Patents Examined by Kenneth Wieder
  • Patent number: 5220280
    Abstract: In the present invention a method of testing a partially completely assembled module with integrated circuit dies mounted thereon is disclosed. The partially-completely assembled module has one or more first locations with integrated circuit dies mounted thereon and one or more second locations with integrated circuit dies to be mounted thereon and one or more electrical paths electrically connecting the first and second locations. A supplementary module with one or more electrical components assembled in the second locations and with one or more electrical components to be assembled in the first locations and with electrically identical electrical paths connecting the first and second locations as the testing module is also provided. The testing module and the supplementary module are mated together by electrically connecting the first and second locations of the testing module to the first and second locations of the supplementary module, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Visel, John F. Stockton
  • Patent number: 5134359
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring electrolyte concentrations in fluid samples. The apparatus includes an ion selective electrode capable of generating a voltage differential having a magnitude related to the concentration of the corresponding electrolyte in the sample. A voltage to optical transducer circuit is provided to convert the voltage differentials to a digital code and then to an optical signal which is related to the concentration of the electrolytes. The optical signals are suitable for detection by conventional optical detector apparatus of assay instruments. A passive duplex transfer is utilized to simultaneously read one optical signal while transferring the next bit of the digital code. The duplex transfer configuration also makes novel use of the photodetection properties of an LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Benton A. Durley, III, Carl M. Groom
  • Patent number: 5097205
    Abstract: In an IC device, an IC body having a predetermined function and high-frequency circuits for testing high-frequency characteristics of the IC body are formed on a single chip. The test circuits include an L-H frequency conversion circuit arranged on the input side of the IC body and an H-L frequency conversion circuit arranged on the output side. The test circuits can switch a connecting state between the conversion circuits and the IC body in response to an external control signal. The test circuits can be disconnected from the IC body after a test is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Toyoda
  • Patent number: 5068597
    Abstract: A method for rapidly estimating power spectral density components .rho.(f) in the spectrum of an input signal, by first digitizing the input signal over a selected time interval at a selected sample rate; computing an m-th order prediction error energy as an arithmetic mean of forward and backward prediction error energies; and then computing an m-th order prediction error power from a previous reflection coefficient .GAMMA. computation. A control parameter .alpha. is generated; using .alpha. and .GAMMA., an m-th order entropy H and free energy F are then computed, from which is computed m-th order reflection coefficients as extremes of the m-th order Free energy. If the proper extremes are not found, new feedback for the (m+1)-st order solution is generated. If the proper extremes are found, the spectral components are computed and recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Seth D. Silverstein, Joseph M. Pimbley
  • Patent number: 5065093
    Abstract: Inductive proximity sensor for detecting an object having electrical conductivity comprising a sensor housing, a measuring coil and reference coil placed on either side of a plane of symmetry through the sensor housing. Each coil is partly surrounded by a piece of magnetic material which leaves the measuring coil or reference coil respectively free at the front which faces the direction of the object to be detected or a reference member. An electronic circuit is provided for supplying both coils with an AC signal and for measuring the change in a specific property of the measuring coil with respect to that of the reference coil when object approaches and determining therefrom the distance or the presence of the object. The pieces of magnetic material around the two coils are formed essentially from the same homogeneous material forming a block. Means are provided in the sensor housing for screening magnetic fields produced by both coils in order to suppress thereby mutual crosstalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Catena Product Development B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus C. Nauta, Ernst H. Nordholt
  • Patent number: 5061896
    Abstract: A variable transformer is disclosed. The transducer includes a uniform pitch winding wound on a hollow bobbin with several continuously variable concentric coils wound over it with layers of insulation in between. The variable coils are wound in accordance with true trigonometric functions by adjusting the pitch between adjacent turns and reversing the direction of winding at each maximum pitch point corresponding to the zero crossover. The variable pitch coils are physically wound in quadrature with respect to a reference point on the bobbin. The transducer is finished by placing a magnetic shield over the bobbin which may include magnetic end washers. Lead wire connections are made and the entire unit is placed in a suitable housing. A moveable core, made from a highly permeable material, is placed inside the unit for slidably engaging the bobbin in its hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Samuel Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5061895
    Abstract: A system for detecting whether the ends of leads of a semiconductor package are less than a small predetermined distance from a predetermined plane. The system uses a structure having a planar surface and an elevated portion on the surface where the portion is provided with a number of slots equal to or greater in number than the number of leads on one side of the package. The height of the slots above the surface is substantially equal to the predetermined distance. In order to test whether the end portions of the leads deviate from coplanarity by a distance greater than the predetermined distance, the package is placed with its leads in contact with the surface with the leads facing the slots. The package is then slid towards the slots to determine whether all of the leads will slide into the corresponding slots. The lateral distance between each pair of adjacent slots matches the distance between the corresponding pair of leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl H. Fong
  • Patent number: 5057769
    Abstract: An AC current sensor comprising a generally C-shaped main coil with a fixed gap between its ends. A pair of compensating coils are positioned at fixed locations in the main coil's gap. The longitudinal axes of the compensating coils lie on an imaginary straight line which extends between the centers of the main coil's ends; and their electrical centers are each spaced the same distance from their respective ends of the main coil. A compensating coil gap is defined between the electrical centers of the compensating coils. The main coil defines a measuring recess in which the sensed AC current carrying conductor is located when a measurement is taken. When the ratio of the size of the main coil gap to the size of the compensating coil gap is equal to the square root of three, the AC current sensor's accuracy and outside signal rejection increase most rapidly with increased distance of the sensed AC current carrying conductor from the compensating coil gap, and the AC current sensor's size can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Sensorlink Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald L. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5055776
    Abstract: A pattern of electrodes, with electrical lead lines to the electrodes, are arried by a thin-film membrane mounted on a frame. The pattern corresponds to a test point pattern on a circuit to be tested. The lead lines go to edge connectors on the frame. In order to test a circuit, the membrane is pushed against the test points by air pressure, such that capacitive coupling occurs between the electrodes and the test points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Brian S. Miller, David R. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 5055777
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing of integrated circuits (ICs) has parallel plates arranged at a fixed distance from each other, each having a plurality of aligning bores, and a plurality of equally oriented contact elements made of resilient sheet material. The elements have a first straight end portion sitting in a bore of one of said plates and a second straight end portion sitting in an aligning bore of the other of said plates. A pressure member is used to move an IC toward the outer side of one of the plates and the first end portions of the contact elements, which first ends extend slightly beyond the outer side of one of the plates and form a pattern which corresponds to the pattern of contact points of the IC to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Riccardo Bonelli, Gunter Plohn
  • Patent number: 5053712
    Abstract: A method for comparing the quality of RF absorbers uses a TEM cell which is provided with a low-reflection termination, in which cell the absorber wall (5) is equipped with reference absorbers (13). A steep-edged pulse wave is radiated in by means of a pulse generator (9) and a scattered wave reflected by the test absorber (14) is detected by means of a sensor (10). A reflection of the absorber wall is then determined by means of a first calibration measurement. The reference absorber is removed in a test area and a reflection of a metal wall (8) lying behind it is then determined by means of a second calibration measurement. Finally, a reflection of the test absorber (14) arranged in the test area is determined in a comparison measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri LTD.
    Inventor: Diethard Hansen
  • Patent number: 5053695
    Abstract: A non-intrusive DC current monitor is presented which emulates the theoretical operation of an AC transformer. A conductor, carrying the current to be measured, acts as the primary of a DC current transformer. This current is passed through the center of a secondary coil, and core positioned thereabout, and produces a magnetic flux which induces a current in the secondary proportional to the current flowing in the primary. Means are provided to periodically "reset" the transformer core such that the measurement inaccuracies associated with core saturation are obviated. A reset current is caused to periodically flow through the secondary coil which produces a magnetic flux oppositely polarized to the flux created by the current in the primary, thus allowing ongoing measurements to be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley Canter
  • Patent number: 5053694
    Abstract: A device for measuring an electric field comprises three optical fiber sensors, which each have a piezoelectric sensor element, as well as an interferometer for generating a sensor signal. The optical fiber sensors have piezoelectric sensor elements that exclusively detect with the aid of the inverse piezoelectric effect a predetermined directional component, assigned in each case, of the electric field. The directional components of the different sensor elements are each aligned perpendicular to one another. An evaluation circuit determines the absolute value and direction of the electric field from the sensor signals generated.The sensor elements are preferably formed by a single piezoelectric body, on whose faces the sensor fibers are fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Bohnert, Jurgen Nehring
  • Patent number: 5051691
    Abstract: A laser fuse signature circuit for testing whether a fuse link in an IC has been disconnected includes a first series circuit connecting the power and ground pins and a second series circuit, including the fuse and a plurality of diode devices, connecting an input pin to a first node in the first series circuit. Transistors included in the first series circuit are connected so that the laser fuse signature circuit does not conduct current during normal operation or leakage current testing of the IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Chen Y. Wang
  • Patent number: 5051692
    Abstract: A speed detecting apparatus including an encoder for generating detection signals of different phases, a scanning device for scanning said detection signals to output a scanned detection signal, and a period detecting device for detecting the period of said scanned detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norio Okutani
  • Patent number: 5049826
    Abstract: A liquid level sensing apparatus, including a bridge circuit sensitive to an element the impedance between a liquid sample and a pipette for providing a signal corresponding to the impedance, a phase detector for phase-detecting the output signal of the bridge circuit, a high-pass filter for differentiating the phase detection signal and a circuit for inhibiting the passage of a variation component of a signal from a band-pass filter and passing a liquid level signal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Itsuro Sasao
  • Patent number: 5049828
    Abstract: In coupled-dual resonator crystals, key parameters, such as resonator frequencies and synchronous peak separation frequency, are determined using a four frequency measuring process and apparatus wherein additional impedance is connected in parallel with the driving point impedance of the input resonator so as to allow the measurement of the critical frequencies above about 45 MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Ericsson GE Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Toliver, Gerald E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5047723
    Abstract: A method for detection of alien matter content in gas, in which the gas and the materials contained in it are ionized in an ionization room (1). The present methods are inaccurate and unreliable. The invention is based on a method, in which the ionized gas is led through chambers (2) containing different electric fields, out of which at least from one of the chambers the field current is measured, from which a signal is obtained, which describes the existence of alien matters in the gas. More parameters are obtained for detection of different materials by measuring favorably the currents passed through several electric field chambers as well as possibly by branching off from the ionization source the flow to different analysis lines of the electric field chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventor: Pertti Puumalainen
  • Patent number: 5047716
    Abstract: A magnetic movement detector employing a constant current drive system wherein the consumed power is reduced and temperature increases suppressed, thereby preventing a decrease in the output voltage. A magnetic recording medium is magnetized with a repetitive signal having a wavelength .lambda.. A magnetic resistance element disposed adjacent the recording medium is composed of 2m serially connected magnetic resistance strips which are arranged at intervals of (n-1/2).lambda., where m and n are natural numbers. A DC source is connected to interconnected ends of two adjacent ones of the strips, while constant current source are connected to ends of respective other ones of the strips. An output signal is produced as the difference between the voltages at the ends of the latter two strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: K.K. Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Takashi Katagiri
  • Patent number: RE33698
    Abstract: An improved front assembly for a color cathode ray tube having a tension foil shadow mask is disclosed. The faceplate of the tube has on its inner surface a centrally disposed phosphor target surrounded by a peripheral sealing area adapted to mate with a funnel. A separate metal faceplate frame is secured to the inner surface of the faceplate between the sealing area and the target. The separate metal frame according to the invention supports a welded-on tension foil shadow mask a predetermined distance from the inner surface of the faceplate. The separate faceplate-mounted metal frame may have according to the invention a plurality of slurry-passing structures contiguous to the inner surface of the faceplate for passing any surplusage of slurry during the radial-flow slurry-deposition process used in screening the faceplate. Various configurative embodiments of the faceplate-mounted metal frame according to the invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Fendley