Patents Examined by John Patti
  • Patent number: 6222186
    Abstract: A technique that modulates the power of a inductively coupled plasma (ICP) according to the operative modes of a spectrometer. An analytical apparatus of the present invention contains an inductively coupled plasma generator (ICPG) and a spectrometer. The ICPG generates a plasma for forming ionic and excited molecular species from a sample. The spectrometer analyzes the ionic and excited molecular species formed. The spectrometer operates in an analysis mode wherein the ionic and excited molecular species are identified according to physical characteristics of the species to provide data on the species and further has a washout mode wherein the spectrometer flushes out interfering ions and molecules and provides no significant data on the sample. The controller modulates the ICPG to operate in power cycles, at each cycle the ICPG operates in an analysis period and a stand-by period. By modulating the plasma power, the power consumption and heat dissipation can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gangqiang Li, Thomas P. Doherty, Carl A. Myerholtz
  • Patent number: 6198099
    Abstract: A infra-red bolometer includes an active matrix level, a support level, a pair of posts and an absorption level. The active matrix level includes a substrate having a pair of connecting terminals. The support level includes a pair of bridges, each of the bridges being provided with a conduction line formed on top thereof, wherein one end of the conduction line is electrically connected to the respective connecting terminal. The absorption level includes an absorber with a reflective layer positioned at bottom surface thereof, a serpentine bolometer element surrounded by the absorber and an IR absorber coating formed top of the absorber. Since the reflective layer is attached at the bottom surface of the absorber, which will, in turn, eliminate the need for controlling the vertical distance between the absorption level and the active matrix level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Kyun Kim
  • Patent number: 6177678
    Abstract: A lamp system is for use in non-destructive testing to illuminate luminescent materials, such as fluorescent dyes. The lamp system has a control unit and a lamp. The lamp has a bulb and a filter. The bulb generates at least a first wavelength of invisible energy and the filter limits other visible wavelength light from the lamp. The lamp has a handle with a trigger. The control unit pulses the lamp on and off when the trigger is depressed. The lumiescent material absorbs the first wavelength of energy and pulses in response when the lamp illuminates the material. The system can be AC or DC operated. It can be operated from an automotive battery. A fault locating system for use with fluorescent dyes to detect faults in a body has a handheld D-type battery flashlight configuration with a casing having a handle at one end and a flared lamp housing at the other. A reflector fits within the lamp housing, and a bulb rests in the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Brasscorp Ltd.
    Inventors: Jack Brass, Thomas M. Lemons
  • Patent number: 6175116
    Abstract: A gamma camera includes detector heads disposed about an examination region. A high energy collimator collimates the radiation received by each of the detector heads. Either a positron emitting radionuclide or a positron emitting radionuclide and a single photon emitting radionuclide is introduced into an object to be imaged. Radiation which is received by the detectors within a coincidence time interval and radiation which is received by either of the detectors but having an energy characteristic of a positron annihilation are used to generate coincidence data. Radiation which is not indicative of coincidence radiation but which has an energy characteristic of the single photon emitting radionuclide is used to generate single photon data. The data is processed and used to generate one or more images of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Picker International, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Gagnon, Frank P. DiFilippo
  • Patent number: 6160363
    Abstract: A color picture tube apparatus comprising a YH correction circuit connected to a vertical deflection coil in series and having YH correction coils for generating four-pole magnetic fields, the YH correction circuit being formed of a double bridge circuit, wherein a diode bridge circuit is connected to at least one resistor in parallel, two resistors connected in series are connected to a variable resistor in parallel, the parallel connection is further connected across the output terminals of the diode bridge circuit, and the YH correction coils are connected between the connection point of the two resistors and the movable terminal of the variable resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sugimoto, Katsuyo Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 6160364
    Abstract: A circuit fixedly limits the horizontal image size of a screen of a CRT display. The circuit for limiting the horizontal image size of the screen detects a voltage indicative of the horizontal image size of the screen with power provided to a horizontal output unit by a field effect transistor in a horizontal output power supply unit. A current mirror circuit coupled to the field effect transistors outputs current which flows into the drain of a field effect transistor when the field effect transistor is turned on. The outputted current is transformed into voltage and the voltage is fed back to the PWM control circuit to limit the horizontal image size of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Soo Jo
  • Patent number: 6150659
    Abstract: A flame detector consisting of a first infrared radiation detector for detecting radiation from combustion of hydrocarbon and other carbon containing compounds in conjunction with a second infrared radiation detector for distinguishing radiation from other sources such as modulated sunlight, reflections, artificial as well as natural hot objects, illuminating light sources, and arc welders. The flame detector uses two electronic circuits following the first infrared detector such that a fire is sensed by either of the two circuits depending on its size, one circuit being optimized for flicker frequencies present in a large fire while the second circuit simultaneously checks for optical signals at flicker frequencies dominant in a smaller fire. The two electronic outputs along with the output of the second infrared detector are digitally processed and analyzed for spectral and temporal characteristics to distinguish the presence of a real fire from that of various false alarm sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: General Monitors, Incorporated
    Inventors: Shankar Baliga, Herbert H. Rabe, Brett Bleacher
  • Patent number: 6147464
    Abstract: A compensation control circuit of horizontal scanning size suitable to be used in a general monitor to compensate the variation amount of horizontal scanning size due to the influence of the anode load current. The compensation control circuit includes two parts: One is the horizontal scanning size compensation circuit and the other is the horizontal scanning size control circuit. The horizontal scanning size compensation circuit is coupled to the coil of the fly-back transformer to generate a corresponding compensation signal according to the variation of the anode load current. The compensation signal is far lower than the level of the anode voltage. Therefore, it can be processed by the general electric circuits. The horizontal scanning size control circuit is coupled to the horizontal scanning size compensation circuit to receive the compensation signal. The compensation signal can combine with the shift regulation signal sent by the microprocessor to be a D.C. modulation signal. Then the D.C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Acer Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventor: Chang-Fa Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6147354
    Abstract: A universal cold-cathode type ion source with closed-loop electron drifting and with ion-beam propagation direction perpendicular to the plane of electron drifting is intended for uniformly treating stationary or moveable objects. Treatment procedures include cleaning, activation, polishing, thin-film coating, or etching. The ion source of the invention allows for adjusting beam parameters and configurations and has an adjustable dimensions of the ionization space between the anode and the cathode. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment is carried out by moving the anode with respect to the cathode. The moveable anode is shifted in the direction of propagation of the ion beam or in the opposite direction, whereby the tubular ion beam is either converged or diverged. As a result, it becomes possible to adjust the surface area being treated and characteristics of the ion beam such as average energy of ions in the beam and composition of the beam, in case of a multiple-component working medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventors: Yuri Maishev, James Ritter, Leonid Velikuv
  • Patent number: 6140644
    Abstract: The inspection apparatus uses a particle beam and has a high throughput by obtaining a characteristic frequency corresponding to the characteristic quantity of focusing-shift from a Fourier spectrum of a sample image using a focusing-shift evaluator. A beam blur profile is produced corresponding to the characteristic frequency in a beam blur profile generator. A component of the beam-blur profile is removed from the sample image stored in one dimensional image memory using a de-convolution operator. A dimensional measurement is performed in a critical dimension evaluator for an obtained sample image. Since time spent for focus adjustment using particle beam scanning is obviated, it is possible to reduce the inspection time for a dimension and an appearance abnormality of a semiconductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimi Kawanami, Akio Yoneyama, Tadashi Otaka
  • Patent number: 6137243
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for selecting a capacitor value corresponding to a horizontal frequency in a video monitor. The technique determines the horizontal frequency and creates a limit on a default capacitor value which is obtained from the determined horizontal frequency. An updated value is compared with the limit to generate a comparison result. The capacitor value between the default capacitor value and the updated value is selected based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shin Fujimori, Taro Tadano, Masanobu Kimoto
  • Patent number: 6137245
    Abstract: A control grid voltage generating circuit comprises a high voltage source, a low voltage source and an amplifier biased by the high/low voltage sources. The high voltage source is coupled to the ground through a low-impedance path. The amplifier receives an input signal and generates a control grid voltage in response to the input signal. When the CRT is powered off, the amplifier can be rapidly discharged via the low-impedance path, thereby speedily turning off the amplifier. The control grid voltage is then driven to be the low reference voltage, thereby cutting off the electron beam and protecting the CRT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Acer Communications and Multimedia Inc.
    Inventor: Chang-Fa Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6133568
    Abstract: The invention relates to high performance ion traps used as mass spectrometers which in spite of a variable thermal load require a high constancy of the mass scale calibrated in. Ion traps consist at least of one ring electrode, two end cap electrodes, and suitable fixing elements which determine the distance between the electrodes. When exposed to a thermal load, the parts of the ion trap are subject to thermal expansion, which leads to a change in field intensities even if the applied RF voltage is constant, and thus to an apparant shift of masses. The invention consists of selecting the thermal expansion of the ion trap parts in such a way that when a constant RF voltage is applied, the field intensity within the trap remains constant by first approximation, in spite of the altering geometric form and expansion with changing operating temperature. In this way, displacement of the mass scale is avoided. To compensate an unavoidable thermal expansion .DELTA.r.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Bruker Daltonik GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Weiss, Alfred Kraffert, Michael Schubert, Jochen Franzen
  • Patent number: 6133578
    Abstract: For measuring basis weight of a moving web in the cross direction scanner of a paper-making machine, an encapsulated nuclear source of Promethium 147 is used because of its wide area of emission. To conserve space it is mounted on a vertical axis. The source in a horizontal plane parallel to the moving web from a stowed position where the source is shielded to an active position where the source emits through an aperture, through the moving web, and to a detector. The x-y array planar type detector uses four detector segments symmetrically arranged around a center and compensates for belt direction misalignment (the belt driving the cross direction scanners) by mathematically manipulating the electrical signals from each detector to eliminate the error term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Impact Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Pekka M. Typpo
  • Patent number: 6124686
    Abstract: A horizontal deflection circuit is provided in which a large retrace pulse voltage applied to a horizontal deflection yoke can be taken to reduce the deflection current and which is capable of easily performing horizontal image size adjustment and distortion adjustment. A parallel connection of a switching element, a damper diode, and a resonance capacitor is connected in series to a parallel connection of another switching element, another damper diode, and another resonance capacitor, and power is supplied from the connection point via a fly-back transformer. The comparison value of the retrace pulse voltages applied across both ends of the switching elements is fed back through a switching element control circuit to the switching element so that the deflection current of the horizontal deflection yoke is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Kikuchi, Junzo Watanabe, Ban Kawamura, Hidetaka Honji
  • Patent number: 6124685
    Abstract: A method for correcting distortion of an image displayed on a screen of a display device. The method includes steps of taking a picture of a test pattern displayed on the screen of the display device in an adjusting state, extracting distortion information representing distortion of the test pattern from an image obtained from a result of the above step, extracting additional information as a distortion characteristic, the distortion information being approximately represented by a plurality of basic information items which are known and the additional information coupled to the basic information items, storing the additional information in a storage unit, reproducing the distortion information using the additional information stored in the storage unit and the plurality of basic information items when an image is displayed on the screen of the display device, and controlling the display device based on the reproduced distortion information so that the distortion is canceled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Toriu, Satoshi Kouyama
  • Patent number: 6118233
    Abstract: A video imaging apparatus includes a source of a periodic dynamic focus voltage blanking signal. A dynamic focus voltage amplifier includes a switch responsive to the dynamic focus voltage blanking signal for applying a dynamic focus voltage to a focus electrode, when the switch is at a first state, and for disabling the application of the dynamic focus voltage, when the switch is at a second state to provide for automatic kine bias measurement. A second switch responsive to the focus voltage blanking signal is coupled to the amplifier for applying a current to a stage of the amplifier, when the dynamic focus voltage is disabled. The applied current adjusts the focus voltage, to a level closer to that established immediately after the dynamic focus voltage is enabled for reducing a transient condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Randy Wayne Craig, John Barrett George
  • Patent number: 6118232
    Abstract: A compensating circuit is for compensating distortion of a picture which is displayed on a display unit having a yoke. The compensating circuit controls a yoke current to compensate a picture distortion. The compensating circuit comprises a first generating section for generating a digital deflecting compensation signal in accordance with deflecting compensation data representative of compensation value of the picture. A second generating section generating a variable voltage (+B voltage) in accordance with a PWM pulse signal to control the yoke current on the basis of the variable voltage. A peak holding circuit holds a peak voltage of a flyback pulse based on the variable voltage to produce a peak voltage signal representative of the peak voltage. An A/D converter circuit converts the peak voltage signal into a digital peak signal. A PWM section produces the above-mentioned PWN pulse signal in accordance with the digital deflecting compensation signal and the digital peak signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Ohnaka
  • Patent number: 6114817
    Abstract: A television apparatus set has the capability of selectively displaying picture information obtained from a broadcast television signal and a display monitor data signal. A zero voltage switching switch mode power supply generates a higher voltage B+ supply voltage for a horizontal deflection circuit output stage, when the deflection circuit output stage operates at a rate greater than or equal to approximately 32 KHz. A series-pass regulator power supply generates at a common supply terminal a lower voltage B+ supply voltage, when the deflection circuit output stage operates at a lower rate equal to approximately 16 KHz. During a start-up interval, the horizontal scanning output stage is supplied with the lower B+ supply voltage regardless of the scan frequency for reducing excessive stress in the horizontal output stage switching transistor to improve reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Ronald Eugene Fernsler
  • Patent number: 6111371
    Abstract: A scan frequency detector is responsive to a horizontal synchronization signal to generate a data signal that is indicative of the horizontal scan frequency. A digital-to-analog (D/A) converter produces from the data signal an analog, output signal at a first level, when the horizontal frequency is within a first range of values, at a second level, when the horizontal frequency is within a second range of values and at a third level, when the horizontal frequency is within a third range of values. A first switch of a switched S-capacitor arrangement, is turned on, when the output signal is at the first level. The first switch and a second switch of the switched S-capacitor arrangement, are turned on, when the output signal is at the second level. Both the first and second switches are turned off, when the output signal is at the third level. The third and second levels are distinguished by a level detector that includes a zener diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson multimedia S.A.
    Inventors: William Benjamin Aaron, Ronald Eugene Fernsler