Patents by Inventor Gregory A. Schwind

Gregory A. Schwind 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: 8217565
    Abstract: A stable cold field electron emitter is produced by forming a coating on an emitter base material. The coating protects the emitter from the adsorption of residual gases and from the impact of ions, so that the cold field emitter exhibits short term and long term stability at relatively high pressures and reasonable angular electron emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Theodore Carl Tessner, II, Gregory A. Schwind, Lynwood W. Swanson
  • Patent number: 8053725
    Abstract: Applicants have found that the asymmetrical energy distribution of ions from an ion source allow chromatic aberration to be reduced by filtering ions in the low energy beam tail without significantly reducing processing time. A preferred embodiment includes within an ion beam column a filter that removes the low energy ions from the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Gregory A. Schwind, Jonathan H. Orloff
  • Publication number: 20110101238
    Abstract: A stable cold field electron emitter is produced by forming a coating on an emitter base material. The coating protects the emitter from the adsorption of residual gases and from the impact of ions, so that the cold field emitter exhibits short term and long term stability at relatively high pressures and reasonable angular electron emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Theodore Carl Tessner, II, Gregory A. Schwind, Lynwood W. Swanson
  • Patent number: 7888654
    Abstract: A stable cold field electron emitter is produced by forming a coating on an emitter base material. The coating protects the emitter from the adsorption of residual gases and from the impact of ions, so that the cold field emitter exhibits short term and long term stability at relatively high pressures and reasonable angular electron emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Theodore Carl Tessner, II, Gregory A. Schwind, Lynwood W. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20100327180
    Abstract: Applicants have found that the asymmetrical energy distribution of ions from an ion source allow chromatic aberration to be reduced by filtering ions in the low energy beam tail without significantly reducing processing time. A preferred embodiment includes within an ion beam column a filter that removes the low energy ions from the beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: FEI COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory A. Schwind, Jonathan H. Orloff
  • Patent number: 7544523
    Abstract: A method of batch fabrication using established photolithographic techniques allowing nanoparticles or nanodevices to be fabricated and mounted into a macroscopic device in a repeatable, reliable manner suitable for large-scale mass production. Nanoparticles can be grown on macroscopic “modules” which can be easily manipulated and shaped to fit standard mounts in various devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Gregory Schwind, Gerald Magera, Lawrence Scipioni
  • Publication number: 20080174225
    Abstract: A stable cold field electron emitter is produced by forming a coating on an emitter base material. The coating protects the emitter from the adsorption of residual gases and from the impact of ions, so that the cold field emitter exhibits short term and long term stability at relatively high pressures and reasonable angular electron emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Theodore Carl Tessner, Gregory A. Schwind, Lynwood W. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20070148991
    Abstract: A method of batch fabrication using established photolithographic techniques allowing nanoparticles or nanodevices to be fabricated and mounted into a macroscopic device in a repeatable, reliable manner suitable for large-scale mass production. Nanoparticles can be grown on macroscopic “modules” which can be easily manipulated and shaped to fit standard mounts in various devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Gregory Schwind, Gerald Magera, Lawrence Scipioni
  • Patent number: 7064477
    Abstract: A low input power consumption, compact thermal field emitter is suitable for use in electron beam systems, particularly those systems that use an array of electron beams or a miniature electron beam system. The thermal field emitter design reduces heat loss by reducing heat transfer to the base. To achieve reduced loses the design incorporates the use of high electrical resistivity, low thermal conductivity materials for construction of the filament posts and the filaments. Such materials further reduce heat loss and reduce input current requirements. In one embodiment, the base includes counterbores that reduce the heat conduction path between the filament posts and the base, and moves the contact area further from the filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Gerald G. Magera, Gregory A. Schwind, James B. McGinn, David S. Jun
  • Patent number: 6977384
    Abstract: The invention adds one or more surface contour(s) to the bombarded area(s) within ion columns to greatly reduce the likelihood that back sputtered material will reach the ion generating source. A number of different surface contours are disclosed including angled surfaces, surfaces defining cups to capture back sputtered material, pre-textured and forested surfaces. The different surfaces can be used in any combination. The reduction in back sputtered material reaching the ion source reduces the time to stability, greatly increases the working stability, and increases the lifespan of the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: James B. McGinn, Gregory A. Schwind
  • Publication number: 20050045834
    Abstract: The invention adds one or more surface contour(s) to the bombarded area(s) within ion columns to greatly reduce the likelihood that back sputtered material will reach the ion generating source. A number of different surface contours are disclosed including angled surfaces, surfaces defining cups to capture back sputtered material, pre-textured and forested surfaces. The different surfaces can be used in any combination. The reduction in back sputtered material reaching the ion source reduces the time to stability, greatly increases the working stability, and increases the lifespan of the source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: James McGinn, Gregory Schwind
  • Publication number: 20050001220
    Abstract: A low input power consumption, compact thermal field emitter is suitable for use in electron beam systems, particularly those systems that use an array of electron beams or a miniature electron beam system. The thermal field emitter design reduces heat loss by reducing heat transfer to the base. To achieve reduced loses the design incorporates the use of high electrical resistivity, low thermal conductivity materials for construction of the filament posts and the filaments. Such materials further reduce heat loss and reduce input current requirements. In one embodiment, the base includes counterbores that reduce the heat conduction path between the filament posts and the base, and moves the contact area further from the filament.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Gerald Magera, Gregory Schwind, James McGinn, David Jun
  • Patent number: 6798126
    Abstract: An electron emitter is produced by applying a work function lowering material that does not require an extensive heating step before the material will function to lower the work function. By eliminating the extensive heating step, a small radius, highly tapered emitter tip will retain its shape to consistently produce a high angular intensity at a reasonable output power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Gregory A. Schwind, David S. Jun, Gerald G. Magera
  • Patent number: 6771013
    Abstract: A low input power consumption, compact thermal field emitter is suitable for use in electron beam systems, particularly those systems that use an array of electron beams or a miniature electron beam system. The thermal field emitter design reduces heat loss by reducing heat transfer to the base. To achieve reduced loses the design incorporates the use of high electrical resistivity, low thermal conductivity materials for construction of the filament posts and the filaments. Such materials further reduce heat loss and reduce input current requirements. In one embodiment, the base includes counterbores that reduce the heat conduction path between the filament posts and the base, and moves the contact area further from the filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Gerald G. Magera, Gregory A. Schwind, James B. McGinn, David S. Jun
  • Patent number: 6680562
    Abstract: A electron emission cathode includes an emitter having an apex from which electrons are emitted. The emitter is attached to a heating filament at a junction and extends from the junction both forward toward the apex and rearward. A reservoir of material that lowers the work function of the emitter is positioned on the rearward extending portion of the emitter. By positioning the reservoir on the rearward extending portion, the reservoir can be positioned sufficiently far from the junction to reduce its temperature and thereby greatly increase the useful life, of the emitter without adversely affected the emission characteristics of the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: James B. McGinn, Sander G. den Hartog, David S. Jun, Gerald G. Magera, Gregory A. Schwind
  • Publication number: 20030205958
    Abstract: An electron emitter is produced by applying a work function lowering material that does not require an extensive heating step before the material will function to lower the work function. By eliminating the extensive heating step, a small radius, highly tapered emitter tip will retain its shape to consistently produce a high angular intensity at a reasonable output power level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory A. Schwind, David S. Jun, Gerald G. Magera
  • Publication number: 20020079803
    Abstract: A low input power consumption, compact thermal field emitter is suitable for use in electron beam systems, particularly those systems that use an array of electron beams or a miniature electron beam system. The thermal field emitter design reduces heat loss by reducing heat transfer to the base. To achieve reduced loses the design incorporates the use of high electrical resistivity, low thermal conductivity materials for construction of the filament posts and the filaments. Such materials further reduce heat loss and reduce input current requirements. In one embodiment, the base includes counterbores that reduce the heat conduction path between the filament posts and the base, and moves the contact area further from the filament.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Gerald G. Magera, Gregory A. Schwind, James B. McGinn, David S. Jun