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Lacroix, US

Christopher P. Lacroix, Winchester, MA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090280033Pipette Tip Mounting And Ejection Assembly And Associated Pipette Tip - An air displacement pipette has a tubular pipette tip with an upper section surrounding a locking chamber, and a body section leading from the upper section and tapering downwardly to a reduced diameter end. A tubular mounting shaft on the pipette has a distal end configured and dimensioned for axial insertion into the locking chamber of the pipette tip. Coacting surfaces on the distal end of the mounting shaft and the upper section of the pipette tip establish an axially interengaged relationship between the pipette tip and the mounting shaft in response to insertion of the distal end of the mounting shaft into the locking chamber. A sleeve is axially shiftable on the mounting shaft between a retracted position accommodating the establishment of the axially interengaged relationship, and an advanced position disrupting the axially interengaged relationship to thereby accommodate axial ejection of the pipette tip from the mounting shaft.11-12-2009

David Matthew Lacroix, Circle Pines, MN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110061640BLOCK SPLITTING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A masonry block that is produced from a workpiece that is split in a block splitting assembly which uses any of a variety of projections to supplement or replace the action of the splitting blade in splitting and dressing the workpiece. The resulting masonry block has features that provide the masonry block with a weathered appearance.03-17-2011
20110168152BLOCK SPLITTING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A masonry block that is produced from a workpiece that is split in a block splitting assembly which uses any of a variety of projections to supplement or replace the action of the splitting blade in splitting and dressing the workpiece. The resulting masonry block has features that provide the masonry block with a weathered appearance.07-14-2011

Patent applications by David Matthew Lacroix, Circle Pines, MN US

Debbie J. Lacroix, Idaho Falls, ID US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090050799Transition molding - An apparatus and method for measuring low or trace concentrations of compounds and mixture of gases. A method and apparatus of the invention permits separating ions of different mobilities by passing them through an abrupt change or step in electric field magnitude. By using the separation method, the compounds of interest may be measured with less interference from other compounds of the gas mixture, which reduces or eliminates the need for prior separation of the components of the gas mixture. Several embodiments of the invention are described including the use of current amplifiers on one, or more, parts of the apparatus. While a single screen can provide a chamber which is divided into two regions of different electric fields, it is within the scope of the invention to include multiple screens to provide several steps in the electric field permitting it to be possible to trap and measure ions with successively higher mobilities. The gases used include halogenated compounds, including fluorocarbons, and most preferable SF02-26-2009

Graig Aaron Lacroix, Antioch, IL US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110126909ROTARY UNION WITH SELECTIVELY CONTROLLED SEAL - A rotary union includes a non-rotating machine component having a receiving counterbore, a media channel opening, and a control channel. A housing is positioned within the receiving counterbore and has a bore and a control chamber in fluid communication with the control channel. A non-rotating seal member is slidably and sealingly disposed within the bore in the housing and has a media channel in fluid communication with the media channel opening and the receiving counterbore. The non-rotating seal member can be selectively extended or retracted within the bore of the housing, such that selective engagement of a face seal is accomplished under different operating conditions of the rotary union.06-02-2011

Jeffrey A. Lacroix, Irving, TX US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100128854Method and System for Routing and Recording Call Information - A method comprises receiving a plurality of voice sessions and creating a unique identifier for each of the plurality of voice sessions, wherein each identifier is unique for the duration of its associated voice session. The method also includes assigning the unique identifiers to the associated voice session, and creating a unique data session for each voice session. The method further includes assigning the unique identifier of each voice session to the data session associated with its voice session. The method also includes receiving a plurality of voice sessions and a plurality of data sessions at a manager, and matching one of the plurality of received voice sessions with its associated data session based at least in part on the unique identifier. The method further includes communicating the matched voice session and data session to one of a plurality of agents.05-27-2010

Jonathan B. Lacroix, San Francisco, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110050098GLASS LED LIGHT BULBS - A glass LED bulb, which includes a body of glass, the body having at least one hollow portion, and at least one LED contained within the at least one hollow portion. A thermally conductive material is preferably included within the at least one hollow portion. The body of glass can be bulb-shaped or alternatively shaped like an incandescent bulb.03-03-2011

Luc Guy Louis Lacroix, West Bloomfield, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100246203SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING OF VEHICLES - A system and method for exterior projection lighting of a vehicle include a generally ellipsoidal faceted reflector disposed on a rear side of a projection lens. First and second focal points of each facet define corresponding reflector focal regions. A semi-conducting light source positioned at an acute angle, such as a single light emitting diode (LED) without a primary optic, emits light toward the reflector from within the first reflector focal region. Reflected light passes through the projection lens to illuminate a desired beam pattern. A curved shade disposed between the projection lens and the light source has at least a portion of a top edge disposed within the second reflector focal region. The shade blocks a portion of reflected light from extending below the optical axis.09-30-2010

Mark E. Lacroix, Winchester, NH US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080290859Magnetic Sensor With Compensation - A sensing assembly. The sensing assembly is spaced apart from a magnet that has a magnet length, and includes a compensation module and a string of magnetic sensors that has a string length. The magnetic sensors are grouped into a plurality of magnetic sensor groups. Each of the magnetic sensors generates a respective intermediate signal based on the magnet. The compensation module assigns a plurality of respective gains to the respective magnetic sensor groups based on a difference between the magnet length and the string length, and applies the respective gains to the respective intermediate signals of the respective magnetic sensor groups to generate respective adjusted signals.11-27-2008
20090009160Magnetic Sensor with High and Low Resolution Tracks - A sensing apparatus that includes first and second magnet assemblies. The first magnet assembly includes first and second magnets that have respective first and second opposite magnetic fields, and respective first and second dimensions. The first dimension is relatively smaller than the second dimension. The second magnet assembly is positioned at a distance from the first magnet assembly. The second magnet assembly includes a third magnet that has a third magnetic field which is opposite to the first magnetic field.01-08-2009
20090091316TURNING DEVICE POSITION SENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system for determining an absolute position of a motor. The system includes first and second multi-polar magnetic rings, first and second processing units, and at least one external sensor The first multi-polar magnetic ring is concentrically positioned around the motor, and has a plurality of pole pairs. The second multi-polar magnetic ring is concentrically positioned around the first multi-polar magnetic ring, and has at least one pole pair. The first processing unit is positioned near the first multi-polar magnetic ring to determine an angular position over one of the pole pairs of the first multi-polar magnetic ring. The sensor is positioned external to the processing unit and over the second multi-polar magnetic ring to indicate a state of the pole pair of the second multi-polar magnetic ring. The second processing unit generates an absolute position of the motor based on the angular position and the state.04-09-2009
20110273169MAGNETIC SENSOR WITH HIGH AND LOW RESOLUTION TRACKS - A sensing apparatus includes high and low-resolution tracks, and a compensation track. The low-resolution track includes a first magnet that has a first magnetic field. The high-resolution track is spaced apart from the low-resolution track by a first gap and includes a second magnet and a third magnet. The second magnet has a second magnetic field that is substantially identical to the first magnetic field, and the third magnet has a third magnetic field that is substantially opposite to the first magnetic field. The compensation track is spaced apart from the high-resolution track by a second gap and includes a fourth magnet having a fourth magnetic field that is substantially opposite to the first magnetic field and configured to reduce a magnetic field from the first magnet that is superimposed on the second and third magnets.11-10-2011

Patent applications by Mark E. Lacroix, Winchester, NH US

Michael E. Lacroix, Mequon, WI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100101078NEGATIVE GRID FOR BATTERY - A method for producing a negative grid for a battery which includes providing a strip of battery grid material and performing a punching operation on the battery grid material to remove material and form a grid. The punching operation produces a negative battery grid having a plurality of grid wires bounded by a frame. The battery grid includes a top frame member. A first side frame member is coupled to the top frame member at a first end thereof. A second side frame member is coupled to the top frame member at a second end thereof. A bottom frame member is spaced apart from the top frame member and coupled to the first side frame member and the second side frame member. The negative grid does not include exposed wire ends that may puncture a polymeric separator when the negative grid is provided within the separator.04-29-2010

Nicki Lacroix, Clovis, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110065550Isometric Grip Device and Method of Exercise - There is provided a device and method of exercise using an isometric gripping device. The device is a lightweight, portable and compact exercise device which enables a user to perform isometric exercises in a manner permitting the user to quantify results and time the length of the isometric contraction. The device is designed for static contractions where there is no visible movement of the device when force is applied. In practice, the device has a grip movement of about 0.020″ under contraction. The device comprises a body section with a handle portion grip on each side opposite another, an internal frame assembly with electronic circuitry, power source (e.g. batter operated), a power switch, electronic display, strain gauge bar with attached sensor, and a timing mechanism. The user is able to visually see the level of force on a display screen and set the duration of time of the exercise.03-17-2011

Robert Lacroix, San Jose, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100033426Haptic Enabled Gaming Peripheral for a Musical Game - A haptic enabled gaming peripheral that simulates a musical instrument includes a body, a first sensing element and a first actuator. A processor, located within the body of the gaming peripheral, communicates with a host computer running a software program corresponding to a musical game. The first sensing element, disposed within the body and coupled to the processor, senses an input from the user. The sensed input is communicated to the host processor. The first actuator, disposed within the body and coupled to the processor, outputs a haptic effect in response to receiving an activating signal based on an event that occurs in the software program. In some implementations, the first sensed element is disposed proximate to the first actuator so that the user perceives the haptic effect in response to providing the input.02-11-2010
20100283727SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHAPE DEFORMATION AND FORCE DISPLAY OF DEVICES - Various systems, devices, and methods for shape deformation of a haptic deformation display device are provided. For example, the haptic deformation display device may receive an input signal when the shape of the haptic deformation display device is in a first shape configuration. In response to the input signal, the haptic deformation display device may activate an actuator of the haptic deformation display device. The actuator may move a deformation component of the haptic deformation display device. The deformation component may at least partially defining a shape of the haptic deformation display device, thereby causing the shape of the haptic deformation display device to deform into a second shape configuration different from the first shape configuration. The second shape configuration may be substantially maintained.11-11-2010
20100283731METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A HAPTIC FEEDBACK SHAPE-CHANGING DISPLAY - A haptic device includes a processor, a communication module coupled to the processor for receiving a shape input, and a housing for housing the communication module and including a deformable portion. The deformable portion includes a deformation actuator, and the processor provides a signal to the deformation actuator in response to the shape input to deform the housing. The shape of other areas of the device may also change in response to the signal. The shape changes may provide haptic effects, provide information, provide ergonomic changes, provide additional functionality, etc., to a user of the device.11-11-2010

Robert A. Lacroix, San Jose, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110109423Systems and Methods for Minimal Haptic Implementation - Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes: an actuator; and a control-circuit in communication with the actuator, the control circuit configured to: receive a 2-bit signal including a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; and transmit a power signal based on the two bit signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate at the actuation state at a fixed power.05-12-2011

Robert Andre Lacroix, San Jose, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110138277HAPTIC EFFECTS WITH PROXIMITY SENSING - A method of generating haptic effects on a device includes detecting the presence of an object near an input area of the device and generating a haptic effect on the device in response to the presence detection.06-09-2011

Stephen E. Lacroix, Morristown, NJ US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100035130ELECTROLYTE WITH INDICATOR - An electrolyte with an indicator, such as a dye, for detecting leakage from an electrochemical energy storage device is provided. Also provided is a method of making such an electrolyte with indicator; a device that incorporates such an electrolyte with indicator; a method of manufacturing an electronic or electrical system that incorporates such a device; and a method of detecting the leakage of electrolyte from a battery or capacitor.02-11-2010

Timothy P. Lacroix, Buffalo, MN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110282225TECHNIQUES FOR REVIEWING AND ANALYZING IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM DATA - A computing device includes a memory device, a communication module, an interface, a processor, a display controller, and an input device. The communication module wirelessly receives a stream of first electrogram waveforms (EGMs) from an implantable medical device (IMD). The interface receives a stream of second EGMs. The processor stores the first and second EGMs and retrieves the stored first and second EGMs. The display controller displays the first and second EGMs together when the first and second EGMs are received. The input device is configured to receive a selection command from a user. The processor retrieves a portion of at least one of the first and second stored EGMs in response to the selection command. The display controller displays the retrieved portion of the at least one of the first and second stored EGMs while the processor concurrently stores the streams of the first and second EGMs.11-17-2011

Yves Lacroix, San Jose, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080212960Methods and systems for simultaneous real-time monitoring of optical signals from multiple sources - Methods and systems for real-time monitoring of optical signals from arrays of signal sources, and particularly optical signal sources that have spectrally different signal components. Systems include signal source arrays in optical communication with optical trains that direct excitation radiation to and emitted signals from such arrays and image the signals onto detector arrays, from which such signals may be subjected to additional processing.09-04-2008