Patents Assigned to Sphere
  • Patent number: 6448412
    Abstract: The invention is directed to multiply-substituted fullerene derivatives of novel configurations, and methods for their preparation and use. The methods involve the combinatorial synthesis of a library of fullerene derivatives and comprises the steps of forming a mixture of fullerene derivatives by reacting the Cn fullerene with two or more reactive precursor compounds, and removing the unreacted compounds to yield the fullerene derivatives having the desired activity. Methods for the identification and screening of a combinatorial library of fullerenes by 3He-nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray mass spectrometry to define members with the optimal desired activity are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Sphere Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Murphy, Stephen R. Wilson, Quing Lu
  • Patent number: 6364457
    Abstract: The disclosed continuous ink jet printer nozzle assembly defines a flow path having a powered sonic oscillator associated therewith for inputing vibrations to ink flowing in the path, and a cavity for holding closely adjacent but isolated from the ink flow path one or more sensors operable to detect ink vibrations and/or temperatures immediately downstream from the oscillator, whereby such sensed information can be used in feedback controls for changing input power to the oscillator and/or heater/cooler unit upstream of the oscillator, for stabilizing the printed ink pattern. The nozzle assembly further is formed of three subassemblies: an ink driver subassembly having the powered oscillator and sensor(s), and filter and orifice subassemblies respectively adapted to be connected in serial self-aligned sealed orientations to the exterior upstream and downstream sides of the ink driver subassembly, thereby allowing field replacement of the filter and/or orifice subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sphere Connections, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Colecchi, Robert I. Keur
  • Patent number: 6332703
    Abstract: A lighting device 10, having a light irradiation portion 11 comprised of light-emitting elements; a freely turnable flexible shaft 12; extendible portions 13 that support the said flexible shaft at the base, house the flexible shaft, and provide a nested housing for each one of the extendible portions within one another; a drive portion 14 that drives the light irradiation portion; a power supply portion 15 that supplies electric power to the drive portion; and a case 16 covering the drive portion at least, which more preferably covers the extendible portions, as well. Moreover, this includes ones having a spring mechanism that allows said extendible portions and said flexible shaft to freely extend, and by the spring mechanism, as the flexible shaft extends, said nested extendible portions can be extended in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: LAB. Sphere Corporation
    Inventors: Keiko Tamaoki, Kiyotaka Minato, Satoshi Tamaoki
  • Patent number: 6242977
    Abstract: The present invention is a circuit for use as a preamplifier or amplifier. The circuit has first and second input terminals that are configured to receive first and second balanced input signals. The circuit also includes first and second active devices that control output signals. Each of the active devices have a source, a control, and an output. In one embodiment, the control of the first active device is coupled to the first input terminal. The control of the second active device is coupled to the second input terminal. The circuit further includes first and second output terminals at which output signals are provided. The first and second output terminals are coupled to the first and second active devices. The circuit includes an coupler that couples a floating power supply to the first and second output terminals, and to the first and second active devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Atma-Sphere Music Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph R. Karsten
  • Patent number: 6207185
    Abstract: A method is provided for inducing a systemic immune response to an antigen selected from inactivated HIV I and HIV II antigens in a mammal. The method comprises orally administering lyophilized multilaminar liposomes containing the antigen. The liposomes have a size of from 20 nm to 20 microns. The antigen-containing liposomes are absorbed in the Peyer's patches of the gut. Sufficient antigen-containing liposomes are taken up by macrophages in the Peyer's patches to induce a systemic immune response to the antigen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Bio-Sphere Technology
    Inventors: Jackie R. See, Darryl M. See
  • Patent number: 6199078
    Abstract: A method and system for calculating values for fields interrelated by circular formulas in a data network is described. The system contains a first calculator for which a first field serves as an input value and a second field serves as an output and a second calculator for which the second field serves as an input value and the first field serves as an output. A conflict checker determines whether a circular conflict exists after input of the input value into the first field or the second field, and a conflict resolver resolves the conflict by suppressing the input value in the first field or second field upon determination of the circular conflict.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sphere Software Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Brittan, Frank Leon Rose, Mat Baskin, Louis Franco
  • Patent number: 6165783
    Abstract: Methods are described for the production of neurons or neuronal progenitor cells. Multipotent neural stem cells are proliferated in the presence of growth factors and erythropoietin which induces the generation of neuronal progenitor cells. The erythropoietin may be exogenously applied to the multipotent neural stem cells, or alternatively, the cells can be subjected to hypoxic insult which induces the cells to express erythropoietin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Neuro Spheres Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Samuel Weiss, S. Todd Sorokan
  • Patent number: 6162926
    Abstract: The invention is directed to multiply-substituted fullerene derivatives of novel configurations, and methods for their preparation and use. The methods involve the combinatorial synthesis of a library of fullerene derivatives and comprises the steps of forming a mixture of fullerene derivatives by reacting the C.sub.n fullerene with two or more reactive precursor compounds, and removing the unreacted compounds to yield the fullerene derivatives having the desired activity. Methods for the identification and screening of a combinatorial library of fullerenes by .sup.3 He-nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray mass spectrometry to define members with the optimal desired activity are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Sphere Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Murphy, Stephen R. Wilson, Quing Lu
  • Patent number: 6117449
    Abstract: A method is provided for inducing a systemic immune response to an antigen selected from hepatitis B and hepatitis C antigens in a mammal. The method comprises orally administering lyophilized multilamellar liposomes containing the antigen. The liposomes have a size of from 20 nm to 20 microns. The antigen-containing liposomes are absorbed in the Peyer's patches of the gut. Sufficient antigen-containing liposomes are taken up by macrophages in the Peyer's patches to induce a systemic immune response to the antigen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Bio-Sphere Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackie R. See, Darryl M. See
  • Patent number: 6015576
    Abstract: A method is provided for inducing a systemic immune response to an antigen in a mammal. The method comprises orally administering lyophilized multilamellar liposomes containing the antigen. The liposomes have a size of from 20 nm to 20 microns. The antigen-containing liposomes are absorbed in the Peyer's patches of the gut. Sufficient antigen-containing liposomes are taken up by macrophages in the Peyer's patches to induce a systemic immune response to the antigen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Bio-Sphere Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackie R. See, Darryl M. See
  • Patent number: 5892764
    Abstract: A distributed private branch telephone exchange (PBX) including a local area network carrying telephony traffic, an interface to the PSTN and a station interface connecting to a telephone device transmitting telephony over the local area network. The distributed PBX may contain a number of multi-port modules connected over a local area data network. The multi-port modules convert between synchronous and asynchronous signals and connect between a telephony environment, such as a telephone device, a local area network, and a personal computing device. The distributed PBX also includes PBX software and a graphical user interface (GUI) which facilitate the management of various PBX functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Sphere Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Ernst B. Riemann, Alan T. Weir, Randall Vyskocil, David F. Niesman, M. A. Kergozou
  • Patent number: 5747464
    Abstract: A composition for inhibiting absorption of fat and cholesterol from the gut and a method for making and using the composition. The composition comprises .beta.-sitosterol bound irreversibly to pectin to form a .beta.-sitosterol/pectin complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Bio-Sphere Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jackie Ray See
  • Patent number: 4600105
    Abstract: A method of ore sorting includes distinguishing ore objects or ore containing objects by the light reflected from a laser beam arranged to scan across each of the objects to be sorted. Where the surface of the object is transmitting to the light a halo is produced by certain objects caused by internal scattered reflections of the light. By monitoring the occurrence or degree of occurrences of halos clean distinction of respective objects can be made. In a particular application, the identification of the presence of quartz pebbles in rock specimens can be used for detecting and sorting gold containing objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: Sphere Investments Limited
    Inventors: Ian D. Van Zyl, Peter Wolf
  • Patent number: 4451812
    Abstract: An electrostatic shield for an electrical conductor element comprises a sheet-like array of closely spaced elongate electrical conductors interconnected at one end of the array by an end conductor for connection to a common or ground potential. The conductor to be shielded may be in the form of a loop or coil printed on one face of an insulating plate and the array of shielding conductors and the end conductor may be printed on the other face of the insulating plate. The shield may include two or more series of parallel conductors arranged in adjacent banks and each provided with a separate end connecting conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Assignee: Sphere Investments Limited
    Inventors: Valentino F. Vescovi, Arthur W. Richards
  • Patent number: 4373638
    Abstract: Apparatus for sorting ore rocks in which rocks are fed in stream past detector to measure characteristic selected as basis for sorting and into free flight trajectory from which selected individual rocks are deflected according to measure of said characteristic for those rocks. Apparatus is characterized by rock feed means comprising pair of movable elements having surfaces defining upwardly facing nip and which move downwardly at nip to grip rocks and accelerate them downwardly into free flight such that the free flight trajectory is substantially vertical.The movable elements may be a pair of horizontal rollers having resiliently deformable peripheral surfaces or a pair of flexible endless belts arranged in loops having upper parts defining the nip and, below the nip, adjacent downwardly extending runs between which the rocks are gripped and moved downwardly for some distance below the nip before being projected into vertical free flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Sphere Investments Limited
    Inventor: Mark A. Schapper
  • Patent number: 4365717
    Abstract: Feed apparatus and method for feeding objects such as ore rocks in such a way that they are arranged into at least one moving stream of spaced apart objects. The objects are fed onto a first conveyor belt which may have longitudinal channels to arrange the objects into moving rows. The moving objects are projected from end of the belt in free flight path and caught on downwardly moving section of a second belt which passes to a horizontal run via a concavely curved belt section so that objects are stabilized on the second belt by centrifugal action to emerge on horizontal run as one or more fast moving streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: Sphere Investments Limited
    Inventor: Alan M. Stone
  • Patent number: 4320841
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sorting objects according to the degree to which they possess a required characteristic. Objects are moved in a line on a conveyor belt past a line of detectors each responsive to the required characteristic. Each detector produces a time sequence of output signals and the signals from successive detectors are accumulated. The objects are projected from the downstream end of the conveyor belt in a free flight path past an optical scanner and a series of air blast nozzles. The scanner determines the portions and sizes of the objects and objects selected on a comparison of the detector signals and signals from the scanner are blasted with air jets from appropriate nozzles so as to be deflected from their free flight trajectory. Deflected and undeflected objects are caught in separate collection bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Assignee: Sphere Investments Limited
    Inventors: Hilton P. Gordon, Arthur W. Richards, Albert P. Hawkins, Alan Boyle
  • Patent number: 4231478
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for bulk sorting particulate material such as ore rocks. A conveyor belt carries the material in a continuous stream past a detector responsive to a required characteristic to produce a time sequence of detector signals dependent on degree to which material passing the detector possesses that characteristic. The material is projected from the downstream end of the conveyor belt into free flight trajectory and a deflector plate is moved across the face flight path so that material in some zones of the stream is deflected whereas material in other zones is not deflected. A control circuit monitors the detector signals and causes the deflector plate to move so that said zones are determined by the degree to which the material in them possesses the required characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: Sphere Investments Limited
    Inventor: Alan M. Stone
  • Patent number: 4225089
    Abstract: A fluid flow manifold to deliver pressurized fluid to a series of outlets from a common supply duct has a block body and fluid outlets disposed in linear array along one side of the block. Valves are spread over an opposing side of the body block and connected to the fluid outlet by outlet ducts extending transversely through the block. A supply duct extends longitudinally through the block and delivers fluid to the valves via transfer ducts. The valves are spread in cylindrical array about an axis extending along the linear array of outlets and the outlet ducts converge radially to converge into a linear array defining the fluid outlets such that lengths of all outlet ducts between the valves and the fluid outlets are equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: Sphere Investments Limited
    Inventor: Alan M. Stone
  • Patent number: D390499
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: The Sphere Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Pamela G. Durham, Robert L. Bradford, III