Patents by Inventor Clifford A. Fowler

Clifford A. Fowler 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: 10646889
    Abstract: Methods for applying fluid materials to a substrate, such as circuit board, while continuously moving the fluid dispenser are disclosed. Initially, a dispenser is continuously moved through a constant motion trajectory connecting the plurality of dispense locations on the substrate. The electrical output signals generated by one or more of encoders of the dispenser are monitored as the dispenser is continuously moved through the constant motion trajectory. The dispenser is triggered at each of the plurality of dispense locations and droplets of the fluid material are jetted while continuously moving the dispenser. The spatial coordinates of each droplet of the fluid material on the substrate are measured and compared to expected landing coordinates for each droplet of the fluid material to generate a spatial error for each droplet of the fluid material. At least one dispense location is corrected and an updated constant motion trajectory is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald N. Abernathy, Clifford A. Fowler, Phillip P. Maiorca, Horatio Quinones, Thomas L. Ratledge
  • Publication number: 20170246650
    Abstract: Methods for applying fluid materials to a substrate, such as circuit board, while continuously moving the fluid dispenser are disclosed. Initially, a dispenser is continuously moved through a constant motion trajectory connecting the plurality of dispense locations on the substrate. The electrical output signals generated by one or more of encoders of the dispenser are monitored as the dispenser is continuously moved through the constant motion trajectory. The dispenser is triggered at each of the plurality of dispense locations and droplets of the fluid material are jetted while continuously moving the dispenser. The spatial coordinates of each droplet of the fluid material on the substrate are measured and compared to expected landing coordinates for each droplet of the fluid material to generate a spatial error for each droplet of the fluid material. At least one dispense location is corrected and an updated constant motion trajectory is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Ronald N. Abernathy, Clifford A. Fowler, Philip P. Maiorca, Horatio Quinones, Thomas L. Ratledge
  • Patent number: 9674962
    Abstract: Methods for applying fluid materials to a substrate, such as circuit board, while continuously moving the fluid dispenser. Some methods generally involve correcting the dispense location for each of the dispensed amounts of fluid material by executing a statistical comparison of either the predicted and actual landing locations on the substrate, or the predicted and actual positions of the dispenser at each of the dispense locations. Other methods generally involve initiating the dispensing of amounts of the fluid material at dispense locations corrected by a correction factor specified in terms of the servo cycle for the movement of the dispenser or by a correction factor specified in terms of partial servo cycles courtesy of a timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: NORDSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald N. Abernathy, Clifford A. Fowler, Philip P. Maiorca, Horatio Quinones, Thomas L. Ratledge
  • Publication number: 20140248421
    Abstract: Methods for applying fluid materials to a substrate, such as circuit board, while continuously moving the fluid dispenser. Some methods generally involve correcting the dispense location for each of the dispensed amounts of fluid material by executing a statistical comparison of either the predicted and actual landing locations on the substrate, or the predicted and actual positions of the dispenser at each of the dispense locations. Other methods generally involve initiating the dispensing of amounts of the fluid material at dispense locations corrected by a correction factor specified in terms of the servo cycle for the movement of the dispenser or by a correction factor specified in terms of partial servo cycles courtesy of a timer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: NORDSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald N. Abernathy, Clifford A. Fowler, Philip P. Maiorca, Horatio Quinones, Thomas L. Ratledge
  • Patent number: 8765212
    Abstract: Methods for applying fluid materials to a substrate, such as circuit board, while continuously moving the fluid dispenser. Some methods generally involve correcting the dispense location for each of the dispensed amounts of fluid material by executing a statistical comparison of either the predicted and actual landing locations on the substrate, or the predicted and actual positions of the dispenser at each of the dispense locations. Other methods generally involve initiating the dispensing of amounts of the fluid material at dispense locations corrected by a correction factor specified in terms of the servo cycle for the movement of the dispenser or by a correction factor specified in terms of partial servo cycles courtesy of a timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald N. Abernathy, Phillip P. Maiorca, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Clifford A. Fowler