Patents Issued in April 3, 2007
  • Patent number: 7198320
    Abstract: A structure includes a support member and a toothed wheel which cooperate with each other to vertically moved a bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Lippert Components, Inc.
    Inventor: C. Martin Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7198321
    Abstract: In order to improve a convertible vehicle comprising a vehicle body with a passenger compartment, a roll-over protection device which is arranged behind a row of seats and has at least two uprights arranged transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body at a distance from one another and rising above the vehicle body and at least one cross bar extending between at least two uprights, and a wind stop device which is arranged behind the at least one row of seats and reduces a flow of air through the at least one free space of the roll-over protection device, in such a manner that the wind stop device in combination with the roll-over protection device is easier to manage it is suggested that the wind stop device have a flat material guiding device and a wind-deflecting flat material held by the flat material guiding device, that the flat material guiding device hold the wind-deflecting flat material in an active position in a surface intersecting the uprights and thereby close the at least one fre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: ORIS Fahrzeugteile Hans Riehle GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Eisenschmidt, Joerg Riehle
  • Patent number: 7198322
    Abstract: A spoiler, comprising a body, the body operable for being connected to a vehicle, an aperture defined by the body, an air flow control member pivotally connected to the body, the air flow control member operable to one of open and close the aperture, and a releasable lock operable for securing the air flow control member one of in a fully open position and in a closed position, a plurality of intermediate positions exist between the fully open position and the closed position, and the releasable lock is operable for securing the member in any of the plurality of intermediate positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Marco Savo
  • Patent number: 7198323
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a roof plate which has a transparent plastic area to which a peripheral plastic edge is molded which is used especially as a cover visor and which extends downward. Furthermore, the roof plate has a nontransparent area with a holding frame for a functional element molded onto a bottom thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Miriam Schoenauer, Joachim Birkner, Michael Koelbl, Alexander Lang, Rudi Muttenhammer, Martin Pollak, Ralf Schwaighofer, Friedhelm Wulf, Jean-Guy Cocaign
  • Patent number: 7198324
    Abstract: A support including a frame having a tension member coupled to the frame is disclosed. The frame has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The tension member is disposable in a first position to provide support for an arm of a user and a second position to be carried on a shoulder of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Kelsyus, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Edward Le Gette, David Reeb, Alan Tipp, Justin Saul Werner, Inna Alesina
  • Patent number: 7198325
    Abstract: Piece of seating furniture, such as an armchair, includes a basic body on which a seating area is provided. Armrests, such as left and right armrests, are disposed laterally of the seating area. The armrests may be adjusted from a seating position into a lying position in which surfaces of one or more of the armrests form a lying area or a portion of a lying area. In that manner, the piece of furniture may be used for lying down on when the armrests are in there respective lying positions. One or more of the armrests may be pivotably attached to the seating furniture so that the armrests may individually or collectively be adjusted to various positions, so as to provide a variety of seating and lying options for a user of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Deon AG
    Inventor: Eckhart Dewert
  • Patent number: 7198326
    Abstract: A desk and chair interchangeable device which comprises a first plate; a second plate; a supporting unit having a first frame, and a second frame and a bearing frame for connecting the first frame and the second frame; a pivotal unit formed by a first pivotal seat, a second pivotal seat and a linkage; the first pivotal seat serving to pivotally connect one end of the linkage and the first plate; the second pivotal seat serving to pivotally connect another end of the linkage and the second plate so that the first plate can pivotally rotate; and an adjusting unit installed on the first plate for connecting the first plate to the first frame. The adjusting unit serves to adjust the elevation of the first plate; the pivotal unit serves to pivotally rotate the first plate to a horizontal position to be as a table plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Chao Ken Chen
  • Patent number: 7198327
    Abstract: A desk tray for positioning within a cupholder of an arm rest where the tray includes a substantially flat upper surface having a receptacle extending downwardly therefrom. The receptacle is positioned within the cupholder such that the arm rest provides support to the substantially flat upper surface where the flat upper surface supports a book, a laptop computer or a notepad for a person attending a class or a seminar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Caddy Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter W. A. Bergin
  • Patent number: 7198328
    Abstract: A locking device in an office chair structure of the type with articulation permitting the movement of the adjustable seat and seat back, with a mobile base from which a column rises, which is adjustable in height, and which supports a seat plane and a hinged seat back. The structure of the office chair includes a seat, attached at the front to the corresponding front side of a central support body secured to the top of the adjustable column along the vertical axis; a central support body, which, at the back, keeps in place the lower ends of the two support uprights of the armrests and a seat back connected to the seat, swinging and linked, near to the back part, to the central support body by means of a compression spring; Coaxially to the compression spring, there is a rod, one side of which is integral with the back rest, while the other side is axially mobile with respect to a static connecting body linked to the central support body of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Metalseat Srl
    Inventor: Massimo Costaglia
  • Patent number: 7198329
    Abstract: A height adjustable chair has an upper portion that moves relative to a lower portion. Push-off arm rests are provided so that a person need not leave the chair to adjust the seat height upwardly. A seated person can transfer their body weight to the push-off arm rests supported directly by the stationary lower portion while the seat is being adjusted upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: John E. Larson
  • Patent number: 7198330
    Abstract: In the case of a fitting for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first part (11), a second part (12) that is rotatable and lockable relative to the first part (11), and a profiled shaft (16), the actuation of which unlocks the fitting (1), a spring (22) simultaneously pretensions the shaft (16) counter to the actuating direction and secures the shaft (16) relative to the fitting (1) in the axial direction of the shaft (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hilmar Wahlen, Gaetan Fraisse
  • Patent number: 7198331
    Abstract: An armrest height-adjusting device has a collar (7) fixed to a seat back frame (5) and a spring (11). The spring (11) includes a coil portion (11A) provided on the outer periphery of the collar (7), a first leg portion (11B) engaging with the seat back frame (5), and a second leg portion (11C) received in a window portion (41) of the seat back frame (5). A diameter of the coil portion (11A) becomes short by the downward rotation of an arm frame (10) and becomes large by the upward rotation of the arm frame (10). The second leg portion (11C) is guided into the hook (21) by abutting against the window portion (41) when the arm frame (10) is rotated upward beyond a predetermined position. When the second leg portion (11C) is engaged with the hook (21), the diameter of the coil portion (11A) is kept in a state of becoming large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: TS Tech Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Misao Omori
  • Patent number: 7198332
    Abstract: In a device for producing a gas-liquid mixture and, in particular, air-water mixture in the region of cutting tools, particularly chisels, arranged on at least one cutter head (10) rotationally mounted on a cutter arm (5) of a cutting machine (1), including at least one nozzle pair comprised of a nozzle (14) for ejecting a gas jet and a nozzle (13) for ejecting a liquid jet, wherein the axes (17, 18) of the nozzles (13, 14) of a nozzle pair are oriented in a manner that the jets impinge on each other at a distance from the outlet openings of the nozzles, the axes (17, 18) of the nozzles (13, 14) of a nozzle pair form an angle with each other of between 45 and 135°, preferably between 75 and 85°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Bergtechnik Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Hubert Kargl, Ralf Grief
  • Patent number: 7198333
    Abstract: A cleat for compacting refuse at a landfill by use on the wheels of a compactor or on the shoes of a crawler-type tractor. The cleat has a prismatic modified Z or S configuration that affords superior compaction performance by increasing traction and thereby reducing churning of already compacted material. The flanges of the cleat create traction pockets on opposite sides so that the cleat is effective in either direction of the compactor or tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 7198334
    Abstract: An engagement portion with a shape recessed in a radial direction of a sleeve is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve so as to circuit the outer periphery of the sleeve. The engagement portion is also disposed inside an assembly hole of a housing. Caulking of an area surrounding an opening of the assembly hole joins the engagement portion and a deformed portion of the housing. Parts such as sealing members and bushings become unnecessary, because the assembly hole and the sleeve are sealed by contacting surfaces of the deformed portion and the engagement portion. Furthermore, fixing of the sleeve and the housing, as well as the formation of a sealed portion between the assembly hole and the sleeve assures the realization of a one-time caulking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitada Katayama
  • Patent number: 7198335
    Abstract: Controlling regenerative braking of front and rear motors of a four wheel drive electric vehicle equipped with front and rear motors and a manual transmission having a clutch, based on whether the clutch is engaged or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yong Kak Choi
  • Patent number: 7198336
    Abstract: A vehicular brake control apparatus includes a braked member that rotates together with a wheel, a braking member, an electric driving device that presses the braking member against the braked member to apply a braking torque to the wheel, when being supplied with electric current, an operational state detector that detects an operational state of the vehicle and provides a quantity of state representative of the operational state of the vehicle, a braking torque change request determiner that selectively determines that the braking torque is to be increased and that the braking torque is to be reduced, based on the quantity of state, and a current controller that controls supply of electrical current to the electric driving device so that the electric driving device is caused to drive in a predetermined direction if it is determined that the braking torque is to be increased, and so that the electric driving device does not drive in the predetermined direction if it is determined that the braking torque is t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Naoki Sawada
  • Patent number: 7198337
    Abstract: A wheel for belted track vehicles includes a hub with an upright central disc. A series of individually cast and machined segments are mounted to the disc in side-by-side relation about the periphery of both sides of the disc. Each segment takes the shape of a truncated sector having a general “L” shape as viewed from an end, with a back or base engaging a side of the disc, and belt support elements extending laterally of the disc for engaging and supporting the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry C. Deckler, Richard J. Vokoun
  • Patent number: 7198338
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device (20) includes a drive bracket (10) and at least one slide rail (40) attached to the data storage device. The drive bracket comprises two side walls (14), at least one of the side walls being provided with a supporting plate (16) thereon and defining a first opening (18) thereof. The slide rail comprises a main body (50, 60) having a fastening section (62) and a stopper (64), and a handle (70) demountably attached to the main body. The handle defines a second opening (73) for engaging with the fastening section and stopper of the main body to attached the handle to the main body. The fastening section and stopper extend from the second opening of the handle for further engaging in the first opening of the drive bracket, the data storage device is thus attached to the drive bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ali Liu, Chen-Lu Fan, Li-Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 7198339
    Abstract: A bathroom storage system convenient for storage of hair care items, such as hair blowers and hair curling irons wherein receptacles are positioned in a bathroom cabinet to extend around the sink and into the normally unused upper space of the cabinet; the items being inserted into the receptacles and retrieved from the receptacles through a pivoting front panel and having inserted tubes projecting from inner ends to receive hot tips of hair curling irons and the like; and the receptacles being cantilevered from a front face of the cabinet, with a pivoted lip of each receptacle secured to the front face and hinge connections allowing the receptacles to extend angularly downwardly from the front panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Bert Baron
  • Patent number: 7198340
    Abstract: An article retainer assembly for a refrigerator shelf includes a pair of support brackets and a retaining member. The support brackets are preferably mounted to opposing side portions of a compartment liner, with the retaining member extending therebetween and across a front edge section of the refrigerator shelf. The support brackets include corresponding guide tracks having first, second and third portions that correspond to upright, lowered and stowed configurations of the retaining member. In the upright position, the retaining member limiting articles resting upon the shelf from moving beyond the front edge section. In the lowered position, the retaining member is positioned to allow unobstructed access to the articles on the shelf and, in the stowed position, the retaining member is held in place below the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Ertz
  • Patent number: 7198341
    Abstract: An apparatus for rewritably labeling data media, such as compact disks CDs, DVDs, or other forms of media. The media may be programmed within a player/recorder device adapted for programming the state of the electronic ink material on the media. Labels on the media may be rewritten at any time without the need to remove a prior label. A small handheld label printing device is also described for writing the labels. Numerous other display embodiments particularly suited to electronic ink, and various embodiments of LED array control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Rodger H. Rast
  • Patent number: 7198342
    Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet recording apparatus which comprises a pit-in ink supply mechanism for interconnecting a main tank and a subtank to be communicated with/separated from each other, and supplying an ink from the subtank to a recording head. In this constitution, an ink residual amount V in the subtank during recording or at the end of recording is selected to be V>v/b in which V is the ink residual amount in the subtank during recording or after the end of recording, b(1>b>0) is a nonvolatile component ratio of the ink,and v is a volume of a liquid chamber of the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshito Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 7198343
    Abstract: An image printing apparatus prints image data using a plurality of printheads. A correction parameter is set in accordance with a printing element positional relationship between the plurality of printheads. A density correction signal calculation unit calculates a density correction signal based on the correction parameter and a signal value of at least one pixel adjacent to a switching position of image data from a printing element of one printhead to a printing element of another printhead. A quantization unit quantizes the density correction signal into a quantized density correction signal. A correction signal printing unit forms at least one print dot adjacent to the switching position of a line including at least one pixel or a neighboring line based on the quantized density correction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 7198344
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting device can print a high quality image having an increased number of gradations without having a complex head structure, and is suitable for use in a line head. The liquid ejecting device includes a head in which liquid ejecting portions including nozzles are arranged in parallel. A droplet can be deflected at the moment of ejection from the nozzle of each of liquid ejecting portion. By controlling at least two different liquid ejecting portions in adjacent positions to eject droplets, a pixel column or a pixel is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Patent number: 7198345
    Abstract: In an ink jet printing apparatus that adopts an area grayscale system using halftone elements, degradation of grayscale reproducibility caused by a plurality of dots pulling each other on a print medium can be prevented, and thereby stable grayscale and color reproducibility can be realized. To this end dots to be applied to halftone elements, whose arrangement is determined by the halftone element-based area grayscale system, are divided into a dot group for interior halftone elements and a dot group for outline halftone elements. These two dot groups are printed with a predetermined time difference between them. The subsequent dots are then drawn to the preceding dots that are not yet absorbed in the print medium. Therefore, the overall shape and grayscale level of the merged dot in each pixel become stable, allowing for reliable image processing which in turn realizes excellent grayscale and color reproducibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Shibata, Yasunori Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7198346
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an ink distribution assembly for connection to an ink supply and defines a plurality of ink outlets. An array of printhead chips is positioned on the ink distribution assembly. Each printhead chip includes a substrate that defines a plurality of ink supply passages in fluid communication with respective ink outlets. An array of nozzle arrangements is positioned on the substrate. Each nozzle arrangement defines a nozzle chamber connected to an ink supply passage and a nozzle connected to the nozzle chamber. A plurality of actuators is displaceable relative to the substrate to eject ink from respective nozzles. A plurality of feed back sense lines is connected to each printhead chip for providing a controller with data representing operating characteristics of each printhead chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7198347
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to adjust relative misalignment of recording positions of dots created at different timings with high accuracy, thereby enhancing the printing quality. A patch pattern is used as a test pattern for adjusting misalignment of recording positions between a first dot and a second dot created at different timings. In the test pattern, a fraction of the first dot and the second dot adjoining to each other in either a main scanning direction or a sub-scanning direction may be significantly greater than a fraction of the first dots or the second dots adjoining to each other. In the test pattern, substantially equal numbers of the first dot and the second dot may be created with a substantially equivalent dispersibility over a practically whole area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazushige Tayuki
  • Patent number: 7198348
    Abstract: An inkjet printer identification circuit is provided. It includes a plurality of control lines, a control circuit providing a control signal to the plurality of control lines, and an identification module including an identification unit. The identification unit includes at least a control input terminal, an output terminal and at least a data input terminal. The data input terminal is coupled to a memory unit. The control input terminal is coupled to one of the plurality of control lines. The identification unit is responsive to the control signal for determining and outputting a content stored in the memory unit via the output terminal. The control circuit identifies the status of the identification unit based on the received content stored in the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: International United Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Lieh Hu
  • Patent number: 7198349
    Abstract: Ejection testing of a clear ink ejecting section is carried out easily. A clear ink is ejected toward a medium from a clear ink ejecting section for ejecting clear ink, and a color ink is ejected to a region in which the clear ink is to be adhering from a color ink ejecting section for ejecting color ink. A test pattern used for testing ejection of the clear ink ejecting section is formed on the medium by the clear ink and the color ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Endo, Shinya Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7198350
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a record medium; a print head having a plurality of nozzles that ejects ink, thereby forming an image on the record medium; a first recovery ejection unit that performs recovery ejection of nozzles used for forming an image on the record medium; and a second recovery ejection unit that performs recovery ejection of at least one of the plurality of nozzles in accordance with a time elapsed from a previous recovery ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsuhisa Nakashima
  • Patent number: 7198351
    Abstract: A head unit is inverted so that an outflow port is in the lowest position. Because the top wall of the buffer tank slopes downwards towards the outflow port, all remaining cleaning fluid that was introduced during manufacture is removed. Also, a notch is provided in the bottom end of an ink introduction port. The notch faces towards the outflow port so that bubbles in the ink exit from the notch and are guided towards the outflow port. The head unit is shipped while the buffer tank is filled with preservation fluid that has high wettability and any openings to the outside air are closed off with covers. When the head unit is used, the preservation fluid is sucked by a purging device and then ink, which has a high affinity for the preservation fluid, is smoothly introduced. Also, the inner surface of the filters are treated to increase the wettability by ink after the filters are fixed to the bottom lid. Afterwards the bottom lid is fixed to the top lid to form the buffer tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Bing Wang, Hirotake Nakamura, Masayuki Arakawa
  • Patent number: 7198352
    Abstract: An inkjet printer cradle including a body defining a recess dimensioned to locate a removable inkjet cartridge, a retainer arranged to retain said cartridge within the recess, and one or more resilient members arranged to hold the cartridge fast with the retainer and the body in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7198353
    Abstract: An improved ink jet printhead and method therefor. The printhead includes a single semiconductor substrate with ink ejection devices and a nozzle plate adjacent to the semiconductor substrate, the nozzle plate with first ink ejection nozzles for ejecting first ink drops having a first volume and second ink ejection nozzles for ejecting second ink drops having a second volume different from the first volume, wherein the first volume is defined by first flow features of the printhead having a first thickness and the second volume is defined by second flow features having a second thickness that is different from the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Hart, Colin G. Maher, James H. Powers
  • Patent number: 7198354
    Abstract: A printhead system is provided comprising at least one printhead module comprising at least two printhead integrated circuits, each of which has nozzles formed therein for delivering printing fluid onto the surface of print media, a support member supporting and carrying the printing fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and at least two electrical connectors for connecting electrical signals to the respective ones of the printhead integrated circuits. The system further comprises drive electronics incorporating at least one controller for controlling the printing operation of at least one of the printhead integrated circuits, and a casing in which the printhead module and drive electronics are removably mounted. Each of the electrical connectors is arranged to direct control signals from the controller to the corresponding printhead integrated circuit and to direct power from a power supply to the corresponding printhead integrated circuit and the drive electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 7198355
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided comprising at least one printhead module comprising at least two printhead integrated circuits, each of which has nozzles formed therein for delivering printing fluid onto the surface of print media, a support member supporting and carrying the printing fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits, and an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the at least two printhead integrated circuits. The assembly further comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending electrical conductors arranged to provide power from a power supply to the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector, and a casing comprising a support frame on which the at least one printhead module and a mounting element are removably held, the mounting element having formed therein a plurality of recessed channels for receiving and removably mounting individual ones of the plurality of electrical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 7198356
    Abstract: A printhead chip for an ink jet printhead that includes a plurality of nozzle arrangements on a silicon wafer substrate (12). Each nozzle arrangement (10) has an active and static ink ejection structures positioned on the substrate. The active ink ejection structure (20) has a roof (22) with an ink ejection port (26) defined in the roof. The active ink ejection structure (20) and the static ink ejection structure (34) together define a nozzle chamber (42) in fluid communication with an ink supply. At least two thermal bend actuators (28) are operatively arranged with respect to the active ink ejection structure to displace the active ink ejection structure with respect to the static ink ejection structure towards and away from the substrate to reduce and increase a volume of the nozzle chamber to eject an ink drop from the nozzle chamber. The actuators (28) are configured and connected to the active ink ejection structure to impart substantially rectilinear movement to the active ink ejection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7198357
    Abstract: An ink ejecting head includes a nozzle sheet having nozzles for ejecting droplets; a head chip having an energy generator opposing each of the nozzles; a barrier layer interposed between the nozzle sheet and the head chip for forming the space for a liquid chamber; a pad provided in a surface of the head chip, the surface opposing the nozzle sheet; and a wiring layer disposed on a surface of the nozzle sheet, the surface adjacent to the head chip; and a bump disposed on the wiring layer, being at least in contact with the pad of the head chip, and bonded to the pad by ultrasonic bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Tanikawa
  • Patent number: 7198358
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a heating element including a substrate, a conductive layer disposed over the substrate to define a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace with a spacer therebetween and a resistive layer covering the first conductive trace, the second conductive trace and the spacer wherein the resistive layer at least partially electrically connects the first and the second conductive traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jiansan Sun, Vineet Sharma, Hong Choon Lee
  • Patent number: 7198359
    Abstract: An inkjet head in which cross-talk between adjacent pressure chambers is suppressed. The inkjet head has a channel unit having pressure chambers and nozzles communication with the pressure chambers, and an actuator unit fixed to one surface of the channel unit for changing the volume of the pressure chamber. The actuator unit includes individual electrodes provided opposed to the plurality of pressure chambers for receiving a drive signal to change the volume of the pressure chamber; a common electrode provided over the plurality of pressure chambers; a piezoelectric sheet provided between the individual electrode and the common electrode; and an independent electrode provided between adjacent individual electrodes and electrically isolated from the common electrode and the individual electrodes. An inductor is electrically connected between the independent electrode and a portion whose electric potential is substantially the same as that of the common electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Iwao
  • Patent number: 7198360
    Abstract: A laminated bonding structure of thin plate members includes; a plurality of thin plate members laminated through an adhesive agent, the plurality of thin plate members including at least one thin plate member having a plurality of holes formed therein; and a hole group encircling groove that encircles a hole group constituted by at least part of the plurality of holes is formed on the thin plate member having the plurality of holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Watanabe, Tadanobu Chikamoto
  • Patent number: 7198361
    Abstract: An ink jet apparatus where a filter is provided in an ink inflow channel connecting an ink tank with the inside of an ink jet head to discharge ink from nozzles, and in an ink outflow channel connecting the inside of the ink jet head with the ink inflow channel. The ink passes through the inside of the ink jet head, and bubbles existing inside the ink jet head move with the ink to the outside. Further, as foreign materials are repeatedly removed from the ink, bubbles in the ink jet head can be removed with a simple construction and the occurrence of ink discharge failure can be reliably suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Hida
  • Patent number: 7198362
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ink set for inkjet recording and an inkjet recording method, which can ensure high pictorial quality of recording image and also excellent preservability of the image obtained. This object of the present invention can be attained by an ink set including plural inks for inkjet, each one of the plural inks having a maximum absorption wavelength of one of from 500 to 580 nm and from 580 to 680 nm in an aqueous medium and a different absorbance, wherein based on an absorbance of a dye (or a combination of dyes) in an ink, which has a maximum dye concentration out of the plural inks, an absorbance of a dye (or a combination of dyes) in all another ink excepting the ink having a maximum dye concentration is from 1/20 to ½.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiki Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7198363
    Abstract: An inkjet recording element having a support having thereon in order: a) a fusible, porous ink-receptive layer of fusible polymeric particles and a binder; b) a fusible, porous ink-transporting layer of fusible, polymeric particles and a film-forming, hydrophobic binder. The invention is also directed to an inkjet printing process wherein the ink-receptive layer and/or the support, each either alone or in combination, is capable of receiving substantially all of the ink carrier liquid received after the ink carrier liquid has passed through the ink-receptive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Allan Wexler
  • Patent number: 7198364
    Abstract: An eyeglass combination includes a primary frame having a bridge and two side studs. An auxiliary frame includes a bridge and two side extensions each having a rear flange for engaging with the stud and for allowing the auxiliary frame to be secured to typical primary frame. The rear flanges each includes a magnet for engaging with another magnet engaged in the studs or for engaging with the studs of magnetic material. The magnets are preferably disposed laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Contour Optik, Inc.
    Inventor: David Yinkai Chao
  • Patent number: 7198365
    Abstract: A spectacle accessory (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) is disclosed as including a pair of lenses (102, 202, 302, 402, 502), a pair of legs (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) engaged with the pair of lenses (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) and swivellably movable relative thereto, a tube (104, 204, 304, 404, 504) with an interior surface, a wire (108, 208, 308, 408, 508) partly received within the tube (104, 204, 304, 404, 504), wherein the tube (104, 204, 304, 404, 504) is fixedly engaged with the lenses (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) and the wire (108, 208, 308, 408, 508) is fixed engaged with the legs (110, 210, 310, 410, 510), and the wire (108, 208, 308, 408, 508) includes a protruding portion (114, 214, 314, 414, 514) and the wire (108, 208, 308, 408, 508) is swivellably movable relative to the tube (104, 204, 304, 404, 504) between a stable first position in which the protruding portion (114, 214, 314, 414, 514) is clear of the interior surface of the tube (104, 204, 304, 404, 504) and a second position in which the protruding po
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Faith Idea Limited
    Inventor: Po Kwong Kwan
  • Patent number: 7198366
    Abstract: Eyeglasses can be folded to form a case with a lens and temple bars. The lens and the temple bars form two individual objects of connection. A hinging apparatus connects the lens and the temple bars. One end of the hinging apparatus forms a rotating connection while the other end of the hinging apparatus forms a pivotal connection. The rotating connection and the pivotal connection are perpendicular to each other. Two hollow sections are formed on the temple bars so that turning and locking the hinging apparatus can be store the lenses in a chamber formed by the two hollow sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Yong Gao
  • Patent number: 7198367
    Abstract: A fundus imaging apparatus comprises: a beam emitter which simultaneously emits a first laser beam and a second laser beam having a different wavelength from the first beam; an irradiation optical system having a beam scanner which scans the emitted first and second beams in two dimensions on a fundus, the irradiation optical system being adapted to irradiate the emitted first and second beams onto the fundus; a first filter which intercepts the first and second beams reflected by the fundus and second fluorescence from the fundus by irradiation of the second beam and transmits first fluorescence from the fundus by irradiation of the first beam; a second filter which intercepts the first and second beams reflected by the fundus and the first fluorescence from the fundus and transmits the second fluorescence from the fundus; an imaging optical system having a photo-receiving element which receives the first fluorescence having passed through the first filter and the second fluorescence having passed through th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Akita, Naoyuki Kondo, Akihiro Fujishiro, Katsuyasu Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7198368
    Abstract: An optometric apparatus (1) for subjectively examining a visual function of an examinee's eye, includes: a pair of right and left lens chamber units (5), each including a test window (5a) and optical elements to be changeably disposed in the test window; a support unit (6) which supports the lens chamber units so that the units may be converged; a near vision examination chart (2, 3) to be disposed at a changeable distance from the test window; and an illumination unit (7) which illuminates the near vision chart, the illumination unit being provided in each lens chamber unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7198369
    Abstract: This invention discloses an achromatopsia inspection/correction method, comprising the following steps: displaying a plurality of groups of achromatopsia test charts for the examinee to identify, each group is corresponding to one type of achromatopsia; determining the types of achromatopsia based upon the inspection results; displaying at least one colored color-matching contrast chart, one area of said color-matching chart is in a predetermined color, another area is for the examinee to match colors; taking the color-matching result from the examinee; determining the achromatopsia scales of the examinee by comparing the color-matching results of the examinee with said predetermined three elementary colors; selecting the corresponding achromatopsia correction spectrum curves according to the determined types and scales of achromatopsia. Besides, this invention also discloses an achromatopsia inspection/correction apparatus for realizing this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Chen, Yan Chen