Patents Examined by Minh Trinh
  • Patent number: 6186906
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of gel material in a golf ball. In one aspect of the invention discrete gel particles form an integral structural and functional role in the hard-cover, mantle or core elements of a golf ball to provide an additional ways of varying the playability properties of a golf ball. In one embodiment the invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a mantle dispersed with discrete voids filled with gel to provide a heterogeneous mixture of at least one gel material and at least one non-gel material. In another embodiment of the invention 10 parts of ground down silica gel material, 50 parts Iotek® 1002, 50 parts Iotek® 1003, and 0.025 parts UM Blue to provide a composite mantle. In this embodiment the degree of measured compression (and good guide to deformability and initial spin rate when struck by a golf club) is increased with a commitment decrease in Shore C/D hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, R. Dennis Nesbitt, Mark L. Binette, Michael John Tzivanis, John Nealon, John T. Neill
  • Patent number: 6182355
    Abstract: A placement apparatus for co-planar placement of a tool on a component carrier using a rotational placement arm in which the tool is moved between the base or loading position of the placement arm and the near-placement position substantially on a circular path, and in which the tool is moved linearly between the near-placement position and the placement position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Hubert Zach
  • Patent number: 6179691
    Abstract: A copper isotope is added to the layer of copper that is deposited to form the metal interface. Radioactivity emitted by the copper layer is measured during copper polishing, endpoint of the copper CMP is reached when this radioactivity starts to rapidly decrease. Another approach is to measure the radioactivity of the copper slurry that is removed during copper polishing. Polishing end-point is reached when the copper slurry radioactivity starts to rapidly increase. Yet another approach is to add copper isotopes to the copper seed layer and measure the radioactivity emitted by the seed layer. Polishing end-point is reached when the radioactivity emitted by the seed layer starts to rapidly increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Fu-Sheng Lee, Chien-Chen Chen, Jiun-Chung Lee, Hsin-Chieh Huang
  • Patent number: 6178618
    Abstract: The specification discloses a preferred system, apparatus, and method for constructing a pivot cartridge assembly. The preferred embodiment of the present invention involves the following steps. A pivot bearing and an actuator assembly are provided. The actuator assembly has an aperture for receiving the pivot bearing. The actuator assembly is heated until the aperture of the actuator assembly expands to accommodate the pivot bearing. The pivot bearing is inserted into the aperture of the heated actuator assembly. When the actuator assembly cools, the aperture of the actuator assembly thermodynamically contracts and constricts around the pivot bearing, locking the bearing in place. As a result, the actuator assembly and pivot bearing behave as a single rigid unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Heim, Richard Gene Krum
  • Patent number: 6178621
    Abstract: By lightening the impact load to an electronic component and greatly promoting the load range, the adaptability to the electronic components is enhanced and the manned manual operation is eliminated, thereby improving the productivity and realizing unmanned operation. The vacuum-clamping nozzle unit comprises an automatically detachable vacuum-clamping nozzle (2) for vacuum-clamping the electronic component, a positioning section (3) for positioning the vacuum-clamping nozzle (2) in a rotating direction and a vertical direction, a pushing section (4) for urging said vacuum-clamping nozzle (2) downward by using fluid, a fluid pressure switching section for switching the urging force, a timing switching section for switching the timing of the urging force of said vacuum-clamping nozzle, and a pressure control section for controlling the load to a desired load. Switching the timing of the urging force can be made before or at the time of mounting the electronic component on an electronic circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shida, Wataru Hirai, Muneyoshi Fujiwara, Hiroshi Ohta, Hirokazu Honkawa
  • Patent number: 6178617
    Abstract: A method for assembling a modular current transformer (17) includes providing a first bobbin (40A) having a first aperture (32A) disposed therein and a second bobbin (40B) having a second aperture (32B) disposed therein. The first axial aperture (32A) is aligned with the second axial aperture (32B), and a xontinuous wire (21) is wrapped sround the first bobbin (40A) in a first direction. With the first and second axial apertures (32A, 32B) still aligned, the continuous wire (21) is then wrapped around the second bobbin (40B) in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first bobbin (40A) is then inverted by pivoting the first bobbin (40A) about a flexible tab (33) that connects the first and second bobbins (40A, 40B). A transformer core (22) is then disposed through the first and second axial apertures (32A, 32B). The windings on the first and second bobbins (32A, 32B) form the secondary windings (20A, 20B) for the current transformer (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Javier I. Larranaga, Joseph Criniti, Alberto A. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 6176004
    Abstract: A method of forming a sensor for sensing signals on conductors includes the step of forming a plurality of antenna element openings in a plurality of green tape ceramic sheets. Each antenna element opening includes a central opening and annular opening surrounding the central opening. The method includes the step of stacking successive green tape ceramic sheets so that central and annular openings are aligned with each other while also forming a planar sensor face that is to be placed adjacent the conductors to be sensed. The central openings and annular openings are filled with conductive paste. The stacked green tape ceramic sheets are heated to cure the green tape ceramic sheets and conductive paste. A signal processing integrated circuit is mounted on the side opposite the planar sensor face that is to be placed adjacent the conductors to be sensed. The method also includes the step of connecting the cured conductive paste filling central opening to the signal processing integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Rainhart, Larry Davis, Charles M. Newton, Theodore R. Blumstein
  • Patent number: 6173631
    Abstract: A method for precisely cutting a workpiece using a saw guide to guide a hand held power saw, the saw guide having a first upper sliding surface and an opposing flat lower surface connected by a first side surface, the first upper sliding surface being bounded on one side by an integral guide ridge, and bounded on the opposing side by a first side surface, provides for first customizing the saw guide to a power saw having a base plate with a side edge. The saw guide is customized by positioning the power saw with the base plate resting upon the first upper sliding surface and the side edge contacting the integral guide ridge, and sliding the power saw along the saw guide, thereby cutting off the first side surface and creating a side cutting surface having a lower cut indicating edge. Once customized, the saw guide can be used with the power saw to cut the workpiece, with the lower cut indicating edge indicating to the user precisely where the power saw will cut the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Inventor: Stanton Jay Schock
  • Patent number: 6170153
    Abstract: To effect accurate positioning and avoid interference of a terminal fitting with a wire guide member. By lifting and lowering guide members 112, 113 formed with Y-shaped wire guide slots 112F, 113F, respectively, a wire W is brought to a terminal mounting position. The wire W and the terminal fitting mounted on the wire W will not interfere with the guide members 112, 113, and the wire W can be more accurately positioned by the Y-shaped wire guide slots 112F, 113F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaharu Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 6170146
    Abstract: Through-holes 14 are formed in an armature core 11, and engaging portions 21 are formed in an commutator unit 15 at positions corresponding to the through-holes 14. Positioning pins 23 are inserted into the through-holes 14 and the engaging portion 21 to exactly position the armature core 11 to the commutator unit 15. The coil terminals are soldered to risers 18 in a state that the under side of the risers 18 are supported by the tips 35 of legs 36 standing erect on a support tool 34, inserted through the open slots 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masayuki Katagiri, Hiromitsu Takei, Hiromi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6170138
    Abstract: A capacitor is described, in particular a vacuum capacitor, comprising two electrodes (1, 1′), at least one insulator (5), and means for fastening (4, 4′). A process is proposed according to which the two electrodes (1, 1′) are each produced as one piece of an electrode material through a cold-flow extrusion process. The electrodes so produced are distinguished by a high surface quality. The result of this, in the capacitors produced from such electrodes, is high quality-factors, low temperature coefficients, a high current-carrying capacity, and an excellent dielectric strength, as well as a compact structure with a simultaneous reduction in the number of components required. Capacitors of this type, in particular vacuum capacitors, find application in HF technology for fixed and variable capacitance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Comet Technik AG
    Inventors: J. Andrea Von Planta, Bernhard Hug
  • Patent number: 6170369
    Abstract: A portable batt cutter custom cuts standard width, continuous, extended length fibrous insulation blankets at a construction site to form batts with specific dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the structural framework cavities to be insulated. The portable batt cutter includes storage for retaining a fibrous insulation blanket; a feed mechanism for feeding the fibrous insulation blanket from the storage to a transverse cutter; and the transverse cutter which makes a transverse cut across the width of the fibrous insulation blanket to determine the length of the batt. The portable batt cutter may also include a cutter for making a longitudinal cut in the fibrous insulation blanket to form a batt having a width less than the width of the fibrous insulation blanket and a measuring device to measure the length of the batt prior to forming the transverse cut in the fibrous insulation blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Johns Manville International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Weinstein, Robert J. Allwein, John A. Fry, Vern C. Plotts, Jo M. Teague, William H. Olbert
  • Patent number: 6165068
    Abstract: A connection-fighting type game machine and a connection-fighting type game method enable game character progression in an independent use state, or in a connected-fighting use state. The connection-fighting type liquid crystal game machine can be used independently, thereby causing a built-in character to grow according to input information from an operation input section that stores growth degree information of the grown character. The game machine may also be connected to another game machine of the same kind. An outcome processing section reads out the growth degree information of the characters stored in the respective game machines, and then causes them to fight in a predetermined fighting manner. A growth degree changing processing section improves the growth degree of the character that has gained a victory, performs a growth degree changing processing by leaving as it is or lowering the growth degree of the character that has suffered a defeat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Tomy Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sonoda, Masanori Mizunuma
  • Patent number: 6162129
    Abstract: A golf handicap calculator is provided including a housing and a display mounted on the housing and adapted to depict numerical characters. Also included is a numeric keypad mounted on the housing for entering numeric data along with a plurality of function keys. Positioned within the housing is a controller that is connected between the display, the keypad, and the function keys. The controller serves to display and store a handicap index upon the depression of one of the function keys with the subsequent entry of a number via the keypad, to display and store a slope upon the depression of one of the function keys with the subsequent entry of a number via the keypad, and to calculate and display a handicap from the handicap index and the slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: Frank M. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6161270
    Abstract: A method of making a printhead includes forming a channel member by providing a mold having a top portion having peaks and valleys and by tape casting a slurry of piezoelectric material into the mold and onto the peaks and valleys of the top portion of the mold to form a tape cast member having a bottom surface with peaks and valleys and a flat top surface and removing the tape cast member. After removing the tape cast member, the top surface of the tape cast member is embossed so as to provide peaks and valleys in opposite sides of the tape cast member wherein the valleys in the top surface are disposed in an offset relationship to the peaks in the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Syamal K. Ghosh, Dilip K. Chatterjee, Edward P. Furlani, James K. Lee
  • Patent number: 6158109
    Abstract: A spacer for mounting around the outer peripheral surface of a bobbin. The spacer has first and second edge surfaces formed in a circular arc shape. Subsequent to the formation of a first coil by winding wire around the bobbin, the wire is continuously curved from a distal end portion of the first coil along the first edge surface of the spacer. After making a U-turn of substantially 180 degrees, the wire is wound to form the second coil. Upon completion of winding of the second coil, the wire is guided along the second edge surface, from an end portion of the second coil, and a second portion of the first coil is wound. The portion of the wire for connecting both of the first and second coils is free from bent corners, thus avoiding the generation of stress concentration. Also, the wire is guided by smooth and curved edge surfaces of the spacer, thus preventing damage to a coating on the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kei Tanabe, Naoki Shimamura
  • Patent number: 6154950
    Abstract: In a production method of a rotor, a lower layer slot insulator is held at a slot insulator holding portion of a combining jig. A lower layer coil bar is inserted into a coil inserting path of the combining jig and is combined integrally with the lower layer slot insulator by being pushed together. Thereafter, the combined set is set in a coil integrating path of a coil holding member. The coil holding member is attached to a coil inserting device along with an armature core. The lower layer slot insulator and a lower coil trunk are integrally inserted into a slot of the armature core by pushing the lower layer coil bar in the coil integrating path. The lower layer coil trunk and an upper layer coil trunk may be formed integrally with respective coil arms as a single coil bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Katahira, Yasuhiro Ono, Tatsuo Gotoh, Norimasa Okada, Jiro Ebihara, Masayuki Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 6148513
    Abstract: A method is indicated for applying a connecting element (3) in a moisture-proof manner to a high-frequency cable (1) containing at least one tubular electric conductor (7) which is surrounded by a sheath made of an insulating material. First, the sheath (10) is removed from the end of the conductor (7). Then a socket-shaped metal contact part (11,12) is attached to this end of the conductor (7) so that it makes electrical contact. A sealing material is placed between the contact part and conductor (7) on the one hand, and the contact part and the sheath (10) on the other. The sealing material for a seal (15) is made up of at least two components, which after the installation of the contact part (11, 12) enlarges its volume to such a degree that it fills the peripheral hollow space between the contact part (11, 12) and the conductor (7), and between the contact part (11, 12) and the sheath (10), at least in the transition area from the conductor (7) to the sheath (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Jurgen Schiefer, Thomas Horn, Michael Stansbie
  • Patent number: 6148510
    Abstract: An electric wire work is produced in the following manner. That is, a combination of a plurality of coaxial cables are cut to a predetermined length. External conductors are exposed in the vicinity of the ends thereof. The external conductors is fixed at a predetermined pitch with a ground bar. Insulators are exposed outside the ground bar. The plurality of insulated cores are fixed at a predetermined pitch with a plastic tape. Then, the insulator layers are shifted together with the plastic tape at a point between the ground bar and the plastic tape so that core conductors 7 are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyonori Yokoi, Hideo Kikuchi, Akinori Mori, Seiji Endou, Shizuyoshi Satou
  • Patent number: 6148500
    Abstract: Inductive electrical components fabricated by PWB techniques of ferromagnetic core or cores are embedded in an insulating board provided with conductive layers. Conductive through-holes are provided in the board on opposite sides of a core. The conductive layers are patterned to form with the conductive through-holes one or more sets of conductive turns forming a winding or windings encircling the core. The conductive layers can also be patterned to form contact pads on the board and conductive traces connecting the pads to the windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Autosplice Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Krone, John F. Trites