Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Joel E. Lutzker
  • Patent number: 6831386
    Abstract: A stator device which prevents the formation of varnish accumulations on jumper wires, thereby preventing jumper wire breakage due to temperature variations. A gap is created between the jumper wire and the stud located on the stator body. When varnish is applied to the stud and the jumper wires, excess varnish flows through the gap and pools underneath. Moreover, when there is a significant accumulation of varnish in the gap, the varnish will flow off from the edge of the stator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taiichi Miya, Naohiko Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6829448
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for image forming includes a hybrid developing apparatus that supplies surly charged toner to a developing roll. The apparatus includes a developing roll that is electrically conductive at least on its surface. The image forming apparatus and the method have a constitution capable of applying an alternating current bias having a duty ratio in the range of 10 to 50% and a direct current bias superposed thereon. The developing roll is directly confronted with a latent image bearing body through an insulative toner thin layer at the nearest region of the developing roll and the latent image bearing body. An independent bias is applied to each of the developing roll and the magnetic roll, and the toner is refreshed by the varying duty ratio of the alternate current bias and the direct current bias after developing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Ozawa, Yuji Kamiyama, Shoichi Sakata, Toshinori Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6829462
    Abstract: A toner supply container comprises a container body accommodating toner. The container body is detachably mounted from above into a machine body of an image forming machine along a first guide member and a second guide member provided with a predetermined spacing in the machine body. The toner supply container includes a first locking mechanism disposed in one end portion of the container body, and a second locking mechanism disposed in the other end portion of the container body. The first locking mechanism includes an engagement claw to be engaged with an engagement stop portion provided in the first guide member when the container body is located at a mounting position, and an unlocking lever for releasing engagement between the engagement claw and the engagement stop portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Nagashiro
  • Patent number: 6810091
    Abstract: There is disclosed a reduced-scale digital data deinterleaver of simple structure. In a preferred embodiment each word is comprised of 32 bits of data, and 32 words form a block. In each block, each word is separated into four phases cyclically. The resulting bit lines and word lines are interchanged to produce interleaved data items. One block of the interleaved data items is written into a RAM. A higher significant address of 5 bits and a lower significant address of 5 bits of the RAM are specified by the higher significant 5 bits and the lower significant 5 bits, respectively, of the output from a counter. Whenever a block of data is written to the RAM the higher significant 5 bits and the lower significant 5 bits are interchanged to produce first and second count signals. Data is read from the specified address, 1 bit at a time and data is written, 1 bit at a time, into the address just from which data was read out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Nippion Precision Circuits, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 6798395
    Abstract: An information terminal device comprises a backlight for illuminating a key operation portion or a LCD display portion; an optical sensor portion for detecting lightness of the surroundings; a backlight control for turning on illumination light according to surrounding light for a fixed time after key operation; and an optical sensor control for applying electric power to the optical sensor portion at regular intervals thereby to detect the surrounding light, wherein the application of the electric power to the optical sensor portion is forbidden except when the surrounding light is detected. Further, the backlight control switches, according to the surrounding light when the key operation is performed, control in which both the key operational portion backlight and the LCD backlight are turned on, control in which only the LCD backlight is turned on, and control in which both of the backlights are not turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamauchi, Masayuki Saito
  • Patent number: 6795269
    Abstract: A video recorder housing has a pivoting gate to open and close the cassette slot of the video recorder. The pivoting gate has a movable hook secure to its rear side. When a video cassette is inserted into the cassette slot to be loaded into the housing, the movable hook partially appears from the lower edge of the pivoting gate, and the pivoting gate remains partially open with the protruding hook resting on the upper surface of the video cassette. The partially open pivoting gate exposes the label of the video cassette to be seen from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Orion Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Nishide
  • Patent number: 6788954
    Abstract: A cellular phone terminal capable of setting a specific service by merely operating keys, the cellular phone terminal includes an input means 11 for inputting key-inputted data for setting the service, a radio state acquisition means 12 for obtaining a radio state upon setting the service, a time measuring means 13 for measuring generation timing of the key-inputted data, and a state recording memory 20 for storing the key inputted data information, the radio state information and key-inputted data interval information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Tadayuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6781788
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved video recorder housing having a main-and-auxiliary pivoting gate assembly to open and close its front cassette slot. The housing has a chamfered cassette guide extending inward from the lower edge of the cassette slot. The housing has a horizontal pin positioned inside and above the cassette slot. The main gate is attached to rotate about the horizontal pin and is spring-biased toward its closing position. The main gate has a sub-horizontal pin and an inverted “L”-shaped lever both operatively connected to control the degree of opening of the auxiliary gate. The auxiliary gate is spring-biased toward its closing position, and can be rotated about the sub-horizontal pin while the inverted “L”-shaped lever rolls on the ceiling of the housing. With this arrangement, the main gate is kept half open with its lower edge caught by the upper surface of a videocassette loaded inside the video recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Orion Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Nishide
  • Patent number: 6764307
    Abstract: The retainer of the present invention is made of a composite material having a body made from a polymer, a layer of solid lubricant formed over the body by chemically coating the body with a porous layer of solid lubricant and impregnating the solid lubricant with another lubricant using conventional methods such as vacuum impregnation. The retainer is placed between an outer raceway and an inner raceway to form a self-lubricating bearing. The bearing made in this manner has high lubrication tolerance (i.e. it performs well in the absence of external lubrication). Because of its high lubrication tolerance, the bearing is suitable for use in various applications such as dental/medical hand pieces that are periodically sterilized and other applications which occasionally experience periods of lubrication starvation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Alex Metrikin
  • Patent number: 6759614
    Abstract: The present invention provides a keyboard switch structure that allows the height of a keyboard switch to be sufficiently minimized so as to be suitable for notebook personal computers or other portable devices. The present invention also provides a keyboard switch assembly that allows the keytop attached to the keyboard switch to be removed and replaced in a simple manner without destroying or damaging the keyboard switch. The keyboard switch is configured in a pantograph structure having cross arms that intersect each other to form an X-like structure. The upper portion of the pantograph structure is movably attached to a coupling plate on the underside of the keytop and the lower portion of the structure is movably attached to a base plate so as provide the keytop with movement in the vertical direction. The keyboard switch has two frame members that each have two cross arms that are parallel and fixed relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 6731169
    Abstract: The first amplifier circuit D1 is formed by connecting drains of a pair of N-channel MOS transistors forming the first current mirror circuit CM1 respectively to the drains of P-channel MOS transistors 1 and 2 as a differential input portion, and the second amplifier circuit D2 is formed by connecting drains of a pair of P-channel MOS transistors forming the second current mirror circuit CM2 respectively to the drains of N-channel MOS transistors 5 and 6 as a differential amplifier circuit. The first and second differential amplifier circuits D1 and D2 can amplify the first and second signals having cycles corresponding with each other with their duty ratios kept unchanged regardless of their operating point potentials. Further, the two outputs are combined into one output to suppress variation of the operating point potential of the output attributable to process-related factors, fluctuation of the power supply potential due to the oscillating operation and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Precision Circuits
    Inventors: Kunihiko Tsukagoshi, Satoru Miyabe, Kazuhisa Oyama
  • Patent number: 6713699
    Abstract: A key switch stabilizer mechanism having a first approximately C-shaped stabilizer wire which is connected to both a key top and a base plate, and is further supported so as to be able to turn with respect to the key top; and a second stabilizer wire having a flat portion connected to the base plate, a bent portion, and another flat portion connected to the key top. Therefore, touching even very lightly any part of the key top surface, in particular the top end peripheral edge, allows a pushing pressure to be imparted to the first and second wires arrayed within the key top, by means of which a membrane push mechanism operates. When pressure on the key top is released, the first and second stabilizer wires follow the reaction force from the membrane switch push mechanism and rise, such that the membrane switch can be operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 6683264
    Abstract: This low profile key switch structure provides a substantial reduction in the height or thickness of a key switch as compared to conventional and other low profile switches. Substantial height reduction in key switch structures allows the size and thickness of notebook-type personal computers and the like to be similarly reduced. One feature of this low profile key switch structure is that unlike in conventional key switch structures the membrane switch and frame structures do not over lap to cause unnecessary height in the structure. Another feature of this key switch structure is that the frames are formed to include the free motion range limiters. The frames are further formed so that they may be embedded in the reinforcing base plate in such a manner that allows the height of the key switch to be further reduced. This low profile key switch structure is also designed to eliminate unwanted key top movement that often occurs in conventional and other switches when the key top is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuro Obara, Masamitsu Osada, Masayuki Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 6636018
    Abstract: A battery module is provided by coating selected sides of a battery cell having a rectangular shape with a prescribed resin material. The resin material is selected from among polyamide resin, polyurethane resin. Module side surfaces are provided with slopes having the slope angle of 5° or more in the thickness direction. A positioning structure is provided for establishing the prescribed positioning between the battery module and its counterpart unit such as a cellular phone having a hollow space. A plurality of slopes are formed along side walls of the hollow space to provide complementary shapes to the sloped module side surfaces. When the battery module is installed in the hollow space, the module side surfaces slide along and come in close contact with the slopes of the side walls of the hollow space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hirota
  • Patent number: 6626723
    Abstract: The difference of luminance between a front surface side and a rear surface side as viewed from the front surface side is reduced in a multi-layered EL lamp. An EL lamp includes a first laminate formed by serially laminating a first transparent electrode, a first luminescent layer and a first insulating layer, a second laminate formed by serially laminating a second transparent electrode, a second luminescent layer and a second insulating layer on the first laminate, and a rear electrode formed on the second laminate, wherein a dielectric constant between the first and second transparent electrodes is set to a value smaller than a dielectric constant between the second transparent electrode and the rear electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Precision, Inc.
    Inventor: Koji Yoneda
  • Patent number: 6612762
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an economical printer which is simple in structure and uses a common tray but is capable of adapting itself to various recording media of different shapes. Adapters in which recording media can be firmly held can be selectively mounted in the tray. An adapter 24 has an oval opening 24a in which a recording medium 30 can be placed. The contour of the adapter 24 can fit into a recessed portion 23a formed in the tray 23. The recording medium 30 is firmly held in the adapter 24. When the adapter 24 is mounted in the recessed portion 23a in the tray 23, a keyway 23b and a protrusion 24b engaging the keyway 23b prevent the adapter 24 from shifting out of position; the adapter is held in the tray 23. Prints can be made in accurate positions on the recording medium 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventors: Motoharu Sakurai, Satoru Tada, Naoki Tanabe, Mikio Amakasu
  • Patent number: 6601513
    Abstract: A motor control method and apparatus for stopping an object moved by a motor accurately at a predefined target position, shortening the time period required in stop control, in which the motor is driven at a first (high) speed up to a distance from the target position adequate for stop control and then is sequentially braked to a predetermined speed lower than the first speed, driven at a second (low) speed up to a distance from the target position equal to the stopping distance, and braked to a stop. The method and apparatus are used in a time recorder. An impact printing apparatus is also disclosed with printing pin actuation timing correction dependent upon scanning speed or platen shape, striking duration timing dependent upon scanning rate, or printing pin actuation timing dependent upon stored shift amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Precision, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Ozawa
  • Patent number: 6595653
    Abstract: A light illuminating type switch with a good click rate and having a desired click characteristic near to that of a single member of a metal dome. Fixed contacts 7a are provided on a base sheet 7. On an upper side of the base sheet 7, a dome shaped movable contact 8 capable of electrically connecting the fixed contacts 7a on the base sheet by being elastically deformed is arranged. The surface of the dome shaped movable contact 8 is attached with a flexible EL sheet E by using adhering agents 9a and 9b via an insulating member 6 over a peripheral portion of the dome shaped movable contact 8. The EL sheet E is formed with cut portions 10 partially at positions along an outer peripheral edge of the dome shaped movable contact 8. At least a pair of the cut portions 10 are formed at symmetrical positions centering on the movable contact 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Saito, Yasufumi Naoi
  • Patent number: 6594161
    Abstract: A power converter having a transformer with a primary side winding and a secondary side winding, each having a switch. When the primary master switch is switched on, the transformer charges. When it is switched off, the intrinsic capacitance of the secondary slave switch discharges generating the zero voltage switching condition for the secondary slave switch. The secondary slave switch is switched on at a time determined in accordance with the waveform generated by the transformer. When the secondary slave switch is switched on, the transformer discharges and ultimately the charge from an output capacitor flows into the transformer as a backflow which charges the transformer. The secondary slave switch is switched off at a time determined in accordance with a current flowing through said secondary switch. The intrinsic capacitance of primary master switch discharges generating the zero voltage switching condition for primary master switch which is then switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Arian M. Jansen, Xiaoyang Zhang
  • Patent number: D477296
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Minamide