Patents Examined by Christine K. Oda
  • Patent number: 6750649
    Abstract: A method of generating an adiabatic FM pulse, comprising: selecting a starting trajectory for the pulse; and determining a velocity profile along the trajectory by constraining at least a portion of the velocity profile to fulfill an adiabatic condition other than a frequency frame adiabatic condition. Preferably, the other adiabatic condition is one defined in a double-rotating reference frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Daniel Rosenfeld
  • Patent number: 6724198
    Abstract: An inductive sensory system generally includes a sense inductor, a reference sense inductor, an oscillator, a feedback control loop, and a comparator. The oscillator is connectable to both the sense inductor and the reference sense inductor. Upon the oscillator being connected to the reference sense inductor, the feedback control loop establishes a fixed reference level. Upon the sense inductor being connected to the oscillator, the comparator compares the state of the sense inductor against a threshold that is derived from the fixed reference level to determine the change in inductance of the sense inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: G. Burnell Hohl
  • Patent number: 6646430
    Abstract: A current sensor which has a rigid metallic link member having two end portions of conductive material and an intermediate portion of resistive material interconnecting the end portions. An integrated circuit analog to digital converter is mounted on the link member. The converter has analog input terminals for connection to respective ones of the two end portions of the link member and digital output terminals for connection to a processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Delta Electrical Limited
    Inventors: Robert Charles Skerritt, Mark David Crosier, Martin Anthony Murray, Brian Martin Reeder
  • Patent number: 6628124
    Abstract: A sensor unit is formed by a single integral body obtained by coupling a resiliently deforming portion with a base portion without interposing a soft material therebetween, and a force applied to a probe secured to a front end of the resiliently deforming portion is measured as a change in capacitance of a capacitor constituted by electrodes secured to opposing surfaces of the resiliently deforming portion and base portion. These electrodes are connected to a resonance circuit of a high frequency oscillation circuit, and in order to measure a change in a resonance frequency which is varied in accordance with the applied force, an output signal from the high frequency oscillation circuit is counted by a digital frequency counter for a predetermined time period. It is possible to provide the electrocapacitive type force measuring apparatus which can measure a very small force with an extremely high precision without being affected by temperature variation, humidity variation and secular variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignees: Riken, S. T. Research Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yutaka Yamagata, Tsunehiko Ozaki, Victor Morozov, Kozo Inoue
  • Patent number: 6628123
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transducer device (7) featuring supply lines (17, 18) in a level sensor. The transducer device (7) is coupled to a fork resonator with fork tines and is used for both oscillation excitation and also for oscillation detection. For detection of a defective transducer device or an incorrectly connected connection of this transducer device (7), the capacitance value between the supply lines (17,18) or a variable proportional to this value is determined during the oscillation excitation and if there is deviation from a predetermined desired value by a predetermined amount, a fault signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Felix Raffalt, Adrian Frick
  • Patent number: 6614241
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor for detecting surface condensation which includes a carrier (2), a metal layer (3) applied to the carrier (2) to form an interdigital structure, a passivation layer (6) formed over the metal layer (3), and a hydrophilic layer (7) applied over the passivation layer (6), where the hydrophilic layer (7) increases a surface tension of the passivation layer (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Schmitt, Gottfried Berthold, Juergen Bach
  • Patent number: 6608474
    Abstract: A frequency change measuring device includes frequency divider for frequency dividing a measuring signal to produce frequency-divided signals, first counter for counting the frequency-divided signals to calculate frequency-division numbers, frequency division numbers transmitter for transmitting the frequency division numbers in synchronism with the frequency-divided signals, frequency division numbers receiver for receiving the frequency division numbers transmitted from the frequency division numbers transmitter, second counter for counting outputs of a reference clock generator synchronized with a timekeeping device that keeps the standard time, latch unit for latching a count of frequency outputs of the reference clock generator synchronous for generating reference clocks on the basis of signals synchronous with the frequency division numbers, and operations unit for determining a frequency change on the basis of the count and the frequency division numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: President of Nagoya University
    Inventor: Tsuneo Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6608487
    Abstract: A contact-connecting device connects more than two indicator fibers in an electrically conducting manner to create a conducting connection of the indicator fibers at the end of a safety-monitored synthetic fiber rope made from electrically insulating synthetic fibers and the electrically conducting indicator fibers. A fastener fixes the contact-connecting device and the indicator fibers relative to one another, which creates a low-cost and reliable contact-connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Claudio De Angelis
  • Patent number: 6605949
    Abstract: In a quasi-hemispherical Fabry-Perot resonator for the non-destructive determination of the surface resistance Rs of electrically conductive thin material films, spherical and planar mirrors are disposed opposite each other in a double shielded cooled resonator space structure supported on individual base plates and the planar mirror, on which a wafer with the thin material film is supported, is mounted on a support arm which extends through the double shield structure. Shield sections through which the support arm extends are supported on pivot arms which are pivotally mounted in the center of the base plates and the shield sections are engaged by the support arm so that they move along with the support arm when the support arm is moved sidewardly for a positioning change of the planar mirror thereby preventing radiation leakage from the resonator space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Heidinger, Reiner Schwab, Jakob Burbach, Jürgen Halbritter
  • Patent number: 6603315
    Abstract: A measuring probe for determining the physical stability of emulsions and dispersions, is constructed from a rod comprising a material which is electrically nonconductive at least on the rod surface. The rod carries at least two conductivity-measurement electrodes separated from one another along the rod. These electrodes are separately supplied with electricity via the interior of the rod at one rod end. A method for determining the physical stability of emulsions and suspensions involves placing an emulsion or dispersion a sample container, immersing a measuring probe in the filled sample container, and measuring the conductivity of the emulsion or dispersion continuously or at intervals over a given period of time using the conductivity-measurement electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: IFAC GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerd Dahms
  • Patent number: 6600327
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of measuring current in a switching circuit (2) of the two-port type having a first set of terminals connected to a set of terminals of a noise reducing circuit, wherein a second set of terminals of the switching circuit has a switching terminal, which is adapted to be switched between the set of terminals of the noise reducing circuit, including the steps of providing an impedance in parallel with the switching circuit; measuring a current as a transient measurement during switching sequences in the switching circuit, the measurement being performed across an impedance in the noise reducing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Niels Anderskouv, Lars Risbo
  • Patent number: 6586922
    Abstract: Transistors (12a, 12b) turn on and off with mutually opposite phase input signals. Capacitors (16a, 16b) discharge when the transistors (12a, 12b) turn on, and capacitors (16a, 16b) are charged by constant current from constant current sources (18a, 18b) when the transistors (12a, 12b) turn off. As a result, a gradually rising voltage is obtained at the positive input ends of comparators (14a, 14b) while the input signals are L. By comparing this with fixed voltages of reference sources (20a, 20b), signals having rise timing shifted from input signals by 90° are obtained. The outputs of the comparators (14a, 14b) are mutually shifted by 180°, and at the rise of these outputs, an RS flip-flop (22) is set and reset so that signals delayed in phase by 90° with respect to the input signals are obtained at its outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Saeki, Hiroya Yamamoto, Takashi Iijima, Jun Suzuki, Masaki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 6583631
    Abstract: An assembly for sensing the dielectric constant of liquids, and for detecting contamination, includes a central ceramic chip with a sensing capacitor formed on one end thereof and a signal processing circuit on the other end thereof. The capacitor is formed of two sets of closely spaced conductive lines or pathways with one set being grounded and the other set providing the variable output from the capacitor to the signal processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Kavlico Corporation
    Inventors: Kyong M. Park, Nhan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6578085
    Abstract: A system and method for route optimization in a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) network. The system and method send, to a home agent, a data packet; transmit, to a mobile node, the data packet using a first address; maintain a list of correspondent nodes associated with the mobile node; send, to the correspondent node, a binding update message; and transmit, directly to the mobile node, subsequent data packets using the first address. The system and method additionally: transmit, to a home agent, a registration request comprising a new address; transmit, to a mobile node, a registration reply in response to the registration request; compare the new address to an old address; if the new address and the old address are not equal, transmit, to the correspondent node, a binding update message; transmit, to the home agent, a binding acknowledgment in response to the binding update message; and transmit, to the mobile node, all subsequent messages via the new address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Mohamed M. Khalil, Emad Q. Qaddoura, Haseeb Akhtar, Liem Le
  • Patent number: 6577112
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a highly electrically-resistive fluid. The method includes applying across the fluid an AC signal that includes at least two different AC electrical potentials, with at least one AC electrical potential having a non-zero DC offset, measuring the fluid's electrical response at each applied potential, and analyzing the fluid quality and/or condition using the applied AC signal and the corresponding measured electrical responses. The invention finds application in conjunction with the on-line (i.e., while in use) monitoring a highly resistive fluids such as, e.g., lubricants, natural and/or synthetic motor oils optionally including standard additives and/or adjuncts, combustion engine fuels, other hydrocarbon-based fluids used in transportation and industrial applications, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation
    Inventors: Vadim F. Lvovich, Frederick P. Boyle
  • Patent number: 6577130
    Abstract: A sensor and method for measuring an electrical potential difference are described. The sensor includes a micro-fabricated field emission device situated in a space plasma environment. The field emission device has an emitter terminal and a gate terminal. A voltage source applies a voltage across the gate and the emitter terminals to induce current to flow from the emitter terminal A first current monitor measures current flowing from the emitter in response to the applied voltage. A second current monitor measures current flowing to the gate. A control system correlates applied voltages and measured gate and emitter currents with electrical potential differences between the field emission device and the space plasma environment. The control system obtains the gate and emitter currents from the current monitors. A processor computes a value from the gate and emitter current measurements based on a predetermined functional relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Richard Cosmo Adamo, Victor Manuel Aguero
  • Patent number: 6573728
    Abstract: An apparatus (and method) for testing a DC isolation resistance of a large capacitance network experiencing voltage stress, adds capacitance and resistance to a large resistance network under test, such that the direct current (DC) isolation resistance may be determined without distortion from the alternating current (AC) components of the circuit. The capacitance that is added is determined based on the capacitance of the object, the resistance of the object, and the resistance of the testing apparatus. In one embodiment, because the precise capacitance of the network under test may be unknown, the testing apparatus and method may utilize an additional large capacitor designed to obviate small fluctuations in the capacitance of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Harsaran S. Bhatia, David C. Long, Kathleen M. Wiley
  • Patent number: 6570390
    Abstract: A method of measuring a surface leakage current includes applying a voltage between a pair of electrodes, which are apart from each other on a sample surface, during a predetermined period of time. A region of the sample surface between the pair of electrodes is irradiated by energy rays during an irradiation period of time which is within the voltage application time. The energy rays may be lasers, ultraviolet rays, X-rays or an electron beam. A current flowing between the pair of electrodes is measured during the voltage application time. The energy rays irradiation causes a surface leakage current, which is caused by adhered substances, to start to flow, and when the adhered substances have been eliminated perfectly, a relatively large current caused by the adhered substances disappears. Perfect elimination of the adhered substances can be verified by confirming that the relatively large current has disappeared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignees: Rigaku Corporation, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taisei Hirayama, Koichiro Ito, Ryo Hattori, Yoshitsugu Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Notani, Shinichi Miyakuni
  • Patent number: 6566886
    Abstract: Various methods of inspecting circuit structures are provided. In one aspect, a method of detecting structural defects in a circuit structure is provided. A natural frequency of the circuit structure is determined and the circuit structure is immersed in a liquid. A first plurality of sonic pulses is sent through the liquid. The first plurality of sonic pulses have a first frequency range selected to produce a plurality of collapsing bubbles proximate the circuit structure. The collapsing bubbles produce a second plurality of sonic pulses that have a second frequency range near or including the natural frequency of the circuit structure whereby the second plurality of sonic pulses causes the circuit structure to resonate. Thereafter, the circuit structure is inspected for structural damage. Early identification of crystalline defects is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Terri A. Couteau, Michael J. Satterfield, Laura A. Pressley
  • Patent number: 6566885
    Abstract: A sample is inspected. The sample is scanned in a first direction with at least one particle beam. The sample is scanned in a second direction with at least one particle beam. The second direction is at an angle to the first direction. The number of defects per an area of the sample are found as a result of the first scan, and the position of one or more of the found defects is determined from the second scan. In a specific embodiment, the sample includes a test structure having a plurality of test elements thereon. A first portion of the test elements is exposed to the beam during the first scan to identify test elements having defects, and a second portion of the test elements is exposed during the second scan to isolate and characterize the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor
    Inventors: Gustavo A. Pinto, Brian C. Leslie, David L. Adler, Akella V. S. Satya, Robert Thomas Long, David J. Walker