Patents by Inventor Keith Cox
Keith Cox 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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Publication number: 20060206736Abstract: A signaling circuit may be implemented with a connection comprised of signal lines having predefined signals and/or functions. The predefined signals and/or functions may be defined by an individual entity or standards organization. The signaling circuit transmits information in addition to the predefined signals and/or functions. The information may be transmitted from a second device, such as a visual display screen, to a first device, such as a computing device, using at least one signal line in the connection. The information may include information about the state or status of the second device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2006Publication date: September 14, 2006Inventor: Keith Cox
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Patent number: 7039501Abstract: Generally, a method of determining a position of a robot is provided. In one embodiment, a method of determining a position of a robot comprises acquiring a first set of positional metrics, acquiring a second set of positional metrics and resolving the position of the robot due to thermal expansion using the first set and the second set of positional metrics. Acquiring the first and second set of positional metrics may occur at the same location within a processing system, or may occur at different locations. For example, in another embodiment, the method may comprise acquiring a first set of positional metrics at a first location proximate a processing chamber and acquiring a second set of positional metrics in another location. In another embodiment, substrate center information is corrected using the determined position of the robot.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Marvin L. Freeman, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Damon Keith Cox, Chris Holt Pencis, Michael Rice, David A. Van Gogh
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Publication number: 20050049729Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to manage working states of a data processing system. At least one embodiment of the present invention includes a data processing system with one or more sensors (e.g., physical sensors such as tachometer and thermistors, and logical sensors such as CPU load) for fine grain control of one or more components (e.g., processor, fan, hard drive, optical drive) of the system for working conditions that balance various goals (e.g., user preferences, performance, power consumption, thermal constraints, acoustic noise). In one example, the clock frequency and core voltage for a processor are actively managed to balance performance and power consumption (heat generation) without a significant latency. In one example, the speed of a cooling fan is actively managed to balance cooling effort and noise (and/or power consumption).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2004Publication date: March 3, 2005Inventors: Michael Culbert, Keith Cox, Brian Howard, Josh Cesare, Richard Williams, Dave Falkenburg, Daisie Huang, Dave Radcliffe
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Patent number: 6817640Abstract: The wafer clamping mechanism comprises a linkage mechanism and a wafer contact point coupled to the linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism includes a four-bar linkage having: a first link having a first fixed pivot and a first floating pivot remote from the first fixed pivot; a second link having a second fixed pivot and a second floating pivot remote from the second fixed pivot; and a third link having a first coupling pivot rotatably coupled to the first floating pivot, and having a second coupling pivot rotatably coupled to the second floating pivot. In use motion of the linkage mechanism causes the wafer contact point to clamp a wafer.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2001Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Venugopal Menon, Damon Keith Cox
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Publication number: 20040225902Abstract: A dynamic power management system includes an operating system (OS) that causes a processor to operate in one of multiple run states that have different performance and/or power dissipation levels. The OS selects the run state in response to processor information (e.g., processor load) being monitored by the OS. The OS can predict future states of the processor information based on sampled processor information. The OS can take an average of the predicted and actual samples for comparison with a threshold to select a run state. The OS can track the number of consecutive saturated samples that occur during a selected window of samples. The OS can predict future processor information samples based on the number of consecutive saturated samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2003Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventors: Josh de Cesare, Michael Culbert, Keith Cox
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Publication number: 20040199291Abstract: Generally, a method of determining a position of a robot is provided. In one embodiment, a method of determining a position of a robot comprises acquiring a first set of positional metrics, acquiring a second set of positional metrics and resolving the position of the robot due to thermal expansion using the first set and the second set of positional metrics. Acquiring the first and second set of positional metrics may occur at the same location within a processing system, or may occur at different locations. For example, in another embodiment, the method may comprise acquiring a first set of positional metrics at a first location proximate a processing chamber and acquiring a second set of positional metrics in another location. In another embodiment, substrate center information is corrected using the determined position of the robot.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2003Publication date: October 7, 2004Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Marvin L. Freeman, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Damon Keith Cox, Chris Holt Pencis, Michael Rice, David A. Van Gogh
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Patent number: 6682113Abstract: The wafer clamping apparatus is disclosed including a cam rotatably coupled to a base plate. The cam is configured to couple with a robot arm. The clamping apparatus also includes a rotating clamp mechanism rotatably coupled to the base plate about a single fixed point. A biasing mechanism, coupled to the rotating clamp mechanism, urges the rotating clamp mechanism towards a clamped position. The rotating clamp mechanism is configured to interact with the cam to engage and disengage the rotating clamp mechanism from the clamped position. The rotating clamp mechanism preferably comprises a hub rotatably coupled to the base plate and a clamping arm and cam follower extending from the hub. The clamping arm is configured to clamp a wafer when the rotating clamp mechanism is in the clamped position, while the cam follower is configured to interact with the cam.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Damon Keith Cox, Venugopal Menon
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Patent number: 6670807Abstract: The proximity sensor includes a magnetic field source (first object) configured to generate a magnetic field, a switch plate (second object) made from a ferrous material, and a magnetic field sensor (detector). The magnetic field source and the switch plate are moveable relative to each another. The magnetic field sensor is disposed close enough to the magnetic field source to detect the magnetic field. In use, when the magnetic field source and the switch plate come into proximity of each another, the magnetic field flows from the magnetic field source to the switch plate, thereby disabling detection of the magnetic field and signaling the proximity.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Damon Keith Cox
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Publication number: 20030132746Abstract: The proximity sensor includes a magnetic field source (first object) configured to generate a magnetic field, a switch plate (second object) made from a ferrous material, and a magnetic field sensor (detector). The magnetic field source and the switch plate are moveable relative to each another. The magnetic field sensor is disposed close enough to the magnetic field source to detect the magnetic field. In use, when the magnetic field source and the switch plate come into proximity of each another, the magnetic field flows from the magnetic field source to the switch plate, thereby disabling detection of the magnetic field and signaling the proximity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Damon Keith Cox
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Publication number: 20030094824Abstract: The wafer clamping apparatus is disclosed including a cam rotatably coupled to a base plate. The cam is configured to couple with a robot arm. The clamping apparatus also includes a rotating clamp mechanism rotatably coupled to the base plate about a single fixed point. A biasing mechanism, coupled to the rotating clamp mechanism, urges the rotating clamp mechanism towards a clamped position. The rotating clamp mechanism is configured to interact with the cam to engage and disengage the rotating clamp mechanism from the clamped position. The rotating clamp mechanism preferably comprises a hub rotatably coupled to the base plate and a clamping arm and cam follower extending from the hub. The clamping arm is configured to clamp a wafer when the rotating clamp mechanism is in the clamped position, while the cam follower is configured to interact with the cam.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2001Publication date: May 22, 2003Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Damon Keith Cox, Venugopal Menon
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Patent number: 6556887Abstract: Generally, a method of determining a position of a robot is provided. In one embodiment, a method of determining a position of a robot comprises acquiring a first set of positional metrics, acquiring a second set of positional metrics and resolving the position of the robot due to thermal expansion using the first set and the second set of positional metrics. Acquiring the first and second set of positional metrics may occur at the same location within a processing system, or may occur at different locations. For example, in another embodiment, the method may comprise acquiring a first set of positional metrics at a first location proximate a processing chamber and acquiring a second set of positional metrics in another location. In another embodiment, substrate center information is corrected using the determined position of the robot.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Marvin L. Freeman, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Damon Keith Cox, Chris Holt Pencis, Michael Rice, David A. Van Gogh
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Publication number: 20030014157Abstract: Generally, a method of determining a position of a robot is provided. In one embodiment, a method of determining a position of a robot comprises acquiring a first set of positional metrics, acquiring a second set of positional metrics and resolving the position of the robot due to thermal expansion using the first set and the second set of positional metrics. Acquiring the first and second set of positional metrics may occur at the same location within a processing system, or may occur at different locations. For example, in another embodiment, the method may comprise acquiring a first set of positional metrics at a first location proximate a processing chamber and acquiring a second set of positional metrics in another location. In another embodiment, substrate center information is corrected using the determined position of the robot.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2001Publication date: January 16, 2003Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Marvin L. Freeman, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Damon Keith Cox, Chris Holt Pencis, Michael Rice, David A. Van Gogh
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Publication number: 20030014155Abstract: Generally, a robot for transferring a substrate in a processing system is provided. In one embodiment, a robot for transferring a substrate in a processing system includes a body, a linkage and an end effector that is adapted to retain the substrate thereon. The linkage couples the end effector to the body. The end effector and/or the linkage is comprised of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than 5×10−6 K−1. In another embodiment, the end effector and/or the linkage is comprised of a material having a ratio of thermal conductivity/thermal expansion greater than 1×107 W/(m·K2). In yet another embodiment, the end effector and/or the linkage is comprised of a material having a ratio of thermal conductivity/thermal expansion greater than 1×107 W/(m·K2) and a fracture toughness greater than 1×106 Pa m0.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2002Publication date: January 16, 2003Applicant: Applied Material, Inc.Inventors: Chris Holt Pencis, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Damon Keith Cox, Michael Rice, James R. Ciulik
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Publication number: 20030012631Abstract: Generally, a robot for transferring a substrate in a processing system is provided. In one embodiment, a robot for transferring a substrate in a processing system includes a body, a linkage and an end effector that is adapted to retain the substrate thereon. The linkage couples the end effector to the body. The end effector and/or the linkage is comprised of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than about 5 m/(m×Kelvin). In another embodiment, the end effector and/or the linkage is comprised of a material having a ratio of thermal conductivity/thermal expansion greater than about 10 W/m(Kelvin)/(Kelvin). In yet another embodiment, the end effector and/or the linkage is comprised of a material having a ratio of thermal conductivity/thermal expansion greater than about 10 W/m(Kelvin)/(Kelvin) and a coefficient of fracture toughness less than about 1×106 Pa×m0.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2001Publication date: January 16, 2003Inventors: Christopher H. Pencis, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Damon Keith Cox, Michael Rice, James R. Ciulik
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Publication number: 20030001535Abstract: The wafer clamping mechanism comprises a linkage mechanism and a wafer contact point coupled to the linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism includes a four-bar linkage having: a first link having a first fixed pivot and a first floating pivot remote from the first fixed pivot; a second link having a second fixed pivot and a second floating pivot remote from the second fixed pivot; and a third link having a first coupling pivot rotatably coupled to the first floating pivot, and having a second coupling pivot rotatably coupled to the second floating pivot. In use motion of the linkage mechanism causes the wafer contact point to clamp a wafer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2001Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Venugopal Menon, Damon Keith Cox
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Patent number: 4975245Abstract: A recirculating high velocity hot air sterilization device includes a housing having a chamber therein. A corrugated, perforated jet curtain plate is disposed within the chamber and partially defines an air supply plenum positioned outwardly of the chamber, the plenum having an electric heating element operatively positioned therein. Spaced apart from the jet curtain plate within the chamber is a nonperforated deflector plate which extends parallel to the jet curtain plate and may be of a flat or corrugated configuration. A blower is connected to the housing and creates therein a recirculating flow of heated air which sequentially flows into the air supply plenum across the heating element, outwardly in a forward direction through the perforations in the jet curtain plate and into the housing chamber, back into the blower, and then into the air supply plenum.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1989Date of Patent: December 4, 1990Assignee: Archer Aire Industries, Inc.Inventors: Virgil L. Archer, M. Keith Cox
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Patent number: 4923681Abstract: An automatically controlled recirculating high velocity hot air sterilization device includes a housing having a sterilization chamber with a temperature sensor mounted therein, a hot air plenum including a blower in fluid communication with a heating element and sterilization chamber for inputting hor air into and receiving hot air from the sterilization chamber for recirculation, and a control chamber having a temperature sensing circuit connected to the temperature circuit for producing electrical inputs representative of the sterilization chamber temperature, power circuits connected to the heating element and blower, a controller connected to the temperature sensing circuit for monitoring the temperature, and to the heating element and blower circuits for controlling their operation, and a control panel including cycle selection switches for operation, an on/off switch, and temperature and timer/error displays.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1987Date of Patent: May 8, 1990Assignee: ArcherAire Industries, Inc.Inventors: M. Keith Cox, William E. Davidson
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Patent number: 4894207Abstract: A recirculating high velocity hot air sterilization device includes a housing having a chamber therein. A corrugated, perforated jet curtain plate is disposed within the chamber and partially defines an air supply plenum positioned outwardly of the chamber, the plenum having an electric heating element operatively positioned therein. Spaced apart from the jet curtain plate within the chamber is a nonperforated deflector plate which extends parallel to the jet curtain plate and may be of a flat or corrugated configuration. A blower is connected to the housing and creates therein a recirculating flow of heated air which sequentially flows into the air supply plenum across the heating element, outwardly in a forward direction through the perforations in the jet curtain plate and into the housing chamber, back into the blower, and then into the air supply plenum.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1989Date of Patent: January 16, 1990Assignee: Archer Aire Industries, Inc.Inventors: Virgil L. Archer, M. Keith Cox
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Recirculating high velocity hot air sterilizing device having improved internal insulation structure
Patent number: 4824644Abstract: A recirculating, high velocity hot impingement air sterilizer has an inner housing that defines a chamber adapted to receive dental instruments or the like to be sterilized by hot impingement air jets flowed through the chamber by a compact fan, duct and heating coil assembly exteriorly secured to the inner housing. A specially designed insulating jacket structure envelopes and removably receives the inner housing, the jacket structure having a flexible, hollow outer skin portion filled with and captively retaining a suitable insulating material. The jacketed inner housing is received within an outer housing and defines therein a cooling space which extends around a major portion of the insulating jacket structure. Cooling air is flowed through such cooling space by a small fan secured to the inner surface of a removable back panel portion of the outer housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1987Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignee: Archeraire Industries, Inc.Inventors: M. Keith Cox, Virgil L. Archer