Patents by Inventor Kirk T. Lowe

Kirk T. Lowe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7796388
    Abstract: The disclosure describes directly cooling a three-dimensional, direct metallization (DM) layer in a power electronics device. To enable sufficient cooling, coolant flow channels are formed within the ceramic substrate. The direct metallization layer (typically copper) may be bonded to the ceramic substrate, and semiconductor chips (such as IGBT and diodes) may be soldered or sintered onto the direct metallization layer to form a power electronics module. Multiple modules may be attached to cooling headers that provide in-flow and out-flow of coolant through the channels in the ceramic substrate. The modules and cooling header assembly are preferably sized to fit inside the core of a toroidal shaped capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Randy H. Wiles, Andrew A. Wereszczak, Curtis W. Ayers, Kirk T. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20090231812
    Abstract: The disclosure describes directly cooling a three-dimensional, direct metallization (DM) layer in a power electronics device. To enable sufficient cooling, coolant flow channels are formed within the ceramic substrate. The direct metallization layer (typically copper) may be bonded to the ceramic substrate, and semiconductor chips (such as IGBT and diodes) may be soldered or sintered onto the direct metallization layer to form a power electronics module. Multiple modules may be attached to cooling headers that provide in-flow and out-flow of coolant through the channels in the ceramic substrate. The modules and cooling header assembly are preferably sized to fit inside the core of a toroidal shaped capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Randy H. Wiles, Andrew A. Wereszczak, Curtis W. Ayers, Kirk T. Lowe
  • Patent number: 7441384
    Abstract: The invention provides a new floor covering panel and floor covering system in which the floor covering panels include first and second generally planar surfaces, first and second side edges containing first and second complementary coupling members, respectively, and an adhesive composition selectively applied to at least a portion of at least one of the first and second coupling members. The adhesive composition providing the adhesive bond may be applied to at least one of the first or second coupling members during the floor covering manufacturing process. After a floor covering system is assembled, the adhesive composition provides a substantially non-refastenable bond between mated floor covering panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Miller, Gregory Fowler, Benny Ray Wood, Kirk T. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20040031226
    Abstract: The invention provides a new floor covering panel and floor covering system in which the floor covering panels include first and second generally planar surfaces, first and second side edges containing first and second complementary coupling members, respectively, and an adhesive composition selectively applied to at least a portion of at least one of the first and second coupling members. The adhesive composition providing the adhesive bond may be applied to at least one of the first or second coupling members during the floor covering manufacturing process. After a floor covering system is assembled, the adhesive composition provides a substantially non-refastenable bond between mated floor covering panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Robert J. Miller, Gregory Fowler, Benny Ray Wood, Kirk T. Lowe