Patents Represented by Attorney Bachman & LaPointe, P.C.
  • Patent number: 6774812
    Abstract: A receiver side of a two-wire type remote control system accurately determines the polarity of data. The reception buffer inverts an input from one of the data and electric communication lines, and adds the inverted input to an input of the other line. Then, when the result of the addition is 0 or close to 0, the reception switches buffer logic data to be output to indicate the inversion of the level of the equilibrium pulse-like power received from the communication lines. The polarity identifying portion identifies the polarity when the logical data sent from the reception buffer is maintained at a logic level for a predetermined period of time. The polarity identifying portion sends pulse group data to the data processing portion in accordance with the identified polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: AIOI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Tada
  • Patent number: 6773840
    Abstract: A start system for enabling rapid fuel cell power from sub-freezing initial conditions in a fuel cell power plant which comprises heating an antifreeze coolant source and melting ice in the sump of a cell stack assembly with the heated antifreeze to effect start up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Harold T. Couch, Frederick Sribnik
  • Patent number: 6770178
    Abstract: A shielding arrangement is described for a cathodic arc deposition apparatus which includes a contactor formed from an electrically conductive material and having an axially extending shaft and a cathode. The shielding arrangement includes a cup formed from an electrically conductive material surrounding a portion of the contactor shaft and a shield for preventing material from being deposited on the cup. The shielding arrangement includes a removable ring shield attached to the cup and a cylindrical shield formed from an electrically non-conductive material surrounding the cup and a portion of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Dean N. Marszal
  • Patent number: 6770096
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an interbody spinal stabilization method and an interbody spinal stabilization cage. The cage has a parallelepipedic shape and comprises a central hollow space intended to be filled with bone fragments. The cage also comprises anchoring device(s) having an overall S shape and opening onto lateral faces connecting with adjacent vertebrae, actuated by at least one actuation device opening into a front face. The anchoring device(s) each have at least one main cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Spinevision S.A.
    Inventors: Ciaran Bolger, John Bolger
  • Patent number: 6770230
    Abstract: The compression molded article includes an outer plastic film layer, a first plastic layer adhered to the outer plastic film layer and a second plastic layer adhered to the first plastic layer. Long fibers having a length of from 8 to 100 mm are admixed with the second plastic layer. The article is formed by compression molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: The University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Arthur K. Delusky, Stephen McCarthy, Robert V. Lucke, Thomas M. Ellison, Qing Guan
  • Patent number: 6769210
    Abstract: An aiming device for pistols comprises a rear sight (2) and front sight having a luminous dot on the side facing the eye (rear sight). The rear sight has a luminous mark and a recess which accommodates the contour of the front sight. The recess comprises a base line or bottom wall and two side lines or side walls. For aiming in poor visibility, the rear sight has a trapezoidal external contour, with the inclined trapezoid sides forming an acute angle at their upper ends with the side lines of the recess, and the rear sight has a second luminous dot centrally under the recess which is located precisely under the first luminous dot on the front sight when the pistol is being aimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Wilhelm Bubits
  • Patent number: 6767425
    Abstract: A method for producing a strip-shaped object of any thickness, width and length, made up of stacked, partially glued together foil strips. According to said method, each of the foil strips is provided with adhesive strips applied across the width (u) of the foil strip on one side, and the adhesive strips are offset from each other on foil strips that directly follow each other. The foil strips are stacked to produce a foil strip stack, pressed against each other in the stacking direction and glued together in order to produce the strip-shaped object. In the process, a line of foil which is provided with adhesive strips crosswise to its longitudinal direction (x) is divided into at least two lines of foil strips of equal width in its longitudinal direction (u).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Alcan Technology & Management Ltd.
    Inventor: Johannes Meier
  • Patent number: 6766639
    Abstract: An acoustic-structural LPC splitter assembly which comprises a structural acoustic splitter through which are arranged a plurality of bleed exhaust ports, the acoustic splitter having a first and second end, an inner and outer surface, a front joint for securing the first end, and a slip joint formed at an FEGV interface for securing the second end, wherein the structural acoustic splitter provides support sufficient to maintain concentricity of an LPC inner case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Eric William Malmborg
  • Patent number: 6766683
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring unit (5) for monitoring a first control value (Inom) for overshooting or undershooting of a threshold value (Imax) with the first control value (Inom) being used for controlling an apparatus (3). The monitoring unit (5) in this case has determination means (10, 20, 30, 40, 45) for determining the threshold value (Imax) from an instantaneous value (Is) of the first control value (Inom) when the apparatus (3) reaches a predetermined operating state, and monitoring means (50, 60) for monitoring the first control value (Inom) for overshooting or undershooting of the determined threshold value (Imax) after the apparatus (3) has reached the predetermined operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Wittenstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Kalker
  • Patent number: 6767696
    Abstract: The invention relates to so-called scanning tips of probes necessary for scanning a measured object, in particular in scanning force microscopes and other scanning microscopes, so-called scanning probe microscopes. The possible resolution of such microscopes depends primarily on the fineness of the tip, i.e. its curvature or radius being as small as possible. According to the invention, a photostructurable material, e.g. a photosensitive resists, serves as the material for the scanning tip which is exposed via a mask and is subsequently developed/hardened in a manner known per se. The unexposed parts of the photosensitive resist are removed as usual. By the shape of the exposure mask, the preferably directed exposure of the photosensitive resist, and the subsequent hardening, a tip is formed preferably laterally on or at a carrier, usually made from a different material, which is provided with a very small radius, thus very well suitable for scanning probe microscopy and similar applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Nanosurf AG
    Inventors: Lukas Howald, Loris Scandella, Urs Staufer, Terunobu Akiyama
  • Patent number: 6767650
    Abstract: A lightweight support for a bumper is formed by an extruded profile with a plurality of chambers. In order to provide a profile which, along with an extremely low weight, meets all the static requirements, is easy to bend and is suited to the properties of a light-metal alloy, the profile (1) comprises four walls (2, 3, 5, 6), which preferably form an isosceles trapezoid, and two webs (7, 8), which are arranged in the interior of the profile, parallel to the side walls (5, 6) and likewise symmetrically. The side walls (5, 6) of the support (1) have stiffening ribs (25) which are produced in the same operation as the support (1) is bent. A description is given of the associated process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Hausberger, Guntram Ruef, Bruno Götzinger, Thomas Friesenbichler
  • Patent number: 6767163
    Abstract: A plasma process and equipment for eliminating toxic or hazardous organic compounds from different materials, particularly petroleum and oil contaminated soils. The process and equipment can also be used to remove the hydrocarbons contained in the sludge formed at the bottom of petroleum storage tanks. The process utilizes a plasma system for providing the necessary energy to the contaminated soil or sludge for the hydrocarbons to volatilize, keeping the temperature inside the reactor between 400 and 900° C. The volatilized compounds after leaving the reactor are collected in condensers, where the hydrocarbons can be recovered, in the form of a liquid hydrocarbon (oil). The contaminated material is continuously fed into the reactor from one end, while the clean material is removed from the other end of the reactor. The atmosphere inside the reactor is maintained neutral or reducing in order to prevent the oxidation of the hydrocarbons. Minimum amounts of off gases are generated in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: TSL-Engenharia, Manutencao E. Preservacao Ambiental Ltda.
    Inventor: Fernando Carvalho Almeida
  • Patent number: 6764544
    Abstract: A method of cement clinker manufacture comprises feeding a clinker feed material containing a source of calcium carbonate into a feed end of a cement kiln, the feed material is heat processed in the kiln to produce cement clinker with emission of carbon dioxide from thermal decomposition of said source of calcium carbonate and discharge of the carbon dioxide from the kiln, and cement clinker is discharged from a discharge end of the kiln; a coal ash derived from burning pulverized lignite or sub-bituminous coal is included in the feed material fed into the feed end to replace a portion of the source of calcium carbonate, and provides a source of calcium as well as other components notably silicon and aluminum, in the formation of the cement clinker, with a lowering of the emission of carbon dioxide in the kiln, per unit weight of cement clinker produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Lafarge Canada Inc.
    Inventors: David Bridson Oates, Alan Van Sloten
  • Patent number: 6761807
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a molded tooling fixture for supporting an airfoil during an electrochemical stripping process. The tooling fixture comprises a holder for receiving the airfoil, which holder has a slot in which a serrated portion of the airfoil is positioned. The holder is formed from an electrically non-conductive material such as molded plastic. The first slot has at least one serrated surface which mates with at least one serration on the airfoil. The fixture further includes a support arm on which the holder is supported. The support arm is also formed from an electrically non-conductive material such as molded plastic. Still further, the fixture includes a rod formed from an electrically conductive material which sits in a groove in the support arm and which contacts a lower surface of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ramon M. Velez, Jr., Thomas M. Morin, John S. Planeta, Ronald R. Soucy
  • Patent number: 6760941
    Abstract: An accessory attachment device for a magnetic retrieval tool includes a ferrous base member having a substantially flat surface for magnetically securing to a magnetic tool and an accessory attachment member extending from the surface; and an accessory member connected to the attachment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Edward S. Coleman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6758887
    Abstract: A waterborne epoxy corrosion resistant primer comprises a waterborne epoxy, a curing agent, and a non-chromate containing corrosion-inhibiting pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Promila P. Bhatia
  • Patent number: 6760203
    Abstract: A switching power supply with overcurrent protection is provided that comprises a current detection resistor (8) for detecting electric current through an FET (5); a capacitor (11) for accumulating electric charge in response to overcurrent through the current detection resistor (8) due to late OFF switching of the FET (5); and a transistor (12) for reducing source voltage applied to a feed terminal of a control circuit (7) below an operation voltage. When accumulated electric charge in the capacitor (11) exceeds a predetermined level, the transistor (12) is operated to reduce source voltage for the control circuit (7) below operative voltage to stop operation of the control circuit (7) and to thereby restrain overcurrent during delayed time until OFF switching of the FET (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Usui
  • Patent number: 6758259
    Abstract: In a method of producing substantially segregation-free and in particular freckle-free castings of metal—in particular high-alloyed steels and Ni- and Co-based alloys of large dimensions in accordance with an electroslag melting or casting method—using a short electrically conductive water-cooled chill mold (10), in the wall of which current-conducting elements (6) which are not directly water-cooled are installed in electrically insulated relationship with the part of the chill mold (10) forming the casting, a substantially segregation-free and freckle-free bloom (24) of a cross-sectional area which is at most 90% of the part of the chill mold (10) forming the casting is arranged therein and connected to the supplied metal, using a slag bath (31) which is heated by the flow of current and which is disposed in the region of the current-conducting elements (16) by continually quantitatively controlledly pouring in liquid metal (34)—or by the supply of solid metal in the form of for example gr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Inteco Internationale Technische Beratung Ges.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Harald Holzgruber, Wolfgang Holzgruber
  • Patent number: 6756134
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a zinc-diffused nickel alloy coating for corrosion and heat protection and to a method for forming such a coating. The coating method broadly comprises the steps of forming a plain nickel or nickel alloy coating layer on a substrate, applying a layer of zinc over the nickel or nickel alloy coating layer, and thermally diffusing the zinc into the nickel alloy coating layer. The coating method may further comprise immersing the coated substrate in a phosphated trivalent chromium conversion solution either before or after the diffusing step. The substrate may be a component used in a gas turbine engine, which component is formed from a steel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Henry M. Hodgens, Thomas R. Hanlon, Promila Bhatia
  • Patent number: 6756731
    Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device is provided with a coating material 10 which directly covers the semiconductor light emitting element 2. The coating material 10 comprises a polymetaloxane or a ceramic having a permeability to the ultraviolet light projected from a semiconductor light emitting element 2. The coating material 10 with resistances to ultraviolet light and heat will not be deteriorated even under a high-temperature environment irradiated with ultraviolet light over a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Sano