Patents Assigned to Brother International Corporation
  • Patent number: 6667572
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a nanotube assembly having a plurality of nanotubes arranged in an array. An optical excitation device is provided adjacent to the nanotube assembly. The optical excitation device includes a diffraction grating and a piezoelectric crystal disposed adjacent to the diffraction grating. A radiation source generates a write beam incident to the piezoelectric crystal, a read beam incident to the diffraction grating, and an erase beam incident to the diffraction grating. When voltage is applied to the piezoelectric crystal, the write beam scans across the diffraction grating and forms a grating pattern in the diffraction grating. The read beam reads the grating pattern as a holographic image on the at least one nanotube. The erase beam erases the grating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventor: Howard D. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20030180640
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus useable with colorant and media includes a colorant applicator at which colorant is provided, and a nanotube assembly that emits electron beams to selectively charge the colorant on the colorant applicator, such that one of the charged and uncharged colorant is electrically attractable to the media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: BROTHER INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark A. Darty
  • Publication number: 20030094898
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a nanotube assembly having a plurality of nanotubes arranged in an array. An optical excitation device is provided adjacent to the nanotube assembly. The optical excitation device includes a diffraction grating and a piezoelectric crystal disposed adjacent to the diffraction grating. A radiation source generates a write beam incident to the piezoelectric crystal, a read beam incident to the diffraction grating, and an erase beam incident to the diffraction grating. When voltage is applied to the piezoelectric crystal, the write beam scans across the diffraction grating and forms a grating pattern in the diffraction grating. The read beam reads the grating pattern as a holographic image on the at least one nanotube. The erase beam erases the grating pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: BROTHER INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Howard D. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20020190936
    Abstract: The invention includes providing a display by moving a colorant particle, having an electric charge, inside a channel of a body in a direction that is substantially parallel to a direction of extension of the channel and a direction of incoming illumination rays. The colorant particle can be moved between a position at a bottom of the channel and at a top of the channel by the force of an electric field generated by a charge at the bottom of the channel. The invention can be applied to an analog dot display as well as a digital dot display. The invention covers methods of manufacturing the displays discussed above. The invention is also not limited to covering displays, and also covers at least print media, wherein colorant particles are locked at appropriate locations within the channels, either temporarily or permanently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Brother International Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Darty
  • Publication number: 20020086703
    Abstract: A docking station for a mobile computing device such as, for example, a Palm PC, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, or any of a variety of other types of handheld computing devices which have their own LCD displays. The docking station provides a variety of functions to the mobile computing device including: telephone, videophone, fax, digital answering machine, printing, keyboard, modem, internet access digital interface ports for connection to a variety of peripherals including scanners, cameras, disk drives and a number of other peripherals in addition to providing the two typical functions of existing docking stations, i.e., providing power charging to the mobile computing device's rechargeable battery and providing a digital connection between the mobile computing device and a personal computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: BROTHER INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zachary Dimenstein, Christopher Wright
  • Patent number: 6312110
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead in accordance with the invention includes a base that defines a channel. The channel defines an upper orifice that communicates with a reservoir containing ink and a lower orifice. At least one electrode is actuable to provide an electrostatic field within the channel so as to move ink from the upper orifice toward the lower orifice. The at least one electrode includes an upper electrode layer disposed at the upper orifice and a lower electrode layer disposed at the lower orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Darty
  • Patent number: 6206593
    Abstract: An information device having a printer includes a body and a printer portion for housing the printer and a printing medium. The body has a display screen side in which a display screen is positioned and a printer side positioned opposite the display screen side. The printer portion is attached to the printer side of the body such that the printer portion remains concealed during operation of the printer when the information device is viewed from the display screen side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventors: Richard K Brenner, Mark S. Kimbrough, Philip Leung, Robert H. Garrett, Pearce Jones, Christopher A. Cogburn
  • Patent number: 6121958
    Abstract: A communications apparatus has a housing and a display and includes a first keypad device and a second keypad device. The first keypad device is immovably disposed relative to the housing and the display. The second keypad device is operative for moving to and between an exposed state and a retracted state. When the second keypad device is in the exposed state, the first keypad device is covered by the second keypad device so that the second keypad device is accessible to a user while the first keypad device is inaccessible to the user. When the second keypad device is in the retracted state, the second keypad device is stowed within the housing and the first keypad device is uncovered such that the second keypad device is inaccessible to the user while the first keypad device is accessible to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventors: Mary C. Clark, Jeffrey S. Raquet, Kazuki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6002371
    Abstract: An antenna assembly is formed as a thin, unitary element with parallel leads laminated to an insulator. The unitary antenna element includes an integral attachment portion for connection to a printed circuit board. The antenna assembly is usable in electronic devices, such as a cordless telephone radio transceiver. A molded cover, which is directly attached to the electronic device rather than the antenna assembly, is provided to encase and protect the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventors: Jon P. Mittler, Terry L. Fry
  • Patent number: 5960440
    Abstract: A device that manages kitchen information, including an information storage device that stores a plurality of recipes, a display device that displays at least one of the plurality of recipes stored in the information storage device and a microcontroller that selects at least one of the plurality of recipes having a main recipe and at least one subsidiary recipe, where the subsidiary recipe being a scaled version of the main recipe. The display device can further display at least one of the plurality of recipes including a cooking time associated with the recipe and one or more timers. By selecting a timer, the microcontroller automatically sets the selected timer equal to the associated cooking time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventors: Richard K. Brenner, David S. Register
  • Patent number: 5841843
    Abstract: A facsimile forwarding phone system for receiving, storing and transmitting facsimile data includes a facsimile forwarding device that receives, stores and transmits facsimile data to a remote destination device. The facsimile forwarding device generates simulated public switched telephone network (PSTN) signals and outputs them over the telephone line to the destination device, so that it appears to the destination device that it is directly attached to the public switched telephone network. The facsimile forwarding device generates a ring signal and sends it over the phone line to the destination device. Thus, it appears to the destination device that it is directly connected to the public switched telephone network, rather that to the facsimile forwarding device. The destination device may include remote facsimile machines and remote computer systems. The stored facsimile data is transmitted upon the facsimile forwarding phone system receiving a forwarding request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Bristow, Christopher B. Wright
  • Patent number: 5839054
    Abstract: A dedicated paging system having single button paging, requiring only a single press of a dedicated button on a page base to automatically page a pager associated with the page base. Information associating the page base with the pager is stored in the page base and/or a database maintained by a paging service provider with which the paging system is registered. When the dedicated button on the page base is pressed, the page base automatically calls the paging service provider. The paging service provider strips the caller identification number from the incoming call, uses the number to look up the pager identification number stored in the database, and then uses the retrieved pager identification number to send a page signal to the pager. Additionally, the paging system is automatically registered with a single press of the button. When the button is pressed, the page base automatically calls a clearinghouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher B. Wright, Stephen D. Bristow
  • Patent number: 5786983
    Abstract: An information device including a display portion in which a display screen is positionable and a removable keyboard with a first set of function keys. The information device can selectively assign different functions to each of the function keys. The display screen includes a second set of function keys. The functions assigned to the second set of function keys correspond to the functions of the first set of function keys. Both sets of function keys correspond in size, shape or number to allow the user to determine which function key is desired from either location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventors: Richard K. Brenner, Mark S. Kimbrough, Philip Leung, Robert Garrett, Pearce Jones
  • Patent number: 5629725
    Abstract: An ink cartridge carrier for an ink cartridge of an ink jet printing device is resiliently mounted to the ink cartridge carrier to minimize the size of the ink cartridge carrier. The reduction in size is accomplished by mounting the latching mechanism to the ink cartridge carriage with an expansion spring positioned in a spring opening in both the latching mechanism and the ink cartridge carrier. Only a latching lip of the latching member extends above the ink cartridge carrier so as to engage an upper surface of the ink cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene Buican
  • Patent number: D449603
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Darty, Mark Conklan, Rodney Loyd, Michael Paloian, Warren Ginn, Anthony Orchard
  • Patent number: D390540
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventors: Richard K. Brenner, Mark S. Kimbrough, Philip Leung, Robert H. Garrett, Pearce Jones
  • Patent number: D391982
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventor: Hyunsoo Hong
  • Patent number: D403308
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventor: Yuzo Fukunaga
  • Patent number: D409188
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventor: Yuzo Fukunaga
  • Patent number: D409604
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Brother International Corporation
    Inventor: Hyun Soo Hong