Brandon W Pillans

US Patent:

6803534, Oct 12, 2004

Filed:

May 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/866205

Inventors:

Shea Chen - Plano TX
Brandon W. Pillans - Dallas TX
John C. Ehmke - Garland TX
Zhimin Jamie Yao - Newbury Park CA

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

B81B 300

US Classification:

200181, 200513

Abstract:

A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) switch ( ) has an electrode ( ) covered by a dielectric layer ( ), and has a flexible conductive membrane ( ) which moves between positions spaced from and engaging the dielectric layer. At least one of the membrane and dielectric layer has a textured surface ( ) that engages the other thereof in the actuated position. The textured surface reduces the area of physical contact through which electric charge from the membrane can tunnel into and become trapped within the dielectric layer. This reduces the amount of trapped charge that could act to latch the membrane in its actuated position, which in turn effects a significant increase in the operational lifetime of the switch.

US Patent:

7002441, Feb 21, 2006

Filed:

Aug 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/914537

Inventors:

Brandon W. Pillans - Dallas TX, US
David I. Forehand - Plano TX, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H01H 51/22

US Classification:

335 78, 200181

Abstract:

A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) switch () has an electrode () covered by a dielectric layer (), and has a flexible conductive membrane () which moves between positions spaced from and engaging the dielectric layer. At least one of the membrane and dielectric layer has a textured surface () that engages the other thereof in the actuated position. The textured surface reduces the area of physical contact through which electric charge from the membrane can tunnel into and become trapped within the dielectric layer. This reduces the amount of trapped charge that could act to latch the membrane in its actuated position, which in turn effects a significant increase in the operational lifetime of the switch.

US Patent:

8364439, Jan 29, 2013

Filed:

Jul 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/833292

Inventors:

Nathan M. Mintz - Redondo Beach CA, US
Michael K. Holz - Newton Centre MA, US
Brandon W. Pillans - Plano TX, US
Gregory V. Burnett - Murphy TX, US
Anthony Ross - Frisco TX, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G06F 15/00
G01M 1/22
B60R 21/16

US Classification:

702173, 701124, 280735

Abstract:

A system and computer-implemented method for detecting concealed cargo and/or concealed passengers in a vehicle includes obtaining weight distribution data for the vehicle; obtaining vehicle loading data; measuring a center of mass of the vehicle to obtain an actual center of mass position of the vehicle; and executing one or more computer program modules configured to determined a predicted center of mass position of the vehicle using the obtained vehicle loading data and the obtained weight distribution data of the vehicle; compare the actual center of mass position of the vehicle with the predicted center of mass position of the vehicle; and provide a signal if the actual center of mass position of the vehicle departs from the predicted center of mass position of the vehicle by at least a predetermined threshold, the signal being representative of concealed cargo and/or concealed passengers in the vehicle.

US Patent:

8368491, Feb 5, 2013

Filed:

Apr 22, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/765512

Inventors:

Brandon W. Pillans - Plano TX, US
Francis J. Morris - Dallas TX, US
Mikel J. White - Murphy TX, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H01H 51/22

US Classification:

335 78, 200181

Abstract:

Systems and methods for providing high-capacitive RF MEMS switches are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a micro-electro-mechanical switch assembly including a substrate, an electrode disposed on a portion of the substrate, a dielectric layer disposed on at least a portion of the electrode, a metal layer disposed on at least a portion of the dielectric layer, and a flexible membrane having first and second ends supported at spaced locations on the substrate base, where the flexible membrane is configured to move from a default position to an actuated position in response to a preselected switching voltage applied between the flexible membrane and the electrode, and where, in the actuated position, the flexible membrane is in electrical contact with the metal layer.

US Patent:

8451070, May 28, 2013

Filed:

Sep 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/878758

Inventors:

Gary A. Frazier - Garland TX, US
Cody B. Moody - Frisco TX, US
Brandon W. Pillans - Plano TX, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H02N 1/00
H02N 2/18
H01L 41/08
H04Q 5/22

US Classification:

331154, 310309, 310303, 340 101

Abstract:

Self powered microelectromechanical oscillators are provided for various applications. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a self powered microelectromechanical tagging or sensing system including a microelectromechanical oscillator having a characteristic frequency, the oscillator including a first substrate having a radioactive material configured to emit electrons, and a second substrate, spaced apart from the first substrate by first and second ends supported at spaced locations on the first substrate, where the second substrate includes a flexible material and is configured to collect the electrons emitted from the first substrate, and move toward the first substrate from a default position to an actuated position when a sufficient number of electrons have been collected, where, in the actuated position, collected electrons are transferred from the second substrate to the first substrate, and a circuitry configured to receive, from the oscillator by wireless communication, information indicative of the characteristic frequency of the oscillator.

US Patent:

8629360, Jan 14, 2014

Filed:

Apr 30, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/460056

Inventors:

Brandon William Pillans - Plano TX, US
Cody Blake Moody - Frisco TX, US
Francis Joseph Morris - Dallas TX, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H01H 57/00

US Classification:

200181

Abstract:

An RF MEMS capacitive switch aligns holes in one of its electrodes to dielectric posts to reduce trapped charge without affecting the capacitance ratio of the switch. When actuated, the electrode contacts the posts' one or more contact surfaces around the plurality of holes so that each hole overlaps at least a central portion of the post to which it is aligned. By selecting the hole size such that the top electrode appears to be approximately a continuous conductive sheet at the RF frequency, the alignment of the holes to the posts reduces the amount of trapped charge without lowering switch capacitance. In different embodiments, the post diameter may be smaller than the hole diameter so that the overlap is complete, in which case trapped charge is largely eliminated.

US Patent:

20040124073, Jul 1, 2004

Filed:

May 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/140658

Inventors:

Brandon Pillans - Dallas TX, US
David Forehand - Plano TX, US

International Classification:

H01H051/22

US Classification:

200/181000

Abstract:

A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) switch () has an electrode () covered by a dielectric layer (), and has a flexible conductive membrane () which moves between positions spaced from and engaging the dielectric layer. At least one of the membrane and dielectric layer has a textured surface () that engages the other thereof in the actuated position. The textured surface reduces the area of physical contact through which electric charge from the membrane can tunnel into and become trapped within the dielectric layer. This reduces the amount of trapped charge that could act to latch the membrane in its actuated position, which in turn effects a significant increase in the operational lifetime of the switch.

US Patent:

20130299328, Nov 14, 2013

Filed:

May 14, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/470573

Inventors:

Andrew Malczewski - Richardson TX, US
Cody B. Moody - Frisco TX, US
Brandon W. Pillans - Plano TX, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H01H 9/00
H02M 3/06

US Classification:

200 5 R, 307109

Abstract:

A structure having a plurality serially coupled variable capacitors, each one of the variable capacitors having a pair of plates, one of the plates being electrostatically moveable relative to the other one of the plates, to provide each one of the variable capacitors with a variable capacitance; and a transmission line. A first one of the variable capacitors has a first one of the one plates thereof coupled between and input and output of the transmission line and a second one of the plates thereof serially coupled to a first one of the plates of a second one of the variable capacitors.