Patents by Inventor Ernest W. Balch

Ernest W. Balch 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: 20080106177
    Abstract: A lamp comprising a light-transmissive envelope, the inner surface of which is only partially coated by a reflective barrier coating layer such that an aperture is created in the coating for light emission, the lamp exhibiting asymmetric light output through the aperture and lumens substantially equivalent to a lamp wherein the envelope inner surface is completely coated with a reflective barrier coating layer having no aperture, and a laser ablation process for creating the reflective barrier coating layer aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Jon B. Jansma, Ernest W. Balch, Donald F. Foust, Jason M. Benyeda
  • Patent number: 6935608
    Abstract: A microvalve and a method of forming a diaphragm stop for a microvalve. The microvalve includes a first layer and a diaphragm member to control the flow of fluid through the microvalve. The method comprises the step of forming a contoured shaped recess extending inward from a surface of the layer by using a laser to remove material in a series of areas, at successively greater depths extending inward from said surface. Preferably, the recess has a dome shape, and may be formed by a direct-write laser operated via a computer aided drawing program running on a computer. For example, CAD artwork files, comprising a set of concentric polygons approximating circles, may be generated to create the dome structure. The laser ablation depth can be controlled by modifying the offset step distance of the polygons and equating certain line widths to an equivalent laser tool definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn S. Claydon, Ernest W. Balch
  • Patent number: 6774337
    Abstract: A microvalve and a method of forming a diaphragm stop for a microvalve. The microvalve includes a first layer and a diaphragm member to control the flow of fluid through the microvalve. The method comprises the step of forming a contoured shaped recess extending inward from a surface of the layer by using a laser to remove material in a series of areas, at successively greater depths extending inward from said surface. Preferably, the recess has a dome shape, and may be formed by a direct-write laser operated via a computer aided drawing program running on a computer. For example, CAD artwork files, comprising a set of concentric polygons approximating circles, may be generated to create the dome structure. The laser ablation depth can be controlled by modifying the offset step distance of the polygons and equating certain line widths to an equivalent laser tool definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn S. Claydon, Ernest W. Balch
  • Publication number: 20040075073
    Abstract: A microvalve and a method of forming a diaphragm stop for a microvalve. The microvalve includes a first layer and a diaphragm member to control the flow of fluid through the microvalve. The method comprises the step of forming a contoured shaped recess extending inward from a surface of the layer by using a laser to remove material in a series of areas, at successively greater depths extending inward from said surface. Preferably, the recess has a dome shape, and may be formed by a direct-write laser operated via a computer aided drawing program running on a computer. For example, CAD artwork files, comprising a set of concentric polygons approximating circles, may be generated to create the dome structure. The laser ablation depth can be controlled by modifying the offset step distance of the polygons and equating certain line widths to an equivalent laser tool definition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn S. Claydon, Ernest W. Balch
  • Patent number: 5302547
    Abstract: A differentiable ablation approach to patterning dielectrics which are not of the same absorbance uses an absorbant dielectric at a specified laser wavelength over a non-absorbant dielectric at that wavelength. The absorbant dielectric may be laser-patterned and become an integral mask enabling plasma etching of the underlying non-absorbant dielectric. If the patterning of the absorbant dielectric involves vias, polymer ridges formed around via surfaces during laser patterning may be removed at the same time the underlying non-absorbant dielectric is etched using a transparent, oxygen plasma resistant mask. Alternatively, an inert mask may be used instead of the absorbant dielectric to allow plasma etching of the non-absorbant dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Wojnarowski, Herbert S. Cole, Richard J. Saia, Thomas B. Gorczyca, Ernest W. Balch
  • Patent number: 5279706
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a metal interconnection pattern for an integrated circuit module is provided comprising the steps of: aligning only one face of the module, forming a metal layer on at least one other face of the module, applying a coating of photoresist to the metal layer, exposing predetermined portions of the photoresist to reflected radiation, and shaping the metal layer in accordance with the exposed photoresist portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ernest W. Balch, Stanton E. Weaver, Jr., William H. King, Bernard Gorowitz
  • Patent number: 4895780
    Abstract: In order to solve the problem of the proximity effects which occurs in the fabrication of integrated circuit devices, a facile method is provided for automatically creating a new pattern in which variably spaced windage correction is applied over the mask. This permits the utilization of conventional design fabrication rules and systems without the concomitant problem of producing small feature sizes in isolated structures. The method produces highly desirable chip masks and is readily implemented on commercially available CAD systems presently being employed for the production of circuit masks. The method is automatic and extremely easily implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yoav Nissan-Cohen, Paul A. Frank, Joseph M. Pimbley, Dale M. Brown, Ernest W. Balch, Kenneth J. Polasko