Patents Represented by Law Firm Lee & Smith
  • Transmitter cover
    Patent number: 4803473
    Abstract: A display case for receiving a transmitter module and retaining the module in place is used in a security system which detects and monitors fire, burglary, emergencies, appliance failure and the like. Transmitter modules, which are placed at each of the sensors, transmit information to a central monitor. The display case for receiving the transmitter module is designed to present the module in open view so that the user can readily discern that the transmitter is in place. The display case cover includes provision to expose the transmitter while engaging the transmitter body to hold it in place in the display case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Dicon Systems Limited
    Inventor: Stephen C. Taylor
  • Plastic stopper for a container, with a measuring cup that serves as a cap
    Patent number: 4802597
    Abstract: The two-sided plastic stopper has a lower portion (1) that can be secured to the neck of a container (14, 15) and a measuring cup (2) which can be reversed and set on the lower portion so as to form a seal, this serving as a cap. A tubular spout (11) is surrounded by a concentric annular wall (12). In this way a trough (18) is formed together with the connecting wall (13) between the spout (11) and the annular wall (12), this trough having a drain (19) that leads back to the container. Within the base of the measuring cup (21) there is a centrally arranged annular wall (23) in the form of a sealing plug. This sealing plug (23) and the tubular spout (11) fit together in a form fit so as to seal each other and have connecting means that act together, preferably threads (17, 24, respectively).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Alfatechnic AG
    Inventor: Werner F. Dubach
  • Directional coupler
    Patent number: 4801185
    Abstract: A fused tapered optical fibre directional coupler for use in a polarisation-preserving fibre system has a short stub length of non-polarisation-preserving fibre spliced into each fibre from which the coupler is made. The reduced diameter and tapered portions of the coupler are confined to the stub lengths since it is found that low loss coupling is not achieved if these portions are fabricated in fibre with a polarisation-preserving structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventor: Terry Bricheno
  • Method for optical fibre manufacture
    Patent number: 4801324
    Abstract: In the manufacture of high quality optical fibre for telecommunications, a preform (1) is advanced towards a furnace (9) until a tip detector (5) automatically stops the preform (1) at a predetermined position (11) in front of the furnace to provide a reference datum for a second mode of operation in which the computer (12) can be initiated manually (12B) to advance (4) the preform (1) by a predetermined amount into the furnace to commence drawing the optical fibre. Preferably the tip detector is a paddle (6) pivotally mounted (7) and operates an optical sensor (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventor: Fred Hyland
  • Transmitter programmer connect system
    Patent number: 4801924
    Abstract: A security system for sensing the status of various security detectors used in, for example, home security such as fire, intrusion, emergency and appliance operation protection is disclosed. The detectors transmit, usually via radio frequency, various messages to a central monitor. To enable proper communication, the transmitters are programmed to transmit messages unique to the originating detector. The transmitters may be programmed at one station and then moved to the detector for insertion therein. During this transport, it is important that a volatile memory of the transmitter be retained. This is accomplished by a low power source. A disarming device is provided to disarm the transmitter during transport to prevent the transmitter from draining a short term power source by transmitting a message. This avoids the loss of any programmed information in the evaporative memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Dicon Systems Limited
    Inventors: Thomas A. D. Burgmann, Gary Lennartz
  • Adaptive antenna arrays for frequency hopped systems
    Patent number: 4800390
    Abstract: An adaptive antenna array arrangement for a receiver in a frequency hopped spread spectrum system. The arrangement includes an auxiliary local oscillator (lo.sub.a) which is hopped sequentially and pseudo-randomly across the spread system independently of the main frequency hopped oscillator (Lo.sub.m). The adaptive array processor (FUA, FM, PM) is digital, operates in an open loop configuration and evaluates the frequency bands during periods of time when the main oscillator is not operating in those bands. The processor derives null sterring weights for each band. The weights for each band are stored (WS) and subsequently used (W.sub.In -W.sub.Qn) when the main oscillator hops into the band and so cause the array of generate nulls directed towards sources of unwanted systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey G. Searle
  • Ferroelectric liquid crystal cells having a helical liquid crystal structure
    Patent number: 4799775
    Abstract: Bistable operation of ferroelectric liquid crystal smectic I* or smectic F* display cells is disclosed which uses a greater liquid crystal layer thickness than is achievable with smectic C* material while yet retaining bistability of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventors: William A. Crossland, Anthony B. Davey, Matthew F. Bone
  • Video display unit
    Patent number: 4796298
    Abstract: A video display unit is described in which the display is divided into segments, and the order of scanning within each segment is scrambled. A segment may consist, for example, of a row or characters. The scrambling eliminates or reduces the risk of eavesdropping on electromagnetic radiation from the video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: International Computers Limited
    Inventor: Ian D. MacArthur
  • Phase rotation of signals
    Patent number: 4796188
    Abstract: Phase rotation of an input digital signal is effected by applying the input signal to a look-up table in a memory together with a rotation control signal. The output of the memory is the phase rotated signal. To reduce the size of the PROM required for the look-up table advantage is taken of the symmetry of the quadrants through which the signal may be rotated. With a maximum 0.degree. to 360.degree. phase rotation range divided into four 90.degree. quadrants a look-up table is only required for one quadrant. Thus the quadrant which the input signal is in is determined and the input signal transformed to correspond to the one quadrant by simple logic external to the PROM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventors: Simon J. Gale, Graham R. Fearnhead, Mark L. C. Furnace
  • Optical fibre manufacture
    Patent number: 4793840
    Abstract: Optical fibre (4) is drawn from a preform (1) by a capstan (5), and a control circuit (22) drives the capstan and the preform at respective predetermined rates during ramp-up. The capstan drive rate is modified (controller 31) in response to deviations from the nominal fibre diameter as measured by a fibre diameter monitor (9) over short-term periods, and the preform feed rate (20) is modified (algorithm 21) to maintain an average fibre pulling rate within .+-.5% of the present pulling rate, to thus control the glass melting rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventor: Ian D. Harding
  • Solder joint
    Patent number: 4793543
    Abstract: A power component such as a power transistor is mounted on an insulating substrate of, e.g., beryllia by using a thick film deposition technique. A first layer (2) is deposited and a second layer (3) is deposited over the first layer to produce a regular series of troughs and lands, in the preferred embodiment troughs and ridges, whereby voiding in the solder bond is minimized if not eliminated to thus maintain a good thermal conductivity between the component and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventors: Trevor C. Gainey, Ian Hall, Alan R. Jones
  • Induced grating devices and method of making same
    Patent number: 4793680
    Abstract: It has been found that when a pulsed high-power laser beam is incident on the surfaces of a wide variety of materials, ripples are produced on such surface. This is due to interference between scattered waves and the incident beam producing intensity fringes, and hence localized heating. The dimensions of the ripples are dependent on the wavelngth of the incident light. This is used to produce permanent (after cooling) gratings on the outer surface of an optical waveguide, for example an optical fibre, on to which a laser beam is focussed by a lens system. Hence a grating whose length is a few hundreds of micrometers is produced. If the cladding is removed this effect of ripple generation is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventor: Kevin C. Byron
  • Dynamic hologram recording
    Patent number: 4793670
    Abstract: Optical four wave mixing is provided by interfering two waves on a liquid crystal layer (1) temperature stabilized just beneath its nematic/isotropic phase change transition temperature. The liquid crystal incorporates a guest dye to absorb the light producing a holographic thermal image which is accompanied by a holographic phase image. Once this phase image starts to build up it is illuminated with a `third wave` of light that is not absorbed so as to produce the required holographically diffracted `fourth wave`.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventors: William A. Crossland, Peter W. Ross, Neil Collings
  • Detection of unsafe voltages on mobile equipment
    Patent number: 4791517
    Abstract: Protective equipment detects the existence of an unsafe potential (V.sub.2) between earth and mobile equipment such as a mobile cabin. A metal plate (14) is mounted below the chassis (10) of the cabin, and the voltage (V.sub.3) between the metal plate (14) and the chassis (10) is detected by an amplifier (16). The amplifier output feeds a threshold detector (18) which senses when the voltage (V.sub.3) reaches a level corresponding to a predetermined dangerous potential (V.sub.2) of the chassis (10) with respect to ground (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Airtech Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey Park
  • Heatable diaphragm pump for gases
    Patent number: 4790730
    Abstract: Deposits and corrosion are to be avoided in a heatable diaphragm pump for smoke gases which are to be analyzed. A heatable pump head comprises a diaphragm chamber which is closed by a diaphragm. The diaphragm is driven by a motor through a connecting rod. The connecting rod is heated by controlled heating means and a temperature sensor. Transmission of measuring signals from the temperature sensor to a controller and the power supply to the heating means is permitted through U-shaped leaf springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Bodenseewek Geratetechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Tilman Spaeth, Eberhard Lembcke
  • Device for measuring the roll rate or roll attitude of a missile
    Patent number: 4790493
    Abstract: A rate gyro (10) is arranged in a seeker head of a missile and is stimulated to nutate with its natural nutation frequency in inertial space for the purpose of scanning a field of view. The rotational frequency and the nutation frequency of the rate gyro (10) relative to the missile are determined. The roll rate or roll angle is achieved by subtraction of these frequencies multiplied by suitable factors depending on the gyro in a roll measuring circuit (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Geratetechnick GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhart Schwarzkopf, Bernd Dulat
  • Optoelectronic dynamic random access memory system
    Patent number: 4789964
    Abstract: A memory device employing optoelectronic elements which in combination form a dynamic RAM, the elements comprising first and second photodiodes electrically connected for exchange of a reverse bias condition from one photodiode to the other when either one is exposed to light to cause a photocurrent to flow, thereby to define logical `0` and `1` states, and an optical switch such as a MOS structure connected in parallel with one of the photodiodes so as to be rendered light transmissive in only one of the reverse bias conditions, thereby to detect the logical state of the cell when exposed to incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Inventor: Goran Krilic
  • Toy having the appearance of a boat
    Patent number: 4787874
    Abstract: A child's toy comprises a structure which can float on water and which has the outward appearance of a boat. To enable the child to carry the boat, a part of the structure is displaceable into a position in which it serves as a carrying handle for the toy. A covered compartment for small articles is included in the boat. Simulated motors in the stern of the boat have recesses shaped to accommodate a toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventors: John C. Hardy, Roberta M. Hardy
  • Optical fibre polarizer
    Patent number: 4787694
    Abstract: A frequency selective optical polarizer is formed by pressing a length of single mode polarization maintaining fiber 12 against a ribbed plate 10 in order to generate a distributed strain pattern with a periodicity which causes for a particular optical frequency one of the guided modes to couple into an unguided mode while the other guided mode remains substantially uncoupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: STC PLC
    Inventors: Roger J. Brambley, David N. Payne
  • Rotating liquid ring vacuum pump
    Patent number: 4787824
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for pumping fluids wherein a rotating ring of liquid traverses a hollow probe which has a surface aperture out of which the fluid to be pumped is sucked into the rotating liquid ring, wherein the fluid migrates to a collection region inside the rotating liquid ring, from where the fluid can pass to a fluid outlet, and wherein a gas which does not condense under the prevailing operating conditions is also fed to the collection region in order to assist throughput of the fluid being pumped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Genevac Limited
    Inventor: Michael Cole