Patents by Inventor Paul E. Amundsen
Paul E. Amundsen 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: 10900699Abstract: A refrigerant management system controls the supply of refrigerant from two or more variable speed and fixed speed compressors to a plurality of cryogenic refrigerators. The system employs a plurality of sensors to monitor and regulate the overall refrigerant supply to deliver an appropriate refrigerant supply to each of the cryogenic refrigerators. The amount of refrigerant to supply is based on an aggregate demand for refrigerant from the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators and a refrigerant correction metric. An appropriate supply of refrigerant is distributed to each cryogenic refrigerator by adjusting the speed of the variable speed compressors or, alternatively, selectively turning the compressors on or off. The speed of the variable speed compressors is adjusted by determining an amount of refrigerant to supply to the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: Edwards Vacuum LLCInventors: Oliver J. Dumas, Maureen C. Buonpane, Doreen J. Ball-DiFazio, Ronald N. Morris, Allen J. Bartlett, Leonard A. Loranger, Joseph Chopy, Jr., Robert P. Sullivan, John J. Varone, Paul E. Amundsen
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Publication number: 20190063807Abstract: A refrigerant management system controls the supply of refrigerant from two or more variable speed and fixed speed compressors to a plurality of cryogenic refrigerators. The system employs a plurality of sensors to monitor and regulate the overall refrigerant supply to deliver an appropriate refrigerant supply to each of the cryogenic refrigerators. The amount of refrigerant to supply is based on an aggregate demand for refrigerant from the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators and a refrigerant correction metric. An appropriate supply of refrigerant is distributed to each cryogenic refrigerator by adjusting the speed of the variable speed compressors or, alternatively, selectively turning the compressors on or off. The speed of the variable speed compressors is adjusted by determining an amount of refrigerant to supply to the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Oliver J. Dumas, Maureen C. Buonpane, Doreen J. Ball-DiFazio, Ronald N. Morris, Allen J. Bartlett, Leonard A. Loranger, Joseph Chopy, JR., Robert P. Sullivan, John J. Varone, Paul E. Amundsen
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Patent number: 10113781Abstract: A refrigerant management system controls the supply of refrigerant from two or more variable speed and fixed speed compressors to a plurality of cryogenic refrigerators. The system employs a plurality of sensors to monitor and regulate the overall refrigerant supply to deliver an appropriate refrigerant supply to each of the cryogenic refrigerators. The amount of refrigerant to supply is based on an aggregate demand for refrigerant from the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators and a refrigerant correction metric. An appropriate supply of refrigerant is distributed to each cryogenic refrigerator by adjusting the speed of the variable speed compressors or, alternatively, selectively turning the compressors on or off. The speed of the variable speed compressors is adjusted by determining an amount of refrigerant to supply to the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Oliver J. Dumas, Maureen C. Buonpane, Doreen J. Ball-DiFazio, Ronald N. Morris, Allen J. Bartlett, Leonard A. Loranger, Joseph Chopy, Jr., Robert P. Sullivan, John J. Varone, Paul E. Amundsen
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Patent number: 9970427Abstract: A system and method is provided to control a purge valve during an unsafe condition associated with a cryopump. An electronic controller may be used to control the opening and closing of one or more purge valves during the unsafe condition. The purge valve can be a cryo-purge valve or exhaust purge valve. The purge valve can be a normally open valve. The electronic controller can release the normally open valve in response to the unsafe condition. The electronic controller can delay its response to the unsafe condition for a safe period of time. Attempts from other systems to control these valves during unsafe conditions can be preempted during unsafe conditions. A user can be inhibited from manually controlling the purge valve during unsafe conditions. A power failure recovery routine may be initiated in response to a restoration of power. The power failure recovery routine can respond to an unsafe condition even if the power failure recovery routine has been manually turned off by a user.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Paul E. Amundsen, Maureen C. Buonpane, Douglas Andrews, Jordan Jacobs
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Publication number: 20140130527Abstract: A refrigerant management system controls the supply of refrigerant from two or more variable speed and fixed speed compressors to a plurality of cryogenic refrigerators. The system employs a plurality of sensors to monitor and regulate the overall refrigerant supply to deliver an appropriate refrigerant supply to each of the cryogenic refrigerators. The amount of refrigerant to supply is based on an aggregate demand for refrigerant from the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators and a refrigerant correction metric. An appropriate supply of refrigerant is distributed to each cryogenic refrigerator by adjusting the speed of the variable speed compressors or, alternatively, selectively turning the compressors on or off. The speed of the variable speed compressors is adjusted by determining an amount of refrigerant to supply to the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2012Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.Inventors: Oliver J. Dumas, Maureen C. Buonpane, Doreen J. Ball-DiFazio, Ronald N. Morris, Allen J. Bartlett, Leonard A. Loranger, Joseph Chopy, JR., Robert P. Sullivan, John J. Varone, Paul E. Amundsen
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Publication number: 20090007574Abstract: A system and method is provided to control a purge valve during an unsafe condition associated with a cryopump. An electronic controller may be used to control the opening and closing of one or more purge valves during the unsafe condition. The purge valve can be a cryo-purge valve or exhaust purge valve. The purge valve can be a normally open valve. The electronic controller can release the normally open valve in response to the unsafe condition. The electronic controller can delay its response to the unsafe condition for a safe period of time. Attempts from other systems to control these valves during unsafe conditions can be preempted during unsafe conditions. A user can be inhibited from manually controlling the purge valve during unsafe conditions. A power failure recovery routine may be initiated in response to a restoration of power. The power failure recovery routine can respond to an unsafe condition even if the power failure recovery routine has been manually turned off by a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Inventors: Paul E. Amundsen, Maureen C. Buonpane, Douglas Andrews, Jordan Jacobs
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Patent number: 7415831Abstract: A system and method is provided to control a purge valve during an unsafe condition associated with a cryopump. An electronic controller may be used to control the opening and closing of one or more purge valves during the unsafe condition. The purge valve can be a cryo-purge valve or exhaust purge valve. The purge valve can be a normally open valve. The electronic controller can release the normally open valve in response to the unsafe condition. The electronic controller can delay its response to the unsafe condition for a safe period of time. Attempts from other systems to control these valves during unsafe conditions can be preempted during unsafe conditions. A user can be inhibited from manually controlling the purge valve during unsafe conditions. A power failure recovery routine may be initiated in response to a restoration of power. The power failure recovery routine can respond to an unsafe condition even if the power failure recovery routine has been manually turned off by a user.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Paul E. Amundsen, Maureen C. Buonpane, Douglas Andrews, Jordan Jacobs
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Patent number: 6920763Abstract: An electronic controller is integral with a cryopump and provides an offline solution for purging a cryopump and an exhaust line during unsafe conditions. The electronic controller is responsible for controlling the opening and closing of purge, exhaust purge and gate valves coupled to the cryopump. The electronic controller can preempt any attempts from other systems to control these valves during unsafe conditions. An unsafe condition can be a power failure in the cryopump, a dangerous temperature in the cryopump or a temperature sensing diode that is not operating properly. When an unsafe condition is determined, the exhaust purge valve is opened and the gate valve closed, while the opening of a purge valve may be delayed for a safe period of time. If the unsafe condition still exists when the safe period of time elapses, the purge valve is allowed to open. A fail-safe purge valve release and time delay mechanism can be used to ensure that the purge valve opens after the period of time elapses.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2003Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: Helix Technology CorporationInventors: Paul E. Amundsen, Maureen Buonpane, Doug Andrews, Jordan Jacobs
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Patent number: 6895766Abstract: An electronic controller is integral with a cryopump and provides an offline solution for purging a cryopump and an exhaust line during unsafe conditions. The electronic controller is responsible for controlling the opening and closing of purge, exhaust purge and gate valves coupled to the cryopump. The electronic controller can preempt any attempts from other systems to control these valves during unsafe conditions. An unsafe condition can be a power failure in the cryopump, a dangerous temperature in the cryopump or a temperature sensing diode that is not operating properly. When an unsafe condition is determined, the exhaust purge valve is opened and the gate valve closed, while the opening of a purge valve may be delayed for a safe period of time. If the unsafe condition still exists when the safe period of time elapses, the purge valve is allowed to open. A fail-safe purge valve release and time delay mechanism can be used to ensure that the purge valve opens after the period of time elapses.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2003Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Helix Technology CorporationInventors: Paul E. Amundsen, Maureen Buonpane, Doug Andrews, Jordan Jacobs
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Publication number: 20040261425Abstract: An electronic controller is integral with a cryopump and provides an offline solution for purging a cryopump and an exhaust line during unsafe conditions. The electronic controller is responsible for controlling the opening and closing of purge, exhaust purge and gate valves coupled to the cryopump. The electronic controller can preempt any attempts from other systems to control these valves during unsafe conditions. An unsafe condition can be a power failure in the cryopump, a dangerous temperature in the cryopump or a temperature sensing diode that is not operating properly. When an unsafe condition is determined, the exhaust purge valve is opened and the gate valve closed, while the opening of a purge valve may be delayed for a safe period of time. If the unsafe condition still exists when the safe period of time elapses, the purge valve is allowed to open.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2003Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: Helix Technology CorporationInventors: Paul E. Amundsen, Maureen Buonpane, Doug Andrews, Jordan Jacobs
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Publication number: 20040261424Abstract: An electronic controller is integral with a cryopump and provides an offline solution for purging a cryopump and an exhaust line during unsafe conditions. The electronic controller is responsible for controlling the opening and closing of purge, exhaust purge and gate valves coupled to the cryopump. The electronic controller can preempt any attempts from other systems to control these valves during unsafe conditions. An unsafe condition can be a power failure in the cryopump, a dangerous temperature in the cryopump or a temperature sensing diode that is not operating properly. When an unsafe condition is determined, the exhaust purge valve is opened and the gate valve closed, while the opening of a purge valve may be delayed for a safe period of time. If the unsafe condition still exists when the safe period of time elapses, the purge valve is allowed to open.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2003Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: Helix Technology CorporationInventors: Paul E. Amundsen, Maureen Buonpane, Doug Andrews
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Publication number: 20040261426Abstract: An electronic controller is integral with a cryopump and provides an offline solution for purging a cryopump and an exhaust line during unsafe conditions. The electronic controller is responsible for controlling the opening and closing of purge, exhaust purge and gate valves coupled to the cryopump. The electronic controller can preempt any attempts from other systems to control these valves during unsafe conditions. An unsafe condition can be a power failure in the cryopump, a dangerous temperature in the cryopump or a temperature sensing diode that is not operating properly. When an unsafe condition is determined, the exhaust purge valve is opened and the gate valve closed, while the opening of a purge valve may be delayed for a safe period of time. If the unsafe condition still exists when the safe period of time elapses, the purge valve is allowed to open.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2003Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: Helix Technology CorporationInventors: Paul E. Amundsen, Maureen Buonpane, Doug Andrews, Jordan Jacobs
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Patent number: 5265431Abstract: A network of cryopumps, each having an electronic regeneration controller, is coupled to a common rough pump. Each regeneration controller operates independently except that each is inhibited from opening its roughing valve to the common rough pump. Each regeneration controller only proceeds to open the roughing valve after it has received a token from a network interface terminal. The network interface terminal may control multiple groups of cryopumps coupled to respective common rough pumps. The regeneration controllers are removable modules connected to the cryopumps. A PROM is provided for each cryopump to the side of the connector opposite to the module. The PROM stores data specific to the cryopump and retains the data for the cryopump with replacement of the controller module.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1992Date of Patent: November 30, 1993Assignee: Helix Technology CorporationInventors: Peter W. Gaudet, Paul E. Amundsen
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Patent number: 5060481Abstract: A cryogenic refrigeration system has a control system that controls the operation of the refrigeration system and provides status information to the operator of the refrigeration system. The cryogenic refrigeration system includes one or more heater and at least one Joule-Thomson valve. The heaters are used to control the recondensing capacity of the refrigeration system and to heat the at least one Joule-Thomson valve and other points to melt away contaminants that may freeze at such points. The control system controls operation of the heaters. The control system also automates an initialization routine that utilizes the heaters to prevent blockage of the valves, and cools the refrigeration system down to a desired temperature. In addition, the control system shuts down the refrigeration system if the status information it monitors exceed a safe range.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1989Date of Patent: October 29, 1991Assignee: Helix Technology CorporationInventors: Allen J. Bartlett, Maureen C. Buonpane, Paul E. Amundsen