Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens) received Patent No. 121,992 for "An Improvement in Adjustable and Detachable Straps for Garments." He later received two more patents: one for a self-pasting scrapbook and one for a game to help players remember important historical dates.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8432160 | Method for estimating the weight of the contents of a household appliance A method for estimating the value of the weight of the contents of the oscillating assembly of an electronically controlled household appliance is provided. The oscillating assembly is connected to a frame by a suspension system having a damper. The damper includes ... | 04/30/2013 |
| 7426867 | Electromagnetic acoustic transducers for use in ultrasound inspection systems An ultrasound system for inspecting an object is provided. The ultrasound system includes an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) and a pulser-receiver system. The EMAT is configured to generate acoustic signals representative of the area being inspected and c... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7372259 | Magnetometer transducer sampling front-end amplifier and processor A magnetometer transducer sampling front-end amplifier (stand alone option) and processor including a transducer, a passive low pass filter, a differential or single-ended amplifier, an output capacitor and discharge control, a voltage comparator, a duty cycle contr... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7369255 | Apparatus and method for capacitive measurement of materials Method for measuring thicknesses of a film, a foil or a material layer with a measuring head which is spaced away from the film and with which a capacitive thickness measurement is performed, in which an optical distance measurement is performed with a distance meas... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7353614 | Vehicle compass system with continuous automatic calibration The compass system of the present invention utilizes an improved calibration routine in which a processing circuit of the compass recalibrates the compass each time three data points are obtained from a magnetic field sensor that meet predetermined criteria. One suc... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7355394 | Apparatus and method of dynamically measuring thickness of a layer of a substrate A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the thickness of a test object. The apparatus includes an eddy current sensor having first and second sensor heads. The sensor heads are positioned to have a predetermined gap therebetween for passage by at least a p... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7348695 | Linear motor, moving stage system, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method A linear motor includes a coil and a plurality of magnets disposed along a central axis of the coil. The magnetization directions of the plurality of magnets have different tilts with respect to the central axis. ... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7331247 | Relative rotational position detection apparatus having magnetic coupling boundary sections that form varying magnetic couplings First and second shafts (1, 2) are interconnected via a torsion bar (3) for torsional (or rotational) movement relative to each other, and first and second magnetic body sections (10, 20) are provided to rotate in interlocked relation to the rot... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7300047 | Multi-layer sheet feeder A sheet feed mechanism having a multi-layer structure. The multi-layer structure has a wear layer adapted to contact a sheet during sheet feeding and a replacement indicator layer adjacent the wear layer. The replacement indicator layer is adapted to indicate a wear... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7301328 | Through the hole rotary position sensor with a pair of pole pieces disposed around the periphery of the circular magnet A through the hole rotary position sensor which incorporates a single ring magnet with a central aperture is disclosed. The rotating shaft whose angular position is to be sensed is adapted to be received in the central aperture. The through the hole rotary position ... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7282819 | Stage apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method A stage apparatus in which support units supporting a counter-mass surface plate on a reference surface each include a first permanent magnet disposed on one of the surface plate and the reference surface, and a pair of second permanent magnets disposed on the other... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7277811 | Calibration apparatus and process The invention discloses differing embodiments of calibration apparatus, and methods of use. In one embodiment, the calibration apparatus may be used to calibrate a tool, positioning system, robot, machine, or device. The calibration apparatus may include a first mem... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7248366 | Method for marking defect and device therefor The defect marking method comprises the steps of: installing a surface defect tester to detect surface flaw and a marker device to apply marking at defect position, in a continuous processing line of steel sheet; detecting the surface flaw on the steel sheet using t... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7233385 | Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method The start of exposure or a process delays because reference alignment such as abutment must be executed along the optical axis after a substrate stage is moved between the exposure position and the processing position. To solve this problem, an exposure apparatus ac... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7227284 | Alignment apparatus and exposure apparatus using the same An alignment apparatus which generates a driving force between a plate-like movable element and a stator facing the movable element to control alignment of the movable element. The apparatus includes movable element magnets which are arrayed in a plate-like plane of... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7208939 | Methods and apparatus for sensing angular position and speed of a rotatable shaft utilizing linearized annular magnet and commutated ratiometric hall sensors A contactless rotary shaft rotation sensor includes a two-pole annular magnet attached directly to the shaft, pairs of diametrically opposed magnetic field sensors, and electronic processing circuits to produce linear output signals proportional to shaft speed and p... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7204035 | Displacement measuring system for a piston-cylinder assembly A piston rod is guided with freedom of axial movement in a cylinder, where the position of the piston rod is detected by a first position-measuring device, which travels along with the piston rod, and by a second position-measuring device on the cylinder side. The t... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7161351 | Hidden feature characterization using a database of sensor responses Quasistatic sensor responses may be converted into multiple model parameters to characterize hidden properties of a material. Methods of conversion use databases of responses and, in some cases, databases that include derivatives of the responses, to estimate at lea... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7161343 | Wall stud locator and marker A locator and marking apparatus comprises a housing and a surface on the housing for holding a magnet to be dispensed. Spacer members are formed on the housing such that the surface for holding the magnet is maintained a substantially predetermined distance from a s... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7155836 | Method and apparatus for using magnetic field Provided a method and apparatus for using a magnetic field. The method includes: measuring and storing magnetic field data indicating magnitudes of a magnetic field in different directions at each time by rotating sensors over a space; and checking whether a disturb... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7121300 | Device for measuring the lift of poppet valves A device for measuring the height of lift of poppet valves, in particular for poppet valves installed in internal combustion engines, with the help of inductive pickups, including a coil in a stationary mount and a metal sleeve which is in flush alignment in the val... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7112961 | Method and apparatus for dynamically measuring the thickness of an object A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the thickness of a test object. The apparatus includes an eddy current sensor having first and second sensor heads. The sensor heads are positioned to have a predetermined gap therebetween for passage by at least a p... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7106055 | Fabrication of samples having predetermined material conditions Fabrication of samples having material conditions or damage representative of actual components inspected by nondestructive testing involves sensors placed near or mounted on the material surface, such as flexible eddy current sensors or sensor arrays, to monitor th... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7090639 | Ultrasound catheter calibration system Apparatus is provided for calibrating a probe having a position sensor and an ultrasonic transducer. The apparatus includes a test fixture, which includes an ultrasonic target disposed therein at a known position. A computer is adapted to receive a position signal g... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7088094 | Displacement sensing system and method A displacement sensing system and method addresses demanding requirements for high precision sensing of displacement of a shaft, for use typically in a linear electro-dynamic machine, having low failure rates over multi-year unattended operation in hostile environme... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7084887 | Marker layout method, mixed reality apparatus, and mixed reality space image generation method There is disclosed a marker layout method in a mixed reality space, which can reliably detect markers in units of players, even when a plurality of players share a common mixed reality space. According to this invention, markers to be used by only a given player are... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7075198 | Alignment apparatus and exposure apparatus using the same An exposure apparatus that includes a first movable stage which holds a first wafer and aligns the first wafer at a predetermined position, a second movable stage which holds a second wafer and aligns the second wafer at a predetermined position, first stator coils ... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7070476 | In-situ metalization monitoring using eddy current measurements during the process for removing the film A method for measuring conductance of a sample using an eddy current probe with a sensing coil. The method includes N repetitions of measuring first and second voltage pairs including in-phase and quadrature components of an induced AC voltage in the sensing coil, c... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7065851 | Fiducial calibration method for measuring a workpiece Fiducial calibration systems and methods for precisely and accurately manufacturing a part from a workpiece, inspecting or measuring a part, and/or assembling a plurality of manufactured parts including providing a workpiece, wherein the workpiece and the associated... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7067942 | Linear motor, moving stage system, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method A linear motor including a coil, a plurality of first magnet groups having polar directions disposed in periodically different directions, and a plurality of second magnet groups having polar directions disposed in periodically different directions. In a set includi... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7059057 | Laser level A laser level disposable on a reference surface includes a housing, a pendulum pivotably connected to the housing, a first laser diode disposed on the pendulum for emitting a first laser beam along a first path, and a lens disposed on the pendulum in the first path ... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7055738 | Device for accepting banknotes A device for accepting banknotes comprises a compartment for receiving a bundle of banknotes and a separating mechanism for extracting individual banknotes from the bundle. A sensor system for detecting metallic foreign bodies connected to the banknotes is arranged ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7053785 | Security prescreening device An apparatus for prescreening an individual about to be subjected to a security screening including a magnetometer. The prescreening device comprises a base housing having a top panel, and a plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls. The base housing is adapted to... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7046001 | Frequency measuring device, polishing device using the same and eddy current sensor A frequency measuring device capable of accurately detecting an end point of polishing a semiconductor wafer by obtaining a frequency measurement result highly accurately in a short period of time. A device FC, which measures the frequency of a measured signal compr... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7024935 | Electromagnetic acoustic transducers An electromagnetic acoustic transducer for exciting ultrasound in a ferromagnetic material under test (2), includes a magnetic unit (6) arranged to be moved relative to the material under test (2) to magnetize a surface layer of the material, an... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7013741 | Torque sensor A magnetostriction-type torque sensor 20 includes a shaft 12b formed of a magnetic material and provided with at least magnetostrictive films 20b and 20c; exciting coils 20d′ and 20e′ f... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7012432 | Induction logging antenna An antenna assembly for an induction logging tool for use in a drilling operation. The assembly includes an outer pressure housing, a coil former within the pressure housing, magnetic cores mounted in the housing, a core carrier within the coil former and the pressu... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7002338 | Rotation angle sensor A Rotation angle sensor includes the following elements: (a) a sensor housing; (b) a rotor unit having at least one segment magnet, mounted for rotation in the housing; (c) a stator unit having a m... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6987628 | Method and apparatus for high fly write detection using stored amplitude values A method and apparatus for detecting a high flying condition of a transducer head in a computer disk drive is provided. The method and apparatus allow the detection of high fly write events that occur over one or a small number of data sectors. In addition, the pres... | 01/17/2006 |
| 6954041 | Supporting apparatus having a plurality of magnets that generate a floating force and method, stage apparatus, and exposure apparatus Compatibility of a small spring constant and large supporting load is realized, so that a stable operation is assured even if a fine-movement linear motor fails. A supporting unit, having a plurality of magnets whose same poles are arranged facing each other, is ada... | 10/11/2005 |