Patents Examined by Anton Harris
  • Patent number: 6897380
    Abstract: The grommet having a longitudinal axis includes a funnel shaped portion having a flared end, a narrowed end and a conical wall with external and internal conical faces. The external conical face includes an external circular groove having a groove base. The grommet further includes a tubular portion extending outwardly from a circular joint section formed at the narrowed end of the funnel shaped portion. The grommet is configured to mount a wire harness for vehicles containing a water-trapping zone, and to be installed into a through-hole formed in a body panel of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Sakata, Yoshimi Uchida
  • Patent number: 6894223
    Abstract: A weatherproof cover plate that may be installed horizontally and vertically is disclosed. In a weatherproof flat cover plate, an apron is provided to offer a water shield along at least two sides of the cover plate base. Additionally, a continuous ridge on the base is disclosed in association with a gasket and a biased hinge to provide additional protection against the weather. A novel locking clip is also disclosed. In a weatherproof bubble cover plate, a biased hinge is provided to bias the lid closed upon the base. Additionally, one or more cord catches in the base and knock-outs in the lid are disclosed. Other embodiments include bubble cover plates having gaps between the lid and the base to allow a cord to pass therethrough when the lid is close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: TayMac Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Shotey, Marcus J. Shotey, Edgar W. Maltby
  • Patent number: 6894220
    Abstract: A grounding member support forms an interference or friction fit with an opening defined by a circuit board. A compliant, electrically conductive grounding member couples to the grounding member support. The grounding member electrically couples a grounding layer of the circuit board with a support mount coupled to the circuit board. During assembly, insertion of the grounding member support within the opening defined by the circuit board creates an expansive or lateral force on the opening. Furthermore, during assembly, the support mount compresses the compliant, electrically conductive grounding member against the circuit board. The interference fit between the grounding member support and the opening along with compression of the grounding member between the circuit board and the support mount limits the amount of stress received by a surface of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic Michael Kozak, Lester Creekmore
  • Patent number: 6891104
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a weatherproof electrical outlet box assembly for shielding and protecting electrical components from moisture comprising a faceplate for attaching to an outlet box, the faceplate being substantially planar, and perimetrically bounded by a substantially rectangular side edge, the faceplate having at least one aperture for receiving an electrical component and; the faceplate including a first hinge socket and a second hinge socket extending respectively from the side edge in substantially orthogonal orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Cong Thanh Dinh
  • Patent number: 6891710
    Abstract: Method for control of a proportional magnet comprising a magnet core, a magnet armature, a magnet coil for operating a control element in a shift valve or a proportional pressure-control valve, particularly a pressure-control valve for clutch operation in an automatic motor vehicle transmission, and comprising an electronic control device, whereby the magnet core may be moved back and forth between a control region and a hold region with a magnetic hold position of the magnet armature and a defined transition from the control region to the hold position may be executed and whereby mechanisms are provided for recognition of the movements of the magnet armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Karlheinz Mayr, Markus Eisele, Robert Ingenbleek, Walter Kill, Hubert Remmlinger, Jochen Fischer, Bernd Fessler
  • Patent number: 6886995
    Abstract: An electro-optical interface with a package base having an electrical connection configuration suitable for connecting to a source of electrical signals. A semiconductor optical signal source is provided mounted to the base and having a second or higher order grating in the cavity. The signal source is operatively connected to the package base whereby the electronic signals may be converted into optical signals. A waveguide is positioned adjacent to the signal source to couple the optical signal to the waveguide. The cavity is sized, shaped and positioned so that a radiation field for the cavity is not a mode discrimination mechanism wherein any back reflections into the cavity will affect a coupling coefficient to the radiation field without significantly adversely affecting the output signal quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Photonami, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Haslett, Wei Li, Seyed Mostafa Sadeghi, Ali M. Shams-Zadeh-Amiri
  • Patent number: 6886999
    Abstract: The cleaning apparatus for electrodes includes a supporting container provided with a replaceable brush body; and a rotation mechanism for the rotation of the supporting container. The brush body accepts the insertion of the electrodes and cleans the tip end thereof by rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Iwashita, Akira Okubo, Takeshi Sato
  • Patent number: 6878873
    Abstract: A damped sleeve having a damping layer attached to a backing layer is disclosed. The damping layer is formed from a non-woven energy absorbing felt and is attached to the backing layer by lines of attachment which define pockets between the layers. The layers are positioned coaxially around an axis and define a central space for receiving elongated items to be protected from vibration. Resilient filamentary support members are arranged between the damping and backing layers to support the layers radially in spaced relation relative to the axis. The support members may be helically wrapped around the axis, circumferentially positioned or arranged in a zig-zag pattern transversely to the axis. A slit in the layers provides access to the central space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel B. Fryberger, Jr., Brian M. Snyder
  • Patent number: 6878877
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an adjustable electrical outlet box assembly comprising an outlet box, an electrical outlet assembly, and an adaptor. The adaptor is located between the box and the outlet assembly and is positioned at least partially within the box. The adaptor includes opposing mounting flanges and opposing outlet assembly support tabs that are displaced from the mounting flanges. The adaptor may be adjusted to different heights, relative to the outlet box, to accommodate different thicknesses for different floor or wall covering materials. Due to the offset between the adaptor mounting flanges and the outlet support tabs, the outer surfaces of the outlet assembly will lie generally in the same plane as, or slightly recessed from the plane of the mounting flanges. The resulting outlet box installation can be used with a flush mounted cover plate which protects and secures the electrical outlet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Lew Electric Fittings Company
    Inventors: James S. Cozzi, John E. Romer
  • Patent number: 6875925
    Abstract: An insulating sheet is used in an electronic apparatus including a power supply board, a housing in which the power supply board is disposed, and a conductive bottom plate attached to the housing. The insulating sheet is disposed between the power supply board and the bottom plate. The insulating sheet includes an opening portion which allows air flowing from an air inlet to pass therethrough; and a guide portion erected in order to guide a harness disposed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6873514
    Abstract: An integrated solenoid system including a single housing containing a solenoid, a controller and one or more electrical connections. The controller includes temperature compensating means and/or voltage compensating means thereby providing predetermined, substantially constant currents to said solenoid. The housing includes an integral two-part end cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Trombetta, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis A. Maller, Todd McMahon
  • Patent number: 6867365
    Abstract: A sensor with a carrier board which is arranged in a housing is at least partly produced by an injection molding process and fitted with electronic, optical electromechanical and/or opto-electronic components. A region of the carrier board and at least some of the components disposed thereon are arranged in a hollow space formed inside the at least partly injection molded housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Torsten Neuhaeuser
  • Patent number: 6865065
    Abstract: A method and system for processing wafers is disclosed. According to one embodiment (100) a chuck system (102) may be situated opposite to an input source (104). A chuck system (102) may apply a force (e.g., mechanical and/or electromagnetic) that deforms a substrate (108). Once deformed, essentially all of a substrate (108) may be oriented at a predetermined angle (e.g., 90°) with respect to an input source (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Ion Beam Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiong Chen, Jihliang Chen, Jianmin Qiao
  • Patent number: 6850402
    Abstract: A solenoid control circuit that includes two switching networks that are selectively opened and closed in a current limit cycle to control the magnitude of the current flowing through the solenoid. The configuration of the switching networks is such that current flows through an energy dissipating resistor only when the solenoid is commanded off by the solenoid control circuit, and not during the current limit cycle. Thus, the energy dissipated by this resistor is reduced relative to other solenoid control circuits, making it more efficient, and reducing EMI emissions from the circuit while providing for a fast solenoid response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Terry J. Ahrendt
  • Patent number: 6846117
    Abstract: An optical module package may include a body that, in one embodiment, may be made of metal. Ceramic inserts may be inserted into the metal body. The ceramic inserts may have a pair of shelves to facilitate electrical connection. In one embodiment, each shelf may include an upwardly directed contact surface and a downwardly directed contact surface. As a result, a more compact design may be formed in some embodiments which has desirable strength characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Eric J. Zbinden
  • Patent number: 6840807
    Abstract: A card connector including a base and a sheet metal cover combined with the base to form a flat hollow housing. Also, a plurality of pin-like elongate terminal members extend from an end and lateral walls of the sheet metal cover to be integral with the base, whereby a structure durable against an impact imposed when the housing falls is obtainable as well as the height of the card connector becomes smaller as the market requires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Ooya, Kiyoshi Abe, Yasuhiro Ono
  • Patent number: 6842324
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling movement of an object through a medium using a magnetic field by combining the magnetic field of a primary electromagnetic coil having a central axis with the magnetic fields of a plurality of secondary electromagnetic coils having axes generally parallel to the central axis of the primary coil and positioned within the primary coil to produce an operational magnetic field by which movement of the object in a medium is controlled outside of the primary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: FSU Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Yehia M. Eyssa
  • Patent number: 6831229
    Abstract: A hinge cover mechanism for an electric device with a folding casing with at least a first casing part and a second casing part adjoined by a hinge mechanism includes a hinge cover component having at least first pivot means which cooperate with the second casing part to allow movement of the hinge cover component about a first cover pivot axis and second pivot means which cooperate with the first casing part to allow both linear movement of the hinge cover component and movement of the hinge cover component about a second cover pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Esa Määttä, Timo Herranen
  • Patent number: 6828502
    Abstract: A fluid release system for removing water within secondary conduits which contain electrical cables extending between a transformer and an electrical meter. The system includes a release valve having a side opening for release of water collected therein. The system further includes a flap connected to pivot between a closed position covering the side opening, and an open position for removal of water collected from secondary conduits connected to the release valve. The release valve is connected to secondary conduits extending between the transformer and the electrical meter installed on an exterior wall of a residential or commercial building. The fluid release system removes water from the secondary conduits before water is transferred to the electrical meter therefore minimizing water damage to the electrical meter and associated circuit breakers. A method of releasing water from within secondary conduits by operation of the release valve is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Gregory L. Green
  • Patent number: 6829127
    Abstract: A capacitive electrode structure for use in an integrated circuit fabricated on a substrate comprises a first electrode formed by a diffusion region in the substrate, an insulating layer formed on the diffusion region, and a second electrode formed by a conductive layer deposited on said insulating layer. To increase the capacitance per chip area of the capacitive electrode structure, a plurality of recesses are formed in the first electrode on an upper surface thereof with a lower surface of the second electrode substantially following a contour of these recesses. In one embodiment, the capacitive electrode structure is employed for a capacitor formed between a control gate and a floating gate in an EEPROM cell. Capacitors in other types of integrated circuit can be likewise formed using the electrode structure of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Yow-Juang (Bill) Liu, Jayakannan Jayapalan, Francois Gregoire, Peter John McElheny