Patents by Inventor William F. Clark

William F. Clark 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: 11448399
    Abstract: An electronically controlled burner management system for oilfield separators. The system includes an autonomous standing pilot spark ignition that includes a self-aligning clamp that holds the igniter to the burner nozzle. The self-aligning clamp enables rapid installation and removal, lowering the total cost of ownership. The autonomous spark ignition system incorporates temperature sensors to determine when the standing pilot needs to be relit, and can shut off the gas or other fuel flow to the standing pilot and the main burner when the pilot is not lit. The system increases oil and gas production from the well, reduces fugitive emissions of unburned gas, and improves oilfield worker safety. When installed or retrofitted into an existing oilfield separator, the original burner control components are left in place, allowing the user to revert to traditional operation in case of failure of any electronic component of the present system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Dragonfire Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Davis, Steven Strohl, Ty Davis, William F. Clark
  • Publication number: 20200158336
    Abstract: An electronically controlled burner management system for oilfield separators. The system includes an autonomous standing pilot spark ignition that includes a self-aligning clamp that holds the igniter to the burner nozzle. The self-aligning clamp enables rapid installation and removal, lowering the total cost of ownership. The autonomous spark ignition system incorporates temperature sensors to determine when the standing pilot needs to be relit, and can shut off the gas or other fuel flow to the standing pilot and the main burner when the pilot is not lit. The system increases oil and gas production from the well, reduces fugitive emissions of unburned gas, and improves oilfield worker safety. When installed or retrofitted into an existing oilfield separator, the original burner control components are left in place, allowing the user to revert to traditional operation in case of failure of any electronic component of the present system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Dragonfire Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Davis, Steven Strohl, Ty Davis, William F. Clark
  • Patent number: 10042374
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for determining a grid condition, such as a weakened grid condition, and controlling a power plant, such as a wind or solar power plant, in a manner which is appropriate to the grid condition. The method includes measuring (14) output parameters of a generator, such as a wind turbine or PV generator. The measured output parameters include reactive power and voltage. The method further includes determining (16) a relationship between the measured output parameters of the generator. The relationship between the measured output parameters of the generator is indicative of a condition of a power grid to which the plant supplies power. The method allows controlling (18) the plant responsive to the relationship between the measured output parameters of the generator to avoid onset of oscillatory behavior, which could otherwise occur in the power plant in the presence of a weakened grid condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S
    Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Najlae M. Yazghi, Hongtao Ma, William F. Clark
  • Patent number: 9871382
    Abstract: A method and a controller for continuously operating a plurality of electric energy generating machines during a high voltage condition at a point of common coupling of the plurality of electric energy generating machines are provided herein. The method includes a) sensing a voltage level at the point of common coupling exceeding a permitted voltage level; b) curtailing an active power output of the plurality of electric energy generating machines such that a reactive capability of the plurality of electric energy generating machines is increased; c) establishing a set point of an electric quantity being present at the point of common coupling such that a reactive electric component providable by the electric energy generating machines is increased; and d) controlling an electric energy generating machine based on the set point of the electric quantity such that the high voltage condition at common coupling is at least partially remedied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Najlae M. Yazghi, William F. Clark
  • Patent number: 9450416
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator park (1) for supplying power to a power system (37), the park having an assigned first droop response characteristic for use in responding to an under-frequency occurrence on the power system (37). The park comprises a first comparator (108) for generating a first signal when the park is operating according to a curtailed condition, a second comparator (100) for indicating that a change in a frequency of a voltage or current on the power system (37) is greater than a first threshold value, and a controller (114) responsive to the first and second signals for controlling the park according to a second response characteristic causing the park (1) to supply an amount of power to the power system (37) greater than the power supplied according to the first droop response characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hongtao Ma, Robert J. Nelson, Najlae M. Yazghi, William F. Clark
  • Patent number: 9397086
    Abstract: Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for passive devices that may be used as electrostatic discharge protection devices in fin-type field-effect transistor integrated circuit technologies. A portion of a device layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate is patterned to form a device region. A well of a first conductivity type is formed in the epitaxial layer and the device region. A doped region of a second conductivity type is formed in the well and defines a junction with a portion of the well. The epitaxial layer includes an exterior sidewall spaced from an exterior sidewall of the device region. Another portion of the device layer may be patterned to form fins for fin-type field-effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Junjun Li
  • Patent number: 9356014
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. Specifically, disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing a high-voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor and respective structures. A method includes forming a field-effect transistor (FET) on a substrate in a FET region, forming a high-voltage FET (HVFET) on a dielectric stack over a over lightly-doped diffusion (LDD) drain in a HVFET region, and forming an NPN on the substrate in an NPN region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Qizhi Liu, John J. Pekarik, Yun Shi, Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: 9337088
    Abstract: An semiconductor structure, method of fabrication therefor, and design structure therefor is provided. A thermal grid is formed over at least a portion of a substrate. An insulating layer is formed over at least a portion of the thermal grid. A resistor is formed over at least a portion of the insulating layer. A buried interconnect is connected to the thermal grid via at least one contact. The buried interconnect is adapted to receive thermal energy from the thermal grid via the at least one contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Robert R. Robison, Hung H. Tran
  • Patent number: 9236398
    Abstract: Device structures and design structures for passive devices that may be used as electrostatic discharge protection devices in fin-type field-effect transistor integrated circuit technologies. A device region is formed in a trench and is coupled with a handle wafer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The device region extends through a buried insulator layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate toward a top surface of a device layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The device region is comprised of lightly-doped semiconductor material. The device structure further includes a doped region formed in the device region and that defines a junction. A portion of the device region is laterally positioned between the doped region and the buried insulator layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. Another region of the device layer may be patterned to form fins for fin-type field-effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Terence B. Hook, Junjun Li, Theodorus E. Standaert, Thomas A. Wallner
  • Patent number: 9219056
    Abstract: Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for passive devices that may be used as electrostatic discharge protection devices in fin-type field-effect transistor integrated circuit technologies. A portion of a device layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate is patterned to form a device region. A well of a first conductivity type is formed in the epitaxial layer and the device region. A doped region of a second conductivity type is formed in the well and defines a junction with a portion of the well. The epitaxial layer includes an exterior sidewall spaced from an exterior sidewall of the device region. Another portion of the device layer may be patterned to form fins for fin-type field-effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Junjun Li
  • Publication number: 20150361954
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for determining a grid condition, such as a weakened grid condition, and controlling a power plant, such as a wind or solar power plant, in a manner which is appropriate to the grid condition. The method includes measuring (14) output parameters of a generator, such as a wind turbine or PV generator. The measured output parameters include reactive power and voltage. The method further includes determining (16) a relationship between the measured output parameters of the generator. The relationship between the measured output parameters of the generator is indicative of a condition of a power grid to which the plant supplies power. The method allows controlling (18) the plant responsive to the relationship between the measured output parameters of the generator to avoid onset of oscillatory behavior, which could otherwise occur in the power plant in the presence of a weakened grid condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Najlae M. Yazghi, Hongtao Ma, William F. Clark
  • Publication number: 20150364398
    Abstract: An semiconductor structure, method of fabrication therefor, and design structure therefor is provided. A thermal grid is formed over at least a portion of a substrate. An insulating layer is formed over at least a portion of the thermal grid. A resistor is formed over at least a portion of the insulating layer. A buried interconnect is connected to the thermal grid via at least one contact. The buried interconnect is adapted to receive thermal energy from the thermal grid via the at least one contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: William F. Clark, JR., Robert R. Robison, Hung H. Tran
  • Publication number: 20150348959
    Abstract: Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for passive devices that may be used as electrostatic discharge protection devices in fin-type field-effect transistor integrated circuit technologies. A portion of a device layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate is patterned to form a device region. A well of a first conductivity type is formed in the epitaxial layer and the device region. A doped region of a second conductivity type is formed in the well and defines a junction with a portion of the well. The epitaxial layer includes an exterior sidewall spaced from an exterior sidewall of the device region. Another portion of the device layer may be patterned to form fins for fin-type field-effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: William F. Clark, JR., Robert J. Gauthier, JR., Junjun Li
  • Publication number: 20150249338
    Abstract: A method and a controller for continuously operating a plurality of electric energy generating machines during a high voltage condition at a point of common coupling of the plurality of electric energy generating machines are provided herein. The method includes a) sensing a voltage level at the point of common coupling exceeding a permitted voltage level; b) curtailing an active power output of the plurality of electric energy generating machines such that a reactive capability of the plurality of electric energy generating machines is increased; c) establishing a set point of an electric quantity being present at the point of common coupling such that a reactive electric component providable by the electric energy generating machines is increased; and d) controlling an electric energy generating machine based on the set point of the electric quantity such that the high voltage condition at common coupling is at least partially remedied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Najlae M. Yazghi, William F. Clark
  • Patent number: 9059131
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including at least one capacitor formed in wiring levels on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, wherein the at least one capacitor is coupled to an active layer of the SOI substrate. A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming an SOI substrate, forming a BOX layer over the SOI substrate, and forming at least one capacitor in wiring levels on the BOX layer, wherein the at least one capacitor is coupled to an active layer of the SOI substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Stephen E. Luce
  • Patent number: 9041105
    Abstract: An Integrated Circuit (IC) and a method of making the same. In one embodiment, the IC includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate; a shallow trench isolation (STI) extending through the first semiconductor layer to within a portion of the substrate, the STI substantially separating a first n+ region and a second n+ region; and a gate disposed on a portion of the first semiconductor layer and connected to the STI, the gate including: a buried metal oxide (BOX) layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer and connected to the STI; a cap layer disposed on the BOX layer; and a p-type well component disposed within the first semiconductor layer and the substrate, the p-type well component connected to the second n+ region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Qizhi Liu, Robert M. Rassel, Yun Shi
  • Publication number: 20150054027
    Abstract: Device structures and design structures for passive devices that may be used as electrostatic discharge protection devices in fin-type field-effect transistor integrated circuit technologies. A device region is formed in a trench and is coupled with a handle wafer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The device region extends through a buried insulator layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate toward a top surface of a device layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The device region is comprised of lightly-doped semiconductor material. The device structure further includes a doped region formed in the device region and that defines a junction. A portion of the device region is laterally positioned between the doped region and the buried insulator layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. Another region of the device layer may be patterned to form fins for fin-type field-effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: William F. Clark, JR., Robert J. Gauthier, JR., Terence B. Hook, Junjun Li, Theodorus E. Standaert, Thomas A. Wallner
  • Publication number: 20150041895
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. Specifically, disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing a high-voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor and respective structures. A method includes forming a field-effect transistor (FET) on a substrate in a FET region, forming a high-voltage FET (HVFET) on a dielectric stack over a over lightly-doped diffusion (LDD) drain in a HVFET region, and forming an NPN on the substrate in an NPN region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: William F. CLARK, JR., Qizhi LIU, John J. Pekarik, Yun SHI, Yanli ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20150022007
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator park (1) for supplying power to a power system (37), the park having an assigned first droop response characteristic for use in responding to an under-frequency occurrence on the power system (37). The park comprises a first comparator (108) for generating a first signal when the park is operating according to a curtailed condition, a second comparator (100) for indicating that a change in a frequency of a voltage or current on the power system (37) is greater than a first threshold value, and a controller (114) responsive to the first and second signals for controlling the park according to a second response characteristic causing the park (1) to supply an amount of power to the power system (37) greater than the power supplied according to the first droop response characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Hongtao Ma, Robert J. Nelson, Najlae M. Yazghi, William F. Clark
  • Patent number: 8916440
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. Specifically, disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing a high-voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor and respective structures. A method includes forming a field-effect transistor (FET) on a substrate in a FET region, forming a high-voltage FET (HVFET) on a dielectric stack over a over lightly-doped diffusion (LDD) drain in a HVFET region, and forming an NPN on the substrate in an NPN region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Qizhi Liu, John J. Pekarik, Yun Shi, Yanli Zhang