Patents Issued in April 20, 2004
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Patent number: 6724982Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a data storage device and associated method for reproducing a stored data stream with at least one data storage media having addressable storage locations storing data segments and pointers. The data segments define the stored data stream, and the pointers indicate addressable storage locations for other segments in the stored data stream. Each pointer includes a field for identifying whether the data stored includes the addressable storage location of the segment indicated by the pointer. A controller is responsive to the data segments for reproducing a stored data stream in accordance with an autonomously-defined sequence determined by the pointers.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Western Digital Ventures, Inc.Inventor: Christopher L. Hamlin
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Patent number: 6724983Abstract: The invention relates to a heater part, especially for a liquid fuel-operated vehicle water or air heater in the form of a supplementary heater or an auxiliary heater with a burner and a heat-exchanger. According to the invention, at least one part of a fuel heater (1) and at least one part of an electric heater (1′) are provided as a structural unit, in particular in order to retrofit or expand an electrically operated heater (1′) with a heater (1) for fuel operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co.Inventors: Michael Humburg, Hermann Eppler
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Patent number: 6724984Abstract: A hair treatment promoting apparatus in which a reflector provided with a heater for radiating infrared rays is rotated by a motor so that the infrared rays are radiated to the top, back and both sides of a head of a subject. The heater and reflecting plate form a heating device rotated by the motor and a disk is provided which rotates with the motor. The disk is provided with a slit for a home position and slits for stopping arranged on both sides thereof, and energization of the motor is interrupted when the slit for the home position is detected within a prescribed time elapsed from when the slit for stopping is detected in the direction of rotating the heating device, thereby stopping the heating device at the home position.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Takara Belmont CorporationInventors: Yuji Kakuya, Keiji Ito, Hironori Mitsui, Koji Yamane, Tomofumi Horio, Masakazu Katsumata
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Patent number: 6724985Abstract: A hot water heating apparatus for an electric vehicle and a hybrid vehicle has a compact heat source apparatus not requiring a wide space for setting. A communication pipe, in which water as a heat medium flows, and an electric heater are embedded in a heat conductor metal in proximity in a row arrangement to form a flat-shaped heat conductor. A heat source apparatus is constructed by stacking multiple flat-shaped heat conductors while the communication pipes are connected to each other in series. Further, the communication pipe and the electric heater are embedded in the heat conductor metal in proximity in a row arrangement, and the communication pipes are connected in series. Therefore, water flowing in the communication pipes is rapidly heated, and heating efficiency is extremely high.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignees: Denso Corporation, Corona CorporationInventors: Ken Matsunaga, Yuji Takeo, Kenichi Hasegawa, Susumu Kazama, Yoshihiko Adachi
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Patent number: 6724986Abstract: A submersible underwater housing for a waterproof camera is adapted to hold the camera in either a vertical or a horizontal viewing position. The housing has a rudder to guide the camera when the camera is disposed in a moving body of water.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Inventor: Charles P. Sicher
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Patent number: 6724987Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit includes a flash emitter for emitting flash light toward a photographic object in flash photography. A flash amount control circuit quenches flash emission of the flash emitter when a value of integration of light reflected by the object as measured by a first sensor in the flash photography comes up to a predetermined level. An aperture stop device designates one of a large aperture state and a small aperture state. A switch disables the flash amount control circuit if the small aperture state is designated, and enables the flash amount control circuit if the large aperture state is designated. The switch regulates operation of the flash amount control circuit in order to raise an amount of the flash light at a time of the flash photography in the small aperture state.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yukitsugu Hata, Hirokazu Yokoo, Katsumi Motomura
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Patent number: 6724988Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is pre-loaded with photo film. A photometric circuit measures object brightness of a photographic object, and determines which of high brightness or low brightness the object brightness is according to comparison with a predetermined reference brightness level. A mode selector in a button shape sets a selected one of an AE mode and a night scene mode. A combination of stationary and movable aperture stop plates changes over a photographic light path in a selected one of small, middle and large aperture stop states. The movable aperture stop plates set the light path in the small aperture stop state when the AE mode is determined and also upon detection of the high brightness. The light path is set in the middle aperture stop state when the AE mode is determined and also upon detection of the low brightness. The light path is set in the large aperture stop state when the night scene mode is determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuji Mikami
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Patent number: 6724989Abstract: A camera strobe recharging IC includes a one-shot unit, an R-S latch block unit, a PWM control unit, and a ready control unit. The one-shot unit provides square wave signals. The R-S latch block unit is electrically connected with the one-shot unit. The PWM control unit includes a reference voltage source, an oscillator, a PWM comparator, a voltage boost comparator, and a current source. The ready control unit includes an FET, which has a gate contact electrically connected with an output contact of the R-S latch block unit. Accordingly, the present invention is compact and structurally tiny to facilitate integration and is good at modulating charging current, accelerating charging, and automatically recharging.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2003Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Aimtron Technology Corp.Inventors: Ching-Kun Lin, Yung-Chih Chen, Tien-Tzu Chen
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Patent number: 6724990Abstract: A digital film recorder for recording a digital image on a strip of photographic film includes a light tight housing; a cartridge chamber in the housing for receiving a cartridge of unexposed photographic film; a film receiver in the housing for receiving the film strip from the cartridge, a write head located in the housing between the cartridge chamber and the film receiver, the write head including a linear array of pixels for exposing the film strip a line at a time across the width of the film strip; a film transport for moving the film from the cartridge to the film receiver a line at a time; control electronics for receiving the digital image and controlling the film transport and the write head to write the digital image on the film strip as a plurality of color separations including at least one positive human readable image.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: John R. Fredlund, Joseph A. Manico
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Patent number: 6724991Abstract: A camera has a body and a taking lens mounted to the body. The taking lens defines a subject field. A viewing window is joined to the body. The viewing window is transmissive of a light image of the subject field. The viewing window bears a holographic image of a reticle. A light source faces the viewing window and illuminates the holographic image. The reticle produced can be binocularly viewable, that is, viewable by the photographer with both eyes while the photographer looks through the viewing window to compose a scene image for picture taking.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2003Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Scott B. Chase
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Patent number: 6724992Abstract: A compact finder with excellent optical performance, and a camera including the finder are disclosed. The finder of the present invention includes an objective optical system, and an eyepiece optical system. The objective optical system includes, from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having positive power, a second lens unit having negative power, a third lens unit having positive power, and a fourth lens unit having positive power. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the second lens unit is moved toward the image side, the third lens unit is moved toward the object side, and the fourth lens unit is moved such that an air space between the fourth lens unit and the third lens unit is changed. The camera of the present invention includes a photo-taking optical system, and the finder of the present invention whose optical axis is different from an optical axis of the photo-taking optical system.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2003Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yumiko Kato, Akihiro Nishio
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Patent number: 6724993Abstract: An optical transmitter-receiver that does not have a harmful effect on the human eye when an optical fiber is disconnected from the apparatus and is able to determine easily when the fiber has been reconnected. A normal signal detector and a dummy signal detector determine when a signal from another optical transmitter-receiver is no longer received due to disconnection of an optical fiber. This result switches an output switch and causes a second reference voltage to be transmitted to an optical output automatic controller, thereby reducing the power of a laser diode. At the same time, a signal switch provides a dummy signal having a low frequency to the laser diode in place of the normal signal, resulting in output of a dummy optical signal. At this time, the other optical transmitter-receiver also outputs a dummy optical signal. When the optical fiber is reconnected, the dummy signal transmitted from the other optical transmitter-receiver is detected.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Telecommunications Advancement Organization of JapanInventors: Yasuhiro Koike, Takeshi Ota
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Patent number: 6724994Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing groups of low duty cycle WDM transmission channels such that each group can be demultiplexed either via conventional WDM (e.g., by optically filtering each channel and receiving that channel at its line rate) or via TDM (e.g., directing an entire group of WDM channels onto a signal higher speed detector, receiving them all and demultiplexing the channels in a temporal (electronic) domain).Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.Inventors: Brandon C. Collings, Howard R. Stuart
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Patent number: 6724995Abstract: The invention relates to a router which may be used for amplification of a bidirectional optical signal using a single optical amplifier. An advantageous embodiment of the invention comprises two 3 dB couplers which are serially connected via a delay element. According to the embodiment, the delay element comprises a difference in distance &Dgr;L between the two optical branches which connect the two 3 dB couplers.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1999Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Tellabs Denmark A/SInventor: René E. Kristiansen
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Patent number: 6724996Abstract: A so-called digital “wrapper” is employed in conjunction with an optical channel client signal payload envelope to carry optical channel associated optical channel overhead. That is, the digital wrapper transports optical channel associated optical channel overhead and other monitoring information. This is realized by adding additional capacity, i.e., bandwidth, to the client signal payload envelope. The additional capacity is added “around” the payload envelope and the client signal floats in the payload envelope. This is effected in such a manner that the digital wrapper is independent of the type of client signal that is being transported on the optical channel. Indeed, as such the optical payload envelope is essentially a client optical signal independent, constant bit-rate channel. Moreover, in addition to the digital wrapper providing capacity for the optical channel overhead, it can also be employed to provide a forward error correction capability.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1999Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.Inventors: James E. Ballintine, Paul Anthony Bonenfant
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Patent number: 6724997Abstract: The invention relates to a method for compensating signal dispersion in an optical communication network and to an optical communication network. The dispersion compensation is carried out by constructing the network in such a way that a route having an even number of phase conjugating means can be found between any two nodes. The routing is primarily made along a route in which there is the minimum even number of phase conjugating means between the terminal nodes. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a ring network constructed of two concentric rings in such a way that both rings comprise the same node points, but the number of phase conjugating means to be installed in said rings, in the optical fibers between adjacent nodes is, for example, even in the outer ring and odd in the inner ring.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventor: Markku Oksanen
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Patent number: 6724998Abstract: An electrophotographic print engine has a variable primary charger and toning bias which places the machine in abnormal reproduction modes in order to provide service and diagnostic information to troubleshoot subsystems involved in the electrophotographic process.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventors: Matthias Regelsberger, David Hockey, Anne Lairmore
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Patent number: 6724999Abstract: A fixing apparatus is provided with a fixing device which includes a fixing roller and a pressing roller pressed against the fixing roller, the fixing roller and the pressing roller defining a region through which sheets of various sizes pass while being heated, an induction-heating device which heats the fixing roller by induction heating and which includes first and second excitation coil units provided inside the fixing roller and spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in an axial direction of the fixing roller, and a control device which varies an output applied to the first and second excitation coils in accordance with a surface temperature as measured in the axial direction of the fixing roller. The first and second excitation coil units have widths which are greater than those of maximal-size sheets by 20 to 40 mm.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Toshiya Inomata, Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi
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Patent number: 6725000Abstract: In a fixing mechanism which heats a fixation member by generating heat in an endless member by using an induction current obtained from a current flowing through an induction coil, the present invention is characterized in that the induction coil is divided into a plurality of coils in a direction vertical to a moving direction of the fixation member and a coil to which power is supplied is switched according to needs.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi
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Patent number: 6725001Abstract: There is described an operation panel, which is detachably or movably mounted onto an image-forming apparatus, and which includes a data-inputting section to input operational data necessary for operating the image-forming apparatus and/or a displaying section to display status information of the image-forming apparatus. The operation panel comprises: a circuit board, on which electronic parts are mounted; a supporting member to support the circuit board, the data-inputting section and/or the displaying section, so as to integrate them into a single unit serving as the operation panel; a signal line, through which electronic signals are communicated between the operation panel and the image-forming section; and a conductive member for directly grounding at least one of the data-inputting section, the displaying section and the circuit board to a conductive main-frame of the image-forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Konica Minolta Technosearch Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsushi Takahashi, Kazumichi Yamauchi, Norio Joichi, Yoshihito Sasamoto, Akifumi Isobe, Yoshiki Katayama
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Patent number: 6725002Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to the electrophotographic apparatus main body, integrally including an electrophotographic photosensitive member to carry a toner image; an intermediate transfer belt having a contact part with the photosensitive member; primary transfer member to primarily transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member to the intermediate transfer belt; and electric charge member to give electric charges in polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner at the time of the primary transfer to the toner on the intermediate transfer belt to return the toner on the intermediate transfer belt to the photosensitive member at the contact part to clean the intermediate transfer belt, wherein the intermediate transfer belt has an average glossiness of 30 to 90; glossiness deviation within 10; average film thickness of 40 to 200 &mgr;m; and film thickness unevenness within ±20% relative to the average film thickness.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Sakurai, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Akihiko Nakazawa, Atsushi Tanaka, Tsunenori Ashibe, Takashi Kusaba, Hidekazu Matsuda
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Patent number: 6725003Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of imaging units each for forming an image on a recording medium, an image carrier provided in each of the plurality of imaging unit, a development unit for visualizing an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier by toner in each of the plurality of imaging units, and a supporting device configured to integrate at least two imaging units of the plurality of imaging units into a unit, wherein the supporting device has a plurality of pressing members configured to press upper portions of the at least two imaging units, respectively, and a plurality of supporting members configured to support lower portions of the at least two imagining units, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yasuyuki Shinkai, Kiyoshi Sakai, Satoru Tomita, Mamoru Kiyota, Kohji Ichimiya, Yuichiro Kanoshima, Nekka Matsuura
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Patent number: 6725004Abstract: A coupling apparatus capable of being connected by sliding and transferring power when being connected. The apparatus has a first coupler having a plurality of first ribs protruding at an outer circumference of a body at a regular interval and a second coupler having a connection portion to embrace and be separated from the body of the first coupler, and a plurality of second ribs protruding at an inner circumference of the connection portion, the plurality of second ribs being connected between the plurality of first ribs, wherein each of front ends of the first ribs and the second ribs have sloping sides sloped in a predetermined direction, and the first ribs include a rib having a relatively longer length than the other ribs.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byeong-hwa Ahn, Joo-hwan Noh, Kyung-hwan Jang
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Patent number: 6725005Abstract: There is described a method of controlling the rotational peripheral speed of the rotating photoreceptor drum to make it constant. The method includes the steps of: detecting angular velocity signals by means of angular velocity detecting device disposed on an axis of the photoreceptor drum; finding deviations from a reference angular velocity, based on the angular velocity signals; storing a profile of the deviations within a one-revolution of the photoreceptor drum in a storage section, while revising the profile in real-time base; applying an arithmetic processing to an angular velocity signal detected at a current rotational-position of the photoreceptor drum by referring data included in the profile obtained in a preceding one-revolution of the photoreceptor drum; and controlling the motor, based on results of the arithmetic processing for the angular velocity signals, so as to compress the deviations from the reference angular velocity as small as possible.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Tadayuki Ueda, Hiroyuki Maruyama, Kenji Izumiya, Ryuji Okutomi, Shinobu Kishi, Satoshi Ogata, Eiji Nishikawa, Jun Onishi
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Patent number: 6725006Abstract: Image forming apparatus which form an image on a substrate and uses a liquid developer containing toner particles and a solvent. One embodiment includes a latent image retaining body, a first developing surface facing the latent image retaining body at a first development station, a latent image forming unit, and a second developing surface facing the latent image retaining body at a second development station. The latent image retaining body has a photosensitive layer which has a dielectric constant &egr;P [C2/Nm2] and an average thickness dp [m]. The photosensitive layer retains an image developed by the first developing surface and a latent image comprising image and non-image regions formed by the latent image forming unit. The second developing surface is supplied with a developing electrical potential having an electrical potential difference &Dgr;V from an electrical potential of non-image region of the latent image.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2003Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Hosoya, Hitoshi Yagi, Yasushi Shinjo, Haruhi Oh-Oka
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Patent number: 6725007Abstract: In a developing assembly having a developer container, a developer-carrying member, a developer layer thickness control member, a magnetic-field formation device and an agitation member, the developer is a two-component developer which contains at least a binder resin, a colorant, an organometallic compound and a wax and has wax-dispersed non-magnetic toner particles with an average particle diameter of from 2 &mgr;m to 10 &mgr;m and a magnetic carrier. The developer-carrying member is a member which has been subjected to surface blasting with spherical particles to have a surface having a ten-point average roughness Rz in a range from D/6 to D/2 where D is the average particle diameter of the magnetic carrier. The magnetic carrier has a magnetization intensity in a range of 8 Am2/kg to 50 Am2/kg in a magnetic field of 7.95775 kA/m.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Keiko Igarashi
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Patent number: 6725008Abstract: An apparatus and method for taking up the slack in the web material between the supply roller and the take-up roller in the web cleaning assembly of an electrophotographic apparatus. A clutch mechanism is positioned between the drive gear on the take-up roller and the hub of the motor that drives the drive gear. A spring-biased pawl on the hub engages a tooth of an inner gear on the drive gear to provide a driving connection between the hub and the take-up gear when the motor drives the hub in a first direction but effectively releases the driving connection when the take-up gear is manually rotated while the motor is idle. This allows the take-up roller to be rotated to take up the slack in the web without having to rotate the motor.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2003Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventors: Terry N. Morganti, James V. Orchard, II
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Patent number: 6725009Abstract: An image heating device with a small thermal capacity that can be heated rapidly. The image heating device includes a fixing belt (20) having a heat resistance; a rotatable heat-generating roller (21), which is at least partially conductive and arranged in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt (20); a fixing roller (22), the fixing roller and the heat-generating roller (21) movably suspending the fixing belt (20) therebetween; and a magnetization means (24) for heating the heat-generating roller (21) through magnetization, which is arranged outside the heat-generating roller (21). In this image heating device, the magnetization means (24) heats the heat-generating roller (21) through magnetization after a rotating operation of the heat-generating roller (21) is started.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Tatematsu, Kenji Asakura, Masaru Imai
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Patent number: 6725010Abstract: A fusing apparatus for heating and permanently fusing toner powder images onto an image carrying sheet. The fusing apparatus includes a pressure roller; a closed loop magnetic flux carrying member positioned adjacent the pressure roller and including a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side is located between the pressure roller and the second side. The fusing apparatus also includes an electrically conductive wire wound about the second side forming a primary transformer coil having N1 number of turns. The primary transformer coil is connectable to an AC power supply source for inductively transferring AC electric energy to the first side. Importantly, the fusing apparatus includes a rotatable fuser roller forming a fusing nip with the pressure roller. The rotatable fuser roller has an electrically conductive layer and a rigid non-conductive core in the form of a ceramic tube underlying the conductive layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1999Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Delmer G. Parker
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Patent number: 6725011Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of discharging sheets without involving any change in page order without having to provide a sheet reversing path anew.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiro Sato
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Patent number: 6725012Abstract: A deployment method maintains a cluster of subsatellites within a rigid formation relative to and orbiting about a real or fictitious center satellite that in turn orbits the earth in a frozen inclined eccentric reference orbit by determining the subsatellite reference orbits of the each of the subsatellites based upon position and velocity vectors of the center satellite. The determined subsatellite reference orbits can then be maintained through fuel efficient microthrusting so as to maintain the rigid formation for coherently combining communication signals within a very large sparse antenna array formed by the cluster having improved beam directionality for improved signal communications.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: The Aerospace CorporationInventors: Siegfried W. Janson, James E. Pollard, Chia-Chun Chao
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Patent number: 6725013Abstract: A communications system (10) and method of operating the communications system includes a high altitude communication device (12) that communicates with a plurality of user terminals and a gateway station (30). The gateway station (30) couples the users to terrestrial networks (32) and other users. The high altitude communication device (16) has a controller that generates a second beam having the first frequency to a service (26). The stratospheric platform (12) does not generate the second beam within a blocking area. User terminals within the service area outside the blocking area are configured to receive the first beam and the second beam.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Donald C. D. Chang, Weizheng Wang, Ying Feria, Ming U. Chang, Harold A. Rosen, Wah L. Lim
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Patent number: 6725014Abstract: A method and system for resolving contentions among passive identification tags. A reader may divide a possible range of tag values into a number of smaller ranges. For each smaller range, the reader may then poll the tags to determine which tags have tag values that fall within the smaller range. If more than one tag responds simultaneously, then the reader may further divide the smaller range into even smaller ranges and poll the tags with respect to those even smaller ranges. Once the range partition gets small enough, the reader may then opt to poll the tags for a match of each possible value in the range, rather than partitioning further. This arrangement enables the reader to efficiently identify tags, by quickly eliminating from analysis any range of tag values to which no tags match or only one tag matches.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventor: Kevin D. Voegele
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Patent number: 6725015Abstract: A wireless network access facility includes one or more IEEE frequency devices, one or more multi-function actuating devices, and a processor device which includes a control device coupled to the IEEE frequency devices for determining a single or a multi-frequency mode, and a transmitting device coupled to the control device for checking identifications of users. An organizing device may be used for selectively operating various modes. A frequency control device may be used for converting frequencies and for transmitting with different frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Global Sun Technology Inc.Inventor: Robert Lin
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Patent number: 6725016Abstract: A method for managing multipath signals to be demodulated by a receiver with multiple demodulators. The method includes a series of steps, including receiving the multipath signals at a wireless communication receiver device, finding the multipath signals having sufficient signal strength for demodulation, and measuring an arrival time of one of the multipath signals. In one embodiment, the present invention also recites measuring a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) level of one of the multipath signals, updating a multipath list with the arrival time and the signal-to-noise ratio if the multipath signal is identified based upon the arrival time with one of the multipath signals existing in the multipath list, and identifying newly-found multipath signals and evaluating one of the newly-found multipath signals based on the signal-to-noise ratio for categorization into one of a plurality of states.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Gibong Jeong, Luis Aldaz, Daniel Jeng Hsia, Juncheng C. Liu, Greg Luker
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Patent number: 6725017Abstract: Multi-channel self-interference cancellation is provided in relayed electromagnetic communication between a first device and one or more other devices on one or more shared frequency channels. Specifically, near signals are generated at the first device and transmitted to a relay station. A composite signal is received at the first device from the relay station containing relayed versions of the near signals and relayed versions of remote signals transmitted from the one or more other devices, the composite signal having frequency channels including the one or more shared frequency channels, each shared frequency channel occupied by at least one of the relayed near signals and one of the relayed remote signals. One or more cancellation signals are selectively generated, each having a frequency band corresponding to one of the shared frequency channels. The cancellation signals are combined with the composite signal to produce a desired signal representing the relayed remote signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: ViaSat, Inc.Inventors: Richard Blount, David H. Irvine
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Patent number: 6725018Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a communications system transmits a predetermined signal, from a first, sending, end of a communications system to a second, receiving, end of a communications system. The predetermined signal is distorted by the communication system and is received as a distorted signal that is compared to a known version of the originally transmitted signal. A comparison signal related to the difference between the originally transmitted signal (as represented by the known version of the originally transmitted signal) and the distorted predetermined signal as received at the receiving end is employed to adjust the transfer characteristic of a programmable converter to compensate for the distortion introduced by the communication system.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventor: George Francis Gross, Jr.
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Patent number: 6725019Abstract: In a multi-band radio terminal apparatus, when communication frequency bands are switched, a reception intermediate frequency is selected to be equal to each other in respective communication frequency bands. As a result, the circuit arrangements of this multi-band radio terminal apparatus succeeding to the intermediate frequency signal circuit stage are commonly used in the respective communication frequency bands. While a local oscillator signal is produced by a voltage-controlled oscillator, a phase-locked loop, and a doubler, in a case where communication is established within a plurality of communication frequency bands, the transmission/reception frequency intervals are different from each other. A mixer for a reception system and a mixer for a transmission system are commonly used so as to convert the frequency of the local oscillator signal into a frequency existing between the communication frequency and the intermediate frequency.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventor: Kazutoshi Higuchi
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Patent number: 6725020Abstract: A helmet with incorporated communication system including a helmet dimensioned for being positioned on a head of a motorcyclist. The helmet has a communications system incorporated therein comprised of a speaker and a microphone. A control panel is secured to a motorcycle. The control panel is in communication with the communications system of the helmet. The control panel includes a radio with a mini-disk player, a cellular telephone, and a navigation system. A sensor is disposed within the helmet. The sensor is capable of sending a distress signal once an impact on the helmet has been sensed.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Inventor: Miguel Yagi
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Patent number: 6725021Abstract: An optimal operating point of an envelope tracking amplification system that includes a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier having an RF amplifying element is determined based on an application to the RF power amplifier of a supply voltage that is less than the rated voltage of the RF amplifying element.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Dale Anderson, James E. Mitzlaff
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Patent number: 6725022Abstract: An internet radio for portable applications and uses such as in an automobile enables the selection of content on a wireless communication device comprising the steps of providing a format for displaying content on said wireless communication device; detecting the loss of a signal for a channel providing a predetermined genre; and providing a new format for displaying content having a new channel providing the predetermined genre to replace the lost channel. Customized information is also communicated to the radio such as stock quotes, travel information, advertising, and e-mail. Onboard global positioning allows for channel updating by location, traffic information, geographic advertising and available similar content.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Mark Clayton, Richard L. Blanco, William S. Hede, David T. Knappenberger, Merlin Smith
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Patent number: 6725023Abstract: A radio FM receiver is provided with a receiver portion with quadrature channels for converting received radio frequency signals into center frequency quadrature signals, a center frequency filter circuit connected to the former for suppressing undesirable image frequencies, and a first quadrature PLL demodulator for demodulating the obtained center frequency quadrature signals, said PLL being tuned to the carrier frequency within the selected frequency band. An error detector is furthermore present for detecting amplitude and phase errors in the quadrature channels, which error detector in response to the quadrature components of the center frequency signals, the quadrature signals of a VCO in the quadrature PLL demodulator, and the filtered difference said quadrature components of the center frequency signal, supplies amplitude and phase correction signals to a quadrature channel correction network which is provided between the filter circuit and the quadrature PLL demodulator.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Wolfdietrich Georg Kasperkovitz
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Patent number: 6725024Abstract: A method and apparatus for offsetting the frequency of a local oscillator in a receiver are disclosed. The local oscillator frequency is offset with an offset frequency that depends on the training sequence used. Training symbols are inputted to the control unit. The control unit then provides an offset frequency depending on the training symbol received. A rotation of the baseband signal, proportional to the offset frequency, is introduced which later is digitally compensated for. Upon reception of the signal, a DC offset is introduced in the radio part. The digital compensation transforms this DC offset, in the baseband signal, to a rotating signal. The rotating DC offset signal is then subtracted in the baseband processing.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)Inventors: Bengt Lindoff, Dennis Hui, Kambiz Casey Zangi
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Patent number: 6725025Abstract: An improved interference cancellation technique is disclosed. Digital baseband circuitry (40) includes user and symbol detection circuitry (50) for performing a Gibbs sampler type of interference cancellation, either embodied in custom hardware (44) or in software. Random initial guesses for a signal sample (either a symbol or chip) are made for each user. Interference cancellation is performed on a user-by-user basis, using the then-current data decision values for the other, interfering users. A soft data decision is used to derive a probability distribution function for the actual data decision for the sample for the user. A randomly selected value is applied against the probability distribution function to generate the next data decision value for that user, and the process is repeated until convergence. Following convergence, a statistic is used to select a final data decision value for each user, from the set of intermediate data decision values stored in memory.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Timothy M. Schmidl, Alan Gatherer, Xiaodong Wang, Rong Chen
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Patent number: 6725026Abstract: There is provided an intermodulation (IMD) control device and method in a mobile communication system. In the IMD control device, an LNA performs low noise amplification on an input RF signal, a first switch is connected to the LNA in parallel, for switching according to a first control signal received for IMD control, a frequency converter down-converts the output of the LNA to an IF signal, an IF amplifier amplifies the IF signal, a second switch is connected in parallel to the IF amplifier, for switching according to a second IMD control signal received for IMD control, and a controller generates the IMD control signals at voltage levels determined according to an RSSI and an energy to noise ratio.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Young-Geun Jang
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Patent number: 6725027Abstract: A multipath noise reducer detects and removes the individual noise spikes occurring in an interval of multipath noise, thereby reducing the multipath noise with minimal distortion of the audio output signal. The multipath noise spikes are detected by comparing a rectified signal with a threshold signal derived from the rectified signal. When the multipath noise reducer is used in an FM stereo radio receiver, stereo separation may also be controlled according to the detection of multipath noise.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayuki Tsuji, Eiji Asano, Masahiro Tsujishita, Kenichi Taura, Masayuki Ishida
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Patent number: 6725028Abstract: An optimum combiner that reduces the amount of interference imposed upon a first base station by transmissions of other base stations within the same communication system. Two antennas are used to receive transmissions within a receiving station. A rake receiver is coupled to each antenna. By optimally combining the signals that are received by each independent finger of the rake receiver, interference that is correlated between a finger associated with the first antenna and a finger associated with the second antenna can be minimized with respect to the desired signal. Optimum combining requires determination of optimum combining coefficients.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Qualcomm IncorporatedInventors: Mario Bonaccorso, Fuyun Ling, Nagabhushana Sindhushayana, Peter Black
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Patent number: 6725029Abstract: An image reject sub-harmonic mixer that employs less components than known image reject mixers. The mixer includes a 90° RF coupler, two high pass filters, two anti-parallel diode pairs, two low pass filters and a 90° IF coupler. RF and LO signals are applied to isolated input ports of the 90° coupler. In-phase and quadrature-phase copies of the RF and LO signals are provided at output ports of the coupler. The diode pairs mix the RF and LO signals to generate first and second intermediate frequency signals that are separated in-phase. The high pass filters reject the IF signals to prevent IF power from coupling to the RF and LO ports of the coupler. The low pass filters pass the IF signal and reject the LO and RF signals. Image rejection is obtained by combining the IF outputs of the two diode pair in the 90° IF hybrid.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventor: Barry R. Allen
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Patent number: 6725030Abstract: A MOSFET amplifier includes a pre-amplifier stage and a power amplifier stage. The pre-amplifier is a CMOS inverter having a signal output that is DC connected to the gate of a MOS control transistor of the power amplifier stage. The CMOS inverter includes an NMOS transistor with a source connected through an inductor to ground and a drain to the source of a PMOS transistor. The drain of the PMOS transistor is connected through another inductor to a supply voltage. The gates of the NMOS and PMOS transistors are connected to both receive an input signal of the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Vickram Vathulya
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Patent number: 6725031Abstract: A method and system for rating a data communication session between a network and a wireless device is disclosed. According to an exemplary aspect of the method, the method monitors a series of events, namely, a setup event, a begin event and an end event, which take place during a communication session. The monitoring of such events is accomplished by a data rating application which resides on the wireless device. By monitoring such events, the data rating application is then able to rate the communication session using a number of rating methods. The rating method selected includes both how to meter the data transmitted during a data communication session and determine the rate to be applied to each metered increment. Examples of methods used to meter the data include time and volume. Different rating methods which can be used to rate the communication session include, for example, application, data utilization, source of data, data type, class of service, quality of service and transmission efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Telemac CorporationInventors: Theodore W. Watler, Kenin Spivak, S. Robert Pye, Jerry Hanley