Patents by Inventor Alfred A. Funari

Alfred A. Funari has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10352811
    Abstract: A cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge includes an extended anode electrode and a cathode electrode surrounding the anode electrode along its length and forming a discharge space between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The vacuum gauge further includes an electrically conductive guard ring electrode interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode about a base of the anode electrode to collect leakage electrical current, and a discharge starter device disposed over and electrically connected with the guard ring electrode, the starter device having a plurality of tips directed toward the anode and forming a gap between the tips and the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Brucker, Timothy C. Swinney, Brandon J. Kelly, Alfred A. Funari, Michael N. Schott, Kristian S. Schartau
  • Publication number: 20180010977
    Abstract: A cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge includes an extended anode electrode and a cathode electrode surrounding the anode electrode along its length and forming a discharge space between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The vacuum gauge further includes an electrically conductive guard ring electrode interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode about a base of the anode electrode to collect leakage electrical current, and a discharge starter device disposed over and electrically connected with the guard ring electrode, the starter device having a plurality of tips directed toward the anode and forming a gap between the tips and the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Brucker, Timothy C. Swinney, Brandon J. Kelly, Alfred A. Funari, Michael N. Schott, Kristian S. Schartau
  • Patent number: 9797797
    Abstract: A cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge includes an extended anode electrode and a cathode electrode surrounding the anode electrode along its length and forming a discharge space between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The vacuum gauge further includes an electrically conductive guard ring electrode interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode about a base of the anode electrode to collect leakage electrical current, and a discharge starter device disposed over and electrically connected with the guard ring electrode, the starter device having a plurality of tips directed toward the anode and forming a gap between the tips and the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Brucker, Timothy C. Swinney, Brandon J. Kelly, Alfred A. Funari, Michael N. Schott, Kristian S. Schartau
  • Publication number: 20150091580
    Abstract: A cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge includes an extended anode electrode and a cathode electrode surrounding the anode electrode along its length and forming a discharge space between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The vacuum gauge further includes an electrically conductive guard ring electrode interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode about a base of the anode electrode to collect leakage electrical current, and a discharge starter device disposed over and electrically connected with the guard ring electrode, the starter device having a plurality of tips directed toward the anode and forming a gap between the tips and the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Brucker, Timothy C. Swinney, Brandon J. Kelly, Alfred A. Funari, Michael N. Schott, Kristian S. Schartau