Patents Represented by Attorney Gardner Carton & Douglas LLP
  • Patent number: 7221518
    Abstract: A compact zoom lens optical system that includes: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, wherein the first through fourth lens groups are arranged sequentially from an object, zooming is performed from a wide angle position to a telephoto position so that the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group increases, the distance between the second lens group and the third lens group decreases, and the distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group increases, and the first through fourth lens groups satisfy: 6 ? L W F W + L t F t ? 8 where Lw denotes a distance between a first surface of an object-side lens of the first lens group and an image surface when in the wide angle position, Lt denotes a distance between the first surface of the object-side lens of the first lens group a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-woo Kim, Dong-woo Kim
  • Patent number: 7195319
    Abstract: A reclining chair, in particular a passenger chair, for use in a vehicle such as an aircraft, bus or mobile home. The chair includes a base assembly, a seat frame located above the base assembly, a seat attached to the seat frame, and a seat back connected to the seat frame. In various embodiments, the chair includes features such as an energy absorbing base assembly, an adjustable arm rest, a fully reclining seat back and a seat that increases its angle with respect to the horizontal as the seat back reclines, thereby forcing one back into the chair. The seat and seat back is also capable of achieving a fully horizontal position when the seat back is fully reclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: John Williamson, Kurt Anglese, Sreekanth Chintapudi, Pedro Meneses
  • Patent number: 7181961
    Abstract: A precipitation gauge including a clear elongated outer cylinder and an opaque or translucent inner member disposed longitudinally in the outer cylinder to define a tubular water receiver in the space between the cylinder and the inner member and markings disposed along either the outer cylinder or the inner member, the gauge indicating the amount of water collected in the water receiver with a sharp demarcation at the top surface of the water resulting from an optical illusion making it appear that the portion of the gauge below the demarcation is filled with a fluid of the color of the inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Inventor: David E. Hill
  • Patent number: 7180680
    Abstract: A high magnification zoom lens is provided. The zoom lens includes a first lens group including a single positive lens and having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having the positive refractive power, a fourth lens group having the positive refractive power, and a fifth lens group having the positive refractive power. The first through fifth lens groups are sequentially arranged from an object side toward an image side. The first lens group, the second lens group, and the third lens group are moved in a direction of an optical axis to change magnification. The fourth lens group is moved to compensate for a movement of a focal position occurring during the magnification change, and the fifth lens group is fixed. Accordingly, the zoom lens is compact, has high magnification, and satisfies conditions of a long back focal length and telecentricity that are required when a solid image pickup device is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-woo Park
  • Patent number: 7171757
    Abstract: A folding ruler is provided. One embodiment of the folding ruler includes a first panel, a second panel, a hinge and a stiffening member. The first and second panels are interconnected end to end by the hinge so that the ruler can move between a folded state wherein the first and second panels are generally parallel and overlapping, and an unfolded state wherein the first and second panels are coplanar and oriented end to end. The stiffening member couples with the first and second panels to lock the first and second panels in the unfolded state. In some embodiments the stiffening member provides a grip for holding the ruler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Learning Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Bruce Stoneberg
  • Patent number: 7173769
    Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens optical system suitable for cameras using solid state imaging devices, which is designed compact, has a high zooming ratio and telecentricity, and compensates for color aberration. The zoom lens optical system includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power, for performing zooming, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, for performing zooming, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, for performing zooming, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power. The first, second, third, and fourth lens groups are sequentially arranged from an object and satisfy the following equations: f T f W ? 8.0 0.2 ? ? L III ? f W · f T ? 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-woo Park
  • Patent number: 7170948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of coding and of decoding a digital data stream coded by spatio-temporal combinations, in multiple transmission and reception. On transmission, the initial stream (IDS) is subjected to an outer coding (A), a blockwise interleaving (B), a demultiplexing (C) over a plurality of pathways, to an inner coding ?m on each pathway, then transmitted on a plurality (?) of distinct antennas forming a space-diversity array. On reception, the coded symbol streams transmitted are observed (F) by means of a number ? of reception antennas which is independent of the number of transmission antennas, the observed coded symbol streams { MSDS r } r = 1 r = ? are subjected to a process of turbo-detection by equalization and joint decoding (G), deinterleaving (H), outer decoding (I), interleaving (J), so as to generate an a priori information item (api) on the coded bits, which is reinjected (K) into the turbo-detection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Antoine Berthet, Raphaël Visoz
  • Patent number: 7168828
    Abstract: A multicolored LED vehicle interior light is described. In various implementations, a switch is used to select one of a plurality of LED lights, in which one light is of a color, such as red, which is suitable for preserving night vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn T. Schmidt, Amy Grumet-Avallone, Samuel Zeng, Lajos Meszaros
  • Patent number: 7165778
    Abstract: A manually operable standing wheelchair includes an actuator for moving an occupant from a sitting position to a standing position. The manually operable standing wheelchair has a lifting mechanism including a ratchet, cable, pulley, and telescopic tubes, which the occupant may manually operate to shift from the sitting position to the standing position. There is also a drive system to enable the occupant to manually move himself or herself in and the wheelchair from the sitting position to the standing position, or in any position in between. The drive system may include adjustable lever drive arms with friction pads adapted for allowing the occupant to move in any position. The wheelchair is equipped with a set of spring loaded anti-tip wheels that automatically deploy when the manual wheelchair begins to lift from the sitting position to the standing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
    Inventor: Todd A. Kuiken
  • Patent number: 7165336
    Abstract: A depth gauge for measuring the depth of a hole in a bone is disclosed having a digital readout for providing the measurement to a surgeon. The depth gauge has a probe with a tip inserted into and positioned proximate to the depth the hole, and has a reference member adjustably positioned relative the probe and against the bone proximate the hole. A measuring device is provided with the depth gauge for measuring the relative distance between the tip and the reference member, and the measuring device has a large, digital display for providing the relative distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Eidosmed LLC
    Inventor: John Y. S. Kim
  • Patent number: 7163169
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for regulating fishing line tension. The system comprises a plurality of line retainers. Each line retainer comprises a holder on which the line rests, an elongated portion, and a clip that is attached to the surface of a fishing rod proximate the handle. The line retainer may be fabricated as one seamless piece of resilient material or may comprise at least two pieces of different material. The method for regulating the free spooling of a fishing line enables a fishing enthusiast to regulate tension on the fishing line with an open bail or in the free spool position on the drag system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: ETC III LLC
    Inventors: James R. Rosseau, Robert H. Rosseau
  • Patent number: 7164718
    Abstract: A starting contour is defined surrounding around an elementary object delimited by a natural contour in a video image. On the basis of the starting contour, an original active contour is defined, formed by a set of nodes distributed on this starting contour, each node being formed by a point belonging to this starting contour and by an elastic energy function representative of the distance separating this node from a neighbouring node. With regards to a set of reference values representative of the contour of this object, the active contour is subjected to a convergent deformation under a blocking condition, by displacing at least one of the nodes of the original active contour toward the natural contour of the elementary object to generate a current active contour iteratively subjected to this convergent deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Magali Maziere, Françoise Chassaing, Henri Sanson
  • Patent number: 7159937
    Abstract: A reclining chair, in particular a passenger chair, for use in a vehicle such as an aircraft, bus or mobile home. The chair includes a base assembly, a seat frame located above the base assembly, a seat attached to the seat frame, and a seat back connected to the seat frame. In various embodiments, the chair includes features such as an energy absorbing base assembly, an adjustable arm rest, a fully reclining seat back and a seat that increases its angle with respect to the horizontal as the seat back reclines, thereby forcing one back into the chair. The seat and seat back is also capable of achieving a fully horizontal position when the seat back is fully reclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: John Williamson, Kurt Anglese
  • Patent number: 7156671
    Abstract: The present invention provides a connector for an electrical cable comprising a grounding insert comprising: a bushing having a tapered forward end and a tapered rearward end, and a plurality of conductive fingers, wherein each conductive finger has a proximal end that is embedded in the tapered rearward end of the bushing and a distal end that extends from the tapered rearward end of the bushing to a contact site with a cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: Donald A. Kauth
  • Patent number: D537094
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eun Kyung Lee
  • Patent number: D539630
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Estwing Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Koji Imoto
  • Patent number: D540646
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Estwing Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Robert H. Youngren
  • Patent number: D540995
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: Laine Haupt
  • Patent number: D541835
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Inh Seok Suh, Takayoshi Ozone
  • Patent number: D544340
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Access To Design Limited
    Inventors: Brent Kirk Powell, Michael John Powell