Patents Examined by Edward P. Westin
  • Patent number: 6051844
    Abstract: Accurate measurements of substrate surface curvature are effected by scanning the substrate in a scan direction along a diameter thereof and rotating it during rapid thermal processing (RTP). Rotation of the substrate also achieves more uniform heating of the substrate by exposing it uniformly to the radiant heat sources employed in the processing system. The heat sources are controllably energized in accordance with temperature measurements which provide feedback control for efficient and accurate cycling of the semiconductor wafer. Various methods are contemplated to effect the temperature measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventor: Henry H. Au
  • Patent number: 6049081
    Abstract: Spectrometric methodology for non-invasively obtaining optical spectra from heterogeneous material for the identification and quantification of constituent compounds. There is provided a transient or steady state subsurface thermal gradient spectroscopic methodology for obtaining in vivo optical spectra relating to the concentration of n analytes at depths to around 330 microns in human tissue, and for determining that concentration from the spectra. The methodology is employable on a wide variety of spectrometric devices, and enables: a real time determination of both surface and reference intensities; a fast, efficient calibration of the spectrometric device; and results in the provision of an analytical parameter which avoids the measurement of the optical path length to enable the extremely accurate calculation of a ratio of concentrations of n analytes in the system under analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Optiscan Biomedical Corporation
    Inventors: Bernhard B. Sterling, James R. Braig, Daniel S. Goldberger, Charles E. Kramer, Arthur M. Shulenberger, Rick Trebino, Richard A. King
  • Patent number: 6049076
    Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer has an ionization chamber, drift chamber, and a system for generating an electrical field in the drift chamber. The system for generating the electrical field comprises a plurality of capacitors that are connected together in parallel for charging and are connected in series for generating a high-voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventors: Johann Goebel, Ulrich Breit
  • Patent number: 6049084
    Abstract: Charged-particle-beam optical systems are disclosed exhibiting reduced aberrations. Such a system comprises a symmetric magnetic doublet type projection lens system and deflectors. An imaginary Z-axis is superimposed on the optical axis with an origin at an image-crossover point. Excitation of the deflectors and lenses is controlled by a controller so that the ratio of G.sub.1 (Z) to G.sub.2 (-M.multidot.Z) is substantially equal to the ratio of (-M) to 1 (i.e., G.sub.1 (Z):G.sub.2 (-M.multidot.Z)=(-M):1), and the deflection trajectory of the charged-particle beam intersects with the optical axis at a crossover Z.sub.c, where M is the magnification of the lens system, G.sub.1 (Z) is the distribution of the deflective magnetic field formed on the object side of the crossover, and G.sub.2 (Z) is the distribution of the deflective magnetic field formed on the image side of the crossover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Simizu
  • Patent number: 6049180
    Abstract: A supply is disclosed that develops a high dc voltage that may be applied to the anode of a cathode ray tube (CRT) of a display system. The supply provides the high dc voltage without the need for any high voltage flyback transformers and without the need of any power transistors. In one embodiment, the circuit of the invention is interposed between a subsystem of a power source of a horizontal deflection system, and the anode of the CRT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventors: Edward M. Mengel, Richard L. Kies, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6049079
    Abstract: Streak camera whereof the pulse converter for converting a photon pulse for detecting into an electron stream comprises a gaseous medium. A streak camera for a photon pulse in the far-infrared region is provided with a laser source to bring particles in the medium into a Rydberg state, in a streak camera for an X-ray pulse the medium contains particles for bringing into an Auger state, and additional deflection plates are provided for separating a primary electron stream from a secondary electron stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Stichting Voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek Der Materie
    Inventors: Lambertus Dominicus Noordam, Marcelis Dominicus Lankhuijzen
  • Patent number: 6046449
    Abstract: The present invention provides a housing comprising a rectangular transparent planar board for placing documents to be scanned and a rectangular case for placing a scanning module. The housing comprises a plurality of clasps for fixing the transparent planar board within a flatbed scanner and comprises front, rear, left and right ends. The case comprises four upright sides and a rectangular opening installed above the four upright sides for mounting the transparent planar board. The opening comprises front, rear, left and right sides. The left and right sides of the opening each comprises an L-shaped groove for mounting the left and right ends of the transparent planar board, respectively. The front and rear sides of the opening each comprises a clasp for mounting the front and rear ends of the transparent planar board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuwn-Jen Chien
  • Patent number: 6046462
    Abstract: An improved lighting system which illuminates the parts with both generally collimated and diffused light simultaneously useful with machine vision systems. This lighting system allows determination of part identification, part location, part orientation about a vertical axis thereof as well as side-up orientation of the part. The parts are transported on a conveyor surface which is made of a translucent medium. However, such translucent medium does permit the viewing of the shadows cast by objects thereon. The light source is positioned directly over the parts being inspected. A camera is positioned below the conveyor surface. Residing between the collimated light source and the parts supported on the conveyor surface is a light-diffusing member. The light-diffusing member has a structure such that it permits a portion of the generally collimated light to pass therethrough without obstruction while simultaneously diffusing a second portion of light produced by the source of collimated light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph E. Yokajty, Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 6046458
    Abstract: A protective sheath (10) for an image plate, which covers a radiation- and light-sensitive surface (9) on an image plate (6) and which generally comprises a continuous first, reasonably rigid sheet section (1), having a size equal to that of the image plate, as well as a second reasonably rigid sheet section parallel to the first sheet section or two parallel second, reasonably rigid sheet sections (2a, 2b), which is/are at edges (15a, 15b) thereof attached (8) to two opposite outer edges (5a, 5b) of the first sheet section. A first (3) and a second surface (4), facing each other and included in the first sheet section and in the second sheet sections, respectively, have therebetween a distance (H1) which is substantially equal to a thickness (D1) of the image plate and the first surface (3) is provided with a coating (7) protecting the radiation- and light-sensitive image plate surface from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Orion-Yhtyma OY
    Inventor: Matti Rantanen
  • Patent number: 6046455
    Abstract: Diyne monomers are used as photochromic agents in devices or formulations. The devices and formulations may be applied to body parts for semi-pemanent attachment at various sites to allow for detection of levels of ultraviolet radiation. Clear films may be placed on eyeglass lenses to detect UV radiation occurring between the lens and the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Segan Industries
    Inventors: Hans O. Ribi, David A. Frankel
  • Patent number: 6046552
    Abstract: A spot is prevented from occurring on the center portion of a cathode ray tube when electric power is turned off by using a voltage charged in a capacitor which are used for outputting a vertical blanking signal in a vertical blanking signal generating circuit of an image display device for displaying an image in use of the cathode ray tube. The present invention is provided with a discharge cut-off element between a negative electric power source and the capacitor for outputting a vertical blanking signal and a discharging element for discharging a charged voltage of the capacitor to the ground. The present invention prevents a charged voltage ofthe capacitor from being discharged until thermoelectrons are not emitted from the cathode so as to supply a negative charged voltage to the first grid of the cathode ray tube continuously, so that a spot is prevented from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung Choon Yoon
  • Patent number: 6043490
    Abstract: Mechanical vibration detecting sensors and a sound wave sensor are provided in a column, and mechanical vibration detecting sensors, a sound wave sensor and electromagnetic wave detecting antennas are provided in a sample stage side. Outputs of the sensors and the antennas are processed by signal processing circuits and correction signals generated by these signal processing circuits are added to X-direction and Y-direction scanning signals from signal generating circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Sakai
  • Patent number: 6043501
    Abstract: A continuous input cell for data acquisition circuits, particularly in railway applications. The cell consists of at least two parallel lines of identical elements, and each line includes at least one Zener diode (DZ1 or DZ2), a switch (SW1 or SW2) preferably consisting of an optocoupler (U1 or U2), and an optocoupler (U3 or U4) including an LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Gec Alsthom Acec Transport S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Franckart, Henri Husson, Pierre Meunier
  • Patent number: 6043482
    Abstract: A scanning unit for an optical position-measuring apparatus with a flexible printed circuit that electrically couples several electronic components. Among the components is at least one optoelectronic detector element or a radiation source that is suitable for the generation of shift-dependent modulated optical scanning signals from the scanning of a scale graduation structure. The radiation-sensitive detector face or the light-emitting face of the radiation source is oriented in the direction towards the flexible printed circuit. The flexible printed circuit has at least partially transparent recesses at least in a partial area of the radiation-sensitive detector face or the light-emitting face of the radiation source, a scanning graduation or transmitting graduation is disposed that in cooperation with the scale graduation structure makes possible the generation of position-dependent modulated scanning signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Hagl, Wolfgang Holzapfel, Hermann Hofbauer, Volker Hofer, Herbert Pronold
  • Patent number: 6043494
    Abstract: A gamma camera system of the present invention comprises a main detector for detecting gamma rays emitted from RIs provided to a subject, an emitter for emitting the gamma rays to the subject, and a sub-detector for detecting the gamma rays emitted from the emitter and transmitted through the subject. The sub-detector has at least one semiconductor element for directly detecting the gamma ray having high energy resolution. Based on the output of the sub-detector, an absorption ratio showing to what degree the gamma rays are absorbed in the subject is calculated. The absorption ratios are used to correct the number of the gamma rays counted based on the output of the main detector. Based on the corrected count values, RIs distribution is reconstructed. Thus, since the sub-detector having high energy resolution and the emitter other than the main detector are provided, the absorption ratios having high accuracy can be measured in parallel with imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tsutomu Yamakawa, Takashi Ichihara
  • Patent number: 6043496
    Abstract: The specification describes a spatial autocorrelation technique for measuring ultrafine linewidths of the order of tens of nanometers and less. Two beams of actinic radiation are used to draw parallel lines in a resist material. Each beam is adjusted to deliver a dose below the threshold for printing a feature, but when combined the dose is sufficient to print a line feature. During exposure the separation between beams is changed in controlled spatial steps until the beams cross one another. During some of the steps at least a portion of the beams will be coincident thus producing printable features. The resist is developed to print the features where the beams are coincident. The lines are below the resolving power of an optical microscope but their presence is discernible. The width of the line is determined from the number of lines printed and the size of the spatial steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Milan Tennant
  • Patent number: 6043506
    Abstract: An apparatus capable of measuring quantities of biological or other types of samples that have been labeled using any of a variety of techniques including fluorescence, radioisotopes, enzyme activated light emitting chemicals, and enzyme activated fluorescent materials is provided. The apparatus allows for either simultaneous or sequential acquisition of signals from multiple sample types. The apparatus is not restricted to a particular source or wavelength of excitation or readout light, nor is the apparatus restricted to a particular emission wavelength. The provided scanner includes a source module that preferably contains an internal laser emitting two different wavelengths of approximately the same intensity. An optional external light source may be coupled to the source module, thus adding further flexibility through the addition of other wavelengths (e.g., V, visible, mid-IR, and IR). The scanner also includes a detection module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Heffelfinger, Rebecca Ann Batterson, Renato Salgado
  • Patent number: 6043483
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the absolute position of a movable member, by monitoring the incremental and directional of movement of an indexed-encoder, coupled to the movable member, and comprising a single index space and a plurality of non-index spaces. The index space of the indexed-encoder member has a characteristic different than a characteristic of all of the other non-index spaces. The apparatus is capable of distinguishing the index space from any of the non-index spaces based on the characteristics of the index space and non-index spaces, and thus detecting when the index space or any of the non-index spaces is at the predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Radica China Limited
    Inventor: Charles T. Schreiber
  • Patent number: 6043475
    Abstract: A focal point adjustment apparatus applied to an optical apparatus with a projection optical system, comprises, an object lens, a stage on which a plate member on which a subject is put for measurement is placed, provision unit for providing the thickness of the plate member for measurement, determining unit for determining data on the distance between the object lens and the stage on the basis of the thickness of the plate member for measurement provided by the provision unit, and focusing unit for adjusting the distance between the object lens and the stage on the basis of the data on the distance between the object lens and the stage determined by the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Shimada, Takashi Nagano, Takashi Yoneyama, Nobuyuki Nagasawa, Hideaki Endo, Jitsunari Kojima, Atsuhiro Tsuchiya, Yukiko Saeki
  • Patent number: 6043479
    Abstract: A MOS active pixel sensor unit is disclosed which comprises: A first MOS transistor, a second MOS transistor, a third MOS transistor, and a fourth MOS transistor, wherein the third and fourth transistors are connected in series and both are provided between a variable voltage source and an output terminal, and the first and second transistors are connected in series and both are provided between the variable voltage source and the gate of the third transistor; and a photodiode connected with the second transistor in parallel, wherein the cathode of the photodiode is coupled to a node that connects the second and third transistors, and the anode of the photodiode is connected to a node that connects the first and second transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Ming-Cheng Chiang