Patents by Inventor Eric Shurtliff

Eric Shurtliff 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: 6006391
    Abstract: A workpiece cleaning element incorporates an injection molded resin core having integral spacers formed at a central portion of the resin core. The resin core is formed from a suitable material that does not leech chemicals or become brittle in the presence of cleaning fluids. A substantially resilient cleaning material located on the resin core includes a plurality of raised ribs that perform contact scrubbing of the workpiece. Each rib includes a longitudinal channel formed therein that divides the rib into a leading cleaner surface and a trailing cleaner surface. The ribs are arranged on the cleaning element in a pattern that promotes effective removal of debris from an inner position on the workpiece to the outer edge of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: SpeedFam-IPEC Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Shurtliff, Thomas Waddle
  • Patent number: 5950327
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wafer cleaning machine having an input station, a water track, a cleaning station, a rinsing station, a spin-dry station, and a load station. The input station includes two or more wafer supply areas for a continuous supply of wafers to the water track. After the wafers enter the water track from the input station, the wafers are transported down the track into the wafer cleaning station. The wafer cleaning station comprises a plurality of pairs of rollers which pull the wafers through the cleaning station and thereby clean the top and bottom flat surfaces of the wafers. A cleaning fluid manifold formed within the upper panel of the cleaning station facilitates effective distribution of the cleaning fluid to the rollers. From the cleaning station, the wafers are transported to a rinse station. From the rinsing station, the workpieces are transferred to a dual spin-dry station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: SpeedFam-IPEC Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn E. Peterson, Eric Shurtliff
  • Patent number: 5899216
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wafer cleaning machine having an input station, a water track, a cleaning station, a rinsing station, a spin-dry station, and a load station. The input station includes two or more wafer supply areas for a continuous supply of wafers to the water track. After the wafers enter the water track from the input station, the wafers are transported down the track into the wafer cleaning station. The wafer cleaning station comprises a plurality of pairs of rollers which pull the wafers through the cleaning station and thereby clean the top and bottom flat surfaces of the wafers. A one-piece cleaning fluid manifold formed within the upper panel of the cleaning station facilitates effective distribution of the cleaning fluid to the rollers. From the cleaning station, the wafers are transported to a rinse station. From the rinsing station, the workpieces are transferred to a dual spin-dry station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Speedfam Corporation
    Inventors: Chad Goudie, John Natalicio, Greg Olsen, Eric Shurtliff