Patents Represented by Law Firm Konneker Bush Hitt & Chwang
  • Patent number: 5422632
    Abstract: Electronic security system for controlling access to an automotive vehicle. The security system includes a computer system having a processor subsystem connected to selectively enable or disable an ignition system of the automobile and a memory subsystem having ignition, valet and reprogramming key codes and first, second and third validation codes stored therein. To control access to the vehicle, an encoded signal containing a device code and an authorization code is propagated to the processor subsystem where the codes are compared to the ignition key, valet key, reprogramming key and validation codes. If the propagated device and authorization codes match the ignition key and first validation codes, the processor subsystem enables the ignition system for a pre-selected time period. If the propagated device and authorization codes match the valet key and second validation codes, the processor subsystem enables the ignition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Intellitouch 2000, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Bucholtz, Jim B. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 5420136
    Abstract: A class of predominantly hydrophobic non-azo N-substituted 1,8-naphthalimide compounds, each bearing, at its 3-position, a nucleofuge and, at its 4-position, a heteroatomic electron-releasing group. The heteroatomic electron-releasing group is being characterized as having a heteroatom directly linked to the 4-position of the ring, and having at least one hydrogen directly attached to the heteroatom. Upon activation by an activating agent in an environment independent of the presence or absence of oxygen, these compounds generate activated species. The activated species initiate chemical changes in lipid bilayer membranes of viruses and other target cells. These changes can eradicate viruses and other target cells. The activated species can also cause structural changes in lipid and any associated proteins and polypeptides at a level beneath the surface of the membrane, leading to polymerization and crosslinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: MicroBioMed Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Lewis, Ronald E. Utecht, Millard M. Judy, J. Lester Matthews
  • Patent number: 5417141
    Abstract: An aircraft armament mounting system includes an elongated support plank member which is insertable transversely through the aircraft cabin area so that a central portion of the plank is disposed within the cabin area and its opposite end portions project outwardly from the aircraft. The central plank portion is anchored to the air craft, and removable outer tip portions of the plank are vertically pivotable, about horizontal hinge lines, between extended and inwardly folded positions. When the outer plank tip portions are removed, specially designed mounting structures may be used to mount armament devices, such as machine guns, at the hinge lines at the outer ends of the remaining longitudinal plank portion. Representatively, these armament devices are .50 caliber machine guns housed in open framed pod structures having enclosed front end portions through which the jacketed barrels of the guns extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Inventor: Paul H. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 5414916
    Abstract: A high density ink jet printhead is fabricated by first forming a body subassembly comprising a piezoelectric main block having metallic layers disposed on opposite first and second sides thereof, and piezoelectric sheets secured to front portions of the metallic layers. Using a precision dicing saw, a first spaced series of parallel grooves, longitudinally extending between the front and rear ends of the subassembly, are cut into the first side of the subassembly. The subassembly is then placed, groove side down, in a support fixture having mirrors secured thereto and positioned adjacent the opposite ends of the grooves. Reflections of opposite groove ends in the mirrors are then used as line-of-sight guides to position the saw which is then used to form a second series of grooves in the second subassembly side which are in precise lateral alignment with the first series of grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Hayes
  • Patent number: 5415163
    Abstract: Method for diagnosing and treating tissue suspected of containing a lesion. A shaped pulse sequence is selected for each of waveform, phase and frequency components of an RF signal based upon characteristics of the tissue suspected of containing a lesion and an RF signal comprised of the selected waveform, amplitude and frequency shaped pulse sequences generated. A series of echoes is received in response to the generated RF signal and a real-time MR image of the tissue suspected of containing a lesion is produced using the series of received echoes. The tissue is then diagnostically evaluated for the presence of lesions using the produced real-time MR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignees: Steven E. Harms, Duane P. Flamig
    Inventors: Steven E. Harms, Duane P. Flamig, Richard H. Griffey
  • Patent number: 5412621
    Abstract: Disclosed is an encapsulated hydrophone assembly for use in a towed hydrophone array. The assembly comprises (1) a hydrophone element having a hydrophone electrical conductor, (2) an insulated input electrical lead and an insulated output electrical lead coupled to the hydrophone electrical conductor, (3) an electromagnetic shield surrounding the hydrophone element and the hydrophone electrical conductor, the input electrical lead and the output electrical lead extending from the electromagnetic shield and (4) a layer of encapsulating material surrounding the hydrophone element, the hydrophone electrical conductor, a portion of the input electrical lead, a portion of the output electrical lead and the electromagnetic shield to thereby form the hydrophone assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Whitehall Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Hepp
  • Patent number: 5412190
    Abstract: An Improved Electronic Check Presentment System Having a Return Item Notification System Incorporated Therein provides banks with a fully automated capability to receive early notification of checks that it previously presented to a payor bank and that have subsequently been identified by the payor bank as return checks or unpaid items. Moreover, the Improved Electronic Check Presentment System allows those banks utilizing it to transmit return notifications to downstream correspondent banks and customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: J. D. Carreker & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley M. Josephson, Michael F. Kopesec, P. Darrell Royal, Thomas S. Stephens, Mitchell D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5409703
    Abstract: A therapeutic medical device is described that is comprised of a dried hydrogel of a hydrophilic-hygroscopic polymer, such as an unmodified or modified polymeric carbohydrate, in the form of a solid foam. The dried hydrogel is prepared by preferably freeze-drying a hydrogel of this polymer in a liquid medium, such as water. The dried hydrogel can be sterilized by radiation or other means so that the sterilized product has a relatively indefinite shelf-life without refrigeration. The resultant dried hydrogel can be transformed into a hydrogel upon absorption of addition liquid medium. The described therapeutic device can serve as a dressing for a wound or lesion, drug delivery system, a hemostatic agent and a biologic response modifier. The described therapeutic device enhances the wound healing rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Carrington Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill H. McAnalley, Stephen Boyd, Robert H. Carpenter, John E. Hall, Judith St. John
  • Patent number: 5406933
    Abstract: A tubular recuperative heat exchanger structure is mounted in a housing chamber within a fuel-fired condensing furnace in the vertical flow path of supply air being flowed through the housing by a blower. The heat exchanger structure comprises a primary heat exchanger defined by a vertically serpentined series of combustor tubes into open inlet ends of which a series of inshot-type fuel burners flow flames and hot combustion gases, and a secondary heat exchanger formed from a horizontally extending series of finned heat exchanger tubes having inlets in flow communication with the outlets of the combustor tubes and outlets in flow communication with the inlet of a draft inducer fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Lin-Tao Lu
  • Patent number: 5408442
    Abstract: Disclosed are a filtered hydrophone circuit and a method of filtering hydrophone output signals. The circuit, in its most elemental embodiment comprises: (1) a hydrophone having first and second output conductors, the hydrophone producing an electrical signal of varying frequency, (2) an operational amplifier having first and second inputs and an output, the first amplifier input coupled to the first hydrophone output conductor, (3) a first resistor coupling the amplifier output to a second resistor, the second resistor further coupled to an electrical ground and (4) a capacitor coupling the second amplifier input to a point between the first and second resistors to thereby define a feedback path between the amplifier output and the second amplifier input for portions of the hydrophone electrical signal above a selected cutoff frequency, an output signal of the amplifier thereby substantially freed of the portions of the output signal below the selected cutoff frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Whitehall Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Hepp
  • Patent number: 5407324
    Abstract: An axial flow cooling fan includes a rectangular housing base portion and a plurality of rectangular plate members, all having corner portions and central circular air flow openings. The plate members have corner openings and integral hollow cylindrical spacer members formed on side surfaces of their corner portions and aligned with their corner openings. To construct the housing subassembly the base portion post members are sequentially inserted through the corner openings of each plate member. Resilient finger structures on the outer ends of the post members create a snap-fitted locking engagement with the outermost plate member and anchor the plate members in a stacked, parallel relationship in which the installed plate members are held apart by their integral spacer portions to create side air inlet openings on the subassembly at edge portions of the stacked plate members. The housing base portion has a motor-driven impeller section operatively supported within its central air flow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Willie L. Starnes, Jr., James M. Webster
  • Patent number: 5406319
    Abstract: The operation of U type drop-on-demand ink jet printheads are enhanced by selectively incorporating therein volume modifying tapers in the ink carrying channels, means for electrically isolating portions of the actuators thereof, and/or forming a variable layer of conductive material between the upper and lower sidewall portions therefore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Hayes, John R. Pies, David B. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5403417
    Abstract: A punctured, substantially deflated pneumatic automotive tire is internally sealed using a specially designed sealant canister containing CO.sub.2 gas propellant and a tire sealant mixture. The canister sealant comprises approximately 97% by weight of an acrylic latex material which is present with the propellant under a pre-use internal pressure of about 55-65 psig. An outlet cone portion of the canister is removably connectable to the tire inflation valve, and the internal volume and pre-use pressure of the canister are related to the internal volume and normal full inflation pressure of the tire in a manner such that the canister is operative to deliver essentially its entire contents into the tire, yet only partially inflates the substantially deflated tire past its initial pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Technical Chemical Company
    Inventors: N. Howard Dudley, Richard J. Horter
  • Patent number: 5402162
    Abstract: An integrated multi-color drop-on-demand type ink jet printhead. The printhead includes a main body portion and a plurality of generally parallel, longitudinally extending ink-carrying channels arranged into at least two channel arrays. A manifold corresponding to each of the at least two channel arrays and in communication with each of the ink-carrying channels of the corresponding array is formed in the main body portion. Ink is supplied to each of the at least two channel arrays from a corresponding ink source, each of which is filled with a different color of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel R. Fusting, John R. Pies, David B. Wallace, Donald J. Hayes
  • Patent number: 5400990
    Abstract: A support assembly for utilization with generally horizontal handles, bars, shafts and the like for securement of articles thereto. The support assembly includes both a unit which is integrally formed with a handle and a discrete assembly for attachment to handles. The assembly is preferably of integrally molded plastic that comprises at least first and second hook portions adapted for supporting articles such as packages, clothes and purses from strollers, carts and the like. The assembly may also include a receptacle region adapted for the retention of a canned drink, baby bottle, loose articles or the like. The assembly provides a myriad of hook configurations and demountable attachment sections for the securement of loose articles such as purses, sweaters, towels or other infant items. In this manner, strollers, bicycles and the like may be rendered safer and more convenient for the user who must handle loose articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Kel-Gar, Inc.
    Inventor: Gail B. Frankel
  • Patent number: 5402431
    Abstract: A system for innately monitoring a computer system. All address and data signals transferred over the system bus. Certain ones of the address signals are selected as related to the operating conditions of the computer system. A data filter selects data signals which correspond to the selected address signals and the selected address and data signals related to operating conditions of the computer system are then stored, either in a register if the selected address and data signals are composed of dynamic information requiring frequent status updates or in a first-in, first-out memory, when the selected address and data signals are composed of less dynamic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Said S. Saadeh, Scott C. Farrand, Thomas J. Hernandez, Paul R. Fulton, Richard P. Mangold, Richard A. Stupek, James E. Barron, Richard A. Kunz, Dinesh K. Sharma
  • Patent number: 5400298
    Abstract: Disclosed is a towed hydrophone streamer module comprising: (1) an elongated, fluid-resistant jacket having a substantially circular cross section, the water resistant jacket having mating connectors at ends thereof, (2) a plurality of sensors distributed in a spaced-apart relationship within the jacket, (3) a data bus positioned along a length of the jacket and terminating in electrical contacts in the mating connectors and (4) a plurality of cylindrical, fluid-resistant electronics housings disposed within the jacket in a spaced-apart relationship along a length thereof, each of the plurality of housings having a circuit board therein and spanning a length thereof and end caps at ends thereof, one of the end caps having electrical contacts coupled to components on the circuit board, a center-line of the housings substantially in alignment with a center-line of the jacket, the components coupling the plurality of sensors to the data bus for electrical communication therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Whitehall Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Hepp
  • Patent number: 5400064
    Abstract: An ink jet printhead includes of a lower body part having a base section and a plurality of generally parallel spaced projections extending upwardly therefrom and an upper body part having a top section and a corresponding plurality of generally parallel spaced projections extending downwardly therefrom. The top sides of the lower body projections are conductively mounted to the bottom sides of the upper body projections to form sidewalls which define a plurality of ink-carrying channels. Strips of a conductive adhesive mount the lower and upper body projections together and a controller is electrically connected to the strips to selectively impart either a positive, zero, or negative voltage to each strip. The lower body part is formed using a piezoelectric material poled in a first direction generally perpendicular to the channels and the upper body part is formed using a piezoelectric material also poled in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Pies, David B. Wallace, Donald J. Hayes
  • Patent number: D356238
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Inventors: Wayland F. Moore, Glynard Moore
  • Patent number: D360258
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Timothy J. Shellenberger