Patents by Inventor John Fiddes

John Fiddes 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: 10720353
    Abstract: An opener apparatus that accommodates and opens a substrate carrier stack of substrate carriers stacked in a vertical direction, includes a movement mechanism that moves all of the substrate carriers or a sub-group of the substrate carriers relatively with respect to each other along a vertical axis in an opening operation to assume an unstacked state and to be positioned at defined vertical opened positions within the opener apparatus with vertical distances between vertically adjacent substrate carriers in the unstacked state. The opener apparatus also moves the substrate carriers in the unstacked state relatively with respect to each other along the vertical axis in a closing operation to reassume a stacked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Thomas Schober, Bernd Rahrbach, Christian Wohanka, Yves Fenner, Gerhard Dovids, John Fiddes
  • Patent number: 10643876
    Abstract: A substrate carrier stack includes substrate carriers of only one type which are stacked or stackable on each other and carry a respective plate-shaped substrates within an inner accommodation space of the substrate carrier stack. The substrate carriers each include positioning formations. Positioning formations of each pair of an upper substrate carrier and a lower substrate carrier are mutually engaged or engageable, if the upper substrate carrier and the lower substrate carrier are properly positioned relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Thomas Schober, Bernd Rahrbach, Christian Wohanka, Yves Fenner, Gerhard Dovids, John Fiddes
  • Patent number: 10573545
    Abstract: A substrate carrier stack includes substrate carriers which are stacked or stackable on each other and carry substrates within an inner accommodation space of the substrate carrier stack. The substrate carrier stack includes at least one first purging channel and at least one second purging channel, which extend vertically parallel to the inner accommodation space at opposing sides thereof, and purging structures which enable horizontal purging flows within the substrate carrier stack through spaces between substrates held by the substrate carriers. The substrate carriers each include an outer carrier frame provided with a seat to carry a substrate, wherein the outer carrier frame extends around the first and second purging channels and the inner accommodation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Thomas Schober, Bernd Rahrbach, Christian Wohanka, Yves Fenner, Gerhard Dovids, John Fiddes
  • Publication number: 20200013655
    Abstract: An opener apparatus that accommodates and opens a substrate carrier stack of substrate carriers stacked in a vertical direction, includes a movement mechanism that moves all of the substrate carriers or a sub-group of the substrate carriers relatively with respect to each other along a vertical axis in an opening operation to assume an unstacked state and to be positioned at defined vertical opened positions within the opener apparatus with vertical distances between vertically adjacent substrate carriers in the unstacked state. The opener apparatus also moves the substrate carriers in the unstacked state relatively with respect to each other along the vertical axis in a closing operation to reassume a stacked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas SCHOBER, Bernd RAHRBACH, Christian WOHANKA, Yves FENNER, Gerhard DOVIDS, John FIDDES
  • Patent number: 10515835
    Abstract: The invention disclosed relates generally to handling substrates and wafers. In an example embodiment, to an improved wafer and substrate carrier or carrier system, method or apparatus. More specifically, to a carrier with improved abilities which may provide high density carriers, improved efficiency and other abilities such as increased cleanliness and reduced contamination to wafers during handling, storage or processing as well as higher density storage and better stocking, storage and handling abilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Gerhard Dovids, Yves Fenner, John Fiddes, Christian Wohanka, Bernd Rahrbach
  • Patent number: 10504764
    Abstract: A substrate production, manufacturing, and processing system includes storages with one or more separations that store substrates, loading stations that include robots, opener systems, and a software management system. The storage separations hold first containers that store carriers and the substrates in stacks. Each robot is able to access and move at least one of: the first container, a second container or carrier, and one of the substrates. The opener systems open the first containers such that the carriers and the substrates are able to be accessed by the robots in the loading station, and the software management system assigns at least one category to each stack of carriers and the substrates. The first containers store the substrates with a higher density than the second container or carrier, and the opener systems each include effectors that each hold an individual one of the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Gerhard Dovids, Yves Fenner, John Fiddes, Christian Wohanka, Bernd Rahrbach
  • Patent number: 10497596
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to substrate and manufacturing system, processes and methods. In one example embodiment, to methods, apparatus, and systems which provides improved substrate processing and manufacturing wherein at least a portion of the system, apparatus or method may be in an overhead system, such as attached to a ceiling or overhead mounts, such that floor space and other efficiencies may be founded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Gerhard Dovids, Yves Fenner, John Fiddes, Christian Wohanka, Bernd Rahrbach
  • Patent number: 10395960
    Abstract: A substrate stocker system includes a high-density storage chamber that comprises one or more stacks of one or more substrates in a closed position, one or more low density containers that are configured to store one or more substrates in an open position, one or more opener stations that are configured to receive one or more substrates and includes one or more separator modules for changing one or more distances between corresponding one or more adjacent substrates. The substrate stocker system further includes a first robot configured to move one or more stacks between the high-density storage chamber, and the one or more opener station, and a second robot configured to move the individual one or more substrates between the one or more opener stations and the one or more low density containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Gerhard Dovids, Yves Fenner, John Fiddes, Christian Wohanka, Bernd Rahrbach
  • Publication number: 20190080945
    Abstract: A substrate carrier stack includes substrate carriers of only one type which are stacked or stackable on each other and carry a respective plate-shaped substrates within an inner accommodation space of the substrate carrier stack. The substrate carriers each include positioning formations. Positioning formations of each pair of an upper substrate carrier and a lower substrate carrier are mutually engaged or engageable, if the upper substrate carrier and the lower substrate carrier are properly positioned relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas SCHOBER, Bernd RAHRBACH, Christian WOHANKA, Yves FENNER, Gerhard DOVIDS, John FIDDES
  • Publication number: 20190074203
    Abstract: A substrate carrier stack includes substrate carriers which are stacked or stackable on each other and carry substrates within an inner accommodation space of the substrate carrier stack. The substrate carrier stack includes at least one first purging channel and at least one second purging channel, which extend vertically parallel to the inner accommodation space at opposing sides thereof, and purging structures which enable horizontal purging flows within the substrate carrier stack through spaces between substrates held by the substrate carriers. The substrate carriers each include an outer carrier frame provided with a seat to carry a substrate, wherein the outer carrier frame extends around the first and second purging channels and the inner accommodation space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas SCHOBER, Bernd RAHRBACH, Christian WOHANKA, Yves FENNER, Gerhard DOVIDS, John FIDDES
  • Publication number: 20180169720
    Abstract: A substrate stocker system that may include a high-density storage chamber that comprises a plurality of compartments, each storing one or more high density substrates, one or more robots configured to move one or more compartments of the high-density storage chamber for cleaning, and a cleaning module configured to clean the one or more compartments, while the one or more compartments hold corresponding one or more substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Gerhard Dovids, Yves Fenner, John Fiddes, Christian Wohanka, Bernd Rahrbach
  • Publication number: 20180144964
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to substrate and manufacturing system, processes and methods. In one example embodiment, to methods, apparatus, and systems which provides improved substrate processing and manufacturing wherein at least a portion of the system, apparatus or method may be in an overhead system, such as attached to a ceiling or overhead mounts, such that floor space and other efficiencies may be founded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Gerhard Dovids, Yves Fenner, John Fiddes, Christian Wohanka, Bernd Rahrbach
  • Publication number: 20180134491
    Abstract: The invention described relates generally to manufacturing management software and more specifically to substrate manufacturing management software. In one example embodiment, to methods, apparatus, and systems which provides for a software or management of substrates, substrate carriers, stockers and associated and other relates devices systems and methods such that improved efficiency can be realized in production, manufacturing and processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Gerhard Dovids, Yves Fenner, John Fiddes, Christian Wohanka, Bernd Rahrbach
  • Publication number: 20180122674
    Abstract: The invention disclosed relates generally to handling substrates and wafers. In an example embodiment, to an improved wafer and substrate carrier or carrier system, method or apparatus. More specifically, to a carrier with improved abilities which may provide high density carriers, improved efficiency and other abilities such as increased cleanliness and reduced contamination to wafers during handling, storage or processing as well as higher density storage and better stocking, storage and handling abilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Gerhard Dovids, Yves Fenner, John Fiddes, Christian Wohanka, Bernd Rahrbach
  • Publication number: 20180122677
    Abstract: A substrate stocker system includes a high-density storage chamber that comprises one or more stacks of one or more substrates in a closed position, one or more low density containers that are configured to store one or more substrates in an open position, one or more opener stations that are configured to receive one or more substrates and includes one or more separator modules for changing one or more distances between corresponding one or more adjacent substrates. The substrate stocker system further includes a first robot configured to move one or more stacks between the high-density storage chamber, and the one or more opener station, and a second robot configured to move the individual one or more substrates between the one or more opener stations and the one or more low density containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Gerhard Dovids, Yves Fenner, John Fiddes, Christian Wohanka, Bernd Rahrbach
  • Publication number: 20180122675
    Abstract: A substrate stocker system includes a high-density storage chamber that comprises one or more stacks of one or more substrates in a closed position, one or more substrates being supported on a respective carrier, one or more low density containers, wherein each low density container being configured to store one or more substrates in an open position. The substrate stocker system further includes a first robot configured to move the one or more stacks between the high density storage chamber, and the one or more opener stations, and a second robot configured to move the individual one or more substrates between the one or more opener stations and the one or more low density containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Gerhard Dovids, Yves Fenner, John Fiddes, Christian Wohanka, Bernd Rahrbach
  • Publication number: 20050227329
    Abstract: The DNA sequences encoding analogs of human acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGF) can be recombinantly expressed to obtain practical amounts of proteins useful in effecting both pathologies related to persistent angiogenesis and wound healing and related tissue repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: John Fiddes, Judith Abraham, Andrew Protter