Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Nilles & Nilles, S.C.
  • Patent number: 6375105
    Abstract: A jaw crusher having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw which define a variable crushing gap (or closed side setting), a toggle beam, and a toggle between the toggle beam and the movable jaw, and a toggle seat between the toggle and each of the beam and movable jaw for seating the toggle against the beam and movable jaw. A double-acting hydraulic ram having a connection with the toggle beam for shifting the toggle beam toward and away from the fixed jaw. An abutment is supported by the housing and engageable by the toggle beam for defining an adjustably variable limit of shifting thereof. End caps provide a rigidly guided sliding toggle beam having a plurality of alternatively selectable positions of adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew B. Haven, Patrick Quella, Brian P. Jaworski
  • Patent number: 6369925
    Abstract: A nonimaging beam combiner and collimator. The nonimaging beam combiner and collimator can include at least two light sources that emit light of the same wavelength through a focus point and a nonimaging element that receives the light of the same wavelength after the focus point and collimates the light at the same wavelength through the atmosphere. The at least two light sources can include fiber light sources, optical fibers, gradient index lenses, fiber lasers or laser diodes. The collimator can include an input surface, a paraboloid surface located adjacent to the input surface, a conical surface located adjacent to the paraboloid surface, and an ellipsoid surface located adjacent to the conical surface and located on an opposite side of the collimator from the input surface. The paraboloid surface can include a total internal reflection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Il'ya Agurok, Lonnie Lindsey
  • Patent number: 6362257
    Abstract: The pavement patch composition of the present invention comprises a lightweight aggregate and highly modified polymer asphalt binder. The composition is formed by heating the binder to a flowable state, mixing the flowable binder with a lightweight aggregate, and then allowing it to cool into a solid form. The pavement patch composition is used to repair voids in pavement, such as pot holes, cracks and depressions. It is applied by heating solid pavement patch composition to a flowable state and applying it to the void, or on a surface in need of repair, and then allowed to cool. The resulting patch is self-adhering, strong and flexible. The formulation of the pavement patch composition may be adjusted for specific use in a cold climate, a moderate climate, a warmer climate, or for use in various traffic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Crafco, Incorporated
    Inventors: James G. Chehovits, Robert Lowell Parkison
  • Patent number: 6357285
    Abstract: Local sensitive force detector output data, acquired from a cellular and sub-cellular structures (“biological structures”), are quantified in an objective format. Data are acquired from two axes of the biological structure at scan positions along a third axis of the biological structure, which is perpendicular to the two axes. Data are then quantified as a function of scan position along the third axis. The quantified data can be plotted and displayed to generate a two-dimensional representation of a biological structure's morphology, which contains quantified data points from along the third axis of the biological structure. The output can be used for morphology-based classification and typing of biological structures. The invention classifies and types biological structures by converting the local sensitive force detector data into a graphical fingerprint, which, for example, can be compared to standard data generated from known biological structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Allen
  • Patent number: 6359453
    Abstract: A vertical probe card assembly containing a plurality of vertical probe cards is mounted within a central corridor or opening within a magnetic field generator. Each of the vertical probe cards has a multiplicity of probe needles extending downwardly therefrom for electrically contacting test pads of a device under test that is positioned below the magnetic field generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Forbis, Dennis J. Cahalan
  • Patent number: 6353673
    Abstract: A system and method for real time optical processing of images by simultaneous combining the variable set of images in selected spectral intervals. Spectral images at a plurality of spectral intervals are collected if needed. According to criteria established in a particular application, coefficients for an optimal combination of selected spectral intervals are calculated. Positive and negative images are continuously captured through the optical filter whose transmission spectrum adjusted to positive and negative coefficients of the optimal combination. Negative images are subtracted from positive images and a sequence of resulting optimized images is displayed in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Paul I. Shnitser, Sergey Sandomirsky, Il'ya Agurok, Aramais Avakian
  • Patent number: 6352359
    Abstract: A vehicle light assembly includes a lens cover from which light emanates. A light shaping surface microstructure is carried in a portion of the light assembly. The microstructure can be incorporated into many different surfaces of the light assembly such as a surface of the lens cover, a surface of a macro-optical structure on the lens cover, or on a reflective surface of the assembly. The microstructure homogenizes and directs light emanating from the light assembly via reflection or transmission to provide a smooth, continuous pattern of light having a predetermined distribution shape or envelope and a predetermined directionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Rick L. Shie, Jeffrey A. Laine, Gajendra D. Savant
  • Patent number: 6346809
    Abstract: A method comprises manufacturing a read/write head for a disk drive; then testing the read/write head; and then mounting the read/write head to a suspension only after the testing step indicates that the read/write head is not defective. The testing may be performed by writing information to and reading information from a non-disc shaped media paddle that is caused to move back and forth with respect to the read/write head in oscillatory fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Inventor: Raymond M. Karam, II
  • Patent number: 6334318
    Abstract: An automatic ice making apparatus having a sensor which can detect continuously a temperature of an ice making tray is used as a temperature sensor. The temperature and a temperature variation rate of the ice making tray are detected by an electronic control circuit having a function corresponding to an A/D converter and a microprocessor or the like to determine a freezing state of water. Further, a thermistor is used as the temperature sensor, and by and A/D converter including a microprocessor a water level in the ice making tray is detected and a solenoid valve for determining an amount of supply water is controlled so as to suppress the water amount variation due to a water pressure change or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Servo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ando, Eiji Kuroda, Atsuo Nakayama, Kentaro Yamane, Naoko Toida, Kazufumi Yamashita, Yasushi Niwa
  • Patent number: 6323483
    Abstract: The bandwidth of a microactuator for a surface modification instrument or a surface measurement instrument is improved by inertially-balancing the microactuator to prevent the transfer of any net forces from the microactuator to its support structure by counteracting momentum generated upon operation of the microactuator, thereby inhibiting induced resonances in the support structure. Net force transfer prevention can be achieved using either 1) a multi-actuator assembly including a primary microactuator and a counteracting actuator operating substantially out-of-phase with respect to the primary microactuator, or 2) a single microactuator mounted on the microactuator's support structure so as to prevent momentum transfer to the support structure during microactuator operation. The instrument also preferably includes high internal damping to minimize the effect of any slight inertial misbalances on instrument operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Jason P. Cleveland, David Grigg
  • Patent number: 6320347
    Abstract: A rotor composite type three-phase stepping motor having a stator consisting of two stator elements each having 6 n pieces of stator magnetic pole with Ns pieces of pole tooth formed on the tip end of each stator magnetic pole piece, and a permanent magnet held by the two stator elements therebetween, a rotor of magnetic material arranged so as to face to a periphery of the stator through an air gap, Nr pieces of pole tooth being formed on a periphery of the rotor, and exciting windings wound around each stator magnetic pole piece of the stator elements consisting of two sets of three-phase windings each wound around 3n pieces of stator magnetic pole among the 6 n pieces of stator magnetic pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Japan Servo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masafumi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6315266
    Abstract: In a silently operating pilot-operated flow regulating valve, a main valve element is not allowed to vibrate freely, e.g., in lateral direction in an opened state and cannot constitute a noise source because while the main valve element is brought into its open position, an urging force acts upon the main valve element so as to tilt it into vibration suppressing contact with the valve seat whereby vibration of the main valve element is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: TGK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisatoshi Hirota, Tokumi Tsugawa, Yusuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 6315058
    Abstract: An improved soil-working implement. The implement comprises a shank having a free-end portion; a one-piece adapter defining a recess, wherein the adapter is removably affixed to the shank free-end portion; a one-piece shovel; and an elastomeric element frictionally removably retained within the recess of the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Eugen J. Birkenbach, Donald J. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 6312541
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing concrete structures utilize a generally flat composite material insert. The insert is inserted into a slot formed in a preexisting section of concrete and bonded to the preexisting section using an adhesive. The insert is installed such that a portion of the insert extends beyond the preexisting structure and into a void where damaged concrete has been removed and where the new concrete is to be poured. The insert then functions to join the preexisting section and the new concrete section. Alternatively, the insert may comprise an extension to attach an external fixture to the concrete section. Alternatively, a slot can be created within two preexisting concrete sections, adhesive added to the slot, and an insert installed in the slot. Again, the insert functions to join the two concrete sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: W. Scott Hemphill
  • Patent number: 6314212
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for high precision image metrology. A feature dimension from the image is determined by measuring corresponding features in the Fourier power spectrum of the image with substantially improved precision due to immunity from noise and system response. Operationally, a digital image of the sample is acquired at sufficient resolution to capture the feature of interest. A sample widow is chosen which substantially isolates the feature of interest. The feature window is then piecewise extended to a predetermined window size for effective Fourier Transform interpolation. A Fourier Power Spectrum of the sample widow is generated at high sample density such that the loci of extremal points indicative of a feature dimension is identified with high precision. The relative spacing of the extremal points is measured and related to the desired feature dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Howard Womack, Daniel Lee Abraham
  • Patent number: 6303276
    Abstract: An improved method for generating masters having a plurality of randomly distributed speckle suitable for making seamless light shaping diffusers of virtually any size and at low cost is disclosed herein. The method utilizes incoherent light to record a desired speckle pattern in a photosensitive medium which is then exposed in an imagesetter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Gajendra D. Savant, Stephen A. Kupiec, Joanna L. Jannson
  • Patent number: 6299740
    Abstract: A cathode assembly includes a monolithic target having a first surface and a center region. In addition, a sculpted section is formed in the first surface, and the sculpted section is generally recessed from the first surface and extends around the center in a racetrack configuration. The racetrack has a concentric centerline, and the sculpted section preferably is generally symmetric about the centerline. A magnetic field generator is disposed adjacent to the target and produces a magnetic field having an in-plane component. The magnetic field generator is tuned so that a distribution of the magnitude of the in-plane component in a direction transverse to the centerline at a point along the racetrack is characterized by two peaks that have a generally equal magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Veeco Instrument, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Hieronymi, Gary D. Lutz
  • Patent number: 6295405
    Abstract: A non-scattering light pipe includes a transition surface between a first side wall and an input surface and a second side wall and the input surface. The transition surface is arranged to substantially obscure the corner interfaces between the first and second side walls and the input surface such that in the corner formation any imperfections therein are not imaged into the output. Most preferably, the transition surface is optimized to provide a substantially uniform light intensity distribution. A light pipe in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention is further arranged to couple to a linear light source, such as a cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL). The light source is arranged such that dim areas, i.e., areas of the light source having non-uniform intensity, are not disposed adjacent the input surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Tomasz P. Jannson, Stephen A. Kupiec, Jeffrey A. Laine, Michael Rud, Anatoly Vasiliev
  • Patent number: 6287880
    Abstract: A method for determining the characteristics of a doped semiconductor substrate is disclosed, wherein a scanning probe microscope, preferably an atomic force microscope, is used to move a probe across a sample surface gathering electrical measurements at many locations. The probe tip is conductive and is connected to a control circuit that applies a voltage to the probe and to an electrode fixed to the semiconductor substrate. Preferably, the current that flows through the sample is measured and saved, together with the position of the probe on the surface of the sample. In this manner, the characteristics of the doped sample can be determined at many different locations with many different degrees of doping. The sample is prepared by doping its top surface, then machining off the top surface to provide access to the sample at different doping depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Norman Erickson, Peter De Wolf
  • Patent number: 6279389
    Abstract: Thermal drift and acoustic vibrations in the AFM are reduced using a probe-based detection device that references the topography measurement of the AFM to the sample surface in the proximity of the measurement probe. A differential measurement is made between the reference probe and the measurement probe for high sensitivity roughness quantification and defect detection. Multi-probe arrays may be used for large area defect detection with immunity from thermal and acoustic noise sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: NanoDevices, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis M. Adderton, Stephen C. Minne