Patents by Inventor Donald C. Pierce

Donald C. Pierce has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5164916
    Abstract: A high-density memory module has thirty-two memory integrated circuit chips, sixteen decoupling capacitors, and two resistors mounted on a double-sided multi-layer printed wiring board having a series of edge terminals for connection to a motherboard. One side of the board has a first 2.times.8 rectangular matrix of the chips, and the other side of the board has a second 2.times.8 matrix of the chips. The chips are grouped into four "strings," each of which includes eight chips which receive the same row address strobe and column address strobe. Each string is selected by a unique row address strobe. All four strings share a common data bus. Two of the strings share a first column address strobe and a first address bus, and the other two strings share a second column address strobe and a second address bus, to facilitate four-way interleaved memory access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew L. Wu, Derrick D. DaCosta, Stephen R. Coe, Donald C. Pierce, E. William Bruce, II
  • Patent number: 5033048
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing each memory location of a memory device, the method comprising the steps of: generating each of the memory addresses corresponding to each memory location in a pseudo-random order; generating a pseudo-random series of data words; storing one of the data words at each memory location; reading each data word back from memory; regenerating the series of data words; and comparing each read data word to the corresponding regenerated data word. The invention features generating and storing a second series of data words, each data word being inverse of the data words in the first series. The second series of data words are read from memory and compared to regenerated data. The invention also features a novel linear feedback shift register for generating the pseudo-random memory addresses and can generate the address zero. An accumulating register is utilized to store the approximate location of malfunctioning memory locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Donald C. Pierce, Edward H. Utzig, Robert N. Crouse, Noreen Hession, Donald W. Smelser, Hansel A. Collins
  • Patent number: 4354314
    Abstract: A cutter employing flat replaceable blades in a support member that is shaped as a cube having indentations in its sides to facilitate grasping. The cube is divided into two sides which are held together by adjustable securing means. The blade is inserted in a receiving slot, a plurality of such slots preferably being disposed through the mid-section of the cube at several different angles with respect to the surfaces to be cut. The blade is held in place by positioning it in the slot which corresponds to the desired cutting angle, inserting it to the desired cutting depth and then tightening the adjustable securing means. The cutter is adapted to being guided by a straightedge or to being used for making freehand cuts. The bottom surface of the cutter is shaped to avoid tearing the surface of the mounting board being cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Inventor: Donald C. Pierce
  • Patent number: 4339877
    Abstract: A cutter employing flat replaceable blades and providing a handle and support member that is shaped as an annular segment cut off by a planar surface. The blade is held by a shaft which is preferably encircled by a sleeve and locked to it against rotation. The shaft alone or both the shaft and sleeve extend through a horizontal opening parallel to the planar surface and are locked in place at any desired rotational position. The shaft provides a blade-holding channel enabling ready adjustment of the cutting depth of the blade. In addition to straight cuts and freehand cuts, the latter may be used for circular cuts by attaching a radius rod to it. Cuts of limited length can be simplified by use of another attachment. A further attachment is used to make cuts parallel to the edge of the mounting board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Inventor: Donald C. Pierce
  • Patent number: 4262419
    Abstract: A cutter employing flat replaceable blades and providing a handle and support memeber that is shaped as an annular segment cut off by a planar surface. The blade is held by a shaft which is preferably encircled by a sleeve and locked to it against rotation. The shaft alone or both the shaft and sleeve extend through a horizontal opening parallel to the planar surface and are locked in place at any desired rotational position. The shaft provides a blade-holding channel enabling ready adjustment of the cutting depth of the blade. In addition to straight cuts and freehand cuts, the latter may be used for circular cuts by attaching a radius rod to it. Cuts of limited length can be simplified by use of another attachment. A further attachment is used to make cuts parallel to the edge of the mounting board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Inventor: Donald C. Pierce
  • Patent number: 4244106
    Abstract: A device for describing an ellipse. An enclosed arcuate first slot extends through a cylindrical shell. A path-generating disc fits inside the shell and enables the shell to rotate relatively thereto, and to it is secured a square bottom plate having a plurality of sharp points for centering the device. The disc has a diametrically-extending slot and, perpendicular thereto, a diametrically-extending recess in its upper surface. A cylindrical cam has a path-defining circular projection that rides snugly back and forth in the disc's recess. A cylindrical face of the cam has a radial opening aligned with and leading into another diametrical slot and a tangential opening parallel to that slot. An eccentricity-determining rod fits through the radial opening into the cam's slot, with sliding adjustment; its inner end extends out vertically into the disc's slot, for movement back and forth therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1981
    Inventor: Donald C. Pierce
  • Patent number: 4211137
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting stiff sheet material. A straightedge barrier aligns the material. A back supporting the material includes a first bar perpendicular to the straightedge barrier. Along one edge of the first bar is a straight strip blade having a shearing face and a cutting edge making an acute angle with the shearing face, preferably of about 15.degree.. On a second bar, spaced from and parallel to the first bar, is a carriage in rolling engagement with the second bar and carrying a series of rotatably supported shearing rollers, preferably at least four. The rollers are substantially coplanar, the axes for the first three lie along a line inclined to the blade and getting successively closer thereto, and are frustoconical at an inclination of about 6.degree.. The fourth roller is mounted somewhat closer than it would be if its axis lay along that line and is the only roller which extends beyond the cutting edge into engagement with the shearing face of the blade, being spring-urged thereagainst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Inventor: Donald C. Pierce
  • Patent number: 4180407
    Abstract: Ink which is especially suitable for application to or for drawing lines on unglazed or porous surfaces is an aqueous suspension of an opaque, water-insoluble powdered pigment, containing also a binder which forms a flexible film upon drying, and a small amount of surfactant and, if desired, a fungicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Inventors: Donald M. Gibson, Donald C. Pierce
  • Patent number: 4165408
    Abstract: A method for decorating the border panel or any other area of a cardboard picture mat and the product of that method. Boundary lines of ink or other material are drawn to give a desired pattern and to define design areas. Then a finely divided pigmented powder is brushed into the areas which are desired to be colored. The paper surface holds only a limited amount of the powder, and excess powder is removed. The areas may be rubbed down to assure even distribution and to impart a desired brilliance or tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1979
    Inventor: Donald C. Pierce
  • Patent number: 4161250
    Abstract: A kit having a plurality of containers of finely divided dry powder of different hues, a dry cleaning erasure pad, at least one brush, a plurality of cotton swabs and a pencil eraser. The kit is for the purpose of carrying out the method for decorating the border panel or any other area of a cardboard picture mat. Boundary lines of ink or other material are drawn to give a desired pattern and to define design areas. Then a finely divided pigmented powder is brushed into the areas which are desired to be colored. The paper surface holds only a limited amount of the powder, and excess powder is removed. The areas may be rubbed down to assure even distribution and to impart a desired brilliance or tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1979
    Inventor: Donald C. Pierce