Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear
  • Patent number: 8323882
    Abstract: Methods for forming cell arrays of multiple cell samples arranged substantially in a monolayer on a single substrate particularly suited for diagnostic analysis are disclosed. The cell arrays are formed with a high-speed dispensing apparatus capable of dispensing small volumes in precise, complex patterns. Also disclosed are substrates upon which cell arrays may be formed, and methods for conducting diagnostic analyses on the formed cell arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignees: Biodot, Inc., Accupath Diagnostic Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathew Moore, Miriam Reyes, David Baunoch, Thomas Tisone, Brendan O'Farrell
  • Patent number: 8326676
    Abstract: Lead distribution systems and methods distribute consumer business leads received from lead sources for routing to one or more destinations that will use the lead and/or will forward the lead to another destination. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each lead based on a margin score, while complying with business rules associated with the lead source and destinations. Each lead source is associated with at least one cost score, reflective of a monetary cost for the lead and of other business considerations associated with the lead source. Candidate destinations are each associated with a revenue score, reflective of an amount to be paid for a lead and of other business considerations associated with the destination. A margin score for each destination is calculated based on the cost and revenue scores, and the lead is distributed, based at least in part on the calculated margin scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Autobytel Inc.
    Inventors: C. Michael Rose, Peter D. Mathews, Jeffrey E. Sward, Glenn R. Dunkle, John L. Dohoney, Glenn S. Davis
  • Patent number: 8326742
    Abstract: An Internet based investment account management system that consists of data, a rules database, a business logic manager and user profiles is described. The rules database stores information about system responses to modifications of the data. The user profiles store information concerning the availability of information and displays depending upon the user. Automatic updates to user profiles in response to modifications to the data are performed. The business logic manager can be configured to define whether the trader is authorized to execute a trade and whether sufficient holdings are available at a custodian bank in order to execute trade. A data exchange link may then be used to send data to a broker/dealer system to execute the trade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Teddy A. Demirjian
  • Patent number: 8324962
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for demodulation are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an input signal having a frequency that varies in relation to a state of the signal, calculating a sine and cosine of a phase control signal, generating a first signal proportional to the sine of a product of a first quantity and the frequency of the input signal, generating a second signal proportional to the cosine of a product of the first quantity and the frequency of the input signal, and summing a product of the first signal and the cosine of the phase control signal with a product of the second signal and the sine of the phase control signal to generate a demodulator output for resolving the state of the input signal. In certain implementations, the phase control signal is controlled so as to reduce a frequency error of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Mulvaney
  • Patent number: 8323869
    Abstract: A positive resist composition including a polymeric compound (A1) having a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) (R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 represents a divalent linking group, R3 represents a cyclic group containing —SO2— within the ring skeleton thereof) and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group, an acid-generator component (B) and a fluorine-containing polymeric compound (F1) having a structural unit containing a base dissociable group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shimizu, Hideto Nito, Junichi Tsuchiya, Takahiro Dazai
  • Patent number: 8325552
    Abstract: A memory device includes a command decoder and control interface logic. One or more external inputs, such as row and column address strobes, communicate with the command decoder through the control interface logic. A control signal is also in communication with the control interface logic. During operation of a drowsy mode in the memory device, a self-refresh signal causes the control signal to disable the external inputs. With the external inputs disabled, command hazards are reduced when exiting drowsy mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ito, Masayoshi Nomura, Keiichiro Abe
  • Patent number: 8327087
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that may include a controller comprising an access element and a command interface. Access element may provide access to a physical nonvolatile memory device. Physical nonvolatile memory device may have a default setting permitting a direct read operation of the physical nonvolatile memory device while prohibiting a direct write operation of the physical nonvolatile memory device. A command interface may modify access to the physical nonvolatile memory device by issuing a command through at least one write overlay window of a memory partition to change the default setting to write to the physical nonvolatile memory. The at least one write overlay window may be logically separate from at least one read overlay window of the memory partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Ahlquist
  • Patent number: 8323516
    Abstract: The efficiency of an etching process may be increased in various ways, and the cost of an etching process may be decreased. Unused etchant may be isolated and recirculated during the etching process. Etching byproducts may be collected and removed from the etching system during the etching process. Components of the etchant may be isolated and used to general additional etchant. Either or both of the etchant or the layers being etched may also be optimized for a particular etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ion Bita, Evgeni Gousev, Ana Londergan, Xiaoming Yan
  • Patent number: 8324034
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a display device, a first insulating layer is formed on a semiconductor pattern. Ions of a first concentration are injected into source and drain domains of the semiconductor pattern and a lower electrode of the semiconductor pattern by using a mask pattern that selectively overlaps a channel domain of the semiconductor pattern and is positioned on the top of the first insulating layer. The mask pattern is removed. An ion injection process of injecting ions of a second concentration lower than the first concentration into the semiconductor pattern of the channel domain is directly performed in the first insulating layer. A gate electrode that overlaps the channel domain is formed on the top of the first insulating layer. An upper electrode that overlaps the lower electrode is formed on the top of the first insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-Uk Oh
  • Patent number: 8323264
    Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus that can include a wound dressing, a fluid collection device, a vacuum pump comprising a pump motor, and tubing can be powered by auxiliary power sources such as high efficiency batteries, photovoltaic panels or cells, fuel cells, combustion generators, human powered generators, or other mechanical, electrical, or chemical power sources such as hand operated dynamos or wound springs, or any combination of the foregoing. Additionally, the apparatus can include a high efficiency pressure controller for controlling the output of the vacuum pump. In some embodiments, the pressure controller can control the pump without using a processor, and can have other features such as an intermittent delay function and an anti-stall mechanism to reduce the energy consumption of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignees: BlueSky Medical Group, Inc., Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Richard Scott Weston, Farhad Bybordi, Edward Yerbury Hartwell, Kristian David Hall
  • Patent number: 8323834
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical storage device having excellent safety and high battery capacity. Specifically disclosed is an electrical storage device comprising at least a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer and a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer and a negative electrode collector, a separator and an organic electrolyte solution. This electrical storage device is characterized in that the negative electrode active material layer is composed of a metal complex oxide which absorbs and desorbs lithium ions, the positive electrode active material layer contains a carbonaceous material having a layered crystal structure, and the interlayer distance d002 of the layered crystal structure in the carbonaceous material is within the range of 0.36-0.38 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Stella Chemifa Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Nishida, Sojiro Kon, Tetsuya Kume, Yoshinobu Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 8323243
    Abstract: An intravascular device can comprise a carrier and an expansion apparatus. The device can be used for intravascular treatment of atherosclerotic plaque. The carrier can be reversibly expandable and collapsible within a vessel and can have ribbon strips extending between opposite ends in a longitudinal direction of the carrier. The ribbon strips can each be formed with a plurality of elongated protrusions thereon. The expansion apparatus can be used to actuate the ribbon strips each with the plurality elongated protrusions to pierce a luminal surface of the plaque with lines or patterns of microperforations which act as serrations for forming cleavage lines or planes in the plaque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Innovasc LLC
    Inventors: Peter Schneider, Robert Giasolli
  • Patent number: 8326278
    Abstract: A device for programming user-defined information into an electronic device is provided. The programmer allows a user to program customized information, such as user-selected audio, video, or Internet access information into his or her programmable device. Such electronic devices include wireless telephones, pagers, and personal digital assistants. The programmer allows a user to, among other things, customize the device to suit his or her particular taste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Solocron Media, LLC
    Inventor: Michael E. Shanahan
  • Patent number: 8319470
    Abstract: A portable solar battery charger comprises a photovoltaic array, a power regulator, a controller, and a battery. In one embodiment, the controller is configured to increase the charging current provided by the power regulator to the battery over time using discrete current levels. A comparator can compare the voltage of the photovoltaic array to a threshold, and provide the result to the controller. The controller can be configured to decrease the current to a previously selected level when the comparator indicates the voltage of the photovoltaic array is below a threshold, thereby improving the efficiency of the current delivery to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: SunCore, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter English, Richard E. Sanett, Steven R. Brimmer
  • Patent number: 8318192
    Abstract: Implantable biomaterials, particularly hydrogel substrates with porous surfaces, and methods for enhancing the compatibility of biomaterials with living tissue, and for causing physical attachment between biomaterials and living tissues are provided. Also provided are implants suitable for load-bearing surfaces in hard tissue repair, replacement, or augmentation, and to methods of their use. One embodiment of the invention relates to an implantable spinal disc prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara D. Boyan, Robert E. Guldberg, Stephen J. Kennedy, David N. Ku
  • Patent number: 8316835
    Abstract: An anti-chop system for a pneumatic paintball marker that is automatically cleaned. The anti-chop eye system includes a transmitter and receiver arranged so as to sense the presence of a paintball within a breech using a beam of light. A moving member of the paintball marker automatically wipes at least one surface of the transmitter and/or receiver to remove contaminants such as paint, grease, dirt and the like. By automatically cleaning the anti-chop eye system, the reliability of the system is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Dye Precision, Inc.
    Inventors: Eero Kaakkola, Adam Harrison Thorp
  • Patent number: 8319553
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for biasing amplifiers are provided. In certain implementations, a bias circuit is provided for controlling the drain-source voltage of input transistors electrically connected to the inputs of a transconductance amplification circuit. For example, the bias circuit can maintain a relatively constant drain-source voltage in the input transistors by using a feedback loop that includes a feedback amplifier for adjusting the bias current of the input transistors based upon a difference between the drain and source voltages of the input transistors. In certain implementations, the feedback amplifier has an offset voltage equal to about the desired value of the drain-source voltage, and the feedback amplifier is configured to adjust the bias current until the difference between the inputs of the feedback amplifier is equal to about the offset voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Evgueni Ivanov
  • Patent number: 8321775
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses related to NVM devices with extended error correction protection. In some embodiments, a parity cache is used to store parity values of data values stored in a plurality of codewords of an NVM device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Bueb
  • Patent number: D671931
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Incipio Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy Fathollahi
  • Patent number: D672109
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Compumeric Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Moore