Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6658466 | Method and apparatus for integrating remote human interactive assistance function into software systems A method and an apparatus provide an application program user with remote interactive assistance from an application program expert. During running the application program, an information collection routine collects the information needed by the applicati... | 12/02/2003 |
| 6487622 | Quorum arbitrator for a high availability system A computer system operable to provide nodes of a cluster with a quorum resource includes a network interface controller, a mass storage device, a processor, and memory. The network interface controller is operable to send messages to the nodes via a netwo... | 11/26/2002 |
| 6408279 | Method and apparatus for operating a self-service checkout terminal and a remote supervisor terminal of a retail system A method of operating a retail system which has (i) a self-service checkout terminal, and (ii) a remote supervisor terminal includes the step of generating an intervention-needed control signal with the self-service checkout terminal if a user of the self... | 06/18/2002 |
| 6402862 | Method of hardening a bushing of a track chain A method of hardening a work piece having (i) an outer surface, (ii) an inner surface which defines a passageway extending through the work piece, and (iii) an end. The method includes the steps of (A) advancing the work piece through a first induction co... | 06/11/2002 |
| 6394345 | Checkout terminal and associated method having movable scanner A checkout terminal includes a terminal base. The terminal also includes a scanner movably secured to the terminal base. The scanner is configured to be moved relative to the terminal base so as to be positionable between an assisted scanner position and ... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6389952 | Apparatus and method of operating a fluid cylinder of a work machine A work machine is disclosed. The work machine includes a work implement and a fluid cylinder mechanically coupled to the work implement. The fluid cylinder is controlled by an apparatus that automatically places the fluid cylinder in a float mode of opera... | 05/21/2002 |
| 6382357 | Retail system for allowing a customer to perform a retail transaction and associated method A method of operating a retail system so as to allow a customer to perform a retail transaction, with the retail system having a hand-held scanner device and a self-service checkout terminal, includes the step of storing a first number of records correspo... | 05/07/2002 |
| 6375791 | Method and apparatus for detecting presence of residual polishing slurry subsequent to polishing of a semiconductor wafer A method of detecting presence of a polishing slurry on a semiconductor wafer subsequent to polishing of the wafer includes the step of adding a chemical marker to the polishing slurry. The method also includes the step of polishing a first side of the wa... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6375550 | Method and apparatus for enhancing uniformity during polishing of a semiconductor wafer A chemical-mechanical polishing apparatus for polishing a first side of a semiconductor wafer includes a polishing platen having a polishing surface. The apparatus also includes a wafer carrier assembly having a carrier body. The wafer carrier assembly is... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6377663 | Call management system and associated method for a local telephone circuit A call management system includes a local telephone circuit, a first telephone set, a second telephone set, and a telephony device. The first telephone set, the second telephone set, and the telephony device, each coupled to the local telephone circuit. T... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6367623 | Method and apparatus for storing and circulating electronic storage devices An apparatus for storing at least one electronic storage device comprises an enclosure, an overlay, and a removable insert. The enclosure has at least one storage cell and an outer cover. The storage cell is configured to receive at least one electronic s... | 04/09/2002 |
| 6366967 | OPEN NETWORK SYSTEM FOR I/O OPERATION INCLUDING A COMMON GATEWAY INTERFACE AND AN EXTENDED OPEN NETWORK PROTOCOL WITH NON-STANDARD I/O DEVICES UTILIZING DEVICE AND IDENTIFIER FOR OPERATION TO BE PERFORMED WITH DEVICE An open network system for supporting input/output (I/O) operations for non-standard I/O devices are disclosed. The system includes a server coupled to a plurality of I/O device through an open network and an extended open system protocol that supports co... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6360840 | Apparatus and method for controlling temperature of fluid in a differential assembly An apparatus for controlling temperature of fluid in a rear axle assembly includes a rear axle housing having an internal component chamber. The internal component chamber has a rear axle sump located therein. The apparatus also includes a temperature con... | 03/26/2002 |
| 6354908 | Method and apparatus for detecting a planarized outer layer of a semiconductor wafer with a confocal optical system A method of planarizing a first side of a semiconductor wafer with a polishing system includes the step of polishing the first side of the wafer in order to remove material from the wafer. The method also includes the step of moving a lens of a confocal o... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6354497 | Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having a number of interface terminals associated therewith A method of operating a checkout terminal having a display monitor includes the step of operating the checkout terminal so as to perform an assisted checkout transaction while the display monitor is positioned in an assisted monitor position. The method a... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6355045 | Method and apparatus for surgically preparing a tibia for implantation of a prosthetic implant component which has an offset stem A surgical assembly for preparing a tibia for implantation of a prosthetic implant includes a tray trial adapted to be secured to a proximal end of the tibia. The tray trial includes a plate having a plate opening defined therein. The plate opening has a ... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6348071 | Spinal disc A spinal disc prosthesis to replace a damaged spinal disc in a spinal column (16) of a human, includes a body (10) having an upper surface (52) engageable with the upper vertebra (12) and a lower surface (152) engageable with the lower vertebra (14). The ... | 02/19/2002 |
| 6343739 | Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having a video camera for enhancing security during operation thereof A method of providing security to operation of a self-service checkout terminal having a video camera and a printing device associated therewith includes the step of capturing a first video image of a customer with the video camera during operation of the... | 02/05/2002 |
| 6336171 | Resource protection in a cluster environment A method of protecting volumes of a mass storage device shared by a server cluster includes the step of transferring from (i) a first file system of a first server of the server cluster to (ii) a first filter driver of the first server, a write request pa... | 01/01/2002 |
| 6322473 | Drive sprocket which has rotating members which are engaged by drive lugs of a track A drive mechanism includes a drive shaft and a sprocket drive assembly. The sprocket drive assembly includes a hub mechanically coupled to the drive shaft, a first side support secured to the hub, a second side support secured to the hub, and a plurality ... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6322564 | Proximal alignment insertion guide and method therefor A kit for centering proximally an implant within a canal formed in a femur is provided. The kit includes a cutter apparatus adapted to form a reference in a resected surface of the femur and a guide adapted to support the implant and formed for extension ... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6313874 | Method and apparatus for direct detection of communication system leakage signals A receiver circuit, which may be used in a leakage detector, includes an RF input, a narrow band filter, and a direct demodulator. The leakage detector in which the receiver circuit may be used is operable to measure leakage in a communication system, the... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6310940 | Personal computer interactive phone system A telephone system for providing advanced telephony includes a first phone system adapter and a phone system controller. The first phone system adapter is coupled between a first telephone handset and a telephone line. Furthermore, the first phone system ... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6310646 | Method and apparatus for measuring a radio frequency signal having program information and control information Disclosed are method and apparatus which measure signal level of an RF signal. The measured RF signal includes a baseband signal modulated onto a first carrier signal having a first frequency and the baseband signal includes program information and contro... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6307593 | Pulsed leakage tagging signal A method of transmitting a leakage tagging signal includes inserting a tagging signal into a CATV television signal only during portions of the television signal in which control information is present. A method according to the present invention is a met... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6305763 | Apparatus and method for operating a hydraulic excavator which has a position sensor for sensing position of an idler wheel A method of operating a work machine having (i) a drive motor for driving a drive track chain, (ii) a track tensioning assembly for adjusting tension on the drive track chain, and (iii) a work implement for performing a work function includes the step of ... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6304447 | Arrangement for cooling an electrical assembly An arrangement for cooling an electronic assembly includes a circuit board and an enclosure member. The circuit board has a first surface, a second surface, and at least a first electronic component or other heat-generating element secured to the first su... | 10/16/2001 |
| 6300772 | Automated test system and method for device having circuit and ground connections An automated test system for testing a device having a circuit connection and a ground connection includes a processor, a test apparatus, and a discharge circuit. The processor is operable to generate a control signal that includes a set of test parameter... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6298906 | Apparatus for securing and sealing a radiator to an engine cowling of a work machine A radiator assembly for a work machine is disclosed. The radiator assembly includes an engine cowling having a mounting flange secured thereto. A radiator is secured to the mounting flange. A bulb seal is provided to create an air-tight seal between the m... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6296185 | Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having a display monitor which displays both transaction information and customer-specific messages during a checkout transaction A method of operating a retail terminal having a display monitor includes the step of generating an item-entered control signal when an item for purchase of a customer is entered into the retail terminal by retail personnel. The method also includes the s... | 10/02/2001 |
| 6296149 | Monomer delivery device for bone cement delivery system A monomer delivery device for a bone cement delivery system having a sealed body that has and a chamber sized to receive an ampule of monomer, a collar attached to the body having a blade configured to sever the ampule and a spout attached to the collar t... | 10/02/2001 |
| 6296184 | Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having a security scale for providing security during an assisted checkout transaction A method of providing security to an assisted retail terminal having a security weight scale associated therewith includes the step of generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item of a customer is entered into the ... | 10/02/2001 |
| 6295519 | Method and apparatus for coupling multiple computer peripherals to a computer system through a single I/O port A method and apparatus for coupling multiple computer peripherals to a computer system through a single I/O port is disclosed. The inventive apparatus includes an interface device having a first connector for coupling to the I/O interface of a computer sy... | 09/25/2001 |
| 6292715 | Robotic process planning method and apparatus using templates A method of generating a robotic process plan for performing a process on a work structure includes a step of receiving input identifying a template corresponding to a plurality of geometric features of the work structure, each geometric feature associate... | 09/18/2001 |
| 6283090 | Method and apparatus for operating a hydraulically-powered compression release brake assembly on internal combustion engine A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a hydraulic supply circuit, a hydraulically-powered fuel injector assembly, and a hydraulically-powered compression release brake assembly includes the step of advancing a pressurized hydraulic fl... | 09/04/2001 |
| 6283999 | Shoulder prothesis with humeral fracture stem A shoulder prosthesis including a fracture stem has a body having an exterior surface, a shank attached to the body and a head. The body includes a medial fin, an anterior fin and a posterior fin. The medial fin includes a suture hole. The anterior and po... | 09/04/2001 |
| 6282373 | System and method for identifying film rolls during development processing The system and method provide bin identification numbers for storage of developed film rolls in a system that provides reliable and effective notification to customers that film rolls they deposited with a vendor for processing are available for retrieval... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6277123 | Prosthesis positioning apparatus and method for implanting a prosthesis An apparatus for positioning a prosthesis in a bone includes a body, first and second clamps, a depth gauge and a guide. The first clamp is coupled to the body. The depth gage is coupled to the body and is movable relative thereto generally perpendicular ... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6278730 | Non-invasive digital cable test system Method and apparatus for non-invasive testing of digital communications systems. Amplitude measurements are made for multiple frequencies of a multi-frequency communication system, converted to the time domain. An adaptive filter output is matched to the ... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6278485 | Preconfigured CATV sweep testing method and apparatus An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for receiving sweep testing signals and generating frequency response values therefrom. The apparatus includes a test input, a controller, a receiver circuit and a measurement circuit. The t... | 08/21/2001 |
