Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Zirkle

Thomas E. Zirkle 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: 11903314
    Abstract: An induction heating system can comprise a furnace chamber comprising a non-magnetic and non-conductive furnace wall; at least one induction heating coil surrounding an outer side of the furnace wall in a length direction (z) of the furnace chamber; and a holding and pressing construction. The holding and pressing construction can be designed to hold an arrangement to be placed within the furnace chamber, and the holding and pressing construction can apply a pressure on a proximal end and a distal end of the arrangement in the length direction of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MICROPOWER GLOBAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Aruna R. Dedigama, Cameron N. Paiga, Alan H. Henderson, Thomas E. Zirkle
  • Patent number: 11825745
    Abstract: A thermoelectric element can comprise a thermoelectric body and a multi-layer contact structure. The multi-layer contact structure can contain a first metal layer overlying a surface of the thermoelectric body and a second metal layer directly overlying the first metal layer, wherein the first metal layer and the second metal layer include the same metal, and the first metal layer has a different phase than the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: MICROPOWER GLOBAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Cameron N. Paiga, Aruna R. Dedigama, Alan H. Henderson, Thomas E. Zirkle
  • Patent number: 11825746
    Abstract: A thermoelectric device can comprise at least one first thermoelectric element, at least one second thermoelectric element, and a bridging structure. The bridging structure can include a bridging layer comprising a silver-gallium alloy. The silver-gallium alloy containing a bridging layer can provide flexibility and stress release to the thermoelectric device when subjected to multiple heating cycles, and may have a very low electrical resistance and thermal resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: MICROPOWER GLOBAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Aruna R. Dedigama, Adam G. Westerman, Thomas E. Zirkle
  • Publication number: 20220093840
    Abstract: A thermoelectric device can comprise at least one first thermoelectric element, at least one second thermoelectric element, and a bridging structure. The bridging structure can include a bridging layer comprising a silver-gallium alloy. The silver-gallium alloy containing a bridging layer can provide flexibility and stress release to the thermoelectric device when subjected to multiple heating cycles, and may have a very low electrical resistance and thermal resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Aruna R. DEDIGAMA, Adam G. WESTERMAN, Thomas E. ZIRKLE
  • Publication number: 20220020911
    Abstract: An induction heating system can comprise a furnace chamber comprising a non-magnetic and non-conductive furnace wall; at least one induction heating coil surrounding an outer side of the furnace wall in a length direction (z) of the furnace chamber; and a holding and pressing construction. The holding and pressing construction can be designed to hold an arrangement to be placed within the furnace chamber, and the holding and pressing construction can apply a pressure on a proximal end and a distal end of the arrangement in the length direction of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Aruna R. DEDIGAMA, Cameron N. PAIGA, Alan H. HENDERSON, Thomas E. ZIRKLE
  • Publication number: 20220018602
    Abstract: A thermoelectric element can comprise a thermoelectric body, a first contact, and a second contact structure, wherein the first and/or second contact structure can comprise at least one porous metal structure embedded within an outer region of the thermoelectric body, and at least one metal layer overlying the outer region of the thermoelectric body and being in direct contact with the embedded porous metal structure. A method of making the thermoelectric element can include embedding the at least one porous metal structure within the outer region of the thermoelectric body by induction heating, followed by electroplating of the at least one metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Aruna R. DEDIGAMA, Cameron N. PAIGA, Alan H. HENDERSON, Thomas E. ZIRKLE
  • Publication number: 20210351334
    Abstract: A thermoelectric element can comprise a thermoelectric body and a multi-layer contact structure. The multi-layer contact structure can contain a first metal layer overlying a surface of the thermoelectric body and a second metal layer directly overlying the first metal layer, wherein the first metal layer and the second metal layer include the same metal, and the first metal layer has a different phase than the second metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Cameron N. PAIGA, Aruna R. DEDIGAMA, Alan H. HENDERSON, Thomas E. ZIRKLE
  • Patent number: 10454013
    Abstract: A thermoelectric device, module, and system, and method for and method for making is provided. The thermoelectric device (200) having a first and second elements (202 and 204). The first and second elements (202 and 204) having first and second portions (206 and 208), and third and fourth portions (212 and 214) with first and second regions (210 and 216) connected between the first and second portions (206 and 208) and third and fourth portions (112 and 114), respectively. The first and second portions (206 and 208) and third and fourth portions (112 and 114) are electrically coupled though regions (210 and 216) and with thermal conductance between first and second portions (206 and 208) and third and fourth portions (212 and 214) being inhibited by regions (110 and 116), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: MICROPOWER GLOBAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas E. Zirkle, Robert M. Gardner, Robert S. Kilbourn
  • Publication number: 20140137918
    Abstract: A thermoelectric device, module, and system, and method for and method for making is provided. The thermoelectric device (200) having a first and second elements (202 and 204). The first and second elements (202 and 204) having first and second portions (206 and 208), and third and fourth portions (212 and 214) with first and second regions (210 and 216) connected between the first and second portions (206 and 208) and third and fourth portions (112 and 114), respectively. The first and second portions (206 and 208) and third and fourth portions (112 and 114) are electrically coupled though regions (210 and 216) and with thermal conductance between first and second portions (206 and 208) and third and fourth portions (212 and 214) being inhibited by regions (110 and 116), respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: MICROPOWER GLOBAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas E. Zirkle, Robert M. Gardner, Robert S. Kilbourn
  • Publication number: 20090095983
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, an integrated semiconductor circuit (400) is provided. The integrated circuit (400) comprises a substrate (430) comprising a first material and a first electronic device (455) comprising a first depressed region (415) within the substrate (430) and a set of first device contact locations (475) in a contact level (300). The integrated circuit (400) further comprises a second electronic device 450 comprising a set of second device contact locations (451) in the contact level (300) and a second material (420) in the first depressed (415) region having a lattice mismatch with the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Shawn G. Thomas, Thomas E. Zirkle
  • Patent number: 7057564
    Abstract: An exemplary slot antenna having an antenna cavity that extends over multiple layers is provided. The slot antenna includes a reference conductive layer, a radiating conductive layer having at least one slot opening, one or more intermediate conductive layers disposed between the reference conductive layer and the radiating conductive layer, and two or more dielectric layers. The two or more dielectric layers include at least a first dielectric layer disposed between the reference conductive layer and the one or more intermediate conductive layers and a second dielectric layer disposed between the one or more intermediate conductive layers and the radiating conductive layer. Each of the one or more intermediate conductive layers includes at least one opening substantially devoid of conductive material. Due to its reduced footprint in the x-y plane, the multilayer slot antenna may be embedded in an integrated circuit package for use in a wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Chi Taou Tsai, Thomas E. Zirkle
  • Publication number: 20040043584
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, an integrated semiconductor circuit (400) is provided. The integrated circuit (400) comprises a substrate (430) comprising a first material and a first electronic device (455) comprising a first depressed region (415) within the substrate (430) and a set of first device contact locations (475) in a contact level (300). The integrated circuit (400) further comprises a second electronic device 450 comprising a set of second device contact locations (451) in the contact level (300) and a second material (420) in the first depressed (415) region having a lattice mismatch with the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Shawn G. Thomas, Thomas E. Zirkle
  • Patent number: 5892379
    Abstract: A circuit and method protect a transistor (68, 70) from damage when controlling an input signal (V.sub.PROG) that exceeds a gate to channel stress voltage of the transistor. A small, low current protection transistor (64, 66) is serially coupled to the gate electrode of the transistor being protected. The gate of the protection transistor is biased to a voltage (V.sub.P, V.sub.N) of lower magnitude than the input signal to limit the voltage applied to the gate of the protected transistor to a value within the stress voltage of the protected transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Buxo, Andreas A. Wild, Gary H. Loechelt, Thomas E. Zirkle, E. James Prendergast, Patrice M. Parris
  • Patent number: 5760476
    Abstract: In a first approach, an interconnect structure (10) reduces peak localized interconnect current density by distributing current flow around the perimeter (22) of an interlevel connector (14) in a semiconductor device. A first interconnect level (12) is connected to a second interconnect level by the interlevel connector (14), and the perimeter (22) of the interlevel connector (14) is located at the juncture between the first interconnect level (12) and the interlevel connector (14). The first interconnect level (12) has two or more fingers (16,18,20) protruding therefrom that connect to the perimeter (22) of the interlevel connector (14). At least one opening (36, 38) is disposed between two of the fingers (16,18,20) for dividing current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Varker, Michael L. Dreyer, Thomas E. Zirkle
  • Patent number: 5731612
    Abstract: An insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) structure (10) includes a source region (14) and a drain region (16) formed in an impurity well (13). A channel region (18) separates the source region (14) from the drain region (16). In one embodiment, a unilateral extension region (17) is formed adjacent the source region (14) only and extends into the channel region (18). The unilateral extension region (17) has a peak dopant concentration at a depth (23) and a lateral distance (24) to provide punchthrough resistance. The IGFET structure (10) is suitable for low (i.e., 0.2-0.3 volts) to medium (0.5-0.6 volts) threshold voltage reduced channel length applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Buxo, Diann Dow, Vida Ilderem, Ziye Zhou, Thomas E. Zirkle
  • Patent number: 5461260
    Abstract: In a first approach, an interconnect structure (10) reduces peak localized interconnect current density by distributing current flow around the perimeter (22) of an interlevel connector (14) in a semiconductor device. A first interconnect level (12) is connected to a second interconnect level by the interlevel connector (14), and the perimeter (22) of the interlevel connector (14) is located at the juncture between the first interconnect level (12) and the interlevel connector (14). The first interconnect level (12) has two or more fingers (16,18,20) protruding therefrom that connect to the perimeter (22) of the interlevel connector (14). At least one opening (36,38) is disposed between two of the fingers (16,18,20) for dividing current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Varker, Michael L. Dreyer, Thomas E. Zirkle
  • Patent number: 5273850
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a right angle (30) on a chromeless phase-shift mask (31). A first phase-shift element (32) and a second phase-shift element (33) are positioned at a ninety degree angle, on the chromeless phase-shift mask (31), wherein there is a predetermined space (34) between the first and second phase-shift elements (32,33). The space between the phase-shift elements eliminates hot spot formation that causes unintentional exposure of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Fourmun Lee, Thomas E. Zirkle