Patents by Inventor Clarence Cowan

Clarence Cowan 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: 20080054922
    Abstract: A cable includes an inner conductor, an inner dielectric, and a guard conductor, where the inner dielectric is between the inner conductor and the guard conductor. The cable also includes an outer dielectric, and a shield conductor, where the outer dielectric is between the guard conductor and the shield conductor. The cable further includes an additional layer of material between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor of suitable composition for reducing triboelectric current generation between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to less than that which would occur were the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to directly adjoin each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy Lesher, Brad Miller, Clarence Cowan, Michael Simmons, Frank Gray, Cynthia McDonald
  • Publication number: 20080042680
    Abstract: To reduce noise in measurements obtained by probing a device supported on surface of a thermal chuck in a probe station, a conductive member is arranged to intercept current coupling the thermal unit of the chuck to the surface supporting the device. The conductive member is capacitively coupled to the thermal unit but free of direct electrical connection thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Clarence Cowan, Paul Tervo, John Dunklee
  • Publication number: 20070247178
    Abstract: A probe assembly suitable for high-current measurements of an electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: John Dunklee, Clarence Cowan
  • Publication number: 20070030021
    Abstract: To reduce noise in measurements obtained by probing a device supported on surface of a thermal chuck in a probe station, a conductive member is arranged to intercept current coupling the thermal unit of the chuck to the surface supporting the device. The conductive member is capacitively coupled to the thermal unit but free of direct electrical connection thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Clarence Cowan, Paul Tervo, John Dunklee
  • Publication number: 20070024302
    Abstract: A low-current pogo probe card for measuring currents down to the femtoamp region includes a laminate board having a layer of conductive traces interposed between to dielectric layers. A plurality of probing devices, such as ceramic blades, are edge-mounted about a central opening so that the probing needles or needles included therein terminate below the opening in a pattern suitable for probing a test subject workpiece. A plurality of pogo pin receiving pad sets, each including a guard pad, occupy the periphery of the board. Each guard pad is electrically connected to a trace from the layer of conductive traces. The pad sets may be connected to the probing devices by low noise cables or traces. Air trenches separate the pad sets for reducing cross talk and signal settling times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Tervo, Clarence Cowan
  • Publication number: 20070018665
    Abstract: A cable includes an inner conductor, an inner dielectric, and a guard conductor, where the inner dielectric is between the inner conductor and the guard conductor. The cable also includes an outer dielectric, and a shield conductor, where the outer dielectric is between the guard conductor and the shield conductor. The cable further includes an additional layer of material between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor of suitable composition for reducing triboelectric current generation between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to less than that which would occur were the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to directly adjoin each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: Timothy Lesher, Brad Miller, Clarence Cowan, Michael Simmons, Frank Gray, Cynthia McDonald
  • Publication number: 20060284630
    Abstract: A membrane probing assembly includes a probe card with conductors supported thereon, wherein the conductors include at least a signal conductor located between a pair of spaced apart guard conductors. A membrane assembly includes a membrane with contacts thereon, and supporting at least a signal conductor located between a pair of spaced apart guard conductors. The guard conductors of the probe card are electrically interconnected proximate the interconnection between the probe card and the membrane assembly. The guard conductors of the membrane assembly are electrically interconnected proximate the interconnection between the probe card and the membrane assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Tervo, Kenneth Smith, Clarence Cowan, Mike Dauphinais, Martin Koxxy
  • Publication number: 20060164112
    Abstract: A low-current pogo probe card for measuring currents down to the femtoamp region includes a laminate board having a layer of conductive traces interposed between two dielectric layers. A plurality of probing devices, such as ceramic blades, are edge-mounted about a central opening so that the probing needles or needles included therein terminate below the opening in a pattern suitable for probing a test subject workpiece. A plurality of pogo pin receiving pad sets, each including a guard pad, occupy the periphery of the board. Each guard pad is electrically connected to a trace from the layer of conductive traces. The pad sets may be connected to the probing devices by low noise cables or traces. Air trenches separate the pad sets for reducing cross talk and signal settling times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Tervo, Clarence Cowan
  • Publication number: 20050248359
    Abstract: A membrane probing assembly includes a probe card with conductors supported thereon, wherein the conductors include at least a signal conductor located between a pair of spaced apart guard conductors. A membrane assembly includes a membrane with contacts thereon, and supporting at least a signal conductor located between a pair of spaced apart guard conductors. The guard conductors of the probe card are electrically interconnected proximate the interconnection between the probe card and the membrane assembly. The guard conductors of the membrane assembly are electrically interconnected proximate the interconnection between the probe card and the membrane assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Tervo, Kenneth Smith, Clarence Cowan, Mike Dauphinais, Martin Koxxy
  • Publication number: 20050151557
    Abstract: A low-current pogo probe card for measuring currents down to the femtoamp region includes a laminate board having a layer of conductive traces interposed between two dielectric layers. A plurality of probing devices, such as ceramic blades, are edge-mounted about a central opening so that the probing needles or needles included therein terminate below the opening in a pattern suitable for probing a test subject workpiece. A plurality of pogo pin receiving pad sets, each including a guard pad, occupy the periphery of the board. Each guard pad is electrically connected to a trace from the layer of conductive traces. The pad sets may be connected to the probing devices by low noise cables or traces. Air trenches separate the pad sets for reducing cross talk and signal settling times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Tervo, Clarence Cowan
  • Publication number: 20050146345
    Abstract: A low-current pogo probe card for measuring currents down to the femtoamp region includes a laminate board having a layer of conductive traces interposed between two dielectric layers. A plurality of probing devices, such as ceramic blades, are edge-mounted about a central opening so that the probing needles or needles included therein terminate below the opening in a pattern suitable for probing a test subject workpiece. A plurality of pogo pin receiving pad sets, each including a guard pad, occupy the periphery of the board. Each guard pad is electrically connected to a trace from the layer of conductive traces. The pad sets may be connected to the probing devices by low noise cables or traces. Air trenches separate the pad sets for reducing cross talk and signal settling times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Tervo, Clarence Cowan
  • Publication number: 20050104610
    Abstract: A cable includes an inner conductor, an inner dielectric, and a guard conductor, where the inner dielectric is between the inner conductor and the guard conductor. The cable also includes an outer dielectric, and a shield conductor, where the outer dielectric is between the guard conductor and the shield conductor. The cable further includes an additional layer of material between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor of suitable composition for reducing triboelectric current generation between the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to less than that which would occur were the outer dielectric and the shield conductor to directly adjoin each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Timothy Lesher, Brad Miller, Clarence Cowan, Michael Simmons, Frank Gray, Cynthia McDonald
  • Publication number: 20050099192
    Abstract: A probe assembly suitable for high-current measurements of an electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: John Dunklee, Clarence Cowan
  • Publication number: 20050035779
    Abstract: A low-current pogo probe card for measuring currents down to the femtoamp region includes a laminate board having a layer of conductive traces interposed between two dielectric layers. A plurality of probing devices, such as ceramic blades, are edge-mounted about a central opening so that the probing needles or needles included therein terminate below the opening in a pattern suitable for probing a test subject workpiece. A plurality of pogo pin receiving pad sets, each including a guard pad, occupy the periphery of the board. Each guard pad is electrically connected to a trace from the layer of conductive traces. The pad sets may be connected to the probing devices by low noise cables or traces. Air trenches separate the pad sets for reducing cross talk and signal settling times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Tervo, Clarence Cowan
  • Publication number: 20050007131
    Abstract: A membrane probing assembly includes a probe card with conductors supported thereon, wherein the conductors include at least a signal conductor located between a pair of spaced apart guard conductors. A membrane assembly includes a membrane with contacts thereon, and supporting at least a signal conductor located between a pair of spaced apart guard conductors. The guard conductors of the probe card are electrically interconnected proximate the interconnection between the probe card and the membrane assembly. The guard conductors of the membrane assembly are electrically interconnected proximate the interconnection between the probe card and the membrane assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Tervo, Kenneth Smith, Clarence Cowan, Mike Dauphinais, Martin Koxxy