Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Smith-Hill and Bedell
  • Patent number: 7432537
    Abstract: An avalanche photodiode (APD) includes an anode layer, a cathode layer, an absorption layer between the anode layer and the cathode layer, a first multiplying stage between the absorption layer and the cathode layer, a second multiplying stage between the first multiplying stage and the cathode layer, and a carrier relaxation region between the first and second multiplying stages. Each multiplying stage includes, in the direction of drift of electrons, a first layer that is doped with acceptors, a second layer that is substantially undoped, a third layer that is doped with acceptors, a fourth layer that is substantially undoped, and a fifth layer that is doped with donors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Voxtel, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew S. Huntington
  • Patent number: 7430130
    Abstract: A switching converter produces an output signal transmitted to a variable load impedance to produce a load voltage VDD across the load impedance and holds VDD close to a set point voltage VSP selected by control data DREF1 to compensate for variations in the load impedance which tend to drive VDD away from VSP. The switching converter includes a pulse-width modulated power converter for producing the output signal of voltage VOUT in response to an input signal of voltage VIN, wherein a ratio VOUT/VIN is a function of a duty cycle D1 of a pulse-width modulated signal VPWM1. A pulse-width modulation circuit generates the VPWM signal of duty cycle D1 controlled by a control signal, and a feedback control circuit monitoring the load voltage VDD adjusts D1 to keep the load voltage as close as possible to VSP. A power source supplies the input signal of voltage VIN to the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Credence Systems Corporation
    Inventor: William Devey
  • Patent number: 7427147
    Abstract: A light assembly comprising a hollow section for a light element, the hollow section including an intumescent surface presented to expand upon activation substantially horizontally across the hollow section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: FPC (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Laurence Kovacs
  • Patent number: 7424071
    Abstract: A decoder for use in a wireless communication device, the decoder comprising a correlator for correlating a received data sequence with a set of codewords such that a correlation value is generated for each correlation, wherein the set of codewords correspond to possible codewords that could be generated from encoding bit sequences having a predetermined number of information bits; a selector for selecting a first correlation value and a second correlation value generated by the correlator and for subtracting the second correlation value from the first correlation value to generate a third value; and a comparator for comparing the third value with a predetermined value to generate a decoding reliability indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: ICERA Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Alan Allpress, Carlo Luschi
  • Patent number: 7421330
    Abstract: An an internal combustion engine has a plurality of cylinders for providing the necessary energy used for the work performed by the engine. Cylinder specific knock monitoring is used in order to distribute the load automatically among the cylinders of the engine. When an individual cylinder knocks continuously, the antiknock control system of the cylinder aims at reducing permanently the quantity of fuel supplied to the cylinder. The fall in the total output caused by the reduction of fuel supply is compensated by increasing the fuel supply to all cylinders. The new operating values of the engine provided by the adjustment are stored in the memory and used also as new reference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
    Inventors: Ari Saikkonen, Kaj Portin
  • Patent number: 7416620
    Abstract: The invention relates to a copper alloy having high recrystallization temperature and good conductivity used in brazed heat exchangers which alloy consists of 0.1 to 0.3% in weight chromium. The invention also relates to a method for the manufacturing of the alloy which method consists of the following steps: casting, cold working, annealing and another cold working before brazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Luvata Oy
    Inventors: Mariann Sundberg, Rolf Sundberg, Sture Östlund
  • Patent number: 7409617
    Abstract: An electronic device under test (DUT) responds to a digital input signal by generating a digital DUT output signal conveying a repetitive digital signal pattern. An apparatus for measuring various characteristics of the DUT output signal includes a trigger generator for generating a series of trigger signal edges in response to selected DUT output signal edges occurring during separate repetitions of the digital signal pattern. The trigger generator can be configured to generate each trigger signal edge in response to the same or a different edge of the digital signal pattern. The apparatus determines when a DUT output signal edge occurs by determining when the DUT output signal rises above or falls below adjustable reference voltages. The apparatus alternatively responds to each trigger signal edge by measuring a period between two different edges of the digital signal pattern and or by repetitively sampling the DUT output signal to determine its state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Credence Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Arthur Almy, Arnold M. Frisch
  • Patent number: 7406930
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder structure in which a crankshaft assembly is journalled for rotation about a main axis of a main crankshaft segment having a main axis. A crank web is attached to the main crankshaft segment and projects from the main crankshaft segment, and a crank pin structure is attached to the crank web and has a central axis that is parallel to the main axis and is spaced from the main axis by a distance D. A first mechanism attaches the inner end of a connecting rod to the crank pin structure and permits substantially longitudinal movement of the connecting rod relative to the crank pin structure. A second mechanism permits selective adjustment of the distance D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Donald W. Banke
  • Patent number: 7389449
    Abstract: A triggering circuit asserts a trigger signal in response to edges of a digital signal conveying a repetitive pattern of edges. The triggering circuit generates first data having a value identifying a position within the pattern of a last occurring edge of the digital signal and generates second data having a value identifying a position of a particular edge within the pattern that is to initiate a next assertion of the trigger signal. The triggering circuit asserts the trigger signal when the first and second data values match and de-asserts the trigger signal when the first and second data do not match. In a repetitive mode of operation, the triggering circuit keeps the second data value constant so that it always asserts the trigger signal in response to the same edge of the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Credence Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Arthur Almy, Arnold M. Frisch
  • Patent number: 7386823
    Abstract: A schematic diagram generator processes a netlist to generate a schematic diagram based on a set of placement rules, corresponding to a separate characteristic pattern of interconnected devices and specifying a constraint on relative placement within the schematic diagram of symbols representing devices forming the pattern. The generator identifies each set of devices in the netlist that exhibits any rule's interconnection pattern as a separate “soft group”, places a constraint consistent with the rule on relative positioning within the schematic diagram of symbols representing the soft group, resolves any constraint conflicts in accordance with a constraint resolution scheme, and then places all device symbols in the schematic diagram in a manner consistent accordance with the constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Springsoft, Inc.
    Inventors: Tian-Hau Tsai, Po-Hung Lin, Shyh-Chang Lin, Ho-Che Yu
  • Patent number: 7380525
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine of the type having an engine cylinder with a reciprocating piston, first and second intake ports for admitting gas from an ambient air supply into the engine cylinder, first and second intake valves each arranged between a respective one of the intake ports and the engine cylinder, a non-return valve arranged in the second of the intake ports at a distance from the second intake valve and oriented to allow gas to flow only towards the engine cylinder, and a variable valve actuating system for controlling the opening and closing of at least the second intake valve. In the method of the invention, in at least one operating mode of the engine, the second intake valve is opened and closed, while the cylinder is fully isolated from the ambient air, to permit gas transfer between the cylinder and an auxiliary chamber temporarily defined by the part of the second intake port lying between the second intake valve and the non-return valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Brunel University
    Inventors: Thomas Tsoi-Hei Ma, Hua Zhao
  • Patent number: 7370637
    Abstract: An arrangement in the fuel injection system for controlling the fuel injection, the arrangement comprising a body part with a space arranged therein, through which space the fuel to be injected flows during operation, the space further having an inlet opening and an outlet opening therein. The arrangement further comprises a piston means, arranged movably in the space and a flow path for creating a flow connection between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet openings. The flow path comprises at least one throttling portion opening into the space of the body part, the cross-sectional flow area of the throttling portion being defined by the relative positions of the piston means and the body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Wartsila Finland Oy
    Inventors: David C. Jay, Daniel Paro
  • Patent number: 7366582
    Abstract: The invention is a method for controlling an electrolytic process and plant, utilizing history data collected in the process as well as mathematical and heuristic models created on the basis of empirical knowledge, and by means of said models, there are defined indexes based on real-time process measurement parameters. The method makes use of real-time cell voltage measurements. On the basis of the obtained real-time indexes, there is achieved a correctly focused process control action at the correct point of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Ari Rantala, Henri Virtanen
  • Patent number: 7366652
    Abstract: A co-verification system includes a computer programmed to act as a simulator for simulating behavior of a first portion of an electronic device under test (DUT) by acquiring, processing and generating data representing DUT signals. The co-verification system also includes emulation resources programmed to emulate a second portion of the DUT by receiving, processing and generating emulation signals representing DUT signals. The signals of the DUT are mapped to separate addresses within a memory space, and the simulator controls and reads states of emulation signals by writing data to and reading data from addresses of the memory space states mapped to the DUT signals the emulation signals represent. The computer and the emulation resources are also programmed to implement transactors communicating with one another through a packet routing network. The transactors set states of the emulation signals when the simulator writes to memory space addresses and for reading states of the emulation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Springsoft, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Yang Wang, Duan-Ping Chen, Swey Yan Shei, Hung Chun Chiu, Neu Choo Ngui
  • Patent number: 7360432
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses for detecting fuel pressure in internal combustion engines. The invention especially relates to internal combustion engine applications in which fuel reaches a high pressure. The apparatus according to the invention is a simple switch apparatus. In the apparatus the fuel pressure moves a piston causing a switching operation in the apparatus, which in turn can be detected by means of a separate detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Wartsila Finland OY
    Inventor: Kai Lehtonen
  • Patent number: 7353674
    Abstract: A door lock with controllable handle operation including a bolt (3), a follower (5) for moving the bolt and an operation axis (4), on both ends of which an actuator can be installed for operating the follower (5), whereby force transmission from either side of the lock to the follower (5) is established by means of movable coupling members (10a, 10b), which are controlled by a solenoid arrangement (8, 9) or the like, and in which the follower (5) is provided with two separate torsion units (6a, 6b) installed on the operation axis (4) on different sides of the follower (5) and turnably secured thereto, which units can be connected to force transmission with the follower (5) by utilising said coupling members (10a, 10b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Abloy Oy
    Inventors: Juha Raatikainen, Petri Tirkkonen
  • Patent number: 7352204
    Abstract: A skew correction system incorporated into a transmitter forwarding a differential signal on a differential lane monitors returning signal reflections when the receiving end of the differential lane is appropriately terminated. Based on an analysis of the reflections, the skew correction system adjusts the relative timing of complementary edges of the differential signal departing the transmitter so as to substantially eliminate skew at the receiving end of the differential lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Warpspeed Chips, LLC
    Inventor: Arnold M. Frisch
  • Patent number: 7332075
    Abstract: A water filter assembly comprising a water filter arrangement and a water cooling arrangement in an integral unit. The cooling arrangements are concentrically configured with the cooling arrangement surrounding the filter arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: V.A. Heating Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Christopher Sumner, Paul Andrew Sumner
  • Patent number: D570513
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Vice
  • Patent number: D575197
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Whitby Specialist Vehicles Ltd.
    Inventor: Stuart M. Whitby