Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Whitham, Curtis, Whitham & McGinn
  • Patent number: 5744863
    Abstract: An aluminum or copper heat sink is attached to a ceramic cap or exposed semiconductor chip using flexible-epoxy to provide improved thermal performance. The aluminum may be coated by anodizing or chromate conversion or the copper may be coated with nickel. Such structures are especilly useful for CQFP, CBGA, CCGA, CPGA, TBGA, PBGA, DCAM, MCM-L, single layer ceramic, and other chip carrier packages as well as for flip chip attachment to flexible or rigid organic circuit boards. These adhesive materials withstand thermal cycle tests of 0.degree. to 100.degree. C. for 1,500 cycles, -25.degree. to 125.degree. C. for 400 cycles, and -40.degree. to 140.degree. C. for 300 cycles; and withstand continuous exposure at 130.degree. C. for 1000 hours without loss of strength. Flexible-epoxies have a modulus of elasticity below 100,000 psi and a glass transition temperature below 25.degree. C., are much stronger than typical silicone adhesives, and do not contaminate the module or circuit board with silicone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Moran Culnane, Michael Anthony Gaynes, Ping Kwong Seto, Hussain Shaukatullah
  • Patent number: 5742851
    Abstract: An information processing system having such a redundancy constitution as including a plurality of processors and an operation switching control unit for switching operations of operational processors and standby operations, in which each processor operating as the operational processor is provided with a fault detective data transmitting unit for transmitting a fault detective data to each processor operating as the standby processor through an external bus, while each processor operating as the standby processor is provided with a fault checking unit for checking whether a fault exists or not, in the external bus or in an interface, on the basis of the fault detective data, and the operation switching control unit fixes an operating state so as not to switch the operation between the operational and standby processors, even if detecting a fault in the processor operating as the operational processor, after a fault has been detected in the external bus or in the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuharu Sekine
  • Patent number: 5742283
    Abstract: The design, creation, organization, and playing of multimedia stories is accomplished by first defining a story with episodes scheduled on a temporal layout. The organization of the story episodes is then separated into two parts: (1) a temporal organization of story episodes using temporal cliques, and (2) a spatial organization which spatially organizes the members of each temporal clique independently of the members of other temporal cliques. A complicated multimedia problem that exists in time and space is reduced to a number of smaller problems that exist only in space. Stories that are organized according this way can be related by a directed graph into a hyperstory. Using the directed graph, different stories in the hyperstory can be played by satisfying defined asynchronous conditions. The conditions are used in the graph to define the relationships among the stories in the graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michelle Yoonkyung Lee Kim
  • Patent number: 5742021
    Abstract: Temperature gradients between a ceramic substrate of high thermal conductivity and the braze materials used to attach a metallic device such as a cap are reduced by using an embedded internal heat source in the substrate to minimize the thermal gradient, thereby minimizing the stresses that can result in substrate cracking when a cap is brazed onto the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Laertis Economikos, Robert Hannon, Richard P. Surprenant, Thomas VanDuynhoven
  • Patent number: 5742545
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to the present invention includes a pair of bit lines, a plurality of memory cells connected between the pair of bit lines, a sense amplifier, a pair of read bus lines connected to the sense amplifier, a first and second transistors provided between the pair of read bus line and the pair of bit lines, means for supplying a selection signal to gates of the first and second transistors, and a precharge circuit connected to the pair of read bus lines for precharging and equalizing the pair of read bus lines in response to an inversion of the selection signal, wherein a sum of parasitic capacitances between gates of a plurality of transistors constituting the precharge circuit and the read bus lines is equal to or larger than a sum of parasitic capacitances between gates of the first and second transistors and the read bus lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 5741160
    Abstract: A multiple plug arrangement with a plurality of individual plugs with essentially rectangular plug housings and with a holder that receives the plug housings arranged side by side and flush, the holder being closable on its top by a lid, a bottom opposite lid, and side walls connecting the bottom and lid with one another to form a rectangular cylinder being open at its ends, with the holder holding the individual plugs in position in the axial direction by a form fit that is both simple to manufacture and easy to handle, wherein the plug housings have, on their jacket sides pointing toward the bottom of holder, a window-like recess, and where the bottom is provided with projections matching window-like recesses, and where the closed lid holds the plug housings in an active engagement of the window-like recess of plug housing and projection of the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventor: Werner Arnold
  • Patent number: 5738311
    Abstract: A train separation detector for a distributed power control system in railroad trains uses the distance traveled input from an axle drive generator or similar device to compute the speed of the lead locomotive and the speed of the remote locomotives and also the distance traveled by the lead locomotive and the remote locomotives per unit of time. Normally, both the distance traveled and the speed of the lead and remote locomotives will, on average, be the same since they are in the same train. If there is a separation, however, both the distance traveled and the speed of the lead and remote locomotives will be different to the extent that there is a train separation. By comparing the speed and distance traveled of the lead and remote locomotives, the distributed power system will be able to detect train separation and take appropriate action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: Emilio A. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 5739654
    Abstract: A servo controlled tool and stage positioning system. A circuit in the tool positioning servo control circuit removes unwanted glitches. Glitches are generated by servo control DACs when the servo is at rest. The circuit selectively blocks these glitches from being passed to the tool positioning circuit only when the stage is at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Kay Doran, Erwin Ernst Weissmann
  • Patent number: 5739762
    Abstract: A radio selective calling receiver which can improve the precision of a timepiece up to the clock precision of a reception signal from a base station is provided. A bit synchronization section establishes bit synchronization of a digital signal from a reception section to output a reproduction clock. A frequency divider for a timepiece function frequency-divides a reference clock with insufficient precision, which is supplied from a reference clock generation section, by a fixed value while the digital signal is in a frame step-out state. While the digital signal is in a frame synchronized state, the frequency divider variably frequency-divides the reference clock by using a phase correction signal for correcting an internal phase advance/delay, which is output from the bit synchronization section, thereby correcting a gain/loss in time displayed on a display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kuramatsu, Kazuo Morita
  • Patent number: 5739641
    Abstract: A circuit for driving a plasma display panel includes a scan pulse drive integrated circuit having a plurality of output terminals, and a diode array composed of a corresponding number of diodes each having a cathode connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of output terminals. Anodes of all the diodes are connected in common to one end of a first switch having the other end connected to ground. A high voltage side power supply terminal of the scan pulse driving circuit is connected through a second switch to a negative power supply. During a hold period, the first switch is turned on, but the second switch is turned off, so that a discharge current flows through the diode array to display cells of the plasma display panel, without passing through the inside of the scan pulse driving circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Nakamura, Masahiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5739712
    Abstract: An amplifying circuit has an amplifying section including an operational amplifier for receiving an input signal and a power transistor for receiving the output of the operational amplifier to drive a load resistor. The amplifying circuit further has an over-current protective section including a current detection transistor receiving the output signal of the operational amplifier and a comparator comparing the output voltage of the current detection transistor and a reference voltage to supply a control signal to the operational amplifier when the output level representing the load current for the load resistor exceeds a threshold. The source of the power transistor and the source of the current detection transistor are maintained at the same potential by connecting both the sources or by providing a feedback section. A wide range of the voltage signal and an accurate threshold for the load current can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Fujii
  • Patent number: 5737275
    Abstract: The semiconductor memory device disclosed has a boost circuit, a word drive circuit and a row decoder, and includes a first P-channel MOS transistor, a second P-channel MOS transistor, a first N-channel MOS transistor, and a second N-channel MOS transistor. The first P-channel MOS transistor and the second P-channel MOS transistor have drains and gates cross-connected and each source and a substrate connected to an output terminal of the boost circuit. The first N-channel MOS transistor has a drain connected to the drain of the first P-channel MOS transistor, a source connected to a ground terminal, and a gate connected to an output terminal of the row decoder. The second N-channel MOS transistor has a source connected to the output terminal of the row decoder, a drain connected to the drain of the second P-channel MOS transistor, and a gate receiving one of a power supply voltage and a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Matthews, Junji Ueoka
  • Patent number: 5736301
    Abstract: A co-polymer of benzophenone and bisphenol A has been shown to have DUV absorption properties. Therefore, the co-polymer has particular utility as an antireflective coating in microlithography applications. Incorporating anthracene into the co-polymer backbone enhances absorption at 248 nm. The endcapper used for the co-polymer can vary widely depending on the needs of the user and can be selected to promote adhesion, stability, and absorption of different wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Thomas Fahey, Brian Wayne Herbst, Leo Lawrence Linehan, Wayne Martin Moreau, Gary Thomas Spinillo, Kevin Michael Welsh, Robert Lavin Wood
  • Patent number: 5736974
    Abstract: Enhanced visibility of icons and other types of menu items is provided by increasing size and or skew or both of one or more icons or menu items in a generally inverse relation to proximity of a cursor image address to particular icons or menu items. Increase of size enhances user recognition of an ordinarily small menu item or icon and simultaneously provides the effect of stabilizing cursor position during selection without affecting linearity of response to a graphic input device. Skew and repeated expansion may be used to attract user attention while repeated expansion simplifies icon manipulation by the user in determining a response to a mandatory input demand from an application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin Joseph Selker
  • Patent number: 5736234
    Abstract: A multilayer printed circuit board has a substrate, an inner interconnection layer formed on each surface of the substrate, and an outer interconnection layer overlying each inner interconnection layer. The inner interconnection layer is formed of a copper sheet and two latticed metal films made of a metal having a low thermal expansion coefficient and bonded to boty surfaces of the copper sheet under application of pressure. The area ratio of exposed portions of the copper sheet to the whole surface of the interconnection layer is between 25 and 75%. Thermal expansion coefficient of the resultant circuit board is lowered to be close to the thermal expansion coefficient of a LSI, thereby obtaining reliability of a electronic product due to a low thermal stress. The metallic film is made of Kovar or Invar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Harumi Mizunashi
  • Patent number: 5737575
    Abstract: Memory access latency is reduced by storage of additional pages of a block together with storage protection keys in a cache memory. When a miss occurs for a particular address and/or a corresponding storage protection key in an address translation look-aside buffer, other storage protection keys for other pages of the same block containing the page causing the miss are associatively accessed from a multi-page key cache. Thus, pages which do not have addresses or storage protection keys stored in the translation look-aside buffer but which are locally stored in a cache may have the storage protection keys provided locally with short access time and without communication over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Bartholomew Blaner
  • Patent number: 5734978
    Abstract: In order to prevent illegal use of a mobile telephone, a call is repeatedly originated from a telephone or base station to the mobile telephone over a wireless path. When the call is received by the mobile telephone over the wireless path so that a communication channel is established, a destruction code including a cryptographic data is transmitted from the telephone or base station to said mobile telephone. The mobile telephone receives the destruction code and compares the cryptographic data of the received destruction code with a preset data stored in the mobile telephone to determine whether both the data are matched. When it is determined that both the data are matched, the mobile telephone destroys a telephone functioning information stored in the mobile telephone and necessary for performing communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hayatake, Kazuya Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5734714
    Abstract: A balanced amplifier delivers a detection voltage in order to carry out power supply control. A level shift circuit shifts the level of the detection voltage to a level shift voltage for a +5 Volts system, namely, a low withstand voltage system. An adder adds a reference voltage V.sub.REF2 to the level shift voltage as a D.C bias voltage and produces an added voltage. A variable attenuator attenuates the added voltage and produces an attenuated voltage. A subtracter subtracts the reference voltage V.sub.REF2 from the attenuated voltage and produces a subtracted voltage. The subtracted voltage is converted into a current by a voltage-current converting circuit and turns back to the balanced amplifier as a signal for a high withstand voltage system. Thus, a signal process can be carried out by a circuit of a low withstand voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kouichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5734398
    Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer includes a plurality of ink channels filled with ink, and a plurality of nozzles corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of ink channels individually. Each nozzle brings the corresponding ink channel into fluid communication with an outside atmosphere. A plurality of protection-layerless heaters are provided on respective ones of the plurality of ink channels individually to face a corresponding nozzle. An LSI device with drive circuits is connected to each heater for applying a print signal to a selective one of the heaters. To drive the printer, every other heater is sequentially driven at a predetermined interval of less than 1 microsecond so that ink droplets are sequentially ejected, when the print signals are produced, from odd-numbered nozzles and thereafter from even-numbered nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi-Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Mitani
  • Patent number: 5733705
    Abstract: Proton sponge, berberine, and cetyltrimethyl ammonium hydroxide base compounds are used as additives to chemically amplified photoresists based on modified polyhydroxystyrene (PHS). The base additives scavenge free acids from the photoresist in order to preserve the acid labile moieties on the modified PHS polymer. The base additives are well suited to industrial processing conditions, do not react with the photoacid compounds in the photoresist composition to form byproducts which would hinder photoresist performance, and extend the shelf-life of the photoresist composition. In addition, the proton sponge and berberine base additives have a different absorption spectra than the modified PHS polymer, therefore, the quantity of base additive within the photoresist can be easily assayed and controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nageshwer Rao Bantu, William Ross Brunsvold, George Joseph Hefferon, Wu-Song Huang, Ahmad D. Katnani, Mahmoud M. Khofasteh, Ratnam Sooriyakumaran, Dominic Changwon Yang