Patents by Inventor Kevin Fischer

Kevin Fischer 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).

  • Publication number: 20170030950
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed for monitoring photovoltaic solar systems. In some examples, the system includes a solar power measurement input for coupling to a solar panel system, a measurement circuit configured to measure power produced by the solar panel system using the solar power measurement input, and a data transmission system. The measurement circuit is configured, by virtue of the measurement circuit including electrical components rated to at least a certain tolerance level, to take revenue-grade power measurements from the solar power measurement input with a level of accuracy that meets a national or international metering standard. The data transmission system is configured to transmit the revenue-grade power measurements from the measurement circuit to a remote system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Udo Uebel, Gaurang Kavaiya, Kevin Fischer, Carl Lenox, Donald Scrutchfield
  • Publication number: 20170025995
    Abstract: Devices for reducing the open circuit voltages of solar systems are described. In one embodiment, a solar system includes a string of a plurality of solar modules having an open circuit voltage. The solar system also includes a device for reducing the open circuit voltage of the string of the plurality of solar modules during an open circuit configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Steven M. Kraft, Kevin Fischer, Greg Beardsworth, Zachary S. Judkins, Keith Johnston
  • Publication number: 20160373053
    Abstract: A wire management device is disclosed. The device comprises a clip comprising an upper planar member and a lower planar member, each planar member having an inner and outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the upper planar member includes a post extending toward the inner surface of the lower planar member, a stem extending from the outer surface of the lower planar member, the stem including two outwardly-extending flanges, each of the first and second outwardly-extending flanges including an edge portion extending toward the outer surface of the lower planar member, and a transverse passage extending along the outer surface of the lower planar member, the transverse passage extending across the stem, wherein the stem has a recessed portion along the transverse passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Tyler Grushkowitz, Kevin Fischer, Matthew Danning
  • Patent number: 9472691
    Abstract: Devices for reducing the open circuit voltages of solar systems are described. In one embodiment, a solar system includes a string of a plurality of solar modules having an open circuit voltage. The solar system also includes a device for reducing the open circuit voltage of the string of the plurality of solar modules during an open circuit configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Kraft, Kevin Fischer, Greg Beardsworth, Zachary S. Judkins, Keith Johnston
  • Patent number: 9450130
    Abstract: A wire management device is disclosed. The device comprises a clip comprising an upper planar member and a lower planar member, each planar member having an inner and outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the upper planar member includes a post extending toward the inner surface of the lower planar member, a stem extending from the outer surface of the lower planar member, the stem including two outwardly-extending flanges, each of the first and second outwardly-extending flanges including an edge portion extending toward the outer surface of the lower planar member, and a transverse passage extending along the outer surface of the lower planar member, the transverse passage extending across the stem, wherein the stem has a recessed portion along the transverse passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Tyler Grushkowitz, Kevin Fischer, Matthew Danning
  • Patent number: 9123727
    Abstract: An airgap interconnect structure with hood layer and methods for forming such an airgap interconnect structure are disclosed. A substrate having a dielectric layer with a plurality of interconnects formed therein is provided. Each interconnect is encapsulated by a barrier layer. A hardmask is formed on the dielectric layer and patterned to expose the dielectric layer between adjacent interconnects where an airgap is desired. The dielectric layer is etched to form a trench, wherein the etching process additionally etches at least a portion of the barrier layer to expose a portion of the side surface of each adjacent copper interconnect. A hood layer is electrolessly plated onto an exposed portion of the top surface and the exposed portion of the side surface to reseal the interconnect. A gap-sealing dielectric layer is formed over the device, sealing the trench to form an airgap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Fischer
  • Publication number: 20140191401
    Abstract: An airgap interconnect structure with hood layer and methods for forming such an airgap interconnect structure are disclosed. A substrate having a dielectric layer with a plurality of interconnects formed therein is provided. Each interconnect is encapsulated by a barrier layer. A hardmask is formed on the dielectric layer and patterned to expose the dielectric layer between adjacent interconnects where an airgap is desired. The dielectric layer is etched to form a trench, wherein the etching process additionally etches at least a portion of the barrier layer to expose a portion of the side surface of each adjacent copper interconnect. A hood layer is electrolessly plated onto an exposed portion of the top surface and the exposed portion of the side surface to reseal the interconnect. A gap-sealing dielectric layer is formed over the device, sealing the trench to form an airgap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Kevin Fischer
  • Publication number: 20130049710
    Abstract: Devices for reducing the open circuit voltages of solar systems are described. In one embodiment, a solar system includes a string of a plurality of solar modules having an open circuit voltage. The solar system also includes a device for reducing the open circuit voltage of the string of the plurality of solar modules during an open circuit configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Steven M. Kraft, Kevin Fischer, Greg Beardsworth, Zachary S. Judkins, Keith Johnston
  • Publication number: 20120192925
    Abstract: A wire management device is disclosed. The device comprises a clip comprising an upper planar member and a lower planar member, each planar member having an inner and outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the upper planar member includes a post extending toward the inner surface of the lower planar member, a stem extending from the outer surface of the lower planar member, the stem including two outwardly-extending flanges, each of the first and second outwardly-extending flanges including an edge portion extending toward the outer surface of the lower planar member, and a transverse passage extending along the outer surface of the lower planar member, the transverse passage extending across the stem, wherein the stem has a recessed portion along the transverse passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tyler Grushkowitz, Kevin Fischer, Matthew Danning
  • Patent number: 7768126
    Abstract: Embodiments of barriers to use in semiconductor devices are presented herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Fischer, Vinay Chikarmane, Brennan Peterson
  • Patent number: 7617418
    Abstract: Method and system for verifying and storing documents during a failure in a program module. Once a failure is detected in the program module, control passes to an exception handler that determines whether the open files have been modified. If so, a crash handler is executed, which verifies and stores the documents by detecting and repairing any discovered corruption. The program module is then terminated and restarted. Upon restarting the program module, the repaired document is opened and displayed to the user with a list of repairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Snyder, Jeff Larsson, Bob Coffen, Kevin Fischer, Aleksandr Slepak, Juha Niemisto
  • Publication number: 20090170309
    Abstract: A barrier architecture is provided that includes different materials that are selected to be employed in connection with copper contact applications. Some of the barrier material is formed over trench contact sidewalls, and other different barrier material is formed over trench contact bottoms. By selecting the appropriate barrier materials, electromigration can be improved while, at the same time, interconnect and contact resistances can be kept low and array leakage can be mitigated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Vinay Chikarmane, Kevin Fischer, Brennan Peterson
  • Patent number: 7525197
    Abstract: A barrier architecture is provided that includes different materials that are selected to be employed in connection with copper contact applications. Some of the barrier material is formed over trench contact sidewalls, and other different barrier material is formed over trench contact bottoms. By selecting the appropriate barrier materials, electromigration can be improved while, at the same time, interconnect and contact resistances can be kept low and array leakage can be mitigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Vinay Chikarmane, Kevin Fischer, Brennan Peterson
  • Publication number: 20080079165
    Abstract: Embodiments of barriers to use in semiconductor devices are presented herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kevin Fischer, Vinay Chikarmane, Brennan Peterson
  • Publication number: 20080026556
    Abstract: A barrier architecture is provided that includes different materials that are selected to be employed in connection with copper contact applications. Some of the barrier material is formed over trench contact sidewalls, and other different barrier material is formed over trench contact bottoms. By selecting the appropriate barrier materials, electromigration can be improved while, at the same time, interconnect and contact resistances can be kept low and array leakage can be mitigated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Vinay Chikarmane, Kevin Fischer, Brennan Peterson
  • Publication number: 20070238309
    Abstract: A method is described of reducing the line to line capacitance within semiconductor devices and a device demonstrating the same. The device includes a spacer layer disposed between an etch stop material and a conductive layer. Separating the etch stop layer from the conductive layers by the spacer layer may decrease the line to line capacitance significantly in a semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Jun He, Kevin Fischer
  • Publication number: 20070180335
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for displaying help content corresponding to the occurrence of an event occurring within a computer. An alert help data file is periodically downloaded at a client computer. When a program alert occurs within a client computer, the alert help data file is searched to identify help content corresponding to the particular occurrence of the alert. An alert identifier may be uniquely assigned to each alert to assist in locating the corresponding help content. Moreover, an assert tag and a function result value may also be utilized to define and locate particular help content. Once located, the help content may be displayed to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Greenberg, Jeffrey Larsson, Kevin Fischer
  • Publication number: 20070168991
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for remotely controlling the reporting of events occurring within a computer. A remote control file identifying the events and conditions under which the events should be reported is periodically retrieved at a client computer. When an event occurs within a client computer, the remote control file is searched for data indicating that the event should be recorded. If data is located within the remote control file indicating that the event should be reported, data describing the event is collected. The collected data then may be subsequently reported. The remote control file may also include data identifying the type of data to be collected and a date and time after which data for a particular event should not be collected or reported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Greenberg, Jeffrey Larsson, Kevin Fischer
  • Publication number: 20060273431
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a capped interconnect for a microelectronic device which includes a sealing feature for any gaps between a capping layer and an interconnect and structures formed therefrom. The sealing features improve encapsulation of the interconnect, which substantially reduces or prevents electromigration and/or diffusion of conductive material from the capped interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Jun He, Kevin Fischer, Ying Zhou, Peter Moon
  • Publication number: 20050224980
    Abstract: A die is provided with an interconnect, and the grain structure of the interconnect is adapted to reduce electron scattering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Jihperng Leu, Chih-I Wu, Mark Liu, Kevin Fischer, Chia-Hong Jan, David Gracias