Patents Represented by Attorney Merchant and Gould
  • Patent number: 6575291
    Abstract: A method for automatically cleaning and lubricating conveyor belt systems is disclosed. A microprocessor controlled control unit senses the movement of the conveyor belt and the presence of items, for example bottles, on the conveyor. The control unit initiates the application of lubricant, detergent and rinse water onto the conveyor according to the speed of the conveyor, the presence of items and the time passed since the previous application. If the conveyor is stationary, that is, is not in motion, no lubricant or cleaning solution is applied. If the conveyor is moving but no items are on the belt, a reduced amount of lubricant is dispensed onto the conveyor system. The conveyor cleaning and lubricating process may be carried out during normal production operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Bennett, James M. Zell
  • Patent number: 6575004
    Abstract: A combination lock system comprising a set of push-buttons, a set of series of coders each of which series is associated with a push-button, incrementing means for placing the coders of each series successively in a position to be operated by a push-button, coding means for selecting some coders and placing them in a coding position, and means for returning the coders to a waiting configuration after the push-buttons are actuated. The system comprises means for authorizing two actuation strokes of the push-buttons, namely a normal stroke commanding movement of a coder which is part of the code between its coding position and an unlocking position and a coding travel moving a coder from its inactive position to its coding position. For entering a new coded combination, the system further comprises means for placing all the coders in the inactive position and authorizing actuation of the push-buttons over the coding stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Unitechniques
    Inventors: Cyril Berton, Gérard Cheriot
  • Patent number: 6577790
    Abstract: An optical device is provided, which includes optical fibers and rod lenses with their optical axes all being allowed to coincide, particularly, through optimization of the angles of faces of the rod lenses processed to have slopes, wherein the path of a center light ray entering an input fiber is allowed to coincide with the optical axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeo Kittaka
  • Patent number: 6576117
    Abstract: A predetermined voltage is applied to a biosensor twice to promote an electrochemical reaction, and the following parameters (P1 and P2) are calculated from the values of detected current. A statistical technique is used with these parameters to compensate for errors so that the concentration of an object can be determined. P1: the ratio (If/Ib) of the maximum current (If) or a current occurring the maximum in the first excitation to a current (Ib) read at any point in the second excitation. P2: a current (Ib) read at any point in the second excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Arkray
    Inventors: Kazuo Iketaki, Yoichi Inoue, Katsumi Hamamoto
  • Patent number: 6578052
    Abstract: A clean-up system recaptures part of the memory or secondary storage space on a client device, such as a handheld personal computer. E-mail messages are organized in a hierarchy of folders within a database. Each folder may or may not contain e-mail messages. A user downloads e-mail messages from a server to the client device. The user marks any folders that he wishes to use upon disconnect from the server for off-line use. Upon disconnect from the server, the clean-up system begins with the first e-mail message in the database. A test module determines if the e-mail message is linked to a folder in the service hierarchy to be cleaned-up. If the message is linked to a folder in the service hierarchy to be cleaned-up, an off-line module determines if the folder is marked for off-line use. If the folder is marked for off-line use, the message linked to the folder is retained for later use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Peter M. Mansour, Roman Sherman, David C. Whitney
  • Patent number: 6577197
    Abstract: A cascode amplifier includes a cascode input stage that provides a first current in response to an input signal. A second current is also provided in response to the input signal, where the second current is a scaled and smaller version of the first current. The second current is low-pass filtered using parasitic capacitance present in a current mirror. A delayed mirrored current is applied to the emitters of the lower cascode transistor circuit to provide negative feedback. The current mirror amplifies the effect of the parasitic capacitance in the low-pass filter. An output node of the cascode amplifier has an associated parasitic capacitance. The parasitic capacitance at the output node in the cascode amplifier is compensated for by proper arrangement of the parasitic capacitance in the current mirror, such that the cascode amplifier is useful at higher frequencies. The improved cascode amplifier is suitable for monolithic integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew J. Morrish
  • Patent number: 6578045
    Abstract: Retrieving information form from the registry include by creating a registry interface database containing information regarding registry data and uniquely identifying every registry entry for a registry interface. Source header files are generated using information about a program module, such as an application, contained in the registry interface database. The source header files are compiled with the application to generate the application's executable file. During run-time of the application, the registry interface is called by the application to retrieve registry data. If available, the registry interface retrieves the registry data and forwards this information to the application. In the event that the registry data is not available, the registry interface retrieves a default value in place of the registry data and forwards that default data to the application. A policy may be implemented by checking a policy area of the registry for the registry data and invoking the policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Michael Gray, Kirk A. Glerum, Maithreyi Lakshmi Ratan
  • Patent number: 6573235
    Abstract: The invention concerns a cosmetic composition comprising at least an aromatic compound and at least an agent for dissolving said aromatic compound, characterized in that said dissolving agent consists of perfluorinated hydrofluoroether preferably having a total number of carbon atoms not less than 5 and consisting of a perfluoroalkane chain, branched or not, cyclized or not, bound to an alkoxy group, said alkoxy group having a number of atom(s) between 1 and 7, said hydrofluoroether having a boiling point in atmospheric pressure ranging between +15° C. and +100° C. The invention enables the replacement of ethanol conventionally used in cosmetic compositions by at least one hydrofluoroether compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Extractive
    Inventors: Michel Surbled, Benoit Lemaire, Philippe Mengal, Bernard Mompon
  • Patent number: 6571948
    Abstract: A keyboard lock box for securing a computer keyboard from unauthorized access and use is provided. The lock box includes a box-shaped apparatus in which a keyboard may be stored and secured from unauthorized access and use. The keyboard lock box includes a base in which the keyboard may be placed. A lid is provided for closing the keyboard lock box, and a lock and latch combination is integrated with the lid and base for locking the lid to the base. An alternate embodiment of the lock box includes a removable lid that may be removed leaving the keyboard at rest on a keyboard tray. The lock box may be implemented for storage only, or it may be implemented as a storage apparatus and holding apparatus during use of the computer keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory Jones
  • Patent number: 6572530
    Abstract: A blood circulation assisting device using a continuous flow blood pump (1) for blood feeding assistance to remove blood through a blood removing pipe (2) and drive out blood at a predetermined flow rate through a blood feeding pipe (3). The blood circulation assisting device includes a current measuring unit (7) for measuring current flowing through a motor (4) driving the pump (1) in order to use the current as data corresponding to a blood flow rate through the continuous flow blood pump (1) and an amplitude detection unit (8) for detecting, from an output of the current measuring unit (7), the amplitude of fluctuation of current flowing through the motor (4) in order to use the amplitude as data corresponding to a flow rate amplitude due to flow rate fluctuation. The amplitude of this fluctuation is divided by an average current value and output as an amplitude index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: JMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Araki, Mitsuo Oshikawa, Hirohumi Anai
  • Patent number: 6573644
    Abstract: A color cathode ray tube has a color selection electrode structure made by stretching and welding a color selection electrode having a plurality of apertures to a frame while applying tension in the minor axis direction. A non-perforated region gradually becomes wider from a center portion to both end portions in the minor axis direction. Thus, sufficient tension is applied in the peripheral portion of the perforated region in the major axis direction of the color selection electrode, so that vibrations do not occur easily and the color selection electrode does not warp. Therefore, a color cathode ray tube with excellent color purity can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Minami, Shiro Kashihara, Shigenari Oshima
  • Patent number: 6573783
    Abstract: An open loop offset trim system for use with a differential amplifier includes a reference generator, an offset detector and a trim circuit. To reduce offset, the differential amplifier is placed in an open loop configuration, with both input terminals connected to receive a common reference signal from the reference generator. In response to an offset, the differential amplifier's output signal will essentially rail to either the supply voltage or the ground. In response to the logic level of the differential amplifier's output signal, the offset detector provides a control signal to the trim circuit to adjust the current conducted by one leg of the differential pair to reduce current mismatch in the legs of the differential pair. This process may be performed iteratively to control the trim circuit to incrementally adjust the current conducted by a leg of the differential pair during the trimming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Jeromy R. Gray
  • Patent number: 6573647
    Abstract: A color cathode-ray tube that can attenuate vibration of an entire shadow mask positively with a simple structure. The color cathode-ray tube includes a frame-shaped mask frame and a shadow mask in which many apertures are formed in a flat plate, the shadow mask being stretched and fixed in the mask frame in a condition in which a tension force is applied in one direction. The amplitude in the end portions of the shadow mask is not less than a certain amount relative to the amplitude in the center portion of the shadow mask, in a resonance of the shadow mask caused by a vibration propagated to the color cathode-ray tube. Furthermore, by providing vibration attenuators at the end portions of the shadow mask, vibrations at the end portions of the shadow mask are attenuated as the side surfaces of the shadow mask slide on the vibration attenuators. Thus, vibration of the entire shadow mask can be extinguished positively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Michiaki Watanabe, Yoshikazu Demi, Mitsunori Yokomakura
  • Patent number: 6573685
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of replacing secondary batteries. In the method, batteries can be replaced at a low cost and performance of an overall battery assembly can be maximized after the battery replacement. The battery assembly is composed by electrically connecting a plurality of secondary batteries in series or in parallel. When a portion of the secondary batteries is judged as defective, the defective batteries are replaced by replacement batteries. In an aspect of the method, voltage is detected for every predetermined voltage detection block unit concerning secondary batteries composing the battery assembly in order to judge defects of the secondary batteries in the voltage detection block unit. Batteries in a voltage detection block unit will be replaced with replacement batteries if they are judged as defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakanishi, Hiromichi Kuno, Tadao Kimura, Yozoh Ogino, Sadao Mizuno, Kouji Otsubo, Masayoshi Iwase, Yoshiyuki Nakayama, Toshiyuki Sekimori, Kazuo Tojima
  • Patent number: 6572413
    Abstract: A jack module system is disclosed. The system includes a housing (12) defining an interior. The system also includes first and second jacks (14, 14′). Each jack (14, 14′) includes a jack body (100) including upper and lower edges. Receiving means are disposed within the housing (12) for slidably receiving the jack bodies (100) in a first direction and slidably removing the jack bodies (100) in a direction opposite the first direction. The jacks (14, 14′) are stacked along an axis perpendicular to the first transverse dimension. The system also includes a cover (102) removably securing the jack bodies (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Cynthia G. Olson, Dennis M. Burroughs
  • Patent number: 6573001
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a sealed battery and a manufacturing method of a sealed battery that suppresses cracking incident to welding using an energy beam, such as a laser beam, when a material such as an aluminum alloy is used for the external casing and the cover plate, with keeping the productivity as high as possible. In order to realize the object, a rib is formed on the cover plate, and the thickness of the external casing at the rim is made small, and the rib and the rim of the external casing are welded together in manufacturing the sealed battery. Then, the closure cap and the external casing are welded together using a laser the energy distribution of which has a flat part in manufacturing the sealed battery to realize the object. In addition, the closure cap and the external casing are welded together while the molten part is gradually cooled in manufacturing the sealed battery to realize the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Shinohara, Yasuaki Yamamoto, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6572533
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for treating congestive heart disease. The material of the device is secured to the heart proximate the septal wall. The material covering the ventricles may or may not have the same tension and or compliance. The device can be constructed as a unitary “jacket” that is slipped over the apex of the heart. Alternately, the device implanted as one, two or more separate components. In one embodiment, the material covers both the left and right ventricles. In another embodiment, the material covers only one ventricle. The device may include at least one adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the tension of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Edward Shapland, Clif Alferness, Donald Palme, Michael Girard, Donald Rohrbaugh
  • Patent number: 6574087
    Abstract: Electrode layers (1, 2) are arranged on both sides of a dielectric layer (3) facing each other so as to configure a capacitor. Lead electrodes (4, 5) are formed in the electrode layers (1, 2). A penetrating electrode (6) that is insulated from the electrode layers (1, 2) is formed. An electronic component (10) configured in this manner is mounted on a wiring board, and a semiconductor chip can be mounted thereon. Along with connecting the semiconductor chip to the wiring board via the penetrating electrode (6), the semiconductor chip or the wiring board is connected to the lead electrodes (4, 5). In this manner, while suppressing the size increase of a mounted area, the capacitor or the like can be arranged near the semiconductor chip. Thus, the semiconductor chip is driven with high frequency more easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Honda, Noriyasu Echigo, Masaru Odagiri, Takanori Sugimoto
  • Patent number: D475706
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: HannStar Display Corp.
    Inventor: Roger Lin
  • Patent number: D475720
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: S&S Cycle, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Lundgreen, Jeffery John Bailey, Brian C. Hanold, Nathan Lawrence Oium, Brian W. Perkins, Jason Harold Perkins, Scott A. Sjovall, Eric Orvis Wangen, Geoffery D. Ziegahn