Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Ralph F. Hoppin
  • Patent number: 6018935
    Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing tablets in a gelatin layer includes a pair of die assemblies with each assembly including a rotatable, cylindrical die support and a series of die blocks mounted on this support for movement along a circular path. Each block has recesses formed in a top surface thereof and each recess of one assembly cooperates with a similar recess in the other assembly to form a cavity at a nip formed by the two assemblies. Each cavity is dimensioned to receive loosely therein one of the tablets. Two casting drums deliver gelatin strips to the die assemblies and each strip is pulled by one assembly into the nip. A time tablet dispensing mechanism is used to dispense tablets onto one of the strips at a feeding location. The preferred die blocks are made of hard plastics material. The tablet dispensing mechanism employs vacuum applying members operatively connected to a vacuum source and air cylinder transfer mechanisms for moving these members from a tablet pick-up position to the feeding location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Aldo Perrone
  • Patent number: 6018764
    Abstract: Web pages and other Internet information resources are retrieved from a one-way broadcast signal such as a broadcast television signal. A user selects from a range of available information, including hypertext markup language (HTML) pages, which is carried in the broadcast stream by invoking a command which is defined according to a uniform resource locator (URL) format. Table mapping data is carried in the broadcast signal and provides a broadcast address corresponding to the URL of the user request signal for use in identifying a location in the broadcast signal from which the desired information can be retrieved. The broadcast address may provide information regarding a frequency, packet identifier, satellite, transponder, cryptographic scheme, modulation scheme, data rate, error correction scheme, page number or other relevant criteria associated with the broadcast signal which must be known to retrieve the requested information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Field, Mark K. Eyer
  • Patent number: 6012742
    Abstract: In order to improve a piping comprising at least one pipe and reinforcement on the outer wall of each pipe in such a way as to increase the maximum permissible internal operating pressure, it is proposed that the reinforcement should be capable of expansion along the length of the pipe and capable of contracting radially in such a way that a bias pressure can be applied to the pipe around its circumference by the longitudinal expansion of the reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt Fuer Luft -und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Kocian, Richard Kochendoerfer
  • Patent number: 6013130
    Abstract: Layers of compound semiconductor 60 are grown epitaxially on a substrate 40. One or more components 24 are removed from a target 14 by a supply of energy 18, and reacted with gas surrounding the target. The gas stream conveys the components through a nozzle 34 to achieve a uniform layer on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt Fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Ralph Dieter, Hans Opower, Heinrich Weyer
  • Patent number: 6012214
    Abstract: In order to improve a folding machine for joining the edges of two sheet-metal parts forming an angle between them by means of a folding procedure, comprising a machine frame, a folding carriage movable on the machine frame by a drive in a guide means extending along a folding direction, this carriage having at least one pair of folding rollers for folding the edges of the sheet-metal parts, and holding devices arranged on the machine frame for fixing the sheet-metal parts in position during the folding procedure, such that large, in particular, long sheet-metal parts can be handled in a simple manner on this machine and are easy to insert into it, it is suggested that the guide means be movable in an essentially vertical direction, and that the folding machine have support surfaces arranged on a supporting plane extending at right angles to the folding direction, the sheet-metal parts being placeable on these support surfaces with edges which extend transversely to the edges resulting in the fold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Reinhardt Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kutschker, Erwin Pesold, Adolf Mayer, Wolfhart Rodestock
  • Patent number: 6013893
    Abstract: In order to provide a plasma burner comprising a fluid-cooled anode and a cathode, wherein an arc can be produced between the cathode and the anode in a combustion chamber and a burner gas can be passed through the combustion chamber to form the plasma, in such a way that it can be produced cost-effectively and used universally, it is proposed that the plasma burner should have coolant passages for applying coolant to the anode, the coolant passages being arranged and constructed so that they can be made by machining and are free from soldered joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventor: Gottfried Schneider
  • Patent number: 6010585
    Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for a woody strand cement board, in which a woody group material and cement are combined to form a construction material. The construction material is fire resistant and has a strength comparable to a lumbered raw wood product. The apparatus includes means for finely splitting a fibrous woody material such as wood, bamboo, and reed in a direction parallel to the fiber of the material to obtain pieces of finely split material; a molding frame; and feeders, such as a forming conveyor and swing conveyor, for feeding the pieces to the molding frame to form first and second layers. Mortar is poured on the first and second layers, and pressure is applied to mold and solidify the layers to a semi-hardened state. Two feeders may provide the first and second layers in cross-wise directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: The Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Fujii, Atsushi Miyatake
  • Patent number: 6006917
    Abstract: In a packaging unit for articles to be packed in a sterile condition, in order to reduce the risk of damage and, at the same time, to decrease the material requirement, it is proposed that it comprise an inner bag sealed in a gastight manner which surrounds the article to be packed and encloses the article in a tight manner due to evacuation, a closed outer bag which receives the inner bag, and a shape-retaining frame which holds the outer bag immovably and is insertable into a shape-retaining storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Aesculap AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Burkhard Loeffler
  • Patent number: 6008895
    Abstract: In order to provide a measuring device for determining stoichiometric ratios when burning hydrocarbons by means of which stoichiometric ratios can be determined easily and reliably when burning hydrocarbons, it is proposed that a sensor be provided to detect an intensity of a first fluorescent radiation from C--H molecular fragments arising during the burning and a sensor be provided to detect an intensity of a second fluorescent radiation from molecular fragments arising during the burning and comprising only C atoms, that the sensors generate an intensity-dependent first and second sensor signal, respectively, on the basis of the first and the second fluorescent radiation, and that an evaluation circuit be provided which generates an output signal corresponding to a stoichiometric ratio from a ratio between the intensities of the first and the second fluorescent radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum Fuer Luft -und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Claus Wahl, Juergen Steinwandel
  • Patent number: 6005980
    Abstract: A motion estimation and compensation technique is provided for interlaced digital video such as video object planes (VOPs). Predictor motion vectors for use in differentially encoding a current field coded macroblock are obtained using the median of motion vectors of surrounding blocks or macroblocks. When a surrounding macroblock is itself interlaced coded, an average motion vector for that macroblock is used, with fractional pixel values being mapped to the half-pixel. When the current block is not interlaced coded but a surrounding block is, the field motion vectors may be used individually or averaged. In a repetitive padding technique for an interlaced coded VOP, the even and odd lines of the VOP and surrounding block are grouped. Within each field, exterior pixels are padded by setting them to the value of the nearest boundary pixel, or to an average of two boundary pixels. The lines are then reordered to provide a single padded reference VOP image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Robert O. Eifrig, Xuemin Chen, Ajay Luthra
  • Patent number: 6000709
    Abstract: A trailer coupling for motor vehicles, in particular passenger vehicles, has a coupling ball and a ball neck. One end region of the neck is angled and bears the coupling ball. Using a drive motor, the ball neck is movable with the coupling ball from an operative position into a rest position, and vice versa. To operate as safely as possible, a control (e.g., interlock) is provided for operating the drive to allow either movement of the ball neck, or traveling of the motor vehicle, but not both at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Oris Fahrzeuteile Hans Riehle GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gentner, Emmerich Kleb, Joerg Riehle, Hans Riehle
  • Patent number: 6002466
    Abstract: A lithography exposure device allows more effective production of small structures within a short time by lithography. The device includes a retainer for a substrate, an exposure unit for producing a light spot on the light-sensitive layer of the substrate, a motion unit for producing apparent motion between the exposure unit and the retainer, and a control unit for controlling the intensity and position of the light spot on the light-sensitive layer. The exposure unit has several solid-state lasers, and a focusing unit that guides the laser beam of each solid-state laser to a light spot of a defined light spot pattern. The entire light spot pattern and the retainer are displaceable relative to each other in an exposure motional direction. Moreover, the light spots of the light spot pattern which correspond to the form of the partial areas to be exposed can be activated or deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignees: Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft -und Raumfahrt e.V., Institutfuer Mikroelektronik Stuttgart
    Inventors: Uwe Brauch, Hans Opower, Bernd Hoefflinger, Reinhard Springer
  • Patent number: 6000305
    Abstract: In order to improve a multiple-spindle turning machine comprising a machine frame, a spindle drum arranged to rotate relative to the machine frame around a drum axis having a number of work piece spindles movable in the direction of rotation, said work piece spindles being respectively provided with a work piece receiving means for a work piece, and a number of stations, comprising at least one machining station, arranged consecutively on the machine frame in the direction of rotation of the work pieces corresponding to the number of work piece spindles, in such a way that the number of tools which may be used can be increased at low expense, it is proposed that for machining the work pieces, the at least one machining station has a first and a second spindle position, which are arranged at an angular distance from one another relative to the drum axis; that the spindle drum is rotatable in such a manner that a work piece spindle with a work piece may be positioned in each of the spindle positions; and that e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Index-Werke GmbH & Co. KG Hahn & Tessky
    Inventor: Helmut Friedrich Link
  • Patent number: 5996394
    Abstract: In order to provide a gas meter calibration device for hydrogen-oxygen mixtures which comprises a connection for a gas meter such that it enables a gas meter for hydrogen-oxygen mixtures to be accurately calibrated, it is proposed that a hydrogen-oxygen mixture can be produced in a mixing zone with oxygen from an oxygen gas store and hydrogen from a hydrogen gas store, and that the composition of the hydrogen-oxygen mixture can be adjusted by means of at least one mass flow regulator, with a control system checking and ensuring that the foreign gas concentration of hydrogen or oxygen in the mixture lies below the lower explosion limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.
    Inventors: Volker Peinecke, Paul Mohr
  • Patent number: 5998757
    Abstract: To improve a plasma torch system comprising a high-frequency plasma torch with a plasma torch device for generating therein a plasma flame by supplying high-frequency power, and a processing chamber for positioning therein workpieces which are to be processed by means of the plasma flame, so that it is universally usable, it is proposed that the plasma torch system comprise a height adjustment device for adjustment of a vertical distance between the plasma torch device of the high-frequency plasma torch and a workpiece which is to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum Fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventor: Gottfried Schneider
  • Patent number: 5996889
    Abstract: In order to create a process and a device for the monitoring and control of the flow of material in a hospital it is provided for the units generating the flow of material to each be provided with their own individual identification, for this individual identification to be read at various transit stations in the hospital, the read data of the individual identification and the transit stations to be fed to a central monitoring and control unit, stored and/or processed in it and for monitoring signals or control signals controlling the flow of material to be generated as a function of the stored and/or processed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Aesculap AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fuchs, Klaus Hebestreit, Hanns-Peter Tummler
  • Patent number: 5993549
    Abstract: In order to improve a powder coating arrangement for the application of melted coating powder onto a substrate, comprising a preparation unit for generating a flow of coating powder, a powder applicator head, from which the flow of coating powder issues and spreads in the form of a directed jet of powder towards the substrate, a melting zone, through which the flow of coating powder passes in a direction of passage, and an optical beam guidance system, which directs a laser beam generated by a laser onto the melting zone to melt the coating powder, such that the coating powder may be essentially completely melted before impact on the substrate, it is proposed that the melting zone is arranged in the powder applicator head, and that the optical beam guidance system is equipped with several elements for reflecting the laser beam, which permit the laser beam to pass several times through at least one heating zone for the flow of coating powder in the region of the melting zone transversely to the direction of pa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Helmut Kindler, Martin Huonker
  • Patent number: 5991447
    Abstract: A system for coding of digital video images such as bi-directionally predicted video object planes (B-VOPs), in particular, where the B-VOP and/or a reference image used to code the B-VOP is interlaced coded. For a B-VOP macroblock which is co-sited with a field predicted macroblock of a future anchor picture, direct mode prediction is made by calculating four field motion vectors, then generating the prediction macroblock. The four field motion vectors and their reference fields are determined from (1) an offset term of the current macroblock's coding vector, (2) the two future anchor picture field motion vectors, (3) the reference field used by the two field motion vectors of the co-sited future anchor macroblock, and (4) the temporal spacing, in field periods, between the current B-VOP fields and the anchor fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Robert O. Eifrig, Xuemin Chen, Ajay Luthra
  • Patent number: 5987518
    Abstract: Computer data provided according to a first data protocol, such as the Internet protocol, is communicated over a digital television broadcast network using a second data protocol such as MPEG2. The computer data in the first data protocol is encapsulated in at least one data stream for distribution in conformance with the second data protocol. The at least one data stream encapsulating the computer data is multiplexed with a plurality of data streams conforming to the second data protocol for transmission over the network, which may be a cable or satellite television network. The data stream encapsulating the computer data is received from the network according to the second data protocol, and processed in accordance with the second data protocol to recover the computer data in the first data protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick L. Gotwald
  • Patent number: 5980556
    Abstract: In order to allow a particularly small construction of a scissors-like tool for a surgical instrument with two interconnected arms which are pivotable elastically between a spread open position and a virtually closed position by engagement of a sleeve over the outside to a greater or lesser extent, this sleeve being axially displaceable relative to and engaging around the scissors-like tool, it is suggested that for forming the arms a rod consisting of elastic material have a diametric, front recess starting from its free end and followed by an additional, diametric, rear recess which is turned through 90.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Aesculap AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Nicola Giordano, Theodor Lutze, Dieter Weisshaupt, Paul Wieneke