Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman, Langer & Chick, P.C.
  • Patent number: 6387425
    Abstract: A method for producing low potassium juice with improved taste. The process includes the steps of treating potassium-containing juice with a cation exchange resin to remove 90% or more of the potassium content in the juice and adding a calcium compound which is calcium carbonate in the form of solid. The juice produced has improved taste and nutritional balance. It is also good for patients suffering from kidney failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuko Kinoshita, Toshio Kinoshita, Koji Katamune, Takushi Goto, Toshio Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6388698
    Abstract: In an image recording apparatus provided with a recording head and a conveyor for relatively moving the recording head and an image recording medium, an image composed of a large number of pixels is recorded by plural recording elements of the recording head on the image recording medium relatively moved by the conveyor. Each recording element of the recording head is controlled to conduct turning on or off plural times (N times) so that one pixel is recorded by plural recording periods of each recording element, and a time length T(m) of each recording period is not increased monotonously or is not decreased monotonously with respect to recording sequential order “m” of each recording period in recording of each pixel, wherein “m” is an integer not less than 0 and not more than N−1. The time length of each recording period is obtained by adding one or two coefficients to a binary-weighted value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Deguchi, Toru Kawabe, Tuyosi Hattori
  • Patent number: 6386666
    Abstract: In an ink-jet head driving device, data of a shift register is latched by a latch circuit. The data latched by the latch circuit is input to energization signal selection circuits. At this time, each selection circuit receives 1-bit data for operating a corresponding ink chamber, and 2-bit data for operating adjacent ink chambers as reference data. Each selection circuit selects one from energization signals using the 3-bit data, and supplies the selected energization signal to a corresponding head driver, thereby generating a drive waveform for driving the ink chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Takamura, Noboru Nitta, Shunichi Ono
  • Patent number: 6388706
    Abstract: An image processing method for an electronic camera which includes a photoelectric element having plural sensors and color filters in plural different colors, wherein each of the plural sensors corresponds to a respective one of the color filters in the different colors. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a signal value from a target sensor of the sensors when one of the sensors is assigned to the target sensor; obtaining the first average value from signal values of the sensors having the color filters of which a color is the same as that of the color filter of the target sensor; obtaining the second average value from signal values of the sensors having the color filters of which a color is different from that of the color filter of the target sensor; and obtaining an interpolation value for a color, which is different from that of the color filter of the target sensor, of the target sensor according to the signal value from the target sensor, the first average value and the second average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Naruo Takizawa, Po-Chieh Hung
  • Patent number: 6388825
    Abstract: A support structure is provided wherein a fitting backlash is provided between a lens and a retaining frame to enable positioning of the lens while restraining degradation of optical performance even if the lens shifts. The lens has two opposed optical characteristic surfaces. A first one of the optical characteristic surfaces is formed of a spherical surface, while the other has a spherical portion that is annularly formed in a periphery thereof and that has the same center as the spherical surface of the first one of the optical characteristic surfaces. When abutted on an inner circumferential end of the retaining frame, the spherical portion is correctly aligned and supported on an optical axis of an optical system (see FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Koiwai, Shinya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6388843
    Abstract: A suspension for disc drive having a load beam and a flexure is provided with a limiter mechanism for regulating the movement of the flexure. The flexure includes a tongue portion provided with a magnetic head slider and a pair of outrigger portions situated individually on the opposite sides of the tongue portion. The limiter mechanism is provided with a nipping portion that is formed by bending part of the load beam. The nipping portion includes a first checking portion facing one surface of the flexure across a gap, a connecting portion situated ahead of the flexure, and a second checking portion extending rearward from the connecting portion and facing the other surface of the flexure across a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuji Takagi, Koji Uozumi, Akihiro Takei, Jyun Soga, Kenichi Takigawa
  • Patent number: 6387254
    Abstract: Phosphorus in wastewater is removed by using an apparatus including a settling tank, an anaerobic tank, an aerobic tank, and a final settling tank. Nitrogen in wastewater is removed by using an apparatus including a settling tank, an anaerobic tank, a nitrification tank, and a final settling tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Takechi, Masahisa Tanabe, Toshiaki Tsubone, Jun Miyata, Kei Baba, Satoru Udagawa, Shinichi Endo
  • Patent number: 6386420
    Abstract: A plurality of materials are rolled in an upstream stand. While the transfer speed of a succeeding material and the front end position thereof are detected, the transfer speed and the rear end position of a preceding material are detected by a measuring roll. The transfer speed of the succeeding material is controlled by adjusting at least the drive speed of the pinch rolls so that the front end of the succeeding material contacts the rear end of the preceding material at a specified position in a travelling welder. The rear end of the preceding material is joined with the front end of the succeeding material by flash-butt welding using the travelling welder to form a continuous material while letting the travelling welder move at a speed synchronous with the transfer speed of the continuous material. The welded portion on the continuous material is ground and/or cut to remove burrs therefrom. After removing the burrs, the continuous material is continuously rolled by a down-stream stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Giichi Matsuo, Susumu Okawa, Koji Okushima
  • Patent number: 6389156
    Abstract: In a radiographic image reading method of reading a radiographic image on a radiographic image conversion panel and for obtaining radiographic image information; the adiographic image reading method includes steps of: reading panel discriminating information corresponding to the radiographic image conversion panel, thereby obtaining information regarding the radiographic image conversion panel; and applying image processing for the radiographic image information based on the information regarding the radiographic image conversion panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Hisanori Tsuchino, Tomoko Saito
  • Patent number: 6383625
    Abstract: An antifouling infrared shielding film comprising a transparent substrate film having, on one face thereof, at least an infrared shielding layer which comprises a cured product of a coating layer comprising (A) an ionizing radiation curing resin, (B) an infrared absorbent and (C) an ionizing radiation curing silicone resin in an amount of 0.1 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the resin of the ionizing radiation curing resin of (A); and a process for producing an antifouling infrared shielding film comprising coating one face of a transparent substrate film with a coating agent comprising the component (A), the component (B) and the component (C) in an amount of 0.1 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the component (A) to form a coating layer and curing the formed coating layer by irradiation of an ionizing radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Shoshi, Yutaka Onozawa, Shunpei Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6385402
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a first distance-measuring mode in which a subject distance is measured on the basis of a subject image signal produced by at least a pair of integration-type light-receiving elements receiving the light from subjects, and a second distance-measuring mode in which the subject distance is measured on the basis of the image signal a steady-light removing section has produced by removing the steady-light component from the subject image signal. In measuring the distance, the second distance-measuring mode is forced to be on for a specific time. On the basis of the resulting image signal, the main subject is estimated and a light-receiving sensor sensing area is selected. The light-receiving sensor sensing area is used for integration control in continuing to obtain the subject image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Nakata, Takeshi Kindaichi
  • Patent number: 6385324
    Abstract: A broadband loudspeaker radiating as an approximate point source, whose movable components are fastened to a dome-shaped loudspeaker front, wherein the loudspeaker front flares rearwardly to an enclosure shell disposed coaxially around the central axis of the enclosure and a diagonally disposed deflection plane, which can be formed as the back wall, faces the back side of the diaphragm. The inside cross section of the enclosure shell is preferably a polygon with an odd number of sides, as is the dome-shaped loudspeaker front and the loudspeaker diaphragm, which is preferably cup-shaped and which can be fastened directly to the loudspeaker front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Sorus Audio AG
    Inventor: Karl Heinz Köppen
  • Patent number: 6385052
    Abstract: A drive unit for power control of electric motors comprises a circuit board (10) with surface leads and a number of logic components as well as power controlling semi-conductors (11), and two or more power distribution bars (16) which extend along the circuit board (10) and are connected to a power source and/or one or more motor connections. Each of the power distribution bars (16) is a sheet metal stamping formed with a number of integral connector pins (20) which are to be received in a number of apertures (22) in the circuit board (10) and rigidly connected to the surface leads for communication with the semi-conductors (11). Each one of the power distribution bars (16) is stamped from a flexible thin sheet metal and is folded along a longitudinal line (31) into two parallel sections (32,33). The connector pins (20) extend from a first one (32) of the two sections (32,33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Inmotion Technologies AB
    Inventor: Peter Klas Svensson
  • Patent number: 6384799
    Abstract: In an antenna for use in a mobile communication apparatus and having a helical antenna element (40) of a helical shape, the helical antenna element is mounted on a flexible substrate (1) rounded to form a cylindrical shape. The helical antenna element has a plurality of oblique conductive patterns (4) extending along the flexible substrate and electrically connected to one another at their terminal ends to form the helical shape. The oblique conductive patterns have a similar pitch therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Tokin Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Otomo, Kazuo Minegishi
  • Patent number: 6381851
    Abstract: A combination cutter and server includes a first thin flexible blade having front and rear opposite ends; a second thin flexible blade having front and rear opposite ends; a connecting section which connects together the front end of the first thin blade and the front end of the second thin blade; a first handle connected to the rear end of the first thin blade; and a second handle connected to the rear end of the second thin blade and being unconnected with the first handle, the first handle being coplanar with the first thin blade in an unbiased condition of the combination cutter and server, and the second handle being coplanar with the second thin blade in an unbiased condition of the combination cutter and server; only rear ends of the first and second handles being in contact with other to form the combination cutter and server into a first geometric cutting configuration when the first and second handles are initially moved toward each other to an initial biased position; and the first and second handl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Housewares America, Inc.
    Inventor: Debbie Jean Meyer
  • Patent number: 6385403
    Abstract: A photometric apparatus for a microscope comprises a light-reception element having a plurality of concentrically arranged photometric measurement areas, the light-reception element receiving observation light from the microscope and measuring a brightness of an observation image of the observation light, a calculation circuit for calculating an exposure time necessary for photographing the observation image, on the basis of a photometric measurement value obtained from at least one of the photometric measurement areas of the light-reception element, and a control circuit for performing an exposure operation on the basis of the exposure time calculated by the calculation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jitsunari Kojima, Kazuhiko Tsubota, Keiichi Iizuka, Tetsuo Tatsuda
  • Patent number: 6385157
    Abstract: An optical pick-up device for use in an information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on an optical record medium. The device comprises a semiconductor laser, an information record medium having plural record layers laminated thereon, an outward route system for irradiating laser light from the semiconductor laser onto the information record medium through a beam splitter and objective lens, and an inward route system having a light detector for receiving the light reflected from the information record medium and transmitted through the objective lens, the beam splitter and pin-hole. The pin-hole has a radius, which is decided in such a manner that an expression Vp=2&pgr;r/(&lgr;/NA) satisfies following condition 3≦Vp≧6, wherein r is radius of the pin-hole, NA is lens aperture of the detection system, &lgr; is wave length of the laser light, and Vp is radius of Airy disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Nakano
  • Patent number: 6384967
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus of the present invention used for a microscope to guide illumination light to an objective lens attached to a revolving nosepiece comprises a light source for radiating the illumination light, an optical system for guiding the illumination light radiated from the light source, to the objective lens, an aperture diaphragm switching section provided in the optical system and having a plurality of aperture diaphragms and a light shielding portion, for switching the aperture diaphragm on the illumination light, linked with motion of the revolving nosepiece, when switching an observation method or the objective lens, and a control circuit for controlling operation of at least one of the aperture diaphragm switching section and the revolving nosepiece such that amount of light entering into the objective lens is prevented from undesirably increasing, when the observation method or the objective lens is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Watanabe, Minoru Sukekawa, Shunichi Kubota, Shinji Matsushita
  • Patent number: 6385410
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus using a thin-sleeve roller is provided which gives a good fixing result while suppressing electric power consumption. The fixing apparatus includes a hollow cylindrical heating roller, a heat source positioned inside the heating roller, a pressing roller that is in pressure contact with the heating roller to form a nip between the heating roller and the pressing roller, and a controller that controls a conveyance velocity of the transfer material. The heating roller is divided into a first regions and a second region, with the first region being outside the second region. And the heat source includes a first heating section that mainly heats the first region, and a second heating section that mainly heats the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Naohiko Hanyu, Shinsuke Fujita, Mitsugu Nemoto
  • Patent number: D456782
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigekazu Nagai, Akio Saitoh, Takeshi Hirose