Patents Represented by Attorney Mark Catan
  • Patent number: 5540554
    Abstract: A controller regulates a hydraulic pump for hydraulic equipment to allow long-term use of environmentally safe hydraulic fluids. This is accomplished by limiting the hydraulic pump power output to a level established to prevent the operating temperature from exceeding a specified level. A manual mode for switching between power curves permits alternate use of hydraulic fluids having different maximum operating temperatures. An automatic mode detects the type of hydraulic fluid and automatically selects and applies a suitable power mode curve to limit the maximum operating temperature to a value suitable for the detected type of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Masuzawa
  • Patent number: 5532986
    Abstract: A changer-equipped player uses an n number of carriages which can hold up to an n number of discs in storage positions in a stocker. These carriages carry discs between the stocker and a movable tray for play and for loading and unloading. One of the n number of carriages, carriage S, is usable in a single-play mode, allowing the player to be used as a tray equipped single-play device. Carriage S may be selected for single-play regardless of the number of discs stored in the remaining n-1 number of carriages. The remaining n-1 number of carriages are usable only in changer-play operation. Loading discs into the device is accomplished by placing discs into empty carriages as each is held in the tray in an eject position. The stocker is not removed for loading discs or for removing or replacing the discs stored within it. During changer-playback operation, the device selects and plays all stored discs in a predetermined sequence. During single-play operation the device plays only the disc in carriage S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Nakamichi Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Sakiyama
  • Patent number: 5532570
    Abstract: A variable speed control for induction motors with a primary angular frequency operating circuit has a multiplier that multiplies the output of a first regulator by a variable responsive to magnetic flux intensity. This first regulator holds the M axis induced voltage at zero. The primary angular frequency operating circuit corrects the primary angular frequency command value based on the output of the multiplier. An adder adds the output of a second regulator circuit and the output of the primary angular frequency operating circuit. The second regulator regulates (by proportional or proportional-integral control) the deviation between the command value of the torque current, or the torque and an actual value, to zero. In another embodiment, the magnetic flux operating circuit calculates a first value and a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Tajima, Hidetoshi Umida
  • Patent number: 5524550
    Abstract: A bogie for rail vehicles, in particular a driven bogie, with a bogie frame, includes two or more wheelset units each of which comprises at least one drive unit and/or brake unit. The wheeset units are connected with the bogie frame via a primary suspension. A secondary suspension connects a vehicle body with the bogie frame. A rigid connecting link extends from at least one of the wheelset units for connecting the bogie to the vehicle body. The rigid connecting link is coupled to the wheelset unit at its virtual center of rotation. Where practical, the center of rotation and the center of mass are coincident to minimize the moment of inertia of the wheelset units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: MAN GHH Schienenverkehrstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang-Dieter Richter, Ulrich Hachmann, Peter Frahm
  • Patent number: 5512722
    Abstract: A membrane switch is actuated by pressure transmitted from a movable key member through two coaxial springs connected end-to-end. A first of the two springs is held by the key member in a partially strained state requiring an initial force to strain it further. The second spring, smaller in diameter and stiffer than the first, has a free end at which force is applied to the membrane switch. As a top of the key member is pressed, the free end of the second spring moves toward, touches, then presses the membrane switch. Force builds rapidly with displacement in the small spring until it reaches the initial force under which the first spring is retained. This initial force is made roughly equal to the force required to actuate the membrane switch. After that point, the force-displacement characteristic is that of the two-spring combination, which is less stiff than the second spring alone. Thus, long key travel is permitted while the actuation force is reached early in the displacement of the key member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventors: Kumio Ozeki, Fumio Watanabe, Haruo Yoshida, Osam Kamishima, Yosuke Sakai
  • Patent number: 5508994
    Abstract: A disk player has a magazine for storing disks on carriages and a disk transport mechanism transporting a selected disk between four positions including an eject position, a load position, a playback position, and a store position which lie in a single plane. The selected disk is carried upon a carriage from the magazine to the load position where the selected disk is partially removed from the magazine to the playback position above a disk reader. An alignment mechanism provides relative movement between the magazine and a plane of transport of the disk transport mechanism permitting a selected disk to be inserted or removed from the magazine at the store position. The disk reader is positioned to read the selected disk while overlapping disks stored in the magazine resulting in a smaller disk player size. The magazine pivotally holds the carriages in a stacked arrangement with prongs engaging recesses in the carriages. The magazine also holds a carriage for accepting disks of two sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Nakamichi Corporation
    Inventors: Niro N. Nakamichi, Yuichiro Hisatomi
  • Patent number: 5504733
    Abstract: A disk player has a magazine for holding disks and mechanisms for transporting disks between four positions, an eject position, a load position, a playback position, and a store position. A disk reader is positioned to read a selected disk in the playback position while the selected disk overlaps disks in the magazine. The disks are held on carriages in the magazine and are transported on the carriages to the disk reader. Each carriage has a V-shaped aperture which provides for access by the disk reader to a recording surface of the selected disk. Clearance for playing the selected disk is also provided by the V-shaped apertures of adjacent carriages in the magazine. The selected disk is raised by the disk reader into an area within the V-shaped aperture of the carriage in the magazine which is above the disk being played. A selected carriage is carried by a tray between the eject position and the load position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Nakamichi Corporation
    Inventor: Niro Nakamichi
  • Patent number: 5499064
    Abstract: An eyeglass frame supports a pair of mounting adapters. Each mounting adapter includes a connecting mechanism for removably connecting an optical device. The connecting mechanism permits the optical device to be inserted with a low insertion force, but requires a relatively large force for removing the optical device. The connecting mechanism includes an interior bore that accepts an insertion shank on the optical device. A series of Teflon balls are placed in radial channels in an outer wall of the mounting adapter. An O-ring in a groove in the outer wall urges the Teflon balls into the radial channels. The radial channels are shaped to prevent the Teflon balls from falling into the insertion bore, but allow the Teflon balls to protrude partly into the insertion bore. The insertion shank of the optical device has a bevel that forces the Teflon balls out of its path as it is inserted into the interior bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Paralax, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Vansaghi
  • Patent number: 5498917
    Abstract: A stator for a motor in which there are provided a ring-shaped yoke portion iron core (2), tooth portion iron cores (3) arranged at an equal interval on the inner circumferential side of the yoke portion iron core (2), stator coils (5) fitted into slots (4) formed between respective adjacent tooth portion iron cores (3), and bridging portions (31) connecting the inner circumferential sides of the respective adjacent tooth portion iron cores (3), and a rotor (6) is oppositely disposed through a gap on the inner circumferential side of the tooth iron cores (3), thus allowing the ratio of length s in a circumferential direction of the bridging portion (31) to pitch p in the circumferential direction of the tooth portion iron cores (3) to fall within a range of 0.01 to 0.20.Accordingly, the cogging torque of a motor can be lowered without lowering EMF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Yuji Ninomiya, Kenji Ueyama
  • Patent number: 5483479
    Abstract: A memory cell for an associative storage memory device includes a transmission gate which is rendered conductive or non-conductive in response to a potential on a word line for transferring information between an information hold circuit and a bit line or between the information hold circuit and an inverted bit line. Match line are precharged to ground and supply potentials, respectively, and, thereafter, a retrieval circuit compares information on the bit line or inverted bit line with information held in the information hold circuit and produces a control signal to control the potentials on the match lines in accordance with the result of comparison. After the match lines are precharged, a gating circuit is rendered conductive in response to potentials on output control line and inverted output control line to thereby couple the control signal to the match lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Osawa, Ichiro Tomioka, Mitsuhiro Deguchi
  • Patent number: 5477179
    Abstract: A device for printing an image onto a surface, such as food containers, employs a laser that is scanned across a surface to produce a latent image on a charged photosensitive surface formed on the surface. The surface is moved relative to the laser source while the laser is activated and deactivated according to a pattern of signal pulses from a control circuit. The device thus forms a raster image. To form very fine images, the control circuit must produce pulses with very small steps in duration. The control circuit of the present invention divides a digital value representing a duration of firing of the laser into high and low order bit sequences. The high order bits, representing a value M, are applied to a counter that generates a first pulse M clock cycles long. The low order bits and the first pulse are applied to a delay circuit. The delay circuit generates a delayed version of the first pulse, which is delayed by an amount represented by the low order bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Takada, Tsuneo Imatani, Masaki Morotomi, Akihiko Morofuji, Kosaku Tsukimi
  • Patent number: 5467880
    Abstract: A safety screw cap indicates prior opening of a container to protect consumers from prior contamination. The screw cap has an annular band encircling its lower end which is separated from the screw cap by a perforated line. The band is affixed to a fixing clement and the fixing element attached to the container when the screw cap is screwed in place. An unattached leader portion of the band can be lifted easily to peel the band from the container. As the band is peeled from the container, it is simultaneously tom from the screw cap at the perforations. Once the band is removed, the screw cap can be unscrewed and the container unsealed. Before peeling the band away, the screw cap cannot be unscrewed without causing obvious damage to the screw cap or band. In addition, the torque required to shear-separate the band from the fixing element, the fixing element from the container or the screw cap from the band is greater than that which can be applied easily by a normal adult.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Etoh, Kiyoshi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 5460464
    Abstract: A cutting insert has a polygonal plate-like insert body defined by a front face, a back face, and a plurality of side faces lying between the front and back faces. A nose portion is defined by one of the corners of the front face. At least one cutting edge extends immediately from the nose portion. The cutting edge is defined by one of a pair of intersections of the front face with an adjacent pair of side faces sandwiching the nose portion therebetween. The front face includes an inclined surface sloping toward the back face in a direction away from the nose portion, causing each of the pair of intersections to incline toward the back face in a direction away from the nose portion. A breaker is formed on the inclined surface along the intersection of the inclined surface with a side face. The breaker has an inner surface for defining a rake surface portion more positively inclined to the corresponding cutting edge than that defined by the other area of the front face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Arai, Takayoshi Saito
  • Patent number: 5448026
    Abstract: A double-axis key switch has a key cap with a pair of key stems which slide into a housing to actuate a pair of switches. The key stems are slightly out of parallel so that the axes of the key stems meet in a direction of stroke relative to the key cap. However, the sleeves, into which the key stems insert, are parallel. When the key cap is pressed off-center, causing tilting of the key cap, one key stem advances ahead of the other. Because of the relative positions of the axes, binding forces increase in the leading key stem and decrease in the following stem. The asymmetry of the binding forces tends to correct the tilting of the key cap so that the key cap advances symmetrically and smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventors: Kumio Ozeki, Fumio Watanabe, Haruo Yoshida, Yosuke Sakai
  • Patent number: 5438711
    Abstract: An electrically driven seat covering paper feeding mechanism feeds seat covering paper from a seat covering paper roll stored in a seat covering paper roll storage portion onto a toilet seat body through a seat covering paper feed path. A seat covering paper cutting mechanism cuts the seat covering paper fed to the surface of the toilet seat body at the rear edge portion of the paper. A control unit operates the electrically driven seat covering paper feeding mechanism by predetermined control signals sequentially output therefrom to control the feeding of the seat covering paper. A battery supplies electricity to the seat covering paper feeding mechanism and the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignees: Toto Ltd., Aicho Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Higuchi, Shigeru Mizoguchi, Naoji Yamashita, Takayoshi Adachi
  • Patent number: 5438534
    Abstract: A changer-equipped player uses an n number of carriages which can hold up to an n number of discs in storage positions in a stocker. These carriages carry discs between the stocker and a movable tray for play and for loading and unloading. One of the n number of carriages, carriage S, is usable in a single-play mode, allowing the player to be used as a tray equipped single-play device. Carriage S may be selected for single-play regardless of the number of discs stored in the remaining n-1 number of carriages. The remaining n-1 number of carriages are usable only in changer-play operation. Loading discs into the device is accomplished by placing discs into empty carriages as each is held in the tray in an eject position. The stocker is not removed for loading discs or for removing or replacing the discs stored within it. During changer-playback operation, the device selects and plays all stored discs in a predetermined sequence. During single-play operation, the device plays only the disc in carriage S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Nakamichi Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Sakiyama
  • Patent number: 5438479
    Abstract: A circuit assembly includes a platen for pressing carrier plates, bearing heat-dissipating components, against a heat sink. Circuits on one carrier plate are electrically connected with circuits on the other carrier plate by corresponding contacts on each carrier plate which the platen presses into mutual contact as it presses the carrier plates against the heat sink. The surfaces to which the carrier plates are pressed is stepped, which serves to align the carrier plates with respect to each other. One or more substrates, bearing other circuit elements, are attached to the platen and electrically connected to circuits on the carrier plate by resilient contact elements attached to the platen. The resilient contact elements press against contact surfaces of the carrier plates and substrates to make connections. Recesses in the platen also facilitate alignment of the carrier plates and components thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Export-Contor Aussenhandelsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Heilbronner
  • Patent number: 5432536
    Abstract: Dots for producing a multiple tone electrostatic latent image are formed by selectively discharging a charged surface with a scanned laser beam. The multiple tones are produced by pulse width modulation of the laser beam according to the tones required in the dots. High resolution is maintained by limiting the diameter of toner particles to 1/5 to 5 times a minimum exposed dot dimension of less than 1 micron. A laser beam exposure device includes a galvanometer mirror from which the scanning laser beam is reflected. The galvanometer mirror is tilted in synchronism with the conveying direction of the surface being scanned in order to maintain focus of the laser beam on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Takada, Tsuneo Imatani, Masaki Morotomi, Akihiko Morofuji, Kosaku Tsukimi
  • Patent number: 5422448
    Abstract: A contact piece for a rotary encoder is an unitary piece having a terminal, a thin plate spring, and a bent-back section on the tip of the thin plate spring. The bent-back section is bent at an angle of approximately 180 degrees in the plane. The contact brush is located on the bent-back section. In one embodiment, the terminal, thin plate spring, bent-back section and contact brush are stamped from the same metal plate. In another embodiment, the terminal, thin plate spring and bent-back section are stamped from the same metal plate and a separate contact brush is connected to the bent-back section. The contact piece is pushed in from the bottom side of the rotary encoder housing, and the contact brush is set such that contact is made with an electrode pattern. When a rotating plate turns, a pulse having a low or high signal is generated. This configuration provides the rotary encoder with an adequately long span S, which can be precisely set and easily produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: SMK Corp.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Nakano, Kiyohiko Kumazawa, Kazuo Amagai
  • Patent number: D568042
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Gamewear, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Cerullo