Patents Examined by Patrick J Assouad
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Patent number: 8022716Abstract: A time-to-breakdown for a dielectric layer in a semiconductor device is determined based upon a sudden change in capacitance. An alternating voltage, greater in magnitude than an operating voltage of the device, is applied to the semiconductor device, capacitance is measured across the dielectric layer during the application of the voltage until a sudden change in capacitance occurs, thereby indicating a breakdown in the dielectric layer, and the breakdown time is scaled to the operating voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2009Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES IncInventors: Kok Yong Yiang, Rick Francis, Amit P. Marathe, Van-Hung Pham
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Patent number: 8013599Abstract: A method for inspecting a component having a surface profile that includes a local minima and a local maxima. The method includes positioning an eddy current probe proximate to a surface of the component to generate a first position indication, positioning the eddy current probe proximate to the surface of the component to generate a second position indication that is different than the first position indication, and interpolating between the first and second position indications to determine a profile of a portion of the surface of the component.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2004Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ui Won Suh, Gigi Olive Gambrell, John William Ertel, William Stewart McKnight
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Patent number: 7999540Abstract: An eddy current monitoring system may include an elongated core. One or more coils may be coupled with the elongated core for producing an oscillating magnetic field that may couple with one or more conductive regions on a wafer. The core may be translated relative to the wafer to provide improved resolution while maintaining sufficient signal strength. An eddy current monitoring system may include a DC-coupled marginal oscillator for producing an oscillating magnetic field at a resonant frequency, where the resonant frequency may change as a result of changes to one or more conductive regions. Eddy current monitoring systems may be used to enable real-time profile control.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: G. Laurie Miller, Boguslaw A. Swedek, Manoocher Birang
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Patent number: 7990139Abstract: Disclosed is a small-sized two-axis magnetic field sensor having a function to cause a magnetic field canceling an external offset magnetic field. The two-axis magnetic field sensor contains a plane coil disposed on a plane and four sets of magneto-resistance element pairs on a plane parallel to the plane coil. The plane coil includes at least two pairs of parallel conductors, and two magneto-resistance elements cross only a single conductor of the coil. A current for canceling the external offset magnetic field is determined in advance, and while a DC current that causes total magnetic fields of biasing magnetic fields plus a magnetic field for canceling the external offset magnetic field flows through the coil, intermediate potential outputs from the magneto-resistance element pairs are detected to measure a magnetic field direction, such as geo-magnetism.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.Inventors: Yasunori Abe, Tomoki Ono, Yuji Nihei
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Patent number: 7982439Abstract: A device and method for harvesting, generating, storing, and delivering energy to a load, particularly for remote or inaccessible applications. The device preferably comprises one or more energy sources, at least one supercapacitor, at least one rechargeable battery, and a controller. The charging of the energy storage devices and the delivery of power to the load is preferably dynamically varied to maximize efficiency. A low power consumption charge pump circuit is preferably employed to collect power from low power energy sources while also enabling the delivery of higher voltage power to the load. The charging voltage is preferably programmable, enabling one device to be used for a wide range of specific applications.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: TPL, Inc.Inventors: John T. Trainor, Patrick Franz Fleig, Charles D. E. Lakeman, Jenniffer Leigh DeGreeff
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Patent number: 7982454Abstract: A proximity detector employs a first peak detector circuit and a second peak detector circuit, both responsive to a magnetic field signal. The second peak detector circuit includes a positive peak detector circuit and a negative peak detector circuit, each of which have a predetermined excursion limit in an outward direction away from a center voltage of the magnetic field signal so as to be less affected by a large signature region in the magnetic field signal. The proximity detector also includes an output control circuit. The output control circuit is configured to provide an output signal, which, during a determined time period, changes state in response to the first peak detector circuit, and which, after the determined time period, changes state in response to the second peak detector circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Devon Fernandez, Jeff Eagen, Glenn A. Forrest, Mathew Drouin
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Patent number: 7969147Abstract: A rotation angle detecting device includes a signal generator, a magnetic rotor and a rotation angle calculating unit that calculates a rotation angle ? of the rotor based on the output signals of the signal generator. The signal generator includes a magnetic rotor that has a permanent magnet and a shaft connectable with the rotating object and at least three magnetic sensor elements disposed in the magnetic field to generate a plurality of output signals when the rotor rotates.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.Inventors: Shinji Hatanaka, Kenji Takeda, Shigetoshi Fukaya
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Patent number: 7952344Abstract: A frequency characteristic measuring apparatus measures a device under test in which the frequency of an input signal and the frequency of an output signal differ from each other, simplifying the configuration of a tracking generator and peripheral circuits associated with the tracking generator, and simultaneously measuring the characteristics of the input signal and the output signal of the device under test. A spectrum analyzer has mixers, local oscillators and IF sections as first and second measuring units for measuring frequency characteristics of two input signals by performing frequency sweep in correspondence with a first or second frequency range, a mixer and an oscillator as a tracking generator section which operates by being linked to the frequency sweep operation in the first measuring unit, and a section which generates a trigger signal designating measurement start timing.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Advantest CorporationInventors: Wataru Doi, Yohei Hirakoso
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Patent number: 7952328Abstract: A multi-battery charging system comprises a computing device having a controller configured to control a plurality of power regulators, each of the plurality of power regulators for regulating charging power to a respective battery, at least one of the power regulators disposed external to the computing device.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2007Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jeffrey C. Parker, James L. Mondshine, Valiuddin Y. Ali
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Patent number: 7936168Abstract: A portable device is used to measure exposure to magnetic fields and/or exposure to changes of magnetic field. The device (10) includes a first sensor (14) for measuring instantaneous magnetic field strength, and a second sensor (15) which is located adjacent to, and orientated in the same direction as, the first sensor for providing an output indicative of the time rate of change of the magnetic field. An integrator (22) integrates the rate of change output from the second sensor (15) over time to derive relative changes in the magnetic field. A processor (20) is connected to the outputs of at least the first sensor and the integrator. The processor selectively provides an indication of field strength from the output of the first sensor if the output is within the normal operating range of the first sensor, or otherwise from the integrator. A memory (24) is connected to the output of the second sensor (15) to store cumulative exposure to changes in the magnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: The University of QueenslandInventors: Stuart Crozier, Stephen James Wilson, Ian Gregg
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Patent number: 7936166Abstract: A method for extracting peak information from an amplitude varying sinusoidal waveform output from a sensor is provided. The method includes gating a counter with a keying signal having a keying-signal period generated by a sinusoidal waveform associated with the amplitude varying sinusoidal waveform, receiving high frequency clock signals at the gated counter during keying-signal periods, wherein a clock-signal period is much less than the keying-signal periods, disabling the counter at the end of each keying-signal period, generating a quarter-count value based on the disabling, and outputting a sample pulse associated with each keying-signal period. If a current-keying-signal period is the same as a last-keying-signal period, the sample pulse is generated at a quarter-wave of the sinusoidal waveform. If the current-keying-signal period differs from the last-keying-signal period, the associated output sample pulses are adjusted to the quarter-wave of the sinusoidal waveform in the next-keying-signal period.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Frank Olivieri, Walter Kluss, Son T. Tran
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Patent number: 7919962Abstract: A magnet scanning device uses a helical scanning technique to scan a cylindrical magnet along a helical path on a cylindrical surface that corresponds to the cylindrical magnet. Based on the magnetic field profile, the device may detect any unacceptable irregularities in the magnetic field and identify a location of the cylindrical magnet associated with the irregularity.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Roger D. Masham, Peter M. Hughes
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Patent number: 7898250Abstract: An apparatus for sensing and processing a magnetic flux signal comprising: an odd number of at least three fluxgate modules, a summer, and a processor. Each fluxgate module is configured to generate a module response signal upon receiving the magnetic flux signal. The fluxgate modules are circularly coupled to each other such that only one-way signal flow is allowed between them. The summer is configured to sum the response signals from each fluxgate module into a summed signal. The processor is configured to receive and process the summed signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Visarath In, Adi R. Bulsara, Yong (Andy) Kho, Joseph D. Neff, Antonio Palacios, Salvatore Baglio, Vincenzo Sacco
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Patent number: 7888932Abstract: A method of assembling an eddy current array probe to facilitate nondestructive testing of a sample is provided. The method includes positioning a plurality of differential side mount coils at least partially within a flexible material. The method also includes coupling the flexible material within a tip portion of the eddy current array probe, such that the flexible material has a contour that substantially conforms to a portion of a surface of the sample to be tested.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William Stewart McKnight, Ui Suh, Yuri Plotnikov, Changting Wang, Ralph Gerald Isaacs
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Patent number: 7889519Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a dc-dc converter for operating at substantially fixed switching frequency, the converter including a rectifier, and a resonant inverter coupled to the rectifier, the resonant inverter including a switch and a reactive network having first, second, third and fourth energy storage elements, wherein an impedance magnitude at the output of the switch due to the reactive network has minima at dc and at a frequency near a second harmonic of the switching frequency.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: David J. Perreault, Juan M. Rivas, Anthony D. Sagneri, Olivia Leitermann, Yehui Han, Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski
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Patent number: 7880463Abstract: A mechanism for placing and removing a vacuum clamping device for a magnetic disk on a spinstand, comprised of automated vertical and horizontal movement arranged such that a vacuum disk chuck, comprised of a base (9) and cap (6), can be used without operator interaction. Linear actuators provide the horizontal (2) and vertical (3) movement forces to accurately move a chuck cap (6) over a magnetic disk (7) that has been placed on a chuck base (9). The same actuators remove the cap and move it away from the disk to allow quick replacement of the disk. The interface between the mechanism and disk chuck cap is designed such that the cap is securely held during motion, and does not create particles.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Guzik Technical EnterprisesInventors: Naham Guzik, Forest Ray
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Patent number: 7847520Abstract: A battery charging circuit comprising: a semiconductor switch having an output connected to a rechargeable battery; a battery charge controller for receiving power from an external source, and supplying output power to a portable device and the input of the semiconductor switch, the current output of the battery charge controller being controllable; and a voltage sensing circuit for: measuring the voltage drop across the battery charge controller; and responding to the voltage drop across the battery charge controller by modulating the semiconductor switch to reduce the quantity of current supplied to the rechargeable battery when the voltage drop is too great; whereby the total power dissipated by the battery charge controller is controlled, the portable device receiving the power it needs to operate and the rechargeable battery receiving any additional available power.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Dusan Veselic, Martin G. A. Guthrie
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Patent number: 7847556Abstract: A detector 1 for detecting a buried current carrying conductor comprises a digital homodyne receiver. The receiver processes field strength signals induced in a pair of vertically spaced antennae 3, 5. The analogue to digital converter is an audio-grade stereo CODEC 11.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Radiodetection LimitedInventor: John Mark Royle
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Patent number: 7839148Abstract: A method and related system calibrating downhole tools for drift. Some of the illustrative embodiments are a logging tool comprising a tool body, a transmitter antenna associated with the tool body, a transmitter electronics coupled to the transmitter antenna, a first receiver antenna associated with the tool body, a first receiver electronics coupled to the first receiver antenna, and a signal generator separate from the first transmitter electronics, the signal generator coupled to the first receiver electronics, and the first signal generator provides a calibration signal to the first receiver electronics.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2006Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Imran Vehra, James J. Freeman, Christopher A. Golla, Randal T. Beste, Michael S. Bittar
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Patent number: 7834645Abstract: A variable capacitance circuit includes a capacitance changing structure constructed by connecting a first construction unit, a second construction unit, a third construction unit, and a fourth construction unit, which each include a first electric element that hinders transmission of a direct current (DC) signal and has a capacitance that changes in accordance with the magnitude of an absolute value of an applied voltage, in the mentioned order in a ring. A voltage measuring apparatus measures the voltage of a measured object and includes a detection electrode capable of being disposed facing the measured object and the variable capacitance circuit described above. A power measuring apparatus includes a current measuring apparatus that measures current flowing in a measured object and the voltage measuring apparatus that measures the voltage of the measured object.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Hioki Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koichi Yanagisawa