Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Carr Law Firm, L.L.P.
  • Patent number: 6597392
    Abstract: Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for multi-media data organization and transmission. The apparatus has a computer having a microprocessor, a memory storage, a display for providing information to a user, and an input device. An image-recording device is electrically-coupled to the computer for capturing images for storage in the memory storage of the computer. A database, which has a structure defined in the memory storage, receives and stores a plurality of information relating to an event. A program, being executable by the computer, provides a graphical user interface on the display. The program has an imaging module with document and image capture filing and scanning functions. The graphical user interface receives an input from the input device and from the image-recording device. In a further aspect of the invention, the program has a communications module for transmission of the plurality of information relating to the event to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Healthcare Vision, Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah L. Jenkins, William Rex Akers
  • Patent number: 6583657
    Abstract: A duty cycle correction circuit is configured to adjust the duty cycle of a clock signal in a clock distribution network. The duty cycle correction circuit adjusts the duty cycle of the clock signal by adjusting the transitional delay in a single edge of each clock pulse of the clock signal without interrupting the other edge of each clock pulse of the clock signal. This feature enables the duty cycle correction circuit to adjust the duty cycle of the clock signal without interrupting the operation of a phase-locked loop (PLL) used in the clock distribution network. The duty cycle correction circuit includes a delay-control circuit coupled to a clock-inverter circuit. The delay-control circuit generates a delay-control voltage, which is provided to the clock-inverter circuit to control the transitional delay in a single edge of each clock pulse of the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Patrick Eckhardt, Byron Lee Krauter
  • Patent number: 6578987
    Abstract: A stage lighting instrument having a high-intensity light source or lamp coupled with a concave reflector, and a projection optical system having a lens system that includes a well-defined aperture stop. The lens system forms a real image of the light source near the aperture stop. A color filter and dimming system may be located within the lens system so that the color filter and dimming elements occupy a volume of space near the aperture stop and within the real image of the light source. By locating the color and dimming apparatus near the aperture stop and within the volume occupied by a real image of the light source, superior color mixing, dimming and integration is achieved using simple, unpatterned filters and a simply-shaped dimmer panel. A color filter and dimming system may alternatively be located as close to the light source as possible so that a real image of the color filter and dimming elements is formed near the aperture stop where the image of the light source is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Vari-Lite, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Hough, Richard K. Steele
  • Patent number: 6577699
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a container for the storage and transport of nuclear fuel elements comprising a plurality of elongate compartments for receiving the nuclear fuel elements, the compartments being defined by a first set of plates intersecting with a second set of plates, the first set of plates extending perpendicularly with respect to the second set of plates to define compartments having a rectangular cross section, wherein the plates include an interlocking joint, the interlocking joint comprising at least one projection provided on one plate and a recess formed in the other plate, and wherein a retaining portion is provided in the recess for engagement by the projection so as to interlock the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: British Nuclear Fuels, plc
    Inventor: David Minshall
  • Patent number: 6578130
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for prefetching data in computer systems that tracks the number of prefetches currently active and compares that number to a preset maximum number of allowable prefetches to determine if additional prefetches should currently be performed. By limiting the number of prefetches being performed at any given time, the use of system resources for prefetching can be controlled, and thus system performance can be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian David Barrick, Michael John Mayfield, Brian Patrick Hanley
  • Patent number: 6560457
    Abstract: The invention expedites the delivery of a call originating in a circuit-switched network to a mobile terminal camped on a packet-switched network. Information representing the location of the mobile terminal in the packet-switched network is provided to the circuit switched network. A call setup with the mobile terminal is initiated with reference to the previously received location information, frequently more expeditiously and using less resources. Location-based services are also provided by the circuit-switched network with access to such mobile terminal location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Silver, Gary B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6550939
    Abstract: A light beam shutter apparatus for a lighting instrument includes several individual shutter mechanisms arranged radially around the axis of a light beam. Each shutter mechanism includes a generally circular shutter blade having a circumference, but with a cut-out or void area such that a portion of the circumference is eliminated. The shutter blade preferably includes at least one straight edge at the boundary of the cut-out or void area, which straight edge passes through the center around which the shutter blade rotates, and is used for intercepting at least a portion of a light beam passing through the light beam shutter apparatus. The shutter blade may alternatively include other edge shapes at the boundary of the cut-out or void area, as desired. Driven surfaces, such as gear teeth or the like, are formed in opposed portions of the remaining circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Vari-Lite, Inc.
    Inventor: Travis J. Reinert
  • Patent number: 6553508
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing fault tolerance in Totem Networks by use of redundant fabrics. The above is accomplished in one embodiment of the invention by operating devices on the network in such a way that the devices mark the token to indicate when the token has been switched from one fabric to another in response to a timeout. A Ring Master device on the network determines, based on switching of the token by devices on the network whether a fabric or device on a fabric of the network has failed. In addition, fabrics that have failed are monitored to determine when they have become operational. Retransmission of improperly received messages as per token-message-order protocols are also provided for situations in which the token is received before all messages intended for a given device have been properly received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Trenton Corey Minyard
  • Patent number: 6543646
    Abstract: The invention comprises a system for maintaining the freshness of a beverage, while allowing a delivery of the beverage to customers at a visually appealing, remote dispensing station. A quantity of the beverage is maintained within a beverage tank housed within an enclosure that may be maintained at a preferred temperature or temperature range. The contents of the beverage container are delivered to a remote dispensing station, by a dispensing pump and dispensing conduit connected between a flow valve on the beverage tank and the dispensing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Food Cart Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Gibson
  • Patent number: 6539221
    Abstract: The present invention is a system for optimizing an existing wireless network and additions to an existing network. The system determines a value representing estimation of traffic in discrete bins within a geographic area. The traffic estimation includes a distribution of handover and new cell traffic based at least in part on the presence of a road in any bin or the proximity of a bin to a handover boundary. The cell coverage and carrier allocations of existing cells are adjusted in view of the traffic estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Mini Vasudevan, Carlos Garcia, Chang Yu, Hakan Ernam, Will Egner, Sairam Subramanian, Kenni Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6519457
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method whereby a direct base station to base station communication link is used to bypass message transmissions to an MSC in establishing a soft handoff. By using a standardized protocol for both traffic and signaling messages flowing directly from base station to base station, communications with foreign manufacturers base station equipment may be readily accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Jianping Jiang, Azeem Ahmad, Jerri L. Turner-Harris, Baji Edupuganty, William Edward Illidge
  • Patent number: 6516452
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for comparing CAD (computer aided design) design data comprising one or more components with a set of design rules generated relative said components and generating an output report of detected discrepancies. The output may include data (annotations) used to generate a visually high-lighted (red-lined) display whereby the CAD generated design errors may be easily ascertained. The apparatus includes the capability of transmitting the CAD data, converted to a standardized XML format, from a remote CAD design site to a difference engine site having the latest set of rules relative said components. The difference engine site may then return the results to the remote CAD design site for use by the device design operator. The results returned may be visually displayed in red-lined format as well as in an itemized list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Chipdata, Inc.
    Inventor: Uwe Meding
  • Patent number: 6515975
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for and method of increasing the stability of a CDMA cellular system using fast forward power control. This is accomplished by improving the relative power level synchronization of all the BTSs communicating with an MS in a handoff mode through the use of at least one of 1) setting the power levels of any BTS other than the BTS having the best measured Eb/No (bit energy to noise density) of reverse link FPC (forward power control) bit stream transmissions from said MS, hereinafter BTS(x), to a power level which is a function of the power level of BTS(x), 2) adjusting at least one of lower and upper limits of traffic channel gain of a BTS as a function of whether or not said given MS is in a handoff mode and 3) adjusting at least one of the incremental FPC (forward power control) and RPC (reverse power control) parameters as a function of the number of BTSs in a soft handoff mode with respect to said MS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Ashvin Chheda, Ahmad Jalali
  • Patent number: 6507741
    Abstract: An RF repeater having a fixed or adjustable time delay inserted in the reverse path and/or forward path of the RF repeater is used in a first cell for improving hard handoff performance from the first cell to a second cell. Certain factors associated with the CDMA hard hand-off process effectively reduce the coverage area of the first cell, including the round-trip delay (RTD) uncertainty, the time needed to perform the hard hand-off process, and a higher forward link Eb/No requirement. Use of an RF repeater in accordance with the increases the effective coverage area of the first cell. The delayed signal from the RF repeater also allows the base station to determine the location of the subscriber station thereby identifying the particular adjacent cell to which the subscriber station will be switched (hard hand-off).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Farhad Bassirat
  • Patent number: 6504790
    Abstract: The phase of a memory clock signal is adjusted by advancing and/or delaying the phase. A configuration register is used to determine the phase adjustment of the memory clock signal. The value of the configuration register can be changed through software. This flexible phase adjustment technique is valuable in meeting various timing requirements in a source synchronous memory controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Barry Joe Wolford
  • Patent number: 6496496
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method of increasing the likelihood of successful and quick reception of messages containing crucial data in a CDMA cellular communication system. The data may be transmitted at a lower frame rate than normal messages but at the same power level as used for normal messages in full rate frames to raise the signal to noise ratio at the receiver. An abbreviated version of the message containing only the critical parameters may be sent to lessen the likelihood of a bit being incorrectly decoded as well as shortening both the time of transmission and receipt. The two approaches may be combined and the abbreviated message may be supplemental to the normal message. Specifically, the use of a short version of a handoff direction message using only the parameters required for a soft-handoff between cells within a system is described in detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Deepa Ramakrishna, Ahmad Jalali
  • Patent number: 6493285
    Abstract: A flexible, software configurable DDR read data path structure provides independently programmable sample stage and sample cycle capability. It also provides the capability to independently delay a read sample stage clock to support a wider range of data and data strobe (DQS) arrival times over a broad frequency range and subsequent sample stages to compensate for any resultant read cycle compression within any source synchronous interface. An SDRAM timing register is used to control read data path structure by changing bits in the register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Barry Joe Wolford
  • Patent number: 6487606
    Abstract: An improvement is disclosed for a Totem system having a network and a plurality of host processors connectable to the network, each of which host processors includes a CPU and is configured for executing processes, wherein the improvement includes, for each host processor, a buffer memory and a co-processor for each host processor. The buffer memory is electrically connected to the CPU and configured for storing messages sent to or from the CPU. The co-processor is electrically connected for providing an interface between the network and the host processor, and is configured for responding to tokens and for delivering messages from the network to the buffer memory for retrieval by the CPU, and for delivering to the network messages stored in the buffer memory by the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Trenton C. Minyard, Gregory T. Stovall
  • Patent number: 6483724
    Abstract: Disclosed is a DC/DC converter apparatus comprising a full bridge non-resonant pulse-width-modulated (PWM) switching circuit, which includes inductive device(s), clamp diodes, and an output transformer rectifier and filter circuit. Capacitive and diode elements associated with bridge switching devices operate to switch current through the switches at substantially zero voltage (ZVS). The inductor element and clamp diodes are used to reduce the primary transition shoot through current resulting from reverse recovery of the transformer secondary rectification stage while also reducing emi and semiconductor stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Valere Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Olen Blair, Gregory H. Fasullo, James Edward Harvey, Donald Marabell
  • Patent number: 6452865
    Abstract: A single common symmetrical DDR read data path structure and corresponding storage addressing scheme is provided for implementing both N-bit and (N/2)-bit interfaces to a DDR memory. The read data path structure of the present invention uses a feedback loop of a lower data path to a higher data path in conjunction with the translation of the physical addressing of the data stored into a memory. The feedback loop and address translation mechanism is enabled for (N/2)-bit mode and disabled for N-bit mode. Normally, a multiplexer controlled by a static control is used to change the bit mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Barry Joe Wolford