Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Fay, Sharpe, Beall, Fagan, Minnich & McKee
  • Patent number: 5986259
    Abstract: In a mass spectrometer using a sonic spray ion source, a technique of controlling the density of droplets in a nebulized sample solution which is passed into a mass spectrometer at high vacuum to an appropriate value to thereby reduce analysis noises is disclosed. A sample solution in a sample solution injection unit 1 is introduced into a capillary 2 disposed in an ion source 6. A gas is introduced from a gas supply unit 4 by way of a gas pipe 5 into the ion source 6 and is caused to flow along the outer circumferential surface at the top end of the capillary 2 and is jetted out from the orifice 3 as a gas flow into atmospheric air. The sample solution jetted from the top end of the capillary 2 is ionized by the gas flow in the atmospheric air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukiko Hirabayashi, Takayuki Nabeshima, Yasuaki Takada, Minoru Sakairi, Hideaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 5983426
    Abstract: A versatile patient support and restraint system is provided. It includes a couch (14) having a top surface (22) for supporting a patient being examined within an examination region (12). Two substantially parallel grooves (20) are formed along a longitudinal direction in the top surface (22) of the couch (14) on opposite sides thereof. Two removable tracks (30) extending in a longitudinal direction are removably seated in the grooves (20). Adjustable restraint straps for securing the patient to the couch (14) are also provided. The adjustable restraint straps include pins attached to opposing ends of the adjustable restraint straps. The pins selectively engage the two removable tracks (30) thereby selectively securing opposing ends of the adjustable restraint straps to opposite sides of the top surface (22) of the couch (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Picker International, Inc.
    Inventors: Denis W. Vanek, Dean A. Putzbach
  • Patent number: 5982979
    Abstract: The video retrieving method provides a video retrieval man-machine interface which visually specifies a desired video out of many stored videos by using previously linked picture data corresponding to the videos. Also, a video reproduction operating man-machine interface visually designates the position of reproduction out of the picture group indicative of the contents. The video retrieving method employs video data, character information linked to the video data, picture data linked to the videos, and time information corresponding to the picture data in the video data. The character information is composed of a title of each video and a creation date thereof. The picture data include, as retrieval information, one picture data representing the content of the relevant video (one picture expressing the video, i.e., a leaflet or the like), and a plurality of picture data adapted to grasp the contents of the entire video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuteru Omata, Kazuaki Tanaka, Hiroshi Taguchi, Yasuyuki Ooki, Manabu Takano
  • Patent number: 5982845
    Abstract: A forward projector/backprojector (30) for a CT scanner (10) includes a VME interface (36) which loads data onto and off of the forward projector/backprojector (30), and a CPU (42) which controls data flow. An array of ASICs (60a-x) is included. Each ASIC has two pipelines along which data is subjected to pipeline operations including one of a forward projection algorithm and a backprojection algorithm. Double-buffered memories for storing data subject to the pipeline operations are arranged on each ASIC (60a-x) such that while data is loaded into one bank of the double-buffered memories data in its opposing bank is subject to pipeline operations. A dual in-line memory module (DIMM) daughtercard (120) holds an output memory (100) with two banks employed during pipeline operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Picker International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Sidoti, Holly F. Heiple, Anthony F. Krecic, Robert J. Merat
  • Patent number: 5982610
    Abstract: In a multisided access communication distribution cabinet, an adjustable tie rod is configured as part of mounting units. The adjustable tie rod is located between grooming bars of the mounting unit, fitted within slots allowing for the adjustable tie rod to move within an area defined by the slots. Wires/cables are passed through an opening defined by the adjustable tie rod and one of the grooming bars. Once the wires have been located in a desired location, the adjustable tie rod is moved into close association with the grooming bar such that the wires are held in a fixed position. Thereafter the adjustable tie rod is placed in a fixed position thereby holding the wires/cables in a secure manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: RELTEC Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Crawford, David J. Michlovic, Larry N. Cleveland
  • Patent number: 5982181
    Abstract: An insulated device diagnosing system is capable of judging the deterioration, lifetime, and defects of a device. The intensity at each voltage phase angle is measured at a plurality of specific frequencies, taking high voltage phase angles as the abscissas. The deterioration, lifetime, and the kind and extent of abnormality of the device are judged from the pattern and intensity of the spectral distribution, which is obtained by peak-holding the measured intensity for a defined time period. According to the present invention, partial discharge can be measured highly sensitively and precisely to diagnose the deterioration, lifetime and the extent of defect of the device. As a result, the insulation reliability of the device can be improved, and the part of the device that should be repaired/replaced can be grasped before disassembly of the device, thereby cutting the maintenance cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Rokunohe, Fumihiro Endo, Tokio Yamagiwa, Ryouichi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 5982239
    Abstract: A first phase comparator 22 of digital type and a second phase comparator 32 of sampling type are provided. Near a lock phase, an output current Iout2 is fed from the second phase comparator 32 to a voltage-controlled oscillator 14 through a change-over switch 40. In other phases, an output current Iout1 is fed thereto from the first phase comparator 22. When a reference signal fs is missing, a complementing circuit 50 complements a pulse to at least the reference signal fs input to the first phase comparator 22. A noise detecting/removing circuit 60 detects and removes noise from the reference signals fs, permits the reference signals fs to be fed to the first and second phase comparators 22 and 23, and halts the operations of the two phase comparators 22 and 32 for only a predetermined period of time after the noise has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Microcomputer System Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Takahashi, Shikiko Nachi, Norihisa Yamamoto, Makoto Furihata
  • Patent number: 5983172
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a coding/decoding method in which degradation of sound quality perceptible by the listener does not occur at an low bit rate. A shift number calculation section of a decoding device divides a frequency domain into at least two sub-bands, and approximates each of normalized transform coefficients in the sub-band whose allocated bit value is less than a predetermined threshold using a quantized value of the transform coefficient in a predetermined sub-band other than the sub-band so as to obtain information concerning the approximation, and a multiplexer multiplexes the information and another signal and transmits them. A de-multiplexer of a decoding device separates the code of information concerning the approximation, and a shift number restore section restores the information based thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Takashima, Yoshiaki Asakawa
  • Patent number: 5983360
    Abstract: A running information processing system and a standby information processing system are connected via networks to a bridge to communicate with partner terminals. A hot standby function is provided such that the partner terminal is not required to include a path change-over function. When it is assumed via an alive or dead state monitoring path that the running system is not operating normally, the standby system takes over processing of the running system, adds to a frame a communication address of the running system as the communication address of the transmission source, and sends the frame via the bridge. The bridge includes a plurality of ports to connect a plurality of LANs, and transfers between the ports the frame to which the communication addresses of the transmission source and destination of the information processing system are added for a relaying operation of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Ugajin
  • Patent number: 5980827
    Abstract: The present invention relates to iodine demand disinfectants. It relates in particular to a process for preparing a polyiodide-resin for use as an iodine demand disinfectant wherein a porous strong base anion exchange resin in a salt form, is contacted with a material capable of donating a member absorbable by the resin so as to convert the resin to the polyiodide-resin. The adsorbable member is selected from the group comprising I.sub.2 and polyiodide ion having a valence of -1. The process is characterized in that conversion of the anion exchange resin to the polyiodide-resin is effected at elevated temperature and elevated pressure, the elevated temperature being 100 degrees C. or higher, the elevated pressure being greater than atmospheric pressure. The present invention also relates to disinfectant substance comprising an iodine (impregnated) resin as produced by the above process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Pierre Jean Messier
  • Patent number: 5983324
    Abstract: When the OS judges that a read request to the secondary storage device from the user process is the sequential access, the OS judges whether prefetching is to be stopped before the data succeeding to the data designated by the request is prefetched, so as to decrease replacement of data prefetched to the main memory by other data before the data is used. The judgment is executed to prevent that succeeding data from being replaced by other data after the succeeding data is prefetched to the cache area in the main memory. That is, it is judged whether the data requested by the read request has already been prefetched, and has already been replaced by other data before the requested data is used by the user process, if the requested data has been prefetched. When these two conditions are met, prefetch is useless. The prefetching accompanying this read request is not executed, the prefetch stop flag is set, and prefetching is prohibited to the succeeding sequential access by this prefetch stop flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ukai, Masaaki Shimizu, Fujio Fujita
  • Patent number: 5976045
    Abstract: A unidirectional roller chain sprocket for use primarily in automotive engine chain drive applications which incorporates an asymmetrical tooth for improved noise reduction. The sprocket includes a first plurality of sprocket teeth each having a first engaging flank with a first contact point at which a roller contacts the first engaging flank, and a second plurality of sprocket teeth each having a second engaging flank with a second contact point at which a roller contacts the second engaging flank. The first engaging flanks include a flank flat which facilitates spacing the first contact point on the first engaging flank relative to the second contact point on the second engaging flank to effect a time delay between an initial roller to first sprocket tooth contact and an initial roller to second sprocket tooth contact. The flank flat is tangent to an engaging flank radius and a first root radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Cloyes Gear and Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Young
  • Patent number: 5976428
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating bichromal balls includes a means for fabricating droplets from electrically conductive hardenable liquids. The liquids have different colors. A forward end of the hardenable liquids becomes unstable and breaks up into the droplets. Each droplet includes hemispheres of different colors. An RF signal generator produces electrical pulses which increase the instability of the forward end of the hardenable liquids. A capacitance in the conductive liquids causes current to flow from the signal generator to the hardenable liquids. A diameter of the droplets is reduced to form substantially spherical balls. Each of the balls includes hemispheres of different colors. The bichromal balls are collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Edward A. Richley
  • Patent number: 5978487
    Abstract: A spectrum display device for audio use includes a first differential amplifier circuit and a first capacitor forming a low pass filter. A second differential amplifier circuit and a second capacitor form high pass filter; A band pass filter circuit is formed by the low pass filter and the high pass filter; A band selection circuit selectively sets a frequency band of the band pass filter circuit out of a plurality of predetermined frequency bands through selective setting of the operating currents of the first and second differential amplifier circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsumi Kusaba
  • Patent number: 5978816
    Abstract: A cursor form is created for linking parts of a displayed image with corresponding entries of a table. When setting a link by designating a cursor on the display screen, a cursor for designating the location where a link is to be set surely and quickly is provided. Table data of the table (for example, a residents information table) consisting of image data (for example, a map) and a plurality of entries for setting links to this image data are displayed on the output device, and a mark which is the same as that of a predetermined item in the entry selected to set a link from the display table is designated by the cursor on a display image. When obtaining the location information on said designated image having the same mark, the data of a predetermined item among the entry data selected from the table is converted to image data, and the cursor form data is constituted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sakaguchi, Hiroyuki Okuda
  • Patent number: 5977730
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit (124) is defined in a manifold (130) which may be aluminum, steel, or any other suitable material. The circuit (124) regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor (120) and thus ensures that the motor rotates at an essentially constant speed, independent of the speed of the hydraulic pump (122) supplying the circuit. The circuit includes a pressure compensated flow control valve assembly (140) with an adjustable flow control valve (142) that regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid to the motor (120). The assembly (140) also includes a balanced piston-type pressure compensator (144) that ensures a select pressure differential across the flow control valve (142) such that the flow through the valve (142) remains at least essentially constant. This constant flow through the pressure compensated flow control valve assembly (140) ensures an essentially constant rotational speed of the motor (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Clutter, Kenneth J. Chlad, Timothy L. Cooper, Charles A. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5976443
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to molded golf ball core constructions and methods for improving the molded golf ball core construction. The molded golf ball comprises a molded spherical core having a soft skin integral therewith, and a cover molded over the core. The soft skin is formed by controlling exothermic molding temperatures. A slug is placed in a mold cavity which is then closed. A steam set point is set, and steam is applied for a 25-30 minute period such that a maximum mold temperature exceeds the steam set point. In the alternative, the core surface may be softened by first immersing a slug in water prior to subjecting the slug to conventional molding conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Lisco, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Dennis Nesbitt, Michael J. Sullivan, Terence Melvin
  • Patent number: 5978820
    Abstract: By storing data on text attributes comprising a plurality of attribute items, a text analysis rule, a plurality of text type identification rules, a plurality of text content/domain type identification rules, a plurality of summarization method setting tables, and a summarization rule in a storage, analysing an inputted text in an electronic form on the basis of the text analysis rule and the data on text attributes, generating a text analysis table, determining the text type of the inputted text in an electronic form on the basis of the text type identification rules and the content of the text analysis table, also determining the text content/domain type on the basis of the text content/domain type identification rules, selecting a summarization method setting table corresponding to a combination of the determined text type and text content/domain type, and summarizing the inputted text in an electronic form on the basis of the summarization method setting table and the summarization rule, a text summarizin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Mase, Hiroshi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5976661
    Abstract: A magnetic recording has very low warp characteristics but excellent film characteristics. Particularly, the recording medium has a high coercivity with a small range of coercivity distribution, with a warp characteristic below 3 .mu.m per radial inch. The medium is formed by heating a substrate at a high temperature with a temperature distribution on the substrate that is improved by the use of a heat distribution mask, which reduces the temperature distribution of the substrate to below .+-.3%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Fukaya, Yoshinori Honda, Akira Kato, Shuichi Kojima
  • Patent number: D416101
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: John Manufacturing Limited
    Inventor: John Se-Kit Yuen