Patents Represented by Law Firm Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin
  • Patent number: 7105793
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide pixel cells that allow both automatic light control and correlated double sampling operations. The pixel cell includes first and second photo-conversion devices that can be separately read out. For example, the second photo-conversion device can be the pixel cells' floating diffusion region, with an area and doping profile suitable for photo-conversion. An image sensor may include an array of pixel cells, some or all of which have two photo-conversion devices, and peripheral circuitry for reading out signals from the pixel cells. The image sensor's readout circuitry may monitor charge generated by the second photo-conversion devices to determine when to read out signals from the first photo-conversion devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7105033
    Abstract: A system for generating hydrogen gas utilizes a volume exchange housing for the storage of a fuel material that reacts to generate hydrogen gas and a hydrogen separation chamber. The system includes a gas permeable membrane or membranes that allow hydrogen gas to pass through the membrane while preventing aqueous solutions from passing therethrough. The system is orientation independent. A throttle valve is also used to self regulate the reaction generating the hydrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Millennium Cell, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Strizki, Richard M. Mohring
  • Patent number: 7105864
    Abstract: A low-volatility or non-volatility memory device utilizing zero field splitting properties to store data. In response to an electrical pulse or a light pulse, in the absence of any externally applied magnetic field, the host material can switch between stable energy-absorbing states based on the zero field splitting properties of the metal ions and the surrounding host material. The invention also includes a device and method for the storage of multiple bits in a single cell using a plurality of metal ion species in a single host material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristy A. Campbell, Terry L. Gilton, John T. Moore
  • Patent number: 7100373
    Abstract: A hydraulic tool is provided with a spool valve 24 for changing the flow of a working fluid pressurized by a hydraulic power generating mechanism in a hydraulic circuit. The spool valve 24 is slidable in directions perpendicular to a piston rod 18. A cylindrical grip handle 34 to be operated by the operator's hand is extended parallel to the piston rod 18 on the outer surface of the main casing 5 so as to be turnable about its own axis. The spool valve 24 and the grip handle 34 are interlocked by a cam mechanism including members 29, 30 and 21. The spool valve 24 is moved axially by turning the grip handle 34 to control the flow direction of the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ogura
    Inventor: Eisuke Oide
  • Patent number: 7102184
    Abstract: The invention provides a photodiode with an increased charge collection area, laterally spaced from an adjacent isolation region. Dopant ions of a first conductivity type with a first impurity concentration form a region surrounding at least part of the isolation region. These dopant ions are further surrounded by dopant ions of the first conductivity type with a second impurity concentration. The resulting isolation region structure increases the capacitance of the photodiode by allowing the photodiode to possess a greater charge collection region while suppressing the generation of dark current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7099907
    Abstract: An n-bit shift register 102 for shifting input data through successive bit stages and AND gates 103-i (i being 1 to n) corresponding to the bit stages of the shift register 102 are provided. A control circuit 101 feeds out control signals 107-i for on-off controlling the feeding of the outputs of the corresponding bit stages of the shift register 102. Multipliers 104-i multiply the on-off controlled data and predetermined filter coefficient data, and an adder circuit 105 adds together the output of the multipliers to derive an FIR filter output including ramp-up and -down. A ramp-up/-down signal is fed to a shift register in the control circuit 101, and ramp-up data is derived from the output of the adder circuit 105. Thus, the circuit can be readily constructed without scale increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corp.
    Inventor: Masahiko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7098068
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of forming a chalcogenide material containing device, and particularly resistance variable memory elements. A stack of one or more layers is formed over a substrate. The stack includes a layer of chalcogenide material and a metal, e.g., silver, containing layer. A protective layer is formed over the stack. The protective layer blocks light, is conductive, and is etchable with the other layers of the stack. Further, the metal of the metal containing layer is substantially insoluble in the protective layer. The stack and the protective layer are then patterned and etched to form memory elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph F. Brooks
  • Patent number: 7097109
    Abstract: A contactless data storage medium having a principal circuit component and a coupling element, with a controllable load provided for performing offloading modulation. A drawn-current controller is able to reduce the current drawn by the principal circuit component and simultaneously increase the size of the current through the load in order to provide an offloading potential for performing the offloading modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dominik Berger
  • Patent number: 7099324
    Abstract: A searching system allowing high-speed data searching and operation is disclosed. A search table is provided which stores a copy of an entry that has been retrieved from a database to retrievably store a plurality of retrieved entries. Further, an address pointer table is provided which stores a list of retrieved entries which are linked from a leading one to a bottom one. A search processor can access a plurality of retrieved entries by referring to the list stored in the address pointer table so as to be consistent with a corresponding entry stored in the database when the corresponding entry has been updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Nec Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Kametani
  • Patent number: 7097091
    Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding method for welding two members to be welded which differ in physical properties and/or mechanical properties by abutting the two members to each other, inserting a pin portion of a rotary tool having the pin portion and a shoulder portion to the abutment surfaces of the two members, and moving the rotary tool along the abutment surfaces. The pin portion is inserted to only one of the members, the pin portion is not inserted to the other of the members but only the shoulder portion is set in contact with the other of the members, and, while this condition is maintained, the rotary tool is moved. With this method, only the member on the side where the pin is inserted can be made to undergo plastic flow attendant on a friction stir action. The metal in plastic flow is pressed against the opposite member at an elevated temperature and high pressure, whereby diffusion of atoms is caused in the vicinity of the abutment surfaces, and the members are welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisanori Okamura, Kinya Aota, Kouji Satou, Masahiko Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7098627
    Abstract: A second battery charging apparatus includes a voltage detecting circuit, a current detecting circuit, a charging circuit, and a charge control circuit. The voltage detecting circuit detects a battery voltage of the second battery and accordingly outputs a signal. The current detecting circuit detects a battery current supplied to the second battery and accordingly outputs a signal. The charging circuit executes a current supply control to perform the charging to the second battery such that the battery voltage becomes equal to a voltage predetermined based on control signals and also that the charging current becomes equal to a current predetermined based on the control signals. The charge control circuit instructs the charging circuit with the control signals to set the battery voltage and the charge current in response to a voltage indicated by the signal from the voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Nishida
  • Patent number: 7098296
    Abstract: A method of preparing a polymeric aryl sulfonamide is described which consists of reacting aryl sulfonyl with a polymeric amine in the presence of an acid acceptor. Also, another method of preparing a polymeric aryl sulfonamide is disclosed and consists of: reacting an aryl sulfonyl with a polymeric diamine in the presence of an acid acceptor to result in a linear oligomeric molecule; and reacting the linear oligomeric molecule with a monoamine or an aryl monosulfonyl in the presence of an acid acceptor. The use of polymeric aryl sulfonamides as pigment dipersants and wetting agents is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Bowles, Robert Lambie Rooney, Clifford John Coles, Brian Rowatt
  • Patent number: 7094189
    Abstract: A fitness stretching apparatus comprising a base and a cage structure surrounding the base. The cage structure includes at least a first stretching station for performing stretching of a muscle. A second stretching station is located on the base and within the cage structure. Preferably, the second stretching station is configured for seated stretching exercises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas Fallacaro
  • Patent number: 7095795
    Abstract: A multi-rate transmission apparatus wherein components operate with a single clock from the outside and, even if the modulation system and the coding rate are varied arbitrarily by switching of the modulation operation mode similarly from the outside, transmission data can be allocated to modulation data and transmitted in response to the variation of the modulation system and the coding rate only with the clock signal from the outside. The multi-rate transmission apparatus includes a data processing section for reading in data with a bit width suitable for the modulation system, a coding unit for performing coding processing parallelly for the data read in by the data processing section, and a transmission section for transmitting the data, for which the coding processing has been performed, in response to the variation of the modulation system and the coding rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Agehari
  • Patent number: 7095216
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a plurality of power source circuits, an oscillator circuit and a controller. The plurality of power source circuits use a common direct current power source. The oscillator circuit generates a plurality of oscillator signals. The controller performs a time sharing control based on the plurality of oscillator signals to enable the plurality of power source circuits to receive power from the common direct current power source in different timings and to output respective voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsuo, Ritsuko Nomura
  • Patent number: 7093832
    Abstract: A plate or other utilitarian object for generating conversations is provided comprising a substantially flat central portion for holding on object and a raised side surface positioned coaxially with the substantially flat central portion. A circular perforation is formed coaxially with the substantially flat central portion and the raised side surface and is positioned at a border between the substantially flat central portion and the raised side surface. A plurality of axial perforations are formed in the raised side surface extending along an entire width thereof from the circular perforation to an outer edge of the raised side surface. Each adjacent pair of the plurality of axial perforations and a corresponding portion of the circular perforation defines a selectively removable tab, the selectively removable tab including text material thereon. The text material preferably comprises an open-ended opinion-evoking statement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Subject Matters, LLC
    Inventor: Mary Louise Parker
  • Patent number: 7095440
    Abstract: Operation for global electronic shutter photodiode-type pixels. In a first mode of operation, lag is reduced through global reset of the photodiode array and fixed pattern noise is eliminated through comparison of the photosignal level and the reset level of the floating drain. In a second mode of operation, simultaneous integration and readout processes are achieved through cessation of spill charges over the transfer gate. In a third mode of operation, regulation of the reset photodiode and transfer gate enables voltage gain between the photodiode and the sense node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric R. Fossum
  • Patent number: 7094448
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spray pack for use in forming a uniform, stable spray coating, comprising a spray container device and, packed therein, a spraying composition comprising a liquid dispersion medium and, dispersed therein, particulate cellulose having an average degree of polymerization (DP) of not more than 300 and an average particle diameter of not more than 10 ?m, wherein the composition has a cellulose content of from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight, and wherein the composition exhibits a maximum viscosity value (?max) of 1×103 mPa·s or more in the viscosity-shear stress curve obtained, with respect to the composition, using a cone-plate type rotating viscometer in a shear rate region of from 1×10?3 s?1 to 1×102 s?1 and at 25° C. A method for forming a uniform, stable spray coating by using the above-mentioned spray pack is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ono, Hideki Amakawa
  • Patent number: 7095672
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks formed of a flash memory. The semiconductor memory device further includes a rewriting monitor circuit for memorizing the number of times of data rewriting in each of the memory blocks, and a switching circuit for switching a memory block selection address. When the number of times of rewriting in a first memory block which is a rewriting request object exceeds a predetermined value, data in a second memory block is transferred to the first memory block. Data to be written is written to the second memory block. Therefore, it is possible to increase the number of times of rewriting in the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Atsunori Miki
  • Patent number: 7095853
    Abstract: The method of preventing illegal copy of contents encrypts a header using a key generated from the previous sector, performs variable-length coding to the encrypted header to shorten its length, and stores the decoded header into the recording medium as well as contents data, in encryption phase. The method, in decryption phase, reproduces the contents data which have different length for each sector by decoding and encoding the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Morishita