Patents Examined by Carlos E Garcia
  • Patent number: 9843362
    Abstract: An information processing device includes: a communication control unit which performs short-range wireless communication with an IC tag; a base antenna; and a terminal to which an extension antenna device can be connected, the extension antenna device includes: extension antennas; and a terminal which, by being connected to the terminal to which an extension antenna device can be connected, connects the extension antennas and the information processing device to each other, and the communication control unit performs the short-range wireless communication with the IC tag via at least any of the base antenna 19 and the extension antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Suzuki, Yasuyuki Shimohata
  • Patent number: 9837113
    Abstract: A stationary portion of a spindle motor includes a stator portion and an outside surface. The stator portion includes a stator core and coils. The outside surface extends in an axial direction parallel or substantially parallel to a central axis, and is centered on the central axis. The spindle motor includes a fixing portion at which an inside surface of the stator core and the outside surface are fixed to each other. The fixing portion includes a first press fit portion, a second press fit portion, and a gap arranged therein. The gap is located between the first press fit portion and the second press fit portion. The second press fit portion is located above the first press fit portion. At least a portion of the second press fit portion is located above a middle of the stator core in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Takemoto, Tsuchitsugu Watanabe, Hiroyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 9836892
    Abstract: A vehicular control device includes: a transmitter section that transmits a request signal to an electronic key according to an input operation; a receiver section that receives a response signal from the electronic key; a verification section that performs verification of the electronic key on the basis of the response signal; a determination section that determines that an abnormal state occurs, when the receiver section cannot receive the response signal until a first time or when the receiver section receives the response signal until the first time and the verification section fails in verification based on the response signal, after the transmitter section has transmitted the request signal; and a control section that prohibits, when the determination section determines that an abnormal state occurs, a vehicle operation until a second time passes after the determination, and allows the vehicle operation after the second time has passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Nishiyama, Tomoyuki Funayama
  • Patent number: 9799154
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic key (32) having at least two contacts (324, 325, 326) for the transmission of data and/or energy to an electronic lock (16). In accordance with the invention, the housing (321) of the electronic key (32) comprises an input device (33) for the entry of an authorization code (36). The invention also relates to an electronic closure system with an electronic key (32) and an electronic lock (16) as well as to a method for secure acquisition of an access authorization or for secure delivery of a key to at least one user (22) by means of an electronic lock (16) and at least one electronic key (32) carried by the user (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lock Your World GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manuela Engel-Dahan, Ralf Knobling, Thilo Meisel
  • Patent number: 9792467
    Abstract: A wireless card including a wireless power receiving module configured to receive wireless power supply from a first wireless user equipment in a first time period, to obtain first power; a wireless communications module, electrically connected to the wireless power receiving module, and configured to use the first power in the first time period and use ultra-wideband impulse radio to perform wireless communication with the first wireless user equipment; a contact-type power supply module, electrically connected to the wireless power receiving module, and configured to use the first power in the first time period to supply power to an inserted memory card; a first contact-type communications module, electrically connected to the wireless power receiving module, in communication connection with the wireless communications module, and configured to use the first power in the first time period to perform contact-type communication with the memory card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haizhao Lu, Qingan Rong
  • Patent number: 9785880
    Abstract: Radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled devices are presented. In some examples, a RFID tag may be arranged on the device and the device may further include a RFID tag mode modifier which is configured to transfer the mode or state of the RFID tag from a first mode, such as an inactive mode, to a second mode, such as an active or enabled mode, or vice versa. For instance, the RFID tag mode modifier may transfer the RFID tag from an inactive mode or state to an active mode or state in which the RFID tag may be enabled for use, or vice versa. The RFID tag mode modifier may be an activation button, a contact region, or a physical device configured to prevent transmission of RFID signals. One or more methods of generating or using the devices described herein are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventor: Manu Kurian
  • Patent number: 9761255
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a suspension assembly includes a support plate, a trace member on the support plate and a drive element mounted on the trace member. The trace member includes a metal plate, and a multilayered member on the metal plate. The multilayered member includes a first insulating layer, a conductive layer stacked on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer stacked on the conductive layer. The multilayered member includes a mount portion on which the drive element is mounted, and a branching portion arranged along the mount portion with a gap therebetween. At least one portion of the branching portion is formed into a thin portion having a thickness less than other portions of the multilayered member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takafumi Kikuchi, Kenichiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 9754631
    Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a disc drive apparatus. A base deck and a cover are joined to one another by a friction-stir weld along a lip of the cover that extends along a periphery of the cover and over a surface of the base deck. The base deck and cover enclose a cavity, which is hermetically sealed by the weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Edward Severson, David G. Fitzgerald, David Ray Lapp, Jerome Thomas Coffey, Robert M. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 9747737
    Abstract: A locking device employs improved lock management techniques based on time delay polices that use a random period of time. The locking device receives a first credential of a custodian, validates the first credential and determines a random period of time based upon a time-delay policy when the first credential is validated. The locking device executes a lock release protocol upon expiration of the random period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: UTC FIRE & SECURITY AMERICAS CORPORATION, INC.
    Inventor: Adam Kuenzi
  • Patent number: 9741186
    Abstract: A remote security access procedure for granting access to a wirelessly controlled lock may include one of receiving an address location at a server to setup a temporary access, receiving a security question at the server required to be answered prior to the temporary access being granted, receiving a time window at the server for the temporary access to be granted, encrypting via the server an access credential comprising the address location, the security question and the time window, and transmitting from the server the encrypted access credential to a guest device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Lemke
  • Patent number: 9741376
    Abstract: A multi-layer piezoelectric microactuator assembly has at least one poled and active piezoelectric layer and one poled but inactive piezoelectric layer. The poled but inactive layer acts as a constraining layer in resisting expansion or contract of the first piezoelectric layer thereby reducing or eliminating bending of the assembly as installed in an environment, thereby increasing the effective stroke length of the assembly. Poling only a single layer would induce stresses into the device; hence, polling both piezoelectric layers even though only one layer will be active in use reduces stresses in the device and therefore increases reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Kuen Chee Ee, Long Zhang, Peter Hahn, David Glaess
  • Patent number: 9741370
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield, a gap section, and a return path section. The main pole has a top surface including an inclined portion and a flat portion. The coil includes a specific coil element. The specific coil element has a front end portion, and an inclined surface contiguous with the front end portion. The write shield includes a top shield layer located on the front side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to the main pole, and located closer to a medium facing surface than the specific coil element. The top shield layer is located on the rear side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to an imaginary plane including the inclined surface of the specific coil element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Kazuki Sato, Yukinori Ikegawa, Hironori Araki, Shigeki Tanemura
  • Patent number: 9741371
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield and a gap section. The write shield includes a trailing shield, a leading shield and two side shields. The gap section includes a trailing gap section, a leading gap section and two side gap sections. Each of the two side gap sections and the leading gap section increases in thickness with increasing distance from a medium facing surface. In the medium facing surface, the thickness of the leading gap section is greater than the width of each of the two side gap sections, and the width of each of the two side gap sections decreases with decreasing distance to the leading gap section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamaguchi, Michitaka Nishiyama, Kei Hirata, Kenkichi Anagawa
  • Patent number: 9740975
    Abstract: Provided is a method for encoding chipless RFID tags in real-time. The method includes exposing a chipless RFID transponder to a conductive material, the RFID transponder comprising an antenna and a plurality of resonant structures, the plurality of resonant structures together defining a first spectral signature. Each of the plurality of resonant structures includes a respective one of a frequency domain. The method also includes depositing a conductive material on at least one of the resonant structures to short the at least one of the resonant structures. The remainder of the plurality of resonant structures that are not shorted by the conductive material define a second spectral signature for the RFID transponder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: George A. Gibson, Wayne A. Buchar
  • Patent number: 9734863
    Abstract: A record player capable of playing phonographic records that may be played in a scratch style by a user. The record player includes a tonearm that is rotatably supported at or near an end of the tonearm by a structure having both horizontally and vertically fastening points to the tonearm. The fastening points are configured to receive a user activated tension adjustment element. A user may advance or retreat the tension adjustment element to selectably control the positioning, or relative tension in the tonearm such that any record skipping due to undesirable tonearm pressure is controlled, or to achieve a specific sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Gibson Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bach, Gus Jursch
  • Patent number: 9728207
    Abstract: A data storage system may have at least one data writer that incorporates a write pole that continuously extends from an air bearing surface. The write pole can be separated from the air bearing surface by a side shield that consists of a first magnetic layer positioned on the air bearing surface and a guard layer separated from the air bearing surface by the first magnetic layer. The guard layer may be configured with a different magnetic saturation flux density than the first magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Prim Gangmei, Swaraj Basu, Angela Moore, Muhammad Asif Bashir, Praphaphan Wipatawit, Mark Anthony Gubbins, Marcus B. Mooney, Sharon Hammant
  • Patent number: 9721598
    Abstract: A terminal pad of a flexure for a head suspension connected to a functional part through a bonding material includes a terminal body, a base plating formed on a surface of the terminal body and having an uniform thickness, a padding plating made of a same material as the base plating and integrated with the base plating so that the padding plating swells with respect to the base plating, and a surface plating formed on a surface of the padding plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sei Kawao, Yukie Yamada
  • Patent number: 9715604
    Abstract: An RFID reading device according to the present invention includes: response requesting unit (20) configured to output a response request signal to a wireless tag; response reception unit (24) configured to extract an ID of the wireless tag and detecting a signal collision of a response from the wireless tag, based on a response signal output from the wireless tag in response to the response request signal; reading result acquisition unit (25) configured to acquire a read tag number indicating the number of wireless tags from which the corresponding ID has been successfully read; collision occurrence status acquisition unit (26) configured to count the number of time slots in which the signal collision has occurred and calculating the number of collisions; and reading result complementing unit (27) configured to estimate the number of readable wireless tags based on the read tag number and the number of collisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Konishi
  • Patent number: 9710985
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a vehicle-mounted transmitter which transmits a first response request signal; a vehicle-mounted receiver which receives, from a portable device, a response signal to the first response request signal; and a controller which allows an operation for welcoming a user carrying the portable device to a vehicle according to a reception state of the response signal. When intermittently transmitting the first response request signal at predetermined intervals via the vehicle-mounted transmitter, the controller determines whether condition set in advance is established. When the condition is established, the controller transmits a second response request signal different from the first response request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Tomita, Naoyuki Ishihara, Tetsuo Nishidai, Takahiro Inaguma, Kazuya Hamada
  • Patent number: 9711173
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider body of a disk drive. The slider body is electrically coupled to a plurality of end bond pads. A voltage applied to one more of the end bond pads sets a surface potential of the slider body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Daniel W. Olson, Declan Macken, Timothy William Stoebe