Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Richard A. Tomlin
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Patent number: 6175499Abstract: The locking member of a ZIF socket, which is movable between a locked position, in which high contact forces are present between contact springs within the socket and pins extending from an electronic module into the socket, and an unlocked position, in which the pins are released from the contact springs, is held in the locked position by means of a portion of a clamping spring inserted into a gap between the locking member and a portion of the housing of the ZIF socket. The clamping spring also holds a heat sink in place on the electronic module.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2000Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Stuart Thomas Adams, William Vincent Cranston, III, Will Eugene Hamel, Jochem K. Koenig, John E. McCloskey
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Patent number: 6167753Abstract: A scanning probe microscope operates in the manner of an atomic force microscope during intermittent periods of scanning motion, in which a sample surface is driven so that a scan line on the surface is moved past a probe tip being vibrated in engagement with the surface. Between these intermittent periods of scanning motion, the vibrating probe tip is moved out of engagement with the sample surface, so that the amplitude and phase shift of probe tip vibrations are determined by the gradient of a force field extending outward from the sample surface. Such a force field is established when the probe tip is attracted by, or repelled from, a magnetic or electric field at or near the sample surface. For each sample point, the system stores data representing the height of the sample surface and the force field.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1999Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dong Chen, Edwin Flecha, James Michael Hammond, Kenneth Gilbert Roessler
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Patent number: 6169281Abstract: The probe tip of a scanning probe microscope is scanned either along an X- or Y-direction of the apparatus, or along a scan line forming an acute angle with both the X- and Y-directions. During scanning, an excitation vibration is applied in the Z-direction, perpendicular to the surface of the sample being scanned. In a first mode of operation, a dithering vibration is applied to the probe tip, along the scan line. In a second mode of operation, the probe tip is dithered in a circular motion, which is used to identify the direction in which a wall extends along the sample surface. Alternately, in a third mode of operation, the probe tip is dithered in X- and Y-directions at differing vibrational frequencies to identify this direction of a wall. When this direction is identified, the probe proceeds straight up or down the wall to obtain an accurate profile thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1998Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dong Chen, Edwin Flecha, James Michael Hammond, Yves Corfield Martin, Kenneth Gilbert Roessler
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Patent number: 6163090Abstract: A linear actuator includes a stationary stator and an external armature moving with a coil moving within a magnetic structure. A linear bearing including a stationary track fastened to the stator and a moving track fastened to the armature extends on each side of the magnetic structure. In each linear bearing, balls rotate between the stationary and moving tracks with movement of the armature. During the process of manufacturing the linear actuator, the moving track of each linear bearing is loosely mounted to the armature, a pre-load force is applied to the moving track using a tool fastened to the armature, and the moving track is clamped in place so that the pre-load force is subsequently maintained.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1999Date of Patent: December 19, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Edward Brown, Christian J. Bunker, Jiann-Chang Lo
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Patent number: 6163683Abstract: A presently disclosed radio broadcasting system for a virtual radio program broadcasting station uses a divided regional approach to broadcast digital and analog signals over a large geographic region divided into multiple overlapping but separate areas constituting small portions of the region. The small areas are served by separate transmission sources/towers supplied from a common source central to the station. The system supports reuse of allocated transmission parameters within non-neighboring small areas in the region. The station is "virtual" because its central source need not be in any of the small areas, and because it uses different transmission parameters in neighboring small areas in a manner that previously would be used by plural different stations. System transmissions include information signals sent in both analog and digital forms.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1999Date of Patent: December 19, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James M. Dunn, Peter S. Lee, Edith H. Stern, Barry E. Willner
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Patent number: 6149464Abstract: A port connector of a computing system is provided with a flexible electrical contact for determining the presence of the electrically grounded flange of a cable connector which may be attached to the port connector. Using this feature, the computing system can determine whether a peripheral device is attached to the port connector by means of a cable.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1999Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bradley James DeBauche, Paritosh Dinubhai Patel, Steve Harris Weingart
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Patent number: 6146150Abstract: A circuit card assembly includes a circuit card having a first type of connector extending along one of its longitudinal edges and a second type of circuit connector extending along its other longitudinal edge, so that the card assembly can be plugged into one type of computer bus or inverted and plugged into a second type of computer bus. Provisions are made for inverting a card bracket attached to an end of the card assembly, so that it is correct for both types of installations. In either case, the I/O connector(s) (if any) of the card assembly extend through the bracket for the connection of external cable(s).Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1998Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Norman King Roberts
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Patent number: 6138839Abstract: A card cage for holding expansion cards and filler panels within a computer system includes a ledge and a pivoted bar which is clamped in place adjacent to the ledge. A number of flexible portions of the pivoted bar clamp end portions of the filler panels and of brackets forming parts of the expansion cards against the ledge, so that these end portions are held in place while being electrically grounded. The bar is preferably pivoted about an axis extending parallel to the surface of the ledge and parallel to a slotted panel forming part of the card cage.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1998Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William V. Cranston, III, John Easton McCloskey, James John Tout, Jr., Frederick Charles Yentz
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Patent number: 6103990Abstract: Laser texturing apparatus includes an acousto-optical modulator which deflects a continuous laser beam into a first optical projection path to texture a first side of a disk or into a second optical projection path to texture a second side of the disk. The modulator causes lateral movement of the laser beam in a first direction as it is initially deflected into the first optical projection path and at the end of its deflection into this path. The modulator also caused lateral movement of the laser beam in a second direction as it is initially deflected into the second optical path and at the end of its deflection into this path. Each optical projection path is configured so that this lateral movement is in the direction of movement of the disk being textured at the spots at which it is textured.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1998Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Barenboim, Pieter J. M. Kerstens, Hee Kuwon Park, Leonard S. Sheiner, Andrew Ching Tam
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Patent number: 6093930Abstract: A scanning probe microscope having a probe attachment fixture, to which a probe assembly is removably attached during measurements, driven in an engagement direction, and a sample stage driven in scanning directions perpendicular to the engagement direction includes a buffer with a number of buffer stations within the sample stage. When the stage is driven so that one of the buffer stations is in alignment with the attachment fixture, and when the attachment fixture is driven in the engagement direction to be in proximity to the buffer station, the probe assembly is selectively transferred in either direction between the attachment fixture and the buffer station. In a preferred embodiment, probe assemblies are transferred on transfer pallets, and a stationary magazine is provided for storing these pallets, which are transferred in either direction between the magazine and the buffer.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1998Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: International Business Machnines CorporationInventors: James Edward Boyette, Jr., James Michael Hammond, Salvatore R. Riggio, Jr., Michael Servedio
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Patent number: 6091709Abstract: A packet router for a data packet transmission network, wherein routers offer priority services of the type required for isochronous handling of data representing real-time voice, includes a Quality of Service (QoS) management system for ensuring that guarantees associated with such priority service can be met with a high degree of certainty. This management system provides prioritized queues including a highest priority queue supporting reservations for the priority service suited to isochronous handling. The highest priority queue and other queues are closely monitored by a QoS manager element for states of near congestion and critical congestion. While neither state exists, filler packet flows are promoted from lower priority queues to the highest priority queue, in order to keep the latter queue optimally utilized. If all lower priority queues are empty at such times, dummy packets are inserted as filler flows.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1997Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Colin George Harrison, Edith Helen Stern, Barry Edward Willner
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Patent number: 6079254Abstract: The vibrating probe of a scanning force microscope is brought into engagement with a sample surface in an initial approach process moving the probe toward the sample surface until the amplitude of probe vibration at an excitation frequency is measurably affected by forces between the tip and the sample, and then in a final approach process in which a change in vibration amplitude caused by a dithering vibration superimposed on the excitation vibration exceeds a pre-determined threshold limit. The excitation frequency is reduced if the phase angle of vibrations exceeds another limit, and the amplitude of the excitation driving function is increased as the amplitude or tip vibration falls below a setpoint. During approach and scanning, vibration amplitude is measured through a demodulator having an intermediate reference signal locked in phase with the tip motion signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1998Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dong Chen, Edwin Flecha, James Michael Hammond, Kenneth Gilbert Roessler
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Patent number: 6078807Abstract: A system/method is disclosed for screening telephone system callers, using speaker-dependent text-independent voice recognition, to either prevent excessive fraudulent use of certain telephone system lines (or radio channels) or to selectively restrict classes of service allowed for different users of a common line. The voice recognition process is configured to provide an extent of mismatch indication, between a voice sample taken from a caller immediately using the protected line (or channel) and a recorded reference voice sample, which indication corresponds to the probability that the instant caller is not the same as the person who provided the reference sample. The extent of mismatch indication is compared to a mismatch limit value which can be set to a different magnitude for each call. Different actions are taken depending upon whether the extent of mismatch indication is or is not larger than the limit value.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1997Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James Michael Dunn, Alan George Ganek, Edith Helen Stern, Barry Edward Willner
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Patent number: 6073103Abstract: A record playback system includes a display showing elapsed time of a record playback operation together with symbols indicating occurrences of certain sequences of sound during the playback operation, the symbols positioned to indicate times at which respective sequences of sounds occur. In a preferred application, the records reproduced in the system are audible voice-mail messages, the specific sequences of sounds are numbers or sets of numbers spoken consecutively during the message, and the symbols representing such numbers are printed characters corresponding to respective numbers. In the preferred application, the messages are centrally recorded at a server of a computer network and distributed to individual client computers via the network.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1996Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James M. Dunn, Edith Helen Stern
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Patent number: 6065131Abstract: The processing speed of a digital signal processor or system processor is controlled in accordance with the functions required in a task to be performed by the device, with these functions being compared to a table of maximum processing speeds at which various functions can be performed reliably by the device. This method is applied to a number of digital signal processors on a communications adapter, with a core kernel of each of these digital signal processors being driven at a processing speed controlled in this way, while peripheral functions of all these digital signal processors are performed according to a clock signal synchronized with data being received from a network transmission line.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1997Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Lawrence P. Andrews, Richard C. Beckman, Joseph C. Petty, Jr., John C. Sinibaldi
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Patent number: 6061797Abstract: A firewall isolates computer and network resources inside the firewall from networks, computers and computer applications outside the firewall. Typically, the inside resources could be privately owned databases and local area networks (LAN's), and outside objects could include individuals and computer applications operating through public communication networks such as the Internet. Usually, a firewall allows for an inside user or object to originate connection to an outside object or network, but does not allow for connections to be generated in the reverse direction; i.e. from outside in. The disclosed invention provides a special "tunneling" mechanism, operating on both sides of a firewall, for establishing such "outside in" connections when they are requested by certain "trusted" individuals or objects or applications outside the firewall.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1998Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Prashanth Jade, Victor Stuart Moore, Arun Mohan Rao, Glen Robert Walters
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Patent number: 6058169Abstract: A newly defined facsimile (fax) handling service, to be performed by carriers in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) on calls originating from standard analog fax sending equipment, includes: a) intercepting and recording direct dialed digits, representing final destinations of such calls, at PSTN switching nodes in areas local to respective call origins; b) returning acknowledgements from these nodes to respective callers in the form of fax tones corresponding to those usually returned by standard analog fax receiving equipment; c) locally intercepting and recording signals representing the fax image information intended for delivery to the called destinations; d) returning a completion signal indication to the originating equipment; and e) offline to the originating equipment, managing the delivery of the recorded image information to the final destinations represented by the recorded call digits.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1997Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Arnold H. Bramnick, James M. Dunn
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Patent number: 6049449Abstract: A computer includes a main enclosure for housing a plurality of computer components. A subenclosure or card cage for housing a planar circuit board, including a CPU means, and at least one accessory board may be removably secured within the main enclosure, wherein the subenclosure, planar circuit board, and accessory circuit board may be selectively removed from the main enclosure as a unit. A connection means is provided to releasably electrically connect at least the planar circuit board to one of the computer components housed within the main enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1997Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William Vincent Cranston, III, Robert Allen Hood, Frederick Charles Yentz, Jose Platon Basco
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Patent number: 6034524Abstract: A test system for applying electrical tests to circuits on flexible substrates includes a first transport system moving frames, each of which is configured for holding a single such flexible substrate, a loading station in which the substrates are individually loaded onto the frames, a testing station in which the electrical tests are applied, and an unloading station in which the substrates are removed from the frames. Within the testing station, each frame is disengaged from the first transport system and fastened to a second transport system, which moves the frame in a pattern causing a number of segments of the substrate within the frame to be placed between probe arrays adjacent each of the opposite sides of the substrate. These arrays are each aligned with visual markings on the adjacent side of the substrate, and the arrays are then moved into engagement with the substrate for the testing process.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1997Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Wayne Albert Barringer, James Edward Boyette, Jr., Guenter Schaefer
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Patent number: 6028917Abstract: The present invention affords a predefined class of authorized users of the PSTN (public switched telephone network) access to extended telephone services through public communication networks external to the PSTN, the latter networks including the web and Internet. Authorized users in the predefined class can receive the extended services at residences, offices, and locations remote from both residences and offices. Authorized users can activate respective extended services through the external networks, and can do so without having to communicate with telephone company representatives. Resource management intelligence of the PSTN is adapted to link to the external networks for communicating with and delivering extended telephone services to the authorized users. Extended telephone services include variations of presently standard telephone services such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding facsimile image transmittal, voice mail, etc.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1997Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas Edward Creamer, Zygmunt Anthony Boleslaw Gerard Lozinski, Baiju Dhirajlal Mandalia, Pradeep Parsram Mansey