Patents Examined by Robert Huber
  • Patent number: 9476711
    Abstract: An angular rate sensor includes a substrate, a drive mass flexibly coupled to the substrate, and a sense mass suspended above the substrate and flexibly coupled to the drive mass via flexible support elements. An electrode structure is mechanically coupled to, but electrically isolated from, the drive mass and is spaced apart from the substrate so that it is not in contact with the substrate. The electrode structure is configured to produce a signal that indicates movement of the sense mass relative to the electrode when the sensor is subjected to angular velocity. When the angular rate sensor experiences quadrature error, the drive mass, the sense mass, and the electrode structure move together relative to the sense axis. Since the sense mass and the electrode structure move together in response to quadrature error, there is little relative motion between the sense mass and the electrode structure so that quadrature error is largely eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Yizhen Lin
  • Patent number: 9472463
    Abstract: After forming an organic planarization layer (OPL) atop a substrate which includes a plurality of semiconductor fins and a gate structure thereon, the OPL is recessed such that uppermost surfaces of remaining portions of the OPL are located below an uppermost surface of the gate structure but above top surfaces of the semiconductor fins. The remaining portions of the OPL are patterned to expose semiconductor fins in a pFinFET region for subsequent ion implantation. Portions of the OPL that remain on the semiconductor fins in an nFinFET region act as an implantation mask to shield the semiconductor fins in the nFinFET region from the ion implantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huihang Dong, Wai-Kin Li
  • Patent number: 9459225
    Abstract: A moisture meter for determining the moisture content of particulate material is provided. The moisture meter comprises a frame part, a space, a measuring cup disposed within said space for receiving a sample of the particulate material which moisture is to be measured, and moisture measuring means. The moisture meter comprises a swiping means for removing at least partly a part of a sample of particulate material which moisture is to be measured, which part of the sample of particulate material extends out of the inner space of the measuring cup through the open end of the measuring cup. The swiping means are movably attached to the frame part for movement in a swiping path where a swiping member of the swiping means is configured to move essentially along the open end of the measuring cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Farmcomp Oy
    Inventors: Janne Kivijarvi, Jere Keskiaho, Johannes Hyrsky
  • Patent number: 9461183
    Abstract: A diode comprising a reduced surface field effect trench structure, the reduced surface field effect trench structure comprising at least two trenches formed in a substrate and separated from one another by a joining region of the substrate, the joining region comprising an electrical contact and a layer of p-doped semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Tim Boettcher, Jan Fischer
  • Patent number: 9455248
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with an embedded schottky diode and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A semiconductor device having a schottky diode include: an epilayer of a first conductivity type, a body layer of a second conductivity type, and a source layer of the first conductivity type arranged in that order; a gate trench that extends from the source layer to a part of the epilayer; a body trench formed a predetermined distance from the gate trench and extends from the source layer to a part of the epilayer; and a guard ring of the second conductivity type that contacts an outer wall of the body trench and formed in the epilayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventor: Francois Hebert
  • Patent number: 9453779
    Abstract: The present invention is aimed to improve the conventional plane-opened hydrodynamic testing device, one or more than one reverse pumping return units (201) are installed with a parallel or substantially parallel manner at the periphery of an active fluid pumping unit (101), so a part of the fluid discharged from the outlet port of the active fluid pumping unit (101) is enabled to be sucked and reversely pumped for being returned to an adjacent space defined at the fluid inlet port of the active fluid pumping unit (101), thereby structuring a semi-opened hydrodynamic testing device having reverse pumping return unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 9448517
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form an image on a recording medium, an apparatus body, a sheet container detachably attachable to the apparatus body and accommodating the recording medium, a sheet conveying path through which the recording medium is conveyed toward the image forming part, a sheet reentry path disposed above the sheet container and through which the recording medium having the image thereon is conveyed again to the sheet conveying path, a swing unit to swingably move a bottom plate of the sheet reentry path between a first position and a second position, a lock releasing unit to lock and release the bottom plate with respect to the first position of the swing unit, and a release operating unit to cause the lock releasing unit to release the bottom plate from the first position of the swing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Tobinaga, Hajime Nishida, Satoshi Kuno, Jumpei Aoyama, Junpei Kamichi, Shun Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9443770
    Abstract: After forming an organic planarization layer (OPL) atop a substrate which includes a plurality of semiconductor fins and a gate structure thereon, the OPL is recessed such that uppermost surfaces of remaining portions of the OPL are located below an uppermost surface of the gate structure but above top surfaces of the semiconductor fins. The remaining portions of the OPL are patterned to expose semiconductor fins in a pFinFET region for subsequent ion implantation. Portions of the OPL that remain on the semiconductor fins in an nFinFET region act as an implantation mask to shield the semiconductor fins in the nFinFET region from the ion implantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huihang Dong, Wai-Kin Li
  • Patent number: 9441758
    Abstract: A valve device including a valve housing which bounds a valve chamber in which a valve member is accommodated for movement between a blocking position and a release position in order to influence a free flow cross-section for a fluid in a flow path between an inlet passage terminating into the valve chamber and an outlet passage leading from the valve chamber, further including a first absolute pressure sensor for providing a first pressure signal as a function of an operating pressure in the flow path, and further including an evaluation circuit for processing the first pressure signal. It is provided that a second absolute pressure sensor is located outside the flow path, which is designed to provide a second pressure signal as a function of an operating pressure outside the flow path and which is connected to the evaluation circuit for enabling a differential pressure between the first and second pressure signals to be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: FESTO AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Maichl, Martin Meier, Andreas Dickhoff
  • Patent number: 9435677
    Abstract: A car wash liquid containment and measurement apparatus having a reservoir defining a first interior region configured to hold a liquid therein. The apparatus has a valve with a first position and a second position and the valve is coupled to the reservoir. There is also a measurement apparatus coupled to the valve defining a second interior region and a tube disposed at least partially within the second interior region of the measurement apparatus. The valve fluidly isolates the first interior region from the second interior region when the valve is in the first position and the valve fluidly couples the first interior region with the second interior region when the valve is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Diamond Shine, Inc.
    Inventors: David Soble, Scott Soble, Derek Grace, Brian L. Ashinger
  • Patent number: 9435682
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the remote testing of a paddle-type flow detector, such as are common in fire protection systems. Specifically, the systems and methods provide for mechanical movement of the vane to test activation of the flow detector under a flow condition, and which measure the amount of time the vane takes to return to the ready position to verify the presence of a paddle on the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Potter Electric Signal Company, LLC
    Inventors: David L. Royse, Richard L. Ulrich, Bruce LaRue, Timothy Decker
  • Patent number: 9437666
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, including a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a sealant arranged between the first and second substrates to adhere the first and second substrates together, a plurality of interconnections arranged on one of the first and second substrates and a plurality of cladding parts covering at least a portion of each of the plurality of interconnections at a location that corresponds to the sealant, each of the cladding parts including a material having a higher melting point than that of the interconnections. By including the cladding parts, a short circuit between the interconnections caused by heat applied to the sealant can be prevented, and safety and reliability of the OLED display device can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Yeon Cho, Zail Lhee, Tae-Wook Kang, Hun Kim, Mi-Sook Suh, Hyun-Chol Bang
  • Patent number: 9427951
    Abstract: A printing press includes an impression cylinder, a blanket cylinder, a collecting plate cylinder, a collecting blanket cylinder, a plurality of partial plate cylinders, a plurality of inking devices, and a dampening unit. The impression cylinder holds and transports a sheet. The blanket cylinder is in contact with the impression cylinder. The collecting plate cylinder is in contact with the blanket cylinder, and a lithographic printing plate is mounted on the collecting plate cylinder. The collecting blanket cylinder is in contact with the collecting plate cylinder. The plurality of partial plate cylinders are in contact with the collecting blanket cylinder. The plurality of inking devices supply ink to the plurality of partial plate cylinders, respectively. The dampening unit supplies dampening water to the collecting plate cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: KOMORI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Kamoda, Taichi Kawase
  • Patent number: 9431452
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a photodiode proximate to a front side of semiconductor material to accumulate image charge. A metal layer reflector structure is disposed in a dielectric layer proximate to the front side of the semiconductor material. A contact reflecting ring structure is disposed in the dielectric layer between the metal layer reflector structure and a contact etch stop layer disposed over the front side of the semiconductor material. The contact reflecting ring structure defines a portion of a light guide in the dielectric layer such that light that is directed through a back side of the semiconductor material, through the photodiode, and reflected from the metal layer reflector structure back through the photodiode is confined to remain within an interior of the contact reflecting ring structure when passing through the dielectric layer between the photodiode and the metal layer reflector structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Ying Liu, Chih-Wei Hsiung
  • Patent number: 9429477
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the performance of a fluid heat exchanger for use with an engine includes a heat exchanger having a first fluid flow path therethrough and a second fluid flow path therethrough, a first temperature sensor positioned in the first fluid flow path at an exit from the heat exchanger, a second temperature sensor positioned in the second fluid flow path at an entry to the heat exchanger, a processor and an alert generator. The processor is adapted to receive a first temperature measurement value from the first temperature sensor, and a second temperature measurement value from the second temperature sensor, the processor being further adapted to calculate a temperature difference between the first and second temperature measurement values. The alert generator is adapted to generate an alert signal to a user, the alert signal being generated if the temperature difference is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Waqar Azeem, Mark Peden Reid
  • Patent number: 9425364
    Abstract: For the production of a white LED having a predetermined color temperature, a blue LED (2a-2d) or a UV LED is coated with a conversion layer (5) which absorbs the blue light or UV light and emits light of greater wavelength. In accordance with the invention, the exact wavelength of the LED (2a-2d) is determined and the color conversion agent (5) is applied over this LED (2a-2d) in a quantity dependent upon the determined wavelength. Through this, the tolerance of the color temperature can be significantly reduced. The color conversion agent may be applied by means of dispenser or stamp, and the quantity and/or concentration selected in dependence upon the determined wavelength. Inkjet printing, deposition from the gas phase or selective removal by means of a laser is, however, also possible. The invention also relates to light sources produced in accordance with this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: TRIDONIC OPTOELECTRONICS GMBH
    Inventor: Günther Leising
  • Patent number: 9412966
    Abstract: An OLED encapsulating structure and a manufacturing method thereof, and a light-emitting device are disclosed. The OLED encapsulating structure comprises: a base substrate, an OLED, barrier layers, and optical modulation layers; the OLED is formed on the base substrate; the barrier layers and the optical modulation layers are alternately and periodically formed on the OLED. The OLED encapsulating structure can reduce viewing-angle dependence of an OLED caused by a micro-cavity effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ruhui Zhu, Junsheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9385123
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices, and particularly to fabricating a shallow trench isolation (STI) region in fin field effect transistors (FinFETs) having a small fin pitch. According to one embodiment, a method of using selective etching techniques to remove a single fin to form a fin trench and to form an isolation trench having a width approximately equal to a width of the single fin below the removed fin is disclosed. The fin trench and the isolation trench may be filled with isolation material to form an isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chung Chen, Su Chen Fan, Chiahsun Tseng, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 9379075
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing semiconductor devices is provided. In the method, a conductive pad and a metal protrusion pattern are formed in a metallization layer. A passivation layer is conformally deposited over the metallization, and a protection layer is conformally deposited over the passivation layer. Further, a post-passivation interconnect structure (PPI) is conformally formed on the protection layer, and the PPI structure includes a landing pad region, a protrusion pattern over at least a portion of the landing pad region and a connection line electrically connected to the conductive pad. A solder bump is then placed on the landing pad region in contact with the protrusion pattern of PPI structure. A to semiconductor device with bum stop structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jie Chen, Hsien-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 9379352
    Abstract: An OLED encapsulating structure and a manufacturing method thereof, and a light-emitting device are disclosed. The OLED encapsulating structure comprises: a base substrate, an OLED, barrier layers, and optical modulation layers; the OLED is formed on the base substrate; the barrier layers and the optical modulation layers are alternately and periodically formed on the OLED. The OLED encapsulating structure can reduce viewing-angle dependence of an OLED caused by a micro-cavity effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ruhui Zhu, Junsheng Yu