Patents by Inventor Rex Everett Lowther

Rex Everett Lowther 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: 7084481
    Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated circuits having symmetric inducting devices with a ground shield. In one embodiment, a symmetric inducting device for an integrated circuit comprises a substrate, a main metal layer and a shield. The substrate has a working surface. The main metal layer has at least one pair of current path regions. Each of the current path region pairs is formed in generally a regular polygonal shape that is generally symmetric about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate. The shield is patterned into segments that are generally symmetric about the plane of symmetry. Medial portions of at least some segments of the shield are formed generally perpendicular to the plane of symmetry as the medial portions cross the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Everett Lowther, William R. Young
  • Patent number: 7064363
    Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated circuits having symmetric inducting devices with a ground shield. In one embodiment, a symmetric inducting device for an integrated circuit comprises a substrate, a main metal layer and a shield. The substrate has a working surface. The main metal layer has at least one pair of current path regions. Each of the current path region pairs is formed in generally a regular polygonal shape that is generally symmetric about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate. The shield is patterned into segments that are generally symmetric about the plane of symmetry. Medial portions of at least some segments of the shield are formed generally perpendicular to the plane of symmetry as the medial portions cross the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Conexant, Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Everett Lowther, William R. Young
  • Patent number: 6974740
    Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated circuits having symmetric inducting devices with a ground shield. In one embodiment, a symmetric inducting device for an integrated circuit comprises a substrate, a main metal layer and a shield. The substrate has a working surface. The main metal layer has at least one pair of current path regions. Each of the current path region pairs is formed in generally a regular polygonal shape that is generally symmetric about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate. The shield is patterned into segments that are generally symmetric about the plane of symmetry. Medial portions of at least some segments of the shield are formed generally perpendicular to the plane of symmetry as the medial portions cross the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Everett Lowther, William R. Young
  • Patent number: 6905889
    Abstract: Inducting devices having a patterned ground shield with ribbing in an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, an inducting device comprises conductive turns to conduct current, a shield layer and a plurality of ribs. The shield layer is formed a select distance from the conductive turns. The shield layer is patterned into sections of shield to prevent eddy currents. The plurality of ribs are formed from a conductive layer that is positioned between the conductive turns and shield layer. Each rib is electrically coupled to a single associated section of shield. Moreover, each rib is more conductive than its associated section of shield to provide a less resistive current path than its associated section of shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Globespan Virata Inc.
    Inventor: Rex Everett Lowther
  • Patent number: 6900087
    Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated circuits having symmetric inducting devices with a ground shield. In one embodiment, a symmetric inducting device for an integrated circuit comprises a substrate, a main metal layer and a shield. The substrate has a working surface. The main metal layer has at least one pair of current path regions. Each of the current path region pairs is formed in generally a regular polygonal shape that is generally symmetric about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate. The shield is patterned into segments that are generally symmetric about the plane of symmetry. Medial portions of at least some segments of the shield are formed generally perpendicular to the plane of symmetry as the medial portions cross the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Globespan Virata Incorporated
    Inventors: Rex Everett Lowther, William R. Young
  • Publication number: 20040183156
    Abstract: Inducting devices having a patterned ground shield with ribbing in an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, an inducting device comprises conductive turns to conduct current, a shield layer and a plurality of ribs. The shield layer is formed a select distance from the conductive turns. The shield layer is patterned into sections of shield to prevent eddy currents. The plurality of ribs are formed from a conductive layer that is positioned between the conductive turns and shield layer. Each rib is electrically coupled to a single associated section of shield. Moreover, each rib is more conductive than its associated section of shield to provide a less resistive current path than its associated section of shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Globespan Virata Inc.
    Inventor: Rex Everett Lowther
  • Patent number: 6756656
    Abstract: Inducting devices having a patterned ground shield with ribbing in an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, an inducting device comprises conductive turns to conduct current, a shield layer and a plurality of ribs. The shield layer is formed a select distance from the conductive turns. The shield layer is patterned into sections of shield to prevent eddy currents. The plurality of ribs are formed from a conductive layer that is positioned between the conductive turns and shield layer. Each rib is electrically coupled to a single associated section of shield. Moreover, each rib is more conductive than its associated section of shield to provide a less resistive current path than its associated section of shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: GlobespanVirata Incorporated
    Inventor: Rex Everett Lowther
  • Publication number: 20040038473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated circuits having symmetric inducting devices with a ground shield. In one embodiment, a symmetric inducting device for an integrated circuit comprises a substrate, a main metal layer and a shield. The substrate has a working surface. The main metal layer has at least one pair of current path regions. Each of the current path region pairs is formed in generally a regular polygonal shape that is generally symmetric about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate. The shield is patterned into segments that are generally symmetric about the plane of symmetry. Medial portions of at least some segments of the shield are formed generally perpendicular to the plane of symmetry as the medial portions cross the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Everett Lowther, William R. Young
  • Publication number: 20040007760
    Abstract: Inducting devices having a patterned ground shield with ribbing in an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, an inducting device comprises conductive turns to conduct current, a shield layer and a plurality of ribs. The shield layer is formed a select distance from the conductive turns. The shield layer is patterned into sections of shield to prevent eddy currents. The plurality of ribs are formed from a conductive layer that is positioned between the conductive turns and shield layer. Each rib is electrically coupled to a single associated section of shield. Moreover, each rib is more conductive than its associated section of shield to provide a less resistive current path than its associated section of shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventor: Rex Everett Lowther
  • Patent number: 6635949
    Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated circuits having symmetric inducting devices with a ground shield. In one embodiment, a symmetric inducting device for an integrated circuit comprises a substrate, a main metal layer and a shield. The substrate has a working surface. The main metal layer has at least one pair of current path regions. Each of the current path region pairs is formed in generally a regular polygonal shape that is generally symmetric about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate. The shield is patterned into segments that are generally symmetric about the plane of symmetry. Medial portions of at least some segments of the shield are formed generally perpendicular to the plane of symmetry as the medial portions cross the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Everett Lowther, William R. Young
  • Publication number: 20030127686
    Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated circuits having symmetric inducting devices with a ground shield. In one embodiment, a symmetric inducting device for an integrated circuit comprises a substrate, a main metal layer and a shield. The substrate has a working surface. The main metal layer has at least one pair of current path regions. Each of the current path region pairs is formed in generally a regular polygonal shape that is generally symmetric about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate. The shield is patterned into segments that are generally symmetric about the plane of symmetry. Medial portions of at least some segments of the shield are formed generally perpendicular to the plane of symmetry as the medial portions cross the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Rex Everett Lowther, William R. Young
  • Patent number: 5717243
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with an inductor structure includes a semiconductor device substrate. Over the semiconductor device substrate is a dielectric layer, and over the dielectric layer is a metal spiral inductor. The metal spiral is formed by a continuous metal strip. The continuous metal strip has at one end a center and then increases in a radial direction to its other end. The metal spiral carries current between its two ends and generates radial and circumferential parasitic currents in the substrate. In the substrate are a plurality of separated radial doped strips about a central axis. Each of these radial doped strips define a region of relative low resistivity to reduce the resistance to the radial current flow in the device substrate. These strips are separated by regions having relatively high resistivity to substantially maintain the resistance to the circumferential current flow in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Rex Everett Lowther