Patents by Inventor Chou

Chou has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6052834
    Abstract: A padding device is provided for a pair of swimming goggles. The padding device includes a connecting portion connected to a lens of the pair of the swimming goggles. An elastic annular extension extends inwardly from an inner wall of the connecting portion. A flange extends from the elastic annular extension to thereby define an annular groove between the inner wall of the connecting portion, the annular extension, and the flange. The flange provides a close contact with an eye socket of a user. A plastic protective ring is received in the annular groove for preventing the flange from being contacted with a rigid portion of the pair of swimming goggles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Terry Chou
  • Patent number: 6055183
    Abstract: A method to erase data from a flash EEPROM while electrical charges trapped in the tunneling oxide of a flash EEPROM are eliminated to maintain proper separation of the programmed threshold voltage and the erased threshold voltage after extended programming and erasing cycles, while preventing damage due to high field stress in the tunneling oxide. The method to erase a flash EEPROM cell begins by applying a relatively high positive voltage pulse to the source of the EEPROM cell. Simultaneously a ground reference voltage is applied to the drain and to the semiconductor substrate. At the same time a relatively large negative voltage pulse is applied to the control gate. This will cause a parasitic bipolar transistor to conduct and go into a snap back condition reducing the voltage field in the tunneling oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chou Ho, Jian-Hsing Lee, Kuo-Reay Peng, Juang-Ke Yeh
  • Patent number: 6054205
    Abstract: The invention provides a glass fiber facing sheet for engineered surfaces such as cement boards which reduces the pitting associated with open mesh glass scrims. The glass fiber facing sheet comprises an open mesh glass scrim having a plurality of intersecting continuous multifilament yarns which are bonded at their crossover points to provide dimensional stability to the scrim. A melt blown polymer web is preferably joined to one face of the glass scrim and covers the mesh openings in the scrim. The opposed face of the scrim defines an exposed grid profile surface which is available for mechanical interaction between the scrim and the cementitious slurry used in cement boards. In cement boards, the glass fiber facing sheet of the present invention is preferably mechanically integrated into a surface portion of the cement core along the exposed grid profile of the scrim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Clark-Schwebel Tech-Fab Company
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Newman, Gordon L. Brown, Jr., R. Bruce Hinton, Andrew D. Broadway, Chia-Te Chou
  • Patent number: 6050832
    Abstract: An interposer structure permits a differential transverse displacement of contact pads on opposite sides of the interposer to reduce thermal stresses when the interposer is bonded to contact pads of a chip and a substrate with different thermal coefficients of expansion. The effective elasticity of the interposer between top and bottom contact pads of the interposer is facilitated by perforations which define flap-like regions. A flexible trace couples top contact pads to bottom contact pads through a via while permitting substantial transverse relative displacement of the top and bottom contact pads in flap-like regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Michael Guang-Tzong Lee, Solomon I. Beilin, Wen-chou Vincent Wang
  • Patent number: 6049484
    Abstract: A method to erase data from a flash EEPROM is disclosed. Electrical charges trapped in the tunneling oxide of a flash EEPROM are eliminated to maintain proper separation of the programmed threshold voltage and the erased threshold voltage after extended programming and erasing cycles. The method to erase a flash EEPROM cell begins by erasing the flash EEPROM cell by first applying a high positive voltage pulse to the source of the EEPROM cell. Simultaneously, a ground reference potential is applied to the semiconductor substrate and the control gate. At this same time the drain is floating. Floating the source and drain and applying the ground reference potential to the semiconductor substrate then detraps the flash EEPROM cell. At the same time, a relatively large negative voltage pulse is applied to the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jian-Hsing Lee, Kuo-Reay Peng, Juang-Ke Yeh, Ming-Chou Ho
  • Patent number: 6049615
    Abstract: The internal fan arrangement of an AHU is reconfigured by discharging directly from the scroll into a 90.degree. elbow. The bend of the elbow defines a converging section terminating in a throat which leads to a diverging section. Additionally, the ANC structure is located in the elbow with the noise sensing microphones being located at or near the fan outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Shau-Tak R. Chou, Mark A. Daniels, Duane C. McCormick
  • Patent number: 6048285
    Abstract: An improved bearing mechanism works in conjunction with the control rod of a vertical blind system or a roller shade system to provide superior bearing and load handling capability. A conical bore has a plurality of grooves into the surface of the conical bore. A series of cylindrical rollers are supported within the grooves, and against a central rotational member having a conical surface for bearing against the rollers. A set screw is used to control the seating of the central rotational member within the conical bore, is used to make up any tolerance created through the manufacturing process, and can be used to increase the tension necessary to hold a roller shade in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Tser-Wen Chou
  • Patent number: 6049728
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for noninvasively measuring blood glucose levels provides an indirect, reagentless, differential, photoacoustic technique which responds to absorption in a thin surface layer. An excitation source provides electromagnetic energy which is utilized to irradiate the tissue, such as skin. The output of the radiation of the excitation source at the desired wavelength is coupled through a transmission device, such as a fiber optic bundle, which irradiates the electromagnetic energy onto the body surface. Upon irradiation, acoustic energy is generated by the absorption of the electromagnetic energy in a relatively thin layer of the sample to be measured, characterized by a heat-diffusing length. The acoustic energy is detected by the probe which includes a measuring cell, reference cell, window and differential microphone. Absorption of the light beam results in periodic heating of the tissue, at and near the tissue surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Mau-Song Chou
  • Patent number: 6046729
    Abstract: A computer mouse having an improvement of Z axis device is disclosed. The computer mouse includes a roller ball. The Z axis device includes a spring member having a spiral portion, a first art portion and a second arm potion, a first positioning element for positioning the spiral portion of the spring member, a second positioning element for positioning the first arm portion of the spring member, a rotation member having a hole for allowing the second arm portion to be inserted therein, one surface of the rotation member is engaged with the roller ball, and a rotation member positioning element for sustaining the second arm portion for allowing the rotation member to be positioned on the rotation member positioning element. The objective of the present invention is to provide a simple ad low cost Z axis device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung-Chou Chung
  • Patent number: 6045686
    Abstract: A process for the delacquering and detinning of a metal substrate is presented comprising the fully electrochemical removal of both an outer polymeric coating and an inner tin coating from a metal substrate. The disclosed method provides a clean metal substrate, and results in wastes which are easily disposed of with minimal cost and minimal environmental impact. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a one-stage process for removing an outer polymeric coating and an inner tin coating from a metal substrate in a single electrolyte bath through electrolytic removal of both the polymeric and tin layers from the metal substrate. An electrically conductive container having the electrolyte bath therein acts as an anode in the process, and the removed tin is plated out on the cathode. In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a two-stage process for removing an outer polymeric coating and an inner tin coating from a metal substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: The University of Connecticut
    Inventors: James M. Fenton, John E. Dresty, Jr., Richard Bodensteiner, Chunzhi He, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Jung-Chou Lin, Antonio J. Aldykiewicz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6042339
    Abstract: A ceiling fan assembly and method for assembling same in which a fan blade is placed over an arm having a post that extends in an opening in the blade. A fastener is attached to the post to secure the blade to the arm, and a flange on the arm is inserted in a slot in the rotor of the fan motor to retain the arm, and therefore, the blade, relative to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Aloha Housewares Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Frank Blateri, Wang Liang Chou
  • Patent number: 6043518
    Abstract: Disclosed in this invention is a new four-terminal type and multiple delta-doped transistors with multiple functions grown by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (LP-MOCVD). All the epilayers are grown on n.sup.+ -GaAs substrates. The real-space transfer transistors (RST), the collector is located under the substrate, reveal very strong negative differential resistance phenomena. The RST structure using an InGaAs channel manifests superior characteristics of a very high peak-to-valley current ratio up to 430,000 at room temperature, a peak current as high as 100 mA, very sharp charge injection, and a valley current as broad as 5.5V. Meanwhile, high performance heterostructure field effect transistors can be implemented on the same wafer by further evaporating a gate between source and drain electrodes. In order to significantly reduce leakage current, an ohmic recession is made at the source and drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: National Science Council
    Inventors: Wei-Chou Hsu, Chang-Luen Wu
  • Patent number: 6043225
    Abstract: Method of diagnosing arterial chlamydial granuloma by detecting in a biological sample both a first marker associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae and a second marker associated with arterial granuloma. Therapeutic composition for treating arterial chlamydial granulomatous disease, including an anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae agent and a granuloma inhibitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignees: Board of Regents of the University of Washington, Allan Shor
    Inventors: Allan Shor, Cho-chou Kuo
  • Patent number: 6042398
    Abstract: An electrical connector including a pair of grounding plate on two opposite sides thereof and a pair of brackets on two opposite ends thereof. The grounding plates each have a number of hooks on one end thereof in contact with corresponding grounding contacts and have a number of engaging fingers on an opposite end thereof. The grounding plates are further in contact with the brackets which are grounded to a circuit board on which the electrical connector is mounted. A connector assembly is also disclosed in which the grounding plates on one connector positively contact the grounding plates on the other connector to ensure a proper contacting engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chuan Wu, Kevin Chou
  • Patent number: 6039889
    Abstract: Processes for forming conductive vias between circuit elements formed on either side of a flexible substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, the inventive process starts with a flexible film polyimide substrate on each side of which is arranged a layer of copper. Both of the copper surfaces are coated with photoresist. Blind vias are then drilled through the top copper layer and substrate using a laser. The photoresist is then exposed (patterned). A plating operation is used to fill the vias with a conductive material. The resist is then developed and the line and pad structures on the surface of the copper layer are plated. The photoresist is then stripped. In a variation of this embodiment, the photoresist is imaged prior to drilling of the vias using a laser. In an alternative embodiment of the inventive process, a through hole is drilled instead of a blind via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, William Chou, Michael G. Peters, Solomon I. Beilin
  • Patent number: 6039478
    Abstract: An ergonomical keyboard assembly includes an upper cover, a lower base plate connected to the cover, and a unitary keyboard. The upper cover includes a hollow frame that confines an opening. The keyboard has a substrate mounted on the base plate below the cover, and a plurality of keys which are mounted on the substrate and which have key caps projecting upward and outward from the cover through the opening. The substrate has a top face which is arched and which protrudes upward. The key caps form an arched overall key surface that projects upward and outward through the opening and that is arched from two ends to an intermediate portion of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Shin Jiuh Corp.
    Inventor: Chin-Wen Chou
  • Patent number: 6040540
    Abstract: The inventive keyswitch comprises a base plate, a conductive membrane, an elastic member, a key support mechanism and a key wherein the first support lever and the second lever of the key support mechanism are of the same structure and pivotably joined in a scissors-form. The molding die can be simplified, the assembling efficiency can be enhanced and the cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching Cheng Tsai, Wen To Chou
  • Patent number: 6040559
    Abstract: An electric heat pen includes a pen base adapted for holding in the hand, a pen head fixedly mounted on one end of the pen base and holding a hot plate on the outside, two plate conductors and an electric heating element between the plate conductors on the inside, and a switch controlled to connect electric power supply to the electric heating element through the plate conductors, causing the electric heating element to produce heat for heating the hot plate for gold-blocking or heat sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Welcome Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ammy Chou
  • Patent number: 6039565
    Abstract: A combined laser and ultrasonic device includes a combination laser and ultrasonic source, a control console and a combined laser and ultrasonic delivery handpiece. The system has three modes of operation: 1) laser energy only, 2) ultrasonic energy only and 3) combined laser and ultrasonic energy. All three modes of operation are controlled by a single foot-operated activation switch, which will operate the laser source, the ultrasonic source or both, depending on which mode the device is operating in according to a mode switch on the control console. The combined laser and ultrasonic delivery handpiece includes an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic vibrating tip, which is mounted in close proximity to a laser delivery wave guide, such as a flexible optical fiber. The combined laser and ultrasonic device can be used to perform a variety of surgical procedures, including an improved method of a laser excisional new attachment procedure (Laser E.N.A.P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventors: Marilyn M. Chou, Herrick Tam, King J. J. Yu, Ken T. Yu
  • Patent number: D422750
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Chi-Hsiung Chou