Patents Issued in January 12, 2010
  • Patent number: 7645942
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect has an adhesive layer in which is formed an array of apertures, the apertures being of non-circular shape. An electrical circuit apparatus has a first circuit having at least one electrical contact, a second circuit having at least one electrical contact aligned to the electrical contact of the first circuit, and a standoff structure between the first and second circuits having at least one aperture aligned to one electrical contact of the first and second circuits, the aperture being of a non-circular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Schmachtenberg, III, John R. Andrews, Bradley J. Gerner, Jonathan R. Brick, Samuel Schultz, Chad J. Slenes
  • Patent number: 7645943
    Abstract: A configurable printed circuit board can be used with a bussed electrical center in a vehicle and has a dielectric body. The dielectric body defines an array of plated through-holes that are constructed to receive a terminal of an electrical adaptor. A conductive trace is also adhered to a surface of the dielectric body and is routed through some of the plated through-holes for carrying current between them. An aperture is defined through a portion of some of the plated through-holes and the respective conductive traces to electrically isolate one side of the conductive trace from another side; and thus the printed circuit board can accommodate more than one electrical device in a single section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason R. Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7645944
    Abstract: A printed circuit board exit arrangement is disclosed for use in high speed connector mounting applications. A ground plane has one or more open areas formed in it that surround pairs of signal vias formed in the board that are used to convey differential signals. The ground plane has a thin interconnecting strip, or web, that passes between the two vias of each pair and which divides the open areas into sub-areas, each sib-area containing a single via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick R. Casher, Kent E. Regnier
  • Patent number: 7645946
    Abstract: Two symmetrical pieces form an escutcheon that seals the gap between a pipe or conduit and the surface through which it penetrates and supports the pipe or conduit. The device is surface mounted with threaded mechanical fasteners which can be adjusted to vary the compression of the sealing gaskets. The escutcheon can be installed without requiring any manipulation of the pipe or conduit. The escutcheon can be removed and reinstalled repeatedly without any degradation in function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Smith
  • Patent number: 7645947
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an electrical connector assembly that includes a connector body having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion. The outlet end portion is held in a knock out hole of an electric box and the inlet end portion is provided with an adjacent opening for receiving a wire conductor retainer in the form of a flat spring configured to be readily connected to an external portion of a connector body for ease of manufacture and assembly. An electric conductor can be unidirectionally inserted in the inlet end portion and secured thereto so as to prohibit any unintentional separation from the connector body, all without the need of any tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgeport Fittings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Kiely, Delbert Auray
  • Patent number: 7645948
    Abstract: An apparatus for weighing and dispensing a mass of material, including a closed chamber, a scale disposed in the closed chamber; and a receptacle disposed in the closed chamber and operatively connected to the scale. The receptacle has an inlet, an outlet, and a valve. An actuator for opening and closing the valve is movable between a first position wherein the actuator is decoupled from the valve and a second position wherein the actuator is coupled to the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Christopher William Newton
  • Patent number: 7645949
    Abstract: A portable digital scale is disclosed, having retractable and stowable handles and weighing hook, as well as a weight display that may be viewed from directly above the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Donald Glenn Thompson
  • Patent number: 7645950
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an electronic apparatus includes a switch contact and a control unit. The switch contact is constituted of a fixed contact and a movable contact. The fixed contact includes a plurality of detection contacts and a common contact. The movable contact can be moved to a contact/noncontact state. The control unit detects a signal generated when all of the contacts in the fixed contact are simultaneously made conductive by contact of the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Terashima
  • Patent number: 7645951
    Abstract: A device for protecting data for operating or controlling functions of an operating system, process, equipment, and/or a machine, which is stored in a switching arrangement that consists of electronic components and a processor, wherein the switching arrangement is mounted on a printed circuit board inside a housing or is embedded by an insulating material. A pickup or sensor, which is electrically conductively connected with the switching arrangement, is arranged along the walls on the inside of the housing, is embedded in the walls of the housing, or is arranged inside the insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Frama AG
    Inventor: Thomas Haug
  • Patent number: 7645952
    Abstract: A mechanical switch includes a pair of conducting contacts, metal located on and between the conducting contacts, a heater, and an electro-mechanical actuator. The heater is operable to apply heat that melts the metal. The electro-mechanical actuator is capable of moving one or both of the conducting contacts in a manner that causes the metal to either start physically bridging the conducting contacts or to stop physically bridging the conducting contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian A Bolle, Brijesh Vyas
  • Patent number: 7645953
    Abstract: An electrical conductor mount is provided for an accessory including a number of electrical conductors and an actuator. The electrical conductor mount includes an accessory enclosure from which or to which the electrical conductors extend. A mounting element is disposed on the enclosure proximate the electrical conductors external to the accessory enclosure. The mounting element includes a receiving portion structured to receive the electrical conductors, and a retaining portion retains the electrical conductors within the receiving portion. The mounting element mounts the electrical conductors in a position in which they do not obstruct operation of the actuator. The mounting element may be a resilient hook including a first end disposed on the enclosure of an accessory module. The retaining portion may be a hook disposed on the second end of the resilient hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Erik R. Bogdon, Thomas A. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 7645954
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transparent conductor comprising a successive lamination of a support, a conductive particle layer containing a conductive particle and a first binder, and a conductive film layer containing a bead and a second binder; wherein a surface of the conductive film layer opposite from the conductive particle layer is rough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Noriyuki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7645955
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a metallic linkage-type keying device, which is installed to a casing, such as the casing of a camera, a mobile phone or a video camera. The metallic linkage-type keying device of the present invention comprises: a metallic linkage, having at least two joining portions; and at least one key, having at least two assembling portions. The key is installed to the metallic linkage via fixing two assembling portions to two joining portions. The metallic linkage-type keying device provided by the present invention can prevent ESD from attacking the interior of the casing via key gaps and has the advantages of compactness and low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Cheng Huang, Tzn-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 7645956
    Abstract: Membrane switches have at least one trace with two leads, such that its integrity can be tested during deployment of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Weber Precision Graphics
    Inventors: Henry G. Weber, Manuel Estrada, John Rowe, Jeffrey F. Johnson, Edward W. Duhon
  • Patent number: 7645957
    Abstract: A nozzle for a medium or high voltage gas switching device of the type having at least a couple of separable arc contacts (1, 2), comprising a hollow shaped body (100) suitable to be positioned inside the device around the zone (20) where electric arcs form between said arc contacts (1, 2) during switching operations, characterized in that said hollow shaped body (100) has a first portion (101) electrically conductive and a second portion (102) made of electrically insulating material which surrounds at least partially said first portion (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Roberto Capitanio, Carlo Cereda
  • Patent number: 7645958
    Abstract: In order to obtain an electric-discharge-machining power supply apparatus that can flow discharge current pulses through the machining gap uniformly and efficiently, and can realize reduction of the amount of electrode wear in machining in the alternate current pulse system, in an electric-discharge-machining power supply apparatus (2) for applying electric-discharge-machining pulse voltage to a machining gap between a machining electrode (8) and an object (9) to be machined, wherein a circuit (22) composed of a parallel connection of a rectifying element (24) and a resistive element (23) is inserted in series along a wiring path extending from an electric-discharge pulse generating unit (6) to the machining gap, and the rectifying element (23) is so connected as to cause machining pulse currents to flow in an intended direction during the electric discharge generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyohito Oda, Satoshi Suzuki, Kazushi Nakamura, Akihiro Goto
  • Patent number: 7645959
    Abstract: Nozzles for plasma torches are essentially formed from a metal or a metal alloy. To increase the life of such nozzles wear-resistant microparticles of a hard material, preferably a hard ceramic material, are embedded in the metal or the metal alloy, at least in certain regions. The nozzles can be advantageously manufactured by extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Kjellberg Finsterwalde Plasma und Maschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Krink, Frank Laurisch, Gerd Lotze, Thomas Weissgaerber, Kerstin Kuemmel, Wolfram Moehler
  • Patent number: 7645960
    Abstract: A welder for performing a welding process which includes a wire feeder and a code reader. The code reader is designed to obtain information from the welding wire based on a plurality of different cross-sectional sizes and/or different cross-sectional shapes on the outer surface of the welding wire. The information from the code reader is used to monitor at least one welding parameter of an electric arc welding process and/or to control at least one welding parameter of an electric arc welding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Elliott K. Stava
  • Patent number: 7645961
    Abstract: The unit comprises: a casing (1) with a protected interior, a window (2) closed by a transparent element (3) and support means (4) to carry an optical system (5) facing said window (2); image detection means (6) accommodated in said casing (1), facing said optical system (5), an associated with connection means with the exterior for the supply and/or bidirectional signal exchange; and heating means to provide thermal energy to said transparent element (3), or to an adjacent zone thereto, aiming at avoiding lacking transparency problems, due to ambient and climatic factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Fico Mirrors, SA
    Inventor: Francesc Xavier Hernando Fernandez
  • Patent number: 7645962
    Abstract: This invention relates to a portable grounding mat, and more particularly to a mat specifically designed to protect electrical workers by providing a zone of equi-potential. The mat has a flexible base to which is attached at least one conductive element laid out in a grid pattern. A novel terminal that electrically connects the mat to a power source has an inner core to provide an electrical load path and an outer casing to provide a mechanical load path, resulting in a superior mat design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventors: Dean Loy Krossa, Theodore David Krossa
  • Patent number: 7645963
    Abstract: A heating element includes an electrically insulating layer and an electrically conductive layer. At least the electrically conductive layer is based on a hybrid sol-gel precursor including an organosilane compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Johannes Werkman, Gerard Cnossen, Marcel Rene Boehmer, Poh Loo Lee, Gim Hong Tan
  • Patent number: 7645964
    Abstract: A high frequency heat treatment method for a fine bottom-closed hole includes preparing a coil so as to be completely inserted into the fine bottom-closed hole, preparing a core for controlling a magnetic flux within the coil such that the core protrudes from upper and lower sides of the coil, heat-treating a target part of the fine bottom-closed hole under conditions of a heating time of 2˜3 seconds, an output power of 200˜300 kW, a quenching time of 3˜5 seconds, a positive electrode voltage of 4 ˜8 kV, and a positive electrode current of 2.0˜4.5 A, and quenching the heat-treated part of the fine bottom-closed hole with cooling nozzles fixed around the heat-treated part such that a sufficient amount of cooling water is injected uniformly over the whole heated part with a sufficient pressure via the cooling nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Korea Sintered Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Kwan Park, Young Su Jeon
  • Patent number: 7645965
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microwave oven having a coffee maker with a structure wherein a user can easily clean a filter basket (420), the microwave oven includes a first housing (100) having a cooking chamber (110) being opened or closed by a door (130) and a component chamber (120) having components for irradiating microwave into the cooking chamber (110), a second housing (200) provided in the first housing (100) and having an open side, a water reservoir (300) provided in the second housing (200), a filter basket assembly (400) provided to be withdrawn from or inserted into the second housing (200) and separated from the water reservoir (300), a water supplying tube supplying water in the water reservoir (300) to the filter basket assembly (400), a heater for heating water flowing in the water supplying tube and a container (700) provided to be withdrawn from or inserted into the second housing (200) for receiving coffee dropped from the filter basket assembly (400).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Man Su Park
  • Patent number: 7645966
    Abstract: An attachment structure of a storage unit having: a tank casing body; a tank casing door member, and a lock portion; and an operation member, and a push button, wherein: an outer circumference of a storage unit is surrounded with an opening portion of an exterior panel; the push button is protruded from an outer surface of the exterior panel in a mount position of the exterior panel when the exterior panel is in assembling work; and a space for inserting a circumferential edge of the opening portion of the exterior panel is formed on the back of the push button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Hayakawa, Kouji Kanzaki, Toshifumi Kamiya, Takashi Sugimoto, Yasuhiko Inoue, Yukikazu Niizuma
  • Patent number: 7645967
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microwave oven. The microwave oven of the present invention comprises a cavity assembly which defines a cooking chamber therein and functions as a framework of the microwave oven, an outer casing which includes a top portion and side portions formed at both ends of the top portion to enclose the cavity assembly and interior parts and is provided with convexo-concave reinforcements at the top portion and at least one side portion, a door of which one side is connected to the cavity assembly to be a pivot center and which selectively causes the cooking chamber to be open and close, and a back plate which defines a rear face of the cavity assembly and is provided with a convexo-concave reinforcement formed along at least one edge portion thereof. According to the present invention constructed as such, there is an advantage in that external rigidity of the microwave oven is increased, whereby deformation of the microwave oven due to an impact or operating force can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong-yeon Kim, Dong-yool Lee, Boo-youn Lee, Sang-hu Park, Soo-kil Park, Woon-jin Kim, Hyung-do Kim, Sang-dong Park, Gyu-ho Oh
  • Patent number: 7645968
    Abstract: A method is provided for securing a fluid meter to a fluid collection bag. The method includes the steps of providing a meter ha6 ving a housing defining a fluid receptacle and at least one drain opening, providing a collection bag defining a fluid reservoir and having at least one inlet opening and securing the meter to the bag using an RF welding device to allow fluid communication between the fluid receptacle and the fluid reservoir. In one embodiment, the housing includes a raised surface positioned about the at least one drain opening to which the collection bag is welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Lawrence Salvadori, Dennis Schreuer
  • Patent number: 7645969
    Abstract: A method, device, and projectile having a device for guiding or piloting projectiles or missiles (self-propelled or non-self-propelled), to deflect, in a direction Y, a hypervelocity projectile operating in a gas, such as a shell, a bullet, or a missile, having a nose, generally in the shape of a cone, with a more or less pointed tip, by generating a first high-voltage discharge able to produce a plasma over a first limited sector of the projectile surface and in direction Y, maintaining the plasma, and generating another low-voltage discharge able to supply the plasma with energy over a second limited sector of the projectile surface and in direction Y, the first and the second sectors being different and may overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Franco-Allemand de Recherches de Saint-Louis
    Inventors: Patrick Gnemmi, Christian Rey
  • Patent number: 7645970
    Abstract: A flight control system is provided with one or more modal sensors that are each configured to measure the rate and possibly acceleration for a flexible body mode of the flight vehicle. The modal sensor's rate and suitably acceleration are subtracted from the rate and acceleration measured by the IMU such that the values provided to the flight controller more closely represent only the rate and acceleration of the flight vehicle's rigid airframe component. A piezoelectric modal sensor is capable of sensing a particular flexible body mode over variations in the modal frequency without inducing additional phase loss in the control loop in order to maintain suitable phase and gain margins. Sensors are suitably provided for at least and possibly only the 1st lateral bending modes in the pitch and yaw channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert Adams, William Schwind
  • Patent number: 7645971
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus comprises a time delay integration sensor for obtaining first image information from a target and a scan device for causing relative motion between the time delay integration sensor and the target. The image scanning apparatus is characterized by detector array for obtaining second image information from a target, wherein the first image information corresponds to a first portion of light received from the target and the second image information corresponds to a second portion of light received from the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: FFEI Limited
    Inventor: Martin Philip Gouch
  • Patent number: 7645972
    Abstract: An apparatus rapidly reads out wavefront errors of an input wavefront and includes a holographic optical element (HOE), a position readout detector and a readout device. The HOE receives the input wavefront and includes a hologram of a particular wavefront recorded with reference waves, each defining a particular aberration coefficient. The position readout detector includes a plurality of position sensing devices (PSDs) receiving an optical output of the HOE, each PSD sensing the occurrence and magnitude in the input wavefront of any of the particular aberrations defined by the reference waves recorded to the holographic optical element with the particular wavefront. The readout device provides a readout value of each PSD upon application of the input wavefront to the holograph optical element, each readout value representing in the input wavefront the presence and magnitude of any of the particular aberrations defined by the reference waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Stevens, Allen C. Layton
  • Patent number: 7645973
    Abstract: A solar-tracking power generating apparatus includes a plurality of sensing units having a directional light-extraction member each, a plurality of solar batteries associated with a light-gathering device each, and a solar trajectory simulation unit. Therefore, the solar-tracking power generating apparatus enables more accurate tracking of solar position and focusing of more sunlight on the solar batteries, so that the solar batteries could absorb more sunlight and convert the same into an increased amount of electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventors: Chien-Feng Lin, Chuan-Yi Lin, Cheng-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 7645974
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a method and distance measurement apparatus for measuring a distance to an object, which can include a light source, a solid state camera, a controller and a distance data generator. The light source can be configured to emit a modulated light towards an object, and the solid state camera can convert the light reflected from the object into charges. The distance data generator can be configured to calculate the distance based on the charges, and the controller can be configured to adjust the modulated light to be more favorable under various circumstances. Thus, the method of the disclosed subject matter can accurately measure distance under various circumstances and can result in providing a distance measurement apparatus with a simple configuration and at low cost, and can be used as a sensor for distance measurement of an obstacle and the like in a vehicle, security system, robot, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohei Ikeno, Tadashi Kawata, Fumio Kubo
  • Patent number: 7645975
    Abstract: A spatial information detecting device for accurately detecting information of a target space is provided. This device has photoelectric converters for receiving a reflection light from the space, in which a flashing light is being irradiated, a charge storage portion formed in each of the photoelectric converters by applying a control voltage to electrodes on each of the photoelectric converters, a controller for controlling the number of electrodes, to which the control voltage is applied, such that an area of the charge storage portion changes based on a flash cycle of the flashing light, and an amplitude-image generator for generating an amplitude image having pixel values, each of which is provided by a difference between electric charges collected in a lighting period of the flashing light by a charge storage portion and the electric charges collected in a non-lighting period of the flashing light by another charge storage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kawahara, Motoo Ikari, Kenichi Hagio, Eiji Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 7645976
    Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus includes plural pixels each provided with a switching element disposed on an insulating substrate and a conversion element disposed on the switching element, and plural signal wirings arranged in one direction and connected with the plural switching elements, wherein the conversion elements have electrodes separated respectively for the pixels, the switching element is connected with the electrode for each pixel, and both ends of the signal wiring, opposed to each other in a width direction, and both ends of the control wiring, opposed to each other in a width direction are disposed inside of an area of the electrode when seen from above the conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Watanabe, Chiori Mochizuki, Takamasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 7645977
    Abstract: An insulated glazing unit has controllable radiation transmittance. Peripheries of first and second glazing panes are attached and spaced apart facing each other and then attached to a supporting structure. A conductive layer is atop the first glazing pane inner surface as a fixed position electrode. A dielectric is atop the conductive layer. A coiled spiral roll, variable position electrode is between the first and second glazing panes, a width of its outer edge attached to the dielectric. A first electrical lead is connected to the variable position electrode's conductive layer. A second electrical lead is connected to the conductive layer atop the first glazing pane. Applied voltage between the first and second electrical leads creates a predetermined potential difference between the electrodes, and the variable position electrode unwinds and rolls out to at least partially cover the first glazing pane, at least reducing the intensity of passing radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: New Visual Media Group, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Elliott Schlam, Mark S. Slater
  • Patent number: 7645978
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus and an image sensing method of the invention are configured in such a manner that an image sensor having two or more different photoelectric conversion characteristics is used, a gain of image signals having the respective photoelectric conversion characteristics acquired by the image sensor is calculated based on the image signals having the respective photoelectric conversion characteristics, and gain control is performed with respect to each of the photoelectric conversion characteristics, using the calculated gain. This arrangement enables to control the imaging sensitivity without changing the dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Koichi Kamon
  • Patent number: 7645979
    Abstract: Apparatus for buffering of a web feed system using feedback based on the amount, or extent, of loop of the web within a buffering module. The extent of the loop is measured optically. An opaque extensor is inserted within the loop to mark the extent of the loop so as to enable the optical sensor to work accurately even if the web is transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ziv Rozenblum, Erez Segal, Haim Belinkov
  • Patent number: 7645980
    Abstract: A photoelectric switch is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the photoelectric switch includes at least one light source, a reflective surface provided in light-receiving relationship with respect to the at least one light source, a release button engaging the reflective surface and positional between first and second positions, a photocell provided in light-receiving relationship with respect to the reflective surface when the release button is disposed in the first position, a latch control circuit connected to the photocell and a latch connected to the latch control circuit. The light path incorporates a collimator to restrict operation of the system to the relationship of the light source and the retroreflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William C. Sanford, Henry V. Fletcher, Trevor M. Laib
  • Patent number: 7645981
    Abstract: An image pickup device mounting structure includes an image pickup device, a reinforcing plate, and a flexible circuit board having at least one electrical component mounted thereon, wherein the reinforcing plate; the image pickup device and a part of the flexible circuit board are superimposed on each other, the reinforcing plate includes at least one cutout portion; and the electrical component is positioned on the part of the flexible circuit board and within the cutout portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tanaka, Kunihiko Shimizu, Makio Oishi
  • Patent number: 7645982
    Abstract: A system and method for calibrating laser designator and rangefinder test sets. The system includes a high speed detector module which receives a laser input signal, and outputs a laser output signal and an electrical pulse shaped output. A variable attenuator module receives the laser output signal and includes a rotating waveplate which rotates a polarization of the received laser output signal and a Glan laser polarizing beam splitter which receives the rotated laser output signal. The polarizing beam splitter passes only vertically polarized portions of the rotated laser output signal. An energy detector module receives the vertically polarized portions of the rotated laser output signal and includes a beam splitter which splits the vertically polarized portions of the rotated laser output signal into a first path pulse and a second path pulse. The second path pulse and the electrical pulse shaped output are used to calibrate a laser designator/rangefinder test set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Daniel Wayne King
  • Patent number: 7645983
    Abstract: An ion source includes a body having a gas passage and an orifice. A capillary is inserted into the gas passage so that a tip portion of the capillary extends into the orifice. A gas supplier supplies a gas into the gas passage to form a gas flow through the gas passage along the capillary and through the orifice past a tip of the capillary so that the gas flow sprays a sample solution flowing through the capillary from the tip of the capillary. A flow controller regulates a pressure of the gas in the gas passage to adjust a characteristic value F/S to a predetermined value, where F is a flow rate of the gas flow at standard conditions (20° C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a difference between a cross section of the orifice and a cross section of the tip portion of the capillary in the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsumu Hirabayashi, Minoru Sakairi, Yasuaki Takada, Hideaki Koizumi, Kaoru Umemura
  • Patent number: 7645984
    Abstract: Chromatograms and mass spectra produced by an LC/MS system are analyzed by creating a two-dimensional data matrix of the spectral and chromatographic data. The two-dimensional matrix can be created by placing the spectra generated by the mass spectrometer portion of the LC/MS system in successive columns of the data matrix. In this way, the rows of the data matrix correspond to chromatographic data and the columns of the data matrix correspond to the spectra. A two-dimensional filter is specified and applied to the data matrix to enhance the ability of the system to detect peaks associated with ions. The two-dimensional filter is specified according to desired criteria. Rank-1 and rank-2 filters can be specified to improve computational efficiency. One method of applying the two-dimensional filter is through convolution of the data matrix with the two-dimensional filter to produce an output data matrix. Peaks corresponding to detected ions are identified in the output data matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Marc V. Gorenstein, Robert S. Plumb, Chris L. Stumpf
  • Patent number: 7645985
    Abstract: The disclosed device is directed toward an apparatus for the separation of ions. The apparatus for the separation of ions comprises a vessel including an inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet. A magnetic field is applied substantially orthogonal to the flow of the fluid. The magnetic field applies a force that separates the oppositely charged ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: 6X7 Visioneering, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Brokaw, Thomas E. Brokaw, Crystal D. Brokaw
  • Patent number: 7645986
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a mass spectrometer that uses a time-of-flight mass spectrometer for performing mass spectrometry on the basis of the difference in flight time based on mass of desired ions, and that is suitable for improving the sensitivity and analysis precision of the mass spectrometer. A gate electrode is located at a stage before an acceleration region that is located before an emitter for emitting ions. This gate electrode is capable of applying the voltage that is set on a mass-number region basis, and is also capable of separating desired ions to be measured on the basis of the mass number by switching the gate electrode at high speed. Therefore, it is possible to improve the resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromichi Kikuma, Hidenori Nanba, Akimasa Osaka
  • Patent number: 7645987
    Abstract: A method for producing gas phase molecules includes providing a sample of molecules, the sample being characterized by a charge distribution, and directing acoustic radiation at the sample of molecules to desorb at least some of the molecules from the sample such that the desorbed molecules have a charge distribution that is substantially the same as the charge distribution of the sample of molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Academia Sinica
    Inventors: Huan-Cheng Chang, Chung-Hsuan Chen
  • Patent number: 7645988
    Abstract: A substrate inspection method includes: generating an electron beam and irradiating the electron beam as a primary electron beam to a substrate as a specimen; inducing at least any of a secondary electron, a reflected electron and a backscattering electron which are emitted from the substrate receiving the primary electron beam, and magnifying and projecting the induced electron as a secondary electron beam so as to form an image of the secondary electron beam; a trajectory of the primary electron beam and a trajectory of the secondary electron beam having an overlapping space and space charge effect of the secondary electron beam occurring in the overlapping space, detecting the image of the secondary electron beam to output a signal representing a state of the substrate; and suppressing aberration caused by the space charge effect in the overlapping space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ichirota Nagahama, Yuichiro Yamazaki, Atsushi Onishi
  • Patent number: 7645989
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing an object with miniaturized structures. The method involves processing the object by supplying reaction gas during concurrent directing an electron beam onto a location to be processed, to deposit material or ablate material; and inspecting the object by scanning the surface of the object with an electron beam and leading generated backscattered electrons and secondary electrons to an energy selector, reflecting the secondary electrons from the energy selector, detecting the backscattered electrons passing the energy selector and generating an electron microscopic image of the scanned region in dependence on the detected backscattered electrons; and examining the generated electron microscopic image and deciding whether further depositing or ablating of material should be carried out. The disclosure also relates to an electron microscope and a processing system which are adapted for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss NTS GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Bihr, Friedhelm Panteleit, Tobias Clauss, Michael Budach
  • Patent number: 7645990
    Abstract: Thermal-type infrared imaging device comprises an infrared ray detection unit in which pixels, each of which includes a bolometer, are arranged two-dimensionally; and a signal processing unit that sequentially reads signal of each bolometer in synchronization with switching operation of a horizontal shift register and a vertical shift register, integrates the read signal using an integration circuit, and outputs the integrated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventors: Kouji Takemura, Kazuyuki Egashira, Yutaka Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7645991
    Abstract: An IR spectroscopic method of determining the presence or absence of metallic material embedded in polymer material including irradiating a surface of said polymer material and collecting at least one spectrum of reflected infrared energy from said surface of said over a spectrum of wavelengths including the near-infrared wherein said metallic material is at least partially absent in a affected condition; performing a multivariate comparison of said at least one spectrum with at least one reference spectrum to determine a change in reflectance of said at least one spectrum with respect to at least one reference spectrum wherein said metallic material is present in an unaffected condition; and, correlating the amount of said change in reflectance with the presence or absence of said metallic material embedded in said polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul H. Shelley, Gregory J. Werner
  • Patent number: 7645992
    Abstract: A method and device are revealed to non-invasively identify hidden foreign objects in proximity of living tissue. More specifically to a method and device find a foreign object hidden under the clothes of a person by measuring an anomaly in an infrared radiation signal emitted by the human subject; the anomaly caused by the presence of the foreign object. A spectral scan at the identified location is used to identify the object. Even when the object is hidden behind clothes, the object is positively identified based on the interaction of optical radiation naturally emitted by the human body in the infrared frequency spectrum with every component of the examined object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Passive Medical Systems Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaakov Lyubchik, Yafim Smoliak, Nathan Blaunshtein