Patents by Inventor John R. German
John R. German 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).
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Patent number: 9748082Abstract: A cathode target assembly for use in sputtering target material onto a substrate includes a generally cylindrical target and a magnetic array. The magnetic array is adapted to provide a plasma confinement region adjacent an outer surface of the target. End portions of the magnetic array are adapted to make the shape and strength of the confinement field at the turns of the racetrack closely match the shape and strength of the confinement field along the straight part of the racetrack so as to significantly reduce cross-corner effect.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Cardinal CG CompanyInventors: John R. German, Klaus H. W. Hartig
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Publication number: 20150230417Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to automatically determine plant water requirements and adjust irrigation. In one implementation, a method comprises: receiving, from a user via a user interface of an irrigation control unit and at a time after an initial commercial sale, a region identifier corresponding to a region of the irrigation controller; identifying a set of historical values from a plurality of sets of historical values pre-stored in a memory of the irrigation control unit; receiving a current value of at least one other environmental variable from at least one sensor; receiving at least one historical value from the identified set of historical values from the memory; determining the plant water requirements using the at least one historical value and the current value; outputting an adjustment control message to the irrigation controller; and adjusting execution of the irrigation schedule, the irrigation schedule defined for a peak irrigation period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, John R. German
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Patent number: 9043964Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to automatically determine plant water requirements and adjust irrigation. In one implementation, a method comprises: receiving, from a user via a user interface of an irrigation control unit and at a time after an initial commercial sale, a region identifier corresponding to a region of the irrigation controller; identifying a set of historical values from a plurality of sets of historical values pre-stored in a memory of the irrigation control unit; receiving a current value of at least one other environmental variable from at least one sensor; receiving at least one historical value from the identified set of historical values from the memory; determining the plant water requirements using the at least one historical value and the current value; outputting an adjustment control message to the irrigation controller; and adjusting execution of the irrigation schedule, the irrigation schedule defined for a peak irrigation period.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, John R. German
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Patent number: 8696879Abstract: The invention provides methods and equipment for depositing a low-maintenance coating.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Cardinal CG CompanyInventors: Kari B. Myli, Annette J. Krisko, John R. German, Klaus Hartig
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Publication number: 20140054168Abstract: A cathode target assembly for use in sputtering target material onto a substrate includes a generally cylindrical target and a magnetic array. The magnetic array is adapted to provide a plasma confinement region adjacent an outer surface of the target. End portions of the magnetic array are adapted to make the shape and strength of the confinement field at the turns of the racetrack closely match the shape and strength of the confinement field along the straight part of the racetrack so as to significantly reduce cross-corner effect.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Inventors: John R. German, Klaus H.W. Hartig
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Patent number: 8649910Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to automatically determine plant water requirements and adjust irrigation in order to make efficient use of water. In one implementation an irrigation control unit comprises at least one input configured to be coupled to and receive signals from a temperature sensor, the signals corresponding to current values of temperature. The unit also includes a memory storing historical values of a plurality of variables and a processor coupled to the at least one input and the memory. The processor is configured to determine plant water requirements at least in part using the historical values of the plurality of variables and the current values of the temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, John R. German
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Publication number: 20140031996Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to automatically determine plant water requirements and adjust irrigation. In one implementation, a method comprises: receiving, from a user via a user interface of an irrigation control unit and at a time after an initial commercial sale, a region identifier corresponding to a region of the irrigation controller; identifying a set of historical values from a plurality of sets of historical values pre-stored in a memory of the irrigation control unit; receiving a current value of at least one other environmental variable from at least one sensor; receiving at least one historical value from the identified set of historical values from the memory; determining the plant water requirements using the at least one historical value and the current value; outputting an adjustment control message to the irrigation controller; and adjusting execution of the irrigation schedule, the irrigation schedule defined for a peak irrigation period.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, John R. German
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Publication number: 20120259473Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to automatically determine plant water requirements and adjust irrigation in order to make efficient use of water. In one implementation an irrigation control unit comprises at least one input configured to be coupled to and receive signals from a temperature sensor, the signals corresponding to current values of temperature. The unit also includes a memory storing historical values of a plurality of variables and a processor coupled to the at least one input and the memory. The processor is configured to determine plant water requirements at least in part using the historical values of the plurality of variables and the current values of the temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: RAIN BIRD CORPORATIONInventors: Harvey J. NICKERSON, John R. GERMAN
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Patent number: 8200368Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to automatically determine plant water requirements and adjust irrigation in order to make efficient use of water. In one implementation, an irrigation control unit comprises at least one input adapted to be coupled to and receive signals from a rainfall sensor and a temperature sensor, the signals corresponding to current values of an amount of rainfall and temperature. The unit also includes a memory storing historical values of a plurality of variables and a processor coupled to the at least one input and the memory. The processor is adapted to determine plant water requirements at least in part using the historical values of the plurality of variables and the current values of the temperature and the amount of rainfall.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, John R. German
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Publication number: 20110077785Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to automatically determine plant water requirements and adjust irrigation in order to make efficient use of water. In one implementation, the invention may be characterized as a method comprising: receiving, user entered historical values of one or more environmental variables, wherein the historical values correspond to a geographic region and storing the historical values in a memory; receiving current values of one or more environmental variables useful in determining the plant water requirements from one or more sensors, the values corresponding to a geographic region and the other environment variables being different from the one or more environmental variables and storing the current values in the memory; and determining the plant water requirements based at least in part on the user entered historical values and the current values of the one or more other environmental variables.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, John R. German
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Patent number: 7905995Abstract: The present invention is an alternating current rotary sputter cathode in a vacuum chamber. The apparatus includes a housing containing a vacuum and a cathode disposed therein. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the bearing housing. A rotary vacuum seal is located in the bearing housing for sealing the drive shaft to the housing. An at least one electrical contact is disposed between a power source and the cathode for transmittal of an oscillating or fluctuating current to the cathode. The electrical contact between the power source and the cathode is disposed inside of the vacuum chamber, greatly reducing, and almost eliminating, the current induced heating of various bearing, seals, and other parts of the rotatably sputter cathode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: John R. German, Daniel T. Crowley, Brian P. Meinke, Roger L. Peterson
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Publication number: 20110005926Abstract: A rotating magnetron assembly having a structure to reduce bearing degradation by substantially preventing the flow of current through the bearing using non-conductive materials or providing a low resistance current flow path or by allowing current to flow through the bearing in a way which prevents arcing between the various bearing components.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2009Publication date: January 13, 2011Inventors: Neal W. Matuska, Joel T. Anderson, Clifford L. Taylor, John R. German
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Patent number: 7807248Abstract: A substrate bearing a solar control low-emissivity coating. The solar control low-emissivity coating includes one or more dielectric absorber films. In some embodiments, the dielectric absorber film has an absorption ratio of k380<?<450 nm/k650<?<760 nm that is less than 1.9.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Cardinal CG CompanyInventors: John R. German, Gary L. Pfaff
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Publication number: 20100145530Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to automatically determine plant water requirements and adjust irrigation in order to make efficient use of water. In one implementation, an irrigation control unit comprises at least one input adapted to be coupled to and receive signals from a rainfall sensor and a temperature sensor, the signals corresponding to current values of an amount of rainfall and temperature. The unit also includes a memory storing historical values of a plurality of variables and a processor coupled to the at least one input and the memory. The processor is adapted to determine plant water requirements at least in part using the historical values of the plurality of variables and the current values of the temperature and the amount of rainfall.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Harvey J. Nickerson, John R. German
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Publication number: 20090047466Abstract: A substrate bearing a solar control low-emissivity coating. The solar control low-emissivity coating includes one or more dielectric absorber films. In some embodiments, the dielectric absorber film has an absorption ratio of k380<?<450 nm/k650<?<760 nm that is less than 1.9.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2007Publication date: February 19, 2009Inventors: John R. German, Gary L. Pfaff
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Publication number: 20080264786Abstract: The present invention is an alternating current rotary sputter cathode in a vacuum chamber. The apparatus includes a housing containing a vacuum and a cathode disposed therein. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the bearing housing. A rotary vacuum seal is located in the bearing housing for sealing the drive shaft to the housing. An at least one electrical contact is disposed between a power source and the cathode for transmittal of an oscillating or fluctuating current to the cathode. The electrical contact between the power source and the cathode is disposed inside of the vacuum chamber, greatly reducing, and almost eliminating, the current induced heating of various bearing, seals, and other parts of the rotatably sputter cathode assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: John R. German, Daniel T. Crowley, Brian P. Meinke, Roger L. Peterson
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Patent number: 7399385Abstract: The present invention is an alternating current rotary sputter cathode in a vacuum chamber. The apparatus includes a housing containing a vacuum and a cathode disposed therein. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the bearing housing. A rotary vacuum seal is located in the bearing housing for sealing the drive shaft to the housing. An at least one electrical contact is disposed between a power source and the cathode for transmittal of an oscillating or fluctuating current to the cathode. The electrical contact between the power source and the cathode is disposed inside of the vacuum chamber, greatly reducing, and almost eliminating, the current induced heating of various bearing, seals, and other parts of the rotatably sputter cathode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2004Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Tru Vue, Inc.Inventors: John R. German, Daniel T. Crowley, Brian P. Meinke, Roger L. Peterson
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Publication number: 20040140208Abstract: The present invention is an alternating current rotary sputter cathode in a vacuum chamber. The apparatus includes a housing containing a vacuum and a cathode disposed therein. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the bearing housing. A rotary vacuum seal is located in the bearing housing for sealing the drive shaft to the housing. An at least one electrical contact is disposed between a power source and the cathode for transmittal of an oscillating or fluctuating current to the cathode. The electrical contact between the power source and the cathode is disposed inside of the vacuum chamber, greatly reducing, and almost eliminating, the current induced heating of various bearing, seals, and other parts of the rotatably sputter cathode assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2004Publication date: July 22, 2004Inventors: John R. German, Daniel T. Crowley, Brian P. Meinke, Roger L. Peterson
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Publication number: 20020189939Abstract: The present invention is an alternating current rotary sputter cathode in a vacuum chamber. The apparatus includes a housing containing a vacuum and a cathode disposed therein. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the bearing housing. A rotary vacuum seal is located in the bearing housing for sealing the drive shaft to the housing. An at least one electrical contact is disposed between a power source and the cathode for transmittal of an oscillating or fluctuating current to the cathode. The electrical contact between the power source and the cathode is disposed inside of the vacuum chamber, greatly reducing, and almost eliminating, the current induced heating of various bearing, seals, and other parts of the rotatably sputter cathode assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2001Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: John R. German, Daniel T. Crowley, Brian P. Meinke, Roger L. Peterson