Patents Assigned to Peak Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7948921
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic network optimization are provided. One embodiment comprises receiving a first data packet including an unenhanced payload from a first network device. A portion of the first data packet is then modified, the portion being outside the unenhanced payload of the first data packet, to indicate that a first optimization device is capable of enhanced communication. Next, the modified first data packet is sent from the first optimization device to an endpoint device. An indication of a capability of enhanced payload processing may be received. Based on the indication, an enhanced payload of a second data packet addressed to the endpoint device based on the indication may be generated. Finally, the second data packet including the enhanced payload may be sent to the endpoint device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Silver Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Anthony Hughes, Balaji Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 7945736
    Abstract: A system for managing network memory comprises a communication interface and a processor. The communication interface receives a status message from another appliance. The status message indicates an activity level of a faster memory and a slower memory associated with the other appliance. The communication interface also receives a data packet. The processor processes the status message to determine the activity level of the faster memory and the slower memory. The processor also processes the data packet to identify any matching data in the other appliance and estimate whether the matching data is stored in the faster memory based on the activity level. Based on the estimate, the processor determines whether to generate an instruction to retrieve the matching data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Silver Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Anthony Hughes, Zhigang Yin, John Burns
  • Patent number: 7698431
    Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-positioning data in a network memory are described. A pre-positioning command may be executed to position specific data at one or more network memory appliances before the data is requested at a branch office. For example, the first download of a software update over the communication network at a branch office may require several minutes. To make the first download of the software update faster, the software update may be downloaded previously to the branch appliance. According to various embodiments, the pre-positioning command may comprise a time of transfer and/or a schedule. The data may be received by a pre-positioning receiver such as a file system server, a hypertext transfer protocol server, a file transfer protocol server, or a virtual client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Silver Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David Anthony Hughes
  • Patent number: 7644230
    Abstract: A system for managing network memory comprises a communication interface and a processor. The communication interface receives a status message from another appliance. The status message indicates an activity level of a faster memory and a slower memory associated with the other appliance. The communication interface also receives a data packet. The processor processes the status message to determine the activity level of the faster memory and the slower memory. The processor also processes the data packet to identify any matching data in the other appliance and estimate whether the matching data is stored in the faster memory based on the activity level. Based on the estimate, the processor determines whether to generate an instruction to retrieve the matching data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Silver Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Anthony Hughes, Zhigang Yin, John Burns
  • Patent number: 7630295
    Abstract: A network device that ensures network continuity includes a processor and a communications interface. The processor determines whether the network device is functioning properly. The processor then generates a signal indicating whether the network device is functioning properly and transmits the signal to the communications interface. The communications interface is coupled to the processor and a policy based routing system. The communications interface processes the signal to activate or deactivate a link to the policy based routing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Silver Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Anthony Hughes, Damon John Ennis, Narayan Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 7571344
    Abstract: A first appliance for ensuring data integrity in network memory is disclosed. The first appliance includes a processor and a communications interface that communicates over a communication network with a second appliance of the network memory. The processor determines whether reconciliation between a first peer state information in the first appliance and a second peer state information in the second appliance is needed. The first peer state information and the second peer state information track the status of data in the network memory. The processor determines an action to reconcile the first peer state information with the second peer state information based on a positive determination that the reconciliation is needed. The processor then performs the action to reconcile the first peer state information with the second peer state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Silver Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Anthony Hughes, John Burns, Zhigang Yin
  • Patent number: 5221142
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the temperature of an object, such as a semiconductor wafer by measuring the physical change in a dimension of the semiconductor wafer is disclosed. This physical change is then correlated to the temperature using the coefficient of thermal expansion for the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Snow
  • Patent number: 5073698
    Abstract: A method for selectively heating a film on a substrate. The film is provided with a different absorption characteristic for light than the absorption characteristic of the substrate. The specimen (combined film and substrate) is illuminated by light having a maximum intensity at a wavelength which will be substantially absorbed by the film and substantially not absorbed by the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Stultz
  • Patent number: 5047611
    Abstract: A method for rapidly curing a film on a substrate by selective heating, causing it to cure from the inside out. This is accomplished by illuminating the sample with a light source having a peak wavelength which will be primarily absorbed by the underlying substrate and is transparent to the overlying film. Thus the substrate will be selectively heated first by direct absorption of the radiation, and the film to be cured will in turn be heated by conduction from the substrate. In this way, the film will be cured from the interior interface to the surface, or from the inside-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Stultz
  • Patent number: 4984902
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for calibrating a temperature feedback value in a water processing chamber to automatically compensate for variations in infrared emissions from a heated semiconductor wafer due to variations in composition and coatings from wafer to wafer. A calibration wafer with an imbedded thermocouple is used to generate a table relating actual wafer temperatures to power supplied to the heating chamber and infrared emissions detected by a pyrometer. A sample wafer of a batch to be processed is subsequently placed in the chamber at a known power level, and any difference between the detected infrared emission value and the value in the table is used to adjust the entire table according to a first predetermined formula or table. Before each wafer is processed, a known source of infrared light is reflected off the wafer and detected. The reflected light value is compared to a reflection measurement for the sample wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Crowley, Ahmad Kermani, Stephan E. Lassig, Noel H. Johnson, Gary R. Rickords
  • Patent number: 4969748
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for calibrating a temperature feedback value in a wafer processing chamber to automatically compensate for variations in infrared emissions from a heated semiconductor wafer due to variations in composition and coatings from wafer to wafer. A calibration wafer with an imbedded thermocouple is used to generate a table relating actual wafer temperatures to power supplied to the heating chamber and infrared emissions detected by a pyrometer. A sample wafer of a batch to be processed is subsequently placed in the chamber at a known power level, and any difference between the detected infrared emission value and the value in the table is used to adjust the entire table according to a first predetermined formula or table. Before each wafer is processed, a known source of infrared light is reflected off the wafer and detected. The reflected light value is compared to a reflection measurement for the sample wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Crowley, Ahmad Kermani, Stephan E. Lassig, Noel H. Johnson, Gary R. Rickords
  • Patent number: 4820906
    Abstract: An long arc gas-discharge lamp for rapidly heating a semiconductor wafer. The spectral output of the lamp is specifically matched to the absorption characteristics of the particular semiconductor wafer being heating by choosing an appropriate gas or mixture of gases. The electrodes of the long arc lamp are separated by a distance greater than the largest dimension of the semiconductor wafer to insure that the entire wafer is illuminated at one time. In addition, the lamp has a high power density to raise the temperature of the semiconductor wafer to the required process temperature. Large diameter metal electrodes are used to conduct more heat from the ends of the lamp. The electrodes contain a low work function metal such as thorium oxide to increase the electron emission. The enclosing glass capillary has thin walls between the electrodes for improved heat dissipation. The glass capillary is cooled to carry the heat away from the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Stultz
  • Patent number: 4808059
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for transferring one or more workpieces from a first location to a second location in an automated fashion. The apparatus includes a wafer transfer arm having a vacuum means at one end thereof for removable attachment to the underside of a workpiece to cause the workpiece to be moved from a first location to a second location. The transfer arm is coupled at the opposite end thereof to a post which is coupled to drive means for moving the arm in three degrees of freedom, namely along an X direction, along a Z direction and in a rotative direction. A reversible drive motor is provided for each degree of freedom and the motors are mounted on a carriage in a manner such that the motors can be simultaneously actuated under the control of a computerized control means. Thus, with a program coupled to the control means, the transfer arm can be made to perform a series of steps sequentially to move one or more workpieces from a first location, such as a wafer cassette, to a processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Eddy
  • Patent number: 4727297
    Abstract: An improved high power (40,000 watt) high intensity arc discharge power supply which provides reliable, automatic ignition control and enables precise variation of lamp power in dual AC and DC modes of operation over an extended dynamic range from 400 watts to 40,000 watts. A capacitive boost circuit is provided to supply the high voltage necessary to ignite the lamp. Upon start-up, the voltage on a boost circuit capacitor is monitored by an ignition circuit which automatically enables the ignitor when the voltage is at the required level and switches the ignitor off when the lamp starts. After ignition the boost charging circuit is disabled and the power supply operates in a normal mode. The power supply operates on a three phase alternating voltage input through a three phase bridge, switches it through a drive transistor and then supplies it to an inductor. The signal is then supplied through an H-bridge commutator to the boost circuit, the ignitor and the arc lamp itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Peak Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Wolze