Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
  • Patent number: 7699304
    Abstract: A paper feed cassette incorporates a storage portion for standard-sized paper and a storage portion for small-sized paper that has an area smaller than the standard-sized paper, further includes paper conveyance paths for guiding the standard-sized paper and small-sized paper from the respective storage portions to an image forming portion, and these paper conveyance paths share a common vertical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takateru Yamamoto, Nobuya Kishi
  • Patent number: 7701826
    Abstract: An optical information read/write apparatus according to the present invention includes: a light source 1 that emits a laser beam to access an information storage medium optically; a laser driver 51a for supplying drive current to a semiconductor laser as the light source 1; an RE superimposed current generator 51c for adding RE superimposed current to the drive current; a temperature sensor 35 for detecting a temperature around the light source 1; and a control section for switching the values of the RE superimposed current according to the temperature detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yajima, Akihiro Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 7698574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply device and a communication system. The power supply device supplies power to a main device. The communication system is provided with the main device mounting the power supply device therein and an external device connected to the main device. A feature of the invention is to offer a power supply device and a communication system that are capable of being responsive to external signals for returning to a normal operation mode with minimum power consumption in a power-saving operation mode. In the power saving operation mode, a main power supply circuit (60) is turned off and only an auxiliary power supply circuit (50) is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Morimoto, Yoshio Nishimoto, Kazuya Iwabayashi, Yoshifumi Maitani, Yusuke Nagano
  • Patent number: 7696899
    Abstract: A marker navigation device for determining and/or tracking a location of a marker device is provided. The marker device is attachable to an object, said marker device including a plurality of markers having known dimensions and being in a known positional relationship relative to each other. The marker navigation device includes: a detection device operative to detect signals emitted by or reflected from the plurality of markers, wherein the detection device is formed such that in first locations of the detection device relative to the marker device, detection of signals from one marker of the plurality of markers is restricted or impossible due to a location of another marker of the plurality of markers. In second locations of the detection device relative to the marker device, the plurality of markers are detectable by the detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Martin Immerz, Gregor Tuma
  • Patent number: 7697400
    Abstract: An optical pickup according to the present invention includes an integrated circuit element (LDD) 5 for driving first, second, and third semiconductor lasers 3, 4, and 5. The LDD 50 is shaped so as to have a rectangular principal face surrounded by one side, with a plurality of input/output pins being arranged along each side. The plurality of input/output pins include a first pin group connected to a blue-violet laser 5 whose oscillation wavelength is the shortest, a second pin group connected to a red laser 4, and a third pin group connected to an infrared laser 3. The wiring structure of the optical pickup includes a first transmission line 41 for connecting the first pin group to the blue-violet laser 5, a second transmission line 33 for connecting the second pin group to the red laser 4, and a third transmission line 31 for connecting the third pin group to the infrared laser 3, where the first transmission line 41 is shorter than both the second and third transmission lines 31 and 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Senga, Tomotada Kamei, Kenzo Ishibashi, Hideki Hayashi, Yohichi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7696749
    Abstract: The resonator-based magnetic field sensor system has an oscillatory member as resonator, means for driving an electrical current through said resonator such that its resonance frequency is altered by an external magnetic field to be measured (measurand), and means for detecting or measuring said altered resonance frequency. A secondary excitation of the resonator is effected to determine the said altered resonance frequency from which the measurand can be deduced. In the preferred embodiment, the secondary excitation is included in a closed loop, thus creating an oscillator vibrating at the altered resonance frequency. Though it is known to use the oscillation amplitude of a suitable resonator for this purpose, the novel sensor system identifies and/or measures the frequency (not the amplitude) of the oscillation, which is a function of the magnetic field to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sensirion Holding AG
    Inventors: Robert Sunier, Oliver Brand, Tobias A. Vancura
  • Patent number: 7697854
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which is capable of forming higher-quality images by detecting a toner concentration with higher accuracy to attain appropriate toner supply and image density. A value obtained by adding a correction value based on a temperature, humidity, a print coverage, or the like to a developer concentration adjustment value is set as a control voltage value Vc which is to be inputted to a toner concentration sensor, and an output value of the toner concentration sensor is detected for each of process speeds. A difference between the output value detected and a value at reference process speed is calculated and based on the difference, a correction value is further calculated. Such another calculation of the correction value with use of the output value detected allows for highly accurate correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoyuki Itoyama, Syouichi Fujita, Mitsuhiro Murata
  • Patent number: 7694578
    Abstract: A method of evaluating material properties of polymeric materials includes making one or more material samples or slabs, with each of the samples or slabs having a pair of material layers in contact with one another. The layers are layers of organic matrix polymer material that have different characteristics from each other, for example having a difference in composition and/or cure characteristics. Characteristics of the test slabs and the interface between the layers can be determined by examining curvatures of the test slabs. A number of samples may be made up having the same material in a first layer, and range of different materials in the respective second layers. The range may cover a range of various material compositions and/or cure characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: David B. Hatfield, Terry M. Sanderson, Renee M. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 7697818
    Abstract: A data processor includes: a dummy packet processing section, which makes a plurality of dummy packets, each having a dummy identifier, and generates a playback stream including the dummy packets at predetermined intervals; a detecting section for detecting any of the dummy identifiers by scanning the identifiers of the respective packets of the playback stream and then outputting a first detection signal upon detecting a first code, which specifies a data location of a first portion of a given content, and a second detection signal upon detecting a second code, which specifies a data location of a second portion thereof, respectively; a switch, which receives the playback stream and which selectively passes the content data representing the first portion of the content in accordance with the first and second detection signals; and a decoding section for playing back the first portion of the content based on the output of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiya Noritake
  • Patent number: 7698302
    Abstract: A method of recommending new media to a user based on various information stored and/or collected by, for example, a mobile phone is provided. More particularly, the invention provides a method of recommending new media based on information such as, for example, the content of sent and received text messages, previously viewed sound and/or video clips, location, content of emails, environmental information such as temperature or pressure, etc. Accordingly, the invention facilitates the use of information generated by a user during use of a mobile phone for recommending media to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Heino Wendelrup
  • Patent number: 7697917
    Abstract: A method of operating electronic equipment, wherein said electronic equipment utilizes a wireless signal to communicate, includes determining if the electronic equipment is operated within a moving vehicle based on a characteristic of the wireless signal and inhibiting operation of the electronic equipment if the electronic equipment is in a moving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: William O. Camp, Jr., L. Scott Bloebaum
  • Patent number: 7691465
    Abstract: Drop cloth systems include drop cloths having edge supports extending along two opposite edges of the drop cloths for preventing folding of the opposite edges along which the edge supports extend. Extending between the edge supports is at least one spring strip having the property of being substantially straight when unwound to maintain the drop cloths substantially spread out on the surface area to be protected. Also the spring strips have the property of being windable to permit the drop cloths to be rolled up from one of the opposite edges along which the edge supports extend for easy storage and transportation when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: The Wooster Brush Company
    Inventors: Richard K. Bukovitz, John L. Scott, Sr., Michael L. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 7690650
    Abstract: A sheet transporting device including: a sheet feeding section that feeds sheets to a transporting path; a pair of upstream transporting rollers and a pair of downstream transporting rollers arranged with a predetermined space; a double feed detecting section that detects a length of a double feed portion; a determining section that determines whether the length of the double feed portion is shorter than the predetermined space or not; and a transport control section that controls the drives of the upstream transporting rollers and the downstream transporting rollers, wherein the transport control section controls speeds of the upstream transporting rollers and the downstream transporting rollers so as to separate the delaying sheet from the preceding sheet of the overlapped sheets, in a case where the determining section determines that the length of the double feed portion is shorter than the predetermined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Itoh, Satoshi Murakami, Kazumasa Tonami
  • Patent number: 7692875
    Abstract: An optical pickup according to the present invention includes a plurality of light sources for emitting a plurality of light beams including first and second light beams of respectively different wavelengths, an objective lens for converging the plurality of light beams, and a grating structure shaped axisymmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the objective lens. Pth-order diffracted light (where p is a non-zero integer) which is formed from the first light beam (e.g. blue) by the grating structure is converged on an information layer of an optical disk (e.g. a BD) corresponding to the first light beam, owing to the converging actions of the objective lens and grating structure. Moreover, qth-order diffracted light (where q is a non-zero integer such that q?p) which is formed from the second light beam (e.g. red or infrared) by the grating structure is converged on an information layer of an optical disk (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Nishiwaki, Kazuo Momoo
  • Patent number: 7686493
    Abstract: A display comprises a light source and an image display panel disposed in an optical path from the light source. The light source comprises a primary light source for illuminating a re-emission material which comprises at least a first nanophosphor material for, when illuminated by light from the primary light source, re-emitting light in a first wavelength range different from the emission wavelength range of the primary light source. The image display panel comprises a first filter having a first narrow passband or a first narrow absorption band, the first narrow passband or first narrow absorption band being aligned or substantially aligned with the first wavelength range. The combination of a narrow wavelength range emitted by the first nanophosphor material and the narrow passband or narrow absorption band of the filter allows a display with high efficiency and a high NTSC ratio to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rakesh Roshan, Peter Neil Taylor, David James Montgomery
  • Patent number: 7685901
    Abstract: A device for movable support for an input/output unit, especially a flat screen, which is electromotively pivotable from a lying non-use position into an upright position of use and vice versa and which in the non-use position is covered by a cover. The movement of the cover is coupled with the movement of the input/output unit by means of a cam plate as coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: fischer automotive systems GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Leopold, Armin Stern
  • Patent number: D613715
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Elliott Hsu
  • Patent number: D613722
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Naoe Kaneta
  • Patent number: D613901
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Beta-Calco Inc.
    Inventor: Remy Silver
  • Patent number: RE41246
    Abstract: An information recording medium is provided, which comprises a plurality of recording layers and a first disc information area for storing parameters relating to access to the plurality of recording layers and formats relating to the plurality of recording layer. The first disc information area is provided in a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Shoji, Takashi Ishida, Motoshi Ito, Hiroshi Ueda, Yoshikazu Yamamoto, Atsushi Nakamura