Patents by Inventor Thomas William Orent

Thomas William Orent 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).

  • Micromechanical device with reduced load relaxation
    Patent number: 5942054
    Abstract: An improved elastic member (24) for micromechanical devices (12). The micromechanical device (12) includes a stationary member (28) and a moving member (26) which are connected together by a elastic member (24). Because of repeated and frequent movement of the moving member (26), the elastic member (24) can become permanently flexed or deformed, resulting in poor operation of the device. Aluminum alloys are formed to include oxygen, in combination with nitrogen if desired, to obtain a film with dramatically reduced load relaxation characteristics. Oxygen is added to an Argon sputter gas during deposition, and an amorphous film is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: John Harold Tregilgas, Richard Lee Knipe, Thomas William Orent, Hidekazu Yoshihara, Elliott Keith Carpenter