Patents by Inventor Richard A. Rodrigues

Richard A. Rodrigues 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).

  • Publication number: 20240115986
    Abstract: A self-cleaning air filter assembly is provided and includes a filter housing having an upper portion and a lower portion that together define an internal volume. An air filter element is disposed in the internal volume. The upper portion of the filter housing includes a canister port adapted for fluid connection with an evaporative emissions canister. The lower portion of the filter housing includes a first port adapted for fluid connection with an atmospheric vent, and a second port adapted for fluid connection with a source of low pressure air. During a cleaning mode, air is pulled from the first port and along the filter element to the second port in order to remove particulate matter from the filter element. A vehicle evaporative emissions control system including the air filter assembly and a method of cleaning an air filter assembly are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Rodrigues Martin, Richard Hoag, Maria Rocio Lemaster
  • Patent number: 11927155
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions canister is provided. The evaporative emissions canister includes a body defining an internal volume therein for receiving one or more volumes of adsorbent. The canister body includes a port for receiving an accessory component. The port is in fluid communication with the internal volume. A sleeve seal is disposed in the port. A mounting bracket extends outwardly from the canister body. The canister body supports the accessory component, and the accessory component is secured to the canister body, thereby eliminating a hose and connector fittings between the canister body and the accessory component. A fuel system assembly including the evaporative emissions canister is also provided. A method of connecting an accessory component to an evaporative emissions canister is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Rodrigues Martin, Antonio Leandro Marques, Richard Hoag, Maria Rocio Lemaster
  • Publication number: 20140108243
    Abstract: Processing duplicate items in image cash letter (“ICL”) return files for efficient handling. A duplicate item processing module can receive ICL return files comprising items representing duplicate electronic checks. The duplicate item processing module can determine whether the processing entity erroneously presented the item more than once. The duplicate item processing module can also determine whether the depositing institution erroneously deposited the item more than once for processing. Based on the determination of the source of the error, the duplicate item processing module can make a correction in its own records and/or forward the ICL return file with the duplicate item to the depositing institution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Breeden, JR., Richard Rodrigues, Steven D. Martin, Timothy Rachek
  • Patent number: 8573498
    Abstract: A printed cash letter includes a machine-readable identifier, such as a barcode, identifying the cash letter. Upon printing, information from the identifier is read and stored in a first record. To determine whether the cash letter is a duplicate, a check presentment module compares information from the identifier with information in the first record. If information identifying the cash letter already exists in the first record, the cash letter is a duplicate. To verify cash letter printing, information identifying multiple cash letters to be printed is stored in a second record. Upon printing a portion of the cash letters, information read from identifiers on the printed cash letters is compared with information in the second record. If the second record includes information regarding a cash letter not identified in the information scanned from the barcodes, then the check presentment module identifies the cash letter as having not been printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
    Inventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Richard Rodrigues, David Treptow
  • Patent number: 8557640
    Abstract: A low voltage protection device that includes a silicon substrate comprises an inner layer of a first dopant type. The device also includes a first outer layer of a second dopant type disposed adjacent a first surface of the inner layer and a second outer layer of the second dopant type disposed adjacent a second surface of the inner layer opposite the first surface. The device further includes a first mesa region disposed in a peripheral region of a first side of the low voltage protection device. The first mesa region includes a first area that includes a peripheral portion of a cathode of the low voltage protection device, the cathode formed by diffusing a high concentration of dopant species of the first type on a first surface of the silicon substrate, and a second area comprising a high concentration of diffused dopant species of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Rodrigues, Johnny Chen, Ethan Kuo
  • Patent number: 8384126
    Abstract: A low voltage protection device that includes a silicon substrate comprises an inner layer of a first dopant type. The device also includes a first outer layer of a second dopant type disposed adjacent a first surface of the inner layer and a second outer layer of the second dopant type disposed adjacent a second surface of the inner layer opposite the first surface. The device further includes a first mesa region disposed in a peripheral region of a first side of the low voltage protection device. The first mesa region includes a first area that includes a peripheral portion of a cathode of the low voltage protection device, the cathode formed by diffusing a high concentration of dopant species of the first type on a first surface of the silicon substrate, and a second area comprising a high concentration of diffused dopant species of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Rodrigues, Johnny Chen, Ethan Kuo
  • Publication number: 20120256231
    Abstract: A low voltage protection device that includes a silicon substrate comprises an inner layer of a first dopant type. The device also includes a first outer layer of a second dopant type disposed adjacent a first surface of the inner layer and a second outer layer of the second dopant type disposed adjacent a second surface of the inner layer opposite the first surface. The device further includes a first mesa region disposed in a peripheral region of a first side of the low voltage protection device. The first mesa region includes a first area that includes a peripheral portion of a cathode of the low voltage protection device, the cathode formed by diffusing a high concentration of dopant species of the first type on a first surface of the silicon substrate, and a second area comprising a high concentration of diffused dopant species of the second type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: LITTELFUSE, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Rodrigues, Johnny Chen, Ethan Kuo
  • Patent number: 7943959
    Abstract: A surge protection device with small-area buried regions (38, 60) to minimize the device capacitance. The doped regions (38, 60) are formed either in a semiconductor substrate (34), or in an epitaxial layer (82), and then an epitaxial layer (40, 84) is formed thereover to bury the doped regions (38, 60). The small features of the buried regions (38, 60) are maintained as such by minimizing high temperature and long duration processing of the chip. An emitter (42, 86) is formed in the epitaxial layer (40, 84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 7918386
    Abstract: A printed cash letter includes a machine-readable identifier, such as a barcode, identifying the cash letter. Upon printing, information from the identifier is read and stored in a first record. To determine whether the cash letter is a duplicate, a check presentment module compares information from the identifier with information in the first record. If information identifying the cash letter already exists in the first record, the cash letter is a duplicate. To verify cash letter printing, information identifying multiple cash letters to be printed is stored in a second record. Upon printing a portion of the cash letters, information read from identifiers on the printed cash letters is compared with information in the second record. If the second record includes information regarding a cash letter not identified in the information scanned from the barcodes, then the check presentment module identifies the cash letter as having not been printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
    Inventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Richard Rodrigues, David Treptow
  • Patent number: 7638816
    Abstract: A surge protection device with small-area buried regions (38, 60) to minimize the device capacitance. The doped regions (38, 60) are formed either in a semiconductor substrate (34), or in an epitaxial layer (82), and then an epitaxial layer (40, 84) is formed thereover to bury the doped regions (38, 60). The small features of the buried regions (38, 60) are maintained as such by minimizing high temperature and long duration processing of the chip. An emitter (42, 86) is formed in the epitaxial layer (40, 84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20090114711
    Abstract: A printed cash letter includes a machine-readable identifier, such as a barcode, identifying the cash letter. Upon printing, information from the identifier is read and stored in a first record. To determine whether the cash letter is a duplicate, a check presentment module compares information from the identifier with information in the first record. If information identifying the cash letter already exists in the first record, the cash letter is a duplicate. To verify cash letter printing, information identifying multiple cash letters to be printed is stored in a second record. Upon printing a portion of the cash letters, information read from identifiers on the printed cash letters is compared with information in the second record. If the second record includes information regarding a cash letter not identified in the information scanned from the barcodes, then the check presentment module identifies the cash letter as having not been printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Richard Rodrigues, David Treptow
  • Publication number: 20090114715
    Abstract: A printed cash letter includes a machine-readable identifier, such as a barcode, identifying the cash letter. Upon printing, information from the identifier is read and stored in a first record. To determine whether the cash letter is a duplicate, a check presentment module compares information from the identifier with information in the first record. If information identifying the cash letter already exists in the first record, the cash letter is a duplicate. To verify cash letter printing, information identifying multiple cash letters to be printed is stored in a second record. Upon printing a portion of the cash letters, information read from identifiers on the printed cash letters is compared with information in the second record. If the second record includes information regarding a cash letter not identified in the information scanned from the barcodes, then the check presentment module identifies the cash letter as having not been printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
    Inventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Richard Rodrigues, David Treptow
  • Publication number: 20090057717
    Abstract: A surge protection device with small-area buried regions (38, 60) to minimize the device capacitance. The doped regions (38, 60) are formed either in a semiconductor substrate (34), or in an epitaxial layer (82), and then an epitaxial layer (40, 84) is formed thereover to bury the doped regions (38, 60). The small features of the buried regions (38, 60) are maintained as such by minimizing high temperature and long duration processing of the chip. An emitter (42, 86) is formed in the epitaxial layer (40, 84).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Richard A. Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20090057716
    Abstract: A surge protection device with small-area buried regions (38, 60) to minimize the device capacitance. The doped regions (38, 60) are formed either in a semiconductor substrate (34), or in an epitaxial layer (82), and then an epitaxial layer (40, 84) is formed thereover to bury the doped regions (38, 60). The small features of the buried regions (38, 60) are maintained as such by minimizing high temperature and long duration processing of the chip. An emitter (42, 86) is formed in the epitaxial layer (40, 84).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Richard A. Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20080162321
    Abstract: Processing duplicate items in image cash letter (“ICL”) return files for efficient handling. A duplicate item processing module can receive ICL return files comprising items representing duplicate electronic checks. The duplicate item processing module can determine whether the processing entity erroneously presented the item more than once. The duplicate item processing module can also determine whether the depositing institution erroneously deposited the item more than once for processing. Based on the determination of the source of the error, the duplicate item processing module can make a correction in its own records and/or forward the ICL return file with the duplicate item to the depositing institution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Breeden, Richard Rodrigues, Steven D. Martin, Timothy Rachek
  • Patent number: 4629944
    Abstract: A starter circuit for a fluorescent tube lamp is connected between the cathode heaters of the tube to provide an initial heating current and then changes to a high impedance to ignite the tube. The circuit is fed by raw rectified a.c. and has a main thyristor requiring a high holding current to maintain the initial conduction. The current through the main thyristor sets up a voltage across a series diode which triggers a second thyristor to reduce the gate voltage of the main thyristor. The main thyristor ceases conduction when the current falls below the holding value and the inductive ballast impedance then produces a high energy striking pulse for the tube. The pulse voltage is limited to increase its duration. One embodiment generates a single pulse only each time the circuit is switched on and another embodiment produces pulses for a period of time before becoming quiescent. The main thyristor and the voltage limiting means are embodied in a monolithic semiconductor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. Maytum, Anthony Lear, Stephen W. Byatt, Richard A. A. Rodrigues