Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Hogan & Hartson, LLP
  • Multi-layer piezoelectric element
    Patent number: 7679272
    Abstract: To provide a multi-layer piezoelectric device having excellent durability in which the amount of displacement does not change even when the piezoelectric actuator is subjected to continuous operation over a long period of time under a high voltage and a high pressure, the multi-layer piezoelectric device comprises a stack formed by stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes alternately one on another and external electrodes formed on a first side face and on a second side face of the stack, wherein one of the adjacent internal electrodes is connected to the external electrode formed on the first side face and the other internal electrode is connected to the external electrode formed on the second side face, while content of alkali metal in a range from 5 ppm to 300 ppm is contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Okamura, Katsushi Sakaue, Mitsuo Kondo
  • Switch/network adapter port incorporating shared memory resources selectively accessible by a direct execution logic element and one or more dense logic devices in a fully buffered dual in-line memory module format (FB-DIMM)
    Patent number: 7680968
    Abstract: An enhanced switch/network adapter port incorporating shared memory resources (“SNAPM™”) selectively accessible by a direct execution logic element and one or more dense logic devices in a fully buffered dual in-line memory module (“FB-DIMM”) format for clustered computing systems employing direct execution logic such as multi-adaptive processor elements (“MAP®”, all trademarks of SRC Computers, Inc.). Functionally, the SNAPM modules incorporate and properly allocate memory resources so that the memory appears to the associated dense logic device(s) (e.g. a microprocessor) to be functionally like any other system memory such that no time penalties are incurred when accessing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: SRC Computers, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee A. Burton
  • Thin-film photoelectric converter
    Patent number: 7678992
    Abstract: A thin film photoelectric converter, especially an integrated thin film photoelectric converter having improved photoelectric conversion efficiency is provided by controlling an open-circuit voltage and a fill factor so as not be small in a thin film photoelectric converter including a crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit. The thin film photoelectric converter by the present invention has at least a transparent electrode film, a crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit, and a back electrode film formed sequentially on one principal surface of a transparent substrate, and the converter has a whitish discoloring area on a part of a surface of the converter after formation of the crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit. A percentage of dimensions of the whitish discoloring area preferably is not more than 5% of a dimension of the photoelectric conversion area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Suezaki, Masashi Yoshimi, Toshiaki Sasaki, Yuko Tawada, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Card for information equipment, and terminal for information equipment
    Patent number: 7677909
    Abstract: A PC card has a card body portion in which a first card terminal portion is formed in one end and a second card terminal portion is formed in the other end. The card terminal portion has a chip slot. A SIM card inserted through an insertion port into the chip slot is electrically connected to a printed circuit board. The insertion port of the chip slot is opened in an outer side face of the second card terminal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Ujii, Masato Nakashima
  • Measuring system, computing device and computer readable medium having program executing to perform measuring a region-in-object
    Patent number: 7680623
    Abstract: A region-in object measuring system comprises a reference object (1) having two frames, i.e., an object surface frame (2) brought into contact with the surface of an object and a film frame (3) with which an X-ray film (7) is brought into contact, spaced from each other and a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: National University Corporation Gunma University
    Inventors: Naoya Ohta, Kenji Mogi, Yoshiki Nakasone
  • Micro controller for decompressing and compressing variable length codes via a compressed code dictionary
    Patent number: 7676651
    Abstract: The invention provides a code compression technology that is favorable for a micro controller or other embedded system, and for compressed codes, resulting from conversion of program codes into variable length codes, and grouped program codes, address conversion information for specifying the start address of each group and compressed code type information for specifying the code length of each compressed code contained in a group are stored in a memory, and by enabling a corresponding compressed code address to be calculated from a code address output by a CPU, code compression that is favorable for a micro controller or other embedded system is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yamada, Yuichi Abe, Yasuhiro Nakatsuka, Takanaga Yamazaki
  • Baseband processor and a method of transmitting commands to a radio-frequency subsystem and radio telecommunication apparatus incorporating the baseband processor
    Patent number: 7676247
    Abstract: The baseband processor (18) comprises: a storage unit (72) storing: a descriptor table comprising for each descriptor: a pointer field designed to point to a definition of an operation, an absolute operation time field indicating at which time from the beginning of a frame processing the corresponding operation should be carried out, an operation definition table comprising for each operation a definition of the operation, each definition having a sequence of events, each event of the definition table being associated with a relative event time field indicating at which time from the beginning of the operation the corresponding event should be executed, and a calculator (70) to automatically compute a list of events from the description and operation tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Bini, François Chancel
  • Barrel link for a semiautomatic weapon
    Patent number: 7673553
    Abstract: An improved barrel link for consistently and reliably placing a barrel of a semi-automatic pistol into battery is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention extends the width of the barrel link beyond that of the receiving channel of the barrel lug legs so as to substantially equal the exterior dimension of the barrel lug. In addition, the portions of the barrel link extending beyond the width of the channel of the barrel lug are designed to provide multiple points of contact with the front face of the barrel lug in both vertical and horizontal positions so as to reliably and consistently place the barrel into battery. The additional width of the barrel link and additional contact between the link and barrel lug aids in stabilizing lateral and rotational forces prolonging the life of the weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventor: Karl C. Lippard
  • Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device
    Patent number: 7674508
    Abstract: A liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase that includes two components, wherein the first component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (1-1) and (1-2), and the second component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds having a group represented by formulas (2-1) and (2-2): wherein R1 is alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons; Z1 and Z2 are each independently a single bond or ethylene; X1 is independently fluorine, chlorine, OCF3 or OCF2H; Y1 is independently hydrogen or fluorine; and n is independently 1 or 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignees: Chisso Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kubo
  • Optical phase shift device and antenna system utilizing same
    Patent number: 7676120
    Abstract: A phase shift device of an optical fiber signal includes an actuator for changing the signal phase in at least one fiber portion by inducing the phase change by thermo-optical effect. An antenna system incorporating phase shift devices using the thermo-optical effect find particular utility in automotive and telecommunications fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics s.r.l.
    Inventors: Guido Chiaretti, Antonio Fincato
  • High-potential output stage
    Patent number: 7671854
    Abstract: A high-potential output stage includes an output circuit to power a load with a variable high potential when it receives a low-level active input logic signal. It also includes a driving circuit which produces a high-level control logic signal as a function of the input logic signal to drive the output circuit which is powered by a DC high potential. The output stage also synchronizes the input logic signal with variations of the variable high potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Permezel, Gilles Troussel, Eric Benoit
  • Single pass INL trim algorithm for networks
    Patent number: 7671770
    Abstract: A single-pass method of trimming a network, and a network manufactured according to the method, uses the assumption that the peak INL value is minimized by trimming all the structures in the network to a same target value based upon the boundary conditions of the discretely adjustable elements that make up the structures. Using this assumption, the number of targets that need to be simulated, can be greatly reduced making estimation of peak INL possible in a reasonable amount of testing or manufacturing time. The trim algorithm produces results that are optimum or substantially close to optimum and is guaranteed not to deteriorate the Peak INL compared to the untrimmed Peak INL. An auto-calibration system using the trim method is also provided so that the method can be used in a product in real time if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Suat Sukuti Tukel
  • Method and apparatus for handling deeply discharged batteries in a mobile station
    Patent number: 7671560
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for performing a test on a rechargeable battery to indirectly determine a state of protection circuitry associated with the battery. The method may discharge the battery by controlling a pull-down current into a system, determine if the battery voltage falls below a first threshold level within a predetermined amount of time, and if so provide a pre-charge current to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventors: Russell Croman, G. Diwakar Vishakhadatta, Lionel Cimaz
  • Post-fixing support unit and image forming apparatus using the same
    Patent number: 7672628
    Abstract: A post-fixing support unit which is disposed between a fixing roller including a heating roller having a heat generator and a pressure roller so disposed opposite to the heating roller as to form a nip portion and a plurality of sheet discharge rollers which are disposed on the downstream side relative to the fixing roller and corrugation rollers disposed respectively between the adjacent two sheet discharge rollers, such that the post-fixing support unit is located on the upstream side relative to the corrugation rollers at the same position as at least the corrugation rollers in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Sato
  • Electrophotographic photosensitive member, and image forming apparatus using same
    Patent number: 7672612
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a substantially cylindrical body rotated by rotation power transmitted via an first end portion from in an image forming apparatus and a photosensitive layer including a latent image forming area formed on an outer circumference of the body. The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus provided with the electrophotographic photosensitive member. In the photosensitive layer, when the body is charged with a constant charging ability in the axial direction, dark electric potential at the latent image forming area gradually becomes larger as proceeding in the axial direction of the body, from the first end portion to a second end portion opposite to the first end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Ishii
  • Alkali soluble polymer and positive working photosensitive resin composition using the same
    Patent number: 7670745
    Abstract: The invention provides an alkali soluble polymer including a specific vinylketone phenol and a derivative thereof as radical polymerizable monomers and a positive working photosensitive resin composition containing the alkali soluble polymer and a photosensitizing agent. According to the invention, there can be provided an alkali soluble resin having high solvent resistance, high water resistance, high acid resistance, high alkali resistance, high thermal resistance, high transparency, excellent adhesiveness with a substrate, and the like and useful for the formation of a patterned resin film obtained by developing in an aqueous alkali solution and a positive working photosensitive resin composition including such an alkali soluble resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Etou, Eiji Watanabe, Ryouta Mineo
  • Shingle removal tool
    Patent number: 7669506
    Abstract: A shingle removing tool includes, among other possible things, a handle, a shaft connected to the handle, and a base connected to the shaft. A length of the shaft is adjustable. The base includes a blade portion that is configured to separate one or more shingles from a support structure to which the shingles are affixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Shining Golden Yida Welding & Cutting Machinery Manufacture, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Cox
  • Method for producing formed wooden article
    Patent number: 7670531
    Abstract: A method for producing a formed wooden article by cutting out a primary blank member from a raw wood and forming the same into a final three-dimensional shape having a substantially uniform thickness, comprises: a primary compression step in which the primary blank member is compressed by primary molding dies, and the primary blank member is processed into a primary compressed article having a high compression portion in a vicinity of portions of the primary blank member corresponding to a die surface; a secondary blank processing step in which the primary compressed article is cut and processed into a secondary blank member; and a secondary compression step in which the secondary blank member is compressed by using secondary molding dies and the final three-dimensional shape is transferred onto the secondary blank member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki, Hisashi Nishimura, Hiroyuki Amino
  • Extra-large ultra low profile cantilever
    Patent number: D611479
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Omnimount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Flavio Ly Hau, Brett Stenhouse, Don Westgaard, Tom Muday, Chris Buttenob
  • Large ultra low profile cantilever
    Patent number: D611480
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Omnimount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Flavio Ly Hau, Brett Stenhouse, Don Westgaard, Tom Muday, Chris Buttenob