Patents Represented by Attorney Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
  • Patent number: 8217903
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a base, a touch screen display, a shape memory alloy and operational components. The touch screen display is connected to the base and moveable relative to the base and includes a display device and a touch-sensitive input surface overlying the display device and connected to a controller for determining a touch event to the touch-sensitive input surface. The shape memory alloy is disposed between the base and the display device and is configured to change shape in response to conduction of an electric current to cause movement of the display device relative to the base. The operational components include a processor between the base and the touch screen display. The processor is operatively connected to the controller, the display device and the shape memory alloy for causing conduction of current through the shape memory alloy in response to the touch event, resulting in movement of the display relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: ZhongMing Ma, Robert Lowles, Edward Hui
  • Patent number: 8213211
    Abstract: A method and system for improving reliability of OTP memories, and in particular anti-fuse memories, by storing one bit of data in at least two OTP memory cells. Therefore each bit of data is read out by accessing the at least two OTP memory cells at the same time in a multi-cell per bit mode. By storing one bit of data in at least two OTP memory cells, defective cells or weakly programmable cells are compensated for since the additional cell or cells provide inherent redundancy. Program reliability is ensured by programming the data one bit at a time, and verifying all programmed bits in a single-ended read mode, prior to normal operation where the data is read out in the multi-cell per bit mode. Programming and verification is achieved at high speed and with minimal power consumption using a novel program/verify algorithm for anti-fuse memory. In addition to improved reliability, read margin and read speed are improved over single cell per bit memories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sidense Corp.
    Inventor: Wlodek Kurjanowicz
  • Patent number: 8208610
    Abstract: The disclosed and claimed concept describes a handheld electronic device that has the capability to process electronic messages that originate from an electronic mail service using the features that are supported by the electronic mail service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Daniel Gregory Lynch
  • Patent number: 8207988
    Abstract: A method of static graphics rendering in a mobile device. Panning increments are received for panning a previously rendered frame to a panned frame. A rendering region is then determined based on the panning increments. A candidate line segment or polyline is then clipped to create clipped line segments contained within the rendering region. The clipped line segments can then be rendered, and a portion of the previously rendered frame can be copied, to provide the panned frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Ramgopal Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 8205851
    Abstract: A self-adjusting apparatus is provided for clamping and supporting a substantially cylindrical element. When an element is placed in the self-adjusting apparatus, the element is supported at about 90° from the surface on which the apparatus sits. This is achieved with an integrated clamping mechanism and, preferably, with a self-centering mechanism comprising flexure springs and a retaining-center pin. The clamping mechanism applies a substantially radial force on the element that is directly proportional to the substantially cylindrical element's weight, and can be less than the weight of the element, preventing damage to the element. The present invention can include a liquid management system for when the apparatus supports a tree trunk. The liquid management system can include a reservoir, a funnel for filling the reservoir, a capillary wick and mat that provides water to the tree even when it is above the level of water in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventor: Vincent Hebert
  • Patent number: 8208412
    Abstract: A solution for the Network Address Translation (NAT) traversal problem for Real Time Protocol (RTP) is provided, which uses an RTP Proxy (e.g., a Session Border Controller (SBC)), instead of being logically located between the NAT and the Feature Server (FS), but instead, for devices which use a protocol unsupported by the SBC, having these devices first signal the Feature Server, which determines whether and how an RTP proxy should be invoked. An RTP proxy should be invoked by the FS if Both endpoints (e.g., devices) are behind different NATs (or one of the endpoints is behind a NAT and the other is not) and neither of the endpoints are already signaled through an RTP proxy. For example, the SBC is interposed (at least logically) between the Feature Server and other shared components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Broadview Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: David Peter Strickland, Michel Moubarak, Ronald Brett Buckingham, Ricardo Borba
  • Patent number: 8207769
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to phase detectors. Charge up and charge down signals that are generated by a phase detector cause i) following detection of a first edge of a reference clock signal, switching on of a switching transistor of sink current; ii) following detection of an edge of a feedback clock signal falling within less than 180 degrees from the first edge, switching on of a switching transistor of source current and switching off of the switching transistor of sink current; and iii) following detection of an edge of another reference signal at a point in time about midway between the first edge and a next similar edge of the reference clock signal has past, switching off of the switching transistor of source current while maintaining the switching transistor of sink current switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: Huy Tuong Mai
  • Patent number: 8207132
    Abstract: Molecular targets and vaccines against them in the treatment of sea lice infection of fish are provided, particularly caligid copepods. Vaccines targeted to L. salmonis trypsin are shown to reduce the quantity of sea lice present in challenged salmon from day 14 p.i. onward. Additional and novel molecular targets for vaccines are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Neil W. Ross, Stewart C. Johnson, Mark D. Fast, Kathryn Vanya Ewart
  • Patent number: 8199676
    Abstract: A method and system for load balancing network access solutions, for example Provider Edger (PE) routers and network interface cards within said routers, based on characteristics of the destination device to which the assigned network access solutions connect. This enables a service provider to load balance access connections of a particular customer across a number of different network access solutions, based on who the customer is and where the customer is located. In addition, such a system can balance network access solutions based on capacity and utilization of the network access solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: BCE Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Virgilio, Benoit Côté, Michael B. Haarsma, Jeffrey F. Baines
  • Patent number: 8197201
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating sewage The apparatus receives sewage at a receiving compartment and separates solids from liquids at the receiving compartment. The solids can be extracted from the receiving compartment by an auger. The liquid sewage flows through a series of treatment compartment containing rotating biological contactor discs for treatment by these rotating biological contactor discs. The rotating biological contactor discs are secured to a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft and the auger are powered by a quasi-submerged turbine displaced by a flow of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Societe EG06 Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Mayrand
  • Patent number: 8199598
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for controlling data transfer to an output port of a serial data link interface in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. In one example, a flash memory device may have multiple serial data links, multiple memory banks and control input ports that enable the memory device to transfer the serial data to a serial data output port of the memory device. In another example, a flash memory device may have a single serial data link, a single memory bank, a serial data input port, a control input port for receiving output enable signals. The flash memory devices may be cascaded in a daisy-chain configuration using echo signal lines to serially communicate between memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: HakJune Oh, Hong Beom Pyeon, Jin-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 8199032
    Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device is movable among a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. Several different exemplary embodiments are described, some having two members, others having more. In one embodiment, certain features or objects are unavailable in a retracted configuration but are available in a deployed configuration or an overtravel configuration. A method of responding to predetermined events comprises detecting a movement of a handheld electronic device away from a first configuration toward a second configuration without reaching the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Norman M. Ladouceur, Jason T. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8199704
    Abstract: A method of scanning for an encoded signal, such as a GSM encoded signal, in a frequency band is disclosed herein. The disclosed method provides either more rapid acquisition of a signal, or increased battery life for mobile devices in regions without service. A corresponding mobile device that performs the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Ashok C. Patel
  • Patent number: 8194070
    Abstract: A method and graphics converter for converting edge record based graphics to polygon based graphics is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Ken Whatmough
  • Patent number: 8194857
    Abstract: System and methods for processing encoded messages at a message receiver are described. Encoded message processing is performed in multiple stages. In a first stage, a new received message is at least partially decoded by performing any decoding operations that require no user input and a resulting context object is stored in memory, before a user is notified that the new message has been received. When the user accesses the new message, any further required decoding operations are performed on the stored context object in a second stage of processing. The message can subsequently be displayed or otherwise processed relatively quickly, without repeating the first stage decoding operations. Decoding operations may include signature verification, decryption, other types of decoding, or some combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Michael S. Brown, Michael K. Brown
  • Patent number: 8195839
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assigning a device identifier for a plurality of devices of mixed type (e.g., DRAMs, SRAMs, MRAMs, and NAND-, NOR- and AND-type Flash memories) in a serial interconnection configuration are disclosed. One device of the serial interconnection configuration receives a device identifier (ID) and a device type (DT) as a packet through its serial input connection. A first determination is performed as to whether the DT of the device contains pre-defined data corresponding to one including all device types to provide a first determination result; and a second determination of the DT of the device is performed in response to the received DT to provide a second determination result. An ID is produced and output to a next device in response to the first and second determination results. The received ID or the produced ID is assigned to the respective devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mosaid Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: Hong Beom Pyeon, HakJune Oh, Jin-Ki Kim, Shuji Sumi
  • Patent number: 8190215
    Abstract: A power supply includes a switching voltage regulator, and a linear voltage regulator coupled electrically in series with the switching voltage regulator. The switching voltage regulator includes a first input for receiving a DC input signal, a semiconductor switching stage coupled to the first input and configured to provide a first DC voltage signal from the received DC input signal. The magnitude of the first DC voltage signal is less than the received DC input signal. The linear voltage regulator includes a semiconductor current pass stage coupled to the output of the semiconductor switching stage and configured to provide a constant second DC output voltage signal from the first DC voltage signal. The voltage regulators are implemented together within a common integrated circuit housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Dusan Veselic
  • Patent number: 8190386
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to electrically and optically characterize a multijunction solar cell. The apparatus can have as many light sources as there are subcells in the multijunction solar cell. Each light source has an optical spectrum that falls within the bandgap energy of a corresponding subcell. Each light source has a controllable intensity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Cyrium Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: Simon Fafard
  • Patent number: 8189745
    Abstract: A system and method for recording telephone conversations which have been placed on hold is provided. After a telephone conversation has been placed on hold, assuming that the conversation was being recorded, the call is designated to be in the background. Once a processor senses that a background call exists, a check is performed to determine if there is a downlink connection for this call. If there is, a new communication channel is opened so that the background call can be recorded and then appended to the original recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Lawrence Edward Kuhl, Anton Epp
  • Patent number: D662880
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lumastream Canada ULC
    Inventors: Todd William Scott, Steven Lyons, David Wainesworth Jansen, David Tikkanen