Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Herbert M. Shapiro
  • Resonant forward converter circuit with control circuit for controlling switching transistor on and off times
    Patent number: 5424933
    Abstract: An improved resonant forward dc-to-dc converter circuit includes control circuitry for achieving an optimal power cycle in which the transistor is either supplying current to the load or recovering in a sinusoidal manner, for limiting power loss by controlling the switch turn on time to the time when the switch collector voltage at recovery is at a mimimum, for maintaining an approximately constant turn off time and for providing pulse by pulse current mode control for high loop stability and superior transient response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Avionic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Lewis Illingworth
  • Urinary collection device
    Patent number: 5409473
    Abstract: An inexpensive, disposable device for collecting a mid-stream urine specimen from a female donor which device can be used by the donor herself without professional help. The device comprises a container having two chambers, one for collecting and discarding the initial, unwanted portion of the urine flow and the other chamber for collecting and retaining the later, cleaner, portion of the urine flow. A pivoted "paddle" valve comprising two conjoined paddles is disposed between the chambers and--controlled by the flow of urine, itself--directs the first, contaminated, portion of the urine to the discard chamber and directs the remainder of the flow to the specimen chamber. Initially, one of the paddles covers and seals the specimen chamber to prevent urine from entering that chamber. The other paddle is suspended over the opening of the discard chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventor: Beth B. Rosenshein
  • Combination beverage insulator and flying toy
    Patent number: 5397261
    Abstract: A combination flying toy/beverage can insulator comprising an insulating cylinder and weighted nose ring for fixing the center of gravity of the device at a point about 12% to 18% of the full length of the device distal from the leading edge of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Aero Visions Group
    Inventors: Douglas J. Malewicki, Robert M. Kubinski
  • Electrical access to a hermetically sealed chamber using a printed circuit board
    Patent number: 5393931
    Abstract: A vacuum chamber housing a cooled CCD for a CCD camera has a hermetic seal provided by a closed loop pattern on the surface of a laminate, printed circuit board having subteranean conductor traces. Electrical access to the CCD is provided, via the traces, by a universal pattern of pivouts subsets of which correspond to the pin patterns of different CCDs. Large numbers of pin connection patterns are achieved by this technique without leaks. A single board embodiment and a mother-daughter board embodiment are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Photmetrics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Derek P. Guenther
  • Charged-coupled device camera with voltage adjustment control
    Patent number: 5386230
    Abstract: A modular CCD includes a camera head and a camera body. The camera body includes an amplifier, an A/D converter, a D/A converter, a video simulator, a summation circuit and a switch. The switch is used to controllably switch between the output of the camera head and the video simulator output. A system is provided for adjusting the voltage supplied to the switch by the D/A converter to adjust the voltage output of the summation circuit to compensate for the difference between those outputs so that the camera body can accept different camera heads with different gain requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Photometrics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Peide Jeng
  • Mercuric iodide detector
    Patent number: 5371376
    Abstract: Mercuric iodide detector systems are made less power consumptive and smaller by employing a single Peltier cooler rather than the two required by prior art systems. The optimal temperature requirements (and thus leakage current conditions) for the two critical temperature sensitive components for such a system are met by cooling the components to a reference temperature using a single cooler and by illuminating the detector to achieve the required operating performance. The elimination of the extra cooler not only conserves power and reduces maintenance requirements, but also reduces size. The use of light to achieve the required detector and FET leakage current relation for optimum operation is permitted by the implementation of a feedback loop for automatic control of the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Xsirius, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan S. Iwanczyk
  • Transverse filter circuit
    Patent number: 5371470
    Abstract: A transverse filler for use in a CCD camera eliminates KTC noise even at very fast pixel rates with relatively relaxed constraints on component accuracy and timing control, The circuit includes summation, divider and subtraction circuits which add the plural outputs of a tapped delay line to which a video signal is applied and generate average KTC noise and KTC noise plus signal representations. The output of the circuits is applied to the input of an capacitor and the output of the capacitor is connected to an electronic switch and to a Sample-and-Hold amplifier. The capacitor is operative to subtract the average KTC noise from the average KTC plus Video signal, The circuit is able to run on-board binning and does not have pixel feedthrough problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Photometrics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Peide Jeng
  • Fiber optic light diffuser
    Patent number: 5363458
    Abstract: Heat and light generating, fiber optic, cylindrical diffusers are structured to operate more efficiently and with increased uniformity by the inclusion of rings of prescribed indicies of refraction about the unclad distal end portion of the diffuser. Such a diffuser also includes a conical distal tip. A sealed Teflon (TM) sleeve containing diffusing material in place over the entire length of the diffuser also improves the uniformity of heat distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Fiber guide Industries
    Inventors: Anpei Pan, Dipak Biswas
  • Multi-color, single-plate printing press
    Patent number: 5353703
    Abstract: A printing unit system produces multi-color printing employing a single plate cylinder of a first diameter and a pair of blanket cylinders of a second diameter one-half that of the plate cylinder. The blanket cylinders impact associated impression cylinders, also of the second diameter, at the paper path and, in one embodiment, the two impression cylinders mate with a transfer cylinder. By using blanket and impression cylinders having portions with different diameter, multi-color, superimposed images are printed, two colors at a time. The images for the various colors are produced on a single film under computer control for creation of plates for mounting on the plate cylinder and are not adjustable with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventor: Paul T. Rieker
  • Adjustable, ultrasonic collision warning system
    Patent number: 5347273
    Abstract: An ultrasonic detection system for signaling the presence of an object in one of n linear fields in the path of motion of a person or vehicle. Ultrasonic signals are transmitted by transducers. The linear distance in the path of motion is divided into n linear fields. A unique warning signal such as a voice message, informs the operator of the system of the field in which the object is positioned. The operator of the system may select one or any combination of the fields and may alter the length of any or all fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Inventor: Kamyar Katiraie
  • Charge-coupled device with open gate structure
    Patent number: 5338948
    Abstract: The light gathering capability or quantum efficiency of a charge-coupled device is improved by the configuration of the multi-phase gate structure to leave large surface areas of the semiconductor substrate uncovered. Each of the electrodes of the multi-phase gate structure is configured as a series of shallow H-shaped geometries, only the vertical elements of which overlap to ensure that multi-phase operation can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Photometrics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gary R. Sims
  • Semiconductor, light-emitting devices
    Patent number: 5337325
    Abstract: A plurality of linear arrays of lasers are configured into an area array by optical coupling to a linear-to-area array by optical coupling to a linear-to-area fiber optic bundle. The linear face of the bundle is coupled to the linear array of lasers. By activating all the lasers simultaneously or selectively, a single high power output or high intensity signals at discrete addresses in the area face of the bundle are achieved respectively. Applications for high power, two dimensional laser devices, high definition display, solid state laser pumping and others are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Photon Imaging Corp
    Inventor: Cherng-Jia Hwang
  • Fiber optic cylindrical diffuser
    Patent number: 5337381
    Abstract: A fiber optic, cylindrical, light diffuser for medical use includes an unclad distal fiber end where the exposed core end has a conical shape. The core end is enclosed by a sleeve which contacts the clad portion of the fiber only and defines a closed chamber with the distal end of the fiber. The chamber is filled with light diffusing material. The diffuser exhibits highly uniform output light distribution and is capable of carrying relatively high power densities safely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Fiberguide Industries
    Inventors: Dipak R. Biswas, Anpei Pan
  • Flush device
    Patent number: 5334165
    Abstract: A flush device comprising an inlet and an outlet chamber separated by a wall also includes two apertures in the wall. One of the apertures has a small diameter, the other having a large diameter. A serpentine-shaped capillary tube is formed along the wall surface in the inlet chamber and coaxial with the axis of the larger diameter aperture. The exit end of the tube is connected to the smaller diameter aperture for providing a controlled fluid path from the inlet to the outlet chamber. A plunger is positioned coaxially with the axis of the larger diameter aperture and is biased to normally close the larger diameter aperture. The plunger also is operative to open the larger diameter aperture for forming a large diameter path for fluids for a flush operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Abrams
  • Hybrid card reader
    Patent number: 5331138
    Abstract: A hybrid reader for smart cards and magnetic stripe cards includes a selective lock mechanism for only smart cards. The mechanism is responsive to the establishment of electrical contacts between the reader and the smart card for activating a latch mechanism. The mechanism is not responsive to the proper seating of a card in the reader or to the presence of only a magnetic stripe card and requires a greater amount of energy to capture a smart card than is required to release the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: American Magnetics Corp.
    Inventor: Jagtar S. Saroya
  • Navigation system for converting bearing to waypoint data from a universal navigation system to signals usable by an omni bearing selector
    Patent number: 5323306
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided in an aircraft to convert signals from a Universal Navigation System such as LORAN to signals compatible with the standard Omni Bearing Selector (OBS) in the aircraft. The apparatus allows a visual bearing to any destination to be provided for the navigator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Troll Avionics
    Inventors: Tom J. Storli, Jeffery G. Hopkins
  • Avalanche photomultiplier tube
    Patent number: 5311044
    Abstract: A small, rugged photomultiplier tube is achieved by closely spacing a large area avalanche "photodetector" with respect to a photocathode in an opaque casing having a window for incident light. The photocathode and the avalanche photodetector have comparable areas and are closely spaced. The avalanche photodetector includes a PN junction which as to be close to the surface of the detector to maximize the response to electrons and reduce any direct response to light. The need for an electrostatic lens to focus electrons onto the small target characteristic of prior art photomultiplier tubes is obviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Advanced Photonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan S. Iwanczyk, Thomas T. Lewis, R. Michael Madden
  • Semiconductor laser array
    Patent number: 5311530
    Abstract: A laser bar structure is mounted on a submount which includes first and second side surfaces. The first side surface has an electrically-conducting elongated mesa adjacent to the rear surface defining a placement space for a laser bar. A conducting foil connects the laser bar to the mesa. A plurality of such submounts are stacked such that the rise of the mesas provide room for the lasers and the connections to them. Each submount has a through conduit which align when stacked to form a coolant manifold. The rear surface of the stack is mounted on a microchannel cooler. A single array or a plurality of arrays are assembled electrically in series between heat conducting end blocks with fittings for connection to a coolant supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Advanced Optoelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Wagner, Allen D. Danner
  • Hand-operated magnetic stripe card reader
    Patent number: 5311003
    Abstract: Azimuth related problems common to hand-inserted, magnetic card readers are avoided by a spring loaded edge guide track which extends along the entire length of travel of the card rather than only in the vicinity of the read head. The invention of both advancing edges of the card within tracks and a pressure plate maintain the advancing card in the plane of travel in a prescribed vertical position necessary for cards with active electronic elements as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: American Magnetics Corporation
    Inventor: Jagtar S. Saroya
  • Laser diode array
    Patent number: 5305344
    Abstract: Modified laser submounts are positioned in grooves in the surface of a monolithic substrate permitting not only relatively high packing diversities, but also pretesting and easy replacement of any submounts which may later become defective in the field. The assembly may be connected directly to a heat sink or may include an integral microchannel cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Opto Power Corporation
    Inventor: Rushikesh M. Patel