Patents Assigned to Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
  • Speech recognition using a neural net
    Patent number: 5278911
    Abstract: Multiple examples of a vocabulary of known words are recorded. The examples of each word are temporally aligned and supplied to a neural net which identifies unique features of each word which discriminate it from other words in the vocabulary. These unique features are integrated with parameters of a Hidden Semi-Markov model and stored. Speech signals from unknown words are then compared with the stored unique feature information after syntax restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Ian Bickerton
  • Radar apparatus
    Patent number: 5272482
    Abstract: A radar of particular use at close range has a CRT that is scanned in a spiral fashion by applying phase quadrature sinusoidal signals to resonant deflection coils. A digitizer converts the radar return signals to multi-bit signals which are supplied to a memory with signals for alternate pixels stored in different halves of the memory. The apparatus reads out signals from one half of the memory during one scan and reads out signals from the other half of the memory during the next scan so that they are interleaved with the pixels on the display brightened by the first scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: David A. Hannah, Keith J. Blundy
  • Radiation-emitting panels and display assemblies
    Patent number: 5272410
    Abstract: A flat, light-emitting discharge panel, such as for back lighting displays, has two parallel transparent glass plates which are spaced by rows of pyramid-shape pillars. The pillars are formed integrally with at least one of the plates. The space between the two plates contains a discharge gas at reduced pressure, the inner surface of the plates and the surface of the pillars being coated with a phosphor which emits light on discharge in the panel. The outer surface of one plate has a reflector which reflects emitted light through the panel to the display. The pillars have angled surfaces which reflect light out of the panel and which act as light guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Neil A. Fox
  • Display filter arrangements
    Patent number: 5268788
    Abstract: A display especially for viewing by a night-vision aid has an array of LED's which emit green light. A dichroic filter is located in front of the display and transmits radiation at the peak emission of the diodes but reflects radiation in the range to which the night-vision aid is sensitive. A bandpass filter located in front of the dichroic filter prevents transmission of longer wavelengths, and a circularly polarizing filter in front of the bandpass filter prevents transmission of radiation reflected specularly from surfaces behind it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Ian D. Fox, John E. Lee
  • Male urine collection devices
    Patent number: 5267990
    Abstract: A male urine collection device has a short sheath the rear end of which fits over the glans and a short part of the shaft of the penis. The device is of latex rubber and is between 0.6 mm and 1.0 mm thick at its rear end. At its forward end, the device has a outlet tube which is joined to the rear end by a bulbous surge chamber. The rear end of the sheath is everted back over the outlet tube at the mouth of the surge chamber and is self supporting so that, when it is held against the tip of the penis, the rear end can be pushed rearwardly to cause it to revert about the penis. An adhesive band around the rear end of the sheath is protected by a release sheet which can be removed as the sheath reverts about the penis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: David E. Cross, Kenneth J. Brooks
  • Power supplies
    Patent number: 5260645
    Abstract: The power supply of a brushless d.c. motor has a trigger circuit that controls the frequency of a ramp generator which receives an output Vs from an unregulated voltage supply. The amplitude of the output V.sub.R of the ramp generator is dependent on the amplitude of its input. A comparator receives the ramp output V.sub.R at one input and a steady voltage V.sub.D at the other input. The comparator produces a pulse output Vc, with each pulse being initiated and terminated at transitions of the ramp signal and the steady signal so that the width of each pulse increases when the unregulated voltage source decreases. The pulse output Vc is supplied to the control input of the motor's commutation circuit. The commutation circuit switches the supply voltage Vs to the coils of the motor under control of the input Vc so that its mean d.c. output is independent of variation in the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Brian Williams, David M. Addison
  • Electrosurgery equipment
    Patent number: 5246439
    Abstract: Electrosurgery equipment has an alarm circuit for detecting when a return plate electrode is incorrectly attached. Capacitive dividers are connected between ground and each of the power supply line to the active electrode and the power supply return line from the plate electrode. The outputs of the capacitive dividers are supplied to the two inputs of a differential amplifier which provides an output to one input of a comparator. Another input of the capacitor is connected to a reference source. When the output of the differential amplifier rises above the reference source, the comparator produces an alarm signal which inhibits the power supply and gives an audible alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Kevin A. Hebborn, Geoffrey P. Taylor
  • Electrical couplings and systems
    Patent number: 5244424
    Abstract: An electrical coupling for a power supply busbar has a U-shape metal body that embraces the busbar and is locked in place by a pin that extends through apertures in opposite limbs of the body. The pin has a shoulder that urges the bar against a flexible metal strip retained in a groove in the body. A plastics sleeve embraces the body and retains the pin in place, the sleeve being retained by a cable stud screwed into the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Alan Hessey
  • Speech recognition apparatus and methods
    Patent number: 5228087
    Abstract: Speech recognition is carried out by performing a first analysis of a speech signal using a Hidden Semi Markov Model and an asymmetric time warping algorithm. A second analysis is also performed using Multi-Layer Perceptron techniques in conjunction with a neural net. The first analysis is used by the second to identify word boundaries. Where the first analysis provides an indication of the word spoken above a certain level of confidence, an output representative of the word spoken may be generated solely in response to the first analysis, the second analysis being utilized when the level of confidence falls. The output controls a function of an aircraft and provides feedback to the speaker of the words spoken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Ian Bickerton
  • Patient support tables
    Patent number: 5220698
    Abstract: A surgical operating table has a cover resiliently supported on a base assembly and microswitches that detect displacement of the cover to prevent lowering of the patient support platform. The base assembly has a castor plate and a base plate which is lowered to brake movement of the table over the floor. A pneumatic tube around the base plate senses the presence of an object under the plate and causes the plate to be raised. A tilt switch in a leaf of the platform prevents angular displacement of the platform when its angle exceeds a safe limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Keith Hannant
  • Tracheal tube cuff pressure monitor
    Patent number: 5218970
    Abstract: A monitor for measuring the pressure in the cuff on a tracheal tube is clipped onto a coupling at the end of an inflation indicator balloon that communicates with the cuff. The monitor has a silicon strain gauge pressure sensor and a spring that urges the sensor resiliently against one side of the balloon, the other side of the balloon resting on a base plate. The monitor has a numeric display connected to the sensor on which a representation of pressure in the indicator balloon and hence in the cuff is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Christopher S. Turnbull, Brian Crawley
  • Optical multiplexing
    Patent number: 5216532
    Abstract: An optical multiplexing system has several optical sensors connected in parallel between a source and a detector, the path length between source and detector via each sensor being different. The source is modulated at a number of different frequencies, the number being equal to that of the sensors. The output of the detector is an electrical signal which is fed to one input of a number of mixers, one for each frequency. The other input of each mixer receives a different one of each of the frequencies so that each mixer produces an output representative of different ones of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Robert M. Taylor
  • Body fluid drainage assembly
    Patent number: 5207661
    Abstract: An assembly for collecting body fluids, especially cerebro-spinal fluids, which includes a drip chamber having an upper portion for introducing therein fluids to be collected and a lower portion, including a drainage tube, for draining fluids therefrom. The upper portion is provided with an overflow tube which is connected to the drainage tube and an air vent which is connected to a biological filter. The air vent comprises a tubular member and a device for closing the passageway in the tubular member to prevent fluid from wetting the biological filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Frank Repschlager
  • Liquid quantity gauging
    Patent number: 5207099
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel gauging system has three or more optical pressure sensors 1 and 3 mounted in a tank 10. One sensor 1 is mounted on the floor 14 of the tank, the other sensors 2 and 3 being displaced from the first sensors and from each other in the x, y and z directions. The output of each sensor 1 to 3 is representative of the mass of fuel above the sensor and is supplied to a processor 20. The processor 20 is also connected to an three-axis accelerometer system 21, a pressure sensor 24 above the liquid and a density sensor 25. Utilizing these inputs the processor 20 computes the location of the fuel surface and, from information in the store 22 of tank shape, calculates the mass of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Peter D. Baker
  • Medico-surgical tube with sealing cuff and a suction lumen at the top of the cuff
    Patent number: 5201310
    Abstract: A cuffed tracheal tube has a suction lumen extending along the tube and opening through a suction aperture immediately adjacent the upper, proximal end of the cuff. The inflatable cuff is attached to the external surface of the tube by collars. The proximal collar is everted within the inflatable portion of the cuff so that it does not extend beyond the inflatable portion and so that the maximum amount of secretions can be removed through the suction aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Christopher S. Turnbull
  • Optical fibre couplings
    Patent number: 5185836
    Abstract: A coupling between two optical fibre cables has a ceramic ferrule at the end of each cable through which its fibre projects. Each fibre is melted into a spherical termination which sits in a frusto-conical recess at the end of the ferrule. A layer of a transparent resilient adhesive lies between the termination and the recess. The ferrules extend respectively into recesses at opposite ends of a ceramic tube which has a passageway coated with a reflecting layer so that radiation from one cable is focussed by its termination on the termination of the other cable and stray radiation is reflected by the reflecting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Peter D. Baker
  • Tracheal tube assemblies and liners
    Patent number: 5184611
    Abstract: A tracheostomy tube assembly has a right-angle swivel connector connected to the machine end of a tracheostomy tube within which extends a liner. A fitment at the machine end of the liner has two annular collars between which several apertures open into the fitment. If the liner should be displaced rearwardly in the connector and the machine end of the liner becomes blocked, gas can flow through the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Christopher S. Turnbull
  • Optical temperature sensors
    Patent number: 5180227
    Abstract: An optical temperature sensor has an outer probe with a sapphire element at its forward end within a stagnation chamber through which hot gas flows and heats a thermally-emissive coating on the element. A lens focusses radiation emitted by the coating onto one end of a fibre-optic cable that extends within the rear of the probe. A gas passage along the probe enables cooling gas to flow from an inlet at the rear end, around the fibre optic cable, lens and through an outlet rearwardly of a transparent thermal barrier which protects the sapphire element from the cooling gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Laurence N. John, Neil A. Corner
  • Electro-optic apparatus
    Patent number: 5175592
    Abstract: A radiation pyrometer has four rectangular photodiodes mounted in an orthogonal array. Radiation from a hot body is focussed as a circular image centrally of the array. The outputs of diagonally opposite photodiodes are connected together to form two identical output channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Watson
  • Coupling for braided cable
    Patent number: 5174769
    Abstract: A coupling for one end of screened conduit has two brass cones which are nested together and through which extend screened cables. Several apertures are formed around the inner cone which open into the space between the two cones. The braiding of each cable is stripped to one side and threaded through individual apertures so that it extends into the space between the cones. A threaded clamping nut urges the two cones together so that the braiding is clamped between them and good electrical connection is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Kenneth W. J. Dearman