Patents by Inventor Steven Howard

Steven Howard 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: 6720637
    Abstract: An SiGe device configured to exhibit high velocity saturation resistance characteristic for buffering large voltages at low currents, wherein for circuit applications, the SiGe device is connected in series with a circuit element for protection of the circuit element. Advantageously, the device may be exploited as a buffer element providing ESD circuit protection for receiver devices, power supply clamp circuits and I/O driver circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Howard Voldman
  • Publication number: 20040058937
    Abstract: Pleuromutilin compounds of the formula: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Steven Aitken, Gerald Brooks, Steven Dabbs, Colin Henry Frydrych, Steven Howard, Eric Hunt
  • Patent number: 6710983
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a GMR read head that is protected from electrostatic discharge (ESD) on a slider by a silicon germanium (SiGe) integrated circuit device. In a preferred embodiment the SiGe circuit device includes one or more silicon germanium heterojunction bipolar transistors (SiGe HBT) or silicon germanium carbon heterojunction bipolar transistors (SiGeC HBT) that is electrically connected across the electrical leads of the GMR read head. Particular electrical connection configurations with the SiGe circuit devices include diodic modes, npn modes, series cascade modes and two stage ESD network configurations. The silicon chip may be sandwiched between the slider body and the read/write head or the read/write head may be sandwiched between the slider body and the silicon chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Howard Voldman
  • Publication number: 20040031691
    Abstract: A process for electrodepositing a low stress nickel-manganese multilayer alloy on an electrically conductive substrate is provided. The process includes the steps of immersing the substrate in an electrodeposition solution containing a nickel salt and a manganese salt and repeatedly passing an electric current through an immersed surface of the substrate. The electric current is alternately pulsed for predetermined durations between a first electrical current that is effective to electrodeposit nickel and a second electrical current that is effective to electrodeposit nickel and manganese. A multilayered alloy having adjacent layers of nickel and a nickel-manganese alloy on the immersed surface of the substrate is thereby produced. The resulting multilayered alloy exhibits low internal stress, high strength and ductility, and high strength retention upon exposure to heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: James John Kelly, Steven Howard Goods, Nancy Yuan-Chi Yang, Charles Henry Cadden
  • Publication number: 20040017640
    Abstract: A magneto-resistive read head having a “parasitic shield” provides an alternative path for currents associated with sparkovers, thus preventing such currents from damaging the read head. The parasitic shield is provided in close proximity to a conventional magnetic shield. The electrical potential of parasitic shield is held essentially equal to the electrical potential of the sensor element. If charges accumulate on the conventional shield, current will flow to the parasitic shield at a lower potential than would be required for current to flow between the conventional shield and the sensor element. Alternatively, conductive spark gap devices are electrically coupled to sensor element leads and to each magnetic shield. Each spark gap device is brought within very close proximity of the substrate to provide an alternative path for charge that builds up between the sensor element and the substrate to be discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Hughbanks, Neil Leslie Robertson, Steven Howard Voldman, Albert John Wallash
  • Publication number: 20030213978
    Abstract: A fuse state circuit for reading the state of a fuse that is enhanced to reduce the circuits susceptibility to ESD, EOS or CDM events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Howard Voldman
  • Publication number: 20030214767
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having either or both ESD and noise suppression devices that use the inherent resistance in the substrate as an ESD trigger and/or part of the noise suppression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raminderpal Singh, Steven Howard Voldman
  • Publication number: 20030214348
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying parasitic pnpn structures in an integrated circuit, and automatically inserting a noise latchup suppression circuit in such identified pnpn structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raminderpal Singh, Steven Howard Voldman
  • Publication number: 20030210501
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a GMR read head that is protected from electrostatic discharge (ESD) on a slider by a silicon germanium (SiGe) integrated circuit device. In a preferred embodiment the SiGe circuit device includes one or more silicon germanium heterojunction bipolar transistors (SiGe HBT) or silicon germanium carbon heterojunction bipolar transistors (SiGeC HBT) that is electrically connected across the electrical leads of the GMR read head. Particular electrical connection configurations with the SiGe circuit devices include diodic modes, npn modes, series cascade modes and two stage ESD network configurations. The silicon chip may be sandwiched between the slider body and the read/write head or the read/write head may be sandwiched between the slider body and the silicon chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Steven Howard Voldman
  • Patent number: 6635548
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit interconnect level capacitor is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes depositing a first insulator layer over an interconnect level surface of a semiconductor substrate having active devices. First and second conductive lines are formed in the first insulator layer, and the first insulator layer is etched to form a trench therein between the first and second conductive lines. A first conductive layer is deposited over the first and second conductive lines the said trench. A second insulator layer is deposited over the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer is deposited over the second insulator layer. Then, a third conductive line is formed and disposed in the trench, the third conductive line overlying the second conductive barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Nicholas Theodore Schmidt, Anthony K. Stamper, Stephen Arthur St. Onge, Steven Howard Voldman
  • Publication number: 20030146484
    Abstract: An SiGe device configured to exhibit high velocity saturation resistance characteristic for buffering large voltages at low currents, wherein for circuit applications, the SiGe device is connected in series with a circuit element for protection of the circuit element. Advantageously, the device may be exploited as a buffer element providing ESD circuit protection for receiver devices, power supply clamp circuits and I/O driver circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven Howard Voldman
  • Publication number: 20030114674
    Abstract: 1 2-(S)-hydroxymutilin carbamate derivatives of formula (I), in which R1 is a 5- or 6-membered optionally substituted heteroaryl group; and R2 is vinyl or ethyl, are useful in the treatment of bacterial infections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Gerald Brooks, Eric Hunt, Steven Howard
  • Publication number: 20030100757
    Abstract: A compound of the formula 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: Pfizer Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Franz Josef Fliri, Mark Jerome Majchrzak, Patricia Ann Seymour, Steven Howard Zorn, Hans Rollema
  • Patent number: 6552879
    Abstract: An ESD protective circuit is described which has a very low, variable turn-on threshold by using a shunting MOSFET which has an isolated substrate/body which is connected to an electrode that is provided in addition to the gate, source and drain electrodes. A variable gate voltage which is preferably a function of an ESD voltage is used to trigger the MOSFET into conduction. A voltage is applied to the substrate/body of the MOSFET to lower the turn-on voltage. The voltage on the substrate allows the turn-on voltage to be adjusted for different applications and/or to be adjusted dynamically to respond to events. The substrate voltage is also preferably derived from the ESD voltage. Preferably the MOSFET has an epitaxial region with an electrode and a subcollector with an electrode. The epitaxial region electrode can be connected to the gate to improve the turn-on performance. The subcollector electrode can be connected to the substrate/body electrode to contribute to lowering the turn-on voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Howard Voldman
  • Patent number: 6552406
    Abstract: An SiGe device configured to exhibit high velocity saturation resistance characteristic for buffering large voltages at low currents, wherein for circuit applications, the SiGe device is connected in series with a circuit element for protection of the circuit element. Advantageously, the device may be exploited as a buffer element providing ESD circuit protection for receiver devices, power supply clamp circuits and I/O driver circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Howard Voldman
  • Patent number: 6549061
    Abstract: An ESD clamping circuit arranged in a darlington configuration and constructed from SiGe or similar type material. The ESD clamping circuit includes additional level shifting circuitry in series with either the trigger or clamping device or both, thus allowing non-native voltages that exceed the BVCEO of the trigger and/or clamp devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Howard Voldman, Alan Bernard Botula, David TinSun Hui
  • Publication number: 20020186068
    Abstract: An ESD clamping circuit arranged in a darlington configuration and constructed from SiGe or similar type material. The ESD clamping circuit includes additional level shifting circuitry in series with either the trigger or clamping device or both, thus allowing non-native voltages that exceed the BVCEO of the trigger and/or clamp devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Howard Voldman, Alan Bernard Botula, David TinSun Hui
  • Publication number: 20020167050
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure, and associated method of fabrication, comprising a substrate having a continuous buried oxide layer and having a plurality of trench isolation structures. The buried oxide layer may be located at more than one depth within the substrate. The geometry of the trench isolation structure may vary with depth. The trench isolation structure may touch or not touch the buried oxide layer. Two trench isolation structures may penetrate the substrate to the same depth or to different depths. The trench isolation structures provide insulative separation between regions within the substrate and the separated regions may contain semiconductor devices. The semiconductor structure facilitates the providing of digital and analog devices on a common wafer. A dual-depth buried oxide layer facilitates an asymmetric semiconductor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Brown, Andres Bryant, Robert J. Gauthier, Randy William Mann, Steven Howard Voldman
  • Patent number: 6476445
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure, and associated method of fabrication, comprising a substrate having a continuous buried oxide layer and having a plurality of trench isolation structures. The buried oxide layer may be located at more than one depth within the substrate. The geometry of the trench isolation structure may vary with depth. The trench isolation structure may touch or not touch the buried oxide layer. Two trench isolation structures may penetrate the substrate to the same depth or to different depths. The trench isolation structures provide insulative separation between regions within the substrate and the separated regions may contain semiconductor devices. The semiconductor structure facilitates the providing of digital and analog devices on a common wafer. A dual-depth buried oxide layer facilitates an asymmetric semiconductor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Brown, Andres Bryant, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Randy William Mann, Steven Howard Voldman
  • Publication number: 20020151150
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit interconnect level capacitor is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes depositing a first insulator layer over an interconnect level surface of a semiconductor substrate having active devices. First and second conductive lines are formed in the first insulator layer, and the first insulator layer is etched to form a trench therein between the first and second conductive lines. A first conductive layer is deposited over the first and second conductive lines the said trench. A second insulator layer is deposited over the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer is deposited over the second insulator layer. Then, a third conductive line is formed and disposed in the trench, the third conductive line overlying the second conductive barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Nicholas Theodore Schmidt, Anthony K. Stamper, Stephen Arthur St. Onge, Steven Howard Voldman