Patents Represented by Attorney Guy W. Shoup
  • Patent number: 5605576
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to increase the energy efficiency of a plasma apparatus and provide a high-frequency magnetron plasma apparatus which can precisely control plasma. The plasma apparatus has a susceptor electrode, a plasma exciting electrode, magnets mounted on the plasma exciting electrode, and a magnetic shield provided around the plasma exciting electrode, all of which are arranged in a vacuum chamber. The magnetic shield has a high impedance for a high frequency. The magnetic shield is preferably earthed with a direct current, more preferably earthed through an inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignees: Frontec Incorporated, Tadahiro Ohmi
    Inventors: Makoto Sasaki, Hirofumi Fukui, Masami Aihara, Tadahiro Ohmi
  • Patent number: 5606325
    Abstract: The invention provides a detection object searching device which makes it possible to immediately know the direction of a mobile detection object such as a car by information presented on a display of a portable unit. The detection object searching device includes a portable operation unit and a body unit. The operation unit includes a transmission section for transmitting a search signal upon operation of a transmission button, a receiving section for receiving a direction indication information signal, an absolute direction detecting section for generating an absolute direction signal, a control section for generating direction indication information indicating the direction of the car based on the direction information signal and absolute direction signal, and a display section for displaying the direction indication information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Masudaya
  • Patent number: 5605560
    Abstract: Alloy powder which is low in price and is unlikely to be oxidized on the surface, and a dispersion-type conductor using the alloy powder in which electromigration is not likely to occur. Melt of copper and silver is cooled at a high cooling speed of 10.sup.5 .degree.C./s or higher. Alloy powder having a composition expressed by a chemical formula Cu.sub.x Ag.sub.1-x (where 0.80.ltoreq..times..ltoreq.0.99) is obtained. Also, a dispersion-type conductor is produced by dispersing 100 parts by weight of the alloy powder in between 5-100 parts by weight of a binder. Thus, the low-priced alloy powder and the dispersion-type conductor of high quality and high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Teikoku Piston Ring Co., Ltd., Akihisa Inoue, Tsuyoshi Masumoto
    Inventors: Yasuichi Ono, Akihiro Makino, Akihisa Inoue, Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Yoshio Harakawa
  • Patent number: 5605957
    Abstract: A silicone composition containing: (A) 100 parts by weight of organopolysiloxane; 0.1 to 50 parts by weight of thickening agent (C) 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of fluorine-containing surfactant; and (D) 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of volatile water-soluble solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5602508
    Abstract: A grounded-base transistor amplifier including a pair of transistors which have the bases thereof grounded at a high frequency and the collectors thereof coupled to a signal output terminal, a high frequency transformer which includes a primary winding connected to a signal input terminal and a secondary winding equipped with a midpoint tap, both ends of the secondary winding being connected to the emitters of the transistors, and a constant-current circuit which is connected to the midpoint tap of the secondary winding and which produces a bias current flow through the transistors. Noise voltages generated by the constant-current circuit are supplied to the emitters of the transistors in the same phase via the secondary winding; therefore, no noise voltage appears at the signal output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takefumi Endou, Kazuo Watanabe, Mitsunari Okazaki
  • Patent number: 5598012
    Abstract: A thin-film transistor for connecting a signal electrode line to a pixel electrode of a liquid crystal display, the thin-film transistor including: a substrate; a gate electrode formed on the substrate; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer; an ohmic contact layer formed on the semiconductor layer; a source electrode formed on the ohmic contact layer over a first end of the semiconductor layer; a drain electrode formed on the ohmic contact layer over a second end of the semiconductor layer such that a channel region is formed; and a protective film formed on the gate insulating layer, the source electrode, the channel region of the semiconductor layer, and the drain electrode. A width of the gate electrode is wider than a width of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Frontec Incorporated
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hebiguchi
  • Patent number: 5598405
    Abstract: A transmitter-receiver of the TDMA/TDD type which includes a phase control loop controlled in such a manner that the loop is turned on during the time slot just preceding each of a transmission time slot and a reception time slot, and the loop is turned off during all other time periods including the transmission time slot and the reception time slot. The voltage controlled oscillator includes a variable capacitance diode which produces an output frequency in response to a frequency control voltage received from a charge pump when the loop is closed, and in response to a charging voltage supplied from a loop filter when the loop is open. When the loop is closed, a phase comparator compares a reference frequency signal with an output frequency signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator and generates error signals for controlling the charge pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Hirose
  • Patent number: 5596253
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted motor drive apparatus which stops the rotation of a motor immediately after an object obstructs a movable part driven by the motor. The drive apparatus includes a motor drive device for selectively driving and stopping a motor, an electric current measuring device for measuring a value of electric current flowing through the motor, a change-in-current-value detecting device for detecting an incremental change in the motor current, and a motor control device for supplying a first control signal or a second control signal to the motor drive device. The motor drive device continuously drives the motor according to the polarity of the detected increment of the current value in response to the first control signal, and immediately stops driving the motor in response to the second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Mizuta, Ken Shibazaki, Yukio Miura, Kazunori Fujioka, Toshimichi Saito, Isao Takagi
  • Patent number: 5593223
    Abstract: An illumination device consists of a light emitting element, a casing for supporting the light emitting element, and a colored cap which covers the light emitting element. The cap has a flat top surface so that the device can be held by suction stably at the top surface by means of a suction nozzle that is used commonly for other electronic parts and can be carried and mounted on a circuit board by the automatic part mounting equipment. The cap also has the formation of a curving surface section between the flat top surface and cylindrical section so that an increased amount of light is transmitted in the up-oblique direction through the curving surface section, thereby compensating the degraded light distribution caused by the formation of the flat top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 5594488
    Abstract: A thermal head including a temperature keeping layer disposed on a substrate, a plurality of heat generating elements formed on the temperature keeping layer, a plurality of individual electrodes connected to the corresponding heat generating elements, a common electrode connected to the heat generating elements, respectively. Each heat generating element includes a heat generating portion formed between one of the individual electrodes and the common electrode. Each of the individual electrodes and the common electrode have a dual layered structure including a lower electrode and an upper electrode, the lower electrode being formed between the temperature keeping layer and one of the heat generating elements, and the upper electrode being formed above the heat generating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tsushima, Toshiya Endoh, Satoru Sasaki, Ken Yamamura, Takashi Shirakawa, Toshifumi Nakatani, Akinori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5594429
    Abstract: A transmission and reception system including a transmitter for transmitting a signal including identification (security) information and function information, and a receiver for receiving and decoding the signal and for executing the operation defined by the function information upon verification of the identification information. The transmitter divides one or more of the identification information and the function information into two or more bit groups, and transmits these bit groups such that identification information bit groups are separated by function information and function information bit groups are separated by identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ichirou Nakahara
  • Patent number: 5592082
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magnetoresistive effect layer (MR layer), on which permanent magnet layers are superimposed, the permanent magnet layers having slanted edges forming an angle .phi. with respect to the direction of an electric current I. The electrical resistance of the permanent magnet layers is higher than that of the MR layer. Due to the N and S polarities of the opposing slanted edges, sections of the MR layer located between the opposing slanted edges are magnetized with the angle .phi. such that a single magnetic domain is formed. The direction of magnetization M is at an angle .phi. of approximately 45.degree. with respect to the electric current I, so that it is possible to detect a change in the electrical resistance of the MR layer whenever there is a change in the external magnetic field H. Since the sections of the MR layer located between the opposing slanted edges are effected by the single magnetic domain in a direction having the angle .phi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 5585984
    Abstract: There is disclosed a magnetic head including a magnetic film deposited on a substrate, being characterized in that: the the magnetic film is made of a soft magnetic alloy having an average coefficient of linear thermal expansion in the range from 125.times.10.sup.-7 to 150.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. over the temperature range from room temperature to 600.degree. C., a saturation magnetostriction constant in the range from 0 to +3.times.10.sup.-6, and a mean crystal grain size less than 30 nm; and the portion of the substrate adjacent to the magnetic core has an average coefficient of linear thermal expansion in the range from 115.times.10.sup.-7 to 145.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. over the temperature range from room temperature to 600.degree. C., thereby providing a high permeability, low coercive force, and excellent resistance to corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Hasegawa, Fumihito Koike, Atsumi Nitta
  • Patent number: 5583742
    Abstract: A computer including a body case housing a display, an outer member formed of an impact-resistant material integrally formed on the outside surface of the body case, and an outwardly-projecting cushioning portion formed at each corner of the outside member. Each of the cushioning portions has a first protective portion extending outwardly from the body case, and a second protective portion projecting curvilinearly with respect to the first protective portion and extending onto a surface or a back side of the body case. The cushioning portions are formed of an elastic material. Further, vent holes are formed in the body case which are sealed with a porous film which is permeable to gas but not permeable to water. The vent holes provide an escape path for gas produced by a battery, such as a nickel-hydrogen battery, in the event that the battery explodes within the body case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Noda, Hitoshi Funaki, Naoyoshi Sainokami
  • Patent number: 5578912
    Abstract: An on-car motor driving apparatus is equipped with a motor for moving a moving unit such as a window of a motor car, a motor driving controller which controls the revolution, stop, and rotational direction of the motor, and a current measuring and comparing device which measures the variation in current per unit time of the motor and compares the measured variation in current with a preset value. The on-car motor driving apparatus stops the revolution of the motor and/or reverses the rotational direction of the motor through the motor driving controller. The apparatus is further equipped with a voltage measuring device for measuring motor driving voltage and a voltage-based time setting device which changes the length of the unit time in accordance with the driving voltage value measured by the voltage measuring device. Line voltage is supplied to a differential amplifier only when the line voltage is supplied to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Mizuta, Yukio Miura, Toshihiko Kawata, Ken Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 5574514
    Abstract: A communication system including a plurality of audio/video devices including one or more audio signal source devices and image (video) signal source devices connected to a bus, each audio/video device of a common type having a common bus address. Each audio/video device is provided with a predetermined priority value which is stored in memory. Upon power up, every device transmits a communication frame including its own address and its priority value on the bus. When two or more common-type devices (i.e., having a common address) are connected to the bus, conflict is avoided by disabling the device or devices having lower priority values. That is, when each of the common-type device receives a communication frame having the common address, the device compares the transmitted priority value with its stored priority value. If the stored priority value is less than the received priority value, the device disables itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tadahi Tanihira, Takashi Miyake, Hitoshi Fukatsu, Kouichi Sato, Tadashi Sano
  • Patent number: 5573863
    Abstract: A soft magnetic alloy film includes: a fine crystalline phase having an average grain size of 10 nm or less and essentially consisting of Fe of b-c-c structure; and an amorphous phase containing a rare earth element or at least one of the elements, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta and W, and O (oxygen) in a large amount, the fine crystalline phase and amorphous phase existing in a mixed state, with the proportion of the fine crystalline phase of Fe of b-c-c structure to the entire structure being 50% or less. A plane magnetic element employs such a soft magnetic alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ysuo Hayakawa, Akinori Kojima, Akihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 5573958
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin film transistor of an inverted stagger structure having a gate terminal, a gate insulator a semiconductor film, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed in that order; a gate terminal and a gate wiring are provided for supplying a scanning signal to the gate electrode; and a source terminal and a source wiring are provided for supplying a data signal to the source electrode, wherein the gate terminal is formed on an upper side of the gate insulating film and electrically connected to the gate wiring through a contact hole formed in the gate insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Frontec Incorporated
    Inventors: Hirofumi Fukui, Masanori Miyazaki, Hitoshi Seki, Makoto Sasaki, Yasuhiko Kasama
  • Patent number: D375696
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Seki, Shigenori Abe
  • Patent number: D376114
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Seki, Shigenori Abe