, 34). A miswiring feature is also provided to prevent connecting line voltage to the control circuit or sensor terminals.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1994Date of Patent: August 20, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: William R. Manning
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Patent number: 5544399Abstract: A monolithic capacitive pressure transducer (12, 12') is made by separately forming under pressure a diaphragm (22, 22') and a base (24, 24') having a recess (26) in the top surface using ceramic powder coated with an organic binder. Metal layers are deposited on the two pieces and the pieces are then joined together to form a single unit. A spacer (36) may be inserted in the recess to ensure that a predetermined gap is maintained between the two parts during the joining operation. The parts are then heated to allow the binder organics, as well as the spacer organics if a spacer is employed, to be vaporized and/or decomposed and removed through the open pores of the diaphragm and base and then sintered to change the parts into a monolithic body and to convert the metallized layer into a conductive layer bonded to the ceramic.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1995Date of Patent: August 13, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Robert P. Bishop, Paul L. Hainey
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Patent number: 5542296Abstract: An acceleration sensor (10, 10', 10") in which a metal blade member (24) having a source plate portion (24a), attachment portion (24p) and integral resilient beams (24b) extending between the source plate portion and the attachment portion is attached to a pin (22) received in turn in a bore (18a) of a substrate (18). The metal blade member (24) is mounted on the substrate (18) so that the source plate portion is a selected distance from a detect plate (18b) mounted on the substrate. The sensor is disposed in a cylindrical housing (12, 12', 12") which can be directly mounted to a circuit board (50) through terminal pins (18g, 18h, 18i) or can be provided with a threaded fastener (12"d). In one embodiment first and second sensor modules are received in a housing (42) to sense acceleration forces in two perpendicular directions.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1995Date of Patent: August 6, 1996Inventors: Eric P. Reidemeister, Larry K. Johnson, Raymond E. Mandeville, Douglas B. Strott, Robert O. Southworth
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Patent number: 5537246Abstract: Durable thorium fluoride, low reflectance, high transmittance coatings for germanium (zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, gallium arsenide) exterior window surfaces are replaced using magnesium fluoride, a material previously not considered applicable to the 8 to 12 .mu.m wavelength range. This is enabled by the use of argon ion bombardment of the growing film. This method reduces the intrinsic stress of deposited films and permits growth of magnesium fluoride films of sufficient thickness to be used on the exterior surface of IR windows.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1995Date of Patent: July 16, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Frank C. Sulzbach, Valeria J. Epling
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Patent number: 5536680Abstract: A method of making a diode and the diode wherein there is provided a substrate of p-type group II-VI semiconductor material and an electrically conductive material capable of forming an ohmic contact with the substrate is forced into the lattice of the substrate to create an n-type region in the substrate in contact with the material and forming an electrical contact to the p-type region of said substrate. The substrate is preferably HgCdTe and the electrically conductive material is preferably tungsten or tin coated tungsten or tungsten coated with a mercury amalgam.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1995Date of Patent: July 16, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: John C. Ehmke
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Patent number: 5536980Abstract: A high voltage, high current DC switch is shown having a single pole, double throw relay and a solid state power switch such as an IGBT or MOSFET transistor. Voltage is switched by means of the solid state switch while steady state current is conducted through the relay load contact. Several different protector devices are used in the event of circuit malfunction including a combination of thermal and current fuses and resettable thermostats.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1992Date of Patent: July 16, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Keith W. Kawate, John J. Chrupcala, Eric K. Larson, Thomas R. Maher
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Patent number: 5532048Abstract: A protectively coated optical device which includes an infrared transmissive optical surface and an infrared transmissive polymer coating on the surface having low hardness, high strength and low elastic (Young's) modulus and is transmissive in the 8 to 12 micrometer wavelength range. The hardness is less than 50 kg/mm.sup.2, the strength is from about 10,000 to about 100,000 psi and the elastic (Young's) modulus is from about 0.2.times.10.sup.6 to about 3.times.10.sup.6 psi.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1994Date of Patent: July 2, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Paul Klocek, James T. Hoggins
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Patent number: 5530615Abstract: An electronic control for gas furnaces controls a two speed main blower fan and an induction draft fan based on 24 volt input signals from a room thermostat, a high limit and an ignition control including a gas valve. The input signals are coupled to input ports of a microprocessor through current limiting resistors and to AC ground through pull down resistors. AC ground is also connected to the IRQ port of the microprocessor. Output ports of the microprocessor are connected to a relay driver which in turn is connected to relays for energizing and de-energizing the fans. The control calibrates itself on a continuing periodic basis to read the AC inputs synchronously at the peak of their wave and can switch the relays asynchronously based on the Real Time Clock of the microprocessor or can be switched synchronously by providing a selected delay so that contact engagement and disengagement occurs at or near the zero crossing of the AC line voltage wave form.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1993Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Mark E. Miller, Mark A. Eifler, Alan R. Sawyers, Mitchell R. Rowlette, Craig M. Nold
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Patent number: 5525280Abstract: A monolithic capacitive pressure transducer is shown composed of ceramic material having a closed cavity formed near a surface thereof and having capacitor plates formed on two opposed surfaces defining the cavity. Vias are formed extending from the capacitor plates to permit electrical connection therewith. The transducer is made by separately forming under pressure a diaphragm and a base having a recess in the top surface using ceramic powder coated with an organic binder. A metal layer is deposited on the two pieces and the pieces are then joined together to form a single unit. A spacer may be inserted in the recess to ensure that a predetermined gap is maintained between the two parts during the joining operation. The parts are then debinderized by heating in air to a first temperature level to allow the binder organics, as well as the spacer organics if a spacer is employed, to be vaporized and/or decomposed and removed through the open pores of the diaphragm and base.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1994Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Vishwa N. Shukla, Stanley J. Lukasiewicz, Francois A. Padovani
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Patent number: 5524556Abstract: A gas fired furnace system (10) has a controller (14) controlling the supply of gas through a gas valve (12) and air for combustion by means of an induced air draft fan (28), ignition of the gas by means of ignitor (22), the delivery of heated air from a heat exchanger (20) by means of an air blower (34) in response to signals from a thermostat (42). A selected constant flow of air for combustion is provided by controlling the speed of the motor driving the induced motor fan (28) despite changes which may occur in back pressure. Induced draft fan motor parameters proportional to motor torque and motor speed are read on an ongoing basis and inputted to controller (14) which computes a desired voltage and compares that with referenced data stored in the controller memory and makes corrections to the speed of the induced draft fan motor to maintain the constant air flow.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1995Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Mitchell R. Rowlette, Youn H. Ting, Walter H. Bailey, Ronald E. Garnett
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Patent number: 5526051Abstract: A digital television system (10) is provided. System (10) may receive a video signal at composite video interface and separation circuit (16). The video signal is separated into separate video signals by composite video interface and separation circuit (16). The separate video signals are converted to digital video signals in analog to digital converter circuit (18). Line slicer (14) divides each line of digital video signal into a plurality of channels such that each channel may be processed in parallel by channel signal processors (22a) through (22d). Each channel signal processor (22a) through (22d) may provide two lines of output for each line of video input. The processed digital video signals may be formatted for displays (26a) through (26c) in formatters (24a) through (24c).Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1993Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Robert J. Gove, Stephen W. Marshall, Vishal Markandey, Donald B. Doherty, Richard C. Meyer, Scott D. Heimbuch
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Patent number: 5525768Abstract: A switch system (10) is shown having housing members (12, 13) forming a cavity (14) in which an actuator arm (32) is pivotably mounted. Spring electrical contact members (36, 38) are mounted on the actuator arm and slide into and out of engagement with electrical contact segments (26a, 24a) respectively mounted on respective circuit boards (26, 24) as the actuator arm pivots. The actuator arm is formed with a hub portion (32a) received in bores (12b, 13b) of the housing. The hub in turn has a bore (32b) which is received on and keyed to the manual shaft of a vehicle transmission by opposing flat surfaces (32c). First and second annular spring seal elements (34) are received between respective sealing surfaces (12a, 32a) and (13a, 32a) to prevent ingress of debris into cavity (14). Housing member (12) is formed with a connector portion (16) having a generally cylindrical connector shroud (16a) which receives terminal pins (28) which are electrically connected to contact segments (26a, 24a).Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1995Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Carleton M. Cobb, III, Gary A. Baker, Peter J. Bloznalis
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Patent number: 5523878Abstract: A method of forming of a monomolecular coating (19) for surfaces of contacting elements (11, 17) of micro-mechanical devices (10), specifically, devices that have moving elements that contact other elements and that tend to stick as a result of the contact. The method uses liquid deposition, with the device being placed in a solution that contains a precursor to the formation of the coating. The precursor is chosen based on coordination chemistry between the precursor and the surface to be coated.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1994Date of Patent: June 4, 1996Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Robert M. Wallace, Douglas A. Webb, Bruce E. Gnade