Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7787218 | Data storage device Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to suppressing deterioration in rigidity and dynamic characteristics of a tab even when an initial point of contact between a tab and a ramp during unloading is set closer to the outer periphery of a disk. ... | 08/31/2010 |
| 7125403 | In vivo accessories for minimally invasive robotic surgery Surgical accessories are presented in vivo and used by surgical tools in the surgical site to perform additional tasks without the need to remove the tools from the surgical site for tool change or instrument loading. Examples of in vivo accessories include fastenin... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7121781 | Surgical instrument with a universal wrist A robotically controlled endoscopic medical instrument that includes an end effector coupled to a wrist. The wrist provides two separate degrees of freedom about the same pivot point. The end effector can be moved and actuated by pins. The pins allow for a compact m... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7108688 | Remote center positioner The invention is directed to a remote center positioner used to support an instrument and provide a center of spherical rotation, remote from any bearings or mechanical supports, at a desired location of the instrument. The remote center positioner is particularly u... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7107090 | Devices and methods for presenting and regulating auxiliary information on an image display of a telesurgical system to assist an operator in performing a surgical procedure Systems and methods for performing robotically-assisted surgical procedures on a patient enable an image display device to provide an operator with auxiliary information related to the surgical procedure, in addition to providing an image of the surgical site itself... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7087049 | Repositioning and reorientation of master/slave relationship in minimally invasive telesurgery The invention provides robotic surgical systems which allow selectable independent repositioning of an input handle of a master controller and/or a surgical end effector without corresponding movement of the other. In some embodiments, independent repositioning is l... | 08/08/2006 |
| 6232818 | Voltage translator A voltage translator features an isolation circuit, connected to two inverters which are operated by different voltage levels, to selectively isolate one of the inverters from the source voltage associated therewith. The voltage translator also includes a... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6198304 | Programmable logic device A logic cell for a programmable logic device that features a random access memory adapted to selectively function as additional logic functions for the logic cell or one of a several different types of random access memory. For example, the random access ... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6063441 | Processing chamber and method for confining plasma A substrate processing chamber, particularly a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber used both for thermal deposition of a conductive material and a subsequently performed plasma process. The invention reduces thermal deposition of the conductive materi... | 05/16/2000 |
| 5993916 | Method for substrate processing with improved throughput and yield The present invention provides an approach which provides an increase in the number of usable substrates with a film, such as titanium nitride, deposited thereon at a sufficient deposition rate and where the film meets uniformity and resistivity specifica... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5994678 | Apparatus for ceramic pedestal and metal shaft assembly The present invention provides systems, methods and apparatus for depositing titanium films at rates up to 200 Å/minute on semiconductor substrates from a titanium tetrachloride source. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a ceramic heater ... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5660986 | Immortalized human cell lines containing exogenous cytochrome P450 genes Non-tumorigenic, stable, human bronchial and liver epithelial cell lines are provided wherein the cell lines are capable of expressing human cytochrome P450 genes which have been inserted into the cell lines. Also provided are methods and kits for identif... | 08/26/1997 |
| 5474299 | Golf swing trainer The invention provides a golf swing trainer for use by a developing golfer. The trainer includes a rotor that rotates about a rotational axis. When using the trainer, the golfer connects himself or the golf club shaft to the rotor at a point near his hand... | 12/12/1995 |
| 5305180 | Disk drive ejector mechanism with latch and ejector and standby switch A portable computer having a standby power mode of operation has a bay for receiving a portable removable disk drive. The drive has a pair of slots engageable with parallel guide rails in the receiver, and a notch engageable with a retractable latch norma... | 04/19/1994 |
| 5298437 | Fabrication process for Schottky barrier diodes on a single poly bipolar process A method for fabricating a diode, for example, for use in a Schottky clamped transistor, which as a process step disposes a layer of oxide between the substrate and the overlying layer of polysilicon which must ultimately be etched away. The oxide layer p... | 03/29/1994 |
| 5264557 | Polypeptide of a human cripto-related gene, CR-3 The present invention relates, in general, to a human CRIPTO-related gene. In particular, the present invention relates to a DNA segment encoding a human CRIPTO-related gene; polypeptides encoded by said DNA segment; recombinant DNA molecules containing t... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5228131 | Data processor with selectively enabled and disabled branch prediction operation The data processor related to the invention enables to designate whether the branch prediction mechanism itself should be activated or not for a conditional branch instruction, and the data processor enables to initialize branch history as required and al... | 07/13/1993 |
| 5214844 | Method of assembling integrated circuits to a silicon board An assembly structure and process for attaching integrated circuits to multichip modules and attaching the module to a printed circuit board. An epoxy loaded with diamond dust or boron nitride is used to attach the integrated circuit to the module. The du... | 06/01/1993 |
| 5213550 | Variable speed-type bicycle chain ring assembly A variable speed-type bicycle chain ring assembly includes a hub member having a plurality of angularly spaced radial arms which are stepped at a front side of the hub member so as to form at least two mounting sections that are spaced at different radial... | 05/25/1993 |
| 5206767 | VCR accessory and editor A method and apparatus for editing video cassettes. The video cassette editor can be used to move a video cassette to a particular position on the tape relative to a reference point as a function of tape length expressed in units of time. The video tape e... | 04/27/1993 |
| 5205319 | Float-operated valve assembly A float-operated valve assembly for a water tank includes a valve housing provided inside the water tank and connected to an external water source. The valve housing has an outlet opening formed at an intermediate portion thereof. A ratchet pole extends i... | 04/27/1993 |
| 5200910 | Method for modelling the electron density of a crystal A method for modelling the electron density distribution of a macromolecule in a defined asymmetric unit of a crystal lattice having locations of uniformly diffracting electron density includes the steps of: producing an initial distribution of scattering... | 04/06/1993 |
| 5200913 | Combination laptop and pad computer A portable lightweight combination laptop and pad computer has a display mounted on a main housing for movement between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, a keyboard is covered by the undersurface of the display and the displa... | 04/06/1993 |
| 5198811 | Vehicle communication system using existing roadway loops wherein the physical integrity of the loop is kept intact A method and system for transferring information between a moving vehicle and a stationary information location having a vehicle detector system with a loop antenna by using the loop antenna as either the receiving antenna for signals transmitted from a m... | 03/30/1993 |
| 5196018 | Knock-out instrument for the shanks of hipjoint prostheses The invention shows knock-out instruments for the shanks of hipjoint prostheses, the said instrument consisting of a shank (1) with a coupling-part for a sliding hammer (not shown) as well as of an extension-piece (3) which may be applied in the knock-out... | 03/23/1993 |
| 5197004 | Method and apparatus for automatic categorization of applicants from resumes A method and apparatus for automatically selecting the job category or categories within which an applicant should be placed using only the applicant's resume is disclosed. The invention accepts as input a computer-readable version of the applicant's resu... | 03/23/1993 |
| 5195055 | Serial data input circuit for the shifting-in of variable length data A serial data input circuit of this invention which, at the time of inputting of serial data, stores a predetermined signal represented in the bit outputted from the output side of the shift register when the last bit of serial data is inputted into the i... | 03/16/1993 |
| 5194978 | Timer system for learning and replaying of infrared signals A remote controller capable of learning and later transmitting infrared signals transmitted by any other remote controller. The remote controller determines which of four modes of transmission a signal is transmitted in, including carrier mode, pulse mode... | 03/16/1993 |
| 5187469 | Universal remote control including quick touch function A method and apparatus for causing a remote controller to execute a sequence of instructions at a preprogrammed time. A remote controller includes a timer and may be used to turn on the various components of an electronic entertainment system including a ... | 02/16/1993 |
| 5181924 | Patella prosthesis The invention shows a patella prosthesis, which consists of an artificial slide member (2) made from polyethylene with sliding surface (3), with the slide member (2) being mounted on the rear of the patella (1) by means of an attachment. The sliding surfa... | 01/26/1993 |
| 5178452 | Operating theatre lamp An operating theatre lamp with a main reflector (13) which illuminates the area of the operation (11) with a convergent main light beam (12) and an auxiliary reflector (15) can be arranged inside the main reflector to deflect a part of the used light beam... | 01/12/1993 |
| 5174266 | Fuel temperature control device with thermoelectric modules A fuel temperature control system maintains fuel at a programmable temperature by adding heat to or drawing heat from the fuel as it passes through a heat exchanger. A secondary heat exchanger is used in conjunction with Peltier-effect thermoelectric modu... | 12/29/1992 |
| 5167929 | Reaction vessel for receiving minimal quantities of fluid samples In accordance with the invention, a method for executing reactions at temperatures exceeding 50° C. is disclosed using minimal quantities of fluid samples. The method uses a reaction vessel which minimizes the containment space for the fluid sample. The ... | 12/01/1992 |
| 5168444 | Shipment system including processing of document images An integrated system for image processing of documents generated in shipping transactions includes a central transaction processing facility, which receives images of shipping transaction documents. The document images may be captured by scanners at a plu... | 12/01/1992 |
| 5166749 | Step scanning technique for interferometer A fast and effective way to step a relative position quantity by a reference interval. Each step in relative position includes open-loop and closed-loop control intervals. The invention contemplates an actuator capable of changing the relative position an... | 11/24/1992 |
| 5164899 | Method and apparatus for computer understanding and manipulation of minimally formatted text documents A method and apparatus which enables a computer to understand and manipulate minimally formatted text of such documents as resumes, purchase order forms, insurance forms, bank statements and similar items is disclosed. The documents are digitized by an op... | 11/17/1992 |
| 5161057 | Dispersion-compensated fresnel lens A transmission grating is used to reduce chromatic aberration in a Fresnel lens, wherein the lens chromatic dispersion is offset and substantially canceled by the grating's diffraction-induced dispersion. The grating comprises a Fresnel-type pattern of mi... | 11/03/1992 |
| 5158893 | Methods and compositions for screening carcinomas Methods for determining the prognosis of human carcinomas utilizing a marker specific for malignant cells of aggressive cancers. Cell lines have been produced that secrete monoclonal antibodies useful in detecting such markers, including a 51,000-dalton k... | 10/27/1992 |
| 5150912 | Ski brake In a ski brake with brake arms (12) and actuating arms (14) a pedal (16) is mounted to the actuating arms (14) about a second transverse axis (15). A linkage arrangement (17) is provided approximately parallel to the actuating arms (14) and is pivotally c... | 09/29/1992 |
| 5150073 | Low-noise preamplifier stage, in particular for magnetic heads A low-noise preamplifier stage, in particular for magnetic heads, which comprises an input stage comprising a differential circuit and a single-transistor output stage, wherein the differential stage has an intrinsic offset voltage, is ground-connectable ... | 09/22/1992 |
