Pts Corporation

Other

Cobe Laboratories, Inc.

Baxter International Inc.

Storage Technology Corporation

Network Photonics, Inc.

Applied Microbotics Corporation

Carolina North Manufacturing, Inc.

Robotool Ltd.

Robert L Anderson

Lilac Muller Muller

David Miller

Warren Paul Heim

Bevan D Staple

Stephen J Herman

Donn D Lobdell

Larry K Blankenship

Steve W Stracener

Thomas E Goyne

Joel F Giurtino

Jeffrey P Castleberry

David Reyes

Daniel C Colesworthy, Iii

Samuel Paul Weaver

Halbert P Fischel

Mark E Williamson

Bradley P Griffin

Richard S Roth

Lisa Sarah Thomas

Scott A Miller

Jerry W Newbrough

Thomas E Cacek

Donald R Widrig

Brad H Sherman

Joel Tune

Jeannette M Anderson

Jerry A Klintz

James A Pilarski

The combined toothpaste container cap and dental floss dispenser of the present disclosure and related inventions includes a cap structure configured to fit with a toothpaste dispenser in the form of a tube, a floss container and an access panel. The floss container is configured to fit within the cap body and has a floss containment cavity in which a supply of dental floss is stored. A floss lead opening is located on the floss container through which the dental floss is accessed. An access panel is attached to the floss container which covers the floss lead opening.

Combined toothpaste container cap dental floss dispenser

A ratcheting pulley device is shown and described. In one embodiment, the device includes a sheave rotatably mounted in a housing. The housing defines an opening for ingress and egress of a rope or cord into the housing and around the sheave. The device includes a releasable ratchet mechanism, which, when engaged, permits rotation of the sheave in one direction but not the other, and which, when released, permits free rotation of the sheave. A loading-disk is mounted on the exterior of the housing and is in rotational communication with the sheave. The loading-disk allows rope or cord to be operably and quickly loaded into the device.

Ratchet pulley device for tightening cords or ropes

An electromechanical system includes a structural plate in contact with a stop and an actuator activated by a force for creating a movement of the stop relative to the structural plate, wherein the movement is sufficient to overcome stiction forces between the structural plate and the stop.

Systems and methods for overcoming stiction

A configuration is provided by which it may be determined whether a MEMS device is in a select state. The select state is defined by a position of a moveable element, which is moved with electrostatic forces upon activation of an electrode. The select state is detected with a sensing configuration that has first and second regions. The regions are generally separated such that they are electrically uncoupled unless the moveable element is in the position that defines the select state. A detector may be provided to indicate whether the first and second regions are coupled electrically.

Methods for affirming switched status of MEMS-based devices

A number of methods and systems for overcoming stiction are provided. The systems include electro-mechanical systems capable of exerting a variety of forces upon areas prone to stiction. The systems can be MEMS arrays or other types of devices where stiction related forces occur. The methods include a variety of ways of causing movement in areas prone to stiction forces. Such movement can be vibrational in nature and is sufficient to overcome stiction, allowing a trapped element to be moveed to a desired location.

A method and apparatus for protecting a conductor in an integrated circuit. A protective covering can be disposed over a conductor for a substantial length along the conductor while allowing a portion of the conductor to be exposed. The protective covering can be configured as a tunnel which runs for a substantial length along the conductor and can be operable to prevent the occurrence of electrical shorts during operation of the integrated circuit. According to one embodiment of the invention the integrated circuit can be configured as a micromachined device with active mechanical components exposed to the atmosphere.

Method and apparatus for protecting wiring and integrated circuit device

An optical routing apparatus and method that achieves improved optical signal reintegration is disclosed. The optical routing apparatus includes an input port, such as may be provided at the end of an optical fiber. The signal may be routed to one or more of a plurality of output ports, such as may also be provided at the end of an optical fiber, each output port being configured to receive the optical signal. The routing between the input port and the output ports is accomplished with an optical switching arrangement that may shift among multiple distinct optical configurations, each configuration being such as to direct the optical signal to one of the output ports. The ports are positioned such that the input port and at least one of the output ports lie in different parallel planes, each such plane being orthogonal to a path along which the optical signal is provided by the input port or received by one of the output ports.

Wavelength router with staggered input/output fibers

A number of methods and systems for overcoming stiction are provided. The systems include electromechanical systems capable of exerting a variety of forces upon areas prone to stiction. The systems can be MEMS arrays or other types of devices where stiction related forces occur. The methods include a variety of ways of causing movement in areas prone to stiction forces. Such movement can be vibrational in nature and is sufficient to overcome stiction, allowing a trapped element to be moveed to a desired location.

A number of methods and systems for overcoming stiction are provided. The systems include electro-mechanical systems capable of exerting a variety of forces upon areas prone to stiction. The systems can be MEMS arrays or other types of devices where stiction related forces occur. The methods include a variety of ways of causing movement in areas prone to stiction forces. Such movement can be vibrational in nature and is sufficient to overcome stiction, allowing a trapped element to be moved to a desired location.

A method and system are provided for operating an array of such optical micromirrors. Electrodes associated with each of a plurality of optical micromirrors within the array are sequentially actuated by applying a voltage to each such electrode for a fixed time. The voltage applied to each of the electrodes is selected so that the optical micromirror with which that electrode is associated is positioned in a certain tilted position. The step of sequentially actuating electrodes is repeated to maintain the tilted positions of the plurality of optical micromirrors.

Micromirror array having adjustable mirror angles

An apparatus and method for routing optical signals between a pair of input ports and a pair of output ports is provided. An optical switching arrangement adapted to shift among at least two distinct optical configurations is provided for directing the optical signals. In the first configuration, the optical signal from the first (second) input port is directed to the first (second) output port. In the second configuration, the optical signal from the first input port is discarded and the optical signal from the second input port is directed to the first output port.

Binary switch for an optical wavelength router

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Robert L Anderson