Patents by Inventor Walter Bigler
Walter Bigler 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: 11621125Abstract: A variable vacuum capacitor is described in which oil inside the main bellows (21) is pumped through the bellows and through the oil circuit (8) of a heat exchanger by a pump (15). Water passes through coolant channels (6) of the heat exchanger, from inlet (7) to outlet (7?). The extendable capacitor drive shaft (14) is hollow and serves as a conduit, conveying the oil to the bottom of the (bellows 21), thereby ensuring a full circulation of the oil right through the bellows and then through the heat exchanger. Pump drive means (9) may be a gerotor hydraulic motor, coupled to a gerotor oil pump (15) via magnetic coupling (22). Pumping heat transfer fluid (oil) through the bellows allows the capacitor to operate at significantly higher currents and/or lower temperatures, and significantly extends the life of the device.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2018Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: COMET AGInventors: Thierry Altenhoven, Walter Bigler, Timothy Albert Weber, Mark Mildner
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Patent number: 11488785Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum capacitor (1, 30) comprising an enclosure (9) to contain a vacuum dielectric medium, a first electrode (12) and a second electrode (13) separated by said vacuum dielectric medium, the enclosure (9) comprising a first conductive collar (2) in electrical contact with the first electrode (12) and a second conductive collar (3) in electrical contact with the second electrode (13), the first conductive collar (2) and the second conductive collar (3) being separated by an insulating element (4) of the enclosure (9), wherein the enclosure (9) exhibits at least one protruding edge (6), said protruding edge (6) being in electrical contact with the closest of the first conductive collar (2) or the second conductive collar (3), wherein the vacuum capacitor (1, 30) comprises at least one protection means (7, 37) covering on the outside of the vacuum enclosure the protruding edge (6), wherein the protection means (7, 37) is made at least partially of an elastomer, wherein at leastType: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: COMET AGInventor: Walter Bigler
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Publication number: 20220044877Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum capacitor (1, 30) comprising an enclosure (9) to contain a vacuum dielectric medium, a first electrode (12) and a second electrode (13) separated by said vacuum dielectric medium, the enclosure (9) comprising a first conductive collar (2) in electrical contact with the first electrode (12) and a second conductive collar (3) in electrical contact with the second electrode (13), the first conductive collar (2) and the second conductive collar (3) being separated by an insulating element (4) of the enclosure (9), wherein the enclosure (9) exhibits at least one protruding edge (6), said protruding edge (6) being in electrical contact with the closest of the first conductive collar (2) or the second conductive collar (3), wherein the vacuum capacitor (1, 30) comprises at least one protection means (7, 37) covering on the outside of the vacuum enclosure the protruding edge (6), wherein the protection means (7, 37) is made at least partially of an elastomer, wherein at leastType: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventor: Walter Bigler
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Patent number: 11011350Abstract: A power capacitor (7) is described for use in an RF power delivery system. The power capacitor comprises at least two RF electrodes (18, 19) separated by a capacitor dielectric (17) comprising a solid paraelectric dielectric material whose relative permittivity is controllable by varying a DC bias voltage applied across the dielectric (17) at DC bias electrodes (10, 26, 28). Composite capacitor configurations, an RF power system and a method of controlling the power capacitor are also described.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2014Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Inventors: Mike Abrecht, Thomas Fink, Walter Bigler
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Publication number: 20200058441Abstract: A variable vacuum capacitor is described in which oil inside the main bellows (21) is pumped through the bellows and through the oil circuit (8) of a heat exchanger by a pump (15). Water passes through coolant channels (6) of the heat exchanger, from inlet (7) to outlet (7?). The extendable capacitor drive shaft (14) is hollow and serves as a conduit, conveying the oil to the bottom of the (bellows 21), thereby ensuring a full circulation of the oil right through the bellows and then through the heat exchanger. Pump drive means (9) may be a gerotor hydraulic motor, coupled to a gerotor oil pump (15) via magnetic coupling (22). Pumping heat transfer fluid (oil) through the bellows allows the capacitor to operate at significantly higher currents and/or lower temperatures, and significantly extends the life of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2018Publication date: February 20, 2020Applicant: COMET AGInventors: Thierry Altenhoven, Walter Bigler, Timothy Albert Weber, Mark Mildner
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Publication number: 20180233330Abstract: A power capacitor (7) is described for use in an RF power delivery system. The power capacitor comprises at least two RF electrodes (18, 19) separated by a capacitor dielectric (17) comprising a solid paraelectric dielectric material whose relative permittivity is controllable by varying a DC bias voltage applied across the dielectric (17) at DC bias electrodes (10, 26, 28). Composite capacitor configurations, an RF power system and a method of controlling the power capacitor are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2014Publication date: August 16, 2018Applicant: COMET AGInventors: Mike Abrecht, Thomas Fink, Walter Bigler
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Patent number: 9805873Abstract: A vacuum variable capacitor includes a pre-vacuum enclosure for reducing a pressure differential across the bellows. The vacuum force load on the drive system can thereby be reduced, allowing faster movement of the movable electrode, faster capacitance adjustment of the vacuum variable capacitor and longer lifetimes of the device.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: COMET AGInventors: Mark Joachim Mildner, Roland Bieri, Mike Abrecht, Walter Bigler, Douglas Beuerman, Jack Gilmore
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Patent number: 9721729Abstract: A vacuum variable capacitor includes a pre-vacuum enclosure for reducing a pressure differential across the bellows, wherein a drive is disposed outside the enclosures of the vacuum variable capacitor. The vacuum force load on the drive system can thereby be reduced, allowing faster movement of the movable electrode, faster capacitance adjustment of the vacuum variable capacitor and longer lifetimes of the device.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: COMET AGInventors: Mark Joachim Mildner, Roland Bieri, Mike Abrecht, Walter Bigler, Douglas Beuerman, Jack Gilmore
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Patent number: 9691548Abstract: A high-voltage capacitor includes a gas-tight enclosure containing interleaved electrodes. The dielectric of the capacitor is a pressurized gas at a pressure of at least 6 bar, and preferably 10 or 15 bar. In order to withstand this level of internal pressure, the insulating body section of the capacitor may be formed of a high-strength polymeric material.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2013Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: COMET AGInventors: Roger Tanner, Walter Bigler, Mark Joachim Mildner, Mike Abrecht
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Publication number: 20170004925Abstract: A variable vacuum capacitor includes two pairs of electrodes ganged together in series such that no moving parts are required to connect electrically to any static pans. Two sets, or gangs, of movable electrodes are connected mechanically and electrically together such that they move together and such that they require no electrical connection to any other part of the device. The ganged arrangement means that the device can be constructed with a smaller diameter, but without significantly increasing the overall length of the device. The variable vacuum capacitor may be a component of e.g., a power delivery system for a plasma process, a power delivery system for surface treatment, semi-conductor manufacturing equipment, photovoltaic manufacturing equipment, and flat panel manufacturing equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Applicant: COMET AGInventors: Mike Abrecht, Roger TANNER, Mark MlLDNER, Philipp JÄGGI, Walter BIGLER
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Patent number: 9472347Abstract: A variable vacuum capacitor includes two pairs of electrodes ganged together in series such that no moving parts are required to connect electrically to any static pans. Two sets, or gangs, of movable electrodes are connected mechanically and electrically together such that they move together and such that they require no electrical connection to any other part of the device. The ganged arrangement means that the device can be constructed with a smaller diameter, but without significantly increasing the overall length of the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Comet AGInventors: Mike Abrecht, Roger Tanner, Mark Joachim Mildner, Philipp Jäggi, Walter Bigler
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Publication number: 20160111218Abstract: A vacuum variable capacitor includes a pre-vacuum enclosure for reducing a pressure differential across the bellows. The vacuum force load on the drive system can thereby be reduced, allowing faster movement of the movable electrode, faster capacitance adjustment of the vacuum variable capacitor and longer lifetimes of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2013Publication date: April 21, 2016Applicant: COMET AGInventors: Mark Joachim MILDNER, Roland BIERI, Mike ABRECHT, Walter BIGLER, Douglas BEUERMAN, Jack GILMORE
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Publication number: 20160093445Abstract: A vacuum variable vapacitor includes a pre-vacuum enclosure for reducing a pressure differential across the bellows, wherein a drive is disposed outside the enclosures of the vacuum variable capacitor. The vacuum force load on the drive system can thereby be reduced, allowing faster movement of the movable electrode, faster capacitance adjustment of the vacuum variable capacitor and longer lifetimes of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Applicant: COMET AGInventors: Mark Joachim MILDNER, Roland BIERI, Mike ABRECHT, Walter BIGLER, Douglas BEUERMAN, Jack GILMORE
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Publication number: 20160005540Abstract: A high-voltage capacitor includes a gas-tight enclosure containing interleaved electrodes. The dielectric of the capacitor is a pressurized gas at a pressure of at least 6 bar, and preferably 10 or 15 bar. In order to withstand this level of internal pressure, the insulating body section of the capacitor may be formed of a high-strength polymeric material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2013Publication date: January 7, 2016Applicant: COMET AGInventors: Roger TANNER, Walter BIGLER, Mark MILDNER, Mike ABRECHT
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Publication number: 20150009603Abstract: A variable vacuum capacitor includes two pairs of electrodes ganged together in series such that no moving parts are required to connect electrically to any static pans. Two sets, or gangs, of movable electrodes are connected mechanically and electrically together such that they move together and such that they require no electrical connection to any other part of the device. The ganged arrangement means that the device can be constructed with a smaller diameter, but without significantly increasing the overall length of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2012Publication date: January 8, 2015Applicant: COMET AGInventors: Mike Abrecht, Roger Tanner, Mark Joachim Mildner, Philipp Jäggi, Walter Bigler
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Publication number: 20130100574Abstract: A vacuum capacitor has at least two electrodes in a vacuum, the electrodes being manufactured from, or coated with, aluminium or an aluminium alloy; and the housing of the vacuum capacitor includes an insulating (e.g., ceramic) part and two or more conducting parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2010Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: Comet AGInventors: Mike Abrecht, Walter Bigler, Philipp Jäggi, Mark Joachim Mildner
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Patent number: 8248751Abstract: A mechanical drive system for a vacuum capacitor is provided and includes a drive screw and a nut, wherein the nut is arranged in a housing of the vacuum capacitor, wherein the drive screw is screwed through the nut, wherein a first electrode is arranged on one side of the drive screw, wherein, by a rotation of the drive screw, the first electrode is movable relative to a second electrode, and wherein the nut is at least partially manufactured out of a plastic material.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2007Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Comet AGInventors: Manuel Jaggi, Walter Bigler
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Patent number: 8139359Abstract: In a cooling system for a variable vacuum capacitor, a liquid is arranged inside a cooling reservoir, a first part of the reservoir is designed to absorb heat energy from first bellows of the variable vacuum capacitor, the first bellows being responsible for transporting electrical energy to a second electrode of the variable vacuum capacitor, a second part of the reservoir is designed to dissipate heat energy towards a cooling circuit, and heat pipes are arranged between the first part of the reservoir and the second part of the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2007Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Comet AGInventors: Manuel Jaggi, Walter Bigler
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Publication number: 20110027423Abstract: A process for preparing ice containing particles by preparing a liquid formulation that includes water, a glass transition temperature (Tg) elevating agent, a sweetener and a surfactant so that the formulation has a Tg of ?5° C. to ?15° C.; and spraying the liquid formulation into a cryogenicatmosphere that is at least 10° C. below the Tg of the formulation to form a frozen mass to form ice containing particles. These particles can be used for a variety of purposes but preferably are used for forming frozen ice drinks in a simple, rapid and convenient manner. This is particularly useful when a single serving of such drinks is desired as no special equipment to make the drink is required. The invention also relates to packaging for the ice containing particles and methods of making frozen ice drinks from the ice particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Inventors: Kendra Nicole Ellis, Madansinh Vaghela, Dinakar Panyam, Erich Josef Windhab, Natalie Béatrice Janine Dürr-Auster, Peter Walter Bigler
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Patent number: D633044Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2010Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Comet AGInventors: Walter Bigler, Roger Tanner