Patents Assigned to CASCADE
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Patent number: 7330023Abstract: A probe station includes a fully guarded chuck assembly and connector mechanism for increasing sensitivity to low-level currents while reducing settling times. The chuck assembly includes a wafer-supporting first chuck element surrounded by a second chuck element having a lower component, skirting component and upper component each with a surface portion extending opposite the first element for guarding thereof. The connector mechanism is so connected to the second chuck element as to enable, during low-level current measurements, the potential on each component to follow that on the first chuck element as measured relative to an outer shielding enclosure surrounding each element. Leakage current from the first chuck element is thus reduced to virtually zero, hence enabling increased current sensitivity, and the reduced capacitance thus provided by the second chuck element decreases charging periods, hence reducing settling times.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2005Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: Randy J. Schwindt, Warren K. Harwood, Paul A. Tervo, Kenneth R. Smith, Richard H. Warner
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Patent number: 7328366Abstract: Methods and systems for a reciprocal backup of data, including files, directories, and application data are provided. Example embodiments provide a Reciprocal Backup System (“RBS”), which enables users of two or more computer systems connected over a network to engage each other for automated reciprocal backup needs using peer-to-peer computing techniques. The peer computer systems negotiate a reciprocal backup relationship where each provides the other with backup storage in a secure fashion. The intermittent nature of some partners is handled automatically by the RBS, which supports fully automated and scheduled backups as well as immediate backup and restoration of data objects. In one embodiment, the RBS comprises reciprocal backup system partner support and one or more storage repositories. The RBS partner support includes a reciprocal backup manager and scheduler and a reciprocal backup agent. These components cooperate to provide the backup and restoration operations of the RBS.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2004Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Cascade Basic Research Corp.Inventor: Eric Michelman
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Patent number: 7323895Abstract: A low-current pogo probe card for measuring currents down to the femtoamp region includes a laminate board having a layer of conductive traces interposed between to dielectric layers. A plurality of probing devices, such as ceramic blades, are edge-mounted about a central opening so that the probing needles or needles included therein terminate below the opening in a pattern suitable for probing a test subject workpiece. A plurality of pogo pin receiving pad sets, each including a guard pad, occupy the periphery of the board. Each guard pad is electrically connected to a trace from the layer of conductive traces. The pad sets may be connected to the probing devices by low noise cables or traces. Air trenches separate the pad sets for reducing cross talk and signal settling times.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2006Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: Paul A. Tervo, Clarence E. Cowan
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Patent number: 7321233Abstract: An interconnect assembly for evaluating a probe measurement network includes a base, respective inner and outer probing areas in mutually coplanar relationship on the upper face of the base, a reference junction, and a high-frequency transmission structure connecting the probing areas and the reference junction so that high-frequency signals can be uniformly transferred therebetween. A preferred method for evaluating the signal channels of the network includes connecting a reference unit to the reference junction and successively positioning each device-probing end that corresponds to a signal channel of interest on the inner probing area.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2007Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: Eric W. Strid, Jerry B. Schappacher, Dale E. Carlton, K. Reed Gleason
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Patent number: 7314236Abstract: A manually operated tool engages and draws towards one another opposed spaced flanges of a repair clamp disposed about a leaking pipe for moving the clamp into position and securely maintaining the clamp on the pipe over the leak allowing plural nut and bolt combinations on the clamp to be tightened in sealing off the leak. A movable handle has attached thereto first and second pivoting arms adapted for respectively engaging a slot within the clamp's first edge flange and the outer edge of the clamp's second opposed edge flange when the handle is in a first non-use position. Moving the handle to a second use position urges the clamp's edge flanges toward one another drawing the clamp securely about the pipe, allowing the clamp's nut and bolt combinations to be tightened. The tool is adjustable for use with a wide range of clamp sizes and pipe diameters.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2003Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: Cascade Waterworks Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventor: Jerry E. Elliott
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Patent number: 7311060Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a soft shelter extension for use with a hard shelter where the hard shelter has a perimeter opening defined by a side wall and sealable by a deck rotationally coupled thereto, wherein the deck is prevented from over rotating by a pair of opposing cables linking the side wall to the deck. Such embodiments include a bow assembly having a plurality of bows wherein first ends are linkable to each other and second ends are linkable to each other, either directly or indirectly. These embodiments further include a pair of cable slide interfaces linked to respective first and second ends of the plurality of bows to receive the respective pair of cables. A flexible panel covers the bow assembly, and mates to the side wall and to the deck to form an enclosed space when the deck is rotated to a position wherein the cables are in tension.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2006Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Cascade Designs, Inc.Inventors: James Giblin, Thomas Gruber, James Marson, Doug Jacot, Terry Breaux
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Patent number: 7304488Abstract: A shielded probe for measuring the electrical characteristics of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices at high frequencies. The probe may include a probe tip that extends through a dielectric substrate that supports on a first surface a signal path to test instrumentation and on a second surface a ground path that shields both the signal path and the probe tip.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: K. Reed Gleason, Tim Lesher, Eric W. Strid, Mike Andrews, John Martin, John Dunklee, Leonard Hayden, Amr M. E. Safwat
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Patent number: 7298536Abstract: A fiber optic wafer probe that includes a fibre optic cable for approaching a device under test.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: Peter R. McCann, John T. Martin
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Patent number: 7295025Abstract: A cable includes an inner conductor, an inner dielectric, and a guard conductor, where the inner dielectric is between the inner conductor and the guard conductor. The cable also includes an outer dielectric, and a shield conductor, where the outer dielectric is between the guard conductor and the shield conductor. The cable further includes an additional layer of material between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor of suitable composition for reducing triboelectric current generation between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to less than that which would occur were the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to directly adjoin each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Lesher, Brad Miller, Clarence E. Cowan, Michael Simmons, Frank Gray, Cynthia L. McDonald
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Patent number: 7290775Abstract: A stackable refuse cart includes a container, an axle, a set of wheels. The container includes first and second axle supports. The first axle support supports the axle in an operative position to rotatably support the container. The second axle support supports the axle in a stowage position enabling the container to be stacked with other containers without interference from the axles. In one embodiment, the second axle support includes a recess defined in the floor of the container. In another embodiment, the second axle support includes a pair of supports that hold the axle against a sidewall within the container. In yet another embodiment, the second axle support is a cradle integral with the container handle.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Cascade Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Brian G. Parker, Mariano D. Acosta, James R. Kilduff, Joseph A. Bollo, Jr.
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Patent number: 7292057Abstract: To reduce noise in measurements obtained by probing a device supported on surface of a thermal chuck in a probe station, a conductive member is arranged to intercept current coupling the thermal unit of the chuck to the surface supporting the device. The conductive member is capacitively coupled to the thermal unit but free of direct electrical connection thereto.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2006Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: Clarence E. Cowan, Paul A. Tervo, John L. Dunklee
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Patent number: 7286934Abstract: An automated transportation (10) system includes a plurality of vehicles (22) adapted to travel along a pathway, and a monitoring system (70) located within each vehicle and adapted to monitor a location and a speed between an associated vehicle and the pathway. The automated transportation system (10) also includes a transmitter (72) located within each vehicle (22) and adapted to transmit a signal that includes data on the location and the speed monitored, and a receiver (76) located within each vehicle and adapted to receive the signal from each of the other vehicles. The automated transportation system (10) further includes a controller (78) located within each vehicle and adapted to interpret the signal received by the receiver and control the associated vehicle to provide proper spacing between the remaining vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Cascade Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Benedikt J. Gaegauf, P. Charles Ammond
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Patent number: 7285969Abstract: A direct current and a modulation signal are simultaneously applied to contact pads on a device under test, such as a laser diode, with a probe that reduces signal distortion and power dissipation by transmitting a modulated signal through an impedance matching resistor and transmitting of a direct current over a second signal path that avoids the impedance matching resistor.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2007Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: Leonard Hayden, Scott Rumbaugh, Mike Andrews
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Patent number: 7283243Abstract: A method apparatus for sensing gases using a semiconductor diode laser spectrometer, the method comprising: introducing a sample gas into a non-resonant optical cell (17); applying a step function electrical pulse (19) to a semiconductor diode laser (20) to cause the laser (20) to output a continuous wavelength chirp for injecting (16a) into the optical cell (17); injecting (16a) the wavelength chirp into the optical cell (17); using the wavelength variation provided by the wavelength chirp as a wavelength scan, and detecting (23) light emitted from the cell (17), wherein a chirp rate is selected to substantially prevent light interference occurring in the optical cell (17).Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2003Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Cascade Technologies LimitedInventors: Nigel Langford, Geoffrey Duxbury, Erwan Normand
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Patent number: 7271603Abstract: A probe measurement system for measuring the electrical characteristics of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices at high frequencies. The probe measurement system preferably includes a probe having a conductive path extending between the first and second surfaces of a membrane and a probe contact electrically connected to the conductive path.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2006Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: K. Reed Gleason, Tim Lesher, Mike Andrews, John Martin
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Patent number: 7266889Abstract: A substrate, preferably constructed of a ductile material and a tool having the desired shape of the resulting device for contacting contact pads on a test device is brought into contact with the substrate. The tool is preferably constructed of a material that is harder than the substrate so that a depression can be readily made therein. A dielectric (insulative) layer, that is preferably patterned, is supported by the substrate. A conductive material is located within the depressions and then preferably lapped to remove excess from the top surface of the dielectric layer and to provide a flat overall surface. A trace is patterned on the dielectric layer and the conductive material. A polyimide layer is then preferably patterned over the entire surface. The substrate is then removed by any suitable process.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2005Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: Reed Gleason, Michael A. Bayne, Kenneth Smith, Timothy Lesher, Martin Koxxy
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Patent number: 7268533Abstract: A chuck adapted to test electrical and/or optical components on a device-under-test (DUT).Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2004Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. Harris, Peter R. McCann
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Patent number: D551353Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Cascade Dafo, Inc.Inventor: Donald R. Buethorn
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Patent number: D555254Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2007Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Cascade Dafo, Inc.Inventor: Donald R. Buethorn
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Patent number: D559988Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2007Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: Cascade DAFO, Inc.Inventor: Donald R. Buethorn