Patents by Inventor Robert M. Wallace

Robert M. Wallace 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: 5520563
    Abstract: An anode plate 40 for use in a field emission flat panel display device comprises a transparent planar substrate 42 having a plurality of electrically conductive, parallel stripes 46 comprising the anode electrode of the device, which are covered by phosphors 48.sub.R, 48.sub.G and 48.sub.B, and a gettering material 52 in the interstices of the stripes 46. The gettering material 52 is preferably selected from among zirconium-vanadium-iron and barium. The getter 52 may be thermally reactivated by passing a current through it at selected times, or by electron bombardment from microtips on the emitter substrate. The getter 52 may be formed on a substantially opaque, electrically insulating material 50 affixed to substrate 42 in the spaces formed between conductors 46, which acts as a barrier to the passage of ambient light into and out of the device. Methods of fabricating the getter stripes 52 on the anode plate 40 are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert M. Wallace, Bruce E. Gnade, Chi-Cheong Shen, Jules D. Levine, Robert H. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5512374
    Abstract: A micro-mechanical device (10) includes relatively movable elements (11, 17) which contact or engage and which thereafter stick or adhere. A perfluoropolyether (PFPE) film (31) is applied to the contacting or engaging portions of the elements (11,17) to ameliorate or eliminate such sticking or adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert M. Wallace, Steven A. Henck, Douglas A. Webb
  • Patent number: 5482564
    Abstract: A method of unsticking contacting elements (11, 17) of a micro-mechanical device (30). The device is exposed to either a low surface tension liquid with a surfactant (32) or to a supercritical fluid (62) so as to avoid damage to fragile components of the device (30). The exposure conditions are controlled so as to provide optimum results without damage to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Monte A. Douglas, Robert M. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5453659
    Abstract: An anode plate 40 for use in a field emission flat panel display device comprises a transparent planar substrate 42 having a plurality of electrically conductive, parallel stripes 46 comprising the anode electrode of the device, which are covered by phosphors 48.sub.R, 48.sub.G and 48.sub.B, and a gettering material 52 in the interstices of the stripes 46. The gettering material 52 is preferably selected from among zirconium-vanadium-iron and barium. The getter 52 may be thermally reactivated by passing a current through it at selected times, or by electron bombardment from microtips on the emitter substrate. The getter 52 may be formed on a substantially opaque, electrically insulating material 50 affixed to substrate 42 in the spaces formed between conductors 46, which acts as a barrier to the passage of ambient light into and out of the device. Methods of fabricating the getter stripes 52 on the anode plate 40 are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert M. Wallace, Bruce E. Gnade, Chi-Cheong Shen, Jules D. Levine, Robert H. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5352330
    Abstract: The process of using electron beam induced stimulated desorption chemistry to produce structures of nanometer order size on surfaces. By passivating a reconstructed surface and selectively removing such passivation with an electron beam through the electron stimulated desorption effect, the adsorption of other atoms and/or molecules is controlled at predetermined regions and/or lines on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert M. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5316793
    Abstract: A system and method for epitaxial growth of high purity materials on an atomic or molecular layer by layer basis wherein a substrate is placed in an evacuated chamber which is evacuated to a pressure of less than about 10.sup.-9 Torr and predetermined amounts of predetermined precursor gases are injected into the chamber from a location in the chamber closely adjacent the substrate to form the atomic or molecular layer at the surface of the substrate while maintaining the pressure at less than about 10.sup.-9 Torr in the chamber in regions thereof distant from the substrate. The precursor gases are provided from a plurality of tanks containing the precursor gases therein under predetermined pressure and predetermined ones of the tanks are opened to the chamber for predetermined time periods while maintaining the pressure in the tanks. A dose limiting structure is provided for directing predetermined amounts of the precursor gases principally at the substrate with a dose limiting directional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert M. Wallace, Bruce E. Gnade
  • Patent number: 4567432
    Abstract: A system for statically and dynamically testing an integrated circuit die in wafer form at various temperatures includes a multilayer support fixture in which the probes, the static test switching circuitry, and the dynamic test switching circuitry are mounted on separate, spaced apart, planar layers detachably connected to one another, the probe and the probe support board being formed of materials having a low temperature coefficient of thermal expansion. A heated/cooled wafer positioning chuck controls the temperature of the wafer thereon during static and dynamic testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas A. Buol, Dean N. Mize, John W. Pattschull, Robert M. Wallace