Patents Issued in August 31, 2004
  • Patent number: 6783390
    Abstract: An apparatus that prevents standard dry cell batteries from being installed in a battery compartment in a reverse polarity arrangement. The battery compartment operationally houses at least one dry cell battery having a cylindrical casing with positive and negative terminal surfaces on opposing ends thereof. The positive terminal surface has a button protruding from the casing. In this aspect of the invention, the battery compartment is configured with positive and negative device contacts disposed in opposing ends of each battery cradle of the battery compartment to contact positive and negative terminals, respectively, of a dry cell battery installed therein. The battery compartment also comprises a reverse polarity exclusion device disposed in each battery cradle. The device is interposed between the positive device contact and a dry cell battery installed in the battery cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas E Berg, Gerod Melton
  • Patent number: 6783391
    Abstract: A carrier for several cable holders, especially of fiber optical cables, includes a housing that comprises several receptacles on one cable holder side, into which one of the cable holders can be plugged respectively. A cable that is held by the cable holder and that sticks out from it in a plug direction penetrates the housing on a device side that faces away from the cable holder side. The plug directions of several or all receptacles run parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Malte Schlueter, Jens Heitkamp
  • Patent number: 6783392
    Abstract: A connector mounting structure includes a connector housing having terminal accommodating chambers, and wire connecting terminals accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers. The terminals accommodated in the rightmost and leftmost ones of the terminal accommodating chambers are employed as dummy fixing terminals when the connector housing mounted on a printed circuit board. Fixing portions of the dummy fixing terminals are inserted into terminal insertion holes formed in the printed circuit board so that the fixing portions protrude from a rear surface of the printed circuit board. The fixing portions are secured to contacts of the printed circuit board by soldering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Chieko Torii
  • Patent number: 6783393
    Abstract: A package for opto-electrical components includes a casing having a chamber, and an optical feed-through between the chamber and the casing exterior. At least one board or tile adapted to carry opto-electrical components is in the chamber. The board or tile creates a solid mechanical structure with the casing while providing electrical ohmic connections with a set of electrical connections on the casing. The board or tile is from of an assortment of boards or tiles of different types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Giampaolo Bendelli, Enrico Di Mascio, Mario Puleo, Marco Scofet
  • Patent number: 6783394
    Abstract: In a coaxial cable TV connector, a universal crimping ring assembly is made up of axially offset crimping members arranged in telescoping relation to one another and to a crimpable sleeve into which the coaxial cable is inserted, and the crimping rings are preassembled onto the sleeve and have at least one tapered surface portion between them so that when the crimping rings are axially advanced over the outer sleeve will cause inward radial deformation of the outer sleeve into sealed engagement with an external surface of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Randall A. Holliday
  • Patent number: 6783395
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a center conductor insulator with a tapered entry for use with a coaxial cable transmission line connector that provides guiding and centering of a center conductor pin within the connector. The present invention further relates to a front sleeve assembly for use with a coaxial cable transmission line connector which incorporates a center conductor insulator with a tapered entry to guide and center a center conductor pin within the connector. The present invention also relates to a compression ring assembly for mounting a connector to a cable, the assembly having a collet engaging a tapered rear seal to compress the collet about the cable. The present invention further relates to a method of mounting a connector to a cable with a compression ring assembly incorporating a collet and tapered rear seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: M'Hamed Anis Khemakhem, Jeff Peters, James Kerekes
  • Patent number: 6783396
    Abstract: A vehicle wire harness type connector for making an electrical connection between terminated wire sets through the wall of a sealed chamber in airtight fashion. The connector includes an internal bulkhead with solid male terminals passing through the bulkhead with an airtight seal, and an exterior airtight seal to the ambient or external side of the wall of the sealed chamber. The end of the connector inserted in the sealed chamber is adapted to receive individual female-terminated wires in direct connection with the male terminals, and the ambient or external end of the connector is adapted to receive a group of female terminals housed in a mating connector. An orthogonal locking member is stored in the end of the connector inserted in the sealed chamber in a pre-lock position allowing the individual female terminals to be inserted, and is movable thereafter to a full-lock position to prevent their withdrawal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Osterhart, Vijay Keshavamurthy
  • Patent number: 6783397
    Abstract: A connector includes a base seat, a terminal main body is snugly fitted in the base seat and a cover body correspondingly latched with rear section of the base seat. A front section of the base seat being formed with a frame section. A rear section of the base seat being formed with a wire seat section. Two side walls of the frame section and the wire seat section integrally continuously extending without any fissure. The terminal main body formed with multiple terminal cavities in which multiple terminals are inlaid. The cover body and the wire seat section of the rear section of the base seat firmly clamp and enclose a lead therein, after assembled, the base seat and the cover body being enclosed by an insulating layer to form a complete connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Su-Lan Yang Lee
  • Patent number: 6783398
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is shown which includes both full shielding and signal conditioning. The assembly includes a front housing portion in the form of a modular jack, and a rear housing portion which forms a recessed area or “well” for receiving the components for signal conditioning. The components are mounted on a printed circuit board, and placed in the recessed area. The housings are aligned and locked together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Victor E. Slack, Eric C. Laurer, Daniel R. Lewis, Kenneth Koon Keung Lai
  • Patent number: 6783399
    Abstract: A slot with a modified case to accommodate various types of flash memory cards having different sizes is disclosed. The slot includes a slot case divided into upper and lower spaces, and having an insert hole at its front face, a door being opened when the flash memory card is inserted into the insert hole, an elastic element for biasing the door to be closed, first insert guide faces for directing the flash memory card into the lower space, second insert guide faces positioned behind the first insert guide faces to guide the flash memory card passed over the first insert guide faces, slide faces for directing the flash memory card into the upper space, a plurality of insert guides into which the flash memory card inserted along the first and second insert guide faces and the slide faces are fitted, and a plurality of electrodes including contacts corresponding to pins of the flash memory card fitted in the plurality of insert guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., LTD
    Inventor: Ii-Kweon Joung
  • Patent number: 6783400
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (1) includes a first connector (2) and a second connector (3). The first connector includes a first housing (21) and first electrical contacts (22). The second connector includes a second housing (31) and second electrical contacts (32). The first contacts include signal contacts (22A), ground contacts (22B), and shield-joint contacts (22C). The signal contacts are arranged in pairs, with each pair transmitting one set of differential signals. The signal contacts within each pair are separated by an empty passage (214). Adjacent pairs of signal contacts are separated by one ground contact or by one shield-joint contact. The second contacts are configured to correspond to the first contacts, so that the first and second contacts can electrically mate with each other to electrically interconnect the first and second connectors. The wide interval between adjacent signal contacts enables cross talk between adjacent signal contacts to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Fang Wu, Hung-Chi Yu
  • Patent number: 6783401
    Abstract: Removing the electrical field from the internal volume of high-voltage structures; e.g., bushings, connectors, capacitors, and cables. The electrical field is removed from inherently weak regions of the interconnect, such as between the center conductor and the solid dielectric, and places it in the primary insulation. This is accomplished by providing a conductive surface on the inside surface of the principal solid dielectric insulator surrounding the center conductor and connects the center conductor to this conductive surface. The advantage of removing the electric fields from the weaker dielectric region to a stronger area improves reliability, increases component life and operating levels, reduces noise and losses, and allows for a smaller compact design. This electric field control approach is currently possible on many existing products at a modest cost. Several techniques are available to provide the level of electric field control needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilson, David A. Goerz
  • Patent number: 6783402
    Abstract: A fast electric connector plug has the category 6 (CAT-6) standard. Through an insertion element installed inside an electric connector plug, the four twisted pairs of a CAT-6 cable are configured in four directions of the same central point. At the same time, the position of each twisted pair is kept non-twisted and parallel before it reaches contacts of the plug. The wire positions can be controlled to be close to one another, producing compensation effects to achieve more reliable fast data transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Surtec Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Chen
  • Patent number: 6783403
    Abstract: Connection device for an electronic box includes a connection module intended to be mated with the longitudinal assembling face of a box and making an electrical connection with, on the one hand, pins projecting from this longitudinal assembling face and, on the other hand, with conducting cables. The pins are longitudinal and the module is fastened to the box by a system of discontinuous slideways allowing them to be fastened by longitudinal sliding and reversible locking via a resilient tab fitted into a recess in the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignees: ABB Entrelec, Siemens AG
    Inventors: Pascal Lafragette, Johann Cisey, Luc Doutaz
  • Patent number: 6783404
    Abstract: A jumper-cable-coupling apparatus includes an elongated hollow tubular metal casing, an elongated metal carrier member telescopically disposed within the casing, a first connector component extending from the casing at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing, a second connector component extending from the carrier member in opposition to the first connector component, a spring disposed within the casing for forcing the first connector component into contact with the second connector component, and thumb and finger grips respectively disposed on the casing and the carrier member for enabling the carrier member to be moved relative to the casing to counteract the force of the spring and thereby separate the second connector component from the first connector component in order to enable the first and second connector components to be respectively disposed on opposite sides of a battery terminal and to be attached to the battery terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Mohammed Ahmad Shammout
  • Patent number: 6783405
    Abstract: A terminal stamped from a phosphor bronze sheet member for electric connector for communication apparatus is disclosed to have two spring coil portions symmetrically bilaterally supported between a protruding contact portion and a mounting plate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Chuan Yi Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wu Bin Yen
  • Patent number: 6783406
    Abstract: The method consists in using a strip of a plastically deformable material which is capable of acquiring elastic spring properties after treatment. The central portion of the strip is coated in a layer of electrically conductive material and then the strip is punched so as to obtain springs which are interconnected at their ends by two continuous side strips. Thereafter, the springs are displaced from the plane of the strip being twisted about their respective longitudinal axes, and one edge of each spring is folded down as a hem in the direction which ensures that the layer of conductive material remains on the outside of the fold. Thereafter, the strip is subjected to hardening treatment to confer elastic properties thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Markus Keiser, Peter Wagner
  • Patent number: 6783407
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (1) includes a plug connector (2) and a receptical connector (3). The plug connector includes an insulative housing (20) having a number of passageways (205) and a number of fingers (206), and a number of electrical contacts (22) received in the passageways and supported by the fingers. The receptacle connector has an insulative housing (30) defining a number of grooves (306) and a number of electrical contacts (32) formed with slanted resilient arms (322) extending in the grooves. The resilient arms guide the fingers to extend into the grooves to establish an electrical connection between the electrical contacts on the fingers and the resilient arms with a low insertion force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 6783408
    Abstract: A controller that executes engine output control that a throttle is closed when a boat is navigated at a predetermined speed or higher and the output of an engine is gradually increased up to predetermined output when a steering system is steered right or left at a predetermined angle or more is provided. Thus, an overshoot phenomenon that the engine speed is held at a predetermined engine speed after the engine speed once increases up to the predetermined engine speed or higher when the engine speed is increased in deceleration can be avoided. As a result, the body of the boat can be prevented from sliding laterally to a great extent at the beginning of turning and the turning performance of the body can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Uraki, Takao Kochi, Tomoya Kono, Hajime Shogase
  • Patent number: 6783409
    Abstract: A pod unit including a pod housing (1) and an assembly unit (6), a so called seating, for the pod housing (1), wherein the seating (6) has a lower portion (6A) and an upper portion (6F) as well as a base (15) for the installation of the pod housing (1) which comprises a lower casing portion (1A) for the accommodation of a propulsion unit (2, 3, 4), an intermediate portion (1B) comprising air ducts (9, 10), and an upper portion (1C), which is fixedly connected to a steering engine (14, 18, 19), with a gear ring (14) to be fixed at said base (15). A cooling system comprising having at least one fan (7) is mounted within the seating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Stig Lönngren
  • Patent number: 6783410
    Abstract: Boat propeller drive unit with an underwater housing (5), which is solidly joined to a boat hull and has pulling propellers (15, 16) on the forward facing side of the housing. At the aft edge of the underwater housing, a rudder is mounted, comprising a first rudder blade (22a) mounted in the underwater housing and a second rudder blade (22c) mounted on the aft edge of the first rudder blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Volvo Penta AB
    Inventors: Nils-Ake Florander, Oddbjorn Hallenstvedt, Kare Jonsson
  • Patent number: 6783411
    Abstract: Propeller protector slipper to be used on inboard and outboard motors of boats that are anchored, drifting, aground, docked, in storage, or out of water in transit. The propeller protector slipper ensures protection for the propeller from elements that cause pitting and damage to propeller as well as minimizing propeller related injuries. The protector propeller slipper also provides a gage for projecting the distance of the propeller of a trailored boat from a following vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Allan Walter Pither
  • Patent number: 6783412
    Abstract: A cooling water distribution system provides a single cavity from which water is directed to a plurality of auxiliary devices. The cavity is formed within a housing structure that has a perforate surface shaped to be inserted into a primary water conducting channel through which water flows from a water pump to an internal combustion engine. The perforate surface does not extend into the water stream induced by the water pump but, instead, is shaped to conform to an inner surface of the water conducting cavity. Holes in the perforate surface are shaped to allow water to flow from the main channel of the water conducting cavity into the cavity of the housing structure from which the water is distributed through a plurality of water conduits to various auxiliary devices requiring cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Wynveen, Stuart M. Halley, Bernard E. Ritger
  • Patent number: 6783413
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an outboard motor includes an internal combustion engine. An intermediate member supports the engine. A housing unit depends from the intermediate member. An exhaust system guides exhaust gases from the engine. The exhaust system includes a main exhaust passage and an idle exhaust passage. The main exhaust passage discharges the exhaust gases that are produced above idle to the body of water through the housing unit. The idle exhaust passage discharges the exhaust gases that are produced during idle to the atmosphere. The intermediate member defines a portion of the main exhaust passage and a portion of the idle exhaust passage. The intermediate member forms a recessed area in the main exhaust passage portion. The idle exhaust passage communicates with the main exhaust passage portion at the recessed area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Nakata, Yasuhiko Shibata
  • Patent number: 6783414
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cathode comprises the steps of: a process for applying onto a substrate a fluid mixture comprising polymers or precursors to the polymers, fine particles of electroconductive material or organic metal compound, and solvent; a process for removing the solvent by heating the fluid mixture applied on the substrate, thereby obtaining an electroconductive organic film comprising the polymers and the electroconductive material; and a process for forming a gap at a portion of the electroconductive organic film by applying an electrical current thereto. Accordingly, a simple method for manufacturing cathodes, electron sources, and image forming apparatuses with excellent electron emitting properties can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Minami, Takashi Iwaki
  • Patent number: 6783415
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for forming ribs in a plasma display panel (PDP). The PDP includes a glass substrate, and a plurality of address electrodes are formed on the glass substrate. A dielectric layer is formed above the address electrodes and the glass substrate. A plurality of sandblasting stoppers are formed on the dielectric layer, and the positions of these stoppers are corresponded to that of the address electrodes. The rib material layer is further formed to cover the dielectric layer and the sandblasting stoppers, and then a plurality of sand-resists are patterned on the rib material layer. By using the sand-resists as a mask, a sandblasting process is executed to form a plurality of ribs and expose the sandblasting stoppers. After removing the sand-resists and the sandblasting stoppers, the structures of the ribs are fixed by a sinter process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Kuo-Pin Hsu
  • Patent number: 6783416
    Abstract: A plasma display panel including a barrier rib for separating a discharge space thereof into a discharge cell unit and a method of fabricating the barrier rib. The barrier rib is formed by utilizing an electro plating technique. Accordingly, it is possible to shield electrical and optical interference between discharge cells and to improve the radiation efficiency. The barrier rib fabricating method is so simple that it can obtain an improvement of the productivity and a reduction of the manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Kwan Lee, Soo Je Cho
  • Patent number: 6783417
    Abstract: A display device consisting of a multi-color light emitting layer and method of depositing the multi-color light emitting layer over a glass substrate are provided. The display device consists of multiple light emitting materials deposited over a glass substrate in coplanar relationship to each other. The method provides depositing one light emitting polymer material over one portion of the glass substrate and depositing other light emitting polymer materials over other portions of the glass substrate, such that the multiple light emitting polymer materials are deposited in a coplanar relationship to each other. The light emitting polymer materials are deposited using flexographic mats, the relief portion of which have patterns corresponding to the respective portions of the glass substrate being covered by the light emitting polymer materials being deposited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Three-Five Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Hourigan Morrissy, Dan Jerry Schott
  • Patent number: 6783418
    Abstract: An emitter includes an electron supply layer, a dielectric layer on the electron supply layer defining an emission area, and a filled zeolite emission layer within the defined emission area and in contact with the electron supply layer. The filled zeolite emission layer holds a semiconductor material within the cage of the zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Novet, David M. Schut
  • Patent number: 6783419
    Abstract: A playset for use with a wheeled toy vehicle includes a flexible first track section defining a first part of a path for the toy vehicle, a rigid and looped second track section defining a second part of the path, and a cavity formed in the second track section sized to permit the first track section to be shifted between an extended position and a retracted position. The first part of the path and the second part of the path are aligned when the first track section is in the extended position, and at least a major portion of the first track section is disposed within the cavity of the second track section when the first track section is in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Paukert, Douglas A. Schultheis
  • Patent number: 6783420
    Abstract: A toy component can be made of a fluorescent material, such as fluorescent acrylic, where the property of the material is such that the peripheral end glows when light is incident on the planar surface. To enhance the glow effect, the peripheral end is routed smooth and/or flame polished. The toy component can have various configurations, including an angled configuration, which can be formed by bending a planar acrylic sheet with heat. The toy components can be packaged economically and compactly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Philip N. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6783421
    Abstract: The waterproof illuminated disc flyer is an illuminated and waterproof flying plastic disc. The disc has upper and lower disc members sealed together at the outer perimeter of the discs, and is illuminated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A pushbutton switch and a battery compartment are enclosed within a waterproof enclosure formed between the upper and lower discs. A battery cover having a thin depressible plastic membrane enables a user to toggle the switch from outside the waterproof interior. The upper surface of the flying disc has a centered dome having six spokes, each spoke having a LED extending from alternating opposite ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Frank Lopez
  • Patent number: 6783422
    Abstract: A game call with a game call multi-colored volume and tone control which includes a game call volume and tone control-tapered inner chamber and a rotatable game call volume and tone control outer chamber having an outer chamber sound exiting port which variably exposes alternately oriented inner chamber sound exiting ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hunter's Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Ron M. Bean
  • Patent number: 6783423
    Abstract: An attachment structure for motor and a racing vehicle toy, wherein a motor can easily be inserted and removed therefrom, are provided. The attachment structure includes a motor holding plate capable of turning on a predetermined rotational shaft line attached to a chassis or base body. The motor holding plate includes an engaging portion capable of elastically engaging with an engage portion provided on the chassis when the motor holding plate is at the close position. The motor holding plate is capable of taking up an open position for opening the motor containing part and a close position for closing the motor containing part the turning. The motor holding plate holds the motor in the motor containing part in the close position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: TOMY Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Kaneko, Yousuke Yoneda, Yoshio Suimon
  • Patent number: 6783424
    Abstract: A toy figure body formed as a four legged animal includes an outer skin and interior padding to assume an animal-like form. Within the front legs and feet of the animal body a front leg armature passed upwardly from the animal's feet through the front legs and across the lower portion of the body. A rear leg armature separate from the front leg armature extends upwardly from the animals feet through the rear legs and passes therebetween through the animal's body. A tail armature extends from with padded animal body outwardly to support a posable tail. In an alternate embodiment, the three separate armatures are covered with a fabric sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, INC
    Inventor: Ok Soo Choi
  • Patent number: 6783425
    Abstract: Vehicle guidance and control systems that use the intensity of a field radiated from a source of radiation to define the track or lane for operation of the vehicles. The source of radiation used is a single source of radiation in the sense that vehicle position relative to the source of radiation is sensed by sensing intensity of the radiation at the vehicle, rather than the difference in field intensity sensed from two physically separated sources of radiation. Exemplary embodiments using a single magnetic field for navigational control are described, including a basic system for a single vehicle, a tethered system having steering and speed controls for creating a multiple vehicle racing environment, and a radio controlled system, also for creating a multiple vehicle racing environment and in the embodiment disclosed, also useable as a stand alone RC controlled vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Shoot the Moon Products II, LLC
    Inventor: James McKeefery
  • Patent number: 6783426
    Abstract: The present invention for a method and apparatus for detection of chemical mechanical planarization endpoint and device planarity comprises imparting at least one variation of an atomic mass of at least one material within the layer. The variation of the atomic mass within the layer is indicative of the layer thickness. The removal of the layer is monitored by detecting the variation in the atomic mass, and/or a change in concentration of the at least one material, during removal of the layer. Once the concentration of the material reaches a minimum threshold, or an atomic mass is detected at a minimum intensity, within a predetermined time duration, the removal of the layer is terminated. The variation in atomic mass, and/or concentration of materials within the layer is used to measure a planarity of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Agere Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Lynne Drown, Kim Elshot, Erik Cho Houge, Tingkwan Cheung
  • Patent number: 6783427
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus comprises: a housing defining a chamber wherein articles to be polished are subject to polishing and cleaning operations; partition walls for dividing the chamber of the housing into a plurality of sections; and, an air exhaust device. The exhaust device comprises: air exhaust conduits which are fluidly connected to the sections in the housing to exhaust air from the sections; valves for closing and opening the air exhaust conduits, respectively; and, a controller for independently controlling the valves to regulate air flows exhausted through the conduits. The conduits have inlet openings located in a vicinity of spaces where any air pollutant is generated in the sections in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Isobe, Tadakazu Sone, Takuji Hayama, Manabu Tsujimura
  • Patent number: 6783428
    Abstract: A grinding apparatus for grinding a spline ball groove on a workpiece comprises a rod-shaped grindstone, having a distal end portion with a curved surface corresponding to the groove to be ground, and a spindle mechanism for rotating the grindstone. The spindle mechanism and the grindstone are supported by means of a supporter in a manner such that they are inclined at a given angle to an axis of the workpiece. A rotary dresser, which has a dress groove corresponding to the curved surface of the distal end portion of the grindstone, is disposed near the grinding apparatus. The grindstone can be reciprocated along the axis of the workpiece by a drive mechanism between the workpiece and the dresser without changing its angle of inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Sakai, Takaji Iwasawa, Katsuyuki Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Ikeda, Masami Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6783429
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for drawing a sample of a chemical-mechanical polishing slurry for analysis of at least one property, e.g., particle size distribution, is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Kristin Nicholes, Stephen John Carlson, Mark R. Litchy
  • Patent number: 6783430
    Abstract: A grinding apparatus with a grinding wheel on the output shaft of a fluid servomotor driven by fluid from a fluid source and controlled by a servo valve. The servomotor housing is mounted on a stage moveable toward a work to press the grinding wheel against the work. The output shaft extends through a cover. A rotational speed detector includes a rotating member disposed on the output shaft inside the cover and a rotation detecting member attached to the cover facing the rotating member. Differences between the detected rotational speed of the shaft and a target rotational speed are determined by a control device, and the stage is moved in response to signals from the control device, so grinding can be adapted to various conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Tawara
  • Patent number: 6783431
    Abstract: A tool for finishing surfaces to be joined together. The tool includes a support wheel with a lower surface with a generally flat surface and a central axis that is generally normal to the flat surface of the lower surface. The generally flat surface of the lower surface being adapted for supporting a section of snadpaper or the like. The tool also includes a guide axle that extends from the flat surface of the lower surface and along the central axis of the support wheel and a drive axle that extends from the upper surface of the support wheel and along the central axis of the support wheel, so that the support wheel driven through the drive axle supports the sandpaper against the surfaces to be joined as the guide axle is inserted into the aperture in the surfaces to be joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Girten
  • Patent number: 6783432
    Abstract: A method and composition for planarizing a substrate. The composition includes a pressure sensitive solution and one or more chemical agents for complexing with a metal or oxidized metal. The method for removal of a copper containing layer from a substrate surface, comprising applying a composition to a polishing media, the composition comprising a pressure sensitive solution, and one or more chemical agents for complexing with a metal or oxidized metal, and polishing the substrate surface with the polishing media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Jui-Lung Li, Yuchun Wang, Rajeev Bajaj, Fred C. Redeker
  • Patent number: 6783433
    Abstract: A polishing-washing method includes the steps of providing a polishing media containing a fine powder of an RB ceramic and/or CRB ceramic and bringing a medium stream containing the polishing media into contact with the surfaces of a body to be worked. In this method, the polishing media solution obtained after the polishing-washing can be re-used by recycling after simply separating the particles of metal oxides and the particles of removed burrs and cutting metal chips from the solution composition by utilizing a difference in specific gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hokkirigawa, Motoharu Akiyama, Noriyuki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 6783434
    Abstract: A CMP abrasive comprising a cerium oxide slurry containing cerium oxide particles, a dispersant and water, and a liquid additive containing a dispersant and water; and a liquid additive for the CMP abrasive. A method for polishing a substrate which comprises holding a substrate having, formed thereon, a film to be polished against a polishing pad of a polishing platen, followed by pressing, and moving the substrate and the polishing platen while supplying the above CMP abrasive in between the film to be polished and the polishing pad to thereby polish the film to be polished. The CMP abrasive and the method for polishing can be used for polishing a surface to be polished such as a silicone oxide film or a silicon nitride film without contaminating the surface to be polished with an alkali metal such as sodium ions and with no flaws, and the CMP abrasive is excellent in storage stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Akahori, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Keizo Hirai, Miho Kurihara, Masato Yoshida, Yasushi Kurata
  • Patent number: 6783435
    Abstract: A magnetic head is manufactured by grinding a head chip (2) with a gap depth (GD 1) to remove its margin (6) until the gap depth becomes a final gap depth (GD 2). The gap depth (GD 1) is 25 microns or thinner. The method increases yield and productivity in the manufacture of a high performance magnetic head with a decreased gap depth (GD 2), which satisfies the standards of both the gap depth (GD 2) and the distance between the head gap and the outermost point of the chip front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Ogasawara, Mitsuhisa Fujiki, Satoshi Yamabayashi, Tetsuya Okana
  • Patent number: 6783436
    Abstract: A polishing pad useful for chemical mechanical planarization has a polishing layer for planarizing substrates. The polishing layer comprises a radius that extends from a center of the polishing layer to an outer perimeter of the polishing layer; one or more continuous grooves formed in the polishing layer and extending inward from the outer perimeter of the polishing layer; and a circumference fraction grooved (CF). The CF occurs in the area extending from the outer perimeter of the polishing layer a majority distance to the center of the polishing layer; and CF is that portion of circumference at a given radius lying across the one or more continuous grooves divided by full circumference at the given radius. The CF remains within 25% of its average value as a function of the polishing layer radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory P. Muldowney
  • Patent number: 6783437
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a polishing pad that can facilitate process stability, extend length of use, and mitigate process non-uniformity and process induced defects for chemical mechanical planarization processes. The polishing pad of the present invention is a composite of a top pad and a sealed sub-pad. The sealed sub-pad has a sealing mechanism that mitigates liquid penetration into the sub-pad thereby maintaining a substantially uniform compressibility of the sub-pad and the polishing pad and extending a useable life of the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Yanghua He
  • Patent number: 6783438
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing endodontic instruments having either helical or non-helical flutes. A method is provided for forming superelastic endodontic instruments having helical flutes, wherein a wire of superelastic material is formed into an instrument blank, and before twisting, the superelastic alloy is brought to an annealed state comprising a phase structure including a rhombohedral phase alone or in combination with austenite and/or martensite, or a combination of martensite and austenite. In this annealed state, the instrument blank is twisted at low temperature, for example less than about 100° C., and advantageously at ambient temperature to the final desired twisted configuration. The twisted instrument is then heat treated and rapidly quenched to a superelastic condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos A. Aloise, Gary T. Garman
  • Patent number: 6783439
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mirror surface tube for a photosensitive drum of a copying machine or the like, by which an external surface of an aluminium or aluminium alloy tube can be mirror-processed with high accuracy without surface defects, and in such a way that good quality required for a photosensitive drum is ensured and dimension accuracy, such as roundness, and production yield is improved involves a first step in which an aluminium or aluminium alloy tube, finished in a predetermined shape and dimension with surface roughness of 10 microns or less, is processed by a centerless grinding process. Then, in a second step, a grinding process is performed using an electrolytic integrated polishing apparatus including a tool electrode mechanism having an elastic grindstone so as to make a mirror surface tube having the surface roughness of 2.0 microns or less. Further, preferably, in a third stage, a roller burnishing process is performed to finish the tube to a surface roughness of 0.5 microns or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Nissin Unyu Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Akagi, Akira Hashimoto, Yoshimitu Nakashima