Patents Examined by Thanh S. Phan
  • Patent number: 6862188
    Abstract: A computer uses an optical reflective optical sensor to detect the removal of a cover of the computer housing. The reflective optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light detector, and is mounted adjacent a reflective surface on the inner side of the cover when the cover is in place such that the light emitter is reflected by the reflective surface and received by the light detector. When the cover is removed, the intensity of the reflected light received by the light detector drops. The change in the output of the light detector triggers the operating system of the computer to power down the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John C. Calhoon
  • Patent number: 6858985
    Abstract: The invention relates to a low-pressure gas discharge lamp which includes at least one discharge vessel and at least two capacitive coupling-in structures and operates at an operating frequency f. In order to achieve a better efficiency in combination with a small structural volume, a high luminous flux, a low operating voltage, a low electromagnetic emission, a high resistance against switching transients and a long service life for the low-pressure gas discharge lamp, it is proposed to form each capacitive coupling-in structure from at least one dielectric having a thickness d and a dielectric constant ?, each dielectric being subject to the condition d/(f.?)<10?8 cm.s. A substantially larger amount of light can thus be generated per lamp length (lumen/cm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Albrecht Kraus, Bernd Rausenberger, Wilhelm Albert Groen, Horst Dannert
  • Patent number: 6853557
    Abstract: A memory architecture includes a first substrate containing multiple memory devices and a first channel portion extending across the first substrate. The architecture further includes a second substrate containing multiple memory devices and a second channel portion extending across the second substrate. A connector couples the first channel portion to the second channel portion to form a single channel. The connector includes a first slot that receives an edge of the first substrate and a second slot that receives an edge of the second substrate. Another connector has a pair of slots that receive opposite edges of the first and second substrates. The channel portions extend across the substrates in a substantially linear path. Each channel portion includes multiple conductors having lengths that are approximately equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: Belgacem Haba, Sayeh Khalili, Donald R. Mullen, Nader Gamini
  • Patent number: 6850418
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an impact and temperature resistant housing that also resists being removed from its fixed mounting position. Additionally, the present invention resists being fashioned into a weapon if it is removed from its mounted position. In general, the present invention comprises a base section, conical section, terminal support section, and corresponding center terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: TimeKeeping Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Dutton, Jay Cross
  • Patent number: 6847589
    Abstract: The watch disclosed has a case of ovoidal shape, wherein a circular watch movement (5) is arranged off-center, on the side of the end of the case with the larger radius. On the side of the other end there is a moon phase indicator disc (16) and a power-reserve indicator of the watch. The moon disc is driven step-by-step by the movement (5) via a control lever (35) having a beak (43) that drives an external toothing (44) of the disc. This lever extends at least partly along one edge of the case, where a correction push-button is mounted, that can activate (P) the lever in the same direction as the movement is driving, which prevents any interference between the two actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Nouvelle Lemania SA
    Inventor: Jean Wilmouth
  • Patent number: 6842404
    Abstract: A display device for watches, comprising a watch dial provided with a day hours display window for displaying a respective one of the hours of the day during daytime and with a separate night hours display window for displaying a respective one of the hours of the night during nighttime. The display device for watches comprises a day hours disc provided with twelve hour numbers and a night hours disc provided with twelve hour numbers. The two hour display windows and the two hour discs are arranged such that the hour numbers of the day hours disc are visible only in the day hours display window, and the hour numbers of the night hours disc are visible only in the night hours display window. By using two separate hour discs and two separate hour display windows for displaying the day hours and for displaying the night hours, respectively, hour number representations on the one hand can be larger than when using a single hour display window and a single 24-hour disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Cartier International, B.V.
    Inventor: Walter Haselberger
  • Patent number: 6840665
    Abstract: A balance watch, a combination of two watches, one measuring hours, the other measuring minutes and/or seconds. Each watch is worn on a separate wrist simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Paul John Castro
  • Patent number: 6842403
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chronograph having a chronograph drive by means of which, when a first actuating element is actuated manually, a chronograph-hand stem of a chronograph hand can be driven in rotation, and having a rattrapante-hand stem, coaxial with the chronograph-hand stem, of a rattrapante hand which can be driven in an overlapping manner with the chronograph hand. A seconds heart cam for resetting the chronograph hand is arranged on the chronograph-hand stem, and the chronograph-hand stem and rattrapante-hand stem are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner by a rattrapante heart cam of a force-fitting coupling. A rattrapante wheel 6 is arranged on the rattrapante-hand stem, can be encompassed under spring prestressing by the gripper arms of a rattrapante gripper and can be blocked against rotation by a friection or form fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Lange Uhren GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Meis
  • Patent number: 6836412
    Abstract: An enclosure includes a base having an interior volume and a first cover attachable to the base and adapted to cover a first portion of the interior volume of the base such that, with the first cover attached to the base, a second portion of the interior volume of the base is accessible. The enclosure further includes a second cover attachable to the base and adapted to cover a second portion of the interior volume of the base, wherein the first cover in combination with the second cover covers generally all of the interior volume of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Kim, Dimitry Struve, William W. Ruckman
  • Patent number: 6836450
    Abstract: A decorative clock comprising a ferrous (magnetic) base plate, a battery operated clock mechanism and decorative designs which may be in the form of a sheet containing a plurality of individual flexible permanent magnets is disclosed. Each individual flexible permanent magnet has an artistic design or feature thereon and can be magnetically attached to the front surface of the base plate so as to create an overall design. The number of overall designs that can be created by the selective placement of the individual permanent magnets on the base plate is virtually limitless. The individual permanent magnets can be readily changed and/or moved relative to one another so as to readily change the overall design on the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Inventor: Alison M. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 6833677
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp of the ceramic metal halide type of the Philips MasterColor® series having power ranges of about 150 W to about 1000 W. Such lamps are provided with a discharge vessel which encloses a discharge space. The discharge vessel has a ceramic wall and is closed by a ceramic plug. An electrode which is located inside the discharge space is connected to an electric conductor by way of a leadthrough element. The leadthrough element projects through the ceramic plug with a close fit and is connected thereto in a gas-tight manner by way of a sealing ceramic. The leadthrough element has a first part which is formed by a cermet at the area of the gas-tight connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Jackson, Ray G. Gibson, III, Sarah A. Carleton, Shiming Wu, Louis N. Kowalczyk, Thomas Steere, Jay J. Palmer, John C. Alderman, John E. Conrad, Sr., Kent L. Collins
  • Patent number: 6826127
    Abstract: A setting structure module for a timer including a hollow top housing and a bottom housing, and a time setting apparatus positioned in upper portion of the top housing. A middle cover is located above a middle of the top housing and inserted through an inner hole of time setting apparatus. The left inner side of the bottom housing provides a synchronize electric motor, a power supply connecting apparatus and the gear transmission system connected to the output axle of synchronize electric motor. A right inner side of the bottom housing has a switch dial and micro switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Albert Stekelenburg
  • Patent number: 6826125
    Abstract: A novelty clock having a display comprised of replica pool balls. The clock is contained primarily within a housing having a front panel defining a time display opening through which the balls are passed. The balls are displayed on a shelf that is hinged to the front panel of the clock. The shelf is pivoted upwardly to withdraw the balls and is then lowered to return the balls the most forward position. Three carousels are provided for displaying one minute, ten minute and one hour increments of time. An array of ball receiving cells are defined by each carousel. A time display control mechanism is provided for moving at least the first carousel through a rotation of 36° each minute. The mechanism includes primarily a timing device, a motor, and a drive mechanism. At one minute intervals, the timing device actuates the motor. The motor is mounted on a bottom panel of the housing and includes an output shaft to which the drive mechanism is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Charles E. Sullenberger, III
  • Patent number: 6816440
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a portable object such as, in particular, a timepiece (1) including means for controlling at least an electronic function such as an horological function, these control means including at least a touch-sensitive key (16) for selecting the desired electronic function, characterized in that the control means further include a strain gauge (22) allowing the selection of the desired electronic function to be confirmed and/or the electronic function to be activated, the confirmation and/or activation of said electronic function being effected by applying pressure to the portable object via the effect of which the strain gauge (22) generates a control signal which will be applied to an electronic data processing circuit, said portable object also being able to include means able to emit an acoustic signal to indicate to a user that the desired function has actually been switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Frédéric Meylan, Jean-Pierre Wattenhofer
  • Patent number: 6816391
    Abstract: An information handling system case is disclosed which has a chassis suitable for containing an electronic component, an access door removably mounted to the chassis, the access door suitable for permitting access to an electronic component contained in the computer chassis, and a release mechanism adjacent to the access door, wherein the release mechanism is manually operable by a single hand of a user to release the access door from the chassis, the access door separating from the chassis upon manipulation of the release mechanism by the user. The quick release mechanism is preferably a squeezable handle. EMI shielding is accomplished through EMI clips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Davis, Cesar Daniel Castillo, Armando Rocha, Richard A. Gibson, Vernon D. Erickson, Thomas H. Carson
  • Patent number: 6811304
    Abstract: To enable to easily stop a second hand at a 0 second position even in an analog electronic timepiece operating a hand at a high period. A dividing circuit outputs a low frequency pulse signal and a high frequency pulse signal at predetermined frequencies to a control circuit. The control circuit outputs the low frequency pulse signal of 4 pulses per second aligned at equal intervals when it is detected by a detecting circuit that an operating portion is not operated and outputs repeatedly the high frequency pulse signal of consecutive 4 pulses at every second when it is detected by the detecting circuit that the operating portion is operated. A motor driving circuit and a motor normally operate a second hand in response to the low frequency pulse signal and repeats, at a period of 1 second, operation of fast feeding the second hand and thereafter stopping the second hand during a predetermined period of time in response to the high frequency pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Saburo Manaka
  • Patent number: 6813161
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting a circuit board within a computer chassis is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a standoff support mounted in a channel so that the standoff can be positioned along the length of the channel by moving or sliding the standoff within the channel. This movable standoff facilitates the mounting of a variety of circuit boards within the same computer chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventors: Bao G. Le, Derek T. Nguyen, David R. Davis, Allan L. Klink
  • Patent number: 6809933
    Abstract: First of all, a sub-PCB (6) is fixedly put on a surface of a chassis (5) as shown in an arrow I. At this time, a taper face (9a) of a guide rib (9) guides a fixed position of the sub-PCB (6) in a transverse direction. Next, the sub-PCB (6) is slid forward as shown in an arrow II. A front end of the sub-PCB (6) is led into a taper face (8b) of a fixed click (8) and is guided downward, and gets into the underside of the click and stops in a position of an abutting face (8c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Eo., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kuchiishi, Toshihiro Higuchi, Hideo Haga, Yasunobu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6801438
    Abstract: A process for forming a circuit pattern on a substrate includes steps of forming a number of electrical circuits on a substrate, which circuits include an electrically conductive bus that interconnects the circuits, covering the electrical circuits with a soldermask, leaving electrical contact portions exposed, electroplating the exposed electrical contacts with a conductive surface finish by using the bus to electrolytically apply the surface finish, and then severing the bus at locations between circuits so that the circuits are electrically isolated from each other. The process may be used to make circuit boards and especially integrated circuit packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Touch Future Technolocy Ltd.
    Inventor: Abram M. Castro
  • Patent number: 6791847
    Abstract: A retention module (30) of the present invention is fastened to a motherboard (50), and surrounds a land grid array (LGA) central processing unit (CPU) (52) which is engaged on an LGA socket (54) that is mounted on the motherboard. The heat sink includes a base (12), and a plurality of fins (14) extending upwardly from the base. A notch (16) is defined in each of four sides of the base. The retention module includes a rectangular bottom plate (32). A side plate (36) extends upwardly from each of four sides of the bottom plate. A locating block (40) is formed on an inside of each side plate. The locating blocks are fittingly received in the notches of the base, thereby preventing the heat sink from sliding in horizontal directions. Thus the heat sink is prevented from disturbing mechanical and electrical engagement of the CPU with the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hao-Yun Ma