Patents Represented by Attorney Ross F. Hunt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6799499
    Abstract: An apparatus to neutralize landmines using high power microwaves has a blast hardened dish antenna mounted on a vehicle along with a microwave generator and power generator A waveguide from the microwave generator feeds microwaves to a feed horn for the antenna. Plugs that are transparent to microwaves are located in the waveguide to prevent the blast wave generated by a detonated landmine from propagating inside of the waveguide and damaging the microwave generator. Flexible sections in the waveguide dampen any shock wave produced by a detonated mine from traveling along the waveguide towards the microwave generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence
    Inventors: Joseph S. Seregelyi, Denis M. Bergeron, Satish Kashyap
  • Patent number: 6801167
    Abstract: A dielectric antenna includes a plate-shaped dielectric substrate, a radiation electrode provided on a first main surface of the dielectric substrate so as to cover the first main surface except for a peripheral portion thereof, and a ground electrode formed on the entirety of a second main surface of the dielectric substrate. A feed electrode extends through the dielectric substrate from the first main surface to the second main surface. A feed point of the feed electrode is electrically connected to the radiation electrode. A plurality of through-hole electrodes providing an electrical shield are formed in a peripheral portion of the dielectric substrate so as to surround the radiation electrode, the through-hole electrodes being connected to the ground electrode. Alternatively, instead of the through-hole electrodes, the dielectric antenna may include a shield electrode formed on a side surface of the dielectric substrate and connected to the ground electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Shibata
  • Patent number: 6798316
    Abstract: A dielectric duplexer device is provided with an output terminal pad formed on a side surface of a dielectric block in the vicinity of an open end associated with a plurality of resonators of a reception section in such a manner as to face the resonators. An extension electrode extends from the output terminal pad onto an end face of the dielectric block where the open end is present, to thereby be capacitively coupled with the resonators. The coupling capacitance can be readily corrected by adjusting the position of the end of the extension electrode. In one specific form, when the dielectric duplexer is mounted, the extension electrode is exposed and is also joined to a predetermined conductive path by means of solder. Accordingly, the output terminal pad is soldered at the bottom and side surfaces thereof to thereby be fillet-soldered, thereby providing visibility of electrical and mechanical connections thereof to the predetermined conductive path and thus enhancing the reliability of the mounted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug.Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Ono, Hidefumi Suzuki, Yukihiro Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6791435
    Abstract: A multilayer LC filter includes two LC resonance circuits (21 and 22) in a two-stage circuit configuration. First and second resonator inductors (L21 and L22) formed by two strip-like electrical paths (14 and 15) extend laterally in parallel and are patterned on the same inductor layer (c). A strip-shaped shielding or ground path (35) is formed between, and in parallel with, the two strip-shaped electrical paths (14 and 15) such that the electrical paths are in the shape of a fork on the inductor layer c. The magnetic coupling between the resonator inductors (L21 and L22) is thus weakened and, even when pattern dislocations occur during the patterning of the paths, there is substantially no variation in the magnetic coupling characteristics of multilayer LC filters of this construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Shingaki, Junichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 6791240
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer particularly useful in medical imaging includes a transducer comprising a transducer body having a major front surface for radiating ultrasonic energy to a propagation medium responsive to mechanical vibration of the transducer. The transducer includes a piezoelectric member having a curved shape including a curved front surface. The curved shape is produced by deforming a planar piezoelectric composite member to produce the desired curvature and returning the curvature using suction forces. A graded frequency region is created by grinding the curved front surface of the piezoelectric element along a grinding plane. This region is defined by the area of intersection of the grinding plane and the front surface of the curved piezoelectric member and in different implementations, covers all or less than all of the total front surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Vermon
    Inventors: Pascal Mauchamp, Philippe Auclair, Aimé Flesch
  • Patent number: 6787106
    Abstract: An analysis device, preferably in the form of a floating buoy, is disclosed for the analysis of fluids, such as waste water. The device has a main body portion and a removable cartridge containing consumable ingredients for use in analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Automation Limited
    Inventors: Sean Crispian Keeping, Dieter Binz, Albrecht Vogel
  • Patent number: 6788243
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying modern radar systems. A finite state automaton comprising a finite set of states and a set of transitions from state to state that occur in dependence upon an input signal is provided for modeling the radar system. The finite state automaton produces a sequence of output symbols from an output alphabet in dependence upon the state transitions such that the sequence of output symbols corresponds to a received electromagnetic signal emitted from the radar system. The finite state automaton is then transformed into a hidden Markov model such that a sequence of observation symbols produced from an observation alphabet by the hidden Markov model is equal to the sequence of output symbols. The method provides powerful tools for solving electronic warfare problems such the classification problem, the decoding problem, the prediction problem and the training problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Minister of National Defence of Her Majestry's Canadian Government The Secretary of State for Defence
    Inventor: Pierre Lavoie
  • Patent number: 6783100
    Abstract: A support for electrical conductors, optical fibers, gas tubes, etc., having an elongated base, portions at each end of the base extending towards the front of the support, each end portion containing an aperture oriented perpendicular to the length of that base and lying parallel to the base. The support has a plurality of U-shaped recesses with openings facing the front to form a fluted link. A plurality of the fluted links can be arranged into a flexible carrier belt by inserting wires through the apertures to hold the fluted links adjacent to each other with adjacent ones facing in opposite directions. During assembly of the carrier belt, the conductors, fibers or tubes, etc., to be supported are fitted into appropriate U-shaped recesses that provide support for those items. The flexible carrier belt provides conductor connections between a stationary part and a rotatable part of an apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen as Represented by the Minister of National Defence of Her Majesty's Canadian Government
    Inventor: Alain Cinq-Mars
  • Patent number: 6779399
    Abstract: A sprinkler measuring cup device is provided for use in evaluating sprinkler performance. The device is of a one-piece construction and allows measurement of depth of water applied. The measuring device is shaped to allow a plurality of devices to be staked one on top of the other. The device includes a central cup and peripheral ground piercing legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior
    Inventors: Fredrick S. Liljegren, Michael D. Stuver
  • Patent number: 6777238
    Abstract: A dual purpose corrosion inhibitor and penetrant composition sensitive to radiography interrogation is provided. The corrosion inhibitor mitigates or eliminates corrosion on the surface of a substrate upon which the corrosion inhibitor is applied. In addition, the corrosion inhibitor provides for the attenuation of a signal used during radiography interrogation thereby providing for detection of anomalies on the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Phillip B. Hall, Howard L. Novak
  • Patent number: 6778180
    Abstract: A method and system for processing an image including capturing an image and storing the image as image pixel data. Each image pixel datum is stored in a respective memory location having a corresponding address. Threshold pixel data is selected from the image pixel data and linear spot segments are identified from the threshold pixel data selected. The positions of only a first pixel and a last pixel for each linear segment are saved. Movement of one or more objects are tracked by comparing the positions of first and last pixels of a linear segment present in the captured image with respective first and last pixel positions in subsequent captured images. Alternatively, additional data for each linear data segment is saved such as sum of pixels and the weighted sum of pixels (i.e., each threshold pixel value is multiplied by that pixel's x-location).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Richard T Howard, Thomas C. Bryan, Michael L. Book
  • Patent number: 6770248
    Abstract: An apparatus for the ultrasonic destruction of microbiological contamination of fluids. The process involves subjecting contaminated fluids to ultrasonic vibration so as to cause cavitation within the fluids. The cavitation results in the destruction of microbial cells and mats of microbial colonies. To create cavitation in the fluids a number of piezoelectric ceramic rings surround a metal tube through which the fluids flows. Those piezoelectric rings are immersed in a transmission medium which is pressurized sufficiently to prevent cavitation occurring in it and causing damage to the piezoelectric rings electrodes. This process is applicable to many liquids such as fuels, lubricating fluids, potable and marine ballast waters, dairy products, pharmaceuticals, liquid food products and beverages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence of Her Majesty's Canadian Government
    Inventors: Randall D. Haggett, Kenneth J. KarisAllen, Guerorgui A. Hranov
  • Patent number: 6769135
    Abstract: A hair cutting cape for us in cutting the hair of a patron includes a protective covering for protecting the feet, and thus the shoes, of the patron from falling hair. A main portion of the cape includes a neck opening for the head of the patron. The foot covering portion is secured to the lower front edge of the main portion of the cape and extends outwardly from that edge so that, in use of the cape, the foot covering portion can be slipped over the feet and around the foot bar of the hair cutting chair in which the patron is seated so as to protect the shoes of the patron from falling hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Kimberly Anne Monroe
  • Patent number: 6763730
    Abstract: In a vibrating tube meter such as a Coriolis meter, an accurate measurement of a fluid parameter such as density can be obtained, substantially independent of stress, by measuring vibrational characteristics, particular resonant frequencies of two different vibrational modes. Stress or other variables can be determined from the measurement. Because the measurement of or compensation for stress is based directly on the vibrational characteristics, better accuracy may be obtained than by using a conventional strain gauge to measure stress. The techniques disclosed can give accurate results without requiring particular constraints on meter design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Limited
    Inventor: Troy Wray
  • Patent number: 6760038
    Abstract: A method for building a database of at least one blend face in a solid model of a part comprising: generating a list of faces and edges comprising the solid model, analyzing at least one of the edges to determine that it is a smooth edge, analyzing the determined smooth edge to determine that it is a spring edge, analyzing the determined spring edge to identify a blend face that is adjacent to the spring edge. The method further includes identifying all blend faces on the part, forming chains of these blend faces and providing a listing of the chains in the order in which they were formed on the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Geometric Software Solutions Co. Limited
    Inventors: Sashikumar Venkataraman, Milind A. Sohoni
  • Patent number: 6756591
    Abstract: A method and device for photothermal imaging tiny metal particles which are immersed in a given medium like a living cell deposited onto a transparent glass slide. The given medium and immersed tiny metal particles are illuminated through separate phase reference laser beam and sensitive probe laser beam, with the sensitive probe laser beam including a heating laser beam undergoing through impingement on the given medium slight phase changes induced by photothermal effect due to a local heating, in the absence of any substantial phase changes to the phase reference laser beam. Illuminating is performed by focusing the separate phase reference and sensitive probe laser beam through the transparent glass slide at a given depth within the given medium and a transmitted phase reference laser beam and a transmitted sensitive probe laser beam undergoing the slight phase changes are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche, Universite de Bordeaux I
    Inventors: Brahim Lounis, Michel Orrit, Philippe Tamarat, David Boyer, Laurent Cognet
  • Patent number: 6749680
    Abstract: A cement repair material composition is provided for repairing thin concrete. The composition comprises, in weight percentages: fine aggregates, 50-80%; cement, 10-20%, said cement being selected from the group consisting of expansive hydraulic cement, gypsum cement, and magnesium phosphate cement; reinforcing fibers such as polyethylene, steel and fiberglass fibers, 1-5%; and a first water-reducing chemical additive, and a second shrinkage compensating chemical additive, a combined 0.01 to 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior
    Inventors: Kurt F. von Fay, William F. Kepler
  • Patent number: 6745984
    Abstract: For controlling the attitude of a satellite placed on a low earth orbit, components of a vector Bm of the earth's magnetic field along three measurement axes of a frame of reference bound with the satellite (typically by means of a three-axis magnetometer) are measured. The orientation of the earth's magnetic field in the frame of reference is computed and a derivative {dot over (B)}m of the vector is also computed. Magneto-couplers carried by the satellite are energized to create a torque for spinning the satellite at an angular frequency &ohgr;c about a determined spin axis of the satellite, where &ohgr;c is greater than an orbital angular frequency 2&ohgr;0 of the satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Astrium Sas
    Inventors: Ange Defendini, Kristen Lagadec
  • Patent number: 6746881
    Abstract: A method and a device for measuring in real time the thickness of an integrated circuit layer with the layer to be measured being deposited on an underlying layer. During an engraving operation, the advance of the engraving front generated during the engraving operation is monitored by plotting the optical emission spectrum of the product of the engraving reaction in real time on a spectral component of the underlying layer. A time distribution of the optical emission amplitude of the engraving reaction product is established and the transition of the optical emission amplitude on the distribution as the engraving front passes from the layer to be measured to the underlying layer as established. The thickness of the layer to be measured is thus computed on the basis of the distribution and the transition by a correlation with the transition on the distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Atmel, Nantes SA
    Inventors: Alain Charpentier, Dominique Bocquene
  • Patent number: 6741069
    Abstract: The invention discloses a detection- and recording system for high intensity electric currents such as lighting currents in a lighting conductor in a wind turbine. The system comprises a detector (6) containing a power supply (7), a measuring circuit (8), and a converter means (9) and furthermore a recording means (11) non-galvanically coupled to said converter means (9) and a measuring coil (5) to be inductively coupled to an electric conductor (2) carrying the high intensity electric current. The power supply (7) receives its electrical energy directly from the lighting current via the power coil (4) which makes the system non-sensitive to mains supply drop-outs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Benny Aaris Klemar, Henrik Færch