Patents Issued in March 6, 2007
  • Patent number: 7187507
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical component for fixing a lens comprising a base, a holder, and a fastener. The base has a concave side surface and at least one first hole. The holder has a cylindrical shape and has a second hole penetrating through a center portion of at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface thereof. The lens is sandwiched between the holder and the part of the base which extends from the edge of the side surface to the inner side and which corresponds to the inner part of a circle drawn so as to circumscribe all the insertion holes. The base and the holder are fastened by the fasteners inserted in the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotada Oishi, Tomoaki Moriwaka
  • Patent number: 7187508
    Abstract: A lens device includes: a housing formed with a module-mounting hole that has a hole axis, and provided with a mounting surface that is disposed radially and outwardly of the module-mounting hole; a lens module having a lens axis; and an alignment correction unit for mounting the lens module on the housing at the module-mounting hole. The alignment correction unit includes a module barrel coupled to the lens module, an elastically deformable component clamped by the module barrel toward the mounting surface of the housing, and a set of screw fasteners for fastening the module barrel onto the mounting surface at angularly spaced apart locations relative to the hole axis. Depths of threaded engagement of the screw fasteners with the mounting surface are independently adjustable to permit adjustment of the lens axis of the lens module relative to the hole axis of the module-mounting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Chih-Hao Chiang
  • Patent number: 7187509
    Abstract: There is provided a color wheel which includes: a color filter disk having a side surface; and a rotary member having a circumferential surface and adhesively attached to the center portion of the color filter disk. In the color wheel described above, a portion of an adhesive for fixing the rotary member to the color filter disk sticks out on the side surface of the color filter disk along the circumferential surface of the rotary member, and the portion of the adhesive sticking out, when hardened, functions as a barrier to prevent uncured portions, if any, of the adhesive present between the two components from getting scattered out in the radial direction on the side surface of the color filter disk when the color wheel is rotated at a high speed during the inspection process, thus improving the production yield rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Niwa, Toshinori Chino, Jiro Omori, Kuniyuki Takao
  • Patent number: 7187510
    Abstract: A signal such as a servo tracking signal is recorded on a flexible slave medium by magnetic transfer. When forming the flexible slave medium of a magnetic strip in a continuous length, the signal is recorded on the magnetic strip by patterned master magnetic transfer prior to or simultaneously with shaping the magnetic strip into a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Yasunaga, Kazuhiro Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 7187511
    Abstract: A magnetic tape is characterized in that a servo signal for performing tracking control of a magnetic head is written on a data band, data is recorded on the data band, and the servo signal is magnetized and written on the servo band magnetized in any one of direction of longitudinal directions with being magnetized in a reverse direction for the one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Nakao
  • Patent number: 7187512
    Abstract: Actively controlling ESI voltage on an object such as a magnetic storage disk (12), a rotating MR head, or insulator, includes the method and system for actively monitoring (92) a generated ESI voltage on the object (12). The method and system generate (100, 102, and 104) a signal responsive to the generated ESI voltage. Then, an opposing ESI voltage is produced (76) from the responsive signal. The method and system then apply the opposing ESI voltage (76) to the object (12) for opposing and controlling the generated ESI voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventor: Albert J. Wallash
  • Patent number: 7187513
    Abstract: Magneto-resistive (MR) head pre-amplifiers for single polarity power supply applications are presented. An exemplary pre-amplifier includes a bias network coupled to first and second input terminals of the pre-amplifier, the input terminals for receiving signals corresponding to variations in magnetic fields from an MR head. At least one gain stage having first and second input terminals and first and second output terminals for amplifying the received signals is included. A pair of coupling capacitors, each capacitor being connected between a respective input terminal of the pre-amplifier and a corresponding respective input terminal of the at least one gain stage, are further included in the pre-amplifier design. Finally, the exemplary pre-amplifier includes a pair of feedback capacitors, each capacitor being connected between respective input and output terminals of the at least one gain stage. The pre-amplifier is powered by a single polarity power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takehiko Umeyama, Robert B. Ross, Masashige Tada
  • Patent number: 7187514
    Abstract: The present invention implements a magnetic disk drive usable under a wide range of temperature environment conditions, and a magnetic head assembly. The flying height of a magnetic head slider (1) can be controlled against a change of temperature so that the flying height of the magnetic head slider (1) is low at low temperatures and high at high temperatures, thereby the variations of the coercivity of a magnetic disk (2) can be cancelled. Further, by setting the rate of change of the crown value with respect to the change of temperature to 0.26 to 0.62 nm/° C., the flying height can be controlled so that the flying height becomes low at low temperatures and high at high temperatures, while maintaining the uniformity of the profile of the flying height of the magnetic head slider (1) from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the magnetic disk (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Takagi, Yoshiaki Mizoh
  • Patent number: 7187515
    Abstract: A method and system for tracking storage media is provided that includes directing light through a first major side of a magnetic recording tape, wherein the tape includes optically detectable indicia embedded within the tape during formation of the indicia. At least a portion of the light may be detected after passing through the first side of the tape, and a change in the position of the tape based on the detected light may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventor: George Saliba
  • Patent number: 7187516
    Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproduction apparatus includes a main chassis; a sub chassis on which a cassette is mountable, the sub chassis being movable relative to the main chassis; and a first guide section for guiding the sub chassis to move relative to the main chassis. The first guide section includes a first guide groove; and a first projection engageable with the first guide groove and movable along the first guide groove. The first guide groove has two ends, the first projection is contactable with at least one of the two ends at two points and the at least one end is formed such that the movement of the first projection toward the at least one end is stopped by the contact with the two points, and the two points have a distance therebetween which is shorter than a width of the first guide groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kurumatani, Toshiaki Ueta, Koichiro Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 7187517
    Abstract: A magnetic brake to prevent rotation of the spindle motor and disk(s). The magnetic brake includes two magnets, one attached to the spindle, clamp, disk, or motor, and the other magnet is coupled to the drive housing or to a movable member. Before the drive is installed in a computer, storage array, etc., the magnet coupled to the housing is removed externally, or the movable member is moved to free rotation of the spindle motor and disk(s). The movable member can also be caused to move automatically when a cable is attached to the drive. An alternate embodiment wraps a wire coil around one of the magnets to counter its magnetism upon energization, freeing the spindle motor and disk(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert A. Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Reinhard F. Wolter
  • Patent number: 7187518
    Abstract: A flexible printed circuit (FPC), electrically connecting a spindle motor on a base of a disk drive with a printed circuit board (PCB) outside of the base, and a disk drive including the FPC, are provided. The FPC includes a wiring portion having one end connected to the spindle motor; a bonded portion connected to the other end of the wiring portion and attached to the base; electrode supports, each having a predetermined elasticity and extending from an outside edge of the bonded portion; a wiring disposed along the wiring portion and the bonded portion; and first electrodes disposed on the electrode supports and connected to the wiring. The first electrodes contact second electrodes disposed on the PCB due to the elasticities of the electrode supports. The disk drive allows the spindle motor to be electrically connected to the PCB using only the FPC, i.e., without using a separate connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-pyo Hong, Yong-kyu Byun, Jeong-seok Koh
  • Patent number: 7187519
    Abstract: A magnetic writer having an air bearing surface for confronting a surface of a rotating disc is disclosed. The magnetic writer includes a bottom pole and a top pole. The top pole includes a first top pole portion and a second top pole portion connected by a top pole extension. The top pole extension, which preferably has a uniform width at the air bearing surface, orients a magnetization of the first top pole portion substantially parallel to an air bearing surface of the magnetic writer. The bottom pole includes a base pole and a notch pole. The base pole is recessed from the air bearing surface to prevent or reduce fringe erasure fields. The notch pole, which abuts the base pole and extends from the air bearing surface to at least a magnetic throat height of the magnetic writer, has a magnetization oriented perpendicular to the air bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Frank E. Stageberg, Martin L. Plumer, Vee S. Kong
  • Patent number: 7187520
    Abstract: A magnetic head including a media heating device that is fabricated within the magnetic head structure. The media heating device includes an electrically resistive element that is fabricated above the first magnetic pole layer close to the ABS surface of the head. A P1 pole pedestal is fabricated above the heating element. Electrical insulation layers are fabricated beneath and above the heating element to prevent electrical shorting to the P1 pole layer and the P1 pole pedestal that are disposed beneath and above the heating element, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Edward Hin Pong Lee, Jeffrey S. Lille, Vladimir Nikitin, Hugo Alberto Emilio Santini
  • Patent number: 7187521
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises at least one of a magnetoresistive device for reading and an electromagnetic transducer device for writing, and a heating element provided in the head body part. The heating element has an up portion meandering between an origin and a halfway point and a down portion meandering along the up portion from the halfway point to an end positioned in the vicinity of the origin, and adapted to generate heat when energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Yamanaka, Norikazu Ota
  • Patent number: 7187522
    Abstract: A tape cassette wherein, on one of the central upper portion of a reel and a pressure mechanism, there is disposed a center pin, on the other, there is formed a contacting flat plate portion with which the center pin can be contacted, one of the center pin and contacting flat plate portion is molded mainly of polyacetal-system synthetic resin, the other is molded mainly of polybutylene-system or polyethylene-system synthetic resin, and inorganic powder is added to at least one of these two kinds of synthetic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruo Ashikawa
  • Patent number: 7187523
    Abstract: A method of marking a sintered body includes the step of preparing the sintered body by sintering a mixture of first and second types of powder particles. The first type of powder particles is made of a first material and the second type of powder particles is made of a second material that has a different etch susceptibility from the first material. The method further includes the step of writing ID information on the surface of the sintered body by forming a first concave region to a depth of at least about 10 nm under the surface of the sintered body and a second concave region under the first concave region, respectively. The first concave region is formed by etching away both the first and second types of powder particles, while the second concave region is formed by etching away only the first type of powder particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Neomax Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Taisuke Hirooka
  • Patent number: 7187524
    Abstract: A giant magnetoresistance (GMR) magnetic head that includes a GMR read sensor with a stitched longitudinal bias (LB) stack. The GMR read sensor includes seed, pinning, pinned, spacer, sense and cap layers in a read region, and its seed and pinning layers are extended into two side regions. The LB stack is fabricated on the pinning layer in the two side regions and includes separation, seed and LB layers. The separation layer, preferably made of an amorphous film, separates the pinning layer from the seed and LB layers and thereby prevents unwanted crystalline effects of the pinning layer. Monolayer photoresist patterning and chemical mechanical polishing may be incorporated into the fabrication process of the GMR head to attain uniform thicknesses of the separation, seed and LB layers, and to align the midplane of the LB layer at the same horizontal level as the midplane of the sense layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tsann Lin, Daniele Mauri
  • Patent number: 7187525
    Abstract: The heat resistance of a magnetic resistance device utilizing the TMR effect is improved. Also, the Neel effect of the magnetic resistance device utilizing the TMR effect is restrained. The magnetic resistance device includes a first ferromagnetic layer formed of ferromagnetic material, a non-magnetic insulative tunnel barrier layer coupled to the first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer formed of ferromagnetic material and coupled to the tunnel barrier layer, and an anti-ferromagnetic layer formed of anti-ferromagnetic material. The second ferromagnetic layer is provided between the tunnel barrier layer and the anti-ferromagnetic layer. A perpendicular line from an optional position of the surface of the second ferromagnetic layer passes through at least two of the crystal grains of the second ferromagnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Ken-ichi Shimura, Atsushi Kamijo, Yoshiyuki Fukumoto, Kaoru Mori
  • Patent number: 7187526
    Abstract: A resettable circuit interrupting device such as a GFCI that is immune to the problem of reverse wiring and, therefore, has load-line terminals that can be interchangeably connected to either at least one load or to a power source. Regardless of how the load-line terminals are connected, the resettable circuit interrupting device operates properly and retains leakage current fault protection. The circuit interrupting device includes an interrupting portion disposed within the device configured to cause electrical discontinuity in either the phase and/or neutral conductive paths between the line side and the load side upon the occurrence of a leakage condition. A reset portion disposed at least partially within the device is configured to initially establish or, after the detection of a leakage current fault, reestablish electrical continuity between the load and the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas L. DiSalvo
  • Patent number: 7187527
    Abstract: A device for connection between supply buses in mixed power integrated circuits includes a diode in series with a transistor with an active p-ring in a semiconductor substrate. The active p-ring surrounds the source and drain of the transistor with a conductive region having the same conductivity type as the semiconductor substrate. A control circuit coupled to the p-ring applies a bias voltage in response to an ESD event affecting the first and second conductors. The bias voltage tends to inject carriers into the semiconductor substrate which enables discharge of the short voltage pulse via a parasitic SCR in the substrate from the anode of the diode to the source of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Su, Chun-Hsiang Lai, Cha-Ling Lu, Yen-Hung Yeh, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Patent number: 7187528
    Abstract: A selectively protected electrical system includes or operates with a power source, a load, a power driver circuit for controllably transferring power from the power source to the load, the power driver circuit being encapsulated in a potting material, and a controller for enabling and disabling the power driver circuit, the controller being un-encapsulated by the potting material. If a contaminant induced electrical fault occurs in the selectively protected electrical system, the electrical fault is more likely to occur in the un-encapsulated controller, such that the selectively protected electrical system is disabled. The contaminant is inhibited from contacting and inducing an electrical fault in the power driver circuit, thus providing for a controlled failure of the selectively protected electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary D. Talbot, Sheldon B. Moberg, James D. Causey, III, Jay A. Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 7187529
    Abstract: A receptacle interrupts a power circuit including a glowing contact and a gas, such as hydrogen chloride, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or a combination of those gases, associated with the glowing contact. The receptacle includes a set of separable contacts for interrupting the power circuit, an operating mechanism controlling the set of separable contacts, and a trip mechanism, such as a trip coil, cooperating with the operating mechanism to open the set of separable contacts in response to a trip signal. A gas detector detects the gas and outputs a gas concentration signal based upon a level of the gas. A microprocessor outputs the trip signal responsive to the gas concentration signal whenever a predetermined concentration level of the gas is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Natili, David M. Tallman
  • Patent number: 7187530
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protective circuit may comprise a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter to receive and filter signals of a supply line. Control logic may receive output signals of the low-pass and high-pass filters and may operate a gateable channel to shunt current of the supply line dependent on the output signals from the filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: T-Ram Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Thomas Salling, Siak Chon Kee, Pierre Dermy
  • Patent number: 7187531
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transient suppressor, a method of suppressing a peak voltage associated with a rectifier, and a power converter employing the same. In one embodiment, the transient suppressor includes a saturable reactor circuit interposed between a rectifier and a transformer winding. The transient suppressor also includes a RC circuit, coupled between the rectifier and the saturable reactor circuit and across the transformer winding, configured to cooperate with the saturable reactor circuit to suppress a peak voltage associated with the rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Daoshen Chen
  • Patent number: 7187532
    Abstract: A device and a method for stabilising a metallic object of magnetic material. The metallic object is transported along a transportation path or plane. The plane includes a transportation direction and is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the object therein. A sensor is arranged to sense the valve of a parameter depending on the position of the object with respect to the plane. An electromagnetic actuator is arranged to apply a magnetic force to the object in respone to the sensed position. The magnetic force has a force component directed transversely to the transportation direction and transversely to the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Per Lennart Eriksson, Bengt Rydholm, Sven Karlsson, Magnus Hallbäck, Göte Tallbäck
  • Patent number: 7187533
    Abstract: A passive device to neutralize electrostatic charging of fuel when it exists a filter monitor cartridge is described. Filter cartridges containing light filter media generate electrostatic charges, which flow with the fuel as it exists the filter. The device neutralizes the charges as the charges fuel exits the filter/monitor using corona discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Velcon Filters, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprenger, Michael J. Gish
  • Patent number: 7187534
    Abstract: By varying corona producing element height/projection, a more uniform charge potential is achieved. Elements, such as pins or teeth, are shorter at the edges of an element array and grow longer as one moves toward the center of the array. Such variation in height/projection overcomes shielding from adjacent teeth, as well as other effects, to yield the more uniform charging potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Satchidanand Mishra, Edward A. Domm, Dennis J. Prosser, Steven P. Nonkes, Zoran D. Popovic, Surendar Jevadev
  • Patent number: 7187535
    Abstract: A feedthrough assembly for guiding a plurality of terminal pins through the housing of an implantable medical device. The feedthrough assembly comprises a ferrule fixedly coupled to the housing and having an aperture therethrough, and a non-conductive supporting structure fixedly coupled to the plurality of terminal pins and disposed within the aperture. The supporting structure is configured to guide the plurality of terminal pins through the ferrule. A plurality of capacitors, which is fewer in number than the plurality of terminal pins, is fixedly coupled to the supporting structure and electrically coupled between the ferrule and selected ones of the plurality of terminal pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh V. Iyer, Daniel J. Koch, Shawn D. Knowles
  • Patent number: 7187536
    Abstract: A structure and method are provided for reducing the equivalent series resistance of a capacitor. A capacitor includes one or more conductive interconnections contacting an active region of a first conductive plate of the capacitor at a plurality of locations along a lengthwise direction, such that every portion of the active region of the first conductive plate lies within a maximum distance from one of the locations, the maximum distance being less than the lateral dimension of the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis Edward Hawe
  • Patent number: 7187537
    Abstract: A portable computer with a position-adjustable keyboard is used to provide a comfortable typing environment. More space is laid out for accommodating the keyboard, and the act of opening the panel is used to move the keyboard position. An adjustment mechanism is installed around a rotation shaft of the portable computer. A first gear is mounted on and rotated simultaneously with the rotation shaft. A cylinder is positioned adjacent to the rotation shaft, and a second gear is mounted thereon. A wire, rolled around the cylinder, interconnects the position-adjustable keyboard and the cylinder. When the panel is unfolded, the first gear rotates with the panel, and drives the second gear. The wire, pulled by the cylinder, moves the position-adjustable keyboard to the desired position for comfortable typing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: ASUSTek Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Liao
  • Patent number: 7187538
    Abstract: A movable portion of an electronic device is attached to a base portion of the device by a hinge mechanism that enables an edge of the movable portion to translate as the movable portion is rotated during the opening of the portable electronic device. In one example embodiment, the hinge mechanism comprises a groove in the base portion, a guiding feature on the moveable portion that engages the groove, and a link attached to both the base portion and the moveable portion of the electronic device, the link relating relates the motions of the two portions such that the electronic device opens as the guiding feature travels along the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven S Homer, Mark Solomon
  • Patent number: 7187539
    Abstract: A hinge assembly, a portable computer having the same and methods thereof can include a latching function. The hinge assembly includes a latching projection and latching groove coupled, respectively, to a main unit and a display unit of a portable computer. The latching projection and latching groove can slidingly engage with each other to hold the portable computer in a prescribed position (e.g., closed) unless a force greater than a prescribed force is applied. The hinge assembly includes a first mounting bracket; a first cam moving integrally with the first mounting bracket; a second mounting bracket fixed to a portion that can rotate relatively to the portion to which the first mounting bracket is fixed; and a second cam coupled to the second mounting bracket that rotates relatively with respect to the first cam while being in contact with and rubbed against the first cam. Thus, it is not necessary to separately provide a latch device for engagement between the display and the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jun-Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 7187540
    Abstract: A cover window attachment system for an electronic device includes a cover window on a top side of the electronic device; a frame attached to the cover window, the frame further comprising at least one boss configured to protrude into the electronic device; a fastener receiving feature on a distal end of each boss; and a fastener engaging the fastener receiving feature on each boss, the fastener contacting a bottom side of the electronic device, opposite the top side. Also claimed are a method of assembling a cover window to an electronic device and an electronic device including a cover window assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven S Homer, Paul J. Doczy
  • Patent number: 7187541
    Abstract: A slot in a media drive cage receives a protrusion of a media drive housing. A spring adjacent to the slot engages the protrusion just before it reaches the end of the slot, causing the media drive to slow down prior to reaching a fully engaged position within the cage. The frictional slowing reduces mechanical shock to the drive when its movement stops. A resilient finger at the end of the slot further reduces shock. A resilient latch retains the drive within the slot. To remove the drive, the latch may be disengaged by pulling on a hook portion of the latch. The slot may be nonlinear to enable airflow through the slot and over the drive, thus facilitating cooling of the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Greg Franke, Kenneth Frame, Greg Renfro
  • Patent number: 7187542
    Abstract: A disk drive/player positioning structure includes a bracket, a sliding bottom plate coupled and movable forwards/backwards relative to the bracket, two sliding side plates coupled between the sliding bottom plate and the bracket for longitudinal displacement with the sliding bottom plate and transversely movable to each other relative to the bracket, and a disk drive/player mounted on the sliding bottom plate. The disk drive/player is locked that the disk drive/player is pushed backwards with the sliding bottom plate relative to the bracket and the sliding side plates are moved inwards toward each other to force locating rods thereof into respective locating holes in the disk drive/player, and is unlocked that the disk drive/player is pushed forwards with the sliding bottom plate relative to the bracket and the sliding side plates are moved outwards to disengage the locating rods from the locating holes of the disk drive/player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tatung Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Nan Wu
  • Patent number: 7187543
    Abstract: A system for dampening vibrations of a plurality of disk drives in such a way that the packaging density of disk drives is optimized. This is achieved by attaching a device for dampening vibrations to a population set of disk drives. The population set of disk drives comprises a plurality of disk drives. The device for dampening vibrations comprises at least one rail assembly. A plurality of isolators is attached to the rail assembly. The isolators are composed of materials that attenuate vibration. The isolators dampen the vibrations of the population set and isolate the population set from external vibrations and shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Copan Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Zimlin
  • Patent number: 7187544
    Abstract: A power output device of the present invention comprises a power supply having an input end for conducting electric current and an output device for supplying power to a computer. The output device has the following elements. A main cable and a sub-cable are connected to a bus on a circuit board of the power supply. An external module is formed by a substrate, a plurality of receptacles and at least one conductive wire. The substrate is connected to the power output bus of the circuit board through a bank of wires. The receptacles are positioned on the substrate and pass out of a back plate of the power supply; each receptacle being electrically connected to the printed circuits of the substrate. One end of the conductive wire has a joint for being received by the receptacle; another end of the conductive wire having a plug as a power supply end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Tsung Yen Tsai
  • Patent number: 7187545
    Abstract: At least one power semiconductor component is cooled by a flat, copper, plate-type hollow body conducting a coolant fluid. Components are fixed on one flat-sided surface of the hollow body and the other flat-sided surface includes two coolant fluid openings for introducing the coolant fluid into the hollow body and for evacuating the fluid therefrom. The other flat-sided surface is concave and elastically deformable between the coolant fluid openings. The concave other surface is attached to the even surface of a support in such a way that the concave surface and the even surface are pressed against each other by the elastically planar deformation of the concave surface and that the coolant fluid openings are sealed in a fluidproof manner by O-rings. A solid strut, which interconnects the two flat-sided surfaces is additionally configured in the hollow body. The cooling device may be used in a module or an assembly including a support and the cooling device or module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Curamik Electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Exel, Kai Kriegel, Guy Lefranc, Jürgen Schulz-Harder
  • Patent number: 7187546
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the efficient distribution of equipment for communication modules in a communication networking environment. Where a plurality communication devices serves a networking function, economy of cost and space are obtained by providing equipment and functionality for the individual computing devices from a centralized location such as a base station thereby enabling a simpler and less expensive design for the individual communication devices. The individual computing devices may thereby be made much smaller effecting savings in space at an Internet service provider location. Savings are also obtained by reducing the total number of components required and by reducing the total power consumption of the totality of the hardware in the network. Equipment most amenable to removal from the individual units and centralization in a base station include the main power supply, backup power supply, cooling fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Kirk M. Bresniker
  • Patent number: 7187547
    Abstract: A data storage subsystem is configured to mount within a rack mount cabinet. The data storage subsystem includes a housing configured to mount to a set of vertical rails of the rack mount cabinet, a set of circuit boards configured to install in a vertically aligned manner within the housing to define a set of vertically oriented channels within a central space defined by the set of vertical rails of the rack mount cabinet, and a fan assembly configured to mount to the set of vertical rails in a position above the housing to generate a vertical air stream through the set of vertically oriented channels and to exhaust the vertical air stream to an external location above the rack mount cabinet. The vertical air stream enables robust heat removal from the set of circuit boards even if the rack mount cabinet does not reside in a cold-isle environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: F. William French, Arthur Robert Nigro, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7187548
    Abstract: A thermal support may receive one or more power electronic circuits. The support may aid in removing heat from the circuits through fluid circulating through the support, which may be controlled in a closed-loop manner. Interfacing between circuits, circuit mounting structure, and the support provide for greatly enhanced cooling. The support may form a shield from both external EMI/RFI and from interference generated by operation of the power electronic circuits. Features may be provided to permit and enhance connection of the circuitry to external circuitry, such as improved terminal configurations. Modular units may be assembled that may be coupled to electronic circuitry via plug-in arrangements or through interface with a backplane or similar mounting and interconnecting structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas A. Meyer, Lawrence D. Radosevich, Bruce C. Beihoff, Dennis L. Kehl, Daniel G. Kannenberg
  • Patent number: 7187549
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention is a heat exchange apparatus which includes at least one heat exchanger, an intake manifold, and at least one multichip module. Where the intake manifold is in fluid communication with each heat exchanger and where the intake manifold is capable of providing the heat exchange medium separately to each heat exchanger. Where the each multichip module is positioned at least adjacent to at least one heat exchanger, such that heat can transfer between each multichip module and at least one heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Teradyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Teneketges, Tarzen Kwok
  • Patent number: 7187550
    Abstract: A field-replaceable active pumped liquid heat sink module includes a liquid pump, a radiator, an optional receiver, and a gasketed cold heat exchanger box, all of which are connected together in a liquid pump loop through which a coolant such as water is circulated. The liquid pump, radiator, optional receiver and gasketed cold heat exchanger box are in a liquid pump loop and are self-contained in a field-replaceable active pumped liquid heat sink module. The heat sink module provides direct contact between the liquid coolant and the top portion of the targeted electronic component, which can be a CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Heydari, Vadim Gektin
  • Patent number: 7187551
    Abstract: A power module that includes a lead frame having conductive pads molded in at the base thereof and a heatsink in thermal contact with the conductive pads through a thermally conductive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Sergio Fissore, William Grant
  • Patent number: 7187552
    Abstract: A circuit board assembly may include a heat sink that couples with a surface a circuit module installed on the circuit board. The heat sink may automatically couple to the surface of the circuit module when the circuit module is installed on the circuit board. The heat sink may include a thermal interface element that contacts the surface of the circuit module. A biasing element may be coupled between the body and the base to urge a body of the heat sink into contact with the circuit module when the circuit module is installed on the circuit board. In some embodiments, a heat sink may automatically couple with the circuit module when a locking member for the circuit module is actuated to a closed position. In some embodiments, a heat sink may automatically couple with a circuit module when an ejector for the circuit module is actuated. In some embodiments, a heat sink may include an ejector and a locking member for a circuit module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Timothy W. Olesiewicz
  • Patent number: 7187553
    Abstract: An electronic assembly includes a semiconductor device mounted on a printed circuit board, a leaf spring and a cooling plate. A plurality of fasteners pass through co-axial apertures of the leaf spring, the printed circuit board and the cooling plate, such that a contact surface of the leaf spring imparts a force on the semiconductor device to retain the semiconductor device in a thermally conductive position with respect to the cooling plate. A positive cooling effect is achieved regardless of mounting conditions including orientation of the electronic assembly, and the position of the semiconductor device on the cooling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Schmidberger
  • Patent number: 7187554
    Abstract: A movable console device having a rack-mount configuration, including a console section and a mount section. The console section includes a keyboard and a display, and is provided with a receiving portion for receiving the keyboard and the display. The mount section is provided for movably mounting the console section onto a rack structure. A display support mechanism is provided for supporting the display on the console section to be displaceable between a non-operating position in which the display is received inside the receiving portion and an operating position in which the display extends outside the receiving portion. A keyboard support mechanism is provided for supporting the keyboard on the console section to be displaceable between a first position in which the keyboard is received inside the receiving portion and a second position different from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Fujio Seki, Heiichi Sugino
  • Patent number: 7187555
    Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a card guide that provides an installation path for an extension circuit card. The installation path promotes a coupled relationship between the extension circuit card and a circuit board. The card guide comprises a first connector and a second connector. To form the coupled relationship the extension circuit card attaches to one of the first connector and the second connector based on a configuration of the extension circuit card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert G. Campbell, Raymond Chin
  • Patent number: 7187556
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides a power distribution system comprising a first printed circuit board, a power supply, a processor, and a flexible cable connector. Both the power supply and the processor are mounted on the first printed circuit board. The flexible cable connector comprises a first end electrically connected to the processor and a second end electrically connected to the power supply. The flexible cable connector is configured with a length so that the power supply is in a spaced relationship relative to the processor. The flexible connector also extends between the power supply and the processor independent of the first printed circuit board. The flexible cable connector comprises a plurality of insulated power wires and a ground structure. The plurality of insulated power wires are arranged generally parallel to each other extending from the first end to the second end of the flexible cable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Barr, Ricard E. Espinoza-Ibarra, Sachin Navin Chheda