Patents by Inventor C. Thomas

C. Thomas 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).

  • Publication number: 20090230555
    Abstract: An underlying interconnect level containing underlying W vias embedded in a dielectric material layer are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A metallic layer stack comprising, from bottom to top, a low-oxygen-reactivity metal layer, a bottom transition metal layer, a bottom transition metal nitride layer, an aluminum-copper layer, an optional top transition metal layer, and a top transition metal nitride layer. The metallic layer stack is lithographically patterned to form at least one aluminum-based metal line, which constitutes a metal interconnect structure. The low-oxygen-reactivity metal layer enhances electromigration resistance of the at least one aluminum-based metal line since formation of compound between the bottom transition metal layer and the dielectric material layer is prevented by the low-oxygen-reactivity metal layer, which does not interact with the dielectric material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Chapple-Sokol, Daniel A. Delibac, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, William J. Murphy, Timothy D. Sullivan, David C. Thomas, Daniel S. Vanslette
  • Patent number: 7582209
    Abstract: A fluid filtration unit having two or more filter medium layers and/or zones, at least one of the layers/zones having a different particle retention capability disposed on each side of a non-filtering separator element. The filter medium are presently preferably positioned such that each succeedingly distal filter layer or zone from the separator has a decreased particle retention capability than each proceeding filter layer or zone. The filter medium layer most proximal to the separator element may be separated from the separator by a support material for supporting such filter medium element and preventing collapsing of the medium into any separator conduit. At least one of the medium elements is formed from a material which swells in size due to fluid absorption with the various zones and the separator being operatively connected by a new and innovative edge seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John L. Pulek, William A. Larsen, C. Thomas Paul, Clifford L. Schorr, Francis J. Swiatek, Art Artinyan
  • Publication number: 20090198633
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an asset classification system based on investment strategy. The system determines a diamond rating for peers within a selected investment strategy. The diamond ratings are based, in one configuration, on a combination of an extent to which a security or manager is outperforming or attempting to outperform a benchmark and how successful the security or manager has been based on historic performance data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: ATHENAINVEST, INC.
    Inventors: C. Thomas Howard, Andrew C. Howard
  • Patent number: 7559133
    Abstract: A riveting system is operable to join two or more workplaces with a rivet. In another aspect of the present invention, a self-piercing rivet is employed. Still another aspect of the present invention employs an electronic control unit and one or more sensors to determine a riveting characteristic and/or an actuator characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Eymard J Chitty, Brian M Taylor, Peter C Thomas, Daniel P Vigliotti
  • Publication number: 20090162701
    Abstract: A magnetic recording tape includes an elongated substrate and a magnetic film coated over the elongated substrate, where the magnetic film includes a first magnetic recording layer. The first magnetic recording layer includes particles having a diameter that is between a factor from about 2 to 5 greater than a thickness of the first magnetic recording layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Tryg R. Jensen, C. Thomas Jennings, Larold L. Olson
  • Patent number: 7550647
    Abstract: A crustacean or rotifer is infected with a recombinant infectious virus that expresses a protein exogenous to the virus. The genome of the crustacean or rotifer itself remains unaltered. Crustacean, rotifer, insect, or viral promoters drive the transcription of a gene inserted into the recombinant virus genome, and the virus replicates in the crustacean or rotifer cell cytoplasm. The infected crustacean or rotifer can be provided directly to humans or non-human animals, or, following production and harvest of the crustaceans or rotifers, purified recombinant protein or polypeptide can be provided. Large quantities of biopharmaceuticals can be produced rapidly and inexpensively using this production system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced BioNutrition
    Inventors: Ruth Barratt, F. C. Thomas Allnutt, Robert Bullis, David J. Kyle
  • Publication number: 20090151141
    Abstract: A method of refurbishing a camshaft (100) having at least one defective portion (202, 206) includes removing material from the at least one defective portion (202, 206) to create a neck region (302). An alignment feature (402) is introduced in the neck region (302) according to a previous orientation of the defective portion (202, 206). A segmented blank (1008) is installed around the neck region (302) and oriented with the alignment feature (402).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Jarrod David Moss, Adam Ostein, Curtis Graham, Patrick W. Savage, JR., Trent A. Simpson, Benjamin C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20090151738
    Abstract: A degradable cigarette filter includes a filter element of a bloomed cellulose acetate tow, a plug wrap surrounding the filter element, and either a coating or a pill in contact with the tow. The coating and/or pill may be composed of a material adapted to catalyze hydrolysis of the cellulose acetate tow and a water-soluble matrix material. The material may be an acid, an acid salt, a base, and/or a bacterium adapted to generate an acid. The coating may be applied to the tow, the plug wrap, or both. The pill may be placed in the filter element. When water contacts the water-soluble matrix material, the material adapted to catalyze hydrolysis is released and catalyzes the hydrolysis, and subsequent degradation, of the cellulose acetate tow. The foregoing is also applicable to articles made of cellulose esters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Raymond M. Robertson, William C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20090151140
    Abstract: A method of refurbishing a camshaft (100) having at least one defective portion (202, 206) includes removing material from the at least one defective portion (202, 206) to create a neck region (302). An alignment feature (402) is introduced in the neck region (302) according to a previous orientation of the defective portion (202, 206). A blank (508) is installed around the neck region (302) and oriented with the alignment feature (402).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Jarrod David Moss, Adam Ostein, Curtis Graham, Patrick W. Savage, JR., Trent A. Simpson, Benjamin C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20090120693
    Abstract: Casing bits include a crown having a substantially hollow interior. The bit crown has blades over a face portion thereof, the blades including a plurality of cutting elements attached thereto. The bit crown further includes a composite inlay positioned at least within the substantially hollow interior. Casing bits also include case hardened outer surfaces radially outside the drill-out region. Casing bits further include short-substrate cutting elements. Methods of forming a casing bit are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Eric E. McClain, Matthew R. Isbell, Jack Thomas Oldham, John C. Thomas, Marc W. Bird
  • Patent number: 7523515
    Abstract: A patient support is disclosed having an adjustable length deck and a mattress positionable on the deck. The mattress includes a foot portion having an adjustable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: E. David Allen, Kenneth L. Kramer, Peter M. Wukusick, Eric R. Meyer, Gregory W. Branson, David J. Ulrich, James M. C. Thomas, Paul M. McDaniel, III, Denis R. Zwink
  • Publication number: 20090084608
    Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutters are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being at least one of an abrasive cutting structure and an abrasive cutting element suitable for drilling through a casing shoe, reamer shoe, casing bit, casing or liner string and cementing equipment or other components as well as cement Methods of forming earth-boring tools are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Eric E. McClain, Michael L. Doster, John C. Thomas, Matthew R. Isbell, Jarod DeGeorge, Chad T. Jurica
  • Publication number: 20090077138
    Abstract: Synchronization is bound to data and optionally a set of synchronization behaviors as opposed to a particular application and/or endpoint. As a result, synchronization amongst endpoints need not require creation of customized synchronization solutions or rely on vendor and/or application specific mechanisms. In one instance, standard data and/or synch schemas can be subscribed to and utilized to dynamically configure synchronization across endpoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Darren R. Davis, Myron C. Thomas, Michael R. Clark
  • Patent number: 7505263
    Abstract: A storage device protection system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a processor, a storage device electrically coupled to the processor, and a protection system. The protection system comprises an enclosure within which the storage device is positioned, and a foam system coupled to the enclosure. The foam system selectively releases foam that substantially encases the storage device, where the foam released in the presence of a predetermined temperature or contact of the computer system with water. Other embodiments are directed to systems having a mounting system that repositions the storage device away from walls of the enclosure in the presence of a predetermined temperature or contact of the computer system with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Philip M. Walker, Fred C. Thomas, Bryce C. Wemple, Kirk N. Ray
  • Patent number: 7503196
    Abstract: A rivet monitoring system is provided which has a micro-strain or micro fluid pressure sensor that measures strains or pressures within a tool component. These measured signals are compared to a number of tolerance bands formed about median strain or pressure versus time curve. Various techniques are provided to analyze the measured data with respect to the tolerance bands to determine if a particular rivet set is acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Eymard J. Chitty, Brian M. Taylor, Peter C. Thomas, Daniel P. Vigliotti, Geoffrey Weeks
  • Publication number: 20090051853
    Abstract: A display includes a light switch overlying a backlight and having at least two light shutters which do not, by themselves, convey information by the shape thereof. The lit area of the backlight is equal to or greater than the sum of the areas of the shutters within the area. The display can also include a graphics layer overlying the light switch. The information content of the display is changed by changing the graphics layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: World Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Thomas, Walter J. Paciorek
  • Patent number: 7484380
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for determining a temperature of a component that requires a maximum level of cooling apparatus operation. The system monitors the component's temperature, then may add a compensation offset to account for variations in the manufacture of the component, and then adds a compensation offset to account for variation in the system in which the component is installed. The result is used to determine when the system's cooling apparatus needs to be operated at a maximum level of operation. The sum may be compared to a threshold to make this determination. This same mechanism may be used to determine various other cooling system trigger points, both when to increase cooling as well as decrease cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Gateway Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Flanigan, Keith C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7480951
    Abstract: A bed having a frame, a deck, and a communication network and at least one module. The at least one module includes a charting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Weismiller, Joseph A. Kummer, Peter M. Wukusick, Gregory W. Branson, Kenneth L. Kramer, Stephen R. Schulte, Philip D. Palermo, James M. C. Thomas, Daniel F. Dlugos, Jr., Jay T. Butterbrodt, David J. Ulrich, David A. Albersmeyer, Jason C. Brooke, Eric R. Meyer, John D. Miller, John W. Ruehl
  • Patent number: 7453889
    Abstract: Providing interoperability on a voice communication network by detecting incompatible bit packing payload formats of ADPCM encoded voice data signals in an encoder/decoder. A mismatch of bit packing formats between little endian format and big endian format is determined by detecting the occurrence of ADPCM code words of interest in the decoded voice data stream out of the encoder/decoder. The invention may be applied to an ITU G.726 encoder/decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Satish Kumar M. Mundra, Daniel C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080270631
    Abstract: A system and method of a storage expansion unit for a network attached storage device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are storage expander systems comprising an enclosure, a communications port (the communication port configured to configured to operate under a communications protocol suitable for operatively accessing long term storage devices), and a port expander circuit within the enclosure and coupled to the communications port (the port expander circuit configured to have a plurality of secondary ports that operate under the communications protocol). The storage expansion system is configured to couple to a network attached storage device over the communications port, and wherein the storage expansion system is configured to facilitate external long-term storage for the network attached storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Fred C. Thomas, Paul Boerger