Patents by Inventor Trevor Niblock
Trevor Niblock 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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Publication number: 20220086568Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for a piezoelectric transducer. A base plate includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. A transduction element is mounted directly on the base plate and electrically connected to the first electrical contact. A spacer includes a via. The via includes electrically conductive material. The spacer is mounted on the base plate around the transduction element and the electrically conductive material of the via is electrically connected to the second electrical contact. A diaphragm is mounted on the spacer and on the transduction element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Trevor Niblock, Iman Shahosseini, Wade Smith
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Patent number: 11190881Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for a piezoelectric transducer. A base plate includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. A transduction element is mounted directly on the base plate and electrically connected to the first electrical contact. A spacer includes a via. The via includes electrically conductive material. The spacer is mounted on the base plate around the transduction element and the electrically conductive material of the via is electrically connected to the second electrical contact. A diaphragm is mounted on the spacer and on the transduction element.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: uBeam Inc.Inventors: Trevor Niblock, Iman Shahosseini, Wade Smith
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Publication number: 20200403142Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for piezoelectric transducer array fabrication. A sheet of piezoelectric material may be diced into pieces of piezoelectric material. A sheet of elastic layer material may be spin coated with adhesive. The pieces of piezoelectric material may be placed onto the sheet of elastic layer material. Pressure may be applied to the pieces of piezoelectric material and the sheet of elastic layer material. The adhesive may be cured. Transduction elements may be cut from the pieces of piezoelectric material and the sheet of elastic layer material. Electronics may be mounted on a PCB mounting board. Adhesive may be applied onto the PCB mounting board. The transduction elements may be mounted on the PCB mounting board. A spacer may be mounted on the PCB mounting board. Adhesive may be applied onto the spacer and the transduction elements. Diaphragms may be mounted on the spacer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Iman Shahosseini, Trevor Niblock, Wade Smith, Henry Tri, Richard Agbulos, Bo Pham
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Publication number: 20200389739Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for a piezoelectric transducer. A base plate includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. A transduction element is mounted directly on the base plate and electrically connected to the first electrical contact. A spacer includes a via. The via includes electrically conductive material. The spacer is mounted on the base plate around the transduction element and the electrically conductive material of the via is electrically connected to the second electrical contact. A diaphragm is mounted on the spacer and on the transduction element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2019Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Trevor Niblock, Iman Shahosseini, Wade Smith
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Patent number: 8098121Abstract: A MEMS magnetic flux switch is fabricated as a ferromagnetic core. The core includes a center cantilever that is fabricated as a free beam that can oscillate at a resonant frequency that is determined by its mechanical and material properties. The center cantilever is moved by impulses applied by an associated motion oscillator, which can be magnetic or electric actuators.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2010Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: National SemiconductorInventors: Peter J Hopper, Trevor Niblock, Peter Johnson, Vladislav Vashchenko
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Patent number: 7902946Abstract: A micro-electromechanical (MEMS) relay decouples a flux path from magnetic actuation from the electrical path through the switch to eliminate signal degradations that result from fluctuations in the current around the core and, thereby the flux. In addition, the MEMS relay has a suspension structure that is independent of the core.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventor: Trevor Niblock
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Publication number: 20100295638Abstract: A MEMS magnetic flux switch is fabricated as a ferromagnetic core. The core includes a center cantilever that is fabricated as a free beam that can oscillate at a resonant frequency that is determined by its mechanical and material properties. The center cantilever is moved by impulses applied by an associated motion oscillator, which can be magnetic or electric actuators.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Peter J. Hopper, Trevor Niblock, Peter Johnson, Vladislav Vashchenko
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Patent number: 7839242Abstract: A MEMS magnetic flux switch is fabricated as a ferromagnetic core. The core includes a center cantilever that is fabricated as a free beam that can oscillate at a resonant frequency that is determined by its mechanical and material properties. The center cantilever is moved by impulses applied by an associated motion oscillator, which can be magnetic or electric actuators.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Peter J. Hopper, Trevor Niblock, Peter Johnson, Vladislav Vashchenko
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Patent number: 7754986Abstract: A switch structure substantially reduces the effect of contact resistance by placing two mechanical switches in parallel between a source and a load, and sequentially closing and opening the mechanical switches so that one switch closes before the other switch, and opens after the other switch. The switch structure with the two mechanical switches can be realized with standard micro machined switches or as a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) cantilever switch.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Trevor Niblock, Roozbeh Parsa, Peter J. Hopper
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Patent number: 7701754Abstract: An electromechanical memory cell utilizes a cantilever and a laterally positioned electrode. The cantilever is spaced apart from the electrode by a distance that is greater than the elastic limit of the cantilever. The memory cell is programmed by applying voltages to the cantilever and the electrode which causes the cantilever to move into a region of plastic deformation without ever touching the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2006Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Roozbeh Parsa, Trevor Niblock, Mark W. Poulter, Peter J. Hopper
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Publication number: 20100007448Abstract: A micro-electromechanical (MEMS) relay decouples a flux path from magnetic actuation from the electrical path through the switch to eliminate signal degradations that result from fluctuations in the current around the core and, thereby the flux. In addition, the MEMS relay has a suspension structure that is independent of the core.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2008Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventor: Trevor Niblock
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Patent number: 7644490Abstract: A method of forming an actuator and a relay using a micro-electromechanical (MEMS)-based process is disclosed. The method first forms the lower sections of a square copper coil, and then forms an actuation member that includes a core section and a horizontally adjacent floating cantilever section. The core section, which lies directly over the lower coil sections, is electrically isolated from the lower coil sections. The method next forms the side and upper sections of the coil, along with first and second electrodes that are separated by a switch gap. The first electrode lies directly over an end of the core section, while the second electrode lies directly over an end of the floating cantilever section.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2007Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Trevor Niblock, Peter Johnson
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Patent number: 7602267Abstract: A micro-electromechanical (MEMS) actuator and relay are implemented using a copper coil and a magnetic core. The magnetic core includes a base section that lies within the copper coil, and a cantilever section that lies outside of the copper coil. The presence of a magnetic field in the coil causes the cantilever section to move horizontally away from a rest position, while the absence of the magnetic field allows the cantilever section to return to the rest position.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2007Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Trevor Niblock, Peter J. Hopper, Roozbeh Parsa
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Patent number: 7598829Abstract: A micro-electromechanical (MEMS) actuator and relay are implemented using a copper coil and a magnetic core. The magnetic core includes a base section that lies within the copper coil, and a cantilever section that lies outside of the copper coil. The presence of a magnetic field in the coil causes the cantilever section to move vertically away from a rest position, while the absence of the magnetic field allows the cantilever section to return to the rest position.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Trevor Niblock, Peter J. Hopper, Roozbeh Parsa
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Patent number: 7570847Abstract: A method of forming an optical switch is disclosed. The optical switch is implemented with one or more cantilevered optical channels, which are formed in a flexible waveguide structure, and an actuator which is connected to the cantilevered optical channels, to position the cantilevered optical channels to direct an optical signal along one of a number of optical pathways.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2008Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Trevor Niblock, Gerard Dirk Smits
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Patent number: 7464459Abstract: A method of forming an actuator and a relay using a micro-electromechanical (MEMS)-based process is disclosed. The method first forms the lower sections of a square copper coil, and then forms a magnetic core member. The magnetic core member, which lies directly over the lower coil sections, is electrically isolated from the lower coil sections. The method next forms the side and upper sections of the coil, followed by the formation of an overlying cantilevered magnetic flexible member. Switch electrodes, which are separated by a switch gap, can be formed on the magnetic core member and the magnetic flexible member, and closed and opened in response to the electromagnetic field that arises in response to a current in the coil.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2007Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Trevor Niblock, Peter Johnson
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Patent number: 7444042Abstract: An optical switch is implemented with one or more cantilevered optical channels, which are formed in a flexible waveguide structure, and an actuator which is connected to the cantilevered optical channels, to position the cantilevered optical channels to direct an optical signal along one of a number of optical pathways.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2007Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Trevor Niblock, Gerard Dirk Smits
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Publication number: 20060006137Abstract: A Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) sensor device for monitoring corrosion is presented. The sensor device includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is positioned apart from the first electrode by about 1 mm or less. One or both electrodes may have a width of about 10-200 ?m and a length of about 0.1-20 mm. The sensor device is electrically coupled to a controller. The controller reads the sensor measurements and transmits the readings to a remote data logger via a network interface. The device may be fabricated by etching the first side of the sensor material partway to partly form the electrodes, attaching the partly-etched side on a polymer/polyimide carrier, then patterning and etching the opposite side (which is now the top surface) in a way that is aligned with the first side. The device is cost-effective and easy to integrate into applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2005Publication date: January 12, 2006Inventor: Trevor Niblock
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Publication number: 20050229713Abstract: A strain sensing apparatus including a deformable substrate is presented. The deformable substrate is configured to detect a strain of the body that can be coupled to the deformable substrate. Sometimes, the deformable substrate is a flexible substrate having an upper surface and an opposite lower surface. The lower can be coupled to the body. There are sensing elements fabricated within the flexible substrate and proximate to the upper surface to detect properties of the body. The strain sensing apparatus is able to detect different strain modes, such as whether the strain is the result of bending of a body or a uniaxial elongation. Furthermore, the apparatus is small and less fragile than most conventional sensors, making it easy to use.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2005Publication date: October 20, 2005Inventor: Trevor Niblock