Patents Issued in January 6, 2004
  • Patent number: 6672694
    Abstract: This invention concerns a method of forming an image on optical disks by printing a white ground on an optical disk and drawing, using an inkjet printer, on optical disks arranged in a line. The printer head of the inkjet printer is scanned in the linear arrangement direction and all of the linearly arranged optical disks are contained within in a scanning range of the head of the inkjet printer so the printer head scans the optical disks in a single scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Bunkaseiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kano Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6672695
    Abstract: An ink cartridge placed in an ink jet printer stores cartridge management data containing “ink capacity”, “ink total consumption amount”, and “cartridge identification information”. A host 1 stores host management data containing “ink total consumption amount” and cartridge identification information for each cartridge. The host collates the cartridge management data read by the printer 5 with the host management data stored in the host 1 and determines the precise “ink total consumption amount.” After print processing terminates, the printer calculates the amount of ink consumed in the print (ink consumption amount) and the host updates the “ink total consumption amount” based on the calculated ink consumption amount. The printer updates the “ink total consumption amount” recorded in the cartridge management data to the “ink total consumption amount” updated by the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Naka, Hiroaki Tojyo, Toshihisa Saruta, Satoshi Shinada
  • Patent number: 6672696
    Abstract: An inkjet printer service station has a movable member that interacts with another printer subsystem, which is changeable between a first state and a second state. To vary the printhead-to-media spacing to accommodate different thickness of media, such as plain paper and envelopes, a cam-operated locking mechanism and a lever-operated mechanism raise and lower the inkjet printhead. Other printer subsystems may be transitioned between two or more states through motion of a service station movable member, including motion using gravity assist, centrifugal forces, or momentum to accomplish one of the transitions. Other locking mechanisms may be used to secure a subsystem in one state or another, such as electrical or electromechanical mechanisms, as well as other structurally equivalent forms beyond the specific preferred embodiments illustrated herein without departing from the broad concepts disclosed. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a system, along with methods of operation are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael A. Fairchild, Allan D. Donley
  • Patent number: 6672697
    Abstract: A system and method of ink jet printing in a printer having more than one print head is disclosed. The printing results in improved image quality by dithering the transition from one print head to the next and by individually adjusting the timing of the firing of each of the print heads. This allows the printer to create a better quality image in instances of horizontal or vertical misalignment of the print heads, without the need for costly and problematic mechanical systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: James J. Haflinger
  • Patent number: 6672698
    Abstract: In the configuration in which ink is normally ejected from an ink head from which the ink is ejected, the reliability of a decision result is improved for each of a plurality of different inks. A detection unit which outputs a detection signal by detecting the ink ejected from the ink jet head is used to perform detection by ejecting the ink in the vicinity including a detection position moving the ink jet head and the presence of ink ejection is decided by controlling the ink jet head so that at least one of the conditions such as an ejection start position, an ejection cycle of the ink, a travel speed of the ink jet head and the number of ejection times of the ink can be changed in accordance with light shielding characteristics of the ink ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6672699
    Abstract: In an apparatus for determining cartridge type using micro injecting device, when various types of cartridges are mounted in a printer, the cartridge type is determined using a contact structure of the cartridge and a contact-state sensing signal of a dimple part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo-Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 6672700
    Abstract: A recording head includes a nozzle orifice, a pressure chamber communicated with the nozzle orifice, and an actuator which varies a volume of the pressure chamber. A drive signal generator generates a drive signal in which a plurality of drive pulses are arranged within a unit recording period. The drive pulses includes at least a first drive pulse composed of an expanding element, which drives the actuator so as to expand the pressure chamber, an expansion holding element, which drives the actuator such that the expanded state of the pressure chamber is held in a first time period roughly equal to a first natural vibration period which is a natural vibration period of ink stored in the pressure chamber, and an ejecting element, which drives the actuator so as to contract the pressure chamber so that the ink in the pressure chamber is ejected from the nozzle orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Hosono, Kenji Otokita
  • Patent number: 6672701
    Abstract: Determination of an adjustment value for adjusting the shifting of recording positions is made easier. The adjustment value is one for adjusting the shifting of recording positions in the direction of main scanning when ink drops are ejected and dots formed on a print medium. Patches T21-T25 and patches T31-T35 are printed in order to determine the extent (adjustment value) to which dot formation positions are shifted on a reverse pass during bidirectional printing. Each patch is formed based on the same print data D1 related to yellow (Y), light cyan (LC), and light magenta (LM) dots. Each dot is formed on the forward and reverse passes of main scanning when the patches T21-T25 are formed. The patches are printed by varying the dot recording positions on a reverse pass in small increments. The patches T31-T35 are formed solely on the forward pass of a main scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 6672702
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering solvent free marking material to a receiver is provided. A printhead includes a discharge device having an inlet and an outlet with a portion of the discharge device defining a delivery path. An actuating mechanism is moveably positioned along the delivery path. A material selection device has an inlet and an outlet with the outlet of the material selection device being connected in fluid communication to the inlet of the discharge device. The inlet of the material selection device is adapted to be connected to a pressurized source of a thermodynamically stable mixture of a fluid and a marking material, wherein the fluid is in a gaseous state at a location beyond the outlet of the discharge device. A calibration station is positioned relative to the printhead. Additionally, or alternatively, a cleaning station is positioned relative to the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Sridhar Sadasivan, David J. Nelson, Seshadri Jagannathan, Suresh Sunderrajan, Gary E. Merz, John E. Rueping, Glen C. Irvin, Jr., Ramesh Jagannathan, Rajesh V. Mehta
  • Patent number: 6672703
    Abstract: In an inkjet printer having device for executing recovery processing by ink suction to make the ink ejection state of a printing head favorable, increase in ink consumption due to recovery processing is suppressed properly while maintaining ejection quality. When it is judged that recovery processing is necessary due to exchange of a head or an ink tank, this information is stored in a RAM and an EEPROM. Only before execution of print, recovery processing is executed when it is determined that the recovery processing is necessary based on the information. At the execution, the information is cleared to a recovery unnecessary state. As the information is held in the EEPROM, necessity of the recovery processing after power supply ON is determined based on a recovery processing execution state before the power supply was turned off. Therefore, suction recovery processing is executed without waste at a proper timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsushi Kohno
  • Patent number: 6672704
    Abstract: A nozzle surface (13) is sealed by a cap member (44) in a state in which an ink solution is accumulated in a sealed hollow portion (45). After the nozzle surface (13) is sealed, piezoelectric vibrators (35) are driven by applying thereto a high-frequency drive signal of a frequency higher than a drive frequency for ejecting the ink solution toward recording paper, thereby causing cavitation in the ink solution. The firmly adhering thickened ink and solidified ink occurring in nozzle openings (29) are broken or exfoliated by bubbles caused by this cavitation. Subsequently, the suction operation is performed to remove the thickened ink and the solidified ink from the nozzle portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Katakura, Koji Morikoshi, Tsuyoshi Sano, Kiyohiko Takemoto, Kaoru Momose
  • Patent number: 6672705
    Abstract: A printer comprises a transportation belt, a printer head, and a pneumatic paper sucker. The transportation belt is driven by a driving roller that drives a driven roller. The printer head includes a plurality of head units each having ink-jet surfaces. In the printer, print paper is adsorbed to the transportation belt by the sucker, and transported in a direction of transportation. Ink drops jetted out from the head units are shot at correct points on the print paper specified in print data. Thus, printing is achieved. According to the printer, the printer head need not be shifted in the process of printing, but printing can be achieved at a high speed. Moreover, the costs of manufacturing can be reduced, and the printer can be designed compactly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kitahara, Hiroshi Hashi
  • Patent number: 6672706
    Abstract: A print assembly for a wide format pagewidth inkjet printer includes an elongate carrier that is mountable on a support structure of the printer and is positioned an operative distance from a platen of the printer. A number of printhead chips are mounted on the carrier. The printhead chips are provided in a number and configuration such that the printhead chips define a printing zone between the carrier and the platen, the printing zone having a length of at least 36 inches (914 mm). Each printhead chip is of the type that incorporates a plurality of nozzle arrangements, each nozzle arrangement being in the form of a micro electromechanical system to achieve the ejection of ink from the nozzle arrangement. Control circuitry is positioned on the carrier and is operatively connected to the printhead chips to control operation of the printhead chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6672707
    Abstract: A modular printhead for a digital printer wherein the modules (2) may be mechanically aligned using specifically designed frame (3) supporting the modules (2). The frame (3) having a plurality of mounting sites (19) for mounting respective printhead modules (2) to the frame (3); wherein, at least one of the mounting sites (19) having mechanical adjustment mechanism (15, 16, 17 and 18) for reducing input movements to effect minute adjustments of the position of the printhead module (2) with respect to the frame (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6672708
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead includes a wafer substrate having a nozzle chamber defined therein. The nozzle arrangement has a nozzle chamber wall that defines an ink ejection port and a rim about the ink ejection port. A series of radially positioned actuators are connected to the wafer substrate and extend radially inwardly towards the rim. Each actuator is configured so that a radially inner edge of each actuator is displaceable, with respect to the nozzle rim, into the chamber, upon actuation of the actuator and so that, upon such displacement, a pressure within the nozzle chamber is increased, resulting in the ejection of ink from the ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Patent number: 6672709
    Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through the respective corresponding nozzle, to effect printing. Each heater element is configured such that the energy applied to it to heat the bubble forming liquid (which can also be the ink) to cause the ejection of a drop is less than that required to heat a volume of the ejectable liquid equal to the volume of such a drop, from an ambient temperature (being the temperature at which the bubble forming liquid enters the printhead) to the temperature of such a drop when it is ejected. The printhead thus has a self-cooling function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6672710
    Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through the respective corresponding nozzle, to effect printing. Each heater element has two opposite sides and is configured such that the gas bubble formed by that heater element is formed at both of these sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Angus John North, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Patent number: 6672711
    Abstract: A driving circuit drives an ink jet print head in a printing device. The ink jet print head has ink jet cells and heating elements corresponding to the ink jet cells. The driving circuit has a driving signal generator that provides two different driving signals to heat the ink jet cells. The first driving signal heats cells intended for jetting ink with sufficient energy so that they do jet ink. The second driving signal heats cells not intended for jetting ink with insufficient energy so that they are heated without jetting ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Hung Kao, Yu-Fan Fang
  • Patent number: 6672712
    Abstract: Methods and systems for forming compound slots in a substrate are described. In one exemplary implementation, a method forms a plurality of slots in a substrate. The method also etches a trench in the substrate contiguous with the plurality of slots to form a compound slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeremy Donaldson, Eric L. Nikkel, Jeffrey S. Obert, Jeffrey R. Pollard, Jeff Hess
  • Patent number: 6672713
    Abstract: A highly accurate, downsized ink-jet recording head producible at low cost by using a thin-film deposition technology is provided. The ink-jet recording head, in which a piezoelectric layer is formed subsequent to an electrode layer on a substrate by using a thin-film deposition technology and an energy-generating element for generating energy for ink ejection is formed by etching the electrode and the piezoelectric layers simultaneously by an ion milling process, includes a fine powder reception part on which mixed fine powders including at least those etched off the electrode layer and the piezoelectric layer by the ion milling process are deposited, the fine powder reception part being provided in a periphery of the energy-generating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shuji Koike, Yoshiaki Sakamoto, Tomohisa Shingai, Seigen Otani, Toshihiko Osada
  • Patent number: 6672714
    Abstract: Of the first sheet formed of piezoelectric materials and the second sheet formed of prescribed materials, the upper electrode layer formed of conduction materials is formed on one surface of the first sheet and the lower electrode layer formed of conduction materials is formed on the other surface of said first sheet or on one surface of the second sheet. And the first and the second sheets are piled and densified having the lower electrode layer between, and a piezoelectric actuator will be manufactured by patterning the upper electrode layer or the lower electrode layer in order to form multiple electrodes corresponding respectively to each pressure chamber of the pressure chamber forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Tanikawa, Hiroshi Tokunaga, Shota Nishi
  • Patent number: 6672715
    Abstract: An actuator 120 is formed from nine piezoelectric sheets stacked in this order to give a laminated configuration. A common electrode 25 is formed on the upper surface of each piezoelectric sheet 122, 121b, 121d, 121f, 121g. A plurality of drive electrodes 24 are formed the upper surface of each piezoelectric sheet 121a, 121c, 121e, 123. The common electrodes 25, a cavity plate 14, and a cover plate 44 are all maintained at the same potential (0V). The lowermost piezoelectric sheet 122 formed with the common electrode 25 is located between the cavity plate 14 and the lowermost drive electrodes 24 on the piezoelectric sheet 121a. In this configuration, an ejection voltage applied to the drive electrodes 24 is reliably prevented from being applied to ink in a pressure chamber and/or the cavity plate 14, whereby reliable ink ejection is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Isono, Akira Iriguchi, Atsushi Hirota
  • Patent number: 6672716
    Abstract: An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer includes at least first and second three dimensional ink stick body portions. Each ink stick body portion includes a perimeter section that is substantially the same as a corresponding section of a keyed insertion opening in the solid ink feed system. Each ink stick body portion also includes a joint perimeter section that is the complement of the joint perimeter section of the other ink stick body portion, so that the first and second ink stick body portions fit together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Brent R. Jones
  • Patent number: 6672717
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process which comprises (a) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus (1) a first ink comprising water and at least one anionic monomer; and (2) a second ink comprising water and at least one cationic monomer, wherein the anionic monomer and the cationic monomer are selected so that upon contact of the anionic monomer with the cationic monomer, spontaneous polymerization or copolymerization of at least one of the anionic monomer or the cationic monomer occurs, and wherein at least one of the first ink and the second ink further comprises a colorant; (b) causing droplets of the first ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; and (c) causing droplets of the second ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the substrate; wherein the process results in at least some portions of the substrate bearing images formed from both the first ink and the second ink, said portions forming a printed image containing the colorant and a polymer formed from at least one of the anio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6672718
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous latent image printing method which includes applying to a substrate, such as paper, a latent image ink composition, via an ink jet printer. The latent image is then activated to render it visible, by application of an activator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Laser Lock Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Stovold
  • Patent number: 6672719
    Abstract: A thermal developing apparatus in which a photothermographic element having a latent image is interposed between a heated member and a plurality of guiding rollers and when the photothermographic element is conveyed and heated while the guiding rollers are rotated, the thermal developing is conducted, and the visible image is obtained, a plurality of guiding rollers are arranged so that the variation cycle of the radius of each guiding roller is not synchronized with each other on the photothermographichic element during the rotation of each guiding roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Sumi, Akira Taguchi
  • Patent number: 6672720
    Abstract: A printer having a media transport with a rigid, air-transmissive platen. A movable air-transmissive flexible web overlays the platen, and a suction device communicates with the platen to draw air through the web and through the platen, such that a sheet of media carried on the web is biased toward the platen. A second movable web below the first web limits air flow through at least a selected portion of the platen other than a portion overlaid by the sheet. The movable web may be a continuous belt, which may have two separate air-blocking regions that are positioned beyond the platen when full airflow is desired, and at least partly registered with the platen to block airflow to peripheral platen portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: David E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6672721
    Abstract: Generally, the present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing astigmatism in a projection system that is particularly well suited to reducing astigmatism in LCD projection systems. A projection system includes a light source to generate light, conditioning optics to condition the light from the light source and an imaging core to impose on image on conditioned light from the conditioning optics to form image light. The imaging core includes a polarizing beamsplitter and at least one imager, and at least one element in the imaging core is adapted to reduce astigmatism in the image light. The astigmatism may arise in the polarizing beamsplitter. A projection lens system projects the astigmatism-reduced image light from the imaging core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David J. W. Aastuen, Charles L. Bruzzone, Stephen K. Eckhardt, Jiaying Ma
  • Patent number: 6672722
    Abstract: A projection engine having a first kernel for modulating light of a first polarization, and a second kernel for modulating light of a second polarization, and a polarization combiner for merging light from the kernels into a dual polarization modulated output beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Michael O'Connor, Kenneth E. Salsman, Serge Rutman
  • Patent number: 6672723
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal projector which can blast an increased amount of cooling air to raise the cooling efficiency without increasing the size of an optical prism unit. The liquid crystal projector includes a dichroic prism, a base for securing the dichroic prism with a lower plate interposed therebetween, a plurality of liquid crystal panel units disposed on side faces of the dichroic prism, and a cooling fan disposed below the base. The base has air holes formed therein such that air current generated by the cooling fan is introduced to the liquid crystal panel units through the air holes to cool the liquid crystal panel units. The lower plate has inclined faces at portions thereof which oppose to the air holes of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Hideki Sugimoto, Shinya Watanabe, Yoshifumi Akaike
  • Patent number: 6672724
    Abstract: An integrated prism-based optical device for a projection system performs light integration, beam shaping, and input/output beam separation. The integrated optical device preferably includes a light integrator tunnel with a first lens located adjacent one end and a prism located adjacent an opposite end. A second lens is located adjacent another side. The individual elements are preferably secured together using an index matching adhesive to form a unitary optical device. The integrated optical device is compact and provides uniform, high intensity light to the display device. The integrator tunnel may have a wedge or frustum shape eliminating the need for the first lens. The integrated optical device allows for a projector that requires fewer parts, is lighter weight, more compact, less costly, and more easily assembled than prior projection systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, Jeff Gohman
  • Patent number: 6672725
    Abstract: An optical apparatus for clearly viewing the interior of a containment vessel by applying a transpiration fluid to a volume directly in front of the external surface of the optical element of the optical apparatus. The fluid is provided by an external source and transported by means of an annular tube to a capped end region where the inner tube is perforated. The perforation allows the fluid to stream axially towards the center of the inner tube and then axially away from an optical element which is positioned in the inner tube just prior to the porous sleeve. This arrangement draws any contaminants away from the optical element keeping it free of contaminants. In one of several embodiments, the optical element can be a lens, a viewing port or a laser, and the external source can provide a transpiration fluid having either steady properties or time varying properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: John VanOsdol, Steven Woodruff
  • Patent number: 6672726
    Abstract: An extending and rotating rearview mirror assembly for use on an automotive vehicle includes a base member (34) for mounting the mirror assembly to the vehicle. An elongated support arm (38) is pivotally mounted to the base member for pivoting the mirror assembly between an operative position and a folded position. The support arm supports a mirror housing (30) having a glass mirror pane (24) therein for providing a rearward reflective view from the vehicle. A coupling assembly (20) interconnects the mirror housing and support arm for sliding mirror housing in a generally horizontal direction with respect to the base member and for rotating the mirror housing with respect to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Ian Boddy, Keith D. Foote
  • Patent number: 6672727
    Abstract: A motorized mirror actuator is disclosed which includes a movable ramp having upwardly facing angled surfaces for urging a cam element in and out of the normal viewing position, thereby moving the rear view mirror into a position which will enable the driver to see his blind spot. A small electric motor is sufficient to drive the mirror in and out of the appropriate angle for viewing the “blind spot” for the driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Rami-Vision System, LLC
    Inventor: Kurt L. Lohss
  • Patent number: 6672728
    Abstract: A control device of for automatically adjusting a view angle of a rearview mirror of a vehicle is disclosed. The control device includes a turning detector mounted on the vehicle for generating a triggering signal in response to a turning operation of a user; and a drive circuit electrically connected to the turning detector for moving the rearview mirror along a certain direction from an initial position toward a predetermined position in response to the triggering signal. The turning detector, for example, can be an indicator-light switch or a tire-angle switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Exon Science Inc.
    Inventors: Wen-Wei Su, Kuei-Hung Chen, Shun-Hsiang Hsiao
  • Patent number: 6672729
    Abstract: A reflector employs shapes that transfer light and sound emission from sources to planes or volumes in an efficient and controlled manner. Reflector troughs employ shaped ends that increase the efficiency of utilizing output from sources, improve uniformity and project light outside the footprint of the reflector. A slanted trough reflector projects light out one or both ends of the trough outside the footprint of the reflector. Axi-symmetric and linear-symmetric reflectors provide directionality for specific applications. Sources that erode are enclosed by shaped reflectors to maintain directionality as the source erodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Phoenix Science and Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond B. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6672730
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly for large vehicles, such as trucks, includes a reflective element, a support bracket, and an actuator mounting the reflective element to the support bracket. A mirror housing is secured to the support bracket. The electrical actuator is mounted to the support bracket by a plurality of fasteners and includes an actuator housing, which has a peripheral surface extending around the fasteners. The support bracket provides bearing contact for at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the housing to reduce the vibration and improve the stability of the mirror assembly. The electrical actuator includes a movable member which supports the reflective element for movement therewith and which extends into the actuator housing and frictionally engages the housing to minimize vibration of the movable member when it pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hadley Products
    Inventors: Karl H. Hanft, Edward A. Gahan, David N. Sizemore
  • Patent number: 6672731
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror blind spot viewing system includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly which enables moving the reflective mirror element to an alternate position for viewing of areas adjacent the vehicle which otherwise would be hidden in the driver's blind spot. The blind spot system includes a reflective mirror element mounted on a pivot member such as an electric actuator for adjusting the field of view of the mirror element for different drivers about an axis which is preferably centered on the mirror element. A support member has a joint spaced laterally of the axis and pivotally connected to the pivot member for moving the mirror element between a first rearward viewing position and a blind spot viewing position. A power source such as an electric motor is preferably mounted on the pivot member and is spaced from the support member joint, and includes a threaded member pivotally connected to the support member and driven by a gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Schnell, David K. Willmore, Richard J. Weber
  • Patent number: 6672732
    Abstract: A vibrating microdevice, such as a vibrating micromirror, includes a vibrating structure which is connected to a supporting body via at least one spring structure in an at least a largely floating manner, the spring structure including at least one torsion-spring element defining a torsion axis and permitting a torsional vibration about the torsion axis to be induced in the vibrating structure, the spring structure also including at least one converter structure, which at least partially converts forces acting at least largely perpendicularly to the torsion axis on the torsion spring element into forces acting at least partially parallelly to the torsion axis on the torsion-spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Niendorf, Wilhelm Frey, Karsten Funk
  • Patent number: 6672733
    Abstract: In a backlight unit, a plurality of light sources whose luminescent chromaticities are different mutually, i.e., a white color fluorescent tube W, a red color fluorescent tube R, a green color fluorescent tube G, and a blue color fluorescent tube B, are arranged on both end in a longitudinal direction of a light guide plate respectively. The white color fluorescent tube W is arranged at a position closest to the end surface in a longitudinal direction of the light guide plate. Luminances of these fluorescent tubes W, R, G, B can be adjusted independently by control voltages supplied from external devices. Lights emitted from a plurality of light sources enter into the light guide plate, and then the lights are emitted from the light guide plate in a predetermined direction. Since the backlight unit itself has a color adjusting function, the reduction of the luminance and the change of the color balance due to degradation of the fluorescent tubes can be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Display Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Shinpei Nagatani
  • Patent number: 6672734
    Abstract: A backlight system comprises a light-emitting panel (1) having a front wall (2) and, opposite thereto, a rear wall (3), and opposite first and second light-transmitting edge surfaces (4; 5) associated with a plurality of first and second light sources (6; 7). Light originating from the light sources (6; 7) is diffused in the panel (1). Parts of the surface areas (8; 9) of the rear wall (3) are provided with extraction means (18, 18′, . . . ; 19, 19′, . . . ) for extracting light from the panel (1). First extraction means (18, 18′, . . . ) extract light from, preferably, the first light source (6), and vice versa In operation, said parts of the surface areas (8; 9) project light on a (LCD) display device panel (34) with an associated color filter (35). In the vicinity of the second edge area (5), the concentration of the first extraction means (18, 18′, . . . ) is higher than that of the second extraction means (19, 19′, . . . ), and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventor: Liane Lammers
  • Patent number: 6672735
    Abstract: A suction head for a vacuum cleaning devices comprising an electrically operated brush roller and a lighting system for illuminating the working field. The lighting system contains a plurality of ultra-bright light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Wessel-Werk GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Dilger, Dieter Kaffenberger, Klaus-Dieter Riehl
  • Patent number: 6672736
    Abstract: A mailbox includes a housing, a door and a male latch member. The housing has a base and a curved top. The door has a top and a bottom and is hinged to the base of the housing adjacent to the bottom of the door. The male latch member is mechanically coupled to the door and is disposed adjacent to the top of the door. A female latch member is coupled to the housing and is disposed so that the male latch member engages the female latch member. The female latch member has a base portion, a handle portion, a ribbed reinforcement portion and two clip-connector portions. A battery-housing portion is disposed on the top of the base portion. A battery assembly is received in the battery-housing portion and has two electrodes. A lighting assembly is disposed in the base portion adjacent to the handle portion and includes a light emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel G. Waldman
  • Patent number: 6672737
    Abstract: A uniform radiation intensity generation box using a symmetrical lighting source is constructed to include a housing, the housing having a top opening for the mounting of a camera for taking photos of a real object and a door at one side, a plurality of lamp tubes vertically symmetrically provided inside the housing, and a plurality of diffusion plates mounted inside the housing and covered over the lamp tubes, each diffusion plate having a plurality of diffusing grains uniformly arranged in one face thereof and adapted for diffusing light from the lamp tubes in all directions inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Waytech Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Peng Cheng Lai, Douglas W. Wang, Wei Shang Cheng, Yu Chang Chang, Kueng Yan Wu
  • Patent number: 6672738
    Abstract: The invention relates to a decorative ornament. The ornament includes a circuit board shaped in an aesthetically desirable manner to provide a background for the decorative ornament, a plurality of light sources, an integrated circuit and circuit leads being mounted on the circuit board. The circuit leads electrically couple the light sources with the integrated circuit to control the light pattern displayed by the decorative ornament. The circuit leads, light sources and circuit boards working together to create an aesthetically pleasing ornament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: James M. Lewis, Elizabeth B. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6672739
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for illuminating a lithographic mask or an object in a microscope is presented, whereby the output of a laser beam homogenizer is imaged on to a field such as the object plane for lithographic application or on to the rear focal plane of an epi illuminating objective lens as a source for wide field illumination at an object plane in a microscope (for application to magnified imaging of weak phase objects).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Bernell Edwin Argyle, Jeffery Gregory McCord
  • Patent number: 6672740
    Abstract: A condensing and collecting optical system includes a collimating reflector and focusing reflector. The collimating reflector includes a portion of a paraboloid of revolution having a focal point and an optical axis. The focusing reflector includes a paraboloid of revolution having a focal point and an optical axis. A source of the electromagnetic radiation placed at the focal point of the collimating reflector produces a collimated beam of radiation. The focusing reflector is positioned so as to receive the collimated beam and focus it toward a target positioned at the focal point of the focusing reflector. To achieve maximum illumination at the target, the collimating reflector and the focusing reflector are so constructed and positioned so as to achieve preferably about unit magnification between the source and its focused image, although other magnifications may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Cogent Light Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth K. Li
  • Patent number: 6672741
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light emitting diode reflector which is installed in portable lighting equipment such as electric torches. The light emitting diode reflector comprises a reflector which is a one piece parabolic mirror, a front cover which is placed upon the open end of the reflector and a light emitting diode which is mounted at the center of the front cover facing the reflector. The light emitting diode reflector increases the light intensity significantly to meet the user's requirement and maintains the advantage of energy saving of using a light emitting diode as the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Tony Chunlung Young
  • Patent number: 6672742
    Abstract: A candle shade includes a sleeve adapted to receive a top end of a candle and a shade element coupled to the sleeve and surrounding the candle adjacent the top end. The sleeve has at least one spacing element on its interior surface to space the sleeve from the candle and reduce contact area therebetween. A stop is also provided on the sleeve to inhibit the sleeve from travelling down the candle beyond the top end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Milton Alley
  • Patent number: 6672743
    Abstract: Lampshade frame structure including an outer shade body, an upper and a lower trays and several support rods. The upper tray is made of metal rod having circular cross-section. The lower tray is made of metal rod having rectangular cross-section. The support rod is made of slightly elastic elongated metal strip. Each of two ends of the support rod is enclosed in a fixing sheath. One end of an upper fixing sheath is formed with a semicircular holding section, while one end of a lower fixing sheath is formed with a hooking section for respectively hooking and connecting with the upper and lower trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Mei-Ju Juang