Patents by Inventor Kevin Ptasienski

Kevin Ptasienski 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: 10483147
    Abstract: A ceramic pedestal assembly and a method of forming a ceramic pedestal assembly is provided. The ceramic pedestal assembly includes a ceramic substrate defining an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one via extending through the ceramic substrate, an upper conductive foil layer extending across the upper surface of the ceramic substrate and a lower conductive foil layer extending across the lower surface of the ceramic substrate. Each via includes an upper via defining a cavity and a lower via defining a corresponding tapered insert. In one form, the upper via, the lower via, and the conductive foil layers define a material having a melting temperature greater than 2,000° C. and a CTE less than or equal to the ceramic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Wallow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mohammad Nosrati, Kevin Ptasienski
  • Patent number: 10361019
    Abstract: A method of forming a layered heater assembly includes: forming a plurality of layers onto a substrate, the plurality of layers including a resistive element layer; forming electrical terminations in contact with the resistive element layer; securing a protective cover over the layers using a laser welding process, wherein edges of the protective cover are welded circumferentially around raised end portions of the substrate and welded longitudinally along a slotted portion of the substrate; securing a pair of lead wires to the electrical terminations; and securing a lead cap assembly around the pair of lead wires and to the protective cover using a laser welding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Elias Russegger, Gerhard Schefbanker, Gernot Antosch, Wolfgang Poeschl, Martin Wallinger, Kevin Ptasienski, Matt Kenchel, Kenneth Fennewald, Allen Boldt
  • Patent number: 10361103
    Abstract: A thermal system includes: a base member including at least one fluid passageway in which a two-phase fluid is disposed; a tuning layer secured to the base member; and a control system. The pressure of the two-phase fluid is controlled such that the two-phase fluid provides at least one of heating and cooling to the base member. The tuning layer includes a plurality of zones. The control system includes a plurality of sets of power lines in communication with the tuning layer, and a plurality of addressable control elements in electrical communication with the power lines and with the tuning layer. The control elements provide selective control of the tuning layer zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin R. Smith, Kevin Ptasienski, Ray Alan Derler, Cal T. Swanson, Philip S. Schmidt, Mohammad Nosrati, Jacob R. Lindley, Allen N. Boldt, Sanhong Zhang, Louis P. Steinhauser, Dennis S. Grimard
  • Publication number: 20190174579
    Abstract: A layered heater includes a resistive layer formed from a conductive material and separated into an intermediate area and a resistive circuit pattern by a plurality of cuts that extend all the way through the resistive layer. The resistive circuit pattern includes termination pads electrically connected to the resistive circuit pattern with the intermediate area being electrically inactive. A conductive overlay is disposed over a continuous portion of the resistive circuit pattern. The plurality of cuts extend longitudinally into the conductive overlay such that no portion of the resistive pattern is present outside the conductive overlay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Elias Russegger, Gerhard Schefbanker, Martin Wallinger, Kevin Ptasienski
  • Patent number: 10314113
    Abstract: A layered heater includes a resistive layer defining a resistive circuit pattern having at least one bend portion. A conductive overlay is provided on at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the bend portion to alleviate the current crowding effect, thereby protecting the electric circuit from premature failure. Methods of manufacturing the layered heater are also disclosed. The overlay may be formed on the bend portion after the resistive layer is formed. The overlay may also be formed on a substrate or a dielectric layer that supports the resistive layer before the resistive layer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Elias Russegger, Gerhard Schefbanker, Martin Wallinger, Kevin Ptasienski
  • Publication number: 20190159291
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a support pedestal that includes a support member including a resistive layer having at least two zones, a routing layer, and a plurality of conductive vias. The resistive layer and the routing layer are disposed in different planes of the support member and are connected by the plurality of vias. The number of zones of the resistive layer is greater than or equal to a number of wires coupled to the routing layer. The routing layer may include a plurality of arm portions that extend from a central region of the routing layer. The support pedestal may further include a second resistive layer disposed along the same plane as the routing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin PTASIENSKI, Stanton Hopkins BREITLOW, Mohammad NOSRATI, Kevin SMITH, Brittany PHILLIPS, Ken AMES, Patrick MARGAVIO, Kurt ENGLISH
  • Publication number: 20190157127
    Abstract: A ceramic pedestal assembly and a method of forming a ceramic pedestal assembly is provided. The ceramic pedestal assembly includes a ceramic substrate defining an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one via extending through the ceramic substrate, an upper conductive foil layer extending across the upper surface of the ceramic substrate and a lower conductive foil layer extending across the lower surface of the ceramic substrate. Each via includes an upper via defining a cavity and a lower via defining a corresponding tapered insert. In one form, the upper via, the lower via, and the conductive foil layers define a material having a melting temperature greater than 2,000° C. and a CTE less than or equal to the ceramic substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mohammad NOSRATI, Kevin PTASIENSKI
  • Publication number: 20190153598
    Abstract: A support pedestal is provided that includes a substrate having a top resistive layer defining a first set of zones and a bottom resistive layer defining a second set of zones. Each zone of the first and second set of zones is coupled to at least two electric terminals from among a plurality of electric terminals, and a total number of electric terminals is less than or equal to a total of the first and second set of zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin PTASIENSKI, Stanton Hopkins BREITLOW, Mohammad NOSRATI, Kevin SMITH, Brittany PHILLIPS, Ken AMES, Patrick MARGAVIO, Kurt ENGLISH
  • Publication number: 20190159294
    Abstract: A method of constructing a heater includes the steps of forming a sintered assembly including a ceramic substrate and a plurality of first slugs embedded therein, forming a functional element on one of opposing surfaces of the sintered assembly such that the functional element is connected to the plurality of first slugs, and forming a monolithic substrate in which the functional element and the plurality of first slugs are embedded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, Patrick Margavio, Kevin Smith
  • Patent number: 10236103
    Abstract: A heater assembly is provided that includes a substrate having opposed end portions defining raised flanges, a slot extending between the opposed end portions, and opposed chamfered surfaces extending along the slot and across the raised flanges. A plurality of layers are disposed onto the substrate, along with a pair of terminal pads. A protective cover defining at least one aperture is disposed over the layers and is secured to the raised flanges and the opposed chamfered surfaces of the substrate, and the aperture is disposed proximate the terminal pads. A pair of lead wires is secured to the pair of terminal pads, and a lead cap assembly is disposed around the pair of lead wires and is secured to the protective cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Elias Russegger, Gerhard Schefbanker, Gernot Antosch, Wolfgang Poeschl, Martin Wallinger, Kevin Ptasienski, Matt Kenchel, Kenneth Fennewald, Allen Boldt
  • Publication number: 20190069350
    Abstract: A layered heater system is provided, which includes an engineered substrate, a heater substrate disposed on the engineered substrate, a resistive element layer formed proximate the heater plate, and a protective layer formed on the resistive element layer. Terminal pads are formed over at least a portion of the resistive element layer and are exposed through the protective layer. The engineered substrate includes a plurality of walls which extend in a thickness direction of the engineered substrate and which have a thickness engineered for specific heat transfer requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark Everly, Cal Swanson, Tom Kupiszewski, Kevin Ptasienski, Chris Lanham, Mike Stewart
  • Publication number: 20190045584
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a layered heater includes: applying a dielectric material on a substrate to form a dielectric layer; thermal-spraying a resistive material on the dielectric layer to form a resistive layer on the dielectric layer; forming a plurality of conductive overlays at predetermined locations on the substrate; and forming a plurality of cuts into the resistive layer by laser cutting to form a resistive circuit pattern that overlaps the conductive overlays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Elias Russegger, Gerhard Schefbanker, Martin Wallinger, Kevin Ptasienski
  • Patent number: 10159114
    Abstract: A layered heater system is provided that includes an engineered substrate having an upper face sheet, a lower face sheet, and a core disposed between the upper face sheet and the lower face sheet. A dielectric layer is formed on at least one of the upper face sheet and the lower face sheet, a resistive element layer is formed on the dielectric layer, a protective layer is formed on the resistive element layer, and terminal pads are formed over at least a portion of the resistive element layer, wherein the terminal pads are exposed through the protective layer. In one form, the core defines a honeycomb structure, and in another, the core defines a frame structure having a plurality of support ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark Everly, Cal Swanson, Tom Kupiszewski, Kevin Ptasienski, Chris Lanham, Mike Stewart
  • Patent number: 10159116
    Abstract: A heater system is provided that comprises a plurality of layered heater modules, each module comprising a plurality of resistive zones. The layered heater modules are disposed adjacent one another to form the heater system, which can be adapted for a multitude of different sizes of heating targets. Preferably, the resistive zones comprise a plurality of resistive traces arranged in a parallel circuit and oriented approximately perpendicular to a primary heating direction, wherein the resistive traces comprise a positive temperature coefficient material having a relatively high TCR. The resistive traces are responsive to the heating target power gradient such that the resistive traces output additional power proximate a higher heat sink and less power proximate a lower heat sink along the primary heating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Kevin Ptasienski
  • Patent number: 10154542
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a substrate in a process chamber and regulating surface temperature of the substrate and method of making the same is provided. The apparatus includes a base support having a surface adapted to support the substrate and a heater for heating the substrate with the heater being disposed proximate the base support. The base support is made of a composite material comprising a plurality of thermally conductive arcuate members embedded within a matrix, each of the plurality thermally conductive arcuate members being arranged concentrically and defining predetermined intervals in a radial direction such that the composite material provides an anisotropic thermal conductivity in radial (?), azimuthal (?) and axial (z) directions in a cylindrical coordinate system of the base support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Sanhong Zhang, Kevin Ptasienski, Kevin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 10049903
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a heater are provided that generally include forming a laminate having a dielectric layer, a first double-sided adhesive dielectric layer, and a conductive layer. Next, a circuit pattern is created into the conductive layer, and then the circuit pattern is covered with a second double-sided adhesive dielectric layer. The second double-sided adhesive dielectric layer is covered with a sacrificial layer, and then the heater is formed, the heater comprising the dielectric layer, the first double-sided adhesive dielectric layer, the conductive layer, and the second double-sided adhesive dielectric layer. Subsequently, the sacrificial layer is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, Allen Norman Boldt, Janet Lea Smith, Cal Thomas Swanson, Mohammad Nosrati, Kevin Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 10043685
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, by way of example, a heater for use in semiconductor processing equipment, that includes a base functional layer having at least one functional zone. A substrate is secured to the base functional layer, and a tuning layer is secured to the substrate opposite the base functional layer. The tuning layer includes a plurality of zones that is greater in number than the zones of the base functional layer, and the tuning layer has lower power than the base functional layer. Further, a component, such as a chuck by way of example, is secured to the tuning layer opposite the substrate. The substrate defines a thermal conductivity to dissipate a requisite amount of power from the base functional layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, Kevin Robert Smith, Cal Thomas Swanson, Philip Steven Schmidt, Mohammad Nosrati, Jacob Lindley, Allen Norman Boldt, Sanhong Zhang, Louis P. Steinhauser, Dennis Stanley Grimard
  • Publication number: 20180197757
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a heater includes forming a first laminate having a first double-sided adhesive dielectric layer, a sacrificial layer, and a conductive layer. The first double sided adhesive layer is disposed between the sacrificial layer and the conductive layer. Next, a circuit pattern is created into the conductive layer, followed by covering the circuit pattern with a second double-sided adhesive dielectric layer. Thereafter, the second double-sided adhesive dielectric layer is covered with a dielectric layer to form a second laminate. Finally, the sacrificial layer is completely removed to form the heater comprising the first double-sided adhesive dielectric layer, the circuit pattern, the second double-sided adhesive layer, and the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin PTASIENSKI, Allen Norman BOLDT, Janet Lea SMITH, Cal Thomas SWANSON, Mohammad NOSRATI, Kevin Robert SMITH
  • Publication number: 20170236732
    Abstract: A thermal system includes a base member, a two-phase fluid, a tuning heater, and a chuck. The base member includes at least one fluid passageway. The two-phase fluid is disposed within the fluid passageway. A pressure of the two-phase fluid is controlled such that the two-phase fluid provides at least one of heating and cooling to the base member. The tuning heater is secured to the base member. The chuck is secured to the tuning heater opposite to the base member. The tuning heater includes a plurality of zones to fine tune a heat distribution provided by the base member to the chuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin R. Smith, Kevin Ptasienski, Ray Alan Derler, Cal T. Swanson, Philip S. Schmidt, Mohammad Nosrati, Jacob R. Lindley, Allen N. Boldt, Sanhong Zhang, Louis P. Steinhauser, Dennis S. Grimard
  • Publication number: 20170111958
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a substrate in a process chamber and regulating surface temperature of the substrate and method of making the same is provided. The apparatus includes a base support having a surface adapted to support the substrate and a heater for heating the substrate with the heater being disposed proximate the base support. The base support is made of a composite material comprising a plurality of thermally conductive arcuate members embedded within a matrix, each of the plurality thermally conductive arcuate members being arranged concentrically and defining predetermined intervals in a radial direction such that the composite material provides an anisotropic thermal conductivity in radial (?), azimuthal (?) and axial (z) directions in a cylindrical coordinate system of the base support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Sanhong Zhang, Kevin Ptasienski, Kevin R. Smith