John C Varone

US Patent:

6474080, Nov 5, 2002

Filed:

Oct 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/982719

Inventors:

John J. Varone - Seekonk MA
Daniel R. Jankins - Randolph MA
Robert J. Lepofsky - Mansfield MA

Assignee:

Helix Technology Corporation - Mansfield MA

International Classification:

B01D 2500

US Classification:

62 555, 62298

Abstract:

A cryopump system includes an integral assembly having a refrigerator, cryopumping surfaces cooled by the refrigerator, a first electronic module for controlling the cryopump, and a second electronic module which is removably coupled to the first module. The second electronic module has a first surface abutting a complementary first surface of a housing of the first electronic module. Preferably, the first controller module has three orthogonal surfaces of approximately the same dimensions. Electronic modules can be removably coupled to each of the three surfaces. The cryopump system includes a module cap which is coupled to an end of an electronic module to shield electrical connections between two coupled electronic modules. The electronic modules comprise a channel of rectangular cross section having slots for mounting printed circuit boards.

US Patent:

6671583, Dec 30, 2003

Filed:

Mar 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/822106

Inventors:

John J. Varone - Seekonk MA
Norbert W. Elsdoerfer - Warwick RI

Assignee:

Helix Technology Corporation - Mansfield MA

International Classification:

G05D 700

US Classification:

700282, 700 19, 700170, 700 48, 700281, 700275, 709223, 709225, 709224, 702 45, 702 46, 702 49, 73 116, 73 136

Abstract:

A vacuum network control system includes a vacuum network controller hub communicating over a public high-speed network, where the hub has an address registered with respect to the non-local network and communicates over a first local high-speed network. Vacuum network controllers (VNCs) communicate with the hub over the first local network. Each VNC has a dynamically assigned local address and communicates with at least one component intrabus module over a second local high-speed network. Each module has a dynamically assigned local address and further communicates with one or more monitor and control end units over a local device network. Each monitor and control end unit has a dynamically assigned address. Monitor and control end units include taps, which provide at least one of analog, digital or serial I/O, and components, for example, vacuum pumps. Device addresses can be dynamically assigned based on unique identification information sent by the device upon the devices initialization, where the devices assigned local address is transmitted back to the device in response.

US Patent:

6878005, Apr 12, 2005

Filed:

Mar 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/821830

Inventors:

John J. Varone - Seekonk MA, US
Herbert McEvoy - N. Attleboro MA, US

Assignee:

Helix Technology Corporation - Mansfield MA

International Classification:

H01R013/625

US Classification:

439347, 439376, 439545, 439304

Abstract:

A securing mechanism includes a connector latch and a module latch such that engagement of the connector latch with a connector causes the module latch to engage a housing support. The securing mechanism prevents removal of a module from a housing support when a connector, such as on a power cable, is engaged by the connector latch. The connector latch has a position adjustment mechanism, engageable by an external tool, that controls the position of the connector latch. A tool is used to position the connector latch and allow the insertion or removal of the connector.

US Patent:

7103428, Sep 5, 2006

Filed:

Mar 4, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/071996

Inventors:

John J. Varone - Seekonk MA, US
Timothy Clish - Taunton MA, US
John Burroughs - Exeter RI, US
Louis Genatossio - Shrewsbury MA, US
Rama Machireddy - Foxboro MA, US
Norbert W. Elsdoerfer - Warwick RI, US
Joseph Chopy, Jr. - Cumberland RI, US

Assignee:

Brooks Automation, Inc. - Chelmsford MA

International Classification:

G05B 15/00
G05B 11/01
G09G 5/00
G06F 3/00
G06F 9/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

700 83, 700 17, 700 19, 345 12, 345 31, 715736, 715740, 715746, 715864, 715866

Abstract:

A portable display unit includes a serial port to connect to a device such as a vacuum network controller, cryopump, turbomolecular pump, gauges or compressor. In particular, the display unit can be plugged and unplugged to devices of different types. The portable display unit includes a display and control keys for programming, controlling and monitoring the functions of a device. The device accessible to the display unit includes a display interface having software code and files to interface with the display unit. Accordingly, the portable display unit can be used with any device having software code to interface with the display unit. The software code generates, refreshes and communicates menus to the portable display unit to provide graphical interface of the device's functions. The portable display unit further includes inner and outer hand grips so that the display unit can be held by hands of different sizes. The hand grips allow user with different hand sizes to firmly hold and navigate the display using control keys with fingers.

US Patent:

20030114942, Jun 19, 2003

Filed:

May 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/136908

Inventors:

John Varone - Seekonk MA, US
Timothy Clish - Taunton MA, US
John Burroughs - Exeter RI, US
Louis Genatossio - Shrewsbury MA, US
Rama Machireddy - Foxboro MA, US
Norbert Elsdoerfer - Warwick RI, US
Joseph Chopy - Cumberland RI, US

International Classification:

G05B015/00

US Classification:

700/083000, 700/275000

Abstract:

A portable display unit includes a serial port to connect to a device such as a vacuum network controller, cryopump, turbomolecular pump, gauges or compressor. In particular, the display unit can be plugged and unplugged to devices of different types. The portable display unit includes a display and control keys for programming, controlling and monitoring the functions of a device. The device accessible to the display unit includes a display interface having software code and files to interface with the display unit. Accordingly, the portable display unit can be used with any device having software code to interface with the display unit. The software code generates, refreshes and communicates menus to the portable display unit to provide graphical interface of the device's functions. The portable display unit further includes inner and outer hand grips so that the display unit can be held by hands of different sizes. The hand grips allow user with different hand sizes to firmly hold and navigate the display using control keys with fingers.

US Patent:

20110016891, Jan 27, 2011

Filed:

Jan 22, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/864142

Inventors:

Randall J. McDonald - Franklin MA, US
Oliver J. Dumas - East Sandwich MA, US
Robert P. Sullivan - Wilmington MA, US
John J. Varone - Seekonk MA, US
Joseph Chopy, JR. - Cumberland RI, US
Daniel R. Jankins - Raynham MA, US

International Classification:

B01D 8/00

US Classification:

62 555

Abstract:

A vacuum network control system includes a plurality of nodes configured for control over operational processes of the system. The plural nodes are configured, in a network ring or other topology, as a selectable master node for controlling the operational processes. Control can be distributed among, and passed between, each of the nodes. Each node on the network monitors adjacent network connectors to detect a fault in the network. In response to a detected fault, a disconnect is mapped to the fault, and the network topology is reconfigured for continued communication among the nodes and with external devices.

US Patent:

62724002, Aug 7, 2001

Filed:

Jul 13, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/114549

Inventors:

Daniel Jankins - Randolph MA
John Varone - Seekonk MA

Assignee:

Helix Technology Corporation - Mansfield MA

International Classification:

G05D 1100

US Classification:

700282

Abstract:

A vacuum network controller includes a host interface for interfacing with a host controller, a component interface for interfacing with vacuum system components, a computer-readable medium storing software code, and a processor in communication with each of the preceding elements. The software code generates commands to control the vacuum system components, translates those commands into multiple communication protocols, and communicates the translated commands to the component interface. In a method embedded in a set of computer-translatable instructions, an instruction is received from a host controller. That instruction is processed to generate a command for controlling a vacuum system component. A software driver is selected from a library of drivers for communication protocols, and the selected software driver is used to translate the command into the respective protocol. Finally, the translated command is communicated to a component interface to control the operation of the vacuum system component.

US Patent:

6318091, Nov 20, 2001

Filed:

Nov 11, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/438736

Inventors:

John J. Varone - Seekonk MA
Daniel R. Jankins - Randolph MA
Robert J. Lepofsky - Mansfield MA

Assignee:

Helix Technology Corporation - Mansfield MA

International Classification:

B01D 800

US Classification:

62 555

Abstract:

A cryopump system includes an integral assembly having a refrigerator, cryopumping surfaces cooled by the refrigerator, a first electronic module for controlling the cryopump, and a second electronic module which is removably coupled to the first module. The second electronic module has a first surface abutting a complementary first surface of a housing of the first electronic module. Preferably, the first controller module has three orthogonal surfaces of approximately the same dimensions. Electronic modules can be removably coupled to each of the three surfaces. The cryopump system includes a module cap which is coupled to an end of an electronic module to shield electrical connections between two coupled electronic modules. The electronic modules comprise a channel of rectangular cross section having slots for mounting printed circuit boards.