Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Mark D. Patrick
  • Patent number: 6035522
    Abstract: An apparatus for leveling (136) a circuit board (105) against a rail (128, 130) of a part placement machine (102) comprises a plate (200) and at least one spring (404, 506, 507, 508). The circuit board (105) can have any one of a plurality of different predetermined thicknesses. The plate (200) is positioned beneath the rail (128, 130) and has first and second sides (204, 300). The first side (204) is dimensioned to support the circuit board (105). The plate (200) is moveable to a first predetermined distance from the rail (128, 130). The first predetermined distance is no smaller than a smallest one of the plurality of different predetermined thicknesses of the circuit board (105). The at least one spring (404, 506, 507, 508) is carried on the second side (300) of the plate (200) to bias the plate towards the rail (128, 130). The at least one spring (404, 506, 507, 508) is compressible to accommodate the circuit board (105) between the plate (200) and the rail (128, 130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Douglas Larson, Scott William Matuszewski
  • Patent number: 6009336
    Abstract: A communication device (104) includes two housings (108, 110), each containing circuitry (114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 122, 123) for operating the communication device (104) in different modes (700, 702, 704, 706, 730, 732). The communication device (104) includes a latch (112) for detachably coupling the two housings (108, 110) and rotating one housing (110/108) with respect to the other (108/110). The communication device (104) switches between the different modes (700, 702, 704, 706, 730, 732) based on the attachment or detachment and the relative position of the housings (108, 110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl R. Harris, Daniel L. Williams, Thomas J. Walczak
  • Patent number: 6008636
    Abstract: A test system (100) for testing electronic devices includes a conveyor (130) to convey the electronic devices, a test fixture (112) to test the electronic devices, and a robot apparatus (102). The robot apparatus (102) has a robot arm (118) positionable within an accessible region (216) to deliver electronic devices from the conveyor (130) to the test fixture (112) via an arcuate path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Miller, Robin J. Crawford
  • Patent number: 5996178
    Abstract: A foldable device (100) includes two housings (102, 108) rotatably coupled by a hinge (3800) about an axis of rotation (211). The hinge (3800) has a stationary element (3802) and a movable element (3804) positioned in a pocket (3858) of one of the housings (102, 108). The movable element (3802) is restricted to movement along the axis of rotation (211). This prevents the generation of audible clicking noises that are characteristic of existing hinge arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Patrick Murray
  • Patent number: 5954817
    Abstract: An apparatus (200) for securing electronic information (205) includes a microcontroller (202) and an external memory (204) coupled thereto. The microcontroller (202) comprises a one-time programmable security flag (230) that is programmed when the electronic information (205) is stored in the memory (204). Once programmed, the security flag prevents reprogramming of the memory (204). Additionally, the microcontroller (202) comprises an algorithm (400) that generates electronic authentication information (207) from the electronic information (205). The authentication information (207) is stored in the memory (204) along with the electronic information (205). Upon retrieval from the memory (204) for registration, the electronic information (205) is authenticated by generating new electronic authentication information (508) via the algorithm (400) to compare to the authentication information (207) stored in the memory (204). Such authentication prevents swapping out of the memory (204) to gain system access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: John Jerome Janssen, Steven J. Olsen
  • Patent number: 5953413
    Abstract: A closeable communication device (102) has a housing (105) movable between a closed position (200) and an opened position (114) and a controller (304) disposed in the housing (105). The controller (304) detects an incoming call to the device (102) and selectively disables (522, 524) answering of the incoming call when the housing (105) is moved from the closed position (200) to the opened position (114). This allows a user to view, without answering the call, caller identification information only viewable in the opened position (114).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Peyer, Pamela A. Dillard, Carolyn S. Schmitz, Thomas Puchala
  • Patent number: 5949020
    Abstract: A clip (100) for securing a cable (202) and shield (216) to a surface (209) of a printed wiring board (208) includes a retainer (102) and a shield clip (112). The retainer includes a first side wall (104) and a second side wall (106) joined by a base (105). The side walls and base define a channel (108) sized to retain the cable. The shield clip extends from the retainer and is spaced from the retainer to retain a wall of the shield between the retainer and the shield clip. The retainer further includes a flange (110) for mounting to the surface of the printed wiring board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Mitchell, Matthew R. Michieli
  • Patent number: 5940746
    Abstract: An apparatus (304) for scanning among a plurality of channels in a radio communication system (300) includes receive circuitry (310) and control circuitry (312). The receive circuitry (310) is capable of being tuned to any one of the plurality of channels and measures reception strength of the tuned channel. The control circuitry (312) controls the receive circuitry (310) to scan through all of the plurality of channels one at a time. The control circuitry (312) stores a first reading of a measured reception strength of the tuned channel before powering off the receive circuitry (310). The control circuitry (312) stores a second reading of a measured reception strength of the tuned channel after powering the receive circuitry (310) back on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcia Jean Otting, Robert M. Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5925942
    Abstract: A power supply control apparatus (113) for an electronic device (102) includes a terminal (115) to couple to a battery (103), a connector (122) to couple to an external power supply (172), a switch circuit (140) coupled to the terminal (115) and the connector (122), and a controller (108) coupled to the switch circuit (140). The switch circuit (140) connects the terminal (115) to power the electronic device (102) from the terminal (115) when the battery (103) is attached and disconnects the terminal (115) to power the electronic device (102) from the connector (122) when the external power supply (172) is attached. The controller (108) selectively controls the switch circuit (140) to connect the connector (122) to the terminal (115) so as to charge the battery (103) from the external power supply (172).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Theobald
  • Patent number: 5909102
    Abstract: A battery attachment apparatus (201) for attaching a battery (200) to an electronic device (100) includes a fixed latch arrangement and a contact arrangement. The fixed latch arrangement is carried on the electronic device (100) and the battery (200). The contact arrangement has a flat contact (220) carried on the battery (200) and a spring contact (310) carried on the electronic device (100). Upon mating the flat and spring contacts (220 and 310), the spring contact (310) deflects and urges the battery (200) into engagement with the fixed latch arrangement, thereby, securing attachment of the battery (200) and electrically connecting the battery (200) to the electronic device (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Henry Stone, III, James Henry Barber, Daniel Philip Groebe
  • Patent number: 5896261
    Abstract: An electronic device (102) includes a power supply (114), an amplifier circuit (132), and a power down protection circuit (160). The power supply (114) supplies power to the electronic device (102). The amplifier circuit (132) is powered by the power supply (114) to amplify a signal into an amplified output signal and controllable to vary a power level of the amplified output signal. The power down protection circuit (160) is coupled directly to the power supply (114) to lower the power level of the amplified output signal of the amplifier circuit (132) when the power supply (114) falls below a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Redmond Black
  • Patent number: 5878336
    Abstract: An apparatus for discontinuously operating a receiver (302) includes a receive data circuitry (304) and processor circuitry (306). The apparatus and receiver (302) are incorporated in a communication device (104). The receiver (302) receives a communication signal (106) having a plurality of frames (200, 214, 224). Each of the frames has a synchronization field (202, 217, 222) followed by a data field (204, 218, 228). The receive data circuitry (304) synchronizes the communication device (104) with the communication signal (106) received by the receiver (302) according to an initial synchronization field (202). The receive data circuitry (304) decodes the following data field (204). The processor (306) evaluates the decoded data field. If the decoded data field indicates that the receiver (302) is locked, the processor (306) powers off the receiver (302) for the following synchronization fields (222).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Joe Cashen, John Kramer, Steven J. Olsen
  • Patent number: 5877633
    Abstract: A bidirectional voltage translator (102) includes a first port (200/400), a second port (202/402) and a bidirectional translator circuit (208-215/404-408, 410, 412-415) coupled between the first and second ports (200/400,202/402). The first and second ports (200/400,202/402) communicate signals at a first voltage level and a second voltage level, respectively. The second voltage level is different from the first voltage level. When a first port signal input at the first voltage level at the first port (200/400) is detected, the bidirectional translator circuit (208-215/404-408, 410, 412-415) translates the first port signal into the second voltage level at the second port (202/402) and disables translation of a signal at the second port (202/402) to the first port (200/400).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Ng, Matthew Duane Mottier, John Jerome Janssen
  • Patent number: 5878353
    Abstract: A RF communication device (100, 200, 300) employs a mirrored surface (109, 209, 309). The mirrored surface (109, 209) contains a display area (108, 208) that may be used to output operational information of the RF communication device (100, 200), such as signal strength and status information, to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Zafar ul Azam, Anthony John Bogusz, Andrew Scott Lundholm
  • Patent number: D406812
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Nagele, Leonid Soren, James D. Domoleczny, Steven R. Remy, Willard F. Amero, Jr.
  • Patent number: D411507
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Reis, Jr., Holley Renfro, James Blackwell
  • Patent number: D411844
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Nagele, Daryl R. Harris, Jennifer Hislop Wondrasek
  • Patent number: D412000
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl R. Harris, Daniel T. Berg, Simon F. Vollmer
  • Patent number: D419956
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Iulius Lucaci, Albert L. Nagele, Tony N. Kfoury, Galina Treyer
  • Patent number: D421005
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Iulius Lucaci, Albert L. Nagele, Norman L. Ho