Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Thomas W. Cole
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Patent number: 6770991Abstract: In order to provide a roll connector structure for a vehicle in which there is no complicated or complex wiring in the steering wheel and the space within the steering wheel can be utilized efficiently, a roll connector structure for a vehicle including a stator side casing which is fixed to a steering column, a rotor side casing which is mounted to the stator side casing and rotates integrally with a steering wheel, and a cable which is accommodated between the stator side casing and the rotor side casing, wherein at least one steering switch is connected to the rotor side casing without wiring, is provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2001Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Keisuke Imai, Hiroshi Tsuge
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Patent number: 6739154Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical grating on a length of optical fiber having input and output ends. Guided light is conducted into the input end of the fiber and light reflected back from the output end is measured with an optical sensor. An optical grating is formed in the fiber between the input and output ends and guided light is conducted into the input end of the fiber and light reflected back from the grating is measured with an optical sensor. Measured light is compared to determine a percentage of guided light reflected back from the grating.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2001Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventor: Monica K. Davis
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Patent number: 6675926Abstract: An integrated semi-independent suspension and drivetrain system including a swing arm with a swing mount, an axle assembly rotatable along a transverse axle rotation axis, an axle carrier for mounting the axle assembly, the axle carrier being rotatably mounted to the swing arm, a driven sprocket, a drive sprocket, a flexible coupling mechanically linking the driven sprocket to the drive sprocket, a roll movement device for allowing the flexible coupling to maintain the mechanical link between the driven and drive sprockets as the driven sprocket rolls about the suspension roll axis, and at least two shock mounts for mounting a shock absorber or a spring, the two shock mounts being positioned along sides of the axle carrier flanking the suspension roll axis at a distance away from the suspension roll axis. In another embodiment, the transverse axle rotation axis of the axle assembly is elevated above the suspension roll axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Inventor: Martin B. Montague
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Patent number: 6660668Abstract: There is disclosed a woven webbing structure, which resists interwoven yarns from coming out from the surface of the webbing due to bending, or the like. This is achieved without any significant reduction in the strength or energy absorptivity of the webbing. The webbing includes warps that each have a cored yarn and a side yarn, and wefts interwoven therein. The cored yarn is set such that the elongation percentage thereof is smaller than, or the extensional rigidity thereof is larger than, that of the side yarn, and is twisted by single twisting or the like. As a result, unevenness is formed on the surface of the cored yarn and friction between the cored yarn and other yarns, that is, the side yarn or the weft increases. The frictional force between yarns functions for resisting free movement of the cored yarn due to bending of the webbing, thereby making it possible for the cored yarn to resist coming out from the surface of the webbing.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1999Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho, Hoshino Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahiro Tanabe, Yasuma Tominaga, Akira Nagawa
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Patent number: 6656579Abstract: A concrete product for promotion of afforestation, to be used in an environment where a sufficient amount of water for accelerating germination of seeds is supplied. Carbon fibers are disposed on the outer surface of a concrete body. The carbon fibers are made of filaments having a strand form, non-woven fabric form, woven fabric form, knitted form, or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2000Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Inventors: Akira Kojima, Norihiko Hirano, Shigeru Furukawa
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Patent number: 6650068Abstract: The induction coil core used for an induction coil of a discharge lamp, the discharge lamp including: a bulb containing discharge gas inside; and the induction coil for generating an electromagnetic field with a frequency in a range of 50 kHz to 1 MHz inclusive in the bulb. The core is made of a Mn—Zn polycrystalline ferrite and has a Curie temperature of 270° C. or more.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Kurachi, Koji Miyazaki, Katsushi Seki, Mamoru Takeda
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Patent number: 6641076Abstract: A webbing take-up device that can prevent unintended and unnecessary switching from an ELR mode to an ALR mode. In a webbing take-up device, a cam protrusion and a tongue portion are provided at a cam member that interlocks with a take-up shaft, and a breaking operational portion and an intermediate holding surface are provided at a disc control member. When a switch is made from the ELR mode to the ALR mode, unwinding and taking-up operations of the webbing are each preformed twice in succession so that the webbing take-up device is switched to the ALR mode, in which an ALR pawl engages with an outer-tooth ratchet wheel of a locking wheel. Accordingly, unless the aformentioned switching is carried out by conscious volition of a vehicle occupant, unintended and unnecessary switching from the ELR mode to the ALR mode does not occur.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2000Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Shinji Mori, Akira Sumiyashiki, Masakazu Hashimoto
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Patent number: 6639160Abstract: A steering switch assembly structure which facilitates mounting of a pad member and switch assemblies to a metal core of a steering wheel, and which reduces assembly steps and is low in cost. The pad member is disposed between first leg pieces and second leg pieces on a bracket, compression coil springs are arranged between mount pieces of the pad member and the second leg pieces. In this state, the first leg pieces are inserted into mount slots of the switch assemblies. When the mount pieces are moved against elastic force of the springs and brought into contact with horn contacts, a horn device is actuated. The pad member is engaged by bottom surfaces of the switch assemblies, and is prevented from falling off the bracket, which is secured to the metal core, in a direction of separation from the bracket, without use of any further fastening means.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Shoichi Ibe, Keisuke Imai
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Patent number: 6637902Abstract: A mirror angle adjustment mechanism assembled by engaging latching members of a support pivot, which have been in the state inserted through openings provided in a second hemisphere portion of a mirror holder inner, with a case pivot. A plurality of elastic plates on the support pivot are compressed against the second hemisphere portion such that the second hemisphere portion is held between the plurality of elastic plates and a first hemisphere portion provided at the case pivot. Since this mirror angle adjustment mechanism requires only three parts, the case pivot, the mirror holder inner and the support pivot, the number of parts can be reduced and ease-of-assembly can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2002Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventor: Narumi Ishigami
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Patent number: 6637900Abstract: A mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a visor which houses a mirror main body (a mirror), a stay cover provided between the visor and the vehicle, and a base which is assembled so as to pass through the stay cover. In the present invention, in a state in which inclined surfaces formed at both the stay cover and the visor press-contact one another, the stay cover is nipped by the base and the visor. The stay cover is held by nipping force of the base and the visor such that the visor and the stay cover are assembled without gaps therebetween, without a need to separately prepare a fixing member of the stay cover.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventor: Masatsugu Ohashi
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Patent number: 6636345Abstract: The optical fiber pumping system includes a connector that is adapted to selectively communicate with an external pump system. The connector communicates with an onboard pump multiplexer which also receives input from an on-board pump via a connector. The on-board pump may be hot swapped by connecting an external pump system to the connector and coordinating the power up of the external pump system with the power down of the on-board pump to replace a failed on-board pump with a new pump.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventor: Martin Hempstead
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Patent number: 6633177Abstract: A time it takes for a total leakage current (i.e., a total amount of B-mode stress induced leakage currents) flowing through respective MOS devices in a semiconductor integrated circuit to reach a predetermined reference level is estimated as an expected lifetime of the circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., LTDInventor: Kenji Okada
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Patent number: 6626388Abstract: In a webbing retractor having a pretensioner mechanism and a force limiter mechanism, when a drive member is rotated in one direction by the pretensioner mechanism, a cam plate is disposed at a sleeve side by an inner peripheral surface of a clutch ring. Thus, a roller engages with a sleeve, the sleeve is rotated integrally with the drive member, and a webbing is taken-up. When the sleeve is rotated in another direction by the force limiter mechanism, the cam plate is inserted into a recess portion of the clutch ring, and the cam plate is disposed at a side opposite to a sleeve side. Thus, rotation of the sleeve with respect to the drive member is permitted, and impeding of the pulling-out of the webbing can be prevented. Accordingly, a force limiter load can be determined by only a load required for deforming an energy absorbing member.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Tomonori Nagata, Shinji Mori
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Patent number: 6621176Abstract: An input device for use in a vehicle for inputting settings pertaining to a driver's intention of acceleration and deceleration includes a running mode selection switch and an acceleration/deceleration switch. A plurality of modes, for example, a manual speed change mode, an automatic speed change mode, a speed setting mode, and a distance-between-cars setting mode, are selectively set in the running mode selection switch. The acceleration/deceleration switch allows an accelerating or decelerating operation in correspondence to the selected mode. Operation switches which have been conventionally provided separately for each of functions are integrated into two parts, that is, the running mode selection switch and the acceleration/deceleration switch. After a desired mode has been selected, a desired function can be realized only by operation corresponding to a driver's intention of acceleration or deceleration.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2000Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Chikao Nagasaka, Yoshihiro Ohkura, Hiroshi Tsuge, Toru Nakamura
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Patent number: 6621347Abstract: An RF power amplifier has a pair of power amplifying elements for receiving first and second distributed signals resulting from distribution of an input signal from the outside and having the characteristics of the same amplitude and opposite phases, performing power amplification with respect to each of the first and second distributed signals that have been received, and outputting the first and second amplified signals and a pair of transmission lines connected correspondingly to the pair of power amplifying elements. The pair of transmission lines have a pair of protruding portions provided at respective edge portions thereof disposed in opposing relation. The pair of protruding portions are disposed in mutually spaced apart and opposing relation to compose a capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shigeru Morimoto, Hidetoshi Ishida, Motonari Katsuno, Masahiro Maeda
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Patent number: 6616286Abstract: In a vehicle door mirror device, a bracket is divided into a frame and a case member. Thus, the frame and the like for a vehicle right side and for a vehicle left side can both hold a mirror at a vehicle rear side thereof. A mounting hole and a supporting hole of a case member are provided to be symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane which passes through a widthwise direction center of the case member. Thus, even if a common case member is used both for a vehicle right side and for a vehicle left side by left and right sides of the case member being reversed, the mounting hole of the case member can be mounted to the frame and the like for the vehicle right side and the vehicle left side.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2002Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Kenichi Hayashi, Junichi Nakaho, Morihiko Ogasawara, Takashi Yamada
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Patent number: 6615989Abstract: An improved, spin-on, bead-lock filter which is particularly adapted for use in a high-pressure oil filter in a diesel engine is provided. The filter includes a housing containing a filter medium and having an inwardly deformed periphery, and a cover assembly including a cover plate and a retainer plate having mutually spaced apart outer edges for forming a recess that receives the inwardly deformed portion of the housing. A gasket whose outer diameter is less than the inner diameter of the undeformed housing is seated in the recess. The smaller outer diameter of the gasket relative to the inner diameter of the housing allows the cover assembly to be easily positioned in place over the top of the housing during manufacture. Both a mechanical connection and a seal is formed between the cover assembly and the housing when the periphery of the housing is inwardly deformed pursuant to a bead rolling step in conformance with the assembly method of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1999Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Fleetguard, Inc.Inventors: Gene W. Brown, Steven C. Julson
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Patent number: 6616526Abstract: The clean room of this invention includes a first clean region in which a semiconductor substrate to be set in a fabrication system is disposed and a second clean region adjacent to the first clean region in which an operator is disposed. A first air flow flowing downward is introduced into the first clean region and a second air flow flowing downward is introduced into the second clean region. The rate of the first air flow is higher than the rate of the second air flow.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2001Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., LTDInventors: Takahiro Matsuura, Haruo Nakase
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Patent number: 6615132Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that can automatically open/close an electric garage door by remote control without manual operation and that can prevent erroneous opening/closing of the electric garage door. A navigation device 10 can be connected to a wireless garage door opener transmitter 50. The navigation device 10 transmits an open signal to the wireless garage door opener transmitter 50 when a vehicle position calculated by a GPS receiver 24 and an orientation detected by a gyro sensor 40 are within a predetermined range that respectively includes a preset electric garage door open instruction position and orientation, and a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor 38 is no greater than a predetermined value. Thus, erroneous opening of the electric garage door when the vehicle approaches the electric garage with an object other than entering the electric garage can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Chikao Nagasaka, Yoshimasa Kunimatsu, Masato Nishikawa, Toshiyuki Isogai
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Patent number: 6612259Abstract: The present invention provides an effective oxygen generating materials, carbon dioxide absorbing materials, and transport system and transport method of live fishery products for use upon transporting live fishery products. An oxygen generating materials of the present invention is prepared by packaging solid peroxide and peroxide decomposition catalyst with a moisture-permeable material having a cup method moisture permeability (40° C., 90% RH) of more than 20 g/m2/24 hr and being impervious to water at normal pressure. Furthermore, a carbon dioxide absorbing materials are prepared by packaging alkaline earth metal hydroxide and/or oxide with a gas-permeable material having a Gurley method gas permeability (JIS P8117) of 0.1˜3000 sec./100 ml of gas and being impervious to water at normal pressure.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshida, Yasuo Hiro, Jun Kokubo, Chiharu Nishizawa, Susumu Watanabe