Patents by Inventor Chris R. Whitaker

Chris R. Whitaker 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).

  • Semiconductor wafer handling system
    Patent number: 6149498
    Abstract: A unidirectional gate disposed between interconnecting fluid transport regions in a manufacturing process. The gate allows workpieces to pass from a first transport region to a second transport region but prevents them from returning to the first region after having passed into the second region. The gate may specifically be used in semiconductor wafer manufacturing, especially where wafers exit a water track into a cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore G. van Kessel, Chris R. Whitaker
  • Unidirectional gate between interconnecting fluid transport regions
    Patent number: 6045299
    Abstract: A unidirectional gate disposed between interconnecting fluid transport regions in a manufacturing process. The gate allows workpieces to pass from a first transport region to a second transport region but prevents them from returning to the first region after having passed into the second region. The gate may specifically be used in semiconductor wafer manufacturing, especially where wafers exit a water track into a cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Theodore G. van Kessel, Chris R. Whitaker