Patents by Inventor Keith M. Easton

Keith M. Easton 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: 5507085
    Abstract: Apparatus for automatically placing a lid on a component package and then securing the lid with a clip. The apparatus includes a programmable robot arm having a gripping assembly, an inspection station, a first conveyor for conveying a boat along a path between a first position and a second position, a pick arm for removing a first lid from a lid feeder station, a second conveyor for reciprocating the pick arm between first and second positions to thereby transfer the first lid from the lid feeder station to the inspection station, and a camera located at the inspection station for inspecting the first lid. The apparatus further includes a rotary actuator arm and a mechanism for reciprocating the rotary actuator arm into contact with a first lid bottom surface following inspection of the first lid and for releasing the pick arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Cybex Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Keith M. Easton, Cedric Kentzler, Richard W. Simpson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5274959
    Abstract: A system and method for polishing the edges of a plurality of semiconductor wafers rotates a stack of wafers against a polish one or more pads such that both the wafer edges and the sides of the edges are polished to a mirror finish. The polish pad has a series of grooves through which the wafer edges are passed to polish the sides of the wafer edges, or two pads are used, one with grooves and one without grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Dyer, Anthony E. Stephens, Frank Allen, Keith M. Easton, James A. Kennon, Jerry B. Medders, Frederick O. Meyer, III
  • Patent number: 5128281
    Abstract: A method for polishing the edges of a plurality of semiconductor wafers rotates a stack of wafers against a polish one or more pads such that both the wafer edges and the sides of the edges are polished to a mirror finish. The polish pad has a series of grooves through which the wafer edges are passed to polish the sides of the wafer edges, or two pads are used, one with grooves and one without grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Dyer, Anthony E. Stephens, Frank Allen, Keith M. Easton, James A. Kennon, Jerry B. Medders, Frederick O. Meyer, III