US Fed News Service, Including US State News back issues from Friday, November 3:
Georgia Inventors Develop Tissue Preservation Method
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Steven Goldstein and Joseph Hamby, both of Atlanta, Steven P. Walsh of Marietta, Ga., and Kirby S. Black of Acworth, Ga., have developed a method of preserving tissue. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to the ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Liquid Droplet Ejection Head Liquid Filling Method
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Shinichi Nakamura of Okaya, Japan, has developed an ejection apparatus which has a carriage which moves relative to a workpiece. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A function liquid droplet ejection head is held by the carriage and is ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Remote Copy Method
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Ryusuke Ito, Yusuke Hirakawa, Yoshihiro Asaka and Takeshi Kaga, all from Odawara, Japan, have developed a remote copy method and a remote copy system to eliminate use of excess volume for copying data. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "In a ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Band-Gap Type Constant Voltage Generating Circuit
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Masahiro Ito and Masafumi Tatewaki, both of Kanagawa, Japan, have developed a band-gap type constant voltage generating circuit which is produced in a semiconductor chip, and has a first potential terminal and a second potential terminal. According to the U.S ....
Taiwanese Inventor Develops Chair Pillow Structure
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Yu-Ling Wu of Tainan Hsien, Taiwan, has developed a chair pillow that can be adjusted in position and in the orientation relative to the back. An abstract of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, said: "A chair pillow includes a ...
Minnesota Inventors Develop Transfer Unit
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- John N. Lees of Golden Valley, Minn., Andrew J. Dahl of Minneapolis, and Gregory A. Reed of Cottage Grove, Minn., have developed a transfer unit that is configured for use with a form, a fill and a seal packaging machine. According to the U.S. Patent & ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Stacking Function Execution Apparatus
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Akishige Yamamoto of Tokyo, and Taiichi Yuasa of Kyoto, Japan, have developed a function execution method for stacking. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "function execution method, a function execution apparatus, a ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Semiconductor Device
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Hiroshi Saito of Ota, Japan, has developed a semiconductor device that incorporates a plurality of capacitive elements. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A semiconductor device is disclosed which has a plurality of unit capacitive elements ....
Japanese Inventors Develop Data Processing System
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Kazuhito Suishu, Yusuke Hirakawa and Yoshihiro Asaka, all from Odawara, Japan, have developed a method for data replication among a plurality of storage systems and resuming data replication processing when failures occur in the storage systems. According to ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Flexible Printed Circuit Board Connection Method
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Koji Imai of Inuyama, Japan, and Shuhei Hiwada of Toyoake, Japan, have developed a structure and a method for connecting flexible printed circuit board to inkjet print head. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A plurality of lands and a ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Multi-Site Remote-Copy System
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Takashige Iwamura of Yokohama, Japan, Takashi Oeda of Sagamihara, Japan, and Takao Satoo of Odawara, Japan, have developed a technique for transferring data stored in storage subsystems between plural information processing systems. An abstract of the ...
North Carolina Inventors Develop Power Supply Apparatus
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Jim Thompson and Greg Mears, both of Raleigh, N.C., and Darrick Finan of Cary, N.C., have developed an apparatus that includes an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) configured to be connected to a power distribution network. According to the U.S. Patent & ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Holographic Grating Forming Method
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Yuji Tanaka and Akio Soejima, both of Uji, Japan, and Masaru Koeda of Kyoto, Japan, have developed a method of manufacturing a grating or diffraction grating as a wavelength separating/selecting element used in a spectroscope or a branching filter. According to ...
Virginia, Maryland Inventors Develop Furfural-Derived Ketone Preparation
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Linda C. Passaro of Alexandria, Va., and Steven K. Pollack of Silver Spring, Md., have developed a process of making furfural-derived ketones. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A process of making furfural-derived ketones is disclosed. These ...
California Inventor Develops Novel Anti-Cancer Compound
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Zhenhua Yang of West Covina, Calif., has developed group of a novel anti-cancer compounds with specific structure. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to "compounds containing a specific saturated or unsaturated branched ...
Canadian Inventor Develops Communication Port Locking Mechanism
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Ching-Hu, Kung of Alberta, Canada, has developed a locking mechanism for securing communication port on electronic apparatus. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A locking mechanism for securing communication port on electronic apparatus ...
Ohio Inventors Develop Solvent Ink Printing System Automatic Startup Process
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Kenneth J. West of Dayton, Ohio, Meagan A. Wimmers of Springboro, Ohio, and Jay D. Frazier of Jamestown, Ohio, have developed an automatic startup process for a continuous ink jet printhead that is operating with solvent ink. According to the U.S. Patent & ...
Taiwanese Inventor Develops Portable Electronic Device
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Christine Yu of Taipei, Taiwan, has developed a portable electronic device that includes a host, a display screen and a universal pivot member. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The universal pivot member is mounted between the host and the ...
French Inventors Develop Switching Device
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Lionel Guiraud of St. Aubin-sur-Mer, France, and Patrick Leclerc of Langrune-sur-Mer, France, have developed a switching device provided with polarity-inverting means. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The invention relates to a switching ...
Indian Inventors Develop Acitretin Preparation Process
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Yatendra Kumar and Mohan Prasad, both of Haryana, India, Kaptan Singh of Uttar Pradesh, India, and Pankaj Sharma of New Delhi, India, have developed a process for the preparation of acitretin. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The present ...
Australia Inventor Develops Micro-Electromechanical Liquid Ejection Device
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Kia Silverbrook of Balmain, Australia, has developed an nkjet nozzle with motion-transmitting structure. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An inkjet nozzle is provided. The nozzle comprises a displaceable actuator arm; a paddle for ejecting ...
California Inventor Develops Stored Data Genuineness Assuring Techniques
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Manabu Kitamura of Cupertino, Calif., has developed techniques to assure genuineness of data that are stored on a storage device. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The storage device includes a storage controller that conducts input/output ...
Australian Inventor Develops Micro-Electromechanical Device
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Kia Silverbrook of Balmain, Australia, has developed a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device with the formations for covering actuators of the device. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a ...
Australian Inventor Develops Ink Ejection Devices
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Kia Silverbrook of Balmain, Australia, has developed an ink ejection device of a printer which has a substrate that incorporates drive circuitry and defines a fluid inlet channel. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A nozzle chamber structure ...
Computer Sites Wins Contract Valued At Up To $125,000
Nov 03, 2006 ... FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 3 -- The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a contract valued at up to $125,000 to Computer Sites Inc., Denver, for buildings, building materials and industrial products and services. The contract was awarded by GSA's Federal Supply Service, Fort ...
Makoor Products Manufacturing Wins Contract Valued At Up To $77,167
Nov 03, 2006 ... KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 3 -- The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a contract valued at up to $77,167 to Makoor Products Manufacturing Co., Calverton, N.Y., for sealing compounds. The contract was awarded by GSA's Federal Supply Service, Kansas City, ...
Shoplet.com Wins Contract Valued At Up To $125,000
Nov 03, 2006 ... FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 3 -- The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a contract valued at up to $125,000 to Shoplet.com, New York, for law enforcement, security, marine craft, fire/rescue and special purpose clothing. The contract was awarded by GSA's Federal Supply ...
Kappler Wins Contract Valued At Up To $125,000
Nov 03, 2006 ... FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 3 -- The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a contract valued at up to $125,000 to Kappler Inc., Guntersville, Ala., for law enforcement, security, marine craft, fire/rescue and special purpose clothing. The contract was awarded by GSA's Federal ...
Steven Industries ins Contract Valued At Up To $141,116
Nov 03, 2006 ... KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 3 -- The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a contract valued at up to $141,116 to Steven Industries, Bayonne, N.J., for sealing compounds. The contract was awarded by GSA's Federal Supply Service, Kansas City, Mo. For more ...
Ralrube Wins Contract Valued At Up To $333,802
Nov 03, 2006 ... KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 3 -- The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a contract valued at up to $333,802 to Ralrube Inc., Bridgewater, Mich., for sealing compounds. The contract was awarded by GSA's Federal Supply Service, Kansas City, Mo. For more ...
Puma Systems Wins Contract Valued At Up To $1.5 Million
Nov 03, 2006 ... AUBURN, Wash., Nov. 3 -- The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a contract valued at up to $1.5 million to Puma Systems Inc., Gainesville, Va., for mission oriented business integrated services. The contract was awarded by ...
Illinois Inventors Develop Fault Contactor Detection Method
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Scott Wakefield of Plano, Ill., Daniel Zuzuly of Geneva, Ill., and Scott Mayhew of North Aurora, Ill., have developed a system and a method for fault contactor detection. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A motor starter system comprises ...
California Inventors Develop Cache Memory Architecture
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Michael DeMar Taylor and John R. Kinsel, both of San Jose, Calif., and Tom Riordan of Los Altos, Calif., have developed a cache memory architecture and an associated microprocessor design. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A single memory ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Recording Medium Material Detection Apparatus
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Hisato Yabuta of Tokyo has developed a material sensing method and an apparatus determining material type that is based on temperature. An abstract of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, said: "A material sensing apparatus detects ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Heat Generating Resistant Element Film
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yukihiro Hayakawa, Yoshinori Kawasaki, Ichiro Saito, Sakai Yokoyama and Toshiyasu Sakai, all from Kanagawa, Japan, have developed a heat generating resistant element film, a substrate for ink jet head that utilizes the same, an ink jet head and an ink ...
California Inventor Develops Phlebotomy Armrest Assembly
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Clifford A. Wright of San Diego has developed a phlebotomy armrest assembly and a method of using the same. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An armrest assembly includes an armrest platform with hand and elbow extensions which is mounted to ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Torque Limiter
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Hiroaki Murakami of Kyoto, Japan, has developed a torque limiter that limits transmission of torque between a drive shaft and an output shaft. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The torque limiter includes a first rotational plate connected ...
Chinese Inventors Develop Electrical Connector
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Hesheng Fang, Guohua Zhang and ZiQiang Zhu, all from Kunsan, China, have developed an electrical connector with a set-in printed circuit board. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An electrical connector has an insulative housing having a ...
French Inventor Develops Modular Filtered Electrical Connector
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Yves Gazelot of Brie Comte Robert, France, has developed a modular filtered electrical connector with removable insert. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "modular filtered electrical connector more particularly ...
Virginia Inventor Develops Active Head, Neck Positioning Device
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Daniel S. Gabbay of Alexandria, Va., has developed a pneumatically controlled intubation mat that includes laryngoscope-mounted controls. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A body supporting mat is positioned beneath the patient undergoing ...
North Carolina, Michigan, California Inventors Develop Vehicle Passenger Seat
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Trevor B. Skelly of Winston-Salem, N.C., Mark Brian Dowty of Rural Hall, N.C., James Randy Penley of Pfafftown, N.C., Kurt R. Heidmann of Grand Rapids, Mich., and James R. Yurchenco of Palo Alto, Calif., have developed a passenger seat for a vehicle that includes a ...
California Inventors Develop Electronic Vehicle Door Lock Dogging Mechanism
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- George Toledo of Fallbrook, Calif., and Mark Warden of Upland, Calif., have developed an electronic door lock dogging mechanism that can be used with an emergency door latching system. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An electronic door ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Vehicle Brake Hydraulic Pressure Control Device
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Yasumi Inoue of Kariya, Japan, has developed a brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus for a vehicle. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus includes a pressure-increasing valve disposed between a ...
Oregon Inventors Develop Drop Generator
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Michael E. Norkitis of Newberg, Ore., and Douglas D. Darling of Portland, Ore., have developed a drop generator that includes a pressure chamber and an outlet channel that includes a circular outlet channel section and a non-circular outlet channel section, the U.S ....
Ohio Inventor Develops Elongated Electrical Outlet
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Brian Evilsizer of Westlake, Ohio, has developed a receptacle for receiving an electrical plug. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The receptacle includes a plurality of channels which extend generally for the length of the receptacle. The ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Ink Jet Printhead Voltages Applying Method
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Kouji Ikeda of Hyogo, Japan, Koichi Baba of Osaka, Japan, and Masaharu Oyama of Fukuoka, Japan, have developed an ink jet head and an ink jet recording apparatus. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An ink jet head includes: actuators each ...
Taiwanese Inventors Develop Hooked Dust Scraper
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Chuang-Pao Yang and Yan-Yu Chen, both of Taichung, Taiwan, have developed a hooked dust scraper for a ball screw unit. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A hooked dust scraper for ball screw unit includes a plurality of tooth portions and ...
New York Inventor Develops Adjustable Traction Table
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Christopher Matthew Roberto of Bloomingburg, N.Y., has developed an adjustable traction table of the type used by chiropractors in the treatment of a patient's back and spine. An abstract of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, ...
Spanish Inventors Develop Thienylazolylalkoxyethanamine Preparation Process
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Ramon Merce-Vidal, Blas Andaluz-Mataro and Jordi Frigola-Constansa, all from Barcelona, Spain, have developed thienylazolylalkoxyethanamines, their preparation and their application as medicaments. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The ...
German Inventors Develop 4,6-Dichloro-5-Pyrimidine Preparation Method
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Thomas Geller of Odenthal, Germany, and Holger Weintritt of Langenfeld, Germany, have developed a novel process for preparing 4,6-dichloro-5-pyrimidine, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office announced. The inventors were issued U.S. Patent No. 7,129,353 on ...
Michigan Inventors Develop Polymeric Material Vehicle Barrier
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Michael P Williams II of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Michael C Restaino of Birmingham, Mich., Andrew DeWolfe of Clawson, Mich., Jeffrey R Masters of Troy, Mich., and George L Bellairs of Rogers City, Mich., have developed a polymeric material vehicle barrier with at least ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Recording Head
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Muga Mochizuki, Ichiro Saito, Yoshiyuki Imanaka and Yoichi Taneya, all from Kanagawa-ken, Japan, and Hiroyuki Ishinaga and Nobuyuki Matsumoto, both of Tokyo, have developed a recording head for recording desired images on a recording medium, a substrate for use of a ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Image Forming Apparatus With Alignment Pattern Detector
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Hitoshi Ishibashi and Noboru Sawayama, both of Tokyo, have developed an image forming apparatus that includes an alignment pattern and an alignment pattern detector that detects the alignment pattern. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The ...
Utah Inventor Develops Light Weight Transportable Chair
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- John V. Tilby of Sandy, Utah, has developed a light-weight, transportable chair that comprises a foam plastic seat and a foam plastic seat back. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the invention relates to a "light-weight easily transportable ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Vehicle Seat With Recliner Means
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Katsuhiko Shinozaki of Tochigi, Japan, has developed recliner means and a vehicle seat that is provided with the recliner means. An abstract of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, said: "A recliner mechanism includes a housing, a ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Switch Drive Circuit
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Yoshiaki Aizawa of Kanagawa, Japan, and Masayuki Sonoda of Fukuoka, Japan, have developed a drive circuit of switch and relay circuit. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A drive circuit and relay circuit using this drive circuit are provided, ...
Israeli Inventors Develop Thioester Compound Preparation Formula
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Ilya Avrutov of Bat Hefer, Israel, and Marioara Mendelovici of Rechovot, Israel, have developed improved processes for preparing substituted 2-(2-pyridylmethyl)sulfinyl-1H-benzimidazoles., the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office announced. The inventors were ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Positional Information Recording System
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Toshiyuki Chikuma and Jiro Moriyama, both of Ohta-ku, Japan, have developed a recording system capable of recording information representing positions on a recording medium and recording method. An abstract of the invention, released by the U.S. Patent & ...
South Korean Inventors Develop Charge Pump Circuit
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Kwang Hyun Kim of Kyungsangbuk-Do, South Korea, and Sun Suk Yang of Kyungki-Do, South Korea, have developed a charge pump circuit which can freely control the speed of a charge pump. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A charge pump circuit ...
Japanese Inventor Develops Vehicle Seats with Seat Back
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Katsuyuki Matsushita of Toyota, Japan, has developed a vehicle seat, which includes a seat back and a seat cushion that are connected to each other via a seat reclining mechanism. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Vehicle seats may include ...
California Inventor Develops Molded Flare Assembly
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Frank F. Hayes Jr. of Santa Ana, Calif., has developed a fully formed flared portion that is molded as part of the main body of the fitting. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The flared portion is inserted through the back side of a ...
Texas Inventors Develop Data Processing System
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Ravi Kumar Arimilli of Austin, Texas, Sanjeev Ghai of Round Rock, Texas, and Warren Edward Maule of Cedar Park, Texas, have developed a method and a system for supplier-based memory speculation in a memory subsystem of a data processing system. According to the ...
Japanese Inventors Develop Vehicle Door Lock Device With Latch Mechanism
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Shigeru Hayakawa and Akira Muramatsu, both of Chiryu, Japan, Ryujiro Akizuki and Kan Ichihara, both of Kariya, Japan, Norio Konomoto of Nagoya, Japan, and Takeshi Yasuda of Anjo, Japan, have developed a door lock device that includes a latch mechanism provided at a ...
Michigan Inventor Develops Fluid Quick Connectors Top Hat
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- David S. Malone of Attica, Mich., has developed a fluid quick connector that includes a housing which sealingly receives a tubular endform latched in the housing by a movable retainer. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An axially slidable ...
Australian Inventor Develops Printing Cartridge Characteristics Identification Method
Nov 03, 2006 ... ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- Kia Silverbrook of Balmain, Australia, has developed a method of identifying printing cartridge characteristics with capacitive sensors. According to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A method of determining a characteristic of a printing cartridge ...