Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder

Find this attorney in the Justia Lawyer Directory

  • Asymmetric plating
    Patent number: 7256115
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for forming a tapered contact structure over a contact pad. The tapered contact structure may be used to securely anchor an overlying solder bump or solder ball. Additionally, the tapered contact structure allows the use of either larger contact pads or, alternately, allows a greater density of contact pads to be achieved on an integrated circuit substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Joseph T. Lindgren
  • Photodiode for imaging system and method of making
    Patent number: 7256403
    Abstract: A photo-detector having a common electrode comprising a conductive material configured in a non-solid pattern in which there are gaps where there is no conductive material. In one embodiment, the distance (d) or (d?) between conductive portions of the common electrode is in a range from about 3 microns to about 5 microns. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the patterned common electrode covers between 20% to 70% of the surface of the respective photosensor element. A method for making the same is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Andrew Hennessy, Douglas Albagli
  • Foamed cement compositions, additives, and associated methods
    Patent number: 7255170
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to cementing operations and, more particularly, to foamed cement compositions, foaming and stabilizing additives, and associated methods. A foaming and stabilizing additive, that comprises a mixture of an alkali salt of an alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, wherein the alkali salt of the alkyl ether sulfate surfactant comprises a mixture of an alkali salt of a C6-10 alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, and an alkali salt of a C2-4 alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, an alkyl or alkene amidopropyl betaine surfactant, an alkyl or alkene amidopropyl dimethylamine oxide surfactant, sodium chloride, and water, is provided. Also provided are foamed cement compositions that comprise the foaming and stabilizing additive, and associated methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiten Chatterji, D. Chad Brenneis, Bobby J. King, Roger S. Cromwell, Dennis W. Gray
  • Microelectromechanical system sensor and method for using
    Patent number: 7253615
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, an apparatus includes a movable portion through which a sensing current is to be conducted. The movable portion might comprise, for example, a beam or plate suspended above a well in a Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) substrate. The apparatus may also include a sensing portion coupled to the movable portion, and the movable portion and/or sensing portion may move in a direction normal to the substrate in response to a magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ertugrul Berkcan, Wei-Cheng Tian
  • High density access transistor having increased channel width and methods of fabricating such devices
    Patent number: 7253493
    Abstract: A memory device having decreased cell size and having transistors with increased channel widths. More specifically, pillars are formed in a substrate such that sidewalls are exposed. The sidewalls of the pillars and the top surface of the pillars are covered with a gate oxide and a polysilicon layer to form a channel through the pillars. The current path through the channel is approximately equal to twice the height of the pillar plus the width of the pillar. The pillars are patterned to form non-linear active area lines having angled segments. The polysilicon layer is patterned to from word lines that intersect the active area lines at the angled segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongmei Wang, Chandra Mouli, Luan Tran
  • High-density scintillators for imaging system and method of making same
    Patent number: 7252789
    Abstract: A scintillator composition comprising a garnet represented by (M1-x-yNxAy)3(Al5-a-bCaDb)O12, where M comprises yttrium, or terbium, or gadolinium, or holmium, or erbium, or thulium, or ytterbium, or lutetium, or combinations thereof, where N comprises additives including a lanthanide, or an alkali metal, or an alkaline earth metal, or combinations thereof, where A comprises a suitable activator ion including cerium, or europium, or praseodymium, or terbium, or ytterbium, or combinations thereof, where C or D comprises lithium, or magnesium, or gallium, or an element from group IIIa, or IVa, or Va, or IIId transition metal, or IVd transition metal, or combinations thereof, where x ranges from about 0 to about 0.90, y ranges from about 0.0005 to about 0.30, and a sum of a and b ranges from about 0 to 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Venkat Subramaniam Venkataramani, Steven Jude Duclos
  • Air-cooled arc welding implement
    Patent number: 7253373
    Abstract: A welding implement, such as a TIG welding torch. The welding implement comprises a torch head and a thermal storage member. The torch head is operable to conduct electricity to a welding electrode disposed therein. The thermal storage member is adapted to store heat from the torch head during operation of the torch and to release the heat when the torch is not operated. The thermal storage member is electrically isolated from the torch head by an electrical insulator. The welding implement may comprise a tube coupled to the torch head to conduct gas and electricity to the torch head. The welding implement may also comprise a second tube disposed around the tube proximate to the torch head to increase heat transfer from the torch head to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: David Delgado
  • Iterative CT reconstruction method using multi-modal edge information
    Patent number: 7254209
    Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) reconstruction method includes implementing an iterative image reconstruction process for CT metrology of an object, wherein the iterative reconstruction process utilizes accurate forward projection. During each of a plurality of iterations, a reconstructed image is constrained by utilizing prior outer edge information obtained from a modality in addition to CT, and then transformed to a projection domain so as to generate a calculated sinogram. A correction image is determined based on the calculated sinogram and a measured sinogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qi Zhao, Chunhe Gong, Bruno De Man, Samit Kumar Basu, Fracis Howard Little
  • Output driver robust to data dependent noise
    Patent number: 7253655
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling a driver to reduce data dependent noise, such as simultaneous switching effects and cross-talk effects. A plurality of drivers may each receive a data segment to transmit and a plurality of data segments that other drivers will transmit. A driver controller may adjust the time at which the data segment is transmitted in response to the plurality of data segments that the other drivers will transmit. The adjustment may compensate for simultaneous switching noise and cross-talk by, for example, delaying the transmission of a data segment or changing the slew rate of the signal carrying the data segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Ki Kwon, Greg Blodgett
  • Method and system for visualizing three-dimensional data
    Patent number: 7250949
    Abstract: A technique is provided for visualizing a volume of interest, such as may be acquired by a tomosynthesis imaging system. The technique provides for the use of one or more weighting functions, such as depth-dependent weighting functions, in the determination of pixel values in a volume rendering. The weighting functions may modify, for example, an intensity determination for a pixel, either directly or by modifying other contributing functions, such as for determining occlusion effects. The volume rendering may then be displayed for review by a technologist or clinician.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus, Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard
  • Optical integrated circuit and method for fabricating the same
    Patent number: 7251387
    Abstract: The present technique relates to a method and apparatus for fabricating an optical integrated circuit amplifier with another type of optical integrated circuit. In optical networks, optical components exchange optical signals to communicate between different systems coupled to the optical components. The optical components may include optical integrated circuit amplifiers and other optical integrated circuits coupled together through optical paths. The optical integrated circuit amplifiers and other optical integrated circuits of the optical components are fabricated on the same substrate to reduce the cost of fabrication, maintenance and installation, while enhancing the performance of the optical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Vishnu K. Agarwal
  • Techniques for storing accurate operating current values
    Patent number: 7251181
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing memory devices and memory modules comprising memory device. Specifically, respective operating current values may be measured and/or stored on a plurality of memory devices. More specifically, the operating current values may be stored in programmable elements, such as antifuses, on memory devices. The memory devices may be coupled to a substrate to form a memory module. A non-volatile memory device may be coupled to the substrate. The operating current values may be read from the programmable elements and stored in the non-volatile memory device. Once the memory module is incorporated into a system, the programmable elements or non-volatile memory may be accessed such that the system can be configured to optimally operate in accordance with the operating current values measured for each memory device in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Janzen, Scott Schaefer, Todd D. Farrell
  • High pressure discharge lamp control system and method
    Patent number: 7250732
    Abstract: A system for providing a controllable current to a high intensity discharge lamp is provided. The system includes a current controller that is configured to receive input power and to provide an output current waveform to the high intensity discharge lamp. This current causes a discharge of light from the lamp. The output current waveform includes an absolute value amplitude in each half cycle that is generally constant during a first portion and that which increases non-linearly from the generally constant amplitude to a peak amplitude during a second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mohamed Rahmane, Eric Croquesel, Svetlana Selezneva
  • Integrated high efficiency blower apparatus for HVAC systems
    Patent number: 7246997
    Abstract: An integrated centrifugal blower wheel for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) blower unit includes a first blade support, a second blade support, and a plurality of S-shaped blades disposed between the first and second blade supports, wherein each of the S-shaped blades has a trailing edge bent in a forward direction with respect to a defined direction of rotation of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoyue Liu, Herman Weigman, Shixiao Wang
  • Complex system serviceability design evaluation method and apparatus
    Patent number: 7249284
    Abstract: A technique is provided for designing and evaluating service models for components, functions, subsystems and field replaceable units in a complex machine system. At a component or item level, each model identifies various items, failure modes, and so forth which may be the root cause of anticipated serviceable events or faults. The design tools permit numerous interfaces to be used in the design of service models, and in the evaluation of the degree to which the models address detectability and isolation capabilities for the root causes of serviceable events and faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rasiklal Punjalal Shah, Vrinda Rajiv, Mark David Osborn, Catherine Mary Graichen, Amey Sudhakar Joshi, Sreevidya Sambasivan, Jieqian Cathy Chen, Ernest Joseph Waldron
  • Method and system for three dimensional tomosynthesis imaging
    Patent number: 7244063
    Abstract: An imaging system for scanning a volume of interest in an object, the system includes a radiation source configured to traverse in a plurality of focal spot positions yielding a plurality of focal spot trajectories. Each focal spot trajectory defines a two dimensional focal spot projection in an image acquisition plane. Each of the focal spot positions comprise at least two positions at unequal distances from the image acquisition plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard, Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus, Abdulrahman Abdallah Al-Khalidy, Abdalmajeid Musa Alyassin, John Kaufhold, Gulnar Siddiqi
  • Welding torch nipple
    Patent number: 7244910
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a welding torch nipple for coupling a welding cable and neck assembly to one another. The exemplary nipple includes two hollow tubes: an inner tube disposed in an outer tube. The inner tube includes features that facilitate mating with a welding cable and the outer tube is configured to receive a neck assembly. A dielectric layer disposed between the inner and outer tubes electrically isolates the outer tube from the inner tube, thereby protecting a user from electrical shock, for instance. The dielectric layer includes a stem portion that extends radially into the outer tube, blocking axial separation of the outer tube and the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Giese, Robert Warning, Jeremy Jansma
  • Set retarder compositions, cement compositions, and associated methods
    Patent number: 7244303
    Abstract: Cement compositions, that comprise water, a cement, a strength-retrogression additive, and an acid, wherein the acid comprises ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, or a combination thereof, are provided. Methods of cementing in a subterranean formation, methods of retarding the set time of a cement composition, and set retarder compositions also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiten Chatterji, James F. Heathman, Dennis W. Gray, Bryan K. Waugh
  • Alignment mechanism for a welding torch
    Patent number: 7244911
    Abstract: In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a welding torch that includes features facilitating aligned assembly of various components of the welding torch with respect to one another. For example, the welding torch includes a nipple that carries a pin member extending from both an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral of a sleeve of the nipple. This pin engages with a slot on a coupling member and a slot on a neck assembly, thereby facilitating proper alignment of the neck assembly, coupling member, and nipple with respect to one another. Moreover, the engagement between the pin member and the slots block pivotal displacement of neck assembly, coupling member, and neck assembly with respect to one another. Advantageously, the use of a single pin member for both slots presents a more judicious construction, leading to reduced manufacturing costs, for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Giese, Robert Warning, Jeremy Jansma
  • Techniques for reducing leakage current in memory devices
    Patent number: 7245548
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) in memory devices utilizing negative wordline architectures. More specifically, a method and apparatus are provided to determine whether any of the word lines in a section of a memory array are active. If any one of the plurality of word lines is active, each of the inactive word lines in the section are coupled to a negative voltage level. If none of the plurality of word lines is active, each of the plurality of word lines is coupled to ground to reduce GIDL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Venkatraghavan Bringivijayaraghavan, Abhay S. Dixit, Scot M. Graham, Stephen R. Porter, Ethan A. Williford