Patents by Inventor Michael David Hill

Michael David Hill 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: 20170098896
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of modified z-type hexagonal ferrite materials having improved properties that are advantageous for radiofrequency applications, in particular high frequency ranges for antennas and other devices. Atomic substitution of strontium, aluminum, potassium, and trivalent ions can be used to replace certain atoms in the ferrite crystal structure to improve loss factor at high frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Michael David Hill
  • Patent number: 9552917
    Abstract: Materials, devices and methods related to below-resonance radio-frequency (RF) circulators and isolators. In some embodiments, a circulator can include a conductor having a plurality of signal ports, and one or more magnets configured to provide a magnetic field. The circulator can further include one or more ferrite disks implemented relative to the conductor and the one or more magnets so that an RF signal can be routed selectively among the signal ports due to the magnetic field. Each of the one or more ferrite disks can include synthetic garnet material having dodecahedral sites, octahedral sites and tetrahedral sites, with bismuth (Bi) occupying at least some of the dodecahedral sites, and aluminum (Al) occupying at least some of the tetrahedral sites. Such synthetic garnet material can be represented by a formula Y3-x-2y?zBixCa2y+zFe5-y-z-aVyZrzAlaO12. In some embodiments, x?1.4, y?0.7, z?0.7, and a?0.75.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bowie Cruickshank, Iain Alexander MacFarlane, Michael David Hill
  • Patent number: 9527776
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include methods of modifying synthetic garnets used in RF applications to reduce or eliminate Yttrium or other rare earth metals in the garnets without adversely affecting the magnetic properties of the material. Some embodiments include substituting Bismuth for some of the Yttrium on the dodecahedral sites and introducing one or more high valency ions to the octahedral and tetrahedral sites. Calcium may also be added to the dodecahedral sites for valency compensation induced by the high valency ions, which could effectively displace all or most of the Yttrium (Y) in microwave device garnets. The modified synthetic garnets with substituted Yttrium (Y) can be used in various microwave magnetic devices such as circulators, isolators and resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bowie Cruickshank, Michael David Hill
  • Publication number: 20160362341
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of synthetic garnet materials for use in radiofrequency applications. In some embodiments, increased amounts of bismuth can be added into specific sites in the crystal structure of the synthetic garnet in order to boost certain properties, such as the dielectric constant and magnetization. Accordingly, embodiments of the disclosed materials can be used in high frequency applications, such as in base station antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: David Bowie Cruickshank, Michael David Hill
  • Publication number: 20160351917
    Abstract: Materials, device and methods related to solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In some embodiments, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) can include an electrochemically active component having a multiphase ceramic with a stabilized metal oxide material and a magnetoplumbite-based material. The multiphase ceramic can be configured to provide enhanced fracture toughness for the electrochemically active component. The stabilized metal oxide material can include cerium oxide, and the electrochemically active component can include an anode. One or more of such SOFC can be configured as a power source device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Michael David HILL, Jeffrey Alan SHUNKWILER
  • Patent number: 9505632
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to using cobalt (Co) to fine tune the magnetic properties, such as permeability and magnetic loss, of nickel-zinc ferrites to improve the material performance in electronic applications. The method comprises replacing nickel (Ni) with sufficient Co+2 such that the relaxation peak associated with the Co+2 substitution and the relaxation peak associated with the nickel to zinc (Ni/Zn) ratio are into near coincidence. When the relaxation peaks overlap, the material permeability can be substantially maximized and magnetic loss substantially minimized. The resulting materials are useful and provide superior performance particularly for devices operating at the 13.56 MHz ISM band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael David Hill, David Bowie Cruickshank, Kelvin M. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20160240496
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices and methods for providing electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for integrated circuits. In some implementations, first and second conductors with ohmic contacts on an intrinsic semiconductor region can function similar to an x-i-y type diode, where each of x and y can be n-type or p-type. Such a diode can be configured to turn on under selected conditions such as an ESD event. Such a structure can be configured so as to provide an effective ESD protection while providing little or substantially nil effect on radio-frequency (RF) operating properties of a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Kim Rene Smith, Paul T. DiCarlo, Michael David Hill
  • Publication number: 20160226120
    Abstract: Disclosed are synthetic garnets and related devices that can be used in radio-frequency (RF) applications. In some embodiments, such RF devices can include garnets having reduced or substantially nil Yttrium or other rare earth metals. Such garnets can be configured to yield high dielectric constants, and ferrite devices, such as TM-mode circulators/isolators, formed from such garnets can benefit from reduced dimensions. Further, reduced or nil rare earth content of such garnets can allow cost-effective fabrication of ferrite-based RF devices. In some embodiments, such ferrite devices can include other desirable properties such as low magnetic resonance linewidths. Examples of fabrication methods and RF-related properties are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: David Bowie CRUICKSHANK, Rickard Paul O'DONOVAN, Iain Alexander MACFARLANE, Brian MURRAY, Michael David HILL
  • Patent number: 9337356
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices and methods for providing electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for integrated circuits. In some implementations, first and second conductors with ohmic contacts on an intrinsic semiconductor region can function similar to an x-i-y type diode, where each of x and y can be n-type or p-type. Such a diode can be configured to turn on under selected conditions such as an ESD event. Such a structure can be configured so as to provide an effective ESD protection while providing little or substantially nil effect on radio-frequency (RF) operating properties of a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kim Rene Smith, Paul T. DiCarlo, Michael David Hill
  • Patent number: 9328029
    Abstract: A framework for developing high quality factor (Q) material for electronic applications in the radio frequency range is provided. In one implementation, ceramic materials having a tungsten bronze crystal structure is modified by substituting one or more elements at one or more lattice sites on the crystal structure. The substitute elements are selected based on the ionic radius and other factors. In other implementations, the modified ceramic material is prepared in combination with compositions such as rutile or a perovskite to form a orthorhombic hybrid of perosvkite and tetragonal tungsten bronze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael David Hill
  • Publication number: 20160118167
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an enhanced resonant frequency hexagonal ferrite material and methods of manufacturing. The hexagonal ferrite material can be Y-phase strontium hexagonal ferrite material. In some embodiments, sodium can be added into the crystal structure of the hexagonal ferrite material in order to achieve high resonance frequencies while maintaining high permeability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: Michael David Hill
  • Publication number: 20160118168
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an enhanced resonant frequency hexagonal ferrite material and methods of manufacturing. The hexagonal ferrite material can be Y-phase hexagonal ferrite material, such as those including strontium. In some embodiments, oxides consistent with the stoichiometry of Sr3Co2Fe24O41, SrFe12O19 or CoFe2O4 can be used form an enhanced hexagonal ferrite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: Michael David Hill
  • Publication number: 20160118171
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an enhanced resonant frequency hexagonal ferrite material, such as Y-phase hexagonal ferrite material, and methods of manufacturing. In some embodiments, sodium or potassium can be added into the crystal structure of the hexagonal ferrite material in order to achieve improved resonant frequencies in the range of 500 MHz to 1 GHz useful for radiofrequency applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: Michael David Hill
  • Publication number: 20160118170
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an enhanced resonant frequency hexagonal ferrite material and methods of manufacturing. The hexagonal ferrite material can be Y-phase strontium hexagonal ferrite material. In some embodiments, strontium can be substituted out for a trivalent or tetravalent ion composition including potassium, thereby providing for advantageous properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: Michael David Hill
  • Patent number: 9263175
    Abstract: Disclosed are synthetic garnets and related devices that can be used in radio-frequency (RF) applications. In some embodiments, such RF devices can include garnets having reduced or substantially nil Yttrium or other rare earth metals. Such garnets can be configured to yield high dielectric constants, and ferrite devices, such as TM-mode circulators/isolators, formed from such garnets can benefit from reduced dimensions. Further, reduced or nil rare earth content of such garnets can allow cost-effective fabrication of ferrite-based RF devices. In some embodiments, such ferrite devices can include other desirable properties such as low magnetic resonance linewidths. Examples of fabrication methods and RF-related properties are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bowie Cruickshank, Rickard Paul O'donovan, Iain Alexander MacFarlane, Brian Murray, Michael David Hill
  • Publication number: 20160028139
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of isolator/circulator junctions that can be used for radio-frequency (RF) applications, and methods of manufacturing the junctions. The junctions can have excellent impedance matching, even as they are being miniaturized, providing significant advantages over previously used junctions. The junctions can be formed of both high and low dielectric constant material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: David Bowie Cruickshank, Michael David Hill, Iain Alexander MacFarlane
  • Publication number: 20150274981
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of dual function coatings having at least one lanthanide element incorporated therein, and methods of manufacturing such coatings. The dual function coatings can act as both an RF absorber and a thermal barrier. The coatings can be incorporated into different applications, such as the manufacturing of aircrafts and jet engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Michael David Hill
  • Publication number: 20150259251
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, devices and methods related to thermal barrier coating materials having enhanced toughness. In some embodiments, a multiphase ceramic can include a first phase formed from a cubic and/or a tetragonally stabilized metal oxide, and a second phase formed from a magnetoplumbite-based aluminate that is chemically compatible with the first phase. Various example applications in which such materials can be utilized are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: Michael David Hill
  • Patent number: 9117156
    Abstract: An RFID chip is embedded in a device having a body that includes a low-dielectric loss material including at least one of barium stannate, barium cerate, barium tungstate and barium molybdate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael David Hill
  • Publication number: 20150171501
    Abstract: Disclosed are single-piece magnetically tunable ferrite rods that can be used for radio-frequency (RF) applications, and methods of manufacturing the resonators using synthetic garnets. In some embodiments, a separate tuner need not be used in the resonator during magnetic tuning. Examples of fabrication methods and RF-related properties are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: David Bowie Cruickshank, John Christopher Deriso, Michael David Hill