Patents Examined by K. Shin
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Patent number: 5821732Abstract: A charger device has a box and two charger jibs. The box has a slot, a channel recess, and a magnet device. Each charger jib has a button, a threaded rod disposed on a bottom of the button, and a probe support device connected to the button. The probe support device has an upper casing, a lower casing coupled with the upper casing, a probe bar disposed between the upper casing and the lower casing, an adjusting seat clamping the upper casing and the lower casing, a nut disposed on a bottom of the adjusting seat, a magnet disk disposed on a bottom of the nut, and the threaded rod passing through the slot, the adjusting seat, and the nut.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1997Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: E. Lead Electronic Co., LtdInventor: Stephen Chen
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Patent number: 5818487Abstract: An ink jet printer has a first transporting section adapted to transport a medium on which information is printed. The first transporting section has a first contact area in contact with the medium. A second transporting section is adapted to transport the medium and has a second contact area in contact with the medium. The second contact area is smaller than the first contact area. A selector selectively causes the first and second transporting sections to move into contact engagement with the medium to transport the medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1996Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Kotaro Yoshimura, Shigemi Togashi, Keiichiro Yamazaki, Kazumitsu Sunohara
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Patent number: 5818201Abstract: A battery charge control circuit (10) senses the charge condition of cells in a battery pack (12, 14, 16, 18) using a measurement circuit (51). Upon detection of a single under-voltage cell, the charge control circuit is placed in a sleep mode. Pack sense circuit (240) senses when the battery pack is placed in a charger. If circuit (10) was in a sleep mode, it is awakened. If any cell is measured over-voltage, the status is checked versus the other cells. If all the cells are over-voltage, the battery is considered balanced. If one or more cells are not over-voltage, a control circuit (32) activates a discharge transistor (212, 214, 216, 218), discharging the cell within a hysteresis voltage below the over-voltage limit. Charge balancing of cells is continued until the cells are within a programmable hysteresis voltage of each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1997Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Troy Lynn Stockstad, Thomas D. Petty, Renwin J. Yee
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Patent number: 5814969Abstract: An apparatus for selectively activating a plurality of functional devices, including a charging circuit for a battery, has a connector for making connection intermediate a battery and its associated devices, such as a cellular telephone, a portable computer, a battery charger or a combination telephone/charger. The connection is coupled to a plurality of signal distinguishing devices, at least one of which is coupled with the battery charging circuit. Each signal distinguishing device is coupled directly or intermediately to one or more additional signal distinguishing devices or to more or more functional devices.The plurality of signal distinguishing devices preferably includes a first frequency discriminating filter and a second frequency discriminating filter. The first frequency discriminating filter is coupled intermediate the charging pole of the battery and the battery charging circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1996Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Ericsson Inc.Inventor: Timothy James Banyas
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Patent number: 5808442Abstract: In the method of charging a plurality of lithium ion rechargeable batteries, if another battery is attached during battery charging, open circuit voltages of those respective batteries are measured and compared. When the open circuit voltage of the battery attached later is greater than that of the battery being charged, charging of the previously attached battery is suspended and the battery attached later is given priority and charged. When the open circuit voltage of the battery being charged is greater than that of the battery attached later, the battery being charged is given priority and charged.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1996Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Osamu Kaite, Toshiaki Okuyama
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Liquid jet head manufacturing method and a liquid jet head manufactured by said manufacturing method
Patent number: 5808641Abstract: A manufacturing method of a liquid jet head comprises the discharge ports for discharging the ink, the liquid channels in communication to the discharge ports, and energy generating means for generating the energy for use in discharging the ink. The method includes the steps of preparing a substrate having the energy generating means, preparing a resin ceiling plate fabricated by molding and having the grooves which constitute part of the liquid channels, positioning and contacting the ceiling plate on and with the substrate so that the grooves may be located above the energy generating means, and forming the liquid channels constituted of the grooves and the substrate by directing a laser beam from outside the ceiling plate in the state where the ceiling plate and the substrate are joined, to weld together the ceiling plate and the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1995Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masashi Miyagawa, Tadayoshi Inamoto, Shin Ishimatsu -
Patent number: 5804945Abstract: A storage battery-based DC power supply system with continuous float charging adapted to automatic continuous recharging of storage battery connected to load is disclosed. Selective recharging at the full-charge voltage and float charging voltage is performed in response to the accumulated ampere-hour value of discharge current from the storage battery, when such value reaches a predetermined threshold value set to prevent excessive recharging, which can damage storage battery.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1997Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Furukawa Denchi Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Sato, Takahiro Akiyama, Tokunori Honma
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Patent number: 5801513Abstract: An apparatus (100) for an electronic system (106), which includes a portable unit (102) and a base unit (104), supplies backup power to the base unit (104) and is capable of recharging at least one battery (121) that operates the portable unit (102). The apparatus (100) is connected in series between the base unit (104) and a main power supply (148) and includes at least one slot (131) configured to receive the at least one battery (121). When power from the main power supply (148) is available, the apparatus (100) supplies power to the base unit (104) from the main power supply (148) and is capable of recharging the at least one battery (121). When power is not available from the main power supply (148) and the at least one battery (121) is received within the at least one slot (131), the apparatus (100) supplies power to the base unit (104) from the at least one battery (121).Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Sybren Daniel Smith, James D. Palmer, Louis Lundell
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Patent number: 5793186Abstract: A charging terminal shortcircuit preventing circuit for a battery pack, capable of firmly preventing a shortcircuit and with employing a simple structure. In a battery pack so constructed that a charge current is supplied from a charger via a charging terminal to a battery, and a current is supplied from the battery via an output terminal to a portable appliance, and further the current from the charger via a through-input terminal and a through-output terminal to the portable appliance, there are provided a switch 22 for turning ON/OFF the charge current between the battery 21 and the charge terminal T.sub.4, and switch operating means for detecting an application of a voltage to the through-input terminal T.sub.6 to thereby turn ON the switch 22. Also, in a battery pack 2, a resistor having a large resistance value is connected parallel to the switch 22, and a battery pack mount detecting means of the charger 3 detects a voltage at the charging terminal T.sub.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1997Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Kyocera CorporationInventors: Hisashi Watabe, Yoshitaka Tokuyama
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Patent number: 5789901Abstract: Apparatus with rechargeable battery (B), a load (MR) and a power supply (PS) for charging the battery (B). When the load (MR) receives current from the battery (B) the charge consumed by the load (MR) is measured by means of a series resistor (RS) and a voltage-to-frequency converter (VFC). A microcontroller (MC) computes the average charge consumed per session of usage and computes the number of remaining sessions of usage from the actual charge in the battery (B) and the average charge per session and shows this number on a display (D).Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1996Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventor: Ole Lomholt
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Patent number: 5783803Abstract: A food warming apparatus includes a housing defining at least one warming cavity having a ceiling. A heater warms food products within the cavity. A grate is provided within the cavity spaced below the ceiling of the cavity. At least one food tray is provided for containing food products and is supportable on the grate beneath the ceiling of the cavity. A seal is operatively associated between the top of the tray and the ceiling of the cavity. The grate includes a biasing portion for biasing the tray upwardly toward the ceiling to assure operability of the seal.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1995Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Inventor: Chester F. Robards, Jr.
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Patent number: 5777454Abstract: The disclosure generally concerns a battery management system for a back-up battery for an uninterruptible primary DC source for telephone switching equipment or other loads. The battery management system includes variable isolation impedance means having high reverse impedance and variable forward impedance connected in series with the battery for effectively electrically isolating the battery from the system load bus without loss of battery back-up capability. Control means responsive to one or more predetermined system load bus and battery conditions and parameters adjusts the forward impedance of the impedance means between a relatively higher impedance level or levels effective to isolate said battery from the system load bus and a relatively lower forward impedance level or levels effective to connect the battery to the system load bus.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1996Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Assignee: Peco II, Inc.Inventors: Joseph M. McAndrews, Richard H. Jones
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Patent number: 5773956Abstract: In a method for charging a rechargeable battery an ultra-fast charging of in particular NiMH-batteries is achieved by controlling the charging current and the charging voltage, respectively, such that the temperature of the battery is constant. Due to the constant temperature control it is avoided that unnecessary electrical energy is waisted for heating the battery. The end of charging is preferably determined by detecting a predetermined change of the charging efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1995Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Mikron Gesellschaft fur Integrierte Mikroelektronik mbHInventor: Rudi Wieczorek
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Patent number: 5773962Abstract: A long chain battery, particularly for an electric vehicle, comprises a plurality of series connected cells or battery modules. To control the operation of the electrical functions, including discharge while the vehicle is being driven, charging when it is at a charging station, or regenerative charging during braking, a main control module and a plurality of battery monitoring modules are provided. The electric motor and a traction controller therefor are connected in series across the long chain battery, and other vehicle electrical loads are in parallel with the motor and controller. Each battery monitoring module will monitor a number of batteries, and the current carrying wire between them, so that incipient problems may be detected before failure or significant damage occurs. A serial communications bus is provided between the main control module and the battery monitoring modules, and data transmitted over that bus is generally digitally encoded.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1997Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Norvik Traction Inc.Inventor: Jiri K. Nor
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Patent number: 5773957Abstract: For a charge to a serial connection or a series-parallel connection of secondary cells or modules thereof, a charger controllable for a reduction of charge current with a response time and bypass circuits each respectively connected in parallel to a corresponding one of the cells or modules are controlled such that a voltage of the corresponding cell or the corresponding module is predicted of a time point after a lapse of the response time, and the reduction of charge current is started when the predicted voltage has reached an upper limit voltage set therefor.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1997Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takashi Imaseki
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Patent number: 5770938Abstract: Methods and circuits are disclosed which terminate charging of a battery when the maximum charge is reached. Maximum charge is reached when the battery voltage has peaked, after a long rise, and just starts to drop. This small voltage drop, or delta, is detected by a charger control which compares the real time battery voltage with a previously sampled battery voltage. Upon detecting this small voltage drop, the charger control terminates the charging process. Implementations using an analog delta voltage detection and a digital delta voltage detection are described.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1996Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventor: Hsueh-Wu Kao
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Patent number: 5767888Abstract: An electrophotographic process and arrangement for generates a macro-charge zone inkable by toner applicators and delimited by an inking limit (EG) having an adjustable contour on a photoconductor of a printing or copying machine, using at least one exposure-variable and position-variable controllable light source (LED), such as an LED comb or laser. By controlling the exposure of the light source and its radiation position on the photoconductor and by controlling a bias voltage (UB) which can be applied between photoconductor and toner applicator, an electrostatic potential relief (UR) made up of individual adjacent micro-charge zones (UM) of exposure-dependent size is generated on the photoconductor and the inking limit (EG) is defined, the contour of the inking limit being determined by the bias voltage level (UB) on the potential relief (UR).Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1995Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbHInventors: Martin Schleusener, Volkhard Maess, Edward Morris
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Patent number: 5764031Abstract: It is intended to realize a power supplying method of an electronic apparatus and its electronic apparatus which can be continuously used for a long time by using both an internal battery and an external battery. A power source is supplied to a video camera by an internal battery 25 and an external battery 13. A voltage of the internal battery 25 is detected by resistors 27 and 35 and a comparator 31. A voltage of the external battery 13 is detected by resistors 13a and 13b. In the case where the external battery 13 is driven and the internal battery 25 is equal to or larger than a predetermined voltage, the driving of the external battery 13 is stopped. At the same time, the internal battery 25 is driven.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1997Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Kazuo Mishima
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Patent number: 5764035Abstract: A system and method for automatically enabling rapid charging of a battery in a portable phone when a battery charger is connected to the portable phone is disclosed. The system includes a battery charger circuit having an input for receiving an input voltage from the battery charger, a sense resistor through which a rapid charging current from the battery charger input voltage is generated, a charge switch connected to the sense resistor which receives the battery charger circuit input, a trickle resistor connected in parallel to the charge switch through which a slow charging current from the battery charger input voltage is generated, wherein the rapid charging current is generated when the charge switch is closed and the trickle charging current is generated when the charge switch is open, and an output for supplying the generated charging current to the battery.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1996Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Ericsson Inc.Inventor: Tina May Lee
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Patent number: 5764032Abstract: Multiple battery switchover circuits for selective interconnecting any one of multiple batteries to a load or a charger while maintaining isolation with other batteries of the system. The present invention maintains the required isolation and interconnection capabilities using only three MOSFETs per battery instead of the four required by the prior art. The three MOSFETs for any one battery in the switchover circuit are connected with one current carrying connection in common, with the other current carrying connection of the MOSFETs being coupled to the charger, the load and a respective battery, respectively. Appropriate connection of the MOSFETs assures that as to any possible conduction path through two of the three MOSFETs, one of the MOSFETs has its parasitic diode back biased. Alternate embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1997Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.Inventor: Bruce Dudley Moore