Patents Represented by Attorney Jeffrey J. Blatt
  • Patent number: 5323867
    Abstract: A robot transport platform adapted for locomotion, having a base with three wheels on each side. Of the three wheels on each side, the wheels near the fore end and the aft end are omnidirectional wheels; the intermediate wheel in between the omnidirectional wheels is a conventional wheel. The omnidirectional wheels have staggered rows of spherical rollers rotatably mounted to the circumference of the wheel's hub. More precisely, the rollers are mounted to annular shafts that circumscribe the circumference of the hub, and are supported in an overlying position over the hub by radially extending spokes. Anti-rattle washers are provided in between adjacent rollers. Torque is provided by two electric motors independently operating the wheels on each side. Torque is transferred to the wheels via a gear box, a chain, and cogged drive belts. The robot transport platform is controlled by radio and accordingly has a radio receiver mounted to the base. Servo controllers are used to control the motors and gear box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Eric J. Allard
    Inventors: Ronald Griffin, Eric J. Allard
  • Patent number: 5325201
    Abstract: An assembly of serially coupled XOR gates and an assembly of serially coupled shift register-XOR gate pairs are provided to a digital video system. The two assemblies are serially coupled to each other. The assembly of XOR gates generates a shift-in bit for the assembly of shift register-XOR gate pairs based on a cooperatively selected bit of a video control counter and a number of cooperatively selected feedback bits from the XOR gates of the assembly of shift register-XOR gate pairs it received as inputs. The assembly of shift register-XOR gate pairs in turn generates a pseudo-random number based on the shift-in bit and additional cooperatively selected bits of the video control counter. The XOR gate outputs of the assembly of shift register-XOR gate pairs are cooperatively mapped to the various bits of generated pseudo-random number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: William Herz
  • Patent number: 5307456
    Abstract: A network multi-media production and authoring system. A real-time network referred to as an "AV LAN" is defined. Coupled to the AV LAN are a number of shared multi-media production resource devices. These multi-media production resource devices include video tape recorders, audio tape recorders, video titling devices, graphics devices, special effects generators, etc. Also connected to the AV LAN are a number of workstations which are used to control the production resources connected to the AV LAN. The production resources are connected to the AV LAN through an interface unit known as a `device translator`. The device translator is a microprocessor driven device that translates coded messages received over the AV LAN into specific commands which the particular production resource understands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. MacKay
  • Patent number: 5305438
    Abstract: A video image storage, processing, and distribution system is provided with a processing and a distribution subsystem. The processing subsystem comprises at least one high performance video signal input device, one recording format independent hierarchy of storage, at least one recording format and resolution independent video data processor, and a high performance digital data recorder. The distribution subsystem comprises an archive library of recording format independent high performance digital tapes and instrument data players, a recording format independent hierarchy of staging storage, at least one recording format independent video distribution control processor, and a RF signal generation subsystem. The hierarchical storage of the processing subsystem comprises a first level of high performance random access mass storage amenable to large volume storage and high performance file transfers, and a second level of high performance random access storage amenable to high performance byte manipulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. MacKay, Donald Morgan, Matthew R. Adams
  • Patent number: 5285496
    Abstract: A paging system which sends and receives encrypted messages. The message may be encrypted either by the sender of the message or by the paging system. Multiple keys may be used for encrypting and decrypting. Public key systems may also be used and integrated into this paging system. The paging system can send out time update messages containing the current time and date. The pagers use the time update messages to automatically update the time in an internal clock. Time stamps can be inserted into the encrypted messages to prevent unauthorized users from replaying old messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: FirstPerson, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward H. Frank, Donald C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 4629298
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projector having particular application for use in front projection composite photographic systems. In particular, the present invention relates to composite color photography, whether still, motion picture, or video in which foreground and background scenes are separately recorded and subsequently combined, using known "blue screen" or special background color techniques, to form a single image. The present invention includes a high pressure, short arc, mercury-xenon lamp in an optical system to produce a high intensity beam at wavelengths of either: 436 n.m. (blue); 545 n.m. (green); 589 n.m. (yellow) or 650+ n.m. (red). The selected color beam is then manipulated by optical elements into close correspondence to the viewing angle of a camera lens, and made coincident with the camera view by means of a beam splitter. Unwanted light is removed from the system through a "light trap" which traps and systematically absorbs incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Apogee, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Trumbull, Jonathan Erland, Stephen Fog, Paul Burke
  • Patent number: 4587514
    Abstract: An interface apparatus utilizing data encoding/decoding methods having particular application for use in interfacing data processing and telecommunication equipment is disclosed. The interface apparatus includes an encoder for encoding inputted data for transmission on a telecommunication system, and a decoder to receive the encoded data and decode the data stream such that it identically represents data originally provided to the encoder. The present invention detects channels in the inputted data which contain a predetermined value of bits, and stores the channel numbers of these detected channels in digital storage means. These detected channels are then deleted from the data stream, and the remaining inputted data in each of the data channels is shifted such that data previously located in the first data channel is inserted in the data channel offset by the number of channels stored in the storage means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Verilink Corporation
    Inventors: Marc L. Schas, Steven C. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4569144
    Abstract: A firing safety device for handguns is disclosed. The device prevents the accidental discharge of the gun by children and is easily removeable by adults thereby resulting in the gun being ready for use almost immediately. The device includes a rod which is inserted into the gun barrel and into the cartridge chamber thereby preventing the cylinder from revolving. The rod is held in position by a cable which loops around the back of the gun. The device is removeable by inserting manual pressure to a cap at the front of the rod, which depresses a spring and releases the tension on the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Inventor: Russell Thurber
  • Patent number: 4540283
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the size and velocity of particles, droplets, bubbles, or the like employing laser light scattering is disclosed. A laser generation means is provided for generating a pair of coherent laser beams. These beams are directed along an axis and are caused to cross the axis at an angle to establish a sample volume. A collection means for sensing the scattering caused by particles, droplets, bubbles or the like within the sample volume is provided. The collected scattered signals are directed onto photo-detectors which are coupled to a signal phase determining means for determining the phase of the scattered signals as the particle, droplet, bubble or the like passes through the sample volume. Sizing means are coupled to the signal phase determining means for determining the size of the particle, droplet, bubble or the like from phase changes and the scattered signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Inventor: William D. Bachalo
  • Patent number: 4442325
    Abstract: A self-contained switchable, incremental attenuator device for interposing in a two line power circuit to attenuate the power level for proper power matching. The device includes a series of modulized, individually switchable attenuator circuits of differing attenuation values mounted upon a pluggable card for interfacing with input and output connectors of a circuit. The attenuation values of the sections are selected such that manipulating the switches will allow attenuation of the power level in the circuit by an integral multiple of a given base incremental value within a given range. The attenuator device is designed to mate with a mounting device for holding the attenuator in contact with the circuit connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Larus Corporation
    Inventor: Noel C. McDermott
  • Patent number: 4439010
    Abstract: An apparatus for combining optical images which is particularly suited for use in integrated circuit lead wire gang bonding systems is disclosed. The apparatus includes an objective lens to gather and focus light rays reflected from an object, such as a microelectronic device. A beamsplitter provides first and second images of the object which are inverted with respect to one another. The images are directed onto mirrowed prism surfaces, such that only selected portions of the first and second images actually strike each prism face. That portion of each image which does strike the respective prism face is reflected upward and combined to form one resulting image. Viewing means are provided to view the resultant image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Spectron Development Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Doty