Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David B. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 6830550
    Abstract: A voltage actuated sensory nerve conduction threshold device uses a stepped square wave voltage for bio-electric stimulation of nerve groups. A step voltage is preset as a percentage of a maximum peak stimulus voltage, which allows current to flow through a patient's skin. As an intensity of the maximum stimulus voltage is varied, the stair step voltage varies as a percentage of the intensity of the stimulus voltage. However, if the stimulus voltage drops to a user set or preset value of stair step voltage, the current flowing through the patient's skin is maintained as the voltage is not allowed to go below that value. This avoids the voltage falling below a cutaneous electrical resistance threshold (CERT) of the patient's skin, at which current conduction ceases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: James Lee Hedgecock
  • Patent number: 6823016
    Abstract: A method and system for minimizing bus traffic in a video decoder is disclosed. A method and system for processing a portion of a reference picture includes designating the reference picture, selecting a display picture within the reference picture, transmitting a display picture size, and sending a display picture offset. A method and system for compressing IDCT coefficients corresponding to a macroblock, the macroblock having a plurality of blocks, includes locating each non-zero IDCT coefficient corresponding to one of the plurality of blocks, assigning an index to the non-zero IDCT coefficient, the index designating a location within the one of the plurality of blocks, packing the non-zero IDCT coefficient in little endian format, and specifying a terminator bit corresponding to the non-zero coefficient, the terminator bit indicating the end of all non-zero IDCT coefficients for the one of the plurality of blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Hungviet Nguyen, Xiaoping Hu, Kuei-Chung Tu, Yan Liu
  • Patent number: 6820793
    Abstract: An apparatus for the transport and equipping of substrates with semiconductor chips comprises a channel with two side walls in which the substrates are transported in a transport direction. The apparatus has at least one comb which can be raised and lowered in order to move the substrates in transport direction as well as resiliently mounted elements which press against the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: ESEC Trading SA
    Inventors: Daniel Kellenberger, Guido Suter
  • Patent number: 6821375
    Abstract: The mounting of semiconductor chips onto a flexible substrate takes place in three steps: Firstly, at a dispensing station, adhesive is applied to predetermined substrate sites on the substrate. Then, at a bonding station, semiconductor chips are placed onto the substrate sites. Finally, curing of the adhesive takes place. In accordance with the invention, the substrate is fixed onto a level support surface by means of vacuum during the hardening of the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: ESEC Trading SA
    Inventor: René Josef Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6816901
    Abstract: A data communications network with a plurality of PoPs maintains a local database associated with each PoP and a central database somewhere on the data communications network. The local database contains a group identification such as a domain identification corresponding to a group of users, a maximum number of proxied sessions to provide the group of users at the PoP and a dynamic proxy session count corresponding to active proxied sessions currently provided to the group of users at the PoP. The central database contains a maximum number of proxied sessions to provide the group of users over the entire data communications network and a dynamic network-wide proxy session count corresponding to active proxied sessions currently provided to the group of users on the entire data communications network. Actions are taken when the group attempts to exceed either the local maximum number of sessions or the network-wide maximum number of sessions by more than a predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aravind Sitaraman, Craig Michael Alesso, Charles Troper Yager
  • Patent number: 6811074
    Abstract: For dispensing solder on a substrate, a soldering wire and a forming gas heated to a predetermined temperature are fed to a mixing chamber of a two-component nozzle so that, in the mixing chamber, solder is melted off and carried with the gas stream. The solder blown out of the two-component nozzle settles on the substrate. The two-component nozzle is moved or swivelled relative to the substrate in order to distribute the solder over a predetermined area of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: ESEC Trading SA
    Inventors: Guido Suter, Christoph Tschudin
  • Patent number: 6806751
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop having a phase detector for receiving a feedback signal and an input clock signal having an input clock frequency. The phase detector outputs or produces a phase error signal indicative of a comparison between the input clock signal and the feedback signal. The phase-locked loop also has a loop filter coupled to the phase detector to receive the phase error signal and to output an error correction signal which includes an error correction frequency having a value ranging from about [input clock frequency−(input clock frequency×about 0.00015)] to about [input clock frequency+(input clock frequency×about 0.00015)]. A voltage controlled oscillator is coupled to the loop filter for receiving the error correction signal and to generate an output signal of the phase-locked loop which is indicative of the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Foundry Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Allen Helfinstine
  • Patent number: 6804351
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus provide for determining whether a data terminal equipment (DTE) device represents a compatible device lacking an independent power supply and adapted to be powered using phantom power over a wired connection from a communications device such as a switch. A detection signal may be transmitted from the communications device to an identity network connected to the DTE. A response detection signal may be returned and checked in a receiver at the communications device. A switch may then be closed to provide phantom power if the result of the check indicates that the DTE is a compatible device adapted to receive phantom power. Compatible DTE device may include telephones, Voice over IP (VoIP, IP or Ethernet) telephones, network access devices, computers, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger A. Karam
  • Patent number: 6801629
    Abstract: A noise attenuating system includes a core portion adapted to actively filter sound waves into various bands, passing only those bands corresponding to safe amplitude sounds to a wearer's ear canal. Unlike conventional active noise cancellation systems, active noise attenuation is accomplished without providing additional sound waves inverse to unsafe amplitude sound waves. Instead, unsafe amplitude sound waves are passively blocked, and only safe amplitude sound waves are passed through to the wearer's ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Sonic Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Owen D. Brimhall, Craig M. Collotzi, Gregory N. Koskowich
  • Patent number: 6798746
    Abstract: A content addressable memory (CAM or L3 Table) contains flow information for each active flow of packets passing through a given node of a data communications network. The CAM has associated with each entry (corresponding to each active flow) a packet counter, a byte counter, a token bucket and a contract value. Each flow is assigned one of a plurality of output queues and optionally at least one output threshold value. A token bucket algorithm is employed on each flow to determine whether packets from that flow exceed the contract value. Such packets may be dropped or optimally modified to reflect an alternate output queue and/or alternate threshold before being sent to the selected output queue for transmission from the node. In another aspect an access control list CAM (ACLCAM) contains masked flow information. The ACLCAM provides an index to internal token bucket counters and preconfigured contract values of an aggregate flow table which becomes affected by the packet statistics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kloth, Thomas J. Edsall, Michael Fine, Dinesh G. Dutt
  • Patent number: 6799182
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling data exchanges between various data processing systems, including disparate systems, is described. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention can receive a hierarchical data structure containing a plurality of data categories; identify a plurality of conversion targets included in the plurality of data categories; generate a plurality of tabular data structures, each of the plurality of tabular data structures corresponding to one of the plurality of conversion targets; and join each of the generated plurality of tabular data structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Quovadx, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony P. Bata
  • Patent number: 6792457
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing computer network access points the capability for multiple-level accounting. A gateway device located at the access point is capable of generating Internet protocol accounting start and stop requests based on various events that need to be accounted for when a user accesses a network. These events include the user account logon, the service establishments and the Point to Point protocol (PPP) connections between the gateway device and public and private domains within the network. The counter is capable of tracking the duration of sessions and connections and the byte-count associated with the specified session or connection. The gateway device communicates with an accounting server which stores the accounting requests and matches start requests with subsequent stop requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Cisco Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shujin Zhang, Shuxian Lou, Roman Peter Kochan, Aravind Sitaraman
  • Patent number: 6786967
    Abstract: A method for fabricating ion exchange waveguides, such as lithium niobate or lithium tantalate waveguides in optical modulators and other optical waveguide devices, utilizes pressurized annealing to further diffuse and limit exchange of the ions and includes ion exchanging the crystalline substrate with a source of ions and annealing the substrate by pressurizing a gas atmosphere containing the lithium niobate or lithium tantalate substrate above normal atmospheric pressure, heating the substrate to a temperature ranging from about 150 degrees Celsius to about 1000 degrees Celsius, maintaining pressure and temperature to effect greater ion diffusion and limit exchange, and cooling the structure to an ambient temperature at an appropriate ramp down rate. In another aspect of the invention a powder of the same chemical composition as the crystalline substrate is introduced into the anneal process chamber to limit the crystalline substrate from outgassing alkaline earth metal oxide during the anneal period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Lee J. Burrows
  • Patent number: 6786097
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method for making a harmonic image of a good SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) by effectively removing fundamental frequency components through a pulse-compressing using weighted chirp signals, is provided. The ultrasound imaging system includes: a transducer array for converting weighted chirp signals to ultrasound signals, and transmitting the ultrasound signals to a target object; a receiver for receiving signals reflected from the target object; a pulse-compressor for selectively pulse-compressing fundamental frequency components or harmonic frequency components in the reflected signals; and a producer for producing receive-focused signals from the pulse-compressed signals. Therefore, the ultrasound imaging system can form ultrasound image using the fundamental frequency components, and can form ultrasound harmonic image using the harmonic frequency components according to 2fo-correlation method or 2fo-correlation (PI) method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Medison Co. LTD
    Inventors: Tai Kyong Song, Dong Yeul Kim
  • Patent number: 6785796
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for altering code to effectively hide main memory latency using software prefetching with non-faulting loads prefetches data from main memory into local cache memory at some point prior to the time when the data is requested by the CPU during code execution. The CPU then retrieves its requested data from local cache instead of directly seeing the memory latency. The non-faulting loads allow for safety and more flexibility in executing the prefetch operation earlier because they alleviate the concern of incurring a segmentation fault, particularly when dealing with linked data structures. Accordingly, the memory access latency that the CPU sees is essentially the cache memory access latency. Since this latency is much less than the memory latency resulting from a cache miss, the overall system performance is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Damron, Nicolai Kosche
  • Patent number: 6777877
    Abstract: A klystron tube for amplifying signals at microwave radio frequencies utilizes an electron source for emitting electrons through a field focused by a high energy magnet in the RF section of the tube. After the electrons have passed through the active area of the tube, the electrons strike the collector which, in this case, is a multistage depressed collector. The multiple stages of the depressed collector are connected to high energy voltage sources of different potentials. The magnet used for focusing the electron beam is closed (no open pole pieces) at the multistage depressed collector so that no magnetic flux reversals are present to affect the beam dispersal, due to electrostatic space charge forces, onto the multistage depressed collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Communication & Power Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Wright, Richard J. Dobbs
  • Patent number: 6770132
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a method for pressurized annealing of lithium niobate or lithium tantalate structures, such as optical modulators and optical wave guides, comprises pressurizing an oxygen atmosphere containing a lithium niobate or lithium tantalate structure above normal atmospheric pressure, heating the structure to a temperature ranging from about 150 degrees Celsius to about 1000 degrees Celsius, maintaining pressure and temperature to effect ion exchange or to relieve stress, and cooling the structure to an ambient temperature at an appropriate ramp down rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Lee J. Burrows
  • Patent number: 6769081
    Abstract: A reconfigurable built-in self-test (“BIST”) engine for testing a reconfigurable memory is disclosed. The BIST engine executes a test on a memory for detecting faults. If the memory under test fails the test executed by the BIST engine, a decision is made depending on whether it is possible to reconfigure the memory under test. If memory reconfiguration is possible, the memory under test is reconfigured, such as by disabling the bad half of the memory under test. Once the memory under test is reconfigured, the BIST engine is also reconfigured in a manner appropriate for the type of BIST engine—centralized or distributed. In the case of a centralized BIST engine, a centralized BIST controller is modified to generate addresses corresponding only to the good half of the memory under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ishwardutt Parulkar
  • Patent number: 6763509
    Abstract: A method for allocating decoupling capacitor cells in an integrated circuit (IC) design, includes (a) obtaining geometrical information of rectangular areas in the IC design, each of the rectangular areas not intersecting any design figure in selected metal layers of the IC design in a design area, (b) determining possible locations for rows of decoupling capacitor cell arrays to be placed in the rectangular areas, a row including a set of cell arrays to be placed across the rectangular areas in a direction of a first coordinate axis of the design area, (c) determining for each possible location a number of decoupling capacitor cells included in the row, and (d) selecting row locations satisfying a certain design rule from among the possible locations in a descending order of the number of the decoupling capacitor cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander I. Korobkov
  • Patent number: 6748116
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for compressing and decompressing digital image files is described. At the image encoder/compressor, an input image file, which may be of bilevel, grayscale, or color file type, is subdivided into one or more sub-images. Each sub-image may be separately compressed. In the case of grayscale or color input images, the input image may be pre-processed using a threshold parameter to quantize the intensity and/or color vectors into a compressed palette of intensities and/or color vectors. A forward transform is performed on each pre-processed sub-image, based on a binary quincunx image pyramid and a set of pixel value prediction equations. The output of the forward transform comprises a set of prediction error signals and a coarse low-band signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: AirZip, Inc.
    Inventor: Chengbo Yue