Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Casey P. August
  • Patent number: 6583847
    Abstract: It is important to accurately align a pair of substrates, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) panels before they are affixed together. This is accomplished, according to the invention, by depositing a number of magnetic field generating elements on one substrate and a plurality of magnetic field-detecting elements on the other substrate. For example, the field-generating elements can be permanent magnets, while the field-detecting can be correspondingly located elements of a magnetic material. Alternatively, both the field-generating and field-detecting elements may be made from permanently magnetic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alessandro C. Callegari, Praveen Chaudhari, James P. Doyle, Eileen A. Galligan, James A. Lacey, Shui-Chih Alan Lien, Sampath Purushothaman, John J. Ritsko, James J. Speidell
  • Patent number: 6584557
    Abstract: A processor is provided for calculating an output pointer to a first data item by combination of an input pointer to a second data item with an offset. The processor includes logic for generating, in a single operation, a zero value for the output pointer when the input pointer is zero and an output pointer value calculated as the offset value added to, or subtracted from, the input pointer value when the input pointer is non-zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: James Leigh Taylor
  • Patent number: 6579635
    Abstract: A ferromagnetic film suitable for ultra-high density perpendicular recording, and a process for producing the film. The process generally entails forming a film of ferromagnetic material on a surface of a substrate, such that the film is characterized by perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and comprises a plurality of magnetic domains defined by domain walls perpendicular to a major surface of the film. The ferromagnetic film is formed to have a linear strain defect for the purpose of smoothing and stabilizing the domain walls during subsequent magnetization reversal of the ferromagnetic material. Such smoothing and stabilizing serves to control temporal magnetic noise due to motion of magnetic domains, arrest domain wall motion (reducing velocity) when the film is subjected to the magnetic reversal fields, and controls spatial magnetic noise due to domain wall jaggedness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lia Krusin-Elbaum, Takasada Shibauchi
  • Patent number: 6574594
    Abstract: A broadcast datastream is received, and audio identifying information is generated for audio content from the broadcast datastream. It is determined whether the audio identifying information generated for the broadcast audio content matches audio identifying information in an audio content database. In one preferred embodiment, the audio identifying information is an audio feature signature that is based on audio content. Also provided is a system for monitoring broadcast audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Pitman, Blake G. Fitch, Steven Abrams, Robert S. Germain
  • Patent number: 6571230
    Abstract: Given an input sequence of data, a motif is a repeating pattern. The data could be a sequence of characters or sets of characters or even real values. In the first two cases, the number of motifs could potentially be exponential in the size of the input sequence and in the third case there could be uncountably infinite number of motifs. By suitably defining the notion of maximality and redundancy for any sequence with n characters, there exists only a linear (or no more than 3n) number of special motifs and every other motif can be generated from these irredundant motifs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Laxmi P. Parida
  • Patent number: 6571199
    Abstract: In a dictionary formation aspect of the invention, a computer-based method of processing a plurality of sequences in a database comprises the following steps. First, the method includes evaluating each of the plurality of sequences including characters which form each sequence. Then, at least one pattern of characters is generated representing at least a subset of the sequences in the database. The pattern has a statistical significance associated therewith, the statistical significance of the pattern being determined by a value representing a minimum number of sequences that the pattern supports in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aris Floratos, Isidore Rigoutsos
  • Patent number: 6562633
    Abstract: A method of assembling arrays of small particles or molecules using an atomic force microscope to define ferroelectric domains includes depositing a ferroelectric thin film upon a substrate forming workpiece, then using an atomic force microscope having a conductive, tip for generating a pattern on this thin film to define desired nano-circuit patterns. Next, exposure of this thin film to a solution containing chemical species which selectively adsorb or accumulate under the influence of electrophoretic forces in selected regions of this thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Misewich, Christopher B. Murray, Alejandro G. Schrott
  • Patent number: 6560693
    Abstract: A mechanism is described that prefetches instructions and data into the cache using a branch instruction as a prefetch trigger. The prefetch is initiated if the predicted execution path after the branch instruction matches the previously seen execution path. This match of the execution paths is determined using a branch history queue that records the branch outcomes (taken/not taken) of the branches in the program. For each branch in this queue, a branch history mask records the outcomes of the next N branches and serves as an encoding of the execution path following the branch instruction. The branch instruction along with the mask is associated with a prefetch address (instruction or data address) and is used for triggering prefetches in the future when the branch is executed again. A mechanism is also described to improve the timeliness of a prefetch by suitably adjusting the value of N after observing the usefulness of the prefetched instructions or data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Puzak, Allan M. Hartstein, Mark Charney, Daniel A. Prener, Peter H. Oden, Vijayalakshmi Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 6556271
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a color liquid crystal display element. The method includes the steps of: forming coloring layers composed of a plurality of colors on a transparent substrate on which a thin film transistor structure, a gate line and a data line are formed; forming a transparent conductive film over the entire transparent substrate on which the coloring layers are formed; coating the entire surface of the transparent conductive film with a negative resist; exposing the negative resist to a light using the gate line and the data line as a photomask, the light being emitted from a light source facing a back side of the transparent substrate, the light substantially having wavelength bands excluding 390 nm to 440 nm; developing and baking the exposed negative resist; and etching and removing the transparent conductive film in a portion where the negative resist is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Tsujimura, Taro Hasumi
  • Patent number: 6542216
    Abstract: A metallized pattern, used as an electrical conductor, is altered by means of standard lithographic processes to have regions of interspersed missing metal, or voids, in a specified region of the pattern. The voids in the conducting pattern allow radiation, emanating from various angles, to penetrate through the voids so that a glue seal, disposed underneath the pattern, can be exposed to the radiation and thus activated and cured. The preferred application is found in flat panel displays where radiation is required to cure a glue seal that affixes two substrates to one another. The openings in the metallized pattern in the region of the glue seal minimize the shadowing, caused by the solid portions of the pattern, which can result in the lack of glue seal curing or polymerization. The absence of shadowing assures that the glue seal is fully cured and will not contaminate the liquid crystal after final processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. von Gutfeld, James H. Glownia, James P. Doyle
  • Patent number: 6527856
    Abstract: A method for changing the surface termination of a perovskite substrate surface, an example of which is the conversion of B-site terminations of a single-crystal STO substrate to A-site terminations. The method generally comprises the steps of etching the substrate surface by applying a reactive plasma thereto in the presence of fluorine or another halogen, and then annealing the substrate at a temperature sufficient to regenerate a long range order of the surface, i.e., the surface termination contributes to a better long range order in a film epitaxially grown on the surface. More particularly, the resulting substrate surfaces predominantly contains A-site surface terminations, i.e., SrO for STO (100) substrates. As a result, disadvantages associated with B-site terminated perovskite substrate surfaces are avoided. A suitable etching treatment is a low power oxygen ashing in the presence of low halogen levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Abraham, Matthew Copel, James Misewich, Alejandro G. Schrott, Ying Zhang
  • Patent number: 6518136
    Abstract: A process for making abrupt, e.g. <20 nm/decade, PN junctions and haloes in, e.g., CMOSFETs having gate lengths of, e.g. <50 nm, uses a mask, e.g., sidewall spacers, during ion implantation of gate, source, and drain regions. The mask is removed after source-drain activation by annealing and source and drain extension regions are then implanted. Then the extension regions are activated. Thereafter halo regions are implanted and activated preferably using spike annealing to prevent their diffusion. The process can also be used to make diodes, bipolar transistors, etc. The activation annealing steps can be combined into a single step near the end of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kam Leung Lee, Ying Zhang, Maheswaran Surendra, Edmund M. Sikorski
  • Patent number: 6502140
    Abstract: A method for multicasting data packets includes the steps of preparing at least one packet at a source node and transmitting the packet to at least one intermediate node. The packet includes a payload portion and multicast route information. The multicast route information includes information for use by the intermediate node to forward the packet to at least two destination nodes. According to another aspect of the invention, a method for multicasting data packets in a packet-based data network includes the step of transmitting an Internet Protocol (“IP”) packet from a source node to a first node. The IP packet includes an IP header and an IP payload containing an encapsulated multicast (EM) datagram, the EM datagram comprising an EM header and an EM payload. The EM header includes multicast routing information instructing the first node to transmit the EM payload to at least two second and third nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Richard H. Boivie
  • Patent number: 6496022
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reverse engineering an integrated circuit chip (IC chip) (120) utilizes an electrical circuit tester (114) for injecting a triggering signal into the IC chip (120) to exercise a circuit under test. In synchronization thereto, a PICA detector (116) monitors optical emissions from the circuit under test. A spatial data extractor, electrically coupled to the PICA detector, collects space information (124) from patterns of light emissions emitted by the circuit under test, and a timing data extractor, electrically coupled to the electrical circuit tester and to the PICA detector (116), collects time information (126) from the patterns of light emissions emitted by the circuit under test. A database memory (105) includes known data about the circuit under test and also includes at least one reference pattern for comparing a captured light emission pattern thereto to identify at least one circuit element in the circuit under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Kash, James C. Tsang, Daniel R. Knebel
  • Patent number: 6487028
    Abstract: In order to handle platter flutter in a hard disk operated at high speed (e.g. 10,000 RPM) and maintain tracking of read/write head, peak filters are added to a head tracking servo feedback loop. In some embodiments, several lag-lead type peak filters centered at a plurality of flutter mode frequencies are provided to process a Position Error Signal (PES) read from the read/write head. The several filter are preferably arranged in series (i.e. to operate on the PES sequentially), alternatively the filters can be arranged in parallel. Phase lags and leads caused by the several filters partially cancel at frequencies intermediate center frequencies of the several filters. According to another embodiment two or more, preferably three narrow band filters are used to cover the spectrum of each flutter mode. In a configuration mode, a spectrum of the flutter modes can be obtained and used to set the center frequencies, and bandwidths of filters used to filter out the flutter modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: S. M. Sri-Jayantha, Hien Dang, Arun Sharma, Kiyoshi Satoh, Tetsuo Ueda, Hideki Ohzeki, Nayouki Kagami, Kiochi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6485599
    Abstract: A system using several wavelengths, preferably from the output of a single laser, is described for curing a dual cure glue seal that affixes two substrates to form a liquid crystal display panel. Here the liquid crystal is already in place before the glue seal is cured so that a high temperature bake to promote the sealant curing is not permissible . The multiple wavelengths from the single source of radiation result both from frequency doubling and mixing of the fundamental laser to achieve frequency tripling. Generally a UV wavelength is required for curing the photolytic component of the glue seal so that in the present invention the fundamental from a ˜1 micron (1000 nm) wavelength laser is frequency tripled. The UV is scanned along the entire peripheral region of the glue seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Glownia, Robert J. von Gutfeld
  • Patent number: 6482298
    Abstract: An electroplating bath includes two electrolytes that are separated by a low ionic mobility barrier substance. Electroplating substrates can be transferred between the two electrolytes, through the barrier substance. Successive layers can be deposited by alternately electroplating in the two electrolytes. The substrate need not be brought through an air-liquid interface in transferring it between the two electrolytes. More than one anode can be provided in each electrolyte for depositing alloy film layers. A dummy electrode can be provided in each electrolyte to be used in lieu of the substrate in order to change concentrations of compounds in each electrolyte so that sharp compositional transitions between successive layers deposited on the substrate can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Parijat Bhatnagar
  • Patent number: 6483966
    Abstract: A singlemode lightwaveguide-coupling element is positioned between an initial waveguide section which there has a basic final width (W0f) and a final waveguide section which there has a basic initial width (Wn+1i) which is bigger than the basic final width (W0f). The lightwave directions of both waveguide sections are inclined at a predetermined total angle (&Dgr;&agr;) towards each other. Starting from the initial waveguide section, the lightwaveguide element comprises intermediate waveguide sections each of which at its end has a lightwave direction which is inclined towards the lightwave direction at its opposite end at an inclination angle (&Dgr;&agr;v), such that the sum of all inclination angles equals the predetermined total angle (&Dgr;&agr;).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gian-Luca Bona, Roland W. Germann, Bert Jan Offrein, Huub Salemink
  • Patent number: 6473767
    Abstract: A file system for a computer supports a plurality of directories, each maintaining a list of data files as a plurality of directory entries. As well as means for creating data entries for real data files, the system includes means for creating anti-file directory entries having an attribute indicating there is no real data file corresponding to the entry. Entries may-be moved between directories and when an anti-file and a data file of the same name are present in the same directory, the real data file is deleted. This enables the synchronization of sets of target and source files to take account of changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Raymond Bailey, Christopher Derrick Cawthorne, Richard John Gadd, Robert Harris
  • Patent number: 6470361
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the efficient management of remembered sets in a generational garbage collection scheme. The present invention detects when an old object has a pointer to a young object, and needs to be added to the remembered set. A write buffer and a temporary buffer are used to create and maintain the remembered set. Entries in the write and temporary buffers are used as part of the root set for creating the remembered set for the next garbage collection. A barrier bit associated with each object differentiates generations in the generational garbage collection scheme and is used to determine whether to make an entry into a write buffer when a reference to another object is stored into an object. Objects that have survived one or more collections, but not the minimum number, N, of collections to be considered an old object are referred to as “middle-aged” objects. During a minor garbage collection, the write buffer is scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bowen Alpern, Clement Richard Attanasio, Stephen Edwin Smith