Patents by Inventor Rudolf Zeller
Rudolf Zeller 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).
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Patent number: 6903560Abstract: An orientation sensor especially suitable for use in an underground device is disclosed herein. This orientation sensor includes a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber, an arrangement of electrically conductive members in a predetermined positional relationship to one another within the chamber and a flowable material contained within the housing chamber and through which electrical connections between the electrically conductive members are made such that a comparison between an electrical property, specifically voltage, of a first combination of conductive members to the corresponding electrical property of a second combination of conductive members can be used to determine a particular orientation parameter, specifically pitch or roll of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.Inventors: Rudolf Zeller, John E. Mercer
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Publication number: 20050077085Abstract: A device rotates at least one static magnetic field about an axis, producing a rotating magnetic dipole field, and is movable in relation to the surface of the ground. The field is periodically sensed using a receiver to produce a receiver output responsive to the field. A positional relationship between the receiver and the device is monitored using the output. In one aspect, changing the positional relationship, by moving the device nearer to a boring tool which supports the receiver, causes an increase in accuracy of depth determination. In another aspect, determination of an actual overhead position of the boring tool, and its application, are described. Use of a plurality of measurements over at least one-half revolution of each magnet is disclosed. Establishing a surface radial direction toward a boring tool and resolution of multi-valued parameters is described. Calibration techniques, as well as a three transmitter configuration are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2004Publication date: April 14, 2005Inventors: Rudolf Zeller, Guenter Brune, Albert Chau, John Mercer
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Patent number: 6825110Abstract: In a method for fabricating a semiconductor component with a cathode and an anode from a wafer, the wafer is first provided with a stop zone, thereupon treated on the cathode side and only then reduced in its thickness, so that all that remains of the stop zone is a tail barrier zone. In this case, the stop zone is doped and reduced to the tail barrier zone in such a way that a quantitative optimization of the fabrication method and thus of a thinned semiconductor element is made possible. In said quantitative optimization, diverse parameters and their relation to one another are taken into account, in particular a dopant area density of a tail barrier zone, a dopant density at an anodal surface of the tail harrier zone, a dopant density of a base, a characteristic decay length or slope of the doping profile of the tail barrier zone, and also a thickness of a base—resulting from the wafer—from anode to cathode.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Stefan Linder, Hans Rudolf Zeller
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Publication number: 20040095155Abstract: An orientation sensor especially suitable for use in an underground device is disclosed herein. This orientation sensor includes a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber, an arrangement of electrically conductive members in a predetermined positional relationship to one another within the chamber and a flowable material contained within the housing chamber and through which electrical connections between the electrically conductive members are made such that a comparison between an electrical property, specifically voltage, of a first combination of conductive members to the corresponding electrical property of a second combination of conductive members can be used to determine a particular orientation parameter, specifically pitch or roll of the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Rudolf Zeller, John E. Mercer
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Publication number: 20040084218Abstract: Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Guenter W. Brune, Peter H. Hambling, John E. Mercer, Lloyd A. Moore, Shiu S. Ng, Rudolf Zeller
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Publication number: 20040045739Abstract: A portable mapping tool for use in a horizontal drilling system and associated methods use a boring tool configured for transmitting a locating signal. The mapping tool also includes at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area. The mapping tool includes a housing and a transmitter arrangement supported by the housing for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region for use in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling. The associated methods include the step of configuring the mapping tool for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region and using the received setup locating signal in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: John E. Mercer, Peter H. Hambling, Rudolf Zeller, Shiu S. Ng, Guenter W. Brune, Lloyd A. Moore
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Patent number: 6677768Abstract: An orientation sensor especially suitable for use in an underground device is disclosed herein. This orientation sensor includes a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber, an arrangement of electrically conductive members in a predetermined positional relationship to one another within the chamber and a flowable material contained within the housing chamber and through which electrical connections between the electrically conductive members are made such that a comparison between an electrical property, specifically voltage, of a first combination of conductive members to the corresponding electrical property of a second combination of conductive members can be used to determine a particular orientation parameter, specifically pitch or roll of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.Inventors: Rudolf Zeller, John E. Mercer
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Patent number: 6668944Abstract: Specific methods are described for use in tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2003Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.Inventors: Guenter W. Brune, Peter H. Hambling, John E. Mercer, Lloyd A. Moore, Shiu S. Ng, Rudolf Zeller
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Patent number: 6640907Abstract: A portable mapping tool for use in a horizontal drilling system and associated methods use a boring tool configured for transmitting a locating signal. The mapping tool also includes at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area. The mapping tool includes a housing and a transmitter arrangement supported by the housing for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region for use in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling. The associated methods include the step of configuring the mapping tool for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region and using the received setup locating signal in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Merlin Technology, IncInventors: John E. Mercer, Peter H. Hambling, Rudolf Zeller, Shiu S. Ng, Guenter W. Brune, Lloyd A. Moore
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Patent number: 6618951Abstract: An orientation sensor capable of generating at least one output signal indicative of a particular orientation parameter is described. The orientation sensor comprises a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber including a first internal surface. The first internal surface supports a first electrically conductive pattern which itself forms part of a sensing arrangement. The first electrically conductive pattern includes an arrangement of electrically isolated segments in a predetermined configuration. A flowable material is contained within the internal chamber, which flowable material contacts a portion of the first internal surface dependent upon the value of the particular orientation parameter. An electrical property is measurable between the segments such that the orientation parameter can be determined using the output signal based only on the electrical property and, therefore, only on the portion of the first internal surface contacted by the flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2002Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Digital Control IncorporatedInventors: John E. Mercer, Rudolf Zeller
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Publication number: 20030143836Abstract: In a method for fabricating a semiconductor component with a cathode and an anode from a wafer, the wafer is first provided with a stop zone, thereupon treated on the cathode side and only then reduced in its thickness, so that all that remains of the stop zone is a tail barrier zone. In this case, the stop zone is doped and reduced to the tail barrier zone in such a way that a quantitative optimization of the fabrication method and thus of a thinned semiconductor element is made possible. In said quantitative optimization, diverse parameters and their relation to one another are taken into account, in particular a dopant area density of a tail barrier zone, a dopant density at an anodal surface of the tail barrier zone, a dopant density of a base, a characteristic decay length or slope of the doping profile of the tail barrier zone, and also a thickness of a base—resulting from the wafer—from anode to cathode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventors: Stefan Linder, Hans Rudolf Zeller
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Publication number: 20030136583Abstract: Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2003Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: Guenter W. Brune, Peter H. Hambling, John E. Mercer, Lloyd A. Moore, Shiu S. Ng, Rudolf Zeller
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Patent number: 6576936Abstract: An IGBT is specified which can be produced in a simple manner yet can be turned on homogeneously. For this purpose, gate fingers are dispensed with and the gate current in the IGBT-Chip is forwarded, proceeding from the gate terminal, directly via the polysilicon layers of the gate electrodes to the IGBT standard cells.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: ABB (Schweiz) AGInventors: Friedhelm Bauer, Hans-Rudolf Zeller
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Publication number: 20030090424Abstract: Location determination is performed using a transmitter including an elongated generally planar loop antenna defining an elongation axis. The elongation axis is positioned along at least a portion of a path. A magnetic field is then generated which approximates a dipole field. Certain characteristics of the magnetic field are then determined at a receiving position radially displaced from the antenna elongation axis. Using the determined certain characteristics, at least one orientation parameter is established which characterizes a positional relationship between the receiving position and the antenna on the path. The magnetic field may be transmitted as a monotone single phase signal. The orientation parameter may be a radial offset and/or an angular orientation between the receiving position and the antenna on the path. The antenna of the transmitter may be inserted into a first borehole to transmit the magnetic field to a receiver inserted into a second borehole.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2002Publication date: May 15, 2003Inventors: Guenter W. Brune, John E. Mercer, Albert W. Chau, Rudolf Zeller
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Patent number: 6536538Abstract: Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Digital Control IncorporatedInventors: Guenter W. Brune, Peter H. Hambling, John E. Mercer, Lloyd A. Moore, Shiu S. Ng, Rudolf Zeller
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Publication number: 20030051913Abstract: A portable mapping tool for use in a horizontal drilling system and associated methods use a boring tool configured for transmitting a locating signal. The mapping tool also includes at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area. The mapping tool includes a housing and a transmitter arrangement supported by the housing for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region for use in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling. The associated methods include the step of configuring the mapping tool for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region and using the received setup locating signal in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: John E. Mercer, Peter H. Hambling, Rudolf Zeller, Shiu S. Ng, Guenter W. Brune, Lloyd A. Moore
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Patent number: 6530155Abstract: An orientation sensor capable of generating at least one output signal indicative of a particular orientation parameter is described. The orientation sensor comprises a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber including a first internal surface. The first internal surface supports a first electrically conductive pattern which itself forms part of a sensing arrangement. The first electrically conductive pattern includes an arrangement of electrically isolated segments in a predetermined configuration. A flowable material is contained within the internal chamber, which flowable material contacts a portion of the first internal surface dependent upon the value of the particular orientation parameter. An electrical property is measurable between the segments such that the orientation parameter can be determined using the output signal based only on the electrical property and, therefore, only on the portion of the first internal surface contacted by the flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Digital Control IncorporatedInventors: John E. Mercer, Rudolf Zeller
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Publication number: 20030014875Abstract: An orientation sensor capable of generating at least one output signal indicative of a particular orientation parameter is described. The orientation sensor comprises a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber including a first internal surface. The first internal surface supports a first electrically conductive pattern which itself forms part of a sensing arrangement. The first electrically conductive pattern includes an arrangement of electrically isolated segments in a predetermined configuration. A flowable material is contained within the internal chamber, which flowable material contacts a portion of the first internal surface dependent upon the value of the particular orientation parameter. An electrical property is measurable between the segments such that the orientation parameter can be determined using the output signal based only on the electrical property and, therefore, only on the portion of the first internal surface contacted by the flowable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2002Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: John E. Mercer, Rudolf Zeller
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Patent number: 6457537Abstract: A portable mapping tool for use in a horizontal drilling system and associated methods use a boring tool configured for transmitting a locating signal. The mapping tool also includes at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area. The mapping tool includes a housing and a transmitter arrangement supported by the housing for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region for use in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling. The associated mathods include the step of configuring the mapping tool for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region and using the received setup locating signal in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2001Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Digital Control IncorporatedInventors: John E. Mercer, Peter H. Hambling, Rudolf Zeller, Shiu S. Ng, Guenter W. Brune, Lloyd A. Moore
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Patent number: 6454023Abstract: Systems and associated methods for tracking and/or guiding an underground boring tool use one or more detectors to measure the intensity of an electromagnetic field which is transmitted from an underground boring tool. The measured intensities may then be used to determine the location of the boring tool. In a dead reckoning embodiment of the invention, one detector may be employed while, in a position determination embodiment, two or more detectors may be employed. In any embodiment, physically measurable parameters may be used in addition to measured magnetic intensities. A highly advantageous mapping tool instrument for use in the position determination embodiment and a cubic antenna for use in any magnetic field detector are employed herein.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2000Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: Digital Control IncorporatedInventors: John E. Mercer, Peter H. Hambling, Rudolf Zeller, Shiu S. Ng, Guenter W. Brune, Lloyd A. Moore