Patents Issued in December 30, 2008
  • Patent number: 7471162
    Abstract: A temperature-compensated crystal oscillator for surface mounting wherein an IC chip into which is integrated a temperature-compensated device having an oscillating circuit and a temperature sensor, which supplies a compensation voltage to a variable-voltage capacitor element of the oscillating circuit, and which also has IC terminals disposed along two edges comprising at least diagonally opposite corner portions of one main surface that acts as a circuit function surface is affixed with the use of bumps to an inner base surface of a main container that is concave in section, and one edge portion of a crystal piece is affixed to an inner wall step portion of the main container; wherein an active element of the oscillating circuit that acts as a heat source and a temperature sensor of the temperature-compensated device are disposed at diagonally opposite corner regions of the IC chip at the greatest distance apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Ishikawa, Kuichi Kubo, Fumio Asamura, Kozo Ono
  • Patent number: 7471163
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes a plurality of transistors that can withstand relatively low gate-to-source and gate-to-drain voltages. The oscillator circuit interfaces with an oscillator that oscillates at a relatively high voltage. The oscillator circuit includes a first set of transistors coupled to an input voltage and an output voltage of the oscillator, the input voltage oscillating in a range exceeding a tolerance voltage level of each transistor of the first set of transistors. The oscillator circuit also includes a second set of transistors to limit a voltage level in the first set of transistors. The oscillator circuit further includes a third set of transistors to provide a constant current path for the second set of transistors, independent of a switching state of each transistor of the first set of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Eah Loon Chuah, Syn Pui Law
  • Patent number: 7471164
    Abstract: An oscillator is provided having an oscillator circuit including at least one oscillator circuit inductor and a first oscillator circuit capacitor, whereby the value of the first oscillator circuit capacitor is reversible by means of the first control voltages between different stages. The oscillator is characterized by a first control voltage source, which applies first control voltages with at least three stepwise different values to the first oscillator circuit capacitor. Preferably, the control voltages are generated over a network of current sources and resistors, whereby the network compensates for the thermal response of the oscillator. Further, a method for operating this type of oscillator is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Atmel Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Reimann
  • Patent number: 7471165
    Abstract: In a balun for mutually converting an unbalanced line for unbalanced input/output and a balanced line for balanced input/output, the unbalanced line and the balanced line are microstrip lines including a signal line arranged on one main surface of a substrate and a ground conductor arranged on the other main surface of the substrate. The balun further includes a slot line formed by a aperture line arranged in the ground conductor in the other main surface. The microstrip line as the unbalanced line includes one end portion used as an input/output end and the other end portion that traverses the slot line, electromagnetically couples to the slot line, and functions as an electric short-circuited end. The central portion of the microstrip line as the balanced line traverses the slot line and electromagnetically couples to the slot line. Both ends of this microstrip line serves as the input/output ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Asamura, Kenji Kawahata, Katsuaki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7471166
    Abstract: A balanced-to-unbalanced transformer embedded with a filter, the balanced-to-unbalanced transformer being disposed in a multi-layered substrate and comprising vertically coupled transmission lines designed in different layers in the multi-layer substrate to increase transmission performances. A capacitor and a transmission line are connected to a single-ended I/O port of the balanced-to-unbalanced transformer such that a filter is embedded in the balanced-to-unbalanced transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chang-Lin Wei, Chang-Sheng Chen, Syun Yu, Ying-Jiunn Lai, Uei-Ming Jow
  • Patent number: 7471167
    Abstract: A balun capable of a reduced whole size. The balun includes an input line receiving an unbalanced signal, an output line receiving the unbalanced signal from the input line and outputting a balanced signal, and a ground part. The input and output lines are formed on a layer, and the ground part is formed on a different layer from the layer. The ground part includes an opening and is electrically connected to the input line, and a portion of the ground part is removed to form the opening so that a potential difference occurs between first and second output lines. Thus, although a length of the output line is less than ¼ of an input wavelength ?, a difference between phases of first and second output signals can be about 180°. As a result, the whole size of the balun can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chul-soo Kim, Dal Ahn, Kwi-soo Kim, In-sang Song, Yun-kwon Park, Seok-chul Yun, Kuang-woo Nam
  • Patent number: 7471168
    Abstract: The present invention discloses to an SMA connector, a preferable embodiment of which comprises a body acting as ground, a central conductor existing in the inner part of the ground, an insulator with a predetermined dielectric constant existing between the body and the central conductor, a first step transition part formed in the body, a taper formed in the central conductor in order to improve RF characteristics and to fix the central conductor and the insulator, and a second step transition part formed in the central conductor corresponding to the first step transition part to improve RF characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignees: Mission Technology Co., Ltd., Kwangwoon University Industry-Academic Collaboration Foundation
    Inventors: Jong-Chul Lee, Jae-Sun Lee, Ki-Byoung Kim, Tae-Soon Yun, Sang-Gun Lee, Nam-Young Kim, Jong-Heon Kim, Byung-Je Lee, Bub-Sang Yun, Kuk-Hwan Ra, Youn-Joo Lee, Sun-Won Hong
  • Patent number: 7471169
    Abstract: The essence of the invention is the use of supercooled superconductors for generation of high-frequency electric oscillations. The superconductor is supercooled, i.e. in the normal phase at a temperature lower than the critical transition temperature for superconductivity, under an applied electric energy source. In such non equilibrium conditions the superconductor can have negative differential conductivity which can be used as an active medium in generators of electric (current and voltage) oscillations. Such generators can be used in the superconducing electronics. Oscillation can be modulated by the change of bias voltage, electrostatic doping by a gate electrode, or by light. When small amplitude oscillations are stabilized near to the critical temperature the generator can be used as a bolometer. The supercooled superconductors can be used also as transistors and frequency mixers. The negative differential conductivity of superconductor is created by the excess conductivity of fluctuation Cooper pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: K.U. Leuven Research & Development
    Inventors: Todor Mihaylov Mishonov, Mihail Todorov Mishonov
  • Patent number: 7471170
    Abstract: A metallization structure in a multilayer stack, which is arranged at a distance from a ground electrode, is characterized in that the metallization structure has a capacitor electrode and a line that acts as a coil, where the capacitor electrode and the line are arranged in a common plane which lies parallel with the ground electrode at a distance h1, and in that formula (I) where w is the width of the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Marion Kornelia Matters-Kammerer
  • Patent number: 7471171
    Abstract: An elastic boundary wave device includes a LiNbO3 substrate, an electrode exciting an elastic wave and provided on the substrate, and a silicon oxide film provided on the substrate to cover the electrode, and parameters of the elastic boundary wave device have any one of ranges, where “?” is a rotation Y cut angle of the substrate, “a” is a ratio of copper density with respect to a density of a material used as the electrode, “?” is a wavelength of the elastic wave excited by the electrode, “h” is a film thickness of the electrode, “H” is a thickness of the silicon oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignees: Fujitsu Media Devices Limited, Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Michio Miura, Satoru Matsuda, Takashi Matsuda, Masanori Ueda, Seiichi Mitobe
  • Patent number: 7471172
    Abstract: Microwave transmission unit, especially a microwave filter (1), and including a cabinet (2) with a first coaxial connector (3) and a second coaxial connector (4), where both coaxial connectors include an inner conductor (6) and an outer conductor (7), said cabinet (2) being made of a non-conducting material, such as plastics, and coated with a metal layer. The microwave transmission unit (1) includes a lightning conductor (5) which is dimensioned so as to conduct lightning current without being damaged to any serious extent, and which is electrically connected to the outer conductor (7) of the first coaxial connector (3) and to the outer conductor (7) of the second coaxial connector (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: LGP Allgon AB
    Inventors: Thorsten Holst, Morten Hagensen, Carsten Gadegaard Jensen, Stig Jensen
  • Patent number: 7471173
    Abstract: A dielectric substrate is provided with first and second conductor openings communicating with each other via a first slit, and third and fourth conductor openings communicating with each other via a second slit, and the slits intersect each other. With this structure, two resonant modes including an even mode in which magnetic field vectors are directed from the first to third conductor openings and from the fourth to second conductor openings, and an odd mode in which magnetic field vectors are directed from the third to second conductor openings and from the first to fourth conductor openings, or two resonant modes including an X mode in which magnetic field vectors are directed from the first to second conductor openings, and a Y mode in which magnetic field vectors are directed from the third to fourth conductor openings are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Seiji Hidaka, Hiromu Tokudera, Kei Matsutani
  • Patent number: 7471174
    Abstract: In the structure for connecting a board and a coaxial connector, which electrically connects a high-frequency board 20 mounted in an electroconductive casing 1 and a coaxial connector 10, a transfer board 30 is disposed between the high-frequency board 20 and the coaxial connector 10, and the high-frequency board 20 and the coaxial connector 10 are electrically connected through the transfer board 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruhiko Hieda, Hideki Asao
  • Patent number: 7471175
    Abstract: A mixed-signal circuit board can provide a flexible arrangement of multiple RF transmission mediums in a single lightweight and compact structure as well as support embedding electronic devices within RF transmission paths. The transmission mediums may include a voided waveguide, a dielectric waveguide, a microstrip, a suspended microstrip, a traditional stripline, and a suspended stripline. The center conductors in each transmission medium may be constructed on the same plane or the same PCB layer in order to simplify coplanar design. A distribution board can be provided to deliver the power supply and control signals to the active electronic devices placed in the signal path of the RF board for signal processing and within covered cavities provided within the RF board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Voss
  • Patent number: 7471176
    Abstract: A micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch includes a fixed contact (24) and a moveable contact (35) on an armature (30). The switch has electrodes (22, 34) associated with both the fixed and moveable contacts for providing an electrostatic switch operation and piezoelectric material with associated electrodes (36, 40) for bending the armature upon application of an electric voltage and providing an initial piezoelectric switch operation followed by electrostatic switching and clamping. The armature is of curved shape which is bent away from the fixed contact when in a switch open condition with zero applied voltage. This gives a large, e.g. 3 pm, switch gap in an OFF state which is reduced by piezoelectric operation suitable for electrostatic switch closing. A curved condition is provided by varying strain across the armature thickness, and is produced during manufacture of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventors: Robert J T Bunyan, David J Combes, Kevin M Brunson
  • Patent number: 7471177
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating device, particularly an actuating magnet, for actuating valves. In order to improve the sealing action of an actuating magnet, the invention provides that a contacting plug insert (48) has a seating surface (54) against which an annular sealing part (52) rests and which extends in the form of a groove inside the plug insert (48). The groove depth is selected so that, when in an unpressed state, approximately half of the sealing part (52) is accommodated inside the groove (56). When the groove (56) is fitted with the sealing part (52), it is completely filled whereby resulting in a projection that sealingly closes the gap (58) arising between a plug plate (40) and an outer peripheral surface (50) of the housing (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hydac Electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Jacobus
  • Patent number: 7471178
    Abstract: The present invention provides a low-cost current detection device having a magnetic sensor easily placed on a choke coil, wherein assembly and manufacturing costs are reduced and a product is miniaturized. A current detection device including a choke coil for smoothing an input current or an output current and a magnetic sensor 1a built into the choke coil to detect the input current or output current, wherein the choke coil is composed of: a pair of cores 5 provided with an outer magnetic leg 5a constituting a closed magnetic circuit and a center magnetic leg 5b for providing a gap; and an air core coil 6 mounted on the center magnetic leg 5b, and space 6b is provided to a part of winding of the air core coil 6 with the magnetic sensor 1a placed in the gap between the space 6b and the center magnetic leg 5b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Toko Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiro Koga
  • Patent number: 7471179
    Abstract: Each terminal electrode has a welded portion at which each end portion of a conducting wire is electrically connected to each terminal electrode upon laser welding. The conducting wire is provided with an insulation coating. The insulation layer has an edge on the surface of the conducting wire. Each welded portion has a bulge portion bulging in a direction away from the core and in contact with only the edge of the insulation coating. The edge determines a shape position and size of a melted bulge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Hatakeyama, Kouzou Kajiwara
  • Patent number: 7471180
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transformer having a multilayered winding structure. The transformer is supplied with alternating current power, and transfers the power to another circuit by electromagnetic induction. The transformer includes a core section having a hollow section, and primary and secondary windings isolated electrically from each other and wound around the core section. Each of the primary and secondary windings has a multilayered structure in which a plurality of metal plates are laminated with gaps therebetween and are coupled to each other at one side ends thereof, and the metal plates of the primary and secondary windings are inserted into and coupled to each other at the other side ends thereof in such a manner that the metal plates of the primary winding are alternately inserted into the gaps of the second windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: PSTEK Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hwanho Seong
  • Patent number: 7471181
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for electromagnetic components comprise a core and a winding. The core and winding are configured to provide smaller and more effective electromagnetic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: CTM Magnetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant MacLennan
  • Patent number: 7471182
    Abstract: A means for treating the end faces of a core which is used for an electrical apparatuses and etc., to give insulation extremely superior in effect of improvement of the insulation, corrosion resistance, adhesiveness, heat resistance, and magnetic properties at a low temperature in a short time without cleaning for removing punching oil, annealing, or other pre-treatment; a core having an insulation coating comprised of a dry film of a pure silicone polymer, modified silicone polymer, and/or mixed silicone polymer as a silicone compound on the core end faces and having an average film thickness of at least 0.5 ?m, a breakdown voltage of at least 30V, and a heat resistance in the air of at least 400° C.; and a method of production comprised of forming a core, then dipping it in or spraying it by one or more types of a pure silicone polymer, modified silicone polymer, and/or mixed silicone polymer as an insulation coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Nittetsu Plant Designing Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoji Kumano, Chikara Kaido, Hiroyasu Fujii, Kazutaka Higashine, Osamu Tanaka, Norikazu Fujii, Kazufumi Hanzawa, Masayoshi Tanaka, Yuji Kubo, Noriko Yamada
  • Patent number: 7471183
    Abstract: There is provided a joint structure of a wound iron core in which iron core characteristics can be enhanced by improving the distribution of magnetic flux within an iron core. A wound iron core is formed to provide a joining structure or a butt joining structure and a lap joining structure disposed in an appropriate arrangement in which the a margin of overlapping is more increased as being closer to an outer periphery from an inner periphery of the iron core, taking a distribution of magnetic flux density within the iron core into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Yamashita, Youji Matsuda, Kazuo Nishiyama, Masao Hosokawa, Kazuyuki Fukui, Hidemasa Yamaguchi, Tooru Honma, Hiroyuki Endou, Makoto Shinohara
  • Patent number: 7471184
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device. The MEMS device includes a substrate having an anchoring pad thereon and a structural element. The structural element has a beam that includes a first part and a second part. The first part is attached to both the anchoring pad and to the second part. The second part is movable with respect to the substrate and made of an electrically conductive material. Additionally, at least one of the following conditions hold: the first part is made of a material having: a first yield stress that is greater than a second yield stress of the electrically conductive material of the second part; a fatigue resistance that is greater than a second fatigue resistance of the electrically conductive material of the second part; or, a creep rate that is less than a second creep rate of the electrically conductive material of the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Anatolyevich Aksyuk, Flavio Pardo, Maria Elina Simon
  • Patent number: 7471185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising first and second sensors formed by chemically sensitive resitors, wherein the first sensor comprises a region of aligned conductive material; or where each of the sensors comprises alternating regions of nonconductive regions and aligned conductive regions with each resistor providing an electrical path through both the nonconductive region and the aligned conductive region, while each sensor manifests a different electrical resistance during contact with sample fluids having different analyte concentrations via the monitoring arrangement of having the sensors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus. The aligned conductive particle material is aligned by exposure to either of an electric, magnetic, optical, photo-electric, electromagnetic or mechanical field, which serves to improve signal to noise ratio of vapor sensors allowing Lower Detection Limits for vapors being sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Smiths Detection, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Sunshine, Beth C. Munoz
  • Patent number: 7471186
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a radio remote controller system that, when power saving for a radio remote controller is realized by intermittently setting a data receivable period in the radio remote controller, can easily and flexibly change a length of a period for making it impossible to receive the radio data and reduce power consumption of the radio remote controller. A master set connected to a water heater main body by wire transmits monitor data G(G1, G2, G3) indicating an operation state of the water heater main body, which include transmission time information indicating the next time (t14 at G1, and t17 at G2) of transmission of the monitor data G, to a slave set serving as a radio remote controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Rinnai Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Kato, Ikuro Adachi
  • Patent number: 7471187
    Abstract: In a door control system, in polling collation processing, a start request signal is intermittently transmitted from a vehicle. When a human around the vehicle is detected, a start request signal is transmitted from the vehicle with high output power. A portable device returns a response signal to the vehicle. Furthermore, when the start request signal is transmitted at the high output power, the reception sensitivity is set to be lower than the normal sensitivity. When receiving the response signal from the portable device, the vehicle transmits an ID request signal, and acquires an ID code from the portable device. The ID code thus acquired is collated with each ID code registered in the vehicle. When both ID codes agree, the vehicle doors are unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakashima, Takeshi Kumazaki, Ifushi Shimonomoto
  • Patent number: 7471188
    Abstract: There has been a problem in battryless RFID chips that a high voltage AC signal is generated when an antenna is exposed to a high electromagnetic field, and a DC voltage that is obtained through rectification of the AC signal becomes a high voltage accordingly. As a result, heat generation of a logic circuit and a clock generator circuit or element break down occur. The invention takes the following measures: a DC voltage generated through rectification of an AC signal is compared with a reference voltage in a comparator circuit, and a switch element is turned ON when the DC voltage becomes higher so as to add capacitance to an antenna circuit. Accordingly, resonance point of an antenna changes which in turn attenuates an AC signal generated in the antenna circuit, thereby suppressing a DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Toshihiko Saito
  • Patent number: 7471189
    Abstract: The invention is provided by means of a method for identifying a vehicle, comprising recording at least a first image of the vehicle using a digital camera, which first image includes at least a registration plate and a light arrangement. The method comprises the steps of identifying the position on the car and the orientation of the light arrangement from the first image, and of determining the type of vehicle on the basis of information stored in a database relating to the position and orientation of light arrangements on different types of car and the identification of the position and orientation of the light arrangement, and of identifying the position on the car and the orientation of the registration plate in relation to the identified position of the light arrangement from the first image in order thereby to obtain a unique identification of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Facility Parking Europe AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Vastad, Joakim Hällberg
  • Patent number: 7471190
    Abstract: An anti-theft vehicle alarm system includes an acceleration sensor acting as a tilt sensor, a microcomputer, a first power source for supplying a first voltage to the microcomputer, and a second power source for supplying a second voltage to the acceleration sensor. The microcomputer calculates a tilt angle of a vehicle from output of the acceleration sensor and activates an alarm in accordance with the tilt angle. If the second voltage is outside a predetermined voltage range, for example, due to a reduction in battery voltage, the microcomputer temporarily stops to activate the alarm to prevent a false alarm. The microcomputer monitors the second voltage not the battery voltage. Thus, even when the second voltage is outside the threshold range, for example, due to a breakdown in the second power source, the false alarm can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Kato
  • Patent number: 7471191
    Abstract: An automatic cycle storage system comprising cycles, each of which carries a blocking device and an electronic circuit; a cycle storage area serving to receive the cycles while they are not being used; and a control device adapted to authorize, selectively, cycles to be borrowed from the storage area. The control device and the cycle are each provided with a respective short-range wireless communications interface, and the cycle includes an electrical lock device adapted to lock the blocking device in the blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: J. C. Decaux SA
    Inventor: Jacques Le Gars
  • Patent number: 7471192
    Abstract: An anti-theft system for a vehicle includes parking location sensing means for sensing a present parking location of the vehicle, user location sensing means for sensing a present location of a user of the vehicle, distance calculating means for calculating a distance between the present parking location of the vehicle and the present location of the user of the vehicle, and security level setting means for setting a security level of the anti-theft system based on the distance between the present parking location of the vehicle and the present location of the user of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hara, Shogo Kameyama, Masaaki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7471193
    Abstract: A detection system for detection of an object in a blind spot of a wing mirror unit. The detection system includes an observation unit for generating observation data, a data processing unit for processing the observation data, and an indication unit for displaying a warning signal. Internal data communication connections of the system may be disposed in a wing mirror unit so that the detection system is autonomous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Stefan F. Brouwer, Steven J. Vanhoof
  • Patent number: 7471194
    Abstract: A trouble ticket service system is capable of notifying information indicating the actual operation state thereof. A monitoring apparatus includes information analyzing software for distinguishing, according to alarm information and received electric field information from a microwave communication system including microwave communication apparatuses, the three states namely: device failure state, fading state, and early warning state, plus a mail transmitter for sending the three states as trouble tickets (e-mail messages).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Itou
  • Patent number: 7471195
    Abstract: An emergency power shutdown management system (EPSMS) comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC), relays coupled to the outputs of the PLC for shutting down electrically operated equipment, and indicators for indicating the status of the EPSMS and the controlled equipment. The PLC receives input signals from a fire control panel including a 2nd alarm signal which is generated after the fire control panel has detected smoke, fire or an explosion with two or more detectors and a system discharge signal which is generated when the fire control panel triggers fire sprinklers or the release of other fire or explosion suppression agents. The PLC also receives an emergency power off (EPO) signal from an EPO switch which is activated to immediately shut down all electrically operated equipment and power distribution units in a protected area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Fike Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Dean Roark, James B. Zaboski
  • Patent number: 7471196
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system is provided for delivering immediate (up to the minute) aviation weather information. A pilot makes a call to a single toll free number and specifies the location he wants to receive weather from. The system and method disambiguates the location and then checks to see if immediate weather data is already available within the system for that location. An informational message tailored to both the pilot and the location may be delivered to the user prior to the weather information. If immediate weather data is already available in the described system, that weather data is communicated to the user via a computer-generated voice. If not, the system and method determines the voice phone number for the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) at the specified location, and connects the user by phone directly to the immediate weather information as generated by the AWOS at that location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Mackinac Software, LLC
    Inventors: William E. McUmber, Marilyn Wulfekuhler
  • Patent number: 7471197
    Abstract: A security system comprising an attachment (1) for mounting on a wall top, having a first part (4) that is fixable to the wall and a second part (6) that is mounted for relative movement on said first part upon the application of a force thereto whereby movement of the second part generates a signal to activate a visual and/or audible alarm, the second part having at least one pair of opposing members (40a, 40b) for partially overlapping a side of the first part so as to retain the second part, the second part being sized so as to allow a limited range of movement with respect to said first part without its release therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: John McRae
  • Patent number: 7471198
    Abstract: To provide a machine component with an IC tag affixed thereto, in which with the IC tag having an increased storage capacity, the IC tag can be mounted with no difficulty and, also, reading or writing of information from or in the IC tag, respectively, can be facilitated. A plurality of IC tags 2 are attached to a machine component, which forms a part of a rolling bearing assembly 1, or to a machine component and an accessory with division made therebetween. Those plural IC tags 2 have different information stored therein. Where the machine component is a retainer incorporated rolling bearing assembly 1, those plural IC tags are attached to a roller retainer 5 at respective locations symmetrical with each other about the axis O of rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Naota Yamamoto, Ken Horiuchi, Koushirou Fujimoto, Yoshihisa Shibuya, Makoto Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7471199
    Abstract: A mobile key includes an RFID tag associated with a memory. The memory holds a secure access code. An authorization status for a person or item associated with the mobile key is determined by interrogating the mobile key using an RFID interrogation field. Security information, such as a secure identifier or access code, physical measurement data, or biometric data may be provided by the mobile key. The key may also comprise a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone. Security information, such as an access code, may be provided to the key using the wireless communication device or other communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Intermec IP Corp.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Zimmerman, Timothy Shane Downs Mullen, James Seely, Jeffrey Scott Roush
  • Patent number: 7471200
    Abstract: A near field communication (NFC) device is capable of operating as an NFC initiator device or an NFC target device for exchanging request and response messages with another similar device in order to determine a secondary transport mechanism suitable for communications between the two devices with bandwidth greater than available for NFC and for determining appropriate roles for both devices without excessive communication. Such determination of roles can be determined by rule or by exchanging information indicating a choice of roles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Jari Otranen
  • Patent number: 7471201
    Abstract: The present invention provides an RFID tag having an identification information response function that wirelessly transmits tag identification information stored in the RFID tag in response to a predetermined wireless request, wherein, the identification information response function becomes invalid after an invalidation instruction is input from outside followed by a lapse of predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Ono
  • Patent number: 7471202
    Abstract: Described herein are one or more implementations for reducing the effects of distortion caused by the distorters in medical image-capture components used in medical electromagnetic tracking system. Examples of a medical image-capture component include an X-ray image detector used in fluoroscopic image-guided medical procedures and a surgical microscope. With one or more implementations described herein, the electromagnetic receiver unit (or transmitter unit) is conformably attached to the medical image-capture component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventor: Peter Traneus Anderson
  • Patent number: 7471203
    Abstract: A tamper monitoring system includes at least one active tag and a transmission link. The one active tag includes a transmitter and a receiver. The first end of the transmission link is connected to the transmitter and the second end is connected to the receiver. The transmitter is designed to transmit a non-constant signal to the transmission link to the receiver, and the receiver is designed to receive a signal from the transmission link and to correlate the received signal with the transmitted signal. When the received signal does not correlate with the transmitted signal, the active tag transmits a tamper beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: RF Code, Inc.
    Inventors: David Worthy, Charles Glasser, Yazid Sidi, James Rodgers
  • Patent number: 7471204
    Abstract: A receiver architecture for canceling blocking signals in the receive path includes a low noise amplifier for receiving and amplifying an inbound RF signal to produce an amplified inbound signal, in which the inbound RF signal includes a modulated RF signal and a blocking signal, and a cancellation module for substantially canceling the blocking signal from the amplified inbound RF signal and substantially passing the modulated RF signal. The cancellation module cancels the blocking signal by generating an injection signal representative of the blocking signal, combining the blocking signal with the injection signal to produce an error signal, updating the injection signal based on the error signal and using the injection signal to cancel the blocking signal from the amplified inbound RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Aminghasem Safarian, Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7471205
    Abstract: The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are described with particular reference to library materials such as books, periodicals, and magnetic and optical media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sharon R. Garber, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Mitchell B. Grunes, Richard H. Jackson, Gerald L. Karel, John M. Kruse, Richard W. Lindahl, James E. Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John D. Yorkovich
  • Patent number: 7471206
    Abstract: A float assembly light indicator for use in detecting water levels within a container, such as a Christmas tree stand, includes a float housing having multiple float switches therein and are operably connected to a remotely locatable water level light indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: David Christian Ellerman
  • Patent number: 7471207
    Abstract: A wastewater fluid level sensing and control system is provided. The system comprises a control panel, a reservoir, at least one pump and a fluid level sensing device. The control panel comprises a housing and user interface input and output devices for use with configuring the operation of the control panel. The control panel may be configured to turn on one or more of the pumps to lower the level of fluid in the reservoir. When the level is above a selectable level, the control panel is operative to cause at least one alarm signal to be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Chandler Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Chandler, Jr., Aaron R. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 7471208
    Abstract: A process for monitoring a fluid storage system using a vessel for storing the fluid and a detection apparatus using synchronized sensors for monitoring and measuring state properties of the fluid is disclosed. The method includes using a housing with at least one pressure sensor and at least one temperature sensor for synchronously collecting data regarding the fluid. Each sensor communicates with a processor and a signaling means to provide synchronized data. The method includes continuously forming at least one calculated value, such as a value for mass of the fluid, from the data synchronously collected using a processor, and continuously comparing the calculated value to at least one predetermined range of values for the fluid in the vessel to identify if the at least one calculated value is within the predetermined range of values. Then, the method includes communicating the compared values from the processor to an auxiliary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Measurement Methods, Inc.
    Inventors: John Charles Hoben, Allen Ray Westmoreland, Alexander Bukhman, Israel Bukhman
  • Patent number: 7471209
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology in display boards such as whiteboards, corkboards, and bulletin boards are disclosed. An RFID tag is affixed to each object that is placed on the display board. Each tag uniquely identifies the object to which it is affixed. RFID readers are placed in proximity to the board so that the position and identity of the tagged objects on the board can be determined. RFID readers can quickly convey this information to a computing device. Optionally, receipt of the position and identity information at the computing device can trigger other events such as the output of notifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventor: Matt E. Hart
  • Patent number: 7471210
    Abstract: A doorbell having interchangeable chimes and interchangeable decorative covers is displayed for sale to the retail public such that a customer may easily choose a specific chime sound and combine it with a specific decorative cover enabling the customer to buy a doorbell meeting the customer's aesthetic requirement. The interchangeable bases and covers may include complimentary attachment parts that allow any cover to be mounted to any of a plurality of bases of differing size and in different orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: IQ Group Sdn Bhd
    Inventors: Phillip R. Cole, Sr., Jimmy Kendrick, Daniel John Beasley, Lai Kong Yeow
  • Patent number: 7471211
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic celestial object-locating device assists in identifying a celestial object or directing a user to a desired celestial object. The device is useful for locating or identifying any celestial object including stars, constellations, planets, comets, asteroids, artificial satellites, and deep sky objects to name a few. The device utilizes sensors for 3-axis magnetic field and 3-axis gravitational field detection. The device utilizes a processor and an electronic database to perform the required calculations. The device's database may be updated through access to the Internet through which the updates may be purchased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Yamcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Lemp, III