Patents by Inventor Clifford Erik La Croix

Clifford Erik La Croix 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: 9364870
    Abstract: Ultrasonic cleaning apparatuses and methods of cleaning substantially planar articles. An apparatus comprises (i) a substantially circular tank; (ii) a plurality of cleaning fluid inlets for delivering a cleaning fluid to the tank; (iii) an intermediate support for receiving an article to be cleaned; and (iv) an ultrasonic generator coupled to the tank for generating ultrasonic waves in the tank and cleaning fluid received therein. The apparatus is configured to remove particles from a substantially planar article and have them carried by flow of cleaning fluid away from the article and out of the tank. Using such an apparatus, a cleaning method comprises introducing a substantially planar article to be cleaned into the tank; introducing a cleaning fluid into the tank through the plurality of cleaning fluid inlets; and exciting the cleaning fluid with ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Evangelos T. Spyropoulos, Iqbal A. Shareef, Clifford Erik La Croix
  • Publication number: 20160045941
    Abstract: Ultrasonic cleaning apparatuses and methods of cleaning substantially planar articles. An apparatus comprises (i) a substantially circular tank; (ii) a plurality of cleaning fluid inlets for delivering a cleaning fluid to the tank; (iii) an intermediate support for receiving an article to be cleaned; and (iv) an ultrasonic generator coupled to the tank for generating ultrasonic waves in the tank and cleaning fluid received therein. The apparatus is configured to remove particles from a substantially planar article and have them carried by flow of cleaning fluid away from the article and out of the tank. Using such an apparatus, a cleaning method comprises introducing a substantially planar article to be cleaned into the tank; introducing a cleaning fluid into the tank through the plurality of cleaning fluid inlets; and exciting the cleaning fluid with ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Evangelos T. Spyropoulos, Iqbal A. Shareef, Clifford Erik La Croix
  • Patent number: 9174249
    Abstract: Ultrasonic cleaning apparatuses and methods of cleaning substantially planar articles. An apparatus comprises (i) a substantially circular tank; (ii) a plurality of cleaning fluid inlets for delivering a cleaning fluid to the tank; (iii) an intermediate support for receiving an article to be cleaned; and (iv) an ultrasonic generator coupled to the tank for generating ultrasonic waves in the tank and cleaning fluid received therein. The apparatus is configured to remove particles from a substantially planar article and have them carried by flow of cleaning fluid away from the article and out of the tank. Using such an apparatus, a cleaning method comprises introducing a substantially planar article to be cleaned into the tank; introducing a cleaning fluid into the tank through the plurality of cleaning fluid inlets; and exciting the cleaning fluid with ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Evangelos T. Spyropoulos, Iqbal A. Shareef, Clifford Erik La Croix
  • Publication number: 20140158153
    Abstract: Ultrasonic cleaning apparatuses and methods of cleaning substantially planar articles. An apparatus comprises (i) a substantially circular tank; (ii) a plurality of cleaning fluid inlets for delivering a cleaning fluid to the tank; (iii) an intermediate support for receiving an article to be cleaned; and (iv) an ultrasonic generator coupled to the tank for generating ultrasonic waves in the tank and cleaning fluid received therein. The apparatus is configured to remove particles from a substantially planar article and have them carried by flow of cleaning fluid away from the article and out of the tank. Using such an apparatus, a cleaning method comprises introducing a substantially planar article to be cleaned into the tank; introducing a cleaning fluid into the tank through the plurality of cleaning fluid inlets; and exciting the cleaning fluid with ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Evangelos T. Spyropoulos, Iqbal A. Shareef, Clifford Erik La Croix