Patents Assigned to "A" Company
  • Patent number: 6556581
    Abstract: A device for seamlessly providing 10BASE-T compatible data communications over an ordinary single twisted-pair home phone line between multiple computers and/or peripherals is disclosed. Each component that is to communicate over a home phone line needs a 10BASE-T compatible network interface card (NIC) for interfacing with the device. A transmit/receive switch is used to switch the device between a transmit mode and a receive mode. When a signal is being transmitted from a component, a Manchester decoder converts the signals received from the NIC into a raw data stream. A differential converter converts the raw data signal received from the NIC to a differential signal. A modulator is used to modulate the signal to a RF signal using a PSK, QPSK, QAM, MCM or similar modulation schemes. A filter is used to limit the bandwidth of the modulated signal and a driver is used to amplify the signal to match the impedance of the phone line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ming He, Ce Richard Liu
  • Patent number: 6553799
    Abstract: A push button door locking mechanism including a push button mounted on a push button carrier housed within an inside spindle of a door lock assembly, a main retractor co-rotatingly attached to the spindle, and an inner cam aligned axially with the push button carrier. The inner cam has a flange portion extending substantially perpendicularly from a driver bar portion of the inner cam. The locking mechanism also includes a locking catch assembly having a first end and a second end. The first end includes a head portion formed to matingly engage the push button carrier. The second end is coupled to a locking wing. The locking catch assembly has a locked position wherein the locking wing matingly engages the flange preventing rotation of the flange with respect to the main retractor and an unlocked position allowing rotation of the flange with respect to the main retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Peter K. Bates, Truman Bradley, Thor Hendrickson, Dario L. Pompeii
  • Patent number: 6554382
    Abstract: A replaceable ink container for providing ink to a printhead of a printing system. The ink container has a housing that includes and ink reservoir for containing a supply of ink, and an ink level sensor for sensing a low ink condition in the ink reservoir. The ink reservoir includes a capillary ink storage member. The ink level sensor includes resistance probes that are in fluid communication with the supply of ink, but are free from contact with the capillary ink storage member. The resistance probes are mounted to the housing by way of sensor ports that extend through the housing and prevent contact between the capillary ink storage member and the probes. The resistance probes protrude slightly from an exterior surface of the housing to define electrical contacts for engaging corresponding electrical contacts of the printing system. A change in electrical resistance measured across the resistance probes indicates a low ink condition in the ink reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Roger R. Sleger
  • Patent number: 6554722
    Abstract: A golf club head having a defined internal cavity, and a golf club head containing a bi-material weight having a nonhomogeneous structure is disclosed herein. A method to add the bi-material weight to the golf club entails heating, vibration and cooling to produce the nonhomogeneous structure is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Joel B. Erickson, Roger Cleveland, Richard C. Helmstetter, Augustin W. Rollinson, Luke R. Williams, M. Grace Hohn Pimentel, Thomas J. DiMarco, John G. Guard, James F. Dooley
  • Patent number: 6555810
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a plurality of optical scanning, units each including a light source emitting a light flux, a scanning input optical system directing the light flux emitted from the light source to a deflector. The deflector deflects the light flux so as to cause the light flux to scan a surface to be scanned. A scanning and imaging optical system condenses the light flux deflected by the deflector so as to form a beam spot thereof on the surface to be scanned. The optical scanning device scans the surface to be scanned continuously through coordinated movements of the plurality of optical scanning units, and the respective scanning and imaging optical systems of adjacent at least two of the plurality of optical scanning units have one lens in common.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Suhara
  • Patent number: 6555521
    Abstract: The invention provides individual tetragonal flat rod shaped or plate-like crystals of glucagon-like peptide-1 related molecules, processes for their preparation, compositions and methods of use. The crystal preparations exhibit extended time action in vivo and are useful for treating diabetes, obesity and related conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
    Inventors: Ronald Norbert Hermeling, James Arthur Hoffmann, Chakravarthy Narasimhan
  • Patent number: 6555934
    Abstract: A method for controlling ground plane voltages by locally, at one or more discrete points on the working ground reference, sensing a voltage difference between a working ground reference and an isolated ground reference, generating a voltage compensation signal based on the voltage difference, and driving the working ground reference with the voltage compensation signal to reduce the voltage difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher R. Miller
  • Patent number: 6555599
    Abstract: Ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber-containing articles that exhibit highly desirable long-term effective antimicrobial characteristics are provided. Such articles are in either solid or blown (foam or sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms) that can be utilized in a variety of different applications. As silver-based compounds are deleteriously affected by utilization of standard curing agents and curing accelerators, such as sulfur-based compounds and/or systems, the ability to provide such an effective antimicrobial vulcanized rubber article is rather difficult. However, this invention encompasses the presence of different non-sulfur-based curing systems and agents, such as peroxides, as one example, that permit vulcanization and do not irreversibly bind silver ions thereto, thereby resulting in long-term antimicrobial performance of the ultimate rubber article itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: John G. Lever, Geoffrey R. Haas, Bhawan Patel
  • Patent number: 6553779
    Abstract: A softserve product refrigeration and dispensing machine (1) having numerous novel features, including a novel door (80) and product dispensing apparatus (60) having features to inhibit condensation and to provide a product dispenser design which may be easily flushed with no retention of food stuffs and the like and configured to require minimal lubrication. The novel door assembly allows for sealing of the freezing chamber (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Specialty Equipment Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: George Boyer, Michael Meserole, Ronald J. Mrugala
  • Patent number: 6556754
    Abstract: A three dimensional optical circuit featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is shown. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold which may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as, but not limited to, stereolithography (“SLA”), fused deposition modeling (“FDM”), selective laser sintering (“SLS”), and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways of the manifold to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle. Moreover, the optical manifold may be used in conjunction with a number of connections or terminations to form a various optical modules. These modules may be configured for rack mounting within enclosures for electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Simmons, Curtis L. Shoemaker, Kenneth L. Kornele, Harry A. Loder, Edward B. Lurie
  • Patent number: 6554930
    Abstract: An apparatus for welding monofilaments at a loom makes possible a method for a continuous process for weaving monofilaments into fabric. The apparatus comprises a stand (15) on which is mounted welding apparatus (16) and a filament alignment block (20). In the method, a monofilament (30a) in the loom is welded to the leading end of a monofilament (30) on a new spool of monofilament. By welding new monofilament to monofilament in the loom, restringing of the loom is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robert John Gartland, Kenneth Michael Kot, Jimmy Lee Richards
  • Patent number: 6554569
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine outlet guide vane assembly has annular inner and outer end walls, a flowpath between the inner and outer end walls, outlet guide vanes radially disposed between the inner and outer end walls, and boundary layer energizing means for energizing boundary layers using secondary flow to mix free stream flow into the boundary layers along the inner and outer end walls and suction and pressure sides of the vanes. The boundary layer energizing means includes having the vanes circumferentially leaned in a direction that the suction sides face. The boundary layer energizing means also includes swept leading and/or trailing edges of the vanes that extend radially between the inner and outer end walls. The swept leading and/or trailing edges may be curved inwardly into the vanes from the outer end walls to leading and/or trailing edge points respectively between the end walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John J. Decker, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Peter N. Szucs
  • Patent number: 6557064
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for improving the throughput of data transfers on a bus. More specifically, data setup and hold times relative to REQ# and ACK# signal edges are adjusted programmatically to provide greater integrity in the transmission of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company
    Inventor: William C. Galloway
  • Patent number: 6555796
    Abstract: A heater having a shut off device is provided which prevents false over temperature lockouts. The heater comprises a body having walls defining a volume for holding water, a heating element thermally coupled to the body for heating water within the body, and a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the material. The heater also has a shut off switch for shutting off electric current in the heater when the sensed temperature of the water exceeds a predetermined maximum temperature limit, and a manually actuated reset input for resetting the shut off switch to allow current to be applied to the heater. The heater further includes a controller coupled to the shut off switch and the reset switch, wherein the controller determines the presence of a false over temperature event and overrides the need to manually actuate the reset input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sherwood-Templeton Coal Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon B. Cusack
  • Patent number: 6554418
    Abstract: An ink jet printing method, comprising the steps of: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with ink-receptive elements comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer comprising a graft copolymer comprising a backbone copolymer and at least one branch copolymer, the backbone polymer comprising structural units capable of being oxidized by a transition metal catalyst and the branch copolymer comprising cationic units and neutral hydrophilic units; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition comprising water, a humectant, and a water-soluble anionic dye; and D) printing on the image-receiving layer using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kristine B. Lawrence, David M. Teegarden, Tien-Teh Chen, Teh-Ming Kung
  • Patent number: 6554552
    Abstract: A combination nut and washer is retained in a preassembled position by an annular pilot that extends toward the central hole in the washer to permit the washer to be rotated 360° with respect to the nut. The lower end of the pilot has a groove. A split ring is mounted in the groove to retain the washer in its preassembled position with respect to the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hong-Kong Disc Lock Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Alistair N. McKinlay
  • Patent number: 6554223
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning a continuous web of material with an entry point of a machine that utilizes the web as a source material. The web may include pre-processed materials that may be thicker than conventional webs and/or have uneven thickness, and/or are susceptible to excessive compression forces and/or tensions which may be found in ordinary straight-wound rolls. Such pre-processed materials may be wound in traverse-wound rolls or festooned into a container forming a web source structure which is wider than the web width. The web is pulled from such web source structure by the machine through a series of guides which include surfaces having various properties and shapes to create tensions in the web and to align the web with the entry point of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jerome L. Kistner, Gerard C. Fournier, Brian J. Reilly, Todd J. Statt, Paul G. Tiettmeyer, Curtis H. Van Valkenburgh
  • Patent number: D473842
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Billy Joe Ratliff, Jr.
  • Patent number: D473983
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Ronald J. Stephens, Matthew J. Archer, Shai Abramson, Shalom Levin, Oded Davidovitch, Yoav Tikochinksy
  • Patent number: D473986
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Richard S. Parr, William G. Alford, Darwin T. McKnight, Matthew J. Archer