Patents Issued in April 15, 2003
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Patent number: 6547419Abstract: Disclosed herein of formation and use of decorative articles utilizing a natural wooden veneer which is back lit and thereby highlighted by a light source which brings out the beauty of the natural grain of the wooden which utilized to form a thin wooden veneer. A variety of natural wooden veneers may be utilized including oak, cherry, maple, walnut, and birch. Alternatively, a synthetic thin wooden veneer may be utilized in the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Inventor: David M. Brackman
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Patent number: 6547420Abstract: An illuminating computer input device includes a base, a housing and a light source mounted inside the housing, wherein the housing is transparent or translucent. An covering layer is applied on an outer surface or an inner surface of the housing. A patterned-window is further formed in the covering layer by removing a portion of the covering layer from the housing. By such arrangement, light generated by the light source is able to transmit out of the housing via the patterned-window so as to create an illuminating effect.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Key Systems Corp.Inventor: Zu-Nan Li
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Patent number: 6547421Abstract: A video display apparatus which exhibits high utilization efficiency of a luminous flux from a light source and can provide a uniform video. The video display apparatus includes a light source unit including a plurality of coupling optical elements for converting light emitted from a plurality of light sources into a substantially parallel luminous flux and operable to condense light having passed through the coupling optical elements at a predetermined position, an optical integrator for equalizing the intensity distribution of the condensed light, and a light valve.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Yasuyuki Sugano
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Patent number: 6547422Abstract: An illuminating module includes a first reflector having a curved first reflector surface, a reflector opening and a first focal point, and a light source disposed in the first reflector at the first focal point. A second reflector is mounted on a surrounding edge of the first reflector to configure the opening with shielded and unshielded portions, and has a second reflector surface facing the first reflector surface. A portion of the light rays from the light source which radiates toward the first reflector and which is reflected thereby toward the shielded portion is reflected by the second reflector surface back to the light source so as to be able to combine with the light rays that are reflected by the first reflector for passage through the unshielded portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Prokia Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kuo-Tung Tiao, Fu-Ming Chuang
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Patent number: 6547423Abstract: An LED module that includes an LED (light-emitting diode) and a rotationally symmetrical, bowl-shaped collimator lens is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Koninklijke Phillips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Thomas Marshall, Michael Pashley
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Patent number: 6547424Abstract: A front lamp steering controlled light distribution system is disclosed having a light distribution means movable to vary a light distribution pattern to right and left maximum limit positions in cornering areas of a vehicle, and a control means responsive to a turned on state of a head lamp switch for actuating the light distribution means to cause the light distribution pattern to be varied according to a steering direction signal, indicative of an incremental steering angle of a steering wheel, in the absence of a vehicle speed signal, indicative of a vehicle speed less than a given value, and operative to drive the light distribution means to cause the light distribution pattern to be fixedly directed to the maximum limit position in response to an indicator direction signal, output from a blinker condition detection means (14), in the presence of the vehicle speed signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hirofumi Hasumi, Takayuki Furuya
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Patent number: 6547425Abstract: The present invention changes the headlight optical axis of a vehicle in relation to an inclination angle during normal control and to properly adjust the optical axis according to information including front information about a car ahead. The headlight optical axis is adjusted based on the inclination angle of a vehicle, road information in the direction of travel, presence of a car ahead, a distance between vehicles, and the center optical axis angle corrected according to changes in horizontal and vertical behavior of the car ahead.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Kenichi Nishimura
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Patent number: 6547426Abstract: Vent holes are provided in a case for holding a bulb and a reflector for the bulb. The vent holes are covered with moisture permeation preventive watertight sheets, respectively. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent permeation of water from outside into a lamp, and ensures ventilation of the inside of the lamp.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Katsumi Ebara
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Patent number: 6547427Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting system for a motor vehicle, said lighting system comprising a frame (20) suitable for supporting at least one lighting lamp (4, 5), a housing containing the frame and its lamp, and a structural piece (3) of the vehicle, which piece is suitable internally for supporting parts of the vehicle, and externally for supporting elements of the bodywork of the vehicle. The housing is an integral part of the structural piece (3), which, for this purpose, is provided with a bowl-shaped recess that can receive the frame and its lamp directly.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Compagnie Plastic OmniumInventors: Hugues Cheron, Arnold Fayt, Fabien Delwal
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Patent number: 6547428Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle has a light source which illuminates the end of a light pipe. The light pipe has a number of transparent blades defining a plurality of oblique reflection facets cooperating with lenses. The transparent blades are bonded together at discrete points. Preferably, the bonding is accomplished with dots of glue, where each dot of glue has a diameter of between approximately 3 and 5 mm.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Valeo VisionInventor: Hugo Delattre
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Patent number: 6547429Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly comprising a reflector, with three (3) mounting bosses arranged in a triangular fashion on the rear side thereof, a light source and a housing. Three (3) pivot sockets are fixedly attached to each mounting boss, respectively. The vehicle lamp assembly also comprises two (2) ball pivot adjusting screws that are movably secured within two (2) of the three (3) pivot sockets, and an actuator ball pivot that is movably secured within the third pivot socket. An actuator is fixedly attached at one end to the housing and attached at the other end to the actuator ball pivot in a manner that permits linear motion of the actuator. The invention further comprises a vertical adjuster plate and a reflector plate. Movement of the actuator causes the reflector to adjust in both the horizontal and vertical directions, thus allowing the vehicle lamp assembly to produce both low beam and high beam lighting functionality.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Guide CorporationInventors: Paul D. Vanduyn, Tony E. Collins
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Patent number: 6547430Abstract: A lighting or signaling device for a vehicle comprises a casing (2), glazing (8) and an intermediate piece (6) linking the glazing to the casing. It further includes a screen (112) extending forwards from an upper region of the casing towards the glazing.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Valeo VisionInventor: Franck Dinant
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Patent number: 6547431Abstract: A mixing section for a feed screw includes a body portion defined along a longitudinal axis. The mixing section further includes a primary flight defining a helical channel, wherein the primary flight is helically wound in a first direction about the longitudinal axis. The primary flight forms a first acute angle with respect to a first plane including the longitudinal axis and defines a cross channel to allow fluid communication between adjacent portions of the helical channel. The cross channel is defined along a second plane such that the second plane forms a second acute angle with respect to the first plane. The first and second acute angles are located in the same quadrant and the second angle is less than the first angle.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Milacron Inc.Inventor: Timothy W. Womer
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Patent number: 6547432Abstract: A bone cement mixing and delivery assembly is disclosed for mixing a powdered copolymer and a liquid monomer to form a bone cement and delivering the bone cement. The assembly includes a cartridge having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a mixing chamber between the distal end and the proximal end. A transfer mechanism having a cap and a stem supporting a piston and a plunger is connected to the distal end. The transfer mechanism includes a first advancement mechanism for advancing the piston and plunger in unison and a second advancement mechanism for moving the plunger independent of the piston. The assembly further includes a removable handle having a shaft for attachment of a mixing blade and a quick-release connector and a release button for locking and unlocking the mixing blade from the removable handle.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Stryker InstrumentsInventors: Jared P. Coffeen, Richard F. Huyser, Christopher M. Tague, Weston Pernsteiner, Dennis A. Stratton
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Patent number: 6547433Abstract: An air mixer for an air distribution system for a building including a set of fixed, parallel partitions arranged in a spaced-apart manner with one above another, these partitions forming alternating primary and secondary air passageways that are capable of conveying first and second air flows respectively. These passageways are substantially open ended at both inlet and outlet ends thereof. The primary air passageways extend from a first side of the mixer to a third, outlet side while the secondary air passageways extend at a substantial angle to the primary passageways from a second side to the third outlet side. There are fixed mixing devices, preferably in the form of curved vanes, arranged at many of the outlet ends of the passageways. The preferred air mixer has a substantially triangular shape in plan view.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: M & I Heat Transfer Products, Ltd.Inventors: Muammer Yazici, Ming Hui Han
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Patent number: 6547434Abstract: A timing device for use in athletic workouts which measures the passage of short intervals of time such as the recovery periods between successive sets of exercise is disclosed. The present timing device is contained in a housing which may be worn on an elastic band about a user's thumb and actuated by a single finger on the same hand. In one embodiment the timing device includes a sliding interval selector switch that enables the user to select preset time intervals of fifteen, thirty, forty-five, and sixty seconds. The interval selector switch actuates a count-down timer which transmits a signal to a miniature speaker to produce an audible alarm, or in the alternative, to a vibratory device advantageous to visually or hearing impaired users. In an alternative embodiment the timing device includes a microprocessor having memory and computing functions which permit desired time intervals to be programmed by the user.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1999Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Inventor: Eric DeRosa
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Patent number: 6547435Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring, also permanently and automatically, temperature distributions and/or temperature anomalies on the basis of distributed fiber-optic temperature sensing as well as to the use of such methods. According to the invention the detection of local temperature extremes, i.e. minimums or maximums, in view of the evaluation is performed by an evaluation without numeric derivations. With the device for monitoring ascending and supply pipes surrounded by an annular space it is possible to check the safety of pressurized installations, particularly in the field of low-pressure gas storage, in a cost-efficient manner. Moreover, the position of an underground watershed or respectively the direction and flow rate of the flows in flooded drift sections can be determined on the basis of fiber-optic temperature measurements.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: GESO Gesellschaft fĂĽr Sensorik, Geotechnischen Umweltschutz und Mathematische Modellierung mbH JenaInventors: Stephan Grosswig, Katrin KĂĽhn
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Patent number: 6547436Abstract: A carry bag includes a closable, free-standing pouch including a central storage area; a closure mechanism in the top face of the pouch; a cover including an open cover compartment for closely accommodating the pouch, the cover compartment including two compartment ends opposite each other, and at least two magnetic fasteners secured to a face of the pouch and to the cover compartment; wherein the pouch is removably insertable in one or more different covers; and wherein the cover includes one or two carry straps, one or two bottom straps, each bottom strap being attachable to or contiguous with a carry strap, and at least one tier which is perpendicular to and intersects at least one of the carry straps; and wherein the pouch is supportable by the bottom straps and the tiers.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2002Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Inventor: Alice B. Sutton
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Patent number: 6547437Abstract: In a curvilinear motion guide unit in which sliders are allowed to move along a track rail extending curved with a preselected curvature, this unit makes the slider reduced in size with well balance. An end cap may be made common in specification to a variety of sliders, which are modified in specification depending on diverse variations in curvature of track rail. To this end, a casing for the slider has forward and aft end faces that are arranged, regardless of the variations in length of the casing, such that imaginary planes including the end faces and normal to a top surface of the track rail coincide with radial planes extending through the center of curvature of the track rail. The return passages are opened on the forward and aft end faces at locations that are closer to the centroidal axis of the track rail than the loaded raceways. Moreover, the return passages are linear bores that run straight through the casing.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiko Kamimura, Norimasa Agari, Toyohisa Ishihara
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Patent number: 6547438Abstract: A hydraulic bearing device that supports a rotating shaft comprises a bearing metal. On a surface of the bearing metal, a hydrostatic pocket and a land portion are formed. The land portion is defined by the hydrostatic pocket and generates hydrodynamic pressure. The hydraulic bearing device further comprises a pressure fluid supplying source and an oil-supplying hole. The oil-supplying hole is opened in the hydrostatic pocket and provides pressure fluid from the pressure fluid supplying source to the hydrostatic pocket. On the land portion, a drain hole that drains the fluid is formed. Since the fluid is drained through the drain hole, thermal expansion of the bearing metal due to heat generation of the fluid is restrained. Moreover, since the drain hole does not separate the land portion, deterioration of bearing rigidity is restrained.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshihiko Shima
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Patent number: 6547439Abstract: A bearing device is provided with an oil storage space. The oil storage space is an oil storage space that is formed in the bearing device, so that the lubricating oil stored in the oil storage space may gradually leak outward through the capillary pores of the bearing device, thereby slowing down the release velocity of the lubricating oil, and thereby increasing the lifetime of the bearing device.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Yen Sun Technology Corp.Inventor: Chien-Jung Chen
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Patent number: 6547440Abstract: The cab is supported at the front by elastic bearings mounted on bearing axles in alignment with each other and supported by at least two brackets attached to the vehicle frame. The elastic bearings are mounted in bearing shells attached to the floor of the cab. Each elastic bearing includes a rubber bearing with a plain bearing coaxial to it. An arresting device between the plain bearing and the elastic bearing presents relative rotation until a threshold torsional load is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Mannesmann Boge GmbHInventors: Martin Testroet, Ralf Steinhöfer
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Patent number: 6547441Abstract: A cam mechanism incorporating a highly precise bearing structure that improves the dynamic stability of the cam mechanism's rotating output component. Relevant structures consist of a worm gear driven rotating shaft driving a rotating output shaft supported by a cross roller bearing assembly incorporating V-shaped inner and outer bearing races that sandwich and ride over a set of rollers. Of particular note is that the outer or inner bearing race may be formed as a groove machined directly into the circumferential surface of the output shaft. Because the outer bearing race is a ring-shaped structure that concentrically surrounds the rotating output shaft, the output shaft and bearing races can be machined simultaneously as a single workpiece to assure a high degree of concentricity between the shaft and bearing races.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Sankyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Heizaburo Kato
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Patent number: 6547442Abstract: A structure of at least a stationary-side race of a bearing is transformed into a lower bainite structure through an isothermal transformation treatment. Furthermore, the adjustment is made for hardness to HRC=54 to 64, an amount of residual austenite to not more than 5% and an area percentage of 0.8 &mgr;m or longer carbide to not more than 20% based on the total area of secondary carbide. Thus is prevented the occurrence of a white layer in the rolling bearing.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiharu Watanabe, Hajime Tazumi
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Patent number: 6547443Abstract: A tapered roller bearing comprises inner and outer and outer rings having raceways, a large flange surface and a small flange surface, tapered rollers between the raceways and each having large and small end faces at the ends, and a retainer for the tapered rollers. The average roughness of the large end faces and the large flange surface is 0.14 &mgr;m Ra or less. The radius of curvature of the large end faces is 75 to 85% of the roller reference radius, and the central angle of the contact positions between the tapered rollers and the large flange surface is {fraction (1/15)} to {fraction (1/10)} of the roller angle. The center of the contact surface between the tapered rollers and the raceways is offset toward the large end faces from the center of the rolling surfaces of the tapered rollers by 10% or less of the effective length of the tapered rollers.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: NTN CorporationInventors: Kimihiro Hanai, Takashi Tsujimoto, Tsukasa Yamakawa, Yasuhiro Shimizu, Shiro Ishikawa
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Patent number: 6547444Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for controlling access to an optical interface using film having windowed sections and non-windowed sections. The windowed and non-windowed sections are selectively positioned over an optical interface location that holds the optical interface in order to protect the optical interface. Preferably, such positioning occurs in an automated manner such that a technician need not perform an extensive cleaning step each time fiber optic equipment requires handling, e.g., each time a fiber optic connector of a fiber optic component is unplugged and re-plugged. In one arrangement, an optical connector housing holds the optical interface in an optical interface location of the optical connector housing, and a film positioning assembly selectively positions windowed and non-windowed sections of film over the optical interface location in order to selectively expose and protect the optical interface.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Teradyne, Inc.Inventor: Sepehr Kiani
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Patent number: 6547445Abstract: A fiber optic backplane has a casing portion and multiple fiber optic ribbons that extend from the same location of the casing portion. Such a backplane is well-suited for high density connections and can operate without significant light energy loss. One arrangement includes multiple optical fibers, a casing and a set of ribbon coatings. The casing holds casing portions of the optical fibers. The set of ribbon coatings holds ribbon portions of the optical fibers in rows to form multiple optical fiber ribbons. Each ribbon coating of the set of ribbon coatings attaches to the casing at a same location of the casing such that the optical fiber ribbons extend from the same location of the casing. The multiple optical fiber ribbons which extend from the same casing location enable higher optical fiber densities than conventional fiber optic backplanes which only have parallel ribbon portions extending from different locations (e.g., centimeters apart) of a central backplane portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Teradyne, Inc.Inventor: Sepehr Kiani
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Patent number: 6547446Abstract: A hybrid connector is provided, by which the optical loss can be reduced. In the hybrid connector, a housing is provided integrally with receiving cylinders for holding sleeves. An end of the receiving cylinders, into which the corresponding sleeve is inserted, is provided with an engaging part, with which a shield case engages. The case has a spring property so that each optical element module received in the case can be pressed against the corresponding receiving cylinder and/or the corresponding sleeve when the case engages with the engaging parts.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventor: Noboru Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 6547447Abstract: Automated manufacturing in the fiber optics industry has introduced a series of new problems due to the small size of the parts being assembled and the precise optical alignments required. However, processes requiring the manual assembly of parts using glue are slowly being replaced by automated processes involving the laser welding of metallically encased optical parts. Unfortunately, almost every step in the process causes a small degree of misalignment, which may cause the device to fall below transmission standards. The present invention provides a method of assembling an optical device which includes special steps that involve re-aligning the elements in the optical device after other steps in the method have caused a misalignment. In particular, the method of the present invention includes testing the alignment of the optical elements at several stages throughout the assembly process, and applying addition asymmetric welds to the finished product to improve the transmission results.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2002Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: JDS Uniphase Inc.Inventors: Henry J. Lake, William Thomas Moore, Robert Langer, Wendy Cipera, Abdul Jaleel J. Moidu
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Patent number: 6547448Abstract: An embeddable fiber optic connector includes a small diameter protective sheath embedded within a plurality of composite layers of a composite structure. The sheath has a first end that is flush with a surface of the composite structure. An alignment sleeve is disposed within the sheath and an internal ferrule, mounted on an internal optical fiber, is snugly disposed within the alignment sleeve proximate a second end of the sheath. An external ferrule is mounted on an external optical fiber and is inserted into the first end of the sheath so as to be snugly disposed within the alignment sleeve proximate the internal ferrule, thereby establishing optical communications between the internal and external optical fibers. The external optical fiber is easily disconnected by gripping and removing the external ferrule from the connector. Reconnection is accomplished by reinserting the external ferrule into the connector.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Patrick S. Johnson, Dennis G. Koshinz
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Patent number: 6547449Abstract: A preassembled multifiber connector is provided that includes a connector housing and a windowless multifiber ferrule that is substantially rectangular in lateral cross-section. The windowless multifiber ferrule can be at least partially disposed within an internal cavity defined by the connector housing to thereby form a multifiber connector that is free of optical fibers. Thus, the multifiber connector is capable of being preassembled prior to inserting the plurality of optical fibers into the optical fiber bores defined by the windowless multifiber ferrule. A corresponding method of preassembling a multifiber connector is therefore also provided according to the present invention. A ferrule is also provided that is capable of being selectively converted from a windowless configuration to a windowed configuration. The ferrule of this embodiment includes a ferrule body that not only defines at least one optical fiber bore, but that also defines a well extending through a side surface of the ferrule body.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1999Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLCInventors: David L. Dean, Jr., James P. Luther, Joel C. Rosson, Markus A. Giebel, Karl M. Wagner, Thomas Theuerkorn, Dennis M. Knecht
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Patent number: 6547450Abstract: A dust cap 100 for an optical connector 200 protects an optical fiber 21 from abrasion, dust and debris. The dust cap is a box-like housing having front and back ends and side walls that define a cavity 13. The back end 12 has an opening into the cavity that is shaped to receive the optical connector, and a retaining feature 14 is molded into the cavity for interlocking with a mating feature 24 on the optical connector so that the dust cap will not become detached from the connector during vigorous handling. The optical fiber is generally supported within the connector by a ferrule 22, and the dust cap includes a tubular member 15 that is shaped to receive and enclose a front portion of the ferrule for improved protection. The distal end 16 of the tubular member is closed and projects outwardly from the front end 11 of the dust cap. The proximal end 17 of the tubular member projects inwardly and has an opening that is shaped to receive the ferrule.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.Inventor: Norman R Lampert
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Patent number: 6547451Abstract: An optical communications Module for use in an optical transfer system for bidirectionally transferring a light signal through an optical fiber, the optical communications module having a light signal transmission capability, wherein the optical communications module includes: a semiconductor laser; an optical fiber coupled to a front facet of the semiconductor laser; a light splitting element for splitting light which is emitted from the front facet of the semiconductor laser and propagated within the optical fiber; and, an output-monitoring photodiode for receiving a portion of the light which has been split by the light splitting element as monitoring light, and generating a photocurrent based on the monitoring light, the photocurrent being used for controlling optical output of the semiconductor laser.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1999Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tohru Nishikawa, Tomoaki Uno, Masahiro Mitsuda, Yasuhiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 6547452Abstract: Alignment systems for optoelectronic modules with overmolded chip carriers include drilled or milled substrate corners for engaging dowel pins to precisely align the substrate in a mold for molding an overmold frame on the substrate. The overmold frame includes slot and trilobe holes for receiving retainer posts to precisely align a retainer assembly on the overmold frame. Cooperating standoff pads on the overmold frame and on the retainer assembly stabilize the assembly of these components and provide a precise gap for receiving an adhesive to permanently attach these two components. The retainer assembly carries optoelectronic components that include a flexible circuit, and a distal end portion of this flexible circuit and walls of a receiving cavity in the overmold frame have cooperating features for precisely aligning distal electrical leads of the flexible circuit with an array of electrical pads on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Benson Chan, Paul F. Fortier, Francois M. Guindon, Glen W. Johnson, Martial A. Letourneau, John H. Sherman, Real Tetreault
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Patent number: 6547453Abstract: A system detects potentially dangerous conditions, prevents damage to optical components, and prevents humans from being physically harmed by stray pumping light. Optical systems employing distributed amplification such as Raman amplification utilize pumps having high output powers. These high output powers create dangerously high power densities in the optical fiber. If a connection is imperfect a hot spot may develop and the connection damaged by the pumping light. Fiber damage, disconnections and component degradations or failures may also permit the pumping light to escape the intended path and cause physical harm to humans as well as equipment. Pumping light backreflections caused by such imperfect connections, degraded/failed components, and fiber damage are detected. A controller compares the backreflection amount against a threshold to determine whether a precautionary measure should be taken such as shutting down the pump, decreasing pump power to a safe level or setting a maintenance flag.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventors: Alan D. Stummer, Lars Friedrich
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Patent number: 6547454Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for aligning an array of optical devices with optical processing equipment. The method includes the steps of providing a transparent substrate with a plurality of optical transmission paths passing directly through the substrate, providing a plurality of alignment guides on the optical array, providing a complementary plurality of respective alignment guides on the transparent substrate and guiding the optical devices of the array into alignment with the substrate using respective pairs of the alignment guides on the optical array and transparent substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Corona Optical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Randy Wickman, John Greene, Gary O'Connor, Daniel Mansur, David Barneson, Bryan Gregory
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Patent number: 6547455Abstract: An optical module includes a semiconductor light-emitting device and a lens structure, which are held by a housing while being optically aligned with each other. A ferrule of an optical plug to which the optical module is to be coupled is fittingly received by the housing. The lens structure includes a pair of cylindrical lens portions, which are oriented orthogonal to each other and located at positions spaced from each other in the optical axis direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hideki Hashizume
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Patent number: 6547456Abstract: A system for digital photo management comprises: a harness; a digital camera; a computer control unit; a wireless data exchange component; a printer; and a battery. The computer control unit begins a process of printing a coupon associated with a digital photograph before the digital photograph has been completely downloaded from the digital camera.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Wishoo, Inc.Inventors: John L. Wechsler, John F. O'Brien, Williams F. Collins, Jr.
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Patent number: 6547457Abstract: The camera shutter unit of the present invention comprises a diaphragm blade arranged to be capable of moving between a stopping-down position wherein an aperture is stopped down, and an evacuating position wherein the aperture is opened. A shutter blade is arranged to be capable of moving between an opening position, wherein the aperture is opened, and a closing position, wherein the aperture is closed. A dive-control mechanism is provided for drive-controlling the shutter blade and the diaphragm blade. The drive-control mechanism has a single electromagnetic drive source, a spring for restricting movement of the shutter blade toward the closing position when the diaphragm blade is positioned in the stopping-down position, and for releasing its restriction by a predetermined or more drive force generated by the electromagnetic drive source, and a control means for controlling the electromagnetic drive source.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Nidec Copal CorporationInventors: Daisuke Yaginuma, Nobuaki Watanabe, Norihumi Ikeda, Tomokazu Kihara
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Patent number: 6547458Abstract: The present invention is directed to optimization of the optical detection system for the use of optical emission spectroscopy in end-point detection. The optimization specifically addresses the needs of a radiant heated wafer system in a downstream process chamber environment. The present invention maximizes signal light from relevant reactions, maximizes signal-to noise and signal-to-background ratios, utilizes very small diagnostics access, collects light from the region of most intense light emission from endpoint processes, collects light from representative parts of an entire wafer with just one diagnostic access port to ensure complete end-point, and eliminates light signals from sources other than the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1999Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Alan C. Janos, Andre G. Cardoso, Daniel B. Richardson
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Patent number: 6547459Abstract: A drum chamber in which photographic material is processed is provided with a section in which the walls overlap to form a narrow channel therebetween. The channel acts as the entrance to and exit from the chamber for the material being processed.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Anthony Earle, John F. Daehne
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Patent number: 6547460Abstract: In a shutter facing an aperture portion in a partition plate in a photosensitive material processing device, a blocking member, formed substantially in a semicircular cylindrical shape, is placed by the rotation of a shaft between blades thereby closing the aperture portion. The opening between the blades is opened by rotating the blocking member integrally with the shaft so that a photosensitive material can pass through. Multi-leveled surfaces are formed on the top surface of a guide plate. Aperture portions for mounting rollers with adaptors are formed in an alternating pattern on the surfaces. A plurality of protruding guide ribs are provided extending across the surfaces. A plurality of brush roller parameters are adjusted so that a winding mark index defined by the parameters falls within a predetermined range. Rollers are washed when a finisher control system is restarted after an unforeseen long stoppage.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2002Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryoei Nozawa, Toshihiro Suya, Hideto Yamamoto, Takayuki Iwamoto, Shinichi Matsuda
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Patent number: 6547461Abstract: In a photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, a brush roller used in a pre-water-washing section and a developing section is formed by winding a slender band wherein bristles are woven into a knitted fabric onto the peripheral surface of a roller which is a core member. This makes it possible to arrange the bristles closely and uniformly on the whole of the peripheral surface of the roller. Therefore, the brush roller can be applied to a photopolymer plate, which uses a non-polymerizable layer as a photosensitive layer and requires strong rubbing without causing brushing unevenness.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Matsuda, Kenji Inoue
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Patent number: 6547462Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a recording head for forming an image on a recording medium, a carriage for holding the recording head, capable of scanning in a main scanning direction, and a carrying mechanism for carrying the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction, wherein even with shift of the position of the carriage before scanning, scanning of the carriage is carried out after the carriage is located at a start position, or wherein a difference of the start position of the carriage upon each scanning is arranged to be a distance equal to an integral multiple of one period of phase of motor.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Haruyuki Yanagi, Makoto Kawarama, Masaya Shinmachi, Tan At Ming
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Patent number: 6547463Abstract: A collapsible keyboard includes left and right subframes hinged to each other at proximate lateral sides by a hinge member. The hinge member includes a mounting member with front and rear mounting portions pivoted to the subframes, two wing members hinged to lateral edges of the mounting member, and couplers disposed to link the subframes and the wing members. As such, the subframes are turnable between deployed and collapsed positions, where the subframes are planar and face towards each other, respectively. A locking mechanism is disposed over the proximate lateral sides of the subframes to lock the subframes in the deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Inventor: Jyh-Yi Loo
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Patent number: 6547464Abstract: An automated transaction machine (10) includes a thermal printing apparatus for printing account statements for a user. A paper drive (36) moves a paper web (44) from a paper roll (42) through a printer (40). After indicia is printed on the paper, the paper is cut by a cutter (37) into sheets and delivered to a user by a presenter drive (30). After paper cutting, the paper is moved a short distance in a direction opposed to the direction that the paper normally moves during printing. A paper control device (49) operates to maintain a relatively constant resistance force to movement of the web in the printing direction after the paper has been retracted. The paper control device limits application of resistance forces to below a threshold as well as sudden fluctuation of resistance forces on the paper web which may otherwise cause the paper to slip relative to the drive and cause distortion of printed indicia or damage to the web.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Diebòld, IncorporatedInventors: Kim R. Lewis, Jeffrey A. Hill, Richard C. Lute, Jr.
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Patent number: 6547465Abstract: A pencil has a fixed non-replaceable eraser and a moveable sleeve. The fixed non-replaceable eraser is elongated to provide a larger eraser to pencil ratio in order to have more erase cycles per write cycles. The moveable sleeve can be moved to selectively expose a portion of the eraser. A ferrule couples the pencil body and the eraser together and provides an outer surface to engage an inner surface of the moveable sleeve. In one embodiment, a threaded female slot in the outer surface of the ferrule engages a male threaded tab in the inner surface of the sleeve. In another embodiment, a plurality of concentric slots in the outer surface of the ferrule engage a tab in the inner surface of the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Shoot the Moon Products II, LLCInventors: Paul Rago, David Small
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Patent number: 6547466Abstract: A mechanical pencil, includes an external cylinder, a lead delivery mechanism disposed in the external cylinder, the lead delivery mechanism having a lead-fastening chuck which fastens a lead and moves back and forth in the external cylinder to deliver the lead toward a front end of the external cylinder, a lead holder disposed before the lead delivery mechanism in the external cylinder to gently hold a lead, and a guide member arranged between the lead-fastening chuck and the lead holder in the external cylinder and always urged backwardly toward the lead-fastening chuck to protect a lead portion between the lead-fastening chuck and a lead holding portion of the lead holder.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Kotobuki & Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidehei Kageyama, Yoshio Noguchi
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Patent number: 6547467Abstract: A microapplicator for dispensing and applying an adhesive or sealant material comprises a handle portion, an applicator tip connected to the handle portion, and a microreservoir at the applicator tip arranged to hold a small amount, about 20 microliters or less, of an adhesive/sealant material until dispensing. In embodiments, the applicator tip has a width of about 1 mm. The microapplicator may include a second reservoir, containing the adhesive/sealant material, that is arranged to supply the adhesive/sealant material to the microreservoir at the applicator tip. The second reservoir may comprise a frangible ampoule disposed in the handle portion, a container, such as a syringe, connected to the handle portion, or the handle portion itself. The applicator tip may comprise one of a polymer loop, a spatula, a rolling ball, a grate, a porous material, such as a swab, a foam pad or a mesh, and a brush.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Closure Medical CorporationInventor: Julian A. Quintero
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Patent number: 6547468Abstract: A dosing reservoir for distributing an active compound in controlled amounts onto a target surface comprising a first impermeable layer and a second permeable layer facing and affixed to the first layer. A fluid tight cell with a frangible seal and containing an active compound is disposed between the first and second layers. When the frangible seal is ruptured, the active compound is released from the cell and is controllably released from the reservoir through the permeable layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Dana Paul Gruenbacher, Kevin Joe Fields, Dean Arthur Zimmerman