Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Killworth, Gottman, Hagan & Schaeff
  • Patent number: 6541812
    Abstract: A capacitor useful with semiconductor devices and a method for forming such a capacitor is provided. The capacitor comprises a contact formed in a layer of an insulating material of a semiconductor device; a first electrode formed on the layer of insulating material, the first electrode contacting the contact and having a nodular shape; a layer of a dielectric material formed on the first electrode; and a second electrode formed on the layer of the dielectric material. Desirably, the dielectric layer of the capacitor is formed from a high dielectric constant material. In another embodiment, the capacitor includes a layer of a barrier material positioned between the contact and the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 6540836
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for processing a monolayer film and transferring the monolayer film to a substrate are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy A. Strodtbeck
  • Patent number: 6540076
    Abstract: A carton is provided for packaging, shipping, and dispensing a metal-backed printing blanket onto a printing press cylinder in a controlled fashion. A lengthwise slit or opening can easily be formed in a panel of the carton from which only an end of the metal-backed printing blanket may be removed. Parallel reference lines may also be included on the carton which permit alignment marks to be drawn on the printing blanket such that it may be properly inserted into a locking device of the printing press cylinder. Graspable sides of the carton facilitate tension and alignment control as the printing blanket is dispensed onto the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Day International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Rocco Elia, Darren Reed McCracken, Thomas Gerald Ferguson
  • Patent number: 6537912
    Abstract: The present invention provides an encapsulated 3-D conductive pillar and a method of formation thereof. Significant economic savings are achieved by filling a substantial portion of the volume of the pillar with a lesser expensive conductive material. Additionally, the encapsulated 3-D conductor pillar forms a suitable unreactive, oxygen-stable electrode for use with high-dielectric constant (HDC) materials as the encapsulating barrier layer metal provides a stable conductive interface between the HDC material and the encapsulated conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Vishnu Kumar Agarwal
  • Patent number: 6537525
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to chewing-gum preparations which are particularly useful for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease. Typically, the chewing-gum preparation comprises a chewing-gum base and more than one ingredient selected from the group consisting of an acid neutralizing agent, an anti-gas agent, and an acid production inhibitor, and desirably all three ingredients. The invention is also directed to a method for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease comprising the step of masticating a chewing-gum preparation including a gum base and more than one ingredient selected from the group consisting of an acid neutralizing agent, an anti-gas agent, and an acid production inhibitor, and desirably all three ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventor: Douglas H. West
  • Patent number: 6536271
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump for transporting fluid with a housing, an impeller and a plurality of pressure sensors. Disposed within the housing is a volute section defined by a circumferential path through which a fluid may travel, a discharge section tangentially, aligned and in fluid communication with the volute section such that a flowpath is defined by fluid flowing from the volute section and through the discharge section; and a volute lip section defining a bifurcation point between the circumferential path and the discharge section. The plurality of pressure sensors are disposed within the volute section of the housing, and are spaced apart from one another such that pressure difference reading taken between each exhibit a substantially linear relationship with fluid flow rates to ensure accurate flow rate measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Sankaraiyer Gopalakrishnan, Lloyd D. Hanson
  • Patent number: 6533007
    Abstract: An off-road tire has sidewall tread element extensions with steps that provide gripping action and support around the sidewall, and enable the tire to climb the sides of rocks and ruts. The steps are located at different distances from the tire rotational axis and from the tire tread centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Inventor: Lee A. McMannis
  • Patent number: 6531337
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes flip chips or other semiconductor devices that are mounted on printed circuit boards. The printed circuit boards are stacked to increase the circuit density of the semiconductor structure. The printed circuit boards include cavities or openings to accommodate the flip chips or semiconductor devices and thus reduce the overall size of the semiconductor structure. The flip chips or semiconductor devices from adjacent printed circuit boards may extend into the cavities or openings or simply occupy the cavities or openings from the same printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Salman Akram, Jerry Michael Brooks
  • Patent number: 6531338
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes flip chips or other semiconductor devices that are mounted on printed circuit boards. The printed circuit boards are stacked to increase the circuit density of the semiconductor structure. The printed circuit boards include cavities or openings to accommodate the flip chips or semiconductor devices and thus reduce the overall size of the semiconductor structure. The flip chips or semiconductor devices from adjacent printed circuit boards may extend into the cavities or openings or simply occupy the cavities or openings from the same printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Salman Akram, Jerry Michael Brooks
  • Patent number: 6530246
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for impregnating fibrous material such as, for example, fiber bundles, fiber strands, woven textiles or fiber mats, in which an impregnating agent is introduced into the spaces in the fibrous material, and the individual fibers are surrounded and/or soaked through, wherein the supply of impregnating agent takes place via apertures in a supply body over which the fibrous material is moved, wherein the device is provided with a supply body with apertures for supplying an impregnating agent, furthermore is provided with a transport means for moving the fibrous material through the device or respectively past the supply body, and means for supplying impregnating means to the supply body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Joachim Hausmann
  • Patent number: 6530721
    Abstract: A machine having a tool with hydraulically moveable ends, for example as a screed head, is setup for operation by using an inclinometer or other sensor to determine the orientation of the tool. According to this method, the on grade elevational position of the first end of the tool with respect to the reference is selected, and the first end of the tool is then moved to the desired elevational position while an elevation receiver at the first end detects the reference, such as a beam of laser light. The on grade orientation of the tool along its length from one end to the other is selected, and the second end of the tool moved until the on grade orientation of the tool along its length is sensed. The reference is then detected with the elevation receiver at the second end of the tool. The detected positions of the reference at the first and second ends of the tool are then stored as on grade positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Jerald W. Yost
  • Patent number: 6530720
    Abstract: A transducer arrangement and method that generates control signals indicating relative positions of the ends of a hydraulically movable screed head. The generated control signals of the present invention are used by a conventional control circuit controlling the hydraulically movable screed head with laser receivers in a column block situation, which interrupts the reception of a laser beam from a laser transmitter by one of the laser receivers, to provide an estimated absolute position of the interrupted receiver side of the screed head until the column block situation clears. Normally, absolute measurements are available on both sides of the screed head via the laser receivers receiving the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Francisco Roberto Green
  • Patent number: 6530321
    Abstract: A flexible image transfer blanket is provided which has a non-extensible backing which is easy to mount onto conventional blanket cylinders, which requires no packing (but which can be used with packing), which does not need to be retensioned during operation, and which prints to the gap better than conventional fabric-reinforced blankets. The image transfer blanket is adapted to be mounted onto a blanket cylinder and includes first and second ends, with at least one of the first and second ends being adapted to be inserted into an axially-extending gap in the blanket cylinder. The blanket includes a image transfer surface layer, at least one woven fabric ply, and a non-extensible base layer. The at least one woven fabric ply includes both warp and weft fibers, with the weft fibers being oriented so that when the blanket is mounted on the blanket cylinder the weft fibers extend circumferentially about the blanket cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Day International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Andrew, Philip K. Loyer, Dawn Kopecky, Michael E. McLean, Edward P. Dzierzynski, Dennis R. Wolters
  • Patent number: 6526611
    Abstract: A stretcher comprised of a roller base, a scissor-type lift frame having a lower end rotatably connected to the base, a tubular undercarriage rotatably and slidably connected to an upper end of the frame, a foldable rigid support positionable over the undercarriage, a soft, foldable cushion positionable over the support and connected thereto to prevent disassociation therefrom, and first and second side-arm supports rotatably connected to the undercarriage. The undercarriage includes first and second longitudinal frame members and first and second movable end extensions. Internal to each of the longitudinal frame members is a releasably locking mechanism to lock the stretcher at a predetermined height. The internal locking mechanism is releasable allowing the stretcher to be vertically adjusted by either one or two thumb triggers, located at one of the movable end extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Ferno-Washington, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Flynn, Christopher S. High, Jerry L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6523727
    Abstract: A metering unit for dough and related foodstuffs having a dough feeder unit, support structure, dough hopper, effluent housing, drive motor and centerless helix, with the effluent housing including an inlet, center and outlet section. The centerless helix is disposed within the effluent housing, and is rotatably coupled to the drive motor. Dough is fed into an aperture in the input section of the effluent housing, and upon rotation of the centerless helix, is discharged from the outlet section of the effluent housing. The internal flowpath of the effluent housing can include a separate discharge liner to prevent the centerless helix from contacting the flowpath wall. Additional control mechanisms can be included to limit motor power output and protect the system in event of an overpressure condition. The system is portable, and can be coupled to a conventional conveyor system to create an integrated approach to dough metering and transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Peerless Machinery Corp.
    Inventor: William E. Lanham, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6524901
    Abstract: Methods for forming notched gates and semiconductor devices utilizing the notched gates are provided. The methods utilize the formation of a dummy gate on a substrate. The dummy gate is etched to form notches in the dummy gate, and sidewall spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the notched dummy gate. The dummy gate is removed, and a notched gate is formed. The methods allow the height and depth of the notches to be independently controlled, and transistors having shorter channel lengths are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jigish D. Trivedi
  • Patent number: 6521544
    Abstract: A method of forming an ultra thin dielectric film or dielectric layer on a semiconductor device is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, an oxide layer is formed over a substrate. A silicon-containing material is deposited over the oxide layer. The deposited material and oxide layer are processed in a plasma to form the dielectric layer or ultra thin dielectric film. The silicon-containing dielectric layer can allow for improved or smaller semiconductor devices. The silicon containing dielectric layer can be fabricated at low temperatures. Improved or smaller semiconductor devices may be accomplished by reducing leakage, increasing the dielectric constant or fabricating at lower temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishnu Agarwal, Garry Anthony Mercaldi
  • Patent number: 6520111
    Abstract: A rotary drum seeder for depositing seeds onto food products. The seeder includes a primary support structure, rotary drum assembly, seed hopper, feed gate disposed between the seed hopper and a hopper discharge, and controller. The surface of a rotatable drum of the drum assembly includes repeating patterns made up of apertures. Seeds are selectively adhered to and dislodged from the apertures by high and low pressure fluids provided to the apertures. The low and high pressure fluids come from a vacuum source and a high pressure source, respectively. The vacuum source causes seeds to adhere to the apertures, while the high pressure source generates a localized positive fluid pressure in a seed dislodging device disposed within the rotary drum, thereby forcing the seeds from the apertures when they pass over the seed dislodging device. A boundary layer air knife is used to remove excess seeds from the surface of the rotary drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fedco Systems Co.
    Inventor: Kirk Alan Lang
  • Patent number: 6522067
    Abstract: An encapsulated organic light emitting device. The device includes a first barrier stack comprising at least one first barrier layer and at least one first polymer layer. There is an organic light emitting layer stack adjacent to the first barrier stack. A second barrier stack is adjacent to the organic light emitting layer stack. The second barrier stack has at least one second barrier layer and at least one second polymer layer. A method of making the encapsulated organic light emitting device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Gordon L. Graff, Mark E. Gross, John D. Affinito, Ming-Kun Shi, Michael Hall, Eric Mast
  • Patent number: 6518905
    Abstract: A bandpass analog to digital converter includes M single channel delta sigma modulators having N-bit quantizer outputs arranged in a parallel configuration and operated at a predetermined sample frequency (fs). The modulator outputs are time interleaved and digitally combined in a manner that provides performance characteristics comparable to a modulator with a sample frequency of Mfs. Thus, bandpass center frequencies that are much higher than conventional single channel architectures are achievable. Single channel first order modulator bandpass center frequencies are restricted to fc=fs/4. However, a range of center frequencies approaching Mfs/2 is supported. This increased frequency capability is obtained while maintaining the delta sigma noise shaping near the higher bandpass center frequencies to reduce the effects of quantization noise. This results in a high signal to noise ratio with a corresponding high resolution at the much higher center frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Wright State University
    Inventor: Raymond E. Siferd