Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Limbach & Limbach L.L.
  • Patent number: 6198761
    Abstract: A pulser with solid dielectrics including a pulse compressor and pulse transformer apparatus, which is able to produce short bursts of electrical energy at high voltage utilizing a coaxial structure. Both the transformer and the compressor utilize ferromagnetic cores having an inner and an outer diameter, and isolating members of similar geometry. The cores and ceramic members are held in place using conducting plates and bus bars. The overall structure of the compressor and the transformer is built around a central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Lambda Physik GmbH
    Inventors: Hubertus von Bergmann, Spencer Merz
  • Patent number: 6198756
    Abstract: A laser system includes two separate active laser-resonators. A first of the laser-resonators delivers laser-radiation at a first wavelength, and the second generates fundamental laser-radiation at second wavelength. The second resonator includes an optically-nonlinear crystal. The radiation delivered by the first laser-resonator is mixed in the optically-nonlinear crystal with the fundamental radiation circulating in the second resonator thereby generating radiation having the sum frequency of the first and second wavelengths. In one example, an OPS-laser-resonator having a fundamental wavelength of 976 nm includes a CLBO crystal. 244 nm radiation from an intracavity-frequency-doubled 488 nm argon-ion laser is mixed in the CLBO with the 976 nm radiation to provide 195 nm radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Caprara, Luis A. Spinelli
  • Patent number: 6198709
    Abstract: Information signals recorded in a signal recording area of a magnetic disk 100 are reproduced for each sector unit by a magnetic head 3, and are taken out through an equalizer 8, an ECC circuit 9 and a buffer 10. A control circuit 12 obtains an estimate value indicating the difficulty of reproduction with respect to operation for reproducing the information signals from the magnetic disk 100, and accumulates the estimate value obtained until the information signals can be correctly reproduced. When the accumulated estimate value has become a predetermined value or greater, the control circuit 12 carried out control to record the information recorded in the corresponding sector into another sector. Thus, generation of such a state that the information signals cannot be reproduced in the future can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kyoichi Shirane
  • Patent number: 6199097
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting data for automatically presenting the results to the user, and a storage medium for a data collection program. An agent parameter Pi appended to an i'th (i=1˜n) E-mail is stored in a memory to check to see whether or not the title (Subject:) is the ‘race’. If the title is the ‘race’, the pet name and the physical parameter are stored in the memory. The counter is incremented by one (i=i+1) at step 48. This processing is continued until i>n. This formulates a physical parameter table for the user-based mail addresses, pet names and physical power parameters. The ranks are set in the order of the decreasing magnitudes of the physical parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Hachiya, Michio Kitamura, Takashi Koki, Namie Otaki
  • Patent number: 6195325
    Abstract: For recording data into a disc-like recording medium without any lower linear density in data tracks in the lead out zone even in the CAV mode, a radial position on the recording medium of an n-th one of the sectors is calculated to generate a position information; a write frequency is determined based of the position information; a number of bits which are to be recorded into the n-th one of the sectors is calculated based on a following expression (1): F 2 ⁢ π · N · 2 ⁢ π P ⁢ ( R 0 2
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiharu Okanishi
  • Patent number: 6195317
    Abstract: A servo circuit performs tracking control such that the center of scanning is positioned at the center between the track from which data is reproduced and the track immediately before. Then, the beam spot scans the track from which data is to be reproduced and the immediately preceding track at the same time, and a reproduction signal made by inter-code interference between these two tracks is output. A constant relationship is maintained between data specified only by the pit or mark formed on one track and the data specified only by the pit or mark made on the former adjacent track. In this way, pits or marks are formed such that inter-code interference is canceled during reproduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Koboyashi
  • Patent number: 6195322
    Abstract: Vibrations transferred to the outside are lessened and high performance against external vibrations and impact is maintained. Further, data is recorded and reproduced satisfactorily. A CD-ROM drive device is provided which is capable of reproducing data at a standard speed, a quadruple speed and a sextuple speed. When a disk is mounted to the CD-ROM drive device, TOC information is read in a playback state at the standard speed. Next, the disk is placed in a playback state at the sextuple speed and is set to a state held at a predetermined address position. It is distinguished using a tracking error signal, a control signal for a spindle motor, and so on whether the disk is either an eccentric disk or an unbalance disk. When the disk is found to be neither the eccentric disk nor the unbalance disk, a playback speed is set to the sextuple speed. On the other hand, when the disk is found to be either the eccentric disk or the unbalance disk, the playback speed is set to the quadruple speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Ohtani, Takeshi Kunishima, Takafumi Arai, Katsunori Kitaru, Wataru Kokubo
  • Patent number: 6193164
    Abstract: An IC card and an IC card system for transmitting a signal modulated with a desired data sequence. In the IC card, a reference signal having the same frequency as a carrier of a transmission signal received by an antenna and phase-synchronized with the carrier is formed, and a response data sequence corresponding to the desired data sequence is sent out from the antenna by modulating the reference signal with the response data sequence in a phase shift keying manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Arisawa
  • Patent number: 6193711
    Abstract: An Er:YAG laser system has a resonant cavity including an Er:YAG rod pulse-pumped by a pulsed flashlamp. The pump-pulse repetition rate and average power is selected to provide a known essentially constant thermal-lensing power in the Er:YAG rod. Design parameters of the Er:YAG rod and the resonant cavity are selected to compensate for this thermal-lensing power. A shutter in the resonant cavity, when closed or open, respectively prevents or allows a laser output-pulse to be generated in response to a pump-pulse. Laser output-pulse duration is continuously variable and is controlled by controlling the duration of flashlamp-pulses. A sequence of laser output-pulses is controlled by opening and closing the shutter. This arrangement has the advantage that the laser output-pulse repetition rate can be selected to be the flashlamp-pulse repetition rate or some sub-multiple thereof while maintaining thermal-lensing power in the rod essentially constant and compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Connors, Greg Spooner, Ralph Saunders
  • Patent number: 6190397
    Abstract: An anastomosis is performed using a mounting structure mounted on the outside of at least one vessels. The mounting structure includes a flexible mounting structure that is attached to the vessel by a special instrument. A graft vessel is attached to the mounting structure either directly or by means of another mounting structure attached to the graft vessel. Tools for attaching a mounting structure to a vessel are disclosed, and a tool for attaching two mounting structures together is also disclosed. Methods for carrying out the anastomosis according to the invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Origin Medsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Spence, Warren P. Williamson, IV, George Christakis
  • Patent number: 6192076
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provides is configured such that a decoded image can be provided that is almost identical to the original image being encoded. In particular, corrected data of fewer pixels than the number of pixels for an original image is calculated by carrying out prescribed calculations using a pixel value for pixels of each block of the image and mapping coefficients that correspond to the class of the block. A predicted value for the original image is then estimated at a local decoder based on the corrected data. Then, at an error calculator, a prediction error for the original image for the predicted value is detected. At a mapping setting unit, a mapping coefficient corresponding to the class of the block is changed based on this prediction error. By repeating this process, mapping coefficients occurring when the prediction error is less than a prescribed threshold value are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 6192445
    Abstract: A programming system and method for programming a programmable memory device having multiple individually programmable memory cells, such as an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), includes the use of an address and programming pulse signal source and a programming and test controller for establishing, based upon the programming of a small number of on-chip sample memory cells, a presumptively sufficient initial programming pulse duration for programming the remaining memory cells. In the event it is found during actual programming that such an initial programming pulse duration is insufficient for any particular memory cell, additional programming pulses, each of which is significantly shorter in duration than the initial programming pulse, are applied to such memory cell as needed until the programming of such memory cell is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Saiid Rezvani
  • Patent number: 6190968
    Abstract: A method for forming an electrically-programmable read-only-memory (EPROM) or a flash memory cell is disclosed. The EPROM or flash memory cell provides both source-side and drain-side injection, along with a reduced cell size, by forming the memory cell in a trench. The drain is formed in the top surface of the substrate, the source is formed in the bottom surface of the trench, and the stacked gate is formed over the sidewall of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Albert Bergemont, Christoph Pichler
  • Patent number: 6191845
    Abstract: The invention intends to precisely measure the distance to an object. A CCD opens an electronic shutter for a proper period of time under control of a timing generator to receive a laser beam reflected by an object, converts the amount of light entering the CCD during that period of time, after passing a corresponding beam splitter, into an electric signal (voltage), and then outputs the electric signal to a distance calculating circuit. The distance calculating circuit calculates the distance from a laser telemeter to the object using a dark voltage VD, a reflection voltage VR and a total voltage VA inputted from the CCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6192084
    Abstract: A soft output decoding method and apparatus are provided for provided convolutional codes. After computing the number of states times I&bgr; (&bgr;t˜&bgr;t−D+1) for a truncated length, the soft output outside the truncated length is sequentially computed, as next following I&bgr; (&bgr;t−D˜&bgr;t−2D+1) outside the next following truncated length is computed, at the same time as I&bgr; of the next truncated length is sequentially computed. In this manner, a decoder performs computation of I&bgr; within the truncated length and computation of I&bgr; retrogressive by not less than the truncated length, in parallel processing, as a result of which the computation of I&bgr; per clock is the number of states x2. This apparatus and method thereby reduces the volume of computation and expedites the decoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miyauchi, Masayuki Hattori
  • Patent number: 6191846
    Abstract: An apparatus for characterizing multilayer samples is disclosed. An intensity modulated pump beam is focused onto the sample surface to periodically excite the sample. A probe beam is focused onto the sample surface within the periodically excited area. The power of the reflected probe beam is measured by a photodetector. The output of the photodetector is filtered and processed to derive the modulated optical reflectivity of the sample. Measurements are taken at a plurality of pump beam modulation frequencies. In addition, measurements are taken as the lateral separation between the pump and probe beam spots on the sample surface is varied. The measurements at multiple modulation frequencies and at different lateral beam spot spacings are used to help characterize complex multilayer samples. In the preferred embodiment, a spectrometer is also included to provide additional data for characterizing the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Therma-Wave, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Opsal, Li Chen
  • Patent number: 6188661
    Abstract: An optical pickup device capable of irradiating laser beams on a signal recording surface of a magneto-optical disk is provided. The optical pickup device so provided includes a separate optical system whose moveable portion is reduced in weight in order to cope with high-speed access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shizuo Arai, Yoshitaka Aoki, Takakiyo Kanazawa, Akio Matsuda, Kiyoshi Ohmori, Sunao Aoki, Takatsugu Funawatari
  • Patent number: 6188404
    Abstract: The present invention provides a data display apparatus by which data transmission between different image display portions can be performed by natural, easy and simple operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Rekimoto
  • Patent number: 6188700
    Abstract: An encoded signal signal transmission method and apparatus is disclosed which performs stable signal reproduction without causing any breakage of a buffer on the side of a decoder system even when the transmission bit rate is changed. In encoding and transmitting a digital signal at a variable bit rate, an encoder buffer for temporarily storing an encoded signal on the side of an encoder system has a code buffer used by the encoder system for rate control, with the size of the code buffer being constant, and after a predetermined delay time from when the encoding bit rate is altered, an output bit rate from the encoder buffer is altered to a new value of the encoding bit rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Kato, Hideki Koyanagi
  • Patent number: D437492
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hing Wai Metal Factory Ltd.
    Inventor: Hui Pu Wai