Patents Examined by Jaques M. Saint-Surin
  • Patent number: 7251996
    Abstract: A liquid detection device attached on a liquid container for detecting a liquid consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container, the liquid detection device including a vibrating section symmetrical about a center thereof, and at least one electrode electrically connecting with said vibrating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Usui, Kenji Tsukada, Munehide Kanaya
  • Patent number: 5636273
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a power cross condition during a ringing state of a telephone. The apparatus also is capable of distinguishing a true power cross condition from a short loop ringing condition, by including a first path for receiving a signal indicative of a voltage across a ring feed resistor exceeding a predetermined value, and determining if that voltage is in an active state for a predetermined amount of time (i.e., 14 milliseconds). The apparatus also includes a second path for receiving a first and second current that flow respectively across a first and second sense resistor connected to opposite ends of the ring feed resistor. On the second path, the first and second currents are subtracted, converted to a digital value, filtered, and compared to a threshold value to determine if a ring trip has occurred. If so, the potential ring trip is sent to a persistence timer circuit, for checking if it is in an active state for a predetermined amount of time (i.e., 104 milliseconds).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Inventors: Walter S. Schopfer, Sergio R. Ramirez