Patents by Inventor Kenneth Costello

Kenneth Costello 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: 11810750
    Abstract: A rotatable stage for an analytical apparatus. The rotatable stage has a stator, a heat exchanger in thermal connection with the stator, a rotor and a bearing located between the stator and the rotor. The bearing provides a thermal connection between the stator and rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Quorum Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Morrison, Kenneth Costello
  • Publication number: 20230282670
    Abstract: An image sensor has a photocathode window assembly, an anode assembly, and a malleable metal seal. The photocathode window assembly has a photocathode layer. The anode assembly includes a silicon substrate that has an electron sensitive surface. The malleable metal seal bonds the photocathode window assembly and the silicon substrate to each other. A vacuum gap separates the photocathode layer from the electron sensitive surface. A first electrical connection and a second electrical connection are for a voltage bias of the photocathode layer relative to the electron sensitive surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Kenneth Costello, Kevin Roderick, Verle Aebi
  • Patent number: 11621289
    Abstract: An image sensor has a photocathode window assembly, an anode assembly, and a malleable metal seal. The photocathode window assembly has a photocathode layer. The anode assembly includes a silicon substrate that has an electron sensitive surface. The malleable metal seal bonds the photocathode window assembly and the silicon substrate to each other. A vacuum gap separates the photocathode layer from the electron sensitive surface. A first electrical connection and a second electrical connection are for a voltage bias of the photocathode layer relative to the electron sensitive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: EOTech, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Costello, Kevin Roderick, Verle Aebi
  • Publication number: 20210366972
    Abstract: An image sensor has a photocathode window assembly, an anode assembly, and a malleable metal seal. The photocathode window assembly has a photocathode layer. The anode assembly includes a silicon substrate that has an electron sensitive surface. The malleable metal seal bonds the photocathode window assembly and the silicon substrate to each other. A vacuum gap separates the photocathode layer from the electron sensitive surface. A first electrical connection and a second electrical connection are for a voltage bias of the photocathode layer relative to the electron sensitive surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth Costello, Kevin Roderick, Verle Aebi
  • Publication number: 20200411276
    Abstract: A rotatable stage for an analytical apparatus. The rotatable stage has a stator, a heat exchanger in thermal connection with the stator, a rotor and a bearing located between the stator and the rotor. The bearing provides a thermal connection between the stator and rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Morrison, Kenneth COSTELLO
  • Patent number: 10692683
    Abstract: A novel photocathode employing a conduction band barrier is described. Incorporation of a barrier optimizes a trade-off between photoelectron transport efficiency and photoelectron escape probability. The barrier energy is designed to achieve a net increase in photocathode sensitivity over a specific operational temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Costello, Verle W. Aebi, Michael Jurkovic, Xi Zeng
  • Publication number: 20190080875
    Abstract: A novel photocathode employing a conduction band barrier is described. Incorporation of a barrier optimizes a trade-off between photoelectron transport efficiency and photoelectron escape probability. The barrier energy is designed to achieve a net increase in photocathode sensitivity over a specific operational temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Costello, Verle W. Aebi, Michael Jurkovic, Xi Zeng
  • Patent number: 9734977
    Abstract: An image intensifier and a method of fabrication are disclosed. The image intensifier contains a photocathode assembly (120) including a vacuum window to generate photoelectrons in response to light, a vacuum package (110) and an anode assembly (130) to receive the photoelectrons. The anode assembly is mounted to the vacuum package via a compliant, springy, support structure (160). The anode additionally includes one or more insulating spacers (140) on the surface facing the photocathode so as to precisely index the position of the anode assembly with respect to the photocathode surface. The photocathode and vacuum window assembly is pressed into the vacuum package to generate a sealed leak tight vacuum envelope. During the photocathode assembly to vacuum package assembly pressing operation, the inner surface of the photocathode assembly contacts the insulating spacer/spacers of the anode assembly, thereby compressing the compliant support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: INTEVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Costello, Kevin Roderick
  • Publication number: 20170018391
    Abstract: An image intensifier and a method of fabrication are disclosed. The image intensifier contains a photocathode assembly (120) including a vacuum window to generate photoelectrons in response to light, a vacuum package (110) and an anode assembly (130) to receive the photoelectrons. The anode assembly is mounted to the vacuum package via a compliant, springy, support structure (160). The anode additionally includes one or more insulating spacers (140) on the surface facing the photocathode so as to precisely index the position of the anode assembly with respect to the photocathode surface. The photocathode and vacuum window assembly is pressed into the vacuum package to generate a sealed leak tight vacuum envelope. During the photocathode assembly to vacuum package assembly pressing operation, the inner surface of the photocathode assembly contacts the insulating spacer/spacers of the anode assembly, thereby compressing the compliant support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth Costello, Kevin Roderick
  • Patent number: 8975668
    Abstract: A structure and method of manufacture is disclosed for a backside thinned imager that incorporates a conformal, Al2O3, low thermal budget, surface passivation. This passivation approach facilitates fabrication of backside thinned, backside illuminated, silicon image sensors with thick silicon absorber layer patterned with vertical trenches that are formed by etching the exposed back surface of a backside-thinned image sensor to control photo-carrier diffusion and optical crosstalk. A method of manufacture employing conformal, Al2O3, surface passivation approach is shown to provide high quantum efficiency and low dark current while meeting the thermal budget constraints of a finished standard foundry-produced CMOS imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Intevac, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Costello, Edward Yin, Michael Wayne Pelczynski, Verle W. Aebi
  • Patent number: 8698925
    Abstract: An image sensor is disclosed that includes a solid state semiconductor imager having a metallized catch pad, a collimator having a metallized layer that faces a sensor anode, the metallized layer joined with the metallized catch pad to form a metal bond between the solid state semiconductor imager and the collimator. Methods of making the joined solid state semiconductor imager and collimator assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Intevac, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Costello, Kevin J. Roderick, Edward Yin, Douglas Fowler
  • Publication number: 20130105928
    Abstract: A structure and method of manufacture is disclosed for a backside thinned imager that incorporates a conformal, Al2O3, low thermal budget, surface passivation. This passivation approach facilitates fabrication of backside thinned, backside illuminated, silicon image sensors with thick silicon absorber layer patterned with vertical trenches that are formed by etching the exposed back surface of a backside-thinned image sensor to control photo-carrier diffusion and optical crosstalk. A method of manufacture employing conformal, Al2O3, surface passivation approach is shown to provide high quantum efficiency and low dark current while meeting the thermal budget constraints of a finished standard foundry-produced CMOS imager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: INTEVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. COSTELLO, Edward YIN, Michael Wayne PELCZYNSKI, Verle W. AEBI
  • Publication number: 20110261239
    Abstract: An image sensor is disclosed that includes a solid state semiconductor imager having a metallized catch pad, a collimator having a metallized layer that faces a sensor anode, the metallized layer joined with the metallized catch pad to form a metal bond between the solid state semiconductor imager and the collimator. Methods of making the joined solid state semiconductor imager and collimator assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: INTEVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. COSTELLO, Kevin J. Roderick, Edward Yin, Douglas Fowler
  • Patent number: 7608533
    Abstract: There is described-novel bonding and interconnecting techniques for use with semiconductor die for the creation of thermally efficient, physically compliant Ultra High Vacuum Tubes and the novel tube resulting therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Intevac, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A Costello, Kevin James Roderick
  • Patent number: 7607560
    Abstract: Bonding and interconnect techniques including a spacer for use with semiconductor die for the creation of thermally efficient, physically compliant Ultra High Vacuum Tubes and the tube resulting therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Intevac, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A Costello
  • Patent number: 7531826
    Abstract: A novel photocathode employing a rectifying junction is described that permits color imaging extending applications for photocathodes in a variety of instruments and night vision devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Intevac, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A Costello, Verle W. Aebi
  • Patent number: 7479686
    Abstract: Backthinning in an area selective manner is applied to CMOS imaging sensors 12 for use in electron bombarded active pixel array devices. A further arrangement results in an array of collimators 51 aligned with pixels 42 or groups of pixels of an active pixel array providing improved image contrast of such image sensor. Provision of a thin P-doped layer 52 on the illuminated rear surface provides both a diffusion barrier resulting in improved resolution and a functional shield for reference pixels. A gradient in concentration of P-doped layer 52 optimizes electron collection at the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Intevac, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A Costello, Kevin P. Fairbairn, David W. Brown, Yun Chung, Patricia Gober, Edward Yin
  • Patent number: 7325715
    Abstract: A housing for microelectronic devices requiring an internal vacuum for operation, e.g., an image detector, is formed by tape casting and incorporates leads between interior and exterior of said housing where said leads are disposed on a facing surface of green tape layers. Adjacent green tape layers having corresponding apertures therein are stacked on a first closure member to form a resulting cavity and increased electrical isolation or channel sub-structures are achievable by forming adjacent layers with aperture dimension which vary non-monotonically. After assembly of the device within the cavity, a second closure member is sealed against an open face of the package in a vacuum environment to produce a vacuum sealed device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Interac, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Costello
  • Publication number: 20070034987
    Abstract: A novel photocathode employing a rectifying junction is described that permits color imaging extending applications for photocathodes in various instruments and night vision devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventors: Kenneth Costello, Verle Aebi
  • Publication number: 20060138322
    Abstract: Backthinning in an area selective manner is applied to CMOS imaging sensors 12 for use in electron bombarded active pixel array devices. A further arrangement results in an array of collimators 51 aligned with pixels 42 or groups of pixels of an active pixel array providing improved image contrast of such image sensor. Provision of a thin P-doped layer 52 on the illuminated rear surface provides both a diffusion barrier resulting in improved resolution and a functional shield for reference pixels. A gradient in concentration of P-doped layer 52 optimizes electron collection at the pixel array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Kenneth Costello, Kevin Fairbairn, David Brown, Yun Chung, Patricia Gober, Edward Yin