Patents Issued in January 20, 2004
  • Patent number: 6680848
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a device (1) for mounting at least two electrical components (4A, 4B) on a printed circuit card (2), the card (2) comprising connection pads on both of its sides. According to the invention, the card (2) is traversed by holes (11-14) for receiving mounting means that extend through the printed circuit card in order to mount the electrical components (4A, 4B) on opposite sides of the card. Another subject of the invention is the tool (35) for mounting or removing an electrical component mounted on a printed circuit card as mentioned above. This tool comprises means for exerting pressure on a first electrical component (4A) attached to a first side of the printed circuit card, in order to mount or remove a second electrical component (4B) on the opposite side of the printed circuit card (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Bull S.A.
    Inventors: Claude Petit, Thierry Fromont
  • Patent number: 6680849
    Abstract: An enclosed electronic component is provided by extruding first and second heatsink members having a plurality of cooling structures disposed on first surfaces thereof and an electronic component board between the first and second heatsinks, with a pair of joining members and conductive gaskets to form an electromagnetically sealed enclosure and a thermal pathway to remove heat from the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Atkinson, Simon E. Shearman
  • Patent number: 6680850
    Abstract: An electronics assembly comprises a frame (1) that contains a motherboard (8) and a plurality of daughterboards (10). The frame has an opening opposite the motherboard to allow insertion of the daughterboards into the frame or removal of the daughterboards from the frame. The frame also has an injector/ejector mechanism (16, 18) for each daughterboard that is located on the daughterboard or the frame and a flange (28) that extends adjacent to the opening and on which the injector/ejector mechanism of each daughterboard is attached or engages at different locations along the length thereof. The flange (28) is divided into separate sections (30) that correspond to the different locations to allow the flange to flex at any adjacent location during insertion of a daughterboard without the flexing affecting the position of any adjacent location of the flange with respect to the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Kevin Osborn, Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 6680851
    Abstract: Disclosed is a leveraged handle apparatus which may alternatively be used as an ordinary latching and locking device for a hinged door to an enclosed area or as an insertion/extraction device for easily inserting or extracting an electronic module or other container from an enclosure where electrical pins may be damaged by improper insertion techniques, and/or the insertion/extraction forces may be more than can be conveniently provided by a technician. The outer surface of the handle and an associated latch may be flush with the other outer surfaces when the door is closed or the container is fully inserted in the enclosure. When the handle is in an unlatched condition, a spring mechanism is used to encourage the handle toward a fully open position for ease in using a finger pull for extracting or otherwise handling the object to which the handle is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Valere Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory H. Fasullo, Donald P. Rearick, James R. Walton
  • Patent number: 6680852
    Abstract: A method of color-coding a blade and a bladed system is disclosed. The bladed system has a plurality of slots. In particular, the method facilitates selecting at least one slot for inserting therein the blade. One of a plurality of core colors is associated with each slot of the bladed system, whereas each core color indicates which type of blade can be inserted in the corresponding slot. One of the core colors is associated with the blade. In the bladed system, a slot which has an associated core color which matches the core color of the blade is selected. The blade is inserted in the selected slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Michael Wortman
  • Patent number: 6680853
    Abstract: Systems for mounting components to circuit assemblies are provided. One such system comprises a circuit assembly having a front, a back, a length and a width. A support structure is attached to one of the front and the back of the circuit assembly, with the support structure being sized and shaped to span at least one of the length and the width of the circuit assembly. A first component is attached to the support structure such that at least a portion of the support structure is located between the first component and the circuit assembly, with the first component electrically communicating with the circuit assembly. Methods and other systems also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert William Dobbs, James Kristian Koch, Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 6680854
    Abstract: A switching power supply includes a transformer having a primary winding connected to a pair of a.c. input terminals via a rectifier circuit, and a secondary winding connected to a pair of d.c. output terminals via a rectifying and smoothing circuit. Connected between the pair of outputs of the rectifier circuit via an inductor, reverse-blocking diode, and part or whole of the transformer primary, a primary switch is turned on and off at a repetition frequency higher than the frequency of the a.c. input voltage. A soft-switching circuit is provided which comprises a serial connection of a transformer tertiary, an ancillary diode and an ancillary switch. This serial circuit is connected in parallel with the serial connection of the transformer primary and primary switch for zero-voltage switching of the primary switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Morita, Toshiyuki Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 6680855
    Abstract: To expand the power output capacity of a power plant comprising a first and a second rectifier connected in parallel to a varying load, the output voltage of the first rectifier being essentially constant within its load current operating range, said second rectifier is controlled to supply, at said first rectifier output voltage (U1), a constant load current (0.8×I3max) that is lower than its maximum current (I3max) to shift the operating range of said first rectifier correspondingly to higher current values. Said second rectifier is controlled to supply, at a predetermined lower output (U3″) voltage, load currents between said constant load current (0.8×I3max) and said maximum current (I3max) in response to maximum current (I1max) from said first rectifier. In response to load currents that are lower than said constant load current (0.8×I3max), the output voltage is limited to a predetermined higher voltage (U3′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Ermerson Energy Systems AB
    Inventors: Kjell Rundkvist, Kjell Lövqvist
  • Patent number: 6680856
    Abstract: A power converter circuit for wind power devices which feed into a high-voltage grid consisting of a power converter circuit arrangement to transform the variable frequency and variable voltage alternating current generated in the AC voltage generator into DC. The DC is chopped to again produce AC but with a fixed frequency and voltage. The power converter consists of a cascaded serial arrangement of several power converter cells. The power converter cells are made dynamically active or inactive by the master control unit, depending on the power being generated by the AC voltage generator. Each phase of each power converter cell supplies a primary winding of an output transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Semikron Elektronik GmbH
    Inventor: Dejan Schreiber
  • Patent number: 6680857
    Abstract: Multiple conductive paths are provided in a circuit portion between a circuit element and a logic block, enabling repairing of defects in the conductive line coupling the circuit element and logic blocks without the use of fusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Mueller, Toshiaki Kirihata
  • Patent number: 6680858
    Abstract: One package contains a plurality of memory chips. Each memory chip has an I/O terminal which generates a busy signal. The busy signal enables a busy state when a power supply voltage value reaches a specified and guaranteed range after a power-on sequence. The busy signal maintains the busy state until completion of initialization operations for the plurality of memory chips. The busy signal releases the busy state after completion of all initialization operations for the plurality of memory chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya, Ken Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6680859
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device including a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) unit having improved signal-to-noise ratio, reduced bit line capacitance, and reduced area is provided. The DRAM unit includes a plurality of bit line pairs, each bit line pair including a first metal conductor and a second metal conductor. Each bit line pair includes a reference bit line and a sense bit line. Each bit line pair may be configured such that the reference bit line and the sense bit line are longitudinally oriented with respect to each other. Alternatively, each bit line pair is configured such that the first metal conductor and the second metal conductor are symmetrically twisted about each other in at least one location. The lateral spacing between a cell plate and a transistor gate is minimized, resulting in reduced overall area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Marvel International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Winston Lee, Peter Lee, Sehat Sutardja
  • Patent number: 6680860
    Abstract: Techniques for continuously programming a coherent transient spatial-spectral optical signal processor involve the repeated application of two or more spatially distinct optical programming pulses to a non-persistent hole-burning material to write an accumulated, spatial-spectral population grating with low intensity optical pulses as compared to single shot programming. An optical data stream is introduced on a processing beam, resulting in a processor output signal spatially distinct from all the processing pulses. Programming and processing take place simultaneously, asynchronously and continuously. For accumulated gratings, the frequency stability of the optical source is an important consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Research and Development Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Kristian Merkel, William Babbitt
  • Patent number: 6680861
    Abstract: A ferroelectric memory comprises a first memory cell which is provided at a point where a first word line and a first or second bit line intersect, and has a first ferroelectric capacitor formed with a ferroelectric material as an insulating film, capacitor; a first sense amplifier connected to the first and second bit lines, for amplifying a signal read from the first memory cell; a second memory cell which is provided at a point where a second word line and a third or fourth bit line intersect, and has a second ferroelectric capacitor formed with a ferroelectric material as an insulating film; a second sense amplifier connected to the third and fourth bit lines, for amplifying a signal read from the second memory cell; a first switch for electrically connecting the first bit line and the third bit line; and a second switch for electrically connecting the second bit line and the fourth bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Kasai
  • Patent number: 6680862
    Abstract: Read word lines are disposed in correspondence with rows of memory cells arranged in a matrix, and bit lines and reference voltage lines are disposed in correspondence with the columns. A data read current is passed through a current path passing a selected memory cell, which is formed between a data read circuit and a read reference voltage via a data bus, a column selection gate, a bit line, and a reference voltage line. The data read circuit detects a voltage change occurring in the selected memory cell due to the data read current and outputs read data. A sum of an electric resistance value of the bit line and an electric resistance value of the reference voltage line in a portion included in the current path is set to be almost constant without depending on a row to which the selected memory cell belongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Hideto Hidaka
  • Patent number: 6680863
    Abstract: A method and system for providing and using a magnetic memory including magnetic memory cells is disclosed. The method and system include providing a magnetic tunneling junction including a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer and an insulating layer between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The magnetic memory cell is coupled to a merged word line and a bit line. The merged word line selects the magnetic memory cell during a reading and carries a write current for the magnetic memory cell during writing. The bit line provides current to the magnetic memory cell during the reading and the writing. The currents provided by the bit line and the merged word line during writing allow data to be written to the magnetic memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), Inc.
    Inventors: Xizeng Shi, Qiuqun Qi
  • Patent number: 6680864
    Abstract: A vertical gain memory cell including an n-channel metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and p-channel junction field-effect transistor (JFET) transistors formed in a vertical pillar of semiconductor material is provided. The body portion of the p-channel transistor is coupled to a second source/drain region of the MOSFET which serves as the gate for the JFET. The second source/drain region of the MOSFET is additionally coupled to a charge storage node. Together the second source/drain region and charge storage node provide a bias to the body of the JFET that varies as a function of the data stored by the memory cell. A non destructive read operation is achieved. The stored charge is sensed indirectly in that the stored charge modulates the conductivity of the JFET so that the JFET has a first turn-on threshold for a stored logic “1” condition and a second turn-on threshold for a stored logic “0” condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell P. Noble
  • Patent number: 6680865
    Abstract: In a non-volatile memory, the source potential of a selected cell transistor to be programmed is controlled to be changed in accordance with a distance between a program voltage generator connected to a bit line and to the selected cell transistor. When the distance between the selected cell transistor and the program voltage generator is a first distance, the source potential at the selected cell transistor is controlled to be a first potential, and when the distance between them is a second distance longer than the first distance, the source potential at the selected cell transistor is controlled to be a second potential higher than the first potential. As a result, the drain-source voltage at the selected cell transistor to be programmed can be optimized, and optimization of the programming can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Keisuke Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6680866
    Abstract: The position information indicating the position of a memory relative to a controller is stored in a position information generating circuit, and the transfer timing of write data transmitted from an input circuit to a write circuit and the activation timing of a latch transfer instructing signal are adjusted according to this position information. Thus, the semiconductor memory device is provided that is capable of taking in and generating the internal write data reliably even when the flight time of a data bus becomes substantially the same as the cycle time of a clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kajimoto
  • Patent number: 6680867
    Abstract: A dummy cell includes a plurality of first memory cells MC for storing “1” or “0”, arranged at points of intersection between a plurality of word lines WR0 to WR7 and a plurality of first data lines D0 to D7, a plurality of first dummy cells MCH for storing “1” or “0”, arranged at points of intersection between the word lines WR0 to WR7 and a first dummy data line, and a plurality of second dummy cells MCL for storing “0”, arranged at points of intersection between the word lines WR0 to WR7 and a second dummy data line DD1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Hanzawa, Takeshi Sakata
  • Patent number: 6680868
    Abstract: As soon as a write command is input to a nonvolatile memory cell array, an internal charge pump circuit starts pumping. When the pumping is achieved, the writing to the nonvolatile memory cell array is implemented. By keeping the internal charge pump circuit ready for a next write command even after the end of the first write operation, it is possible to cut down the time required for the activation/deactivation of the internal charge pump circuit, which would cause redundancy. When it is determined that no successive write operations are to be performed, the internal charge pump circuit is deactivated. Similar controls are carried out for the other commands which rewrite the contents of the nonvolatile memory cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 6680869
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device of a DDR configuration improved in glitch immunity and the convenience of use is to be provided. It is a dynamic type RAM the operation of whose internal circuit is controlled in synchronism with a clock signal; an input circuit is provided in which a second clock signal inputted when in write operation is used to take in a plurality of write data serially inputted in response to that signal into a plurality of first latch circuits, and said first clock signal is used to take the write data taken into the first latch circuits into the second latch circuit to convey them to an input/output data bus; a logic circuit is provided to mask, in accordance with the logic of the first clock signal and the second clock signal, any noise arising at the end of the second clock signal, and a third clock signal is generated and supplied to the first latch circuits which output the write data to at least the input of the second latch circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Sonoda, Takeshi Sakata, Sadayuki Morita, Yoshinobu Nakagome, Haruko Tadokoro, Osamu Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6680870
    Abstract: A memory device that is free from problems resulted from the characteristics of nonvolatile memory chips. The problems are specifically those occurring at the time of data transfer between nonvolatile memory chips, e.g., data error or program error occurring after data transfer. In the memory device, an error correction code process unit applies error detection to data read from a nonvolatile memory chip to a data line for data transfer. For such detection, an error correction code for the data is referred to. At the time of data transfer between the nonvolatile memory chips, if the data is detected as containing a correctable error, a writing unit writes the corrected data to a nonvolatile memory, which is the transfer destination. In this manner, at the time of data transfer between the nonvolatile memory chips, the error never fails to be detected before data writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Toyama, Tsutomu Sekibe
  • Patent number: 6680871
    Abstract: In a mask-programmable logic device having embedded memory blocks, which device cannot be reconfigured for testing like a full programmable logic device, the embedded memory blocks are tested by forming scan chains from the input-side registers of a plurality of embedded memory blocks, and from the output-side registers of a those embedded memory blocks. Test vectors are clocked into the input-side scan chain and the results are clocked out from the output-side scan chain. The test vectors can be made by concatenating multiple copies of a test vector for one block when the blocks are identical. The method works even where one or more embedded memory blocks are configured as read-only devices, as long as the contents of the read-only devices are known so that one knows what test output to expect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Price
  • Patent number: 6680872
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell region having main virtual ground lines; and a reference cell region having reference virtual ground lines, and the reference cell region having substantially the same interconnection routine as said memory cell region, wherein, in said reference cell region, adjacent reference cells to a selected reference cell to be referred are off-bit cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Hibino
  • Patent number: 6680873
    Abstract: The output terminal of a voltage generation circuit is connected to one end portion of a fuse circuit. A transistor is connected to the other end portion of the fuse circuit. In program mode, a voltage generated from the voltage generation circuit is applied to the fuse circuit and a current flows through the fuse circuit and the transistor. In verify mode, a current generated from the voltage generation circuit flows into a pad through a selected fuse circuit and a detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Muraoka, Eiji Kozuka
  • Patent number: 6680874
    Abstract: A method and circuitry for a delay lock loop useful in synchronizing the accessing of a memory array with a system clock is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the delay lock loop includes a variable delay element. The delay of the variable delay element is initially set to a minimum delay value. The system clock is then frequency divided and sent to the variable delay element, the output of which will ultimately be used to access the memory array in a synchronized manner with the system clock. The frequency divided clock and the output of the variable delay element are input to a phase detector, which creates a control signal for adjusting the delay of the variable delay element. After the signals are determined to be locked by the phase detector, an undivided clock signal version of the clock signal is sent to the variable delay element, and a frequency divided version of the output of the variable delay element is sent to the phase detector in lieu of the previous output of the variable delay element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronnie M. Harrison
  • Patent number: 6680875
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a plurality of memory banks and a plurality of power supply circuits corresponding to the memory banks. Each of the memory banks is independently activated by an activating command. Given an externally supplied voltage, each of the power supply circuits outputs a predetermined internal supply voltage. Each power supply circuit has its output connected to the corresponding memory bank. In response to a command for activating one of the memory banks, the corresponding power supply circuit is activated while the remaining power supply circuits is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Horiguchi, Masayuki Nakamura, Sadayuki Ohkuma, Kazuhiko Kajigaya, Yoshinobu Nakagome
  • Patent number: 6680876
    Abstract: A radio wave transmitter transmits a transmission command to an artificial fish in a water tank. A radio wave receiver in the artificial fish outputs the received transmission command to an ultrasonic transmitter so that the ultrasonic transmitter is caused to transmit ultrasonic transmission pulses. The ultrasonic transmission pulses are received by reception devices in the water tank, and a reception signal thereof is supplied to a propagation time clock generator. The propagation time clock generator generates propagation time clock pulses according to ultrasonic propagation times from the artificial fish to the reception devices. The propagation time clock pulses are counted by a pulse counter, and a count value thereof is inputted to an arithmetic operation control portion to obtain a propagation time, thereby calculating a three-dimensional position of the artificial fish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanji Isomichi, Yuuzi Terada
  • Patent number: 6680877
    Abstract: A solar counter to provide an accurate way of measuring the middle of the night or another selected fraction of the day or night. The solar counter activates an electronic event when it has finished counting down. For example, a lamp can be turned off half way through the dark part of the night. This process is extremely accurate, and adaptations of this concept can be used in the safety industry, irrigation, or in agriculture. One embodiment of this concept has a battery back-up circuit, but a substitute 50/60 Hz clock input frequency in the case of AC power loss can also be provided using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Richard M. Lienau
  • Patent number: 6680879
    Abstract: A CD-R recorder capable of re-recording a series of musical tunes from a phonograph record to a CD-R, with addresses assigned to the respective tunes for ease of accessing later. Included is a random-access memory on which there are to be stored by the user a series of incremental addresses to be assigned to the successive tunes recorded, and the expected playing times of the tunes ascertained previously, as from the record jacket or by pre-recording of the tunes. The actual playing time of each tune being recorded is measured and compared with the expected playing time of that tune on the RAM. Upon agreement of the expected and the actual playing time of each tune, the addresses on the RAM are incremented to cause each tune to be recorded with an address assigned thereto according to its storage location on the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Teac Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kato, Masao Negishi
  • Patent number: 6680880
    Abstract: CD playback apparatus for reproducing information from unfinalized CD-R disks which have no index information stored in a table of contents (TOC) area which scans a disk coarsely to detect the end of the recorded area approximately and scans the disk finely in the area of the detected approximate end, to detect the end of the recorded area with greater accuracy. The apparatus has an optical pick-up unit which jumps across a disk with predetermined intervals, to detect partial index information for the disk during the coarse scanning, analyses the partial index information, performs the fine scanning, jumps to an area in which missing index information is judged to exist as a result of the analysis, and reads out data in the jumped-to area to detect the missing index information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Noel Ripoll-Ensenat, Bart Franco
  • Patent number: 6680881
    Abstract: A method for determining a track-cross direction of a pick-up head of an optical disk drive includes the following steps. (1) When a track-cross velocity of the pick-up head was determined to be greater than a predetermined velocity, it is determined whether the track-cross velocity of the pick-up head is changed to be less than the predetermined velocity. If not, the track-cross direction remains unchanged. (2) When the track-cross velocity of the pick-up head was determined to be less than the predetermined velocity, it is determined whether the track-cross velocity of the pick-up head is changed to be greater than the predetermined velocity. If not, the track-cross direction is determined according to a phase difference between a first track-cross signal and a second track-cross signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Via Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Chung Chan, Chih-Yang Liaw
  • Patent number: 6680882
    Abstract: An annular disc holder is provided for holding a plurality of discs. The disc holder is rotatably mounted on a base and is guided by a guiding device provided between the disc holder and the base so as to be rotated about an axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Ikedo, Yoshimitsu Fukushima, Hitoshi Nagata, Atsushi Yamane
  • Patent number: 6680883
    Abstract: It is an object to perform a thin and compact design of the objective lens driving device. In order to achieve the above object, optical beam is passed through a space surrounded by a tracking coil and a focusing coil which are adjacent to each other and fixed in a holder. Further, it is another object to position the objective lens with high precision in an objective lens driving device for switching a plurality of objective lenses in accordance with the type of an optical disc. In order to achieve this object, magnetic substances which are radially extended with the sliding shaft at the center are provided in the lens holder, and the magnetic substances are located within a plane perpendicular to the plane constituting the magnetic gap and at the outside of the magnetic gap. Still further, in an objective lens driving device it is another object to prevent the occurrence of positional displacement of the objective lens due to resistance force of current supply means such as FPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Media Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinro Inui, Naohiko Otoshi, Katsuhiko Izumi, Michio Miura, Naomitsu Kuroda, Ryuichiro Mizuno
  • Patent number: 6680884
    Abstract: Apparatus for scanning a rotating information carrier having mutually substantially parallel tracks for the recording of information. The apparatus includes a transducer for scanning the information carrier and for generating a position signal which indicates a position of a scanning point scanned by the transducer. The apparatus further includes means for rotating the information carrier about an axis and means for moving the scanning point in a radial direction with respect to the axis. The apparatus has a scanning mode in which the scanning point jumps both from one track to another in a first radial direction and from one track to another in an opposite second direction during reading or writing of a file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Arnoldus J. Niessen, Joris J. Vrehen
  • Patent number: 6680885
    Abstract: An optical disc system for efficiently controlling a sled motor is provided. The optical disc system has a sled motor for moving an optical pick-up; a digital servo core to generate a first and a second sled control signal; a microcomputer for generating a selecting signal, a third and a fourth sled control signal for controlling the sled motor; a first and a second selecting unit for receiving the selecting signal and selecting and outputting one of the first and third sled control signals and selecting and outputting one of the second and fourth sled control signals, respectively; and a third and a fourth selecting unit for respectively receiving the outputs of a first and second digital-to-analog converters and generating the respective outputs of the first and second digital-to-analog converters in response to the selecting signal to the sled motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., LTD
    Inventor: Seung-Jin Roh
  • Patent number: 6680886
    Abstract: A tilt servo apparatus of an optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus, which includes sampling portion for sampling an RF envelope signal at every predetermined rotational angle on the basis of a rotation signal being synchronous with a rotation of the optical recording medium, calculating portion for calculating an average value of the sampled envelope intensities, and control portion for controlling a tilt error correction. The control portion determines the amount of the tilt error correction on the basis of the average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Naohara, Takeshi Sato, Hitoshi Yamazaki, Norio Matsuda, Morio Nozaki
  • Patent number: 6680887
    Abstract: This invention relates to an optical disk apparatus for optically reproducing information recorded on an information carrier by an optical beam emitted by a light source, the optical disk apparatus comprising: a converging section for directing the optical beam to the information carrier in a converged state; a light detection section for generating a reproduction signal corresponding to the optical beam reflected by or transmitted through the information carrier; a waveform equalization section for varying a frequency characteristic of the reproduction signal generated by the light detection section; a jitter measuring section for measuring a jitter of a signal output from the waveform equalization section; and a minimum jitter value searching section for determining a minimum value of the jitter in an initial area of an X-Y plane defined by a variable x and a variable y which can vary the jitter measured by the jitter measuring section. A PLL circuit is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shihara, Takashi Narutani, Katsuya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6680888
    Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus includes a detector circuit for detecting a state of reflection light from the recording medium, a control circuit for calculating a radiation power used for writing the information in the recording medium, in accordance with the reflection light state, a pulse generator circuit for generating record pulse information in accordance with the radiation power, and an optical driver circuit for converting the record pulse information into optical information in accordance with the radiation power and driving the optical head to record the light information into the recording medium. Accordingly, the apparatus records information by applying light from an optical head to a record area of a recording medium and changing a state of the record area and reads the information recorded in the record area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Toda, Shigeru Nakamura, Takeshi Maeda
  • Patent number: 6680889
    Abstract: The invention provides a data recording medium and a data recording apparatus which are large in recording capacity and comparatively low in cost and secures protection of recorded information. The data recording medium has a data recording area, in which quantitative limitation information of a number of pieces of information grasped based on an information identification code regarding information to be recorded is recorded in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Ito, Tatsuya Inokuchi, Yoichiro Sako, Masayuki Obata, Kazuko Sakurai
  • Patent number: 6680890
    Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording record information onto a record medium, on which (i) a plurality of information groups each comprising one series of the record information and (ii) management information including positional information indicating a recorded area of each of the information groups are recordable, is provided with: a detecting device for detecting the management information, which is recorded in advance on the record medium, from the record medium; a recording device for newly recording the record information onto the record medium; an outputting device for outputting an identification information to identify the information groups, which are recorded in advance on the record medium, on the basis of the detected management information while the recording device is newly recording the record information; a specifying device for specifying an erasable information from among the information groups which are identified by the outputted identification information while the recordin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Suzuki, Masayoshi Yoshida, Ichiro Higuchi, Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6680891
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for correcting asymmetry in an optical disk reproduction system, an analog RF signal is received from an optical diode and an asymmetry-corrected signal is output as a digital EFM signal. The apparatus includes envelope detectors for detecting upper and lower envelopes of the RF signal, a level controller for controlling the level of the sum of the upper envelope and the lower envelope and for outputting signal having the controlled level, and a comparator for comparing the level of the signal output from the level controller with the level of the RF signal and for outputting the comparison result as the digital EFM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Je-Kook Kim, Young-Wook Jang, Suk-Jung Lee
  • Patent number: 6680892
    Abstract: An optical disk device reproduces an RF signal by projecting a light beam on an optical disk and detecting a reflected light therefrom. On the optical disk, information is recorded by forming a pit on a track determined according to a groove having a wobble signal recorded thereon. The optical disk device comprises a comparator comparing the RF signal with a threshold value so as to output a binary signal, a first band-pass filter filtering a frequency band of the wobble signal from the binary signal so as to extract a wobble signal component, and a first adder obtaining a value by adding the wobble signal component to a fixed reference value so as to supply the value to the comparator as the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Teac Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Mashimo
  • Patent number: 6680893
    Abstract: An optical element supporting device has one ends of two parallel plate springs, which are extended in a tangential direction, fixed to a holder, has the other ends thereof fixed to a fixture member, and has a collimator lens locked in an opening of the holder. A base fixed to the bottom of the fixture member has two yokes formed thereon. Magnets each polarized in two directions are fixed to the insides of the yokes. Coils are fixed to two surfaces of the holder opposed to the magnets. A target is fixed to the holder, and a sensor is fixed to the bottom of the base. When a current flows into the coils, electromagnetic force is produced along an optical axis due to the interaction between the coils and the magnets opposed to the coils. This causes the parallel plate springs to loosen. Consequently, the holder, target, collimator lens, and coils move as a whole along the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Ikegame
  • Patent number: 6680894
    Abstract: In a optical head, a beam is emitted from a light emitting element in which a plurality of light sources are integrally formed, the light sources being able to emit beams having different wave lengths from one another. An optical system converges the beam coming from any one of the light sources onto an optical information storage medium. An optical separator separates a reflected beam coming from the optical information storage medium from the beam coming from the light source. A light receiving element detects light quantities of the reflected beam separated by the optical separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Hayashi, Joji Anzai
  • Patent number: 6680895
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for playing and storing several disc-shaped data carriers to be operated alternately, in particular CDs, CD-ROMs, and DVDs, with a playback unit designed for playing the data carrier and comprising a base plate (5) and a frame (6) which are coupled to one another by means of springs and/or dampers, and comprising a turntable (13) arranged on the frame (6) and designed for accommodating the data carrier and a pressure device for pressing the data carrier onto the turntable (13), while a stacking unit is provided for the intermediate storage of several data carriers, and a loading device is provided for the bidirectional transport of the data carrier between the stacking unit and the playback unit as well as for moving the data carrier into and out of the device. The playback unit is displaceable by means of a worm gear (1) and can be locked in several positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Norbert Kunze, Stefan Müller
  • Patent number: 6680896
    Abstract: A medium attaching device for attaching and holding a disk to and releasing the disk from a turntable of a disk device. A plurality of holding/releasing devices are arranged radially around a center hub of the turntable. Each holding/releasing device includes a clamp member of generally crescent form having a holding section and a releasing section located on opposite sides with respect to a swivel center. When the disk is transferred to a predetermined position of the disk device, the clamp members are swiveled around the swivel center to either attach and hold the disk to the turntable, or raise the disk to a position above the turntable and hence to release the disk therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Shiwa
  • Patent number: 6680897
    Abstract: A recording disk having a recording medium and a memory assembly which is disposed in an annular or spiral form at a certain position on the disk. The memory assembly which a memory which stores information, a signal processor which writes or reads out information to/from the memory, a transmitter-receiver for transacting information with an exterior of the disk, a controller which controls the memory, signal processor and transmitter-receiver, a receiver which receives power in the form of a signal supplied from an exterior of the disk for the operation of the memory, signal processor, transmitter-receiver and controller, and a rectifier converts the signal received by the receiver into power. The memory, signal processor, controller, rectifier, and transmitter-receiver and/or receiver are at least partially formed of a semiconductor integrated circuit and at least portions of the memory, signal processor and controller are covered with light-blocking resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ono, Shigemitsu Higuchi, Kenji Sano
  • Patent number: 6680898
    Abstract: An optical disc for storage and retrieval of digital data, and a system and method for protecting the optical disc is disclosed. The optical disc has projections or embossments on one or both surfaces. When the optical disc is placed on a substantially flat surface such as a tabletop or a desktop, the projections act as pedestals that elevate the optical disc above the flat surface. The resulting gap or clearance helps prevent damage to the optical disc caused by contaminants on the flat surface or by defects in the flat surface. The projections are sized to provide adequate clearance between the disc and the flat surface, while minimizing interference between the projections and components of optical disc readers and drives. The optical disc may also include one or more depressions that are sized and configured to receive projections from another disc, which facilitates stacking of the optical discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Todd J. Kuchman