Patents Issued in February 6, 2007
  • Patent number: 7173181
    Abstract: A coupling set for connecting a ground plate for arrest of lightning is provided, in which the ground plate is embedded underground below an electric pole in order to effectively arrest lightning. Accordingly, lightning can be effectively grounded. The connection members are connected with each other top and bottom and left and right. The lowest connection member is supported below an electric pole. Thus, when the electric pole is buried, a coupling set having connection members for connecting a ground plate is not be pushed up. Also, it is very easy to connect a lightning arrest copper wire with a ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Joon-Young Park
  • Patent number: 7173182
    Abstract: A signal transmission cable with a connector, that includes a shielded cable having a shielding layer and an insulating coating layer, which cover a periphery of a plurality of insulated wires, and a magnetic powder compound layer interposed between the shielding layer and the insulating coating layer; a connector which is electrically and mechanically connected to at least one end of the shielded cable, and which has a shielding metal cover extending from a housing part to a cable end, the housing part holding terminals to be connected to the insulated wires; and a closed magnetic path core which is fitted on the shielding layer with the insulating coating layer partly removed at the end of the shielded cable. The shielding layer is folded back so as to cover outside of the closed magnetic path core and a tip portion of the shielding layer is connected to the shielding metal cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: FDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiro Katsuyama, Junji Konda, Manabu Teranishi
  • Patent number: 7173183
    Abstract: Three specific problems or needs related to deployment of fiber optic repeater distributed antenna systems are addressed by providing a particularly configured enclosure or cabinet adapted to protect repeaters from vandalism, enclose power components directly below the repeaters, and provide uninhibited ventilation. The cabinet includes a first cabinet portion partially enclosing a first chamber in which the repeater is receivable, a second cabinet portion at least partially enclosing a second chamber in which the power source components are receivable, and a door mounted to the first cabinet portion so as to be movable between a closed position, in which access to the first chamber is prevented, and an open position, providing access to the first chamber. A locking mechanism by which the door can be securely retained in the closed position includes a handle which is redundantly securable in an inoperative position, thereby preventing locking mechanism operation and precluding access to the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Nextel Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D McMahon, Rick L. Sputa
  • Patent number: 7173184
    Abstract: An electrical outlet box having alternative mounting flanges on opposite sides thereof for selectively mounting the box to a front surface of a wall stud or to a side surface of a wall stud. The box and mounting flanges are configured for use of either mounting flange with the box located on either of opposite sides of the wall stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: The Lamson & Sessions Co.
    Inventors: Eric G. Hull, Charles H. Riedy, Dennis P. Revlock, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7173185
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for fastening a device housing onto a panel includes a housing and a clamp. The panel defines a front surface, a rear surface, and an opening extending therethrough for receiving the housing. The housing includes at least one wall sized to extend through the opening. The wall defines a bearing surface. The clamp includes a beam member and a head member. The beam member extends from the wall at a first end. The beam member is biased to deflect outwardly with respect to the wall at an oblique angle. The head member extends from a second end of the beam member and includes a first cam surface for engaging the rear surface of the panel and a second cam surface for engaging the bearing surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn D. Cloran, Kenneth J. Lutze, Mark S. Williams
  • Patent number: 7173186
    Abstract: A mounting bracket for electrical junction boxes has two sides to which electrical junction boxes for adjacent rooms may be attached. The mounting bracket is interposed between parallel vertical stud members. A plurality of electrical junction boxes may be attached to either side of the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Dale A. Hageman
  • Patent number: 7173187
    Abstract: A ground connector for providing quick and secure connection between a plurality of electrical conductors and a ground bus bar. The connector has a generally U-Shaped body of deformable conductive material with a pair of outwardly directed shoulders and a pair of legs at opposite ends of the body, including an open ended slot for receiving a bus bar to establish an electrical crimp connection. Each leg includes teeth extending into the slot for engagement with the bus bar. The lower end of the slot has a pair of outwardly angled cut outs to allow the legs of the body to deform for a secure crimp connection to the bus bar. The body further includes a pair of apertures spaced at apart locations opposite the legs, respectively, for receiving conductors therein. Each of the apertures has access openings extending through the lower surface of the body to provide an area of relief upon deformation of the body around the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: George Triantopoulos, Jerry Woodward
  • Patent number: 7173188
    Abstract: A straight angle conductor 10 is provided with a cladding material including a core-sheet metal 11 and conductor-sheet metals 12a, 12b that sandwich both surfaces of the core-sheet metal 11. The conductor-sheet metals 12a, 12b having a volume resistivity equal to or less than 5.0 (??·cm) wraps both sides of the core-sheet metal 11 having a thermal expansion coefficient equal to or less than 10 (×10?6/C. °) to prevent the core-sheet metal 11 from being exposed to an outside of the conductor-sheet metals 12a, 12b. As a result, it prevents occurrence of an electrical potential difference in a boundary side face between the core-sheet metal 11 and the conductor-sheet metals 12a, 12b to improve corrosion resistance. Especially even when the straight angle conductor 10 is used on a silicon crystal wafer for a solar cell, damage of the silicon crystal wafer caused by heat occurring in soldering process of the conductor 10 or a change in temperature on use thereof for a solar cell is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuju Endo, Hakaru Matsui, Seigi Aoyama, Takaaki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7173189
    Abstract: A cable including a first group of inner twisted conductor pairs and a second group of outer twisted conductor pairs. The first group of inner pairs is twisted at a first twist rate, the second group of outer pairs is twisted at a second twist rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis Hazy, Erich Sawyer, Jeff Stutzman, Federick W. Johnston, Spring Stutzman, Dave Wiekhorst
  • Patent number: 7173190
    Abstract: A flexible flat conductor and a power supply unit including the flexible flat conductor. The flexible flat conductor includes at least two electrically conductive layers which are at least partially surrounded by an electrically insulating cover. The electrically conductive layers are insulated from one another by at least one dielectric layer arranged therebetween. At least a first one of the electrically conductive layers is patterned in at least one subarea thereof by openings in such a way that a plurality of meandrous elements is formed. The meandrous elements are serially juxtaposed in a plane defined by the fiat conductor, so as to form a filter structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: FRIWO Mobile Power GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Bothe, Stefan Mörbe
  • Patent number: 7173191
    Abstract: A cable includes a filler including a plurality of points of weakness or discontinuities spaced along its length. The points of weakness or discontinuities may be evenly spaced along the length of the cable and may be formed by partially or fully cutting through the filler. The filler may be formed from a plastics material and may be shaped, in cross section, to have a number of arms to enable it to separate other components of the cable. The filler may be electrically conductive or semi-conductive to enable it to act as screen between other components of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Raydex/CDT Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen John Prescott
  • Patent number: 7173192
    Abstract: The invention relates to a position-fixing arrangement for use in printed circuit boards, preferably for mechanically determining the position of optical couplers. According to the invention, hollow cylinders are contained in a printed circuit board, parallel to the surface of the same. Said hollow cylinders are opened with a slit that is cut in from the surface and the inner wall of the cylinders fixes positioning pins of the couplers in place. The invention also relates to a corresponding production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Elmar Griese, Andreas Himmler
  • Patent number: 7173193
    Abstract: A method and structure are provided for implementing enhanced interconnection performance of an electrical connector, such as a land grid array (LGA) module, and a printed wiring board. A multi-layer printed wiring board includes a plurality of predefined ground and power layers. At least one of the predefined ground and power layers includes a thickness variation minimizing structure for minimizing thickness variation. The thickness variation minimizing structure includes a perforated pattern within a selected area of the at least one of the predefined ground and power layers. The selected area is proximate to predefined module sites, such as land grid array (LGA) module sites, in the ground and power layers. The selected area can include regions surrounding each predefined module site, and also can include a region within the module site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Louis Brodsky, Mark Kenneth Hoffmeyer, James R. Stack
  • Patent number: 7173194
    Abstract: An under-floor box system including a floor having an opening therein and a floor box position in the opening of the floor. The full box includes a housing and at least one fastening device partially retractable within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Pent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Rupert
  • Patent number: 7173195
    Abstract: The present invention provides a clamp assembly for clamping an electrical wire to the wall of the electrical outlet box. The clamp assembly includes a wire clamp non-rotatably supported in the box adjacent to the wall. The wire clamp has an internally threaded aperture therethrough. A threaded screw assembly is captively retained in the box for rotating movement without longitudinal displacement. The threaded screw extends through the threaded aperture of the clamp such that upon rotating movement of the screw, the clamp is longitudinally movable therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Alain Michaud
  • Patent number: 7173196
    Abstract: An installation for filling receptacles by weight, the installation comprising a platform having secured thereto at least one filler spout and a weighing device which is vertically below the filler spout and which comprises a receptacle support member associated with a weighing member. The installation is distinguished in that the weighing device includes a link member between the support member and the weighing member, the link member enabling the support member to be moved relative to the weighing member between a high position in which the filler spout is engaged in the receptacle, and a low position in which the filler spout is disengaged from the receptacle, and in that the weighing device includes a locking member for locking the link member with the support member in its high position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Serac Group
    Inventor: Bertrand Gruson
  • Patent number: 7173197
    Abstract: A handheld apparatus for measuring fish, game, and the like is provided and includes a scale, a camera, and a length measuring device. The scale includes a support member that extends outwardly from the apparatus housing, and a display that is visible through the housing. The support member is configured to suspend an object therefrom for weighing via the scale, and the display is configured to display the weight of an object suspended from the support member. The length measurement device is configured to measure the length of an object and the display is configured to display the length of an object measured by the length measurement device. The camera includes a lens, an image sensor configured to capture images obtained via the lens, and a camera display. The camera display displays an image of an object taken by the camera with weight and/or length information for the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Adstracts, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Kasperek
  • Patent number: 7173198
    Abstract: A seat weight measuring apparatus capable of securely withstanding large force due to large load, such as force in the event of a vehicle collision, applied to a vehicle seat. Normally, a small force is applied to a rear pin bracket and the sleeves through which a pivot bolt is inserted do not substantially collide with the inner peripheries of holes. As a large force is applied to the rear pin bracket, a stopper bolt collides with a base frame and the rear pin bracket collides with the pivot bolt. The large force exerted on the rear pin bracket is shared and borne by portions of the frame thereby reducing the localized stresses in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7173199
    Abstract: A switching signal input device for use with an electronic apparatus is provided. The switching signal input device includes a switch part, an operating part and a resilience element, and is capable of performing four-directional switch control actions in response to the elastic forces generated from the resilience element on two planes perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventors: Chang Kun Lu, Wen Shin Wang
  • Patent number: 7173200
    Abstract: A key switch includes a guiding and supporting mechanism for guiding and supporting a key top. The guiding and supporting mechanism is so constructed that a substantially ring-shaped stabilizer and a substantially U-shaped stabilizer are pivotally connected by shafts and bearing parts each having a semi-circular sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 7173201
    Abstract: A remote controller 1 is capable of achieving switching operation even when the user presses substantially any place of a switch. A toilet seat open/close switch 12 has a tiltable member 20 which is tiltably supported at its front lower portion to an upper portion of a main body 2, a switch body 30 which is pressed by the tiltable member 20 when the tiltable member 20 tilts, and a cap 40 which is mounted to the upper portion of the main body 2 such that the cap 40 can be freely displaced in the anteroposterior direction and the vertical direction. The tiltable member 20 is disposed in a cavity 41 formed inside the cap 40. As the cap 40 is pressed from front or from above, the tiltable member 20 is pressed by the cap 40 to tilt, whereby the switch body 30 conducts the switching action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignees: Inax Corporation, Sanwa Electronic Instrument Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Fukaya, Masayuki Nagata, Masato Wakabayashi, Sadaaki Shichino, Hiroshi Okazaki, Tomohiko Taki
  • Patent number: 7173202
    Abstract: A horn switch device includes a first contact member, a second contact member disposed relative to the first contact member via a spacer, a guide shaft for guiding the first and second contact members, a coil spring, and a contacting body at the distal end of an extension extending from a retainer. When a module cover is depressed, the second contact member comes into contact with the contacting body so as to be deformed, thereby bringing electrical contacts into contact with each other so as to sound the horn. The horn switch device facilitates positioning of the contacts relative to each other, thereby simplifying the assembly of an airbag system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Tsujimoto, Wataru Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 7173203
    Abstract: An integrated microspring switch may be provided for relatively high frequency switching applications. A spring arm may be formed over a microspring dimple, which may be hemispherical and hollow in one embodiment. When the spring arm contacts the dimple, the spring dimple may resiliently deflect away or collapse, increasing the contact area between the spring arm and the dimple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Qing Ma
  • Patent number: 7173204
    Abstract: A control panel assembly including at least one moveable button defining an outer surface. The control panel assembly also includes an electroluminescent film operatively supported on the outer surface of the button such that the electroluminescent film is adapted for selectively emitting light from the outer surface of the button. A method for making the control panel assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Schmidt, Leonard E. Pagano, James B. Wright
  • Patent number: 7173205
    Abstract: The invention provides a manual operation button having a large operable area. A manual operation button is composed of a manual operation plane, a holder for assembling the manual operation plane and a stopper for fixing the holder to a casing. The casing has a mounting hole having substantially the same size and shape as the manual operation plane, so that when the manual operation plane is assembled to the mounting hole, the manual operation plane forms a substantially continuous flat plane with the casing. The holder includes a substantially L-shaped mounting portion for mounting to the casing, a flat plate-like mounting plane for mounting the manual operation plane, and a hinge portion connecting the mounting portion and the mounting plane. The whole width of the hinge portion is disposed within the outer projection plane of the manual operation plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Orion Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masateru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7173206
    Abstract: A switch assembly is provided which includes a holder defining at least a pair of eyelets extending completely therethrough; an electrically conductive lead-frame supported on the holder, the lead-frame defining at least a pair of openings therein; and at least a pair of electrically conductive rivets each configured and adapted for at least partial positioning in a respective eyelet. The first opening of the lead-frame is larger than a head portion of a first rivet such that the head portion does not contact the lead-frame. The second opening of the lead-frame is smaller than a head portion of another rivet such that the head portion contacts the lead-frame. The switch assembly further includes at least one electrically conductive snap dome in electrical contact with the lead-frame and overlying the first rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronal Charles Du Pont
  • Patent number: 7173207
    Abstract: In an apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, for example a cleaner, opener, carding machine or the like, for detecting waste which is separated out from fibre material, for example cotton, and consists of foreign matter and good fibres and which is collected in a collecting device, there is provided an optical measuring device having a brightness sensor, which measuring device examines the waste. In order to make it possible, by simple means, for the content of good fibres in the waste to be detected and to allow optimum adjustment of the composition of the waste, especially with a high content of trash and low content of good fibres, the waste material is moved past at least one sensor arrangement responding to good fibres, and the sensor arrangement comprises a light source, the light reflected by the moving good fibres being detected by the brightness sensor and being converted into electrical signals, from which the good fibre content can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Lösbrock, Christoph Färber
  • Patent number: 7173208
    Abstract: A vacuum interrupter for reducing contact resistance and thereby reducing electromagnetic repulsive force between electrodes, is obtained. The vacuum interrupter includes a stationary electrode rod fixedly placed on one closed end of a cylindrical evacuated envelope closed at both ends thereof; a movable electrode rod movably placed on the other closed end; disc shaped contacts placed on opposing ends of the electrode rods; and reinforcement members for reinforcing the contact placed between each electrode rod and the associated contact. In such a configuration, a coefficient of linear expansion of the reinforcement member differs from that of the contact, and the reinforcement member and the associated contact are jointed by soldering at a plurality of opposing parts thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takakazu Harada, Hiromi Koga, Shinichi Miki
  • Patent number: 7173209
    Abstract: Where can bodies of sheet metal are welded between the welding rollers of a welding machine, the welding current is not applied to the welding rollers until the body is between the welding electrode rollers. In this way, the quality of the weld at the initial weld point is improved, and where intermediate wire electrodes are used, wire breaks are reliably prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Elpatronic AG
    Inventors: Eugen Müller, Jean-Paul Ruscher
  • Patent number: 7173210
    Abstract: A spot welding rod for resistance welding of object comprises a rod which is moveable axially, and two electrode arms provided with electrodes, wherein the electrodes face towards each other and the welding gun is adapted to press together objects to be welded located between the electrodes by axial movement of the rod, and to allow welding current to flow between the electrodes. The rod axis extends in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the directions of the electrodes and at least one of the electrode arms is pivotally mounted. The welding gun includes structural elements which are connected operatively to the at least one pivotally mounted electrode arm and the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Car-O-Liner AB
    Inventors: Magnus Eek, Sivert Stenkvist
  • Patent number: 7173211
    Abstract: A device to place an incision into matter with a harmonious plasma cloud. A radiofrequency generator system produces pulsed or continuous electromagnetic waveform which is transmitted by an active transmitter incising electrode tip. This generated electromagnetic wave is utilized to initiate a plasma cloud with processes such as thermal ionization and a photoelectric effect which then trigger an Avalanche Effect for charged atomic particles at the surface of the active transmitter incising electrode tip. This electromagnetic wave is impedance matched, frequency matched, power matched and tuned to the plasma cloud in order to sustain and control a harmonious plasma cloud with reduced atomic particle turbulence and chaos. This harmonious plasma cloud forms a coating over the surface of the active transmitter electrode tip as well as acts to reduce the energy needed from the power amplifier of our plasma cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: RJF Holdings II, Inc.
    Inventors: Damian Coccio, Richard J. Fugo
  • Patent number: 7173212
    Abstract: A method for laser drilling and laser cutting of semiconductor material or glass in pulsed regime permits, for a given laser power, a rate of material cutting which is substantially higher than the rate obtained using conventional laser cutting. The hole or cut produced by the laser-induced removal of material has a reproducible shape, the drilling or cutting does not produce material debris or spatter deposition around the crater or cut, and the cracking of the crater or cut walls is prevented. The method includes utilization of a unique physical model representing all main physical processes taking place during laser-assisted material deposition, a corresponding mathematical model consisting of equations describing the relevant physical processes, and a computer code used for numerical calculations of the parameters of interest according to the mathematical model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Vladimir V. Semak
  • Patent number: 7173213
    Abstract: A first wrist element is rotatably provided on the front end of a forearm base of a robot. A second wrist element is rotatably provided on the first wrist element. A welding torch is rotatably supported via a transmission mechanism. A wire feeder is disposed at a position other than a forearm. A torch cable is fitted to a slider with an intermediate fitting section. A slider can be pulled backward by returning a wire connected to a tension generator using a pulley. In place of the fitting section, an intermediate guiding section can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Kazutaka Nakayama, Takatoshi Iwayama
  • Patent number: 7173214
    Abstract: An electric arc welder with a waveform generator controlled to create a welding process involving current flow between an electrode and a workpiece wherein the welding process comprises a succession of pulse waveforms, each having a current ramp up portion, a peak current portion, a current ramp down portion and a background current portion, a voltage sensing circuit to sense a short circuit between the electrode and the workpiece and a reset circuit to reset the waveform generator upon sensing of a short circuit. The preferred electrode is a solid wire which may be in the form of a metal cored wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Nadzam, Steven R. Peters
  • Patent number: 7173215
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for characterizing a welding consumable, such as flux or an electrode, and/or for comparing two or more welding consumables for use in narrow gap deep groove welding operations, including creating test welds on fixtures having joint grooves of various angles for a given groove depth, followed by controlled standardized non-aggressive slag removal operations, and quantification of the amount of slag remaining in the groove, wherein the welding consumables are each characterized using the same fixtures, welding conditions, workpiece groove depths, groove angles, and removal operations, to construct a set of results, such as a table or rating, by which the individual welding consumables can be rated and/or a determination can be made as to which of two consumables provides superior performance with respect to ease of removal in deep groove welding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Kapoor, Teresa A. Melfi, Janet M. Morse, Jon P. Chiappone
  • Patent number: 7173216
    Abstract: A reactor chamber is positioned between a top array of LED heat lamps and a bottom array of LED heat lamps. The LED heat lamps forming the top and bottom arrays are individually or controllable in groups such that power output along each array of LED heat lamps can dynamically differ. The LED lamps can be controlled in response to, for example, feedback from chamber sensors, a desired temperature profile, and a failed LED lamp. In this way, the methods and systems described herein can dynamically compensate for operational characteristics of the reactor chamber. In one configuration, the LED heat lamps are arranged in a rectangular pattern. In some configurations, the LED heat lamps are arranged in a circular or a concentric pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Ptak
  • Patent number: 7173217
    Abstract: An oven has a housing defining a cooking chamber. Guides in the chamber carrying a slidable rack. A door hinged on the housing and pivotal between an open position and a closed position. A linkage between a side wall of the cooking chamber and the housing for automatically ejecting the frame on movement of the door into the open position. The linkage is oriented in a vertical plane and has a lever pivoted in the housing outside the chamber, a link connecting the lever to the door such that the lever pivots when the door is moved between its positions, and a thruster element pivoted between the housing and the chamber and having a first outer part outside the cooking chamber and slidably engaged in a slot of the lever and a second inner part inside the cooking chamber and slidably engaged in an opening of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: DeLonghi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe De'Longhi
  • Patent number: 7173218
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for heating and sensing the temperature of a chemical reaction chamber without direct physical contact between a heating device and the reaction chamber, or between a temperature sensor and the reaction chamber. A plurality of chemical reaction chambers can simultaneously or sequentially be heated independently and monitored separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Janice G. Shigeura, legal representative, John Shigeura, deceased
  • Patent number: 7173219
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a heater having a ceramic substrate with a through hole formed therein so that the uniformity of temperature on the heating face of the substrate can be improved and the use life of the ceramic substrate can be improved upon thermal cycles. A ceramic heater comprises a substrate made of a ceramic material and having a heating face where three or more zones 3C, 3F are allocated, heating resistances corresponding to the zones, respectively, and terminals 5C electrically connected to the heating resistances, respectively. Three or more holes 4 are formed in the substrate. Distances of the terminals 5C and the wall surfaces facing the holes 4 are 8 mm or more, respectively. The heating resistance 15 intersects a straight line 16 connecting the center of the terminal and the center 4a of the hole in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisakazu Okajima, Mitsuru Ohta
  • Patent number: 7173220
    Abstract: A heating device comprises a substrate having a heating surface, a heating element buried in the substrate, a cylindrical member joined to the substrate, and lead wires for supplying current to the heating element. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the substrate is about 1.0 to about 2.0 times the thermal conductivity of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Unno, Yoshinobu Goto
  • Patent number: 7173221
    Abstract: A device warns that a surface is temperature excessive. A light guide receiving light from a light source sufficiently distant from the surface to avoid becoming dangerously hot or cold is oriented so that the light guide is in the path of the light beam and transmits the light beam through the light guide to a point outside the light guide. The light source is controlled by a controller. A predetermined warning symbol typically outside the light guide is illuminated when the surface is dangerously temperature excessive because a sensor connected to the controller ascertains and transmits the surface temperature to the controller controlling the light source and an observer sees that the surface is temperature excessive. In certain embodiments, the light guide is flexible and/or its second end movable. The symbol can illuminate a border to warn against entry into an area in which the surface is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: William S. Lerner
  • Patent number: 7173222
    Abstract: A temperature and flow rate controlled capillary aerosol generator includes two heating zones optionally separated by a region in which a pressure drop is induced. Power is metered or applied to the downstream, second zone to achieve a target resistance, and therefore a target temperature, while power is metered or applied to the upstream, first zone to achieve a target mass flow rate exiting the second zone. A target temperature is achieved in the second zone to generate an aerosol from the liquid flowing through the generator at the desired mass flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Cox, Walter A. Nichols, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Douglas D. McRae, William R. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 7173223
    Abstract: The invention provides a flexible electro-heating apparatus and fabrication thereof. The electro-heating apparatus, according to the invention, includes a fabric-type heating device, at least one pair of terminals, and a power supply. The heating device is formed by at least M first yarns which each first yarn substantially consists of first textile fibers and metal fibers or metallic fibers. N first yarns of the M first yarns are woven through the heating device from a first side of the heating device to a second side of the beating device. Each pair of terminals is respectively and oppositely disposed on the first side and the second side of the heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tex-Ray Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Jung Kuo, Yang Shun-Tung, Lu Fan-De
  • Patent number: 7173224
    Abstract: An induction heating apparatus with high safety is provided in which leakage current is prevented from flowing to the human body and there is no possibility of an electric shock even when an electrostatic shielding member does not sufficiently perform its function. The driving apparatus of the present invention is an induction heating apparatus in which the electrostatic shielding member is provided between an object to be heated and an induction heating coil where sensing portion for sensing the conduction condition of the electrostatic shielding member is provided, and driving portion for driving the induction heating coil is controlled through sensing by the sensing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kataoka, Izuo Hirota, Katsuyuki Aihara, Nobuyoshi Makio
  • Patent number: 7173225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an induction heating pan comprising a pan body having an inner pan and an outer pan, a lid and a hinge member to connect the lid to the pan body, wherein the hinge member comprises a hollow cylindrical part which contains various connecting elements therein to control the opening angles of the lid, so that the loss of the connecting elements can be prevented in separating the lid from the pan body and it becomes more convenient to clean the lid and the hinge member, and the lid can be lifted smoothly at predetermined angles and easily separated from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tiger Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Myung Yeol Chang
  • Patent number: 7173226
    Abstract: A complex home appliance and a method of controlling and installing the same. The complex home appliance includes a single power supply unit shared by two or more component home appliances of the complex home appliance. The two or more component home appliances are controlled by a single control unit of the complex home appliance. The complex home appliance can be operated in a simultaneous operation mode in which the two or more component home appliances are simultaneously operable, and an individual operation mode in which only one of the two or more component home appliances is operable. The complex home appliance includes a mode-setting unit to set the simultaneous or individual operation mode. The complex home appliance includes a power cut-off unit which supplies power to the single power supply unit and cuts off the supply of the power in response to being electrically opened at the time of an electrical overload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeon-Hong Kang
  • Patent number: 7173227
    Abstract: A laser beam processing apparatus includes a laser oscillator for producing a laser beam for processing a processing object, a focus head for focusing the laser beam output from the laser oscillator onto the processing object, a photo detector for detecting light emanating from the processing object in response to irradiation with the laser beam and a reference light generated from a reference light generating unit via a nozzle attached to the focus head, a correlation adjusting unit for adjusting correlation between the light detected during the processing and processing state of the processing object from the reference light detected by the photo detector, and a control unit for controlling the laser oscillator by monitoring the processing situation of the processing object from the light detected during the processing and that is adjusted by the correlation adjusting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Iwata, Tetsuya Ootsuki
  • Patent number: 7173228
    Abstract: The invention relates to an image sensor device comprising a substrate, formed in CMOS technology, in particular, with an integrated semiconductor structure (ASIC) and, arranged above that, an optically active thin-film structure comprising in each case at least one layer made of doped and undoped amorphous silicon, spatially adjacent pixels in each case being formed in the horizontal plane, which pixels each have an optoelectronic transducer for converting incident light into an electric current proportional to the incident quantity of light, and also a charge store assigned to the optoelectronic transducer, the charge state of which charge store can be varied in a manner dependent on the light incident on the assigned optoelectronic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics NV.
    Inventor: Stephan Benthien
  • Patent number: 7173229
    Abstract: A charge division arrangement for a CCD device for producing a divided charge output from an input charge, comprising an input for receiving an input charge, an array of elements and an output. The array of elements being arranged in rows and columns and having clock connections to allow charge in each row to be successively clocked from one row of elements to the next. At least some of the elements being arranged in a charge division unit having a first element and a second element in adjacent columns and being communicable at least temporarily so that charged introduced into the first element is divided between the first element and the second element, the charge division unit being arranged to produce divided charge for production at the output. The arrangement allows a small amount of charge to be introduced into a CCD circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: E2V Technologies (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Peter James Pool, Raymond Thomas Bell
  • Patent number: 7173230
    Abstract: An approach is provided for detecting EM waves using a photodetector coupled to an amplifier stage. The amplifier stage uses capacitive feedback to reduce or cancel intrinsic capacitance of the photodetector. A variety of capacitance structures may be used to provide the capacitive feedback such as shielded capacitors and capacitor arrays. The amplifier stage may be either single-ended or fully differential, depending upon the requirements of a particular application. Noise cancellation circuitry may also be included to reduce noise and offset sources present in the amplifier stage. The approach is applicable to a variety of contexts and applications. Example applications include, without limitation, detection of both brightness and Time of Flight (TOF) in 3D sensing applications. The approach may also be used to detect EM wave intensity in 2D sensing systems and, in general, for any application requiring simultaneously high speed and high sensitivity EM detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Canesta, Inc.
    Inventor: Edoardo Charbon