Patents Examined by Janice A. Howell
  • Patent number: 5153433
    Abstract: A portable mass spectrometer is described having one or more electrostatic focusing sectors and a magnetic focusing sector, all of which are positioned inside a vacuum chamber, and all of which may be adjusted via adjustment means accessible from outside the vacuum chamber. Mounting of the magnetic sector entirely within the vacuum chamber permits smaller magnets to be used, thus permitting reductions in both weight and bulk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Brian D. Andresen, Joel D. Eckels, James F. Kimmons, Walter H. Martin, David W. Myers, Robert F. Keville
  • Patent number: 5151613
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device having a CR oscillation circuit and a crystal oscillation circuit and capable of selecting either the CR oscillation circuit or the crystal oscillation circuit, includes a unit for receiving an electrical signal, and a unit for selecting either the CR oscillation circuit or the crystal oscillation circuit in accordance with a state of the electrical signal received by the receiving unit. The integrated circuit device also includes a unit for holding the receiving unit at a predetermined level of the electrical signal. The holding unit is adapted to hold the receiving unit at the predetermined level in accordance with a state of the receiving unit. The receiving unit is a selection terminal and the selecting unit is a selection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Satou, Kazuyuki Horinouchi
  • Patent number: 5151586
    Abstract: A scanning exposure device comprises a laser light source which emits a laser beam and a polygonal rotating mirror which reflects a laser beam emitted by the laser light source. The scanning exposure device scans the laser beam reflected by the polygonal rotating mirror on a surface of a photoconductive drum for exposure. The scanning exposure device is provided with an intensity correcting unit for correcting the intensity of the laser beam so that the intensity of the laser beam on the surface of the photoconductive drum does not vary regardless of variation of the incident angle of the laser beam falling on the polygonal rotating mirror as the polygonal rotating mirror rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Tsuyoshi Ohashi, Shinichi Hirahata
  • Patent number: 5151812
    Abstract: Diametric scanning of a forward target region, wherein each scan line proceeds from an edge of a circular field of view through the center to the opposite edge while the scan angle is advancing. Processing of line scan data for target acquisition and tracking is facilitated by rotational translation, since each successive diametrically-scanned line is incrementally related to the previous line. Scanning progresses uniformly and continuously. An optical path between a target area and an energy sensor is intercepted by a first angled reflector of a dual reflector assembly, rotating around the optical path axis as part of a rotor having a peripheral ring with a single gap. Rotating about the axis is a ring fitted with an array of reflecting facets. The energy beam is redirected by a first reflector of the dual reflector assembly through the gap and reflected by a facet moving past the gap and thence to the sensor via a second angled reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Inventor: Troy M. Watson
  • Patent number: 5151662
    Abstract: A differentiator circuit is provided with a subtracter circuit connected to the input and output of the final stage of a main signal processing filter, the latter of which processes an input signal for providing a filtered output signal. The difference between the input and output signals of the final stage of the main signal processing filter provides a differentiated output signal having the same natural frequency and damping factor as the filtered output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Hanna
  • Patent number: 5150392
    Abstract: An X-ray mask membrane 12 is discussed wherein a cantilever and tip portion such as used on an atomic force or scanning tunneling microscope are fabricated directly as part of the mask. The mask is located over a wafer and the vertical (z) motion of the tip with respect to the wafer is achieved with a piezoelectric device which is mounted on a movable support above the cantilever. Piezoelectric device may be a tube having an electrode divided into quadrants so that the end of the tube could be positioned in three dimensions to allow for alignment of the end of the tube to the cantilever tip. X and Y motion of the tip and the mask membrane relative to the wafer is achieved by mounting the wafer on an x-y stage driven by piezoelectric or other transducers. The wafer includes a raised alignment mask on its upper surface. The wafer, mask membrane, and z piezoelectric tube are held rigidly but adjustably with respect to each other by a mechanical fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fritz J. Hohn, Mark A. McCord
  • Patent number: 5150394
    Abstract: A dual photon bone densitometry apparatus uses an area scanning technique to minimize scanning time. X-rays are generated by an x-ray source which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches a scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the x-ray image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. A dual energy x-ray source that delivers two different energy levels provides quantitative information regarding the object being imaged using standard dual photon absorptiometry techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts Medical School
    Inventor: Andrew Karellas
  • Patent number: 5150230
    Abstract: A rod lens fixing method which can prevent the generation of cracks in a rod lens due to annealing to be carried out after welding a lens assembly. The rod lens fixing method includes the steps of providing a flanged split sleeve having an axial slit extending continuously from one end of the flanged split sleeve to the other end thereof, the axial slit being wide enough at least a flange of the flanged split sleeve to permit laser welding; press-fitting the rod lens into the flanged split sleeve; and applying a solder into the axial slit to solder the rod lens to the flange split sleeve. This method further includes the steps of inserting the flanged split sleeve into a bore formed at one end portion of a sleeve, the bore having a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the flanged split sleeve and smaller than an outer diameter of the flange; and laser-welding the flange to one end surface of the sleeve at a plurality of points on an outer circumference of the flange and in the axial slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Masuko, Shunichi Satoh, Tetsuo Ishizaka, Toshio Ohya
  • Patent number: 5150235
    Abstract: In a polychromatic liquid crystal display, apparatus and method for improving the off-axis viewing characteristics are described. The angle of view can be expanded by appropriate selection of the thickness and the birefringence parameter of the liquid crystal material as a function of the color of the liquid crystal display pixel. In order to improve further the angle of view, retardation films are used to reduce the angular dependence of the radiation. The retardation films reduce the background light leakage by compensating for the change in retardation of the liquid crystal display at angles other than normal to the display. The reduction in the background light leakage results in improved contrast ratio and chromaticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignees: Honeywell Inc., Hosiden Corporation
    Inventors: Elias S. Haim, John A. Rupp, Cecil W. Penn
  • Patent number: 5150393
    Abstract: An x-ray diagnostics installation for mammography exposures has a radiation detector for making a radiation measurement used to calculate the average parenchyma dose. The radiation detector is disposed on the support table next to the measurement field in which the mammary gland is disposed, and supplies a signal to a computer corresponding to the measured radiation dose at the detector location. The computer is programmed with the dependency of the average parenchyma dose, with respect to the radiation dose at the location of the radiation detector, and thus the computer generates a value corresponding to the average parenchyma dose, obtained by direct measurement rather than by calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Aichinger, Sigrid Joite-Barfuss, Karlheinz Koehler
  • Patent number: 5149977
    Abstract: A document reader (scanner) is disclosed which can automatically provide a provisional decision on the acceptability of the document image quality, and display the documents judged to be unacceptable for visual confirmation, using a display means. The apparatus can detect skewing of documents and anomalous document image contrasts, and the degree of skewing to be detected can be adjusted as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Kikuo Mita
  • Patent number: 5148062
    Abstract: A phase shifter network which alternates between structurally dual networks is provided. In particular, the phase shifter has a topography which permits the network to be configured as alternatively T or .pi. networks of low pass and high pass delay circuits in accordance with states of a single control signal fed to the phase shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Marc E. Goldfarb
  • Patent number: 5148041
    Abstract: A reflection meter for measuring the percentage of reflected light from a surface. A light source produces light which strikes the surface. The surface reflects the light into a chamber which directs the light to a detector. The detector senses the reflected light and produces a detect signal that represents the light reflected. A microprocessor receives the detect signal and calculates a percentage of light reflected from the surface which is shown on a display. An absorbing receiver engage the surface and absorbs any light that is transmitted through the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Brain Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert Wertheim, Hernan Bormey, Carlos Bormey
  • Patent number: 5148314
    Abstract: Optical structures are disclosed that comprise selected combinations of refractive and diffractive type optical elements wherein net chromatic aberrational effects are minimized in images formed by said structures. With the disclosed structures, chromatic aberrational contributions from each type of optical element, having characteristically opposite algebraic sense, are essentially cancelled out by means of proper distribution of optical power plus suitable arrangement and relative location of the said optical elements. Advantages over the prior art are demonstrated in four general types of optical structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: Chungte W. Chen
  • Patent number: 5148323
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus 30 passes an incident beam of light through a first lens having a first focal length, causing the incident beam of light 32 to be focussed, and then passes the incident beam of light through a pinhole 36 having an opening of a predetermined size. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the pinhole 36 is spaced from the first lens 34 by a distance which is greater than, or less than, but not equal to the lens' focal length wherein only a portion of the incident beam of light passes through the opening of the pinhole 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the pinhole 36 has a size which is significantly larger than the nominal diffraction limited spot size of the first lens 34. The incident beam of light which passes through the pinhole is then directed toward a second lens 38 having a second focal length. In a preferred embodiment, the second lens 38 is spaced from the pinhole 36 by a distance substantially equal to the second lens' focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Blair F. Campbell, Richard B. Holmes, Sam S. Ma, Dennis M. Guthals
  • Patent number: 5148458
    Abstract: It is often important to measure the phase composition and residual stress resultant from many materials processing procedures. For example, the carburization and heat treatment of steel components where the phase content of austenite versus ferrite or martensite, and residual stress are important characteristics with respect to the ultimate performance of the component. The x-ray diffraction techniques are used extensively to measure both of these characteristics of steel parts. However, the procedures for these measurements are time consuming and must be performed sequentially with any x-ray instrument except that of the present invention. This invention describes a method and apparatus that is able to perform the measurement of retained austenite and residual stress simultaneously. The advantages that the invention offers include very short measurement times and measurement of the characteristics in exactly the same spot of a sample at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: Clayton Ruud
  • Patent number: 5146367
    Abstract: Mounts for plastic lens elements of differing diameters or materials include a separate V-block for mounting each lens element, wherein the V-blocks for lens elements of a smaller diameter converge at angles less than V-blocks for lens elements of a larger diameter, the angles of convergence being selected so that the centers of the lens elements remain aligned with an optical axis perpendicular to both of the lens elements upon thermal expansion of the lens elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Peter A. Newman
  • Patent number: 5146077
    Abstract: A bright source protection circuit for an image intensifier tube modulates the voltage supplied to the tube's photocathode in response to current drawn by the photocathode such that the photocathode is pulsed on and off until the desired photocathode current is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph N. Caserta, William D. Mims, David A. Crenshaw
  • Patent number: 5146355
    Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display provides a high quality color image and efficient energy utilization. A layer of liquid cyrstal material is controlled by a transparent electrode matrix. A matrix of (primary color emitting) phosphors is aligned with a matrix of transparent electrodes for controlling the shuttering of the liquid crystal layer. A source of fluorescent energy excites the phosphors. A first dichroic filter and a second dichroic filter are located behind the liquid crystal layer. The first filter reflects untraviolet light and transmits visible light while the second filter transmits ultraviolet light and reflects visible light. The two filters are arrayed so that the phosphors are efficiently energized by the ultraviolet light source while ambient illumination is utilized, the display thereby providing both transmissive and reflective modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Litton Systems Canada Limited
    Inventors: John C. Prince, James F. Farrell
  • Patent number: 5146086
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for determining petrophysical properties of porous media by the use of light transmission through the media. Specifically, by using a highly collimated light source, preferably a laser, the permeability, grain size, wettability, porosity and clay swelling behavior of a sample can be determined on the scale of millimeters. A calibration curve or function is first established to correlate light transmission through a slab of sandstone on the order of 5 to 10 mm under known conditions. This curved is then used to determine unknown conditions by measuring light transmission and comparing the values to those on the curve. Other applications for the phenomenon of light transmission through porous media are disclosed whereby conditions in a flowing stream of liquid can be monitored by use of light transmission. Specifically, changes in the refractive index and immiscible contamination can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Chevron Research and Technology Company
    Inventors: Bibhas R. De, Michael A. Nelson, Kiran K. Pande