Patents Examined by Christopher Horgan
  • Patent number: 5373101
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect apparatus (503) comprises a housing (500), an electrically conductive contact (209) and an electrically conductive spring member (211). The housing (500) has an electrically insulative outer layer (602) and an electrically conductive inner layer (603). The electrically conductive contact (209) includes a protrusion (311) having an edge (317) and partially displaced from a plane (307) of the contact (209) at an acute angle. The electrically conductive spring member (211), coupled to the electrically conductive contact (209), biases the electrically conductive contact (209) towards the housing (500) in a manner such that the edge (317) of the protrusion (311) extends through the electrically insulative outer layer (602) and into the electrically conductive inner layer (603) to form an electrical interconnection between the electrically conductive contact (209) and the electrically conductive inner layer (603).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Barabolak
  • Patent number: 5371575
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising a main assembly and an imaging cartridge detachable from the main assembly. The imaging cartridge includes a first unit and a second unit, both of which are separable form each other, a toner image carrier provided in the first unit, and a charging device provided in the second unit for transferring a toner image on the toner image carrier onto a copy sheet, wherein the charging device includes a charging roller. The present invention also provides an imaging cartridge detachable from the main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The imaging cartridge comprises a first unit and a second unit wherein the second unit is separable from the first unit, a toner image carrier provided in the first unit, and a charging device provided in the second unit for transferring a toner image on the toner image carrier onto a copy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sekino, Satoshi Yoshida, Narutaka Yoshida, Takashi Akazawa
  • Patent number: 5371321
    Abstract: A package assembly for an integrated circuit die includes a base having a cavity formed therein for receiving an integrated circuit die. The base has a ground-reference conductor. A number of bonding wires are each connected between respective die-bonding pads on the integrated circuit die and corresponding bonding pads formed on the base. The lid has an electrically conductive layer formed on it to cover the integrated circuit die in the cavity formed in the base. The electrically conductive layer formed on the lid is positioned in close proximity to some of the plurality of bonding wires. The electrically conductive layer formed on the lid is connected to the ground-reference conductor of the base. This arrangement reduces both the self-inductances of the one or more conductors and the mutual inductance between the one or more conductors. With this arrangement the electrically conductive layer formed on the lid is grounded to reduce interference being radiated from the electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Hamzehdoost, Chin-Ching Huang
  • Patent number: 5369474
    Abstract: A developer device engaging and disengaging mechanism for an image forming apparatus which includes an image forming device and a developer device which develops an image formed by the image forming device. The developer device includes a first gear for driving the developer device and the image forming apparatus includes a second gear, coupled to a frame thereof, for transmitting power from a power source to the first gear. The developer device is placed in a first position where the developer device is capable of being inserted or removed from the image forming apparatus with the first gear disengaged from the second gear. In a second position the developer device is spaced apart from the image forming device by a predetermined distance when the first gear engages the second gear. The developer device is moved between the first position and the second position, so that the first gear engages the second gear when the developer device has been moved from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Akira Yamada
  • Patent number: 5369476
    Abstract: Toner control system and method for an electrographic printer in which toner is delivered from a reservoir to a toner fountain and there applied to an electrostatically charged sheet to form an image. The visual quality of the image is monitored, and toner concentrate is added to the toner in response to the monitored quality to increase the amount of pigment particles in the toner and thereby maintain a substantially constant image quality. The concentrate is added to the toner in a return line between the fountain and the reservoir in relatively small, predetermined amounts, and it is mixed before being added. In the disclosed embodiments, a test image is formed outside the main image on the sheet, and the brightness of one or more predetermined colors in the test image is monitored. This system and method are applicable both to monochrome images and to multicolor images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Cactus
    Inventors: Harry Bowers, L. Douglas Clark
  • Patent number: 5365323
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image recording device having a conveying section for conveying sheet-like subjects, an illuminating section for illuminating the subjects with the light and a recording section for recording image information given from the illuminating section. A driving source for a paper feed section positioned upstream with respect to the illuminating section and an intra-device conveying section exclusive of the paper feed section is divided. A conveying speed of the paper feed section is made variable through a display section for displaying the conveying speed thereof and a setting switch capable of manually arbitrarily setting the conveying speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kyoichi Ando
  • Patent number: 5363180
    Abstract: Image fixing device for use in electrophotographic apparatus, capable of suppressing gloss of fixed toner image, thus stably producing images of high quality and high level of fixing intensity over a long period of time. The fixing device has a fixing roller and a pressing roller which are contacted with each other and rotate to form therebetween a nip through which a paper supporting unfixed toner image is passed to have the toner image fixed to the paper. The fixing roller has a cylindrical core having fine irregularities formed on its surface and a surface layer made of a resin. The surface of the cylindrical core has a greater elastic modulus than that of the surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuuichi Shimizu, Tsuneaki Kawanishi, Toshiya Satoh, Teruaki Mitsuya, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5362926
    Abstract: A circuit substrate for mounting a semiconductor element comprises an aluminum-copper clad foil laminated on a metallic base plate by interposing an insulating layer, wherein the roughness in average of the surface in contact with the insulating layer of the aluminum-copper clad foil is in a range of from 0.5 .mu.m to 50 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Fukuda, Naomi Yonemura, Chiharu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5360942
    Abstract: There is provided a module for supporting a plurality of semiconductor devices within an electronic package. The module has a support substrate and an apertured substrate laminated together with a polymer adhesive. A plurality of semiconductor devices are disposed within apertures formed in the apertured substrate and bonded to the support substrate by that same polymer adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Hoffman, Dexin Liang
  • Patent number: 5357056
    Abstract: A chip carrier for an optical device according to the present invention has a carrier body of insulating material, an external electrode, a glass cover fixed on one end of the carrier body, and a metal cover fixed on the other end of the carrier body. The optical device is connected at an electrode thereof to an inside end of the external electrode by a flip-chip bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tuyosi Nagano
  • Patent number: 5355203
    Abstract: In a fixing device employed in an electrophotographic imaging apparatus for fusing an unfixed toner image carrier on a recording sheet, a heat roller and a back-up roller are provided. The heat roller is provided with a heater mechanism installed therein, wherein the heater mechanism is arranged such that the temperature of a portion of the heat roller corresponding to the passing area of the recording sheet is higher than that of the other portions of the heat roller so that the temperature distribution of the heat roller heated by the heater mechanism becomes substantially uniform along its axial direction while the recording sheet is passing through the nip between the heat roller and the back-up roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyokabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Nishikawa, Masahiro Kita
  • Patent number: 5354951
    Abstract: An EMI shielding assembly includes an elongated enclosure made of an electrically conductive material and having a plurality of interconnected walls arranged in a polygonal configuration to surround an electronic component on a circuit board, a plurality of mounting pins attached to lower portions of the walls and extending downwardly from a lower edge thereon for attachment to the circuit board, and plurality of inner and outer tabs formed in upper portions of the walls which extend upwardly from the lower portions thereof. The inner and outer tabs are disposed in spaced apart, alternating and offset relationship with respect to one another along the upper portions of the walls so as to create an annular channel therebetween which extends around the enclosure along the upper portions of the interconnected walls thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Leader Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Lange, Sr., Lester R. Fisher, Jr., William A. Lange, II
  • Patent number: 5353108
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus is designed to press a heat-soluble resin which is heated and in a tacky state to a heat-soluble ink on an erasable paper having a surface treated with releasing agent, and to peel off the heat-soluble ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahide Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 5352851
    Abstract: An edge-mounted integrated circuit device (10 ) includes a semiconductor die (11) and a lead frame (15) attached to the semiconductor die (11). The lead frame (15) includes a plurality of leads (14) electrically connected to the semiconductor die and lead frame supports (16, 18). A package (12) encapsulates the semiconductor die and a portion of the lead frame (15). The leads (14) extend from the package (12) and are bent to present a face for surface mount connection to conductors on a substrate. The supports (16, 18) extend from the package (12) for contacting the substrate to support the device (10) in position for soldering the leads (14) to conductors on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James S. Wallace, Ernie Russell, Daniel Baudouin
  • Patent number: 5353002
    Abstract: A bobbin assembly is provided for sealing with the end section of a coil of wire as it exits the housing of an automotive electrical component. The assembly includes a bobbin for receiving and carrying the coil of wire. A cap couples with the housing so as to restrain the coiled wire therein. The cap includes an aperture adapted to receive the end section of the wire therethrough. A bobbin tower distends from the bobbin and includes therein a slot for receiving, coupling and sealing with the end section of the wire, and for coupling with and sealing against the cap adjacent the aperture therein. The bobbin tower is compressed between the housing and the cap for compressing a crown section of the bobbin tower into the aperture in the cap. A method for using the bobbin assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: John Jozefczyk
  • Patent number: 5351114
    Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus has a heat-resistant endless belt having a portion which runs from a transfer position to a heat-fixing position, a driving drum for driving the endless belt, a transfer roller for transferring, at the transfer position, a toner image of information to be recorded from a photosensitive drum to the endless belt, a recording medium feed roller for feeding a sheet-type recording medium to the heat-fixing position, and a heater and a pressure roller which are disposed in the heat-fixing position and cooperative to transfer the toner image from the endless belt to the recording medium. The heater is disposed on the inner side of a loop of the endless belt, while the pressure roller is disposed outside the loop. The photosensitive drum, endless belt, transfer roller and heater are mounted on a common frame which is demountable from the frame of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 5349132
    Abstract: A modular enclosure for personal computer systems, and methods for assembly of an enclosure. The enclosure substantially comprises a base, a unitary internal frame, a front and a back panel, and a U-shaped top cover. Frame-mounting snaps and cruciform members located on forward and rear portions of the frame mate to complimentary receiving openings in the base. Front and rear panels are mounted to the base, frame, and top cover by a plurality of panel-mounting snaps and hooks. A base electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield at the periphery of the shield having a plurality of planar tabbed fingers with hemispherical domes formed therein is then fitted and secured to the base such that the lateral edges of the fingers are recessed below a peripherally extending rim on the base. Thereafter, the internal frame is snapped into place upon the base, and a rear panel having an EMI shield fitted and secured to the base and frame by panel-mounting snaps and hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne H. Miller, Bradley C. Helm, Wayman M. Lee, Braxton L. Lathrop, Jimmy A. Melton, Robert D. Chapman
  • Patent number: 5349137
    Abstract: A steam and liquid sterilizable assembly of electrical and optical fiber cables within a sealed polymer housing which features sealed joints and conductive traces between and through components. At least one optical fiber cable is sealed into a metal ferrule by an organic resin and the ferrule then sealed by soldering into a laminated, multilayer organic polymer disc or board. At least one electrical cable is soldered to one surface of the disc or board to a conductive trace which connects through and between the layers of the disc or board to a conductive electrical contact on the opposite surface of the disc or board. The disc or board with the optical and electrical contacts is embedded in a molded polymer housing. The assembly is useful in endoscopy applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfredo Cedrone
  • Patent number: 5345296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for creating high shear forces to disperse high solids toner into a working developer solution. The high solids toner have a toner particle concentration of at least 40% by weight of the working developer solution. An image forming device having such dispersion system includes a latent image device for creating a latent image; a developer device for developing the latent image; a transfer device for receiving the developed latent image onto a predetermined image medium; a developer supplying device for recirculation of a working developer solution through the developer device; a replenishing device for supplying concentrated developer solution preferably at a rate equivalent to a consumption rate of the working developer solution in the developer device; and a dispersion device for dispersing the concentrated developer solution from the replenisher device into the working developer solution of the developer supplying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Anders J. Wellings
  • Patent number: 5341193
    Abstract: A printing machine in which magnetically permeable marking particles develop a latent image recorded on a photoconductive member. A read head is positioned on the opposite of the photoconductive member to detect magnetic field intensity effects produced by the leading edge and the trailing edge of the marking particles on the characters recorded. The detected signals are used to control the magnetic quality of the developed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Fred F. Hubble, III, Michael G. Swales, Michael E. Weber, Gerald Abowitz, Raphael F. Bov, Jr.