Patents Issued in September 30, 2014
  • Patent number: 8847098
    Abstract: Devices and methods are contemplated in which a first electrode is circumferentially movable about a second electrode such that a tubular work piece can be resistance welded to a second work piece. Most preferably, the first electrode is a wheel-shaped electrode, while the second electrode is static and disk-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Thermal Structures, Inc.
    Inventor: Vaughn V. Barnes
  • Patent number: 8847099
    Abstract: A resistance welding gun is provided that includes an arm assembly having spaced apart plates. First and second spaced apart blocks interconnect the plates and extend between the plates in a first direction. The first and second blocks are machined to provide a desired spacing between the plates. An electrode arm is arranged between the plates and blocks and supports an electrode end having a replaceable cap in one example. A clamping device applies a clamping load in a second direction transverse to the first direction to secure the electrode arm between the blocks. Lateral alignment between opposing electrode ends is achieved by a movable adjustment assembly on one of the arm assemblies. A pivot pin interconnects the block and electrode arm for permitting rotation of the electrode arm relative to the block. In one example, the adjustment assembly includes an adjustment member that is rotated to laterally move the electrode arm about the pivot pin in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Doben Limited
    Inventors: Rene B. Scodeller, Michael J. Renaud
  • Patent number: 8847100
    Abstract: A robot welding apparatus including a welding station having a welding robot with weld tips for creating a weld along a work piece. A welding power supply and control pendant is also provided. A visual screen of the control pendant provides a view of the weld tips for use with the method to detect characteristics such as weld tip face measurement, tip wear measurement, tip alignment measurement, and cap replacement and type verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc America Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Holcomb, Scott M. Dreslinski
  • Patent number: 8847101
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device generating a plasma flow comprising an electrically conductive housing, tubular in shape, forming a central channel traversed by a vortex gas, a central electrode arranged coaxially in said channel and an electric power source intended to apply an electric voltage V between the electrode and the housing, characterized in that the mean diameter of the channel formed by the housing decreases progressively from an area situated substantially at the level of the free end of the electrode as far as an end area of said housing, said end area being configured in such a way that the minimum electric voltage Vcmin(0) to be applied in order to develop an electric arc between said electrode and said end area is strictly greater than said voltage V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Machine Sarl
    Inventors: Stanislav Begounov, Sergey Goloviatinski, Ioulia Tsvetkova
  • Patent number: 8847102
    Abstract: A demountable plasma torch assembly suitable for use in ICP spectrometry comprises a first tube having an inner diameter and a second tube disposed concentrically within the first tube, wherein the second tube has an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the first tube. The first and second tubes are supported by a torch body. The torch body includes a first bore configured to receive an end of the first tube, a second bore configured to receive an end of the second tube, and a manifold disposed between the first bore and the second bore to receive a gas for injection between the first tube and the second tube. The manifold has an outer diameter at least substantially equal to the inner diameter of the first tube and an inner diameter at least substantially equal to the outer diameter of the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Elemental Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Wiederin, Gary J. Barret
  • Patent number: 8847103
    Abstract: A system and method for regulating a gas flow of a plasma arc system. The system having a gas regulator that control gas flow from a gas source to the plasma torch system, a pilot input valve to fill a pilot chamber and a pilot dump valve to evacuate the pilot chamber, the pilot chamber mechanically coupled to the gas regulator through a pressure actuator, such that the gas flow pressure through the regulator is controlled using the pressure actuator and based on the pressure in the pilot chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventor: Ashok V. Retnaswamy
  • Patent number: 8847104
    Abstract: A method for cutting a semiconductor wafer by generating a crack within the wafer, and a system thereof, are provided. The method comprises irradiating a laser beam towards a surface of the wafer and converging the laser beam to form a focal point so that a focal volume defined by the focal point and a boundary of the laser beam within the wafer is formed. Energy encompassed within the focal volume causes the wafer located at the periphery of the focal volume to contract faster than the wafer located within the focal volume, thereby generating a crack within the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Agency for Science Technology and Research
    Inventors: Zhongke Wang, Tao Chen, Hongyu Zheng
  • Patent number: 8847105
    Abstract: A laser welding pressure unit comprises a housing, a rotating element, and a foot. The housing may attach to a laser head. The rotating element may include an outer ring rotatably coupled to an inner ring, wherein the outer ring is coupled to the housing. The foot may couple to the inner ring such that the foot rotates with respect to the housing. The foot may also be configured to contact an upper surface of a metal sheet and may be oriented such that while the metal sheet is being welded, the foot rotates about a central vertical axis and the laser welding pressure unit is able to move in any direction without the foot breaking contact with the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Benecor, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Don Johnson
  • Patent number: 8847106
    Abstract: A welding method in which the power is controlled in accordance with the temperature of the welding point is provided. The temperature of the welding point is lowered in a controlled manner at the end of the method and the temperature of this welding point is measured by a temperature measuring appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Bernd Burbaum, Selim Mokadem, Norbert Pirch
  • Patent number: 8847107
    Abstract: A roll forming system which roll-forms a shaped beam by a roll forming unit including a plurality of roll formers is disclosed. A laser welding device for the roll forming system may include: front and rear guide means disposed apart from each other at the rear of the roll forming unit, and guiding movement of the shaped beam; laser welding means mounted above and between the front and rear guide means, reciprocatedly rotating a mirror by controlling a mirror motor so as to irradiate a laser beam to a welding position of the shaped beam, and thereby forming a welding bead having a predetermined welding pattern; forming speed detecting means detecting a forming speed of the shaped beam and transmitting a signal corresponding thereto to a controller; a camera disposed at the rear of the laser welding means, photographing a welding portion of the shaped beam, and transmitting an image signal corresponding thereto to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun-Yong Lee, Hyun-Uk Seol
  • Patent number: 8847108
    Abstract: A laser beam machining apparatus includes a height position detecting unit configured to detect the height position of an upper surface of a workpiece to be machined which is held on a chuck table, and a controller configured to control a condensing point position adjusting unit on the basis of a detection signal from the height position detecting unit. The height position detecting unit includes a detection laser beam oscillating unit configured to oscillate a detection laser beam having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the machining laser beam, and a reflected beam analyzing unit which analyzes a reflected beam generated upon reflection of the detection laser beam on the upper surface of the workpiece and which sends an analytical results to the controller. The laser beam machining apparatus further includes a condensing point position displacing unit configured to displace the condensing point position of the detection laser beam and the condensing point position of the machining laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kobayashi, Keiji Nomaru
  • Patent number: 8847109
    Abstract: In a method for machining a workpiece, a laser beam (5) is guided across the workpiece surface by means of a beam guide (2, 51), wherein the laser beam guide comprises a first guide (2) effecting a laser beam guide at a first path speed. The laser beam guide comprises a second guide (51) simultaneously operating with the first guide, which effects a laser beam guide at a second path speed, which is higher than the first path speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sauer GmbH Lasertec
    Inventors: Michael Kuhl, Peter Hildebrand, Martin Reisacher
  • Patent number: 8847110
    Abstract: A laser system for processing conductive link structures includes a seed laser generating a seed laser beam. The seed laser is sliced by a modulator into a user configurable series of pulses and the pulses are optically amplified and applied to a conductive link structure. Preferably, the bandwidth of the seed laser is less than 1 nm with an IR center frequency, and the frequency of the laser light of the pulses is doubled or quadrupled prior to application to the conductive structure. Preferably, the pulses are about 1-18 nanosecond pulsewidth and are separated by 100-400 nanoseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Gu, Joseph J. Griffiths, Joohan Lee
  • Patent number: 8847111
    Abstract: A system, method, and device for etching an indicia onto a substrate includes a compact laser etching device having a delivery head, an emitter housing, a RF cable, and a communication cable. The delivery head has a beam steering mechanism and a hood assembly positioned between the beam steering mechanism and the substrate. The emitter housing has a laser for generating a laser beam, and a fold mirror positioned in an optical path of the laser beam for redirecting the laser beam into the beam steering mechanism. A remote RF electronics package drives the laser. Control electronics cause the beam steering mechanism to steer the laser beam into a pattern of the indicia. The delivery head may further include a plurality of suction cups for holding the compact laser etching device in engagement with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy J. Miller, Cathy H. DeRossett
  • Patent number: 8847112
    Abstract: A series of laser pulses in a pulse train, each pulse with a beneficial temporal power shape instead of the conventional laser temporal power shape, scribes a line in a thin film of material on a substrate. The beneficial temporal pulse shape has a spike/plateau chair shape or a square pulse shape. Scribing a line in the thin film is achieved by placing the series of laser pulse spots on the line to be scribed such that there is an overlapping area between adjacent laser pulse spots along the line. The use of a series of laser pulses with beneficial pulse shape to scribe a line in the thin film results in a better quality and cleaner scribing process compared to that achieved with the conventional pulse shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: ESI-Pyrophotonics Lasers, Inc.
    Inventors: Tullio Panarello, Matthew Rekow, Richard Murison
  • Patent number: 8847113
    Abstract: A laser processing system includes a first positioning system for imparting first relative movement of a beam path along a beam trajectory with respect to a workpiece, a processor for determining a second relative movement of the beam path along a plurality of dither rows, a second positioning system for imparting the second relative movement, and a laser source for emitting laser beam pulses. The system may compensate for changes in processing velocity to maintain dither rows at a predetermined angle. For example, the dither rows may remain perpendicular to the beam trajectory regardless of processing velocity. The processing velocity may be adjusted to process for an integral number of dither rows to complete a trench. A number of dither points in each row may be selected based on a width of the trench. Fluence may be normalized by adjusting for changes to processing velocity and trench width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Unrath, Andrew Berwick, Alexander A. Myachin
  • Patent number: 8847114
    Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for laser-assisted micro-milling. The disclosed laser-assisted micro-milling system and method provides unique micro-milling capabilities for very difficult-to-machine materials, such as ceramics, high temperature alloys and composites. A low power laser beam is focused at a very small spot, thus producing a very high power density, the spot being located just ahead of a mechanical micro-milling cutter to preheat the material prior to machining. This localized heating thermally weakens the workpiece resulting in lower cutting forces, improved surface finish, and longer tool life. The system is capable of micro-milling difficult-to-machine materials that may be conductive or non-conductive with high material removal rates compared to existing systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventor: Yung C. Shin
  • Patent number: 8847115
    Abstract: A welding power source including an embedded web server provides access to an operator at a remote web browser. From the remote web browser, the user is provided access to weld functions, and can selectively choose between weld functions that can be displayed and controlled from the remote web browser. The weld functions that can be accessed include control functions, which allow an operator to activate welding functions such as a jog or purge function; a command function, which allows an operator to provide a command level for a voltage, wire feed speed, or other parameter; and a display function, which provides access for an operator to display welding command and actual feedback values. The operator can also selectively view diagnostic data, including weld state data, error data, and operational voltage and current levels within the power source, such as motor voltage and input voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Alan Casner, Daniel Thomas Duckert Casner
  • Patent number: 8847116
    Abstract: A wire feeder with an integrated adaptor cartridge is provided. The adaptor cartridge comprises a cartridge body interchangeably mounted to the wire feeder for mechanical, welding current, and control signal connections. The adaptor cartridge further comprises an adaptor fitting for establishing the mechanical and welding current connections, and a control signal connector for establishing the control signal connection. The adaptor cartridge is preferably recessed within a housing of the wire feeder to protect the adaptor cartridge. A set of such adaptor cartridges is also provided for providing mechanical, welding current, and control signal connections for a respective one of the welding apparatuses to the wire feeder. Therefore, a single wire feeder can work with a set of welding apparatuses by selecting a suitable adaptor cartridge from the set of adaptor cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Victor Equipment Company
    Inventors: Ryan T. Lynaugh, Thomas J. Wermert
  • Patent number: 8847117
    Abstract: There is described a method for stabilizing a post-trimming resistance of a thermally isolated electrical component made from a thermally mutable material, the method comprising: generating at least one heating pulse, the at least one heating pulse having an initial amplitude corresponding to a trimming temperature, a slope corresponding to a given cooling rate and a duration corresponding to a given cooling time; and applying the at least one heating pulse to one of the thermally isolated electrical component and a heating device in heat transfer communication with the thermally isolated electrical component, after a trimming process, in order to cause the electrical component to cool in accordance with the given cooling rate, the given cooling rate being slower than a passive cooling rate determined by the thermal isolation of the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sensortechnics GmbH
    Inventors: Oleg Grudin, Yougui Liao, Leslie M. Landsberger, Gennadiy Frolov, Lyudmila Grudina, Gerald Arzoumanian, Saed Salman, Tommy Tsang, Bowei Zhang
  • Patent number: 8847118
    Abstract: An energization control apparatus for a glow plug (21) includes temperature maintaining energization means (34), and intermediate temperature raising means 35 for resuming energization of the glow plug 1 during operation of an engine EN after energization by the temperature maintaining energization means (34). The intermediate temperature raising means (35) includes resistance acquisition means (32); difference calculation means (36) for calculating a difference between the resistance of the glow plug (1) and a target resistance; intermediate value setting means (37); and intermediate value update means (38) for gradually increasing an intermediate target resistance such that the intermediate target resistance finally coincides with the target resistance. The voltage applied to the glow plug (1) is controlled such that the resistance of the glow plug (1) coincides with the intermediate target resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Sakurai, Takayuki Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8847119
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking oven with at least one oven cavity, at least one air outlet conduit and at least one catalytic filter system, in particular a fat, grease and/or odor filter system. The catalytic filter system comprises a housing (10, 14) containing a catalyser element (12). The catalytic filter system is arranged within the air outlet conduit and outside of the oven cavity. The housing (10) includes a plurality of the inlet holes (20) in a wall (16) facing the oven cavity. The housing (10) includes a plurality of the outlet holes (34) in a wall (30) opposite to the oven cavity. The catalytic filter system is fixed outside of the oven cavity by fixing elements. At least one heating element (40; 50) is arranged upstream of the catalytic filter system. The heating element (40; 50) is provided for heating the catalytic filter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Dietmar Hildner, Gerhard Schaff, Branko Ivanovic
  • Patent number: 8847120
    Abstract: A fryer measures cooking medium quality, and includes a cooking vessel configured to store a cooking medium, an electrode plate completely immersed in the cooking medium, an insulator comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the insulator is fixed to the electrode plate, and a second side of the insulator is attached to a wall of the cooking vessel, a guard ring fixed to the cooking vessel and surrounding the electrode plate and insulator. The guard ring extends further away from the wall of the cooking vessel than the electrode plate. A size of a gap between the guard ring and the electrode plate is based on a height, a width, and a thickness of the electrode plate and substantially defines a gain of the electrode. A signal conditioning circuit measures the conductivity of the cooking medium applied to the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas A. Burkett, Edmond L. Phillipps, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8847121
    Abstract: A heater system and related methods of heating a surface are provided by the present disclosure that includes, in one form, a substrate defining a heating surface and a layered heater formed on the heating surface. A plurality of nodes are disposed along the heating surface and are in electrical contact with a resistive heating layer of the layered heater, along with a plurality of lead wires connected to the plurality of nodes. In one form, a multiplexer is in communication with the plurality of nodes through the plurality of lead wires, and a controller is in communication with the multiplexer, wherein the multiplexer sequences and transmits resistances from the plurality of nodes to the controller, and the controller controls an amount of power provided to each of the plurality of nodes based on the differences in resistances between the nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Louis P. Steinhauser, Kevin Ptasienski
  • Patent number: 8847122
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for transferring a substrate are described. In the method, a substrate is provided on the surface of a first plate at a first position, the first plate is moved from the first position to a second position in an upper space of a second plate, the substrate is lifted away from the surface of the first plate, the first plate is moved away from the second position, and the substrate is put on the surface of the second plate from the upper space. The apparatus includes a first plate and a second plate each having a surface for carrying the substrate, wherein the first plate can be moved between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Cheng Yang
  • Patent number: 8847123
    Abstract: An assembly for cooking food products in a substantially upright orientation comprising a mold housing including one or more food mold chambers, each structured to configure the food product being cooked to correspond to the interior dimensions and configuration of a mold chamber in which it was cooked. Each mold chamber is further structured to retain an uncooked liquid, semi-liquid, semi-solid, or solid food composition therein during the cooking procedure. A heat source is disposed either externally or internally of the mold housing and generates sufficient heat to cook a food composition disposed within the mold chamber. A frame assembly may be utilized to operatively support one or more mold housing in the substantially upright orientation, such that a heat source may be incorporated into the frame assembly to provide adequate cooking temperatures to the corresponding mold chamber(s) of one or more supported mold housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kedem LLC
    Inventor: Marc Shoshan
  • Patent number: 8847124
    Abstract: Provided are a heating device, a substrate processing apparatus, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which can suppress differences between heating bodies, and simultaneously, can suppress shearing of a holder due to thermal deformation of the heating element. The heating device comprises: a heating element including a mountain part and a valley part that are alternately connected in plurality in a meander shape with both ends being fixed; holding body receiving parts respectively installed at ends of the valley parts and formed as cutout parts having a width larger than a width of the valley part; an insulating body installed at an outer circumference of the heating element; and a holding body disposed in the holding body receiving part and fixed to the insulating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Murata, Tetsuya Kosugi, Shinobu Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8847125
    Abstract: A local resistance heating device, with a controlled atmosphere, includes two end members and a mid member. The two end members are respectively connected with an anode pole and a cathode pole. Each end member has an air channel. The air channel of one of the end members is adapted to connect with an output terminal of a gas supplier, and the air channel of the other one of the end members is adapted to connect with a sucking terminal of the gas supplier. The mid member is arranged between the two end members. The two end members and the mid member jointly define a heating room communicating with the air channels of the two end members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: National Pingtung University of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Kuang-Hung Tseng, Jie-Meng Huang
  • Patent number: 8847126
    Abstract: A heating device and a heating method which is able to quickly and accurately partition each region of a material to be heated and heat up each of the region to a required temperature, and a shape and required temperature of each region is different from each other. A heating device for heating a material to be heated by applying an electromagnetic wave to the material, wherein a plate member(s) which shields, absorbs and/or reflects the irradiated electromagnetic radiation and has a predetermined pattern contour can be placed, at least partially, close to the material to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Aisin Takaoka Co., Ltd., Benteler Automobiletechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Katsunori Ishiguro, Masaki Furuhashi, Martin Pohl, Kiyohito Kondo
  • Patent number: 8847128
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat treatment oven comprising a loading or treatment zone, at least one gas inlet, a gas preheater chamber situated in the oven between the gas inlet and the loading or treatment zone, a susceptor comprising at least a side wall surrounding the preheater chamber and the loading or treatment zone, and a field winding suitable for heating the side wall by induction. The portion of the side wall of the susceptor that is situated around the preheater chamber presents at least two recesses spaced apart circumferentially from one another so as to form portions of reduced thickness in said portion of the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Bernard Delperier, Yvan Baudry, Olivier Petitjean
  • Patent number: 8847129
    Abstract: A heating cooker including a cooker body having a cooking chamber and a convection heating unit. The convection heating unit includes a convection heater to generate heat, a convection fan to forcibly move the heat generated from the convection heater into the cooking chamber, a convection motor to drive the convection fan, and a convection housing to receive the convection heater and the convection fan. The convection heater and the convection fan are linearly arranged within the convection housing, to allow air introduced into the convection housing to move from the convection fan to the convection heater. This configuration is effective to restrict the transfer of heat from the convection heater to the convection motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Keun Kim, Keun Seuk Oh, Sang Jun Park, In Ki Jeon, Jong Hoon Lee, Seung Joon Jun
  • Patent number: 8847130
    Abstract: A heating unit can reduce the rate of power consumption for heating a vehicle, so that the running distance of the vehicle is increased and hence the battery charging cycle of the vehicle is prolonged. A heating unit of a vehicle heating system includes a casing made of a metal material capable of electromagnetically shielding microwaves, a support arranged in the hollow section of the casing, a plurality of microwave absorbing/heat emitting members arranged at the support and a microwave outputting unit arranged in the casing to output microwaves toward respective microwave absorbing/heat emitting members, blown air being heated by heat generated as a result of absorption of microwaves by the microwave absorbing/heat emitting members at the time for blown air to flow from the upstream side to the downstream side in the hollow sections of the microwave absorbing/heat emitting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki-Kaisha TAKUMI, Kabushiki-Kaisha Lead Industry
    Inventors: Norio Niwa, Ryousei Noda, Hiroki Anzai
  • Patent number: 8847131
    Abstract: A rotary cooking apparatus for a microwave oven including a hollow drum for holding food, said drum including a first open end and a second closed end, a lid detachably securable onto said first end of said drum, wherein said lid includes a support shaft protruding from said lid operatively arranged to engage in a freely rotatable manner with a support means, and wherein said lid includes a ventilation hole, a ventilation insert secured between said cooking drum and said lid when said lid is secured onto said drum, wherein said ventilation insert includes a ventilation means, and a socket in said second end of said drum, wherein said socket has a shape corresponding to a cross-section of a head on a driving shaft of a motor, wherein said head of said driving shaft complimentarily engages in said socket for rotating said drum via said motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Lee Fang
  • Patent number: 8847132
    Abstract: An outer portion of one or more layers of microwave interactive material, which is for becoming hot when exposed to microwave energy, is arranged in a manner that seeks to advantageously control heating, so that the outer portion of the microwave interactive material can safely be adjacent the periphery of a turntable tray. The turntable tray can be heated by the microwave interactive material so that a peak thermally induced stress occurs in the turntable tray at a position proximate the periphery of the tray. The layer(s) of microwave interactive material are configured in a manner so that the peak thermally induced stress is less than a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Russell, Lorin R. Cole, Scott W. Middleton
  • Patent number: 8847133
    Abstract: A door for a cooking apparatus and a cooling system for the door are provided. A fan for creating flows of air into and out of a cavity assembly is also used to create flows of air in a door cooling passage of the door. Therefore, the door can be cooled in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Byeong-Cheon Lee
  • Patent number: 8847134
    Abstract: A system for actuating a control surface of a deployable member is provided. The system includes an actuator disposed within a fuselage structure of a missile; a double joint having a distal end for connecting to the actuator and a proximal end for engaging the control surface, wherein the double joint further includes a first and second pivot; and a mechanical brake configured to controllably prevent rotation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Gaudette
  • Patent number: 8847135
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a light receiving surface which is divided according to pixels arranged in a matrix shape and is formed with a photoelectric converting section; an electrochromic film which is formed on the semiconductor substrate on a light incident path corresponding to the photoelectric converting section, in a portion of pixels selected from the pixels, and has light transmittance changing from a first transmittance to a second transmittance according to voltage applied thereto; a lower electrode which is formed below the electrochromic film; and an upper electrode which is formed above the electrochromic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoko Izuha, Kouichi Harada
  • Patent number: 8847136
    Abstract: An image sensor including an array of pixel elements is operated according to two operation modes to modulate the conversion gain of the pixel to operate the image sensor based on the impinging light conditions. More specifically, an image sensor pixel element is operated in a high conversion gain mode for low light conditions and in a low conversion gain mode for bright light conditions. The low conversion gain mode implements charge sharing between the floating diffusion and the photodiode. The low conversion gain mode further implements partial reset where the photodiode and the floating diffusion are reset to the same potential and to a potential slightly less than the pinning voltage of the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: PIXIM, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Ayers, Frederick Thomas Brady, Jinsuk Kang, Sungin Hwang, Sen Yu
  • Patent number: 8847137
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of manufacturing an image sensor and inertial navigation sensors encapsulated within a single package. The single package may encapsulate one integrated circuit die comprising the imaging sensor and the inertial navigation sensors. Alternatively, the single package may encapsulate a plurality of integrated circuit dice comprising the imaging sensor and the inertial navigation sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Marc Adam Kennedy
  • Patent number: 8847138
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a detector having a plurality of conversion elements for converting radiation or light into an electric charge, a power supply unit that supplies a first voltage to the conversion element in a first imaging operation, and a control unit that controls the detector and the power supply unit. During a period between the first imaging operation and a second imaging operation, the control unit controls to perform a first inter-imaging operation in which a second voltage different from the first voltage is supplied to the conversion element, and, subsequently to the first inter-imaging operation, a second inter-imaging operation in which a third voltage different from the first and the second voltages is supplied to the conversion element. The absolute value of the difference between the third and the first voltages is smaller than the absolute value of the difference between the second and the first voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eriko Sugawara, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Sho Sato, Atsushi Iwashita, Hideyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 8847139
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, sub-systems and systems including adaptive analog subtraction for light sensing are described herein. In an embodiment, an analog circuit including a current mirror is configured to replicate a first current to produce a replicated version of the first current, and to subtract the replicated version of the first current from a second current to produce a third current. A mismatch correction circuit is configured to produce an adjustment signal, indicative of a mismatch error associated with the analog circuit, based on a digital version of the third current. This adjustment signal is used to reduce the mismatch error associated with the analog circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Dyer
  • Patent number: 8847140
    Abstract: A light receiving circuit includes a photodiode, a transimpedance amp having a feedback resistor, an electric current comparator and an automatic threshold control circuit that includes a current mirror circuit for forming a current according to the mirror effect. With this light receiving circuit, regardless of how powerful the input light signal is, low pulse width distortion characteristics can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masayuki Sugizaki, Shigeyuki Sakura
  • Patent number: 8847141
    Abstract: To provide a photoelectric conversion element capable of functioning as a photoelectric conversion element when a compound having a specific structure is applied to the photoelectric conversion element, causing the element to exhibit a low dark current, and reducing the range of increase in the dark current even when the element is heat-treated, and an imaging device equipped with such a photoelectric conversion element. A photoelectric conversion element having a photoelectric conversion film which is sandwiched between a transparent electrically conductive film and an electrically conductive film and contains a photoelectric conversion layer and an electron blocking layer, wherein the electron blocking layer contains a compound having, as a substituent, a substituted amino group containing three or more ring structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Fukuzaki, Kimiatsu Nomura
  • Patent number: 8847142
    Abstract: An optical system for light energy concentration may comprise a light concentrator to convert incident light to converging light, a light collimating element to receive the converging light and to reduce an angle of convergence of the converging light, and a light directing element to direct the reduced-angle converging light to a light guide to transmit the directed light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Ming Lu, Xuyan Huang
  • Patent number: 8847143
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an encoder and control scheme are provided. In one embodiment, a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device comprises: a stator having a first marker and a second marker arranged on a surface of the stator to form a sensing pattern; a sweeping element that dithers in a plane parallel to the surface of the stator along a sweep path that crosses the first marker and a second marker; an overlap sense circuit operable to measure an area overlap between the sweeping element and the sensing pattern, wherein the overlap sense circuit generates a pulse train signal output that varies as a function of the area overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Eugen Cabuz, Robert D. Horning, Ryan Supino, Burgess R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8847144
    Abstract: An optical encoder and optical encoding system are disclosed. Specifically, an encoder having a light detector elevated relative to a light source is described. The relative height difference between the light source and the light detector enables the optical encoder to minimize noise at the light detector without requiring a separate light baffle between the light source and light detector. Methods of manufacturing and operating such an encoder are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yik-Foong Soo, Weng Fei Wong, Wee Jin Yeap
  • Patent number: 8847145
    Abstract: Method for working out the angular position of a rotating element, using at least one light source emitting a light beam in the direction of a fixed sensor and computing elements for processing an output signal of the sensor, includes: arranging the light source with respect to the rotating element and the sensor so as to induce an interaction between the light beam and the sensor which depends on the angular position of the rotating shaft, arranging on the path of the light beam, in a fixed position with respect to the sensor, a perforated mask which presents a repetitive pattern of perforations, detecting shadows generated by the mask on the sensor, processing the output signal of the sensor for determining the position of the shadows on the sensor, and computing the angular position of the rotating element using the position of the shadows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA—Recherche et Developpement
    Inventor: Peter Masa
  • Patent number: 8847146
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an image sensor package structure. The image sensor package structure includes a substrate, a chip, a transparent lid, a first casing and a package material. The transparent lid covers a sensitization area of the chip and it also adheres to the chip which is deposed on the substrate. The first casing, which adheres to the transparent lid, forms an opening so that light can pass through the opening and the transparent lid to enter into the sensitization area. The package material covers around the chip and the transparent lid and fills between the substrate and the first casing. Because of the arrangement of adhesive layers placed between the first casing and the transparent lid and between the transparent lid and the chip, the blockage area from moisture is elongated. Therefore, the reliability of the image sensor package structure can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kingpak Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Wen Tu, Ren-Long Kuo, Young-Houng Shiao, Tsao-Pin Chen, Mon-Nan Ho, Chih-Cheng Hsu, Chin-Fu Lin, Chung-Hsien Hsin
  • Patent number: 8847147
    Abstract: An optical-electrical module includes a base board, a laser diode, an integrated circuit, and a lens unit. The laser diode and the integrated circuit are both fixed on the base board. The lens unit and the base board cooperatively define a receiving space to receive the laser diode and the integrated circuit. The laser diode has a transmitting window at an end of the laser diode away from the base board. The integrated circuit drives the laser diode to transmit optical signals. The lens unit has an inner surface facing the base board, and the inner surface of the lens unit has a light transmitting area. The lens unit includes a metal film formed on the inner surface of the lens unit except on the light transmitting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kai-Wen Wu
  • Patent number: 8847148
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and products thereof provide an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam for processing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Exogenesis Corporation
    Inventors: Sean R. Kirkpatrick, Allen R. Kirkpatrick