Patents Examined by D. Ben Esplin
  • Patent number: 6573973
    Abstract: An exchange is provided with a data synthesizer that synthesizes moving picture data that are being communicated between terminals with additional moving picture data, and is capable of inserting the additional moving picture data into the moving picture data that are being communicated. Each terminal is provided with a data transmission/reception means that both synthesizes the moving picture data that are being transmitted to the terminal of a communication partner with the additional moving picture data and synthesizes moving picture data that have been transmitted in from the terminal of a communication partner with additional moving picture data; and is capable of inserting additional moving picture data into the moving picture data when the moving picture data are being transmitted or received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 6573980
    Abstract: Optical pellicles for photomasks are described, where the optical pellicle is configured to be reversibly affixed to the photomask with a non-adhesive mounting member, such as a vacuum system or an electrostatic film. The optical pellicles of the invention are readily removed from the photomask and reattached without the use of adhesives, and are well-suited for use by automated methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Micro Lithography, Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Bore Wang
  • Patent number: 6573976
    Abstract: A scan exposure apparatus includes a mask stage on which a mask is to be placed, a substrate stage on which a substrate is to be placed, and a detection unit for detecting a surface shape of the substrate in each of a plurality of areas thereof. The surface shape is taken into consideration to drive the substrate stage in an exposure process. The apparatus further includes a controller for deciding scanning speeds of the mask stage and the substrate stage for each of a plurality of the areas based on the result of detection by the detection unit so as not to exceed a predetermined value of a synchronization error between the mask stage and the substrate stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Takeishi
  • Patent number: 6568815
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus according to the present invention includes a prime color component selection unit, made up of a temporal color separation sub-unit and a spatial color separation sub-unit, a modulation unit on which falls a light beam split in its optical path by the prime color component selection unit, and a projection unit for synthesizing and projecting the light beams from first and second spatial modulation sub-units of the modulation unit. In the image projection apparatus, the first and second spatial modulation sub-units perform spatial modulation on images corresponding to respective different prime color components. In the image projection apparatus of the present invention, two spatial modulation units are used, thus simplifying the structure and reducing the size as compared to the so-called three-plate type image projection apparatus employing three spatial modulation sub-units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoya Yano
  • Patent number: 6567614
    Abstract: A camera casing of the present invention is an integral two-color molded product whose case main body (32) consists of a transparent rigid resin layer (32a) and an opaque rigid resin layer (32b). Essential parts of the camera are exposed through the transparent resin layer (32a), so the camera may be operated from outside the casing. The casing is collected and melted as a whole without discriminating between the transparent rigid resin and the opaque rigid resin, to be recycled as a material for the opaque resin layer (32b) when the case main body is newly formed by two-color injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Negishi, Keiji Uchiyama, Mitsuro Kamata, Toshio Sata
  • Patent number: 6563564
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating a lithographic projection apparatus including calculating a change in aberration effect in the projection system, due to heating effects, as a function of time, based on at least one set of predetermined parameters; and adjusting the lithographic projection apparatus to compensate for the calculated change in aberration effect. The parameters are obtained by a calibration operation, which may comprise a coarse calibration followed by at least one fine calibration. The coarse calibration yields a first estimate of at least a subset of the parameters. The estimate can be used as an input for a subsequent fine calibration. The calibration may also comprise a single fine calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: ASM Lithography B.V.
    Inventors: Christianus Gerardus Maria de Mol, Thomas Josephus Maria Castenmiller, Marcel van Dijk, Franciscus Antonius Chrysogonus Marie Commissaris, Simon de Groot, Catharina Johanna Lucia Maria van den Enden
  • Patent number: 6559926
    Abstract: A pattern forming apparatus for forming a pattern on a substrate includes a first exposure section capable of conducting pattern exposure for a predetermined line width, a second exposure section for conducting pattern exposure for a line width greater than the predetermined linewidth of the first exposure section, and a device for detecting the relative positional relationship between the first exposure section and the second exposure section. Pattern exposure is conducted by using the first exposure section and the second exposure section on the basis of the detected positional relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takako Yamaguchi, Ryo Kuroda
  • Patent number: 6558004
    Abstract: The invention provides a projector capable of cooling a light-source lamp efficiently and suppressing noises as well. In a first cooling system, the base side of a light-source lamp, which reaches a high temperature, is intensively cooled by a first sirocco fan. An axial-flow exhaust fan is provided close to the light-source lamp so that cooling air is allowed to quickly flow while cooling the light-source lamp. Therefore, even when the first sirocco fan, in which the air pressure of cooling air is liable to be reduced, is used, heat generated in the light-source lamp can be smoothly radiated, thereby efficiently cooling the light-source lamp. Since the first sirocco fan is remarkably quiet as compared to an axial-flow fan, noises are suppressed to a low level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ito, Takeshi Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6559922
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a purged optical path between an optical source surface and an optical target surface and for permitting relative movement between the optical source surface and the optical target surface is described. The apparatus includes a body, a central cavity, at least one gas supply bore, and at least one gas removal bore. The body defines first and second opposing surfaces. The first opposing surface is configured for positioning closely adjacent to the optical target surface. The second opposing surface is configured to mate with the optical source surface. The central cavity is formed in the body for passing light through the body, the central cavity being open at the first and second opposing surfaces. The at least one gas supply bore is formed in the body for suppling a flow of a purge gas to the central cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventors: Eric C. Hansell, Jose V. Herrera, Richard L. Huse, Jorge S. Ivaldi, Stephen G. Krehley, Thomas P. Shamaly
  • Patent number: 6558005
    Abstract: Projection display device which comprises a light source for generating a light beam, integrator means for converting the light beam into a uniform rectangular beam, modulator means for modulating the rectangular light beam with the information to be displayed, and projection means for projecting the modulated rectangular light beam on a display plane. The integrator means comprises a triangular prism and an integrator device positioned between the light source and the triangular prism. The triangular prism is arranged for total internal reflection on at least one or more of its non-folding planes or, for best optical performance, on all of its non-folding planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Serge Joel Armand Bierhuizen
  • Patent number: 6556273
    Abstract: A system for providing motion picture photographic film with encoded information, such as unique film footage and frame identification, which can be machine read prior to film processing. This system provides machine readable encoded information markings on the raw stock film which may be read in a camera or other photoprocessing device with a reader prior to or concurrent with the film image capture process. The machine readable encoded information markings may be easily converted into a “video image” for display in a real time video from a CCD imager in the film camera or other device. Furthermore this pre-processing machine readable encoded information may be used in conjunction with optical latent image recorded information which becomes machine or human readable after processing as presently provided by film manufacturer's according to industry standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Christopher E. Wheeler, Gary W. Ahlquist, Wayne K. Shaffer, Roger A. Morton
  • Patent number: 6546207
    Abstract: A camera, including a body, a lens barrel has a rotating ring, a rotational position detector, a character memory and a character information recorder. The rotating ring is rotatably provided on an outer circumference of the lens barrel. The rotational position detector detects a rotational position of the rotating ring. Character information, associated with the object image and defined on the basis of the plurality of characters, is set by an operator. The character information recorder selectively reads characters, corresponding to the character information, from the plurality of characters stored in said character memory, and records the character information in the recording medium as additional data. Then, the rotating ring operates as a device for setting the character information. The character information to be recorded in a recording medium is set in accordance with the rotational position of the rotating ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Wakui
  • Patent number: 6545747
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which outputs an index print of information representing a plurality of pictures having picture size of different aspect ratios, with each of the plurality of pictures being respectively assigned a number in numerical order. The image processing apparatus detects size information for each of the plurality of pictures based on the respective aspect ratios, and a picture output order different from the numerical order is determined based on the detected size information for each of the plurality of pictures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Isao Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6545741
    Abstract: A stereoscopic viewing system permits separate imaging of left and right images of a particular object. Each image may be sequentially captured on the exact same imaging sensor and then transferred either to storage or for separate stereoscopic display. As a result, a single image sensor may be utilized to reduce costs of the system without significantly decreasing the time for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Robert B. Meltzer
  • Patent number: 6540366
    Abstract: An overhead projection system includes an overhead projector support assembly extending outwardly from a generally vertical support surface in a generally horizontal disposition. A display screen having a display surface is mounted on the support surface beneath the projector support assembly. A projector is mounted on the projector support assembly and is aimed to project images onto the display surface of the display screen. Preferably, the projector support assembly includes a governor in the form of a damper and spring arrangement to control downward pivotal movement of the projector support assembly when a load is placed on the projector support assembly and to return the projector support assembly to its generally horizontal disposition when the load is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Smart Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaughn E. Keenan, Robert Sirotich
  • Patent number: 6540364
    Abstract: The invention provides a projector capable of reducing costs and promoting miniaturization while also being dust-proof. A second sirocco fan with an air-inlet opposing a projection lens is used, and an air-inlet of an outer case is formed on a side face thereof. Thereby, it is difficult for dust to be sucked therein compared with an air-inlet formed on the bottom or top face of the outer case, enabling the projector to be dust-proof without any filter. Since the filter is not required, the number of parts is reduced, thereby reducing costs. Furthermore, the second sirocco fan is placed by utilizing a space under the projection lens, which is liable to be a dead space, enabling the arrangement space to be efficiently used thereby promoting miniaturization of a projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Takizawa, Shinsuke Ito
  • Patent number: 6539178
    Abstract: In a camera, a setting system sets a photographic factor representing a proper exposure, and a measurement system measures an actual photographic factor, corresponding to the set factor during a photographing operation. A determination system determines whether there is a coincidence between the set factor and the actual factor, and a recording system records the actual factor on a photographed frame of a photographic film when the determination system determines that there is the coincidence between the set factor and the actual factor. The recording system is constituted such that an error message is recorded on the frame of the film when it is determined that there is a non-coincidence between the set factor and the actual factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventor: Sohichiroh Kawakami
  • Patent number: 6536905
    Abstract: The optical filter enhances the visual perception of a stationary white object such as a golf ball to help a user to locate the object when lost. The filter attenuates light transmission for colors having wavelengths over 500 nanometer such as the light reflected by the vegetation, and transmits colors having shorter wavelengths such as the light reflected by the ball. The filter is worn in an eyeglass frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Alexander Gibb, Thomas John Chapman, Scott Percy Archie Leslie
  • Patent number: 6535269
    Abstract: Method and system for customizing a motion film selection by selecting a film clip including a video track and a sound track comprising one or more actor voice tracks and a background track, modifying the sound track to remove a selected actor voice track, recording a new voice track for synchronized playback with the selected actor, and saving a new sound track including the modified sound track and the new voice track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Inventors: Gary Sherman, Michael Chase
  • Patent number: 6527397
    Abstract: All of optical elements constituting a projecting optical system 10 are reflection mirrors 1 to 4. The reflection mirrors 1 to 4 are arranged in a plate-shaped support member 6 with a relative positional relation between the reflection mirrors being fixed. A position of the whole projecting optical system 10 with respect to an image-forming component 5 is adjust by moving the support member 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunitaka Furuichi, Jun Ogawa