Patents Represented by Law Firm Cahill, Sutton & Thomas
  • Patent number: 6188212
    Abstract: A low drop out voltage regulator includes an error amplifier (12) having a first input coupled to a first reference voltage (VREF), a second input receiving a feedback signal, and an output (15) producing an output signal (VAMPOUT). An output transistor (18) has a gate, a drain coupled to an unregulated input voltage (VIN), and a source coupled to produce a regulated output voltage (VOUT) on an output conductor (19). A feedback circuit (20,22) is coupled between the output conductor (19) and a reference voltage (GND) to produce the feedback signal. A capacitor (16) is coupled between the output (15) of the error amplifier and the gate (17) of the output transistor (18). A servo amplifier (24) has a first input coupled to a second reference voltage (VVREF), a second input coupled to the output (15) of the error amplifier. A low current charge pump circuit (26B) supplies an output current into a supply voltage terminal of the servo amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Burr-Brown Corporation
    Inventors: Tony R. Larson, David A. Heisley, R. Mark Stitt, Rodney T. Burt
  • Patent number: 6182798
    Abstract: A mobile lifting device includes a car having a gate and a docking plate mechanically interconnected at one end of the car. A low voltage DC control system includes an “up” circuit, a “down” circuit connected in parallel with the up circuit, and a sensor circuit in series with the up circuit and down circuit. The sensor circuit includes a plurality of series connected switches for automatically preventing operation of the lifting device if predetermined conditions are not met. The “up” circuit includes a switch positioned on a stage and connected to the control circuit by a coiled cable. A wand on the switch engages a knob on the side of the car when the car reaches the level of the stage, actuating the switch to stop the car. In the event of a power failure, a battery supplies power for opening a solenoid valve to lower the car. Three control panels are provided, one at each end of the car and one in the middle of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: AGM Container Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Brady, Robert O. Crowley, Cesar W. Mujica
  • Patent number: 6182328
    Abstract: A mobile cleaning system in which an extraction blower is driven by a hydraulic circuit including a pump driven by the engine of the transport vehicle and a motor connected to the blower. The improvement comprises a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the hydraulic circuit to liquid extracted by the vacuum created by the blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Professional Chemicals Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Roden
  • Patent number: 6183298
    Abstract: Cable connector for coaxial cable, comprising a bushing (2) for providing an axial displacement of parts (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) in the connector, whereby these parts are brought into mechanical and/or electrical engagement with the coaxial cable. The axial displacement is provided by screwing a thread (10) provided on the bushing (2) onto a corresponding thread (9) provided in the main body (1) of the connector. The axial displaceable parts in the connector comprising a ferrule (4) for engaging the outer conductor or screen of the coaxial cable, said ferrule (4) comprising a locking arrangement for preventing rotation of the ferrule and cable. The ferrule (4) comprises a conical surface (11) and the main body (1) of the connector comprises a corresponding conical surface (12), said surfaces (11,12) being brought into locking engagement when axially displaced by the bushing (2), whereby the ferrule (4) and cable are prevented from rotating in the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Gilbert Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Jimmy Ciesla Henningsen
  • Patent number: 6179833
    Abstract: A catheter for use in an electrophysiological procedure to ablate a site includes a metallic tip having a first work function and energized by a source of RF energy. The RF energy return path is through a relatively large plate of a metallic material having a second work function and disposed at a location removed from the ablation site. The difference in work functions of the tip and the plate, operating in the presence of an electrolyte represented by the intermediate tissue, produces an exchange of electrical charges through chemical reaction to create a galvanic cell. By loading the galvanic cell with a shunt resistor, it becomes a current source providing a current linear with and highly dependent on the tissue temperature at the ablation site. This accurate representation of the tissue temperature at the ablation site is used to regulate the RF energy applied to maintain the tissue at the ablation site at a predetermined temperature during the ablation procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Engineering & Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Junius E. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6178572
    Abstract: A low voltage battery energized passive detection system generates a control signal in response to radiated heat from a human body part to energize, for settable periods of time water flow valves and ancillary equipment that may be associated with the act of washing. To minimize power demand, a programmable microchip may be employed as a control unit and have external settable parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: International Sanitary Ware Manufacturing Cy, S.A.
    Inventor: Karel Carl Van Marcke
  • Patent number: 6176231
    Abstract: One end of a cable guard for an archery bow is received in a bore in the bow riser. The bore is substantially parallel to the plane of the drawstring. A hole in the riser transverse to the plane of the drawstring houses two clamp members in engagement with the end portion of the cable guard. A bolt extending through one clamp member and threadably received in the other clamp member draws the clamp members toward each other to frictionally clamp the cable guard in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Precision Shooting Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan F. Smith
  • Patent number: 6170882
    Abstract: A coupling interconnects either of two conventional types of waste water outlets used to discharge waste water from a waste water holding tank of a recreational vehicle with a discharge hose to convey the waste water to a remote location. A sleeve of the coupling penetrably engages an internal cylindrical surface in either outlet and is of a common diameter to concentrically locate the coupling irrespective of differences in the external size of the outlets. A pair of hooks extend from the coupling to engage dogs extending radially from either engaged outlet to retain the coupling in place. A seal seals the junction between the coupling and the outlet to prevent leakage of waste water therebetween. The discharge hose is connectable in fluid communication with the sleeve to convey the waste water from the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: J. David Prest
  • Patent number: 6170439
    Abstract: An animal is trained using a remote transmitter and a collar-mounted receiver carried by the animal by selecting one of a plurality of desired stimulus levels by a stimulus level control of the transmitter. Information representative of the selected desired stimulus level is transmitted to the receiver and demodulated to produce a digital signal representative of the selected stimulus level. A microprocessor in the receiver operates to generate as an output a first stream of pulses of constant duration at a frequency representative of the selected stimulus level. The first stream of output pulses is filtered to produce a second stream of pulses the widths of which are representative of the selected stimulus level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Tri-Tronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy T. Duncan, Steven R. Fister, Rodney J. Morris, Robert D. Rozanski
  • Patent number: 6170926
    Abstract: A computer desk module has a trapezoidal desk top with an opening. A transparent window plate is supported in the desk top so as to cover the opening. A pull-out keyboard shelf is supported under a front edge portion of the desk top. A computer monitor is suspended under the desk top so its screen is inclined upward to allow viewing of the screen through the window plate. A plurality of the computer desk modules are assembled end-to-end into various semi-trapezoidal clusters, S-shaped clusters, and straight line clusters. Overhead power and data bus cables are routed from a classroom ceiling into tubular legs supporting a decorative cover against the ceiling. The legs extend upward from a cabinet having a semi-octagonal shape that mates with a semi-octagonal cluster of the computer desk modules. The cables pass through the legs, through the cabinet, into the various computer desk modules forming the cluster, and to the monitor and a computer in each of the computer desk modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Fay D. Roberts, Debra D. Williamson
  • Patent number: 6150883
    Abstract: A differential amplifier includes a rail-to-rail input stage including differentially coupled first (13) and second (14) P-channel input transistors, and differentially coupled third (17) and fourth (18) N-channel input transistors. The drains of the first and second input transistors are coupled to a first folded cascode circuit which includes first (25) and second (26) P-channel cascode transistors. The drains of the third and fourth input transistors are coupled to a second folded cascode circuit which includes third (36) and fourth (37) N-channel cascode transistors. An output stage includes a P-channel pull-up transistor and an N-channel pull-down transistor and a class AB bias circuit coupled between the gates thereof. The gates of the first (25) and third (36) cascode transistors are coupled to first and second reference voltages, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Burr-Brown Corporation
    Inventor: Vadim V. Ivanov
  • Patent number: 6150971
    Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter includes a resistive divider network including a plurality of series resistors of resistance R and a plurality of shunt resistors of resistance 2R' and a circuit for switching a shunt resistor of the resistive divider network in the digital-to-analog converter to either of first and second reference voltages. The switching circuit includes a first switch MOSFET coupling the low reference voltage to the shunt resistor, and a second switch MOSFET coupling the shunt resistor to the high reference voltage. First and second switch control circuits adjust the on resistances of the first and second switch MOSFETs to be proportional to the resistances of first and second reference resistors, which have the same temperature coefficient as the resistors of which the divider network is composed. The on resistance of each of the first and second switch MOSFETs is equal to R.sub.ONi, and the resistance 2R' is equal to 2R-R.sub.ONi. The on resistances do not need to be binarily scaled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Burr-Brown Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmy R. Naylor, Timothy V. Kalthoff, Mark A. Shill, Jeffrey D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6147633
    Abstract: In a delta-sigma type analog-to-digital converter, an offset varying during operation is removed, and a reduction in time required to generate a stable value after powering on the converter is achieved. A high pass filter is provided with a variable filter coefficient which can vary during operation. A filter coefficient controller supplies a coefficient control signal to the high pass filter to change the variable filter coefficient during operation, thereby altering the time constant of the high pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Burr-Brown Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Ukawa, Hideki Kanayama
  • Patent number: 6143477
    Abstract: A method of ashing or cleaning a wafer, including introducing oxygen gas into a reaction chamber having therein a semiconductor wafer to be ashed or cleaned, producing light of wavelength less than 190 nanometers by means of a first excimer lamp, and directing the light into the oxygen gas, causing generation of ozone gas. Light of wavelength greater than 190 nanometers is produced by means of a second excimer lamp and directed that light into the ozone gas, causing generation of an oxygen radical having a high absorption coefficient. Gas including the oxygen radical is passed along a surface of the wafer, causing degeneration of organic material thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Amtech Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ji Hyo Rhieu
  • Patent number: 6140872
    Abstract: An offset-compensated amplifier including an input stage (2) having a current source (10), first (11) and second (12) FETs each having a source connected to the current source, first (17) and second (18) input FETs each having a source connected to a drain of the first compensation FET (11), and third (19) and fourth (20) input FETs each having a source connected to a drain of the second compensation FET (12), a drain of each of the first (17) and third (19) input FETs being connected by a first output conductor (21) to a first load (23), and a drain of each of the second (18) and fourth (20) input FETs being connected by a second output conductor (22) to a second load (24), a gate of each of the first (17) and third (19) input FETs being connected to a first input (3A), a gate of each of the second (18) and fourth (20) FETs being connected to a second input (3B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Burr-Brown Corporation
    Inventor: Justin A. McEldowney
  • Patent number: 6135662
    Abstract: A lesson planner includes a foldable notebook containing a series of transparent lesson plan retaining sheets for supporting lesson planning cards used by an instructor to prepare and present a lesson plan for a class. Each lesson plan retaining sheet includes a first panel removably secured to the binder of the notebook and a second panel hingedly coupled to the first panel. The hinged coupling allows the second panel to be folded against the first panel when not in use, and to be extended outwardly away from the first panel when in use. A releasable fastener temporarily maintains the second panel proximate the first panel when the lesson plan retaining sheet is not in use. The first and second panels of each lesson plan retaining sheet including pockets for temporarily storing and displaying one of the lesson planning cards. Labels adjacent such pockets indicate the time of day each lesson is to be taught; likewise, each lesson plan retaining sheet includes a label indicating the day of the week.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventors: David L. Bakke, Donald L. Bakke
  • Patent number: 6137427
    Abstract: A touchpad is formed of an electrically insulating membrane (10) with a first series of spaced apart conductors (12) on a first face of membrane (10) and a second series of spaced apart conductors (14) on or proximal thereto, in which there is no electrical contact between the first and second series of conductors (12, 14) Each conductor in the first and second series of conductors is sensitive to the proximity of a finger to modify the capacitance of the proximate conductor to detect the presence of the finger positioned close to that conductor. A scanning system operative to sample one of the conductors in turn from both the first and second series of conductors (12, 14) in order to measure and store a capacitance value associated with that respective conductor. The scanning system is operative to maintain all conductors (12-n, 14-n) at a common potential equal to the potential of the conductor being sampled when the remaining conductors are not actively being sampled by the scanning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: Ronald Peter Binstead
  • Patent number: 6136348
    Abstract: Amino acids and glycoproteins are effectively removed in an infection site or potential infection site by application of an aqueous solution or other vehicle such as a gel or salve of chlorine dioxide to inhibit the growth of microorganisms resulting in reduction of numbers of infection causing microorganisms and treatment of the attendant infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventors: Perry A. Ratcliff, Edward J. Lynch
  • Patent number: 6125761
    Abstract: A method of blasting in reactive ores includes diluting hot liquor of ammonium nitrate with water to provide diluted ammonium nitrate solution of predetermined concentration, adjusting the pH of the liquor of the ammonium nitrate solution, adding a predetermined amount of gassing agent to the ammonium nitrate solution, and emulsifying the ammonium nitrate solution. Then an effective amount of fine zinc oxide powder is mixed with the emulsion explosive and the inhibited emulsion explosive is introduced into a borehole and detonated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Southwest Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Smith, Jr., Harry R. Fee
  • Patent number: RE36942
    Abstract: .[.An archery.]. .Iadd.A .Iaddend.bow handle .[.or riser, in which the riser.]. is .[.cut out sufficiently.]. .Iadd.shaped .Iaddend.to permit a broad head arrow.[.head.]. to pass rearwardly of the hand grip .[.section,.]. and.Iadd., .Iaddend.upon release of the arrow, to avoid interference with the .[.riser.]. .Iadd.handle .Iaddend.by both the broad head point .[.as well as.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.the vanes .[.at the rear portion.]. of the arrow .[.is disclosed.].. .[.Provision is made beneath the riser sight window.]. .Iadd.An .Iaddend.offset .[.to mount an arrow rest, which may interlock into a cutout, and which extends.]. .Iadd.in the window of the handle is displaced .Iaddend.somewhat further .[.offset in order to position the arrow on.]. .Iadd.than the window from .Iaddend.the center line of the bow .[.so that it will behave as an arrow fired with a prior-art type bow handle riser, but accommodating.]. .Iadd.to accommodate .Iaddend.a shorter arrow with a board head.[.,.]. and .[.avoiding.]. .Iadd.avoid .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Precision Shooting Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Shepley, Jr., Richard Johnston, Allan F. Smith