Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Dike, Bronstein, Roberts, & Cushman
  • Developing device and image formation apparatus
    Patent number: 6275666
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier having a surface carrying a one-component developer thereon, developer control member abutting against the developer carrier to control a thickness of a layer of the developer, and a charge generation device provided downstream of the developer control member, as seen in a direction of a rotation of the developer carrier, and applying electric charge of a single polarity to a developer layer on the developer carrier, wherein the developer is charged under a condition that internal to the developer layer there occurs small aerial discharge caused by an electric field created by electric charge applied to a surface of the developer layer. Thus, the developing device can use a one-component developer, does not require toner having its components subtly adjusted and can cancel toner charged opposite in polarity, to form an image of high quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Furukawa, Shigeru Nishio, Hiroyuki Hirakawa
  • Low-cost, high density, staggered pin fin array
    Patent number: 6273186
    Abstract: A high-density, staggered pin fin array, and a method for manufacturing the pin fin array, are disclosed. The pin fin array includes a plurality of fin members, each having a plurality of elongated, pin-shaped fins arranged in a row; and, at least one connector for connecting the fins together, each at one end thereof. The plurality of fin members is arranged in a stack, wherein respective fins of each fin member are in registration with slots formed in its adjacent fin members in the stack. The method for manufacturing the pin fin array includes forming a plurality of fin members from a raw planar, tape, or thin layer stock, positioning the fin members relative to each other so that the respective fins of each fin member are in registration with the slots formed in adjacent fin members, and joining each fin member with the adjacent fin members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: SatCon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Ognibene, Evgeny N. Holmansky, Douglas L. Johnson
  • Image processing device
    Patent number: 6272261
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing device capable of performing high-resolution conversion, enlargement processing, etc. which, even with images including both text images and photographic images, satisfies both sharpness of text areas and smoothness of photograph areas. The image processing device according to the present invention performs frequency conversion, using a frequency conversion device, of partial images which are the objects of processing, resulting in a matrix of frequency-converted coefficients; divides into a plurality of domains, using a plurality of patterns, the matrix of frequency-converted coefficients; and quantifies each such domain by finding a mean value of the coefficients of that domain as a feature quantity for that domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruhiko Matsuoka
  • Molding die and marking method for semiconductor devices
    Patent number: 6270712
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to eliminate a marking process and shorten the time and decrease the cost required for changing contents of marking. An uneven mask is mounted, using a mask set jig, on a mark surface die of the molding die for forming a resin mold package of a semiconductor device. The mark surface die is formed with jig-fixing grooves for mounting the mask set jig. The uneven mask is formed with protrusions and recesses corresponding to the contents of marking to be attached to the surface of the resin mold package. The contents of marking can thus be attached simultaneously with the molding process, and therefore the marking process after molding can be omitted. In accordance with the contents of marking, the uneven mask can be replaced. The time and cost required for changing the contents of marking can thus be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shoji, Kazuo Kusuda, Tsuneo Matsumura
  • Magneto-optical recording medium having intermediate layer of in plane magnetization
    Patent number: 6272077
    Abstract: A magneto-optical memory medium according to the present invention comprises a reproducing layer, which has in-plane magnetization at room temperature and perpendicular magnetization when heated to above a predetermined temperature by a reproducing light beam; a recording layer, which is magnetostatically coupled to the reproducing layer; and an in-plane magnetized layer, provided adjacent to the recording layer, which has a Curie temperature at the above-mentioned predetermined temperature. In this medium, at temperatures below the predetermined temperature, signals recorded at high density in the recording layer are masked, and the above-mentioned magnetostatic coupling is suppressed, by magnetic masking by the in-plane magnetized layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Takahashi, Michinobu Mieda, Naoyasu Iketani, Go Mori, Junsaku Nakajima, Yoshiteru Murakami, Junji Hirokane
  • Apparatus and method for measuring two opposite surfaces of a body
    Patent number: 6271925
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided which allow two opposite plane surfaces of a body to be interferometrically measured simultaneously using light from a single light source. From a parallel light beam (P) produced by a light source (1) partial light beams (A, B) having positive and negative diffraction angles are produced using a beam splitter (8) in the form of a diffraction grating. The partial light beams strike the respective surfaces (90, 91) of the body (9) to be measured and are reflected thereat. The reflected partial light beams (A, B) are interfered with the throughgoing partial light beam (P) having an order of diffraction of zero and the thus produced interference patterns are digitized and subtracted from each other, whereby the parallelism of both surfaces (90, 91) of the body can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Nanopro Luftlager-Produktions-und Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Müller
  • Image forming apparatus using gates and electrodes for selectively passing toner
    Patent number: 6270195
    Abstract: An image forming unit includes: a toner support for supporting the toner; an opposing electrode opposed to the toner support; a high-voltage power source for supplying a high voltage to produce a potential difference between the toner support and the opposing electrode; a control electrode having an insulative substrate disposed between the developer support and the opposing electrode, a plurality of gates formed in the insulative substrate for forming the passage of the developer, and electrode groups provided around a multiple number of the gates; and a control device for selectively applying multiple potential states to each electrode in the control electrode, wherein the control device controls the passage of the developer through the gates by applying the predetermined voltage to electrode groups so as to form an image on the surface of the paper which is being conveyed over the opposing electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shirou Wakahara, Hironori Ogasawara
  • Method and apparatus for reduction of unwanted feedback
    Patent number: 6269165
    Abstract: The feedback caused between the output and the input of an amplification path is reduced by providing a delay in the amplification path, passing through the amplification path a signal having an auto-correlation function which is substantially a delta function, correlating the said signal before being delayed in the delay with the signal after being delayed in the delay to produce a plurality of correlation coefficients, modifying the signal in the amplification path to provide a modified signal, the modification being provided by a transversal filter controlled by the said plurality of correlation coefficients, and combining the modified signal with the signal in the amplification path so as to reduce the effect of the feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: British Broadcasting Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Highton Stott, Nicholas Dominic Wells
  • Area judging apparatus
    Patent number: 6266156
    Abstract: The read out image data is stored in the mask memory in a predetermined mask unit, and binarized into binary value with a predetermined threshold in the binarizing circuit. The binarized image data is output to the main scanning direction-black pixel counting circuit and the sub scanning direction-black pixel counting circuit, respectively, to count black pixels in the main scanning direction and in the sub scanning direction, respectively. The largest value is determined by the comparator, and designated as the linkage degree. With the judging circuit, the area judgement of the character area, the photograph area and the dot area is performed based on the linkage degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mihoko Tanimura, Mitsuru Tokuyama, Masatsugu Nakamura, Masaaki Ohtsuki
  • Method for determining crack limit of film deposited on semiconductor wafer
    Patent number: 6265233
    Abstract: A method for determining a crack limit of a target film deposited on a wafer in production after a post annealing procedure is disclosed. The crack limit is determined by adopting and adjusting the thermal shrinkage rates of a plurality of target films deposited on bare wafers and annealed. The test results on bare wafers can be applied to the production wafers to prevent from film cracking and/or inspect instrumental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Mosel Vitelic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. S. Chu, Jerry C. S. Lin, Roger Tun-Fu Hung, Chih-Ta Wu
  • Integrally molded articles of polyamide resins
    Patent number: 6265081
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrally molded article of polyamide resin comprising at least one primary molded pieces made of a primary molding material and at least one secondary molded pieces made of a secondary molding material, and having a welded part, said secondary molding material being injection molded on the surface of said primary molded piece, thereby welding the secondary molded piece comprising the secondary molding material to said primary molded piece, and said primary and secondary molding materials each comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyamide resin and 0.05 to 10 parts by weight of nigrosine or a nigrosine derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Urabe, Hajime Oyama, Tatsuya Hitomi
  • Methods and compositions for identifying and modulating ctionprotein-interactions
    Patent number: 6265174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the identification and modulation of protein-protein interactions. Specifically, the invention relates to methods and compositions for efficient, sensitive, high-throughput CadC-based screens for the identification of peptides involved in protein-protein interactions, including, but not limited to, peptides comprising amino acid sequences involved in receptor dimerization. The invention further relates to methods and compositions for efficient, sensitive, high-throughput CadC-based screens for compounds which modulate protein-protein interactions, such as, for example, modulation of interactions between protein sequences involved in receptor interactions, e.g., dimerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Morphochem, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolf Menzel, Weihong Hsing, Pamela A. Taggart
  • Printing apparatus with rotatably attached paper feed cassette
    Patent number: 6264386
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an apparatus body for printing on recording paper, and a paper feed cassette attached rotatable over a prescribed range on the apparatus body and feeding the recording paper to the apparatus body. As the paper feed cassette is attached rotatable over a prescribed range on the apparatus body, it is possible to freely open/close a top cabinet, even when the printing apparatus is placed without sufficient space therebehind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Sugahara
  • Magneto-optical recording medium and recording and reproducing method and optical head designed for the magneto-optical recording medium
    Patent number: 6261707
    Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium is composed of a base which has a property that a light can be transmitted therethrough, a readout layer formed on the base, which has in-plane magnetization at room temperature, whereas, a transition occurs from in-plane magnetization to perpendicular magnetization as the temperature thereof is raised and a recording layer formed on the readout layer for recording information magneto-optically. A recording and reproducing method and the optical head are designed for the magneto-optical recording medium. By the recording and reproducing method using the optical head, information recorded at high density can be reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Murakami, Junji Hirokane, Junichiro Nakayama, Junsaku Nakajima, Akira Takahashi, Kenji Ohta, Naoyasu Iketani
  • Load counter for dump truck or the like
    Patent number: 6263039
    Abstract: A load mechanism operation cycle counter is provided for use with a dump truck or similar vehicle. The counter preferably is operated in response to the initiation and/or cessation of signal to the counter in response to either a load containing body position sensor or the electrical state of load body position control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Scott A. Ducharme
  • Flywheel power supply having axial magnetic bearing for frictionless rotation
    Patent number: 6262505
    Abstract: A power supply device for providing uninterrupted power for a period of time is disclosed. The power supply device has a controller and a flywheel device. The flywheel device has a housing that contains a flywheel rotor and a motor/generator rotor. The flywheel rotor and the motor/generator rotor are mounted on a common shaft. An active axial magnetic bearing is located to support the shaft for frictionless rotation. The bearing provides support for the shaft, the flywheel rotor and motor/generator rotor. The axial magnetic bearing is attached to the housing and provides, in combination with the motor/generator rotor, a flux path and magnetic field to exert a magnetic force to lift the motor/generator rotor and the shaft on which it is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: SatCon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Hockney, Stephen B. Nichols, Geoffrey B. Lansberry, Francis E. Nimblett, Dariusz A. Bushko, Gita P. Rao, Luka Serdar, Michael E. Amaral, William E. Stanton, James O'Rourke
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 6257709
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can form an image having high quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Ueda
  • Method of forming circuit probing contact points on fine pitch peripheral bond pads on flip chip
    Patent number: 6258705
    Abstract: A method is proposed for forming circuit probing (CP) contact points on fine pitch peripheral bond pads (PBP) on a flip chip for the purpose of facilitating peripheral circuit probing of the internal circuitry of the flip chip. The proposed method is characterized in the forming of a dual-layer NiV/Cu metallization structure, rather than a triple-layer Al/NiV/Cu metallization structure, over each aluminum-based PBP, which includes a bottom layer of nickel-vanadium (NiV) deposited over the aluminum-based PBP and an upper layer of copper (Cu) deposited over the nickel-vanadium layer. When low-resolution photolithographic and etching equipment is used for photoresist mask definition for selective removal of the NiV/Cu metallization structure, the resulted photoresist masking can be misaligned to the PBP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Siliconeware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Lung Chien, Randy H.Y. Lo, Chun-chi Ke
  • Photosensitive body for electrophotographical use and manufacturing method thereof
    Patent number: 6258500
    Abstract: A photosensitive body for electrophotographical use has a conductive base body and a marking area provided thereon. The maximum surface roughness of a photosensitive layer provided right on the marking area is specified not to exceed 2.5 &mgr;m. And also, a ratio of the optical reflective index of the marking area to the optical reflective index of the non-marking area is specified to be in a range of 0.3 to 0.7. In this manner, even when the photosensitive layer is thin (not exceeding 25 &mgr;m), it is possible to prevent problems such as inadequate cleaning and toner falling. Hence, it is possible to offer a photosensitive body for electrophotographical use which can constantly produce high quality copied images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Taniguchi, Yasutaka Maeda, Masayuki Sakamoto, Masaya Tsugoshi, Makoto Kurokawa
  • Method of manufacturing a columnar material
    Patent number: 6257038
    Abstract: The invention has been accomplished in order to provide a method of manufacturing a columnar material of metal having an excellent dimensional accuracy without the need of much work time and cost, said method comprising equally forming a multiplicity of longitudinal grooves on an outer periphery of a column-shaped raw material of metal, and then uniformly squeezing tip ends of portions between the respective longitudinal grooves to make the same flat to obtain a target outside dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Aoyama Seisakusho Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Asakura, Masafumi Takahashi, Junzo Ozawa