Patents by Inventor Carl W. Sohns

Carl W. Sohns 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: 5969639
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a wireless instrumented silicon wafer that can measure temperatures at various points and transmit those temperature readings to an external receiver. The device has particular utility in the processing of semiconductor wafers, where it can be used to map thermal uniformity on hot plates, cold plates, spin bowl chucks, etc. without the inconvenience of wires or the inevitable thermal perturbations attendant with them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Lauf, Don W. Bible, Carl W. Sohns
  • Patent number: 5900592
    Abstract: A load sensing system inexpensively monitors the weight and temperature of stored nuclear material for long periods of time in widely variable environments. The system can include an electrostatic load cell that encodes weight and temperature into a digital signal which is sent to a remote monitor via a coaxial cable. The same cable is used to supply the load cell with power. When multiple load cells are used, vast inventories of stored nuclear material can be continuously monitored and inventoried of minimal cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp.
    Inventors: Carl W. Sohns, Robert N. Nodine, Steven Allen Wallace
  • Patent number: 5384543
    Abstract: A portable microwave instrument for evaluating characteristics of a structural member includes a source of microwave energy, a transmitter coupled to the source of microwave energy for transmitting a microwave signal at the structural member, and a receiver positioned on the same side of the structural member as the transmitter and being disposed to receive a microwave signal reflected by the structural member. A phase angle difference is determined between the transmitted microwave signal and the received microwave signal using a signal splitter and a balanced mixer. The difference in phase angle varies in accordance with differences in size, shape and locations of constituent materials within the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Don W. Bible, Richard I. Crutcher, Carl W. Sohns, Stephen R. Maddox