Patents Examined by Nathan W. McCutcheon
  • Patent number: 4868753
    Abstract: A rate of the proceeding of a shifting operation during an inertia phase is adjusted to a target value such that a transmission output torque varies without any rapid change during the inertia phase and agrees smoothly with an output torque value to be established after the gear shift at the ending of the inertia phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yasushi Mori
  • Patent number: 4867542
    Abstract: A laser exposure system for use in scanning and recording images, the system comprising subdividing the laser beam from the laser source into several parallel traces of laser beams; modulating the laser beams individually in response to the image signals be means of a multi-channel optical modulator; directing the modulated laser beams through a first mirror and a second mirror so as to enable the laser beams from the second mirror to be in parallel with the reference plane with respect to the sub-scanning direction; varying the distance between the modulator and the first mirror; and adjusting the angles of the first and second mirrors to the reference plane so that a possible decline of the laser beams in the sub-scanning direction is compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Shimazu, Kenji Endo, Eiichi Tamaki, Yasuyuki Wada, Masahide Okazaki, Takeshi Kageyama, Yoshio Kurata
  • Patent number: 4867541
    Abstract: An electrochromic device, comprising: a first transparent electrode, an electrochromic layer, a macromolecular solid electrolyte layer and a second electrode, each applied successively, being characterized in that the macromolecular solid electrolyte layer is a plasma polymerization film which includes a hydrocarbon compound, an alkali metal and an element having large electronegativity. An electrochromic device, comprising, a transparent electode, an electrochromic material made from an organic material of the ion injection type, an ionic conductor layer, and a second electrode, each applied successively, wherein said electrochromic layer is a film which is made with a plasma polymerization process of a phthalocyanine compound under the supply of carrier gas at a low frequency between 1 kHz and 3 MHz of alternating electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Hotomi
  • Patent number: 4865427
    Abstract: Spatial light modulators which use a substrate having a buried channel charge-coupled device (CCD) formed therein, wherein the amount of charge in the charge storage wells associated with the electrodes of the CCD is controlled by an electrically or optically addressed data signal. The level of charge in such charge storage wells controls the electric field beneath the electrodes so that the intensity of electromagnetic energy (e.g., light) directed through The CCD is spatially modulated by the charge levels in the charge storage wells in accordance with the Franz-Keldysh electroabsorption effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Robert H. Kingston, Frederick J. Leonberger
  • Patent number: 4865428
    Abstract: An electrochromic device useful as a smart window comprises a pair of transparent doped tin oxide layers that serve as the terminal electrodes, and between which are sandwiched an electrochemical cell including a layer of electrochromic material and between the layer of electrochromic material and its proximate termial is inserted a layer of tin oxide whose normal resistance is large compared to the lateral resistance of the proximate doped tin oxide layer. This serves to improve the lateral uniformity of the potential applied to the electrochemical cell when a voltage is applied across the terminal electrodes with a resultant improvement in the uniformity of coloring and bleaching across the surface of the electrochromic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Inventor: Dennis A. Corrigan
  • Patent number: 4862362
    Abstract: A backup acceleration signal generator for vehicles having, for example, an automatic transmission operating in response to a signal indicating the amount of acceleration, has a signal generator for producing a backup operation. The backup signal is too small to start the control operation for starting the vehicle and is applied to the automatic transmission in accordance with the braking condition of the vehicle or the operating condition of the automatic transmission. The apparatus supplies the backup signal to the automatic transmission when braking power is applied to the vehicle or the vehicle is in the parked condition, so that the vehicle is prevented from starting automatically when the backup operation starts due to the occurrence of an abnormality of the acceleration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Diesel Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Kurihara, Kenji Arai
  • Patent number: 4856797
    Abstract: A chuck comprising a chuck body having guide surfaces, preferably in the form of the surface area of a hollow cone, is provided. Chuck jaws having a correspondingly conical guide surface rest against the surface of the chuck body and are secured to one another by means of rubber-elastic spring elements to form a work head. At the rear end of the work head, the chuck jaws have a circumferential groove which is engaged by an annular coupling part. The coupling part is joined to a coupling sleeve which, in turn, can be coupled to the draw-in device of a machine tool. The coupling part comprises a displacement lock which, in the locking position, limits the distance of displacement of the coupling part at a place at which the contact surfaces on the coupling part and the matching contact surfaces on the chuck jaws still radially overlap one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Inventor: Gerhard Rall
  • Patent number: 4856877
    Abstract: A display unit having a light-receiving type display device for displaying an information by receiving light from external light source and a self-illuminating type display device provided under the light-receiving type display device for acting as the external light source for the light-receiving type display device and for displaying information different from the information displayed by the light-receiving type display device. The light-receiving type display device and the self-illuminating type display device each display a predetermined pattern different from the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kadotaro Nishimori, Masazumi Ito
  • Patent number: 4854676
    Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides a bistable optical device comprising a Fabry-Perot etalon which has an optical cavity containing a naphthalocyanine dye medium as a nonlinear optical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Hoechst Celanese Corp.
    Inventors: Palaiyur S. Kalyanaraman, Anthony F. Garito
  • Patent number: 4854677
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator and associated method are disclosed which achieve an intensity-to-intensity spatial transformation between a noncoherent input beam and a coherent output beam. An intermediate intensity-to-phase modulator provides a coherent, spatially phased modulated readout beam that is combined with a coherent reference beam in an interferometer to yield the desired coherent, spatially intensity modulated output beam. The interferometer also produces a feedback beam with a spatial intensity modulation complementary to that of the input and output beams. The feedback beam is combined with the input beam in a feedback loop that significantly improves the system's response time, and can also enhance the linearity of its transfer characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Thomas R. O'Meara
  • Patent number: 4854678
    Abstract: An electro-optical light shutter device for use in electrophotographic printers or the like including an elongated plate having an electro-optical effect, a polarizer and an analyzer disposed on the light incident and emergent side of the plate, respectively. The plate is formed with a first groove extending longitudinally thereof, a second groove parallel to the first groove with a predetermined distance having a smaller depth than the first groove and a plurality of third grooves extending in a direction across the first and second grooves having a smaller depth than the first groove but a larger depth than the second groove, and provided with a plurality of projections aligned longitudinally thereof which are divided by the forming of the first, second and third grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohisa Kitano, Itaru Saito, Kouichi Shingaki, Ken Matsubara, Tomohiko Masuda
  • Patent number: 4855913
    Abstract: A microprocessor-based electronic control system for a powershift transmission having at least one proportional actuator, such as a solenoid-operated proportional valve, is disclosed. The controller operates a plurality of on-off solenoid valves and the solenoid-operated proportional valve to provide operator-selected gear shifts in both forward and reverse directions having controlled clutch engagements achieved by modulation of clutch engagement pressure by the proportional valve. The key parameters associated with the gradual clutch engagement are all easily varied by the controller, most under program control during operation, to provide for optimized clutch engagments for smooth gearshifts. The key parameters include: fast-fill clutch delay, initial clutch engagement pressure, rate of increase of clutch engagement pressure, and the length of the reduced pressure clutch engagement interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventors: Kevin L. Brekkestran, John C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4852979
    Abstract: Electrochromic mirrors are protected against environmental and mechanical damage by an encapsulant system comprising a shatterproofing backing and a hermetic seal. The shatterproofing backing entirely covers the surfaces of the electrochromic cell elements and is itself entirely covered by the hermetic seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Anoop Agrawal
  • Patent number: 4850684
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic (EC) display device which comprises a display electrode made up of a transparent conductive layer and a patterned EC layer, a counter electrode having an EC layer laid on a conductive layer and an electrolyte which occupies the space between the two electrodes, and in which the display electrode employs a first type EC material that takes on color in its electrochemically oxidized state, such as Prussian blue, and the counter electrode a second type EC material that takes on color in its reduced state, such as WO.sub.3, or vice versa. The EC layer of the counter electrode is not patterned, and the patterned EC layer of the display electrode is made smaller in surface area than the EC layer of the counter electrode and an upper limit of the surface area ratio of the former EC layer to the latter EC layer is specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Central Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inaba, Kiyoshi Nakase, Yukitoshi Yanagida, Hiroyuki Nishii
  • Patent number: 4848880
    Abstract: An electro-optical device for providing spatial modulation of an incoming electromagnetic wave signal, and preferably a two-dimensional incoming signal applied orthogonally to an input plane of the device, which device includes an array of modulation regions for providing such modulation of portions of the incoming signal. An array of first reflective mirrors are positioned so as to direct the incoming electromagnetic wave signal portions through the interaction layer regions of the modulation regions in a direction substantially parallel thereto and an array of second reflective mirrors directs the modulated electromagnetic wave signal portions outwardly from the device to provide a two-dimensional spatially modulated output electromagnetic wave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Brian F. Aull, William D. Goodhue
  • Patent number: 4847767
    Abstract: A device for the electronic control of an actuator, particularly for transmission dog clutches. The actuator is controlled by two double-acting cylinders, a translation cylinder and a rotation cylinder. Each of the cylinders is associated therewith a system for noting the position of each cylinder, a control system that provides a digital signal representative of the desired position of each cylinder, a digital comparator for producing an error signal as a difference between the desired position and then the actual position, and a digital regulator of the proportional and derivative type which produces an instruction signal to change corresponding solenoid valve. A microprocessor acts with the digital regulator to produce internal storage and programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Renault Vehicules Industriels
    Inventors: Georges Carton, Pierre Kuntz, Yves Drutel
  • Patent number: 4844591
    Abstract: The invention relates to coated glass substrates for obtaining a variable degree of light transmission therethrough. The coated substrate comprises successively, (1) a first transparent support plate, preferably formed of glass, (2) a transparent electroconductive layer, (3) a layer of an electrochromic material, (4) a proton conductive electrolytic layer having an organic polymer base, (4a) an optional counterelectrode layer, (5) a second electroconductive layer and (6) a second transparent support plate. A proton conductive polymer is selected for the electrolyte whose conductivity is greater than or equal to ##EQU1## wherein the layer has a thickness of less than 50 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Herve Arribart, Christian Padoy, Alain Dugast, Michel Armond, Francis Defendini, Bernard Desbat
  • Patent number: 4845618
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control system for reducing engagement shock of a frictional element when the transmission effects a change in gear position comprises an electromagnetically operated valve for generating a hydraulic pressure supplied to the frictional element and a control unit. In the control unit, the amount of torque transmitted via a torque converter to a transmission input shaft is determined through operations based on output signals of various sensors and data stored in a memory, and a target value of hydraulic pressure is determined in response to the amount of torque determined. The control unit supplies an output signal to the valve to cause the valve to adjust the level of the hydraulic pressure generated thereby to the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Narita
  • Patent number: 4844482
    Abstract: The drill chuck has an adapter shaft which is held in the drill chuck nonrotatably with axial motion play and formed for receipt in a tool holder of a hammer drill machine. The hammer action of the adapter shaft is transmittable to the end of a drill held between centrally adjustable clamp jaws through an axial passage. A stop piece is carried in the drill chuck which is movable above the drill chuck axially into a position clamped and locked against the tool holder of the hammer drill machine. Hence axial motion play of the adapter shaft is prevented in both the drill chuck and also in the tool holder and the former is for all intents and purposes rigidly attached with the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Inventor: Gunter H. Rohm
  • Patent number: 4844592
    Abstract: This invention teaches electrochromic lead oxide as a new electrochromic material. An electrochromic device is constructed from this material by forming a cathodic electrochromic device. A fast ion conductor is also provided which is capable of generating ions when an electric field is applied thereto. The fast ion conductor also permits ion movement therethrough while prohibiting electron movement therethrough. The fast ion conductor and the electrochromic lead oxide are arranged between an anode and a cathode to form an electrochromic device. Preferably, the lead oxide is in a layer next to the cathode. With the lead oxide layer next to the cathode, the device is a cathodic electrochromic device which can generate a dark grey color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Hulya Demirvont