Patents by Inventor John A. Higgins

John A. Higgins 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: 7068129
    Abstract: A tunable filter includes a waveguide with at least one resonant cavity and a tunable impedance structure coupled to each resonant cavity. Each resonant cavity has a resonant frequency and its corresponding impedance structure can be tuned to adjust the resonant frequency. The filter transmits the signal in a pass-band that includes the resonant frequency and reflects signals outside the pass-band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Rockwell Scientific Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: John A. Higgins, Hao Xin
  • Publication number: 20060121669
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) is disclosed that includes successive emitter, base and collector and sub-collector epitaxial layers and emitter, base and collector contact metals contacting the emitter, base and sub-collector layers respectively. A passivation material is included that covers the uncovered portions of the layers and covers substantially all of the contact metals. The passivation material has a planar surface and a portion of each of the contact metals protrudes from the surface. Planar metals are included on the planar surface, each being isolated from the others and in electrical contact with a respective contact metal. A method for fabricating an HBT is also disclosed, wherein successive emitter, base, collector and sub-collector epitaxial layers are deposited on a substrate, with the substrate being adjacent to the sub-collector layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Pierson, James Li, Berinder Brar, John Higgins
  • Patent number: 7038558
    Abstract: A waveguide is disclosed that shifts the phase of the signal passing through it. In one embodiment, the waveguide has an impedance structure on its walls that resonates at a frequency lower than the frequency of the signal passing through the waveguide. This causes the structure to present a capacitive impedance to the signal, increasing its propagation constant and shifting its phase. Another embodiment of the new waveguide has impedance structures on its wall that are voltage controlled to change the frequency at which the impedance structures resonate. The range of frequencies at which the structure can resonate is below the frequency of the signal passing through the waveguide. This allows the waveguide cause a adjust the shift in the phase of its signal. An amplifier array can be included in the waveguides to amplify the signal. A module can be constructed of the new waveguides and placed in the path of a millimeter beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Rockwell Scientific Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: John A. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20060051705
    Abstract: The application, according to a desired image, of an absorbance controlling composition to a receiver having an imaging layer comprising a radiation absorbing component, such as a dye or pigment, with spectral absorbance properties susceptible to change on treatment with the absorbance controlling composition provides a method of imaging by which a desired image may be formed on the receiver, for example by jetting a solution of the absorbance controlling composition onto the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: John Fyson, John Higgins
  • Patent number: 6992549
    Abstract: A shutter switch is disclosed and placed in the path of a millimeter beam and is either opaque or transparent to the beam. The shutter switch comprises a number of waveguides placed adjacent to one another to intercept the beam, a portion of the beam passing through each waveguide. The dimensions of each waveguide are such that transmission of the respective portion of the beam would be cut-off if all of the waveguide walls were conductive. However, the waveguides have high impedance structures on at least two of their opposing interior walls that allow the beam at the design frequency to be transmitted through the waveguide with uniform density and minimal attenuation. At this design frequency the shutter switch is essentially transparent to the beam. Each of the high impedance structures can also be changed to a conductive surfaces such that all of the waveguide walls appear conductive and the waveguide takes on the characteristics of a metal rectangular waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Rockwell Scientific Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: John A. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20050270125
    Abstract: A tunable filter includes a waveguide with at least one resonant cavity and a tunable impedance structure coupled to each resonant cavity. Each resonant cavity has a resonant frequency and its corresponding impedance structure can be tuned to adjust the resonant frequency. The filter transmits the signal in a pass-band that includes the resonant frequency and reflects signals outside the pass-band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: John Higgins, Hao Xin
  • Patent number: 6958491
    Abstract: Test probe pads are located lateral to, and spaced from, the emitter, base or collector region of a bipolar transistor, preferably on separate pedestals, and connected to their respective transistor regions by air bridges. The probe pads, transistor contacts and air bridges are preferably formed as common metallizations. In the case of an HBT, a gap in the subcollector below the air bridges insulates the test transistor from capacitor loading by the probe pads. The test transistors can be used to characterize both themselves and functional circuit transistors fabricated with the same process on the same wafer by testing at an intermediate stage of manufacture, thus allowing wafers to be discarded without completing the manufacture if their transistors do not meet specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Rockwell Scientific Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Berinder P. S. Brar, James Chingwei Li, John A. Higgins
  • Patent number: 6949776
    Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) is disclosed that includes successive emitter, base and collector and sub-collector epitaxial layers and emitter, base and collector contact metals contacting the emitter, base and sub-collector layers respectively. A passivation material is included that covers the uncovered portions of the layers and covers substantially all of the contact metals. The passivation material has a planar surface and a portion of each of the contact metals protrudes from the surface. Planar metals are included on the planar surface, each being isolated from the others and in electrical contact with a respective contact metal. A method for fabricating an HBT is also disclosed, wherein successive emitter, base, collector and sub-collector epitaxial layers are deposited on a substrate, with the substrate being adjacent to the sub-collector layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Rockwell Scientific Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Pierson, Jr., James Chingwei Li, Berinder P. S. Brar, John A. Higgins
  • Patent number: 6950829
    Abstract: Computerized method and system for training service personnel to service selected equipment. The method allows to provide a database for storing respective training modules for training service personnel to service respective assemblies of selected equipment. The method further identifies the present qualifications of a service personnel available at the service site for servicing the assembly. The method also correlates the present qualifications of the service personnel to predefined qualifications needed to service that assembly to determine whether or not the present qualifications of the service personnel meet the predetermined requirements. In the even the predefined qualifications for servicing the assembly are unmet by the present qualifications of the service provider, the method identifies one or more needed training modules that upon completion by the service personnel would enable the service personnel to meet the predefined qualifications relative to that assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Edward Schlabach, Michael John Higgins, Keith Parrish
  • Publication number: 20050184833
    Abstract: A filter includes a waveguide with at least one impedance structure with a resonant frequency. The impedance structure is positioned in the waveguide to reflect signals at the resonant frequency. The filter can be tunable by including variable capacitance devices in the impedance structure(s) so that the resonant frequency can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: John Higgins, Hao Xin
  • Publication number: 20050167488
    Abstract: Disclosed in this writing is an automated teller machine. The machine includes mechanisms for conducting a financial transaction as well as for providing game cards, prizes, prize money, game-card redemption receipts, and placing bets or wages as a form of internet gambling in association with the financial transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: John Higgins, Michael Davis, Robert Montgomery, Allan Zukermann
  • Patent number: 6919862
    Abstract: A multi layered high impedance structure presents a high impedance to multiple frequency signals, with a different frequency for each layer. Each layer comprises a dielectric substrate, and an array of radiating elements such as parallel conductive strips or conductive patches on the substrate's top surface, with a conductive layer on the bottom surface of the bottommost layer. The radiating elements of succeeding layers are vertically aligned with conductive vias extending through the substrates to connect the radiating elements to the ground plane. Each layer presents as a series of parallel resonant L-C circuits to an E field at a particular signal frequency, resulting in a high impedance surface at that frequency. The new structure can be used as the substrate for a microstrip patch antenna to provide an optimal electrical distance between the resonator and backplane at multiple frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Rockwell Scientific Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Bruce Hacker, Moonil Kim, John A. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20050121510
    Abstract: A customer interface system for use with a check processing system. The customer interface system has a check reader and a card issuing machine. The check reader receives a check code indicative of a check having value and transmits the check code to the check processing system for at least one of authorizing and guaranteeing payment of at least a portion of the value of the check. The card issuing machine is operatively associated with the check reader. The card issuing machine receives an authorization code representing at least one of the authorization and the guarantee from the check processing system and provides an outputted card having a value thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventor: John Higgins
  • Publication number: 20050095536
    Abstract: The present invention provides a planographic printing element suitable to receive and bond with a subsequently applied hydrophilic layer comprises a substrate layer, such as polyester film or paper, having coated thereon an adhesion layer, said adhesion layer comprising a polymer having a glass transition temperature of less than 15 C and containing functional groups such as hydroxyl, epoxy or glycidyl groups capable of reacting with the hydrophilic layer. The polymer may be a terpolymer of a hydroxyalkyl methacrylate, an alkyl acrylate and an aminoalkyl methacrylate. The polymer may be mixed with gelatin and the mixture applied to the substrate as a coating. The hydrophilic layer, which may comprise metal oxide particles, such as aluminium oxide and/or titanium dioxide particles in a sodium silicate binder, is subsequently applied as a coating to the adhesion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: John Higgins, Ian Newington, Charles Anderson, Harjit Bhambra, Janglin Chen
  • Patent number: 6870184
    Abstract: A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) requires the fabrication of a BJT structure and of a support post which is adjacent to, but physically and electrically isolated from, the BJT structure. The BJT structure includes a semi-insulating substrate, a subcollector, a collector, a base, and an emitter. Metal contacts are formed on the subcollector and emitter to provide collector and emitter terminals. Contact to the structure's base is accomplished with a metal contact which extends from the top of the support post to the edge of the base nearest the support post. The contact bridges the physical and electrical separation between the support post and the base and provides a base terminal for the device. The base contact need extend over the edge of the base by no more than the transfer length associated with the fabrication process. This results in the smaller base contact area over the collector than would otherwise be necessary, and a consequent reduction in base-collector capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Innovative Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: James Chingwei Li, Richard L. Pierson, Jr., Berinder P. S. Brar, John A. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20050056564
    Abstract: A personal wallet pill card comprising a card like configuration that provides transportation, easy access storage, and a method to protect the medication from harm while transported in a wallet. This is achieved by utilizing the top upper pocket section of a wallet; where there is the only open space, allowing the storage without making the wallet thicker or applying pressure to the oral medications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventor: John Higgins
  • Patent number: 6858887
    Abstract: A BJT device configuration includes an emitter finger and via arrangement which reduces emitter finger width, and is particularly suitable for use with compound semiconductor-based devices. Each emitter finger includes a cross-shaped metal contact which provides an emitter contact; each contact comprises two perpendicular arms which intersect at a central area. A via through an interlevel dielectric layer provides access to the emitter contact; the via is square-shaped, centered over the center point of the central area, and oriented at a 45° angle to the arms. This allows the via size to be equal to or greater than the minimum process dimension, while allowing the width of the emitter finger to be as narrow as possible with the alignment tolerances still being met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Innovative Technology Licensing LLC
    Inventors: James Chingwei Li, Richard L. Pierson, Jr., Berinder P. S. Brar, John A. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20050023643
    Abstract: A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) requires the fabrication of a BJT structure and of a support post which is adjacent to, but physically and electrically isolated from, the BJT structure. The BJT structure includes a semi-insulating substrate, a subcollector, a collector, a base, and an emitter. Metal contacts are formed on the subcollector and emitter to provide collector and emitter terminals. Contact to the structure's base is accomplished with a metal contact which extends from the top of the support post to the edge of the base nearest the support post. The contact bridges the physical and electrical separation between the support post and the base and provides a base terminal for the device. The base contact need extend over the edge of the base by no more than the transfer length associated with the fabrication process. This results in the smaller base contact area over the collector than would otherwise be necessary, and a consequent reduction in base-collector capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: James Li, Richard Pierson, Berinder Brar, John Higgins
  • Publication number: 20050023556
    Abstract: A BJT device configuration includes an emitter finger and via arrangement which reduces emitter finger width, and is particularly suitable for use with compound semiconductor-based devices. Each emitter finger includes a cross-shaped metal contact which provides an emitter contact; each contact comprises two perpendicular arms which intersect at a central area. A via through an inter-level dielectric layer provides access to the emitter contact; the via is square-shaped, centered over the center point of the central area, and oriented at a 45° angle to the arms. This allows the via size to be equal to or greater than the minimum process dimension, while allowing the width of the emitter finger to be as narrow as possible with the alignment tolerances still being met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: James Li, Richard Pierson, Berinder Brar, John Higgins
  • Publication number: 20050018188
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the use of visible and/or near-infrared spectroscopic methodology to monitor and control processes for the generation of particles, including processes that provide for a reduction in particle size and processes that result in an increase in particle size. One embodiment of the present invention employs visible and/or near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to monitor particle size. The present invention is particularly useful for monitoring particle size of optically dense samples and is further useful for monitoring the endpoint of particle generation processes. In contrast to methods known in the art, the present invention is especially useful for on-line monitoring of particle size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Steven Arrivo, William Bowen, Robert Reed, John Higgins