Patents by Inventor William J. Nicolay

William J. Nicolay 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: 4563636
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method is provided for verifying electrical coupling between a first contact point of an electrical device on a circuit board and a first connection pin, on a board tester. Within the tester, a JK flip-flop is electrically coupled to the first connection pin through an amplifier. A Q output of the JK flip-flop is initialized to a logic 0. An electrical probe with an electrical voltage is stroked across the first contact point and any other contact points on the circuit. If the first contact point is electrically coupled to the first connection pin, a logic 1 will be held on the Q output of the JK flip-flop. If there is no electrical coupling, then a logic 0 will be held on the Q output. By reinitializing the JK flip-flop and electrically coupling it to another connection pin, electrical coupling between another contact point and another connection pin may be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Matthew L. Snook, John E. McDermid, William J. Nicolay
  • Patent number: 4263736
    Abstract: A modular display system having a plurality of display modules, a plurality of display signs, a plurality of insertable digit panels, a plurality of insertable spacer panels, and one or a plurality of insertable colon panels. The display system is mounted to a wall and can be reconfigured as different predetermined configurations both as to the number of signs and modules. Each module can be changed to a variety of predetermined configurations. A thumbwheel switch is provided on each module so that with each different configuration, a different setting is entered on the thumbwheel switch thereby reconfiguring control information to display the data properly on each module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Colorado Time Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Beierwaltes, Donald P. Aupperle, William J. Nicolay