Patents by Inventor Lawrence E. Smith

Lawrence E. Smith 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: 4812719
    Abstract: A switch regulator includes a controllable SCR switch that is coupled in series with a filter inductor and a horizontal deflection generator, and the series combination is coupled across a source of unregulated direct voltage for providing a path for an increasing current flow in the inductor during a portion of a trace interval in which the switch is closed. Horizontal rate signals are coupled from the deflection generator to the switch via a first winding for controlling the opening of the switch. A catch diode is coupled to the filter inductor to form a path for a decreasing current flow in the first inductor during at least a portion of a retrace interval. The first winding is coupled in series with a second inductor to form an arrangement that is coupled between the unregulated voltage and the SCR switch. A current in the second inductor maintains the switch conductive during a portion of retrace that varies in accordance with a beam current for improving regulation of an ultor voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Stephens, Lawrence E. Smith, Michael E. Boyer
  • Patent number: 4677350
    Abstract: In a deflection circuit that operates in any scan frequency selected from a plurality of frequencies, the supply voltage that is DC-coupled to a first terminal of a trace capacitor is increased when the scan frequency increases. The deflection circuit includes a diode modulator that is controlled by a modulation voltage having an AC component voltage that varies at a vertical rate. The increase in the supply voltage causes an increase in a DC component voltage of the modulation voltage that is coupled to a second terminal of the trace capacitor such that the voltage in the trace capacitor increases in the same proportion as the supply voltage. The proportional increase in the trace capacitor voltage maintains the raster width unchanged when the scan frequency increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Wharton, Lawrence E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4626977
    Abstract: A video display apparatus includes a regulated transformer power supply that provides power to an external load device, such as a computer, via one winding on the power supply transformer. Operation of the video display apparatus without the external circuit attached may cause degradation of the other transformer winding load circuits due to insufficient transformer power transfer as a result of decreased external power supply loading. A diode is connected from the external load supply to another load circuit to supply power to the other load circuit when the external device is not attached. When the external device is attached, the diode is reverse biased and does not conduct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Mark T. Carnes, Lawrence E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4576691
    Abstract: Photoelectrochemical etching of gallium arsenide in highly alkaline aqueous solution yields optically smooth etched surfaces suitable for many optical devices. Higher optical quality is obtained for lower irradiation energy provided sufficient energy is available to produce holes in the valence band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Paul A. Kohl, Lawrence E. Smith, Harvey S. Trop
  • Patent number: 4469564
    Abstract: A copper electroplating process is described in which the anode is surrounded by a cation-permeable membrane so as to prevent decomposition of additives in the electrochemical bath. Such a feature adds to bath lifetime and permits better control of bath chemistry and plating quality during the electroplating process. The feature is especially advantageous for copper electroplating processes using nonconsumable electrodes because of the high consumption of additives and that the copper can be added to the cathode side of the membrane so that acid copper ions need not pass through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Yutaka Okinaka, Craig G. Smith, Lawrence E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4437948
    Abstract: A process is described for the electrodepositon of copper on various surfaces. The process involves use of a nonconsumable counterelectrode. Of particular significance is the composition of the surface of the counterelectrode. The surface of the counterelectrode comprises iridium oxide and tantalum oxide. Such processes can be carried out at high speeds, with smaller and more efficient equipment and can use various copper compounds as a source of copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Yutaka Okinaka, Craig G. Smith, Lawrence E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4222996
    Abstract: A synthesis of gold (I) cyanide is described which exhibits high yields and does not yield toxic gases (e.g., HCN). Gold (I) cyanide is important as a source of gold for gold plating baths. A synthesis of AuCN that does not involve evolution of toxic gases (e.g., HCN) is highly advantageous because no disposal problem is involved and the procedure is simpler and more straightforward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Yutaka Okinaka, Lawrence E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4209732
    Abstract: To regulate the DC input voltage to a deflection circuit, a saturable reactor winding is series coupled with an unregulated DC voltage, a diode, a flyback transformer winding and an input terminal of the deflection circuit. During retrace, the diode is forward biased and conducts input current to the input terminal. During trace, the opposite polarity trace voltage commutates off the diode and decouples the input terminal from the unregulated DC voltage at a varied instant within trace in accordance with the impedance of the saturable reactor winding. The average DC voltage across the diode fluctuates with diode conduction angle variations and maintains a regulated input voltage at the input terminal despite fluctuations in the unregulated DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1980
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Smith