Patents Examined by James Clinger
  • Patent number: 6734638
    Abstract: An electrodeless lighting system comprising: a case; a waveguide, in which an exit is exposed out of the case, installed in the case for transmitting the microwave generated in a magnetron; a bulb located outside of the exit of the waveguide and emitting light as generating plasma by the microwave transmitted through the waveguide; a protecting member fixed on the exit of the waveguide around a boundary portion of the bulb for making a resonating area in which the microwave is resonated, and formed to endure the heat generated from the bulb; and a resonator connected to the protecting member on front side of the bulb and having a reticular portion so as to prevent the leakage of the microwave and pass the light generated from the bulb, and thereby, discoloring or burning of a mesh portion of the resonator by the high temperature generated from the bulb can be prevented and therefore the leakage of the microwave in the resonating area, accordingly stability of the lighting system can be improved and life span
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyung Joo Kang, Joon Sik Choi
  • Patent number: 6734634
    Abstract: A control system for daytime running lights (DRLs) is provided that includes a controller for controlling DRLs according to whether the ignition switch is ON and information from the dimmer switch signal of a combination switch, and a plurality of switches that undergo switching according to signals of the controller. Accordingly, if the combination switch is set to activate the DRL system when the ignition switch is ON, a closed loop is formed with both headlights, and the current available to each headlight from the battery is reduced to one half of what it would be if loops were made independently for each of the headlights. When the dimmer switch is selected to high beam, a separate loop is made for each headlight so that a normal amount of current is available to the headlights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyoung-Uk Kim
  • Patent number: 6734643
    Abstract: A discharge lamp which eliminates the large line noise that forms in discharge lamps during startup while preventing heat loss in the transformer by providing a pair of opposed electrodes for the main discharge and an auxiliary electrode arranged such that it does not come into contact with the discharge space for the main discharge, a feed circuit for supplying the discharge current to the electrodes for the main discharge, and a starter circuit which produces a high voltage between one of the electrodes for the main discharge and the auxiliary electrode. The high voltage generating part of the starter circuit which includes at least a high voltage transformer that is separated from the feed circuit while the discharge lamp and the high voltage generating part are formed as an integral unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Okamoto, Mineo Nakayama, Izumi Takaya
  • Patent number: 6731079
    Abstract: A lighting control module for controlling power to a lamp is presented. The lighting control module comprises a receiver for receiving electronic communications from a central controller, a current sensor, a current controller for controlling current in a power circuit passing through the module, the current controller operating to open and close the power circuit, a control unit connected to the current controller and the receiver, the control unit operating to cause the current controller to open and close the power circuit in response to the communications, and an indicator connected to the control unit. The control unit causes the indicator to illuminate when the current sensor indicates that current fails to flow in the power circuit when the current controller is operated to close the power circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Bo Lundager Andersen
  • Patent number: 6731074
    Abstract: An electrode-less lamp equipment with higher luminance by higher lamp-cooling efficiency wherein the airflow generated by the blower 9 goes through the ventilation hole 12 and spouts out from the open end of the lamp-cooling nozzle 15 and cools the surface of the electrode-less lamp 1 is provided. The velocity of the airflow is accordingly high around the lamp surface enough to efficiently cool the lamp. This makes it possible to raise the input power density to the lamp and to increase luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: ORC Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6727656
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system including a microwave generator and a rectangular guide connected with the generator. The system is adapted to operate in fundamental (H10) or transverse electrical (TE10) mode, and associated with means providing a standing wave pattern. The system also includes many power connectors arranged in the guide at zones of maximum amplitude for one of the components of the electromagnetic field for splitting the generator power. The power connectors are adjusted so that the sum of their reduced admittance levels brought to the splitter input formed by the guide is in a single unit and many sources, respectively connected to a connector of the guide, via insulating means ensuring a power transmission of the connector to the source without reflecting towards the connector and a device adapting impedance of each source, located downstream of the insulating means, between the latter and associated source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universite de Montreal, Metal Process
    Inventors: Jacques Pelletier, Ana Lacoste, Thierry Léon Lagarde, Michel Moisan, Yves Alban-Marie Arnal, Zenon Zakrzewski
  • Patent number: 6727665
    Abstract: A dimmer for a compact fluorescent lamp including a high-frequency switching circuit for generating PWM or other similar control signals and a filter with simple filtering elements. The dimmer circuitry is simple and can be built on a wall-mountable housing for retro-fitting even in an existing two-wire wall-socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Star Bright Technology Limited
    Inventor: Xiao Li Yao
  • Patent number: 6727655
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to monitor and/or control the electrical states at a workpiece disposed in a plasma chamber that is in electrical communication with an RF signal source over a defined signal path. The method includes ascertaining an impedance of the signal path, sensing electrical characteristics of the RF power at the RF signal source and obtaining values of the electrical states at the workpiece. To provide a more accurate model of the electrical states at the workpiece, the modeling includes information concerning the impedance introduced by the signal path. This technique may be employed to provide feedback control of the RF generator, so that the electrical states may be dynamically adjusted be within predefined, or desired, parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventors: Jon McChesney, Alex Paterson, Valentin N. Todorow, John Holland, Michael Barnes
  • Patent number: 6727862
    Abstract: A non-contact information communication apparatus according to the present invention has a bare IC and a sheet capacitor 3 implemented on substrate 1, and an antenna coil of vortical circle shape formed on the substrate 1 so as to enclose at least portion of the bare IC and the sheet capacitor 3. Because the number of turns of the antenna coil 4 is set to 7-10, the outer size of the antenna coil can be set to be equal to or smaller than one yen size. Each of the substrate 1, the antenna coil 4, the bare IC and the sheet capacitor 3 is thinned, and the thickness of the entire apparatus is set to be equal to or thinner than 100 &mgr;m. Because of this, the apparatus can be much thinner than the conventional apparatus, thereby using it in various field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Information System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Tomon
  • Patent number: 6727664
    Abstract: A hand-held fluorescent lamp assembly powered by typical line supply of 120 VAC, 60 Hz via an attached power cord and employing multiple commonly available fluorescent lamps. The assembly includes switches to independently control the multiple fluorescent lamps. The assembly includes lightweight solid state power regulation components. The power regulation circuit employs a self-oscillating circuit that is approximately matched in frequency of oscillation to the natural frequency of the fluorescent lamp load to automatically ignite the fluorescent lamps. The power regulation circuit includes circuit elements to automatically protect the ballast circuit and lamps from overdrawing in the run state and from abnormal load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: TMC Enterprises, a division of Tasco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Miller, Zhou Dong Yue
  • Patent number: 6727651
    Abstract: Insulating ceramic parts for insulating collector electrodes in a traveling wave tube and a vacuum envelope are formed in a cylindrical shape in which the central axis of the inner diameter diverges from the central axis of the outer diameter and are constructed such that holes are provided in portions of the insulating ceramic parts where the thickness in the radial direction is great, and high-voltage leads for supplying prescribed voltages to said collector electrodes from the exterior pass through these holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignees: NEC Microwave Tube, Ltd, Nippon Hoso Kyokai
    Inventors: Akihiko Nemoto, Hitoshi Nakagawa, Toshihiro Nomoto
  • Patent number: 6724345
    Abstract: A family of antennas, and a method for the same, are provided. The antennas include periodic electromagnetic structures to suppress non-radiating modes of propagation. Each antenna comprises a radiator resonant at a first frequency. A first dielectric is proximate to the radiator. Typically, a counterpoise is formed to the radiator. The periodic electromagnetic structures propagate a radiating mode, and suppress the propagation of a non-radiating mode. The periodic electromagnetic structures can be formed in the radiator, the counterpoise (when the counterpoise is distinctly distinguishable from the radiator), or in the first dielectric. The electromagnetic structures are a pattern of volumetric dielectric blocks having a predetermined shape and a predetermined spacing between blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kyocera Wirless Corp.
    Inventor: Allen Tran
  • Patent number: 6724157
    Abstract: An energy savings device for an inductive or resistive load, such as a fluorescent light fixture having a magnetic ballast, which is powered by an AC voltage waveform. The energy savings devices includes a setting unit for setting a desired power operating level for the load. The energy savings device also includes a microprocessor configured to receive a signal from the setting unit indicative of the desired power operating level for the load, to determine a phase delay to be provided to an output AC voltage waveform that is to be provided to the load, and to output a control signal as a result thereof. The energy savings device further includes an active element provided between a line that provides the input AC voltage waveform and the load, the active element receiving the control signal and turning off and on at predetermined times in accordance with the control signal, so as to create the output AC voltage waveform from the AC voltage waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Astral Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoly L. Kazanov, Mark E. Hall, Anthony Paige
  • Patent number: 6724350
    Abstract: An antenna system that includes a directional antenna designed to reduce the occurrence of side lobes, thus reducing the possibility of interference with other radio frequencies is disclosed. The directional antenna includes an antenna member and a reflecting tube. The reflective tube is sleeved over the antenna member. The reflective serves to block unwanted radial side lobes. The directional antenna can also include provisions that assist in suspending the antenna member within the reflective tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Hill
  • Patent number: 6724151
    Abstract: A driving apparatus for an electro luminescence panel that is capable of preventing deterioration of a picture quality according to the present invention includes a power supply VDD for supplying power source to the electro luminescence cell OLED, a first TFT connected between the power supply and the data line, a second TFT connected between the power supply and the electro luminescence cell OLED, a third TFT connected between the power supply and the first TFT for switching according to a signal on the gate line, a fourth TFT connected between gate electrodes of the first and second PMOS TFTs and the data line for switching according to a signal on the gate line and a path of a data signal from the data line, and a capacitor connected between the gate electrodes of the first and second PMOS TFTs and the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Juhn Suk Yoo
  • Patent number: 6720743
    Abstract: In a lighting system capable of varying luminance of the light emitting surface periodically used for adjusting rhythm of breathing of an observer when he wishes to fall asleep, a light source is controlled in a manner so that variation of the luminance “L” per a unit time in the vicinity at a time tMAX when the luminance “L” takes the largest value in one period becomes larger than the variation of the luminance “L” per the unit time in the vicinity at a time tMIN when the luminance “L” takes the smallest value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Yano, Katsushige Amano, Yoshinori Tanabe, Hiroki Noguchi, Manabu Inoue, Wataru Iwai
  • Patent number: 6720739
    Abstract: A ballast (10,20) for powering a gas discharge lamp load (30) comprises a protection circuit (300,600) operable to monitor an electrical signal (40) in the ballast and disable the ballast for at least a predetermined period of time in response to a disturbance wherein at least a portion (44) of the electrical signal (40) exhibits a time-rate-of-change that exceeds the time-rate-of-change of the signal during normal operation of the ballast and gas discharge lamp load. Protection circuit (300,600) is capable of disabling the ballast within a response time that is less than twice the period of the electrical signal. In a preferred embodiment that is suitable for ballasts with driven-type inverters, protection circuit (300) comprises a latching device (310) and a triggering circuit (330). In a preferred embodiment that is suitable for ballasts with self-oscillating type inverters, protection circuit (600) comprises a pull-down circuit (640) and a negative voltage source (610).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania, Inc.
    Inventor: John G. Konopka
  • Patent number: 6720734
    Abstract: A method of producing a diode drive current in an oximeter includes sensing at least a part of a current passing through the diode and converting the sensed current to a sensed voltage, inputting the sensed voltage to a feedback amplifier for stabilizing the current passing through the diode, and eliminating an offset voltage across inputs of the feedback amplifier. A pulse oximeter includes a diode for emitting light flashes, a feedback amplifier having inputs, a feedback capacitor, and an output, the feedback amplifier stabilizing a current passing through the diode, a nulling amplifier having inputs, a nulling capacitor, and an output, the nulling amplifier charging and discharging the feedback capacitor until the inputs of the feedback amplifier are at a same voltage. The operation may include synchronizing an elimination of input offset voltages of the feedback and nulling amplifiers with on or off state of diode current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Datex-Ohmeda, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Norris
  • Patent number: 6720744
    Abstract: An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and three wire installations. Both zero cross detectors are monitored and are used to automatically configure the electronic control. Over voltage circuitry senses an over voltage condition across a MOSFET which is in the off state and turns the MOSFET on so that it desirably will not reach the avalanche region. Over current circuitry senses when the current through the MOSFETs has exceeded a predetermined current threshold and then turns the MOSFETs off so they do not exceed the MOSFETs' safe operating area (SOA) curve. Latching circuitry is employed to keep the protection circuitry in effect even after a fault condition has cleared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Black, Graham Christensen, Benjamin Aaron Johnson, Shawn L. Leichliter, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Stephen Spencer Thompson, Chenming Wu
  • Patent number: 6717555
    Abstract: An antenna (10) having a plurality of unitary dipole antennas (12) formed by folding a stamped piece of sheet metal. Each of the unitary dipole antennas (12) are fed by two stripline feed systems (20, 22). Each of these feed systems are separated above and extend over a groundplane (14) and are separated by an air dielectric to minimize intermodulation (IM). Phase shifters (40, 42, 44) in combination with a downtilt control lever (52) are slidably adjusted beneath the respective dividing portions of the stripline feed system to adjust signal phase and achieve a uniform beam tilt having uniform and balanced side lobes. These stripline feed systems can also be formed from stamped sheet metal and which have distal ends bent 90° upward to couple to the respective dipole antennas (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Andrew Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Teillet, Kevin Le