Thomas G Weiss

US Patent:

6389940, May 21, 2002

Filed:

Jul 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/906199

Inventors:

David C. Long - Wappingers Falls NY
John U. Knickerbocker - Hopewell Junction NY
Mark J. LaPlante - Walden NY
Thomas Weiss - Poughquag NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B26F 100

US Classification:

83 23, 83 30, 83623, 83529, 100219, 100264, 100281

Abstract:

A gang punch tool assembly and method is provided for punching holes in a plurality of greensheets which are processed sequentially through the assembly. The punch mechanism is a gang punch cooperating with a corresponding die and the greensheet is automatically fed to the gang punch and die, the greensheet punched and then the punched greensheet removed from the punch area and another greensheet positioned for punching. Operation of the gang punch apparatus is efficient and effective and has a high greensheet throughput. A preferred gang punch uses a pressurizable air chamber for controlling punching of the greensheet without damage to the greensheets or gang punch mechanism.

US Patent:

6405622, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

Jan 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/478241

Inventors:

James G. Balz - Walden NY
Mark J. LaPlante - Walden NY
David C. Long - Wappingers Falls NY
Keith C. ONeil - Hughsonville NY
Thomas Weiss - Poughquag NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B23K 3704

US Classification:

83 13, 83559, 83477, 834661

Abstract:

The present invention is a workpiece support apparatus and method of making of using the same. A holding fixture frame supports the workpiece about the perimeter and also locates the workpiece. A series of support wires keep the workpiece from sagging inside the holding fixture frame. The support wires provide support while allowing top and bottom access to the workpiece. The workpiece remains flat at the point of the machining operation.

US Patent:

6565496, May 20, 2003

Filed:

Jan 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/045831

Inventors:

Mark J. LaPlante - Montgomery NY
David C. Long - Wappingers Falls NY
Thomas Weiss - Poughkeepsie NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B23Q 3155

US Classification:

483 1, 483 29, 83549

Abstract:

An apparatus and method are provided for loading punch pins into a punch pin holding plate of a gang-punch apparatus wherein an individual punch pin is removed from a preloaded punch pin holder or supply plate, transferred to a load station which precisely locates the punch pin shank over the pre-drilled hole in the punch pin holding plate while holding the punch perpendicular and coaxial to the hole and pushes the punch into the punch pin holding plate. A vision system is used to align the hole in the punch pin holding plate and to verify that the punch pin is properly loaded into the holding plate. The above sequence for individual punches is repeated until the desired number of punch pins are transferred from the preloaded holder to the punch pin holding plate.

US Patent:

6529021, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Apr 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/558428

Inventors:

Yuet-Ying Yu - Hopewell Junction NY
Daniel G Berger - Wappingers Falls NY
Camille Proietti Bowne - Poughkeepsie NY
Scott Langenthal - Pleasant Valley NY
Charles H Perry - Poughkeepsie NY
Terence Spoor - Marlboro NY
Thomas Weiss - Poughkeepsie NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G01R 1067

US Classification:

324754, 3241581, 439482

Abstract:

A self scrubbing buckling beam contactor for contacting an array of pads positioned on a device under test is described. The contactor consists of three insulating dies: a top, an offset and a lower die separated from each other by an insulated spacer of variable thickness. Each die is provided with holes. The buckling beam has an array of flexible wires positioned substantially perpendicular to the dies, each of the flexible wires crossing a corresponding hole in each of the top, offset and lower dies to allow each wire respectively contact a pad of the device under test. By shifting the center of the hole of the lower die relative to the center of the offset die, the tip of the wire exits from the lower die at an angle with respect to the plane formed by the pads of the device under test. The exit angle of the wire tip is controlled by the relative displacement of the offset die relative to the bottom die, such that the exit angle of the tip of the wire at the bottom die changes when the probe wire is under compression. By applying a reciprocating motion to the tip of the wire contacting the surface of the device under test, a scrubbing motion is achieved that lowers the resistance between the pad of the device under test.

US Patent:

6532654, Mar 18, 2003

Filed:

Jan 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/759014

Inventors:

Luc Gilbert Guerin - Quebec, CA
Mario J. Interrante - New Paltz NY
Mark Joseph LaPlante - Montgomery NY
David Clifford Long - Wappingers Falls NY
Gregory Blair Martin - Wappingers Falls NY
Thomas P. Moyer - Lagrangeville NY
Glenn A. Pomerantz - Kerhonkson NY
Thomas Weiss - Poughkeepsie NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H01R 4300

US Classification:

29884, 29874, 29877, 439 66, 439 78, 439608, 361760, 361772

Abstract:

A method of forming an electrical connector including providing a metallic sheet having a multitude of connector blanks formed therein, each of the connector blanks having a base portion, a contact portion and a singulation arm; forming each of the connector blanks into a connector having a predetermined shape wherein each of the connectors remain connected to the metallic sheet by their respective singulation arms and wherein the singulation arms are nonplanar with respect to the metallic sheet; joining the base of each of the connectors to a first substrate; and severing the singulation arms to separate each of the connectors from the metallic sheet wherein the base of each of the connectors is joined to the first substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the contact portion contacts a second substrate.

US Patent:

6679146, Jan 20, 2004

Filed:

Jan 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/045832

Inventors:

James G. Balz - Walden NY
Mark J. LaPlante - Montgomery NY
David C. Long - Wappingers Falls NY
Thomas Weiss - Poughkeepsie NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B26F 104

US Classification:

83619, 83687, 839291

Abstract:

A die and method of gang punching selective holes in thin sheet materials such as greensheets are provided in which slugs of greensheet material formed during the punching operation easily fall through the die and are removed. The die uses a number of plates one of which is a window plate having openings corresponding to openings in a die plate disposed thereon. The window plate openings have a larger diameter than the die plate openings and also a plurality have an oval shape which oval shape openings provide less resistance to the falling slugs and facilitate removal of the slugs from the die. The window plate also preferably has a central grid open area with the remainder of the plate having vertical through-holes corresponding to the through-holes of the die plate. The die also preferably employs a die plate made from at least two sheets of material, i. e. , an upper disposable sheet (die plate) and a lower sheet (sub-die plate) wherein the upper die plate is made from a wear-resistant material such as molybdenum.

US Patent:

7401637, Jul 22, 2008

Filed:

Jul 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/495966

Inventors:

Glen N. Biggs - Wappingers Falls NY, US
John J. Garant - Poughkeepsie NY, US
Peter A. Gruber - Mohegan Lake NY, US
Bouwe W. Leenstra - Walden NY, US
Christopher L. Tessler - Poughquag NY, US
Thomas Weiss - Poughkeepsie NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B22D 18/00

US Classification:

164119, 164306, 228 33

Abstract:

A new pressure-only molten metal valving apparatus and method is provided. This novel approach to controlling the flow of liquids eliminates the need for active, moving valve components. Using the natural surface tension properties of liquids, the gas pressure either activates liquid flow when a threshold is overcome or retains the liquid in a head, even when lifted.

US Patent:

7510619, Mar 31, 2009

Filed:

Jul 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/160786

Inventors:

Mark J. LaPlante - Montgomery NY, US
Thomas Weiss - Poughkeepsie NY, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B32B 15/00

US Classification:

156261, 156 8912, 156 8921, 83 13

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for filling vias in a product greensheet and/or repairing vias in a product greensheet. The method and apparatus utilize a transfer greensheet having filled vias in a fixed array, which vias are punched into the product greensheet to either repair or fill the via of the product greensheet. The method and apparatus employ position determining means such as a camera, a punch head and a corresponding punch die and an activating means to activate the punch head to punch the transfer greensheet via to fill the product greensheet via. The transfer greensheet has a fixed array of filled vias and a transfer greensheet station employs a fixed plate having a plurality of vacuum ports positioned in the non-via areas of the transfer greensheet which secures the transfer greensheet during the method. The product greensheet is held by a vacuum plate.