Patents Examined by Leo P. Picard
  • Patent number: 6400558
    Abstract: A line deadend structure and method for using the same are disclosed in which three phase power lines can be attached to a single pole at different elevational locations on the pole. The lines can be attached to switches and can each be arranged to extend downward along the single pole at various differently spaced locations about the periphery/circumference of the single pole. The wires can then be connected to an electrical mechanism, such as a circuit breaker or transformer, which is located on the ground or at a lower level than the original wire connection location on the single pole. Tap mechanisms and/or fuse mechanisms can also be located on the single pole and in connection with the three phase lines to provide electrical access to the lines and/or fusing operations, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: PPL Electric Utilities Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Chaply, Andrew S. Harakal, Jr., James E. Conley
  • Patent number: 6400569
    Abstract: A lead frame apparatus that includes: an arrangement for dissipating heat generated at the lead frame, wherein the heat dissipating arrangement is uninterruptedly connected to the lead frame. Also contemplated herein are a lead frame heat dissipating apparatus having at least one element for dissipating heat generated at a lead frame and having an arrangement for directly and uninterruptedly connecting with a lead frame, as well as lead frame apparatus comprising an arrangement for directly and uninterruptedly accommodating at least one external element for dissipating heat generated at the lead frame. A method of making a lead frame apparatus involves the provision of a lead frame, the provision of an arrangement for dissipating heat generated at the lead frame, and the uninterrupted connection of the heat dissipating arrangement to the lead frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Composidie, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Auer
  • Patent number: 6400561
    Abstract: A system for mounting and securing a portable computer to vehicle mounts to the interior of the vehicle. The system protects, secures, and houses the portable computer within a case. A mounting base mounts to the interior of the vehicle. The case includes a base plate, a platform, and a lid. The base plate mounts to the mounting base. A docking station or power supply for a portable computer mounts to the platform. The computer is positioned adjacent to the platform and mounts to the docking station or power supply for a computer mounts to the platform. The mounting base, base plate, case, or combination thereof dampens vibrations from the vehicle to the computer, thus protecting the computer from vibration damage. The lid moves with respect to the case to provide user access to the computer. The lid can further move to cover the computer to secure the computer within the case or to the platform. Internal shelves or trays within the case provide access to and house associated computer peripheral devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: John J. Horton
  • Patent number: 6401003
    Abstract: An alarm system for a semiconductor device fabrication facility for monitoring the current operation state of the facility performing a process, such as ion-implantation, includes a lamp tower which is visibly recognizable from a distance via lighted lamps. The alarm system includes a logical circuit for executing logical-combination based on at least one input signal indicating respective operation states of the facility; and a driver which outputs at least one driving signal for driving a lamp based on the result from the logical circuit. The number of the lamps is identical to the number of driving signals output from the driver based on a one-to-one correspondence, and each of the lamps indicates a particular result for the respective operation states of the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byeong-ki Rheem
  • Patent number: 6401005
    Abstract: A computer numerical control system for providing more efficient execution of part program blocks. The computer numerical control system selectively may be utilized in a synchronous mode in which the part program blocks are executed under control of a logic engine. This synchronous operation may be changed to an asynchronous operation, and vice versa, by providing a synchronization control parameter in the part program. Additionally, the system may be switched to an auto-synchronous mode in which part program block execution automatically is accomplished in either synchronous mode or asynchronous mode depending on the content of the data blocks being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Schwarz, Fabio Malaspina
  • Patent number: 6400560
    Abstract: An engaging device for a computer screen in a car, comprises a fixing base fixedly attached in the car, lock block, and a coupling frame attached to the rear side of the computer screen. The lock block is rotatably engages with the fixing base by way of two pivots. The pivots have a function of stagnating the lock block at specific angular position optionally. Both lateral sides of the coupling frame have a locking hole respectively and the lock block at both lateral sides thereof provides an elastic engaging plate therein. The respective elastic engaging plate has a part extending outward through the locking hole. Once the lock block is inserted into the coupling frame, a detachable firm engagement between the lock block and the coupling frame can be reached substantially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Yue-Hui Chian
  • Patent number: 6396683
    Abstract: A notebook computer with exchangeable LCD (liquid crystal display) unit is provided. The notebook computer makes use of a connector secured to the bottom of the LCD unit by fixing to a printed circuit board which is electrically coupled to the LCD unit and an LCD energy converter, engagement members secured to hinges of LCD unit for coupling the LCD unit and the body together, a bracket extended from one end of one engagement member for securing to the printed circuit board, and a receptacle on the body engaged with the connector. This eliminates the wiring process of prior art, resulting in a reduction of assembly time. Also, this makes a replacement of different size LCD unit possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Shih-Hsuan Wang, Chih-Cheng Tsen, Chun-Huang Lee
  • Patent number: 6396381
    Abstract: The central portion of a movable plate 40 is cut into a U shape to form a tongue 43 provided along the longitudinal axis of the movable plate 40, the tongue 43 is brought into close contact with an upper electrode face 31 of a heating resistor 30, a lower electrode face 32 of the heating resistor 30 is brought into contact with a fixed plate 10, and portions of the movable plate 40 located on both sides of a cut 46 operate as an elastic arm 47.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Uchiya Thermostat Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Takeda
  • Patent number: 6396697
    Abstract: A heat dissipation assembly includes a fan (10), a heat sink (20) and a holder (40) attaching the fan on the heat sink. The fan defines four through holes (104) at four corners thereof. The heat sink includes a base (201) with two grooves (205) defined thereunder, and a plurality of fins (202) attached on the base. The fins define a channel (204) there though. The holder includes two identical and opposing holder members (409). Each member includes a flange (402) with a vertical tab (404) for extending into one corresponding through hole of the fan, and a screw hole (403) for engaging with a screw (102) which extends through another corresponding through hole. Each member has two horizontal tabs (408) for inserting into the grooves of the base. Each member defines an opening (406) in alignment with the channel, for accommodating a heat sink clip (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Foxconn Precision Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yun Lung Chen
  • Patent number: 6396690
    Abstract: An electronic computer card guide support bracket is mounted inside a chassis near a ventilation fan. The support bracket has a sheet metal body with sidewalls which extend between a face of the support bracket and the chassis. The sidewalls form ducts for the ventilation fan. The support bracket also has parallel guide members which are integrally formed with the body along its face. Each guide member has upper and lower rails which define a variable width slot between them for receiving a PCI card. The portions of the PCI cards which contact the support bracket are electrically insulated. An electrically insulated guide member is also mounted to the support bracket for receiving an FSIOA card which may not be insulated. An aperture is located between each adjacent pair of the guide members for permitting air flow to circulate around the PCI cards. Each aperture has an area which is larger than a frontal surface area of each guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth George Blatti
  • Patent number: 6397118
    Abstract: A system and method of scheduling demand for a manufacturing resource in response to a customer order for a product is provided. The system and method includes means for tracking scheduled finished goods orders, existing finished goods inventory, past due finished goods orders, unallocated customer orders and marketing orders, and the manufacturing lead time for the product, among other manufacturing process parameters. The customer order amount and the date requested for the order are entered, and depending on whether the date requested is inside, equal to or outside the manufacturing lead time, manufacturing resources are consumed from one or more of the scheduled finished goods orders, existing finished goods inventory, available to promise amounts, past due finished goods orders, unallocated customer orders, marketing orders, and high flex amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Gleditsch, Guillaume J. Schrijnemakers, Sharon A. James, Barry L. Kulback, Roberto E. Bonalumi, Victor A. Colon
  • Patent number: 6396382
    Abstract: A micro miniature solid state mechanical switch device operated by thermal energy for the control of thermal and electrical energy is shown. A gap in an energy path is bridged by an energy conductor that is mechanically moved into and out of operative position with the gap in the energy path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Levingard Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Ross
  • Patent number: 6396684
    Abstract: A structure of a tower-type personal computer which minimizes its main body in size, improves an aesthetic property, and efficiently performs a heat cooling process, includes: a frame having its rear portion provided with a rear panel having connectors for connection with peripheral devices, its front lower portion provided with a device drive module installing space so that a disk and the like are inserted thereinto, its front upper portion formed in a round shape curved toward a rear direction, and its one side formed for computer components to be installed; a front panel provided at the front portion of the frame, having its lower portion formed for device drive modules to be installed, and having its upper portion formed in a round shape curved toward a rear direction identically to the upper portion of the frame; a bottom panel forming a bottom portion of the frame; a cover forming an outline by covering the frame; device drive modules installed at the lower portion of the front panel in the frame; a mot
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyun Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 6392871
    Abstract: A portable computer system is provided, which makes it possible to increase the area for an auxiliary device such as a visual indicator and a speaker and to adjust the location and attitude of the auxiliary device with respect to a computer body. This computer system is comprised of a computer body having a first pivot axis, and a display subsystem pivotable connected to the body around the first pivot axis. The display subsystem includes first and second units, one of which is provided with an auxiliary device and the other of which is provided with a display device. The second unit is pivotably connected to the body around the first pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired first pivot angle with respect to the body. The first unit is pivotably connected to the second unit around a second pivot axis and capable of being held at a desired second pivot angle with respect to the second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Yanase
  • Patent number: 6392889
    Abstract: A fastener (50) includes a pin (52), a spring (54) and a handle (56). The pin extends through a heat sink (10). The handle is pivotably attached to a top portion of the pin. The pin has a foot (522) extending through a mother board (30) and a supporting board (40) located under the mother board to engage with the supporting board. A CPU (20) is mounted on the mother board. The spring surrounds the pin and is located between a base of the heat sink and the handle. When the handle is rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position, the handle compresses the spring toward the foot. The spring in turn presses the base of the heat sink against the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Foxconn Precision Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Lung Lee, Cheng Tien Lai, Zi Li Zhang
  • Patent number: 6392872
    Abstract: A computer system includes a chassis which is generally U-shaped in lateral cross-section and a cover which together define an internal cavity. A fan pack for cooling the computer system is removably disposed within the internal cavity. The fan pack includes three stacked pairs of individual fan units which are disposed in a row within a rectangular housing. The computer system also includes three power supplies for providing power for the computer system, each power supply being slidably disposed within associated power supply receiving channel formed in the chassis. Each power supply includes a housing, power supply electronics disposed within the housing, and a male electrical connector having both alternating and direct current connection capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: James Doustou, III, Ralph Larsen, Klaus J. Schneller, Arthur R. Nigro, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6392879
    Abstract: A drawer-type mounting device is adapted to mount a disk drive in a computer housing. The mounting device includes a lower case, an upper case, and a pulling member. The lower case has a first base plate with a first front end and a notch that extends rearwardly from the first front end. The upper case has a second base plate disposed slidably on the first base plate. The second base plate has a trench part which projects downward into the notch. The trench part has a guide rail unit that extends along a direction parallel to a line extending rearwardly from the first front end. The pulling member is mounted slidably in the trench part, and is guided by the guide rail unit for movement relative to the second base plate so as to move the upper case relative to the lower case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Compal Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Chung-Chi Chien
  • Patent number: 6393341
    Abstract: An interface layer and method is provided that permits applications, without modification, to operate with any type of meter. The interface comprises an abstraction layer and library or repository of descriptions specific to each meter type. The abstraction layer provides the capability to communicate with any meter through a variety of applications. Upon receiving an application request, the abstraction layer retrieves the description for the particular meter type from the repository and processes the request. In this manner, only one data representation is needed for applications to communicate with a wide variety of meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Automation Inc.
    Inventors: David Crawford Lawrence, Sergei Udin, Eugene Wilson Hodges, IV, John Chalmers Sutton, III, Edward John Beroset, Sean Michael Scoggins
  • Patent number: 6392875
    Abstract: A mounting mechanism for multiple computer storage drives mounts at least one drive so that it may be swung out for easy access to the drive and to its cable connectors. The mechanism comprises a drive cage mounting bracket, a hinge, and appropriately adapted chassis, so that the mounting bracket is hingeably connected to the chassis to swing open for access and to swing closed for operation. The bracket is adapted so that, when in the open position, the cable connector of at least one mounted drive is distal from the hinge and chassis and thus easily accessible. A preferred embodiment provides for releaseably locking the bracket in the closed position. Furthermore, the bracket preferably mounts a hard drive so that it is suspended within the airspace above the computer motherboard for easier cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon D. Erickson, David R. Davis, Thomas R. Carson, Robert S. Williams, Alejandro Puentes
  • Patent number: 6392877
    Abstract: A laptop computer display module for use in a clamshell type laptop computer includes a telescoping rail assembly that enables the display module to be extended upwardly from a keyboard module of the laptop computer when the display module is rotated to an open position. A computer display panel is rotatably mounted to a display support member of the display module adjacent a top margin of the display panel so that the display panel can be manually swung away from the display support member and toward a user of the laptop computer. The invention enables the display panel to be positioned at a comfortable viewing angle without blocking access to the keyboard module for typing and is particularly useful in depth-constrained workspaces such as airline passenger seats, where the display support member must be positioned at an acute angle relative to the keyboard module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventor: Richard J. Iredale