Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7326866 | Omnidirectional tilt and vibration sensor A sensor contains a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, and an electrically insulative element connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element. The sensor also contain... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7326867 | Omnidirectional tilt and vibration sensor An omni-directional tilt and vibration sensor contains a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, and an electrically insulative element. The electrically insulative element is connected to the first electrically conductive el... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7232968 | Illuminated in-line controller This portable device relates to an in-line illuminated switch. The switch has a soft glowing light which is visible in a darkened room. Elderly people remove their eyeglasses when resting, and the soft glowing light locates the switch when light is required at bedsi... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7182647 | Visible break assembly including a window to view a power connection A device includes a first conductive member configured to be electrically coupled to a first component and a second conductive member configured to be electrically coupled to a second component. The second conductive member is separated from the first conductive mem... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7124852 | Acceleration sensor and engine control for motorcycle A motorcycle has an engine and other components that are controlled based upon output from an acceleration sensor. The motorcycle also has an alarm system that uses the same acceleration sensor to detect vibrations indicative of a potential theft of the vehicle. Var... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7067748 | Omnidirectional tilt and vibration sensor An omnidirectional tilt and vibration sensor contains a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, an electrically insulative element, and multiple electrically conductive weights. The first electrically conductive element has a... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7012354 | Method and structure for a pusher-mode piezoelectrically actuated liquid metal switch A method and structure for an electrical switch. According to the structure of the present invention, a liquid-filled chamber is housed within a solid material. A plurality of switch contacts within the liquid-filled chamber are coupled to the solid material, while ... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6941206 | Tip-over detection device for motor vehicle A vehicle includes a tip over detection device that uses a vertically oriented sensor to improve the accuracy of detecting when the vehicle has tipped over. An ECU communicates with the accelerometer and controls engine operation. The ECU stops the engine, preferabl... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6925223 | Pressure actuated optical latching relay A pressure actuated optical relay containing a transparent mirror housing, located at the intersection of two optical paths. A liquid metal slug is moved within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing by the action of pressure exerted by an actuatio... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6903493 | Inserting-finger liquid metal relay An electrical relay comprising having two wettable electrical contacts supporting a conducting liquid. A non-wettable switch finger is moved between first and second positions between the electrical contacts by action of an actuator. In the first position the switch... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6903490 | Longitudinal mode optical latching relay A piezoelectric optical relay array having one or more array elements. Each array element contains a transparent mirror housing, located at the intersection of two optical paths. A liquid metal slug is moved within a channel passing through the transparent mirror ho... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6731268 | Computer input device A computer input device used to input coordinates and three-dimensional graphical information into a computer. The device includes an acceleration sensor that has a fixed volume vessel containing a magnetic fluid. A non-magnetic inertial body is located in the magne... | 05/04/2004 |
| 6706980 | Gallium based electrical switch devices using ex-situ and in-situ separation of oxides A gallium based switch or sensor devices, and a process for producing such devices, in which gallium or a gallium alloy, the surface oxide is separated either in-situ or ex-situ and placed in a switching capsule. Reagents which separate the oxide without dissolving ... | 03/16/2004 |
| 6621019 | Gallium wetted core member as an electrical tilt switch element An electrical switch comprising of a non-conducting hollow housing and a number of spaced electrodes, each of which extends through the housing, and a contact member within the cavity which comprises of a core member having a layer of liquid gallium or ga... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6603084 | Gravity responsive attitude switch A gravity responsive attitude switch containing electrical contacts separated by a gap, the switch containing a bead liquid and a carrier liquid, the two liquids being immiscible and having different electric resistivity values, where the liquid bead may ... | 08/05/2003 |
| 6570110 | Gallium based electrical switch having tantalum electrical contacts An electrical switch comprised of a housing defining a cavity, at least two spaced electrodes extending through the housing into the cavity, and wherein at least one of said at least two electrodes is composed of gallium wetted tantalum or tantalum alloy,... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6548771 | Multipole attitude detector switch with liquid contact An attitude detection device has a case having inner surfaces, electrodes each disposed on a respective inner surface of the case and being insulated from one another in at least one preselected orientation of the case, and a conductive fluid disposed in ... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6486422 | Three-axis gravity switch A three-axis gravity switch having a curved chamber with a spherical inner wall and a spherical outer wall which retains a gravity responsive member such as a ball of liquid mercury, the chamber having a three-dimensional sensing pathway defined on at lea... | 11/26/2002 |
| 6466200 | Computer input device A computer input device used to input coordinates and three-dimensional graphical information into a computer. The device includes an acceleration sensor that has a fixed volume vessel containing a magnetic fluid. A non-magnetic inertial body is located i... | 10/15/2002 |
| 6459055 | Acceleration responsive switch An acceleration responsive switch includes a material that changes from a high viscosity to a low viscosity when subjected to acceleration forces. The material's change in viscosity causes the switch to change from one state to another.... | 10/01/2002 |
| 6455790 | Three-axis torus shaped gravity switch A three-axis gravity switch having a curved chamber in the shape of a 360 degree torus having a circular cross-section which retains a gravity responsive member such as a ball of liquid mercury, the chamber having a three-dimensional sensing pathway defin... | 09/24/2002 |
| 6300581 | Christmas tree tip switch safety device There is provided an electric cord and switch mechanism with receptacles for the insertion of electric plugs and a plug end for insertion into a wall outlet. The cord, receptacle and switch being adapted for attachment to the trunk of a Christmas tree or ... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6281456 | Three-axis gravity switch A three-axis gravity switch having a curved chamber to retain a gravity responsive member such as a ball of liquid mercury, the chamber having a three-dimensional pathway defined on at least one of its walls, where the gravity responsive member and pathwa... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6225896 | Panic stop, deceleration warning system An emergency-stop warning unit and a method for the control thereof, serve for reducing the severity and chance of rear-end collisions. The invention utilizes a deceleration or collision impact sensor and vehicle electric power-source to turn on the white... | 05/01/2001 |
| 6114967 | Quake-alerter w/radio-advisory and modular options An improved safety related compact hand-portable apparatus for home or office use, EQ-Alert™ is ceiling or shelf mountable, activating upon sensing a minimum-threshold earthquake preferably of about 3.25/Rictor-scale intensity, instantly emitting a seri... | 09/05/2000 |
| 5786753 | Vehicle having a deceleration rate signal generator incorporated therein A vehicle provides an indication of its rate of deceleration. In a preferred embodiment, a vehicle has a deceleration rate signal generator incorporated therein. The signal generator includes a number of inertial switches, an oscillator, and four Schmitt ... | 07/28/1998 |
| 5751074 | Non-metallic liquid tilt switch and circuitry An electrical switch sensitive to an externally applied inertial and gravitational force, having an enclosure with a closed space; a conductive fluid filing a first portion of the space and a non-conductive medium filling a second portion of the space, th... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5610338 | Rolling or tilting responsible switch A roll or tilt responsive switch includes a housing formed from an electrically conductive material and having an inclined face formed on the bottom to gradually rise concentrically outwardly substantially from the center of the bottom, and a header fixed... | 03/11/1997 |
| 5602371 | Motor vehicle electrical system deactivating switch A motor vehicle electrical system disconnect switch is disclosed which operates to disconnect the positive lead of the battery of a motor vehicle from its electrical system and to ground the positive lead of the vehicle alternator upon either the applicat... | 02/11/1997 |
| 5563492 | Vehicular battery charging switch A vehicular battery charging switch comprising a tubular vial having a front end, a rear end, and a small amount of electrically conductive liquid material disposed therein; a coupling mechanism for coupling the vial to a vehicle such that its front end i... | 10/08/1996 |
| 5396223 | Earthquake detecting apparatus A vibration sensor has a bell shaped casing with a recess formed at its closed end. The recess has a flat bottom and slanted side walls so that an opening of the recess is larger than the bottom of the recess. The casing serves as a first electrode. Mercu... | 03/07/1995 |
| 5359162 | Shock sensor switch having a liquid conductor A shock sensor comprises a housing defining an interior space. The space includes a cylindrical side surface and an end surface, the surfaces being formed of an electrically conductive material. An insert is positioned in the space and includes an electri... | 10/25/1994 |
| 5349327 | Monitor apparatus for a bed underlying water A sensor is located in a bed underlying water. A downward array of sensors may be buried in the bed during normal flow conditions so as to be in a disabled mode. The sensor has an oscillatable arm (21) having a first end portion (22) for supporting the ar... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5231376 | Tool transport container apparatus A tool transport container including a flexible carrying strap is provided, with the container including a divided container wall therewithin. The container wall is arranged to mount a compartmented further container, as well as a motion sensor to prevent... | 07/27/1993 |
| 5198628 | Shock insensitive tilt switch with floating spherical restrictor to inhibit flow of conductive liquid A tilt switch comprises a housing forming a cylindrical inner chamber and having two electric terminals extending through an end wall of the chamber. A mercury mass of less volume than the chamber is disposed within the chamber and is arranged to electric... | 03/30/1993 |
| 5143208 | Level sensor An apparatus for sensing the horizontal level of a table or other surface and returning that table or other surface back to level. The apparatus includes a housing within which first and second mercury switches are positioned relative to each other in a m... | 09/01/1992 |
| 5083676 | Hazardous fluid dispenser safety system having a mercury tilt switch A system for dispensing hazardous fluid particular suitable for gasoline service stations utilizing an electrical impact sensing switch mounted upon each dispenser wherein the contacts of the normally open switch close upon impact occurring at the dispens... | 01/28/1992 |
| 5059958 | Manually held tilt sensitive non-joystick control box A control device having a boxlike shaped enclosure that is held with both hands for tiling to produce corresponding tilt attitude control signals while the fingers of both hands are used to actuate switches symmetrically disposed on the top section of the... | 10/22/1991 |
| 5038137 | Sleep posture monitor and alarm system A sleep posture monitor and alarm system detects one or more of four possible sleep positions and sounds an alarm when an individual wearing the apparatus assumes one or more of the detected positions. In addition, interface units for providing a monitori... | 08/06/1991 |
| 5034582 | Momentary rotating mercury switch A device for the detection of rotation having a hollow, pillbox shaped cylinder, a solid baffle positioned within the cylinder for directing the flow of mercury, at least two metal contacts within the cylinder, a non-mercury center rod contact, and mercur... | 07/23/1991 |
