Patents Issued in October 14, 2003
  • Patent number: 6632971
    Abstract: A process for treating methane-containing natural gas is provided which comprises: i) converting methane to methanol at or near a site of natural gas production; ii) transporting the methanol to a refinery remote from said site of production, said refinery producing ethylene and propylene and comprising an alkylation unit which can utilize a propylene feed; and iii) converting said methanol to gasoline boiling range fuel product and petrochemicals, including ethylene, propylene, butenes and xylenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Brown, William A. Weber, Reuel Shinnar
  • Patent number: 6632972
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing diisobutylene (DIB) from an i-butene-containing C4 raffinate I, in which the C4 stream is passed through a first hydroisomerization reactor (A) and a fractionation column (B) and is thus largely freed of 1-butene and 2-butene. It is subsequently dimerized over an acidic catalyst installed in a reactive column (E). The feed stream to this reactive column contains not only i-butene but also butanes which make the reaction temperature in the fixed bed controllable by removal of the heat of reaction. In the fractionation column (B), a side stream can be subjected to a further hydroisomerization in a reactor (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: BP Koln GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Gammersbach, Axel Gohrt, Joachim Grub, Stefan Kaminsky, Hans-Joachim Kramer
  • Patent number: 6632973
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a simple method which can efficiently convert dioxins and/or PCBs contained in liquid into unharmful substances. Such a method according to the present invention is by introducing a liquid containing dioxins and/or PCBs, and oxygen containing gas to a reactor in which catalystexists, and conducting wet-oxidation reaction under liquid phase condition of the introduced liquid. According to the present inventive method, a simple method which can efficiently extract dioxins, PCBs and/or component containing thereof, from soil may be provide by a method comprising of; contacting soil and/or ash containing dioxins and/or PCBs with a liquid. Further, the present invention provides a method for cleaning the unit used for decomposing or oxidizing dioxins and/or PCBs contained in liquid by introducing cleaning solution to the unit and conducting cleaning operation under liquid phase condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Miyake, Tohru Ishii, Kiichiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 6632974
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable and moisture-permeable leakproof sheet, and a liquid retentive absorbent member interposed between the topsheet and the leakproof sheet. A foamed material is disposed in the absorbent member. The foamed material has a density of 5 to 35 kg/m3, a no-load thickness of 1 to 10 mm, and a compressive recovery of 60% or more in terms of (b/a×100), wherein a is a thickness (mm) measured after 24-hour standing with no load applied, and b is a thickness (mm) measured after 24-hour compression under a load of 180 gf/cm2 followed by 30-minute standing with no load applied. The foamed material is fixed at the prescribed position with an adhesive, which has been applied to have applied parts and unapplied parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Suzuki, Masao Kurahashi, Tetsuya Masuki, Akihiko Gunji
  • Patent number: 6632975
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an in vivo model of hepatocellular carcinoma without lung metastasis in an animal by injecting diethylnitrosamine and administering nitrosomorpholine in the drinking water of the animal, as well as, methods of identifying an antimetstatic agent using the in vivo model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daiyu-Kai Institute of Medical Science
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Shirai, Mitsuru Futakuchi
  • Patent number: 6632976
    Abstract: A chimeric, non-human animal can be produced by a method that entails providing a microcell that contains one or more foreign chromosomes or fragment(s) thereof and then fusing the microcell with a pluripotent cell, thereby introducing the foreign chromosome(s) or fragment(s) into the latter. The pluripotent cell thus obtained can be used to generate a chimeric, non-human animal, the cells, tissues, and/or progeny of which can be the source of a product, such as an antibody, that is associated with one or more genes on the foreign chromosome(s) or fragment(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kirin Beer Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuma Tomizuka, Hitoshi Yoshida, Kazunori Hanaoka, Mitsuo Oshimura, Isao Ishida
  • Patent number: 6632977
    Abstract: The invention concerns the use of a non-human transgenic mammal whose expression of a gene coding for an opiate receptor is modified, particularly in the nerve tissues with respect to a normal expression, in particular in the nerve tissues, for producing a medicine for the treatment of pathological conditions involving opiate receptors, in particular severe acute or chronic pains, drug addiction or the prevention or the treatment of transplant rejections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Brigitte Kieffer, Hans W. D. Matthes, Frederic Herve Simonin, Andree Dierich, Marianne Lemeur
  • Patent number: 6632978
    Abstract: A transgenic non-human animal (e.g., a transgenic mouse) comprising a polynucleotide encoding a soluble marker protein functionally linked to a regulatory sequence of an endogenous gene encoding E-selectin. Also described are methods for detecting modulators of the E-selectin gene using said transgenic non-human animal, and cultured cells obtained therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Edgar Käslin, Marcel Luyten, Hans-Günter Zerwes
  • Patent number: 6632979
    Abstract: The invention concerns HER2-transgenic non-human mammals, animal models for screening drug candidates for the treatment of diseases and disorders associated with the overexpression of HER2. In particular, the invention concerns animal models designed to test drug candidates for the treatment of HER2-overexpressing cancers, including breast cancer, that are not responding or poorly responding to current treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon Erickson, Kathleen King, Ralph Schwall
  • Patent number: 6632980
    Abstract: The invention relates to two plant transgene expression systems. The first is comprised of two chromosomally-integrated components that are individually heritable. One component is an inactive replicon, which contains cis-acting viral sequences required for replication and is unable to replicate episomally. The other component is a chimeric transactivating gene comprising a regulated promoter operably-linked to the coding region for a protein that can transactivate replicon replication. Regulated expression of the transactivation protein in plant cells containing the inactive replicon triggers release of free replicon from the integrated inactive replicon and allows episomal replication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Narendra S. Yadav, S. Carl Falco
  • Patent number: 6632981
    Abstract: The present invention provides chemically regulatable DNA sequences capable of regulating transcription of an associated DNA sequence in plants or plant tissues, chimeric constructions containing such sequences, vectors containing such sequences and chimeric constructions, and transgenic plants and plant tissues containing these chimeric constructions. In one aspect, the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention are derived from the 5′ region of genes encoding pathogenisis-related (PR) proteins. The present invention also provides anti-pathogenic sequences derived from novel cDNAs coding for PR proteins which can be genetically engineered and transformed into plants to confer enhanced resistance to disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Novartis Finance Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick Meins, Jr., Hideaki Shinshi, Herman C. Wenzler, Jan Hofsteenge, John A. Ryals, Christoph Sperisen
  • Patent number: 6632982
    Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated SW84112, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar SW84112, to the plants of soybean SW84112 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar SW84112 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar SW84112 with another soybean cultivar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: DeKalb Genetics Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. Floyd
  • Patent number: 6632983
    Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated SW61302, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar SW61302, to the plants of soybean SW61302 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar SW61302 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar SW61302 with another soybean cultivar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: DeKalb Genetics Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas L. Floyd, Jeffrey Hall
  • Patent number: 6632984
    Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated SW80000, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar SW80000, to the plants of soybean SW80000 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar SW80000 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar SW80000 with another soybean cultivar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: DeKalb Genetics Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. Floyd
  • Patent number: 6632985
    Abstract: The present invention is in the field of soybean variety APA94-31572 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety APA94-31572 and its progeny, and methods of making APA94-31572.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Advanta USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Bilyeu
  • Patent number: 6632986
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated BE4207, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line BE4207, to the plants of inbred corn line BE4207 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line BE4207 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from the inbred BE4207.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Agrigenetics Inc.
    Inventor: Kermit B. Bohning
  • Patent number: 6632987
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated CI9805, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line CI9805, to the plants of inbred corn line CI9805 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line CI9805 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from the inbred CI9805.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: The J C Robinson Seed Co.
    Inventor: Hobart Beeghly
  • Patent number: 6632988
    Abstract: A damper assembly for a piano includes a rail assembly with an adjustable mount for mounting the rail assembly to the piano case, and a plurality of underlevers coupled to the rail assembly. The rail assembly is configured for vertical adjustment relative to the case, for example, continuous adjustment (in which the rail assembly can define a vertical slot) or discrete adjustment (in which the rail assembly defines discrete openings arranged vertically). The adjustable mount includes mounting blocks, and the rail is mounted to the blocks for rotation relative to the blocks. The mounting blocks each define an adjustment slot. A method of simultaneously adjusting a plurality of piano underlevers in a piano includes mounting a damper assembly to a piano case with an adjustable mount, and adjusting the position of a rail assembly of the damper assembly relative to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Scott Jones, Maik Jenfeldt
  • Patent number: 6632989
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an electronic cymbal having improved accuracy for detecting a striking force and a striking position without hampering a striking sensation and an appearance. A piezoelectric sensor 5 and a cup portion sheet sensor 8 provided on a portion of a cup portion formed into a dome shape at a center of a cover 2 on a first frame 3 having the cover 2 formed out of a soft material, the cover 2 spreading to contact with an upper surface of the first frame 3, and an edge upper portion sheet sensor 7 and an edge lower portion sheet sensor 6 provided on an outer peripheral edge portion 3b formed to be lowered by a step are provided, and a center of a second frame 4 is supported by a cymbal stand (shaft) 10 penetrating an opening portion at a center of the first frame 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshino, Masato Katsuda
  • Patent number: 6632990
    Abstract: A drum having an annular rim is connected to a pedal assembly by a clamp having an outer clamp part engaging an outer surface of the rim only at a pair of locations axially spaced along the rim and an inner clamp part generally aligned with the outer part and engaging an inner surface of the rim only at a pair of locations axially spaced along the rim and lying between the locations of the outer clamp part. The clamp parts are pressed toward each other against the respective surfaces of the rim, and a coupling secures the clamp parts to the pedal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Sonor Johs. Link GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Menzel, Werner Sassmannshausen
  • Patent number: 6632991
    Abstract: A scale indicator for a keyboard of a keyboard instrument has a stand, a belt and an indicating element. The belt is moveably mounted on the stand. A key selecting area is mounted on the belt and has multiple key-selecting blocks each illuminating at least one symbol of a musical key. A note illuminating area is mounted on the belt and has multiple note-illuminating blocks. Each note-illuminating block shows a symbol of a note and corresponds to one of the keys of the keyboard instrument. The indicating element corresponds to one of the key-selecting blocks to select the music key shown on the key-selecting block. Accordingly, the user can strike the keys on the keyboard according to the note symbols on the note-illuminating blocks in the selected music key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Wei-Chih Chen
  • Patent number: 6632992
    Abstract: A music data providing apparatus comprises a memory that stores a plurality of music data and a plurality of advertisement data, a receiver that receives a request for a desired music data from a user via a network, an advertisement appending device that appends at least one advertisement data among the plurality of advertisement data stored in said memory to the music data corresponding to the received request, and a transmitter that transmits the music data appended with the advertisement data to the user via the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6632993
    Abstract: There is provided a photovoltaic module including a transparent substrate and hybrid photovoltaic cells arrayed on the substrate and series connected to each other, the cells including a back electrode facing the substrate, a transparent front electrode intervening between the substrate and the back electrode, a first photovoltaic layer intervening between the front and back electrodes and including an amorphous semiconductor layer, a second photovoltaic layer intervening between the first photovoltaic layer and the back electrode and including a crystalline semiconductor layer, and a conductive interlayer with a light-transmitting-and-reflecting property intervening between the first and second photovoltaic layers and having a thickness in a range of 10 nm to 100 nm and a specific resistance in a range of 1×10−3 &OHgr;·cm to less than 1×10−1 &OHgr;·cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Hayashi, Yuko Tawada, Tomomi Meguro, Akihiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6632994
    Abstract: The present invention provides a containment apparatus for cables, wires, and other cylindrical objects. The containment apparatus includes a channel member adapted to be attached to a clip member, the clip member is adapted to receive the channel member and is adapted to be mounted to a surface such as an exterior wall or a pole. The channel member is made of a rigid to semi-rigid material which can flex and can resile or can be urged back into its original position whereby the channel member is fixedly attached to the clip member. Multiple channel members can be adapted to be connected, one to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Peter G. Mangone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6632995
    Abstract: A control cabinet for installing electronic equipment includes a bottom, wall parts which may be disassembled, at least one door and a top, in which devices for securing the equipment, particularly withdrawable mount fixtures, may be arranged in the control cabinet and cable lead-throughs may be provided on the control cabinet. The walls may be produced from fire-resistant material. An air conditioner is provided for regulating the temperature in the control cabinet. The openings and cable lead-throughs of the control cabinet may act in a self-sealing manner in case of fire. Furthermore, a method for assembling a control cabinet around an apparatus rack fitted with equipment in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
    Inventor: Harald Knieriem
  • Patent number: 6632996
    Abstract: A package tape for testing a chip assembled by a packaging method such as a micro-ball grid array (BGA) package, whereby the chip is designed to face downward. The package tape includes one or more taps, disposed on a guard area other than an area where a semiconductor chip is attached, for testing the semiconductor chip. One or more pads are disposed on the area where the semiconductor chip is attached and are attached to corresponding test pads on the semiconductor chip. One or more leads which electrically connect the taps with the pads. The package tape advantageously enables easy testing of the electric characteristics of the semiconductor chip, which in a typical BGA package tape cannot be tested by probing since the circuit thereof faces down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoon-Gyu Song
  • Patent number: 6632997
    Abstract: A personalized circuit module package and method for packaging circuit modules provides graphical packaging for memory modules and other circuit modules. A removable housing is attached to a circuit module containing one or more integrated circuits bonded to a carrier and covered with an encapsulant. Graphics may be printed on the removable housing, or may be printed on an insert that is either inserted into a pocket within the removable housing, or is inserted between a removable housing having a window and the circuit module. Alternatively, the housing itself may be used to personalize the circuit module, by providing a colored or textured removable housing for the circuit module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Robert Hoffman, John Armando Miranda
  • Patent number: 6632998
    Abstract: A prepackaged mounting assembly for securing an electrical fixture to a sloped ceiling. The prepackaged assembly securely holds all the hardware needed for attaching the mounting block to an overhead beam, including fasteners, without the need for an outer wrap or separate packaging for each separate mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes two embodiments, one for use with a cathedral ceiling and one for use with a vaulted ceiling. The mounting assembly includes a box having an open top, a closed bottom, a side wall, and an integral electrical wiring enclosure. Integral holsters are provided for temporary storage of threaded fasteners. The wiring enclosure includes a top wall having a seat thereon for flush fitting against an appropriate brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz
  • Patent number: 6632999
    Abstract: A floor grommet for use in building and office structures supplied with air conditioning via under floor plenum. Directed flow of conditioned air is optimized by limiting the escape of air from the plenum into the space above the floor by leakage through floor openings provided for power cables, data cables and the like. Specialized floor grommets installed in the cable openings are comprised of a surrounding frame mounting sealing elements comprised of thin, flexible elements which are anchored at one end in the grommet frame and extend toward the center of the opening, from each side, to effectively close the opening against significant flow of conditioned air from the plenum below. Cables passing through the grommet opening cause minimal deflection of the flexible elements to limit the escape of conditioned air. Preferably, the resilient, flexible elements are filamentary in nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Triton Technology Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur T. Sempliner, Jonathan Brill, Kenneth Brill, Robert Sullivan, William Pitt Turner, IV
  • Patent number: 6633000
    Abstract: A noise filter (100) includes a hollow ferrite core (10) for receiving a cable (200) therein and an insulating case (20) covering the ferrite core. The insulating case is made up of a pair of case members (21, 22) each of which defines a number of resilient ribs (231) and a number of support ribs (232) in an inner face (230) thereof. The resilient ribs have sharp-angled tops which provide a radial force for the ferrite core. A pair of latches (233) are formed on a side of each case member for engaging with corresponding recesses (235) defined in the other case member to couple the two case members. A front wall (251) and a rear wall (252) of each case member define a dented top side (253) thereof respectively, wherein a plurality of serrated protrusions (254) are formed on the dented top sides for securing the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Kuo
  • Patent number: 6633001
    Abstract: There is provided a cable which retards lightning. The cable includes at least one internal conductor which may be a power conductor or a signal conductor. A choke conductor is wound about the internal conductor in the shape of a spiral. If lightning strikes near the cable or a device which is attached to the cable, such as an antenna, the choke conductor presents a high impedance to the current caused by lightning and will prevent the lightning current from flowing down the choke conductor, thus entering the internal conductor, thereby preventing damage to the internal conductor and any associated electronic equipment. Preferably, a shield is also wound about the internal conductor adjacent to the choke conductor in a direction opposite to the choke conductor, whereby the angle formed by the crossing of the choke conductor and the shield is approximately 90° to block the magnetic field component of the lightning discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: MAG Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel N. Gasque, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6633002
    Abstract: A tape carrier with high density wiring patterns and having high flexibility, a tape carrier package using such tape carrier, and a method of manufacturing them. The tape carrier has a base film made of an insulating material and having wiring patterns formed thereon. The tape carrier also has a bending area for bending the tape carrier therein. In the bending hole region, a plurality of round holes are formed regularly. Diameter of each of the holes is larger than a space between the wiring patterns in the bending area. Preferably, the centers of the holes are located at grid points of an assumed predetermined grid and at the intersections of diagonal lines connecting the grid points. Also, the center of each of the plurality of holes is located on the center line of a space between adjacent wiring patterns in the bending area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriaki Atou
  • Patent number: 6633003
    Abstract: Superconducting cable (1) comprising: a) a layer (20) of tapes comprising superconducting material, b) a tubular element (6) for supporting said layer (20) of tapes comprising superconducting material, c) a cooling circuit, adapted to cool the superconducting material to a working temperature not higher than its critical temperature, characterized in that said tubular element (6) is composite and comprises a predetermined amount of a first material having a first thermal expansion coefficient and a second material having a thermal expansion coefficient higher than that of said first material, said thermal expansion coefficients and said amounts of said first and second material being predetermined in such a way that said tubular element has an overall thermal shrinkage between the room temperature and said working temperature of the cable such as to cause a deformation of said tapes comprising superconducting material lower than the critical deformation of the same tapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Nassi, Pierluigi Ladie′
  • Patent number: 6633004
    Abstract: The electrical insulator has an insulator body 3 which is fitted between an electrical conductor 1 and a grounded holder 2. The surface of the insulator is at least partially formed by a protective body 6. The material of the protective body has a low dielectric constant in comparison to that of the material of the insulator body 3. The protective body 6 prevents an electrically conductive particle 12 from coming to rest directly on the surface of the insulator body 3, in particular in the region of the triple points T, or causing a considerable increase in the field due to immediate proximity to the insulator body 3. The breakdown voltage of a gas-insulated system which contains such insulators provided with a protective body is increased. Gas-insulated systems can thus be made more compactly and more cheaply, and their life can be extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Christoph Heitz, Lutz Niemeyer, Marco Piemontesi
  • Patent number: 6633005
    Abstract: An RF amplifier module includes PC boards laminated atop a bottom conductor plate. The boards include an RF semi-conductor amplifier chip mounted in a well extending to the bottom plate disposed in electrical connection with the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Micro Mobio Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuroh Ichitsubo, Guan-Wu Wang
  • Patent number: 6633006
    Abstract: The method for determining the mass of a vehicle comprises at least two measurements (6, 8) offset in time within a measuring period by which are determined respectively at least one traction variable (2) and at least one movement variable (4) of the vehicle, one of the two measurements (8) being effected during a traction-free phase and the other of the two measurements (6) during a traction phase. According to the invention, it is proposed that each of the two measurements comprises one data collection period (6, 8) the duration of which is longer than a minimum duration, that the traction variable corresponds to the timed integral of the traction and the movement variable to the change of speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Wolf, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Rüchardt, Bertram Wengert, Jürgen Müller
  • Patent number: 6633007
    Abstract: A balance (1) has a balance housing (21) and an operator panel (4). The operator panel (4) cooperates with the balance housing (21) and is connected, or connectable, to the latter in such a manner that the operator panel (4) can be folded up from a working position into a rest position (4′) by rotation about a pivot axis (A) that runs essentially parallel to the balance housing (21). The mechanical connection is made through a pivoting arrangement which allows the operator panel (4) to rest firmly on a supporting surface, independent of the level adjustment of the balance housing (21). Furthermore, the operator panel (4) is configured to be completely detachable from the balance housing (21). Electrical signals are transmitted either through a cable or by a wireless mode of communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Beat Meister, Alfred Schillig
  • Patent number: 6633008
    Abstract: The electronic load cell is for measuring force using a force sensor within and has reduced susceptibility to shock or impact in the direction of its measurement vector. The load cell device includes a load cell structure formed of a suitable solid and including vertically spaced apart, generally parallel horizontal elements integrally formed with longitudinally spaced apart, generally parallel vertical elements with flexible members. Flexures interconnect each horizontal element with the vertical elements. A force sensor is connected between the horizontal element connecting the two flexures on the first side of the parallelogram and a spring connected to the second parallel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Weigh-Tronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Johnson
  • Patent number: 6633009
    Abstract: A shorting switch eliminates arcing faults in low voltage power distribution equipment. The switch includes a base supporting a first side and an opposite second side. A first end of a spring engages the first side of the base. A first end of a release bolt engages the first side of the base. An electrically activated, chemical charge is disposed in an opening of the release bolt to fracture that bolt. A bridging contact is biased by a second end of the spring toward the second side of the base. A second end of the release bolt normally holds the bridging contact and maintains the spring in a compressed state. Two contacts are supported by the second side of the base for electrical engagement by the bridging contact after fracture of the release bolt. Two terminals are respectively electrically connected to the two contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: John J. Shea
  • Patent number: 6633010
    Abstract: A pressure switch 1 of this invention comprises a base electrode 2, a terminal 3, a disc 4 and a diaphragm 5. The base electrode 2 has a switching chamber 7 for inserting the contact part 3a of the terminal 3. The switching chamber 7 is sealed with an insulation member at one side. The disc 4 is formed so as to be able to contact with the contact part 3a of the terminal while it is connected to the base electrode 2 and to be able to inverse under a predetermined magnitude of pressure. The diaphragm 5 is made of a metal and is fixed to the base electrode 2 so as to keep vacuum of the switching chamber 7 including the contact part 3a and the disc 4 by sealing the opening of the switch chamber 7 at other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Shuji Tanaka, Yoshihiko Mikawa
  • Patent number: 6633011
    Abstract: A switch button is coupled to a supporting member through a hinge. The switch button and the hinge are integrally molded using a synthetic resin or an elastomer, or a synthetic resin and a synthetic rubber, respectively. In this way, the switch button can be readily pressed and comfortably manipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Satoshi Ogawa, Yoshiyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 6633012
    Abstract: A key device and an assembled method thereof improves the reliability of the key device and does not deteriorate ease of installation. The key device has a first arm and a second arm. The first arm has a shaft and the second arm has a slot that includes the first and second portions. The shaft and the slot are movably connected so that the first arm and the second arm form a scissors-like structure. When the shaft is located in the first portion of the slot, the shaft is allowed to rotate and to slide. When the shaft is located in the second portion of the slot, the shaft is allowed to rotate but not to slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chien-Shih Hsu
  • Patent number: 6633013
    Abstract: A lever switch includes a case having a common contact and fixed contacts provided on inner wall opposite to each other. A movable contact made from elastic metal and shaped like the letter “M” has an intermediate section that comes into contact with the common contact. A first arm extends from each one of both ends of the intermediate section. Each one of the ends of the first arms forms a folding-back section, and a second arm is formed at the end of the folding-back section. A contact formed at the end of the second arm comes into contact with the inner wall of the case. Rotation of the lever slides a slider on the bottom plate of the case, and a pushing section provided at each one of both ends of the slider brings the contact into contact with the fixed contact or leaves the contact from the fixed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nishimura, Masaki Nakase, Yasuchika Kudo, Yusho Nakase, Yoshiharu Abe
  • Patent number: 6633014
    Abstract: A semiconductor device sorting method and apparatus involve development of small, self-contained and focused “qualification” or “sort” algorithm test programs or “modules”, each of which modules may test for the validity of a particular, selected grade of a memory or other semiconductor device based on the results of a test pattern associated with, or exhibited by, a particular device under test. Separating the test code from the main flow file of the test program into the aforementioned “plug-in” qualification or sort modules permits the test code to be much simpler and facilitates better organization, as each qualification or sort module may be independent of any other qualification or sort module and only determines in response to its associated test pattern whether or not (TRUE or FALSE) a device qualifies in a given device grade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Lance M. Casper
  • Patent number: 6633015
    Abstract: A soft-touch pneumatic drive unit for welding is provided. The drive unit includes a first section, a second section, and a third section. A piston rod extends substantially throughout these sections and contains a drive piston in the second section and a second drive piston in the third section. Pressurized fluid is supplied through the first section and into the second section to provide a driving force on these pistons. Cushioning fluid is supplied through the first section to the second section to cushion and slow the piston rod as an electrode carried thereby is moved toward a workpiece. A floating piston in the second section then blocks the flow of cushioning fluid from the first section with fluid pressure in the second section then decreasing to atmospheric pressure to enable full welding force to be applied through the drive pistons and the piston rod to the electrode. The cushioning fluid also aids in returning the piston components to the retracted position upon the completion of a weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Doben Limited
    Inventors: Tam C. Nguyen, Eric Michaud
  • Patent number: 6633016
    Abstract: In a resistance welding method using direct current in which a direct voltage that is applied to the welding electrodes is commutated. According to the invention, the polarity of the direct voltage applied to the electrodes is selected before or after each welding process according to at least one parameter detected during the welding process. Preferably, the selection of polarity of the direct voltage of the welding electrodes is controlled by control means before or after each welding operation. The inventive method prevents the welding electrodes from being worn on one side, which, in turn, increases their serviceable life or endurance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Erdogan Karakas
  • Patent number: 6633017
    Abstract: An improved system of igniting a plasma using a rapid voltage rise and thus causing ions that may be pre-existing to create secondary electron emission or the like is provided. In one embodiment, the voltage rise can be timed to be comparable to the transit time of the electrons across the plasma. It can also be arranged to achieve a voltage rise in less than 1000 microseconds, to result in a transition time that is less than one hundred times the transit time, to maximize the emission of secondary electrons, or even to merely result in collision energies ranging from 5 to 500 electron volts. The transition time can be controlled through an ignition control that may be programmable, may involve charging output storage devices, or may involve delayed switching to supply the increased voltage to the plasma after the storage elements have been more fully charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey N. Drummond, George McDonough, Richard A. Scholl, Tim Kerr, John G. Harpold
  • Patent number: 6633018
    Abstract: A laser-welding head is capable of applying a fixed pressure to parts to be welded of workpieces regardless of the undulation of the surfaces of the parts to be welded. The laser-welding head includes a pressing device (12) having a roller (16) which rolls along parts of workpieces near a weld line (40) to press together the same parts of the workpieces, a pressing unit (6) for applying a predetermined pressure to the pressing device (12) to press the pressing device (12) toward the parts of the workpieces near the weld line (40), and a laser beam projecting unit (17) mounted on the pressing unit (6) for movement together with the pressing device (12). The pressing unit (6) is provided with a pneumatic cylinder actuator for applying the predetermined pressure to the pressing device (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukugyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigekazu Shikoda, Tetsuya Kubota, Hirotaka Uehara, Osamu Satoh, Tomoyuki Uno, Takayuki Murata, Mamoru Nishio
  • Patent number: 6633019
    Abstract: A method for forming a design in a panel includes providing an outer panel layer on an inner panel layer to form a single composite panel including two layers. The design is then formed into the panel by forming voids in the outer layer. The voids are formed by exposing predetermined regions of the outer layer to a laser beam that burns, vaporizes or otherwise removes portions of the outer layer in each exposed region. The voids create the design by exposing the inner panel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Textron Automotive Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Gray
  • Patent number: 6633021
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a solder iron such that in the solder iron for blowing out a heating gas flow to a periphery of a forward end tip, the heating gas flow having stable temperature is generated. A nozzle section is provided to a forward end tip heated by heating means of a solder iron main body, an orifice section is formed between a heating gas flow generating chamber and the nozzle section, and a back pressure of thermally expanded heating gas and a pressure of gas successively supplied are balanced in the heating gas flow generating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Kensei Matubara