Patents by Inventor Refugio C. Morales

Refugio C. Morales 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: 7601283
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for shaping a corner of a printed circuit board are disclosed. An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment includes a carrier configured to releasably contact a printed circuit board, a curved contact surface positioned to roll against a corner of the printed circuit board. Optionally, another curved contact surface can be positioned to roll against another corner of the printed circuit board. The contact surface can be rotatable relative to the carrier about a rotation axis that is generally parallel to at least a portion of the curved contact surface. The contact surface can be continuous or discontinuous, and can shape the corner of the printed circuit board with a reduced tendency for damage to the printed circuit board. Multiple contact surfaces can be rotatable about different rotation axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Walters, Jr., Refugio C. Morales, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7029266
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for shaping a corner of a printed circuit board are disclosed. An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment includes a carrier configured to releasably contact a printed circuit board, a curved contact surface positioned to roll against a corner of the printed circuit board. Optionally, another curved contact surface can be positioned to roll against another corner of the printed circuit board. The contact surface can be rotatable relative to the carrier about a rotation axis that is generally parallel to at least a portion of the curved contact surface. The contact surface can be continuous or discontinuous, and can shape the corner of the printed circuit board with a reduced tendency for damage to the printed circuit board. Multiple contact surfaces can be rotatable about different rotation axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Walters, Jr., Refugio C. Morales, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6818168
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool, and method of its use, that puts a pair of bevels onto an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) so that the PCB can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer. The tool has a bevel wheel, preferably with a bi-laterally symmetrical angle channel shape, that is connected to a carriage. The bevel wheel rolls along the carriage while the bevel wheel is pressed onto the edge of the PCB so as to form the pair of bevels on the edge of the PCB. No material is removed from the PCB while forming the pair of bevels. The bevel wheel is forced upon the edge using a piston that monitors and regulates the pressure applied to the edge of the PCB in order to achieve a preferred height and angular orientation of the pair of bevels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Refugio C. Morales
  • Publication number: 20040222563
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for shaping a corner of a printed circuit board are disclosed. An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment includes a carrier configured to releasably contact a printed circuit board, a curved contact surface positioned to roll against a corner of the printed circuit board. Optionally, another curved contact surface can be positioned to roll against another corner of the printed circuit board. The contact surface can be rotatable relative to the carrier about a rotation axis that is generally parallel to at least a portion of the curved contact surface. The contact surface can be continuous or discontinuous, and can shape the corner of the printed circuit board with a reduced tendency for damage to the printed circuit board. Multiple contact surfaces can be rotatable about different rotation axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Paul R. Walters, Refugio C. Morales
  • Patent number: 6655950
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool, and method of its use, that puts a pair of bevels onto an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) so that the PCB can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer. The tool has a bevel wheel, preferably with a bilaterally symmetrical angle channel shape, that is connected to a carriage. The bevel wheel rolls along the carriage while the bevel wheel is pressed onto the edge of the PCB so as to form the pair of bevels on the edge of the PCB. No material is removed from the PCB while forming the pair of bevels. The bevel wheel is forced upon the edge using a piston that monitors and regulates the pressure applied to the edge of the PCB in order to achieve a preferred height and angular orientation of the pair of bevels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Refugio C. Morales
  • Publication number: 20020089089
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool, and method of its use, that puts a pair of bevels onto an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) so that the PCB can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer. The tool has a bevel wheel, preferably with a bi-laterally symmetrical angle channel shape, that is connected to a carriage. The bevel wheel rolls along the carriage while the bevel wheel is pressed onto the edge of the PCB so as to form the pair of bevels on the edge of the PCB. No material is removed from the PCB while forming the pair of bevels. The bevel wheel is forced upon the edge using a piston that monitors and regulates the pressure applied to the edge of the PCB in order to achieve a preferred height and angular orientation of the pair of bevels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Refugio C. Morales
  • Patent number: 6368540
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool, and method of is use, that puts a pair of bevels onto an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) so that the PCB can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer. The tool has a bevel wheel, preferably with a bi-laterally symmetrical angle channel shape, that is connected to a carriage. The bevel wheel rolls along the carriage while the bevel wheel is pressed onto the edge of the PCB so as to form the pair of bevels on the edge of the PCB. No material is removed from the PCB while forming the pair of bevels. The bevel wheel is forced upon the edge using a piston that monitors and regulates the pressure applied to the edge of the PCB in order to achieve a preferred height and angular orientation of the pair of bevels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Refugio C. Morales
  • Publication number: 20020006453
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool, and method of is use, that puts a pair of bevels onto an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) so that the PCB can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer. The tool has a bevel wheel, preferably with a bilaterally symmetrical angle channel shape, that is connected to a carriage. The bevel wheel rolls along the carriage while the bevel wheel is pressed onto the edge of the PCB so as to form the pair of bevels on the edge of the PCB. No material is removed from the PCB while forming the pair of bevels. The bevel wheel is forced upon the edge using a piston that monitors and regulates the pressure applied to the edge of the PCB in order to achieve a preferred height and angular orientation of the pair of bevels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventor: Refugio C. Morales
  • Patent number: 5226361
    Abstract: The inventive apparatus provides for the automated marking, inspecting and handling of a variety of singulated integrated circuit devices. The apparatus includes a computerized high speed vision system with operator touchscreen interface control of a novel series of electrical and mechanical operations to automatically receive integrated circuit devices from a suitable bulk input supply and sequentially inspect, align, mark, inspect, accept or reject, cure and discharge into a suitable bulk output supply, a high volume of properly marked integrated circuit devices, packaged and ready for shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Grant, William C. Layer, Refugio C. Morales, Deanna K. Wirz