William Eugene Funk

US Patent:

6536147, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

Apr 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/556381

Inventors:

William Funk - Eagan MN
Timothy Cota - Bloomington MN
Paul N. Sperl - Bloomington MN
Dixon Gimpel - Richfield MN

Assignee:

Skyline Displays, Inc. - Eagan MN

International Classification:

G09F 700

US Classification:

40605, 522207

Abstract:

A portable display formed of a plurality of assembleable panels having wire management permitting concealment of wire for powering accessories within the junctures between panels. In a preferred embodiment, the panel edges have edge portions formed with outwardly facing channels defining or including wire conduits. Panel connector portions, either of the sliding type, or the peg or plug-in type secure the panels together to form the display. In a preferred embodiment, each panel has four corners each with corner components that engage with the edge portions, preferably by insertion into receiving openings in said edge portions. Said corner components having a receptacle exposed at each corner to permit either connection with plug-in components, for example, panel connectors for vertical stacking of panels or with accessory brackets. The panel connectors having a U-shaped portion consistent with the wire management characteristics of the invention that that allows the wire conduit to extend through said connectors. Thus attachment of electric powered accessories with concealed power lines is provided.

US Patent:

6543164, Apr 8, 2003

Filed:

Apr 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/556382

Inventors:

Paul N. Sperl - Bloomington MN
Dixon Gimpel - Richfield MN
William Funk - Eagan MN
Timothy Cota - Bloomington MN

Assignee:

Skyline Displays, Inc. - Eagan MN

International Classification:

G09F 700

US Classification:

40605, 522207

Abstract:

In a preferred embodiment, a portable display is formed of a plurality of assembleable panels, each of panels having a plurality of edge portions secured together with corner connectors to form a rectangular framework. Panelar sheet material extends over two side of the framework and polyurethane foam in injected into the interior space. Panel connector portions, either of the sliding type, or the peg or plug-in type secure the panels together to form the display. In a preferred embodiment, each panel has four corners each with corner components that engage with the edge portions, preferably by insertion into receiving openings in said edge portions. Said corner components having a receptacle exposed at each corner to permit either connection with plug-in components, for example, panel connectors for vertical stacking of panels or accessory brackets.

US Patent:

6854234, Feb 15, 2005

Filed:

Feb 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/182547

Inventors:

Dixon Gimpel - Minneapolis MN, US
Timothy Cota - Minneapolis MN, US
William Funk - Eagan MN, US

Assignee:

Skyline Displays, Inc. - Egan MN

International Classification:

E04B002/00

US Classification:

525862, 525871, 52239, 160135, 40506, 403339

Abstract:

A panel connector system is provided and includes a plurality of panels and panel connectors. Each panel includes panel sidewall extensions, lips extending from the sidewall extensions, and cross-walls. The sidewall extensions, lips, and cross-walls define outwardly opening edge channels. The panel connectors include a base and a member extending generally transversely from the base. The base includes a base plate and a contact element. The arm portion includes a generally longitudinal slot, a ledge or protruding portion and a spring portion. A male seating surface extends from the ledge and a female seating surface is present on the spring portion. The clip base plate is fastened to the panel cross-wall and one of the lips is disposed in the clip slot when the clip is attached within the edge channel. Two panels are reversibly connected by raising one of the panels and vertically aligning and lowering one of the edges of the raised panel with one of the edges of the other panel, thereby slidably and vertically mating the fastened connectors. When the connectors are mated, the biasing elements are slidingly resiliently biased toward the connector ledges, the male seating surfaces is disposed on the female seating surface, and adjacent lips of joined panels are disposed in the connector slot.

US Patent:

6963207, Nov 8, 2005

Filed:

Mar 6, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/383079

Inventors:

Bryan J. Root - Apple Valley MN, US
William A. Funk - Eagan MN, US

Assignee:

Celadon Systems, Inc. - Burnsville MN

International Classification:

G01R031/02

US Classification:

324754, 324761, 3241581

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for terminating a probe that probes a semiconductor device with a signal cable from a tester is provided to connect layers of the probe to layers of the signal cable side by side. The probe and signal cable can be a co-axial or tri-axial probe and signal cable, respectively. A center conductive probe needle of the probe is disposed side by side with and electrically connects to a center signal conductor of the signal cable. A dielectric layer of the probe is disposed side by side with and connects to a dielectric layer of the signal cable. A conductive guard layer of the probe is disposed side by side with and electrically connects to a conductive dispersion/guard layer of the signal cable, and a sleeve of the probe is disposed side by side with and connects to a sleeve of the signal cable. In a tri-axial embodiment, a second dielectric layer of the probe is disposed side by side with and connects to a second dielectric layer of the signal cable.

US Patent:

6975128, Dec 13, 2005

Filed:

Mar 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/809051

Inventors:

Bryan J. Root - Apple Valley MN, US
William A. Funk - Eagan MN, US

Assignee:

Celadon Systems, Inc. - Burnsville MN

International Classification:

G01R031/02

US Classification:

324761, 324758

Abstract:

A probe needle apparatus having a conductive central core with alternating layers of dielectric and conductive materials is provided. The apparatus includes the conductive central core, a first layer of dielectric material applied to maintain electrical access to the conductive central core while providing continuous isolation of the conductive central core elsewhere, and a conductive driven guard layer applied around the first layer of dielectric material in electrical isolation from the conductive central core. The conductive driven guard layer is applied on the first layer of dielectric material with a mask on an end of the conductive central core to prevent the conductive driven guard layer from touching the conductive central core.

US Patent:

6992495, Jan 31, 2006

Filed:

Jun 27, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/607768

Inventors:

Bryan J. Root - Apple Valley MN, US
William A. Funk - Eagan MN, US

Assignee:

Celadon Systems, Inc. - Burnsville MN

International Classification:

G01R 32/02

US Classification:

324754

Abstract:

A shielded probe apparatus is provided with a shielded probe and a tri-axial cable that are electrically connected within a shielded chassis. The shielded probe apparatus is capable of electrically testing a semiconductor device at a sub 100 fA operating current and an operating temperature up to 300 C.

US Patent:

7170305, Jan 30, 2007

Filed:

Nov 3, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/266144

Inventors:

Bryan J. Root - Apple Valley MN, US
William A. Funk - Eagan MN, US

Assignee:

Celadon Systems, Inc. - Burnsville MN

International Classification:

G01R 31/02

US Classification:

324754, 324761, 3241581

Abstract:

A probe apparatus and method of terminating a probe that probes a semiconductor device with a signal cable from a tester side by side at a proximal end of the probe and a distal end of the signal cable. In one embodiment, the probe apparatus includes: a chassis; a dielectric block mounted in the chassis for retaining the probe, the probe extending on the chassis from a proximal end of the probe to the dielectric block, extending through the dielectric block, and projecting from the dielectric block towards the semiconductor device at a distal end of the probe; and a terminating apparatus, mounted in the chassis, for terminating the proximal end of the probe with a distal end of the signal cable side by side.

US Patent:

7259577, Aug 21, 2007

Filed:

Nov 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/270044

Inventors:

Bryan J. Root - Apple Valley MN, US
William A. Funk - Eagan MN, US

Assignee:

Celadon Systems, Inc. - Burnsville MN

International Classification:

G01R 31/02

US Classification:

324754

Abstract:

A shielded probe apparatus is provided with a shielded probe and a tri-axial cable that are electrically connected within a shielded chassis. The shielded probe apparatus is capable of electrically testing a semiconductor device at a sub 100 fA operating current and an operating temperature up to 300 C.