Patents by Inventor Thomas To

Thomas To 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).

  • Publication number: 20120023745
    Abstract: Methods are provided for automatically crimping terminals or connectors to wires wherein the terminals or connectors are provided in strip form and may be of varying sizes, shapes, and pitches. A method according to the present invention includes providing a plurality of terminal connectors, the connectors being secured to a terminal strip in side-by-side relationship with their axes extending laterally from the strip; moving a crimping die on a ram through a working stroke towards, and a return stroke away from, a crimping anvil to crimp an individual terminal connector located therebetween onto a wire during each working stroke of the ram; and indexing the strip between successive crimping operations thereby to locate a next leading connector on the strip between the die and anvil, wherein the strip is indexed by a drive mechanism contacting the strip through pressure-engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: CTI INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Wesley Thomas Garner, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120023895
    Abstract: A combustor for a combustion turbine engine, the combustor that includes: a chamber defined by an outer wall and forming a channel between windows defined through the outer wall toward a forward end of the chamber and at least one fuel injector positioned toward an aft end of the chamber; a screen; and a standoff comprising a raised area on an outer surface of the outer wall near the periphery of the windows; wherein the screen extends over the windows and is supported by the standoff in a raised position in relation to the outer surface of the outer wall and the windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Baifang Zuo, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8106513
    Abstract: A copper corrosion resistant integrated circuit. The integrated circuit including: a substrate; a copper diffusion barrier layer on the substrate; a dielectric layer on a top surface of the copper diffusion barrier layer; a copper damascene or dual damascene wire in the dielectric layer, a top surface of the copper damascene or dual damascene wire coplanar with a top surface of the dielectric layer; a first capping layer on the top surface of the wire and the top surface of the dielectric layer; and a second capping layer on a top surface of the first capping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, William Hill, Kenneth E. McAvey, Jr., Thomas L. McDevitt, Anthony K. Stamper, Arthur C. Winslow, Robert Zwonik
  • Patent number: 8105136
    Abstract: Computer program products for an apparatus with an automated derucker operatively associated with a netting chute whereby the derucker is configured to automatically travel through a derucker stroke cycle comprising upstream and downstream locations to pull segments of netting material toward a downstream end portion of the netting chute while product is pumped out of the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Wince, Thomas E. Whittlesey, Kim L. Poling, William M. Poteat
  • Patent number: 8106220
    Abstract: A process is described for preparing phthalic anhydride by catalytic gas phase oxidation of o-xylene, in which a gaseous mixture of o-xylene and an oxygenous gas is converted in a main reactor to a gaseous intermediate reaction product which comprises unconverted o-xylene, phthalic anhydride underoxidation products and phthalic anhydride, the heat of reaction which arises in the main reactor being removed at least partly by indirect cooling with a heat carrier medium, and the intermediate reaction product being introduced into a postreactor. The concentration of unconverted o-xylene in the intermediate reaction product is at least 1% by weight, and the sum of the concentrations of phthalic anhydride underoxidation products in the intermediate reaction product is at least 0.5% by weight. The process allows an increase in the overall yield of phthalic anhydride without or without significant deterioration in the product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Thomas Mackewitz, Frank Rosowski, Andreas Tenten
  • Patent number: 8108107
    Abstract: A safety system for vehicle occupants having a device for determining the position of the vehicle occupant. A status monitor to which the output signals of sensors are conveyed is provided for determining the position of the vehicle occupant, the sensors detecting the acceleration of the vehicle and the weight of the vehicle occupant. A method for controlling a safety system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Köhler, Reiner Marchthaler, Thomas Lich, Frank Mack
  • Patent number: 8105281
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a medicament container, an actuator, and a biasing member. The actuator is configured to move the medicament container within the housing when the actuator is moved from a first configuration to a second configuration. The actuator includes a gas container and a puncturer. When the actuator is in the first configuration, a portion of the puncturer is disposed apart from the gas container. When the actuator is in the second configuration, the portion of the puncturer is disposed within the gas container. The gas container has a longitudinal axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the medicament container. The biasing member is configured to bias the actuator toward the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Intelliject, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Shawn Edwards, Evan Thomas Edwards
  • Patent number: 8106526
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a turbine to generate mechanical energy from kinetic energy, a generator coupled to the turbine to receive the mechanical energy and to output multiple isolated supply powers, and multiple power stages each coupled to the generator. Each of the power stages may receive at least one of the isolated supply powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company
    Inventors: Mehdi Abolhassani, Thomas Keister, Haran Karmaker, Ryan Edwards, Enrique Ledezma, Alex Skorcz
  • Patent number: 8105874
    Abstract: A memory circuit arrangement and fabrication method thereof are presented in which the parts of the memory circuit arrangement are situated on two different substrates. An integrated memory cell array is situated on one substrate. An integrated control circuit that controls access to the memory cells is situated on the other (logic circuit) substrate. The control circuit controls sequences when reading, writing or erasing content of a memory cell. The logic circuit substrate also contains a CPU and encryption coprocessor. The memory circuit contains a sense amplifier, with the aid of which the memory state of a memory cell can be determined, and a decoding circuit that selects a word or bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gruber, Ronald Kakoschke, Thomas Schweizer, Dominik Wegertseder
  • Patent number: 8104621
    Abstract: Process for classifying a particulate water-absorbing resin using a sieving apparatus at a reduced pressure compared with the ambient pressure and a sieving apparatus for classifying a particulate water-absorbing resin at a reduced pressure compared with the ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Thomas Daniel, Uwe Stueven
  • Patent number: 8106586
    Abstract: An AC or DC PDP containing a fluorescent conversion material (FCM) that produces IR when excited by a gas discharge. In one embodiment, the fluorescent conversion material is rare earth doped chalcogenide. The PDP may comprise a multiplicity of plasma-sells or plasma-tubes on a substrate, each plasma-shell or plasma-tube containing FCM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Imaging Systems Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Carol Ann Wedding, Oliver M. Strbik, III, Edwin F. Peters, Thomas J. Pavliscak
  • Patent number: 8107177
    Abstract: Impedance compensation features are used along the transmission-line path between a transmitter/driver/source and the receiver/transducer to compensate for the impedance discontinuities or mismatches (for example, those caused by physical interconnection features) and/or to improve the frequency response of the signal transfer along the transmission line. The impedance compensation features are non-uniformities with impedance characteristics selected to compensate for the target impedance discontinuities. The compensation features can be non-uniformities (geometric structures designed to have specific impedance characteristics) in the electrically conductive traces that are integrated in the interconnect transmission line between the transmitter/driver/source and the receiver/transducer. The effective impedance level of the transmission line can be lowered or raised using the compensation features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: John Thomas Contreras, Luiz Franca-Neto
  • Patent number: 8104789
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat structure, a cover, a back panel, and a package plate. The back panel has a lateral wall that covers a receiving space in which a side airbag module is arranged. The package plate is arranged between the lateral wall and the side airbag module. The package plate has a back end that engages the seat structure and a front end disposed opposite the back end that is located within the receiving space. An airbag of the side airbag module is configured to deploy between the front end and the cover and between the cover and a free end of the lateral wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Tracht, Rainer Penzel, Thomas Klisch, Sebastian Geithner, Wolfgang Hermann
  • Patent number: 8107412
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus' for operating a communication system between an aircraft and a communication center are provided. One method includes using an aircraft communication addressing and reporting system (ACARS) of an aircraft to control a gatelink communication system of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. McGuffin
  • Patent number: 8105357
    Abstract: An intervertebral process brace is disclosed and can include a frame that can support a first vertebral process and a second vertebral process. The intervertebral process brace can also include a first vertebral process support strap that can span a first portion of the frame. The first vertebral process support strap can engage the first vertebral process and bind the first vertebral process between the first vertebral process support strap and the first portion of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Aurelien Bruneau, Kent M. Anderson, Roy Lim, Eric C. Lange, Thomas Carls, Hai H. Trieu
  • Patent number: 8108321
    Abstract: A computer-based system and method for shipping and delivering a parcel, including reserving a terminal for a parcel; placing the parcel in the terminal, the parcel having a virtual delivery address of a recipient; picking up the parcel by a carrier; converting, through a central computer system, the virtual address into a postal address; delivering the parcel to a destination terminal drop-box corresponding to the postal address; notifying the recipient of the delivery of the parcel; and unlocking the drop-box only upon verifying the recipient's identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Urbissimo, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Neal, Filippo Beretta, Jorge Calzada, Tito Costa
  • Patent number: 8107513
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a detection unit includes a sequence providing unit to provide a third group of derived sequences. The sequence providing unit has a counting unit and multiplexers connected to the counting unit. Fixed values are applied at the inputs of the multiplexers and the sequence providing unit provides the derived sequences of the third group at the outputs of the multiplexers. The third group for each first pseudo noise (PN) sequence has a derived sequence assigned to the first PN sequence. The detection unit includes a correlation unit, which is connected to the sequence providing unit and formed to calculate correlation results by correlating the differentially demodulated signal with each derived sequence of the third group. The detection unit includes an evaluation unit, which is connected to the correlation unit and is formed to derive the values of the data symbols by evaluating the correlation results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Poegel, Tilo Ferchland, Thomas Hanusch
  • Patent number: 8105921
    Abstract: The invention provides semiconductor materials including a gallium nitride material layer formed on a silicon substrate and methods to form the semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials include a transition layer formed between the silicon substrate and the gallium nitride material layer. The transition layer is compositionally-graded to lower stresses in the gallium nitride material layer which can result from differences in thermal expansion rates between the gallium nitride material and the substrate. The lowering of stresses in the gallium nitride material layer reduces the tendency of cracks to form. Thus, the invention enables the production of semiconductor materials including gallium nitride material layers having few or no cracks. The semiconductor materials may be used in a number of microelectronic and optical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, Jr., Edwin Lanier Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Patent number: D653144
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: TVK Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas V. Kazyaka
  • Patent number: D653341
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Nicholas Braido, Thomas Mark Benson