Patents by Inventor Benjamin Sample

Benjamin Sample 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: 11984433
    Abstract: Power semiconductor devices, and more particularly arrangements of power semiconductor devices for improved thermal performance in high power applications are disclosed. Arrangements for multiple power semiconductor devices within a package and/or module are provided that more efficiently utilize the active device area of each power semiconductor device for a given operational specification. Certain arrangements are provided that reduce the effects of thermal crowding in order to provide increased power capability or a similar power capability in a reduced device size. Improved thermal balancing may be provided by variable spacing and/or variable offset distances between next-adjacent power semiconductor devices. In this manner, active areas of power devices and/or modules may include an increased density of power semiconductor devices within a given area while also exhibiting improved thermal profiles during operation, thereby providing improved operating characteristics and/or increased operating lifetimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Wolfspeed, Inc.
    Inventors: Brice McPherson, Benjamin A. Samples, Brandon Passmore
  • Publication number: 20230060641
    Abstract: Power semiconductor devices, and more particularly arrangements of power semiconductor devices for improved thermal performance in high power applications are disclosed. Arrangements for multiple power semiconductor devices within a package and/or module are provided that more efficiently utilize the active device area of each power semiconductor device for a given operational specification. Certain arrangements are provided that reduce the effects of thermal crowding in order to provide increased power capability or a similar power capability in a reduced device size. Improved thermal balancing may be provided by variable spacing and/or variable offset distances between next-adjacent power semiconductor devices. In this manner, active areas of power devices and/or modules may include an increased density of power semiconductor devices within a given area while also exhibiting improved thermal profiles during operation, thereby providing improved operating characteristics and/or increased operating lifetimes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Brice McPherson, Benjamin A. Samples, Brandon Passmore
  • Publication number: 20220279900
    Abstract: A footwear closure system includes an article of footwear, such as a boot, having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a mid-portion that is positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion. The footwear closure system also includes a plurality of reel based closure devices that are coupled with the footwear. The plurality of reel based closure devices are configured to effect closure or tightening of the upper portion, the lower portion, and the mid-portion of the footwear. Each reel based closure device is independently operable and each reel based closure device effects closure or tightening of one of the upper portion, the lower portion, the mid-portion, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Brett Vladika, John Figueiredo, Karl Wurm, Broc Waring, Kevin Chen, Chris Sagui, Daniel Feeney, Jesse Cotterman, Michael Joseph Nickel, Benjamin Sample, Phillip Horne, Taylor James DiTallo, William Wandling, Mark Jerome Kerns
  • Patent number: 10772384
    Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing component, a spool that is rotatably positioned within an interior region of the housing component, and a tightening component that is coupled with the housing component. The tightening component is operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing component to wind a tension member about the spool. The housing component is configured so that the tension member is routed axially below the housing component's interior region and to one or more guides that are positioned along a lace path of an article, such as a shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: BOA TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Eric Whewell, Alessandro Manzato, Kristopher Lovett, Tamara White, Michael Friton, Luke Scotton, Benjamin Sample, Mark Kerns, Robert Dickensheets
  • Patent number: 10522443
    Abstract: A module package can include a substrate; at least one device component configured to be positioned on the substrate; a module package lid configured to be positioned over the at least one device component and on the substrate, the module package lid exhibiting a plateau portion; and at least one mounting spring configured to be positioned on the module package lid, wherein the at least one mounting spring is configured to be mechanically coupled with a mounting surface and further positionally secure the module package lid and the at least one device component. Each mounting spring can include a middle portion; an end portion having a mounting hole; and a curved section between the middle portion and the end portion, the middle portion arranged to mate with the plateau portion of the module package lid when the end portion are secured to the substrate, the curved section being configured to prevent contact with a first corner portion of the module package lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSEMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Samples, John Fredrick May
  • Publication number: 20190021447
    Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing component, a spool that is rotatably positioned within an interior region of the housing component, and a tightening component that is coupled with the housing component. The tightening component is operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing component to wind a tension member about the spool. The housing component is configured so that the tension member is routed axially below the housing component's interior region and to one or more guides that are positioned along a lace path of an article, such as a shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Whewell, Alessandro Manzato, Kristopher Lovett, Tamara White, Michael Friton, Luke Scotton, Benjamin Sample, Mark Kerns, Robert Dickensheets
  • Publication number: 20180350716
    Abstract: A module package can include a substrate; at least one device component configured to be positioned on the substrate; a module package lid configured to be positioned over the at least one device component and on the substrate, the module package lid exhibiting a plateau portion; and at least one mounting spring configured to be positioned on the module package lid, wherein the at least one mounting spring is configured to be mechanically coupled with a mounting surface and further positionally secure the module package lid and the at least one device component. Each mounting spring can include a middle portion; an end portion having a mounting hole; and a curved section between the middle portion and the end portion, the middle portion arranged to mate with the plateau portion of the module package lid when the end portion are secured to the substrate, the curved section being configured to prevent contact with a first corner portion of the module package lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Samples, John Fredrick May
  • Publication number: 20140324327
    Abstract: Technology for generating geotemporal graphs is disclosed where geotemporal graphs provide representations of areas based on an expected travel time between points, instead of the geographical distance between points. Travel times may vary based on travel conditions, and geotemporal maps may be generated that show travel times that account for travel conditions. Generating geotemporal maps may include obtaining a graph, determining for several points a warp vector indicating graph how each point should be moved to represent a travel time to that point, and warping the graph according to the determined warp vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Cecilia Aragon, Sungsoo Hong, Benjamin Samples, Jong-Chul Yoon
  • Patent number: 8410601
    Abstract: An RF package includes a substrate mountable on a base plate, a non-conductive cover overlying the substrate, and quasi-serpentine stepped source leads attached to an upper surface of the substrate and extending from at least one of a pair of opposite sides of the upper surface of the substrate to tapered lower surfaces of the cover. The cover includes a recess to receive the substrate. The recess includes stress distribution surface areas to engage and press outer edge portions of opposite sides of the substrate against a base plate or heat sink. The tapered lower surfaces of the cover engage with and press against the stepped source leads when securing the RF package to the base plate or heat sink using one or more fasteners or bolts. The cover includes structural features to improve preferential deformation when a mounting force is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Samples
  • Patent number: 8034666
    Abstract: A method for producing a multi-layer thick-film RF package includes forming conductive layer(s) including one or more source portions, one or more gate portions, and/or one or more drain portions on a ceramic substrate. The conductive layer(s) and the ceramic substrate are fired or otherwise heated in a furnace until sintered. Thereafter, a dielectric pattern is formed on the conductive layer(s) and fired or otherwise heated in the furnace until sintered. Then, a conductive bridge is formed on the dielectric pattern, over the one or more drain portions and between the one or more source portions, which is then fired until sintered in the furnace. As a result, a monolithic, single-piece, sintered, high-frequency RF power transistor package having circuit features including a highly conductive and low capacitive bridge is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Samples
  • Publication number: 20110117705
    Abstract: A method for producing a multi-layer thick-film RF package includes forming conductive layer(s) including one or more source portions, one or more gate portions, and/or one or more drain portions on a ceramic substrate. The conductive layer(s) and the ceramic substrate are fired or otherwise heated in a furnace until sintered. Thereafter, a dielectric pattern is formed on the conductive layer(s) and fired or otherwise heated in the furnace until sintered. Then, a conductive bridge is formed on the dielectric pattern, over the one or more drain portions and between the one or more source portions, which is then fired until sintered in the furnace. As a result, a monolithic, single-piece, sintered, high-frequency RF power transistor package having circuit features including a highly conductive and low capacitive bridge is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSEMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Samples
  • Publication number: 20110116237
    Abstract: An RF package includes a substrate mountable on a base plate, a non-conductive cover overlying the substrate, and quasi-serpentine stepped source leads attached to an upper surface of the substrate and extending from at least one of a pair of opposite sides of the upper surface of the substrate to tapered lower surfaces of the cover. The cover includes a recess to receive the substrate. The recess includes stress distribution surface areas to engage and press outer edge portions of opposite sides of the substrate against a base plate or heat sink. The tapered lower surfaces of the cover engage with and press against the stepped source leads when securing the RF package to the base plate or heat sink using one or more fasteners or bolts. The cover includes structural features to improve preferential deformation when a mounting force is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSEMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Samples