Did You Know...
...that one person who claimed to be the inventor of the television is Russian emigre Vladimir Zworykin? In 1929 David Sarnoff, founder of RCA, asked Zworykin what it would take to develop TV for commercial use. He said: a year and a half and $100,000. In reality, it took 20 years and $50 million! Before his death in 1982 at the age of 92, Zworykin said of his invention: "The technique is wonderful. It is beyond my expectations. But the programs! I would never let my children even come close to this thing."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7351996 | Method of increasing efficiency of thermotunnel devices The present invention comprises a tunneling device in which the collector electrode is modified so that tunneling of higher energy electrons from the emitter electrode to the collector electrode is enhanced. In one embodiment, the collector electrode is contacted wi... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7339676 | Optical method and system for the characterization of laterally-patterned samples in integrated circuits Disclosed is a method for characterizing a sample having a structure disposed on or within the sample, comprising the steps of applying a first pulse of light to a surface of the sample for creating a propagating strain pulse in the sample, applying a second pulse o... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7235984 | Probe device and probe method A probe device 20 having a contact load monitoring device 10. This contact load monitoring device measures the displacement of a loading table caused by a contact load exerted on the mounting table from a probe in an overdrive by means of a displacemen... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7186019 | Thermal movement sensor A transducer for detecting movement of an article mounted for movement in a plane, the transducer comprising: a heater facing the plane of movement of the article and having a temperature dependent resistance; and, an edge defined in the article between regions of d... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7073937 | Heat emitting probe and heat emitting probe apparatus A heat emitting probe including a conductive nanotube probe needle with its base end fastened to a holder and its tip end protruded, a heat emitting body formed on the probe needle, a conductive nanotube lead wire fastened to the heat emitting body, and an electric ... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7072377 | Method for calculating and displaying the isothermal contours produced by a laser A method for calculating and displaying the isothermal contours of the energy produced by a laser in a sample includes applying a laser beam to the focal point of a sample. The region near the focal point is divided into cylinders coaxial with the beam. The maximum ... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7051450 | Portable coordinate measurement machine A portable coordinate measurement machine comprises an articulated arm having jointed arm segments. The arm includes joint assemblies which include at least two read heads in communication with a periodic pattern of a measurable characteristic, the pattern and read ... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7028567 | Process as well as device for measuring a component amount released during a thermo-chemical treatment of metallic work piece from the gaseous atmosphere The invention concerns a process for the measurement of the amount of a component that is released from a gaseous atmosphere during the thermo-chemical treatment of metallic work pieces. In order to provide a measurement system that offers the opportunity even in th... | 04/18/2006 |
| 6941669 | Method for determining effective coefficient of thermal expansion A method for determining an “effective” thermal coefficient of a machine comprises the steps of installing one or more temperature sensors (110) at various locations on the machine, positioning a first machine member (60) at a “known” reference... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6939036 | Temperature-expansion indicator for siding panels A temperature indicator for a siding panel senses panel temperature and indicates on a graphic scale the corresponding effect of thermal expansion over differences in temperature. The temperature indicator can be various forms of contact thermometer, temperature str... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6932504 | Heated self-detecting type cantilever for atomic force microscope A self-detecting type cantilever for an atomic force microscope (AFM) has an electro-flexural conversion element for converting a flexural amount of the cantilever into an electric current or voltage, a temperature measurement element disposed at a front end portion... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6918292 | Cement expansion/contraction test method An apparatus for measuring volumetric changes in cement as the cement is exposed to pressures and temperatures to simulate down-hole conditions, in a high-pressure high-temperature chamber is described. The apparatus is described a mold having a first section adjace... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6916115 | System and device for characterizing shape memory alloy wires Instruments and methods for measuring a property of a shape memory alloy are provided. The instrument includes a base plate, a non-contact movable mass, a force gauge, an actuator, a biasing spring, a heater for heating the shape memory alloy, and a non-contact disp... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6866451 | Device for detecting a thermal linear dilation on part of a machine A device for detecting thermally caused linear expansions of a machine element, wherein the device includes a temperature sensor placed along an expansion direction. The temperature sensor includes a first metallic conductor having an electrical resistance that is p... | 03/15/2005 |
| 6772827 | Suspended gas distribution manifold for plasma chamber A gas inlet manifold for a plasma chamber having a perforated gas distribution plate suspended by a side wall comprising one or more sheets. The sheets preferably provide flexibility to alleviate stress in the gas distribution plate due to thermal expansion and cont... | 08/10/2004 |
| 6453571 | Thermocouple tilt sensing device A thermocouple tilt sensing device comprises a container being substantially gas-tight, a first sensing wire having a first and a second end, and a second sensing wire, having a first and a second end. The first end of the first sensing element is electri... | 09/24/2002 |
| 6004030 | Calibration apparatus and methods for a thermal proximity sensor Apparatus and methods for calibrating a thermal proximity sensor are disclosed. Thermal responses from a thermal proximity sensor are used to sense the instantaneous distance between the sensor and a medium over which the sensor is moved, in a data storag... | 12/21/1999 |
| 5995206 | Thermal object measuring apparatus A thermal object detecting method for; obtaining a thermal image of a measuring space by two-dimensional thermal image detecting method for detecting two-dimensional thermal image information, obtaining position information of an object in the measuring s... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5986261 | Tapered structure suitable for microthermocouples microelectrodes, field emission tips and micromagnetic sensors with force sensing capabilities A tapered, nonconductive structure (10) having a hollow core (18) and a conical tip (14) includes a metal wire (16) within the core (18). The wire (16) is sealed within, and is exposed at the end (22) of, the tip (14). An electrically conductive or semico... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5929438 | Cantilever and measuring apparatus using it The present invention relates to a cantilever for separately observing a temperature profile of a surface of a sample and the topography thereof. The cantilever of the present invention comprises a support, a flexible plate one end of which is supported b... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5868496 | Non-contact surface temperature, emissivity, and area estimation Method and apparatus for non-contact temperature, emissivity and area estimation for gray and non-gray (uniform and non-uniform surface emissivity) are disclosed. Optical power measurements are obtained for radiation from a surface of interest in multiple... | 02/09/1999 |
| 5806978 | Calibration apparatus and methods for a thermal proximity sensor Apparatus and methods for calibrating a thermal proximity sensor are disclosed. Thermal responses from a thermal proximity sensor are used to sense the instantaneous distance between the sensor and a medium over which the sensor is moved, in a data storag... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5602820 | Method and apparatus for mass data storage The present invention discloses apparatus and method for decoding high density data encoded in a digital recording media as a series of tags comprising an information bit pattern including a tracking bit pattern. To this end, the invention preferably acce... | 02/11/1997 |
| 5362151 | Device for measuring thermal expansion A device for measuring the thermal expansion of a sample comprises a measurement radiation generator, a base member incorporating a reference groove and a furnace. The furnace has an external reference contour adapted to cooperate with the reference groov... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5160917 | Energy beam position detector An energy beam position detector including a shape memory alloy wire positioned at a boundary of acceptable beam trajectory. The wire is held under adjustable tension. A contraction detector monitors contraction of the wire. If the beam strays, is misalig... | 11/03/1992 |
| 5146688 | Low power tiltmeter electronics with compensation for bubble level fluid temperature Low power tiltmeter electronics with compensation for bubble level fluid temperature include compensating methods both for temperature-induced conductivity changes and temperature-induced viscosity changes in the bubble level fluid of a tiltmeter. The con... | 09/15/1992 |
| 5141330 | Thin-film quadrant temperature sensor for use in a system to control the alignment of a CO2 laser beam A thermoconductive sensor for aligning a laser beam which includes a substrate, a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate to provide electrical insulation, an insulating layer interposed between the dielectric layer and the substrate and a reflective/r... | 08/25/1992 |
| 5133417 | Angle sensor using thermal conductivity for a steerable boring tool An angle sensor for determining the roll angle of a rotating member is provided. The angle sensor includes an array of paired electrical components, each electrical component having an electrical characteristic which varies as a function of temperature. A... | 07/28/1992 |
| 5072116 | Microprobe preparation thereof and electronic device by use of said microprobe A microprobe is constituted by a single crystal having an apex portion surrounded by facets having specific place directions and having specific crystal faces. The microprobe is provided on a part of a main surface of a substrate or a part of a thin film ... | 12/10/1991 |
| 5009512 | Device and method for measuring the deformations of a sample A device and method for measuring the deformations of a sample, which deformations particularly result from the relaxation of the stresses to which the samples was previously subjected. The device and method include the use of a cell inside which the samp... | 04/23/1991 |
| 5003815 | Atomic photo-absorption force microscope An Atomic Photo-Absorption Force Microscope 1 includes an Atomic Force Microscope 10 and a radiation source 20 having an output radiation 22 wavelength selected to be preferentially absorbed by atoms or molecules associated with a sample surface 24a under... | 04/02/1991 |
| 4933951 | Minimum thermal environment sensor A planar thermal radiator for use in outer space is disclosed. The radiator is adapted to rotate on two mutually perpendicular x and y axes which are in x and y planes respectively that are perpendicular to each other and to the planar surfaces of the rad... | 06/12/1990 |
| 4895454 | Method of determining the temperature of a workpiece in a flexible manufacturing system The invention is directed to a method providing for the automatic temperature measurement with a precision which is required for the correction of errors introduced by temperature in a coordinate measurement made on a workpiece. To achieve this automatic ... | 01/23/1990 |
| 4793715 | Detector for aligning high power lasers A detector for aligning a laser beam has been provided. The detector includes an insulative substrate, and a thermally conductive planar face attached to the substrate. The face is divided into thermally isolated sectors, each sector having the same shape... | 12/27/1988 |
| 4747698 | Scanning thermal profiler Apparatus is provided for investigating surface structures irrespective of the materials involved. A fine scanning tip is heated to a steady state temperature at a location remote from the structure to be investigated. Thereupon, the scanning tip is moved... | 05/31/1988 |
| 4676665 | Distributed temperature sensor apparatus A liquid-filled tube placed next to a generator winding section provides an indication of an abnormal hot spot which may develop along the winding. The tube is filled with a liquid which vaporizes to form a vapor bubble at the hot spot location. Acoustic ... | 06/30/1987 |
| 4589783 | Thermal wave imaging apparatus A thermal wave imaging apparatus generates a real time image of the surface and subsurface of an opaque solid object. A.C. electrical signals indicative of the configuration of the surface and subsurface of the object which are generated during a thermal ... | 05/20/1986 |
| 4510390 | Electronic method and apparatus for distance measurement through the use of equidistant thermal fiducial markings An electronic apparatus is used to measure distance by the detection and counting of a train of hot spots. The apparatus essentially comprises a heat producing means, a hot spot detecting means and electronic circuitry for energizing the heat producing me... | 04/09/1985 |
| 4484820 | Method for evaluating the quality of the bond between two members utilizing thermoacoustic microscopy The subject invention relates to a method of evaluating the quality of the bond achieved between two members utilizing thermoacoustic microscopy. More particularly, thermoacoustic microscopy is used to detect and/or image the plate-mode resonant signature... | 11/27/1984 |
| 4468136 | Optical beam deflection thermal imaging The present invention provides a thermal imaging method to evaluate the surface and subsurface properties of a material and is based on techniques of optical beam deflection thermal imaging. The invention uses a localized excitation source, such as an opt... | 08/28/1984 |
