Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder

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  • Method and apparatus for networked lighting system control
    Patent number: 6867558
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for a networked lighting system that may be controlled either remotely or locally by a power line communication (PLC) link. The components of the system, addressable lamp ballasts and addressable wall switches, replace their conventional counterparts. The resulting networked lighting system implemented with these components is controlled remotely from a centralized building control center. A particular room may be controlled by the building control center or locally by a wall switch. The invention requires no rewiring of the building's wiring plant, because the addressable components are direct electrical replacements, and installation of the system, therefore, takes a minimum amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Gaus, Jr., Kenneth Welles, Janos Sarkozi
  • Error correction for optical detector in glass-ceramic cooktop appliances
    Patent number: 6864465
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a glass-ceramic cooktop appliance having at least one burner assembly disposed under a glass-ceramic plate. The sensor assembly includes an optical detector arranged to receive radiation from the glass-ceramic plate and produce an output signal corresponding to a cooktop related property of the glass-ceramic plate. A controller is provided to receive the output signal from the optical detector. The controller includes means for making a correction to said output signal for corruptive flux incident on the optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ertugrul Berkcan, Emilie Thorbjorg Saulnier
  • Quick opening closure for small liquid containers
    Patent number: 6863189
    Abstract: The closing device consisting of a sleeve that seals onto the neck of a bottle and that comprises an internal channel which opens, via a new orifice in a sliding-contact surface with associated slopes and slideways acting as guide means to a shut-off plate for closing the new orifice which is moved translationally by a knob, which sliding-contact surface may be planar or in the form of a sector of a cylinder of revolution or in the form of a portion of a sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: L & M Services B.V.
    Inventor: Bruno Teppe
  • System and method for iterative reconstruction of cone beam tomographic images
    Patent number: 6862335
    Abstract: A method for refining image data from measured projection data acquired from a computed tomographic scanner is provided. Initially, measured projection data from the computed tomographic scanner is received. The measured projection data is reconstructed to generate initial reconstructed image data. The initial reconstructed image data is partitioned into a plurality of volumes based on image data quality, to generate partitioned reconstructed image data. The plurality of volumes comprise a good image data quality volume and a poor image data quality volume. Then the image data quality of the partitioned reconstructed image data is refined to generate an improved reconstructed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Samit Basu, Bruno De Man
  • Current limiting antifuse programming path
    Patent number: 6859408
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for regulating an antifuse programming current by lightly doping an electrically connected region so that the resistance of the region responds in a non-linear manner to changes in voltage. In this way a variable resistor or a variably resistive transistor may be created which vary their resistance in response to an applied voltage and which may thereby limit a programming current while not limiting a lesser, reading current to a serially connected antifuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Porter, Scott J. Derner
  • Techniques for packaging multiple device components
    Patent number: 6856009
    Abstract: Techniques for fabricating multiple device components. Specifically, techniques for fabricating a stacked package comprising at least one I/C module and a multi-chip package. The multi-chip package includes a plurality of integrated circuit dices coupled to a carrier. The dice are encapsulated such that conductive elements are exposed through the encapsulant. The conductive elements are electrically coupled to the chips. The I/C module comprises an interposer having a plurality of integrated circuit dice disposed thereon. The dice of the I/C module are electrically coupled to the interposer via bondwires. The interposer is configured such that vias are aligned with the conductive elements on the multi-chip package. The multi-chip package and I/C module may be fabricated separately and subsequently coupled together to form a stacked package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd O. Bolken, Chad A. Cobbley
  • Flexible welding torch having restraining member to avoid overextension and method of assembling same
    Patent number: 6855905
    Abstract: A positionable welding torch for a welding system is featured. The torch comprises a torch head, a handle, and a flexible portion coupled to the torch head and the handle. The flexible portion is adapted to enable the torch head to be positioned relative to the handle. The flexible portion has a first end, a second end, and a rigid restraining member adapted to cooperate with the first and second ends to limit the relative displacement of the first and second ends. The restraining member may comprise a restraining portion adapted to abut one of the first and second end portions. The restraining member also may comprise a biasing portion adapted to bias the restraining portion into engagement with one of the first and second end portions. A method for assembling a welding torch having a restraining member also is featured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: David Delgado, Fred Stecher
  • Methods and systems for neutral-to-ground communication
    Patent number: 6856647
    Abstract: A method of distributing wide band data using a neutral-to-ground circuit within an electrical wiring installation includes modifying a load center with an interface module which interfaces to the neutral-to-ground circuit and configuring the interface module to compensate for varying impedance within the neutral-to-ground circuit to improve data transmission characteristics. Multiple embodiments are included within the method for compensation of varying impedance including channel sounding, spectral waterfilling, and communications using spread spectrum techniques, for example, frequency hopping and direct sequencing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott C. Evans, John E. Hershey
  • Method and system for calibrating multiple cameras with potentially non-overlapping fields of view
    Patent number: 6853936
    Abstract: A camera calibration system providing a first transmitter capable of transmitting a first signal; a second transmitter capable of transmitting a second signal; a second receiver and a third transmitter capable of transmitting a first plurality of signals. The second receiver and the third transmitter being movable together as a common unit so that the second receiver receives the first signal and the second signal and so that the first plurality of signals are receivable by a first camera to be calibrated. The system provides for a processor in electrical communication with the second receiver and the first camera, the is processor capable of receiving a second plurality of signals from the first camera to be calibrated, the second plurality of signals indicative of receipt of said first plurality of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Patrick Kelliher, Peter Henry Tu, Jens Rittscher
  • Welding gun having a removable nozzle end portion and method for operating same
    Patent number: 6852950
    Abstract: A welding gun having a removable end portion. The end portion may be adapted to direct gas from the welding gun. The end portion may be conical-shaped. The end portion may be removed without tools. The end portion also may be adapted to be secured to and/or removed from the welding gun in a linear movement. A method of assembling a welding gun. The method may comprise urging a nozzle end member and a nozzle body into engagement to secure the nozzle end member to the nozzle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Giese
  • Apparatus for cycle-skipping power control
    Patent number: 6849834
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a power controller for an AC load comprises: a user interface adapted to interact with a user to produce at least one user interface signal; and a control module adapted to electrically couple a line voltage supply, electrically couple the AC load, and provide electrical power to the AC load as a function of the at least one user interface signal by implementing a low-flicker, cycle-skipping control algorithm, the control algorithm comprising a plurality of cycle patterns, the cycle patterns comprising a plurality of main power levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Lucian Smolenski, Harry Kirk Mathews, Jr., Walter Whipple, III, George Charles Goodman, John Stanley Glaser
  • Method and apparatus for calibrating detector spectral response
    Patent number: 6848827
    Abstract: The present technique provides for the spectral calibration of the detector elements of a CT detector using one or more offset calibration phantoms. The offset phantoms provide greater coverage of the detector elements as well as spectral response data associated with penetration lengths ranging in length from a minimum chord of the phantom to the diameter of the phantom. The spectral response as a function of penetration length can be obtained for each detector element by comparing the fitting of each projection view to the corresponding measured projection view over all view angles. The fitting information may then be employed to derive the coefficients of the spectral response curve for each detector element, which may in turn be employed to provide rapid correction of the spectral response for each element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoye Wu, James LeBlanc, Deborah J. Walter
  • Latency reduction using negative clock edge and read flags
    Patent number: 6851032
    Abstract: A method of selecting CAS latencies in a system. Specifically, a system which includes a plurality of memory devices and a memory controller is provided. Because different memory devices may have different CAS latencies, a system CAS latency is selected wherein the system CAS latency is the fastest common CAS latency of each of the plurality of memory devices. After a read request is delivered to a memory device, the memory controller initiates a transmission flag to the memory device at a time equal to the system CAS latency, indicating that it is safe to transmit the requested data from the memory device to the memory controller. The transmission flags may be used in conjunction with mode registers such that one or both of the transmission flag and the data may be received by or delivered by a corresponding memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. LaBerge, Jeff W. Janzen
  • Electrode materials for electric lamps and methods of manufacture thereof
    Patent number: 6849996
    Abstract: An electron emissive composition comprises a barium tantalate composition of the formula (Ba1?x, Cax, Srp, Dq)6(Ta1?y, Wy, Et, Fu, Gv, Caw)2O(11±?) where ? is an amount of about 0 to about ?3; and wherein D is either an alkali earth metal ion or an alkaline earth ion; E, F, and G, are alkaline earth ions and/or transition metal ion; x is an amount of up to about 0.7; y is an amount of up to about 1; p and q are amounts of up to about 0.3; and t is an amount of about 0.05 to about 0.10, u is an amount of up to about 0.5, v is an amount of up to about 0.5 and w is an amount of up to about 0.25. A method for manufacturing an electron emissive composition comprises blending a barium tantalate composition with a binder; and sintering the barium tantalate composition with the binder at a temperature of about 1000° C. to about 1700° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shankar Madras Venugopal, Alok M. Srivastava, Holly Ann Comanzo, Vikas Midha, William Winder Beers, Gopi Chandran Ramachandran, Mukunda Srinivas Adyam
  • Zero power chip standby mode
    Patent number: 6845054
    Abstract: A zero power standby mode in a memory device used in a system, such as a battery powered hand held device. By disconnecting the internal power supply bus on the memory device from the external power supply during standby mode, the junction leakage and gate induced drain leakage can be eliminated to achieve a true zero-power standby mode. A p-channel field effect transistor (FET) may be used to gate the external power supply such that the internal power supply bus on the memory device may be disconnected from the external power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon J. Lovett, Thomas J. Pawlowski, Brian P. Higgins
  • Electric motor stator and motor incorporating same
    Patent number: 6844648
    Abstract: A winding pattern and technique for a stator of an electric motor is provided. The pattern is particularly well-suited for forming a four-pole, three-phase machine. The winding pattern permits concentric windings to be fully installed in slots of a stator core by machine in multiple steps. The concentric windings include windings which are singularly located within slots, and windings that share slots with other windings. The windings maybe inserted in the core slots by rotation of the core in an insertion station. Leads from the windings exit both ends of the core to facilitate channeling and termination of the windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig W. Luttrell, David M. Byrd
  • Lightly doped drain MOS transistor
    Patent number: 6838373
    Abstract: A method of forming a MOS transistor in an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate. A gate oxide layer covers the upper surface of the substrate. A gate stack comprising one or more thin film layers covers the gate oxide layer. A gate electrode pattern is partially etched into the gate stack, the partial etching step being completed before any of the gate oxide layer is exposed. Sidewall spacers are formed on edge surfaces of the partially formed gate electrode. Source and drain regions are created by ion implantation using the partially etched gate electrode and the sidewall spacers as a mask. The sidewall spacers are removed and lightly doped drain regions are formed by ion implantation using the partially etched gate electrode as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Honeycutt
  • Method and apparatus for monitoring superconducting magnet data
    Patent number: 6838964
    Abstract: Remote monitoring of superconducting magnet systems of various types, manufacturers, vintages, and so forth, via a magnet selector interface providing for configuring the monitoring system to the particular magnet system of interest. The technique provides for scalable analogue to digital conversion with integrated excitation circuitry for the input and output of magnet system sensors. Devices, such as remote terminal units and other data-logging technology may be adapted to remotely monitor primary indicators and secondary indicators of magnet system performance and related boil-off of helium. The technique provides earlier warning of impending failures in the magnet system, and thus facilitates predictive maintenance, reduces maintenance costs, reduces MRI downtime, reduces helium loss, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Keith Knight, Peter Chan
  • Process and apparatus for separating diluent from polymer solids
    Patent number: 6838531
    Abstract: Polymer solids are maintained in an intermediate pressure zone for a desired polymer solids residence time and then transferred to a purge zone or other lower pressure zone. An increase in the polymer solids residence time in the intermediate pressure zone allows more diluent to flash or separate, thereby avoiding or reducing the need for a low pressure flash zone. A fluff chamber may be disposed between the intermediate pressure zone and a lower pressure zone transporter tank may be used to transport polymer solids after the intermediate pressure zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LP
    Inventors: Thomas A. Reid, Scott E. Kufeld, John H. Tait, David H. Burns, Donald W. Verser
  • Cordless telephone
    Patent number: D500995
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Thomson Multimedia Licensing, Inc.
    Inventor: John Stanley Kolwaite