Crystal Or Other Vibratory Device Patents (Class 219/210)
  • Patent number: 11581695
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a high-frequency-reproducibility laser frequency stabilization method and device based on multi-point acquisition of laser tube temperature. The laser frequency stabilization device includes: a frequency stabilization control circuit. The frequency stabilization control circuit includes a polarizing beam splitter, an optical power conversion circuit, an A/D conversion circuit, a temperature measuring circuit, a microprocessor, a D/A converter and a heating film driver. The polarizing beam splitter is disposed outside any one of laser transmitting holes. The optical power conversion circuit is disposed on reflection and refraction optical paths of the polarizing beam splitter. The optical power conversion circuit, the A/D conversion circuit, the microprocessor, the D/A converter, the heating film driver and a plurality of groups of heating films are sequentially in one-way connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hongxing Yang, Yun Zou, Ziqi Yin, Jing Li, Pengcheng Hu, Jiubin Tan
  • Patent number: 11165388
    Abstract: To provide an oven controlled crystal oscillator which can keep constant the temperature of a quartz resonator housed within a thermostatic oven, thereby ensuring stable operation of the quartz resonator. An oven controlled crystal oscillator has a control system for exercising control so that the temperature of a quartz resonator becomes a target temperature Ttarg of a predetermined fixed value. The quartz resonator is housed within a thermostatic oven which is configured to compare a set temperature Tr and a measured temperature Tic based on an outside air temperature measured by a temperature sensor and which is controlled so that a difference between both temperatures is narrowed. The quartz resonator has characteristics influenced by an environmental temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Interchip Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kamiya, Ryuji Ariyoshi
  • Patent number: 10602983
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a sensor for a medical de vice may include the application of semiconductor fabrication techniques to the manufacture of a sensor directly in a structure of the medical device or in a substrate that can be integrated into a medical device structure. The methods may be applied to manufacture position sensors, strain gauges, other transducers, and the like, and to integrate the sensors into a variety of medical device types including, but not limited to, elongate medical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical International Holding S.à r.l.
    Inventors: Terry Sterrett, Allyn Jensrud
  • Patent number: 10420297
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated 8RTDD2014, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line 8RTDD2014, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line 8RTDD2014 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line 8RTDD2014 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line 8RTDD2014, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line 8RTDD2014 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Agrigenetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry R. Rice, Kenneth J. Byrnes
  • Patent number: 10368398
    Abstract: A bimetal thermal element adapted to assembling into a support. The bimetal thermal element includes: a bimetal strip having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and a notch formed at the first end; a heater made of a resistant strip including a linear portion and a wound portion, wherein the linear portion is straight and extending from a first position near the second end of the bimetal strip in a direction parallel to the bimetal strip and the wound portion is wound around the bimetal strip and the linear portion; and an insulating device to insulate the bimetal strip from the heater. With this design, there is also no current within the bimetal strip and its support, so the deflection of the bimetal strip is generated only by the temperature-rise coming from the resistant strip, therefore, it can realize a long tripping time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Bernard Bizard
  • Patent number: 10333467
    Abstract: A crystal oscillator includes a surface mount type crystal unit and a mounting substrate. The surface mount type crystal unit includes a ceramic container. The surface mount type crystal unit has a rectangular shape as a planar shape. The mounting substrate includes a ceramic substrate on which an electronic component is mounted, the mounting substrate having a rectangular shape as a planar shape. The crystal oscillator has a structure where the surface mount type crystal unit and the mounting substrate are laminated, and both terminals of the surface mount type crystal unit and the mounting substrate are connected with a bonding material. The mounting substrate and the surface mount type crystal unit are connected in a positional relationship where a long side of the mounting substrate and a long side of the surface mount type crystal unit are orthogonal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10305491
    Abstract: To provide an oscillator configured to output a frequency signal accurately reflecting a result of a temperature adjustment by a heater circuit. An oscillator outputs a frequency signal with a frequency preliminarily set. A crystal resonator connected to an oscillator circuit is housed inside a crystal resonator cover. Soldering this crystal resonator cover onto the base plate inside the container disposes the crystal resonator on the base plate inside the container. A heater circuit performs a temperature adjustment inside the container based on a temperature detected by a temperature detector. At this time, the crystal resonator cover that houses the crystal resonator is constituted of a phosphorus deoxidized copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoya Yorita
  • Patent number: 9893733
    Abstract: An oscillator includes: an integrated circuit including a circuit for oscillation; a resonator element; a circuit element; a heating element, and a container. The integrated circuit, the resonator element, and the heating element are arranged inside the container. The circuit element is arranged outside the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kensaku Isohata
  • Patent number: 9568870
    Abstract: A fuser unit of this disclosure includes: an endless belt; a nip member; a belt guide; a stay; a first member; a second member; and a backup member, wherein the belt guide, which is configured to guide the endless belt, has: a first surface, which faces in a direction from a second end portion towards a first end portion of the endless belt; a second surface, which faces in a direction from the first end portion towards the second end portion of the endless belt; a third surface, which faces in a direction from the stay towards the nip member; a fourth surface, which faces in a direction from the nip member towards the stay; a fifth surface and a sixth surface, which face in the conveyance direction and is arranged to be in contact with the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Ishida, Takuji Matsuno, Atsushi Ozawa, Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 9468105
    Abstract: An electronic component includes a pedestal plate that has a first surface made of a metal and a second surface being an opposite surface to the first surface, a heating element arranged on the first surface of the pedestal plate, and a resonator element arranged on the heating element. The pedestal plate overlaps the resonator element in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manabu Kondo
  • Patent number: 9295108
    Abstract: A method of assembling an electrical heating device is provided. The electrical heating device includes a housing which encloses a circulation chamber through which a medium can flow and in which heating ribs protrude. The heating ribs are in thermally conducting contact with at least one PTC heating element. A control device is provided in a constructional unit with at least one assembled conductor board. The constructional unit is accommodated in a control housing that comprises a control housing cover and a control housing frame. The control housing frame circumferentially surrounds the assembled conductor board and is formed from a metallic material. The method includes installing the control housing on the housing such that a control element, producing a power loss, is held by the assembled conductor board and is placed in abutment with a cooling element formed on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Niederer
  • Patent number: 9244505
    Abstract: A portable electronic device with an exposed heat dissipating mechanism includes a housing and a heat dissipating plate. A heat generating unit is arranged inside the housing, and the heat dissipating plate includes a main body arranged inside the housing and at least one cooling portion extended from the main body and exposed on the housing. The main body and the heat generating unit are thermally connected to each other. Therefore, the effectiveness of the heat dissipation can be enhanced without increasing the thickness of the device and such that the need for heat dissipation in a portable electronic device of higher performance and computing power can be satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: CHAUN-CHOUNG TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsing Yu, Ming-Chih Wu
  • Patent number: 9240767
    Abstract: An integrated resonator apparatus comprises a piezoelectric resonator, an acoustic Bragg reflector coupled to the piezoelectric resonator, and a substrate on which the acoustic Bragg reflector is disposed. The apparatus also includes an active heater layer covering the piezoelectric resonator. Heat produced by the active heater layer is controllable by an amount of current provided through the heater layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Byron Neville Burgess, William Robert Krenik, Stuart M. Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 9167351
    Abstract: A heated resonator includes a base substrate, a piezoelectric piece having a thickness and a top side and a bottom side, a first electrode on the top side, a second electrode opposite the first electrode on the bottom side, an anchor connected between the piezoelectric piece and the base substrate, and a heater on the piezoelectric material. A thermal resistor region in the piezoelectric piece is between the heater and the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher S. Roper
  • Patent number: 9040878
    Abstract: A control system and method for a thermal circuit that includes a control unit (1) and a valvular device which regulate the passage of a heat transfer fluid (6) through the inside of a thermal circuit, and a thermoelectric element (3) powering the control unit (1) from the heat of the heat transfer fluid (6). The control unit (1) and/or the valvular device are configured to regulate the circulation of the heat transfer fluid (6) through the inside of the thermal circuit, in order to always maintain a sufficient minimum flow to assure, at all times, the electric power supply of the control unit (1). The method includes using a control system to carry out regulation of the circulation of the heat transfer fluid which assures the electric power supply of part or the entire control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: GESTION ENERGETICA NAVARRA, S.L.
    Inventors: Jesús Carlos Castellano Aldave, Francisco Javier Tornaria Iguelz
  • Patent number: 8981260
    Abstract: A temperature control circuit of oven-controlled crystal oscillator includes a heater resistor, a first resistor, a thermistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, a differential amplifier, a PNP-type power transistor, and a PNP-type current-limiting transistor. The thermistor outputs a voltage depending on a temperature. The differential amplifier amplifies a difference between the voltage received by the one input terminal and the voltage received by the other and output as a control voltage. The PNP-type power transistor includes an emitter where the other end of the heater resistor is connected, a base that receives an output of the differential amplifier, and a grounded collector. The PNP-type current-limiting transistor has an emitter where a power voltage is supplied, a base that receives a voltage between the other end of the heater resistor and the emitter of the power transistor, and a collector connected to the base of the power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Arai
  • Publication number: 20140197714
    Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) device comprising at least one heating element formed on the substrate; at least one temperature sensor having a first electric component on the substrate whose resistance varies with the temperature of the substrate and a second electric component whose resistance does not vary; and a temperature controller including an operational amplifier bonded in thermally conductive relationship to the substrate. The operational amplifier is responsive to the output of the temperature sensor to apply power to the heating element and thereby maintain the temperature of the substrate within a predetermined temperature range. The transducer, heating element, and first component are monolithically formed on the substrate, and only three electrical connections are on the substrate at voltage to off-SAW die points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: PHONON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tom A. Martin, Pierre A. Dufilie
  • Patent number: 8766142
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heater for an automotive vehicle or other article of manufacture. The heater typically includes a first conductive medium and a second conductive medium disposed upon a carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the first conductive medium includes a first section and a second section that are electrically connected by a second conductive medium. The second conductive medium preferably exhibits a positive thermal coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Shaun Calvin Howick, Goran Bajic
  • Patent number: 8689500
    Abstract: A method of removing accumulated frozen rain/ice/snow from a metal roof. The method comprising the steps of inducing vibration into the metal roof, via at least one vibration imparting member attached to the metal roof, to break up the frozen rain/ice/snow accumulated on the metal roof and separate the frozen rain/ice/snow from the metal roof; and allowing the frozen rain/ice/snow to slide off the metal roof under an effect of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Eric B. Clifford
  • Patent number: 8653420
    Abstract: A temperature control circuit of an oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) is provided. A first and a second digital potentiometer are correspondingly arranged in a bridge circuit which outputs a voltage to an input terminal of a differential amplifier (OPAMP), wherein the resistance value of the first digital potentiometer is adjustable so as to adjust the temperature of the oven to the peak temperature of the crystal resonator, and the resistance value of the second digital potentiometer is adjustable so as to cancel the temperature gradient of the first digital potentiometer. In the temperature control circuit of OCXO, the heat generation of the heater resistor is controlled by the power transistor based on the control voltage from the differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Arai
  • Patent number: 8507831
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heater for an automotive vehicle or other article of manufacture. The heater typically includes a first conductive medium and a second conductive medium disposed upon a carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the first conductive medium includes a first section and a second section that are electrically connected by a second conductive medium. The second conductive medium preferably exhibits a positive thermal coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Shaun Calvin Howick, Goran Bajic
  • Patent number: 8478180
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a belt including a heat generating layer for generating heat by energization and including a power receiving portion which has electroconductivity and is electrically connected to the heat generating layer; a stationary back-up member, provided inside the belt, for sliding on an inner peripheral surface of the belt; a pressing member for pressing the belt against the back-up member to form a nip in which a recording material is to be nip-conveyed between the belt and itself; and an electroconductive portion, provided on the back-up member, for supplying electric power to the power receiving portion by being electrically connected to the power receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Arimoto, Ryo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8467668
    Abstract: An infrared, room heater system for installation in a wall or on a floor. An electric fan assembly draws room air into a housing, then through three parallel, air transit channels where the air is heated by infrared radiation within and about a heat exchanger assembly, and then back out into the room. One or more ceramic heating elements attached to a first copper plate emit infrared radiation when electrically energized. The first copper plate lies adjacent to, but spaced away from, a second copper plate such that radiation emitted from the heating elements reflects back and forth between the plates. Room air passed between the copper plates is heated by heat radiation concentrated between the plates, thereby achieving both energy and space efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Acepower Logistics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Searle, Alexander Anderson
  • Publication number: 20130020842
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a piezoelectric module and a sheet for a vehicle including the same. The sheet includes: a seat board part supporting a passenger's lower body; a backplate part formed to be extended in a direction perpendicular to one side of the seat board part and supporting the passenger's upper body; and a piezoelectric module formed in the seat board part and generating warm air or cold air using a flow of a current generated by vehicle vibration to thereby transfer the generated warm air or cold air to the passenger's body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.S
    Inventors: Ju Hwan Yang, Dong Hyeok Choi, Boum Seock Kim, Sung Kwon Wi, Sung Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20130008883
    Abstract: A temperature control circuit of oven-controlled crystal oscillator includes a heater resistor, a first resistor, a thermistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, a differential amplifier, a PNP-type power transistor, and a PNP-type current-limiting transistor. The thermistor outputs a voltage depending on a temperature. The differential amplifier amplifies a difference between the voltage received by the one input terminal and the voltage received by the other and output as a control voltage. The PNP-type power transistor includes an emitter where the other end of the heater resistor is connected, a base that receives an output of the differential amplifier, and a grounded collector. The PNP-type current-limiting transistor has an emitter where a power voltage is supplied, a base that receives a voltage between the other end of the heater resistor and the emitter of the power transistor, and a collector connected to the base of the power transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: JUNICHI ARAI
  • Publication number: 20120292300
    Abstract: A temperature control circuit of an oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) is provided. A first and a second digital potentiometer are correspondingly arranged in a bridge circuit which outputs a voltage to an input terminal of a differential amplifier (OPAMP), wherein the resistance value of the first digital potentiometer is adjustable so as to adjust the temperature of the oven to the peak temperature of the crystal resonator, and the resistance value of the second digital potentiometer is adjustable so as to cancel the temperature gradient of the first digital potentiometer. In the temperature control circuit of OCXO, the heat generation of the heater resistor is controlled by the power transistor based on the control voltage from the differential amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: JUNICHI ARAI
  • Publication number: 20120234818
    Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) device comprising a piezoelectric substrate having a working surface with an active zone capable of propagating an acoustic wave on said working surface; at least one interdigital transducer on the working surface, having interdigital fingers aligned in the active zone for inducing or receiving surface acoustic waves in the active zone; and a heating element on the working surface; wherein the transducer, heating element and preferably a temperature sensor are monolithically formed on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Tom A. Martin, Pierre A. Dufilie, Joseph V. Adler
  • Patent number: 8212184
    Abstract: Operation of complex integrated circuits at low temperatures may be enhanced by providing active heating elements within the integrated circuit so as to raise the temperature of at least critical circuit portions at respective operational phases, such as upon power-up. Consequently, enhanced cold temperature performance may be obtained on the basis of existing process elements in order to provide design stability without requiring extensive circuit simulation or redesign of well-established circuit architectures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Mowry, Casey Scott, Maciej Wiatr, Ralf Richter
  • Patent number: 8173939
    Abstract: A non-film based, thermally conditionable light transmitting article is provided. The article includes an adhesively coated resistive wire and a substrate suitably selected for light transmittance. The adhesively coated resistive wire is solely and directly adhesively affixed to the substrate so as to be thereby supported upon and by the substrate. A layer of adhesive, in the form of an adhesive linkage originating from the adhesive of the adhesively coated resistive wire, is present between the resistive wire and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Minco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter M. Bobgan
  • Patent number: 8101890
    Abstract: A fan apparency arrangement for an appliance having a fan for moving air in an interior of the appliance, including a pipe disposed in the airflow path of the fan and having first and second ends; a heater disposed in the pipe, the heater being energized when the fan is turned on; and a thermal switch disposed in the pipe, the thermal switch being closer to the first end than the heater. The fan is operative in normal operation to move air in the pipe in a direction from the first end to the second end. The pipe is disposed so that when the fan fails to move air in the pipe after turned on, air heated up by the heater passes the thermal switch in a direction from the second end to the first end so that the thermal switch is activated to signal malfunction of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua S. Wiseman, Steve B. Froelicher
  • Patent number: 8093535
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed, integrated in a semiconductor material, for measuring signals of a sensor assigned to the integrated circuit. In at least one embodiment, the circuit includes an active component; a temperature sensor; and a circuit to control the temperature of the semiconductor material. The active component is provided to treat the measuring signals produced by the sensor and the active component is drivable by the circuit to control the temperature in such a way that the temperature of the semiconductor material is variable. Further, the circuit includes at least one of a PI and PID controller to control the temperature. A method for controlling the temperature of a semiconductor material that has an integrated circuit is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Björn Heismann, Helmut Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 8026460
    Abstract: Provided is a control circuit for a thermostatic oven in an oven controlled crystal oscillator, which is capable of further improving stability of an oscillation frequency. A control circuit in which a thermistor whose resistance value changes according to a temperature outputs a signal according to the ambient temperature of the thermostatic oven inside the oscillator, an operational amplifier outputs a signal according to a difference between the output of the thermistor and a reference signal, a power transistor amplifies the output of the operational amplifier, and a heater generates heat based on a collector voltage of the power transistor, is provided with a temperature sensor circuit having a transistor with a base to which the output of the operational amplifier is input. The control circuit outputs a collector voltage of the transistor as an internal temperature signal which changes according to a temperature inside the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Ito, Takeshi Uchida
  • Publication number: 20110100971
    Abstract: An electric space heating system Air at ambient temperature is drawn by a fan assembly into the system through an air inlet filter, then moves through a “Z”-shaped box within a heat exchanger assembly where it is heated by quartz heater tube assemblies The heated air is further heated as it passes by copper plates within the box and then exits the system Each tube assembly includes an electrically-resistive filament within the lumen of a quartz tube that is translucent to Infrared radiation emitted by the filament Oppositely—directed, ceramic insulators, attached to opposite ends of the tube, in combination with a ceramic, electrical connector block, support the tubes within the box and provide electrical contacts for an electric power source to energize the filament The block has a spring-loaded, sliding electrical contact that facilitates installation and removal of the tube assemblies through a utility access cutout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce R. Searle, Hen Yuan Lin
  • Publication number: 20100248852
    Abstract: A golf club head has structure for assisting a golfer, and a head cover has structure for supporting the golfer-assisting structure. In one aspect, the golfer-assisting structure provides a visual indicator, such as an alignment marker, a ball impact indicator, a temperature indicator, or the like. In another aspect, the golfer-assisting structure includes sensor(s) and/or other electronic components for measuring swing characteristics, course conditions, global position, or the like. The supporting structure may provide a source of energy, such as a power source, a light source, or a heat source. In some aspects, the supporting structure may include a processor for receiving data from the golfer-assisting structure, and may transmit data to a display on the head cover and/or to an external source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Lee
  • Patent number: 7741582
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heater for an automotive vehicle or other article of manufacture. The heater typically includes a first conductive medium and a second conductive medium disposed upon a carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the first conductive medium includes a first section and a second section that are electrically connected by a second conductive medium. The second conductive medium preferably exhibits a positive thermal coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Shaun Calvin Howick, Goran Bajic
  • Publication number: 20090229142
    Abstract: A footwear including a body; a base structure; and one or more electrical energy generators disposed in the base structure for generating electrical energy upon application of an impact to the base structure. The footwear is used to produce electrical energy by impacting a base structure of the footwear; and vibrating a mass-spring unit in the base structure to generate an electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Jahangir S. Rastegar, Tromas Spinelli
  • Patent number: 7572110
    Abstract: Pumping apparatus of the invention using thermal transpiration micropumps comprises a plurality of individual thermal transpiration micropumps distributed over a substrate (5) as a plurality of rows (A, B, C, . . . , D) each made up of a plurality of micropumps (1, 6, . . . , 7, 8, 9), thereby building up a plurality of columns (a, b, . . . , c, d). Respective heater elements (4) in each of the thermal transpiration micropumps are controlled by suitably controlling a row control conductor (10A) and a column control conductor (11a). This greatly simplifies multiplexed control of a large number of individual micropumps, thus enabling pumping capacity to be adapted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Roland Bernard, Hisanori Kambara
  • Patent number: 7534978
    Abstract: A process chamber of an installation for the thermal treatment of printed circuit boards is described. The process chamber may include a fan wheel supported on a shaft parallel to the printed circuit boards, the fan wheel being disposed between two walls of the process chamber. The fan wheel is open at its two end faces and the two end faces are at such a distance from the walls of the process chamber that gas flows in unimpeded in two substreams between the end faces of the fan wheel and the walls and flows out from the cylindrical surface of the fan wheel over the length thereof and in the extent of the process chamber in the form of a ribbon-shaped gas stream, the gas stream being directed essentially in the cross section through a channel onto the printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: SEHO Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Ludwig Diehm, Rudolf Ullrich
  • Publication number: 20090020517
    Abstract: Provided is a control circuit for a thermostatic oven in an oven controlled crystal oscillator, which is capable of further improving stability of an oscillation frequency. A control circuit in which a thermistor whose resistance value changes according to a temperature outputs a signal according to the ambient temperature of the thermostatic oven inside the oscillator, an operational amplifier outputs a signal according to a difference between the output of the thermistor and a reference signal, a power transistor amplifies the output of the operational amplifier, and a heater generates heat based on a collector voltage of the power transistor, is provided with a temperature sensor circuit having a transistor with a base to which the output of the operational amplifier is input. The control circuit outputs a collector voltage of the transistor as an internal temperature signal which changes according to a temperature inside the oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Manabu Ito, Takeshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 7402776
    Abstract: Described is a device and system for heating an electronic mobile device. The system includes a mobile electronic device including a power supply arrangement and a removable heating arrangement detachably coupled to the mobile electronic device. When the heating arrangement is coupled to the mobile electronic device, the arrangement draws power from the power supply arrangement to generate heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alton Smith, Gregory Carras, Hayden Eastman, Keith Linker, Andrew M. Doorty
  • Patent number: 7329301
    Abstract: This invention relates to a composition of matter comprising associated predominantly silver nanoparticles, and a method of making the nanoparticles. It further relates to articles comprising the nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yun C. Chang, Eric R. Schmittou, Peter J. Cowdery-Corvan, Seshadri Jagannathan
  • Patent number: 7274002
    Abstract: One or more heating elements comprise a heating element. One or more elongated beams comprise an elongated beam. The heating element is coupled with the elongated beam and induces a time-varying thermal gradient in the elongated beam to cause one or more oscillations of one or more of the one or more elongated beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7145110
    Abstract: The present invention is a an effective thermal barrier between the thermistor and higher temperature solids or electrical components in a thermostat or its equivalent device. The invention thermal barrier substantially reduces or essentially eliminates undesired conductive heating of the thermistor from support means or other electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventor: Howard Rosen
  • Patent number: 7088032
    Abstract: A crystal oscillator of the present invention includes: a substrate provided in a package; a heating device arranged as surrounding an internal area of the substrate on at least one of the surfaces of the substrate; a crystal resonator or a crystal element and an oscillation circuit unit provided in an area enclosed by the heating device; a thermosensitive element which detects a temperature in an area enclosed by the heating device; and a control unit for controlling a heating value applied to the heating device based on a detection result of the thermosensitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Oita, Minoru Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7001028
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for preventing formation of dew and/or ice on an optical glass window, with which formation of dew and/or ice is easily and simply prevented while an air turbulent disturbance is minimized and a deformation is inhibited as little as possible. A protective tube (6) covering an external atmosphere of a cooled optical glass window (2) and thermally insulated from the optical glass window (2) is provided so as to prevent the external atmosphere from being cooled in order to prevent the optical glass window (2) from having dew and/or ice formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventor: Hirokazu Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 6867391
    Abstract: A control circuit (20) for controlling electrostatic discharge in an electric component includes a heater (28) that is thermally coupled to the component. A sensor (30) is used for sensing a sensed condition. A controller is coupled to the heater and the sensor. The controller (24) heats the component in response to the sensed condition. The sensor (30) may include an electron flux level near the component or a surface potential of the component itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John Michael Bodeau, Philip L. Leung
  • Patent number: 6847010
    Abstract: Disclosed is a DC thermal energy generator for heating localized regions of an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a pair of static circuits whose outputs are shorted, and are in contention. Contention causes current to flow through the circuits, generating heat. Integrated-circuit temperatures can be varied by turning on more or fewer thermals energy generators. The thermal resistance of a, packaged integrated circuit is computed using a well-known relationship integrated circuit's measured temperature, power consumption, and the ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. C. Hsieh, Siuki Chan
  • Patent number: 6744021
    Abstract: A portable heater/cooler system comprises a thermal electric module conducting a current through the module; a heater/cooler cavity coupled to the thermal electric module; a variable speed fan for blowing air over the thermal electric module and into the cavity; a first temperature sensor coupled to the thermal electric module for measuring the temperature of the module; a second temperature sensor coupled to the heater/cooler cavity for measuring the temperature in the cavity; and a microprocessor for adjusting a speed of the fan and the current flow through the thermal electric module as a function of the measured temperatures of the thermal electric module and the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Vector Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Krieger, Bruce Randolph
  • Patent number: 6727468
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes an LCD panel providing a surface. A flexible heating system of the invention includes a substantially transparent flexible sheet substrate disposed adjacent the surface of the LCD panel and a substantially transparent resistive heating element formed on the flexible sheet substrate. One or more serpentine shaped thermal sensors are formed in the resistive heating element. Control circuitry coupled to the serpentine shaped thermal sensors and to the substantially transparent resistive heating element and other heaters controls the heating element and other heaters based resistances of the serpentine shaped thermal sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins
    Inventor: Paul R. Nemeth
  • Patent number: 6727598
    Abstract: An improved thermally tunable system is provided. The improved thermally tunable system includes a thermally tunable apparatus including a first portion and a second portion, a heater configured to thermally tune the apparatus, and a heat sink disposed adjacent to the apparatus, wherein thermal flow is controlled to pass from the heater through the first portion of the apparatus, and then through the second portion into the heat sink, such that a temperature of the second portion remains substantially constant or within a predetermined range. A thermally conductive material is provided between the second portion of the apparatus and the heat sink. A thermally insulating material is provided between the first portion of the apparatus and the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
    Inventor: Fow-Sen Choa