Patents by Inventor Nigel James Gibbins

Nigel James Gibbins 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).

  • Evacuation system alerts based on process tool systems bus monitoring
    Patent number: 9081379
    Abstract: In a method of controlling operation of a processing system, a host computer, a process tool and a component of an evacuation system, for example an abatement tool, are connected to a system bus. The abatement tool monitors signals transmitted on the system bus between the host computer and the process tool, and signals received directly from the process tool. The abatement tool uses information contained within the monitored signals to generate a signal for the process tool regarding an operating characteristic of the abatement tool. This signal is transmitted either directly or over the system bus to the process tool, which uses the generated signal to control an operating state of the process tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventors: James Robert Smith, Michael Roger Czerniak, Nigel James Gibbins
  • Vacuum pumping systems
    Patent number: 8793007
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum pumping system (10) which comprises: a vacuum pumping mechanism (12) and a motor (14) for driving the vacuum pumping mechanism. Means (16) are provided for determining a cumulative load on the vacuum pumping system over time by monitoring a characteristic of the motor over that time. Means (18) are also provided for activating a maintenance activity on the system when the cumulative load exceeds a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventors: Laurent Marc Philippe, Nigel James Gibbins, Michael Roger Czerniak, Michael Mooney
  • METHOD OF CONTROLLING OPERATION OF A PROCESSING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20120253500
    Abstract: In a method of controlling operation of a processing system, a host computer, a process tool and a component of an evacuation system, for example an abatement tool, are connected to a system bus. The abatement tool monitors signals transmitted on the system bus between the host computer and the process tool, and signals received directly from the process tool. The abatement tool uses information contained within the monitored signals to generate a signal for the process tool regarding an operating characteristic of the abatement tool. This signal is transmitted either directly or over the system bus to the process tool, which uses the generated signal to control an operating state of the process tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: James Robert Smith, Michael Roger Czerniak, Nigel James Gibbins
  • Method of controlling operation of a processing system
    Patent number: 8224474
    Abstract: In a method of controlling operation of a processing system, a host computer, a process tool and a component of an evacuation system, for example an abatement tool, are connected to a system bus. The abatement tool monitors signals transmitted on the system bus between the host computer and the process tool, and signals received directly from the process tool. The abatement tool uses information contained within the monitored signals to generate a signal for the process tool regarding an operating characteristic of the abatement tool. This signal is transmitted either directly or over the system bus to the process tool, which uses the generated signal to control an operating state of the process tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventors: James Robert Smith, Michael Roger Czerniak, Nigel James Gibbins
  • VACUUM PUMPING SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20110082580
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum pumping system (10) which comprises: a vacuum pumping mechanism (12) and a motor (14) for driving the vacuum pumping mechanism. Means (16) are provided for determining a cumulative load on the vacuum pumping system over time by monitoring a characteristic of the motor over that time. Means (18) are also provided for activating a maintenance activity on the system when the cumulative load exceeds a predetermined amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Laurent Marc Philippe, Nigel James Gibbins, Michael Roger Czerniak, Michael Mooney
  • Method of Controlling Operation of a Processing System
    Publication number: 20080262655
    Abstract: In a method of controlling operation of a processing system, a host computer, a process tool and a component of an evacuation system, for example an abatement tool, are connected to a system bus. The abatement tool monitors signals transmitted on the system bus between the host computer and the process tool, and signals received directly from the process tool. The abatement tool uses information contained within the monitored signals to generate a signal for the process tool regarding an operating characteristic of the abatement tool. This signal is transmitted either directly or over the system bus to the process tool, which uses the generated signal to control an operating state of the process tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: James Robert Smith, Michael Roger Czerniak, Nigel James Gibbins