Patents Assigned to Watlow Electric Manufacturing
  • Variable pitch resistance coil heater
    Patent number: 9345070
    Abstract: A heater is provided that includes a resistance coil assembly defining a first end portion having a first conducting pin and a second end portion having a second conducting pin, and a resistance coil disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a first zone adjacent the first end portion with a constant pitch. The resistance coil further defines a continuously variable pitch extending along a length of the resistance coil from the first zone to the second end portion. The continuously variable pitch provides a variable watt density such that a predetermined temperature profile is provided along the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Dennis P. Long, Rolando O. Juliano
  • HIGH DEFINITION HEATER AND METHOD OF OPERATION
    Publication number: 20160118277
    Abstract: A heater system is provided that includes a base functional layer having at least one functional zone. A substrate is secured to the functional member, and a tuning layer is secured to the substrate opposite the base functional layer. The tuning layer includes a plurality of zones that is greater in number than the zones of the base functional layer, and the tuning layer provides lower power than the base functional layer. A component is secured to the tuning layer opposite the substrate, and the substrate defines a thermal conductivity to absorb and dissipate a requisite amount of power from the base functional layer. A control system is also provided that has a plurality of addressable control elements in electrical communication with power lines and with the tuning layer, the control elements providing selective control of the tuning layer zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, Kevin Robert Smith, Cal Thomas Swanson, Philip Steven Schmidt, Mohammad Nosrati, Jacob Lindley, Allen Norman Boldt, Sanhong Zhang, Louis P. Steinhauser, Dennis Stanley Grimard
  • RAPID RESPONSE SENSOR HOUSING
    Publication number: 20160116347
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided that includes a housing having a unitary body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is open and defines an internal cavity exposed to an outside environment, and the proximal end portion defines a plurality of internal passageways that extend and open into the internal cavity. A thin film resistive temperature device (RTD), or other micro-sensor, is disposed within the internal cavity, the thin film RTD having a plurality of lead wires that extend through the plurality of internal passageways, and the thin film RTD being in contact with at least one wall of the internal cavity. The thin film RTD and the lead wires are secured within the housing by a thermal adhesive having a matched coefficient of thermal expansion with that of the housing and the thin film RTD substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeremy Ohse, Graham Fischer, Ryan Affara
  • HIGH DEFINITION HEATER AND METHOD OF OPERATION
    Publication number: 20160118276
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, by way of example, a heater for use in semiconductor processing equipment, that includes a base functional layer having at least one functional zone. A substrate is secured to the base functional layer, and a tuning layer is secured to the substrate opposite the base functional layer. The tuning layer includes a plurality of zones that is greater in number than the zones of the base functional layer, and the tuning layer has lower power than the base functional layer. Further, a component, such as a chuck by way of example, is secured to the tuning layer opposite the substrate. The substrate defines a thermal conductivity to dissipate a requisite amount of power from the base functional layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, Kevin Robert Smith, Cal Thomas Swanson, Philip Steven Schmidt, Mohammad Nosrati, Jacob Lindley, Allen Norman Boldt, Sanhong Zhang, Louis P. Steinhauser, Dennis Stanley Grimard
  • High definition heater and method of operation
    Patent number: 9263305
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, by way of example, a heater for use in semiconductor processing equipment that includes a base functional layer having at least one functional zone. A substrate is secured to the base functional layer, and a tuning layer is secured to the substrate opposite the base functional layer. The tuning layer includes a plurality of zones that is greater in number than the zones of the base functional layer, and the tuning layer has lower power than the base functional layer. Further, a component, such as a chuck by way of example, is secured to the tuning layer opposite the substrate. The substrate defines a thermal conductivity to dissipate a requisite amount of power from the base functional layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, Kevin Robert Smith, Cal Thomas Swanson, Philip Steven Schmidt, Mohammad Nosrati, Jacob Robert Lindley, Allen Norman Boldt, Sanhong Zhang, Louis P. Steinhauser, Dennis Stanley Grimard
  • Voltage controlling circuit
    Patent number: 9256239
    Abstract: A voltage controlling circuit with power sharing components is provided. The circuit includes a voltage regulator for controlling an output voltage for a load and a device in communication with the voltage regulator for power sharing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Oscar Ramirez, Cal T. Swanson, Jeffrey Reiman
  • METHOD OF FORMING A COMPOSITE SUBSTRATE FOR LAYERED HEATERS
    Publication number: 20160035602
    Abstract: A method of forming a heater assembly for use in semiconductor processing includes thermally securing a heater substrate to an application substrate; and applying a layered heater having at least one functional layer to the heater substrate after the heater substrate is secured to the application substrate. The heater substrate defines a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is matched to a coefficient of thermal expansion of the functional layer. The material of the functional layer is not capable of withstanding the elevated temperature of the thermal securing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jacob R. Lindley, Dean J. Meyer, Alexander D. Glew
  • Composite substrate for layered heaters
    Patent number: 9224626
    Abstract: A method of forming a heater assembly for use in semiconductor processing includes thermally securing a heater substrate to an application substrate; and applying a layered heater to the heater substrate after the heater substrate is secured to the application substrate. The application of the layered heater includes applying a first dielectric layer onto the heater substrate, applying a resistive heating layer onto the first dielectric layer, and applying a second dielectric layer onto the resistive heating layer. The heater substrate defines a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is matched to a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least one of the first dielectric layer and a coefficient of thermal expansion of the resistive heating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jacob R. Lindley, Dean J. Meyer, Alexander D. Glew
  • System and method for controlling a thermal array
    Patent number: 9196513
    Abstract: A system and method is provided. In one aspect, the system and method may calculate a time period for each mode of a plurality of modes. The system and method may index through each mode for the corresponding time period to provide power to the plurality of thermal elements according to the mode. In another aspect the system and method may index sequentially through each mode of a plurality of modes and apply power to an indexed mode while measuring an electrical characteristic of the thermal elements for the indexed mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Philip S. Schmidt, Cal T. Swanson, John F. Lemke
  • System and method for controlling a thermal array
    Patent number: 9177840
    Abstract: A thermal array system is provided. The thermal array system having each thermal element connected between a first power node and a second power node of the plurality of power nodes and each thermal element being connected in electrical series with an addressable switch configured to activate and deactivate the thermal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Cal T. Swanson, Philip S. Schmidt
  • System and method for controlling a thermal array
    Patent number: 9123756
    Abstract: A thermal system includes a plurality of thermal elements and a control system. The control system has at least three power nodes, wherein each thermal element of the plurality of thermal elements is connected between a pair of power nodes, such that each power node has one thermal element connected between itself and each other power node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Philip S. Schmidt, Cal T. Swanson, John F. Lemke
  • System and method for controlling a thermal array
    Patent number: 9123755
    Abstract: A system and method is provided. The system and method calculate target setpoints for each thermal element and index through each thermal element to provide power to the thermal element, sense an electrical characteristic of the thermal element, and determine if the thermal element exceeds a target setpoint for the thermal element based on the sensed electrical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Cal T. Swanson, Philip S. Schmidt, John F. Lemke
  • Electric heating assisted passive and active regeneration for efficient emission controls of diesel engines
    Patent number: 9115616
    Abstract: A method of heating an exhaust gas in an exhaust aftertreatment system including a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) is provided. The method includes heating the exhaust gas to a predetermined temperature to increase NO2 generation in the DOC when the DPF is not actively regenerated, and heating the exhaust gas to reduce an exhaust temperature gradient when the DPF is actively regenerated. The exhaust temperature gradient is reduced by providing more heat proximate a wall of an exhaust conduit and less heat proximate a center of the exhaust conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing
    Inventors: Wenzhong Zhang, Mike Bange, Scott Boehmer, Magdi Khair, Julian Tan
  • Variable pitch resistance coil heater
    Patent number: 9113501
    Abstract: A heater is provided that includes a resistance coil assembly defining a first end portion having a first conducting pin and a second end portion having a second conducting pin, and a resistance coil disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, the resistance coil defining a plurality of different pitches between the first end portion and the second end portion. An insulating material surrounds the resistance coil assembly, and a sheath surrounds the insulating material. The plurality of different pitches provide a variable watt density such that a predetermined temperature profile is provided along the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis P. Long, Rolando O. Juliano
  • Temperature detection and control system for layered heaters
    Patent number: 9078293
    Abstract: A system for detecting and controlling temperature of a layered heater is provided that includes a layered heater having in one form a substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, a sensor layer disposed on the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed on the sensor layer, a resistive heating layer disposed on the second dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer disposed on the resistive heating layer. An overtemperature detection circuit is provided in one form that is operatively connected to the resistive heating layer. The circuit includes a resistor, the sensor layer, and an electromechanical relay in parallel with the sensor layer. The sensor layer defines a material having a relatively high TCR and the resistive heating layer defines a material having a relatively low TCR such that a response time of the control system is relatively fast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Martin Wallinger
  • THERMOGRAPHIC INSPECTION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20150153293
    Abstract: A thermographic inspection system includes a heat source configured to be removably attached to an exterior surface of an object. A thermal imaging device obtains a thermal image of the object, and an analyzing device determines a location of a defect in the object based on the thermal image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mohammad Nosrati, Cal Swanson, Kevin Ptasienski, Kevin R. Smith, Louis P. Steinhauser
  • Method for the production of an electrically conductive resistive layer and heating and/or cooling device
    Patent number: 9029742
    Abstract: An electrically conductive resistive layer is produced by thermally spraying an electrically conductive material onto the surface of a non-conductive substrate. Initially, the material layer arising therefrom has no desired shape. The material layer is then removed in certain areas so that an electrically conductive resistive layer having said desired shape is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Elias Russegger
  • Combination fluid sensor system
    Patent number: 8978450
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and controlling characteristics of a fluid is provided that includes a substrate, a heating circuit, and a sensing circuit applied on the substrate by a layered process. A control module is in communication with the heating circuit and the sensing circuit for determining, for example, type, concentration, liquid level, and temperature of the fluid, which in one form is a urea solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Louis P. Steinhauser, Jacob Lindley, John Paskvan
  • THERMAL DYNAMIC RESPONSE SENSING SYSTEMS FOR HEATERS
    Publication number: 20150055940
    Abstract: A heater system includes a heater assembly, an imaging device and a control system. The heater assembly includes a plurality of heating zones. The imaging device acquires an image of the heater assembly. The control system determines variations in the plurality of heating zones based on the thermal image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Louis P. Steinhauser
  • Variable watt density layered heater
    Patent number: 8901464
    Abstract: A layered heater is provided that includes at least one resistive layer having a resistive circuit pattern, the resistive circuit pattern defining a length, a width, and a thickness, wherein the thickness varies along the length of the resistive circuit pattern and/or the width of the resistive circuit pattern for a variable watt density. The present disclosure also provides layered heaters having a resistive circuit pattern with a variable thickness along with a variable width and/or spacing of the resistive circuit pattern in order to produce a variable watt density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, James McMillin, Thomas T. Nagl, Rolando O. Juliano