Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder
  • Patent number: 7944738
    Abstract: A magnetic memory cell including a soft magnetic layer and a coupling layer, and methods of operating the memory cell are provided. The memory cell includes a stack with a free ferromagnetic layer and a pinned ferromagnetic layer, and a soft magnetic layer and a coupling layer may also be formed as layers in the stack. The coupling layer may cause antiferromagnetic coupling to induce the free ferromagnetic layer to be magnetized in a direction antiparallel to the magnetization of the soft magnetic layer, or the coupling layer may cause ferromagnetic coupling to induce the free ferromagnetic layer to be magnetized in a direction parallel to the magnetization of the soft magnetic layer. The coupling layer, through a coupling effect, reduces the critical switching current of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Gurtej Sandhu
  • Patent number: 7940169
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for tracking devices. The method for tracking devices comprises carrying a reading device to passively receive identification data from a transmitter without action on the part of the user. Additionally, the method comprises providing the identification data to a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Paul Lawrence Mullen
  • Patent number: 7940978
    Abstract: The present techniques provide for the evaluation of cellular motion and/or cellular properties based on an analysis of motion. In an exemplary technique, images of one or more cells are acquired and motion data for the one or more cells is derived from the images. The motion data is decomposed to generate one or more motion components. The one or more motion components can be used to evaluate cellular properties and/or cellular motion properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jens Rittscher, Thomas B. Sebastian, Stewart E. Abbot
  • Patent number: 7936637
    Abstract: One or more techniques are provided for the synchronization of asynchronous signals without the use of an external system clock. In one embodiment, an asynchronous synchronization device is provided and configured to synchronize one or more asynchronous signals to an internal clock signal provided by an internal clock generator. The internal clock generator may be enabled upon detecting inputs on the one or more asynchronous signals, and disabled once the one or more asynchronous inputs are synchronized with the internal clock signal. Thus, the internal clock signal is provided only for a duration required to synchronize the one or more asynchronous signals. Embodiments of the asynchronous synchronization device, as disclosed herein, may be implemented in a processor-based device and/or a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aidan Shori
  • Patent number: 7936639
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a memory device, including providing a timing signal comprising a plurality of clock cycles, providing an activate signal, and providing a bank address signal. An activate command executes on every first duration of clock cycles, and the bank address signal is high for at least a portion of the first duration of clock cycles. In one embodiment, the first duration of the activate signal is at least four clock cycles, and the bank address signal is at least one clock cycle. A memory device having a row decoder and an active driver is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Ba, Victor Wong
  • Patent number: 7932179
    Abstract: Present embodiments relate to a semiconductor device having a backside redistribution layer and a method for forming such a layer. Specifically, one embodiment includes providing a substrate comprising a via formed therein. The substrate has a front side and a backside. The embodiment may further include forming a trench on the backside of the substrate, disposing an insulating material in the trench, and forming a trace over the insulating material in the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Oliver, Warren Farnworth
  • Patent number: 7929659
    Abstract: A computed tomographic imaging system is provided for generating computed tomography images. The computed tomographic system includes a processor configured to access image data encoding X-ray projections at a detector position and a plurality of X-ray source beam focal spot positions and to align pixel values for the projections in a direction of deviation of the positions. The processor is also configured to determine a correction factor for at least one of the projections based upon the aligned pixel values and upon a sum of the projections and to correct the pixel values for the at least one of the projections based upon the correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoye Wu, Fang Frank Dong, James Walter Leblanc
  • Patent number: 7926733
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, a spray coating device includes a body and a spray formation head coupled to the body. The spray formation head has a fluid delivery mechanism comprising a pintle, a sleeve disposed about the pintle, and a throat between the pintle and the sleeve, wherein the throat decreases in cross-section at least partially lengthwise through the fluid delivery mechanism toward a fluid exit between the pintle and the sleeve. The spray formation head also has a pneumatic atomization mechanism disposed adjacent the fluid delivery mechanism, wherein the pneumatic atomization mechanism comprises a plurality of pneumatic orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Micheli
  • Patent number: 7929737
    Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically generating a severity index for images of anatomical features of a patient are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an image of an anatomical feature of a patient is compared with a normal, standardized image of the same anatomical feature. Based on this comparison, a deviation image for the anatomical feature is generated that represents the degree and manner the acquired image deviates from normal for that anatomical feature. The deviation image is automatically pattern matched against multiple images of known disease severity for the anatomical feature. Based on the automated pattern match, a known disease severity, such as in the form of a severity index, is provided as corresponding anatomical feature for the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Saad Ahmed Sirohey, Gopal B. Avinash, Tamanna Bembenek
  • Patent number: 7922818
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented for reducing halide-based contamination within deposited titanium-based thin films. Halide adsorbing materials are utilized within the deposition chamber to remove halides, such as chlorine and chlorides, during the deposition process so that contamination of the titanium-based film is minimized. A method for regenerating the halide adsorbing material is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Garo J. Derderian, Cem Basceri, Donald L. Westmoreland
  • Patent number: 7923890
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a generator frame that includes a spring ring configured to mount removably between an outer annular support and a stator. The spring ring includes a first guide configured to circumferentially align the spring ring to the outer annular support, and a second guide configured to circumferentially align the spring ring to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Hunter Boardman, IV, Richard Nils Dawson, Anand Shankar Tanavde
  • Patent number: 7920427
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for modifying soft-programming trims of a non-volatile memory device, such as a flash memory device. The soft-programming trims may be modified based on a count of erase pulses applied to memory cells of the memory device. The number of erase pulses used to erase memory cells may be indicative of accumulated charge in the memory cell. The start voltage, step size, pulse width, number of pulses, pulse ramp, ramp rate, or any other trim of the soft-programming operation may be modified in response to the number of erase pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Marquart
  • Patent number: 7916544
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided that include a method including providing a first pulsed gate signal to a selected memory cell, wherein the pulsed gate signal alternates between a first voltage level and a second voltage level during a time period and sensing a data line response to determine data stored on the selected memory of cells. Further embodiments provide a system including a memory device, having a regulator circuit coupled to a plurality of access lines of a NAND memory cell, and a switching circuit configured to sequentially bias at least one of the plurality of the access lines between a first voltage level and a second voltage level based on an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 7917684
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a device including a bus translator. In some embodiments, the device also includes a core module and a core bus coupled to the core module. The bus translator may be coupled to the core module via the core bus, and the bus translator may be configured to translate between signals from a selected one of a plurality of different types of buses and signals on the core bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B Noyes, Steven P. King
  • Patent number: 7913693
    Abstract: There is provided a medical tube lumen plug, including: a plug, including: a body configured to be mechanically coupled to a lumen of a medical tube; and a protrusion configured to extend external to the medical tube, wherein the protrusion is configured to prevent occlusion of an aperture, wherein the aperture is configured to provide a pathway between the lumen and a region external to the medical tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: Donald S. Nelson, Roger S Mecca, David B. Swedlow
  • Patent number: 7915659
    Abstract: A method that includes forming a semiconductor fin, forming a sacrificial material adjacent the semiconductor fin, covering the sacrificial material with a dielectric material, forming a cavity by removing the sacrificial material from under the dielectric material, and forming a gate in the cavity. System and devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Juengling
  • Patent number: 7909588
    Abstract: Portions of the drive system for a piece of rotating equipment are pre-assembled into a subassembly. The subassembly can be held together by a carrier that is fabricated to accept the components in a proper alignment so that the carrier can be installed as a unit. In one embodiment, the carrier becomes a gearbox housing component that is installed, saving the need for individual component alignment. This modular approach allows an assembly having a single part number to apply to a given compressor unit and further allows standardization of air ends of compressors with specific impellers and inlets added to meet requirements of a specific application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Edward S. Czechowski, Robert Small, John R. Battershell, Robert M. Kolodziej
  • Patent number: 7908911
    Abstract: A fuel usage monitoring system, in certain aspects, may be configured to determine the fuel usage rate of a work vehicle service pack engine using control signals relating to operating parameters of the service pack engine and associated equipment. In certain embodiments, the control signals may relate to operating parameters of the engine, a fuel injection pump associated with the engine, a governor associated with the fuel injection pump, a fuel reservoir associated with the engine, and other components associated with the engine. In particular, the control signals may relate a position of a control rack of the fuel injection pump. The control signals may be correlated with fuel usage rates prior to operation of the fuel usage monitoring system. In addition, the correlations may vary as certain parameters of the engine, such as operating speed, vary. The correlations may be implemented as algorithms within software of the fuel usage monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Renner, Benjamin G. Peotter
  • Patent number: 7906853
    Abstract: A die module and method for assembling such a die module is provided. For example, present embodiments include providing a substrate and coupling a first sub-stack to the substrate, wherein the first sub-stack includes two or more die arranged in a first shingle stack configuration relative to one another such that an upper portion of each die in the first sub-stack is accessible, the first shingle stack configuration having a first skew. Further, present embodiments include stacking a second sub-stack on top of the first sub-stack, wherein the second sub-stack includes two or more die arranged in a second shingle stack configuration relative to one another such that an upper portion of each die in the second sub-stack is accessible, the second shingle stack configuration having a second skew that is different than the first skew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Low Peng Wang
  • Patent number: 7905911
    Abstract: A nozzle is provided for connecting an air hose to an air inlet. In one embodiment, the nozzle includes a tapered region and a plurality of vents. In another embodiment, the nozzle includes a projection configured to facilitate insertion of the nozzle into an air inlet. Warming assemblies comprising heated air blowers and warming blankets connected by the air hose and varying nozzle embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventor: Michael Vardanega