Patents by Inventor Lawrence Levit
Lawrence Levit 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: 8605407Abstract: A low maintenance AC gas-flow driven static neutralizer, comprising at least one emitter and at least one reference electrode; a power supply having an output electrically coupled to the emitter(s) and a reference terminal electrically coupled to the reference electrode(s) with the power supply disposed to produce an output waveform that creates ions by corona discharge and to produce an electrical field when this output waveform is applied to the emitter(s); a gas flow source disposed to produce a gas flow across a first region that includes these generated ions and the emitter(s), the gas flow including a flow velocity; and wherein, during a first time duration, the output waveform decreases an electrical force created by the electrical field, enabling the gas flow to carry away from the emitter(s) a contamination particle that may be located within a second region surrounding the emitter(s), and to minimize a likelihood of the contamination particle from accumulating on the emitter(s).Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Peter Gefter, Lawrence Levit, Leslie Partridge, Scott Gehlke
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Publication number: 20110299214Abstract: A low maintenance AC gas-flow driven static neutralizer, comprising at least one emitter and at least one reference electrode; a power supply having an output electrically coupled to the emitter(s) and a reference terminal electrically coupled to the reference electrode(s) with the power supply disposed to produce an output waveform that creates ions by corona discharge and to produce an electrical field when this output waveform is applied to the emitter(s); a gas flow source disposed to produce a gas flow across a first region that includes these generated ions and the emitter(s), the gas flow including a flow velocity; and wherein, during a first time duration, the output waveform decreases an electrical force created by the electrical field, enabling the gas flow to carry away from the emitter(s) a contamination particle that may be located within a second region surrounding the emitter(s), and to minimize a likelihood of the contamination particle from accumulating on the emitter(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventors: Peter Gefter, Lawrence Levit, Leslie Partridge, Scott Gehlke
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Patent number: 8009405Abstract: A low maintenance AC gas-flow driven static neutralizer, comprising at least one emitter and at least one reference electrode; a power supply having an output electrically coupled to the emitter(s) and a reference terminal electrically coupled to the reference electrode(s) with the power supply disposed to produce an output waveform that creates ions by corona discharge and to produce an electrical field when this output waveform is applied to the emitter(s); a gas flow source disposed to produce a gas flow across a first region that includes these generated ions and the emitter(s), the gas flow including a flow velocity; and wherein, during a first time duration, the output waveform decreases an electrical force created by the electrical field, enabling the gas flow to carry away from the emitter(s) a contamination particle that may be located within a second region surrounding the emitter(s), and to minimize a likelihood of the contamination particle from accumulating on the emitter(s).Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Ion Systems, Inc.Inventors: Peter Gefter, Lawrence Levit, Leslie Partridge, Scott Gehlke
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Patent number: 7813102Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing contamination buildup on corona emitters that are employed in an ionizer. Contamination buildup control is accomplished with solely electronic means. High voltage is applied to the emitters with waveforms that serve to push contaminants away from the emitter, rather than attracting contaminants toward the emitters. The results are fewer cleaning cycles, more time between cleaning cycles, and more stable ionizer operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Peter Gefter, Scott Gehlke, Lawrence Levit
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Patent number: 7697258Abstract: At least one orifice is added to an AC ionizer with nozzles and ionizing electrodes that are used to remove static charge. The orifice is placed in a location where electrostatic forces are weak and where gas ions can be easily extracted from the ionizer. Ionizer effectiveness is enhanced by recovering gas ions that are normally trapped between the nozzles and under a portion of the ionizer from which the nozzles project. Without the orifice properly positioned, the trapped gas ions are lost by recombination or grounding. With the orifice positioned in an area of weak electrostatic forces, more gas ions are available for discharging the charged object. The combined air consumption of nozzles plus at least one orifice is the same or less than nozzles alone would consume for a given discharge time.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2006Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Grigoriy N. Vernitskiy, Peter Gefter, Lawrence Levit
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Publication number: 20080232021Abstract: A low maintenance AC gas-flow driven static neutralizer, comprising at least one emitter and at least one reference electrode; a power supply having an output electrically coupled to the emitter(s) and a reference terminal electrically coupled to the reference electrode(s) with the power supply disposed to produce an output waveform that creates ions by corona discharge and to produce an electrical field when this output waveform is applied to the emitter(s); a gas flow source disposed to produce a gas flow across a first region that includes these generated ions and the emitter(s), the gas flow including a flow velocity; and wherein, during a first time duration, the output waveform decreases an electrical force created by the electrical field, enabling the gas flow to carry away from the emitter(s) a contamination particle that may be located within a second region surrounding the emitter(s), and to minimize a likelihood of the contamination particle from accumulating on the emitter(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.Inventors: Peter Gefter, Lawrence Levit, Leslie Partridge, Scott Gehlke
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Publication number: 20080225460Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing contamination buildup on corona emitters that are employed in an ionizer. Contamination buildup control is accomplished with solely electronic means. High voltage is applied to the emitters with waveforms that serve to push contaminants away from the emitter, rather than attracting contaminants toward the emitters. The results are fewer cleaning cycles, more time between cleaning cycles, and more stable ionizer operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Peter Gefter, Scott Gehlke, Lawrence Levit
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Publication number: 20070158578Abstract: At least one orifice is added to an AC ionizer with nozzles and ionizing electrodes that are used to remove static charge. The orifice is placed in a location where electrostatic forces are weak and where gas ions can be easily extracted from the ionizer. Ionizer effectiveness is enhanced by recovering gas ions that are normally trapped between the nozzles and under a portion of the ionizer from which the nozzles project. Without the orifice properly positioned, the trapped gas ions are lost by recombination or grounding. With the orifice positioned in an area of weak electrostatic forces, more gas ions are available for discharging the charged object. The combined air consumption of nozzles plus at least one orifice is the same or less than nozzles alone would consume for a given discharge time.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2006Publication date: July 12, 2007Applicant: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.Inventors: Grigoriy Vernitskiy, Peter Gefter, Lawrence Levit
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Publication number: 20070026691Abstract: An apparatus and method for charging substrates without introducing high electric fields into the work environment. A non-contact charging plate is combined with a source of bipolar air (or gas) ions to effect the charging. This method is useful for studying the effects of static charge in charge sensitive processes. Substrates to be charged include semiconductor wafers, media disks, reticles, and flat panel glasses. In many cases, the shape of the apparatus is similar to industry-standard carriers. Hence, charging can be done robotically.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Inventors: Lawrence Levit, Peter Gefter, John Menear