Patents Represented by Attorney Hoffman, Warnick, and D'Alessandro LLC
  • Patent number: 7360199
    Abstract: The present invention is an iterative method or procedure involving a series of optical proximity correction (OPC) process steps for refining an integrated circuit design layout on a wafer during a photolithographic process. The iterative method may be applied as a system and computer program to perform classifying and grouping edge fragments according to directional orientations, selecting an edge fragment or a combination of non-opposing edge fragments, calculating an edge placement error of the selected edge fragment and proximally shifting the edge fragment until a quality limitation is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael E. Scaman
  • Patent number: 7359992
    Abstract: A method of preserving symmetrical routing in a communication system comprising a server farm connected to the Internet through an Internet access router. The server farm includes at least two customer cabinets with at least a WEB server and at least two firewalls. The firewalls use a Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) to set up one firewall as being the primary firewall. The method includes checking in each firewall whether there is a change of the VRRP state from primary to secondary or reciprocally. Such a change indicates that a link between the primary firewall and one of the customer cabinets has failed. The link is disabled from the network to the firewall the state of which has changed from primary to secondary or the link is enabled from the Internet network to the firewall the state of which has changed from secondary to primary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Berthaud, Pascal Chauffour, Jean-Claude Dispensa, Valerie Mahe
  • Patent number: 7359378
    Abstract: A security system for a communication system that includes an IP network and groups of servers in a farm, wherein each group is associated with a customer. A user connected to the network can access information provided by a customer from a server within the group of servers associated with this customer through a dispatching device. The security system comprises setting means in each of the switches which are located between the dispatching device and the customer servers for setting a field of bits in the IP header of potentially irregular packets transmitted from a customer server and the dispatching device, means in the dispatching device for identifying any packet wherein the field of bits has been set to the predefined value, and means for deleting or logging the potentially irregular packet when the destination of the packet is not the dispatching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Berthaud, Pascal Chauffour, Patrick Gayrard, Eric Lebrun
  • Patent number: 7359007
    Abstract: A system and same method are provided for producing video signal timing to a display apparatus that has different input/output image/video format. In addition to an image scaler, the system comprises a clock adjuster including a first and a second clock generator. The first clock generator generates a first clock signal by which the input/source pixel data included in the input/source image frame are received. The second clock signal is generated and adjusted to have an average clock period such that the ratio of the input and output frame rates is substantially kept constant. Thus, the skew between the source/input images and the display/output images can be adjusted, and the output frame repeating and/or dropping can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventor: Jen-Shi Wu
  • Patent number: 7357635
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for changing the form of the jaw and facial bones of an adult patient that did not develop fully during childhood. The method utilizes a device having a plate body with an expansion screw that fits within the mouth of the patient; flap springs that project from the plate body, and an overlay extending from the plate body. The device is placed within the mouth of the patient so that the overlay is in a position between at least two opposing teeth. In this position, opposing teeth contact the overlay during function (e.g. swallowing). This intermittent, unilateral application of force to the facial bones causes these bones to further develop, positioning out of place teeth into more proper positions, and inducing a more symmetrical and enhanced appearance of the face, as well as increasing the airway space behind the jaws. Concomitantly, the flap springs gently press against selected teeth that are out of alignment in order to guide those teeth into place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Orthovisage Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Belfor, Gurdev Dave Singh
  • Patent number: 7357470
    Abstract: The invention provides a printing control system for controlling a print-head. The printing control system includes a motor controller, a time-delaying generator coupled to the motor controller, and a timer coupled to the delay time generator. The motor controller is used for calculating the moving speed of the print-head reaching a printing position. The time-delaying generator is used for generating a delay time according to the moving speed. The timer is used for starting to count a printing time after the print-head reaches the printing position. When the printing time equals the delay time, the timer outputs a printing signal to control the print-head to jet out an ink drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Chih Huang, Chun-Jen Lee
  • Patent number: 7354333
    Abstract: Methods for reconditioning a polishing pad and detecting diamond contamination of the polishing pad, are disclosed. In particular, the methods include the step of exposing the reconditioned polishing pad to an energy source to induce the diamond contamination to fluoresce. Detection of the diamond contamination is then made by detecting the fluorescence. Removal of the diamond contamination results in an improved reconditioned polishing pad. A reconditioning system for reconditioning a damaged polishing pad is also disclosed. The reconditioning system includes a reconditioning disk including a plurality of diamonds for reconditioning the polishing pad, wherein each diamond fluoresces when exposed to an energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Laertis Economikos, John A. Fitzsimmons
  • Patent number: 7355249
    Abstract: Structures and a method for detecting ionizing radiation using silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention includes a substrate having a buried insulator layer formed over the substrate and an active layer formed over the buried insulator layer. Active layer may be fully depleted. A transistor is formed over the active layer, and includes a first gate conductor, a first gate dielectric and source/drain diffusion regions. The first gate conductor may include a material having a substantially (or fully) depleted doping concentration such that it has a resistivity higher than doped polysilicon such as intrinsic polysilicon. A second gate conductor is formed below the buried insulator layer and provides a second gate dielectric corresponding to the second gate conductor. A channel region between the first gate conductor and the second gate conductor is controlled by the second gate conductor (back gate) such that it acts as a radiation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7354872
    Abstract: Methods of forming a high dielectric constant dielectric layer are disclosed including providing a process chamber including a holder for supporting a substrate, introducing a first gas comprising a high dielectric constant (Hi-K) dielectric precursor and an oxygen (O2) oxidant into the process chamber to form a first portion of the high dielectric constant dielectric layer on the substrate, and switching from a flow of the first gas to a flow of a second gas comprising the Hi-K dielectric precursor and an ozone (O3) oxidant to form a second portion of the high dielectric constant dielectric layer on the first portion. In an alternative embodiment, another portion can be formed on the second portion using the oxygen oxidant. The invention increases throughput by at least 20% without reliability or leakage degradation and without the need for additional equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Coolbaugh, Ebenezer E. Eshun, Kenneth J. Stein, Kunal Vaed
  • Patent number: 7356147
    Abstract: A method and system for attaching a title key to encrypted content for synchronized transmission to, or storage by, a recipient is provided. Specifically, under the present invention, an elementary media stream is parceled into content units that each include a content packet and a header. The content packets are encrypted with one or more title keys. Once the content packets have been encrypted, the title keys are themselves encrypted with a key encrypting key. The encrypted title keys are then attached to the corresponding encrypted content packets for synchronized transmission to a recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric M. Foster, Jeffrey B. Lotspiech, Florian Pestoni, Wilfred E. Plouffe, Jr., Frank A. Schaffa
  • Patent number: 7356772
    Abstract: The present invention provides a user interface that includes a first column for chronologically displaying a set of messages (objects) in a conversation, and a second column for displaying a branch of messages (objects) corresponding to a message (object) selected in the first column. The user interface further includes, among other things, a list of participants to the conversation, a vertical index (time line), a list of related conversations and a conversation map that illustrates a hierarchy of the conversation. Each message (object) in the first column can have an associated indicator for indicating a quantity of predecessors and successors to the set of messages (objects), as well as an in-line reply button for replying to the set of messages. Each of the messages displayed of the second column can have one or more associated navigation buttons for navigating adjacent hierarchical levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Brownholtz, Werner Geyer, Bernard J. Kerr, David R. Millen, Michael Muller, Eric M. Wilcox, Andrew J. Witt
  • Patent number: 7355508
    Abstract: An improved system for monitoring an area, and in particular a public area such as a passenger area of a vehicle. Various types of sensing devices and analysis solutions are incorporated and the results combined to enable the monitoring system to operate in an intelligent manner. To this extent, the monitoring system can monitor and confirm the identification of individuals as well as numerous events that may occur within the monitored area. Further, the invention can determine one or more actions to be taken in response to an event, and perform the action(s) automatically without intervention from a user. As a result, the invention provides a solution that can autonomously monitor an area, requiring minimal oversight from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Zahid F. Mian, Ryk E. Spoor, Ronald W. Gamache
  • Patent number: 7356428
    Abstract: A method, system and test fixture for allowing testing and calibration of various operation parameters of an overhead traveling vehicle (hereinafter “OTV”) are disclosed. The invention implements a test fixture that includes a rotatable bearing set for rotatably engaging a wheel of the OTV such that the wheel can rotate but the OTV remains stationary. The bearing set is held in a raised position, similar to the operational position of the OTV, by a raised support. The test fixture may also include a reflective tape for use with an optical sensor(s) of the OTV. In this fashion, operation parameters of the OTV such as drive servomotor velocity, current gain, current offset, OTV travel profile, optical sensor op-amp gain, etc., can be tested and calibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas F. Ciminello, Ray A. Reyes, David L. Schmoke, Uldis A. Ziemins
  • Patent number: 7356491
    Abstract: Method for transferring large supplier catalogs in a data transmission system including the Internet network, a marketplace site able to be addressed through the Internet network, a first plurality of customers connected to the Internet network and a second plurality of suppliers connected to the Internet network, each supplier having a catalog file of available goods to be supplied to any customer. The method includes the steps requesting by one supplier the transfer of its catalog file to the marketplace site through a B2B gateway by using a catalog control protocol, transferring the catalog file to the marketplace site through a catalog gateway by using a catalog transfer protocol, aggregating the catalog file received from the supplier to a general catalog, and publishing the updated general catalog onto a storefront web site so that any one of the customers can view the goods of the supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Olivier Casile, Joaquin Picon
  • Patent number: 7354779
    Abstract: Methods for applying topographically compensated film in a semiconductor wafer fabrication process are disclosed. The processes include premapping a surface of a wafer so as to determine the local topography (e.g., z-height) of the wafer and then applying a variable depth of a film to the wafer, such that the variable depth is modulated based on the local topography of the wafer. The resultant topography of the applied film and wafer is substantially planar (e.g., within approximately 100 nm) across the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Colin J. Brodsky, Scott J. Bukofsky, Allen H. Gabor
  • Patent number: 7353405
    Abstract: For optimizing Internet access resources, a method and systems for sharing network access capacities across Internet service providers is disclosed. According to the method of the invention, a client service provider (CSP) may hire accesses to points of presence belonging to a master service provider (MSP) while maintaining a constant security level and providing connection accounting means. When a CSP's subscriber sends an access request to a MSP, the MSP analyzes the subscriber's realm and checks the capacities allocated to the subscriber's CSP. If connection is allowed, the MSP sends an authentication request to the CSP. If the subscriber is authenticated, the MSP launches an accounting process based on the subscriber's realm while the CSP may launch an accounting process associated with the subscriber identifier. Thus, the MSP does not need to maintain a database comprising information relative to the CSP's subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Denis Chevalier, Gerard Marmigere, Zsolf Szalai
  • Patent number: 7353472
    Abstract: A system and method for generating test patterns for a pattern sensitive algorithm. The method comprises the steps extracting feature samples from a layout design; grouping feature samples into clusters; selecting at least one area from the layout design that covers a feature sample from each cluster; and saving each pattern layout covered by the at least one area as test patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David L. DeMaris, Timothy G. Dunham, William C. Leipold, Daniel N. Maynard, Michael E. Scaman, Shi Zhong
  • Patent number: 7353532
    Abstract: The invention includes various systems, architectures, frameworks and methodologies that can securely enforce a privacy policy. A method is include for securely guaranteeing a privacy policy between two enterprises, comprising: creating a message at a first enterprise, wherein the message includes a request for data concerning a third party and a privacy policy of the first enterprise; signing and certifying the message that the first enterprise has a tamper-proof system with a privacy rules engine and that the privacy policy of the first entity will be enforced by the privacy rules engine of the first enterprise; sending the message to a second enterprise; and running a privacy rules engine at the second enterprise to compare the privacy policy of the first enterprise with a set of privacy rules for the third party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sastry S. Duri, Xuan Liu, Paul A. Moskowitz, Ronald Perez, Edith G. Schonberg, Moninder Singh, Charles P. Tresser
  • Patent number: 7352478
    Abstract: Methods and related program product for assessing and optimizing metrology instruments by determining a total measurement uncertainty (TMU) based on precision and accuracy. The TMU is calculated based on a linear regression analysis and removing a reference measuring system uncertainty (URMS) from a net residual error. The TMU provides an objective and more accurate representation of whether a measurement system under test has an ability to sense true product variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles N. Archie, G. William Banke, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7352064
    Abstract: Methods of forming a metal line and/or via critical dimension (CD) in a single or dual damascene process on a semiconductor substrate, and the resist scheme implemented, are disclosed. The method includes forming a multiple layer resist scheme including a first planarizing layer of a first type material over the substrate, a second dielectric layer of a second type material over the planarizing layer, and a third photoresist layer of a third type material over the dielectric layer. The types of material alternate between organic and inorganic material. The third layer is patterned for the metal line and/or via CD. Sequential etching to form the metal line and/or via critical dimension using a tailored etch recipe particular to each of the first photoresist layer, the second dielectric layer and the third planarizing layer as each layer is exposed is then used. Accurate CD formation and adequate resist budget are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas C. M. Fuller, Timothy J. Dalton, Raymond Joy, Yi-hsiung Lin, Chun Hui Low