Patents Examined by Daniel Robinson
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Patent number: 7145103Abstract: A car cigarette lighter with a light indicator includes a power socket and a cigarette lighter. The car cigarette lighter is characterized in attaching an external sleeve to a bottom tube of a handle, and installing a circuit board in electric connection with a circuit of the car cigarette lighter in the external tube. The circuit board has at least one light emitting diode located at a bottom of the transparent handle. A switch in electric connection with the car cigarette lighter is further mounted on the external sleeve. By plugging the car cigarette lighter into the power socket and pushing the handle, the circuit board is conducted, and the light emitting diode is switched on. By the switch of the external sleeve, the electro-thermal winding film is conducted and heated.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Inventor: Lighter Sheen
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Patent number: 7145118Abstract: A microwave oven protective circuit arrangement is disclosed to include a cutoff switch electrically connected between a power supply unit and a microwave oven for controlling the supply of electricity from the power supply unit to the microwave oven, and a detector provided outside the microwave oven to detect leakage of the microwave produced by the microwave oven and to output a cutoff signal to the cutoff switch to cut off electricity from the microwave oven when detected a leakage of the microwave.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2005Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Inventor: Ming-Jing Wu
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Patent number: 7141770Abstract: A microwavable package has a pad for absorbing fat, grease, oil, moisture, and like liquid exuded from food, primarily meat, during cooking. The pad has a high-melting, liquid-transmissible, stiff, shrink-resistant, preferably foraminous face layer in contact with the food. A body layer is in contact with the face layer opposite the food. During cooking, the food releases liquid that transfers through the face layer where it contacts and is absorbed by the body layer. The face layer resists adhering to the food and therefore can be easily separated from the food after cooking.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Xymid, L.L.C.Inventors: Dimitri P Zafiroglu, Richard I Lacy
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Patent number: 7141021Abstract: Patients may operate a CAP system to deliver appropriate airway pressure at their home. A patient's apnea problem can be diagnosed at home without supervision with a CPAP device which delivers a continuously minimum appropriate pressure for substantially the entire period of therapy.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2005Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: ResMed LimitedInventors: Colin Edward Sullivan, Christopher Lynch
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Patent number: 7139602Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to map the shape or thickness of a surface. Thickness estimates across a distance are received, and Fourier analysis is performed to generate Fourier amplitude coefficients and phase values for a number of frequency components. Linear discriminant functions are used to characterize the resulting shape as normal or not. Discriminant functions are provided that aid in the diagnosis of glaucoma when the thickness measured is the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Edward A. Essock, Michael J. Sinai
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Patent number: 7137976Abstract: A method of turning a medical device, having a magnetically responsive element associated with its distal end, at an operating point within an operating region inside a patient's body from an initial direction to a desired final direction, through the movement of at least one external source magnet. The at least one external source magnet is moved in such a way as to change the direction of the distal end of the magnetic medical device from the initial direction to the desired final direction without substantial deviation from the plane containing the initial direction and the desired final direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.Inventors: Rogers C. Ritter, Bevil J. Hogg, Peter R. Werp, Walter M. Blume, Francis M. Creighton, IV, Roger N. Hastings
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Patent number: 7138615Abstract: A microwave system having a microwave source that generates microwave signals for regenerating a diesel particulate filter (DPF) includes a sampling device that samples a power level of reflected microwave signals from the DPF and a regulator module that communicates with the microwave source and the sampling device. The regulator module further adjusts operation of the microwave source based on the power level of the reflected microwave signals and a predetermined power threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2005Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Weldon S. Williamson, Eugene V. Gonze
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Patent number: 7138614Abstract: A non-contact feeder system to supply an induced current to an electrical load includes at least three feeding cables arranged approximately parallel with one another along a moving direction of the electrical load; a plurality of AC power supplies to supply AC currents to the feeding cables; pick-up parts to supply an induced current, induced from a magnetic field formed by the AC current flowing through each of the feeding cables, to the electrical load and to be movable along the feeding cables without contacting the feeding cables as the electrical load moves; and a controller to control the plurality of AC power supplies, so that phases of the AC currents supplied from the AC power supplies are the same, and directions of the AC currents flowing through the feeding cables positioned adjacent to one another are reverse with respect to one another. Thus, the space to mount components in the non-contact feeder system is decreased and the induced current is improved.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2004Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jang-hyoun Youm, Sang-don Jang
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Patent number: 7138605Abstract: An electric cigarette lighter includes a housing which has finger grips and a case for storing extra batteries. The lighter includes a resistive element that becomes heated when the lighter is activated and attains a temperature sufficient to light a cigarette or other such element, even if exposed to wind, rain or other environmental factors.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2004Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Inventor: Colby R. Smith
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Patent number: 7129453Abstract: An electromagnetic susceptor for chemical processing having a matrix material that surrounds a non-matrix material that is made from a material that is different from the matrix material, the matrix material is constructed of a sintered ceramic material having lower dielectric losses compared to the non-matrix material, the non-matrix material initially absorbs electromagnetic energy applied to the electromagnetic susceptor to a greater extent than the matrix material, and the non-matrix material produces subsequent heat in the matrix material.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2003Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Inventor: Robert C. Dalton
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Patent number: 7129451Abstract: The present invention relates to a microwave oven. According to the present invention, a fixed heater 41 is installed on a ceiling of a cavity 31 of a microwave oven, and a pivotable heater 43 is installed to pivot upward and downward on its lower end in the cavity 31. When the pivotable heater 43 has been pivoted downward on its lower end, a grill 45 on which an object to be heated is seated is horizontally installed between a lower surface of the fixed heater 41 and an upper surface of the pivotable heater 43. A micro-switch 51, which will be pushed by the grill 45 and thus generate an actuating signal for pivoting the pivotable heater 43, is installed on a side surface of the cavity 31. According to the present invention, since the fixed and pivotable heaters 41 and 43 heat upper and lower surfaces of the object, respectively, and the pivotable heater 43 is pivoted according to whether the grill 45 is mounted or detached, it is possible to cook the object faster and more conveniently.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Tae-Hoon Lee
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Patent number: 7123822Abstract: An air heater is provided with a connecting case for the power supply and the air to be heated, as well as a heating element attached to the connecting case by means of a carrier. In the connecting housing, the carrier is connected via a plug connection with the connection board for transmitting the heating current. For this purpose, a receptacle angle bracket is provided that can be inserted into the connecting housing and locked in place. The receptacle angle bracket has cylindrical sleeves serving as electrically insulating bushings for the contact pins on the carrier. In order to tap reference voltages for the control device, the contact pins of the plug connection can be connected with the contact tracks of the connection board of the control device by means of rubber-elastic conductive connecting elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2005Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Leister Process TechnologiesInventors: Lukas Gisler-Reinhard, Pius Studer, Leo Wallimann-Durrer
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Patent number: 7115845Abstract: A superheated steam generator of an electromagnetic induction type includes: a conduit, which provides a passageway of generated steam; a superheating tank, which is part of the conduit midway through the conduit; and a coil, which is disposed around the superheating tank and is connected to a high-frequency AC power supply, the superheated steam generator further including a magnetic body, disposed inside the superheating tank, which is in contact with the steam in the passage of the steam. According to this construction, superheated steam can be produced more efficiently. In addition, the temperature inside the tank can be increased and decreased more gradually.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Inventors: Masami Nomura, Masaaki Nomura, Yuzuru Marukuni
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Patent number: 7115836Abstract: A glow plug comprising: a ceramic heater which houses a heating element defined herein in a tip end side of said ceramic heater, and which elongates in an axial direction; a cylindrical metal shell which has a shaft hole, which houses a rear end portion of said ceramic heater in said shaft hole, and which holds said ceramic heater in said shaft hole directly or via another member; and a center pole including a center-pole rear end portion as defined herein and a center-pole tip end portion as defined herein, said ceramic heater being mechanically rigidly joined to said heater connecting portion, wherein a stress releasing portion in which a diameter is smallest in an area between said heater connecting portion and said center-pole rear end portion is formed in said center pole.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2005Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takaya Yoshikawa, Shinya Murakoshi
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Patent number: 7117026Abstract: A method for non-rigid registration and fusion of images with physiological modeled organ motions resulting from respiratory motion and cardiac motion that are mathematically modeled with physiological constraints. A method of combining images comprises the steps of obtaining a first image dataset (24) of a region of interest of a subject and obtaining a second image dataset (34) of the region of interest of the subject. Next, a general model of physiological motion for the region of interest is provided (142). The general model of physiological motion is adapted with data derived from the first image data set (140) to provide a subject specific physiological model (154). The subject specific physiological model is applied (172) to the second image dataset (150) to provide a combined image (122).Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Lingxiong Shao, Jinghan Ye, Angela J. Da Silva, Zuo Zhao
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Patent number: 7105784Abstract: In a fixing device according to this invention, a coil bobbin around which coils are formed into a predetermined shape is formed at an induction heating portion including a plurality of coils. To minimize the axial temperature difference of a heating roller, the coil bobbin has a shape with which the interval between coils is held at a predetermined interval.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2004Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Akihiro Wasai, Osamu Takagi
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Patent number: 7107091Abstract: A surgical device adapted for use with an image guided surgical system to facilitate monitoring inter-dependently mobile bone elements. A rigidly connected multiple-point anchor assembly is releasably engageable to at least two inter-dependently mobile bone elements and immobilizes the bone elements such that no relative movement therebetween is possible, and a complex rigid body comprising the immobilized bone elements and the multiple-point anchor assembly is formed. A trackable member is fastened to the multiple-point anchor assembly and comprises a detectable element adapted to be located and tracked in three dimensional space by the image guided surgical system, thereby defining position and movement of the complex rigid body.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2002Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Orthosoft Inc.Inventors: Sébastien Jutras, Dominic Picard, Pierre Couture, François Poulin, Louis-Philippe Amiot, James Anglehart
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Patent number: 7096598Abstract: A hair styling brush with reverse airflow. The preferred styling brush has a contoured, bristled body for holding locks of hair in a curved or curled position. The body is perforated, and a blower in the brush draws air in through the perforations across the damp hair. This styling brush preferably is used with a conventional blow dryer or curling iron. When using a blow dryer, warm air from the blow dryer is directed at the lock of hair on the styling brush, while the blower in the styling brush pulls the warm air through the hair. Alternately, after a lock of hair has been styled on a curling iron, the lock then can be cooled rapidly using the styling brush. The styling brush is designed to direct the exhaust air toward the handle. In this way, the user can tell from the temperature of the exhaust when the hair is dry. More specifically, once the hair on the brush is dry, the exhaust air will begin to feel warmer as the evaporation process is no longer cooling it.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2000Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Natural Volume Systems, L.L.C.Inventor: Tommy Leon Myatt
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Patent number: 7096057Abstract: Disclosed herein is an RF probe for use with a medical imaging apparatus, the probe comprising an intracorporeal self-tuned resonator coil for receiving a signal indicative of an image of an interior portion of a body. The resonator coil is preferably coupled to a transmission medium having a characteristic impedance such that the resonator coil is substantially self-matching with the transmission medium's characteristic impedance. Preferably the resonator coil comprises an open wound conductor having a plurality of turns. The length of the resonator coil can be used to tune the resonator coil to a desired frequency, such as the Larmour frequency. Further, a return lead of the transmission medium is preferably coupled to an end of the conductor, and a signal lead of the transmission medium is preferably coupled to a point on the winding, thereby defining a turns ratio for the resonator coil.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2002Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Barnes Jewish HospitalInventors: Frank Hockett, Samuel A. Wickline, Xin Yu
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Patent number: 7084382Abstract: A clip on welder includes two pairs of opposed grippers defined by pivotally attached upper and lower frames for latching the welder to heat weldable material, such as a length of tubing, upon actuation of a start button by an operator; thereafter, the welder operates unattended. At least a jaw of a pair of jaws disposed intermediate the two pairs of grippers heats the material compressed and lodged therebetween to form a weld in or across the material. A source of gas, such as air, under pressure selectively connected to a bellows provides the power to pivot the upper and lower frames into gripping engagement with the material. A source of electrical signals provides the power to heat the material intermediate the pair of jaws. One or more thermocouples senses the heat of the jaws and generates signals used to control the application of power and to control cooling. After completion of the weld, cooling air is directed to the jaws until the thermocouple(s) signal(s) indicates a sufficiently low temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2006Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Engineering & Research Associates, Inc.Inventor: Joseph C. Jensen