Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder
  • Patent number: 6119780
    Abstract: A wellbore fluid recovery system for recovering fluid from a wellbore that has at least one lateral wellbore extending out therefrom. The system includes a first electric submergible pumping system for recovering fluids from a first zone of a wellbore, and a second electric submergible pumping system for recovering fluids from a second zone of the wellbore, such as from a lateral wellbore. Automated control mechanisms are used for independently regulating fluid flow from the first and the second electric submergible pumping systems. Such control mechanisms include automated downhole adjustable valves and variable speed electric motor controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Camco International, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. G. Christmas
  • Patent number: 6120942
    Abstract: A photomask for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The photomask is manufactured by a providing a photomask substrate and alternately depositing a plurality of layers of a light-absorbing material and of an etch-stop material on the photomask substrate. The light-absorbing material is selected as having a well-defined etching selectivity from that of the etch-stop material. The layers are successively patterned by removing by a selective etching process at least a portion of at least one of said layers, the portion removed from a lower, in relation to the substrate, layer a subset of the portion removed from a higher layer. Together, the patterned layers are used as a photomask to photolithographically imprint a pattern of a photoresist on a semiconductor wafer under manufacture. The photoresist is used in the etching process of the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan R. Reinberg
  • Patent number: 6116355
    Abstract: A choke device for controlling fluid flow, particularly in a modulated bias unit, drill bit or other item downhole drilling component, comprises a passage for the flow of fluid, a choke aperture separating an upstream portion of the passage from a downstream portion thereof, and an impingement surface located in the downstream portion of the passage opposite and spaced from the choke aperture, so that fluid flowing through the choke aperture impinges on the impingement surface. The impingement surface is formed from superhard material, such as polycrystalline diamond, and may comprise the front facing table of a two-layer polycrystalline diamond compact of the kind used as cutting elements in drag-type drill bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Camco Drilling Group Limited of Hycalog
    Inventors: Richard Edward Thorp, Graham Watson, Douglas Caraway
  • Patent number: 6117720
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a memory cell having a non-volatile resistive memory element with a limited size active area. The method comprises a first step of providing a dielectric volume and forming a plug opening within the dielectric volume. A recessed plug of a conductive material is then formed within a lower portion of the opening and a dielectric spacer is formed along the sidewalls of an upper portion of the opening. The spacer is cylindrical and has a central hole. A contact plug is subsequently formed within the central hole, the contact plug electrically coupled to the recessed plug. The contact plug can include a memory element or an additional memory element can be applied over the contact plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Harshfield
  • Patent number: 6117684
    Abstract: A flow cell for use in an analytical system of the type that may be used to test water samples for specific analytes. The flow cell reduces or eliminates the effects of backpressure on a liquid stream passing through the flow cell. This allows a sensor to be incorporated with the flow cell and enables the sensor to provide consistent output with respect to the analyte being tested without introducing signal error due to backpressure fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Zellweger Analytics, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Stieg, James A. Dittmar, Karin L. Bogren
  • Patent number: 6118254
    Abstract: A circuit and method for charging batteries while a power supply also powers a dynamically varying load. All power in excess of that required by the load is used by a power converter to charge the batteries. The circuit advantageously allows the load to change from external power to battery power without switching delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Faulk
  • Patent number: 6118135
    Abstract: A vertically oriented diode for use in delivering current to a multi-state memory element in a memory cell. A vertical diode may be disposed in a diode container extending downwardly from a top of a silicon or oxide layer, and may be formed of a combination of silicon and/or metal layers disposed proximate to inner surfaces of a diode container. A multi-state memory element may be formed of a multi-state material, such as a chalcogenide, above a diode to complete a memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Gonzalez, Raymond A. Turi, Graham R. Wolstenholme, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 6113675
    Abstract: A gas separator having a reduced rotating mass. The gas separator includes a stationary flow inducer that creates a vortex within an outer housing. The flow inducer includes an accelerator mechanism that increases the velocity of the fluid mixture as it flows through a portion of the gas separator. The resultant liquid and gaseous phases are directed from the gas separator through separate outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Camco International, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd M. Branstetter
  • Patent number: 6115666
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring and recording various conditions of engine performance and in particular provides a useful record of the speeds at which the engine has been operated over the life of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventor: Paul T. Ng
  • Patent number: 6114713
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a memory device having a plurality of memory cells. Each memory cell has a non-volatile resistive memory element with a small active area. A plurality of memory cells are formed at selected locations of at least a portion of a semiconductor wafer. To form the memory cells, a lower electrode layer and a memory material layer are deposited over at least a portion of the wafer. Patterns are formed over desired contact locations of the memory material layer and etching is used to remove portions of the memory material layer. The etching step undercuts the patterns and forms memory elements having a protruding contact portion with an apex contact area. The pattern is removed, and an upper electrode is formed and electrically coupled to the contact area. Corresponding access devices and word/bit line conductor grids are provided and coupled to the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Russell C. Zahorik
  • Patent number: 6110789
    Abstract: A method of forming a contact is provided. The method includes the steps of forming a contact hole, creating an enhanced doped region in the contact hole, annealing the enhanced doped region, depositing a barrier metal in the contact hole, annealing the barrier material, and depositing a conductive material in the contact hole. A contact made in this manner exhibits lower contact-to-substrate leakage currents than does a contact formed via conventional single-anneal techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard E. Rhodes, Philip J. Ireland, Kenneth N. Hagen, Zhiqiang Wu
  • Patent number: 6110820
    Abstract: A CMP process using two or more stages wherein each stage has a different polishing rate. The CMP process is characterized by a final stage that is longer in duration than performed in the prior art. In a particular example the final stage is approximately equal in duration to the initial stage. Alternatively, the final stage is performed so as to polish to depth sufficient to remove scratches created at the inititiation of the final polishing. Scratches initiated at the beginning of the final stage of polishing are removed by the extended length of time of the later stage of polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Sujit Sharan
  • Patent number: 6111264
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an ultra-small pore or contact for use in chalcogenide memory cells specifically and in semiconductor devices generally in which disposable spacers are utilized to fabricate ultra-small pores or contacts. The pores thus defined have minimum lateral dimensions ranging from approximately 500 to 4000 Angstroms. The pores thus defined may then be used to fabricate a chalcogenide memory cell or other semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Graham R. Wolstenholme, Steven T. Harshfield, Raymond A. Turi, Fernando Gonzalez, Guy T. Blalock, Donwon Park
  • Patent number: 6109549
    Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle includes a nozzle body and a poppet disposed in the body for reciprocating movement. The body has an internal bore surrounding the poppet. The internal bore tapers in a constant angle of taper from a front seating region to a fuel reservoir region. The poppet has a corresponding surface which diverges slightly from the bore. The surfaces of the bore and poppet form flow control surfaces which terminate in a sharp-edged orifice at the front face of the nozzle. When the poppet is displaced to an open or flow position, fuel is accelerated to the orifice and atomized into a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Martin L. Radue, Scott E. Parrish, Daniel E. Peltier, Wolfram Hellmich
  • Patent number: 6106915
    Abstract: A reinforcement pad can be applied to sheets of paper, such as notebook paper. The reinforcement pad generally comprise a ring having a split region. The split region permits placement of the reinforcement ring around an object, such as the ring of a ring binder, without removing the sheet to be repaired or splitting the ring. Preferably, the ring includes an adhesive surface that permits easy mounting to the desired sheet at the damaged area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Philip H. Ruben
  • Patent number: 6107189
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a structure having an upper surface and an contact surface formed at the upper surface of the structure. An insulating material is formed over the contact surface and a conductive runner extends over the active area such that a lower surface of the conductive runner is above and separated from the active area. A widened portion is formed in the conductive runner with an opening formed in the widened portion and self-aligned to edges of the widened portion. A conductive pillar is self-aligned to the opening and extends downward through the opening, through the insulating material, to the active area. The conductive runner provides local interconnection that can be routed over device features formed in and on the structure without using an additional metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip G. Wald, Kunal R. Parekh
  • Patent number: 6104038
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an array of ultra-small pores for use in chalcogenide memory cells. A layer of a first material is applied onto a substrate. A portion of the layer of the first material is then removed to define an upper surface with vertical surfaces extending therefrom to a lower surface in the first layer of the first material. A fixed layer of a second material is then applied onto the vertical surfaces of the first layer of the first material. The fixed layer of the second material has a first thickness. A second layer of the first material is then applied onto the fixed layer of the second material. The fixed layer of the second material is then removed to define an array of pores in the first material layers. The pores thus defined have minimum lateral dimensions ranging from approximately 50 to 500 Angstroms and cross sectional areas greater than or equal to the first thickness of the second layer squared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando N. M. Gonzalez, Raymond A. Turi
  • Patent number: 6101425
    Abstract: A system combines multiple man-machine interfaces with multiple computer numerical controls over a network. Typically, each man-machine interface comprises a personal computer with a Windows-based operating system utilizing a standard process-to-process communication protocol, such as Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). This type of system allows a wide variety of M-to-N topologies in CNC environments. Further, the use of standard personal computer operating systems and common process-to-process communication protocols permits the networking of other types of devices and the use of other third party applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, LLC
    Inventors: Subbian Govindaraj, George J. Sevcik, Thomas J. Peshek
  • Patent number: 6100616
    Abstract: An oil-filled protector for use with an electric submergible motor, comprises a housing connectable to an electric submergible motor, and an oil-filled expandable chamber within the housing and in fluidic communication with the electric submergible motor. The expandable chamber is formed from an elastomeric material, and includes materials for preventing deleterious fluids, such as H2S, CO2 and CH4, from passing through the chamber and into the motor. Such materials include elastomeric materials with one or more metallic coatings or bonded layers. The chamber can include separate annular partitions to define an inner oil-filled region and an outer region filled with a barrier fluid that substantially inhibits the passage of the deleterious fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Camco International, Inc.
    Inventors: Edine M. Heinig, Marcus D. McHugh, Raymond B. Standridge
  • Patent number: 6096596
    Abstract: A vertical transistor semiconductor and method of making a vertical transistor is provided. The vertical transistor is particularly suited for use in a DRAM cell. The structure permits a DRAM cell to be fabricated with a comparatively low number of masking layers. Moreover, the vertical nature of the transistor allows a larger number of transistors per surface area compared to conventional techniques. The method and apparatus also utilizes a buried digit line. The digit line may include a portion that is a metal material that in a preferred embodiment is step-shaped sidewall of the digit line. The transistor is particular suited for use with a variety of DRAM capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Fernando Gonzalez