Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Thomason, Moser & Patterson
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Patent number: 6296142Abstract: A counter balance assembly for a lid assembly comprising a spring inside a housing assembly. The counter balance assembly is mounted to a lid, whose displacement generates an external force substantially along a longitudinal axis of the spring. A restoring force is generated by the spring to counteract an inertia force arising from the lid displacement.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1999Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Son T. Nguyen
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Patent number: 6298027Abstract: An optical data storage system 100 utilizes optical fibers 102 for transfer of information to and from storage media 107. The storage media 107 comprises magneto-optical storage disks. The optical fibers 102 are low-birefringence optical fibers. As compared to the prior art, a polarization state conveyed by the optical fiber 102 is accurately reproduced with reduced noise.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1998Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Jeffrey P. Wilde, Jerry E Hurst, Jr., John F. Heanue, Viatcheslav Izraelian, Alexander Tselikov
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Patent number: 6291334Abstract: The present invention provides a carbon based etch stop, such as a diamond like amorphous carbon, having a low dielectric constant and a method of forming a dual damascene structure. The low k etch stop is preferably deposited between two dielectric layers and patterned to define the underlying interlevel contacts/vias. The second or upper dielectric layer is formed over the etch stop and patterned to define the intralevel interconnects. The entire dual damascene structure is then etched in a single selective etch process which first etches the patterned interconnects, then etches the contact/vias past the patterned etch stop. The etch stop has a low dielectric constant relative to a conventional SiN etch stop, which minimizes the capacitive coupling between adjacent interconnect lines. The dual damascene structure is then filled with a suitable conductive material such as aluminum or copper and planarized using chemical mechanical polishing.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1997Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Sasson Somekh
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Patent number: 6290865Abstract: The present invention removes unwanted deposited material from a substrate backside by chemically dissolving the material, while substantially preventing dissolution of the material from the substrate front side. Preferably, the dissolving process is included with a spin-rinse-dry process and uses a greater flow rate of rinsing fluid directed onto the front side compared to the flow rate of dissolving fluid directed onto a substrate backside to protect the substrate front side while the unwanted backside material is removed. The present invention includes the method of dissolving the unwanted material from the backside and edge and the associated apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1998Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Mark Lloyd, Ashok K. Sinha, Sergio Edelstein, Michael Sugarman
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Patent number: 6292328Abstract: A method of creating an improved hydrodynamic fluid bearing is provided which is relatively insensitive to shock vibration changes in load and rotational speed. The hydrodynamic bearing motor in which the bearing is open at both the upper and lower ends, and in which the balance of fluid flow within the bearings is maintained. The assembly of the hydrodynamic bearing is more easily assembled, and the gaps are easily adjusted. In the design of the hydrodynamic bearing, the tolerances for assembly of the various components is minimized; that is, the critical nature of many of the gaps is diminished.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2000Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Mohamed Mizanur Rahman, Gunter Karl Heine, Hans Leuthold, Raquib Uddin Khan
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Patent number: 6291777Abstract: A conductive feed-through providing a conductive path through a dielectric body while maintaining differences in pressure between volumes separated by the dielectric body. A conductive feed-through of the present invention employs a hollow conductive tube created by first drilling a bore through the dielectric material. A first electrode is used to cover one end of the bore, and a vacuum-tight seal is formed around this first electrode. A second electrode is attached to the dielectric body at the other end of the bore. The inside surface of the bore is then coated with an electrically conductive material, and the coating provides a conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode. In an alternative embodiment, the electrically conductive material coating is deposited such that it extends over the surface of the dielectric body so as to function as an electrode as well.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1999Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Vincent E. Burkhart, Michael N. Sugarman
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Patent number: 6291343Abstract: A layer of material is formed on a substrate in a partially formed integrated circuit on a wafer. The substrate undergoes a plasma annealing, during which the substrate is bombarded with ions. The plasma annealing may be performed by exposing the substrate to plasma that is generated from a nitrogen containing gas which is infused with energy. After the substrate is plasma annealed, a layer of a refractory metal nitride is deposited on the substrate. The layer of refractory metal nitride is then bombarded with a first set of ions. The bombardment of the refractory metal by the first set of ions may be achieved by performing a plasma annealing. The refractory metal nitride may be further bombarded by a second set of ions.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1998Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jennifer Tseng, Mei Chang, Ling Chen, David C. Smith, Karl A. Littau, Chyi Chern, Marvin Liao
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Process of purifying and producing high purity aromatic polycarboxylic acids and derivatives thereof
Patent number: 6291707Abstract: The present invention provides a solvent extraction purification method for aromatic polycarboxylic acids or derivatives that meet or exceed polymer-grade specification. The method includes dissolving a crude aromatic polycarboxylic acid or derivative in a base compound; removing impurities and excessive base compound; and removing residual base compound while making purified product. The purification method removes not only the impurities from the crude acid or derivative, but also the residual base compound from finished product that otherwise will contaminate the product. The salt in the cake is converted to product by acid-substitution, thermal decomposition, or electrolysis. The method uses base-extraction solvents to extract base compound and impurities from the salt. The residual base compound in the recovered product is then removed by leaching, stripping, thermal agitating with electromagnetic waves, or evaporation with thermal decomposition.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1999Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Inventor: Tsong-Dar Vincent Lin -
Patent number: 6289376Abstract: A storage server for efficiently retrieving data from a plurality of disks in response to user access requests. The server comprises a plurality of processors coupled to disjoint subsets of disks, and a custom non-blocking packet switch for routing data from the processors to users. By tightly coupling the processors to disks and employing an application-specific switch, congestion and disk scheduling bottlenecks are minimized. By making efficient use of bandwidth, the architecture is also capable of receiving real-time data streams from a remote source and distributing these data streams to requesting users. The architecture is particularly well suited to video-on-demand systems in which a video server stores a library of movies and users submit requests to view particular movies.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1999Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Diva Systems Corp.Inventors: Clement G. Taylor, Danny Chin, Jesse S. Lerman, Steven Zack, William Ashley
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Patent number: 6287990Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a low dielectric constant film by reaction of an organosilane or organosiloxane compound and an oxidizing gas at a low RF power level from 10-250 W. The oxidized organosilane or organosiloxane film has good barrier properties for use as a liner or cap layer adjacent other dielectric layers. The oxidized organosilane or organosiloxane film may also be used as an etch stop or an intermetal dielectric layer for fabricating dual damascene structures. The oxidized organosilane or organosiloxane films also provide excellent adhesion between different dielectric layers. A preferred oxidized organosilane film is produced by reaction of methylsilane, CH3SiH3, or dimethylsilane, (CH3)2SiH2, and nitrous oxide, N2O, at an RF power level from about 10 to 200 W or a pulsed RF power level from about 20 to 250 W during 10-30% of the duty cycle.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1998Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: David Cheung, Wai-Fan Yau, Robert R. Mandal
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Patent number: 6286362Abstract: The present invention generally provides a leak detector having at least two partial pressure analyzers. The leak detector comprises a pumping system, a trace gas detector, and a residual gas analyzer. The leak detector is attachable to a test object, such as a vacuum system, and the pumping system operates to draw a vacuum therein. The residual gas analyzer determines the presence of oxygen, nitrogen, and other components of air in the test object. A trace gas, such as helium, provided to the exterior of the test system is monitored by the trace gas detector which may be a magnetic sector mass spectrometer. The residual gas analyzer and the trace gas detector may be operated simultaneously or independently.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1999Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: John Daniel Coffman, Jeffrey Gordon Lorge
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Patent number: 6288014Abstract: An information storage system is disclosed. The information storage system includes a rigid information storage medium, at least one read/write head, an actuator, and a lubricant. The read/write head comprises a transducer for information introduction and/or retrieval from the storage medium. The actuator supports at least one read/write head for moving the transducer relative to the storage medium. The lubricant which includes a perfluoroacrylate ester polymer is disposed on the surface of the storage medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1998Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: Samuel John Falcone
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Patent number: 6286451Abstract: The present invention provides an HDP-CVD tool using simultaneous deposition and sputtering of doped and undoped silicon dioxide capable of excellent gap fill and blanket film deposition on wafers. The tool of the present invention includes: a dual RF zone inductively coupled plasma source; a dual zone gas distribution system; temperature controlled surfaces within the tool; a symmetrically shaped turbomolecular pumped chamber body; a dual cooling zone electrostatic chuck; an all ceramic/aluminum alloy chamber; and a remote plasma chamber cleaning system.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1997Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Tetsuya Ishikawa, Pavel Staryuk, Hiroji Hanawa
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Patent number: 6283701Abstract: The present invention generally provides a robot that can transfer workpieces, such as silicon wafers, at increased speeds and accelerations and decelerations. More particularly, the present invention provides a robot wrist associated with the robot arm for mechanically clamping a workpiece to a workpiece handling member attached to the arm. The wafer clamp selectively applies sufficient force to hold the workpiece and prevent slippage and damage to the workpiece during rapid rotation and linear movement of the handling member. In a particular embodiment, a clamp for securing silicon wafers uses a flexure assembly to position and hold the wafer with minimal particle generation and wafer damage. The clamp is designed so that the wafers are normally clamped near full extension of the workpiece handling member to deliver or pick up a wafer.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1999Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Satish Sundar, Ned G. Matthews
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Patent number: 6285651Abstract: An optical disc storage system (10) includes an optical disc (12) having a data surface (70) and a transducing element (30) adjacent the data surface (70). An actuator (22) coupled to the transducing element (30) positions the transducing element (30) relative to the data surface (70). The system (10) includes a spindle motor (90) and a controller (34) coupled to the transducing element (30), the actuator (22) and the spindle motor (90) for reading and writing information on the data surface (70). A hub insert (72) is coupled to the optical disc (12) and has a stiffness which is greater than a stiffness of the optical disc (12). An attachment mechanism (94, 96, 98) couples the hub insert (72) to the spindle motor (90) and stress due to the attachment mechanism (94, 96, 98) remains substantially in the hub insert (72) to thereby limit stress applied to the optical disc (12) and the resultant distortion of the optical disc (12).Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2000Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Mary Cynthia Hipwell
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Patent number: 6282486Abstract: A computer system for determining traffic patterns and congestion and using the determined traffic patterns and congestion to determine an appropriate route using a global positioning system and related route map calculator. A vehicle is provided with an onboard computer system adapted to determine travel time of a vehicle in a road segment and calculate a route based on this information. In addition, this information can be distributed to or otherwise shared with other vehicles and similar information can be received from other vehicles to provide a distributed network for generating and sharing experienced traffic patterns. The information can also be used to predict traffic patterns as well.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2000Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Cary Lee Bates, Paul Reuben Day, Jeffrey Michael Ryan, John Matthew Santosuosso
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Patent number: 6280299Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for delivering one or more rinse agents to a surface, such as a polishing pad surface and preferably one or more polishing fluids. The invention also provides a method of cleaning one or more surfaces, such as a polishing pad surface and a substrate surface, by delivering a spray of one or more rinse agents to the surface and, preferably, causing the rinse agent to flow across the surface from a central region to an outer region where unwanted debris and material is collected.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2000Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Kennedy, Boris Fuksshimov, Victor Belitsky, Boris Fishkin, Kyle Brown, Tom Osterheld, Jeff Beeler, Ginetto Addiego
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Patent number: 6282207Abstract: A method of defining extent for storing a plurality data streams having different bit rates. The method calculates the size of the extent for a given data stream then periodically inserts at least one null packet into the extents to enable any bit rate to be able to be stored using a fixed extent size for the stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1999Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: Diva Systems CorporationInventors: Jesse S. Lerman, Danny Chin
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Patent number: 6277199Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor fabrication process and cluster tool utilizing individual gas boxes for each of the processing chambers. These individual gas boxes provide an enclosure where groupings of related gas components may be positioned above and/or adjacent to the semiconductor processing chamber requiring those objects or components. The proximity of the individual gas boxes to the respective processing chambers facilitates the delivery of gases to the chamber as needed. Furthermore, the individual gas panels enable a modular design comprising a processing chamber and gas panel combination. This modular design allows individual chambers and their respective gas panels to be run through various pre-installation tests.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1999Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence Chung-Lai Lei, Son Trinh
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Patent number: D446743Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2000Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: JuWanda, Inc.Inventor: Miguel Agosto