Patents Issued in April 8, 2014
  • Patent number: 8692146
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a cover unit, a touchpad unit and a contact member. The cover unit has a window through which an operation section is exposed and the window has an inwardly inclined peripheral surface as an inclined portion. The touchpad unit is arranged substantially in the window. The contact member is secured on the touchpad unit and is exposed through the window. The contact member has a joining part for the cover unit. The joining part of the contact member forms a contiguous inclined surface together with the inclined portion of the cover unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Daisuke Mihara, Motoki Yasuda, Kaigo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8692147
    Abstract: An illuminated keyboard includes plural keys, a base plate, an illumination module, plural light guide tubes, and at least one optical coupling element. The illumination module is used for emitting plural light beams. The plural light guide tubes are arranged between the plural keys and the base plate for guiding the light beams to the plural keys. The optical coupling element is arranged between the illumination module and the plural light guide tubes for guiding the light beams to the plural light guide tubes. In such way, the illuminated keyboard can be illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8692148
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a container sorting system capable of increased sorting efficiency. The present invention discloses a device in which the distance is shortened between detection and ejection of containers being sorted by reflective infrared radiation, transmission infrared radiation, or both. The present invention also includes a method of operating such device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: National Recovery Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Sommer, Jr., R. Lynn Conley, Robert H. Parrish
  • Patent number: 8692149
    Abstract: A switchgear assembly includes a vacuum interrupt chamber and a short-circuiting system arranged in the vacuum interrupt chamber. To enable rapid switching with physically simple means, a vacuum area of the vacuum interrupt chamber in which a fixed contact piece is placed is subdivided via a membrane, which is provided with a breaking line and which can be penetrated by a moving piston system to the contact piece during switching. The switchgear assembly can be utilized in a low-voltage, medium-voltage or high-voltage assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Dietmar Gentsch
  • Patent number: 8692150
    Abstract: A plasma spray gun comprises a nozzle, an upstream powder injector, and a downstream powder injector. The upstream powder injector is disposed outside the nozzle and axially adjacent a nozzle outlet. The downstream powder injector is disposed axially downstream of the first upstream powder injector. The downstream powder injector is operative in a first coating mode, and the upstream powder injector is operative in a second coating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher W. Strock, Robert D. Richard, Steven Lemay
  • Patent number: 8692151
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for targeting a beam of radiation is provided. A beam steering mirror and a beam capture mirror are movably disposed along an optical pathway. A controller moves the beam steering mirror and the beam capture mirror in an x-y plane, and rotates the mirrors, to target the beam to a target location on a surface, while keeping the optical path length substantially constant for all target locations on the surface. The surface is rotated by a rotational actuator to bring all target locations to positions accessible by the beam targeting optics. Imprecision in targeting and optical path length may be compensated by providing an actuated aperture at the beam entry point and/or a variable focus lens with an optical range finding detector, all in communication with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid M. Tertitski, Krishna Kumar Kuttannair, Aaron Muir Hunter, Stephen Moffatt
  • Patent number: 8692152
    Abstract: A laser lap welding method, for a galvanized steel sheet, includes preparing two steel sheets in lap configuration, at least one of which is the galvanized steel sheet, so that a galvanized layer thereof is located at an interface of the steel sheets; and irradiating a surface of any one of the two steel sheets in an overlapped region with a laser to perform lap welding. The welding is performed by applying the laser to travel at a predetermined power density and at a predetermined traveling velocity so as to partially and temporarily form an elongated hole in a molten pool extending backward from a laser irradiation spot at least in the steel sheet on the surface side, whereby metal vapor produced by laser irradiation is vented through the elongated hole backward in a laser traveling direction and in a laser irradiation source side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Katayama, Yosuke Kawahito
  • Patent number: 8692153
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a photoelectric-conversion-device capable of controlling the groove depth of a processed groove to a desired value. The method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device (10) includes a groove forming step of irradiating an intermediate-contact-layer separating groove (15) constituting a photoelectric conversion device (10) with a picosecond laser and of moving the picosecond laser relative to the intermediate-contact-layer separating groove (93), thereby forming a processed groove (15) in a predetermined scanning direction. In the groove forming step, interference fringes arranged in parallel in one direction are formed in an irradiated area corresponding to a beam diameter of the picosecond laser, and the picosecond laser is relatively moved such that the interference fringes are joined in the scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Kawazoe, Kazutaka Uda, Tomoyoshi Baba, Takashi Ishide, Sachiko Nakao
  • Patent number: 8692154
    Abstract: An electronic component lead manufacturing method includes irradiating a first laser beam to a second layer with a solder wettability higher than a first layer, the second layer being laminated on the outside of the first layer of the lead used by the electronic component, and exposing the first layer from the second layer based on the irradiating of the first laser beam, and forming a projecting part near a region irradiated by a second laser beam by irradiating the second laser beam to the exposed first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tamura, Fumihiko Tokura, Michinao Nomura
  • Patent number: 8692155
    Abstract: A method and device for processing materials with laser pulses having a large spectral bandwidth and a device for carrying out said method. The aim of the invention is to create an easy, flexible method enabling universally applicable processing which can, however, be adapted to specific processing and methodological requirements. According to the invention, one or several spectral parameters of the laser pulses, i.e. the spectral amplitude and/or spectral phase and/or spectral polarization thereof, is/are specifically modified, preferably according to a measuring process variable, in order to process material or during the occurrence of said processing. The invention is used in order to process material with laser pulses having a large spectral bandwidth, particularly femto-second pulses and pico-second pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Mark Bischoff, Martin Hacker, Roland Sauerbrey, Gregor Stobrawa, Wolfgang Ziegler
  • Patent number: 8692156
    Abstract: A robot cell comprises a support having a top surface within a plane and configured to rotate about a central axis substantially normal to the plane and a plurality of welding tables including a first welding table and a second welding table. The first welding table is operably connected to the support and configured to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to the plane and about a second axis substantially normal to the plane. The first welding table is configured such that the second axis remains substantially normal to the plane while the first welding table rotates about the first axis. The second welding table is operably connected to the support and configured to rotate about a third axis substantially parallel to the plane and about a fourth axis substantially normal to the plane. The second welding table is configured such that the fourth axis remains substantially' normal to the plane while the second welding table rotates about the third axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Osicki
  • Patent number: 8692157
    Abstract: Welding systems and sequence controllers therefor are presented for controlling components of a welding system during a welding operation. The sequence controller receives system inputs and provides control outputs to the system components, and includes a processing component, an executable sequence control program, and a state table file. The sequence control state table file includes a number of entries corresponding to welding operation states, where the individual entries comprise one or more instruction identifiers, instruction parameters, exit condition identifiers and corresponding next state identifiers. The sequence control program is executed according to the sequence controller inputs and according to the state table file to provide the sequence controller outputs, where the state table file can be easily modified or new state table files can be created and downloaded to the sequence controller to facilitate easy reconfiguration of a welding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Allen Daniel, Steven R. Peters
  • Patent number: 8692158
    Abstract: Portable weld cooling systems include a plurality of weld cooling instruments operable to combine to provide cool air to a weld area created by a weld fusion machine, and a portable cabinet comprising a transportation section and a storage section, the transportation section operable to facilitate the movement of the portable cabinet and the storage section being configured to store the plurality of weld cooling instruments when the portable cabinet is moved, wherein one or more of the plurality of weld cooling instruments may be removed from the storage section when combined to provide cool air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fast Fusion, LLC
    Inventor: Richard S. McKinley
  • Patent number: 8692159
    Abstract: A self-shielding welding electrode and a method of making the same are provided. The self-shielding welding electrode contains lithium aluminate in either the flux or the electrode portion of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Keegan
  • Patent number: 8692160
    Abstract: A heated counter for service of hot food has one or more hotplates, a light source illuminating each hotplate and a number of light sensors below each hotplate. When a sensor is obscured by a dish of food, power is supplied to that hotplate, and when no sensor is obscured, that hotplate is kept in stand-by mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Holmes Catering Group Limited
    Inventor: Martin Brown
  • Patent number: 8692161
    Abstract: An infrared firing furnace includes a case-integrated cooling system to provide high performance cooling as the first step in the cooling process. The cooling system includes a cooling manifold integrated into, and made from, the same case material as the adjacent firing zone. As the cooling system is made from the same material as the rest of the case, it can handle being exposed to higher temperatures. The cooling system is positioned such that the plane of its outlet is at a specific clearance level relative to the product passing underneath. High pressure cooling jets of air are directed downward toward the products as they pass under the cooling manifold in order to quickly bring the temperature of the products down from the much higher firing temperature, and minimize the dwell time of the product at the higher temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: BTU International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R Doherty, Derek J Butland
  • Patent number: 8692162
    Abstract: A method of controlling a cooking appliance is disclosed which includes receiving an input corresponding to a staged cooking function, retrieving a preselected parameter set from a data library, the preselected parameter set defining the staged cooking function and including a first heating element behavior parameter and a first temperature parameter, selecting a first heating element behavior from a control library based upon the first heating element behavior parameter, and operating one or more heating elements according to the first heating element behavior and the first temperature parameter. An oven and a tangible, machine-readable medium are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Wallace J. Elston, Anthony E. Jenkins, Patrick J. Marciniak
  • Patent number: 8692163
    Abstract: An electrical sleeve heater for heating an elongated part has a metallic and tubular casing extending coaxially along an axis with the part and surrounding the part. The casing has a front end is with a radially inwardly open cutout. A electrical heating element set in the casing is energizeable to heat the casing and the part surrounded by the casing. A thermocouple has a sensing tip in the cutout. A retaining body of at most low thermal conductivity is fitted in the cutout, holds the tip out of contact with the metallic casing, and urges the tip radially inward into direct engagement with an outer surface of the part. The retaining body is a molded part, a plate, or a spring of a material with low or negligible thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hotset Heizpatronen und Zubehoer GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Vogt, Bernward Seeberg
  • Patent number: 8692164
    Abstract: A cooking appliance for producing flatbreads or other foodstuffs is provided. The cooking appliance includes a base, lower heating assembly, and an upper heating assembly. The lower heating assembly includes a lower cooking surface, and the upper heating assembly includes an upper cooking surface. The upper cooking surface is translatable and rotatable relative to the lower cooking surface. The upper cooking surface is locatable in at least three operative positions relative to the lower cooking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Soul of India, LLC
    Inventor: Arvind G. Krishnan
  • Patent number: 8692165
    Abstract: A beverage apparatus is provided for heating a liquid and is operable either by foreign or domestic voltages. The apparatus may have a heating element that couples directly to the voltage source, regardless of whether the voltage source is foreign or domestic. The apparatus also may have a power supply that couples directly to the voltage source, regardless of whether the voltage source is foreign or domestic. The power supply outputs a DC voltage that may be coupled to various other components of the apparatus either directly or after subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventors: Victor D. Geockner, Kevin G. Lowe
  • Patent number: 8692166
    Abstract: A device for heating a substrate with light from a flash lamp having a semiconductor switch connected in series to the flash lamp. After triggering of a trigger electrode of the flash lamp, a first drive signal and a second drive signal are output from a gate circuit. The time period when the semiconductor switch is on due to the second drive signal is longer than the time period that the semiconductor switch is on by the first drive signal. Then, the semiconductor switch is switched on and off by the first drive signal and the substrate temperature is increased to a temperature, which is lower than the desired temperature to be targeted, and is maintained a that temperature for a short time, after which the surface temperature of the substrate is increased to the desired target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiko Yokomori
  • Patent number: 8692167
    Abstract: A medical device having a heater with at least one heating element which has mains voltage applied to it by a heating control unit. The heating control unit includes a monitoring arrangement and a switching arrangement. The monitoring arrangement can recognize the zero crossings of the mains voltage, and the switching arrangement can switch the at least one heating element on or off in the zero crossing. The heating control unit controls the power of the heating by switching on and off of one or more half cycles of the mains AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Hedmann, Sven Sebesta, Ulrich Wernicke
  • Patent number: 8692168
    Abstract: Infrared heating panels are provided with an electrically insulative substrate that carries one or more infrared heating elements. Each heating element includes an elongated first segment attached to a first surface of the substrate and an elongated second segment electrically connected in series with the first segment. At least the first segment is a strip of an electrically resistive material adapted to emit infrared radiation in response to a current. The second segment is attached to the second surface of the substrate opposite from and in a parallel arrangement with the first segment such that a first current flowing through the heating element flows through the first segment in a first direction relative to the substrate and flows through the second segment in a second direction opposite the first direction. Saunas, heating systems, and methods for reducing electromagnetic emissions in an infrared sauna are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: TyloHelo Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Benda, Tracy Felder
  • Patent number: 8692169
    Abstract: An electrical apparatus includes a casing, a circuit board, a top cover and an active heat-dissipating element. The casing includes a first entrance, a first receptacle, a first sidewall, and a first bottom surface. An air inlet hole is formed in the first bottom surface. A concave region is defined at a junction between the first sidewall and the first bottom surface. An air outlet hole is formed in the concave region. The circuit board is disposed within the first receptacle and has at least one electronic component mounted thereon. The top cover shelters the first entrance. The active heat-dissipating element is disposed within the first receptacle and arranged over the air inlet hole. Ambient air is inhaled into the first receptacle by the active heat-dissipating element and exhausted out of the casing through the air outlet hole, thereby removing heat generated from the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: I-Shen Lin
  • Patent number: 8692170
    Abstract: An electromagnetic heating applicator is disclosed. The applicator includes a first strand and a second strand, each of which has an insulated portion, a bare portion, and is made up of at least one wire. The first and second strands are braided, twisted, or both braided and twisted together such that the bare portion of each strand is adjacent to the insulated portion of the other strand. A system and method for heating a geological formation are also disclosed. The system includes an applicator in a bore that extends into a formation, an extraction bore connected to a pump and positioned under the first bore, and transmitting equipment connected to the applicator. The method includes the steps of providing the components of the system, connecting the applicator to RF power transmitting equipment, applying RF power to the applicator using the transmitting equipment, and pumping hydrocarbons out of the extraction bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Francis Eugene Parsche
  • Patent number: 8692171
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle including a controller operating in a search mode of operation where a receiver of an acquisition sensor searches for a target and causes flight control surfaces to guide the vehicle in a downward spiral path, a terminal mode of operation where the acquisition sensor detects a target and causes flight control surfaces to direct the vehicle toward the target, and an activation mode of operation where a trigger sensor detects a target within a predetermined distance to the vehicle and the controller activates a responder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gerald F Miller, James Stewart
  • Patent number: 8692172
    Abstract: A shield for use with a detector includes a first opening adjacent the detector, a second opening opposite the first opening along an optical axis intersecting the detector, and a field of view defined by the detector and the second opening. A shield body includes alternating curved profile regions and linear profile regions coaxially aligned along the optical axis. The curved profile regions have respective curved interior surfaces concave facing toward the second opening, and the linear profile regions have respective interior surfaces facing toward the first opening. In this way, specular reflections associated with stray light may be greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Preston, Aron Traylor, David G. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 8692173
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for solar tracking. The solar tracking sensor array and method so disclosed can be used with any device that requires a specific orientation to the sun for optimal operation. The system relies upon a sun tracking mechanism which includes a plurality of phototransistors configured in a particular manner. The apparatus can further be used with an analog sensor circuit which is also disclosed herein. Although the device and method are disclosed in conjunction with a solar tracking device, which includes the analog sensor circuit, a drive assembly, and a power source, these components may be used independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Karim Altaii, Benjamin Thomas
  • Patent number: 8692174
    Abstract: An insolation sensor is disclosed and is used to determine a solar light intensity as a basis for evaluating electric power generated by solar modules exposed to the solar light intensity. The insolation sensor includes an outer surface including a light entrance window, and at least one photo sensor configured to measure the solar light intensity. The at least one photo sensor is arranged behind the light entrance window. The insolation sensor further includes a detector device configured to detect precipitation and/or a resulting deposit on the surface which both affects the insolation sensor and the solar modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventor: Bjoern Magnussen
  • Patent number: 8692175
    Abstract: A image sensor includes active pixels for gathering images at very high and very low luminance level. Each pixel includes at least one photodiode, a charge storage node, an electron multiplication amplification structure, a unit for transferring electrons from the photodiode to the structure, a unit for transferring electrons from the amplification structure to the storage node after multiplication, a transistor for reinitializing the potential of the storage node. The pixels are read by a reading circuit which samples the potential of the charge storage node after reinitialization and after transfer of the electrons into the storage node and which provides a corresponding illumination measurement. The sensor furthermore includes a unit for carrying out the integration of charge in two different durations in the course of one and the same frame, and for giving the amplification structure multiplication factors different to the charge integrated in the course of these durations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: E2V Semiconductors
    Inventors: Pierre Fereyre, Frederic Mayer
  • Patent number: 8692176
    Abstract: A digital focal plane array includes an all-digital readout integrated circuit in combination with a detector array. The readout circuit includes unit cell electronics, orthogonal transfer structures, and data handling structures. The unit cell electronics include an analog to digital converter. Orthogonal transfer structures enable the orthogonal transfer of data among the unit cells. Data handling structures may be configured to operate the digital focal plane array as a data encryptor/decipherer. Data encrypted and deciphered by the digital focal plane array need not be image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Kelly, Brian Tyrrell, Curtis Colonero, Robert Berger, Kenneth Schultz, James Wey, Daniel Mooney, Lawrence Candell
  • Patent number: 8692177
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes an imager including pixels arranged in a matrix, and analog to digital (AD) converters, each of which is provided in each pixel column and converts a signal voltage read from one of the pixels located in the column to a digital value. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator and a counter section including a counter circuit, which receives a comparison result of the comparator and includes a first D flip-flop (DFF) for n-bits, and a transfer circuit, which includes a second DFF for n-bits holding and outputting a count value of the counter circuit. The second DFFs provided in the columns are coupled in series to form a transfer section transferring the signal voltage which has been digitally converted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigetaka Kasuga, Motonori Ishii, Sanzo Ugawa, Yusuke Okada
  • Patent number: 8692178
    Abstract: A photosensitive control system includes a light source device configured to provide a directional light beam and a photosensitive device which includes at least one pre-arranged photosensitive unit. Also, the photosensitive control system has a light guide device configured between the light source device and the photosensitive device for guiding the light beam to the at least one photosensitive unit and therefore the photosensitive device produces a sensing signal. In addition, the photosensitive control system includes a controller configured to receive the sensing signal and provide control data in accordance with the sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jian-Chiun Liou, Chun-Jung Chen
  • Patent number: 8692179
    Abstract: The invention discloses an optical communication system using grounded coplanar waveguide, comprising a current buffer and a transimpedance amplifier (TIA). Transmission lines of the optical communication system have grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW) structures. The current buffer receives a current signal from a signal source, and outputs the current signal after reducing capacitance effects of the signal source. The TIA converts the current signal to a voltage signal, wherein a first end of the TIA receives the current signal, a second end of the TIAn outputs the voltage signal, and a shunt-shunt feedback circuit is coupled between the first end and the second end. Therefore, the present invention can minimize the circuit area and lower the power consumption as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Wei-Han Cho, Chia-Hou Tu, Shawn S. H. Hsu
  • Patent number: 8692180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a readout circuit for a touch sensor which can increase touch sensing sensitivity regardless of a process variation and a driving voltage of the touch sensor. The readout circuit includes a comparative circuit for setting an input range of a readout signal from the readout line as well as scaling the readout signal to be a required driving range and forwarding the readout signal scaled thus as a touch sensing signal, and an analog to digital converter for converting the touch sensing signal from the comparative circuit as a digital sensing signal and forwarding the digital sensing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Seok Oh, Min-Ho Sohn
  • Patent number: 8692181
    Abstract: A medical imaging equipment has a conveying device that can be moved at least partially in at least one direction. A position-detecting device has at least one transmitting element which detects a position of the conveying device and emits position-measuring radiation. The position-detecting device has at least one detector element. The position-detecting device has at least one semi-transparent reflector element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Patrick Gross
  • Patent number: 8692182
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus configured to detect radiation at high temperatures in a borehole penetrating the earth. The apparatus includes a scintillation material that interacts with the radiation to generate photons, at least one solid-state photodetector optically coupled to the scintillation material and configured to detect the radiation by detecting the generated photons, and at least one optical element disposed between the scintillation material and the at least one solid-state photodetector and configured to concentrate the photons generated in the scintillation material onto the at least one solid-state photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Anton Nikitin, Rocco DiFoggio, Alexandr Vinokurov, Mikhail Korjik
  • Patent number: 8692183
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property of a downhole fluid includes a carrier that is conveyable in a borehole, a test cell carried by the carrier for capturing the downhole fluid, an integrated circuit positioned inside of the test cell, and an electromagnetic energy source that emits an electromagnetic energy beam having a first bandwidth. A first filter is formed on the integrated circuit in electromagnetic energy communication with the first electromagnetic energy beam. A flow path is formed in the integrated circuit wherein the flow path contains the downhole fluid in the test cell and is in electromagnetic energy communication with a portion of the electromagnetic energy beam. An electromagnetic energy detector is in electromagnetic energy communication with a portion of the electromagnetic energy beam that has interacted with the downhole fluid for estimating the property of the downhole fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Sebastian Csutak
  • Patent number: 8692184
    Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for measuring the density of a material. According to one aspect, a material property gauge includes a nuclear density gauge for measuring the density of a material. A radiation source adapted to emit radiation into a material and a radiation detector operable to produce a signal representing the detected radiation. A first material property calculation function may calculate a value associated with the density of the material based upon the signal produced by the radiation detector. The material property gauge includes an electromagnetic moisture property gauge that determines a moisture property of the material. An electromagnetic field generator may generate an electromagnetic field where the electromagnetic field sweeps through one or more frequencies and penetrates into the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Troxler Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Ernest Troxler, Wewage Hiran Linus Dep
  • Patent number: 8692185
    Abstract: Determining a parameter associated with a formation corrected for neutrons produced. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: disposing a logging tool within a borehole, the borehole penetrates a formation; producing neutrons by a neutron source within the logging tool; detecting neutrons produced by the neutron source, the detecting by a neutron detector; creating an indication of a number of neutrons produced by the neutron source, the indication based only on neutrons detected that have not interacted with other elements before entering the neutron detector; obtaining a count rate of a gamma detector responsive to the production of neutrons by the neutron source; and determining a parameter associated with the formation based on the count rate and on the indication of the number of neutrons produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Weijun Guo, Stephen A. Zannoni, Carlos E. Haramboure, Jerome A. Truax
  • Patent number: 8692186
    Abstract: Closed containers which are filled with a consumer product are tested on leakiness by means of mass spectrometry (10) in that an impact (AN(P)) by the consumer product (P) upon the surrounding atmosphere (A(P)) of the container to be leak tested is monitored by the mass spectrometry (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Wilco AG
    Inventor: Martin Lehmann
  • Patent number: 8692187
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method for fragmenting ions in a mass spectrometer through the use of electron transfer dissociation, and for performing sequence analysis of peptides and proteins by mass spectrometry. In the case of peptides, the invention promotes fragmentation along the peptide backbone and makes it possible to deduce the amino acid sequence of the sample, including modified amino acid residues, through the use of an RF field device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Donald F. Hunt, Joshua J. Coon, John Edward Philip Syka, Jarod A. Marto
  • Patent number: 8692188
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer operating according to the iso-tach principle in which a mass filter accelerates ions to nominally equal velocities irrespective of their mass-to-charge ratios. The mass spectrometer is provided with an improved detector based on an electrostatic lens arrangement made of a concave lens followed in the beam path by a convex lens. These lenses deflect ions away from the beam axis by a distance from the beam axis that is inversely proportional to their mass-to-charge ratios. The mass-to-charge ratio of the ions can then be determined by a suitable detector array, such as a multi-channel plate placed in the beam path. This provides a compact and sensitive instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ilika Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Brian Christopher Webb
  • Patent number: 8692189
    Abstract: A system and method of mass spectrometry is provided. Ions from an ion source are stored in a first ion storage device and in a second ion storage device. Ions are ejected from the first ion storage device to a first mass analysis device during a first ejection time period, for analysis during a first analysis time period. Ions are ejected from the second ion storage device to a second mass analysis device during a second ejection time period. The ion storage devices are connected in series such that an ion transport aperture of the first ion storage device is in communication with an ion transport aperture of the second ion storage device. The first analysis time period and the second ejection time period at least partly overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander A. Makarov, Stevan R. Horning
  • Patent number: 8692190
    Abstract: A system for analyzing ions comprises: an ion source; a FAIMS cell comprising: (a) a gas inlet; (b) an outer electrode having a generally concave inner surface and comprising: (i) an ion inlet operable to receive the ions from the ion source and a carrier gas from the gas inlet; and (ii) an ion outlet; and (c) an inner electrode having a conduit therethrough and having a generally convex outer surface disposed in a spaced-apart and facing arrangement relative to the inner surface of the outer electrode defining at least one annular on separation region therebetween; and a mass analyzer for mass analyzing ions transmitted by the FAIMS cell through the ion outlet, wherein the inner electrode is moveable between a first position and a second position, the first and second positions facilitating movement of the ions through the at least one annular ion separation region and the conduit, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Belford, Jean-Jacques Dunyach, Mark E. Hardman
  • Patent number: 8692191
    Abstract: A mass spectrometer having first and second mass analyzers for selecting first and second desired ions and a controller that provides control such that those of the first desired ions which have larger masses have larger kinetic energies in the direction of the optical axis in the first mass analyzer and that those of the second desired ions which have larger masses have larger kinetic energies in the direction of the optical axis in the second mass analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventor: Junkei Kou
  • Patent number: 8692192
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to mass spectrometry. The present invention relates more particularly to methods and systems for use in mass spectrometric identification of a variety of analytes, including high molecular weight species such as proteins. One embodiment of the invention is a method for analyzing an analyte. The method includes nebulizing a suspension of the analyte in a solvent with a surface acoustic wave transducer; and performing mass spectrometry on the nebulized suspension. The surface acoustic wave transducer can be used, for example, to transfer non-volatile peptides and proteins (as well as other analyztes, such as oligonucleotides and polymers) to the gas phase at atmospheric pressure. Nebulization using surface acoustic waves can be conducted in a discontinuous or pulsed mode, similar to that used in MALDI, or in a continuous mode, as in ESI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: David R. Goodlett, Scott R. Heron, Jon Cooper
  • Patent number: 8692193
    Abstract: A method of inspecting an EUV reticle is proposed, which uses an original design layout information to align the plurality of patterns on an image, which is got by scanning the surface of an EUV reticle, such that the defect can be identified and classified according to the aligned patterns. In the scanning process, a step of conditioning surface charge is followed by a step of inspecting surface of the EUV reticle wherein the step of conditioning surface can neutralize the surface charge and the step of inspecting can obtain an image of the EUV reticle. The method of inspecting an EUV reticle also tuning a retarding electrode to attract more secondary electrons such that the greylevels of different patterns may be shown and the defect can be identified and classified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hermes Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Chiyan Kuan, Wei Fang, You-Jin Wang
  • Patent number: 8692194
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electron microscope device, comprising a scanning electron microscope 2 and an optical microscope 3, wherein the scanning electron microscope has scanning means 10 for scanning an electron beam and an electron detector 12 for detecting electron 11 issued from a specimen 8 scanned over by the electron beam, and the scanning electron microscope acquires a scanning electron image based on a detection result from the electron detector, the optical microscope has a light emitting source 13 for illuminating an illumination light, and the optical microscope illuminates the illumination light to the specimen, and acquires an optical image by receiving a reflection light from the specimen, and wherein the electron detector has a fluorescent substance layer for electron-light conversion, a wavelength filter for restricting so that all or almost all of wavelength ranges of the fluorescent light from the fluorescent substance layer passes through, and a wavelength detecting element for r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Horiba Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Isozaki, Hirotaka Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8692195
    Abstract: The present invention provides a scanning charged particle beam device including a sample chamber (8) and a detector. The detector has: a function of detecting light at least ranging from the vacuum ultraviolet region to the visible light region, of light (17) having image information which is obtained by a light emission phenomenon of gas scintillation when the sample chamber is controlled to a low vacuum (1 Pa to 3,000 Pa); and a function of detecting ion currents (11, 13) having image information which are obtained by cascade amplification of electrons and gas molecules. Accordingly, it becomes possible to realize a device which can deal with observation of various samples. Further, an optimal configuration of the detection unit is devised, to thereby make it possible to add value to an obtained image and provide users in wide-ranging fields with the observation image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Sukehiro Ito, Junichi Katane