Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Renner, Otto, Boiselle & Sklar LLP
  • Patent number: 6317971
    Abstract: A connection is provided between two dissimilar elements, such as an aluminum bus and a copper contact. Also provided is a method and apparatus for making the connection. One application is as an anode electrode hanger in an electric smelting furnace. The connection provides a lower resistance electrical connection which can be made while the power to the system is on. In a preferred form the contact is inserted and clamped in the bottom of a chamber in a refractory mold assembly. The chamber opening to the face of the mold assembly is somewhat deeper than the contact. The face of the mold assembly is clamped against the bus, and exothermic weld material is ignited to form a molten metal which drops into the chamber between the contact and bus. The weld metal forms a molecular weld bond with the bus, but only a mechanical interlock with the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Erico International Corporation
    Inventors: Louis J. Colarusso, Jeff Kadlowec, Ray Olle
  • Patent number: 6320119
    Abstract: Air terminals of two types having curved surface electrodes that act passively or dynamically to minimize or further reduce corona during the close approach of the down leader. In the first type, a fully grounded passive terminal, suitably located and comprising a conductive curved surface of a given radius on a grounded rod of given height, is located and suitably dimensioned in order to minimize corona discharges until the median field rises to a level sufficient to support streamer to leader conversion, as described below. In the second type, dynamic action is achieved by allowing the curved surface to float upwardly in voltage by use of capacitive coupling to the approaching leader. The raising of voltage being in the same polarity as the leader, acts to reduce the electric field immediately above, with consequent reduction in corona.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Erico International Corporation
    Inventor: John Richard Gumley
  • Patent number: 6318563
    Abstract: A fluid filter comprising a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a filter element defining an upstream surface communicating with the fluid inlet and a downstream cylindrical surface communicating with the fluid outlet, the filter element comprising a stack of filter disks defining a hollow volume interiorly thereof and a longitudinal axis, and backflushing means for removing filtered out sediment from the filter element comprising an axially displaceable backflushing nozzle assembly disposed within the hollow volume comprising a rotating head coupled to the fluid inlet and having fluid outlet means, arranged to provide a generally radially directed pressurized jet and rotational motion of the rotating head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Mordeki Drori
  • Patent number: 6313493
    Abstract: The semiconductor device of the invention includes a plurality of circuit blocks including a first circuit block and a second circuit block, a block parameter of the first circuit block being different from a block parameter of the second circuit block. In the semiconductor device, the first circuit block is formed on a first semiconductor chip, and the second circuit block is formed on a second semiconductor chip and is electrically connected with the first circuit block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiki Mori, Ichiro Nakao, Tsutomu Fujita, Reiji Segawa
  • Patent number: 6314068
    Abstract: An inclination detection apparatus is provided which includes an optical system for collecting a beam emitted by a light source onto an information memory medium. The inclination detection apparatus further includes a light detector for generating a detection signal in accordance with a light amount of the beam reflected by the information memory medium, the light detector including a first light receiving section and a second light receiving section. In addition, the inclination detection apparatus includes a signal processing section for processing the detection signal. The signal processing section generates an inclination detection signal based on a difference between a first sum signal and a second sum signal, the first sum signal being based on a sum of a first light receiving section signal and a second light receiving section signal, the second sum signal being based on a sum of a third light receiving section signal and a fourth light receiving section signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kousei Sano, Shin-ichi Kadowaki, Hiroaki Yamamoto, Ken'ichi Kasazumi, Seiji Nishino
  • Patent number: 6308565
    Abstract: Accurate simulation of sport to quantify and train performance constructs by employing sensing electronics for determining, in essentially real time, the player's three dimensional positional changes in three or more degrees of freedom (three dimensions); and computer controlled sport specific cuing that evokes or prompts sport specific responses from the player that are measured to provide meaningful indicia of performance. The sport specific cuing is characterized as a virtual opponent that is responsive to, and interactive with, the player in real time. The virtual opponent continually delivers and/or responds to stimuli to create realistic movement challenges for the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Impulse Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Barry J. French, Kevin R. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 6295687
    Abstract: An assembly of buff or brush wheels with or without spacers is stacked, compressed, and held together as an integrated unit to form an assembly of such wheels having a specified face width which then may be mounted as a unit on a machine arbor or drive shaft. The assembly is held together in such a manner that the ganged stack is yieldable and may be further compressed when assembled on the machine arbor. The assembly may also be slightly expanded to obtain a better fit on the machine. The wheel assembly in one form is held at the desired face width by adjustable ties extending through paired holes in core plates in the wheels. In another embodiment carriage bolts extending through the core plates form adjustable screw clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: Michael Glenn Dehart
  • Patent number: 6293001
    Abstract: A lamination ceramic chip inductor includes at least one pair of insulation layers; and at least one conductive pattern which is interposed between the at least one pair of insulation layers and forming a conductive coil. At least one conductive pattern includes a conductive pattern formed as a result of electroforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Uriu, Osamu Makino, Hironobu Chiba, Chisa Yokota
  • Patent number: 6259935
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical-acoustic transducing device includes: an electro-mechanical-acoustic transducer which has at least one resonance frequency, for converting an input electric signal into only vibration, or into both vibration and sound; a signal supplying unit for supplying a signal in a frequency band which includes at least one of the resonance frequencies of the electro-mechanical-acoustic transducer as the input signal of the electro-mechanical-acoustic transducer; and a frequency detector for detecting a signal component having a frequency corresponding to the mechanical resonance frequency of the electro-mechanical-acoustic transducer in an electric signal which is output from the electro-mechanical-acoustic transducer, and outputting the signal component as a part of an input signal to the signal supplying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Saiki, Kazue Sato, Sawako Usuki, Mitsukazu Kuze
  • Patent number: 6248396
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an asphalt composition containing asphalt, a terpenoid liquid, a rubber at least partially soluble in the asphalt composition and a flexible aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventor: Gary Helf
  • Patent number: 6215011
    Abstract: Silane compositions are described which comprise (A) a silane coupling agent; and (B) a tris(silylorgano)amine or alkane characterized by the formulae [(RO)3SiR1]3N  (I) or [(RO)3SiR1]3CR2  (II) wherein each R is independently an alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or cycloalkyl group of less than 20 carbon atoms; R1 is a divalent hydrocarbon or polyether group of less than 20 carbon atoms; and R2 is a functional group represented by CnH2nX wherein n is from 0 to 20 and X is selected from the group consisting of amino, amido, hydroxy, alkoxy, halo, mercapto, carboxy, acyl, vinyl, allyl, styryl, epoxy, isocyanato, glycidoxy, and acryloxy groups. The silane compositions of the present invention are adhesive compositions providing improved bonding of surfaces such as glass, metal and metal oxides to thermosetting resins. The silane compositions also exhibit improved moisture resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: McGean-Rohco, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig V. Bishop
  • Patent number: 6184084
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of forming a flash memory cell, involving the steps of forming a tunnel oxide on a substrate; forming a first polysilicon layer over the tunnel oxide; forming an insulating layer over the first polysilicon layer; forming a second polysilicon layer over the insulating layer by depositing an second polysilicon layer having a first thickness, and then using chemical mechanical polishing to form a second polysilicon layer having a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is at least about 25% less than the first thickness; forming a tungsten silicide layer over the second polysilicon layer by chemical vapor deposition using WF6 and SiH4; etching at least the first polysilicon layer, the second polysilicon layer, the insulating layer, and the tungsten silicide layer thereby defining at least one stacked gate structure; and forming a source region and a drain region in the substrate, thereby forming at least one memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: David Chi, Kent Kuohua Chang, Yuesong He
  • Patent number: 6179762
    Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a dunnage product includes a frame having an upstream end and a downstream end, conversion assemblies, mounted on the frame, which convert the sheet-like stock material into a continuous strip of a dunnage product, a feeding assembly, mounted on the frame, for feeding the stock material through the conversion assemblies, a cutting assembly, mounted on the frame downstream of the conversion assemblies, which cuts the continuous strip of dunnage into a section of a desired length, and a diagnostic device which monitors the operation of the machine, the diagnostic device including, a sensing device for sensing the mode of operation of the feeding assembly and the cutting assembly, a processing device which determines improper operation of the feeding assembly and the cutting assembly for the sensed mode of operation and generates signals in accordance with such improper operation, and a displaying device which displays codes correspo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: James Harding, Richard O. Ratzel
  • Patent number: 6177919
    Abstract: A segmented electrode drive circuit of a passive-matrix type liquid crystal display apparatus includes one analog switch in each of segmented electrodes, supplies “0” as a control signal in the first slot of a three-slot selecting period so as to make the electrical potential of a segmented electrode zero. “1” is supplied as a control signal in the second slot so as to bring the output terminal of an analog switch selected by the data signal into a high-impedance state. As a result, the electric potential of the segmented electrode in the high-impedance state becomes an average electric potential of scanning electrodes capacitive-coupled with the segmented electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventor: Takaji Numao
  • Patent number: 6178221
    Abstract: A reflective lithography mask (12) including a substrate (40); a reflective coating (42); a plurality of absorbing blocks (44) covering certain regions of the reflective coating (42) in a manner corresponding to a desired circuit pattern; and a plurality of buffer blocks (46) situated between the covered regions of the reflective coating and the absorbing blocks. The buffer blocks (46) are made of an electrically conducting material, such as carbon in graphite form; tin oxide (and materials based on this compound) and/or indium oxide (and materials based on this compound). Since the buffer material is electrically conducting, rather than insulating, the risk of electrostatic discharge damage is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Levinson, Khanh B. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6175400
    Abstract: A broadband cholesteric optical device such as a polarizer or a spectral filter includes a broadband cholesteric layer, for instance, of a graded pitch type such that the cholesteric pitch increases monotonically from one surface of the film to the other surface. In order to improve the off-axis performance, a compensator is provided in the form of a positive birefringence film whose optic axis is substantially perpendicular to the film. Another negative birefringence film whose optic axis is also perpendicular to the film may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Anderson James Duncan, Robert George Brown, Gillian Margaret Davis, Kathryn Walsh
  • Patent number: 6129620
    Abstract: Honing tools and methods of making such tools utilize a compact bundle of abrasive containing plastic monofilaments projection a relatively short distance from a holder with the compacted tips forming the working face of the tool. The bundle may be secured to the holder by a thin layer of adhesive or by a clinched or swaged girdling lip or rim on the holder which embraces the bundle. In addition, the bundle is further infused with an elastomer, preferably foamed. The bundle is enclosed in a mold which may be part of the clinching process and an elastomer is injected into the mold to infuse and encapsulate the bundle. The encapsulation fills the interstices of the bundle and form an integument around the bundle in effect making the tip action tool into a solid yet elastic block. This enables the abrasive monofilaments to have a higher abrasive loading since they are additionally supported by the matrix, and the tool to be applied at higher pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Jason Incorporated
    Inventors: Rueben Brown Warner, Joseph P. Gaser
  • Patent number: 6111338
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes: a piezoelectric vibrator including a piezoelectric element having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposed each other, a first and a second electrode formed on the first and the second principal surface, and conductive protrusions made of a metal material or a ceramic material and formed by a thermal spraying process; and a holding body for holding the piezoelectric vibrator via the conductive protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Otsuchi, Osamu Kawasaki, Hidenobu Shintaku, Shigeo Suzuki, Takahiro Nishikura, Katsumi Imada, Masanori Sumihara, Katsu Takeda, Takashi Nojima
  • Patent number: 6065731
    Abstract: The invention relates to a base bearing assembly, more particularly a device for bearing an upright object such as e.g. a work of art or a monument having a base and a pedestal arranged on the base, characterized in that the pedestal is borne by a film of liquid floatingly rotatable about a perpendicular axis on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Josef Kusser