Patents Represented by Attorney Gunster, Yoakley, Valdes-Fauli & Stewart, P.A.
  • Patent number: 6106518
    Abstract: A medical device includes a flexible member having a variable geometry tip with a thermally-transmissive region. A smooth fluid path is provided through the flexible member to and from the variable geometry, thermally-transmissive region. The thermally-transmissive region can be deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Cryocath Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Wittenberger, Cristian Petre
  • Patent number: 6064556
    Abstract: A protection circuit for a pulse type power supply line of an integrated circuit device. The protection circuit includes a switching circuit having a preset delay, and a first transistor that is connected between the pulse power supply line and ground. The gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled to ground through a first resistor, and to a second power supply line for a low DC voltage through the switching circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the switching circuit includes a second transistor that is connected between the gate terminal of the first transistor and ground. The gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the second power supply line through a current generator, and is also coupled to ground through a resistive element and a capacitive element that are connected in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Enrico M. A. Ravanelli
  • Patent number: 6060000
    Abstract: A material is provided that uses controlled electrical current derived from two dissimilar galvanic materials to drive oligodynamic metal ions into solution. Exemplary materials include carbon and silver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Implemed, Inc.
    Inventors: Fredric L. Milder, Robert Hausslein
  • Patent number: 6054847
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to automatically select operating voltages for a device. The method comprising the steps of: connecting a variable resistive network in series to a first side of a resistor for varying the current through the resistor; charging an inductor with a modulate pulse train, the inductor being connected to the second side of the resistor; outputting a voltage equal to the voltage across the resistor and a fixed reference voltage located at the first side of the resistor; determining if at least one designated processor pin is connected to ground; and varying the resistance of the resistive network if at least one pin is connected to ground so as to change the current flowing through the resistor, thereby changing the voltage across it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Ray Garcia, Kendall Anthony Honeycutt, Stephen Eugene Still
  • Patent number: 6055525
    Abstract: A method and system for moving disparate data objects type into database applications is disclosed. The disparate data objects can be either retrievable locally or retrievable remotely. The method consists of: (1) creating a moving object; (2) locating a specified source data type; (3) creating sub-data objects associated with the moving object where in the sub-data objects further comprise a source data object for receiving a specified source data type and a target data object associated with said database application; and (4) converting the specified source data type to be compatible with the target data object; and moving the moving object with the specified source data after being translated into the database application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Wendi Lynn Nusbickel
  • Patent number: 6029245
    Abstract: A method and means are provided for dynamically assigning security parameters to hypertext markup language (HTML) pages of an information provider on the worldwide web, whereby only one set of HTML pages need be stored and maintained for retrieval by client computers using differing security protocols. A security injection profile is provided for storing security parameters for each respective security protocol. When a browser enabled with a particular security protocol requests one of the HTML pages in the secure set, the page is accessed from web server storage, security parameters of the particular protocol are accessed and injected into the accessed page, and the page is sent to the requesting browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas K. Scanlan
  • Patent number: 6026371
    Abstract: A method and system for permitting businesses and organizations to preview their customized Web-based advertisement in an Online directory listing. The method consists of: linking at least one database server to at least one Web server. The database server has a production database and a staging database wherein the staging database is a replica copy of the production database. Creating (or revising) custom multimedia advertisement material using a variety of widely available HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) tools; importing the resulting HTML source and associated multimedia files into the staging database stored in the database server; and previewing the custom Web pages on the staging database as if they were running on the production database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Teresa Marie Beck, Gerald Eugene Haegele, Wendi Lynn Nusbickel
  • Patent number: 6023073
    Abstract: The above objects have been accomplished by providing an OLED having an organic active (53) region with at least one emission layer (EL). The OLED further comprises at least one organic charge transport layer (52) (either a hole transport layer or an electron transport layer), an anode (51) and a cathode (54). This organic charge transport layer (52) is alloyed by introduction of an inorganic component. If said alloyed charge transport layer (52) is a hole transport layer (HTL), for example, the holes are conducted through it by means of the inorganic constituents with reduced voltage drop or heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventor: Samuel Clagett Strite
  • Patent number: 6021427
    Abstract: A method and system for preventing routing maelstrom loops of automatically routed electronic mail which is operational with intelligent agents and computer-processor hardware components, and includes a software based solution comprising a processor readable code of instructions. The code of instructions generally comprise a routine for tagging processed e-mail message with a system generated special identifying tag revealing each source subscriber, a routine for ascertaining whether a received message intended for automatic routing contains any special tag and a corresponding routine for deciding whether any of the special tags contain the current source subscriber's identification before exercising any routing rules against the message. If the subscriber's ID is listed in the particular e-mail being routed, then the system of the invention determines that a complete loop has been made and terminates further transmission since the next target subscriber has already received the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Spagna, Arun Rao
  • Patent number: 6008888
    Abstract: The LVARS is a fully instrumental, non-destructive spectroscopic device for the analysis and verification and authentication of the optical and electromagnetic properties (OEMP) of the inks, dyes, thin films, plastics, toners, paper, fixatives, paints, and printing agents used in documents and financial instruments. The instrument is quantitative in nature so as to correlate compositional data (elemental, isotopic, structure) with Raman optical spectra. The LVARS design consists of a computer-controlled spectrometer with a microscope-guided grid head containing the laser excitation source and detector and optics. The spectrometer contains signal processing electronics which sends a stream of data to the computer for analysis and correlation with the library database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Wizard of Ink & Co.
    Inventors: Francis A. Nottke, James A. Kirchoff, Jonathan N. Lucke
  • Patent number: 6002754
    Abstract: A billing processing method is disclosed for a telephone system comprising at least one central office switching system, wherein a peripheral subsystem is connected to the central office switching systems via a call connection channel, the peripheral subsystem comprising means for providing at least one auxiliary call processing capability via the call connection channel; and the peripheral subsystem comprising means for providing billing information out to a central office communication network. The billing processing method comprising the steps of: (1) receiving raw billing data from the peripheral subsystem; (2) associating the raw billing data with a formatting object; (3) converting the raw billing data as specified in the formatting object into a formatted data object; and (4) outputting the data object to the central office communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Peeyush Jaiswal, Shailesh Gandhi, Vanessa Vincenzi Michelini
  • Patent number: 5999040
    Abstract: A voltage booster circuit including an input for receiving a supply voltage, a plurality of stages for producing an output voltage from the supply voltage by the transfer of charges between at least two of the plurality of stages, and circuit for coupling and decoupling stages to vary the number of stages operatively connected together. A method for producing an output voltage from a supply voltage by using a voltage booster circuit, the circuit includes an input for receiving the supply voltage, a plurality of stages, and a selection switch for the selective isolation of the stages or for the selective connection of the stage. The method includes the following steps: starting the circuit; comparing the value of the output voltage with a decrementation threshold; and decreasing the number of stages which are connected if the decrementation threshold is reached by the value of the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Tien-Dung Do, Fran.cedilla.ois Guette, Mathieu Pierre Gabriel Lisart
  • Patent number: 5995416
    Abstract: A method for the generation of voltage for the programming or erasure of a non-volatile memory cell is disclosed. Also disclosed is a circuit and a computer readable medium which implement the method. During an operation of programming or erasure in the memory, the slope P of the write voltage ramp is adapted to the number of memory cells to be programmed or erased simultaneously during this operation. This method is particularly useful in the field of non-volatile, electrically erasable and programmable memories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: David Naura, Sebastien Zink
  • Patent number: 5991199
    Abstract: In a device for programming EPROM-Flash type memory cells of memory words of a memory, a bit line of a memory cell of a given rank of the first word and at least one bit line of a memory cell of the same rank in a word that is horizontally adjacent to this first word are connected together to two common programming connections by means of a bias circuit, and the bias circuit comprises two bias voltage inputs and one bias voltage output. The programming method consists in the successive programming, during different programming cycles, of the different cells of this first word and, during the same programming cycle, a different cell, of the same rank, in at least one word that is different from this first word is programmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Brigati, Jean Devin, Bruno Leconte
  • Patent number: 5986936
    Abstract: A circuit for the generation of a high ramp voltage for the supply of voltage to a capacitive load, in particular a high voltage for the programming or erasure of at least one memory cell of a non-volatile memory, comprises floating-gate transistors as storage elements. This generation circuit comprises a P type load transistor connected by its source to the output of a voltage booster delivering a high direct and constant voltage (HIV), by its drain to the load, the high ramp voltage being available at this drain, and by its control gate to a control feedback circuit to control the load current. This circuit achieves automatic control over the slope of the high ramp voltage (Vpp). Application to the generation of a high ramp voltage whose slope is smaller than a critical slope and the maximum value is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Ravazzini
  • Patent number: 5986345
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first through fourth pads and first through third external connection leads with the first external connection lead being a ground connection lead and the first and second pads being ground pads. First through fourth connection wires selectively connect the pads to the external connection leads. Additionally, a first ground line is connected to the first pad, a second ground line is connected to the second pad, a first protective diode connects the first ground line to the third pad, and a second protective diode connects the second ground line to the fourth pad. The first external connection lead is connected to the first pad via the first connection wire and to the second pad via the second connection wire, the third connection wire connects the third pad to the second external connection lead, and the fourth connection wire connects the fourth pad to the third external connection lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S. A.
    Inventor: Giles Monnot
  • Patent number: 5982677
    Abstract: A compensated voltage regulator of the type used in programming non-volatile memory cells of a memory cell matrix that is divided into sectors. The voltage regulator includes a comparator that is connected to a supply voltage. A first input terminal of the comparator is supplied a reference voltage, and a second input terminal is feedback connected to a program line. The control terminal of an output transistor is connected to an output terminal of the comparator, and a conduction terminal of the output transistor is connected to the memory cells by the program line. An output current is passed through a conduction terminal of the output transistor. Further, a compensation circuit is powered by the supply voltage. An input of the compensation circuit is connected to the output terminal of the comparator and to the output transistor, and an output of the compensation circuit is also connected to the output terminal of the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Fontana, Massimo Montanaro
  • Patent number: 5982865
    Abstract: A billing system and method is disclosed for a telephone system comprising at least one central office switching system, wherein a peripheral subsystem is connected to the central office switching systems via a call connection channel, the peripheral subsystem comprising means for providing at least one auxiliary call processing capability via the call connection channel. The a billing system comprises: a billing generation means running on said peripheral subsystem for generating billing data related to said auxiliary call processing capability; a collecting means for collecting said billing data; formatting said billing data to a specified formatted output and outputting said formatted output to said central office communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Creamer, Shailesh Gandhi, Peeyush Jaiswal, Pradeep Parsram Mansey, Joan Micheals
  • Patent number: 5978915
    Abstract: The access to memory words of an integrated circuit is protected by the creation of a decision table that receives addresses of instruction words and/or data words to be protected and that receives also addresses of the control bits of a control word assigned to a word to be protected. It can be shown that this mode of action provides greater security through the use of a decision table made in wired circuit form as well as greater flexibility through the programmable quality of the control words assigned to each memory word to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Lisart, Laurent Sourgen
  • Patent number: RE36603
    Abstract: A distance-controlled tunneling transducer comprises a plurality of tunnel tips arranged in an array at a tunneling distance from an electrically conductive surface of a storage medium. Each tip is attached to a respective cantilever beam permitting the distance between each tip and the surface to be individually pre-adjusted electrostatically. Arranged in juxtaposition with each cantilever beam is an active control circuit for adjusting the tip-to-surface distance during operation of the storage unit, thus preventing crashes of the associated tip into possible asperities on the surface of the recording medium. Each control circuit is designed such that its operating voltage concurrently serves to pre-adjust its associated cantilever beam and to maintain the tip-to-surface distance essentially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Wolfgang D. Pohl, Conrad W. Schneiker