Patents by Inventor Chad Dawson

Chad Dawson 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: 12656200
    Abstract: A method for reading pressure may include reading, by a first device, an acceleration of a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is encapsulated in a medium, and wherein the acceleration alters a reading of the pressure sensor and reading, by a second device, a pressure reading from the pressure sensor. If an output criteria is met, an adjusted pressure reading is produced. A system for reading pressure includes a first device coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to read an acceleration of the pressure sensor. A second device may be configured to read a pressure from the pressure sensor wherein, if an output criteria is met, to adjust the measured pressure of the pressure sensor, based on the measured acceleration, to produce an adjusted pressure reading. An output device is configured to receive an output of the second device and to output an output pressure reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Andrew C. McNeil, Chad Dawson, Matthew Wayne Muddiman
  • Publication number: 20260016358
    Abstract: One example discloses a calibration device, including: a substrate; a torsional element; wherein a first end of the torsional element is coupled to the substrate; wherein a second end of the torsional element is moveable and defines a capacitance with the substrate; a bias electrode coupled to the substrate; wherein the torsional element and the bias electrode are positioned such that a bias voltage applied between the substrate and the bias electrode creates an electrostatic force between the bias electrode and the torsional element; wherein the electrostatic force causes movement between the torsional element and the substrate; and wherein the movement varies the capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2024
    Publication date: January 15, 2026
    Inventors: Chad Dawson, Andrew C. McNeil, James Douglas Stanley
  • Patent number: 12012328
    Abstract: A device package includes a die that includes a substrate having first and second surfaces. A sensor is formed at a sensor region of the first surface. A trench extends entirely through the substrate between the first and second surfaces, in which the trench at least partially surrounds the sensor region. An isolation material, formed at the first surface, may extend across the trench A ring structure is coupled to the first surface of the substrate to create a first cavity in which the sensor is contained, the ring structure being laterally displaced away from and surrounding the sensor region and the trench. A molded compound body may abut an outer wall of the ring structure. The molded compound body has a second cavity that is concentric with the first cavity to enable fluid communication between the sensor and an environment external to the device package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Dawson, Mark Edward Schlarmann, Stephen Ryan Hooper, Colin Bryant Stevens
  • Publication number: 20240192072
    Abstract: A method for reading pressure may include reading, by a first device, an acceleration of a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is encapsulated in a medium, and wherein the acceleration alters a reading of the pressure sensor and reading, by a second device, a pressure reading from the pressure sensor. If an output criteria is met, an adjusted pressure reading is produced. A system for reading pressure includes a first device coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to read an acceleration of the pressure sensor. A second device may be configured to read a pressure from the pressure sensor wherein, if an output criteria is met, to adjust the measured pressure of the pressure sensor, based on the measured acceleration, to produce an adjusted pressure reading. An output device is configured to receive an output of the second device and to output an output pressure reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew C. McNeil, Chad Dawson, Matthew Wayne Muddiman
  • Publication number: 20220348456
    Abstract: A device package includes a die that includes a substrate having first and second surfaces. A sensor is formed at a sensor region of the first surface. A trench extends entirely through the substrate between the first and second surfaces, in which the trench at least partially surrounds the sensor region. An isolation material, formed at the first surface, may extend across the trench A ring structure is coupled to the first surface of the substrate to create a first cavity in which the sensor is contained, the ring structure being laterally displaced away from and surrounding the sensor region and the trench. A molded compound body may abut an outer wall of the ring structure. The molded compound body has a second cavity that is concentric with the first cavity to enable fluid communication between the sensor and an environment external to the device package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Chad Dawson, Mark Edward Schlarmann, Stephen Ryan Hooper, Colin Bryant Stevens
  • Patent number: 10436659
    Abstract: A pressure sensor device and a method for testing the pressure sensor device is provided. The pressure sensor device includes a first pressure sensor cell having a first capacitance value, and a second pressure sensor cell having a second capacitance value, the second capacitance value being different from the first capacitance value. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a temperature coefficient offset to test for faults in the pressure sensor device. In another embodiment, the method includes determining a differential mode calculation and a common mode calculation. A fault exists if the differential and common mode calculations do not agree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Dawson, Keith Kraver, Shiraz Contractor
  • Patent number: 9983032
    Abstract: A sensor system includes first and second capacitive sensors. An excitation circuit, coupled with the sensors, applies an excitation voltage to each of the sensors. The excitation voltage is characterized by a first, second, and third excitation voltage components, wherein the second and third excitation voltage components have opposite polarities. A capacitance-to-voltage (C/V) converter, electrically coupled with the sensors, generates a differential-mode output signal in response to the first excitation voltage component applied to the sensors, and the C/V converter generates a common-mode output signal in response to the second and third excitation voltage components applied to the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith L. Kraver, Chad Dawson, Shiraz Jiju Contractor
  • Patent number: 9818656
    Abstract: A method of testing includes attaching a first and second die to first and second die sites of a lead frame and forming a plurality of wire bonds coupling a plurality of pins of the first die site to the first die and a plurality of pins of the second die site to the second die. The first and second die are encapsulated. An isolation cut is performed to isolate the plurality of pins of the first die site from the plurality of pins of the second die site, while maintaining electrical connection between the first tie bar of the first die site and the first tie bar of the second die site. The first and second die are tested while providing a first power supply source to the first and second die via the first tie bars. After testing, the dies sites are fully singulated to result in packaged IC device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Edward Schlarmann, Dwight Lee Daniels, Stephen Ryan Hooper, Chad Dawson, Fengyuan Li
  • Publication number: 20170322098
    Abstract: A pressure sensor device and a method for testing the pressure sensor device is provided. The pressure sensor device includes a first pressure sensor cell having a first capacitance value, and a second pressure sensor cell having a second capacitance value, the second capacitance value being different from the first capacitance value. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a temperature coefficient offset to test for faults in the pressure sensor device. In another embodiment, the method includes determining a differential mode calculation and a common mode calculation. A fault exists if the differential and common mode calculations do not agree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Chad Dawson, Keith Kraver, Shiraz Contractor
  • Patent number: 9790085
    Abstract: A structure for preventing charge induced leakage of a semiconductor device includes a shield separated from a first interconnect by at least a first lateral spacing and separated from a second interconnect by at least a second lateral spacing. The first interconnect is connected to a first junction and the second interconnect is connected to a second junction. A shield bias is connected to the shield to terminate an electromagnetic field on the shield. The shield between the first and second lateral spacings has a minimum width to substantially prevent formation of a conductive channel between the first and second junctions. The shield may be formed over a portion of the first junction and over a portion of the second junction to substantially prevent formation of another conductive channel between the first and second junctions at a location that does not have the first and second lateral spacings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Dubravka Bilic, Andrew C. McNeil, Lianjun Liu, Margaret Kniffin, Chad Dawson, Colin Stevens
  • Patent number: 9528881
    Abstract: A detector element for a microbolometer detector includes a platform structure spaced apart from a substrate. The platform structure has a peripheral region surrounding a central region. First and second contacts are located at the peripheral region proximate opposing first and third edges of the peripheral region. A stiff beam structure extends across the central region between the first and second contacts, and at least one sensor is located at the peripheral region proximate at least one of second and fourth edges of the peripheral region. An optically absorptive material structure of a grid pattern of first and second material portions may be located at the central region. First material portions perpendicular to the beam structure may connect to the beam structure and to inner edges of the peripheral region, and none of the second material portions extend continuously between and couples to opposing inner edges of the peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Chad Dawson