Patents Examined by Michael L. Lindinger
  • Patent number: 6628528
    Abstract: A method including routing a signal from a memory device on an integrated circuit in a package to a memory module, and returning the signal to a reference line in the package between the memory module and the integrated circuit. Also, a method including providing a memory module including at least one memory package configured for electrically coupling to a bus on a system board, the at least one memory package comprising an integrated circuit including a plurality of memory devices, and a package substrate including a surface having a plurality of externally accessible contact points coupled to the memory devices and an externally accessible reference signal line and a surface of the package, and tuning the electrical characteristics of the memory package using an electrical potential between the contact points and the reference signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Theodore Zale Schoenborn
  • Patent number: 6625089
    Abstract: A setting structure of electronic timer, its constitution includes a main body and a reveal able faceplate, a LED display is provided on the faceplate, a recess is provided on the main body there under, several keys are provided in the recess; setting position is via faceplate displayed by means of controlling and operating the keys; a projection is further provided under the faceplate, and a key is provided on main body of a relative position with the projection, the key can be indirectly depressed by depressing faceplate in order to achieve a function ON/OFF therein; a structure of timer with larger displaying faceplate and wider interval between keys is achieved by above-mentioned structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: All-Time Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Stekelenburg
  • Patent number: 6625088
    Abstract: A pin display first embodiment utilizes a cammed two differently dimensioned cam to press a pin support forward to make it even or clear it, followed by a flattened portion to enable a pin support to move back into gentle contact with a belt having raised numerals which generally advance based upon a continuously driven motor. A third position on the cam brings the pin support forward to a third, rest position away from the belt and at which the mechanism rests, typically for one minute. The subject matter can be time, temperature, barometric pressure, or for symbols and pictures for a story telling application. The device can be configured to display any dimensional image and can present a sequence of images. A pin display of a second embodiment of the invention utilizes push-pull solenoids to control pre-specified segmented areas of pins to an outward or inward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Daka Development Ltd. (Hong Kong Corporation)
    Inventors: Pat Y. Mah, Robert Bruce Tiller
  • Patent number: 6619835
    Abstract: A function module unit having a memory function is removably attached on one of wrist bands, while a function module unit having a sensor function is removably attached to the other wrist band. On both wrist bands, bus line wires are embedded along the longitudinal direction. Each of the bus line wires comprises a Vcc line, a serial data line, a clock data line, and a ground line. Each of these lines is provided with a connector member which is exposed on the back surface of the wrist band at a position corresponding to the function module unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Kita
  • Patent number: 6621766
    Abstract: An electrophorectic display is used in a watch, allowing for a dynamic range of new shapes and environments of use. The present invention addresses many of the shortcomings of the prior art watch technology. Specifically, a watch that embodies the present invention is uses addressable reflective display technology such as electronic ink or gyricons. This allows a watch display that features some flexibility. Further, the display can be shaped into a variety of interesting and novel designs that cannot be accomplished using prior art displays. The flexibility of the display also allows for the novel placement of the watch display. For example, the display can be placed onto a shoe, allowing a runner to see the time without having to move his arm into a viewing position. The watch display could also be placed into a wallet, or on a purse or belt. Any flexible garment or accessory could now incorporate a watch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fossil, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Brewer, Chan Chin Pang John, Jeffrey Keith Bruneau
  • Patent number: 6621716
    Abstract: An LED package having a generally tubular electrically conductive body, a circuit board which is mounted across the body at or adjacent one end thereof and which has an outer face on which an LED is mounted, an end contact exposed at the end of the body remote from the circuit board and located relative to the body by means of an insulating cap mounted across the body. An electrical conductor extends from the end contact through the cap, through the interior of the body and through the circuit board to connect the end contact to one of the anode and the cathode of the LED. An electrically conductive path is formed on the circuit board to connect the other of the anode and the cathode of the LED to the body such that the body serves as a second contact enabling current to be supplied to the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Oxley Developments Company Limited
    Inventors: Geoffrey Stephen Edwards, Andrew Leviston Cock
  • Patent number: 6619836
    Abstract: The electronic watch movement components (11, 12) of the watch are mounted on a flexible printed circuit film (10), which is then incorporated in the wristband (1) by overmoulding of an insulating elastomeric material. External elements in the form of cases (2-4) are mounted in a sealed manner on the wristband to protect said components and to cover at least a display unit (20) and an electric power source (15). Decorative elements (5) similar to the cases are distributed along the wristband to imitate links. Such a wristwatch may be manufactured at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Management Services AG
    Inventors: Olivier Silvant, Jacques Müller
  • Patent number: 6618266
    Abstract: A capacitor mounting method and resulting printed circuit board that increases the mounting density of both vias and decoupling capacitors is presented. Vias are shared between capacitors mounted on the top and bottom of the printed circuit board. This arrangement allows increased decoupling capacitor density and avoids the current doubling problem when shared vias are connected with capacitors installed on the same side of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert J. Blakely, John S. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 6618257
    Abstract: Provided is a system and method for selectively stacking and interconnecting integrated circuit devices having a data path of n-bits to create a high-density integrated circuit module having a data path of greater than n-bits. Integrated circuits are vertically stacked one above the other. Where the constituent IC elements have a data path of n-bits in width, a module devised in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention presents a data path 2n-bits wide. In a preferred embodiment, an interconnection frame comprised of printed circuit board material is disposed about two similarly oriented ICs to provide interconnectivity of the constituent ICs and concatenation of their respective data paths. An array of clip-leads or other connectors are appended to module connection pads to provide lead-like structures for connection of the module to its operating environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Staktek Group, L.P.
    Inventors: James Cady, David L. Roper, James G. Wilder, Julian Dowden, Jeff Buchle
  • Patent number: 6618327
    Abstract: A system and method for driving a liquid crystal display (LCD) having at least one segment. The system includes an LCD driver connected to a segment of the LCD. A processor may be selectively configured into any of at least two multiplexing modes, where the at least two multiplexing modes produce at least three voltage levels for driving the at least one segment of the LCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fossil, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Brewer, Lee Tak Chun
  • Patent number: 6614726
    Abstract: A stopwatch has a measuring section for measuring a primary physical quantity, a memory section for previously storing as a target value the value of the primary physical quantity at a point where a time is to be recorded, and recording sections for recording a measured value of time at a time point when the value measured by the measuring section becomes equal to the target value, after initiation of measurement of time. The target value is, for example, a value actually recorded before initiation of measurement of time by the measuring section at the point where time is to be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignees: Seiko Instruments Inc., Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaharu Yamasaki, Curtis Milander
  • Patent number: 6614664
    Abstract: A memory module having series-connected printed circuit boards is provided. The memory module comprises a plurality of printed circuit boards, each comprising a plurality of memory chips mounted thereon, and signal lines and connection means for electrically connecting the printed circuit boards to one another. The connection means electrically series-connects the signal lines of each of the printed circuit boards. Preferably, an end termination circuit is formed on a terminal of the signal line of the farthest printed circuit board from a connector of a mother board, and the memory chip performs at a speed of approximately 150˜300 MHz. The connection means is a flexible jumper assembly having a flexible film and a jumper line formed on the flexible film. Each of the printed circuit boards further comprises a jumper pad connected with the signal lines. The flexible jumper assembly interconnects the jumper pads of each of the printed circuit boards to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Yang Lee
  • Patent number: 6614728
    Abstract: The present invention provides a time-temperature integrating indicator having an amorphous material in operable contact with a porous matrix, wherein the amorphous material only migrates into the porous matrix at or above a predetermined temperature. Use of the invention simplifies monitoring of the cumulative temperature exposure of the product because no additional actuation step is required. The indicator is especially useful in monitoring the cumulative time-temperature exposure of a perishable product for a short period of time at an abusive temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: John A. Spevacek
  • Patent number: 6608756
    Abstract: An upstream side motherboard 50 having an upstream side system slot 51 and upstream side daughter board mounting slots 52 to 58 and a downstream side motherboard 60 having a downstream side system slot 61 and downstream side daughter board mounting slots 62, 63 . . . are connected together by a bridging board 10. The bridging board 10 has bridge wires that electrically connect a plurality of wiring pins provided in the upstream side daughter board mounting slots and a plurality of wiring pins provided in the downstream side system slot when an upstream side connector 11 is fitted into one the upstream side daughter board mounting slots and a downstream side connector 12 is fitted into the downstream side system slot 61, and IC switches 13 and 14 that carry out connection changing on prescribed wires out of the bridge wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: KEL Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Higashida, Takaki Endo
  • Patent number: 6608758
    Abstract: A computer chassis in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. The chassis includes a first body, a second body, and an electromagnetic shield coupled between the first body and the second body. The shield includes a plurality of dimples and a plurality of valleys for providing an electromechanical seal when the shield is placed in an interference condition. The chassis shielding system utilizes a shield with a design that is inexpensive to manufacture, is structurally sturdy, and simple to implement in an interference environment. In a preferred embodiment, the shield is provided for inserting between a circuit card mounting bracket and a computer chassis. The improved shield design incorporates special features including a plurality of dimples and a plurality of valleys, strategically located for providing improved adjacent surface contact and enhanced shielding from unwanted radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Hunt, Edward N. Dials, Joseph Francis Xavier Doman, William Drummond Owsley
  • Patent number: 6603711
    Abstract: A timekeeping system comprising one or more portable timekeeping devices, each portable timekeeping device being configured to start, stop and otherwise control a remote timer adapted to maintain an official time and optionally at least one other time, such as a game clock. Each portable timekeeping device includes a wireless transmitter and a triggering member, activation of the triggering member actuates a wireless signal which is sent to the remote timer in order to stop the official time. The timekeeping system also can include two-way communication between the remote timer and each portable timekeeping device. The two-way communication enables the official time and any other times being maintained by the remote timer to be displayed on each portable device. The portable timekeeping device and system is designed primarily for use with sporting events, particularly, but not limited to, hockey, football and basketball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Michael A. Calace
  • Patent number: 6603712
    Abstract: A high-precision delay measurement circuit delivers exceptionally accurate time measurement, for example, a half-gate delay. The high-precision delay measurement circuit has a multi-stage ring oscillator coupled with multiple oscillation signal detectors, which can be counters and signal edge detection circuits, which respectively count the number of oscillations by the circuit, and determine the extent to which a particular oscillation signal propagated within the oscillator. Some oscillation counters, particularly those disposed between the stages of the oscillator are dual-edge detection counters. The high precision delay measurement circuit can have a control signal output which can constrain a limited voltage swing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Morteza Cyrus Afghahi, Esin Terzioglu
  • Patent number: 6595683
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display assembly comprising a graphical or alphanumeric display and display source such as a clock or other timepiece; a display housing for retaining the display; self-righting means rotatably coupled to the display and display housing with a predetermined bias; a body; and a connecting means operatively engaging the display housing and body. The connecting means in the form of a Cassegrain assembly allows the display housing to swivel with respect to the body over 360 degrees through a vertical plane and horizontal plane independently. The display, when operatively coupled to the self-righting means, is automatically maintained in a substantially upright position independent of the orientation display housing, thereby allowing the display to be turned to face a viewer at any angle without repositioning the body or leveling the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Carl Cetera
  • Patent number: 6597583
    Abstract: A multi-layer circuit board comprises: an insulating layer having upper and lower surfaces thereof, and wiring patterns arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of the insulating layer. A ferroelectric layer has a dieletric constant larger than that of the insulating layer and has upper and lower surfaces. The ferroelectric layer is arranged in the insulating layer in such a manner that the upper and lower surfaces of the ferroelectric layer coincide with the upper and lower surfaces of the insulating layer, respectively. A pair of electrode films are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the ferroelectric layer, respectively, to define a capacitor incorporated in the multi-layer circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6597638
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for attachment and detachment of watch straps are provided. The apparatus and methods of the present invention may be used to attach a strap to and detach a strap from a watch having a strap attached by a compressible spring bar. In some embodiments, the invention may include a tool for attaching and detaching the strap that has a base and a blade. The base may support the watch and the blade may protrude from the base to compress the spring bar and release it from the body of the watch. The blade may have a notch for engaging the spring bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Movado Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Rene Droux