Patents Examined by Patrick Assovad
  • Patent number: 5875414
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for protecting a plurality of same semiconductor switching elements used in a PWM inverter from being overheated, a junction temperature rise T.sub.n of one of the switching elements is derived on the basis of an output frequency of the inverter (.omega. c), an output current (I) of the inverter, and a control factor (a) and when T.sub.n >T.sub.nref, the overheat in the corresponding switching element occurs so that a gate signal for each switching element is not inputted or an PWM off duty ratio on a pulse duty ratio of the gate signal is increased to limit the output current of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
    Inventor: Hirohiko Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 5819032
    Abstract: An electronic magazine is distributed electronically over a network (e.g., Internet) from a publisher to multiple subscribers. In an initial timeline navigation screen depicted on the subscriber's computer display, articles are graphically represented in a graphical user interface as article boxes overlaid on a background. A marker is added to the article boxes to indicate that comments to the underlying article have been published as part of the magazine. To view the various comments for a particular article, the subscriber activates the article box to launch a second screen which includes the selected article box positioned prominently, and one or more graphical comment boxes indicative of the commentaries surrounding the article box. This second screen thereby provides a message thread of articles and related commentaries. An alternative approach to building a message thread is to launch a pop-up graphical list window from activation of the selected article which lists related commentaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Pierre de Vries, Miles Kronby, Suze Woolf
  • Patent number: 5812791
    Abstract: An MPEG decoding system in a host system, including software instructions for decoding a first portion of MPEG encoded data, including instructions for extracting macroblock data from said MPEG encoded data and for establishing a decoding order for said macroblock data. The system further includes hardware for extracting motion vector data and display data from said macroblocks. An entropy decoder for decoding encoded AC coefficients and DC coefficients in said display data is provided. An inverse quantization unit inversely quantizing said coefficients into a resulting array of decoded AC coefficients is also provided. An de-zig-zag unit scans said array of decoded AC coefficients and DC coefficients in a zig-zag pattern to provide a block of discrete cosine transformed coefficients. A inverse discrete cosine transform unit takes the inverse discrete cosine transform of the block of discrete cosine transformed coefficients to provide a first set of pel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: CagEnt Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve C. Wasserman, James Armand Baldwin, George Mitsuoka
  • Patent number: 5809246
    Abstract: A digital radio broadcast station which includes a common digital database having stored therein a plurality of at least several hundred (preferably at least 1800) different selections of music to be played and broadcast by the radio station. A processor system is provided for programming the operation of the digital radio broadcast station with a sequence of music selections, which are subsequently retrieved in order from the common digital database and played over the digital radio broadcast station. The common digital database comprises a disk array storage, preferably a dual port RAID disk array. The digital radio broadcast station also includes a plurality of work station consoles for use by personnel responsible for operating the radio station such as disc jockeys and engineers. A bridge network such as a modem is also provided for connecting the radio station to a further digital database for music selections not stored in the common digital database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Robert J. Goldman
  • Patent number: 5801963
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for achieving optimum selection of machining parameters and tool inserts for finish turning operations is provided. The computer implemented method allows for the simultaneous consideration of the various machining performance criteria which are highly interactive and need to be taken into consideration when defining optimum cutting conditions or selecting optimum tool inserts for particular cutting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: The University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: John P. Sadler, Ibrahim S. Jawahir, Zhongjie Da, Seog S. Lee
  • Patent number: 5787405
    Abstract: In the present invention, utilizing a data processing system at one location such as the home office, and another data processing system at a remote location such as a convenience store, an authorized convenience store employee may print financial instruments. According to the present invention, pre-printed forms are not needed in order to print financial instruments. When a financial instrument is to be printed, a valid password must first be entered. Thereafter, the employee may insert blank paper into the printer included within the remote data processing system and print a complete financial instrument. All necessary parameters may be printed by the remote data processing system, including financial institution identification number, account number, financial instrument number, date, amount, and payee. A transaction log may be automatically maintained by the remote data processing system. A log entry may be created each time a financial instrument is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: FFP Financial Services, L.P.
    Inventor: Edward M. Gregory
  • Patent number: 5784560
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing access control to objects in a distributed network directory employing static resolution to resolve object attributes. A first object has a Security Equals attribute and a second object has an Equivalent To Me attribute. Upon receiving a request for the first object to access the second object, authorization of such access is verified by checking if the two attributes are synchronized. The attributes are synchronized when the Security Equals attribute of the first object includes the second object, and the Equivalent To Me attribute of the second object includes the first object. A method of synchronizing the two attributes is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Novell, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Kingdon, Randal Earl Childers, DeeAnne Higley, Dale R. Olds
  • Patent number: 5748493
    Abstract: In advanced digital networks for providing selective point-to-point communications between subscribers terminals and broadband server equipment operated by a plurality of independent information service providers, routing through the network is controlled by functionality identified as a Level 1 Gateway. The Level 1 Gateway will perform a variety of functions including communications port management of transmissions of information between subscribers and servers, processing of billing information and session management. The Level 1 Gateway generates menus of providers, either as a function of providers available through a particular portion of the network or in a customized fashion specified by individual subscribes. The Level 1 Gateway may also provide a PIN number functionality, e.g. to permit parents to limit which providers their children can access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Regina Lightfoot, William Goodman
  • Patent number: 5740081
    Abstract: A deviation correcting method for a machine tool, which is capable of exactly correcting a deviation of a reference position of a tool with respect to a workpiece without repeatedly executing a measuring operation. The measuring operation includes providing a detector switch SW for detecting an operating end surface of the tool, obtaining a position z when the detector switch SW detects the operating end surface of the tool, and calculating a difference between the detected position z and a reference position z0 to obtain an amount of deviation A. This measuring operation is performed at least three times at an arbitrary time interval. Based on data of these actual measurements, a function f(Ti) of a curve representing a relationship between a time Ti and an amount of deviation A. Then, an amount of deviation A' at an arbitrary time point Ti is estimated using the function f(Ti) to correct a commanded position of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5712803
    Abstract: In a method of and system for acquiring and digitizing an object through a transparent wall the system for acquiring and digitizing sections of objects includes a plurality of sensors carried by a common cradle. The sensors include a laser source emitting a lamellar beam forming a laser plane and two cameras observing the object. The various laser planes are coplanar and form a single measurement laser plane. Devices are provided for calculating and synchronizing the observed images. The support for the object to be measured has a non-plane surface. A preliminary phase includes calibration of the measuring space and acquisition and digitization of the surfaces of the transparent wall. Applications include acquiring and digitizing the shape of the human foot or a rubber seal for automobile doors when subjected to compression loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Kreon Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Garuet-Lempirou