Patents by Inventor Ralph Jason Hemphill

Ralph Jason Hemphill 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: 11901134
    Abstract: Fabricating a capacitor includes forming conduits in a porous layer of material. The porous layer of material has particles that each includes a dielectric on a core. The formation of the conduits causes a portion of the dielectric to convert from a first phase to a second phase. The method also includes removing at least a portion of the second phase of the dielectric from the porous layer of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, Thomas F. Strange, Xiaofei Jiang
  • Publication number: 20230386756
    Abstract: A method of producing a capacitor electrode includes forming an oxide layer on a foil. The method also includes heating the foil to a target temperature so as to induce defects in the oxide layer. The target temperature is about 450° C. to 560° C. and the duration of heating the foil to the target temperature is less than 4 minutes. The oxide layer is reformed so as to generate a reformed oxide layer that is an aluminum oxide with a boehmite phase and a pseudo-boehmite phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, Henry Buser, Brian Smith, Corina Geiculescu, David Bowen
  • Patent number: 11830680
    Abstract: Fabricating an electrode for use in a capacitor includes cutting an electrode precursor from a sheet of material. The electrode precursor is exposed to steam so as to form a steamed electrode precursor. A capacitor is fabricated and includes an electrode generated from the steamed electrode precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bowen, Ralph Jason Hemphill, Thomas F. Strange
  • Patent number: 11791104
    Abstract: Fabricating an electrode for capacitor includes performing a first set of one or more preliminary oxide formation operations on a sheet of material. The method also includes performing a capacitance test on the sheet of material so as to determine the capacitance of the sheet of material after the one or more preliminary oxide formation operations. The method proceeds on a first path in response to a first result of the capacitance test and on a second path in response to a second result of the capacitance test. The first path includes performing a second set of the one or more preliminary oxide formation operations on the sheet of material so as to reduce the capacitance of the sheet of material below the determined capacitance. The second path excludes performing any preliminary oxide formation operations on the sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bowen, Ralph Jason Hemphill
  • Patent number: 11636985
    Abstract: A cathode subassembly for use in an electrolytic capacitor may include a first separator sheet including a surface having first and second regions, where the second region extends from a perimeter of the first region to a first peripheral edge of the first sheet, a second peripheral edge of a second sheet is substantially aligned with the first peripheral edge, a conductive foil is sandwiched between the first and second sheets and disposed within the first region, the first and second sheets are adhered to each other in a sealing region extending from the second region to a region of a surface of the second sheet facing the second region, and the first sheet includes at least one first recess portion at the first peripheral edge aligned with at least one second recess portion at the second peripheral edge of the second sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Bowen, Ralph Jason Hemphill, Thomas F. Strange, Troy L. McCurry, Peter Fernstrom
  • Patent number: 11545307
    Abstract: A capacitor is fabricated by generating a sheet of material that has a first active region that includes tunnels extending into an electrode metal. The sheet of material has a first inactive region that includes the electrode metal but does not include the tunnels extending into the electrode metal. The first inactive region has a first shape that includes multiple first projections that each projects from a perimeter of a circle. An electrode is removed from the sheet of material such that the electrode includes a portion of the inactive region. Additionally or alternately, fabricating a capacitor include using a first etching solution to etch a first sheet of material so as to generate a spent etchant. At least one chemical component is recovered from the spent etchant. A second etching solution is used to etch a second sheet of material. The second etchant includes at least one of the chemical components that was recovered from the spent etchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bowen, Ralph Jason Hemphill
  • Patent number: 11476057
    Abstract: A chemical etch is performed on a sheet of material. An electrochemical etch is performed on the sheet of material after the chemical etch is performed on the sheet of material. A capacitor is fabricated such that an electrode included in the capacitor includes material from the sheet of material after the electrochemical etch was performed on the sheet of material. In some instances, the chemical etch included at least partially immersing the sheet of material in an etch bath that includes molybdenum. Additionally or alternately, the chemical etch can be performed for a period of time less than 60 s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin King, Ralph Jason Hemphill, Timothy Marshall, David Bowen
  • Patent number: 11469052
    Abstract: A capacitor and a method of processing an anode metal foil are presented. The method includes electrochemically etching the metal foil to form a plurality of tunnels. Next, the etched metal foil is disposed within a widening solution to widen the plurality of tunnels. Exposed surfaces of the etched metal foil are then oxidized. The method includes removing a section of the etched metal foil, where the section of the etched metal foil includes exposed metal along an edge. The section of the etched metal foil is placed into a bath comprising water to form a hydration layer over the exposed metal on the section of the etched metal foil. The method also includes assembling the section of the etched metal foil having the hydration layer as an anode within a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Bowen, Ralph Jason Hemphill
  • Patent number: 11342128
    Abstract: The electrolytic capacitor has a conductive sheet with a central portion defined by a peripheral edge, a first tail extending out from the peripheral edge in a first direction, and a second tail extending out from the peripheral edge in a second direction. The second direction is opposite the first direction. The first tail and the second tail each have a free end with a first recess at the free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy McCurry, Peter J. Fernstrom, Ralph Jason Hemphill
  • Publication number: 20220093341
    Abstract: Fabricating a capacitor include using a first etching solution to etch a first sheet of material so as to generate a spent etchant. At least one chemical component is recovered from the spent etchant. A second etching solution is used to etch a second sheet of material. The second etchant includes at least one of the chemical components that was recovered from the spent etchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, Henry Buser, III, Shelley M. Smith, Brian Smith, Debbie Uselman
  • Publication number: 20220059293
    Abstract: A device includes an electrode stack including a plurality of conductive anodes, a plurality of conductive cathodes, a plurality of separators arranged between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes, and a dielectric material disposed on a surface of each of the conductive anodes. The stack has a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. A continuous electrically insulating film overlies the edge, peripheral portions of the top surface and peripheral portions of the bottom surface so that a central portion of the top surface and a central portion of the bottom surface are exposed. An electrolyte is disposed between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: J. Brian Smith, Ralph Jason Hemphill, David Bowen, Thomas F. Strange
  • Patent number: 11258125
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrode feedthru assembly for an electronic device and method of manufacturing. The feedthru assembly includes a ferrule, an electrode assembly, and an elastomer. The ferrule includes a bore through which the electrode assembly is positioned. The electrode assembly includes an electrode wire attached to a crimp pin. The crimp pin includes a crimp terminal portion and a pin terminal portion, the crimp terminal portion crimped to the a portion of the electrode wire to form a connected portion of the electrode assembly. The elastomer is disposed in the bore of the ferrule between the ferrule and the electrode assembly. The elastomer is configured to electrically isolate the ferrule from the electrode assembly and to encapsulate at least the connected portion of the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy L. McCurry, Ralph Jason Hemphill, Peter Fernstrom, Tearl Stocker
  • Publication number: 20220048140
    Abstract: A capacitor and methods of processing an anode metal foil are presented. The capacitor includes a housing, one or more anodes disposed within the housing, one or more cathodes disposed within the housing, one or more separators disposed between an adjacent anode and cathode, and an electrolyte disposed around the one or more anodes, one or more cathodes, and one or more separators within the housing. The one or more anodes each include a metal foil that includes a first plurality of tunnels through a thickness of the metal foil in a first ordered arrangement, the first ordered arrangement being a close packed hexagonal array arrangement, and having a first diameter, and a second plurality of tunnels through the thickness of the metal foil having a second ordered arrangement and a second diameter greater than the first diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: Pacesetter,Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, Kurt J. Erickson, Peter Fernstrom
  • Patent number: 11230794
    Abstract: Anode foil, preferably aluminum anode foil, is etched using a process of treating the foil in an electrolyte bath composition comprising a perfluoroalkylsulfonate, a sulfate, a halide, and an oxidizing agent. The anode foil is etched in the electrolyte bath composition by passing a direct current charge through the bath. The etched anode foil is suitable for use in an electrolytic capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, Timothy R. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20210391120
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aluminum electrolytic capacitor includes impregnating an aluminum electrolytic capacitor with a first electrolyte to form a first impregnated capacitor, aging the first impregnated capacitor using a first aging process to form a first aged capacitor, impregnating the first aged capacitor with a second electrolyte to form a second impregnated capacitor, the second electrolyte being different from the first electrolyte, aging the second impregnated capacitor using a final aging process to form a final aged capacitor, and impregnating the final aged capacitor with a third electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernstrom, Ralph Jason Hemphill, Timothy Marshall, Tommy Davis, Joseph Beauvais
  • Patent number: 11195666
    Abstract: A device includes an electrode stack including a plurality of conductive anodes, a plurality of conductive cathodes, a plurality of separators arranged between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes, and a dielectric material disposed on a surface of each of the conductive anodes. The stack has a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. A continuous electrically insulating film overlies the edge, peripheral portions of the top surface and peripheral portions of the bottom surface so that a central portion of the top surface and a central portion of the bottom surface are exposed. An electrolyte is disposed between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Brian Smith, Ralph Jason Hemphill, David Bowen, Thomas F. Strange
  • Publication number: 20210375554
    Abstract: Fabricating an electrode for capacitor includes performing a first set of one or more preliminary oxide formation operations on a sheet of material. The method also includes performing a capacitance test on the sheet of material so as to determine the capacitance of the sheet of material after the one or more preliminary oxide formation operations. The method proceeds on a first path in response to a first result of the capacitance test and on a second path in response to a second result of the capacitance test. The first path includes performing a second set of the one or more preliminary oxide formation operations on the sheet of material so as to reduce the capacitance of the sheet of material below the determined capacitance. The second path excludes performing any preliminary oxide formation operations on the sheet of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: David Bowen, Ralph Jason Hemphill
  • Patent number: 11185948
    Abstract: A capacitor and methods of processing an anode metal foil are presented. The capacitor includes a housing, one or more anodes disposed within the housing, one or more cathodes disposed within the housing, one or more separators disposed between an adjacent anode and cathode, and an electrolyte disposed around the one or more anodes, one or more cathodes, and one or more separators within the housing. The one or more anodes each include a metal foil that includes a first plurality of tunnels through a thickness of the metal foil in a first ordered arrangement, the first ordered arrangement being a close packed hexagonal array arrangement, and having a first diameter, and a second plurality of tunnels through the thickness of the metal foil having a second ordered arrangement and a second diameter greater than the first diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Jason Hemphill, David R. Bowen, Kurt J. Erickson, Peter Fernstrom
  • Publication number: 20210313117
    Abstract: Fabricating an electrode for use in a capacitor includes cutting an electrode precursor from a sheet of material. The electrode precursor is exposed to steam so as to form a steamed electrode precursor. A capacitor is fabricated and includes an electrode generated from the steamed electrode precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: David Bowen, Ralph Jason Hemphill, Thomas F. Strange
  • Publication number: 20210241978
    Abstract: A cathode subassembly for use in an electrolytic capacitor may include a first separator sheet including a surface having first and second regions, where the second region extends from a perimeter of the first region to a first peripheral edge of the first sheet, a second peripheral edge of a second sheet is substantially aligned with the first peripheral edge, a conductive foil is sandwiched between the first and second sheets and disposed within the first region, the first and second sheets are adhered to each other in a sealing region extending from the second region to a region of a surface of the second sheet facing the second region, and the first sheet includes at least one first recess portion at the first peripheral edge aligned with at least one second recess portion at the second peripheral edge of the second sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: David R. Bowen, Ralph Jason Hemphill, Thomas F. Strange, Troy L. McCurry, Peter Fernstrom