Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Dike, Bronstein, Roberts & Cushman, LLP
  • Patent number: 6194487
    Abstract: In the present method of manufacturing modified particles, a saturated vapor of a monomer B is produced in a condensing chamber, and then particles containing a monomer A, which differs from the monomer B and is polymerizable therewith, are introduced, along with an inert gas, into the condensing chamber through a particle intake. Then, a super-saturated vapor of the monomer B is created by reducing pressure using a pressurizing/depressurizing opening, thereby condensing the monomer B on the surface of the particles, and causing a polymerization reaction between the monomer A and the monomer B. With this method, spherical modified particles of uniform diameter, which include a polymer of the monomers A and B, can be obtained in a short time, by means of simple operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Morimoto, Takahiro Horiuchi, Shigeaki Tasaka
  • Patent number: 6188419
    Abstract: In conventional color digital copy machines, when copying in color mode, the polygon mirror of the laser beam scanner for black, which is driven at a higher speed than those of the other colors, is switched to a slower speed in conformity with the speed of the polygon mirrors for the other colors. However, a drawback of this structure is that, especially when switching from monochrome to color mode, the time required to obtain the first copy is lengthened, and the operating efficiency of copying is poor. In the present invention, when copying in color mode, the rotation speed of the polygon mirror of the laser scanner unit for black is not changed at all, but, by skipping certain mirror surfaces of the polygon mirror, and/or by skipping certain of a plurality of laser light sources, the scanning density of the laser scanner unit for black can be brought into conformity with that of the laser scanner units for the other colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Katamoto, Osamu Fujimoto, Ayumu Oda, Syoichiro Yoshiura, Yoichi Shimazawa
  • Patent number: 6187101
    Abstract: A substrate processing device of the present invention includes: a conveyor mechanism provided in a vacuum chamber for conveying a substrate thereon; a heating section provided within the vacuum chamber for heating the substrate; and a processing gas introduction section for introducing a processing gas to a processing zone within the vacuum chamber. A surface of the substrate is consecutively subjected to a predetermined process by: introducing a flow of the processing gas from the processing gas introduction section into the processing zone; conveying the substrate into and past the processing zone by means of the conveyor mechanism while heating the substrate by means of the heating section. The substrate processing device further includes an inert gas supplying section provided in the vacuum chamber for supplying an inert gas for controlling the flow of the processing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 6185321
    Abstract: In an image forming system, a digital copying machine, which is requested to determine image data, stores determination history data including a result of determination in its memory when the result indicates that the image data are prohibited to be copied, and transfers the determination history data to a digital copying machine of a requesting end, and also transfers the determination history data automatically or as requested to other digital copying machine, a central image formation control unit or a host computer of the service center. As a result, an inhibit copy action can be prevented even when a digital copying machine being used within the system is not provided with an image determining function, thereby providing a security system which can inform others of an occurrence of an illegal or dishonest action at real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tamotsu Fukushima, Yasuhiro Nakai, Masakatsu Nakamura, Syoichiro Yoshiura, Hidemoto Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 6184959
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal; a pair of substrates facing each other so that the liquid crystal is sandwitched therebetween and an electric field for displaying is applied to the liquid crystal; spacers fixably provided between the pair of substrates; and an alignment film material provided on at least one of the pair of substrates so as to contact the liquid crystal, the alignment film material showing aligning property upon irradiation of light. As a result, a liquid crystal display device having an excellent displaying quality is provided in which a cell gap is uniform, no contamination and impairment of an alignment film occur, and alignment nonuniformity by rubbing is not generated, even when a screen is made larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Izumi
  • Patent number: 6181405
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention has an arrangement wherein a plurality of TFT substrates being connected to each other on the sides are combined with a counter substrate via seal materials, and liquid crystal is enclosed therebetween. The seal materials are formed along peripheries of each TFT substrate without crossing to the other TFT substrate. This arrangement allows a liquid crystal layer to be provided independently for each TFT substrate. Also, between seal materials formed along respective adjacent sides of the adjoining TFT substrates connected to each other, a bonding agent is injected. The bonding agent connects to each other the TFT substrates on the sides, and also contacts with the counter substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Izumi
  • Patent number: 6180300
    Abstract: A photosensitive body for electrophotographical use has a conductive base body and a marking area provided thereon. The maximum surface roughness of a photosensitive layer provided right on the marking area is specified not to exceed 2.5 &mgr;m. And also, a ratio of the optical reflective index of the marking area to the optical reflective index of the non-marking area is specified to be in a range of 0.3 to 0.7. In this manner, even when the photosensitive layer is thin (not exceeding 25 &mgr;m), it is possible to prevent problems such as inadequate cleaning and toner falling. Hence, it is possible to offer a photosensitive body for electrophotographical use which can constantly produce high quality copied images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Taniguchi, Yasutaka Maeda, Masayuki Sakamoto, Masaya Tsugoshi, Makoto Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 6180209
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a biaxially oriented polyester film containing 0.01 to 3.0% by weight of inorganic particles X and 0.001 to 1.5% by weight of crosslinked polymer particles Y, the particles diameters of said particles X and Y satisfying the following relationships (1) to (3) at the same time: 0.1≦dX50≦1.5  (1) dX50<dY50≦dX10  (2) 1.0≦dY25/dY75≦1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Polyester Film Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Yoshio Meguro
  • Patent number: 6180299
    Abstract: A photosensitive body for electrophotographical use has a conductive base body and a marking area provided thereon. The maximum surface roughness of a photosensitive layer provided right on the marking area is specified not to exceed 2.5 &mgr;m. And also, a ratio of the optical reflective index of the marking area to the optical reflective index of the non-marking area is specified to be in a range of 0.3 to 0.7. In this manner, even when the photosensitive layer is thin (not exceeding 25 &mgr;m), it is possible to prevent problems such as inadequate cleaning and toner falling. Hence, it is possible to offer a photosensitive body for electrophotographical use which can constantly produce high quality copied images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Taniguchi, Yasutaka Maeda, Masayuki Sakamoto, Masaya Tsugoshi, Makoto Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 6181782
    Abstract: A device of the present invention is a personal digital assistance device for communicating with another device via a telephone line which includes: a connection section for connecting the personal digital assistance device to the telephone line; a communication section for dialing a telephone number of the other device for communication with the other device via the telephone line to which the personal digital assistance device is connected by the connection section, for transferring data between the devices, and for disconnecting the telephone line; a control section for controlling the communication section; a voltage detection section for detecting a voltage of the telephone line to which the personal digital assistance device is connected by the connection section; and a determination section for determining whether the voltage detected by the voltage detection section is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Sonoda
  • Patent number: 6181356
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to offer an image stabilizer device capable of effectively improving quality of images produced by an image forming apparatus of a type that changes the size of a basic pixel by controlling an irradiation time of write-in light, and to offer a pattern image reader device used for the purpose. A pattern image reader device 100 is constituted by a reader unit 2 that at least contains a semiconductor laser 3, converging lens 6, and photosensor 5 for reading the amount of reflected light, and the driving section 7 that contains a drive coil 7c for moving the reader unit 2 in the principal scanning direction, and can measure on the order of microns the size of a toner image formed on the surface of a transfer and transport belt 26 in the principal scanning direction by monitoring the output of the photosensor 5 while moving in the principal scanning direction under the control by the CPU 48.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ohnishi, Yoichi Shimazawa, Syoichiro Yoshiura
  • Patent number: 6177224
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing electrophotographic toner according to the present invention includes the step of mixing at least toner particles and an additive for a predetermined mixing time to produce the toner, with the predetermined mixing time being set within a range from a first mixing time, at which chargeability of the toner (which changes according to the duration of mixing of the toner particles and the additive) shows a singular point, through a second mixing time, at which preservation of the toner (which also changes according to the duration of mixing) shows a singular point. By this method, a mixing time which maximizes the effects of the additive can be easily set. Accordingly, using a method simpler than conventional methods, a toner can be obtained which has good characteristics with regard to both chargeability and preservation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatuo Imafuku, Tadashi Nakamura, Hitoshi Nagahama, Yoshinori Urata, Yasuharu Morinishi, Satoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6177917
    Abstract: A method for driving a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel which has a pair of substrates facing each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween and respectively having signal electrodes and scanning electrodes which are located perpendicular to each other, wherein the liquid crystal panel is divided into a plurality of display portions, and the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes are driven on a display portion by display portion basis, thereby achieving display on the display portions individually, the method comprising the step of detecting and correcting distortion of a signal on each of the signal electrodes or each of the scanning electrodes on a display portion by display portion basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Koizumi, Masahiro Imai
  • Patent number: 6177912
    Abstract: An image display device includes a display panel provided with a light-shield on a portion shifted upward from a center in a thickness direction and a display panel provided with a light-shield on a portion shifted downward from a center in a thickness direction, the display panels being connected adjacent to each other. The light-shields of the two display panels are overlapped with each other with respect to the entire region between the display panels, thus completely sealing a gap between the display panels by the light-shields. This prevents leakage of light between the display panels even when display panels having large profile irregularity on edge surfaces are connected adjacent to each other. As a result, an image display device capable of displaying a natural image on a large screen is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Izumi
  • Patent number: 6176882
    Abstract: The invention relates to an intervertebrae implant comprising two side walls (1, 2) arranged at a distance to each other, a front wall (3) connecting the same at their one end, a back wall (4) connecting the same at their opposite other end, and one opening each on the base and cover part extending at right angles to the afore-mentioned walls. The invention also comprises at least one element (60, 61) provided for in the space (5) enclosed by the above walls, which element has a surface pointing towards the base or cover part and can be moved back and forth between a first final position in which said surface projects at least partly outwards beyond the base or cover part and a second final position in which the surface does not project beyond the base or cover part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Biedermann Motech GmbH
    Inventors: Lutz Biedermann, Thomas Wichmann, J{umlaut over (u)}rgen Harms
  • Patent number: 6178100
    Abstract: In a switching power source of the RCC system in which excited energy, accumulated in a transformer during an on-period of a main switching element, is outputted to the secondary side during an off-period, and a ringing pulse, which appears in a control coil of the transformer upon completion of the output, is fed back to the gate of the main switching element through a capacitor used for cutting a dc so that the main switching element is on-driven, a bias resistor is interpolated between the capacitor and the gate, and during the stand-by state, a control transistor is turned on, with the connecting point between them being connected to a main power-source line in a low level through a series circuit consisting of a diode, Zener diode and a resistor. Thus, a higher charge is allowed to accumulate in the capacitor, and the ringing pulse is reversely biased by the charge so as not to cause the re-starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Saburou Kitano
  • Patent number: 6178143
    Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium has a recording layer made of a perpendicular magnetization film, and a readout layer which is in an in-plane magnetization state at room temperature and changes into a perpendicular magnetization state with a rise in temperature. When the magneto-optical recording medium is irradiated with a light beam, the readout layer separates into three regions: a region in an in-plane magnetization state, a region in a perpendicular magnetization state, and a region having a temperature not lower than the Curie temperature thereof. Only the region in the perpendicular magnetization state allows copying of the magnetization of the recording layer. Therefore, even when the diameter and intervals of recording bits on the recording layer are very small, it is possible to reproduce a target recording bit separately from a recording bit adjacent to the target recording bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Hirokane, Yoshiteru Murakami, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6177492
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic resin composition comprising: (A) 95 to 5 parts by weight of an aromatic polycarbonate, (B) 5 to 95 parts by weight of a styrene-based resin, and (C) a melt kneaded resin composition comprising a polyphenylene ether and a saturated polyester, the amount of component (C) being 1 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by total weight of the components (A) and (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Engineering-Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoji Takagi, Koji Nishida, Tatuya Masuki, Shinya Miya, Kenichi Narita
  • Patent number: 6175349
    Abstract: A voltage generation circuit includes a potential line for a voltage value VA, a group of potential lines constituted by potential lines for voltage values V1, VM and VS, respectively, a potential line for a voltage value VB, a first capacitor, a second capacitor having a capacitance equal to the capacitance of the first capacitor, a first switch for selectively connecting the first terminal of the first capacitor to the potential line and one potential line out of the group of potential lines, and a second switch for selectively connecting a second terminal of the first capacitor to the potential line that applies a potential symmetric to the potential of one predetermined potential line out of the group of potential lines and to the first terminal of the second capacitor. The second capacitor includes first and second terminals connected to the potential line for VB and the one potential line out of the group of the potential lines, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kokuhata, Masahiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6174924
    Abstract: The present invention provides therapeutically useful substituted guanidines, and methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions that utilize or comprise one or more of such guanidines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Cambridge NeuroScience, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley M. Goldin, James B. Fischer, Andrew Gannett Knapp, N. Laxma Reddy, David Berlove, Graham J. Durant, Subbarao Katragadda, Lain-Yen Hu, Sharad Magar, Wenhong Fan, Elizabeth Yost, Jun Qing Guo