Patents by Inventor Richard Francis

Richard Francis 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: 20040056766
    Abstract: A method and system for transmitting engine control data to or from the engine control unit of an engine. The system includes a local communication unit capable of establishing a wireless communication link with a remote communication unit and a link for transferring data between the local communication unit and the engine control unit. In operation, a wireless communication link is established between the local communication unit and the remote communication unit. Engine control data is transferred between the local communication unit and the engine control unit and transmitted between the local communication unit and the remote communication unit via the wireless communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Gerard Butz, Richard Francis Schuster, Kimberly Anne DePew
  • Patent number: 6707111
    Abstract: An IGBT is formed in a thin (less than 250 microns thick) float zone silicon wafer using a hydrogen implant to form an N+ buffer layer at the bottom of the wafer. A weak anode is formed on the bottom of the wafer. A single hydrogen implant, or a plurality of hydrogen implants of progressively shallower depth and increasing dose can be used to form the implant in a diffused float zone wafer. The process may also be used to form an N+ contact region in silicon to permit a good ohmic contact to the silicon for any type device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Francis, Chiu Ng
  • Patent number: 6697747
    Abstract: A method of performing an operation comprises operation steps and evaluation steps. The evaluation steps comprise: identifying a set of performance shaping factors which influence the outcome of the operation; allocating a probability value to each performance shaping factor, the probability value representing the influence of the respective performance shaping factor on the performance of the operation; allocating a weighting value to each performance shaping factor, the weighting value representing the significance of the respective performance shaping factor relative to at least one other of the performance shaping factors; calculating, from the probability values and the weighting values, an effectiveness value representing the effectiveness of the operation. The operation may be an inspection process, for example on an aircraft or a fleet of aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Richard Francis Marshall Smith
  • Patent number: 6695589
    Abstract: An electric motor driven pump has a regulator valve for establishing a system pressure within a predetermined pressure range. The regulator valve has three bias pressures and a spring force imposed thereon. One of the bias pressures assists the spring to increase the system pressure and the other two bias pressures either balance the spring and one bias pressure or lower the system pressure. The one bias pressure is established by an electro-hydraulic control mechanism as a function of operating parameters in a powertrain which uses the fluid pressure from the pump. One of the other bias pressures is equal to system pressure and the last bias pressure is available when a predetermined drive condition is requested in the powertrain. A first electrical switch is activated by fluid pressure from the regulator valve if the system pressure is below the demanded pressure and a second electrical switch is activated by fluid pressure from the regulator valve if the system pressure is above the demanded pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Dougan, Charles Wayne Lewis, Richard Francis Olenzek
  • Patent number: 6683331
    Abstract: An IGBT has parallel spaced trenches lined with gate oxide and filled with conductive polysilicon gate bodies. The trenches extend through a P− base region which is about 7 microns deep. A deep narrow N+ emitter diffusion is at the top of the trench and a shallow P+ contact diffusion extends between adjacent emitter diffusions. The N+ emitter diffusions are arranged to define a minimum RB′. The trenches are sufficiently deep to define long channel regions which can withstand a substantial portion of the blocking voltage of the device. A second blanket emitter implant and diffusion defines a shallow high concentration emitter diffusion extension at the top of the die for improved contact to the emitter diffusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Francis, Chiu Ng
  • Publication number: 20030220524
    Abstract: This invention is directed to novel and known stufur containing compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that have utility as antifungals and as antiproliferative agents against mammalian cells, in particular cancer cells and most particularly leukemia-derived cells. The invention provides a method for synthesizing certain of the sulfur containing compounds that is more efficient than previously known methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Francis Langler, Felix J Baerlocher, Linda Z Penn
  • Patent number: 6652693
    Abstract: The present invention provides a distinctive method and apparatus (20) for forming an article which includes one or more selectively configured strands of material. In particular aspects, the invention can provide a method and apparatus for wrapping a strand of material with a selected filament, and desirably, the filament can be an adhesive filament. The technique of the invention can include a moving of a strand of material (22) at a selected speed along an appointed machine-direction (34). A substantially continuous filament (24) can be directed onto the strand of material (22) along an oscillating filament path (26) to form a plurality of filament threads (28) extending from opposed lateral side regions (30) of the strand of material (22). An air stream (32) is directed to operatively wrap the filament threads (28) around the strand of material (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Conrad Burriss, Robert Thomas Cimini, Chris Lee Heikkinen, David Andrae Justmann, Richard Francis Keller, Donald LeRoy Smith, David James VanEperen
  • Patent number: 6651802
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to manually discharge bottles from a tray of bottles onto a sloped surface at the bottom of which gravity fed individual bottles are captured at the top receiving edge of a parallel sloped multi-pocketed rotatable indexing wheel and sequentially: (a.) discharged tangentially at the bottom edge of said indexing wheel in a single row, (b.) corrected to a vertical axis, and (c.) exited onto adjoining equipment for further operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Francis Hurst
  • Publication number: 20030201454
    Abstract: An IGBT has parallel spaced trenches lined with gate oxide and filled with conductive polysilicon gate bodies. The trenches extend through a P− base region which is about 7 microns deep. A deep narrow N+ emitter diffusion is at the top of the trench and a shallow P+ contact diffusion extends between adjacent emitter diffusions. The N+ emitter diffusions are arranged to define a minimum RB′. The trenches are sufficiently deep to define long channel regions which can withstand a substantial portion of the blocking voltage of the device. A second blanket emitter implant and diffusion defines a shallow high concentration emitter diffusion extension at the top of the die for improved contact to the emitter diffusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: International Rectifier Corp.
    Inventors: Richard Francis, Chiu Ng
  • Patent number: 6627961
    Abstract: A high voltage MOSgated semiconductor device has a generally linear MOSFET type forward current versus forward voltage characteristic at low voltage and the high current, low forward drop capability of an IGBT. The device is particularly useful as the control transistor for a television tube deflection coil. The device is formed by a copacked discrete IGBT die and power MOSFET die in which the ratio of the MOSFET die area is preferably about 25% that of the IGBT. Alternatively, the IGBT and MOSFET can be integrated into the same die, with the IGBT and MOSFET elements alternating laterally with one another and overlying respective P+ injection regions and N+ contact regions respectively on the bottom of the die. The MOSFET and IGBT elements are preferably spaced apart by a distance of about 1 minority carrier length (50-100 microns for a 1500 volt device).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Francis, Ranadeep Dutta, Chiu Ng, Peter Wood
  • Publication number: 20030171434
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel branched amino acids and novel methods for their production. The amino acids are useful in the preparation of non-natural peptides and peptidomimetics, by efficient synthesis methodology allowing good enantiomeric specificity at the alpha carbon. Typically the stereochemistry at the alpha carbon is at least 85%, preferably at least 95%, such as in excess of 99% enantiomerically pure. L-stereochemistry at this location is convenient as most biological interactions will favour this configuration, but the invention also extends to enantiomerically enriched and preferably at least 85%, preferably at least 95% such as at least 99% enantiomerically pure D stereoconfiguration. Compounds of the invention will find utility in the preparation of non-natural peptides and peptidomimetics, such as those used in the exploration of receptor specificity and activity or in peptidomimetic inhibitors of enzyme function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Francis William Jackson, Urszula Grabowska
  • Patent number: 6603153
    Abstract: A soft recovery diode is made by first implanting helium into the die to a location below the P/N junction and the implant annealed. An E-beam radiation process then is applied to the entire wafer and is also annealed. The diode then has very soft recovery characteristics without requiring heavy metal doping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Francis, Chiu Ng
  • Publication number: 20030136640
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to manually discharge bottles from a tray of bottles onto a slippery slope at the bottom of which tilted bottles are gravitationally inserted into the top receiving edge of a parallel sloped multi-pocketed indexing wheel, and sequentially: a. discharged tangentially at the bottom edge of said indexing wheel in a single file row, b. automatically corrected from a tilted axis to a vertical axis, and, c. pushed on to adjoining equipment for further operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Francis Hurst
  • Publication number: 20030129058
    Abstract: A dual use fan and viewing article is disclosed. The article may be used as a hand fan, and the article may be used to view an event such as a sporting event or a fireworks display. In one embodiment, viewing is enhanced by a light attenuating film. In another embodiment, viewing is enhanced by a light reflecting film. In yet another embodiment, viewing is enhanced by a prism effect film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Francis Carollo
  • Patent number: 6579576
    Abstract: A fluid treatment device and method for treating moving substrates with fluid as the substrates move through the device at a relatively high rate of travel. Fluid injection in combination with the application of vibration energy (e.g., ultrasonic) results in enhanced fluid treatment of the substrates. In one embodiment, a bifurcated horn is utilized in combination with fluid injector members having pluralities of rows of spaced injector ports, the injectors being strategically positioned relative to the vibrational source. In one example, the device and method may be used for enhanced penetration by dye materials of ceramic substrate surfaces to detect adverse surface conditions (e.g., cracks) and thus potentially defective product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Lawrence Miller, Richard Francis Nelson, John Keith Ostrom
  • Publication number: 20030106778
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to protect bottles from damage upon tangentially entering an index wheel track by means of retractable radially resilient teeth on a bottle indexing wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Francis Hurst
  • Publication number: 20030057522
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices having recombination centers comprised of well-positioned heavy metals. At least one lattice defect region within the semiconductor device is first created using particle beam implantation. Use of particle beam implantation positions the lattice defect region(s) with high accuracy in the semiconductor device. A heavy metal implantation treatment of the device is applied. The lattice defects created by the particle beam implantation act as gettering sites for the heavy metal implantation. Thus, after the creation of lattice defects and heavy metal diffusion, the heavy metal atoms are concentrated in the well-positioned lattice defect region(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Francis, Chiu Ng
  • Publication number: 20030055958
    Abstract: A method of creating network printer ports on a computer workstation includes the steps of providing a network; communicatively coupling the computer workstation to the network; and communicatively coupling at least one printer to the network. The computer workstation performs the steps of transmitting a discovery packet to which a first printer of a designated type can respond; receiving a response packet from the first printer, the response packet including printer-specific network information of the first printer; identifying whether a network port exists for the first printer; and if no such network port exists, then creating a first network printer port for the first printer based on the printer-specific network information for the first printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Francis Russell, Thomas Elmer Samples
  • Publication number: 20030052870
    Abstract: This invention comprises a method and system for powering from a single external power supply a host computing device and a modem detachably connected to the host computing device, the modem having internal modem circuitry including a modem central processing unit, an external power input jack, and a power output connector, and the host computing device including a connector that mates with the modem output connector when the modem is attached to the host computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Steven Robert Danielewicz, Richard Francis Lyne
  • Publication number: 20030056008
    Abstract: A method of automatically assigning an internet protocol address to a device is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a network; providing a computer communicatively coupled to the network; providing a network adapter to communicatively couple the device to the network; the computer performing the steps of generating an internet protocol address; incorporating the internet protocol address in an address resolution protocol probe; sending the address resolution protocol probe on the network; and determining whether a response to the address resolution protocol probe indicates that the internet protocol address is in use; wherein if the internet protocol address is not in use, then performing the step of assigning the internet protocol address to the network adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Francis Russell, Thomas Elmer Samples, Brent Allen Schanding