Patents Issued in February 24, 2004
  • Patent number: 6695461
    Abstract: Since a light source lamp (11) and a reflector (12) of a lamp unit (10) are respectively fixed to a lamp housing (13) in a mutually independent manner, an attachment for attaching and fixing the light source lamp (11) is not necessary to be formed on the reflector (12) as an optical component, so that the shape of the reflector (12) can be simplified and accuracy of a reflection surface (121), especially at a bottom thereof, can be easily improved, thereby enhancing illumination of the lamp unit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Ozawa, Yoshiji Iwadare
  • Patent number: 6695462
    Abstract: A lighting installation, in particular a danger light, obstruction light or daytime and night-time marker, having at least one luminaire and at least one lighting device arranged in a housing of the luminaire, with the lighting device being in the form of a ring or part of a ring and defining a ring axis, the lighting device being assigned at least a first, wholly or partially encircling reflector surface, which defines an axis of rotation, and the ring axis and axis of rotation run essentially parallel to one another or even coaxially with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: aqua signal Aktiengesellschaft Spezialleuchtenfabrik
    Inventors: Ralph Rohlfing, Wolfgang Serfass
  • Patent number: 6695463
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted light has a vibration isolator configured to support a reflector within an interior of a light housing. The vibration isolator is formed from a resilient, vibration-absorbing material and includes generally annular front and rear sections spaced apart and interconnected by a generally cylindrical central section. The vibration isolator may be snugly fitted over a radially extending rim of the reflector such that when the reflector and vibration isolator are inserted within the housing, the vibration isolator forms a vibration absorbing interface between the housing and the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Let's Roll, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Hatfield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6695464
    Abstract: The inserting conductive connection device of a lamp rod includes a pair of upper lamp rod and a lower lamp rod, an inner walls of the upper lamp rod and lower lamp rod are formed with a first threaded section and a second threaded section, respectively; a connecting seat assembled to a top of the lower lamp rod. The connecting seat includes a large annular surface and a small annular surface; a conductive seat assembled to a bottom of the upper lamp rod. In assembly, an annular cork and a positioning ring are locked to an interior of the upper lamp rod and lower lamp rod, respectively, for positioning the lamp rod. Since the positioning ring is not directly locked to the upper lamp rod; when the positioning ring is locked by hand tool, the insertion of the receptacle and plug will not be affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Wen-Chang Wu
  • Patent number: 6695465
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror for vehicles has a mirror head housing having a light-transmitting plate arranged therein. At least one lighting unit is received in the mirror head housing and has at least one light source emitting light rays so as to pass through the light-transmitting plate to the exterior of mirror head housing. At least one reflector is positioned between the at least one light source and the light-transmitting plate. The at least one reflector has at least one opening, and the at least one light source is positioned in the at least one opening. The at least one lighting unit has a lighting unit housing and the at least one light source is arranged in the lighting unit housing which is received in a receptacle of the mirror head housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Reitter & Schefenacker GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Robert Apfelbeck
  • Patent number: 6695466
    Abstract: In a headlamp having a single filament bulb or discharge bulb, there is provided a movable shade that can appear from a reflection mirror located above the single filament bulb. In a usual condition, the movable shade is pulled at the back of the reflection mirror located above the single filament bulb. Then, a light emitted from the single filament bulb is condensed by the reflection mirror and irradiates a very long distance thereby to make a high-speed traveling possible. On the contrary, when it is rainy or foggy, the movable shade is protruded in the front of the reflection mirror. Then, a part of a light emitted from the single filament bulb is shielded by the movable shade, and the road surface in 20-40 m front of the vehicle is darkened thereby to reduce surface reflection from the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Naganawa, Tomoyuki Moritani, Akinori Matsumoto, Takayuki Iwaki
  • Patent number: 6695467
    Abstract: The cylindrical drum of a mortar/plaster mixer is locked in the mixing position by a rotatable pivot arm pivotally attached by one end to an end wall of the drum such that, when the drum is in the mixing position, the arm may be rotated between a locked position with the free end of the arm in locking engagement with the mixer frame to an unlocked position with the arm rotationally displaced from the locking position. As the mixer drum is tilted for discharge, the unlocked arm is further pivotable from the rotationally displaced unlocked position back to the locked position in response to drum rotation from the mixing position to the discharge position and reverse rotation back to the mixing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: M-B-W Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick H. Montag
  • Patent number: 6695468
    Abstract: Several watches (1.1-1.4) are placed in an arrangement and interconnected by connecting means (2.1-2.3). The watches (1.1-1.4) have cover glasses (11.1-11.4), dials (12.1-12.4), cases (13.1-13.4), winders (14.1-14.4) and time indicating means (15.1-15.4). The connecting means (2.1-2.3) are e.g. located on a carrier element (20) containing the dials (12.1-12.4) of all the watches (1.1-1.4). The carrier element (20) has preset breaking lines (3.1-3.3) in the form of perforations and cross-sectional reductions between the watches (1.1-1.4), so that said watches (1.1-1.4) can be separated from one another. The arrangement or watches (1.1-1.4) separated therefrom can be used as fashion accessories jewellery, pendants, etc. There are no practical limits to the design of the arrangement and its watches (1.1-1.4). The arrangement can be manufactured in a simple, advantageous manner, so that it is in particular possible to take account of rapidly changing fashions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Time-House Handels GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Gschwind
  • Patent number: 6695469
    Abstract: Improved roadway freezing point monitoring systems and methods include improved sample wells for the accurate measurement of the freezing point of liquid on a roadway, the use of temperature sensors that require only two conductors to receive power and to send and receive digital address and temperature information, improved algorithms for detecting the freeze point of liquid on the roadway, the use of conductivity measurements to verify detected freeze points, and the transmission of temperature information via the Internet to remote computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick A. Leonhardt
  • Patent number: 6695470
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining a change in the viscosity of a fluid, the apparatus including means for heating a portion of the fluid so that the heated portion will rise within the fluid, means for determining the heated portion's rise time, means for determining the heated portion's average velocity as it rises through the fluid and means for determining the viscosity of the fluid based on the rise time and/or average velocity of the heated portion. The method allows for permitting the temperature and agitation of the fluid to stabilize prior to heating a portion of the fluid so that it will rise within fluid. The rise time and/or average velocity of the heated portion is determined and the viscosity of the fluid may be determined the rise time and/or average velocity to a baseline rise time and/or average velocity. An output signal may be generated that is indicative of whether there has been a change in the fluid's viscosity and/or whether the fluid should be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Axel H Berndorfer, Jim H Campbell, Amiyo K. Basu
  • Patent number: 6695471
    Abstract: A temperature meter for measuring temperature of a measurement target object to which a temperature sensor cannot be fixed directly is formed by a temperature sensor configured to measure an observed temperature in a vicinity of the measurement target object; a timer configured to measure a temperature observation time; and a calculation processor configured to calculate the temperature of the measurement target object according to the observed temperature and the temperature observation time by carrying out a prescribed calculation processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Etsu Hashimoto, Yoshitada Katagiri, Tetsuo Abe, Yoshio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6695472
    Abstract: In a device for measuring the temperatures of axles and/or bearings to locate hot-boxes or overheated brakes in rolling stock, in which the infrared rays of the measuring points are directed onto an infrared receiver (8) via an oscillating mirror (9), whereby infrared rays emitted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rails are detected in the scanning plane defined by the oscillation of the oscillating mirror (9), at least two deviation mirrors (1, 2) are arranged within the scanning plane at a distance (a) from one another transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rails. The deviated infrared rays of the deviation mirrors (1, 2) are detected in a chronological sequence in accordance with the oscillation of the oscillating mirror (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: VAE Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wolfgang Nayer
  • Patent number: 6695473
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a motor vehicle comprises a component installed within motor vehicle. The system further includes an identifier device mechanically coupled to the component. The identifier device comprises an identifying portion which identifies the component, and the identifier device also comprises a sensor which senses the physical environment in which the identifier device is located. A diagnostic method for a motor vehicle comprises mounting a component within the motor vehicle. The method further includes mechanically coupling an identifier device to the component, the identifier device comprising an identifying portion which identifies the component and the identifier device also including a sensor. The method also comprises confirming, with data provided by the identifying portion, that the identifying portion correctly corresponds to the component. Further, the method includes confirming, with data provided by the sensor, that the identifier device is properly coupled to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anders Unger, Peter Claes Alleving
  • Patent number: 6695474
    Abstract: A protective cap (2) for a temperature measurement probe (30) of an infrared radiation thermometer (1) that can be introduced into a body cavity (31). The protective cap (2) includes a base body (12) shaped to fit the body cavity (31) and having a window (3) transparent to infrared radiation. The base body (12) is provided with additional structures (13; 18, 20) at least in parts to improve heat insulation between the temperature measurement probe (30) and the body cavity (31). This heat insulation of the temperature measurement probe (30) prevents measurement errors by the infrared radiation thermometer (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Beerwerth, Bernhard Kraus, Katja Honnefeller
  • Patent number: 6695475
    Abstract: A method and circuit are disclosed for measuring temperature. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first oscillator circuit that generates a first signal having a frequency that is dependent upon a sensed temperature. Difference circuitry determines a difference in frequency between the first signal and the second signal having a frequency that is substantially independent of temperature, and generates a difference signal having a number of pulses thereon based upon the difference. A counter circuit is responsive to the difference circuitry for offsetting a predetermined temperature level based upon the pulses appearing on the difference signal, to obtain an output signal indicative of the sensed temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rong Yin
  • Patent number: 6695476
    Abstract: A bag made of flexible sheet material having an opening defined by a periphery. Juxtaposed with the periphery is a closure zone. The closure zone has induced extensibility in a direction perpendicular to the opening of the bag so that handle ties may be conveniently formed upon extension of the closure zone material. The handle ties are bound together to form an integral closure for the bag. The closure remains bound in response to forces upon it. The induced extensibility is provided by a network of dual regions having different modes of extensibility. The dual region network also provides the advantage of an increased gripping surface for forming the handle ties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Beverly Ann Julian Jackson, Daniel Raymond Cerone, Daniel Edward Buenger
  • Patent number: 6695477
    Abstract: A small-sized audio signal reproducing apparatus for hearing reproduced audio signals with the aid of a headphone is disclosed. Digitized and compression encoded audio signals, stored in a semiconductor memory, are read out so as to undergo a decoding operation, which is an inverse operation to compression encoding, to reproduce the audio signals, and the reproduced signals are heard by the headphone. The apparatus may be significantly reduced in size and weight as compared to the apparatus in which a tape or a disk is used as the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Nishiguchi, Yoshihito Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6695478
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bearing for maintaining an inner mobile structural component with revolution symmetry, rotating inside an outer structural component, which is itself fixed or mobile, said bearing comprising a set of balls and at least one joining member which provides the mechanical contact between said balls and said outer structural component, said bearing also comprising a pressurized-oil damper known as a “squeeze film” damper, arranged at the annular contact surface between said joining member and the outer structural component, said bearing comprising at least two annular elastic seals, each arranged in a groove, at the edges of said annular contact surface, wherein the annular elastic seals are U-shaped lip seals, the hollow space of which is directed towards the “squeeze film”, or are E-type seals, the hollow spaces of which are directed towards the “squeeze film”, the leakproofing for each seal being ensured by the contact between said seal and t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Techspace Aero S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Bos, Sébastien Ryhon
  • Patent number: 6695479
    Abstract: The invention concerns an open-end spinning apparatus with a spin-rotor, the shaft of which is supported by an aerostatic, radial bearing with an air gap between the bearing assembly and the shaft. The construction material for the bearing surface of the spin-rotor and/or the bearing surface of the radial bearing is polyimide or aramid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Romeo Pohn, Bernhard Stand
  • Patent number: 6695480
    Abstract: A seal and bearing apparatus for a rotating shaft including a pair of sleeves with two spiral grooves (14) on an inclined surface (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: A.W. Chesterton Co.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Ramsay, Douglas T. Bridge
  • Patent number: 6695481
    Abstract: A locking device and its assemblage are provided for confining an object. The locking device is used to confine the object having an end having a recess having a defining surface to prevent the object from being displaced in a direction. The locking device is a geometrically closed-loop body having a hollow portion, and has a flexibility so that upon being applied with an external force, the object will pass through the hollow portion and the end will thus be confined by the locking device while the force disappears. A simple process can be used to assemble and disassemble the locking assemblage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Delta Electronics
    Inventor: Lee-Long Chen
  • Patent number: 6695482
    Abstract: A half bearing constituting a cylindrical plain bearing for supporting a shaft for rotation when two of the half bearings are combined together. The half bearing has two circumferential ends each of which has a plurality of circumferential grooves without formation of any crush relief surface. The grooves extend substantially over an overall circumferential dimension of the half bearing and include portions located at both circumferential ends of the half bearing respectively. Each portion has a larger axially sectional area than the grooves formed in a portion of the half bearing mainly subjected to load during rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Niwa, Yoshitaka Ito, Mitsuru Sugita, Akira Ono, Susumu Mamiya, Masaaki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6695483
    Abstract: A rolling bearing apparatus with sensor includes a sensor unit retaining a plurality of types of sensors for detecting the status of a rolling bearing, in a single holder. The plurality of types of sensors are at least two types of sensors of a rotation speed sensor, a temperature sensor, and an acceleration sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikunori Sakatani, Takeshi Takizawa, Shigeru Endo
  • Patent number: 6695484
    Abstract: Device (1) for measuring the angular speed of rolling contact bearings (2) presenting a protective shield (5) which is mounted onto the rolling contact bearing (2), a phonic wheel (6) which is mounted under the protective shield (5), and a sensor (7), which is mounted onto a stud (8) which is outside the rolling contact bearing (2) and which is provided with an external frontal surface (11) which faces the phonic wheel (6); the protective shield (5) is defined by a rigid wall (18), which is mounted onto a fixed race of the rolling contact bearing (2), and which is provided with at least one passing housing (22) for housing the frontal surface (11) of the sensor (7) and for isolating the frontal surface (11) itself from the outside by means of a rubber membrane (23) which is suitable for remaining in direct contact with the frontal surface (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: S.K.F. Industrie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Angelo Vignotto, Claudio Savarese
  • Patent number: 6695485
    Abstract: A bezel for facilitating the connection between an external device positioned on one side of a communication panel and a module located on the other side of the panel where the panel has an opening for receiving the bezel. The bezel includes a housing defining an interior portion of the bezel, a first open end for insertion into the opening of the panel and the module, where the first open end receives a first communication connection from the module for connection with the external device, and a second open end having a removable cover. The second open end receives a second communication connection from the external device for connection with the first communication connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Estrella, George Ashouri
  • Patent number: 6695486
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector module is presented that has one or more male fiber optic connectors on one end of an angled molded body and a corresponding number of female optical connectors on the other end. The molded body can be a fixed angle module made of a material such as plastic, or can be an adjustable angle module where the angle can be adjusted to from 90 and 180 degrees. The connector module prevents problems associated with optoelectronic equipment that is rack mounted and has vertically mounted optical interfaces, such as microbending of the optical fiber. Moreover, the connector module ensures that safety requirements, and in particular the elimination of eye-level laser exposure, are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, INC
    Inventor: Dean Falkenberg
  • Patent number: 6695487
    Abstract: A conversion adapter to be used for connecting opposed optical connector ferrules having different diameters is formed of an amorphous alloy possessing at least a glass transition region, preferably a glass transition region of not less than 30 K in temperature width. Particularly, the amorphous alloy of M1—M2 system or M1—M2—La system (M1: Zr and/or Hf, M2: Ni, Cu, Fe, Co, Mn, Nb, Ti, V, Cr, Zn, Al, and/or Ga, La: rare earth element) possesses a wide range of &Dgr;Tx and thus can be advantageously used as a material for the conversion adapter. Such a conversion adapter can be manufactured with high mass-productivity by a mold casting method or molding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Kobayashi, Takeshi Taniguchi, Hidenobu Nagahama, Hideki Takeda, Etsuji Sugita
  • Patent number: 6695488
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi fiber optical ferrule, a tool for forming the ferrule, and a method of making the ferrule. The multi fiber optical ferrule is formed of two ferrule halves which are either molded or cast as imprecise blanks which are machined using a broach in order to precisely cut inner surfaces thereof for receiving an array of fibers. The inner surfaces of a pair of ferrule halves are cut simultaneously in order to assure accuracy in the fiber receiving and pin receiving channels. The halves are joined together with a fiber array placed therebetween to form the ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Cinch Connectors, Inc.
    Inventor: Dimitry G. Grabbe
  • Patent number: 6695489
    Abstract: A tunable connector and method for assembling a tunable connector. The connector includes a ferrule that is retainably engaged within a hub. The connector further includes a rear housing and a front housing. The rear housing is sized to receive and rotationally retain the hub. The front housing has a bore that receives and engages the exterior surface of the rear housing. The front and rear housing include engagement members that allow the rear housing to be retained within the front housing and rotated relative to the front housing between discrete positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Jude Nault
  • Patent number: 6695490
    Abstract: An optical ring network, an optical connector, and a hybrid connector is provided, wherein a leading-out direction of an optical fiber can be changed without bringing about bad influence on the light transmitted with the optical fiber. An optical plug 24 as an optical connector includes a pair of ferrules 31 to be attached to the respective ends of a pair of optical fibers 25 and an optical adapter 32 having accommodating chambers 101 to accommodate the respective end portions of the optical fibers 25 with the respective ferrules 31. And, directing members 26, 27 to direct the respective optical fibers 25 led out of the optical adapter 32 are secured to the respective ferrules 31, and the ferrules 31 with the directing members 26, 27 are pivotably accommodated in the respective accommodating chambers 101.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuguhito Shirakawa, Nobuyuki Akeda, Toshiharu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6695491
    Abstract: Detent devices for optical fibre members have an outer casing member with a tapered aperture in which an inner engagement member is slidably fitted. A strength member of the optical fibre member received in the inner engagement member can be wrapped back around a boss of the inner engagement member and is clamped by the slidable engagement member when the optical fibre member is pulled. Thus axial strain relief is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem N.V.
    Inventors: Sam Leeman, Luiz Neves Mendes, Dirk Kempeneers, Lodewijk Van Noten, Philippe Kalmes
  • Patent number: 6695492
    Abstract: The invention provides an optical module, in which a surface-emitting laser and an optical fiber are coupled, with the optical axes thereof crossed at a predetermined angle, at low cost. A supporting member supports the end of an optical fiber, in which the extending direction of a through hole and a face at the optical fiber end are orthogonal to each other. A surface-emitting laser and the supporting member are coupled by metal projections having different heights, so that a light-emitting face of the surface-emitting laser and the face of the supporting member are disposed so as to be opposed to each other at a predetermined angle. After the projections are formed on an electrode and metal patterns on the surface of the surface-emitting laser by a method based on wire bonding, the leading ends thereof are fixed to metal patterns of the supporting member by ultrasonic welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsugio Ide, Shojiro Kitamura, Atsushi Harada
  • Patent number: 6695493
    Abstract: An optical data transmission link with improved fiber utilization. VCSEL and detector elements are configured on an optical matrix array with allocated surface area footprints at standard industry pitch dimensions, the elements of alternate rows and columns being offset from centerline of their footprints in opposite directions so as to create a pattern of sets of two or four adjacent optical elements operating at a common or differential wavelengths. A connector provides offset alignment of the fiber bundle to the matrix array so as to align a single fiber of standard industry diameter equal to the pitch of the array, with the center of each multi-element set so the fiber core diameter spans all elements of the set. The required modification to standard commercial mask design and chip fabrication is within the scope of present fiber optic technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc
    Inventor: Jon T. Ciemiewcz
  • Patent number: 6695494
    Abstract: A printing system including printing equipment in which, even if the equipment are interconnected through an interface pursuant to the IEEE 1394 standard, the printing image may be set to effect printing. There is provided a CPU 23 for generating the printing control information containing the text printing image information indicating the picture processing contents for the text at the time of printing and the picture printing image information indicating the processing contents for a picture at the time of printing. There is also provided a data conversion unit 13 which manages control so that picture data and the printing control information will be contained in a packet consistent with the IEEE 1394 standard and sent as output to a printer device 5, and so that the picture data contained in the packet sent as output to the printer device 5 will be printed in accordance with the printing control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yushi Ihara, Koichiro Ishigami
  • Patent number: 6695495
    Abstract: An ink density closed loop control system for an ink ribbon of an impact printer having a reservoir roller formed of an ink absorbent material with at least one or more channels within the reservoir roller fluidly connected to a pump and ink supply. A transfer roller can contact the reservoir roller for imparting ink to the ink ribbon. A sensor senses the relative amount of ink on the print ribbon and an electrical drive responsive to the sensor drives the pump for a flow of ink to the one or more channels. The sensor can sense ink on different segments of the ribbon and, with two or more channels in the reservoir roller can distribute ink to two or more segments of the reservoir roller depending upon the ink sensed at a particular segment of the ribbon. A further enhancement of this invention provides a multi-viscosity ink to compensate for changes in ambient temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Printronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis R. White, Jeng-Dung Jou, Lihu Chiu, Gordon B. Barrus, Y. Grant Chang
  • Patent number: 6695496
    Abstract: A dot printer not using any type, nor requiring any ink ribbon has an ink roller 1, a platen 2 having an outer surface coated with ink by contacting the ink roller 1, and a printing head 3 facing the platen 2 in an appropriately spaced apart relation thereto. The printing head 3 is a dot impact type printing head having a plurality of printing wires caused to project selectively to form letters, and a recording medium 6 is conveyed between the platen 2 and the printing head 3 to have printing made thereon by the printing head 3. A protective film 8 is employed between the printing head 3 and the recording medium 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Precision Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Nakagaki, Mitsuharu Shishido
  • Patent number: 6695497
    Abstract: A print head transport mechanism of a postage meter for printing postal indicia which are of greater height than a printing height of a print head comprises a carriage to traverse the print head in a first direction over a band of a print receiving area and a guide to displace the print head from a home position to an index position during a second traverse of the print head in a reverse direction whereby the print head traverses over a second band, adjacent the first band, of the print receiving area during the second traverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventor: Thomas David Reid Ford
  • Patent number: 6695498
    Abstract: An impact printer having one or multiple lines of hammers on a hammerbank for impacting a print ribbon against a print media after release by one or more electrically energized coils in a magnetic circuit with one or more pole pieces retaining the hammers prior to impact. One or more of the coils has a spaced winding thereby allowing filling of the spaced winding during return winding. Another embodiment utilizes a longitudinal return from an initial winding which can be formed with multiple layers or multiple overlappings of the longitudinal return. The foregoing minimizes a first dimension while having controlled wire crossing resulting in expansion in a second dimension, thereby allowing compaction of magnetic circuits in the first dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Printronix, Inc.
    Inventors: John Stanley Kinley, Gordon B. Barrus
  • Patent number: 6695499
    Abstract: A scanning device such as a printer has a trapezoidal carriage support beam which permits a compact juxtaposition of the carriage slider rod, the printhead, a drive belt and an encoder device. A second slider mounting for the printer carriage includes a bushing incorporating a part-spherical portion and an arm which engage with corresponding parts of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jordi Bartolome, Ignacio De Olazabal, Joaquim Brugue, Carles Viñas
  • Patent number: 6695500
    Abstract: Disclosed is a paper holding device for a label printer. The paper holding device comprises left and right holders for supporting both ends, respectively, of a paper roll; left and right guide links respectively locked to lower ends of the left and right holders; a rotation link for operatively connecting the left and right guide links with each other and moving them in leftward and rightward directions; a bottom panel secured with respect to a floor of a printer body, for rotatably installing thereon the rotation link; and a pair of elastic members having one ends connected to the left and right guide links and the other ends connected to the bottom panel, to apply elastic force to the left and right guide links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Gwan Kim, Jang-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 6695501
    Abstract: Improved label printing and applying apparatus (10) is provided which includes an improved digital printing assembly (12) having a rotatable impression drum (18) presenting an outer surface (20), as well as at least one digital print head (22) adjacent the drum outer surface. The overall apparatus (10) also includes a downstream label cutting and application assembly (14) having an adhesive applicator (32), laser cutter (40) and a label applying device. In use, a web (16) traverses the drum (18) with essentially no relative movement between the web (16) and drum surface (20), and the print head(s) (22) are actuated to form images on the web (16), which may be identical or varied. Thereafter, the printed web passes into and through the assembly (14) where adhesive is applied, the individual images are laser cut, and the labels are thereupon applied to products (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Lasersoft Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Greydon W. Nedblake, Jr., Lawrence E. Johnson, Jules P. Farkas
  • Patent number: 6695502
    Abstract: A method for reducing rub-off by employing a substrate having a front side and a back side with the front side bearing a toner image by depositing a phase change composition on the non-image bearing side of the substrate as a plurality of dots, with the plurality of dots cumulatively covering an area of the non-image bearing side sufficient to reduce rub-off from the image bearing side of an adjacent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Dana G. Marsh
  • Patent number: 6695503
    Abstract: A print media feed system for advancing a sheet of print media having a leading edge and a trailing edge in a sheet feed direction through a print zone in an imaging apparatus includes a rotating support positioned downstream of an exit roller in relation to a sheet feed direction. The rotating support provides a rotating support surface that engages a non-printed side of the sheet of print media downstream of the exit roller while the trailing edge of the sheet of print media is advanced through the print zone by the exit roller, the rotating support not contributing to advance the trailing edge of the sheet of print media through the print zone, but contributing to advance the sheet of print media after the sheet of print media is released by the exit roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Andrew Buxton, Ryan Timothy Ward
  • Patent number: 6695504
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus for attracting and conveying a conveyed object by a belt provided with electrodes, includes an applying unit for applying a voltage to the electrodes to generate an electric force and a belt attracting unit for attracting the belt utilizing the electric force. Vibration of the conveying belt during conveyance can be suppressed and stable conveyance of a conveyed object can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6695505
    Abstract: A backlash correction device of this invention has a motor, a gear transmitting a moving force from the motor to a paper feed base, a spring urging the paper feed base to one of forward and backward movement directions of the paper feed base using an urging force, and a controller. (1) If the paper feed base is moved in an opposite direction to an urging direction of the spring, the controller drives the motor in a movement direction of the paper feed base by a predetermined movement quantity. (2) If the paper feed base is moved in a same direction as the urging direction of the spring, the controller (2-1) drives the motor in a movement direction of the paper feed base by a movement quantity which is the sum of the predetermined movement quantity and a correction quantity equal to or greater than a maximum backlash quantity, and (2-2) then drives the motor in an opposite direction by the correction quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Iimura, Hideharu Yoneoka
  • Patent number: 6695506
    Abstract: In the present invention, a flat platen having a flat surface opposed to a print head is fixed to a platen supporting member by a fixing member, and a first impact absorbing member is disposed elastically between the platen and the platen supporting member. Accordingly, the propagation of vibration between the platen and the platen supporting member is prevented by a vibration absorbing action of the first impact absorbing member and vibrations in a vibration generation source are absorbed quickly. Thus, according to the present invention, a printing noise can be damped effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hajime Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6695507
    Abstract: There is provided a lock system for securing a printer door to prevent theft of an ink cartridge. The lock system comprises a lock housing that is attachable adjacent the printer door and which has a lateral aperture extending generally parallel thereto. The lock system further comprises a locking member disposed within the lateral aperture and which is slidable therealong between unlock and lock positions. Its locking portion becomes substantially retracted within the lateral aperture when in the unlock position. The locking portion becomes extended over the printer door when in the lock position to secure the same and prevent theft of the ink cartridge thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: SecurityWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Waguespack, Christopher E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6695508
    Abstract: A case for packaging a substance, such as a semiliquid substance, for example a makeup product and/or a care product. The case comprises a body suitable for receiving the substance and a lid suitable for pressing against the substance in the case body to enclose the substance in a leak-proof manner. The lid and the body have internal profiles configured such that, at least prior to first use, and after the substance has flowed under the effect of its own weight while the lid is not present on the body, installing the lid on the case body reduces the maximum thickness of the substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: L'Oréal
    Inventor: Jean-Louis H. Gueret
  • Patent number: 6695509
    Abstract: A golf ball cleaning apparatus includes a pair of cylindrical chambers defined as an upper chamber removably attachable to a lower chamber. The lower chamber is provided within an internal golf ball cleaning fluid reservoir bounded upwardly by a lower surface of a semi-porous floor. The lower chamber further includes a half-spherical cavity embedded with semi-rigid scouring bristles. The upper chamber is of a generally hollow configuration and includes a half-spherical cavity embedded with semi-rigid scouring bristles. The semi-rigid scouring bristles snugly engage an entire standard dimpled golf ball surface when the upper and lower chambers are coupled together. The upper chamber is snapped to the lower chamber in a semi-interference-type fit. A fastener is mounted atop the upper chamber to facilitate removable connection of the golf ball cleaning apparatus to a standard golf bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Alfonzo Dowe, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6695510
    Abstract: A multi-composition stick product, such as a lip balm, sun screen, deodorant, or glue stick. The multi-composition stick product including a stick composition molded in the container so as to contact the walls thereof and be advanceable or ejected therefrom. The stick composition includes a first composition and a second composition. The first and second compositions differ in at least one component, such as a medicament, colorant, fragrance, flavorant, sunscreen, preservative, conditioner, moisturizer, emollient, or surfactant. Furthermore the first and second compositions are arranged in a predetermined non-random pattern that is reproducible. Also described is the method and apparatus for manufacturing the multi-composition stick product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Wyeth
    Inventors: Jee Loon Look, Paul Joseph Cooper, Khawla Abdullah Abu-Izza, Joyce H. Wilson, Krishna P. Raman, Vincent Hon-Kin Li