Patents Examined by Carl Arbes
  • Patent number: 9750561
    Abstract: A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Kim V. Brandt, Allan G. Aquino
  • Patent number: 9744624
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a circuit board, including preparing a substrate having a resin layer and a stop layer, forming at least one conduction hole penetrating the resin layer and stopping at the stop layer, forming a first metal layer through a sputtering process, forming a second metal layer on the first metal layer through a chemical plating process, forming a third metal layer having a circuit pattern, exposing part of the second metal layer and filling up the conduction hole through an electroplating process, and etching the second metal layer and the first metal layer under the second metal layer to expose the resin layer under the first metal layer. Since the first metal layer provides excellent surface properties, the second and third metal layers are well fixed and stable. The etched circuit pattern has a line width/pitch less than 10 ?m for fine line width/pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: KINSUS INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Jaen-Don Lan, Pin-Chung Lin, Chen-Rui Tseng, Cheng-En Ho, Yu-An Chen
  • Patent number: 9748721
    Abstract: A method of fabricating connector terminals, includes (a) preparing a single electrically conductive metal sheet including a plurality of pre-terminals, and a plurality of carriers connecting adjacent pre-terminals to each other, each of the pre-terminals having at one end thereof in a length-wise direction thereof an elastically deformable contact portion, and at the other end in the length-wise direction a first area, a pitch between adjacent contact portions being unequal to a pitch between adjacent first areas, (b) folding each of the first areas around a line extending in a length-wise direction thereof to thereby form a male tab having a predetermined thickness, and (c) removing the carriers out of the metal sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DAI-ICHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Endo, Masaya Muta
  • Patent number: 9750170
    Abstract: An automatic assembling system, comprising: a robot performing an operation of inserting a first member into a second member; a force sensor for detecting an insertion force exerted on the first member by the robot; and a controller for controlling the insertion force with a closed-loop feedback control according to a difference between the insertion force detected by the force sensor and a predetermined insertion force, so that the insertion force is less than the predetermined insertion force to protect the first member and/or the second member from damage due to an overlarge insertion force. The present invention also is directed to a method for automatically assembling a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: TE Connectivity Corporation, Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Lvhai Hu, Dandan Zhang, Fengchun Xie, Robert Neil Shaddock
  • Patent number: 9743533
    Abstract: A rigid-flexible printed circuit board (PCB) a method for manufacturing the rigid-flexible PCB, and a PCB module having the rigid-flexible PCB are provided. The rigid-flexible printed circuit board (PCB) defines a first area, a second area, and a third area connected in the described order. The rigid-flexible PCB includes a first flexible PCB, a second flexible PCB adhered with the first flexible PCB through a bonding sheet in the third area, and, a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer formed on opposite side of the rigid-flexible PCB in the first area and the third area. The first flexible PCB is apart from the second flexible PCB in the first area and the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GARUDA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hsien-Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 9724497
    Abstract: Various methods for optimizing coating of medical devices, such as balloon catheters are disclosed. One method configures catheter balloon folds based on balloon diameter and volume. Other methods include using a specifically-sized protective sheath, using a vacuum, using pressure, pulling the balloon through a coating solution, using at least one spacer or a wick between at least one fold for metering a therapeutic coating into the folds of the balloon, placing an intermediate layer between the balloon and the therapeutic coating, placing a soluble film having a therapeutic agent around the catheter balloon or inside the folds, and any combination thereof. Balloon catheters and catheter balloons having a specific folding configuration, a specifically-sized protective sheath, an intermediate layer, or a soluble film are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Ewing, Gregory G. Brucker, Scott A. Bednar, John R. Periard, Ashok A. Sharma, Steven D. Savage, Arthur E. Uber, Brian P. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 9728331
    Abstract: A method to form a choke is disclosed, wherein the method comprises: encapsulating a hollow coil by a molding body; forming a first core, wherein the first core comprises a pillar; and disposing at least one first portion of the pillar inside the encapsulated hollow coil. The method avoids the overflow or vertical flow issue during a molding process for encapsulating a coil that has been wound on a core already.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: CYNTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lan-Chin Hsieh, Roger Hsieh, Yu-Ching Kuo, Chun-Tiao Liu
  • Patent number: 9725929
    Abstract: Electrified access-control technology devices for a door, particularly electrified locks for a door, having embedded circuitry therein, and methods of making the same. One or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) having various electronic circuitry are secured inside a housing that encases an access-control device, particularly a lock, for a door. The one or more PCB(s) may be embedded on an internal surface of the housing such that the embedded PCB resides inside the housing along with the lock itself. The embedded PCB(s) avoid interference of both any working components of the lock inside the housing and any openings residing in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Sargent Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Picard, Robert C. Hunt, Scott B. Lowder
  • Patent number: 9723720
    Abstract: In a device for producing and/or processing a workpiece, in particular circuit boards (1), in a work station (2), in particular for printing a corresponding blank or for checking finished circuit boards (1), at least one mark (15) is provided on the workpiece. In this arrangement, at least one reference (14), which can be brought into alignment with the mark (15), is provided in the work station (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Konrad GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Konrad, Stefan Werner
  • Patent number: 9700223
    Abstract: A health-monitor patch comprising at least one physiological sensor and digital processor is configured to be adhered to the skin of a subject. A health-monitor patch may further include an accelerometer and may detect cardiac waveforms, activity performed by the subject, and a body orientation of the subject. A health-monitor patch may be disposable, in some embodiments, and used for outpatient monitoring. Aspects of noise cancellation and reel-to-reel manufacturing are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: LumiraDx UK Ltd
    Inventors: Thomas J. Quinlan, Paul J. Gaudet, David Peabody Goodall, III, John Edgar MacLean
  • Patent number: 9702728
    Abstract: A method of making a Coriolis vibratory gyroscope with a three dimensional mushroom resonator element includes defining a cavity in a substrate wafer; bonding a cap wafer onto the substrate over the cavity from which cap wafer the resonator element will be formed; heating the substrate and cap wafer to generate a pressure build-up within the cavity; plastically deforming the cap wafer by the pressure build-up to form the mushroom resonator element having a perimeter around the mushroom resonator element; releasing the three dimensional mushroom resonator element at the perimeter by selectively removing material so that the perimeter of mushroom resonator element is free to vibrate; and disposing a layer of conductive material on the mushroom resonator element to form electrodes thereon for use in driving and sensing vibrations of the mushroom resonator element and its perimeter. A microgyroscope made by such a method is also included within the embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Andrei M. Shkel, Doruk Senkal, Mohammed Ahamed
  • Patent number: 9706640
    Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a first printed circuit substrate and a second printed circuit substrate. The first printed circuit substrate includes a substrate layer and a first conductive circuit layer. The first conductive circuit layer is formed on the substrate layer. The substrate layer includes at least two first grooves. The first conductive circuit layer includes at least one signal wire. The first grooves are defined in both sides of the signal wire. The second printed circuit substrate is formed on the first printed circuit substrate. The second circuit substrate includes a third copper layer. A second groove is defined in the third copper layer. The first grooves are opposite to the second groove. The first grooves and the second groove form a space. The signal wire is surrounded by air in the space. A method for manufacturing the printed circuit board is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignees: FuKui Precision Component (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HongQiSheng Precision Electronics (QinHuangDao) Co.,Ltd., GARLIDA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Jaan Ho, Xian-Qin Hu, Yi-Qiang Zhuang, Fu-Wei Zhong
  • Patent number: 9698553
    Abstract: A crimping die includes a first die for constraining the wire crimping portion by a concave die surface shaped in conformity with the wire crimping portion, and a second die including a convex die surface paired with the concave die surface. A width of a recess on the concave die surface and that of a projection on the convex die surface are equal to an outer diameter of the wire crimping portion. The wire crimping portion is pressed by the concave die surface of the first die and the convex die surface of the second die, whereby the wire crimping portion and the wire inserted into the cylindrical interior of the wire crimping portion are crimped and fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Sugimoto, Kazuo Toita
  • Patent number: 9699915
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method for manufacturing an electric circuit that includes providing a support having a first region, the first region having a first conductor that has a first sidewall and a second conductor that has a second sidewall, wherein the first conductor is electrically isolated from the second conductor is provided. A distance between the first sidewall and the second sidewall is increased using a technique such as stamping, etching, or trimming. A first circuit element is coupled to the first conductor and encapsulated in a mold compound. In accordance with another embodiment, an electric circuit includes a support having interconnect with sidewalls wherein notches extend from one or more of the sidewalls into the interconnect. A circuit element is coupled to the interconnect by a bonding agent and protected by a protective structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inoguchi, Takayuki Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9686894
    Abstract: A size S1 of each of projections 32b provided on an outer perimeter of a sprocket 32 in a proceeding direction of a tape member 20 at a height where each of the projections 32b is engaged with each of feed holes 22 of the tape member 20 is larger than a diameter D of each of the feed holes 22 of the tape member 20, and a size S2 of each of the projections 32b in a direction perpendicular to the proceeding direction of the tape member 20 at a height where each of the projections 32b is engaged with each of the feed holes 22 of the tape member 20 is smaller than the diameter D of each of the feed holes 22 of the tape member 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunori Kanai, Masanori Hiyoshi, Shigekazu Yoneyama, Satoshi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 9685750
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and tool for assisting alignment of one or more pin headers. In particular, the invention relates to a tool-assisted method of aiding alignment of one or more pin headers placed on a printed circuit board (PCB) prior to soldering, as well as to the tool itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEC CONTROL TECHNIQUES LIMITED
    Inventor: Charles Anthony Cachia
  • Patent number: 9686870
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic device packages and, more particularly, to microelectronic device packages having bumpless build-up layer (BBUL) designs, wherein at least one secondary device is disposed within the thickness (i.e. the z-direction or z-height) of the microelectronic device of the microelectronic device package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Weng Hong Teh, John S. Guzek
  • Patent number: 9681580
    Abstract: The current invention comprises a base plate made of at least a first metal and a second metal clad together with a metallurgical bond, where the first and second metals are different metals. The base plate includes an enhanced surface that is entirely contained within the second metal, where the enhanced surface comprises fins, pins, or other structures. The tip of the enhanced surface extends above the outer surface of the second metal, and the enhancements are monolithic with the second metal. The base plate can form one component of a cold plate for cooling electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Wolverine Tube, Inc.
    Inventors: Sy-Jenq Loong, Donald Lynn Smith
  • Patent number: 9680358
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a winding body includes: a bulging portion forming step in which bulging portions are formed by bending at a set pitch on a conductor wire; a crank portion forming step in which the crank portions are formed by bending on central portions of the bulging portions; an inclined portion and rectilinear portion forming step in which inclined portions and rectilinear portions are formed by bending on the conductor wire on which the bulging portions are formed at a set pitch and on which the crank portions are formed on each of the bulging portions after completion of the bulging portion forming step and the crank portion forming step; and a circular arc portion forming step in which the inclined portions are bent and formed into a circular arc shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Tsuiki, Hiroyuki Akita, Atsushi Sakaue, Masaya Inoue
  • Patent number: 9673587
    Abstract: An automatic-robotic-system-for-cable assembly is provided. The system is configured to detect the inner-wire placement. The detected inter-wire is conveyed toward a connector's relevant pad. In addition the robotic system is configured to associate the inner wire to the connector's relevant pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Frisimos, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tal Pechter, Hanan Ben Ron