Patents Examined by John E. Giust
  • Patent number: 5389919
    Abstract: An electronic interlock for locking a file cabinet (10, 100) and for limiting the number of drawers (14, 114) to be accessed at any given time. An input keyboard (20, 120) receives an input code to be compared with a prestored access code. If the codes do not match, an unlock signal is not produced. If the input code matches the access code, a processor (28, 148) renders the storage assembly (10, 110) accessible. The processor (28, 128) will receive a drawer selection number from the input keyboard (20, 120) user and will unlock a lock (16, 116) associated with the selected drawer (14, 114). Sensors (34, 134) sense the position of the drawers (14, 114) and disable the processor (28, 128) when one of the drawers (14, 114) is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Meridian, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Warren, David E. Miller, James Arter
  • Patent number: 5337044
    Abstract: A system for remote control of a mobile computer system from a base computer system, where the base system generates control command tokens which are broadcast over a pager system. A communicator including a pager receiver, which is normally in a standby state, is connected to the mobile computer, which is normally in an off state, and receives the command tokens. Stored in both the base computer and the mobile computer is a table of commands, cross-referenced with the command tokens. The command tokens are used to instruct the mobile computer to take a variety of actions, including telephoning the base computer, informing the base computer of the mobile computer's location, exchanging file update information and application version information, and other actions requiring communication between the base station and the remote station. The communicator includes a local CPU and SRAM, and powers up the mobile computer as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Nomadic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Folger, David Arnold, Maureen Lambert
  • Patent number: 5329275
    Abstract: A standard interface between a system motherboard and a control card that can operate different types of screens, including LCD and VGA monitors. The interface has a plurality of pins each designated to a particular signal or power line. The signals and power provided by the interface allow the design of a control card that can drive any type of monitor or LCD screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Solomon
  • Patent number: 5323149
    Abstract: A data communications system, e.g. for "hands free" personnel location or access control, comprises a master transceiver and a plurality of slave transceivers for transmitting individual identification messages to the master in accordance with a code in which binary values are represented by an infra-red transmission occuring during a first portion or a second portion of a bit period respectively. The master alternately echoes back to the slaves a binary value corresponding to the value last received. In the event of a clash, however, i.e. different values transmitted from different slaves during the same bit period, the master echoes back only a predetermined single value and the slave(s) which did not transmit that value then cease transmission. This process continues until one of the slaves has transmitted and had echoed back bit-by-bit the whole of its message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: The Racal Corporation Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Nigel S. Hoult, Geoffrey J. A. Baddoo
  • Patent number: 5323150
    Abstract: The present invention introduces a method of reducing conductive and convective heat loss from the battery unit in battery-powered devices, such as RFID tag devices. Battery heat loss prevention is accomplished by suspending the battery in a vacuum or within a low thermally conductivity gas, such as air, nitrogen, helium or argon. Further improvement is accomplished by using a minimum number of suspension points made of solid material which possesses a low thermally conductivity. The battery can be suspended by various means, the first of which totally encapsulates the battery using the minimum number of solid material suspension points mentioned above, and the second of which only a portion of the battery (such as the lower portion) is suspended in a low thermally conductive material and the upper portion is encapsulated by the low thermally conductive material fabricated in an arching structure that does not contact the upper portion of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5317308
    Abstract: An electronic device (100) includes a housing (222), a circuit supporting substrate (902) within the housing (222) and mechanically coupled thereto, and electronic circuitry (904) mechanically coupled to the circuit supporting substrate (902). A mechanical shock isolator (502) is located within the housing (222), and is mechanically coupled to the circuit supporting substrate (902) for substantially increasing the natural mechanical frequency of vibration of the circuit supporting substrate (902). The mechanical shock isolator (502) includes an electrically conductive structure (504) that is electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry (904). Additionally, a method is provided for sensing the integrity of an electrical loop formed between the electrically conductive structure (504) and the electronic circuitry (904).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Tribbey, Allen D. Hertz, Mario A. Rivas
  • Patent number: 5311170
    Abstract: A method is used to switch a channel which is used for a communication between a transmitting end and a receiving end from a main channel to a protection channel. The method of the present invention allows automatic compensation for the loss caused by the switching of the channel to the protection channel. Furthermore, the level difference of the baseband signal outputs from each of the main channels can be automatically controlled to zero regardless of the main channel from which the channel is switched to the protection channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Wachi, Yoshihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 5309070
    Abstract: An AC TFEL device includes a front electrode set deposited on a transparent substrate and a rear electrode set, the electrode sets enclosing a thin film laminate which includes a pair of insulating layers sandwiching an alkaline earth thiogallate thin film phosphor doped with a rare earth activator. The thiogallate phosphor layer is capable of producing blue light of sufficient intensity to create a full color TFEL panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventors: Sey-Shing Sun, Richard T. Tuenge, James Kane, Christopher N. King, P. Niel Yocom
  • Patent number: 5302947
    Abstract: A method and apparatus in a selective call receiver (100) choose and load a software driver program (124) into an external computer (302). The apparatus comprises a data interface (118) for coupling with the external computer (302) and a memory (122) containing pre-programmed data comprising a plurality of executable software driver programs (124). The apparatus further comprises a processor (108) coupled to the memory (122) and to the data interface (118) for controlling interactions between the memory (122) and the data interface (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Fuller, Robert D. Fennell, William J. Macko
  • Patent number: 5289179
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for providing cellular mobile telecommunication service in accordance with the requirements of the Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard. A modular switching system is provided which performs the functions of the mobile switching center plus those of a home location register, authentication center, visitor location register, and equipment identity register. The latter functions are advantageously spread among the modules of the switching system, thus avoiding the getting started cost of expensive dedicated data bases. A wireless global switching module advantageously switches mobile communications control messages among the modules of the system and between the modules and the base station systems, and terminates signaling links between the mobile switching center and the base station systems. Arrangements are provided for maintaining stable virtual circuit connections in this module even in the presence of protocol handler failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Robert B. Beeson, Jr., Patrick E. Helmers, Michael V. Stein
  • Patent number: 5287102
    Abstract: Disclosed is a computer audio interface adapted to enable blind or visually impaired users to locate icons positioned in rows in the background of a graphical user interface. Whenever the pointer of the interface is positioned on the background, the system produces a distinctive tone. Whenever the pointer is positioned in an icon row that is occupied by one or more icons, the system produces a distinctive chord. Whenever the pointer is positioned in the background and not in an occupied row, the system produces stereo effects that give the user information as to the relative left/right position of the pointer. Whenever the pointer is positioned in an occupied row, the amplitude of the left and right stereo channels is controlled such that whenever the pointer is to the left of the leftmost icon, substantially all of the volume is produced by the left speaker and whenever the pointer is to the right of the rightmost icon, substantially all of the the volume is produced by the right speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Frank A. McKiel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5283568
    Abstract: A radio pager having means for automatically adjusting the rising time of a high-speed clock. The pager includes a plurality of circuit elements for adjusting the rising time of the high-speed clock, i.e., for compensating the degree of stability of a high-speed clock generating circuit. On the start of a low-speed clock, the high-speed clock generating circuit sequentially selects and connects the circuit elements to thereby count the resulting rising times of the high-speed clock. One of the circuit elements having resulted the shortest rising time is written to a storage. When the high-speed clock is needed, e.g., when a message should be displayed, the stored circuit element is connected to the high-speed clock generating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Asai, Akira Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 5281963
    Abstract: The present invention relates to information processing equipment having communication capabilities capable of executing a communication protocol processing at high speed and comprising a main processor and a communication processor. If a load factor of the main processor is higher than a predetermined threshold value, the main processor executes the communication protocol processing and if the load factor of the main processor is lower than the predetermined threshold value, the communication processor executes the communication protocol processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ishikawa, Masami Katagiri
  • Patent number: 5262777
    Abstract: The present invention is an input device for a computer is provided which generates input signals through a polyhedron having an enclosing surface, the polyhedron cooperating with sensing means for sensing pressure indicative of deformation forces applied externally to the enclosing surface to generate electrical signals indicative of the magnitude and location of pressure on the enclosing surface. Means are provided for coupling this array of electrical signals to the computer. In specific embodiments of the invention, the polyhedron may include means for sensing orientation in space and means for sensing location in space. In a still further embodiment, protrusions on the surface may be provided permitting a handler to pull upon the enclosing surface indicating a negative direction of applied pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Thomas P. Low, Larry S. Gullman
  • Patent number: 5258691
    Abstract: Asymmetric discharge electrode means are provided for a metal halide lamp enabling improved operation at acoustic frequencies. A xenon-metal halide lamp employing such improved discharge electrode means is disclosed together with a reflector lamp unit employing such lamp construction for its light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James T. Dakin, Kenneth S. King, Gary R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5252971
    Abstract: Data acquisition in a multi-function keyboard system includes both acquiring typing data by conventional keyboard scanning techniques and, simultaneously, acquiring pointing data by sampling force sensors coupled to the multi-function pointing key. The keyboard system periodically samples the force sensors to determine bias values defining a null point, and updates the bias values by a moving average calculation to compensate for manufacturing tolerance and long term drift. In response to a start pointing command from the host processor, the keyboard system transmits bias values and then pointing values, the latter being responsive to forces applied to the pointing key by the user for cursor control. The sensor values are encoded so as to pass through to the host processor in a manner transparent to application software. The system scans the force sensors periodically to acquire successive pointing values, and transmits them to the host, as long as pointing mode persists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Home Row, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Franz, Philip D. Biehl
  • Patent number: 5252895
    Abstract: A TFEL edge emitter structure has a bottom substrate layer, a lower common electrode layer applied over the bottom substrate layer an upper control electrode layer, and a middle EL light-energy generating stack disposed between the lower common electrode and the upper control electrode layers. The middle EL stack includes a lower dielectric layer, an upper dielectric layer, and a middle light-energy generating layer. The lower dielectric layer overlies the lower common electrode layer and bottom substrate layer. The middle light-energy generating layer is deposited over the lower dielectric layer. The upper dielectric layer is deposited over the middle light-energy generating layer. A light emitting face on a front edge of the EL stack is disposed at an angle relative to a street on the front edge portion of the substrate layer that is greater than ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David Leksell, Norman J. Phillips, Zoltan K. Kun
  • Patent number: 5247263
    Abstract: An injection system for a tandem accelerator with equal transmission efficiency over a broad energy range includes means for shielding the injected ion beam from the electric field within the grounded end of the low-energy acceleration tube and injecting the ion beam into the low-energy acceleration tube sequentially through a narrow acceleration gap and the shielded region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: High Voltage Engineering Europa B.V.
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Purser
  • Patent number: 5227780
    Abstract: A plurality of infrared controlled appliances are controlled from a single UHF radio transmitter remote controller. The controller provides a plurality of separate distinct output control signals to an UHF to infrared transponder. The transponder has a UHF receiver, an infrared receiver, and an infrared transmitter. In one mode of operation, the transponder stores a received infrared signal and correlates it with a received UHF signal. In the operational mode, the transponder transmits a stored infrared signal through the infrared transmitter upon receiving a correlated UHF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Houston Satellite Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Tigwell
  • Patent number: 5225732
    Abstract: A gas discharge-type display panel which comprises a front side glass substrate having a pattern of an anode on one side thereof and a rear side glass substrate having a pattern of a cathode in face-to-face and spaced relation with the anode. The substrates are assembled to seal off so that discharge spaces are created between the substrates. The cathode is made of a conductive composite oxide having a perovskite structure of a K.sub.2 NiF.sub.4 -type structure with significantly improved discharge characteristics and a prolonged life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Watanabe, Toshiharu Hoshi