Resistance Value Responsive To A Condition Patents (Class 338/13)
  • Patent number: 6522236
    Abstract: The superconductor structure for conducting an electric current in a predetermined direction has a metallic support and one or more conductor tracks. The conductor tracks have at least one electrically insulating interlayer deposited on the support and a high Tc superconductor layer deposited on the interlayer. Between its superconducting layer and the support, the conductor track has at least one connecting part, which extends in the current-conducting direction, for electrically connecting the superconducting layer and the support in parallel. The superconductor structure may be provided in particular for a current limiter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Günter Ries
  • Publication number: 20020190839
    Abstract: An integratable fluid flow and property microsensor assembly is configured to be operably embedded in a microfluidic cartridge of the type used in lab-on-a-chip systems. The assembly is a robust package having a microstructure flow sensor contained within a housing in order to achieve a robust sensing device. The cartridge provides a flow path to the assembly, which directs the fluid across the flow sensor and returns the fluid to the cartridge flow path. The flow sensor monitors the controlled flow of fluid and transmits signals indicative of that flow. The assembly structure provides a robust sensor that is operable and accurate in many different applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Aravind Padmanabhan, Jay G. Schwichtenberg, Cleopatra Cabuz, Ernest Satren
  • Patent number: 6492709
    Abstract: To compensate for temperature dependent variations and process variations in surface resistance of a main resistor (R1) on a chip (1), one or more compensating resistors (R11, R12. . . R1n) can be connected in series with the first resistor (R1) via normally open switches (SR11, SR12. . . SR1n). The switches are closed to connect one or more of the compensating resistors (R11, R12. . . SR1n) in series with the main resistor (R1) in response to whether the voltage across resistors (R21, R22. . . R2n) produced on the chip (1) in the same process and proportional to the compensating resistors (R11, R12. . . R1n) is higher or lower than a fixed reference voltage (VR3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Allan Olson
  • Patent number: 6486767
    Abstract: A rotary position sensor for sensing the position of an attached object. The sensor uses a strain gage to detect the position of the object. The sensor includes a housing and a helical shaped actuator located in the housing. The actuator is attachable to the object. A strain gage is positioned in contact with the actuator. The actuator applies a strain to the strain gage as the actuator is moved. The strain gage generates an electrical signal that is proportional to the position of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventor: Robert R. Rainey
  • Patent number: 6476706
    Abstract: On transition from the superconducting state to the normal conducting state, current limiters having a high-temperature superconductor increase their electrical resistance and thereby limit an electric current which is flowing through them. To provide electrical stabilization, the high-temperature superconductor is combined with a silver foil having a layer thickness of <50 &mgr;m to form an extensive composite conductor with good conductivity. The ratio of the layer thickness of the high-temperature superconductor to that of the silver foil should be >10. To produce this composite conductor, the silver sheet is placed on one side on a 2 mm thick MgO powder layer and, on the other side, is covered with a 600 &mgr;m thick so-called green sheet which contains a high-temperature superconductor powder and an organic binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Makan Chen, Markus Hodis, Willi Paul
  • Patent number: 6459358
    Abstract: A current limiting PTC device (10) has two electrodes (14) with a thin film of electric conducting polymer material (20) disposed between the electrodes, the polymer material (20) having superior flexibility and short circuit performance, where the polymer material contains short chain aliphatic diepoxide, conductive filler particles, curing agent, and, preferably, a minor amount of bisphenol A epoxy resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John Joseph Shea, Miomir B. Djordjevic, William Kingston Hanna
  • Patent number: 6420955
    Abstract: The resistive current limiter contains an electrically insulating support body and at least one conductor track structure arranged thereon and having a conductor track made of high-Tc superconductor material. The conductor track has straight and curved conductor track segments. A maximum radii ratio v of 7 (v=ra/ri where ra=external radius, ri=internal radius) is to be maintained for the curved conductor track segments. The conductor track is advantageously patterned from a layer which is made of the high-Tc superconductor material and is applied on the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Björn Heismann, Hans-Peter Krämer
  • Publication number: 20020089407
    Abstract: A temperature-compensated semiconductor resistor includes two series-connected semiconductor resistance elements having mutually inverse resistive temperature-dependent responses in a temperature range of interest. The semiconductor resistance elements are preferably made of doped polycrystalline semiconductor material such as polycrystalline silicon that is oppositely doped, i.e. n-doped and p-doped, respectively. A semiconductor integrated circuit, in particular a CMOS circuit, containing a semiconductor resistor, is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Martin Bloch
  • Patent number: 6292338
    Abstract: An electric coupling device for connecting, disconnecting or limiting the current in an electric circuit. The electric coupling device includes a variable resistor. This resistance is variable between a very low value corresponding to a conducting state and a very high value corresponding to a substantially insulating state. Switching between the states takes place continually and in a very short time. The invention relates to an electric circuit provided with such an electric coupling device and a method performed in accordance with the function of the electric coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Hans Bernhoff, Henrik Breder, Jan Isberg, Lars Jonsson, Lars Liljestrand, Stefan Valdemarsson
  • Patent number: 6232866
    Abstract: A device to protect electronic circuitry from high voltage transients is constructed from a relatively thin piece of conductive composite sandwiched between two conductors so that conduction is through the thickness of the composite piece. The device is based on the discovery that conduction through conductive composite materials in this configuration switches to a high resistance mode when exposed to voltages above a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Hamid Javadi
  • Patent number: 6211771
    Abstract: Electrical devices, particularly circuit protection devices, contain conductive polymer elements whose edges are formed by breaking the conductive polymer element, along a desired path, without the introduction of any solid body into the element. The resulting cohesive failure of the conductive polymer produces a distinctive fractured surface. One method of preparing such devices involves etching fracture channels in the electrodes of a plaque containing a PTC conductive polymer element sandwiched between metal foil electrodes, and then snapping the plaque along the fracture channels to form individual devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventors: Michael Zhang, Mark S. Thompson, James Toth, William Cardwell Beadling
  • Patent number: 6177856
    Abstract: On transition from the superconducting state to the normal conducting state, current limiters having a high-temperature superconductor increase their electrical resistance and thereby limit an electric current which is flowing through them. To provide electrical stabilization, the high-temperature superconductor is combined with a silver foil having a layer thickness of <50 &mgr;m to form an extensive composite conductor with good conductivity. The ratio of the layer thickness of the high-temperature superconductor to that of the silver foil should be >10. To produce this composite conductor, the silver sheet is placed on one side on a 2 mm thick MgO powder layer and, on the other side, is covered with a 600 &mgr;m thick so-called green sheet which contains a high-temperature superconductor powder and an organic binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Makan Chen, Markus Hoidis, Willi Paul
  • Patent number: 6133819
    Abstract: A load-dependent, preventive fuse with an electronic ceramic (12) in a housing (11) from which connection leads (14) are led outwards to detect at least a first type of load to which a device to be monitored is subjected, in which fuse use is made of a ceramic material, hereinafter referred to as TDR ceramic (12), whose electrically insulating state changes as a function of time, being the first type of load, and as a function of a second type of load, to a semiconducting state, and as a result thereof, when a dc voltage U is applied to the TDR ceramic (12) via connection leads (14) an increase in current forms the activation criterion for the fuse, which criterion is fulfilled under predeterminable conditions and determines a desired operating time .tau..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Albert Comberg, Rainer Waser
  • Patent number: 6093308
    Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g., electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Erik Severin
  • Patent number: 6033630
    Abstract: A method and sensor for distinguishing between different optical isomers (enantiomers), which sensor comprises a pair of spaced-apart contacts and a semi-conductive polymer material spanning the gap between the contacts, which polymer material includes chiral sites. The chiral sites in the polymer material are preferably formed by incorporating an optically active counterion into the polymer material, for example by growing the polymer in the presence of such a counterion, e.g. camphor sulphonic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Inventors: Andrew John Hinton, Michael Cooke
  • Patent number: 6010616
    Abstract: A sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid, comprising at least first and second chemically sensitive resistors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein each of the chemically sensitive resistors comprises a mixture of nonconductive material and a conductive material. Each resistor provides an electrical path through the mixture of nonconductive material and the conductive material. The resistors also provide a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising an analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with an analyte at a second different concentration. A broad range of analytes can be detected using the sensors of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
  • Patent number: 5986536
    Abstract: A current-limiting device contains at least one limiter element (2) with at least one printed conductor (L) of high-T.sub.c superconductor material. For a sufficiently rapid response of the device, the printed conductor (L) should consist of a layer (4) of the superconductor material on an electrically insulating substrate (3) and should have a critical current density of at least 10.sup.3 A/cm.sup.2. The substrate may be arranged on a carrier body, in particular one made of a glass material with low shrinkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunter Ries, Heinz-Werner Neumuller, Wolfgang Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5973589
    Abstract: Zinc oxide (ZnO) varistors containing vanadium oxide as the principal additive and one or more cobalt oxides and/or manganese oxides additives exhibit excellent nonlinear current-voltage characteristics. Preferably the varistor compositions are capable of being sintered at a temperature of from 900.degree. C. to 950.degree. C. The low-firing capability of the newly developed materials is attractive for the application in the multilayer chip varistor, because it can cofire with the silver (Ag) or palladium/silver (Pd/Ag) internal electrode instead of using the expensive palladium (Pd) or platinum (Pt) metal. With an appropriate combination of ZnO, vanadium oxide (V.sub.2 O.sub.5) and other oxide additives, a varistor sintered at 900.degree. C. for 2 hours is obtained with a nonlinear coefficient>50 and a leakage current<20 .mu.A/cm.sup.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: National Science Council
    Inventors: Tai-Bor Wu, Jyh-Kuang Tsai
  • Patent number: 5951846
    Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g. electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
  • Patent number: 5911872
    Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g., electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Erik Severin
  • Patent number: 5898359
    Abstract: A thick-film strain-sensing structure for a media-compatible, high-pressure sensor. The strain-sensing structure generally includes a metal diaphragm, at least one electrical-insulating layer on the diaphragm, an interface layer on the electrical-insulating layer, and at least one thick-film piezoresistor on the interface layer for sensing deflection of the diaphragm. The interface layer and the electrical-insulating layers are preferably formed by thick-film processing, as done for the piezoresistors. For compatibility with the metal diaphragm, the electrical-insulating layer has a CTE near that of the diaphragm. The interface layer is formulated to inhibit and control diffusion of the electrical-insulating layers into the piezoresistors. For this purpose, the interface layer is formed from a composition that contains, in addition to a suitable organic media, alumina, zinc oxide, and at least one glass frit mixture comprising lead oxide, a source of boron oxide such as boric acid, silica and alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Marion Edmond Ellis
  • Patent number: 5891398
    Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g. electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Michael S. Freund
  • Patent number: 5817423
    Abstract: A PTC element comprising a conductive sheet of a crystalline polyolefin matrix and a conductive filler, having provided on both sides thereof an electrode of a metallic foil, the PTC element having a resistivity at 20.degree. C. (.rho..sub.20) of not more than 1.8 .OMEGA..multidot.cm, a peak resistivity (.rho..sub.p) of not less than 2.0.times.10.sup.6 .OMEGA..multidot.cm, and a temperature difference ?T.sub.a (0.degree.C.)-T.sub.b (.degree.C.)! of not greater than 10.degree. C., wherein T.sub.a (.degree.C.) is a temperature at which the resistivity is 10.sup.6 times the resistivity at 20.degree. C. (.rho..sub.20) and T.sub.b (.degree.C.) is a temperature at which the resistivity is 10 times the resistivity at 20.degree. C. (.rho..sub.20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Unitika Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kajimaru, Keiichi Asami, Yoshiaki Iwaya, Yoshiaki Echigo, Akira Ito
  • Patent number: 5786744
    Abstract: A hybrid sensor which is comprised of an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration based on a temperature distribution of a predetermined gas hermetically enclosed within a fluid-tight space, and an angular velocity sensor for detecting angular velocity based on a deviation of a flow of a predetermined gas. The acceleration sensor and the angular velocity sensor are formed in one piece by the use of semiconductor processing technology in such a manner that the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity sensor are formed on a plurality of semiconductor substrates, and then the plurality of semiconductor substrates are superposed one upon another and united into a laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Nishio, Satoshi Hiyama, Mizuho Doi, Nobuhiro Fueki, Hiroshi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 5717935
    Abstract: A digital rheostat or potentiometer which provides both increment and decrement operations from a single input such as a pushbutton. A certain pattern of input actuations will cause the direction of change to reverse. Settings of the potentiometer are stored in nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Gary V. Zanders, Francis A. Scherpenberg, Kevin E. Deierling
  • Patent number: 5698827
    Abstract: A device capable of detecting motion, especially extremely small amounts of motion (micromotion) which has three portions: (a) a sensing portion, (b) a detecting portion, and (c) a warning portion: (A) the sensing portion has (1) a micro- to macromotion pathway having a conformation which permits repeated, reciprocal movement from or about a gravitational resting point, of a ball which is in constant contact with it and which is free to move on it in response to external forces; (2) a terminal domain whose conformation requires the ball to be in constant contact with it when the ball is at the gravitational resting point on the pathway, but which also permits the ball to move away from it in response to external forces; both the pathway and the terminal domain being made of a material whose electrical resistance is between 0.8 and 10 times that of copper, where the resistance of copper is given as 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: Vasil W. Turjancik
  • Patent number: 5680316
    Abstract: The discharge capability of zinc oxide elements is determined. A current of a given energy quantity is allowed to flow through a zinc oxide element to generate heat. The element is photographed by a camera and the temperature distribution of the element is obtained from the photographed image. The maximum temperature and the minimum temperature are determined and simultaneously the distance l between the points which show both the temperatures is determined. The difference .DELTA.T between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature is divided by the distance l to obtain an index .DELTA.T/l. The relation between the index and the discharge capability is previously obtained and this relation is stored in a memory. Using the stored relation, a discharge capability corresponding to the obtained index is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Shirakawa, Shirou Murosawa
  • Patent number: 5626053
    Abstract: A floatless liquid level gauge assembly utilizing polymeric resistive/conductive elements is provided which measures the liquid level of partially conductive or conductive liquids in a tank using a three terminal voltage divider network or a two terminal voltage or current network. The polymeric resistive/conductive element(s) extending into the tank and the liquid in the tank provide an electrical path which provides a signal proportional to the liquid level in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Rochester Gauges, Inc.
    Inventor: Cecil M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 5618738
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetoresistance element that can accurately sort out truely defective products from apparently defective products due to the manufacturing processes. Manufacturing processes for MR elements includes a MR element formation process, a magnetic field application process and an electric inspection process. In the magnetic field process, the magnetic field application is limited to a range within 75.degree. to the longitudinal direction of a MR element pattern. By performing the magnetic field application process before the electric inspection process, the anisotropic magnetic field due to a shape magnetic anisotropy of the MR element can be aligned almost in a fixed direction, defective products due to the manufacturing processes can exactly be sorted out from the apparently defective products in the electric inspection process, so that the yield rate can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Ao, Minoru Murata, Hiroki Noguchi, Yoshimi Yoshino, Hirofumi Uenoyama
  • Patent number: 5581232
    Abstract: An obstacle detection apparatus includes a rubber-like elastic body interspersed with electroconductive particles, and means for applying a voltage to the rubber-like elastic body to obtain an ultrasonic wave reception signal from a change in electrical resistance of the elastic body. An ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus is mounted on a support member for transmitting an ultrasonic wave outward. The rubber-like elastic body interspersed with electroconductive particles is provided along an outer periphery of the support member, and a voltage is applied to the rubber-like elastic body to obtain an ultrasonic wave reception signal from a change in electrical resistance of the elastic body as a result of receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected from an obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Tanaka, Masashi Tanaka, Yoichi Taniguchi, Shigeru Ito
  • Patent number: 5278636
    Abstract: A bistable switching element is made of a material whose electrical resistance reversibly decreases in response to intercalation by positive ions. Flow of positive ions between the bistable switching element and a positive ion source is controlled by means of an electrical potential applied across a thermal switching element. The material of the thermal switching element generates heat in response to electrical current flow therethrough, which in turn causes the material to undergo a thermal phase transition from a high electrical resistance state to a low electrical resistance state as the temperature increases above a predetermined value. Application of the electrical potential in one direction renders the thermal switching element conductive to pass electron current out of the ion source. This causes positive ions to flow from the source into the bistable switching element and intercalate the same to produce a non-volatile, low resistance logic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Roger M. Williams
  • Patent number: 5145645
    Abstract: A selective chemical species detector including a conductive polymer based sensing element having a detectable characteristic, for example, the polymer resistivity, permanently altered on exposure to a first chemical species and not permanently altered on exposure to a second chemical species. The detector then determines a permanent change in the detected characteristic and indicates the presence of a chemical species on detection of a such a permanent characteristic change. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating such a sensing element to achieve the desired selectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Spectral Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell R. Zakin, Lawrence S. Bernstein, Richard A. Moody
  • Patent number: 5001452
    Abstract: A semiconducting diamond which contains diamond carbon and at least one dopant element selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and Cl, and a process for producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Imai, Hideaki Nakahata, Naoji Fujimori
  • Patent number: 4983119
    Abstract: A musical candle includes a longitudinal thermistor strip emedded in a candle juxtapositional and proximate to a wick which thermistor can sensitively actuated when burning or extinguishing the candle for starting or stopping sounding of a musical device mounted in a casing for holding the candle on the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Inventor: Wen-Tsung Lin
  • Patent number: 4977811
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an angle sensor for musical tone control which controls a musical tone in response to changing angles at an articulation of the human body. Both ends of a pair of plate members are coupled pivotally and movably around an axis parallel to both faces of plate members. This pair of plate members are attached on the interior side of articulation of the human body by attaching means to generate a signal in response to the bending motion of the articulation. Thus, a musical tone control signal in response to the bending angles is outputted from detecting means which is placed on the plate members to control musical tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Shunichi Matsushima, Masahiko Obata, Takamichi Masubuchi, Masao Sakama
  • Patent number: 4940960
    Abstract: In case of manufacturing a voltage non-linear resistor, a sintering process is divided into two completely separate steps, i.e. primary and secondary sinterings. The primary sintering is carried out under a reduced pressure and the second sintering is conducted under an atmospheric pressure with a sufficient amount of oxygen. The primary sintering is effects such that the relative density and open porosity of the primarily sintered body are 85% or more and 1% or less, respectively. The secondary sintering removes to a large extent, voids existing in the body and, oxidation of the body is sufficiently effected. Therefore, the finally sintered body has a high density, a large surge withstanding capability, and a high non-linearity index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nemoto, Koichi Umemoto, Shinji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 4940959
    Abstract: A reversible resistant device having the property of being normally non-conductive, but being adapted to being converted to the conductive state. This change in conductive state is achieved by subjecting the device to a high voltage or high electric field. The essence of the device is a normally non-conductive film located between conductive layers, the film being formed by metal oxide coated metal particles embedded in a binder. When subjected to a high a potential, the metal oxide coating loses its dielectric properties and renders the film conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude Zeller, Henry A. Mayeski, Charles F. Murphy, III
  • Patent number: 4901050
    Abstract: A tilt sensor for a vehicle steering shaft includes a base resistive element layer formed in an opposed contact with a base plate surface. A plural layer structure is provided with a protective resistive element layer constructed by at least one layer formed on the base resistive element layer and an uppermost layer of the volume inherent reistance of the protective resistive element layer is higher than the volume inherent resistance of the base resistive element layer. The volume inherent resistance of the protective resistive element layer is from 2 to 500 times the volume inherent resistance of the base resistive element layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuko Kotaki, Takayoshi Tsuzuki, Yukihisa Oda, Ryohei Yabuno, Masami Ishii
  • Patent number: 4816799
    Abstract: A distributed resistance material level sensor which is sensitive to actuation pressure of the material in which the sensor is immersed, and ruggedized to provide protection of the sensor by forces encountered during handling and during use. The sensor includes an elongated strip having sensitive front and back surfaces and respective insensitive edges extending along the length of the sensor. An elongated protective element is provided on each edge of the sensor, the element being retained on a respective insensitive edge and having a cross-sectional extent to provide mechanical contact and abrasion protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Metritape, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert D. Ehrenfried, Michael D. Dabrowski
  • Patent number: 4752761
    Abstract: A thermo-electrically regulated adsorptive sensing device comprising a gas adsorptive sensing element having a stratum of adsorbently sensitive particles, a thermistor for sensing the temperature of the sensing element, a thermo-electric module for controlled cooling and heating of the sensing element, a heat sink, and a controller unit for applying variable amounts of electrical current through the thermo-electric module to appropriately heat or cool the sensing element in a rapid, controlled and accurate fashion. The thermo-electric module may be operated either to maintain the stratum of particles of the sensing element within about 1.degree. (0.6.degree. C.) of the optimal sensing temperature or operated to heat the particles in a controlled fashion to a relatively high purging temperature at which the gas is relatively rapidly desorbed, and then cool the particles in a controlled fashion to a relatively lower sensing temperature at which the gas is relatively rapidly adsorbed by the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Inventors: James P. Dolan, Patrick M. Dolan
  • Patent number: 4730490
    Abstract: A container (1) formed of two half shells has wall ribs (3, 4) extending parallel to each other from one side down to the lowest point in the container. A conductive foil (5) is fastened by rivets to said wall ribs. The conductive foil serves for measuring the level in the container. It is wetted on both sides by the liquid in the container. As a result, the resistance of the conductive foil (5) changes, as can be determined in an evaluation device. It is important that the conductive foil be held by holding means of the container wall (2) so that it can positively reach the lowermost point of the container and participate in deformations of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Kant, Hans-Georg Lauth
  • Patent number: 4729809
    Abstract: An anisotropically conductive adhesive composition (10) for use in electrically connecting at least one conductive area (14) on one substrate (12) with at least one conductive area (20) on a second substrate (18) is disclosed. The composition (10) is comprised of a mixture of conductive particles and a nonconductive adhesive binder (26). The conductive particles are dispersed throughout the binder in a plurality of noncontiguous conductive units (24) such that, upon applying a layer (30) of the composition (10) over both the conductive and insulating areas (14, 16) on one substrate (12) and positioning in a conducting relationship and adhering said at least one conductive area (20) on the second substrate (18) with said at least one conductive area (14) on the first substrate (12), the units (24) establish electrical connection between the adhered conductive areas (14, 20) on the two substrates (12, 18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dery, Warren C. Jones, William J. Lynn, John R. Rowlette
  • Patent number: 4724415
    Abstract: A level measuring probe for a liquid contained in a reservoir of the type having a detecting element constituted by a conductor having a high temperature coefficient and intended to be immersed in the liquid; and an electrical connection means intended to permit connection of the said detector element to a connector; a plurality of printed circuits disposed in respective parallel strips are provided on an insulating substrate, the assembly forming a flexible film and each circuit having a detecting zone and an electrical connection zone; the film is assembled to a support of, for example, stainless steel; the assembly is out at the edges of the parallel strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Jaeger
    Inventors: Daniel S. M. Dombrovsky, Jean-Michel F. Lanson, Bernard A. Mouchet
  • Patent number: 4703555
    Abstract: A catalytic-combustion sensor has a rigid support having a flat support face, a metallic resistance-type heater film flatly adhered to the support face, and a catalyst film flatly adhered in heat-transmitting connection to the heater film. The heater element is made of platinum or gold and the catalyst film is made of a platinum-group compound such as a palladium-, platinum, rhodium-, or iridium-compound, in an arrangement used to detect methane, although different materials can be used for other gases such as propane or butane. Normally a diffusion-blocking layer overlies the catalyst film. The heater film is a strip following a nonstraight, normally meandering, path on the support face and support is a rigid bar having a back face opposite to the support face and formed thereon in registration with the nonstraight heater film with a rearwardly open groove that reduces the thickness of the bar at the heater film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Inventor: Hans-Jorg Hubner
  • Patent number: 4694336
    Abstract: A method for transmitting digital video signals wherein spectral values are sorted according to magnitude and leading zeros are suppressed. In this way, the average word per pixel length can be reduced to about 1 bit, with image quality remaining acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Telefunken Fernseh und Rundfunk GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz-Werner Keesen, Gunter Oberjatzas, Hartmut Peters
  • Patent number: 4628252
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus cooperates with an electrical system capable of delivering power to and receiving signals from the sensor. A cable housing insulated wires is connected to the sensor and disposed in proximity to a fluid possibly containing a corrosive impurity. Corrosion detecting elements are connected to the wires and are immersed in the fluid possibly containing the impurity. Further, the elements are provided with breakable regions fabricated to corrode in the presence of the corrosive impurity. To facilitate fracture, the elements are loaded in tension so the breakable regions will fracture rapidly in the presence of corrosive impurities, to thereby send an electric signal to remote electrical equipment to indicate the presence of at least one impurity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James H. Terhune, Gerald M. Gordon
  • Patent number: 4621526
    Abstract: A container (1) formed of two half shells has wall ribs (3, 4) extending parallel to each other from one side down to the lowest point in the container. A conductive foil (5) is fastened by rivets to said wall ribs. The conductive foil serves for measuring the level in the container. It is wetted on both sides by the liquid in the container. As a result, the resistance of the conductive foil (5) changes, as can be determined in an evaluation device. It is important that the conductive foil be held by holding means of the container wall (2) so that it can positively reach the lowermost point of the container and participate in deformations of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Kant, Hans-Georg Lauth
  • Patent number: 4599671
    Abstract: A current limiting apparatus is provided with a pair of generally parallel conductive rails each including an initial high conductivity portion and a more resistive portion. A sliding armature conductor is positioned between the rails and makes sliding electrical contact with the rails such that a high fault current flowing through the rails and through the armature conductor produces forces which propel the armature conductor along the rails thereby increasing the resistance through which the current flows. Final interruption of the current is accomplished by a separate circuit breaker which is connected in series with the current limiting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: George A. Kemeny, Russell E. Fox
  • Patent number: 4598332
    Abstract: A current limiting apparatus includes at least two pairs of generally parallel conductive rails each having an initial high conductivity portion and a more resistive portion. A sliding armature conductor is positioned between each pair of rails and makes sliding electrical contact with the rails such that a high fault current flowing through the rails and the associated armature conductor produces forces which propel the armature conductor along the rails thereby increasing the resistance through which current flows. The pairs of rails are geometrically associated such that current flowing in each pair of rails augments the accelerating force on the armature conductor located between the other pair of rails. Additional accelerating force augmenting may be provided by a multiple turn coil located near the high conductivity portions of the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: George A. Kemeny
  • Patent number: RE34700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an angle sensor for musical tone control which controls a musical tone in response to changing angles at an articulation of the human body. Both ends of a pair of plate members are coupled pivotally and movably around an axis parallel to both faces of plate members. This pair of plate members are attached on the interior side of articulation of the human body by attaching means to generate a signal in response to the bending motion of the articulation. Thus, a musical tone control signal in response to the bending angles is outputted from detecting means which is placed on the plate members to control musical tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Shunichi Matsushima, Masahiko Obata, Takamichi Masubuchi, Masao Sakama