Patent Grant
8282226
The present invention relates generally to interior rearview mirror assemblies for vehicles and, more particularly, to an interior rearview mirror assembly which includes a compass system.
Interior rearview mirror assemblies which include a directional or compass display are known, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,727, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Typically, such mirror assemblies include a compass sensor, such as a magnetoresistive sensor, a magnetocapacitive sensor, a magnetoinductive sensor, a Hall effect sensor, or a flux gate sensor or the like, which is fixedly attached to the mirror mount that attaches the mirror assembly to a mirror assembly mounting element, such as a conventional mounting button mounted on an interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle. The mirror assemblies also include processing circuitry and a compass information display, typically included in the interior mirror casing (that includes the mirror reflector) which is pivotally adjustable by the driver to suit his or her rearward field of view.
Predominantly, compass mirror assemblies in the market today involve the fixed placement of the compass sensor (and any locally associated sensor circuitry), such as at the mirror mount where the mirror attaches to the windshield or headliner of the vehicle. The compass system typically involves a cable/harness connection to the processing circuitry (which is typically in the pivotable housing of the mirror assembly), which may include the compass compensation circuitry and the like, which feeds or connects to a display (such as a vacuum fluorescent (VF) display or the like) that is typically included in the adjustable mirror casing (such as behind the reflective element so as to display from behind and through the reflective element, or at an eyebrow or chin region of the bezel area of the mirror casing). The display then typically displays an output of the directional heading of the vehicle to the driver or passenger of the vehicle, such as an eight point display, such as N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW, or the like.
It has been proposed in the art to mount the compass sensor within the movable housing of the rearview mirror assembly. Processes have also been proposed to compensate for movement of the sensor during normal use of the mirror, such as when the mirror head or casing is adjusted by the driver. Such proposed systems, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,140,933 and 6,023,229, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, are often implemented with a specially adapted single ball mount or single pivot mirror assembly. Such compass mirror assemblies can be costly and often involve special tooling and complicated adaptation of the mirror assembly itself and the casing of the mirror assembly. Also, such compass systems as described in the patents referenced above are not readily adapted for use with double ball or double pivot mirror assemblies. Other compass systems and compass compensation systems, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,581,827; 5,339,529; 5,455,716; 5,699,044; 5,737,226; and 5,808,197, and/or in PCT Publication No. WO 2004/076971 A2, published Sep. 10, 2004; and/or in PCT Publication No. WO 2003/044540 A2, published May 30, 2003; and/or in PCT Publication No. WO 2003/074969 A3, published Sep. 12, 2003 (which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference), may be implemented in interior rearview mirror assemblies, but may be costly and difficult to implement within the movable mirror head of an interior rearview mirror assembly with a single or double ball mounting arrangement.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an interior rearview mirror assembly having a compass system associated therewith that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.
The present invention is intended to provide an interior rearview mirror system which includes a compass system having a display which indicates the general direction in which the vehicle is traveling.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a mirror and compass system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element and a casing that are adjustable relative to a mounting structure. A compass sensor having at least two magnetoresponsive sensing elements is positioned within the mirror casing and at a position and orientation that reduces the effect of adjustment of the mirror on the compass sensor output.
The compass sensor is preferably positioned at a generally central location of the mirror and at or near the centerline of the mirror head. Preferably, the compass sensor is positioned at or near a lower region of the mirror casing to position the sensor remotely from the roof of the vehicle and any wiring or lights or the like that may be positioned at the roof of the vehicle, in order to reduce the effect of such items on the compass sensor performance.
Preferably, the compass sensor is oriented such that one of the sensing elements is generally along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the other sensing element is generally along a cross car axis of the vehicle when the mirror is oriented at a typical in-use position (such as at an angle of about 20 degrees rotation toward the driver side and at an angle of about 9 degrees tilt downward). Optionally, the system may determine when a prismatic mirror is flipped or toggled between the daytime and nighttime orientations and may compensate or adjust the processing of the compass sensor output to compensate for the known movement (such as about 4½ degrees upward or downward) of the mirror head/reflective element and compass sensor.
Optionally, the compass sensor may be positioned in close proximity to the mirror ball of the mounting arm (the ball that is received in the socket at the mirror casing or reflective element or toggle portion of the mirror assembly) so as to reduce movement of the compass sensor when the mirror is adjusted, in order to reduce the effects of mirror adjustment on the compass sensor performance. Optionally, the compass sensor may be generally fixedly positioned relative to the mirror ball of the mounting arm so that the compass sensor is generally fixed and do not move during adjustments of the mirror head/reflective element when the driver grasps and moves the mirror head/reflective element to adjust to his or her preferred field of view rearward through the rear window of the vehicle.
Optionally, the mirror and compass system may operate to enter a rapid compensating and aggressive calibration mode in response to a detection of an abrupt movement of the mirror head and compass sensor. The system may determine when such an abrupt movement is indicative of a mirror adjustment (such as an adjustment between the daytime and nighttime orientations for a prismatic mirror or an adjustment of the mirror by a person who has just entered the vehicle or started the vehicle ignition), and then may enter the aggressive calibration mode in response to such a determination. The system thus may discern, such as algorithmically via software and/or aided via a movement/mechanical adjust detector/sensor element, between a change in sensor output that is indicative of a mirror adjustment and a change in sensor output that is indicative of a change in vehicle direction and may enter the aggressive calibration mode when the change in sensor output is indicative of a mirror adjustment. Such a mirror adjustment typically occurs rapidly (such as in less than one second) and has a predictable range and/or direction, so that the compass system can discern when a change in sensor output is indicative of a mirror adjustment versus a detection of a magnetic field anomaly or the like or versus a change in directional heading of the vehicle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, a casing having a reflective element, a compass sensor and a control. The casing is adjustable relative to a mounting structure that mounts the interior rearview mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle. The compass sensor has a first magnetoresponsive sensing element and a second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The compass sensor is disposed within the mirror casing. The control receives a first signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the first magnetoresponsive sensing element and receives a second signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The control determines a directional heading of the vehicle based on the first and second signals. The control automatically compensates for a deviating magnetic field of the vehicle and generates a signal indicative of the directional heading of the vehicle. The control determines that the casing is adjusted by an occupant of the vehicle in response to a change in the first and second signals being indicative of an abrupt movement of the casing about the mounting structure by an occupant of the vehicle (such as when the driver or occupant of the vehicle adjusts the mirror reflective element to provide a desired reflector rearward field of view). The control is operable to enter a rapid compensating mode to compensate for the mirror adjustment in response to the control determining that the casing is adjusted by an occupant of the vehicle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, a casing having a reflective element, a compass sensor and a control. The casing is adjustable relative to a mounting structure that mounts the interior rearview mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle. The compass sensor has a first magnetoresponsive sensing element and a second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The compass sensor is disposed within the mirror casing. The control receives a first signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the first magnetoresponsive sensing element and a second signal indicative of a magnetic field sensed by the second magnetoresponsive sensing element. The control determines a directional heading of the vehicle based on the first and second signals and automatically compensates for a deviating magnetic field of the vehicle and generates a signal indicative of the directional heading of the vehicle. The control is operable to enter a rapid compensating mode in response to an ignition cycle of the vehicle. The control automatically exits the rapid compensating mode and enters a less aggressive calibration mode that distinguishes the Earth's magnetic field from magnetic anomalies and non-abrupt changes in the vehicle magnetic signature. The control automatically exits the rapid compensating mode after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the ignition cycle.
Therefore, the present invention provides a mirror and compass system that positions the compass sensor within the movable head portion of the mirror assembly. The compass sensor is positioned in a manner that reduces the effects of mirror adjustment on the sensor performance. The system may adjust processing in response to known movements of the mirror head to compensate for such known movements. The system may enter an aggressive calibration mode to calibrate the compass sensor when the mirror has been adjusted by a user. The compass system may distinguish between the anomaly signature or pattern and the mirror adjustment signature or pattern and may enter the calibration mode when the mirror adjustment is detected.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a compassized prismatic interior rearview mirror assembly or system 10 includes a double pivot or double ball mounting arrangement 12 for pivotally or adjustably mounting a casing 14, bezel portion 15 and prismatic reflective element 16 of mirror assembly 10 relative to an interior portion of a vehicle, such as to an interior surface of a windshield 11 of a vehicle or the like (
The mirror casing or housing 14 may comprise a polypropylene material or the like and is adjustably mounted to a mirror mount (not shown) positioned at an interior portion of a vehicle, such as a mirror mounting button on a windshield of the vehicle or any other mounting member at the windshield or at a headliner or overhead console of the vehicle or the like. The mirror housing may be adjustably mounted at the vehicle via connection to a single or double ball mounting arrangement, or via connection to any other mounting arrangement, without affecting the scope of the present invention. The mirror housing 14 may then pivot or actuate around one or more ball and socket joints or connections to be adjusted relative to the interior portion of the vehicle to a desired orientation by the driver of the vehicle.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the reflective element 16 comprises a prismatic reflective element. The prismatic interior rearview mirror assembly may comprise any type of prismatic interior rearview mirror assembly, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870; 6,598,980; 5,327,288; 4,948,242; 4,826,289; 4,436,371; and 4,435,042; and PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004 by Kulas et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Optionally, the prismatic reflective element may comprise a conventional prismatic reflective element or prism or may comprise a prismatic reflective element of the types described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No, 10/709,434, filed May 5, 2004 by Lynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,420,756; Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004 by Kulas et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; Ser. No, 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; and/or Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004 by Lynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772; and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/525,952, filed Nov. 26, 2003 by Lynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference, without affecting the scope of the present invention. A variety of mirror accessories and constructions are known in the art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,555,136; 5,582,383; 5,680,263; 5,984,482; 6,227,675; 6,229,319; and 6,315,421 (the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein), that can benefit from the present invention.
The prismatic reflective element 16 may be formed from various materials such as plastic or glass, but preferably is glass, and preferably has a planar front surface 16a extending at an angle to a planar rear surface 16b (
As shown in
The compass sensor 20 of compass system 18 functions to detect a directional heading of the vehicle relative to the Earth's magnetic field, as is known in the art. The compass system and sensor may utilize aspects of the compass systems described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/352,691, filed Jan. 28, 2003 by Schierbeek et al. for VEHICLE COMPASS COMPENSATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,902; Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004 by Kulas et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; and/or Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, and/or U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851; 5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,508; 6,222,460; 6,513,252; and 6,642,851, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772, and/or European patent application, published Oct. 11, 2000 under Publication No. EP 0 1043566, and/or Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005; U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/624,091, filed Nov. 1, 2004 by Karner et al. for MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR MIRROR AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME; and/or Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004 by Lynam et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH VIDEO DISPLAY, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. The compass circuitry may include the compass sensor, such as a magneto-responsive sensor, such as a magneto-resistive sensor, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,255,442; 5,632,092; 5,802,727; 6,173,501; 6,427,349; and 6,513,252 (which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), a magneto-capacitive sensor, a Hall-effect sensor, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,278,271; 5,942,895 and 6,184,679 (which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), a magneto-inductive sensor, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,370 (which is hereby incorporated herein by reference), a magneto-impedance sensor, such as the types described in PCT Publication No. WO 2004/076971 A2, published Sep. 10, 2004 (which is hereby incorporated herein by reference), or a flux-gate sensor or the like, and/or may comprise a compass chip, such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005; and U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/624,091, filed Nov. 1, 2004 by Karner et al. for MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR MIRROR AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME; and/or Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004 by Lynam et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH VIDEO DISPLAY, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The sensor circuitry and/or the circuitry in the mirror housing and associated with the compass sensor may include processing circuitry. For example, and as shown in
When an interior rearview mirror that includes a compass system (such as a known compass system) is first installed in a vehicle at a vehicle assembly plant (such as when the mirror assembly (including the compass sensor and circuitry) is attached to a mounting button at a vehicle windshield or other mounting portion at an interior portion of the vehicle) and first powered, known compass systems, which typically have the compass sensor fixedly mounted at the mirror foot or base or mount, include an initial calibration mode intended to allow the vehicle to be delivered from the assembly plant to an automobile dealership with the compass appropriately calibrated. Taking, for example, such a known interior mirror compass system currently supplied by the assignee to automakers, the compass system enters an aggressive calibration mode or rapid calibration/compensating mode (such as the Cal-1 mode as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,252, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/352,691, filed Jan. 28, 2003 by Schierbeek et al. for VEHICLE COMPASS COMPENSATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,902, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference) to calibrate the compass as the vehicle on the assembly line weaves and turns on the assembly conveyor line and as the vehicle is driven through the assembly plant and through the staging or storage lot and onto a truck for shipping to a dealer. In so doing, the assignee's compass system determines three cardinal points (other competitive compass systems require detection of all four cardinal (N, W, S, E) points) and then deduces the true directional heading of the vehicle, compensating for the magnetic deviation inherent in the vehicle. After the vehicle is shipped to a dealer and purchased, the compass system is calibrated and the correct heading is shown on the compass display typically provided at the mirror reflector or at the mirror bezel. After this initial Cal-1 or aggressive calibration has been completed, calibration and/or compensation for stray magnetic fields and other magnetic anomalies, such as typically encountered exterior the vehicle during driving (and from the likes of metal bridges, subway lines, cellular telephone towers, large metal structures and the like), are compensated for via other less aggressive calibration/compensation modes. Thus, for example, and referring to U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,252 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/352,691, filed Jan. 28, 2003 by Schierbeek et al. for VEHICLE COMPASS COMPENSATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,902, and/or Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, the compass system may initially operate in the aggressive Cal-1 calibration mode, and then may later function in a less aggressive calibration/compensation mode, such as Cal-2 or Cal-3 calibration modes.
Using the compass system of the present invention, as the vehicle is typically driven on highways (and with the compass system of the present invention in its normal operating mode or non-calibration mode), the compass system is exposed to and may be affected by the various magnetic anomalies, such as from bridges, cell towers, and/or the like referenced above. Such magnetic anomalies, however, have a particular, and often predictable, anomaly signature and/or pattern. The magnetic anomalies may impact the compass system performance and may lead to temporary inaccurate compass readings and/or an erroneous compensation of the compass system, and thus lead to display of erroneous/inaccurate compass display headings.
The compass system of the present invention includes an algorithm expressed in software processed by a microprocessor that includes a mirror adjust detection routine. This mirror adjust detection routine takes advantage of the fact that magnetic anomalies/stray magnetic fields, which emanate from structures typically external to the vehicle as it passes by such structures and objects along a road or highway, are typically temporary and relatively short lived because of the speed of passage of the vehicle. The mirror adjust detection routine further takes account of the fact that mirror adjustments by a driver of a vehicle are relatively predictable events that occur abruptly and that remain adjusted typically for the duration of that particular journey. Thus, the mirror adjust detection routine of the present invention algorithmically reduces or prevents or suppresses confusion of a mirror adjust event from other stray magnetic field/magnetic anomaly effects that are external to the vehicle. For example, the compass system of the present invention (via software operated by a microprocessor of the control of the compass system) may distinguish and/or learn the pattern and signature of such stray magnetic fields/magnetic anomalies and may ignore such and/or avoid entering particular calibration mode or modes or portions of modes when such anomalies are detected and recognized/distinguished by the compass system.
Optionally, the compass sensing device or sensor 20 may comprise a two-axis sensor (comprising two magneto-responsive sensing elements disposed at a fixed angle relative to each other, such as orthogonally to each other, and disposed on a platform or circuit board or substrate 32 so that they are positioned generally parallel to the floor plane of the vehicle so as to be sensitive to the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field), or the sensor may comprise a three-axis sensor (comprising two magneto-responsive sensing elements disposed orthogonally to each other and disposed in the mirror casing cavity, and a third magneto-responsive sensing element, sometimes referred to as a z-axis sensing element, at a right angle (approximately ninety degrees) to the two sensing elements and disposed in the cavity, so that the three-axis sensor is sensitive to the horizontal component and to the vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field), without affecting the scope of the present invention. The third axis sensing element is an optional and not necessary addition to the sensor of the compass system of the present invention. However, the z-axis sensing element may be helpful in detecting and distinguishing magnetic anomalies exterior to the vehicle (as discussed above), but is not needed for the primary compass direction determination and/or the detection of a tilt or rotation of the mirror. The compass sensor may be arranged at a desired angle to provide enhanced sensing in the horizontal directions when the mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle, as discussed below.
In the illustrated embodiment of
Optionally, and desirably, the compass sensor may be positioned at a compass sensor board or substrate 32 that may extend generally horizontally from the printed circuit board 30 at the rear of the reflective element 16. The compass sensor 20 may comprise a pair of generally orthogonal sensing elements and thus may provide a two axis sensing ability and function to provide direction sensing throughout the range of mirror adjustment with reduced or minimal impact on the accuracy of the directional sensing during such adjustment. The impact may be further reduced by various mounting arrangements or configurations and algorithms and the like, as discussed below.
As shown in
One of the sensing elements 20a of the compass sensor 20 is preferably oriented generally along or parallel to the longitudinal axis 26 of the vehicle and the other sensing element 20b is preferably oriented along or generally parallel to a lateral or cross-car axis 34 of the vehicle (in a side to side orientation and generally parallel to the vehicle floor), with the sensing elements being generally normal or at a right angle to one another. Optionally, and as shown in
For example, and as shown in
For example, a printed circuit board or equivalent may be positioned at and attached to the rear surface of the reflective element (the surface within the casing of the mirror assembly and facing away from the driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle), such as via adhesive or an attachment or backing plate or the like. The circuit board may comprise a generally flat, rectangular element or substrate with conductive traces and circuitry disposed thereon. When the mirror head and reflective element are arranged so that the reflective surface (the flat rear surface) of the reflective element is generally vertical, the circuit board is also generally vertically oriented. Where a compass sensor chip (which may include a pair of orthogonally oriented sensing elements arranged in a common plane) is disposed on and along the substrate or circuit board (PCB), the chip itself (and hence the sensing elements disposed therein) may be placed on the PCB in any orientation chosen by the PCB manufacturer. Thus, the compass sensor chip may be oriented such that the principal axis of one sensor is generally horizontal and toward a side of the vehicle, while the principal axis of the other sensor may be generally vertically oriented when the PCB is attached to a reflective element and the reflective element is generally vertically oriented. Thus, the actual placement of the compass chip itself thus may largely or substantially take care of or account for the rotational orientation of the mirror head.
Because it is desired to provide sensing in the x-y directions (or in a horizontal plane), the compass sensor is preferably disposed on a compass sensor mount or board that extends at an angle from the circuit board and/or rear surface of the reflective element so that the compass sensor elements are generally horizontal when the mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle at its nominal (such as about 20 degree sideward and 9 degree downward) orientation. Preferably, the compass sensor mount is mounted to the circuit board such that the compass sensor mount is oriented at about a 9 degree downward angle from being perpendicular or normal to the circuit board, such that the compass sensor mount or chip is substantially horizontal relative to the floor of the vehicle and thus the ground when the mirror head and reflective element are oriented at the typical or nominal orientation with about a 9 degree downward tilt toward the typical driver's head location. Likewise, the compass sensor is preferably mounted to the compass sensor mount at an angle so that the principal axes of the compass sensing elements are at a desired respective angle relative to the reflective element. For example, a first one of the sensing elements may be at an angle of about 20 degrees toward the driver side of the mirror assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, while a second sensing element may be generally orthogonal to the first sensing element and along the plane of the compass sensor mount. Thus, when the mirror head and reflective element are oriented at the typical or nominal orientation with about a 9 degree downward tilt and about a 20 degree sideward rotation toward the typical driver's head location, the sensing elements are oriented along a generally horizontal plane and are oriented such that the principal axis of the first sensing element is in the direction of travel of the vehicle, while the principal axis of the second sensing element is normal to the first principal axis and directed toward the side of the vehicle. The compass sensor mount may be mounted to the printed circuit board and/or the reflective element via a generally wedge-shaped mounting element or offset element (or via other mounting means) or the compass sensor itself may be attached to or mounted to the printed circuit board at the desired angle, such as via other mounting attachment means, to provide the desired orientation of the compass sensor relative to the reflective element. It is further envisioned that the tilt/rotation offset element may be otherwise formed (or the compass sensor may be otherwise mounted to the circuit board) to provide other offset angles depending on the particular application of the mirror assembly and the nominal orientation of the reflective element that directs the reflective element generally toward the location of a typical driver to provide the typical driver with the appropriate or desired field of view rearward and through the rear window of the vehicle.
Thus, by using the tilt/rotation offset element of the present invention, typically a plastic molding that, for example, attaches to the rear of the reflective element, an angled shelf or ledge is created upon which rests the compass sensor itself and/or its printed circuit board (PCB). Thus, when the interior rearview mirror assembly is installed in a vehicle, such as at the assembly plant (and adjusted at a generally nominal position for viewing by a driver, such that the algorithm can take over and generally or substantially calibrate the compass system as the vehicle is moved through the vehicle assembly plant), and/or is used by the average or typical driver, the tilt/rotation offset element compensates for the nominal 20 degree sideward rotation/9 degree downward tilt, such that the magneto-responsive sensing elements are oriented in the vehicle in which the mirror assembly is mounted with the principal axis of a first one of the magnetoresponsive sensing elements pointing directly forward through the windshield in the direction of travel of the vehicle, and with the principal axis of a second magnetoresponsive sensing element at 90 degrees relative thereto and pointed sidewardly toward a side of the vehicle, and with both the first and second principal axes/magnetoresponsive sensing elements lying in the same plane, and with that plane being generally horizontal with the floor of the vehicle and thus with the road being traveled. Thus, the tilt/rotation offset element and/or the physical tilt and rotation offset means (that may be tied to or separate from the offset element and/or sensor mount) of the present invention physically ensures that the compass sensor has at least two magnetoresponsive sensing elements oriented generally horizontal to the ground (with one facing forward of the vehicle and one facing orthogonally sideward). Thus, at the nominal (about 20 degree sideward/9 degree downward) mirror orientation or setting, the compass sensor is oriented in a known orientation relative to the Earth's horizontal magnetic field. The mirror adjust detection algorithm or routine of the present invention may reference against this as a base or reference orientation from which mirror/sensor adjustment is estimated and/or accommodated/compensated against.
Optionally, in order to reduce the affect of mirror adjustment on the compass sensor, the compass sensor may be mounted or positioned in close proximity to the mirror ball (the ball (referred to at 13a in
Optionally, and as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, the printed circuit board 30 may be mounted at a physical mount at the reflective element to accommodate the approximate angle of the mirror casing. The physical mount may be a wedge shaped mounting element or bracket or any other means for orienting the compass sensor relative to the reflective element to accommodate for the typical angle of tilt of the mirror head toward a driver of a vehicle. The typical angle or tilt of the mirror head or casing may be calculated or otherwise determined or approximated and the physical mount may then be formed to compensate or cancel the typical angle of the mirror. The desired mounting orientation may vary depending on the particular vehicle in which the compassized mirror assembly is being installed, since the mirror assembly may be mounted at different heights along the windshield or at the headliner of different vehicle models. In lieu of a physical orientation as described above, software compensation, as known in the art, can be used to negate or cancel out the above effects.
Optionally, in applications where illumination sources or lights or any other electrically conducting/powered electrical accessory or the like may be sufficiently close to the compass sensor such that operation of the lights may impact the compass performance (due to the magnetic field generated by the current going through the lights), the lights may be controlled or modulated via a pulse width modulation (PWM) control, so that the lights are modulated between “on” and “off” settings by the PWM control. The PWM control may be optimized to minimize emissions and to maintain vehicle lighting requirements. The compass algorithm or control or microprocessor may monitor the PWM control and may enter a different operation mode when the lights are being PWM controlled. For example, the compass control may optimize the hardware for through put and may synchronize the light's PWM “off” time with the data collection by the compass sensors, in order to reduce or minimize the impact of the field generated by the current passing through the wires when the lights are on or energized. Preferably, the lighting requirements may be maintained while allowing sufficient time for the compass system signals to settle after the PWM signal for the light is shut down or off. The preferred or desirable settings may be selected based on a compromise between the emission of the illumination source or sources and the ability to successfully read the compass sensor signals or output at the desired accuracy.
As described above, adjustment of the mirror housing (that includes the mirror reflective element) about its pivot connection to its support (typically a double-ball support arm as described above, although a single-ball support arm can also be used, without affecting the scope of the present invention) to the windshield (or to a header region at the joint of the windshield and the roof of the interior cabin of the vehicle) can cause the compass direction sensing sensor attached to the rear of the mirror reflective element to also move. Thus, the compass control circuitry may detect a change in sensed compass directional signal (for example, about 3 degrees to about 8 degrees or thereabouts) when the mirror is adjusted by a driver of the vehicle. Should the vehicle be heading in a direction that is close to half-way between one octant or another in an eight-octant resolving compass display system, this adjustment by the driver of the mirror housing to set the rearward field of view of the mirror reflective element to suit that driver's needs/preference (typically occurring when the driver starts the journey) may cause the heading displayed to the driver to change from, for example, NW to N, because the adjustment by the driver of the mirror housing has changed the orientation/alignment of the magnetic field detecting elements of the compass sensor (for example, a magnetoresistive sensor or Hall effect sensor) relative to the Earth's magnetic field. Modern automatic automotive compass control systems, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851; 5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,508; 6,222,460; and 6,513,252, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/352,691, filed Jan. 28, 2003 by Schierbeek et al. for VEHICLE COMPASS COMPENSATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,902, and European patent application, published Oct. 11, 2000 under Publication No. EP 0 1043566, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference, comprise processing circuitry that includes compensation methods that correct for such changes in sensed compass heading. Thus, and as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,851, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, such known compensation methods can be used to recalibrate the compass mirror system of the present invention after adjustment of the mirror housing by the driver.
Techniques and methods for compensating for such adjustments, such as suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,376 (the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference), may be used in conjunction with the present invention. Such methods use a position sensor (such as a tilt sensor) that determines displacement of the mirror housing with respect to a generally horizontal plane. For example, the compass system of the present invention may incorporate a tilt sensor or position sensor or rotation sensor or sensing means or element (such as a tilt sensor, a clinometer or a protractor or the like) that is operable to detect the position or orientation or movement of the mirror and compass sensors relative to a generally horizontal plane and/or a generally vertical plane. For example, the compass system may incorporate an electronic tilt sensor or clinometer, such as the types commercially available from various sources, such as, for example, from Schaevitz® Sensors of Hampton, Va., such as an AccuStar® electronic clinometer or the like, and which may have a have a resolution of about 0.001 degrees and a range of about 60 degrees or thereabouts, and that may provide a analog, ratiometric, digital pulse width, or serial output. Optionally, for example, the compass system may incorporate an electrolytic tilt sensor, which includes electrically conductive fluid that remains substantially level as the sensor body is tilted, whereby the conductivity between a pair of electrodes within the sensor body is proportional to the length or amount of the electrode immersed in the conductive fluid, such that the degree of tilt may be determined. Such electrolytic tilt sensors are commercially available from various sources and may provide accurate pitch and roll measurements and enhanced repeatability, stability, and accuracy when operating at low frequencies. For example, a dual-axis, or 5-pin, sensor may be packaged in a cylindrical vial that stands between about ½ inch to about 1 inch high, and that provides an operating range of tilt from about ±10 degrees to about ±75 degrees. Optionally, the compass system may incorporate an AMR (anisotropic magnetoresistive) magnetic field sensor or the like, which may provide a tilt detection/determination. Other tilt sensors, clinometers, protractors, electrolytic sensors and/or the like may be implemented with the compass system, without affecting the scope of the present invention.
Optionally, the mirror ball and/or mirror socket may include a transducer/sensor that may determine the orientation of the mirror ball relative to the mirror socket. As the ball rotates in the socket (such as due to adjustment of the mirror head/reflective element by the driver), the orientation of the ball relative to the socket is detected and transmitted or communicated to the control/microprocessor of the compass system. The compass system may then determine the angular adjustment and may adjust the sensor processing and/or compensate for the angular change in response to the detected angular change in the position/orientation of the mirror head relative to the ball of the mounting arm.
The control or circuitry or microprocessor may adjust the degree of compensation of the compass sensor output in response to the output or outputs of the position sensor/sensors. Optionally, other techniques, such as the techniques and methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,140,933 and 6,023,229, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, may also or otherwise be implemented.
Optionally, a magnetic field emitter or radiator or generator may be placed in a known fixed location within the vehicle interior cabin (for example, the magnetic field emitter may be placed as part of the mirror foot or mount or base that fixedly attaches to the mirror mounting button or may be otherwise fixedly positioned relative to the vehicle). The magnetic field emitter may optionally be operated to emit a magnetic field in a pulsed and/or coded magnetic field signature. The magnetic field signature/signal emitted by the fixed magnetic field, emitter or source will be picked up by the x-y orthogonally oriented magnetoresponsive sensing elements of the compass sensor (that are positioned within the movable mirror head and that move with the mirror head as it is pivoted about its single or double ball joint support), and thus that move relative to the fixed magnetic field emitter. Because the physical location of the fixed magnetic field emitter is known, the emitter can function as a homing beacon for the movable head/sensing elements, and thus a triangulation algorithm or the like can be used to determine the particular orientation of the sensing elements and any deviation from a known orientation. The compass sensor thus may detect the emitted magnetic field (such as when the emitter is pulsed) and the control or circuitry or microprocessor may process the compass sensor output (such as the output signal that corresponds to when the emitter is pulsed) to discern or distinguish the pulsed magnetic field or signature magnetic field as emitted by the fixed magnetic field emitter to determine the orientation of the mirror head and compass sensor relative to the fixed magnetic field emitter, and thus to determine the degree of adjustment of the mirror head or reflective element relative to the mounting base or known initial orientation or the like. The control may then adjust or alter the directional heading signal and/or the display output in response to the detection of a change in orientation or position of the mirror head relative to the fixed reference point.
Optionally, an algorithmic technique may be implemented whereby, when an abrupt change in detected heading is detected that is characteristic of an adjustment of the mirror housing by the driver of the vehicle, the automatic compass circuitry changes its calibration status from its ongoing state (that compensates for such heading changes over a prolonged period, and one that typically may span an ignition cycle of the vehicle or several vehicle ignition cycles) to a more aggressive, faster calibration stage (such as a Cal-1 or Cal-2 calibration mode as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,252 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/352,691, filed Jan. 28, 2003 by Schierbeek et al. for VEHICLE COMPASS COMPENSATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,902, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference) that more rapidly, and preferably within that same ignition cycle, recalibrates the compass system and so compensates for the driver's adjustment of the mirror housing/casing and for the concomitant movement of the compass sensor housed therein.
Thus, for example, when a change in compass heading is detected that is indicative of and characteristic of an adjustment of the mirror housing by the driver, such as to adjust the mirror to provide a desired rearward field of view (such adjustment causes an abnormal change of the compass output that is different, such as by magnitude and/or rate of change, than what would occur during normal driving), then the calibration changes to a faster or rapid or more aggressive compensation/calibration algorithm/method. Such mirror adjustments are typically within the range of plus or minus about 2 to 4 degrees upward or downward from the nominal downward angle (of about 9 degrees downward) of the mirror head/reflective element, and plus or minus about 3 to 5 degrees to either side from the nominal sideward angle (of about 20 degrees toward the driver side) of the mirror head/reflective element. Such mirror adjustments, which typically occur rapidly, such as within less than about one to two seconds or thereabouts, create their own known and predictable signature or pattern and thus may be detected and discerned by the compass system. Thus, and referring to U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,252 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/352,691, filed Jan. 28, 2003 by Schierbeek et al. for VEHICLE COMPASS COMPENSATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,902, and/or Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, upon detection of a change in compass heading that is indicative of and characteristic of an adjustment of the mirror housing by the driver, the calibration of the compass system would reinitiate back from Cal-3 (or Cal-2) to the beginning of Cal-1. Note that a mechanical element such as a mechanical movement detector can be used to detect adjustment by the driver of the mirror housing, and the recalibration can be initiated in response to a signal output of such a mechanical element.
Desirably, if a mirror adjustment is detected that is beyond the normal range or zone of adjustment of the mirror (such as may occur if the passenger angles the mirror toward the passenger side to borrow the mirror or the mirror is otherwise rotated away from the driver, or such as may occur if the mirror is inadvertently hit or moved to a severely adjusted condition such that no reasonable driver would reasonably view rearwardly through the rear window with the mirror so adjusted), the compass system may detect and discern such egregious or non-normal movement/adjustment and may suspend the calibration activities because such movement/adjustment is an abnormal and typically temporary condition. The compass system may return to its normal and/or calibration mode of operation when the mirror head/reflective element is returned to within the normal range of angular adjustment/position/orientation, such as within a predetermined degree upward/downward and sideward of the nominal position/orientation.
For example, the compass compensation or calibration process may provide for initialization of a rapid or aggressive calibration stage in response to movement of the mirror housing by the driver grasping and moving the mirror head/reflective element to adjust to his or her preferred field of view rearward through the rear window of the vehicle. The compass circuitry may be operable to detect and discern or distinguish a change in the sensed heading which is characteristic of an adjustment of the mirror housing by a driver of the vehicle. The compass circuitry then may respond by reinitializing the compass calibration to the rapid or aggressive calibration stage or mode. The compass circuitry then may compensate for the movement of the compass sensor caused by the adjustment of the mirror housing via a microprocessor-based algorithm software. After completion of the rapid calibration stage, such as after the compass sensor is re-calibrated or after a predetermined amount of time following the onset of the rapid or aggressive calibration stage, the compass circuitry may return to its normal operation.
Optionally, the compass circuitry/software can set or return to the beginning of the aggressive calibration stage (such as to the beginning of Cal-1 as described above) each time the mirror compass circuitry is initially powered, such as by a fresh ignition cycle of the vehicle. Thus, for example, should a driver or occupant of the vehicle adjust the interior rearview mirror orientation during the immediately previous ignition cycle, and thus potentially disturb the established proper compass calibration, then an aggressive and rapid recalibration may automatically occur at the start of the following or next ignition cycle (and thus any potential calibration misalignment may only be temporarily experienced by the driver). Optionally, such an aggressive recalibration may occur in response to actuation of a key fob or remote keyless entry device or remote starter device or the like.
Optionally, the degree of aggression of the rapid calibration stage may be effected by the time elapsed between the ignition activation (or actuation of the key fob or remote keyless entry device or the like) and the perceived or detected adjustment of the mirror. For example, if the circuitry detects an abrupt adjustment of the sensor orientation within a threshold time after the ignition is activated, then the control may determine that the change in orientation is due to a mirror adjustment (such as may occur when the driver first enters the vehicle and before or soon after shifting into drive or reverse) and thus may enter the rapid and aggressive calibration mode. Optionally, the microprocessor or control may include a first start protocol that causes the compass system to enter the aggressive calibration mode in response to the first ever startup of the vehicle ignition, such as typically occurs at the vehicle assembly plant.
Optionally, the compass system may acquire directional heading data at the activation of the ignition (or activation of a key fob or the like) and, if an adjustment of the mirror head is detected soon after such activation, the compass system may acquire heading data with the sensors at the new orientation. Because the initial heading data sampled after the ignition cycle may be correct data or may be indicative of the vehicle heading, the compass system may compensate or adjust the new data to account for the change in orientation of the compass sensor from the initial and adjusted position. The compass system thus may algorithmically adjust the compass heading or sensor processing to account for the perceived movement or adjustment of the mirror head without entering the aggressive calibration mode.
Optionally, the degree of aggression or entry into the rapid aggressive calibration mode may be affected by the speed of the vehicle when the change in orientation of the compass sensors is detected. For example, if an abrupt change in the orientation of the sensors is detected when the vehicle is stopped or moving at or below a threshold speed (such as at or below about 10 mph or thereabouts), the control may determine that the abrupt change may be due to an adjustment of the mirror head or reflective element, and thus may enter the rapid and aggressive calibration mode. Alternately, if the vehicle speed is detected (such as via a wheel speed sensor or the like) to be above a threshold speed (such as at or above about 60 mph or thereabouts), any change in the sensed direction may be determined to be a change in vehicle direction, since it is not likely that a driver would typically adjust the mirror position while driving at highway speeds.
Thus, when a mirror adjustment is detected that is within the expected range and/or time so as to be indicative of an adjustment of the mirror head/reflective element by the driver of the vehicle to adjust his or her field of view rearward through the rear window of the vehicle, the compass system of the present invention may enter the aggressive calibration mode and begin looking for cardinal directional headings (such as North, South, East or West), such as three or more of the cardinal directional points. The compass system may distinguish between deviations or signatures or patterns that are indicative of anomalies and signatures or patterns that are indicative of normal mirror adjustments by the driver and may enter the calibration mode when a mirror adjustment is detected.
The compass system may remain in the aggressive calibration mode for an aggressive calibration period. The aggressive calibration period may continue until, for example, the three cardinal points or more or less are detected so that the compass system is again considered recalibrated. Optionally, and desirably, the aggressive calibration period may terminate even if the compass system has not yet sensed three or more cardinal points, such as after a predetermined or threshold period of time has elapsed since detection of the adjustment, or after the ignition cycle is terminated or the ignition is turned off, and before detection of the third cardinal point, so that the compass system does not remain in the aggressive calibration mode for an excessive period of time. Because it is possible that the compass system may pick up an anomaly during the aggressive calibration mode (such as, for example, if the compass system detects the true North and West cardinal points, but detects an anomaly and erroneously considers the anomaly to be the East cardinal point), and thus may use the false signal and result in a premature exit of the calibration mode and an erroneous directional heading indication, it is desirable that the compass system return to the aggressive calibration mode at the onset of each ignition cycle, and/or the next ignition cycle following the detection of the mirror adjustment and aggressive calibration mode. Desirably, the compass system may initiate the aggressive calibration mode at the onset of each ignition cycle, and the compass system may remain in the aggressive calibration mode until three cardinal points (or more or less as desired) are detected or for a predetermined period of time following the ignition activation or when the ignition cycle is terminated.
Optionally, if an abrupt change upward or downward (or pivoting about a generally horizontal axis) is detected, the control circuitry may determine that such an adjustment is indicative of toggling or flipping the mirror reflective element between the daytime and nighttime orientations, and may account for the 4½ degree (or thereabouts, depending on the particular mirror application) change or adjustment via software compensation. Preferably, in such an embodiment, the nominal condition or orientation of the compass sensor is met when the mirror reflective element is at the daytime position or orientation. The determination of the downward or upward movement of the mirror assembly may be made irrespective of the vehicle speed, since such an adjustment (the flipping or toggling of the reflective element between the daytime and nighttime positions) may often occur while the driver is driving the vehicle at higher speeds.
The compass display 22 may provide a display region at the reflective element 16 which includes ports or portions, which may comprise icons, characters or letters or the like representative of only the cardinal directional points, such as, for example, the characters N, S, E, W, formed or etched in the reflective film coating of the reflective element (and forming a transparent window therein), such as via techniques such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,565, issued to Gallmeyer on Nov. 21, 1989, and such as described in Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593. Optionally, however, reflective element may comprise a transflective or display on demand (DOD) reflective element, and the compass display may be a display on demand (DOD) type of display, such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 5,668,663 and 5,724,187, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein, without affecting the scope of the present invention.
The display may include a plurality of illumination sources, such as light emitting diodes and such as blue light emitting diodes, such as an OSRAM LBT673-M2N2-35 light emitting diode or the like, which are operable to illuminate one or more ports or regions or appropriate characters or letters (or through the transflective DOD reflective element) to indicate the direction in which the vehicle is driving, such as described in Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593. The display ports or characters of the display may include only the four cardinal directional points (such as, for example, the characters N, S, E, W) formed or etched in the reflective film coating of the reflective element (and forming a transparent window therein), or may include eight directional points, such as the four cardinal directional points and the four intercardinal points (such as, for example, the characters N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW), without affecting the scope of the present invention.
The reflective element 16 may also include a port or aperture or hole in the center area or region of the display area (or, as discussed above, may comprise a transflective or DOD reflective element) to accommodate a photo detector or sensor (not shown), such as a photo transistor, a photo resistor, a photo diode or the like, which may be operable to sense the ambient light levels surrounding the mirror assembly or the light from headlights of vehicles rearward of the subject vehicle. The photosensor may be positioned or mounted on the printed circuit board and may be positioned, aligned and directed to receive illumination through the aperture or hole in the reflective element coating at the display region or elsewhere on the reflective element or the casing (such as through an opening formed in a wall of the casing immediately adjacent to the location of the photosensor). The photosensor may detect the ambient light levels generally surrounding the mirror assembly to provide for dimming of the output of the display in darkened lighting conditions, such as at nighttime conditions, in order to reduce the intensity of the display to reduce glare and distraction and annoyance to the driver of the vehicle. Optionally, such dimming of the display may be performed in response to an instrument panel dimming system of the vehicle, without affecting the scope of the present invention.
Optionally, the magnetoresponsive compass sensor or circuitry responsive to the Earth's magnetic field may be operable in conjunction with the global positioning system of the vehicle to provide directional heading data to the global positioning system, such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978, and/or Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The compass sensor circuitry may provide such directional heading data to assist the global positioning system in maintaining tracking of the location of the vehicle, such as between waypoints or the like, when the satellite signal to the global positioning system is interrupted, such as may occur in cities between tall buildings (often referred to as “urban canyons”) or the like. Other vehicle movement data may also be provided, such as vehicle speed data or vehicle odometer data or the like, to further assist in determining and tracking the location of the vehicle in situations where the satellite communication to the global positioning system of the vehicle may be temporarily interrupted or compromised. Optionally, an imaging system (such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference) may be used to further assist in determining and tracking the location of the vehicle in situations where the satellite communication to the global positioning system may be temporarily interrupted or compromised.
Optionally, the printed circuit board of the compass or mirror system (such as a printed circuit board of a compass module or pod or a printed circuit board of the mirror assembly) of the present invention may include another display element along or partially along an edge of the board and may include one or more user-actuatable controls or buttons near or adjacent to the display element. The display element may be any type of display, such as a vacuum fluorescent (VF) display, a light emitting diode (LED) display, an electroluminescent (EL) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a video screen display or the like, and may be operable to display various information (as discrete characters, icons or the like, or in a multi-pixel manner) to the driver of the vehicle, such as passenger side inflatable restraint (PSIR) information, tire pressure status, and/or the like. The buttons may be for actuating or controlling various accessories or controls or components, associated with the vehicle, such as for a compass calibration setting or zone setting, a telematics actuation, a garage door opener, an electronic toll control (such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference), and/or other accessories or systems or functions or the like, or may be for switching the display between various functions or modes, without affecting the scope of the present invention. The mirror casing may include appropriate openings, such that the display element is visible through one opening, while the buttons or controls may partially protrude through other corresponding openings when an appropriate circuit board is installed within the mirror casing.
Optionally, the mirror assembly and/or a mounting base of the mirror mounting assembly may include or incorporate an electrical accessory or element or circuitry that may be electrically connected to a corresponding electrical accessory or element or circuitry within the mirror casing. For example, and with reference to
Mounting base 124 may be molded or formed to define the base portion 126a and a socket portion 124a for receiving ball member 122b of support arm 122. The base portion 126a may be molded over and at least partially around a metallic insert 126b. Base portion 126a may be molded or formed with a cavity 126c and/or passageway for receiving the sensor or wire, or may be overmolded over and at least partially around the sensor and/or wire. The wire 134 comprises a flying lead or flexible lead that extends from the base portion 126a to the connector or terminals at the support arm 122, and includes sufficient slack or flexibility to accommodate pivotal movement or articulation of the support arm relative to the socket 124a of mounting base 124. The other connector 130a (at ball member 122a received in socket 120 (which may be formed at the casing or at a toggle member or attachment or back plate of the mirror)) may connect to a corresponding connector at a circuit board or electrical element or the like at the mirror casing, such as to circuitry on a circuit board at the reflective element or the like. The electrical element at or in the mirror casing may include controls or display circuitry and elements that are associated with or incorporated in a compass system and/or display system of the mirror assembly.
The accessory or sensor (or other electrical component or circuitry) thus may be positioned or located at or within the plastic molded mounting base of the mirror assembly. The accessory thus is positioned generally along the longitudinal axis of the mounting arm, and generally between the ball member 122b and the mounting base/mounting button at the windshield when the mirror assembly is installed in a vehicle, and not substantially above or below the mounting base (such as in a pod or gondola or module located above or below the mirror assembly) such as is typically done in known mirror assemblies. By positioning the accessory generally along the longitudinal axis of the support arm or generally along the z-axis (the axis along the vehicle and normal to the cross car or x-axis and the vertical or y-axis), the accessory is located generally between the windshield and the mirror casing and reflective element when the mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle, and does not extend substantially above or below or to either side of the mirror when the mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle. The mounting base thus may house or contain the accessory in a location that does not interfere with the forward field of view of the driver of the vehicle. The mirror assembly of the present invention thus may provide a fixed sensor with double ball movement or articulation, and with reduced interference with the forward field of view by the driver of the vehicle.
Optionally, the electrical accessory or circuitry housed or contained within the mounting base may comprise a compass sensor that is part of a compass system and/or display of the mirror assembly and/or vehicle. Note that the magneto-responsive sensor used with the mirror assembly may comprise a magneto-responsive sensor, such as a magneto-resistive sensor such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,255,442; 5,632,092; 5,802,727; 6,173,501; 6,427,349; and 6,513,252 (which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), or a magneto-inductive sensor, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,370 (which is hereby incorporated herein by reference), or a magneto-impedance sensor, such as the types described in PCT Publication No. WO 2004/076971 A2, published Sep. 10, 2004 (which is hereby incorporated herein by reference), or a Hall-effect sensor, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,278,271; 5,942,895 and 6,184,679 (which are hereby incorporated herein by reference). The sensor circuitry and/or the circuitry in the mirror housing and associated with the sensor may include processing circuitry. For example, a printed circuit board may include processing circuitry which may include compensation methods such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851; 5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,508; 6,222,460; and 6,642,851, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. The compass sensor may be incorporated in or associated with a compass system and/or display system for displaying a directional heading of the vehicle to the driver, such as a compass system of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212; 4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; and/or 5,632,092, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593; and/or Ser. No. 11/029,695, filed Jan. 5, 2005 by Lindahl et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,253,723, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772, and/or U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/636,931, filed Dec. 17, 2004, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Optionally, the sensor may comprise a two-axis sensor (comprising two magneto-responsive sensor elements disposed at a fixed angle relative to each other, such as, preferably, orthogonally to each other, and disposed in the cavity 126c generally parallel to the floor plane of the vehicle so as to be sensitive to the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field), or the sensor may comprise a three-axis sensor (comprising two magneto-responsive sensor elements disposed orthogonally to each other and disposed in the cavity, and a third magneto-responsive sensor element at a right angle (approximately ninety degrees) to the two sensor elements and disposed in the cavity, so that the three-axis sensor is sensitive to the horizontal component and to the vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field), without affecting the scope of the present invention. The sensor may be arranged at a desired angle to provide enhanced sensing in the horizontal directions when the mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle. For example, aspects of constructions such as are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,140,933 and 6,928,366, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, may be utilized.
Optionally, an integrated automotive “compass-on-a-chip” may be disposed in the cavity of the mounting base and may comprise at least two magneto-responsive sensor elements (preferably Hall effect sensors established on the semiconductor substrate, preferably a silicon substrate, in the same VLSI chip/circuitry manufacturing process, using chip manufacturing processing means as known in the ASIC art), associated A/D and D/A converters, associated microprocessor(s) and memory, associated signal processing and filtering, associated display driver and associated LIN/CAN BUS interface and the like, all (or a sub-set thereof) created or disposed onto a semiconductor substrate, such as a silicon substrate (such as using CMOS technology), and constituting an ASIC chip, which is small (preferably less than approximately a two square centimeter area, more preferably less than approximately a 1.5 square centimeter area, and most preferably less than approximately a one square centimeter area or thereabouts) and readily packagable into the cavity. Thus, power (such as 12 volts or thereabouts, such as from the vehicle power source or the like) may be supplied to the ASIC chip and the ASIC chip may include all or substantially all of the circuitry for operation when the power source is connected to the ASIC chip.
Optionally, and preferably, such a compass-on-a-chip ASIC may also include the hardware and software required to receive an output from a temperature sensor (such as a thermocouple or thermostat that is located external the vehicle cabin in order to sense and monitor the temperature external to the vehicle) and to convert this signal to a reading in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius, and to provide this reading via an on-chip temperature display driver and/or via a BUS protocol or via an on-chip wireless transmitter or the like to a digital or other type of temperature display so that the driver and/or occupants of the vehicle can view the temperature being measured (such as the temperature external the vehicle and/or the temperature within the vehicle cabin). Thus, for example, a monolithic compass/temp-on-a-chip ASIC may be disposed in the likes of a mirror mount or within the mirror head/housing of an interior rearview mirror assembly, and it may provide both the external temperature readout and a compass direction heading readout to an information display at the mirror head/housing (or elsewhere in the vehicle, such as the instrument panel/cluster or at an overhead console or accessory module or the like). Optionally, such a chip or circuit board or circuitry may also or otherwise comprise EC driver circuitry for controlling/driving an electro-optic or electrochromic reflective element or cell, such as by utilizing aspects of the EC driver-on-a-chip such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/201,661, filed Aug. 11, 2005 by DeWard et al. for ACCESSORY MODULE FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,149, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Optionally, the compass ASIC chip and/or compass sensor may be disposed at or in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle (which typically utilizes a plastic housing). Such a location may locate the compass chip and compass sensor outside of the magnetic anomalies of the vehicle and at a location where the compass sensor may be less susceptible to or less effected by the windshield wipers of the vehicle or other accessories or metal of the vehicle. Optionally, and regardless of whether the compass chip is located behind the mirror reflector element or at the mirror mount or at an exterior mirror assembly of the vehicle or elsewhere in the vehicle, the display associated with the compass chip may be located at the reflector element or elsewhere in the vehicle, such as at the mirror mount or at an accessory module or windshield electronics module or console or the like of the vehicle.
Optionally, the printed circuit board, or the mirror assembly (or the compass module or an accessory module associated with the mirror assembly), may include other accessories, such as an image sensor (such as a video camera, such as a CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or the like, such as the types of imaging sensors or cameras disclosed in commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 6,097,023 and 5,796,094, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2003/036177, filed Nov. 14, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), a temperature sensor (such as a contact temperature sensor for measuring the temperature at or of the windshield), an antenna, or any other sensor or device. For example, the mirror assembly may include a forward facing video image sensor or system, which may include or may be associated with an intelligent rain sensor (such as the types disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,320,176; 6,353,392 and 6,313,454, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), an image or vision system (including an imaging sensor, such as a video camera, such as a CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or the like, such as the types disclosed in commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 6,097,023 and 5,796,094, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), such as an imaging or object detection system or back up aid of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,757,109; 6,717,610; 6,590,719; 6,201,642; 5,929,786; and/or 5,786,772, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/427,051, filed Apr. 30, 2003 by Pawlicki et al. for OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,577; and/or Ser. No. 11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005 by Camilleri et al. for VISION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/628,709, filed Nov. 17, 2004 by Camilleri et al. for IMAGING AND DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE; Ser. No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30, 2004; and/or Ser. No. 60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004 by Laubinger for VEHICLE IMAGING SYSTEM, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, or an intelligent headlamp controller (such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094; 5,715,093; and/or 6,824,281, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/958,087, filed Oct. 4, 2004 by Schofield et al. for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,963, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/105,757, filed Apr. 14, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,526,103; and U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/607,963, filed Sep. 8, 2004 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE; and Ser. No. 60/562,480, filed Apr. 15, 2004 by Schofield for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), or an intelligent lane departure warning system (such as the types described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/209,173, filed Jul. 31, 2001 by Schofield for AUTOMOTIVE LANE CHANGE AID, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,882,287; and/or Ser. No. 10/427,051, filed Apr. 30, 2003 by Pawlicki et al. for OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,577, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), or indicator/display for a blind spot indicator or object detection system, such as the types described in U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/696,953, filed Jul. 6, 2005; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and/or the like. In applications where the mirror assembly includes or is associated with an automatic headlamp control system, it is envisioned that the display of the mirror system may include or provide a high beam/low beam indicator (such as an icon or indicia indicative of the high beams being activated, such as a blue headlamp indicia or the like) to indicate the status of the high beams of the vehicle to the driver or occupant of the vehicle.
Optionally, the mirror assembly or compass or accessory or electronic module of the present invention may include one or more displays, such as a text display, an icon display, a display on demand (DOD) type display (such as may be implemented with a transflective reflective element, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,668,663; 5,724,187; and 6,690,268, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein), such as a video or touch screen interface display, or a video display screen, such as the types described in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004 by Lynam et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH VIDEO DISPLAY; and Ser. No. 60/667,048, filed Mar. 31, 2005, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, or the like, and/or one or more sensors or other accessories, such as a biometric imager, such as for fingerprint authentication or the like, an infrared sensor, such as a zonal temperature sensor, such as suitable for an auto climate control, a forward facing image sensor, such as described above, a rearward facing image sensor (such as for biometric imaging (such as for face recognition, iris recognition or the like), seat height or position detection, drowsiness detection, safety/restraints object detection and position, emergency response image capture system, intrusion detection or the like), an electromagnetic field sensor (such as the type disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,768,420, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference).
Optionally, and for a mirror assembly having a slideout or extendable/retractable display, such as a video slideout display or the like (such as the types described in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004 by Lynam et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH VIDEO DISPLAY; and Ser. No. 60/667,048, filed Mar. 31, 2005, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), the display may be operable or activatable when in its retracted or partially retracted position so as to provide display information, such as directional heading information or temperature information or other vehicle information or the like, that is viewable through the reflective element when the display is at least partially retracted. As described in the above referenced applications, such a slideout display is extended to display information to the driver of the vehicle and may be retracted when such information is not being displayed. When retracted, the display typically is deactivated and located behind the mirror reflector. In such a retracted or partially retracted position, the display element or screen is positioned at least partially at the rear of the mirror reflector element with the display element or screen facing the rear surface of the mirror reflector element.
It is thus envisioned that the display element (such as a video display element or LCD element or the like) may be activated when it is retracted or at least partially retracted, so that the display information or illumination emitted by the display element may be projected through the transflective mirror reflector element for viewing at the mirror reflector element. For example, and for mirror assemblies having a transflective mirror reflector element, the opaque backing of the reflector element may have a window or aperture or display area formed therethrough so that at least a portion of the display element, when activated in its retracted or partially retracted position, is viewable through the transflective mirror reflector at the display area.
In such an embodiment, it is desirable that there be a close or substantial optical coupling between the front surface of the display element or screen (the surface facing generally toward the driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle) and the rear surface of the mirror reflector element (the surface facing generally away from the driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle). Preferably, the mirror assembly may include an opaquifying or shading cover or baffle element that covers the display area when the slideout display is extended or at least partially extended and not activated to provide display information at the display area. For example, an opaque shading element may move over the window area at the rear of the mirror reflector element to cover/shade/opaquify the window/display area so that the internal components of the mirror assembly are not viewable through the window/display area when the display element is moved at least partially toward its extended position.
Thus, for example, a video slideout interior rearview mirror assembly can be provided that, when the driver selects reverse gear, a back lit TFT LCD screen may extend at the passenger side to display an image of a scene occurring immediately to the rear of the vehicle (such as captured by a rear mounted camera) so that the driver may view the image during a reversing maneuver to assist in reversing the vehicle. Preferably, such a display may include a graphic overlay or other indicia or the like, such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983, to assist the driver in making the reversing maneuver. Upon the disengagement of the reverse gear by the driver, the display slides in or retracts to its stowed position. When the driver is driving the vehicle forward along a road, a compass display is viewable to the driver when he or she looks at the mirror. The compass display may be derived from a compass-on-a-chip sensor that is preferably mounted within a mirror mount or alternatively within the mirror casing or elsewhere in the vehicle. The compass display at the mirror reflector or reflective element (such as a transflective electrochromic reflective element or a transflective prismatic reflective element or the like) is provided by the same TFT LCD display screen or display element that is now stowed behind the reflective element and is seen through the transflective reflective element. Thus, the utility and user appreciation of the slideout display is enhanced because, when the vehicle is reversing, the display can slideout or extend to show the reversing scene and, when the display is stowed, such as during normal driving conditions, the same display element is used to provide an information display at the mirror reflector.
The display and/or accessories may be associated with a communication system, a speaker, a telematics module (which may include a GPS module, a wireless communication module, an human/machine interface (HMI), a display, such as an LED display, a dot matrix display, an alpha numeric display, a video display or the like, and/or a microphone, which may be operable for speech or voice recognition, noise reduction or noise cancellation), a humidity sensor, a remote keyless entry sensor, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), an electronic toll collection sensor, an intelligent headlamp control, user interface controls (such as buttons, switches or the like for controlling various accessories of the vehicle, such as a sunroof, a communication system, lamps, security systems, displays or the like) or any other accessories, sensors, lights, indicators, displays or the like which may be suitable for mounting or positioning at or within the interior rearview mirror assembly or accessory module. The interior rearview mirror assembly and/or compass or accessory module may also provide for glare reduction characteristics of the reflective element of the rearview mirror assembly.
Optionally, the mirror assembly of the present invention may include one or more other accessories at or within the mirror casing, such as one or more electrical or electronic devices or accessories, such as antennas, including global positioning system (GPS) or cellular phone antennas, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, a communication module, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, transmitters and/or receivers, such as a garage door opener or the like, a digital network, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, a video device for internal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004 by Lynam et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH VIDEO DISPLAY; and Ser. No. 60/667,048, filed Mar. 31, 2005, a remote keyless entry receiver or system or circuitry and/or a universal garage door opening system or circuitry (such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,408; 6,362,771; 5,798,688 and 5,479,155, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/770,736, filed Feb. 3, 2004 by Baumgardner et al. for GARAGE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,023,322), a remote keyless entry receiver, lights, such as map reading lights or one or more other lights or illumination sources, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994; 5,649,756; 5,178,448; 5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096; 6,042,253; and/or 5,669,698, and/or U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381, microphones, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003; 6,278,377; and/or 6,420,975; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/30877, filed Oct. 1, 2003, speakers, a tire pressure monitoring system, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,294,989; 6,445,287; and/or 6,472,979, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/232,324, filed Sep. 21, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,423,522, and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/611,796, filed Sep. 21, 2004 by O'Brien for TIRE PRESSURE ALERT SYSTEM, a navigation system, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,464, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593; Ser. No. 10/287,178, filed Nov. 4, 2002 by McCarthy et al. for NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,614; Ser. No. 10/645,762, filed Aug. 20, 2003 by Taylor et al. for VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A TELEMATICS SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,167,796; and Ser. No. 10/422,378, filed Apr. 24, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,978; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, a seat occupancy detector, a vehicle occupancy detector, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,768,420 and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US05/42504, filed. Nov. 22, 2005 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE; and/or U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/630,364, filed Nov. 22, 2004 by Wåhlström for OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, a trip computer, an ONSTAR® system and/or the like (with all of the above-referenced patents and patent applications and PCT applications and provisional applications being commonly assigned to Donnelly Corp., and with the disclosures of the referenced patents and patent applications and PCT applications and provisional applications being hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties). The accessory or accessories may be positioned at or within the mirror casing and may be included on or integrated in a printed circuit board positioned within the mirror casing, such as along a rear surface of the reflective element or elsewhere within a cavity defined by the casing, without affecting the scope of the present invention.
The interior rearview mirror assembly and/or an associated accessory module may also include user interface controls, such as buttons, switches or the like, displays, indicators, microphones, speakers or the like. Some of these may be provided at or along a display or interface area at or above the mirror. Optionally, the mirror assembly may include a user actuatable input or inputs to activate or deactivate or adjust one or more accessories of the mirror assembly or accessory module or console or of the vehicle. The inputs may be positioned at the mirror casing or bezel portion of the mirror assembly where they may be readily accessible by the driver or occupant of the vehicle. The inputs may comprise push buttons or the like or touch sensitive elements or sensors or proximity sensors or the like that may be selectively touched or depressed or approached to activate/deactivate/adjust the accessory or accessories, as discussed below. The inputs may utilize aspects such as those described in PCT Application No. PCT/US2003/036177, filed Nov. 14, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. for IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US04/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, published Dec. 2, 2004 as PCT Publication No. WO 2004/103772 A2, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, or may utilize aspects of touch sensitive elements of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,594,222; 6,001,486; 6,310,611; 6,320,282; and 6,627,918, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/817,874, filed Mar. 26, 2001 by Quist et al. for INTERACTIVE AUTOMOTIVE REARVISION SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,224,324, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, or may comprise proximity sensors of the types described in U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2002/0044065, published Apr. 18, 2002 by Quist et al. for INTERACTIVE AUTOMOTIVE REARVISION SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,224,324; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983; Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; and/or Ser. No. 10/956,749, filed Oct. 1, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,446,924; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004 by Lynam et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH VIDEO DISPLAY; and Ser. No. 60/667,048, filed Mar. 31, 2005, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, or may comprise inputs molded within the bezel of the mirror assembly, such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/029,695, filed Jan. 5, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,253,723, and U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/535,559, filed Jan. 9, 2004 by Lindahl for MIRROR ASSEMBLY; and Ser. No. 60/553,517, filed Mar. 16, 2004 by Lindahl et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, or may comprise membrane type switches, such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/140,396, filed May 27, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,932, and U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/575,904, filed Jun. 1, 2004 by Uken for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE; and/or Ser. No. 60/624,320, filed Nov. 2, 2004 by Uken for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, or other types of switches or buttons or inputs, such as, for example, inputs of the types described in U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/719,482, filed Sep. 22, 2005; and Ser. No. 60/690,401, filed Jun. 14, 2005, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and/or the like, without affecting the scope of the present invention.
The accessory or accessories may be positioned at or within the mirror casing and may be included on or integrated in the printed circuit board positioned within the mirror casing, such as along a rear surface of the reflective element or elsewhere within a cavity defined by the casing, without affecting the scope of the present invention. The user actuatable inputs described above may be actuatable to control and/or adjust the accessories of the mirror assembly/system and/or an overhead console and/or an accessory module/windshield electronics module and/or the vehicle. The connection or link between the controls and the systems or accessories may be provided via vehicle electronic or communication systems and the like, and may be connected via various protocols or nodes, such as Bluetooth™, SCP, UBP, J1850, CAN J2284, Fire Wire 1394, MOST, LIN, FlexRay™, Byte Flight and/or the like, or other vehicle-based or in-vehicle communication links or systems (such as WIFI and/or IRDA) and/or the like, depending on the particular application of the mirror/accessory system and the vehicle. Optionally, the connections or links may be provided via wireless connectivity or links, such as via a wireless communication network or system, such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, without affecting the scope of the present invention.
Optionally, the interior rearview mirror assembly or an associated accessory module or windshield electronics module or console may include a network bus, such as a CAN bus or a LIN bus, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,905, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The network bus may be operable to communicate with other systems of the vehicle, such as with accessories or elements of an accessory module, such as an accessory module of the type disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,824,281; 6,243,003; 6,278,377 and 6,420,975; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/958,087, filed Oct. 4, 2004 by Schofield et al. for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,963; and/or International Publication No. WO 01/64481, published Sep. 7, 2001, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Optionally, the mirror assembly may comprise an electro-optic or electrochromic mirror assembly and may include an electro-optic or electrochromic reflective element. The electrochromic mirror element of the electrochromic mirror assembly may utilize the principles disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544; 5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407 and/or 4,712,879, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and/or as disclosed in the following publications: N. R. Lynam, “Electrochromic Automotive Day/Night Mirrors”, SAE Technical Paper Series 870636 (1987); N. R. Lynam, “Smart Windows for Automobiles”, SAE Technical Paper Series 900419 (1990); N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications of Chromogenic Materials”, Large Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devices for Transmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granquist, EDS., Optical Engineering Press, Wash. (1990), which are hereby incorporated by reference herein; and/or as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The mirror assembly may include one or more other displays, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and/or display-on-demand transflective type displays, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,668,663; 5,724,187 and/or 6,690,268, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005; and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005; Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501; and/or Ser. No. 10/533,762, filed May 4, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 9, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference, or ultra small information displays, such as are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/225,851, filed Aug. 22, 2002 by Burgner for VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,847,487, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The thicknesses and materials of the coatings on the substrates, such as on the third surface of the reflective element assembly, may be selected to provide a desired color or tint to the mirror reflective element, such as a blue colored reflector, such as is known in the art and such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,910,854 and 6,420,036, and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501, and in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 9, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. The coatings and/or encapsulants and the like may be selected to provide the desired appearance and features for the reflective element assembly, such as utilizing the principles described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; and U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/563,342, filed Apr. 19, 2004 by Bareman et al. for METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR CELL; and/or Ser. No. 60/629,926, filed Nov. 22, 2004 by McCabe et al. for METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR CELL, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
It is further envisioned that the interior rearview mirror assembly may include a transflective one way mirror element, such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002 by Lynam et al. for VEHICULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Preferably, the mirror reflective element (behind which a video display screen may be disposed so that the image displayed is visible by viewing through the mirror reflective element) of the interior mirror assembly comprises a transflective mirror reflector such that the mirror reflective element is significantly transmitting to visible light incident from its rear (i.e. the portion furthest from the driver in the vehicle), with at least about 15 percent transmission of light therethrough preferred, at least about 20 percent transmission of light therethrough more preferred and at least about 25 percent transmission of light therethrough most preferred, while simultaneously, the mirror reflective element is substantially reflective to visible light incident from its front (i.e. the position closest to the driver when the interior mirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle), with at least about 60 percent reflectance of light incident thereon preferred, at least about 70 percent reflectance of light incident thereon more preferred and at least about 75 percent reflectance of light incident thereon most preferred. Preferably, a transflective electrochromic reflective mirror element is used (such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,668,663; 5,724,187; and 6,690,268, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein) that comprises an electrochromic medium sandwiched between two substrates.
Optionally, the mirror assembly and/or prismatic or electrochromic reflective element may include one or more displays, such as for the accessories or circuitry described herein. The displays may be similar to those described above, or may be of types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and/or may be display-on-demand or transflective type displays, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,298; 5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187, and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 by Karner et al.; and/or Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177; and/or in U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/525,952, filed Nov. 26, 2003 by Lynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE; Ser. No. 60/717,093, filed Sep. 14, 2005 by Lynam; and/or Ser. No. 60/732,245, filed Nov. 1, 2005 by Weller for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH DISPLAY, and/or in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. Optionally, a prismatic reflective element may comprise a display on demand or transflective prismatic element (such as described in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference) so that the displays are viewable through the reflective element, while the display area still functions to substantially reflect light, in order to provide a generally uniform prismatic reflective element even in the areas that have display elements positioned behind the reflective element.
Optionally, the display and any associated user inputs may be associated with various accessories or systems, such as, for example, a tire pressure monitoring system or a passenger air bag status or a garage door opening system or a telematics system or any other accessory or system of the mirror assembly or of the vehicle or of an accessory module or console of the vehicle, such as an accessory module or console of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 6,672,744; 6,386,742; and 6,124,886, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/739,766, filed Dec. 18, 2003 by DeLine et al. for MODULAR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,888; and/or Ser. No. 10/355,454, filed Jan. 31, 2003 by Schofield et al. for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,281, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/03012, filed Jan. 31, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US04/15424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Optionally, the mirror system or interior rearview mirror assembly and/or compass system of the present invention may include electrochromic control circuitry for controlling the reflectivity of an electrochromic mirror. The circuitry may include a rearward viewing glare detector or sensor and a forward viewing and/or downward and/or sideward viewing ambient light detector or sensor, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,690, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, or may include a single sensor, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,029, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The output of the circuitry may control an outside electrochromic mirror as well as the interior rearview electrochromic mirror. It is further envisioned that the circuitry may control an outside electrochromic mirror, while the interior rearview mirror assembly may be a prismatic mirror, without affecting the scope of the present invention.
The network bus of the interior rearview mirror assembly may then be in communication with the reversing system of the vehicle, such that the interior rearview mirror assembly knows when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. The bus may then be operable to disable the electrochromic dimming of the mirror when the vehicle is in reverse, as is desired and known in the art.
Further, automatic dimming circuitry used in the electrochromic mirror assembly and/or in an accessory module may utilize one or more (typically two) photosensors to detect glaring and/or ambient lighting. Optionally, the mirror assembly (such as for an interior or exterior rearview mirror assembly) may include a photo sensor or light sensor (such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,831,268; 6,742,904; 6,737,629; 4,799,768; and 4,793,690, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference) at the rear or fourth surface of the reflective element assembly, such that the photo sensor detects light passing through the reflective element assembly. Examples of such configurations are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,793,690; 5,550,677 and 5,193,029, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003 by Weller et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM WITH COMPASS, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. For example, a silicon photosensor, such as a TSL235R Light-to-Frequency converter (available from Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions Inc. of Plano, Tex.), may be used as such a photosensor. Such light-to-frequency converters comprise the combination of a silicon photodiode and a current-to-frequency converter on a single monolithic CMOS integrated circuit.
Optionally, a silicon based optical sensor may provide a non-linear response for the electro-optic or electrochromic reflective element dimming circuitry. Optionally, an infrared (IR) filtering thin film may be deposited on the sensor (or may be disposed in front of the sensor) to filter or attenuate infrared radiation at the photo sensor. Optionally, the sensor may be mounted at the rear of the reflective element assembly and may be mounted at a black plastic surface mount that has a clear window, such that light leakage from non-intended light sources is reduced and such that the environmental properties of the sensor and mounting package are substantially enhanced.
The interior rearview mirror assembly may include the bezel portion and the casing, such as described above, or the mirror assembly may comprise other types of casings or bezel portions or the like, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,439,755; 4,826,289; and 6,501,387; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004 by Kulas et al. for INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; and/or Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004 by Lynam for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference, without affecting the scope of the present invention. For example, the mirror assembly may comprise a flush or frameless or bezelless reflective element, such as the types described in PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772; PCT Application No. PCT/US03/35381, filed Nov. 5, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for ELECTRO-OPTIC REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY; and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/140,396, filed May 27, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,932; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005; Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No. 10/533,762, filed May 4, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190; and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005; and/or in U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/563,342, filed Apr. 19, 2004 by Bareman et al. for METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR CELL; Ser. No. 60/629,926, filed Nov. 22, 2004 by McCabe et al. for METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRO-OPTIC MIRROR CELL; Ser. No. 60/624,320, filed Nov. 2, 2004 by Uken for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE; Ser. No. 60/681,250, filed May 16, 2005; Ser. No. 60/690,400, filed Jun. 14, 2005; Ser. No. 60/695,149, filed Jun. 29, 2005; and/or Ser. No. 60/730,334, filed Oct. 26, 2005 by Baur for VEHICLE MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH INDICIA AT REFLECTIVE ELEMENT, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Therefore, the present invention provides a mirror and compass system that positions the compass sensors within the movable head portion of the mirror assembly in a manner that reduces the effects of mirror adjustment on the sensor performance. The compass system may adjust processing in response to known movements of the mirror head to compensate for such known movements. The compass system of the present invention may distinguish between deviations, signatures or patterns indicative of magnetic anomalies or stray magnetic fields or the like generated external to the vehicle (such as by metal bridges, subway lines, cellular telephone towers, large metal structures and the like), and deviations, signatures or patterns indicative of mirror adjustments by the driver (as the driver may grasp and move the mirror head/reflective element to adjust his or her field of view rearward through the rear window of the vehicle), and may enter the calibration mode when a mirror adjustment is detected and distinguished or recognized. The compass system may enter an aggressive calibration mode to calibrate the sensors when the mirror has been adjusted by a user. The commencement of the aggressive calibration mode may be effected by the type of adjustment, vehicle speed, time elapsed since activation of the vehicle ignition or other activating or triggering event or the like.
Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/766,160, filed Apr. 23, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,815,326, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/575,726, filed Oct. 8, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,822, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/370,043, filed Feb. 12, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,878, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No, 12/029,073, filed Feb. 11, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,490,944, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/305,637, filed Dec. 16, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,329,013, which claims benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/636,931, filed Dec. 17, 2004, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/305,637 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,599, filed Jun. 6, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,593, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/420,010, filed Oct. 21, 2002; Ser. No. 60/398,240, filed Jul. 24, 2002; and Ser. No. 60/386,373, filed Jun. 6, 2002, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties; and the present application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/692,113, filed Jun. 20, 2005; Ser. No. 60/677,990, filed May 5, 2005; Ser. No. 60/653,787, filed Feb. 17, 2005; Ser. No. 60/642,227, filed Jan. 7, 2005; Ser. No. 60/638,250, filed Dec. 21, 2004; Ser. No. 60/624,091, filed Nov. 1, 2004, and Ser. No. 60/609,642, filed Sep. 14, 2004.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1096452 | Perrin | May 1914 | A |
| 1563258 | Cunningham | Nov 1925 | A |
| 2069368 | Horinstein | Feb 1937 | A |
| 2166303 | Hodny et al. | Jul 1939 | A |
| 2263382 | Gotzinger | Nov 1941 | A |
| 2414223 | DeVirgilis | Jan 1947 | A |
| 2457348 | Chambers | Dec 1948 | A |
| 2561582 | Marbel | Jul 1951 | A |
| 2580014 | Gazda | Dec 1951 | A |
| 3004473 | Arthur et al. | Oct 1961 | A |
| 3075430 | Woodward et al. | Jan 1963 | A |
| 3141393 | Platt | Jul 1964 | A |
| 3152216 | Woodward | Oct 1964 | A |
| 3162008 | Berger et al. | Dec 1964 | A |
| 3185020 | Thelen | May 1965 | A |
| 3266016 | Maruyama et al. | Aug 1966 | A |
| 3280701 | Donnelly et al. | Oct 1966 | A |
| 3432225 | Rock | Mar 1969 | A |
| 3451741 | Manos | Jun 1969 | A |
| 3453038 | Kissa et al. | Jul 1969 | A |
| 3467465 | Van Noord | Sep 1969 | A |
| 3473867 | Byrnes | Oct 1969 | A |
| 3480781 | Mandalakas | Nov 1969 | A |
| 3499112 | Heilmeier et al. | Mar 1970 | A |
| 3499702 | Goldmacher et al. | Mar 1970 | A |
| 3521941 | Deb et al. | Jul 1970 | A |
| 3543018 | Barcus et al. | Nov 1970 | A |
| 3557265 | Chisholm et al. | Jan 1971 | A |
| 3565985 | Schrenk et al. | Feb 1971 | A |
| 3612654 | Klein | Oct 1971 | A |
| 3614210 | Caplan | Oct 1971 | A |
| 3628851 | Robertson | Dec 1971 | A |
| 3676668 | Collins et al. | Jul 1972 | A |
| 3680951 | Jordan et al. | Aug 1972 | A |
| 3689695 | Rosenfield et al. | Sep 1972 | A |
| 3711176 | Alfrey, Jr. et al. | Jan 1973 | A |
| 3712710 | Castellion et al. | Jan 1973 | A |
| 3748017 | Yamamura et al. | Jul 1973 | A |
| 3781090 | Sumita | Dec 1973 | A |
| 3806229 | Schoot et al. | Apr 1974 | A |
| 3807832 | Castellion | Apr 1974 | A |
| 3807833 | Graham et al. | Apr 1974 | A |
| 3821590 | Kosman et al. | Jun 1974 | A |
| 3837129 | Losell | Sep 1974 | A |
| 3860847 | Carley | Jan 1975 | A |
| 3862798 | Hopkins | Jan 1975 | A |
| 3870404 | Wilson et al. | Mar 1975 | A |
| 3876287 | Sprokel | Apr 1975 | A |
| 3932024 | Yaguchi et al. | Jan 1976 | A |
| 3940822 | Emerick et al. | Mar 1976 | A |
| 3956017 | Shigemasa | May 1976 | A |
| 3978190 | Kurz, Jr. et al. | Aug 1976 | A |
| 3985424 | Steinacher | Oct 1976 | A |
| 4006546 | Anderson et al. | Feb 1977 | A |
| 4035681 | Savage | Jul 1977 | A |
| 4040727 | Ketchpel | Aug 1977 | A |
| 4052712 | Ohama et al. | Oct 1977 | A |
| 4075468 | Marcus | Feb 1978 | A |
| 4088400 | Assouline et al. | May 1978 | A |
| 4093364 | Miller | Jun 1978 | A |
| 4097131 | Nishiyama | Jun 1978 | A |
| 4109235 | Bouthors | Aug 1978 | A |
| 4139234 | Morgan | Feb 1979 | A |
| 4159866 | Wunsch et al. | Jul 1979 | A |
| 4161653 | Bedini et al. | Jul 1979 | A |
| 4171875 | Taylor et al. | Oct 1979 | A |
| 4174152 | Giglia et al. | Nov 1979 | A |
| 4200361 | Malvano et al. | Apr 1980 | A |
| 4202607 | Washizuka et al. | May 1980 | A |
| 4211955 | Ray | Jul 1980 | A |
| 4214266 | Myers | Jul 1980 | A |
| 4219760 | Ferro | Aug 1980 | A |
| 4221955 | Joslyn | Sep 1980 | A |
| 4228490 | Thillays | Oct 1980 | A |
| 4247870 | Gabel et al. | Jan 1981 | A |
| 4257703 | Goodrich | Mar 1981 | A |
| 4274078 | Isobe et al. | Jun 1981 | A |
| 4277804 | Robison | Jul 1981 | A |
| 4281899 | Oskam | Aug 1981 | A |
| 4288814 | Talley et al. | Sep 1981 | A |
| RE30835 | Giglia | Dec 1981 | E |
| 4306768 | Egging | Dec 1981 | A |
| 4310851 | Pierrat | Jan 1982 | A |
| 4331382 | Graff | May 1982 | A |
| 4338000 | Kamimori et al. | Jul 1982 | A |
| 4377613 | Gordon | Mar 1983 | A |
| 4398805 | Cole | Aug 1983 | A |
| 4419386 | Gordon | Dec 1983 | A |
| 4420238 | Felix | Dec 1983 | A |
| 4425717 | Marcus | Jan 1984 | A |
| 4435042 | Wood et al. | Mar 1984 | A |
| 4435048 | Kamimori et al. | Mar 1984 | A |
| 4436371 | Wood et al. | Mar 1984 | A |
| 4438348 | Casper et al. | Mar 1984 | A |
| 4443057 | Bauer et al. | Apr 1984 | A |
| 4446171 | Thomas | May 1984 | A |
| 4465339 | Baucke et al. | Aug 1984 | A |
| 4473695 | Wrighton et al. | Sep 1984 | A |
| 4490227 | Bitter | Dec 1984 | A |
| 4491390 | Tong-Shen | Jan 1985 | A |
| 4499451 | Suzuki et al. | Feb 1985 | A |
| 4521079 | Leenhouts et al. | Jun 1985 | A |
| 4524941 | Wood et al. | Jun 1985 | A |
| 4538063 | Bulat | Aug 1985 | A |
| 4546551 | Franks | Oct 1985 | A |
| 4555694 | Yanagishima et al. | Nov 1985 | A |
| 4561625 | Weaver | Dec 1985 | A |
| 4572619 | Reininger et al. | Feb 1986 | A |
| 4580196 | Task | Apr 1986 | A |
| 4581827 | Higashi | Apr 1986 | A |
| 4588267 | Pastore | May 1986 | A |
| 4603946 | Kato et al. | Aug 1986 | A |
| 4623222 | Itoh et al. | Nov 1986 | A |
| 4625210 | Sagl | Nov 1986 | A |
| 4626850 | Chey | Dec 1986 | A |
| 4630040 | Haertling | Dec 1986 | A |
| 4630109 | Barton | Dec 1986 | A |
| 4630904 | Pastore | Dec 1986 | A |
| 4634835 | Suzuki | Jan 1987 | A |
| 4635033 | Inukai et al. | Jan 1987 | A |
| 4636782 | Nakamura et al. | Jan 1987 | A |
| 4638287 | Umebayashi et al. | Jan 1987 | A |
| 4646210 | Skogler et al. | Feb 1987 | A |
| 4652090 | Uchikawa et al. | Mar 1987 | A |
| 4655549 | Suzuki et al. | Apr 1987 | A |
| 4665311 | Cole | May 1987 | A |
| 4665430 | Hiroyasu | May 1987 | A |
| 4669827 | Fukada et al. | Jun 1987 | A |
| 4671615 | Fukada et al. | Jun 1987 | A |
| 4671619 | Kamimori et al. | Jun 1987 | A |
| 4678281 | Bauer | Jul 1987 | A |
| 4679906 | Brandenburg | Jul 1987 | A |
| 4682083 | Alley | Jul 1987 | A |
| 4692798 | Seko et al. | Sep 1987 | A |
| 4694295 | Miller et al. | Sep 1987 | A |
| 4697883 | Suzuki et al. | Oct 1987 | A |
| 4701022 | Jacob | Oct 1987 | A |
| 4702566 | Tukude | Oct 1987 | A |
| 4704740 | McKee et al. | Nov 1987 | A |
| 4711544 | Iino et al. | Dec 1987 | A |
| 4712879 | Lynam et al. | Dec 1987 | A |
| 4713685 | Nishimura et al. | Dec 1987 | A |
| RE32576 | Pastore | Jan 1988 | E |
| 4718756 | Lancaster | Jan 1988 | A |
| 4721364 | Itoh et al. | Jan 1988 | A |
| 4729068 | Ohe | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4729076 | Masami et al. | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4731669 | Hayashi et al. | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4733335 | Serizawa et al. | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4733336 | Skogler et al. | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4740838 | Mase et al. | Apr 1988 | A |
| 4761061 | Nishiyama et al. | Aug 1988 | A |
| 4773740 | Kawakami et al. | Sep 1988 | A |
| 4780752 | Angerstein et al. | Oct 1988 | A |
| 4781436 | Armbruster | Nov 1988 | A |
| 4789904 | Peterson | Dec 1988 | A |
| 4793690 | Gahan et al. | Dec 1988 | A |
| 4793695 | Wada et al. | Dec 1988 | A |
| 4794261 | Rosen | Dec 1988 | A |
| D299491 | Masuda | Jan 1989 | S |
| 4799768 | Gahan | Jan 1989 | A |
| 4803599 | Trine et al. | Feb 1989 | A |
| 4807096 | Skogler et al. | Feb 1989 | A |
| 4820933 | Hong et al. | Apr 1989 | A |
| 4825232 | Howdle | Apr 1989 | A |
| 4826289 | Vandenbrink et al. | May 1989 | A |
| 4827086 | Rockwell | May 1989 | A |
| 4837551 | Iino | Jun 1989 | A |
| 4842378 | Flasck et al. | Jun 1989 | A |
| 4845402 | Smith | Jul 1989 | A |
| 4847772 | Michalopoulos et al. | Jul 1989 | A |
| 4855161 | Moser et al. | Aug 1989 | A |
| 4855550 | Schultz, Jr. | Aug 1989 | A |
| 4859813 | Rockwell | Aug 1989 | A |
| 4859867 | Larson et al. | Aug 1989 | A |
| 4860171 | Kojima | Aug 1989 | A |
| 4862594 | Schierbeek et al. | Sep 1989 | A |
| 4871917 | O'Farrell et al. | Oct 1989 | A |
| 4872051 | Dye | Oct 1989 | A |
| 4882466 | Friel | Nov 1989 | A |
| 4882565 | Gallmeyer | Nov 1989 | A |
| 4883349 | Mittelhäuser | Nov 1989 | A |
| 4884135 | Schiffman | Nov 1989 | A |
| 4886960 | Molyneux et al. | Dec 1989 | A |
| 4889412 | Clerc et al. | Dec 1989 | A |
| 4891828 | Kawazoe | Jan 1990 | A |
| 4892345 | Rachael, III | Jan 1990 | A |
| 4902103 | Miyake et al. | Feb 1990 | A |
| 4902108 | Byker | Feb 1990 | A |
| 4906085 | Sugihara et al. | Mar 1990 | A |
| 4909606 | Wada et al. | Mar 1990 | A |
| 4910591 | Petrossian et al. | Mar 1990 | A |
| 4916374 | Schierbeek et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
| 4926170 | Beggs et al. | May 1990 | A |
| 4930742 | Schofield et al. | Jun 1990 | A |
| 4933814 | Sanai | Jun 1990 | A |
| 4935665 | Murata | Jun 1990 | A |
| 4936533 | Adams et al. | Jun 1990 | A |
| 4937796 | Tendler | Jun 1990 | A |
| 4937945 | Schofield et al. | Jul 1990 | A |
| 4943796 | Lee | Jul 1990 | A |
| 4948242 | Desmond et al. | Aug 1990 | A |
| 4953305 | Van Lente et al. | Sep 1990 | A |
| 4956591 | Schierbeek et al. | Sep 1990 | A |
| 4957349 | Clerc et al. | Sep 1990 | A |
| 4959247 | Moser et al. | Sep 1990 | A |
| 4959865 | Stettiner et al. | Sep 1990 | A |
| 4970653 | Kenue | Nov 1990 | A |
| 4973844 | O'Farrell et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
| 4974122 | Shaw | Nov 1990 | A |
| 4978196 | Suzuki et al. | Dec 1990 | A |
| 4983951 | Igarashi et al. | Jan 1991 | A |
| 4985809 | Matsui et al. | Jan 1991 | A |
| 4987357 | Masaki | Jan 1991 | A |
| 4996083 | Moser et al. | Feb 1991 | A |
| 5001386 | Sullivan et al. | Mar 1991 | A |
| 5001558 | Burley et al. | Mar 1991 | A |
| 5005213 | Hanson et al. | Apr 1991 | A |
| 5006971 | Jenkins | Apr 1991 | A |
| 5014167 | Roberts | May 1991 | A |
| 5016988 | Iimura | May 1991 | A |
| 5016996 | Ueno | May 1991 | A |
| 5017903 | Krippelz, Sr. | May 1991 | A |
| 5018839 | Yamamoto et al. | May 1991 | A |
| 5027200 | Petrossian et al. | Jun 1991 | A |
| 5037182 | Groves et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
| 5038255 | Nishihashi et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
| 5052163 | Czekala | Oct 1991 | A |
| 5056899 | Warszawski | Oct 1991 | A |
| 5057974 | Mizobe | Oct 1991 | A |
| 5058851 | Lawlor et al. | Oct 1991 | A |
| 5059015 | Tran | Oct 1991 | A |
| 5066108 | McDonald | Nov 1991 | A |
| 5066112 | Lynam et al. | Nov 1991 | A |
| 5069535 | Baucke et al. | Dec 1991 | A |
| 5070323 | Iino et al. | Dec 1991 | A |
| 5073012 | Lynam | Dec 1991 | A |
| 5076673 | Lynam et al. | Dec 1991 | A |
| 5076674 | Lynam | Dec 1991 | A |
| 5078480 | Warszawski | Jan 1992 | A |
| 5096287 | Kakinami et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
| 5100095 | Haan et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
| 5101139 | Lechter | Mar 1992 | A |
| 5105127 | Lavaud et al. | Apr 1992 | A |
| 5115346 | Lynam | May 1992 | A |
| 5117346 | Gard | May 1992 | A |
| 5119220 | Narita et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
| 5121200 | Choi | Jun 1992 | A |
| 5122619 | Dlubak | Jun 1992 | A |
| 5123077 | Endo et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
| 5124845 | Shimojo | Jun 1992 | A |
| 5124890 | Choi et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
| 5128799 | Byker | Jul 1992 | A |
| 5130898 | Akahane | Jul 1992 | A |
| 5131154 | Schierbeek et al. | Jul 1992 | A |
| 5134507 | Ishii | Jul 1992 | A |
| 5134549 | Yokoyama | Jul 1992 | A |
| 5135298 | Feltman | Aug 1992 | A |
| 5136483 | Schöniger et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
| 5140455 | Varaprasad et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
| 5140465 | Yasui et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
| 5142407 | Varaprasad et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
| 5145609 | Varaprasad et al. | Sep 1992 | A |
| 5150232 | Gunkima et al. | Sep 1992 | A |
| 5151816 | Varaprasad et al. | Sep 1992 | A |
| 5151824 | O'Farrell | Sep 1992 | A |
| 5154617 | Suman et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
| 5158638 | Osanami et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
| 5160200 | Cheselske | Nov 1992 | A |
| 5160201 | Wrobel | Nov 1992 | A |
| 5166815 | Elderfield | Nov 1992 | A |
| 5168378 | Black et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
| 5173881 | Sindle | Dec 1992 | A |
| 5177031 | Buchmann et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
| 5178448 | Adams et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
| 5179471 | Caskey et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
| 5183099 | Bechu | Feb 1993 | A |
| 5184956 | Langlais et al. | Feb 1993 | A |
| 5189537 | O'Farrell | Feb 1993 | A |
| 5193029 | Schofield et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
| 5197562 | Kakinami et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
| 5202950 | Arego et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
| 5207492 | Roberts | May 1993 | A |
| 5210967 | Brown | May 1993 | A |
| 5212819 | Wada | May 1993 | A |
| 5214408 | Asayama | May 1993 | A |
| 5217794 | Schrenk | Jun 1993 | A |
| 5223814 | Suman | Jun 1993 | A |
| 5223844 | Mansell et al. | Jun 1993 | A |
| 5229975 | Truesdell et al. | Jul 1993 | A |
| 5230400 | Kakinami et al. | Jul 1993 | A |
| 5233461 | Dornan et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5235316 | Qualizza | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5239405 | Varaprasad et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5239406 | Lynam | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5243417 | Pollard | Sep 1993 | A |
| 5245422 | Borcherts et al. | Sep 1993 | A |
| 5252354 | Cronin et al. | Oct 1993 | A |
| 5253109 | O'Farrell et al. | Oct 1993 | A |
| 5255442 | Schierbeek et al. | Oct 1993 | A |
| 5260626 | Takase et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
| 5277986 | Cronin et al. | Jan 1994 | A |
| 5280555 | Ainsburg | Jan 1994 | A |
| 5285060 | Larson et al. | Feb 1994 | A |
| 5289321 | Secor | Feb 1994 | A |
| 5296924 | de Saint Blancard et al. | Mar 1994 | A |
| 5303075 | Wada et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
| 5303205 | Gauthier et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
| 5304980 | Maekawa | Apr 1994 | A |
| 5305012 | Faris | Apr 1994 | A |
| 5307136 | Saneyoshi | Apr 1994 | A |
| 5313335 | Gray et al. | May 1994 | A |
| 5325096 | Pakett | Jun 1994 | A |
| 5325386 | Jewell et al. | Jun 1994 | A |
| 5327288 | Wellington et al. | Jul 1994 | A |
| 5330149 | Haan et al. | Jul 1994 | A |
| 5331312 | Kudoh | Jul 1994 | A |
| 5331358 | Schurle et al. | Jul 1994 | A |
| 5339075 | Abst et al. | Aug 1994 | A |
| 5339529 | Lindberg | Aug 1994 | A |
| 5341437 | Nakayama | Aug 1994 | A |
| D351370 | Lawlor et al. | Oct 1994 | S |
| 5354965 | Lee | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5355118 | Fukuhara | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5355245 | Lynam | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5355284 | Roberts | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5361190 | Roberts et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
| 5363294 | Yamamoto et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
| 5371659 | Pastrick et al. | Dec 1994 | A |
| 5373482 | Gauthier | Dec 1994 | A |
| 5379146 | Defendini | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5386285 | Asayama | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5386306 | Gunjima et al. | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5400158 | Ohnishi et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
| 5402103 | Tashiro | Mar 1995 | A |
| 5406395 | Wilson et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
| 5406414 | O'Farrell et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
| 5408353 | Nichols et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
| 5408357 | Beukema | Apr 1995 | A |
| 5410346 | Saneyoshi et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
| 5414439 | Groves et al. | May 1995 | A |
| 5414461 | Kishi et al. | May 1995 | A |
| 5416313 | Larson et al. | May 1995 | A |
| 5416478 | Morinaga | May 1995 | A |
| 5418610 | Fischer | May 1995 | A |
| 5422756 | Weber | Jun 1995 | A |
| 5424726 | Beymer | Jun 1995 | A |
| 5424865 | Lynam | Jun 1995 | A |
| 5424952 | Asayama | Jun 1995 | A |
| 5426524 | Wada et al. | Jun 1995 | A |
| 5430431 | Nelson | Jul 1995 | A |
| 5432496 | Lin | Jul 1995 | A |
| 5432626 | Sasuga et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
| 5436741 | Crandall | Jul 1995 | A |
| 5437931 | Tsai et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
| 5439305 | Santo | Aug 1995 | A |
| 5444478 | Lelong et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
| 5446576 | Lynam et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
| 5455716 | Suman et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
| 5461361 | Moore | Oct 1995 | A |
| D363920 | Roberts et al. | Nov 1995 | S |
| 5469187 | Yaniv | Nov 1995 | A |
| 5469298 | Suman et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
| 5475366 | Van Lente et al. | Dec 1995 | A |
| 5475494 | Nishida et al. | Dec 1995 | A |
| 5481409 | Roberts | Jan 1996 | A |
| 5483453 | Uemura et al. | Jan 1996 | A |
| 5485161 | Vaughn | Jan 1996 | A |
| 5485378 | Franke et al. | Jan 1996 | A |
| 5487522 | Hook | Jan 1996 | A |
| 5488496 | Pine | Jan 1996 | A |
| 5497305 | Pastrick et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
| 5497306 | Pastrick | Mar 1996 | A |
| 5500760 | Varaprasad et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
| 5506701 | Ichikawa | Apr 1996 | A |
| 5509606 | Breithaupt et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
| 5510983 | Iino | Apr 1996 | A |
| 5515448 | Nishitani | May 1996 | A |
| 5519621 | Wortham | May 1996 | A |
| 5521744 | Mazurek | May 1996 | A |
| 5521760 | De Young et al. | May 1996 | A |
| 5523811 | Wada et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5523877 | Lynam | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5525264 | Cronin et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5525977 | Suman | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5528422 | Roberts | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5528474 | Roney et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5529138 | Shaw et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5530240 | Larson et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5530420 | Tsuchiya et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5530421 | Marshall et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5535056 | Caskey et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
| 5535144 | Kise | Jul 1996 | A |
| 5539397 | Asanuma et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
| 5541590 | Nishio | Jul 1996 | A |
| 5550677 | Schofield et al. | Aug 1996 | A |
| 5555172 | Potter | Sep 1996 | A |
| 5561333 | Darius | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5566224 | ul Azam et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5567360 | Varaprasad et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5568316 | Schrenk et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5570127 | Schmidt | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5572354 | Desmond et al. | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5574426 | Shisgal et al. | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5574443 | Hsieh | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5575552 | Faloon et al. | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5576687 | Blank et al. | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5576854 | Schmidt et al. | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5576975 | Sasaki et al. | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5578404 | Kliem | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5587236 | Agrawal et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
| 5587699 | Faloon et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
| 5593221 | Evanicky et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
| 5594222 | Caldwell | Jan 1997 | A |
| 5594560 | Jelley et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
| 5594615 | Spijkerman et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
| 5602542 | Widmann et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
| 5602670 | Keegan | Feb 1997 | A |
| 5603104 | Phelps, III et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
| 5608550 | Epstein et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5609652 | Yamada et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5610380 | Nicolaisen | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5610756 | Lynam et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5611966 | Varaprasad et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5614885 | Van Lente et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5615023 | Yang | Mar 1997 | A |
| 5615857 | Hook | Apr 1997 | A |
| 5617085 | Tsutsumi et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
| 5619374 | Roberts | Apr 1997 | A |
| 5619375 | Roberts | Apr 1997 | A |
| 5626800 | Williams et al. | May 1997 | A |
| 5631089 | Center, Jr. et al. | May 1997 | A |
| 5631638 | Kaspar et al. | May 1997 | A |
| 5631639 | Hibino et al. | May 1997 | A |
| 5632092 | Blank et al. | May 1997 | A |
| 5632551 | Roney et al. | May 1997 | A |
| 5634709 | Iwama | Jun 1997 | A |
| 5640216 | Hasegawa et al. | Jun 1997 | A |
| 5642238 | Sala | Jun 1997 | A |
| 5644851 | Blank et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
| 5646614 | Abersfelder et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
| 5649756 | Adams et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
| 5649758 | Dion | Jul 1997 | A |
| 5650765 | Park | Jul 1997 | A |
| 5650929 | Potter et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
| 5661455 | Van Lente et al. | Aug 1997 | A |
| 5661651 | Geschke et al. | Aug 1997 | A |
| 5661804 | Dykema et al. | Aug 1997 | A |
| 5662375 | Adams et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5666157 | Aviv | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5667289 | Akahane et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5668663 | Varaprasad et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5668675 | Fredricks | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5669698 | Veldman et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5669699 | Pastrick et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5669704 | Pastrick | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5669705 | Pastrick et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5670935 | Schofield et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5671996 | Bos et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5673994 | Fant, Jr. et al. | Oct 1997 | A |
| 5673999 | Koenck | Oct 1997 | A |
| 5677598 | De Hair et al. | Oct 1997 | A |
| 5679283 | Tonar et al. | Oct 1997 | A |
| 5680123 | Lee | Oct 1997 | A |
| 5680245 | Lynam | Oct 1997 | A |
| 5680263 | Zimmermann et al. | Oct 1997 | A |
| 5686975 | Lipton | Nov 1997 | A |
| 5686979 | Weber et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
| 5689241 | Clark, Sr. et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
| 5689370 | Tonar et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
| 5691848 | Van Lente et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
| 5692819 | Mitsutake et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
| 5696529 | Evanicky et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
| 5696567 | Wada et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
| 5699044 | Van Lente et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
| 5699188 | Gilbert et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
| 5703568 | Hegyi | Dec 1997 | A |
| 5708410 | Blank et al. | Jan 1998 | A |
| 5708415 | Van Lente et al. | Jan 1998 | A |
| 5708857 | Ishibashi | Jan 1998 | A |
| 5715093 | Schierbeek et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
| 5724187 | Varaprasad et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
| 5724316 | Brunts | Mar 1998 | A |
| 5729194 | Spears et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
| 5737226 | Olson et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
| 5741966 | Handfield et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
| 5744227 | Bright et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
| 5745050 | Nakagawa | Apr 1998 | A |
| 5745266 | Smith | Apr 1998 | A |
| 5748172 | Song et al. | May 1998 | A |
| 5748287 | Takahashi et al. | May 1998 | A |
| 5751211 | Shirai et al. | May 1998 | A |
| 5751246 | Hertel | May 1998 | A |
| 5751390 | Crawford et al. | May 1998 | A |
| 5751489 | Caskey et al. | May 1998 | A |
| 5754099 | Nishimura et al. | May 1998 | A |
| D394833 | Muth | Jun 1998 | S |
| 5760828 | Cortes | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5760931 | Saburi et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5760962 | Schofield et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5761094 | Olson et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5762823 | Hikmet | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5764139 | Nojima et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5765940 | Levy et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5767793 | Agravante et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5768020 | Nagao | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5775762 | Vitito | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5777779 | Hashimoto et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5780160 | Allemand et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5786772 | Schofield et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5788357 | Muth et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5790298 | Tonar | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5790502 | Horinouchi et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5790973 | Blaker et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5793308 | Rosinski et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5793420 | Schmidt | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5796094 | Schofield et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5796176 | Kramer et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5798057 | Hikmet | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5798575 | O'Farrell et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5798688 | Schofield | Aug 1998 | A |
| 5800918 | Chartier et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5802727 | Blank et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5803579 | Turnbull et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5805330 | Byker et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5805367 | Kanazawa | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5806879 | Hamada et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5806965 | Deese | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5808197 | Dao | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5808566 | Behr et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5808589 | Fergason | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5808713 | Broer et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5808777 | Lynam et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5808778 | Bauer et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5812321 | Schierbeek et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5813745 | Fant, Jr. et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
| 5818625 | Forgette et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5820097 | Spooner | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5820245 | Desmond et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5822023 | Suman et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5823654 | Pastrick et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5825527 | Forgette et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5835166 | Hall et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
| 5837994 | Stam et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
| 5844505 | Van Ryzin | Dec 1998 | A |
| 5848373 | DeLorme et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
| 5850176 | Kinoshita et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
| 5850205 | Blouin | Dec 1998 | A |
| 5863116 | Pastrick et al. | Jan 1999 | A |
| 5864419 | Lynam | Jan 1999 | A |
| 5867801 | Denny | Feb 1999 | A |
| 5871275 | O'Farrell et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
| 5871843 | Yoneda et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
| 5877707 | Kowalick | Mar 1999 | A |
| 5877897 | Schofield et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
| 5878353 | ul Azam et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
| 5878370 | Olson | Mar 1999 | A |
| 5879074 | Pastrick | Mar 1999 | A |
| 5883605 | Knapp | Mar 1999 | A |
| 5883739 | Ashihara et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
| 5888431 | Tonar et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
| 5894196 | McDermott | Apr 1999 | A |
| D409540 | Muth | May 1999 | S |
| 5899551 | Neijzen et al. | May 1999 | A |
| 5899956 | Chan | May 1999 | A |
| 5904729 | Ruzicka | May 1999 | A |
| 5910854 | Varaprasad et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
| 5914815 | Bos | Jun 1999 | A |
| 5917664 | O'Neill et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
| 5918180 | Dimino | Jun 1999 | A |
| 5922176 | Caskey | Jul 1999 | A |
| 5923027 | Stam et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
| 5923457 | Byker et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
| 5924212 | Domanski | Jul 1999 | A |
| 5926087 | Busch et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
| 5927792 | Welling et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
| 5928572 | Tonar et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
| 5929786 | Schofield et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
| 5931555 | Akahane et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5935702 | Macquart et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5936774 | Street | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5938320 | Crandall | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5938321 | Bos et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5938721 | Dussell et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5940011 | Agravante et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5940120 | Frankhouse et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5940201 | Ash et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5942895 | Popovic et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
| 5947586 | Weber | Sep 1999 | A |
| 5949331 | Schofield et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
| 5949506 | Jones et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
| 5956079 | Ridgley | Sep 1999 | A |
| 5956181 | Lin | Sep 1999 | A |
| 5959367 | O'Farrell et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
| 5959555 | Furuta | Sep 1999 | A |
| 5959577 | Fan et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
| 5963247 | Banitt | Oct 1999 | A |
| 5963284 | Jones et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
| 5965247 | Jonza et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
| 5968538 | Snyder, Jr. | Oct 1999 | A |
| 5971552 | O'Farrell et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
| 5973760 | Dehmlow | Oct 1999 | A |
| 5975715 | Bauder | Nov 1999 | A |
| 5984482 | Rumsey et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
| 5986730 | Hansen et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
| 5990469 | Bechtel et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
| 5990625 | Meissner et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
| 5995180 | Moriwaki et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
| 5998617 | Srinivasa et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 5998929 | Bechtel et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6000823 | Desmond et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6001486 | Varaprasad et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6002511 | Varaprasad et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6002544 | Yatsu | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6005724 | Todd | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6007222 | Thau | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6008486 | Stam et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6008871 | Okumura | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6009359 | El-Hakim et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6016035 | Eberspächer et al. | Jan 2000 | A |
| 6016215 | Byker | Jan 2000 | A |
| 6019411 | Carter et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6019475 | Lynam et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6020987 | Baumann et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6021371 | Fultz | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6023229 | Bugno et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6025872 | Ozaki et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6028537 | Suman et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6037689 | Bingle et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
| 6040939 | Demiryont et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
| 6042253 | Fant, Jr. et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
| 6042934 | Guiselin et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
| 6045243 | Muth et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
| 6045643 | Byker et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
| 6046766 | Sakata | Apr 2000 | A |
| 6046837 | Yamamoto | Apr 2000 | A |
| 6049171 | Stam et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
| D425466 | Todd et al. | May 2000 | S |
| 6060989 | Gehlot | May 2000 | A |
| 6061002 | Weber et al. | May 2000 | A |
| 6062920 | Jordan et al. | May 2000 | A |
| 6064508 | Forgette et al. | May 2000 | A |
| 6065840 | Caskey et al. | May 2000 | A |
| 6066920 | Torihara et al. | May 2000 | A |
| 6067111 | Hahn et al. | May 2000 | A |
| 6067500 | Morimoto et al. | May 2000 | A |
| 6068380 | Lynn et al. | May 2000 | A |
| D426506 | Todd et al. | Jun 2000 | S |
| D426507 | Todd et al. | Jun 2000 | S |
| D427128 | Mathieu | Jun 2000 | S |
| 6072391 | Suzuki et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6074077 | Pastrick et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6074777 | Reimers et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6076948 | Bukosky et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6078355 | Zengel | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6078865 | Koyanagi | Jun 2000 | A |
| D428372 | Todd et al. | Jul 2000 | S |
| D428373 | Todd et al. | Jul 2000 | S |
| 6082881 | Hicks | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6084700 | Knapp et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6086131 | Bingle et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6086229 | Pastrick | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6087012 | Varaprasad et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6087953 | DeLine et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6091343 | Dykema et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6093976 | Kramer et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6094618 | Harada | Jul 2000 | A |
| D428842 | Todd et al. | Aug 2000 | S |
| D429202 | Todd et al. | Aug 2000 | S |
| D430088 | Todd et al. | Aug 2000 | S |
| 6097023 | Schofield et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6097316 | Liaw et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6099131 | Fletcher et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6099155 | Pastrick et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6102546 | Carter | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6102559 | Nold et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6104552 | Thau et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6106121 | Buckley et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6111498 | Jobes et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6111683 | Cammenga et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6111684 | Forgette et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6111685 | Tench et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6111696 | Allen et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6115086 | Rosen | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6115651 | Cruz | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6116743 | Hoek | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6118219 | Okigami et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6122597 | Saneyoshi et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6122921 | Brezoczky et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6124647 | Marcus et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6124886 | DeLine et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
| 6127919 | Wylin | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6127945 | Mura-Smith | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6128576 | Nishimoto et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6130421 | Bechtel et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6130448 | Bauer et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6132072 | Turnbull et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6137620 | Guarr et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6139171 | Waldmann | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6139172 | Bos et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6140933 | Bugno et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6142656 | Kurth | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6146003 | Thau | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6147934 | Arikawa et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6148261 | Obradovich et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6149287 | Pastrick et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6150014 | Chu et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6151065 | Steed et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6151539 | Bergholz et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6152551 | Annas | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6152590 | Fürst et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6154149 | Tyckowski et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6154306 | Varaprasad et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
| 6157294 | Urai et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6157418 | Rosen | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6157424 | Eichenlaub | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6157480 | Anderson et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6158655 | DeVries, Jr. et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6161865 | Rose et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6164564 | Franco et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6166625 | Teowee et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6166629 | Hamma et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6166834 | Taketomi et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6166847 | Tench et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6166848 | Cammenga et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6167755 | Damson et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6169955 | Fultz | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6170956 | Rumsey et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6172600 | Kakinama et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6172601 | Wada et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6172613 | DeLine et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6173501 | Blank et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6175164 | O'Farrell et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6175300 | Kendrick | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6176602 | Pastrick et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6178034 | Allemand et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6178377 | Ishihara et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6181387 | Rosen | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6182006 | Meek | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 6183119 | Desmond et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6184679 | Popovic et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6184781 | Ramakesavan | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6185492 | Kagawa et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6185501 | Smith et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6188505 | Lomprey et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6191704 | Takenaga et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6193912 | Thieste et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6195194 | Roberts et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6196688 | Caskey et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6198409 | Schofield et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6199014 | Walker et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6199810 | Wu et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6200010 | Anders | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6201642 | Bos | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6206553 | Boddy et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6207083 | Varaprasad et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6210008 | Hoekstra et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6210012 | Broer | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6212470 | Seymour et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6217181 | Lynam et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6218934 | Regan | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6222447 | Schofield et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6222460 | DeLine et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6222689 | Higuchi et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6227689 | Miller | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6232937 | Jacobsen et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6236514 | Sato | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6239851 | Hatazawa et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6239898 | Byker et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6239899 | DeVries et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6243003 | DeLine et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6244716 | Steenwyk et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6245262 | Varaprasad et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6247820 | Van Order | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6249214 | Kashiwazaki | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6249310 | Lefkowitz | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6249369 | Theiste et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6250148 | Lynam | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6250766 | Strumolo et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6250783 | Stidham et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6255639 | Stam et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6257746 | Todd et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6259412 | Duroux | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6259475 | Ramachandran et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6260608 | Kim | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6262842 | Ouderkirk et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6264353 | Caraher et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6265968 | Betzitza et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6268803 | Gunderson et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6268837 | Kobayashi et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6269308 | Kodaka et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6271901 | Ide et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6274221 | Smith et al. | Aug 2001 | B2 |
| 6276821 | Pastrick et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6276822 | Bedrosian et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6277471 | Tang | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6278271 | Schott | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6278377 | DeLine et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6278941 | Yokoyama | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6280068 | Mertens et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6280069 | Pastrick et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6281804 | Haller et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6286965 | Caskey et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6286984 | Berg | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6289332 | Menig et al. | Sep 2001 | B2 |
| 6290378 | Buchalla et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6291905 | Drummond et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6291906 | Marcus et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6294989 | Schofield et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6296379 | Pastrick | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6297781 | Turnbull et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6299333 | Pastrick et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6300879 | Ragan et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6301039 | Tench | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6304173 | Pala et al. | Oct 2001 | B2 |
| 6305807 | Schierbeek | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6310611 | Caldwell | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6310714 | Lomprey et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6310738 | Chu | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6313454 | Bos et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6314295 | Kawamoto | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6315440 | Satoh | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6317057 | Lee | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6317180 | Kuroiwa et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6317248 | Agrawal et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6318870 | Spooner et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6320176 | Schofield et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6320282 | Caldwell | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6320612 | Young | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6324295 | Valery et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6326613 | Heslin et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6326900 | DeLine et al. | Dec 2001 | B2 |
| 6329925 | Skiver et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6330511 | Ogura et al. | Dec 2001 | B2 |
| 6331066 | Desmond et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6333759 | Mazzilli | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| 6335680 | Matsuoka | Jan 2002 | B1 |
| 6336737 | Thau | Jan 2002 | B1 |
| 6340850 | O'Farrell et al. | Jan 2002 | B2 |
| 6341523 | Lynam | Jan 2002 | B2 |
| 6344805 | Yasui et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
| 6346698 | Turnbull | Feb 2002 | B1 |
| 6347880 | Fürst et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
| 6348858 | Weis et al. | Feb 2002 | B2 |
| 6351708 | Takagi et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
| 6353392 | Schofield et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 6356206 | Takenaga et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 6356376 | Tonar et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 6356389 | Nilsen et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 6357883 | Strumolo et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 6362121 | Chopin et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 6362548 | Bingle et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 6363326 | Scully | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 6366013 | Leenders et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
| 6366213 | DeLine et al. | Apr 2002 | B2 |
| 6370329 | Teuchert | Apr 2002 | B1 |
| 6371636 | Wesson | Apr 2002 | B1 |
| 6379013 | Bechtel et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
| 6379788 | Choi et al. | Apr 2002 | B2 |
| 6382805 | Miyabukuro | May 2002 | B1 |
| 6385139 | Arikawa et al. | May 2002 | B1 |
| 6386742 | DeLine et al. | May 2002 | B1 |
| 6390529 | Bingle et al. | May 2002 | B1 |
| 6390626 | Knox | May 2002 | B2 |
| 6390635 | Whitehead et al. | May 2002 | B2 |
| 6396397 | Bos et al. | May 2002 | B1 |
| 6396408 | Drummond et al. | May 2002 | B2 |
| 6396637 | Roest et al. | May 2002 | B2 |
| 6407847 | Poll et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
| 6408247 | Ichikawa et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
| 6411204 | Bloomfield et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
| 6412959 | Tseng | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6412973 | Bos et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6414910 | Kaneko et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6415230 | Maruko et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6416208 | Pastrick et al. | Jul 2002 | B2 |
| 6417786 | Learman et al. | Jul 2002 | B2 |
| 6418376 | Olson | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6419300 | Pavao et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6420036 | Varaprasad et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6420975 | DeLine et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6421081 | Markus | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6424272 | Gutta et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6424273 | Gutta et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6424786 | Beeson et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6424892 | Matsuoka | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6426492 | Bos et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6426568 | Turnbull et al. | Jul 2002 | B2 |
| 6427349 | Blank et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6428172 | Hutzel et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6433676 | DeLine et al. | Aug 2002 | B2 |
| 6433680 | Ho | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6433914 | Lomprey et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6437688 | Kobayashi | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6438491 | Farmer | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6439755 | Fant, Jr. et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6441872 | Ho | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6441943 | Roberts et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6441963 | Murakami et al. | Aug 2002 | B2 |
| 6441964 | Chu et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6445287 | Schofield et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
| 6447128 | Lang et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
| 6449082 | Agrawal et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
| 6452533 | Yamabuchi et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
| 6452572 | Fan et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
| 6462795 | Clarke | Oct 2002 | B1 |
| 6463369 | Sadano et al. | Oct 2002 | B2 |
| 6466701 | Ejiri et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
| 6471362 | Carter et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
| 6472977 | Pöchmüller | Oct 2002 | B1 |
| 6472979 | Schofield et al. | Oct 2002 | B2 |
| 6473001 | Blum | Oct 2002 | B1 |
| 6474853 | Pastrick et al. | Nov 2002 | B2 |
| 6476731 | Miki et al. | Nov 2002 | B1 |
| 6477460 | Kepler | Nov 2002 | B2 |
| 6477464 | McCarthy et al. | Nov 2002 | B2 |
| 6483429 | Yasui et al. | Nov 2002 | B1 |
| 6483438 | DeLine et al. | Nov 2002 | B2 |
| 6483613 | Woodgate et al. | Nov 2002 | B1 |
| 6487500 | Lemelson et al. | Nov 2002 | B2 |
| 6494602 | Pastrick et al. | Dec 2002 | B2 |
| 6498620 | Schofield et al. | Dec 2002 | B2 |
| 6501387 | Skiver et al. | Dec 2002 | B2 |
| 6512203 | Jones et al. | Jan 2003 | B2 |
| 6512624 | Tonar et al. | Jan 2003 | B2 |
| 6513252 | Schierbeek et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6515581 | Ho | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6515582 | Teowee | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6515597 | Wada et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6516664 | Lynam | Feb 2003 | B2 |
| 6518691 | Baba | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6519209 | Arikawa et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6520667 | Mousseau | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6522451 | Lynam | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6522969 | Kannonji | Feb 2003 | B2 |
| 6525707 | Kaneko et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6534884 | Marcus et al. | Mar 2003 | B2 |
| 6538709 | Kurihara et al. | Mar 2003 | B1 |
| 6539306 | Turnbull et al. | Mar 2003 | B2 |
| 6542085 | Yang | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6542182 | Chautorash | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6543163 | Ginsberg | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6545598 | de Villeroche | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6549253 | Robbie et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6549335 | Trapani et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6550949 | Bauer et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6552326 | Turnbull | Apr 2003 | B2 |
| 6553308 | Uhlmann et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6559902 | Kusuda et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
| 6560004 | Theiste et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
| 6560027 | Meine | May 2003 | B2 |
| 6566821 | Nakatsuka et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
| 6567060 | Sekiguchi | May 2003 | B1 |
| 6568839 | Pastrick et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
| 6572233 | Northman et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6573957 | Suzuki | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6573963 | Ouderkirk et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
| 6575582 | Tenmyo | Jun 2003 | B2 |
| 6575643 | Takahashi | Jun 2003 | B2 |
| 6578989 | Osumi et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
| 6580373 | Ohashi | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6580479 | Sekiguchi et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6580562 | Aoki et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
| 6581007 | Hasegawa et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
| 6583730 | Lang et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
| 6591192 | Okamura et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6592230 | Dupay | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6593565 | Heslin et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6593984 | Arakawa et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6594065 | Byker et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6594067 | Poll et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6594090 | Kruschwitz et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6594583 | Ogura et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6594614 | Studt et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6595649 | Hoekstra et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| 6597489 | Guarr et al. | Jul 2003 | B1 |
| 6606183 | Ikai et al. | Aug 2003 | B2 |
| 6611202 | Schofield et al. | Aug 2003 | B2 |
| 6611227 | Nebiyeloul-Kifle et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
| 6611759 | Brosche | Aug 2003 | B2 |
| 6614387 | Deadman | Sep 2003 | B1 |
| 6614419 | May | Sep 2003 | B1 |
| 6614579 | Roberts et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| 6615438 | Franco et al. | Sep 2003 | B1 |
| 6616313 | Fürst et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| 6616764 | Krämer et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| 6618672 | Sasaki et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| 6621616 | Bauer et al. | Sep 2003 | B1 |
| 6624936 | Kotchick et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| 6627918 | Getz et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| 6630888 | Lang et al. | Oct 2003 | B2 |
| 6636190 | Hirakata et al. | Oct 2003 | B2 |
| 6636258 | Strumolo | Oct 2003 | B2 |
| 6638582 | Uchiyama et al. | Oct 2003 | B1 |
| 6639360 | Roberts et al. | Oct 2003 | B2 |
| 6642840 | Lang et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
| 6642851 | DeLine et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
| 6646697 | Sekiguchi et al. | Nov 2003 | B1 |
| 6648477 | Hutzel et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
| 6650457 | Busscher et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
| 6657607 | Evanicky et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
| 6657708 | Drevillon et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
| 6661482 | Hara | Dec 2003 | B2 |
| 6661830 | Reed et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
| 6665592 | Kodama | Dec 2003 | B2 |
| 6669109 | Ivanov et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
| 6669285 | Park et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
| 6670207 | Roberts | Dec 2003 | B1 |
| 6670910 | Delcheccolo et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
| 6670941 | Albu et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
| 6671080 | Poll et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
| 6672731 | Schnell et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
| 6672734 | Lammers | Jan 2004 | B2 |
| 6672744 | DeLine et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
| 6672745 | Bauer et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
| 6674370 | Rodewald et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
| 6675075 | Engelsburg et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
| 6678083 | Anstee | Jan 2004 | B1 |
| 6678614 | McCarthy et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
| 6679608 | Bechtel et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
| 6683539 | Trajkovic et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
| 6683969 | Nishigaki et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
| 6685348 | Pastrick et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
| 6690262 | Winnett | Feb 2004 | B1 |
| 6690268 | Schofield et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
| 6690413 | Moore | Feb 2004 | B1 |
| 6690438 | Sekiguchi | Feb 2004 | B2 |
| 6693517 | McCarthy et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
| 6693518 | Kumata et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
| 6693519 | Keirstead | Feb 2004 | B2 |
| 6693524 | Payne | Feb 2004 | B1 |
| 6700692 | Tonar et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
| 6709136 | Pastrick et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
| 6713783 | Mase et al. | Mar 2004 | B1 |
| 6717109 | Macher et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
| 6717610 | Bos et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
| 6717712 | Lynam et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
| 6719215 | Drouillard | Apr 2004 | B2 |
| 6724446 | Motomura et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
| 6726337 | Whitehead et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
| 6727807 | Trajkovic et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
| 6727808 | Uselmann et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
| 6727844 | Zimmermann et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
| 6731332 | Yasui et al. | May 2004 | B1 |
| 6734807 | King | May 2004 | B2 |
| 6736526 | Matsuba et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
| 6737629 | Nixon et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
| 6737630 | Turnbull | May 2004 | B2 |
| 6737964 | Samman et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
| 6738088 | Uskolovsky et al. | May 2004 | B1 |
| 6742904 | Bechtel et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
| 6744353 | Sjönell | Jun 2004 | B2 |
| 6746775 | Boire et al. | Jun 2004 | B1 |
| 6747716 | Kuroiwa et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
| 6748211 | Isaac et al. | Jun 2004 | B1 |
| 6749308 | Niendorf et al. | Jun 2004 | B1 |
| 6755542 | Bechtel et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
| 6756912 | Skiver et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
| 6757039 | Ma | Jun 2004 | B2 |
| 6757109 | Bos | Jun 2004 | B2 |
| D493131 | Lawlor et al. | Jul 2004 | S |
| D493394 | Lawlor et al. | Jul 2004 | S |
| 6759113 | Tang | Jul 2004 | B1 |
| 6759945 | Richard | Jul 2004 | B2 |
| 6760157 | Allen et al. | Jul 2004 | B1 |
| 6773116 | De Vaan et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
| 6774356 | Heslin et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
| 6774810 | DeLine et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
| 6778904 | Iwami et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
| 6779900 | Nolan-Brown | Aug 2004 | B1 |
| 6784129 | Seto et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
| 6797396 | Liu et al. | Sep 2004 | B1 |
| 6800871 | Matsuda et al. | Oct 2004 | B2 |
| 6801283 | Koyama et al. | Oct 2004 | B2 |
| 6805474 | Walser et al. | Oct 2004 | B2 |
| 6806452 | Bos et al. | Oct 2004 | B2 |
| 6806922 | Ishitaka | Oct 2004 | B2 |
| 6810323 | Bullock et al. | Oct 2004 | B1 |
| 6812907 | Gennetten et al. | Nov 2004 | B1 |
| 6819231 | Berberich et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
| 6824281 | Schofield et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
| 6831268 | Bechtel et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
| 6832848 | Pastrick | Dec 2004 | B2 |
| 6834969 | Bade et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
| 6836725 | Millington et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
| 6842276 | Poll et al. | Jan 2005 | B2 |
| 6845805 | Köster | Jan 2005 | B1 |
| 6846098 | Bourdelais et al. | Jan 2005 | B2 |
| 6847424 | Gotoh et al. | Jan 2005 | B2 |
| 6847487 | Burgner | Jan 2005 | B2 |
| 6848817 | Bos et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
| 6849165 | Klöppel et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
| 6853491 | Ruhle et al. | Feb 2005 | B1 |
| 6861789 | Wei | Mar 2005 | B2 |
| 6870655 | Northman et al. | Mar 2005 | B1 |
| 6870656 | Tonar et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
| 6871982 | Holman et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
| 6877888 | DeLine et al. | Apr 2005 | B2 |
| 6882287 | Schofield | Apr 2005 | B2 |
| 6889064 | Baratono et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
| 6891563 | Schofield et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
| 6891677 | Nilsen et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
| 6902284 | Hutzel et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
| 6904348 | Drummond et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
| 6906632 | DeLine et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
| 6909486 | Wang et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
| 6910779 | Abel et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
| 6912396 | Sziraki et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
| 6916099 | Su et al. | Jul 2005 | B2 |
| 6922902 | Schierbeek et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
| 6928180 | Stam et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
| 6928366 | Ockerse et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
| 6930737 | Weindorf et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
| 6934067 | Ash et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
| 6946978 | Schofield | Sep 2005 | B2 |
| 6947576 | Stam et al. | Sep 2005 | B2 |
| 6947577 | Stam et al. | Sep 2005 | B2 |
| 6949772 | Shimizu et al. | Sep 2005 | B2 |
| 6951410 | Parsons | Oct 2005 | B2 |
| 6951681 | Hartley et al. | Oct 2005 | B2 |
| 6952312 | Weber et al. | Oct 2005 | B2 |
| 6958495 | Nishijima et al. | Oct 2005 | B2 |
| 6958683 | Mills et al. | Oct 2005 | B2 |
| 6961178 | Sugino et al. | Nov 2005 | B2 |
| 6963438 | Busscher et al. | Nov 2005 | B2 |
| 6968273 | Ockerse et al. | Nov 2005 | B2 |
| 6972888 | Poll et al. | Dec 2005 | B2 |
| 6974236 | Tenmyo | Dec 2005 | B2 |
| 6975215 | Schofield et al. | Dec 2005 | B2 |
| 6977702 | Wu | Dec 2005 | B2 |
| 6980092 | Turnbull et al. | Dec 2005 | B2 |
| 6985291 | Watson et al. | Jan 2006 | B2 |
| 6992718 | Takahara | Jan 2006 | B1 |
| 7001058 | Inditsky | Feb 2006 | B2 |
| 7004592 | Varaprasad et al. | Feb 2006 | B2 |
| 7004593 | Weller et al. | Feb 2006 | B2 |
| 7006173 | Hiyama et al. | Feb 2006 | B1 |
| 7009751 | Tonar et al. | Mar 2006 | B2 |
| 7012543 | DeLine et al. | Mar 2006 | B2 |
| 7029156 | Suehiro et al. | Apr 2006 | B2 |
| 7041965 | Heslin et al. | May 2006 | B2 |
| 7042616 | Tonar et al. | May 2006 | B2 |
| 7046418 | Lin et al. | May 2006 | B2 |
| 7046448 | Burgner | May 2006 | B2 |
| 7057681 | Hinata et al. | Jun 2006 | B2 |
| 7063893 | Hoffman | Jun 2006 | B2 |
| 7064882 | Tonar et al. | Jun 2006 | B2 |
| 7074486 | Boire et al. | Jul 2006 | B2 |
| 7081810 | Henderson et al. | Jul 2006 | B2 |
| 7092052 | Okamoto et al. | Aug 2006 | B2 |
| 7106213 | White | Sep 2006 | B2 |
| 7106392 | You | Sep 2006 | B2 |
| 7108409 | DeLine et al. | Sep 2006 | B2 |
| 7114554 | Bergman et al. | Oct 2006 | B2 |
| 7121028 | Shoen et al. | Oct 2006 | B2 |
| 7125131 | Olczak | Oct 2006 | B2 |
| 7130727 | Liu et al. | Oct 2006 | B2 |
| 7132064 | Li et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
| 7136091 | Ichikawa et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
| 7138974 | Hirakata et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
| 7149613 | Stam et al. | Dec 2006 | B2 |
| 7151515 | Kim et al. | Dec 2006 | B2 |
| 7151997 | Uhlmann et al. | Dec 2006 | B2 |
| 7153588 | McMan et al. | Dec 2006 | B2 |
| 7154657 | Poll et al. | Dec 2006 | B2 |
| 7158881 | McCarthy et al. | Jan 2007 | B2 |
| 7160017 | Lee et al. | Jan 2007 | B2 |
| 7161567 | Homma et al. | Jan 2007 | B2 |
| 7167796 | Taylor et al. | Jan 2007 | B2 |
| 7175291 | Li | Feb 2007 | B1 |
| 7176790 | Yamazaki | Feb 2007 | B2 |
| 7184190 | McCabe et al. | Feb 2007 | B2 |
| 7185995 | Hatanaka et al. | Mar 2007 | B2 |
| 7187498 | Bengoechea et al. | Mar 2007 | B2 |
| 7188963 | Schofield et al. | Mar 2007 | B2 |
| 7193764 | Lin et al. | Mar 2007 | B2 |
| 7195381 | Lynam et al. | Mar 2007 | B2 |
| 7199767 | Spero | Apr 2007 | B2 |
| 7206697 | Olney et al. | Apr 2007 | B2 |
| 7209277 | Tonar et al. | Apr 2007 | B2 |
| 7215238 | Buck et al. | May 2007 | B2 |
| 7215473 | Fleming | May 2007 | B2 |
| 7221363 | Roberts et al. | May 2007 | B2 |
| 7224324 | Quist et al. | May 2007 | B2 |
| 7230523 | Harter, Jr. et al. | Jun 2007 | B2 |
| 7232231 | Shih | Jun 2007 | B2 |
| 7233304 | Aratani et al. | Jun 2007 | B1 |
| 7235918 | McCullough et al. | Jun 2007 | B2 |
| 7241030 | Mok et al. | Jul 2007 | B2 |
| 7241037 | Mathieu et al. | Jul 2007 | B2 |
| 7245207 | Dayan et al. | Jul 2007 | B1 |
| 7245336 | Hiyama et al. | Jul 2007 | B2 |
| 7248305 | Ootsuta et al. | Jul 2007 | B2 |
| 7251079 | Capaldo et al. | Jul 2007 | B2 |
| 7255451 | McCabe et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
| 7255465 | DeLine et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
| 7259036 | Borland et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
| 7262406 | Heslin et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
| 7262916 | Kao et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
| 7265342 | Heslin et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
| 7268841 | Kasajima et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
| 7269327 | Tang | Sep 2007 | B2 |
| 7269328 | Tang | Sep 2007 | B2 |
| 7271951 | Weber et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
| 7274501 | McCabe et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
| 7281491 | Iwamaru | Oct 2007 | B2 |
| 7286280 | Whitehead et al. | Oct 2007 | B2 |
| 7287868 | Carter et al. | Oct 2007 | B2 |
| 7289037 | Uken et al. | Oct 2007 | B2 |
| 7290919 | Pan et al. | Nov 2007 | B2 |
| 7292208 | Park et al. | Nov 2007 | B1 |
| 7300183 | Kiyomoto et al. | Nov 2007 | B2 |
| 7308341 | Schofield et al. | Dec 2007 | B2 |
| 7310177 | McCabe et al. | Dec 2007 | B2 |
| 7311428 | DeLine et al. | Dec 2007 | B2 |
| 7316485 | Roose | Jan 2008 | B2 |
| 7318664 | Hatanaka et al. | Jan 2008 | B2 |
| 7323819 | Hong et al. | Jan 2008 | B2 |
| 7324172 | Yamazaki | Jan 2008 | B2 |
| 7324174 | Hafuka et al. | Jan 2008 | B2 |
| 7324261 | Tonar et al. | Jan 2008 | B2 |
| 7327225 | Nicholas et al. | Feb 2008 | B2 |
| 7327226 | Turnbull et al. | Feb 2008 | B2 |
| 7327855 | Chen | Feb 2008 | B1 |
| 7328103 | McCarthy et al. | Feb 2008 | B2 |
| 7329013 | Blank et al. | Feb 2008 | B2 |
| 7329850 | Drummond et al. | Feb 2008 | B2 |
| 7338177 | Lynam | Mar 2008 | B2 |
| 7344284 | Lynam et al. | Mar 2008 | B2 |
| 7349143 | Tonar et al. | Mar 2008 | B2 |
| 7362505 | Hikmet et al. | Apr 2008 | B2 |
| 7370983 | DeWind et al. | May 2008 | B2 |
| 7372611 | Tonar et al. | May 2008 | B2 |
| 7375895 | Brynielsson | May 2008 | B2 |
| 7379224 | Tonar et al. | May 2008 | B2 |
| 7379225 | Tonar et al. | May 2008 | B2 |
| 7379243 | Horsten et al. | May 2008 | B2 |
| 7379814 | Ockerse et al. | May 2008 | B2 |
| 7389171 | Rupp | Jun 2008 | B2 |
| 7396147 | Munro | Jul 2008 | B2 |
| 7411732 | Kao et al. | Aug 2008 | B2 |
| 7412328 | Uhlmann et al. | Aug 2008 | B2 |
| 7417781 | Tonar et al. | Aug 2008 | B2 |
| 7420159 | Heslin et al. | Sep 2008 | B2 |
| 7446462 | Lim et al. | Nov 2008 | B2 |
| 7446650 | Schofield et al. | Nov 2008 | B2 |
| 7446924 | Schofield et al. | Nov 2008 | B2 |
| 7448776 | Tang | Nov 2008 | B2 |
| 7452090 | Weller et al. | Nov 2008 | B2 |
| 7453057 | Drummond et al. | Nov 2008 | B2 |
| 7455412 | Rottcher | Nov 2008 | B2 |
| 7460007 | Schofield et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
| 7467883 | DeLine et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
| 7468651 | DeLine et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
| 7471438 | McCabe et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
| 7474963 | Taylor et al. | Jan 2009 | B2 |
| 7477439 | Tonar et al. | Jan 2009 | B2 |
| 7480149 | DeWard et al. | Jan 2009 | B2 |
| 7488080 | Skiver et al. | Feb 2009 | B2 |
| 7489374 | Utsumi et al. | Feb 2009 | B2 |
| 7490007 | Taylor et al. | Feb 2009 | B2 |
| 7490943 | Kikuchi et al. | Feb 2009 | B2 |
| 7490944 | Blank et al. | Feb 2009 | B2 |
| 7494231 | Varaprasad et al. | Feb 2009 | B2 |
| 7495719 | Adachi et al. | Feb 2009 | B2 |
| 7496439 | McCormick | Feb 2009 | B2 |
| 7502156 | Tonar et al. | Mar 2009 | B2 |
| 7505188 | Niiyama et al. | Mar 2009 | B2 |
| 7511607 | Hubbard et al. | Mar 2009 | B2 |
| 7511872 | Tonar et al. | Mar 2009 | B2 |
| 7525715 | McCabe et al. | Apr 2009 | B2 |
| 7526103 | Schofield et al. | Apr 2009 | B2 |
| 7533998 | Schofield et al. | May 2009 | B2 |
| 7538316 | Heslin et al. | May 2009 | B2 |
| 7540620 | Weller et al. | Jun 2009 | B2 |
| 7541570 | Drummond et al. | Jun 2009 | B2 |
| 7542193 | McCabe et al. | Jun 2009 | B2 |
| 7543947 | Varaprasad et al. | Jun 2009 | B2 |
| 7547467 | Olson et al. | Jun 2009 | B2 |
| 7548291 | Lee et al. | Jun 2009 | B2 |
| 7551354 | Horsten et al. | Jun 2009 | B2 |
| 7561181 | Schofield et al. | Jul 2009 | B2 |
| 7562985 | Cortenraad et al. | Jul 2009 | B2 |
| 7567291 | Bechtel et al. | Jul 2009 | B2 |
| 7571038 | Butler et al. | Aug 2009 | B2 |
| 7571042 | Taylor et al. | Aug 2009 | B2 |
| 7572490 | Park et al. | Aug 2009 | B2 |
| 7579939 | Schofield et al. | Aug 2009 | B2 |
| 7579940 | Schofield et al. | Aug 2009 | B2 |
| 7580795 | McCarthy et al. | Aug 2009 | B2 |
| 7581859 | Lynam | Sep 2009 | B2 |
| 7581867 | Lee et al. | Sep 2009 | B2 |
| 7583184 | Schofield et al. | Sep 2009 | B2 |
| 7586566 | Nelson et al. | Sep 2009 | B2 |
| 7586666 | McCabe et al. | Sep 2009 | B2 |
| 7589893 | Rottcher | Sep 2009 | B2 |
| 7600878 | Blank et al. | Oct 2009 | B2 |
| 7605883 | Yamaki et al. | Oct 2009 | B2 |
| 7619508 | Lynam et al. | Nov 2009 | B2 |
| 7623202 | Araki et al. | Nov 2009 | B2 |
| 7626749 | Baur et al. | Dec 2009 | B2 |
| 7633567 | Yamada et al. | Dec 2009 | B2 |
| 7636188 | Baur et al. | Dec 2009 | B2 |
| 7636195 | Nieuwkerk et al. | Dec 2009 | B2 |
| 7636930 | Chang | Dec 2009 | B2 |
| 7643200 | Varaprasad et al. | Jan 2010 | B2 |
| 7643927 | Hils | Jan 2010 | B2 |
| 7651228 | Skiver et al. | Jan 2010 | B2 |
| 7658521 | DeLine et al. | Feb 2010 | B2 |
| 7663798 | Tonar et al. | Feb 2010 | B2 |
| 7667579 | DeLine et al. | Feb 2010 | B2 |
| 7670016 | Weller et al. | Mar 2010 | B2 |
| 7688495 | Tonar et al. | Mar 2010 | B2 |
| 7695174 | Takayanagi et al. | Apr 2010 | B2 |
| 7696964 | Lankhorst et al. | Apr 2010 | B2 |
| 7706046 | Bauer et al. | Apr 2010 | B2 |
| 7710631 | McCabe et al. | May 2010 | B2 |
| 7711479 | Taylor et al. | May 2010 | B2 |
| 7726822 | Blank et al. | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 7728276 | Drummond et al. | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 7728721 | Schofield et al. | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 7728927 | Nieuwkerk et al. | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 7734392 | Schofield et al. | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 7746534 | Tonar et al. | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 7787077 | Kondoh et al. | Aug 2010 | B2 |
| 7791694 | Molsen et al. | Sep 2010 | B2 |
| 7795675 | Darwish et al. | Sep 2010 | B2 |
| 7830583 | Neuman et al. | Nov 2010 | B2 |
| 7842154 | Lynam | Nov 2010 | B2 |
| 20010019356 | Takeda et al. | Sep 2001 | A1 |
| 20010022616 | Rademacher et al. | Sep 2001 | A1 |
| 20010026215 | Nakaho et al. | Oct 2001 | A1 |
| 20010026316 | Senatore | Oct 2001 | A1 |
| 20010030857 | Futhey et al. | Oct 2001 | A1 |
| 20010035853 | Hoelen et al. | Nov 2001 | A1 |
| 20010045981 | Gloger et al. | Nov 2001 | A1 |
| 20020036828 | Wong | Mar 2002 | A1 |
| 20020044065 | Quist et al. | Apr 2002 | A1 |
| 20020049535 | Rigo et al. | Apr 2002 | A1 |
| 20020085155 | Arikawa | Jul 2002 | A1 |
| 20020092958 | Lusk | Jul 2002 | A1 |
| 20020118321 | Ge | Aug 2002 | A1 |
| 20020133144 | Chan et al. | Sep 2002 | A1 |
| 20020149727 | Wang | Oct 2002 | A1 |
| 20020154007 | Yang | Oct 2002 | A1 |
| 20020196639 | Weidel | Dec 2002 | A1 |
| 20030002165 | Mathias et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
| 20030002179 | Roberts et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
| 20030007261 | Hutzel et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
| 20030016287 | Nakayama et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
| 20030016542 | Pastrick et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
| 20030025596 | Lang et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
| 20030030546 | Tseng | Feb 2003 | A1 |
| 20030030724 | Okamoto | Feb 2003 | A1 |
| 20030035050 | Mizusawa et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
| 20030043269 | Park | Mar 2003 | A1 |
| 20030043589 | Blank | Mar 2003 | A1 |
| 20030048639 | Boyd et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
| 20030052969 | Satoh et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
| 20030058338 | Kawauchi et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
| 20030069690 | Correia et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
| 20030080877 | Takagi et al. | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20030088361 | Sekiguchi | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20030090568 | Pico | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20030090569 | Poechmueller | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20030090570 | Takagi et al. | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20030095331 | Bengoechea et al. | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20030098908 | Misaiji et al. | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20030101749 | Lingle et al. | Jun 2003 | A1 |
| 20030103142 | Hitomi et al. | Jun 2003 | A1 |
| 20030117522 | Okada | Jun 2003 | A1 |
| 20030122929 | Minaudo et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
| 20030133014 | Mendoza | Jul 2003 | A1 |
| 20030137586 | Lewellen | Jul 2003 | A1 |
| 20030141965 | Gunderson et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
| 20030146831 | Berberich et al. | Aug 2003 | A1 |
| 20030156193 | Nakamura | Aug 2003 | A1 |
| 20030169158 | Paul, Jr. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
| 20030179293 | Oizumi | Sep 2003 | A1 |
| 20030189754 | Sugino et al. | Oct 2003 | A1 |
| 20030202096 | Kim | Oct 2003 | A1 |
| 20030206256 | Drain et al. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
| 20030214576 | Koga | Nov 2003 | A1 |
| 20030214584 | Ross, Jr. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
| 20030214733 | Fujikawa et al. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
| 20030222793 | Tanaka et al. | Dec 2003 | A1 |
| 20030222983 | Nobori et al. | Dec 2003 | A1 |
| 20030227546 | Hilborn et al. | Dec 2003 | A1 |
| 20040004541 | Hong | Jan 2004 | A1 |
| 20040027695 | Lin | Feb 2004 | A1 |
| 20040032321 | McMahon et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
| 20040032655 | Kikuchi et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
| 20040032676 | Drummond et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
| 20040036768 | Green | Feb 2004 | A1 |
| 20040046870 | Leigh Travis | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| 20040051634 | Schofield et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| 20040056955 | Berberich et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| 20040057131 | Hutzel et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| 20040064241 | Sekiguchi | Apr 2004 | A1 |
| 20040066285 | Sekiguchi | Apr 2004 | A1 |
| 20040075603 | Kodama | Apr 2004 | A1 |
| 20040077359 | Bernas et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
| 20040080404 | White | Apr 2004 | A1 |
| 20040085196 | Miller et al. | May 2004 | A1 |
| 20040085499 | Baek | May 2004 | A1 |
| 20040090314 | Iwamoto | May 2004 | A1 |
| 20040090317 | Rothkop | May 2004 | A1 |
| 20040096082 | Nakai et al. | May 2004 | A1 |
| 20040098196 | Sekiguchi | May 2004 | A1 |
| 20040105614 | Kobayashi et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
| 20040107030 | Nishira et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
| 20040109060 | Ishii | Jun 2004 | A1 |
| 20040114039 | Ishikura | Jun 2004 | A1 |
| 20040170008 | Tenmyo | Sep 2004 | A1 |
| 20040202001 | Roberts et al. | Oct 2004 | A1 |
| 20040239243 | Roberts et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
| 20040239849 | Wang | Dec 2004 | A1 |
| 20040243303 | Padmanabhan | Dec 2004 | A1 |
| 20040251804 | McCullough et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
| 20040264011 | Lynam | Dec 2004 | A1 |
| 20050018738 | Duan et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
| 20050024591 | Lian et al. | Feb 2005 | A1 |
| 20050024729 | Ockerse et al. | Feb 2005 | A1 |
| 20050078389 | Kulas et al. | Apr 2005 | A1 |
| 20050079326 | Varaprasad et al. | Apr 2005 | A1 |
| 20050099559 | Lee et al. | May 2005 | A1 |
| 20050099693 | Schofield et al. | May 2005 | A1 |
| 20050111070 | Lin et al. | May 2005 | A1 |
| 20050117095 | Ma | Jun 2005 | A1 |
| 20050134983 | Lynam | Jun 2005 | A1 |
| 20050140855 | Utsumi et al. | Jun 2005 | A1 |
| 20050168995 | Kittelmann et al. | Aug 2005 | A1 |
| 20050169003 | Lindahl et al. | Aug 2005 | A1 |
| 20050172504 | Ohm et al. | Aug 2005 | A1 |
| 20050237440 | Sugimura et al. | Oct 2005 | A1 |
| 20050259326 | Weber et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20050270766 | Kung et al. | Dec 2005 | A1 |
| 20060001641 | Degwekar et al. | Jan 2006 | A1 |
| 20060050018 | Hutzel et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
| 20060061008 | Karner et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
| 20060076860 | Hoss | Apr 2006 | A1 |
| 20060139953 | Chou et al. | Jun 2006 | A1 |
| 20060164230 | DeWind et al. | Jul 2006 | A1 |
| 20060171704 | Bingle et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
| 20060187378 | Bong et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
| 20060274218 | Xue | Dec 2006 | A1 |
| 20060279522 | Kurihara | Dec 2006 | A1 |
| 20070041096 | Nieuwkerk et al. | Feb 2007 | A1 |
| 20070058257 | Lynam | Mar 2007 | A1 |
| 20070064108 | Haler | Mar 2007 | A1 |
| 20070080585 | Lyu | Apr 2007 | A1 |
| 20070118287 | Taylor et al. | May 2007 | A1 |
| 20070183037 | De Boer et al. | Aug 2007 | A1 |
| 20070183066 | Varaprasad et al. | Aug 2007 | A1 |
| 20070184284 | Varaprasad et al. | Aug 2007 | A1 |
| 20070201122 | Dozeman et al. | Aug 2007 | A1 |
| 20070262732 | Shen | Nov 2007 | A1 |
| 20080002106 | Van De Witte et al. | Jan 2008 | A1 |
| 20080030311 | Dayan et al. | Feb 2008 | A1 |
| 20080068520 | Minikey, Jr. et al. | Mar 2008 | A1 |
| 20080077882 | Kramer et al. | Mar 2008 | A1 |
| 20080094685 | Varaprasad et al. | Apr 2008 | A1 |
| 20080180529 | Taylor et al. | Jul 2008 | A1 |
| 20080180781 | Varaprasad et al. | Jul 2008 | A1 |
| 20080212189 | Baur et al. | Sep 2008 | A1 |
| 20080225538 | Lynam et al. | Sep 2008 | A1 |
| 20080231704 | Schofield et al. | Sep 2008 | A1 |
| 20080266389 | DeWind et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
| 20080291522 | Varaprasad et al. | Nov 2008 | A1 |
| 20080308219 | Lynam | Dec 2008 | A1 |
| 20090002491 | Haler | Jan 2009 | A1 |
| 20090015736 | Weller et al. | Jan 2009 | A1 |
| 20090033837 | Molsen et al. | Feb 2009 | A1 |
| 20090040465 | Conner et al. | Feb 2009 | A1 |
| 20090040588 | Tonar et al. | Feb 2009 | A1 |
| 20090040778 | Takayanagi et al. | Feb 2009 | A1 |
| 20090052003 | Schofield et al. | Feb 2009 | A1 |
| 20090067032 | Varaprasad et al. | Mar 2009 | A1 |
| 20090080055 | Baur et al. | Mar 2009 | A1 |
| 20090085729 | Nakamura et al. | Apr 2009 | A1 |
| 20090096937 | Bauer et al. | Apr 2009 | A1 |
| 20090141331 | Skiver et al. | Jun 2009 | A1 |
| 20090174776 | Taylor et al. | Jul 2009 | A1 |
| 20090184904 | S. et al. | Jul 2009 | A1 |
| 20090201137 | Weller et al. | Aug 2009 | A1 |
| 20090219394 | Heslin et al. | Sep 2009 | A1 |
| 20090231741 | Weller et al. | Sep 2009 | A1 |
| 20090237820 | McCabe et al. | Sep 2009 | A1 |
| 20090243824 | Hook et al. | Oct 2009 | A1 |
| 20090244740 | Takayanagi et al. | Oct 2009 | A1 |
| 20090262192 | Schofield et al. | Oct 2009 | A1 |
| 20090262422 | Cross et al. | Oct 2009 | A1 |
| 20090290369 | Schofield et al. | Nov 2009 | A1 |
| 20090296190 | Anderson et al. | Dec 2009 | A1 |
| 20100033797 | Schofield et al. | Feb 2010 | A1 |
| 20100045790 | Lynam et al. | Feb 2010 | A1 |
| 20100045899 | Ockerse | Feb 2010 | A1 |
| 20100046059 | McCabe et al. | Feb 2010 | A1 |
| 20100053723 | Varaprasad et al. | Mar 2010 | A1 |
| 20100085645 | Skiver et al. | Apr 2010 | A1 |
| 20100091509 | DeLine et al. | Apr 2010 | A1 |
| 20100110523 | Varaprasad et al. | May 2010 | A1 |
| 20100110553 | Anderson et al. | May 2010 | A1 |
| 20100117815 | Deline et al. | May 2010 | A1 |
| 20100126030 | Weller et al. | May 2010 | A1 |
| 20100165437 | Tonar et al. | Jul 2010 | A1 |
| 20100172008 | McCabe et al. | Jul 2010 | A1 |
| 20100174485 | Taylor et al. | Jul 2010 | A1 |
| 20100194890 | Weller et al. | Aug 2010 | A1 |
| 20100195226 | Heslin et al. | Aug 2010 | A1 |
| 20100201896 | Ostreko et al. | Aug 2010 | A1 |
| 20100202075 | Blank et al. | Aug 2010 | A1 |
| 20100207013 | Drummond et al. | Aug 2010 | A1 |
| 20100214662 | Takayanagi et al. | Aug 2010 | A1 |
| 20100219985 | Schofield et al. | Sep 2010 | A1 |
| 20100222963 | Schofield et al. | Sep 2010 | A1 |
| 20100245701 | Sato et al. | Sep 2010 | A1 |
| 20100246017 | Tonar et al. | Sep 2010 | A1 |
| 20100277786 | Anderson et al. | Nov 2010 | A1 |
| 20100289995 | Hwang et al. | Nov 2010 | A1 |
| 20110109746 | Schofield et al. | May 2011 | A1 |
| 20110141543 | Uken et al. | Jun 2011 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| A-4031795 | Feb 1995 | AU |
| 1189224 | Jul 1998 | CN |
| 941408 | Apr 1956 | DE |
| 944531 | Jul 1956 | DE |
| 7323996 | Nov 1973 | DE |
| 3248511 | Jul 1984 | DE |
| 3301945 | Jul 1984 | DE |
| 3614882 | Nov 1987 | DE |
| 3720848 | Jan 1989 | DE |
| 9306989.8 | Jul 1993 | DE |
| 4329983 | Aug 1995 | DE |
| 4444443 | Jun 1996 | DE |
| 29703084 | Jun 1997 | DE |
| 29805142 | May 1998 | DE |
| 19741896 | Apr 1999 | DE |
| 19755008 | Jul 1999 | DE |
| 29902344 | Jul 1999 | DE |
| 19934999 | Feb 2001 | DE |
| 19943355 | Mar 2001 | DE |
| 20118868 | Mar 2002 | DE |
| 10131459 | Jan 2003 | DE |
| 0299509 | Jan 1989 | EP |
| 0513476 | Nov 1992 | EP |
| 0524766 | Jan 1993 | EP |
| 0729864 | Dec 1995 | EP |
| 0728618 | Aug 1996 | EP |
| 0825477 | Feb 1998 | EP |
| 0830985 | Mar 1998 | EP |
| 0928723 | Jul 1999 | EP |
| 937601 | Aug 1999 | EP |
| 1075986 | Feb 2001 | EP |
| 1097848 | May 2001 | EP |
| 1152285 | Nov 2001 | EP |
| 1193773 | Mar 2002 | EP |
| 1256833 | Nov 2002 | EP |
| 0899157 | Oct 2004 | EP |
| 1315639 | Feb 2006 | EP |
| 1021987 | Feb 1953 | FR |
| 1461419 | Dec 1966 | FR |
| 2585991 | Feb 1987 | FR |
| 2672857 | Aug 1992 | FR |
| 2673499 | Sep 1992 | FR |
| 2759045 | Aug 1998 | FR |
| 810010 | Mar 1959 | GB |
| 934037 | Aug 1963 | GB |
| 1008411 | Oct 1965 | GB |
| 1136134 | Dec 1968 | GB |
| 1553376 | Sep 1979 | GB |
| 2137573 | Oct 1984 | GB |
| 2161440 | Jan 1986 | GB |
| 2192370 | Jan 1988 | GB |
| 2222991 | Mar 1990 | GB |
| 2255539 | Nov 1992 | GB |
| 2351055 | Dec 2000 | GB |
| 2362494 | Nov 2001 | GB |
| 50-000638 | Jan 1975 | JP |
| 52-146988 | Nov 1977 | JP |
| 55-039843 | Mar 1980 | JP |
| 57-30639 | Feb 1982 | JP |
| 57-208530 | Dec 1982 | JP |
| 58-030729 | Feb 1983 | JP |
| 58020954 | Feb 1983 | JP |
| 58-110334 | Jun 1983 | JP |
| 58-180347 | Oct 1983 | JP |
| 58-209635 | Dec 1983 | JP |
| 59-114139 | Jul 1984 | JP |
| 60-212730 | Oct 1985 | JP |
| 60-261275 | Dec 1985 | JP |
| 61127186 | Jun 1986 | JP |
| 61-260217 | Nov 1986 | JP |
| 62-043543 | Feb 1987 | JP |
| 62-075619 | Apr 1987 | JP |
| 62-122487 | Jun 1987 | JP |
| 62131232 | Jun 1987 | JP |
| 63-02753 | Jan 1988 | JP |
| 63085525 | Apr 1988 | JP |
| 63-106730 | May 1988 | JP |
| 63-106731 | May 1988 | JP |
| 63-274286 | Nov 1988 | JP |
| 64-14700 | Jan 1989 | JP |
| 01-123587 | May 1989 | JP |
| 01130578 | May 1989 | JP |
| 02-122844 | Oct 1990 | JP |
| 03-28947 | Mar 1991 | JP |
| 03-052097 | Mar 1991 | JP |
| 30-061192 | Mar 1991 | JP |
| 328947 | Mar 1991 | JP |
| 03-110855 | May 1991 | JP |
| 03198026 | Aug 1991 | JP |
| 03-243914 | Oct 1991 | JP |
| 04-114587 | Apr 1992 | JP |
| 04-245886 | Sep 1992 | JP |
| 05080716 | Apr 1993 | JP |
| 05183194 | Jul 1993 | JP |
| 05-213113 | Aug 1993 | JP |
| 05-257142 | Oct 1993 | JP |
| 60-80953 | Mar 1994 | JP |
| 61-07035 | Apr 1994 | JP |
| 62-27318 | Aug 1994 | JP |
| 06318734 | Nov 1994 | JP |
| 07146467 | Jun 1995 | JP |
| 07-175035 | Jul 1995 | JP |
| 07191311 | Jul 1995 | JP |
| 07-266928 | Oct 1995 | JP |
| 07-277072 | Oct 1995 | JP |
| 07-281185 | Oct 1995 | JP |
| 07267002 | Oct 1995 | JP |
| 07281150 | Oct 1995 | JP |
| 08-008083 | Jan 1996 | JP |
| 08-083581 | Mar 1996 | JP |
| 08-216789 | Aug 1996 | JP |
| 08227769 | Sep 1996 | JP |
| 09033886 | Feb 1997 | JP |
| 09-260074 | Mar 1997 | JP |
| 05-077657 | Jul 1997 | JP |
| 09-220976 | Aug 1997 | JP |
| 09230827 | Sep 1997 | JP |
| 09-266078 | Oct 1997 | JP |
| 09-288262 | Nov 1997 | JP |
| 10-076880 | Mar 1998 | JP |
| 10-199480 | Jul 1998 | JP |
| 10190960 | Jul 1998 | JP |
| 10-206643 | Aug 1998 | JP |
| 10221692 | Aug 1998 | JP |
| 10239659 | Sep 1998 | JP |
| 10276298 | Oct 1998 | JP |
| 11-038381 | Feb 1999 | JP |
| 11-067485 | Mar 1999 | JP |
| 11-078693 | Mar 1999 | JP |
| 11-109337 | Apr 1999 | JP |
| 11-160539 | Jun 1999 | JP |
| 11-212073 | Aug 1999 | JP |
| 11-283759 | Oct 1999 | JP |
| 11-298058 | Oct 1999 | JP |
| 11-305197 | Nov 1999 | JP |
| 2000-131681 | May 2000 | JP |
| 2000-153736 | Jun 2000 | JP |
| 2000-159014 | Jun 2000 | JP |
| 2000-255321 | Sep 2000 | JP |
| 2000-330107 | Nov 2000 | JP |
| 2001-083509 | Mar 2001 | JP |
| 2001-222005 | Aug 2001 | JP |
| 200272901 | Mar 2002 | JP |
| 2002-120649 | Apr 2002 | JP |
| 2002-122860 | Apr 2002 | JP |
| 2002162626 | Jun 2002 | JP |
| 2002-352611 | Dec 2002 | JP |
| 2003-267129 | Sep 2003 | JP |
| 2004-182156 | Jul 2004 | JP |
| 2005-148119 | Jun 2005 | JP |
| 2005-327600 | Nov 2005 | JP |
| 38-46073 | Nov 2006 | JP |
| 2008083657 | Apr 2008 | JP |
| 20060038856 | May 2006 | KR |
| 100663930 | Jan 2007 | KR |
| WO 8202448 | Jul 1982 | WO |
| WO8606179 | Oct 1986 | WO |
| WO 9419212 | Sep 1994 | WO |
| WO 9621581 | Jul 1996 | WO |
| WO 9814974 | Apr 1998 | WO |
| WO 9838547 | Sep 1998 | WO |
| WO 9915360 | Apr 1999 | WO |
| WO 0023826 | Apr 2000 | WO |
| WO 0052661 | Sep 2000 | WO |
| WO 0055685 | Sep 2000 | WO |
| WO 0101192 | Jan 2001 | WO |
| WO 0218174 | Mar 2002 | WO |
| WO 0249881 | Jun 2002 | WO |
| WO 03021343 | Mar 2003 | WO |
| WO03078941 | Sep 2003 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20110026152 A1 | Feb 2011 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60692113 | Jun 2005 | US | |
| 60677990 | May 2005 | US | |
| 60653787 | Feb 2005 | US | |
| 60642227 | Jan 2005 | US | |
| 60638250 | Dec 2004 | US | |
| 60636931 | Dec 2004 | US | |
| 60624091 | Nov 2004 | US | |
| 60609642 | Sep 2004 | US | |
| 60420010 | Oct 2002 | US | |
| 60398240 | Jul 2002 | US | |
| 60386373 | Jun 2002 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12766160 | Apr 2010 | US |
| Child | 12906519 | US | |
| Parent | 12575726 | Oct 2009 | US |
| Child | 12766160 | US | |
| Parent | 12370043 | Feb 2009 | US |
| Child | 12575726 | US | |
| Parent | 12029073 | Feb 2008 | US |
| Child | 12370043 | US | |
| Parent | 11305637 | Dec 2005 | US |
| Child | 12029073 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11226628 | Sep 2005 | US |
| Child | 11305637 | US | |
| Parent | 10456599 | Jun 2003 | US |
| Child | 11226628 | US |
