Patents Represented by Attorney Thomas R. FitzGerald
  • Patent number: 4755050
    Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a standard for monitoring the calibration of optical line width measuring machines which includes an opaque sheet having two spaced apart slots. Preferably, the sheet material is a metal such as chromium deposited on a transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: David C. Watkins
  • Patent number: 4754172
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an STL bipolar buffer/driver circuit having a low output impedance for driving capacitive leads and the like wherein the output resistor of the prior art circuits is replaced by an NPN bipolar transistor and a further circuit including a series resistor, schottky diode and schottky clamp transistor for controlling the two output transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin M. Ovens, Bobby D. Strong
  • Patent number: 4744713
    Abstract: In an ion implantation device having a wafer holder assembly with a plurality of wafer holders each with a retractable wafer clamp and a wafer feeder for loading a wafer onto each wafer holder, there is provided a misalignment sensor which includes a light source for directing a collimated beam of light onto each wafer holder once a wafer has been loaded onto a corresponding wafer holder but before being clamped. A light sensor is coupled to the light souce for detecting light reflected at a predetermined angle from a loaded wafer. A display is provided for indicating misalignment of a wafer in response to the absence of reflected light being detected by the sensor at a predetermined time following loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Julius G. Hrovath
  • Patent number: 4737665
    Abstract: The specification discloses a transition speed up circuit including an input transistor (14) for receiving a variable input voltage. An output transistor (16) is connected to the input transistor (14) to receive turn on current. A first diode (32) is connected at its cathode to the collector of the input transistor (14). A resistor (46) is connected between the anode of diode (32) and the output terminal (18). A speed up transistor (42) is connected at its emitter to the collector of input transistor (14) to supply speed up current through input transistor (14) to output transistor (16). A second diode (44) is connected between the base of speed up transistor (42) and the junction of first diode (32) and resistor (46). The speed up current terminates when the voltage at the output terminal (18) falls to a level determined by the value of resistor (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Kevin M. Ovens
  • Patent number: 4727514
    Abstract: A programmable memory includes a memory matrix (34) with a row decode circuit (36) and a column decode circuit (48) operable in the program mode to select one of the memory elements in the memory matrix (34). A current boost circuit (50) is operable to provide increased current to the selected cell such that selection of the cell opens the fuse associated therewith to change the logic state. The pins associated with the column and row addresses have multiple mode functions such that in the normal operating mode they can be assigned other tasks and in the programming mode are utilized primarily for addressing of the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Rohit L. Bhuva, Allen Y. Chen
  • Patent number: 4710258
    Abstract: A crystal growing furnace has lift and rotation control apparatus for both a growing crystal and a crucible containing a melt. A transducer and a servo motor are disposed above the furnace having respective shafts connected along a common horizontal axis on opposite sides of a longitudinal light tube wherein the light tube and transducer shaft can be axially positioned by the shaft of the servo motor. The light tube has a lens for focusing at times on a spot on a meniscus in the furnace and at times on the melt, a light sense detector is connected to the light tube for at times generating a servo motor control error signal to drive the servo motor incrementally to an angular position corresponding to growth in the diameter of the meniscus by tracking a spot on the meniscus. The transducer generates an output signal indicative of incremental angular movement in response to growing the crystal for governing the lift and rotation control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Henry C. Latka
  • Patent number: 4694777
    Abstract: A beam of substantially coherent light passes through a window in an enclosure in a direction substantially parallel, but contiguous, to a substrate in the enclosure to produce a deposition of a substance on the substrate. The beam may have a width corresponding substantially to the width of the substrate or it may be relatively narrow and swept across the substrate. The beam is relatively narrow in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate. Differences in the beam strength at individual positions along the substrate may be compensated by reflecting the beam, after passing the substrate, to travel in a reverse direction along the substrate or by directing the beam slightly downwardly along the substrate during movement along the substrate. A second substrate may be substantially parallel to, but slightly spaced from, the first substrate, so that the light beam passes between the substrates to obtain a deposition of the substance on both substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Inventor: Gregory A. Roche
  • Patent number: 4619081
    Abstract: A combined nozzle and air foil for providing a flow of cooling and cleaning fluid to a rotating cutting blade providing cutting of a substrate. A nozzle portion for location intermediate the cutting blade and the substrate. The nozzle portion including at least one opening for directing a flow of cooling and cleaning fluid to the blade and to the cut area of the substrate. An elongated air foil portion mounted above and extending from the nozzle portion to be cut by the cutting blade to form an air foil on both sides of the cutting blade. The air foil producing a partial vacuum below the air foil and adjacent the opening in the nozzle to provide an efficient flow of the fluid to the blade and the cut area of the substrate. The combined nozzle and air foil portions are movably mounted to have the air foil engage the cutting blade to custom cut the air foil to match the dimensions of the cutting blade and to provide the proper location of the nozzle to direct the flow of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Scott J. Lipanski
  • Patent number: 4617173
    Abstract: A crystal growing furnace has lift and rotation control apparatus for both a growing crystal and a crucible containing a melt. A transducer and a servo motor are disposed above the furnace having respective shafts connected along a common horizontal axis on opposite sides of a longitudinal light tube wherein the light tube and transducer shaft can be axially positioned by the shaft of the servo motor. The light tube has a lens for focusing at times on a spot on a meniscus in the furnace and at times on the melt, a light sense detector is connected to the light tube for at times generating a servo motor control error signal to drive the servo motor incrementally to an angular position corresponding to growth in the diameter of the meniscus by tracking a spot on the meniscus. The transducer generates an output signal indicative of incremental angular movement in response to growing the crystal for governing the lift and rotation control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Henry C. Latka
  • Patent number: 4607525
    Abstract: The invention of this disclosure is a profiling and testing system that uses an air probe to determine the contour of a wafer containing a plurality of dies so that an electrical sensor may automatically step from die to die and test the completed dies in the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Turner, Jacques Roch
  • Patent number: 4594127
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for suspending a seed crystal over a fixed crucible containing a melt from a rotary and axially operable vertically disposed drive adaptor comprising the steps of forming a tubular receptacle adapted to be detachably secured at its upper end coaxially to the adapter, and having an internal bore formed therein with an internal step near its lower end for supporting the seed. The seed is formed in the shape of a cylinder of a diameter to pass axially through the stepped bore of the receptacle and having its upper end conically tapered downwardly and inwardly from the upper end thereof. A split sleeve is formed to be receivable downwardly within the internal bore of the tubular receptacle except as limited by the internal steps of the bore of the receptacle. The sleeve has an internal conical taper complimentary to the taper of the upper end of the seed about which it is disposed before insertion of the seed and sleeve within the bore of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Lane, Donald J. Fanale
  • Patent number: 4581248
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for laser induced vapor deposition upon a substrate. The invention includes apparatus isolated from the deposition chamber for preheating the substrate before deposition. A bellows arrangement permits adjustment of the heat applied to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Inventor: Gregory A. Roche
  • Patent number: 4555766
    Abstract: A microprocessor having input fluid brake control apparatus and output fluid brake application apparatus is provided wherein the output fluid brake application apparatus comprises a digital signal characteristic of a desired fluid braking pressure. The brake application apparatus comprises an improved fluid pressure regulator having a fluid pressure chamber for developing and maintaining a regulated braking fluid pressure. The improved regulator has valves selectively operable to brake application, release, and lap positions for selectively governing regulated fluid pressure in a braking device and in the fluid pressure chamber. A digital linear actuator having an axially operable shaft responsive to the digital signal is provided to actuate the valves alternately to application and release positions, the actuator being secured to a piston subject to pressure in the fluid pressure chamber on one side thereof and subject to pressure of a metering spring on the other side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Wright
  • Patent number: 4545465
    Abstract: An actuator for a disc brake caliper comprises a spring operable piston for applying pressure to the disc brake caliper when rendered effective through a self adjusting lead screw, one end of which is friction coupled to the piston to prevent rotation of the lead screw when the brakes are applied. A manual release screw is threaded through the piston to bear against the head of the lead screw through an anti-friction bearing when manual release is desired to at least partially release pressure of the piston on the head of the lead screw through the friction coupling to permit slippage in the friction coupling connection between the piston and the head of the lead screw and cause the piston to rotate the lead screw in a direction to permit release of the brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas H. Engle
  • Patent number: 4534599
    Abstract: Electro-hydraulic brake control apparatus is provided for respective vehicles of a train in an electric train line brake control system having load sense circuits for generating analog signals when enabled by an emergency braking designation for limiting the extent of emergency brake applications for respective vehicles of the train in accordance with the load of the vehicle. Generating of the analog signals, when enabled, is continuously variable in accordance with the load of the vehicles; but is at other times normally inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Eric C. Wright, Ronald E. Fairman
  • Patent number: 4530422
    Abstract: A brake cylinder comprises a brake actuator device having a fluid operable piston and a coaxial adjoining hand brake operable device for axial actuation of a coaxial tubular push rod, there being a slack adjuster for selectively adjusting the retraction of the push rod. An actuating rod is connected to the piston and the actuating rod is selectively connected and disconnected from the internal periphery of the push rod by locking rollers selectively cooperating with a wedge shaped annulus disposed between the actuator rod and the inner periphery of the push rod. Slack adjustment is permitted by axial travel of the push rod beyond free travel limits as permitted by a friction sleeve connection between the outer periphery of the push rod and the brake cylinder housing. In a modification, the locking device is provided for a fluid spread brake cylinder that is adapted by levers to be connected to a conventional freight brake rigging to be used, for example, for hand brake applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas M. Bogenschutz
  • Patent number: 4509801
    Abstract: A fluid pressure brake control system of the direct release type for a freight locomotive comprises a first pipe bracket having a manually controllable automatic brake valve device connected thereto on one side for governing fluid brake control pressure in a train pipe, and a manually controllable independent brake valve device is connected on another side of the bracket for governing brakes of the locomotive independent of brakes of freight cars in a train. There is a locomotive brake control valve device comprising a second pipe bracket having a service valve portion secured to one side thereof corresponding to a service valve portion such as is conventionally used on freight car control valve devices. A quick release and emergency valve portion is secured to another side of the second pipe bracket for governing emergency brake pressure and for governing independent direct release of brakes of a locomotive in response to actuation of the manually controllable independent brake valve device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald O. Newton, Eric Wright
  • Patent number: 4501346
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a plurality of pairs of cantilever arms that extend in opposite axial directions and support a brake ring on a hub. The arms expand and contract under thermal and inertial loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas M. Bogenschutz
  • Patent number: 4489740
    Abstract: A cleaning machine for cleaning annular discs is disclosed. Annular discs of rigid or flexible material are designed to receive a magnetic coating capable of operating as a memory for a computer. The cleaning machine uses a spindle that aligns and holds the disc. The spindle rotates and high pressure cleaning fluid simultaneously washes both sides of the disc. In one embodiment the spindle has a conical ferrule made of abrasion-resistant rubber. In another embodiment the spindle includes centrifugally-operable hold down arms that extend from the spindle during rotation to keep the disc on the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Rattan, Craig M. Walwyn
  • Patent number: 4454078
    Abstract: A motor rotated agitator is adapted to be inserted within a container of liquid wherein the agitator has a plurality of curved blades secure at their top edges to a disc adapted to be rotated by a motor. The lower edges of the blades have a circular plate secure thereto, having a central circular opening for input of fluid to inner ends of the blades. A sparge ring is disposed about the periphery of the agitator for ejecting a gas into output of fluid at the periphery of the agitator in an area spaced from the input area of the agitator, which is limited by use of the circular plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Horst P. Engelbrecht, Ronald J. Weetman