Patents by Inventor Keith E. Kowal
Keith E. Kowal 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: 11728133Abstract: An apparatus may include an exciter, disposed within a resonance chamber, to generate an RF power signal. The apparatus may include a resonator coil, disposed within the resonance chamber, to receive the RF power signal, and generate an RF output signal; and a pickup loop assembly, to receive the RF output signal and output a pickup voltage signal. The pickup loop assembly may include a pickup loop, disposed within the resonance chamber; and a variable attenuator, disposed at least partially between the resonator coil and the pickup loop. The variable attenuator may include a configurable portion, movable from a first position, attenuating a first amount of the RF output signal, to a second position, attenuating a second amount of the RF output signal, different from the first amount.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Keith E. Kowal
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Publication number: 20230134262Abstract: An apparatus may include an exciter, disposed within a resonance chamber, to generate an RF power signal. The apparatus may include a resonator coil, disposed within the resonance chamber, to receive the RF power signal, and generate an RF output signal; and a pickup loop assembly, to receive the RF output signal and output a pickup voltage signal. The pickup loop assembly may include a pickup loop, disposed within the resonance chamber; and a variable attenuator, disposed at least partially between the resonator coil and the pickup loop. The variable attenuator may include a configurable portion, movable from a first position, attenuating a first amount of the RF output signal, to a second position, attenuating a second amount of the RF output signal, different from the first amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Keith E. Kowal
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CONTROLLER AND CONTROL TECHNIQUES FOR LINEAR ACCELERATOR AND ION IMPLANTER HAVING LINEAR ACCELARATOR
Publication number: 20230125883Abstract: An apparatus may include global control module, the global control module including a digital master clock generator and a master waveform generator. The apparatus may also include a plurality of resonator control modules, coupled to the global control module. A given resonator control module of the plurality of resonator control modules may include a synchronization module, having a first input coupled to receive a resonator output voltage pickup signal from a local resonator, a second input coupled to receive a digital master clock signal from the digital master clock generator, and a first output coupled to send a delay signal to the master waveform generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Keith E. Kowal -
Controller and control techniques for linear accelerator and ion implanter having linear accelerator
Patent number: 11576252Abstract: An apparatus may include global control module, the global control module including a digital master clock generator and a master waveform generator. The apparatus may also include a plurality of resonator control modules, coupled to the global control module. A given resonator control module of the plurality of resonator control modules may include a synchronization module, having a first input coupled to receive a resonator output voltage pickup signal from a local resonator, a second input coupled to receive a digital master clock signal from the digital master clock generator, and a first output coupled to send a delay signal to the master waveform generator.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Keith E. Kowal -
CONTROLLER AND CONTROL TECHNIQUES FOR LINEAR ACCELERATOR AND ION IMPLANTER HAVING LINEAR ACCELARATOR
Publication number: 20210307152Abstract: An apparatus may include global control module, the global control module including a digital master clock generator and a master waveform generator. The apparatus may also include a plurality of resonator control modules, coupled to the global control module. A given resonator control module of the plurality of resonator control modules may include a synchronization module, having a first input coupled to receive a resonator output voltage pickup signal from a local resonator, a second input coupled to receive a digital master clock signal from the digital master clock generator, and a first output coupled to send a delay signal to the master waveform generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Keith E. Kowal -
Publication number: 20210125810Abstract: A monitoring circuit that includes a pickup loop to monitor a voltage applied to a cavity of a linear accelerator is disclosed. The monitoring circuit is electrically isolated from the linear accelerator and is also electrically isolated from the controller that receives input from the circuit and controls the linear accelerator. In certain embodiments, the monitoring circuit also includes an energy harvester so as to capture energy without any physical connection to the controller. This may be achieved using light energy or electromagnetic energy, for example. In certain embodiments, the monitoring circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter to convert the signals received from the pickup loop to digital values. In other embodiments, the monitoring circuit passes analog voltages to the controller. The outputs from the monitoring circuit may include the amplitude and phase of the voltage being applied to the respective cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2019Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventor: Keith E. Kowal
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Patent number: 10991546Abstract: A monitoring circuit that includes a pickup loop to monitor a voltage applied to a cavity of a linear accelerator is disclosed. The monitoring circuit is electrically isolated from the linear accelerator and is also electrically isolated from the controller that receives input from the circuit and controls the linear accelerator. In certain embodiments, the monitoring circuit also includes an energy harvester so as to capture energy without any physical connection to the controller. This may be achieved using light energy or electromagnetic energy, for example. In certain embodiments, the monitoring circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter to convert the signals received from the pickup loop to digital values. In other embodiments, the monitoring circuit passes analog voltages to the controller. The outputs from the monitoring circuit may include the amplitude and phase of the voltage being applied to the respective cavity.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Keith E. Kowal
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Patent number: 10943767Abstract: A system for measuring and controlling the phase of an incoming analog waveform is disclosed. The system comprises an analog to digital converter to convert the incoming analog waveform to a digital representation. The system also includes a clock delay generator, which allows a programmable amount of delay to be introduced into the sample clock for the ADC. The system further comprises a controller to manipulate the delay used by the clock delay generator and store the outputs from the ADC. The controller can then use the digitized representation to determine the frequency of the incoming analog waveform, its phase drift and its phase relative to a master clock. The controller can then modify the output of a RF generator in response to these determinations.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventor: Keith E. Kowal
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Patent number: 10707050Abstract: A glitch monitoring system is disclosed. The glitch monitoring system allows the capture of voltage and current data from one or more channels. Additionally, voltage and current data that occurred prior to the glitch can also be captured for further analysis. The amount of data may be thousands or millions of bytes. Additionally, the description of a glitch, including an upper threshold, a lower threshold and a duration, can be programmed. This allows spurious perturbation in voltage or current to be ignored if desired. Further, the voltage and current data may be filtered if desired prior to being stored in memory. This data can later be retried by a main controller and analyzed to determine a potential cause of the glitch and potential remedial actions.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Inventor: Keith E. Kowal
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Publication number: 20200035446Abstract: A glitch monitoring system is disclosed. The glitch monitoring system allows the capture of voltage and current data from one or more channels. Additionally, voltage and current data that occurred prior to the glitch can also be captured for further analysis. The amount of data may be thousands or millions of bytes. Additionally, the description of a glitch, including an upper threshold, a lower threshold and a duration, can be programmed. This allows spurious perturbation in voltage or current to be ignored if desired. Further, the voltage and current data may be filtered if desired prior to being stored in memory. This data can later be retried by a main controller and analyzed to determine a potential cause of the glitch and potential remedial actions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2018Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventor: Keith E. Kowal
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Publication number: 20170117064Abstract: A device may receive nuclear plant information associated with a nuclear plant. The nuclear plant information may include information relating to operation of equipment located within the nuclear plant. The information may be provided by the equipment or by a set of worker devices carried by workers in the nuclear plant. The device may analyze the nuclear plant information. The device may determine, based on analyzing the nuclear plant information, an analysis result corresponding to the equipment. The analysis result may include information describing at least one of: a performance of the equipment, or a task to be performed in association with maintaining, repairing, or observing the equipment. The device may provide information associated with the analysis result.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2016Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Bethany LEPINE, Keith E. KOWAL, Terry Michael MAXEY, Jeffrey P. COLBORN
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Patent number: 8606548Abstract: An energy facility control system transforms the manner in which energy facilities create, modify, share, and store information during all phases of their lifecycles, from licensing through construction and decommissioning. The energy facility control system provides energy operators and their suppliers with collaborative toolsets to help improve accuracy, reliability and efficiency during every stage of an energy facility's lifecycle.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Accenture Global Services LimitedInventors: Andrew Sebastian Webster, Adam Glenn Hess, Keith E. Kowal, John Ciecholewski
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Publication number: 20110224953Abstract: An energy facility control system transforms the manner in which energy facilities create, modify, share, and store information during all phases of their lifecycles, from licensing through construction and decommissioning. The energy facility control system provides energy operators and their suppliers with collaborative toolsets to help improve accuracy, reliability and efficiency during every stage of an energy facility's lifecycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Sebastian Webster, Adam Glenn Hess, Keith E. Kowal, John Ciecholewski
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Patent number: 5406275Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the determination of the location of a mobile vehicle relative to a radio transceiver. The apparatus incorporates a mobile transceiver that calculates its location relative to at least a first stationary transceiver, and communicates this location back to the stationary transceiver. As a mobile vehicle enters the radio field radiated from at least a first stationary transceiver unit, the mobile vehicle transceiver begins measuring the energy of one or more radiated signals as an analog value, converts the analog value to digital form, from which a microprocessor and software algorithm calculates the specific distance from the stationary transceiver, and then returns a data string that informs the stationary transceiver of its location. This system thus allows both the mobile transceiver and the stationary transceiver unit to gain specific information with regard to the relative distance between mobile and base station units.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1992Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Assignee: AT/COMM IncorporatedInventors: John J. Hassett, Warran A. Hartman, Keith E. Kowal
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Patent number: 5289342Abstract: The system includes a circuit board on which electrical components are mounted. The components are mounted on the front side of the board, and the back side of the board is thermally coupled to the housing by a liquid-filled thermal heat sink pouch between the board and the housing. A heat generating component such as a microprocessor is mounted to the front side of the board, but the top surface of the component is directed toward the back side of the board such that it is also thermally coupled to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1992Date of Patent: February 22, 1994Assignee: Ergo Computing, Inc.Inventors: Tom J. Spalding, Keith E. Kowal, James H. Bleck, Scott H. Wakefield, John E. Thrailkill
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Patent number: 5289183Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the automatic and management of traffic, utilizing a microprocessor-based, read-write vehicle borne transponder device. The system includes plurality of transceivers spaced along and positioned adjacent to a roadway, a plurality of vehicle borne transponders, and an independent network management computer. As vehicles traverse the roadway the transponders communicate with the transceivers and one or both of those units collect information such as, vehicle entrance point, vehicle exit point, vehicle speed, number of passengers in each vehicle, and vehicle class. Some of the collected information is processed by the transceivers and transponders, while other information is transmitted to the network management computer for processing.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1992Date of Patent: February 22, 1994Assignee: AT/COMM IncorporatedInventors: John J. Hassett, Keith E. Kowal, John A. Rourke
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Patent number: 5187645Abstract: A microcomputer system includes a microprocessor and a housing for holding the microprocessor. The housing includes sets of conectors preferably comprised of two alternative sets of connectors. The microcomputer system is light weight, small and portable. Connections to external components such as peripheral devices are achieved with one embodiment via a docking connector. This docking connector includes a set of pin connectors that can be coupled to connectors on the housing. It also includes an ejector mechanism. The ejector mechanism enables decoupling by depression of the ejector. The use of the docking connector allows all peripheral connections to be realized through a single connector.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1991Date of Patent: February 16, 1993Assignee: Ergo Computing, Inc.Inventors: Tom J. Spalding, Keith E. Kowal, James H. Bleck, Scott H. Wakefield, John E. Thrailkill
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Patent number: D336075Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1991Date of Patent: June 1, 1993Assignee: Ergo Computing, Inc.Inventors: Scott H. Wakefield, John E. Thraikill, Tom J. Spalding, Keith E. Kowal, James H. Bleck