Francois A Padovani

US Patent:

45904006, May 20, 1986

Filed:

Oct 26, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/665237

Inventors:

Vishwa Shukla - North Attleboro MA
Francois A. Padovani - Westwood MA
Lawrence Cooper - Attleboro MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01L 4108

US Classification:

310338

Abstract:

A cylinder pressure transmitter has means mounting piezoelectric means to provide an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine and has electronic means on the mounting means to amplify the signal for transmission to computer control means for regulating engine operation to improve performance. The electronic means are mounted on an insulating substrate which is secured to a rigid support in a housing. Guide means and locating means provided on the housing and on the mounting means cooperate in mounting the housing on the mounting means and contact means on the piezoelectric and electronic means fit together in an improved manner to provide reliable interconnection between the electronic and piezoelectric means and to retain that interconnection even when subjected to engine vibrations.

US Patent:

53724275, Dec 13, 1994

Filed:

Dec 19, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/812232

Inventors:

Francois A. Padovani - Westwood MA
Tim H. McMains - Lexington KY
Mitchell R. Rowlette - Berea KY

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G01K 722

US Classification:

374185

Abstract:

A low-cost, highly-responsive temperature sensor has a thermistor element surface-mounted in a circuit defined by an electrically-conducting layer of a three-layer circuit substrate to be in close thermal coupling to a metal base layer on an opposite side of the substrate. The base layer is adapted to be disposed in heat-collecting relation to a surface whose temperature is to be monitored. An intermediate layer of the substrate has a binder electrically insulating the thermistor from the metal base layer and has thermally-conducting particles dispersed in the binder to improve thermal coupling of the thermistor to the heat-collecting substrate base layer. The circuit defines terminal pads surface-mounting the thermistor element at one end of the substrate and defines interconnected terminal pads at an opposite end of the substrate which are connected to device lead wires in substantial thermal isolation from the thermistor element.

US Patent:

55567916, Sep 17, 1996

Filed:

Jan 3, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/368229

Inventors:

Gary D. Stevens - Dallas TX
Francois A. Padovani - Westwood MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01L 3118

US Classification:

437 4

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for forming semiconductor particles (42) for solar cells using an optical furnace (30). Uniform mass piles (26) of powered semiconductor feedstock are almost instantaneously optically fused to define high purity semiconductor particles without oxidation. The high intensity optical energy is directed and focused to the semiconductor feedstock piles (26) advanced by a conveyer medium (16) thereunder. The semiconductor feedstock piles (26) are at least partially melted and fused to form a single semiconductor particle (42) which can be later separated from a refractory layer (18) by a separator (50), preferably comprised of silica. The apparatus (10) and process is automated, providing a high throughput to produce uniform mass, high quality spheres for realizing high efficiency solar cells. The apparatus is energy efficient, whereby process parameters can be easily and quickly established.

US Patent:

57923370, Aug 11, 1998

Filed:

Sep 8, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/526124

Inventors:

Francois A. Padovani - Westwood MA
Paul P. Danesi - Attleboro MA
John F. Paster - Norfolk MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G01N 2726

US Classification:

2057755

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for sensing corrosion are provided in which an interrogation unit (14) transmits interrogation pulses and receives responses. A plurality of corrosion sensors (12) are disposed in the structure to be monitored (10), each of the sensors (12) generating an output. A plurality of responders (16) are powered from the interrogation pulses, one each of the responders (16) associated with one each of the sensors (12). The responders (16) are operable to transmit responses to the interrogation pulses based on the corrosion sensors' (12) output.

US Patent:

58071040, Sep 15, 1998

Filed:

Jan 26, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/592146

Inventors:

Kiyokazu Ikeya - Shizuoka-ken, JP
Francois A. Padovani - Westwood MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01R 909

US Classification:

439 73

Abstract:

A socket with a main socket body 10 for use in a burn-in test of a bare chip 80 with a large number of contact connectors BP is provided with a positioning plate 42 in the top of the socket body 10. This positioning plate has a plurality of through holes 42c with contact members 48 slidingly contained therein. The through holes 42c and contact members 48 are aligned in one to one relationship to contact connections on the bare chip on one side of positioning plate 42 and a plurality of electroconductive film contacts 50 on the other side of the positioning plate 42. The film contacts are movably supported in the socket. Additionally, the film contacts 50 are electrically connected in a one-to-one relationship to socket contact 56 contained in the socket for providing electrical connection between bare chip 80 and socket 10.

US Patent:

53156722, May 24, 1994

Filed:

Sep 23, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/764257

Inventors:

Francois A. Padovani - Westwood MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G02B 602
G02B 612

US Classification:

385 12

Abstract:

A fiber optic sensor for detecting the presence or concentration of particular chemical or biological species in a zone to be monitored has light-emitting and detecting elements such as a gallium arsenide light-emitting diode and a Schottky diode light detector provided in a semiconductor body, and has an optical fiber formed in situ on a surface of the body to conduct light from the light-emitting diode to the detector. The fiber has a long light-transmitting core of a material such as silicon dioxide deposited on a semiconductor body surface and defined by photolithographic techniques and has a cladding deposited over and around the core of a material of relatively lower refractive index than the core. The cladding material reacts when contacted by the particular chemical or biological species to produce measurable changes in transmission of light through the fiber so that the detector provides an electrical signal representative of the presence or concentration of the species.

US Patent:

42837146, Aug 11, 1981

Filed:

Aug 8, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/064954

Inventors:

George Trenkler - East Providence RI
Richard G. Delagi - Sharon MA
Francois A. Padovani - Westwood MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G06F 302

US Classification:

340365L

Abstract:

A contactless travel keyboard has first and second coils with elongated loop portions arranged at each key station so that, when an electrically conductive key element at the station is in a key-up position spaced from the coils, electrical input to the first coil results in magnetic induction of a relatively small output signal of a first polarity in the second coil and so that, when the key element moves to a key-down position relatively closer to the coils, electrical input to the first coil induces a current in the key element to magnetically induce a control signal of opposite polarity in the second coil sufficient to reverse the polarity of the output from the second coil. The keyboard includes means responsive to the reversal in polarity of the output signals from the second coils for determining which keys are in a key-down position.

US Patent:

51448416, Sep 8, 1992

Filed:

May 3, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/695623

Inventors:

Arnoldus M. Brouwers - DN Wierden, NL
Ahmed H. Amin - No. Attleboro MA
Francois A. Padovani - Westwood MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G01L 900

US Classification:

73706

Abstract:

The invention relates to a device for measuring pressures or forces, comprising a pressure or force sensor in the form of a piezoelectric or piezoresistive pressure or force transducer having at least one electric cable connected thereto, and an incompressible elastomer mass which transmits the pressure or force to be measured to the transducer.