Patents by Inventor Michael A. A'Hearn

Michael A. A'Hearn 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: 12168614
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides adsorbent compositions of carbon-containing material and nitrogen that are co-doped with a metal, such as magnesium or calcium. The disclosure also provides methods of adsorbing phosphate, as well as beneficial end products following the process of adsorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Manuel Garcia-Perez, Michael A. A. Apasiku, Sohrab Haghighi Mood, Jean-Sabin McEwen
  • Publication number: 20240243435
    Abstract: A ceramic binder composition is disclosed as well as a method of making and using the same. Additionally, a ceramic coated separator used in, for example but without limitation, lithium ion batteries is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: HERCULES LLC
    Inventors: Alaa ALHARIZAH, Sung Gun Chu, Alan Edward Goliaszewski, David K. Hood, Shufu Peng, Michael A. A. Tallon, Bruce Fillipo
  • Publication number: 20220081323
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides adsorbent compositions of carbon-containing material and nitrogen that are co-doped with a metal, such as magnesium or calcium. The disclosure also provides methods of adsorbing phosphate, as well as beneficial end products following the process of adsorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Manuel Garcia-Perez, Michael A. A. Apasiku, Sohrab Haghighi Mood, Jean-Sabin McEwen
  • Patent number: 9980603
    Abstract: A field-ready oven has reinforced telescoped side walls that extend and hold a base, shelf, tray support and cover spaced apart. A low air intake and a semipermeable membrane deliver air and vapor fuel to catalyst pads on the shelf. Radiant heat from exothermic reaction is diffused over a bottom of a tray. Hot gas circulates around the diffuser and tray with a chimney effect before exhausting. A lid on the cover lifts for access to the tray. A fuel container in the oven forces fuel through a capillary restriction to limit fuel flow. A spring in the container is released to start fuel flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: GHT GLOBAL HEATING TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Poston, Michael A. A. Swank, Robert G. Hockaday, Lawrence D. Weber, Giampaolo Vacca
  • Publication number: 20180019457
    Abstract: A ceramic binder composition is disclosed as well as a method of making and using the same. Additionally, a ceramic coated separator used in, for example but without limitation, lithium ion batteries is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Alaa ALHARIZAH, Sung Gun CHU, Alan Edward GOLIASZEWSKI, David K. HOOD, Shufu PENG, Michael A. A. TALLON, Bruce FILLIPO
  • Publication number: 20170176985
    Abstract: A method for predicting an End of Line (EOL) quality of a product in an assembly plant is provided. The method includes performing a downstream test on a plurality of sub-components for determining a set of attributes. The method also includes receiving, by a control module, the set of attributes of the sub-components. The method further includes performing, by the control module, a root cause investigation on the set of attributes of the sub-components for identifying a subset of attributes from the set of attributes. The subset of attributes contributes to lowering the EOL quality of the assembled product. The method includes developing and validating, by the control module, dynamic prediction models based on the identified subset of attributes associated with the sub-components. The method also includes predicting, by the control module, the EOL quality of the assembled product based on the dynamically validated prediction model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Gajkumar Chougule, Michael A. A'Hearn, Cary J. Lyons, Ben P. Slater, Gary E. Bright, Keith Joseph Lensing, Yihong Yang
  • Publication number: 20170049266
    Abstract: A field-ready oven has reinforced telescoped side walls that extend and hold a base, shelf, tray support and cover spaced apart. A low air intake and a semipermeable membrane deliver air and vapor fuel to catalyst pads on the shelf. Radiant heat from exothermic reaction is diffused over a bottom of a tray. Hot gas circulates around the diffuser and tray with a chimney effect before exhausting. A lid on the cover lifts for access to the tray. A fuel container in the oven forces fuel through a capillary restriction to limit fuel flow. A spring in the container is released to start fuel flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: GHT GLOBAL HEATING TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. POSTON, Michael A. A. SWANK, Robert G. HOCKADAY, Lawrence D. WEBER, Giampaolo VACCA
  • Patent number: 8415226
    Abstract: A phase change memory cell, e.g. a line-cell (2), and fabrication thereof, the cell comprising: two electrodes (6, 8); phase change memory material (10) and a dielectric barrier (12). The dielectric barrier (12) is arranged to provide electron tunnelling, e.g. Fowler-Nordheim tunnelling, to the phase change memory material (10). A contact (15) made of phase change memory material may also be provided. The dielectric barrier (12) is substantially uniform e.g. of substantially uniform thickness, e.g. ?5 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinesh B. P. Kochupurackal, Robertus A. M. Wolters, Michael A. A. Zandt
  • Patent number: 7791059
    Abstract: An electric device has an electrically switchable resistor (2?) comprising a phase change material. The resistance value of the resistor can be changed between at least two values by changing the phase of the phase change material within a part of the resistor called the switching zone (12?) using Joule heating of the resistor. The device comprises a body (24?) encapsulating the resistor, which body comprises at least two abutting regions (26?, 28?) having different thermally insulating properties. These regions form a thermally insulating contrast with which the dimension of the switching zone can be determined without having to alter the dimensions of the resistor. Such a device can be used in electronic memory or reconfigurable logic circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Frisco J. M. Jedema, Karen Attenborough, Roel Daamen, Michael A. A. In 'T Zandt
  • Patent number: 7671390
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed with a lower field plate (32) and optional lateral field plates (34) around semiconductor (20) in which devices are formed, for example power FETs or other transistor or diode types. The semiconductor device is manufactured by forming trenches with insulated sidewalls, etching cavities (26) at the base of the trenches which join up and then filling the trenches with conductor (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Sonsky, Erwin A. Hijzen, Michael A. A. In 'T Zandt
  • Patent number: 7660180
    Abstract: A thermally programmable memory has a programmable element (20) of a thermally programmable resistance preferably of phase change material, material and a blown antifuse (80) located adjacent to the programmable material. Such a blown antifuse has a dielectric layer (100) surrounded by conductive layers (90, 110) to enable a brief high voltage to be applied across the dielectric to blow a small hole in the dielectric during manufacture to form a small conductive path which can be used as a tiny electrical heater for programming the material. Due to the current confinement by the hole, the volume of the material that must be heated in order to switch to a highly-resistive state is very small. As a result the programming power can be low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Hans M. B. Boeve, Karen Attenborough, Godefridus A. M. Hurkx, Prabhat Agarwal, Hendrik G. A. Huizing, Michael A. A. In'T Zandt, Jan W. Slotboom
  • Publication number: 20080277642
    Abstract: A phase change resistor device has a phase change material (PCM) for which the phase transition occurs inside the PCM and not at the interface with a contact electrode. For ease of manufacturing the PCM is an elongate line structure (210, 215) surrounded by the conductive electrode portions (200, 240) at its lateral sides, and is formed in a CMOS backend process. An alternative is to form the device coupled directly to other circuit parts without the electrodes. In each case, there is a line of PCM which has a constant diameter or cross section, formed with reduced dimensions by using a spacer as a hard mask. The first contact electrode and the second contact electrode are electrically connected by a “one dimensional” layer of the PCM. The contact resistance between the one-dimensional layer of PCM and the first contact electrode at the second contact electrode is lower than the resistance of a central or intervening portion of the line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Michael A., A. In T Zandt, Martijn H., R. Lankhorst, Robertus A. M. Wolters, Hans Kwinten
  • Publication number: 20080150021
    Abstract: A trench-gate transistor (1) has an integral first layer of silicon dioxide (31) which extends from the upper surface (10a) of the semiconductor body (10) over top corners of each cell array trench (20), the integral first layer also providing a thin gate dielectric insulating layer (31A) for a thick gate electrode (41) and the integral first layer also providing a first part (31B) of a stack of materials which constitute a thick trench sidewall insulating layer (31B,32,33) for a thin field plate (42), a layer of silicon nitride (32) providing a second part of the stack and a second layer of silicon dioxide (33) providing a third part of the stack. The integrity of the first silicon dioxide layer (31) over the trench (20) top corners helps to avoid gate (41) source (24) short circuits. In a method of manufacture (FIGS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: GERRIT E. J. KOOPS, MICHAEL A. A. IN'T ZANDT
  • Patent number: 7361555
    Abstract: A trench-gate transistor has an integral first layer of silicon dioxide extending from the upper surface of the semiconductor body over top corners of each cell array trench. The integral first layer also provides a thin gate dielectric insulating layer for a thick gate electrode and the integral first layer also provides a first part of a stack of materials which constitute a thick trench sidewall insulating layer for a thin field plate. Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a method of manufacture. A hardmask used to etch the trenches is removed before providing the silicon dioxide layer. The layer is then protected by successive selective etching of the oxide layer and the nitride layer in the upper parts of the trenches. After the gate electrodes are provided, layers for the channel accommodating regions and source regions may be formed through the oxide layer on the upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Gerrit E. J. Koops, Michael A. A. In 'T Zandt
  • Patent number: 7332398
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a trench-gate semiconductor device (1), the method including forming trenches (20) in a semiconductor body (10) in an active transistor cell area of the device, the trenches (20) each having a trench bottom and trench sidewalls, and providing silicon oxide gate insulation (21) in the trenches such that the gate insulation (33) at the trench bottoms is thicker than the gate insulation (21) at the trench sidewalls in order to reduce the gate-drain capacitance of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Michael A. A. In't Zandt, Erwin A. Hijzen
  • Patent number: 7262460
    Abstract: A vertical insulated gate transistor is manufactured by providing a trench (26) extending through a source layer (8) and a channel layer (6) towards a drain layer (2). A spacer etch is used to form gate portions (20) along the trench side walls, a dielectric material (30) is filled into the trench between the sidewalls gate portions (20), and a gate electrical connection layer (30) is formed at the top of the trench electrically connecting the gate portions (20) across the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Jurriaan Schmitz, Raymond J. E. Hueting, Erwin A. Hijzen, Andreas H. Montree, Michael A. A. In't Zandt, Gerrit E. J. Koops
  • Patent number: 7235842
    Abstract: A trench-gate semiconductor device (100) has a trench network (STR1, ITR1) surrounding a plurality of closed transistor cells (TCS). The trench network comprises segment trench regions (STR1) adjacent sides of the transistor cells (TCS) and intersection trench regions (ITR1) adjacent corners of the transistor cells. As shown in FIG. 16 which is a section view along the line II-II of FIG. 11, the intersection trench regions (ITR1) each include insulating material (21D) which extends from the bottom of the intersection trench region with a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the insulating material (21B1) at the bottom of the segment trench regions (STR1). The greater thickness of the insulating material (21D) extending from the bottom of the intersection trench regions (ITR1) is effective to increase the drain-source reverse breakdown voltage of the device (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Raymond J. E. Hueting, Erwin A. Hijzen, Michael A. A. In't Zandt
  • Patent number: 7199010
    Abstract: A method of making a trench MOSFET includes forming a nitride liner 50 on the sidewalls 28 of a trench and a plug of doped polysilicon 26 at the bottom of a trench. The plug of polysilicon 26 may then be oxidised to form a thick oxide plug 30 at the bottom of the trench whilst the nitride liner 50 protects the sidewalls 28 from oxidation. This forms a thick oxide plug at the bottom of the trench thereby reducing capacitance between gate and drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Erwin A. Hijzen, Raymond J. E. Hueting, Michael A. A. In't Zandt
  • Patent number: 7160793
    Abstract: A RESURF trench gate MOSFET has a sufficiently small pitch (close spacing of neighbouring trenches) that intermediate areas of the drain drift region are depleted in the blocking condition of the MOSFET. However, premature breakdown can still occur in this known device structure at the perimeter/edge of the active device area and/or adjacent the gate bondpad. To counter premature breakdown, the invention adopts two principles: the gate bondpad is either connected to an underlying stripe trench network surrounded by active cells, or is directly on top of the active cells, and a compatible 2D edge termination scheme is provided around the RESURF active device area. These principles can be implemented in various cellular layouts e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Raymond J. E. Hueting, Erwin A. Hijzen, Michael A. A. In't Zandt
  • Patent number: 7033889
    Abstract: In semiconductor devices which include an insulated trench electrode (11) in a trench (20), for example, trench-gate field effect power transistors and trenched Schottky diodes, a cavity (23) is provided between the bottom (25) of the trench electrode (11) and the bottom (27) of the trench (20) to reduce the dielectric coupling between the trench electrode (11) and the body portion at the bottom (27) of the trench in a compact manner. In power transistors, the reduction in dielectric coupling reduces switching power losses, and in Schottky diodes, it enables the trench width to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Erwin A. Hijzen, Michael A. A. In 't Zandt, Raymond J. E. Hueting