Patents Examined by Donald J. Yusko
  • Patent number: 5469151
    Abstract: An easy-to-install automotive security system mounts a siren assembly in the engine compartment and a sensor assembly in the passenger compartment. The assemblies are in wireless, radio frequency communication, thereby eliminating wires extending between the compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Audiovox Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick M. Lavelle, John DiCroce, Thomas C. Malone
  • Patent number: 5469152
    Abstract: A remote control device controls an electronic system that has a number of functions. The remote control device has a limited number of function keys, and certain keys correspond to different functions of the electronic system. In order to permit discrimination of the function keys, the length of time during which the function key is actuated is employed in the electronic system. To prevent erroneous control caused by artificial interruption of the control signal, the remote control device appends one of two different time code signals to the key code corresponding to the actuated function key, whereby discrimination of the actuation time at the electronic system is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Yamamoto, Tamiya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5467082
    Abstract: An identification token and reader circuit for an electronic identification and latch/alarm system, the token comprising an LC resonant circuit, a digital counter, an analog or digital demultiplexer and at least one analog switch. The token's supply voltage is derived from the token's resonant LC circuit by a rectifier means when the token is proximal to a suitable oscillator as found in a reader/controller. The device is useful for access control in an electronic lock and key system. When the token is brought near to the lock part, an oscillator contained within the lock part oscillates at a high frequency. The oscillation is picked up by the key part where it is modulated with a frequency or pulse pattern serving as a key identifier, then transmitted back to the lock part where the enclosed carrier is demodulated by means of synchronous detection and processed by recognition means at the lock side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventor: Glenn A. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 5467078
    Abstract: A communicating system has at least two air conditioning machines which are connected to a primary interface and a secondary interface, respectively. The primary interface is connected to a primary remote controller having a display. The secondary interface is connected to a secondary remote controller having a display and the primary interface. When the state of all air conditioning machines is to be changed by a command from the primary remote controller, firstly all displays are caused to display the now run mode of the air conditioning machines substantially at the same time. After that, the operating states of the air conditioning machines are a predetermined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tadaaki Koketsu
  • Patent number: 5466989
    Abstract: A discharge tube according to the present invention is constructed such that it includes a cylindrical container made of an insulation tube, a pair of discharge electrodes provided at opposite ends of the container, a plurality of insulation coated lines containing a gas-ionization accelerator therein, which insulation coated lines being provided in the grooves formed on the inner surface of the container covering the regions surrounding a cathode and a discharge space therein in a substantially same distance from a center axis of the container, wherein the container further comprises a flange portion formed at the cathode-side thereof in such a way that it protrudes inwardly, and the insulation coated lines are provided on the inner surface of the container except the inner side of the flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Takahisa Suzuki, Hiromitsu Tsuchiya, Tetsuya Mitani
  • Patent number: 5465087
    Abstract: A broadband space switch matrix includes a parallel combination of individual switch modules each comprising a cascade of pass-transistor selectors, NAND gates, and inverters arranged into a multi-stage tree multiplexing configuration. The switching speed is increased by isolating each switching crosspoint from the stray capacitive loading in the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: GTE Laboratories Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Cooperman, Arnold Paige, Richard W. Sieber
  • Patent number: 5465085
    Abstract: A system for electronically displaying item data available in updatable form from a computer, such as item prices, for purchaser viewing. The system provides an infrared encoded signal containing item data applicable to an item on a shelf associated with an electronic display unit. The electronic display unit receives, decodes and displays the data relating to the item. The display units include a display for displaying the data; a photovoltaic cell for providing all necessary power without need for any other external or internal power source; a controller; and a non-volatile, semiconductor memory powered by the photovoltaic cell for retaining the data even in the absence of light energy being applied to the photovoltaic cell. Upon receiving the encoded signal, the display unit determines that the infrared encoded signal is intended for it, and if so, it prepares and displays the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Display Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Caldwell, Hendrik Blankenstein
  • Patent number: 5465086
    Abstract: An electronic device having operational parameters comprises a receiver (11) for receiving a signal and a microprocessor (12) for monitoring (21) the status of the operational parameters. An output device (15) presents (31) a voice message when the status of one of the operational parameters exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Gleeson, David S. Fraklin
  • Patent number: 5463291
    Abstract: A cyclotron and associated magnet coil and coil fabricating process. The cyclotron (10) includes a return yoke (12) defining a cavity (28) therein. A plurality of wedge-shaped regions called "hills" (29) are disposed in the return yoke (12), and voids called "valleys" (34) are defined between the hills (29). A single, substantially circular magnet coil (40) surrounds and axially spans the hills (29) and the valleys (34). The cyclotron magnet coil fabricating process includes the steps of securing a first end portion of a continuous length of sheet conductor to a substantially circular base, and positioning a first end portion of a length of insulator material coated on opposite sides with a thermosetting resin between the first end portion of the sheet conductor and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventors: Lewis Carroll, George Hendry, Franck Picker
  • Patent number: 5463276
    Abstract: A double-faced vacuum fluorescent display of the invention is formed of an outer casing, and first and second display portions. The outer casing includes a base plate, a transparent front plate situated in front of the base plate, and a side member situated between the base plate and the front plate to form a space therebetween. The first display portion is mounted on the base plate, and includes a wiring pattern, an insulating layer with light shielding property, a first anode conductor and a first fluorescent layer. A display on the first display portion can be observed only from the front plate side. The second display portion is mounted on the transparent front plate, and includes a second anode conductor with transparency and a second fluorescent layer. The second display portion has a light transmitting portion for observing the first display portion therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Futaba Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kawasaki, Hiroshi Sakurada, Shinichi Narushima, Tadashi Iwasa, Hiroshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5463267
    Abstract: In spark ignited engine configurations, it is common to provide a spark plug that has a spark gap that has dimension that will accommodate good starting capabilities for the engine. In some cases, this spark gap is larger than required for the engine to run efficiently, especially at high loads. As a result, the voltage required to bridge the gap when the engine is running at high loads is much higher than necessary and causes erosion of the electrode and a build up of deposits on the ground strap. Ultimately, this greatly reduces the life of the spark plug. The present invention provides a spark plug that utilizes an adjusting means that is connected to the electrode of the spark plug and functions to move the electrode with respect to the ground strap to adjust the gap therebetween. The adjusting means is responsive to the temperature of the spark plug which will vary with engine loads or an increase in pressure within the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Scott R. Conway
  • Patent number: 5463270
    Abstract: An insulating base for a discharge lamp device which provides good insulation between a lead support connected to a front end lead of an arc tube and a lead disposed on the rear side of the arc tube. The insulating base includes a base main body formed of synthetic resin. The base main body is a disk-shaped injection molding which includes a lead support insertion hole in the form of a first longitudinal through hole for mounting a lead support supporting the front end portion of an arc tube and acting as a current path to a lead disposed on the front side of the arc tube, and a lead insertion hole in the form of a second longitudinal through hole for insertion of a lead disposed on the rear end side of the arc tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Wakimizu, Kunimasa Motiduki, Masakazu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 5463268
    Abstract: The high voltage electrostatic accelerator of this invention has spark arrester rings which form magnetic shield elements around an acceleration tube and which together with mu-metal rings between accelerator segments shield the electrons being accelerated from stray static and dynamic magnetic fields. The spark arresters surround the accelerating electrodes. The rings between accelerator segments are formed of mu-metal, an alloy of nickel designed for its magnetic shielding properties and consisting of 77 percent nickel, 4.8 percent copper, 1.5 percent chrome and 14.9 percent iron. The mu-metal spark arresters together with the rings between accelerators segments provide an effective magnetic shield in a cost-effective manner. Because mu-metal has a high permeability, magnetic field lines tend to travel about the Mu-metal rings rather than pass through the acceleration tube, where they would influence electrons being accelerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: National Electrostatics Corp.
    Inventor: James B. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5463382
    Abstract: A method and apparatus control message transmissions in an acknowledge-back selective call communication system (100) including an infrastructure (102) and a selective call receiver (120). The selective call receiver (120) stores received messages in a memory (322). The infrastructure (102) transmits (604) to the selective call receiver (120) information including the length (408) of a pending message, and the selective call receiver (120) determines (606) therefrom a response (412, 504) based upon the length (408) of the pending message and memory space available in the memory (322). The selective call receiver (120) transmits (608) the response (412, 504) to the infrastructure (102), and the infrastructure (102) controls further processing of the pending message in accordance with the response (412, 504).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Dimitrios Nikas, Zaffer S. Merchant
  • Patent number: 5463383
    Abstract: A local call receiver or pager includes a circuit (3) for receiving and demodulating a call signal emitted by a central station and which contains synchronization code words, address code words and message code words. The circuit is connected to the pager energy source (16) through a switching circuit (3b) for cutting off the energy supply when it is not necessary to receive the call signal. The pager also includes a decoder (4) intended to control the switching circuit as a function of the analysis of the call signal synchronization code words. The analysis is effected bit-by-bit and the receiver circuit is disconnected as soon as the synchronization code word is recognized, in most cases following analysis of only a few bits of the code word. Application is in respect of pagers in which a satisfactory compromise must be obtained between dimensions and autonomy, as for instance in pagers combined with a timepiece to be worn on the wrist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Remy Pache
  • Patent number: 5461419
    Abstract: A plurality of photosensors are formed on an insulation substrate in a matrix fashion. Each of the photosensors includes a photoelectric conversion semiconductor, first and second gate electrodes, a drain electrode and a source electrode. A signal line is connected to each drain electrode. After precharge signals are applied to the respective signal lines by driving a switching circuit, a sense voltage is applied to the first gate electrode, a selection voltage is applied to the second gate electrode, while a light beam is supplied to the photoelectric conversion semiconductor. As a result, the precharge voltages held on the signal lines are lowered by voltages corresponding to the intensity of the incident light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Yamada
  • Patent number: 5461281
    Abstract: To prevent attack on electrodes (4, 5) within a discharge vessel (2) by an ionizable metal halide fill, due to spurious or free oxygen arising within the lamp during operation thereof, which oxygen combines with the metal of the electrodes, and is then dissociated in the arc and re-deposited at the hottest part of the electrode, an oxygen removing getter material is introduced into the discharge vessel. Spurious oxygen arises due to emission of oxygen from the glass wall of the discharge vessel, typically quartz glass, and unavoidable contaminants of the fill substance. The getter material is, preferably, phosphorus, boron or aluminum, a halide of the foregoing, a tungsten boron compound, a tin phosphorus compound, or scandium or a rare earth. If the getter is a halide, iodine, bromine or chloride are suitable. The getter may be introduced in quantities of between 0.05 to 0.6%, depending on the getter substances and the fill composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft f. elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Dietrich Fromm, Guenter Soehring, Richard Ullmann
  • Patent number: 5461371
    Abstract: An exhibit explaining system includes transmitters and a portable information playback device. The transmitters transmits, in a wireless manner, identification signals respectively assigned to exhibits individually arranged at predetermined spatial intervals. The identification signal may be transmitted using infrared light or radio waves. When receiving the identification signal, the playback device reproduces and outputs prestored explanatory information as specified by the identification signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Kanya Matsumoto, Keiichi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 5459457
    Abstract: Selective call systems such as the CCIR Radiopaging Code No. 1 (or POCSAG) have a signal format of successive data batches, each batch having a synchronization codeword followed by a 8 data frames. Each pager is assigned to a frame in every batch, resulting in a battery power conservation duty cycle of 1:8. The invention enables any number of the pagers to operate in accordance with a preselected longer duty cycle. Every N (N>2) successive batches constitute a superbatch, and a pager is assigned to only one or certain ones of the frames thereof. To provide superbatch synchronization a predetermined codeword (PCW) is transmitted in one frame of one batch, preferably the first, of the entire superbatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony K. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 5459372
    Abstract: An impregnated cathode structure has: (1) a sleeve having a truncated conically-shaped top portion with an opening having a predetermined diameter at the center thereof; (2) oxide cathode material formed within and conforming to the shape of the sleeve to form a point exposed through the opening; (3) a receiver forming part of said sleeve for retaining the oxide cathode material; (4) a backing plug which divides the inside of the sleeve so as to form a space for the receiver; and (5) a heater installed in the sleeve below the backing plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Samsung Electron Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hwanchul Roh