Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Law Offices of Thomas E. Schatzel
  • Patent number: 6200005
    Abstract: A xenon ceramic lamp comprising a short-arc lamp with two integral reflectors disposed around the cathode arc ball to collect a wide range of elevation angles of light relative to the center longitudinal axis. The two integral reflectors and the cathode arc ball are within the same sealed volume of the lamp. A first reflector, generally below a common first focus, is a concave elliptical type for projecting light out through a sapphire window to a second focus. A second reflector, generally above the first focus, is a concave spherical type having its focus just offset from the first focus. Therefore, light rays may be emitted at nearly all angles from the cathode arc ball that will be reflected or back reflected by the elliptical and spherical reflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: ILC Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy D. Roberts, William F. Hug
  • Patent number: 6191730
    Abstract: A GPS navigation receiver channel tracks satellites' Doppler frequencies sequentially during the twenty milliseconds that the signal is coherent in each bit time of the navigation data modulation. It measures frequency by differencing the angles of signal-vector sums weighted by parabolic humps, exploiting the commutativity of linear processing operations to raise the signal-to-noise ratio before the nonlinear operation phase of detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Robert Leonard Nelson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6181053
    Abstract: An improved arc lamp with a ceramic body, an anode supported by a base, and a cathode suspended by a strut system opposite to the anode, and having an inside volume filled with xenon gas. The improvements include a groove in the ceramic body such that an angled area is presented to a head area of the anode that reduces heat coupling by radiation. A neck in the anode provides for a thermal choking such that a head portion of the anode will elevate in temperature during operation. A cavity is relieved in the base and all around the anode to provide a fixed means for managing the temperature of a head portion of the anode during operation. A stem portion of the cathode has a reduced diameter for attachment to the strut system and this provides reduced optical blockage. A base for the anode has a longer length than its diameter for improved heat transfer to an anode heatsink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: EG&G ILC Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6179446
    Abstract: An arc lamp lightsource module comprises a removable lamp unit including an arc lamp attached to two radial electrode heatsinks that are in turn disposed in an insulating sleeve housing. A chassis has a catch and a clip to lock down the removable lamp unit. An igniter is included to power the arc lamp. A single fan and an air plenum are disposed in the chassis and provide for a cooling airflow that is split between the igniter and the two radial electrode heatsinks. A pair of machine screws provide electrical contact to each of the two radial electrode heatsinks and that have crowned heads for a smooth contact surface. A printed circuit board (PCB) has springboard cutouts and electrical pads providing for a spring-pressure electrical contact between the igniter and the arc lamp through the pair of machine screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: EG&G ILC Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kamran Sarmadi
  • Patent number: 6181077
    Abstract: A power supply for a xenon arc lamp that will automatically shut down if the lamp current is too high, the lamp voltage is too high, or the lamp requires too many trigger pulses to ignite it. Such conditions indicate faults in the lamp itself and should not be operated this way for safety. Lamp-on and end-of-lamp-life indications are provided to the operator for maintenance. The cooling fan power supply must be normal or the lamp will be shut off or not started. In combination, such provide a lamp system that can safely operate at very high powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: EG&G ILC Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas John Greenland
  • Patent number: 6171105
    Abstract: A blue-light polymerizing system comprises a xenon arc lamp in which its sapphire window includes a blue-bandpass filter coating. This eliminates any external color filters that would otherwise be necessary for the polymerization of dental composite materials in a patient's mouth. The blue-bandpass filter coating causes the xenon arc lamp to heat an extra 10° C. higher than would otherwise be the case. So a special anode heatsink is fitted in which the front and back halves of each radial fin have been separated, and one of these groups of separated fins has been tilted off normal. Such changes the otherwise laminar airflow through the anode heatsink fins to a turbulent flow that is better able to collect heat and carry it off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: EG&G ILC Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kamran Sarmadi
  • Patent number: 6163294
    Abstract: A combined satellite positioning and electro-optical total station system including a satellite navigation receiver and a reference oscillator with a reference frequency output that can be related to precision time standards obtained from orbiting navigation-satellite transmissions. Such time standards are output by the satellite navigation receiver and are highly precise. An electronic distance meter (EDM) is included and has an EDM-transmitter for launching an out-bound signal to a distant target, and an EDM-receiver for receiving a reflected signal from the distant target. A phase measurement device is connected to the reference oscillator, and also to both the EDM-transmitter and EDM-receiver. It provides for a measurement of the difference in the number of cycles of the reference frequency between the out-bound signal and the reflected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas C. Talbot
  • Patent number: 6156213
    Abstract: A water filter includes a cartridge filter element mounted on a coaxial bearing so it can be spun. During normal operation, a pressure tank enclosure allows the outside of the cartridge filter element to be submerged. Filtered water is then collected by a filtered-water return inside the cartridge filter element. An air vent disposed in the pressure tank housing allows water to drain away before starting a cleaning cycle, and to bleed off trapped air before returning to normal operation. During cleaning, a flow of clean water is applied to the filtered-water drain. A wash drain in the bottom of the pressure tank enclosure allows used cleaning water to flow out. The reverse water flow through the filtered-water drain forces closed a flapper valve. This, in turn, causes a water spray jet manifold to fill under pressure and cleaning water sprays out from slightly offset nozzles directed at the cartridge filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventors: David E. Dudley, Joseph D. Robertson
  • Patent number: 6140819
    Abstract: An underground pipe and cable locator for continuous depth readings comprises a top and bottom receiver antenna sensor each connected to respective amplifier channels. A separate transmitter is used to stimulate electromagnetic radiations from a buried pipe, cable, or other electrical conductor. The bottom receiver antenna sensor is sampled and used to synchronize a phase locked loop controlled oscillator. The exceedingly faint and noise-riddled signals obtained from the top and bottom receiver antenna sensors are full-wave rectified without the use of rectifiers or diodes that can introduce distortions and offsets. Such signals are full-wave rectified by synchronously switching between inverted and non-inverted copies with an analog switch such that only the positive cycles of each are output in one pulse train. A continuous output is therefore obtainable from the top and bottom receiver antenna sensors, and this, in turn, permits a continuous display of the depth estimate of the buried conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Heath Consultants, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl J. Peterman, David L. Peterman
  • Patent number: 6131938
    Abstract: A receiver-type trailer hitch system embodiment of the present invention comprises a splint assembly with a pair of opposing clamps that simultaneously engage opposite sides of the outer surfaces of an open end of a hitch receiver tube and shank end of a trailer coupling adaptor after being locked into place with a clevis pin. The splint assembly is tightened with a pair of bolts in a vice-like assembly to bring the opposing clamps hard against the hitch receiver tube and the trailer coupling adaptor to eliminate wobble and free-play that would otherwise exist between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: William W. Speer
  • Patent number: 6109501
    Abstract: A wire bonding machine having a wire bonding head that provides five directions of movement or degrees of freedom. The radial direction of movement supports the wire bonding process and reduces the moving mass of the wire bonder during the generation of the wire bonds. The wire bonding machine further includes a selectable side view inspection system. Through a group of optical components, the assembly process can be selectively viewed from either a side view or a top view. The side view of the assembly process provides for improved analysis of the wire bond quality which can be monitored by a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: ASM Assembly Automotion Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi Wah Cheng, Ka On Yue, Chiu Fai Wong
  • Patent number: 6085241
    Abstract: A bandwidth manager for network segments comprises a pair of media access controllers connected by respective MII data interfaces to IEEE 802.3 physical layer transceivers. A data selector connected amongst the media access controllers and physical layer transceivers allows the transceivers to be cross connected at their media-independent data interfaces while the media access controllers are simply used to monitor the symbols being exchanged. The data selector also allows the media access controllers and physical layer transceivers to be connected in pairs with each pair able to control the data traffic in each direction between two network segments. In such mode, bandwidth usage statistics are computed packet-by-packet for each IP-address under management and bandwidth excesses are either mitigated or blocked completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Amplify. Net, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Otis
  • Patent number: 6056813
    Abstract: A process for making white pigment directly from constituent materials without byproducts. The process comprises the steps of inputting three material flows comprising a sulphate source, an alkali source, and an aluminum source. And, recycling and mixing into the three material flows a process return from a separation and wash stage and vapors from a pressure let-down stage. This is followed by heating and holding a mixture of recycled process returns and the three material flows at elevated pressure in a reactor for a minimum predetermined residence time. Afterwards, letting down pressure in a flow from the reactor to produce a pre-wash flow. Then, separating, classifying, and delaminating the pre-wash flow into a first and second pigment or filler that are differentiated by their respective average particle distribution sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Jerry V. Fox, Fred A. Aiken, III
  • Patent number: 6054823
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing the rotation of a brushless DC fan includes the fan and a sense/driver circuit and a capacitance. The sense/driver circuit is coupled to the fan to receive a sense input signal including a fluctuating electrical effect caused by fan commutation events. The sense/driver circuit processes the sense input signal to generate a sense output signal indicative of fan operation. The sense/driver circuit includes an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a sense input pin, a ground return pin, a driver circuit, an integrated filter portion, a filter pin and a level detecting circuit. The capacitance is coupled to the filter pin to provide a filter with the integrated filter portion. The driver circuit includes a control terminal, a first current handling terminal coupled to the sense input pin and a second current handling terminal coupled to provide a ground return pat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Telcom Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Collings, Chuong Nguyen, Joseph James Judkins, III, Donald E. Alfano, Ali Tasdighi, Quoi V. Huynh, Sang T. Ngo
  • Patent number: 6052181
    Abstract: A number of laser beam stations emit vertically separated parallel planes and/or ray-planes of laser light that can be discriminated by their respective plane elevations, modulation of the laser light, time synchronizing, etc. Identifying the laser plane would also imply an identification of the source laser beam station, and thus a precise indication of the elevation at the point of optical intercept. Alternatively, a single laser beam station is used that can emit several different monochromatic color planes and/or ray-planes of laser light. Monochromatic laser diodes, for example, are used for point-light sources and rotating or on-end conical mirrors are used to convert the diode laser light to the required monochromatic color planes and/or ray-planes of laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kurtis L. Maynard, James M. Janky
  • Patent number: 6040668
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a monolithic fan controller circuit which provides the following features: a special start-up routine for the fan; a fan fault detector; a thermal fault detector; an automatic speed controller; a minimum speed controller; a routine for attempting to clear temporary fan faults; and a controllable drive signal frequency. A start-up control circuit provides an initial high duty-cycle kick to the fan in order to initiate the rotation of the fan. A temperature sensor, which may be external or internal to the monolithic fan controller, supplies a signal which is proportional to measured temperature. This signal is used to control the output pulse width of a pulse-width modulator (PWM) or control the frequency of a pulse frequency modulator (PFM). The PWM or PFM output signal regulates the speed of the brushless (or brush) DC fan motor. In a preferred embodiment, the monolithic fan controller has 8 pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: TelCom Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Quoi V. Huynh, Sang T. Ngo, Joseph James Judkins, III, Donald E. Alfano
  • Patent number: 6037732
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a brushless DC fan for cooling heat generating components of a system is provided. The method includes providing a system temperature signal indicative of a system temperature and providing an intelligent shutdown enable signal. The system temperature signal is compared with a shutdown temperature signal if the intelligent shutdown enable signal has a first value. The shutdown temperature signal is representative of a shutdown temperature value. The fan is operated at a generally temperature proportional speed after comparing the system temperature signal with the shutdown temperature signal if the system temperature as indicated by the system temperature signal is greater than the shutdown temperature value as indicated by the shutdown temperature signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: TelCom Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Alfano, Joseph J. Judkins, III, Quoi V. Huynh, Sang T. Ngo
  • Patent number: 6038497
    Abstract: An aircraft turn guidance system comprises a satellite navigation receiver connected to a turn path computer. Position, velocity and waypoint headings and distances are communicated from the satellite navigation receiver to the turn path computer. Roll angle, airframe and airspace constraints are fed to the turn path computer which computes a constant roll turn for the constraints when transitioning a waypoint from the inbound to outbound legs. The effects of wind on the airmass are computed in to account for real world conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Robert Leonard Nelson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6034467
    Abstract: A heat sink for an arc lamp comprises a thin-wall copper strip that is brazed in pleated folds between inner and outer cylindrical rings to create cooling fins. The thickness of the material used for the cooling fins can therefore be exceedingly thin, e.g., 0.012 inches. The cylindrical rings act as fin supports and provide mechanical sturdiness. The thinness of the fin material allows a large number of fins to be included and the efficiency is increased thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: ILC Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy D. Roberts
  • Patent number: D421809
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: ILC Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy D. Roberts