Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder
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Patent number: 7177453Abstract: A technique is provided for partitioning an imaged volume into two or more sub-volumes. The technique identifies partition lines which separate the sub-volumes by generating a profile, such as a bone profile, which is then analyzed to determine the placement of the partition lines. In one embodiment, placement of the partition lines is determined automatically by applying one or more sets of hierarchical rules to the profile. After separation of the imaged volume into sub-volumes, each sub-volume may be differentially segmented such that segmentation is customized for the sub-volume. Likewise, after separation of the imaged volume into sub-volumes, the acquisition parameters for each sub-volume may be customized for subsequent acquisitions.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Srikanth Suryanarayanan, Rakesh Mullick, Vidya Pundalik Kamath, Yogisha Mallya, Robert F. Senzig
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Patent number: 7172616Abstract: A method of performing cardiac surgery on a patient's heart, including covering a patient with an inflatable blanket for a forced air convection system, the inflatable blanket having at least one separable seal line within the blanket. The separable seal line may be separated to form a slit. A patient's femoral artery is accessed through the slit, and an elongate medical instrument is passed through the slit, and through the femoral artery toward the patient's heart. Cardiac surgery is performed with the elongate medical instrument, and the elongate medical instrument is withdrawn from the femoral artery through the slit.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2002Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Inc.Inventors: Wayne Schuessler, Karin Feit, Michael Vardanega, Dennis Chivetta, Thomas Kappel
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Patent number: 7173855Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for regulating an antifuse programming current by lightly doping an electrically connected region so that the resistance of the region responds in a non-linear manner to changes in voltage. In this way a variable resistor or a variably resistive transistor may be created which vary their resistance in response to an applied voltage and which may thereby limit a programming current while not limiting a lesser, reading current to a serially connected antifuse.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. Porter, Scott J. Derner
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Patent number: 7165617Abstract: In one embodiment, provided is a method of fracturing a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises providing a viscosified treatment fluid comprising a single salt aqueous fluid having a density of greater than 9 pounds per gallon and a crosslinked viscosifying agent, and contacting the portion of the subterranean formation with a viscosified treatment fluid so as to create or enhance one or more fractures therein, wherein the viscosified treatment fluid is introduced into a well bore that penetrates the portion of the subterranean formation to be fractured at a surface pressure of less than about 25,000 pounds per square inch. In other embodiments, provided are methods of frac packing a subterranean formation and methods of reducing a surface pressure needed to create one or more fractures in a portion of a subterranean formation.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2004Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Paul D. Lord, Rodney B. Waltman, David W. Ritter, Sanjay Vitthal
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Patent number: 7162910Abstract: A hybrid metal forming system includes a die cavity defined by a first die and a second die and a press adapted to apply a static pressure over the first die to deform a workpiece against the second die. The hybrid forming system also includes a dynamic loading system coupled to and positioned between, the press and the die cavity.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wenwu Zhang, David Peter Mika
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Patent number: 7164611Abstract: A secure memory device that is configured to prevent unauthorized access of data is disclosed. More specifically, a kill function logic device is capable of initiating security measures upon the occurrence of some event. The security measures may include disabling read access to the memory device, accelerated erasing of the memory device, or disabling of the memory device itself. Alternatively, a circuit may be configured to purge data stored in the memory device in an accelerated fashion.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2004Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Tom Kinsley
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Patent number: 7163845Abstract: A technique is provided for dissipating heat from an integrated circuit within a package. A thermally conductive strip may be disposed adjacent to an integrated circuit die before packaging. The package is formed around the integrated circuit and the thermally conductive strip such that a portion of the thermally conductive strip extends through the package. Heat is conducted from the integrated circuit through the thermally conductive strip to the environment surrounding the package. A thermally conductive strip may be installed within a package by an adhesive or other mechanical means. A thermally conductive strip may be comprised of a metallic foil or other thermally conductive material.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Casey L. Prindiville
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Patent number: 7162439Abstract: A system and method for providing a radiological imaging workstation system customer with a recommended radiological imaging workstation and/or radiological imaging workstation configuration. The recommended radiological imaging workstation being established by a customer's responses to a plurality of questions. The system has a product selector file and a product configuration file. The product selector file provides a query page with the plurality of questions to be answered by the customer. The product configuration file having a plurality of predicted system values. A Java applet being used to compare the customer's responses to the plurality of questions to the predicted values. The product configuration file supplying a results page with the recommended system.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Edward J. Panelli
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Patent number: 7159659Abstract: Provided are treatment fluids that comprise an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant, and associated methods of use. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of acidizing a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant; introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation; and allowing at least a portion of the treatment fluid to react with at least a portion of the subterranean formation so that at least one void is formed in the subterranean formation. In some instances, the treatment fluids exhibit viscoelastic behavior which may be due, at least in part, to the association of at least a portion of the methyl ester sulfonate surfactant into a plurality of micellar structures.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2005Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Thomas D. Welton, Samuel J. Lewis, Gary P. Funkhouser
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Patent number: 7160621Abstract: An article comprises a plurality of auxetic structures wherein the auxetic structures are of size greater than about 1 mm. The article also comprises at least one cell boundary that is structurally coupled to the auxetic structures. The cell boundary is configured to resist a deformation of the auxetic structures. An automotive energy absorber comprises a plurality of auxetic structures wherein the auxetic structures are of size greater than about 1 mm.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Tansen Dhananjay Chaudhari, Chinniah Thiagarajan, Poovanna Kushalappa Theethira, Stephen Shuler, Eric Jon Jaarda
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Patent number: 7162288Abstract: Low power techniques for sensing cardiac pulses in a signal from a sensor are provided. A pulse detection block senses the sensor signal and determines its signal-to-noise ratio. After comparing the signal-to-noise ratio to a threshold, the drive current of light emitting elements in the sensor is dynamically adjusted to reduce power consumption while maintaining the signal-to-noise ratio at an adequate level. The signal component of the sensor signal can be measured by identifying systolic transitions. The systolic transitions are detected using a maximum and minimum derivative averaging scheme. The moving minimum and the moving maximum are compared to the scaled sum of the moving minimum and moving maximum to identify the systolic transitions. Once the signal component has been identified, the signal component is compared to a noise component to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2004Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Nellcor Purtain Bennett IncorporatedInventors: Brad Nordstrom, William Shea, Ethan Petersen
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Patent number: 7161391Abstract: A skew-tolerant digital phase detector is provided. Specifically, a detector is provided in the digital phase detector to detect certain failure conditions that may result from clock skew and duty cycle distortion. If the condition is detected, an adjusted signal is generated and the adjusted signal is synchronized with the reference signal. By using the generated signal to provide a lock if certain conditions arise, adjustment errors resulting from duty cycle distortion and clock skew can be minimized.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2004Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Micron TechnologyInventor: Feng Lin
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Patent number: 7156938Abstract: Methods for preparing a multi-layer acoustic transducer with reduced total electrical impedance. The methods are based on the stacking of individual piezoelectric layers with metallized surfaces to form a plate in which the metal layers are electrically connected to form interdigitated electrodes. The total electrical impedance of a multi-layer stack comprised of piezoelectric layers connected in this manner is inversely related to the square of the number of layers in the stack. This provides for better matching of the acoustic stack impedance to that of the electrical cable and improved acoustic element sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2003Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Charles E. Baumgartner, Robert S. Lewandowski
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Patent number: 7158383Abstract: A technique for fabricating a resistor on a flexible substrate. Specifically, at least a portion of a polyimide substrate is activated by exposure to a ion sputter etch techniques. A metal layer is disposed over the activated portion of the substrate, thereby resulting in the formation of a highly resistive metal-carbide region. Interconnect layers are disposed over the metal-carbide region and patterned to form terminals at opposite ends of the metal carbide region. The metal-carbide region is patterned to form a resistor between the terminals. Alternatively, only a selected area of the polyimide substrate is activated. The selected area forms the area in which the metal-carbide region is formed. Interconnect layers are disposed over the metal-carbide region and patterned to form terminals at opposite ends of the metal-carbide region.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2003Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kevin M. Durocher, Richard J. Saia, Vikram B. Krishnamurthy
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Patent number: 7156174Abstract: The present invention relates to well bore operations, and more particularly, to contained micro-particles, and methods for using such contained micro-particles in cementing operations. An exemplary method of facilitating the use of micro-particles in a well bore fluid comprises the steps of providing contained micro-particles, and adding the contained micro-particles to the well bore fluid. In an exemplary embodiment, the well bore fluids of the present invention comprise encapsulated micro-particles. In another exemplary embodiment, the well bore fluids of the present invention comprise pelletized micro-particles.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Craig W. Roddy, Bradley L. Todd
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Patent number: 7152886Abstract: A connector for coupling a preconditioned air source to an aircraft is provided. The connector comprises actuating members rotatably secured to a body. In one embodiment, the actuating members are supported, at least partially, by an integrated bearing assembly. The connector also comprises securing members that are positionably coupled to the actuating members. Accordingly, rotation of the actuating members displaces the securing members. Moreover, the actuating members comprise respective camming surfaces, wherein the camming surfaces define the axial position of the corresponding securing members.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Alan J. Janis, Folkert Fred Koch, Wolfgang Ott, Christopher Robin Drake, Brian Michael Piety, Mark David Resendes
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Patent number: 7155075Abstract: Several methods for measuring and monitoring temperature have been presented for systems requiring temperature monitoring. In one implementation, the system has been applied to battery assemblies. Temperature measurements for every part of the battery assembly are disclosed. In one aspect the surface temperature of a battery assembly is measured. In another aspect, the internal temperature of the battery assembly is measured. In other aspects, the internal and external temperatures of several battery assemblies are measured. Based on the measured temperature, control signals are generated by a control system to switch down the power of the battery charging system so as to prevent excess heat generation.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Veera Palanivelu Rajendran, Robert Dean King, Timothy Gerard Richter, Lembit Salasoo
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Patent number: 7153090Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, a wind turbine blade includes an outer skin and an internal support structure. The skin has a closed airfoil shape and includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and opposite sides along a length of the blade. The internal support structure is disposed within the closed airfoil shape. The internal support structure includes at least one shear load bearing member disposed across the opposite sides and oriented lengthwise along the length of the blade. The internal support structure further includes a plurality of bending load bearing members disposed along the inner surface in a lengthwise direction along the length of the blade. The internal support structure is configured to position a shear center and a center of aerodynamic pressure loading of the blade at different locations relative to one another.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Guy Wayne DeLeonardo, Scott Roger Finn, Peter Michael Finnigan, Donald Joseph Kasperski
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Patent number: D535969Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: Paul Stephen Haney
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Patent number: D537040Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2005Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.Inventors: Stephen Barry Chesebro, John Dan Mabry
