Patents Represented by Attorney Joseph H. Smith
  • Patent number: 4820047
    Abstract: A detection system is provided which has a very wide linear dynamic range (for a typical laser, fifteen orders of magnitude), as well as a high sensitivity (shot noise limited), high angular resolution (diffraction limited), and which is also polarization resolving. The apparatus is used for measuring optical power, and includes a system for producing two optical beams such that at some point and thereafter along an optical path of the beams, a frequency difference exists between the two beams, with one of the two beams having a known or constant optical power, and the other of the two beams being the beam whose power is to be measured. Also included is a combining element for coherently combining the two optical beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Inventor: James J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 4816571
    Abstract: A method is provided for capping failure sequences in oligonucleotide synthesis by phosphitylation. A phosphite monoester is reacted with the 5' or 3' hydroxyl of the failure sequence between successive condensation steps in a synthesis procedure to form a 5' or 3' phosphite diester with the failure sequence. The phosphite diester substituent is inert with respect to subsequent reaction steps in the synthesis of the desired oligonucleotide product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Andrus, J. William Efcavitch, Lincoln J. McBride
  • Patent number: 4816513
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for automatically constructing a polypeptide of high purity, up to 50 amino acids in length, using only single couplings. The apparatus includes an activation system for receiving protected amino acids, one kind at a time, having a common vessel (an activator vessel) in which to activate each of the amino acids. Also included is a reaction vessel for containing a resin used in solid-phase peptide synthesis for attaching a peptide chain thereto. A transfer system is also provided, which operates under control of a computer, to transfer the activated species from the activation system to the reaction vessel and to transfer amino acids, reagents, gases, and solvents from one part of the apparatus to another. The activator system also includes a temperature controlled concentrator vessel in which an activator solvent is replaced by a coupling solvent to enhance the coupling of the activated species to the peptide chain in the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Bridgham, Timothy G. Geiser, Michael W. Hunkapiller, Stephen B. H. Kent, Mark P. Marriott, Paul O. Ramstad, Eric S. Nordman
  • Patent number: 4811218
    Abstract: A real-time, automated, nucleic acid sequencing apparatus that offers high speed, definitive sequencing on many samples at the same time. The apparatus permits more than one clone to be sequenced at a time, thus vastly decreasing the time required to sequence longer fragments and reducing sequencing costs accordingly. The apparatus detects electromagnetic radiation from a plurality of lanes in an electrophoresis system wherein the plurality of lanes are arranged in a planar array. The apparatus includes an optical system for detecting the radiation at a plurality of wavelengths and is made up of a collection element, a filter for selectively transmitting the plurality of wavelengths received from the collection element, and a detection system for measuring intensity of the radiation received from the filter means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Hunkapiller, Charles R. Connell, William J. Mordan, John D. Lytle, John A. Bridgham
  • Patent number: 4807475
    Abstract: An accelerometer has a single pendulum-type acceleration sensitive element, the movement of the pendulum moving a pointer through a gear arrangement such that scale graduations on a face of the instrument may be linear or of other character. Auxiliary pointers are provided so as to indicate the maximum positive and negative values of acceleration experienced by the instrument, maintaining always the highest magnitude reading attained. The recording auxiliary pointers are manually resettable from outside the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Inventor: Wayne B. Graham
  • Patent number: 4795299
    Abstract: A system for moving and processing workpieces includes individual stations isolated from one another and from a main chamber by seals formed by a transport mechanism. Workpieces are moved in a queue in a circular pattern, by a dial turret operated by a bell-crank and a Geneva mechanism. Stations seal to the baseplate from below, and a vacuum chamber encloses the turret assembly which operates on a post through a center hole in the baseplate. Workpieces loaded to one depended chamber are withdrawn from chambers and inserted into next chambers in a circular pattern, passing through the main chamber with each transfer, and ending back in the chamber where they were loaded. In an alternative embodiment passages between the main chamber and each individual chamber have valves allowing processing to take place without carriers attached to the turret being in the processing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Genus, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Boys, Walter E. Graves
  • Patent number: 4763344
    Abstract: A bright, relatively inexpensive X-ray source (as compared to a synchrotron emitter) for scientific, technological, and medical purposes. A stack of foils of high density and moderate atomic number are bombarded with high-energy electrons of 25 to 500 MeV to produce a flux of transition X-rays of 2 keV or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Inventor: Melvin A. Piestrup
  • Patent number: 4757141
    Abstract: The compounds of the invention include novel linking agents comprising 2-substituted-3-protected-1,3,2-oxazaphosphacycloalkanes and their phosphoramidite precursors. The compounds of the invention further include conjugates of the above linking agents with oligonucleotides and polymer supports. The compounds of the present invention are useful for linking organic moieties, such as fluorescent or chromogenic dyes, to polymer supports and oligonucleotides, particularly single- and double-stranded DNA and RNA fragments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven Fung, Sam L. Woo, Lloyd M. Smith
  • Patent number: 4746995
    Abstract: A completely automated apparatus for disk certification which has a very high volume production per unit area of square footage required. Volumes of 108 million disks per year require only 1200 square feet of facility, about 3% of the space required for the prior art certification systems. The apparatus uses standard unmodified disk drives and is completely integrated with a conveyor and pickup system for automatic loading and unloading of diskettes. A method of sequencing operations on a disk is disclosed whereby all tracks of disk are written to provide a first test signal. Then all tracks are read after all tracks are written to provide a first read signal. Calculations are performed on the first read signal to obtain a calculated signal and the calculated signal is compared with a known standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Inventor: Ruediger F. Rauskolb
  • Patent number: 4743014
    Abstract: A device for exercising is provided having a pair of rails that are held in a spaced apart parallel relationship by a brace element. A platform is provided for riding on the rails and a first resilient element provides a first restoring force on the platform which is directed toward the middle of the rails. A second resilient means provides a second restoring force on the platform which is directed toward the middle of the rails. An adjustment element is then used to adjust the magnitude of the second restoring force, the adjustment element contacting the second resilient element at at least three points, with a first one of the three points located in a vertical plane on one side of the middle of the rails, with a second one of the three points located in a vertical plane on the other side of the middle of the rails, and with a third one of the three points associated with the platform and moving therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Inventor: R. Joel Loane
  • Patent number: 4742286
    Abstract: An improved gas bearing X-Y-.theta. stage assembly is disclosed which has a base, a stage element with three retroreflectors fixedly mounted thereto, and a control system for controlling the movement of the stage element. The control system is made up of three interferometer measuring systems for measuring parameters associated with changes in position of the three retroreflectors as the stage element moves. Also, the control system includes a transport system for moving the three interferometers to maintain optical coupling between the interferometers and retroreflectors. In addition, the control system includes control circuitry for causing the stage element to move to a preselected X-Y-.theta. position in response to signals from the interferometer measuring systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Micro-Stage, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward H. Phillips
  • Patent number: 4720677
    Abstract: A wide bandwidth R. F. vector bridge is provided which is made up of a housing and a microcircuit contained therein. The microcircuit includes a substrate having two opposing faces, and a patterned layer of conductive material on each face defining a reflection port area, a reference port area, and a test port area. A first impedance means provides a first impedance between the reflection port area and the reference port area, and a second impedance means provides a second impedance between the reflection port area and the test port area. Also included are a reflection port means for coupling the reflection port area to other electrical components, a reference port means for coupling the reference port area to a reference load, and a test port means for coupling the test port area to a device under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: S. Bruce Donecker, Julius K. Botka
  • Patent number: 4718753
    Abstract: The present invention provides in one embodiment a Newtonian type reflecting telescope, preferably using a primary parabolic reflecting mirror, in which a meniscus lens is used to simultaneously correct for coma aberrations of both the primary reflector and of an eyepiece lens used for viewing the image, as well as for spherical aberration of the eyepiece. In some embodiments, the meniscus correcting lens is moveably mounted so that in one position it is used in connection with a viewing eyepiece, correcting the above-mentioned aberrations of primary reflector and eyepiece; while in a second position this same correcting lens is used with a lensless camera mounted on the telescope, in this case properly correcting the system only for the coma of the primary reflector. In all cases, the field of view, and magnification, of the telescope remains unchanged or only negligibly changed. In some additional embodiments, power is added to the meniscus lens to provide a new type of powered corrector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Inventor: Rolin J. Gebelein
  • Patent number: 4703433
    Abstract: A precision vector network analyzer which is suitable for a wide range of applications including both laboratory and automated production measurements and testing is disclosed. New measurement capabilities, greater ease of use, and nearly complete automation are provided. Contributions include fully coordinated communications between subsystem modules; real time, two channel, precision vector measurements with complete, internal error correction; wide frequency capability from RF to millimeter bands; combined time and frequency domain analysis and display; measurements either in the swept or step frequency modes; and user definable test functions and calibration device sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: David D. Sharrit
  • Patent number: 4699342
    Abstract: A stand is used for holding a box of liquid, the liquid to be dispensed from a spigot located near the bottom of the box. The stand includes a base element having a lower portion configured for sitting on a substantially flat surface and having a top portion attached to the upper portion for holding the box at a height above the flat surface sufficient for dispensing the liquid from the spigot into a drinking glass sitting on the flat surface. Also included is a constraint element attached to the top portion to constrain lateral motion of the box when the box is placed on the top portion. In general, the constraint element includes a lip attached to the top portion and extends upward from the top portion. A number of embodiments are shown and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventors: William R. Bartz, Wanda C. Donati
  • Patent number: 4690746
    Abstract: A method for producing a film over a topologically non-planar surface of a material which has a sputter etch rate which is higher in a direction parallel to the plane of the wafer than in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wafer. Key steps in the process include first, depositing the material by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition while simultaneously sputter etching it. Then second, sputter etching the material. Using this two step process, a substantially conformal or sloped film is produced by repeating the steps consecutively until the desired thickness is obtained. The film can then be substantially planarized if desired, by an extended sputter etch to selectively remove material having a sloped surface rather than a flat surface, since the etch rate is higher parallel to the plane of the wafer than perpendicular to the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Genus, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. McInerney, E. Ronald Dornseif, Norman E. Zetterquist
  • Patent number: 4676649
    Abstract: An improved multi-axis gas bearing stage assembly is disclosed which has a base, an intermediate stage element, a stage, and a control system for controlling the movement of the intermediate stage element and the stage. The control system includes first and second Y-axes positioning sub-systems for differentially positioning first and second ends of the intermediate stage element along first and second Y-axes of motion, with respect to the base, and an X.sub.i -axis positioning sub-system for positioning the stage along an X.sub.i -axis of motion, with respect to the intermediate stage element. In one embodiment, the positioning sub-systems comprise motor-encoder driven leadscrews. In a second embodiment, the positioning sub-systems comprise linear motors, measuring scales, and read heads. In a third embodiment, the positioning sub-systems comprise linear motors and interferometer measuring systems. A method of achieving orthogonality between the Y- and X.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Compact Spindle Bearing Corp.
    Inventor: Edward H. Phillips
  • Patent number: 4668476
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for automatically constructing a polypeptide of high purity, up to 50 amino acids in length, using only single couplings. The apparatus includes an activation system for receiving protected amino acids, one kind at a time, having a common vessel (an activator vessel) in which to activate each of the amino acids. Also included is a reaction vessel for containing a resin used in solid-phase peptide synthesis for attaching a peptide chain thereto. A transfer system is also provided, which operates under control of a computer, to transfer the activated species from the activation system to the reaction vessel and to transfer amino acids, reagents, gases, and solvents from one part of the apparatus to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Bridgham, Timothy G. Geiser, Michael W. Hunkapiller, Stephen B. H. Kent, Mark P. Marriott, Paul O. Ramstad, Eric S. Nordman
  • Patent number: 4669051
    Abstract: A precision vector network analyzer which is suitable for a wide range of applications including both laboratory and automated production measurements and testing is disclosed. New measurement capabilities, greater ease of use, and nearly complete automation are provided. Contributions include fully coordinated communications between subsystem modules; real time, two channel, precision vector measurements with complete, internal error correction; wide frequency capability from RF to millimeter bands; combined time and frequency domain analysis and display; measurements either in the swept or step frequency modes; and user definable test functions and calibration device sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: John T. Barr, IV
  • Patent number: 4661767
    Abstract: A precision vector network analyzer which is suitable for a wide range of applications including both laboratory and automated production measurements and testing is disclosed. New measurement capabilities, greater ease of use, and nearly complete automation are provided. Contributions include fully coordinated communications between subsystem modules; real time, two channel, precision vector measurements with complete, internal error correction; wide frequency capability from RF to millimeter bands; combined time and frequency domain analysis and display; measurements either in the swept or step frequency modes; and user definable test functions and calibration device sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: David D. Sharrit, Michael J. Neering, S. Bruce Donecker, Mark D. Roos, Wayne C. Cannon, John T. Barr, IV