Patents by Inventor Patrick Allen Lowery

Patrick Allen Lowery 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: 10996689
    Abstract: A flow rate ratio control device is provided with a main flow path, a plurality of branch flow paths that branch off from a terminus of the main flow path, a plurality of fluid control devices that are provided respectively on each branch flow path, and that are each equipped with a valve and a pressure-based flow rate sensor that is disposed downstream of the valve, and an operation setting unit that establishes settings such that, based on the target flow rate ratio, any one fluid control device from among the plurality of fluid control devices is made to operate in a flow velocity control mode in which the flow velocity of a fluid is controlled upstream of each valve, and the remaining fluid control devices are made to operate in a flow rate control mode in which the flow rate is controlled based on the target flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Yasuda, Patrick Allen Lowery, William Wylie White, Brian James Ebert, Maximilian Martin Gundlach, John Thomas Dick
  • Publication number: 20190204857
    Abstract: A flow rate ratio control device is provided with a main flow path, a plurality of branch flow paths that branch off from a terminus of the main flow path, a plurality of fluid control devices that are provided respectively on each branch flow path, and that are each equipped with a valve and a pressure-based flow rate sensor that is disposed downstream of the valve, and an operation setting unit that establishes settings such that, based on the target flow rate ratio, any one fluid control device from among the plurality of fluid control devices is made to operate in a flow velocity control mode in which the flow velocity of a fluid is controlled upstream of each valve, and the remaining fluid control devices are made to operate in a flow rate control mode in which the flow rate is controlled based on the target flow rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Tadahiro Yasuda, Patrick Allen Lowery, William Wylie White, Brian James Ebert, Maximilian Martin Gundlach, John Thomas Dick
  • Patent number: 9903507
    Abstract: A micro-position gap sensor assembly, including a structural housing, a flexible diaphragm fixedly attached at a first end of the structural housing, and a shaft orthogonally attached to the flexible diaphragm. The micro-position gap sensor assembly may further include a first retainer coupled to the shaft, a second retainer formed as a step of the structural housing, and a plate gap sensor. The plate gap sensor may include a non-contact sensor plate biased by a compression spring so that the non-contact sensor plate is held against a portion of the second retainer. The plate gap sensor may further include a target plate positioned adjacent the non-contact sensor plate and separated therefrom by a gap. The target plate may be biased by a return spring so that the target plate is held against a portion of the first retainer. The target plate may be coupled to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Allen Lowery, John Thomas Dick, Michael Alex Kramer
  • Publication number: 20170276257
    Abstract: A micro-position gap sensor assembly, including a structural housing, a flexible diaphragm fixedly attached at a first end of the structural housing, and a shaft orthogonally attached to the flexible diaphragm. The micro-position gap sensor assembly may further include a first retainer coupled to the shaft, a second retainer formed as a step of the structural housing, and a plate gap sensor. The plate gap sensor may include a non-contact sensor plate biased by a compression spring so that the non-contact sensor plate is held against a portion of the second retainer. The plate gap sensor may further include a target plate positioned adjacent the non-contact sensor plate and separated therefrom by a gap. The target plate may be biased by a return spring so that the target plate is held against a portion of the first retainer. The target plate may be coupled to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick Allen Lowery, John Thomas Dick, Michael Alex Kramer
  • Patent number: 9671421
    Abstract: A micro-position gap sensor assembly including a structural housing and a flexible diaphragm fixedly attached forming a barrier against fluid ingress. The structural housing includes a shaft orthogonally attached to the flexible diaphragm, a first retainer including one or more standoffs, a second retainer, and a parallel plate gap sensor. The parallel gap plate sensor includes a non-contact sensor plate biased against a portion of the first retainer defining a plane of the non-contact sensor plate and receiving a biasing force in opposition of the first retainer from the second retainer, a target plate comprised of a conductive paramagnetic material. The parallel plate gap sensor is configured such that displacement of one of the target plate or the non-contact sensor plate changes a distance between the target plate and the non-contact sensor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Allen Lowery, John Thomas Dick, Michael Alex Kramer
  • Publication number: 20160313141
    Abstract: A micro-position gap sensor assembly including a structural housing and a flexible diaphragm fixedly attached forming a barrier against fluid ingress. The structural housing includes a shaft orthogonally attached to the flexible diaphragm, a first retainer including one or more standoffs, a second retainer, and a parallel plate gap sensor. The parallel gap plate sensor includes a non-contact sensor plate biased against a portion of the first retainer defining a plane of the non-contact sensor plate and receiving a biasing force in opposition of the first retainer from the second retainer, a target plate comprised of a conductive paramagnetic material. The parallel plate gap sensor is configured such that displacement of one of the target plate or the non-contact sensor plate changes a distance between the target plate and the non-contact sensor plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick Allen Lowery, John Thomas Dick, Michael Alex Kramer