Patents Issued in March 18, 2008
  • Patent number: 7345240
    Abstract: A tamper-resistant electrical ground block includes a ground block chassis that is looped over a port structure so that an installer has to use a security-type wrench to tighten or loosen coaxial cable connectors from the port structure. A ground clamp, one-piece with the chassis, accommodates a wide range of ground wire sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Noah Montena
  • Patent number: 7345241
    Abstract: A clamp that guides and secures cables in a cable management system. The clamp includes a body member and latch members integrally formed with the body member. The body member includes at least one cable guide and the latch members include outwardly extending arms. The latch members pivot from an open position to a closed position over the body member. When the latch members are in the closed position, each arm is disposed over a cable guide to secure a cable positioned therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jack E. Caveney, Jason O'Young
  • Patent number: 7345242
    Abstract: A composite conductor includes a metal matrix and a certain amount of carbon nanotubes. The metal matrix is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, silver and any combination alloy thereof. A percentage by mass of the carbon nanotubes is in an approximate range from 0.2 percent to 2 percent. An electrical cable (100) includes an interior composite conductor core (10) and an exterior layer (20). The exterior layer further includes an insulating layer (21), a shielding layer (22) and a protective layer (23). The insulating layer is comprised of nanoclay and Teflon. The shielding layer is comprised of carbon nanotubes, carbon nanotube yarn and copper. The protective layer is comprised of nanoclay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7345243
    Abstract: Communication cables are provided in which a core lay length of the cable varies along the cable length. The cable may be provided with different segments that have different core lay lengths. It is desirable for neighboring core lay lengths in a cable to differ by a factor of two, to enable a reduction in power-sum alien near-end crosstalk (PSANEXT) when two cables are installed alongside one another. Segments of the cable having different core lay lengths may be spaced periodically along the length of the cable, and the periodicity of the spacing may be altered by a jitter distance. The introduction of jitter into the periodicity of the spacing of the segments increases the likelihood that a beneficial placement of core lay lengths will occur when two or more cables are installed alongside one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Masud Bolouri-Saransar, Michael V. Doorhy, David R. Hawkins, Asef Nimer Baddar, Thomas Gerard McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 7345244
    Abstract: A flexible substrate is connectable to electrodes of an external member. The flexible substrate includes a base material having flexibility and including an insulative base film and a conductive film. Lead parts are arranged on an end of the base material. Slits are formed between the lead parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7345245
    Abstract: A semiconductor package for a die with improved thermal cycling reliability. A first layer of the package provides ball pads dispersed throughout. A second layer of the package provides signal traces. A high stress area associated with the corner of the dies is defined. Preferably the high stress area is defined as two ball pitches away from the corner of the die. Signal traces are routed away from the high stress area and in particular signal traces are routed away from the ball pads associated with the high stress to eliminate the cracks in the routed traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Govind, Zafer Kutlu, Farshad Ghahghahi
  • Patent number: 7345246
    Abstract: An intermediate board has a board core formed by a main core body and a sub-core portion. The main core body has a plate-like shape and includes an open sub-core housing portion in which the sub-core portion is housed. A first terminal array of the board core has an area that overlaps an orthogonal projection of the sub-core portion. The latter incorporates a laminated ceramic capacitor formed by first and second conductor layers with a ceramic (dielectric) layer therebetween. The first layer is connected to first and second side terminals of a first type while the second layer is connected to first and second side terminals of a second type. The housing portion has an inner edge which, in cross section, is of a quadrate shape, and a radius portion is formed at each corner having a dimension of between 0.1 and 2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Muramatsu, Shinji Yuri, Kazuhiro Urashima, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Toshitake Seki, Motohiko Sato
  • Patent number: 7345247
    Abstract: A circuit board threadplate for connection of a component to a circuit board is provided wherein such threadplate may be mechanically mounted to a circuit board without the use of manual labor. Specifically, the threadplate is compatible with present Surface Mount Technology robotic placement machines. Such circuit board threadplate includes a hollow substantially cylindrical member forming an extruded neck having an elongated section and a substantially flat surface at a first end of the elongated section and a flange extending from a second end of the elongated section. The flange provides a substantially flat surface suitable for soldering onto a surface of a circuit board. Additionally, the threadplate includes a cylindrical cavity positioned inside the substantially cylindrical member, extending in a direction aligned with the substantially cylindrical member. The cylindrical cavity may have a thread pattern suitable for receiving a screw-type fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Sanmina-SCI Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Ireland
  • Patent number: 7345248
    Abstract: A shielding enclosure generally includes a frame and a lid. The frame may include sidewalls, an inwardly extending horizontal lip defining an open top for the frame, generally horizontal flanges extending outwardly relative to the lip, and one or more openings disposed generally under the corresponding one or more flanges. The lid may include an upper surface to cover the frame's open top, a downwardly extending lip configured to at least partially fit generally over the frame's sidewalls, one or more openings, and one or more generally upwardly extending flanges having one or more lateral detent protrusions. The lid may be attached to the frame by the interlocking engagement of the lid's one or more lateral detent protrusions generally under the corresponding one or more flanges of the frame, which said one or more flanges of the frame are at least partially received through the corresponding one or more openings of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Laird Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Vinokor, Vladislav Pirkhalo, Anatoliy Shlahtichman, Eugene Smyk, Zoilo Anthony Favela, Gerald English
  • Patent number: 7345249
    Abstract: In a force-transmitting mechanism (1, 101) with a parallel-guiding mechanism having a stationary (2) and a movable (4) parallelogram leg (2), with a lever mechanism having at least one lever (6), and with at least one coupling element (5, 105) that introduces a force into the lever mechanism or transfers the force within the lever mechanism, wherein the coupling element is stiff in its lengthwise direction but bends elastically. The coupling element has at least one first flexure joint (8) with a thin material connection and it is movable in the parallelogram plane. The lever mechanism and each coupling element (5, 105) are integral parts of a material block. Each coupling element (5, 105) also has at least two second flexure joints (16, 116) with thin material connections whose flexibility is in the direction transverse to the bending of the first flexure joint (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Hans-Rudolph Burkhard, Ernst Tschopp, Andreas Metzger
  • Patent number: 7345250
    Abstract: A keyboard assembly (20) has a light guide (23, 31, 33) and a supporting structure (23, 33) arranged to provide an illuminated and integrated keyboard assembly (20). A light guide (23, 31, 33) provides an integrated supporting, protecting and illuminating structure for keyboard assemblies (20). The keyboard assembly (20) has a layer of rigid material (31) which separates the elastic layer (21) from the printed wired board (9) located under the rigid layer (31). The layers are bonded together. The protection rib (33) is part of the combination of the elastic layer (21) and rigid layer (31) which is supported against the printed wired board (9) by the rigid layer (31). The combined structure of the light guide and supporting frame forms an integrated structure (23, 31, 33) which illuminates an array of keys (22), supports the keyboard assembly (20) and protects the keys (22) and key tops 25 from mechanical stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jussi Hakunti, Mikko Laitinen
  • Patent number: 7345251
    Abstract: A device includes an actuator and a connecting member. The actuator is structured to physically contact a switch, the switch is structured to open and close an electrically conductive path when an external force is applied to the actuator, and the electrically conductive path is configured to supply electrical power to an electrical appliance. The connecting member is structured to attach the actuator to the electrical appliance. The actuator is capable of movement relative to the connecting member when the actuator is attached to the electrical appliance by the connecting member and when the external force is applied to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Dolan Northwest, LLC
    Inventor: Ron Leddusire
  • Patent number: 7345252
    Abstract: A base head member has a cam body receiving portion in a center portion thereof, bridge portions are provided in both sides of the cam body receiving portion, a shaft bearing portion is provided in both the bridge portions, and the cam body is held in the base head member by receiving the cam body in the cam body receiving portion and bearing a cam shaft to the shaft bearing portion, and a contact portion is formed in right and left sides of a front face (a direction of pulling out an operation key) in a lower portion (a base portion) of a base main body, whereby the structure is made such as to receive a load applied to the cam shaft by a case from the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Takenaka, Syunkichi Sasaki, Tetsuya Fukumoto, Mamoru Ito
  • Patent number: 7345253
    Abstract: Key structures are provided. A key structure includes a key cover, a substrate, a slider movable with respect to the substrate, a first rod, a second rod and a resilient member. The first rod pivotally connects the key cover and a first guiding portion of the substrate. The second rod pivotally connects the key cover and a second guiding portion of the substrate. The resilient member connects the substrate and the first rod, and exerts a lateral force on the first rod. When the key structure is in a normal state, a first contact portion of the slider contacts and restricts the second rod. When the key structure is switched from the normal state to a depressed state, a second contact portion of the slider impels the second rod outward of the key structure, such that the key cover descends toward the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chien-Shih Hsu
  • Patent number: 7345254
    Abstract: A die sorting apparatus for a wafer is provided that associates logical positions of each die from a map file for storing records of testing information based upon testing performed on individual dice comprised in the wafer with its physical position as illustrated by an image acquired by an image capturing device showing physical positions of the dice, after the dice have been singulated. A processing device can thus determine actual physical positions of the dice for reference by a die pick-up device configured to selectively pick up dice that meet predetermined criteria according to the testing information from their actual physical positions as determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: ASM Assembly Automation Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Min Zhong, Yang Yang, Choo Han Loh, Keung Chau
  • Patent number: 7345255
    Abstract: A method of forming a composite overlay compound on a substrate includes forming a mixture including at least one component from a first group of component materials including titanium, chrome, tungsten, vanadium, niobium, and molybdenum. The mixture also includes at least one component from a second group of component materials including carbon and boron, and the mixture further includes at least one component from a third group of component materials including silicon, nickel, and manganese. The mixture of selected component materials is then applied to a substrate material to form an overlay compound on the substrate material. The overlay compound is fused to the substrate to form a metallurgical bond between the substrate material and the overlay compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangyang Jiang, M. Brad Beardsley, D. Trent Weaver, Mark Steven Diekevers
  • Patent number: 7345256
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for bonding a pair of tubular members are disclosed. First and second end portions of the tubular members are gripped for rotation about their axis. The tubular members are axially rotated and a laser beam is directed radially toward the tubular members to bond them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventors: Ziyun Chen, Ping Ye Zhang
  • Patent number: 7345257
    Abstract: The invention provides a nozzle presetter for laser machining tool of laser beam machine for externally making position adjustments of nozzles for laser machining tools mounted on a laser beam machine. A nozzle presetter 900 has a base 910, and a support portion 912 is mounted on an upper part of the base 910 to removably support a laser machining tool 60. An alternative beam source 920 is mounted at the center position in an upper part of the support portion 912. A target member 930 is removably mounted on a nozzle mounting member 660 of the laser machining tool 60 via mounting means 654. The target member 930 has a photoreceptor 940 mounted just under a center hole 932. The photoreceptor. 940 senses the quantity of light reaching the photoreceptor through the center hole 932 of the target member 930. The operator changes the axial position of the nozzle mounting member 660 using four adjustment screws 670.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Tsunehiko Yamazaki, Naoomi Miyakawa
  • Patent number: 7345258
    Abstract: A beam welding apparatus for welding a housing and transparent cover of a vehicular lighting device via beam welding has a cover fixing jig having a beam transmitting part, configured to fix a position of a transparent cover and configured to press the transparent cover toward a housing with a welding part of the transparent cover overlaid on a welding part of the housing while it is arranged on the transparent cover. The beam welding apparatus also has a beam irradiating part configured to irradiate beams onto the welding part of the housing through the beam transmitting part and the transparent cover to excite and heat the welding part of the housing. The beam transmitting part has a shielding part configured to shield unnecessary luminous flux among the beams irradiated toward the welding part of the housing from the beam irradiating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yasuda, Fujihiko Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7345259
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for preventing overheating of a cooking appliance. The arrangement includes a power circuit with a heating element and a control circuit with a coupling switch. The control circuit and the power circuit are coupled by the coupling switch. The arrangement further includes a safety switch to the control circuit. The coupling switch interrupts a power supply to the power circuit to the heating element when a limiting temperature in the cooking appliance is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Bauer, Robert Hasslberger
  • Patent number: 7345260
    Abstract: A heater including a plate-shaped substrate having a heating surface for heating an object and a heater element provided in the substrate or on its surface. A central axis C2 of a circumscribed circle of the heater element and a central axis C1 of the substrate are not on the same axis and a gap exists between the axes. When manufacturing the heater, a central axis C1 of a resistant heater is specified, thermal uniformity of the heating surface of a preliminary substrate is evaluated, and a central axis C2 of the substrate is specified. The central axis C2 is specified at a position where the thermal uniformity of the heating surface is superior to a case where the central axis C2 of the substrate is located on the central axis C1. Then a substrate having the central axis C2 is formed by subjecting the preliminary substrate to grinding processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Unno
  • Patent number: 7345261
    Abstract: A wall-mounted microwave oven including a cooking chamber, a heater casing, a heater installed in the heater case, a blowing fan to supply hot air generated in accordance with a heating operation of the heater, first guide members to guide the hot air, supplied by the blowing fan, to be introduced into the cooking chamber, and second guide members to guide the hot air to circulate along the heater. The first and second guide members allow hot air to be rapidly introduced into the cooking chamber while being rapidly heated to a desired high temperature. Also, the hot air can effectively circulate in the cooking chamber. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a cooking time and enhance cooking efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keun-Seuk Oh, Sang-Seok Seo
  • Patent number: 7345262
    Abstract: Various microwave energy interactive display packages, blanks for forming such packages, and methods of displaying and heating a food item are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Keefe
  • Patent number: 7345263
    Abstract: A method for safe and uniform microwave cooking of food articles in a container, comprising providing a microwave permeable container, wherein a portion of said container is covered with a microwave reflective surface to deflect microwaves away from a predefined body of liquid within said container; loading bacon within said container; and exposing said container to microwaves for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Valentine Hechler, IV
  • Patent number: 7345264
    Abstract: When a cooking apparatus body, such as a microwave oven, is installed in a kitchen cabinet, a power cord connected to a commercial power source from the back of the kitchen cabinet is folded and stored in a storage space provided between a shelf section, which is provided as part of an upper wall of the cooking apparatus body, and a ceiling section of the kitchen cabinet by the rigidity of the power cord. Since the power cord is not caught between a rear wall of the cooking apparatus body and a back wall of the kitchen cabinet, the depth of the cooking apparatus body can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Yoshidome
  • Patent number: 7345265
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention, therefore, provide improved systems and methods for tracking targets in a simulation environment. Merely by way of example, an exemplary embodiment provides a reflected laser target tracking system that tracks a target with a video camera and associated computational logic. In certain embodiments, a closed loop algorithm may be used to predict future positions of targets based on formulas derived from prior tracking points. Hence, the target's next position may be predicted. In some cases, targets may be filtered and/or sorted based on predicted positions. In certain embodiments, equations (including without limitation, first order equations and second order equations) may be derived from one or more video frames. Such equations may also be applied to one or more successive frames of video received and/or produced by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventor: David Wayne Page
  • Patent number: 7345266
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical medium judging method for avoiding the collision of an objective lens with a disk or the failure to judge a warped disk when the optical disk drive judging the disk. This method will move the objective lens so as to obtain the data of the laser beam reflection amount of the focusing beam on the plastic layer of the optical disk. By using the reflection amount, the driving circuit will output a rising direct current voltage of a voltage difference to drive an actuator so as to move the objective lens to a proper position capable of judging the disk without colliding with the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Mediatek Incorporation
    Inventors: Feng Fu Lin, Kuo Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 7345267
    Abstract: An optical system including a light source that generates light, a mirror changing an optical path of the light generated by the light source and an aberration correcting element that corrects aberrations generated in the light reflected from the mirror due to an error in the surface shape of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mee-suk Jung, Jin-seung Sohn, Sung-dong Suh, Eun-hyoung Cho, Hae-sung Kim
  • Patent number: 7345268
    Abstract: A back-illuminated image sensor has a converting layer 21, charge collecting portions 24, and suppressing regions 23 and 29. The converting layer 21 for converting an incident beam into signal charges is formed on one side of an incident face 8 on which an incident beam is irradiated. The converting layer 21 is provided for each of pixels arranged in two dimensions. The charge collecting portions 24 for collecting signal charges generated in the converting layer 21 extends from the converting layer 21 to a surface 22 opposite to the incident face 8. The suppressing regions 23 and 29 for suppressing the flow of the signal charges from the converting layer 21 to peripheral circuits 26 is formed between the converting layer 21 and the peripheral circuits 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Takeharu Etoh, Hideki Muto
  • Patent number: 7345269
    Abstract: A configurable current source for imager readout system that can be operated as a simple-current-source or as a cascode-current-source. The configurable current source can be operated in a simple-current-source mode during circumstances when a low power supply voltage or large output signal swing is needed to output a pixel signal. The configurable current source can also be operated in a cascode-current-source mode for reduced nonlinearity and column-wise fixed pattern noise when power from a power supply is not a limitation. The configurable current source provides design flexibility and pixel optimization for imager development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chiajen Lee, Giuseppe Rossi
  • Patent number: 7345270
    Abstract: A photocontrol controls the activation of lighting based on ambient light and the time of day using a radio-controlled timer. Radio signals from a particular source of correct time, such as the National Institute for Science and Technology's WWVB radio broadcast, carry encoded time information that can be decoded by the photocontrol to ascertain the current time on start up and periodically during operation. The correct date and time information is used to synchronize the photocontrol's internal clock so that it can turn the lighting load off or on at specific times of the day in accordance with the user's needs. Thus area, business signage, and security lighting, for example, can be turned off late at night and then back on early in the morning to reduce energy consumption by the lighting during those hours when the lighting is not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventors: Richard S. Jones, Dale Thomas
  • Patent number: 7345271
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic detection device, especially a laser scanner, comprising a transmitting device for transmitting preferably pulsed electromagnetic radiation, also comprising at least one receiving device which is associated with the transmitting device and at least one deflection device which is used to guide radiation which is transmitted by the transmitting device into a monitoring area and radiation which is reflected by the monitoring area to the receiving device. The transmitting device comprises several, preferably two, separate transmitting modules which respectively transmit radiation along a specific transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: IBEO Automobile Sensor GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Boehlau, Johann Hipp
  • Patent number: 7345272
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed toward optical encoder systems and corresponding methods. One aspect of the invention is directed toward an optical encoder system that includes an optical encoder device having an input wheel. The optical encoder device further includes at least one light emitter and at least one light sensor to detect rotational movement of the input wheel. In a further aspect, the optical encoder device is coupled to a vehicle. In a still further aspect, the optical encoder device can be coupled to a control inceptor in a vehicle. In yet a further aspect, optical encoder device can include a housing so that the optical encoder device is couplable to structure as a single modular unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Mason Electric Co.
    Inventors: Anatoliy Chalyan, David Hawrylo, Matt Lingua, Ray Feigenbaum
  • Patent number: 7345273
    Abstract: A rotary switch including a control element, a light-emitting device arranged on a printed circuit board and configured to emit light, and at least two receivers arranged on the printed circuit board in correspondence with the light-emitting device and configured to detect switching positions of the rotary switch. Further, the light-emitting device is mounted radially at an outside portion of inside of a hollow cylindrical extension of the control element, and wherein on level with the light-emitting device, the extension includes orifices evenly distributed around a periphery of the extension, and that opposite the light-emitting device, on an exterior side of the extension, the at least two receivers are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventors: Anton Rüttiger, Markus Peschel, Thomas Ofenhitzer
  • Patent number: 7345274
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method enabling quantification of dose delivery in radiotherapy treatment during patient-specific treatment of the patient utilizing measurements in predefined time-intervals with information means positioned in the radiation beam, between the patient and the source and converting the readings to corresponding measures in a phantom. The invention additionally covers the method to obtain the said calibration factors for the detectors. The said calibration factors are obtained for each information means, field and said definable time-interval simultaneously irradiating the information means and said phantom including detectors to measure the absorbed dose using the said patient-specific treatment without patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Görgen Nilsson
  • Patent number: 7345275
    Abstract: There is provided a mass spectrometric based method for sample identification, including the steps of introducing sample compounds into a vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer in a seeded supersonic molecular beam, ionizing with electrons the sample compounds, being vibrationally cold molecules, in the supersonic molecular beam during their flight through an electron ionization ion source, mass analyzing the ionized sample compounds with a mass analyzer of a mass spectrometer to obtain a mass spectrum of at least one compound in the sample, identifying the molecular ion group of isotopomers in the mass spectrum, generating various molecular elemental formulas from the identified molecular ion and a pre-allocated list of elements, reducing the number of the molecular elemental formulas by the incorporation of chemical valence considerations and constraints, calculating isotope abundances for the generated elemental formulas, comparing the calculated isotope abundances with the experimentally obtained mass spec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventors: Aviv Amirav, Tal Alon
  • Patent number: 7345276
    Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer system includes two cells (1) and (2) driven by a drive unit (12) so that the cells operate at opposite polarities and are switched between different polarities either at regular intervals or in response to detection of a substance in one cell. Two reagents are supplied to both cells (1) and (2), one promoting detection of a substance in the positive mode and the other promoting detection of a substance in the negative mode so that there is no need to switch reagents when the polarity changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Smiths Detection-Watford Limited
    Inventors: Paul Grant Wynn, James Andrew Breach
  • Patent number: 7345277
    Abstract: An infrared imaging device combines two sensors, each sensor sensitive to a different spectral range of infrared radiation. Both sensors are combined in a single camera sharing one of three common optical apertures, thus parallax is eliminated between the sensors. Further, a display device is aligned along an optical axis in common with the camera eliminating parallax between the display and camera. Images from the first sensor, the second sensor, or both sensors may be viewed optically and/or electronically. The device is handheld, or mountable on a headgear such as a helmet. When mounted on headgear, the display is viewable by directing the operator's gaze upward, thus the display does not interfere with an operator's straight and downward sight. The image can be sent to a remote display by a wireless transceiver, and waterproof, fireproof, vibration/impact resistance, and hot/cold weather resistance are achieved using a high strength plastic enclosure with foam insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Evan Y. W. Zhang
  • Patent number: 7345278
    Abstract: An infrared ray detection device has a detection cell which has a thermoelectric converting part and an infrared ray absorption layer formed via a space on a semiconductor substrate, a first wiring part formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a supporting part, the detection cell being formed via the space on the semiconductor substrate and supports the detection cell. The supporting part includes a plurality of supporting legs which have a second wiring part electrically connecting the first wiring part to the detection cell and an insulating part covering a surrounding are of the second wiring part, and at least one connection part made of an insulating material connecting the plurality of supporting legs to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroto Honda, Ikuo Fujiwara, Masahiro Kuwata, Kei Masunishi
  • Patent number: 7345279
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a package to identify an object concealed in the package includes passing two beams of THz-radiation through the package. The frequency of THz radiation in one beam is different from that in the other, and the beams are at an angle to each other. Each of the transmitted beams is used to form an image of the package and the object. The absorption coefficient of the object is determined from the two images. The material of the object is determined from the absorption coefficients at the two frequencies. The method is useful for detecting explosive material concealed in baggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric R. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7345280
    Abstract: Determination of steam quality by passing one or more laser beams through steam in a steam chamber and directly determining a total number of vapor molecules and a total number of water molecules based on absorption of radiation in the one or more laser beams by the water vapor phase and the liquid water phase in the steam. Specific volumes of water vapor phase and liquid water phase in the steam using the total numbers of water vapor and liquid water molecules are determined and the quality of the steam is calculated based on the specific volumes of the water vapor phase and the liquid water phase in steam. One embodiment comprises a narrow linewidth laser for measuring steam quality and another embodiment comprises multiple broadband lasers for measuring steam quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chayan Mitra, Mark A Woodmansee, Ayan Banerjee
  • Patent number: 7345281
    Abstract: A method and system for calibrating a time of flight (TOF) positron emission tomography (PET) scanner are provided. The method stores acquired scan data from detector pairs including data and timing information. The method further calculates an intensity distribution of emission sources based on the scan data and defines a timing pivot point based on a median of an intensity histogram. The method determines a timing correction for each detector based on the location of the timing pivot point. The positron emission tomography (PET) system further provides a plurality of detectors, used in performing imaging scans, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a timing correction for each detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Floribertus P. M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Ravindra Mohan Manjeshwar
  • Patent number: 7345282
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a novel slat collimator for use in nuclear medicine imaging is provided. The slat collimator comprises a first layer comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongated slats and a second layer comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongated slats. The slats of the second layer are positioned orthogonally with respect to the slats of the first layer. The slats are constructed of a radiation attenuation material and the spaces between the slats may be non-variable or variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric G. Hawman
  • Patent number: 7345283
    Abstract: A method for the conversion of Compton camera data into a 2D image of the incident-radiation flux on the celestial sphere includes detecting coincident gamma radiation flux arriving from various directions of a 2-sphere. These events are mapped by back-projection onto the 2-sphere to produce a convolution integral that is subsequently stereographically projected onto a 2-plane to produce a second convolution integral which is deconvolved by the Fourier method to produce an image that is then projected onto the 2-sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Donald L. Gunter
  • Patent number: 7345284
    Abstract: A high sensitivity, three-dimensional gamma ray detection and imaging system is provided. The system uses the Compton double scatter technique with recoil electron tracking. The system preferably includes two detector subassemblies; a silicon microstrip hodoscope and a calorimeter. In this system the incoming photon Compton scatters in the hodoscope. The second scatter layer is the calorimeter where the scattered gamma ray is totally absorbed. The recoil electron in the hodoscope is tracked through several detector planes until it stops. The x and y position signals from the first two planes of the electron track determine the direction of the recoil electron while the energy loss from all planes determines the energy of the recoil electron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: NWA R&D, Inc
    Inventor: Tümay O. Tümer
  • Patent number: 7345285
    Abstract: A method for exploiting a signal provided by a detector is disclosed. For one embodiment, the time spent by at least one part of the signal above a value S0 of a first threshold is determined. The charge corresponding to the part of the signal during the time spent above the value S0 of the first threshold is determined. A new value S?0 of the first threshold as a function of the charge and the time spent above the value S0 of the first threshold is determined. The steps of determining the time spent by at least one part of the signal above a value S0 of a first threshold and determining the charge corresponding to the part of the signal during the time spent above the value S0 of the first threshold are reiterated at least once using the new value of the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Guillaume Montemont, Patrice Ouvrier-Buffet, Loick Verger
  • Patent number: 7345286
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for retrieving ionospheric parameters from dayside disk-viewing measurements of an ultraviolet emission within the upper atmospheric airglow. The invention may provide nowcasting and forecasting information of the ionosphere, which is important for ultraviolet communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: J. Michael Picone
  • Patent number: 7345287
    Abstract: We have developed a method and apparatus for cooling electromagnetic lens coils of the kind used in charged particle beams. The method and apparatus provide not only a symmetrical cooling effect around the optical axis of the charged particle beam, but also provide improved uniformity of heat transfer. This improved uniformity enables control over the optical axis of the charged particle beam within about 1 nm for high current charged particle beam columns, wherein the current ranges from about 100 nanoamps to about 1000 nanoamps. The use of a squat and wide electromagnetic lens coil in combination with an essentially flat modular cooling panel, which provides uniform cooling to the electromagnetic lens coil, not only enables control over the optical axis of the charged particle beam, but also provides mechanical stability for the charged particle beam column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Jasinski, Dieter Winkler, William A. Eckes
  • Patent number: 7345288
    Abstract: A sample holder and ion-beam processing system are offered which permit a good sample adapted for observation (such as TEM (transmission electron microscopy) observation). The sample holder has a sample placement portion having a sample adhering surface. The holder further includes a shielding material guide portion placed over the sample placement portion. The guide portion is fixedly mounted to the sample placement portion and has a shielding material guide surface. The sample adhering surface is in a position lower than the position of the shielding material guide surface by a given amount of 40 ?m. Therefore, when the sample having a thickness of 100 ?m is attached to the sample adhering surface, the sample protrudes 60 ?m ahead of the shielding material guide surface. The shielding material having a thickness of about 20 ?m is then placed in position over the shielding material guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Jeol Ltd.
    Inventor: Takushi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7345289
    Abstract: A sample support of the present invention is prepared such that a silicon substrate is used as a raw material, the thickness structure having a shape and a thickness of 10 ?m or less is prepared using a semiconductor silicon process technique. The sample support of the present invention is adhered to a partially-cut mesh in a state that a sample portion is not adhered. Further, a plurality of portions where the samples are mounted is arranged on the same substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventors: Kouji Iwasaki, Masanso Munekane