Patents Examined by Patrick J Assouad
  • Patent number: 7540672
    Abstract: A digital still camera module includes an image sensor package (2) and a lens barrel (30) mounted on the image sensor package. The image sensor package includes a substrate (20), an image sensor chip (22), and a cover (28). The substrate defines a receiving chamber (203) therein. The image sensor chip mounted in the receiving chamber of the substrate. The cover, which is transparent and has a smaller profile than that of the substrate, is secured to the top portion of the substrate thereby sealing the receiving chamber. The top portion of the substrate has an uncovered section (29) at a periphery of the cover. The lens barrel includes at least one lens (31) received therein. The lens barrel is securely attached to the uncovered section of the top portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Altus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Webster, Ying-Cheng Wu, Kun-Hsieh Liu, Po-Chih Hsu
  • Patent number: 7537377
    Abstract: A method for performing highly accurate PCR employing an assembly, a heated cover and an internal computer. The assembly is made up of a sample block, a number of Peltier thermal electric devices and heat sink, clamped together. The sample block temperature is changed exclusively by the thermoelectric devices controlled by the computer. The control software includes calibration diagnostics which permit variation in the performance of thermoelectric coolers from instrument to instrument to be compensated for such that all instruments perform identically. The block heat sink assembly can be changed to another of the same or different design. The assembly carries the necessary information required to characterize its own performance in an on-board memory device, allowing the assembly to be interchangeable among instruments while retaining its precision operating characteristics. The instrument monitors the thermoelectric devices and warns of changes in resistance that may result in failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: John G. Atwood, Adrian Fawcett, Keith S. Ferrara, Paul M. Hetherington, Richard W. Noreiks, Douglas E. Olsen, John R. Widomski, Charles M. Wittmer
  • Patent number: 7534032
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is disclosed for determining the temperature state in an area of a heating surface heated by a heat source and disposed between the heat source and the heating surface in parallel relationship to the heating surface. The sensor assembly includes a first sensor having a carrier and a temperature-dependent resistor web which is attached to the carrier and confronts the heating surface and which is electrically contacted at a contact zone outside a temperature-measuring zone, and a second sensor having a carrier and a temperature-dependent resistor web which is attached to the carrier and electrically contacted at a contact zone outside the temperature-measuring zone and which confronts the heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Electrovac AG
    Inventors: Josef Reithofer, Christian Auradnik
  • Patent number: 7524107
    Abstract: A thermostat circuit is arranged for dual purpose operation to save pins in a small package. The circuit includes a temperature sensor circuit, a trip-point reference circuit, a switching circuit, an amplifier circuit, and a comparator circuit. The trip-point reference circuit provides a reference voltage that corresponds to a desired trip-point level. The temperature sensor circuit provides a sense voltage that corresponds to temperature. During a normal operating mode the sense voltage is coupled to the input of the amplifier circuit via the switching circuit, while during a test mode the reference voltage is coupled to an input of the amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit buffers a voltage to one output pin. The comparator circuit compares the reference voltage to the sense voltage to provide a trip-point detection voltage for another output pin. An input pin is provided for selection of either a test mode or a non-test mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Perry Scott Lorenz
  • Patent number: 7525315
    Abstract: A combined resistivity tool incorporating both induction/propagation antennas and lateral resistivity antennas disposed in recesses of downhole tubulars, in which a lateral resistivity antenna includes an insulating base layer disposed in the recess; a toroidal antenna disposed over the insulating base layer; and a shield disposed over the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Fredette, James Stephen Hall, Mark T. Frey, Dominique Dion
  • Patent number: 7520668
    Abstract: A multi function thermometer is provided which operates to display temperatures sensed by one or more temperature sensors. The thermometer comprises a thermometer housing and a temperature probe engaged to the housing, the probe being translatable between a first stowed position and a second deployed position. An infrared temperature reader element is also engaged to the housing, and operative to sense the temperature of objects remote from the housing, within a field of view of the infrared reader element. A temperature display is connected to the retractable probe and to the infrared temperature reader element. The display is operative to display temperatures sensed by the retractable probe and/or the infrared reader element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Ieon Chen
  • Patent number: 7517144
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of determining the temperature in a system, said system comprising a molecular heater fraction and a molecular thermometer fraction, and to an integrated system for temperature determination and temporally and spatially resolved thermal profile detection, and to uses of such system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Deutschland GmbH, Max-Planck-Gesel. zur Foerderung der Wissen. E.V.
    Inventors: Tzenka Miteva, Gabriele Nelles, Akio Yasuda, Stanislav Balouchev, John Lupton
  • Patent number: 7517147
    Abstract: Disclosed is a structure for guiding the installation of a thermowell for temperature sensor, which is used to measure the axial temperature inside a fixed-bed catalyst reaction tube when it is filled with a catalyst, at a predetermined location in the reaction tube. In addition, a method for installing a thermowell for temperature sensor is provided. The method includes the steps of installing a structure for guiding the installation of a thermowell for temperature sensor in a reaction tube and fixing the thermowell for temperature sensor while filling the reaction tube with a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Soo Park, Kyoung Su Ha, Jun Seok Ko, Seong Pil Kang, Se Won Baek, Eun Ju Kim
  • Patent number: 7518359
    Abstract: A non-planar part has a non-planar surface such as an edge, and may contain an anomaly such as a crack. The non-planar part is inspected using an eddy current technique. The method includes providing the non-planar part having the non-planar surface thereon, driving an eddy current probe at two or more frequencies, measuring an eddy current response signal of the non-planar part at each frequency, and performing a multifrequency phase analysis on the eddy current response signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Changting Wang, Ui Suh
  • Patent number: 7507025
    Abstract: An infrared thermometer has an elongate housing extending along an axis with an actuator at one housing end, the actuator being actuated by engagement along the axis. The housing further includes an opening at one end and a temperature sensor operatively associated with the opening. The temperature sensor can be advanced from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position operatively associated with the opening for sensing the temperature of an object. As the sensor moves between the retracted and the extended position, the sensor changes from a dormant state to a sensing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Inventor: Wayne R Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 7507019
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a thermometer is disclosed. The thermometer comprises a primary temperature sensor for determining the temperature of a target. The thermometer also comprises a reference temperature sensor positioned proximate to the primary temperature sensor and being responsive to an extraneous temperature affecting the primary temperature sensor. One calibration method calibrates the reference temperature sensor. This calibration can utilize a non-electrically conductive liquid bath for temperature control. Another calibration method calibrates the reference temperature sensor and the primary temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventor: Jeffrey E. Price
  • Patent number: 7507021
    Abstract: An electronic thermometer includes an automatic activating system for automatically configuring the thermometer between an active state (broadly, the thermometer is turned on) and a non-active state (broadly, the thermometer is turned off). In general the activating system includes a solid-state activating sensor, such as a Hall-effect sensor, in a housing of the thermometer and a magnet in a probe of the thermometer for activating the sensor when the probe is received in a probe well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Denis Y. Yerlikaya, Jeffrey E. Price
  • Patent number: 7505680
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system, an image sensor, an image signal processing section and a light-amount characteristic giving section. The imaging optical system has a distortion in such a way as to form an image whose center part is stretched, and whose peripheral part is squeezed. The image sensor has a light reception surface at which a subject image is formed through the imaging optical system, and converts the formed subject image into image signals. The image signal processing section performs an image processing for correcting the image signals with respect to the distortion. The light-amount characteristic giving section gives the subject image a characteristic in which the amount of light at a center part of the subject image formed at the light-reception surface of the image sensor is larger than that at a peripheral part of the subject image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Niwa
  • Patent number: 7496290
    Abstract: A multipoint autofocus system in which a pair of object images, obtained by pupil-division of an object light bundle in each detection area, are projected onto different zones of a sensor and are converted into image signals, so that a defocus amount can be determined based on the image signals, the multipoint autofocus system including intersecting detection areas whose detection areas partly overlap and a plurality of sensor arrays of the sensor corresponding to respective the intersecting detection areas; and a selection device for selecting a defocus amount whose absolute value is smallest out of defocus amounts obtained by each sensor array of the intersecting detection areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakata
  • Patent number: 7492149
    Abstract: A circuit configuration for processing a signal of a sensor includes an amplifier for amplifying the signal of the sensor. This signal has switch-over points between different signal states. The circuit configuration is constructed in such a manner that the amplifier and the sensor operate continuously in a chopper mode. Furthermore, a control loop is provided for determining offset components in the signal of the sensor and for removing the offset components from the signal of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Mario Motz, Dieter Draxelmayr
  • Patent number: 7482812
    Abstract: A loop antenna useful, for example, in investigation of earth formations. Embodiments of the invention provide a loop antenna circuit comprising a loop antenna disposed to generate, in response to an electromagnetic wave, a pick-up signal on an output node. Loop antenna circuit further includes a tuning network coupled to the loop antenna. The tuning network is disposed to provide simultaneous tuning at a plurality of interrogation frequencies. Further embodiments include a preamplifier circuit coupled to the loop antenna. The preamplifier circuit is disposed to receive the pick-up signal on an input node and provide a high impedance load to the loop antenna for a first of the plurality of interrogation frequencies to reduce the secondary radiation from the loop antenna to below a predetermined value at the said first interrogation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: PathFinder Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A Moore
  • Patent number: 7476020
    Abstract: A method, a laboratory device and the use of both are provided for simulating the dynamic temperature behavior of at least one part of a process plant, particularly an industrial reactor. The method provides a temperature profile and/or temperature setpoints at given time intervals for controlling the laboratory device. The temperature profile and/or temperature setpoints are derived from a mathematical model that describes the dynamic temperature behavior of at least one part of the process plant. The temperature profile and/or the temperature setpoints are used by a program for controlling the laboratory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Mettler - Toledo AG
    Inventors: Benoit Zufferey, Francis Stoessel, Urs Groth
  • Patent number: 7471081
    Abstract: A slider tester includes a driving unit that rotates a test medium, a set plate that detachably supports a slider as a single body, and an investigating apparatus that is electrically connected to the slider supported by the set plate and investigates the characteristics of the slider. A movable support part 30 that tiltably supports the slider is provided on the set plate. There is also provided a pressing mechanism that elastically presses the slider via the movable support part toward a surface of the medium to dispose the slider floating over the surface of the medium. The pressing mechanism includes an elastic body 56 composed of a plate spring that contacts the movable support part and elastically presses the movable support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Norio Kainuma, Kenji Kobae, Hidehiko Kira, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Shuichi Takeuchi, Takayoshi Matsumura, Hirokazu Yamanishi, Shinji Hiraoka, Yoshiaki Yanagida
  • Patent number: 7471894
    Abstract: A correction filter used in the exposure for forming a phosphor screen includes three kinds of correction filters consisting of a grading filter, a monochroic local correction filter and a multi-color local correction filter. With the use of three kinds of correction filters, it is possible to improve the whiteness uniformity which may be degraded due to the wall thickness difference at the center and a peripheral portion of a panel portion of a flat-face-type color cathode ray tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ito, Satoshi Muto
  • Patent number: 7444074
    Abstract: An autofocus lens apparatus is disclosed which is capable of changing a focus target area in position and size without degrading the operability of manual focusing when taking images with an autofocus function. The autofocus lens apparatus comprises an operating member which is placed outside a lens barrel and movable to change the focus target area, a detector which detects the movement of the operating member, and a controller which changes at least one of the position and size of the focus target area on the basis of a signal from the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Gou Shibasaki