Patents by Inventor George M. Harmuth

George M. Harmuth 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: 8749388
    Abstract: A system and a method for safeguarding wafers and photomasks. The system includes a container for storing an article, the article being a wafer or a photomask; a flashing unit for flashing light with a pre-determined light pattern; an anti-theft unit capable of performing an anti-theft function, the anti-theft unit being attached to the container; and a trigger unit electrically connected to the anti-theft unit for triggering the anti-theft function of the anti-theft unit, in response to detecting the pre-determined light pattern of the flashing unit. The method includes providing a container having an anti-theft unit capable of performing an anti-theft function; storing an article in the container, the article being a wafer or a photomask; providing a flashing light with a pre-determined light pattern; detecting the pre-determined light pattern; and performing the anti-theft function by the anti-theft unit, in response to detecting the pre-determined light pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Hand, George M. Harmuth, Gary T. Leonardi, Glenn M. Stefanski, Andrew P. Wyskida
  • Patent number: 8299926
    Abstract: A system and a method for safeguarding wafers and photomasks. The system includes a container for storing an article, the article being a wafer or a photomask; a flashing unit for flashing light with a pre-determined light pattern; an anti-theft unit capable of performing an anti-theft function, the anti-theft unit being attached to the container; and a trigger unit electrically connected to the anti-theft unit for triggering the anti-theft function of the anti-theft unit, in response to detecting the pre-determined light pattern of the flashing unit. The method includes providing a container having an anti-theft unit capable of performing an anti-theft function; storing an article in the container, the article being a wafer or a photomask; providing a flashing light with a pre-determined light pattern; detecting the pre-determined light pattern; and performing the anti-theft function by the anti-theft unit, in response to detecting the pre-determined light pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Hand, George M. Harmuth, Gary T. Leonardi, Glenn M. Stefanski, Andrew P. Wyskida
  • Publication number: 20100289645
    Abstract: A system and a method for safeguarding wafers and photomasks. The system includes a container for storing an article, the article being a wafer or a photomask; a flashing unit for flashing light with a pre-determined light pattern; an anti-theft unit capable of performing an anti-theft function, the anti-theft unit being attached to the container; and a trigger unit electrically connected to the anti-theft unit for triggering the anti-theft function of the anti-theft unit, in response to detecting the pre-determined light pattern of the flashing unit. The method includes providing a container having an anti-theft unit capable of performing an anti-theft function; storing an article in the container, the article being a wafer or a photomask; providing a flashing light with a pre-determined light pattern; detecting the pre-determined light pattern; and performing the anti-theft function by the anti-theft unit, in response to detecting the pre-determined light pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul D. Hand, George M. Harmuth, Gary T. Leonardi, Glenn M. Stefanski, Andrew P. Wyskida
  • Patent number: 7010377
    Abstract: A method, system, and storage medium for facilitating a transport scheme in an automated material handling system environment are provided. The method includes detecting an occurrence of a trigger event while monitoring production operations in an automated material handling system environment, identifying a materials candidate to purge from a production line in response to the trigger event, production data captured relating to the materials candidate, and user-defined criteria for purging materials from the production line. The method also includes selecting a disposition plan for handling the materials candidate, generating a transport process job for the materials candidate for instructing the automated material handling system on executing the disposition plan, and transmitting the transport process job to the automated material handling system for execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gifford, George M. Harmuth