Patents by Inventor Mark E. Tuttle

Mark E. Tuttle 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: 5662718
    Abstract: A method of forming a button-type battery includes: a) positioning first and second terminal housing members in facing juxtaposition to one another, and providing an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte intermediate the first and second terminal housing member central portions; b) providing a peripheral insulative sealing gasket intermediate the first and second terminal housing members, the insulative sealing gasket being in the shape of an annulus and having a radial extent which extends radially outward beyond the surrounding peripheral portions of the first and second terminal housing members; c) moving at least one of the juxtaposed first and second terminal housing members in the direction of the other to push the first terminal housing member container wall against the first gasket face and to simultaneously force the second terminal housing member peripheral portion against the second gasket face, and continuing such moving to bend the insulative gasket about the container wall and force it to be recei
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5654110
    Abstract: A thin profile battery includes: a) an anode, b) a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; c) a separator and electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; d) a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode, the first terminal housing member having a surrounding periphery and a concave central portion intermediate of its surrounding periphery; e) a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode, the second terminal housing member having a surrounding periphery and a concave central portion intermediate of its surrounding periphery which is opposingly concave to the concave central portion of the first terminal housing member; and f) the first and second terminal housing members being insulatingly joined and sealed at their respective peripheries to form an enclosed housing which retains and protects the anode, cathode, separator and electrolyte, with the concave central portions of the first an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Tuttle, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5652070
    Abstract: A button-type battery has an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte encased with two terminal housing members. The terminal housing members have respective peripheries that are crimped together to form a fluid-tight seal. An insulating gasket is provided between the peripheries to electrically insulate the two terminal housing members. A porous separator physically separates the anode and cathode and extends between the terminal housing member peripheries at least partially into the fluid-tight seal. According to one aspect, the separator overlaps the gasket in the seal. According to another aspect, the separator and gasket are formed of a single, integral piece of material. The thickness of the entire battery is less than one millimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Blonsky, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5642561
    Abstract: A method of forming a button-type battery terminal housing member includes, a) providing an electrically conductive sheet having an exposed surface, the conductive sheet being larger than a desired resultant battery terminal housing member to be produced therefrom; b) providing a discrete solid gasket body, the gasket body being larger than a desired resultant gasket to be received relative to the battery terminal housing member; c) providing adhesive intermediate the conductive sheet exposed surface and the gasket body, and adhering the gasket body and conductive sheet together with the adhesive; d) positioning the conductive sheet with the gasket body adhered thereto between first and second forming members; and e) moving at least one of the forming members in the direction of the other to bear one of the forming members against the gasket body to simultaneously bend the solid gasket body and conductive sheet into a desired battery terminal housing member shape; the moving step also cutting through the gask
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Tuttle, Rickie C. Lake, John D. Fisher
  • Patent number: 5642562
    Abstract: A method of forming a button-type lithium electrode includes: a) masking an electrically conductive sheet with a material to which elemental lithium will not appreciably adhere to define a masked portion and an unmasked portion, the unmasked portion being in the shape of the desired electrode being formed; c) applying molten lithium to the masked sheet to cause elemental lithium to adhere to the unmasked portion but not appreciably adhere to the masked portion; alternately, directing a lithium stream onto the sheet; d) solidifying the lithium on the unmasked portion to in situ form a lithium electrode; and e) after solidifying, removing the masking material from the masked portion of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5633122
    Abstract: An improved test fixture for testing unpackaged semiconductor die and a method for forming the test fixture are provided. The test fixture includes a base formed of a material such as silicon. The base includes a pattern of contact pads corresponding to a pattern of contact locations on the die (e.g., bumped bond pads). The contact pads are connectable via external contacts to external test circuitry. In addition, the test fixture includes an alignment member adapted to align the die on the base. The alignment member includes an alignment opening adapted to cradle the die and form a fluid tight seal. During a test procedure an enclosed cavity is formed between the die held in the alignment opening and the base. The alignment opening is in fluid communication with a vacuum source. Upon application of a vacuum to the cavity, a force is exerted on the die. This places the contact locations on the die in temporary electrical contact with the contact pads on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5612513
    Abstract: An enclosed electrical circuit and method for manufacturing the electrical circuit are provided. Initially a flexible substrate is formed with a plurality of electrical circuits. By way of example, each circuit can contain a conductive trace, a battery and a die, all in electrical communication. During the manufacturing process, a barrier is placed on the substrate and a curable encapsulant is poured into a cavity formed by the barrier and the substrate to encapsulate each circuit. The barrier can be formed as a compartmentalized dam having a separate cavity for each circuit, as a perimeter dam having a single cavity, or as a spacer sheet having a separate cavity for each circuit formed by a pattern of cut outs. Following the encapsulation step, the electrical circuits can be singulated into separate encapsulated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Tuttle, Rickie C. Lake, Joe P. Mousseau, Clay L. Cirino
  • Patent number: 5601941
    Abstract: An improved battery, an improved battery contact assembly and an improved method for attaching a battery to a substrate are provided. The battery includes a housing and a cover for attachment to the housing by crimping. During the crimping process a portion of the housing is bent over a portion of the cover such that a portion of the housing is substantially co-planar with a portion of the cover. Thus the two co-planar surfaces provide the positive and negative contact surfaces of the battery on a single side of the battery. The receiving portion of the contact assembly includes a substrate having a pair of contacts formed thereon. The contacts are shaped and sized to match the contact surfaces of the battery. The battery is attached to the substrate and traces using an electrically conducting adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5591680
    Abstract: The present invention develops an opaque or translucent glass film for use in semiconductor fabrication processes, such as in EPROMs or radio frequency integrated circuits. The opaque or translucent film is developed by forming an glass layer while and introducing a light blocking pigment into the glass layer. The light blocking pigment is made up of a metal oxide, such as titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2), an organic dye, bone ash, or dispersed metal particles. The glass layer is made up of spin on glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Communications
    Inventors: Mark E. Tuttle, Rickie C. Lake
  • Patent number: 5584891
    Abstract: A method of forming a button-type battery terminal housing member sheet includes, a) providing an electrically conductive sheet having an exposed surface, the conductive sheet being divisible into a plurality of individual button-type battery terminal housing member regions; b) masking portions of the respective regions of the exposed sheet surface with a masking material; c) applying an uncured and flowable gasket material onto unmasked portions of the respective regions of the exposed sheet surface; d) allowing the applied uncured gasket material to at least partially cure; and e) after at least partially curing the gasket material, removing the masking material from the masked portions of the respective regions of the exposed sheet surface. The sheet is preferably utilized in formation of a plurality of button-type batteries. A plurality of discrete first terminal housing members are cut and formed from the electrically conductive sheet regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5580674
    Abstract: A button-type battery includes: a) an anode; b) a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; c) a separator and electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; d) a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode, the first terminal housing member having a surrounding periphery and a concave central portion intermediate of its surrounding periphery; e) a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode, the second terminal housing member having a surrounding periphery and a concave central portion intermediate of its surrounding periphery which is opposingly concave to the concave central portion of the first terminal housing member; and f) the first and second terminal housing members being insulatingly joined and sealed at their respective peripheries to form an enclosed housing which retains and protects the anode, cathode, separator and electrolyte, with the concave central portions of the first and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Communication, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Tuttle, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5558679
    Abstract: An improved battery, an improved battery contact assembly and an improved method for attaching a battery to a substrate are provided. The battery includes a housing and a cover for attachment to the housing by crimping. During the crimping process a portion of the housing is bent over a portion of the cover such that a portion of the housing is substantially co-planar with a portion of the cover. Thus the two co-planar surfaces provide the positive and negative contact surfaces of the battery on a single side of the battery. The receiving portion of the contact assembly includes a substrate having a pair of contacts formed thereon. The contacts are shaped and sized to match the contact surfaces of the battery. The battery is attached to the substrate and traces using an electrically conducting adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5547781
    Abstract: A button-type battery has an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte encased with two terminal housing members. The terminal housing members have respective peripheries that are crimped together to form a fluid-tight seal. An insulating gasket is provided between the peripheries to electrically insulate the two terminal housing members. A porous separator physically separates the anode and cathode and extends between the terminal housing member peripheries at least partially into the fluid-tight seal. According to one aspect, the separator overlaps the gasket in the seal. According to another aspect, the separator and gasket are formed of a single, integral piece of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Blonsky, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5542959
    Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of button-type electrodes includes: a) providing a release liner sheet having elemental lithium adhered thereto in the form of a series of discrete patterns having a size and shape of the lithium electrodes being formed; b) providing an electrically conductive sheet having an exposed surface which is divisible into a plurality of areas; c) laminating the release liner sheet with the conductive sheet to adhere the series of discrete elemental lithium patterns onto the respective sheet areas; d) pulling the release liner sheet from the conductive sheet and discrete lithium patterns, leaving the discrete lithium patterns adhering to the conductive sheet; and e) cutting and forming a plurality of discrete battery terminal housing members from the areas of the sheet, with each of the discrete battery terminal housings bearing one of the discrete lithium patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5494495
    Abstract: A method of forming a button-type battery includes: a) providing a sheet of cathode material bonded to solid electrolyte material; b) cutting the cathode material and solid electrolyte material from the sheet into a plurality of composite cathode/solid electrolyte pieces which are individually sized and shaped to constitute the electrolyte and cathode components of a single button-type battery; c) providing a pair of first and second terminal housing members in facing juxtaposition to one another, the first and second terminal housing members having respective peripheries; d) providing one of the composite cathode/electrolyte pieces intermediate the juxtaposed first and second terminal housing members; e) providing an anode intermediate the juxtaposed first and second terminal housing members, the anode being positioned to electrically connect with one of the first or second terminal housing members and the solid electrolyte, and the cathode being positioned to electrically connect with the other of the first
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5486431
    Abstract: A button-type battery includes: a) an anode; b) a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Tuttle, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5480462
    Abstract: A method of forming a button-type lithium electrode includes: a) masking an electrically conductive sheet with a material to which elemental lithium will not appreciably adhere to define a masked portion and an unmasked portion, the unmasked portion being in the shape of the desired electrode being formed; c) applying molten lithium to the masked sheet to cause elemental lithium to adhere to the unmasked portion but not appreciably adhere to the masked portion; alternately, directing a lithium stream onto the sheet; d) solidifying the lithium on the unmasked portion to in situ form a lithium electrode; and e) after solidifying, removing the masking material from the masked portion of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5480834
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a low contact resistance electrical bonding interconnect having a metal bond pad portion and conductive epoxy portion. The conductive epoxy portion comprises a metal oxide reducing agent for reducing oxides formed during the fabrication of the bonding interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Rickie C. Lake, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5432027
    Abstract: A button-type battery has an anode, a cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte encased within a housing and surrounding by a fluid-tight peripheral seal. The battery is capable of being deflected such that a first portion of the battery is angled relative to a second portion through an internal angle between the first and second portions in a range from 175.degree. to at least 90.degree. without destroying operation of the button-type battery or rupturing the fluid-tight peripheral seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Tuttle, Peter M. Blonsky
  • Patent number: RE35420
    Abstract: A method of increasing capacitance by surface roughening in semiconductor wafer processing includes the following steps: a) applying a first layer of material atop a substrate thereby defining an exposed surface; b) incontinuously adhering discrete solid particles to the first layer exposed surface to roughen the exposed surface; and c) applying a second layer of material atop the first layer and adhered solid particles to define an outer surface, the particles adhered to the first layer reducing roughness into the outer surface thereby increasing its surface area and accordingly capacitance of the second layer in the final wafer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Cathey, Mark E. Tuttle, Tyler A. Lowrey