Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Lathrop & Gage
  • Systems and methods for minimizing aberrating effects in imaging systems
    Patent number: 8107705
    Abstract: A biometric optical recognition system includes optics, including a wavefront coding mask, for imaging a wavefront of object to be recognized to an intermediate image, and a detector for detecting the intermediate image. A modulation transfer function detected by the detector contains no zeros such that subsequent task based image processing recognizes the object. A biometric recognition system includes optics for imaging a wavefront of an object to be recognized to a first intermediate image, and a detector for detecting the first intermediate image. The optics include a phase changing element configured for modifying the wavefront such that a modulation transfer function characterizing detection of the first intermediate image contains no zeros such that subsequent task based image processing recognizes the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Raymond Dowski, Jr., Kenneth Scott Kubala, Alan Eugene Baron
  • Lacrosse practice device
    Patent number: 8100782
    Abstract: A lacrosse practice and/or training device allows a person to practice throwing and catching by themselves. The device includes an anchor mechanism that slides over the top of a lacrosse stick head, a cord, and a ball. A single cord connects the anchor mechanism to the stick head and the ball to the anchor mechanism, so that when the ball is thrown from the stick head, the cord stretches and then contracts, returning the ball back towards the person throwing it. The anchor mechanism is universal, for use with multiple stick heads, and it has vertical parallel braces for stabilization when on the stick head. Additionally, the release point of the cord is positioned at the top of the anchor mechanism, which is clipped onto the scoop or top of the stick head, to provide the user with a more accurate ball release and retract orientation than conventional practice devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Stefan Craine
  • Removal of minerals from cellulosic biomass
    Patent number: 8101024
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing minerals from a cellulosic biomass. For example, the biomass may be prewashed with an acid solution and rinsed with water to remove minerals prior to acid saccharification. The removal of minerals may reduce overall acid requirements, and decrease pretreatment costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Charles E. Wyman, Todd A. Lloyd
  • Coupled inductor with improved leakage inductance control
    Patent number: 8102233
    Abstract: An M-winding coupled inductor includes a first end magnetic element, a second end magnetic element, M connecting magnetic elements, and M windings. M is an integer greater than one. Each connecting magnetic element is disposed between and connects the first and second end magnetic elements. Each winding is wound at least partially around a respective one of the M connecting magnetic elements, and each winding has a respective leakage inductance. The coupled inductor further includes at least one top magnetic element adjacent to and extending at least partially over at least two of the M connecting magnetic elements to provide a magnetic flux path between the first and second end magnetic elements. The top magnetic element forms a gap. The inductor may be included in an M-phase power supply, and the power supply may at least partially power a computer processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Alexandr Ikriannikov
  • Pressure assist system for facilitating vascular hemostasis, and associated method
    Patent number: 8100937
    Abstract: A pressure assist system for facilitating vascular hemostasis includes a support bar and a midbar extending perpendicularly from a middle portion of the support bar, for supporting a user's thumb when the user grasps the midbar. A base extends perpendicularly from a bottom of the support bar, for supporting the user's knuckles when the user grasps the midbar. A foot for pressing against a wound is configured with a bottom surface of the base. The midbar may be adjustable along the support bar, according to user grip preference. In a related method, a hand-held pressure assist system is provided, having a support bar, a midbar and base extending perpendicularly from the support bar, and a foot beneath the base. A use's thumb and knuckles are positioned over the midbar and base, respectively. The foot is placed over a wound and downward pressure is applied until hemostasis is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Smalling Medical Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Ron Smalling
  • Anti-icing piccolo tube standoff
    Patent number: 8100364
    Abstract: A standoff structure for an anti-icing piccolo tube wherein a flexible structure is formed from support ribs, a support bar and a diverter bar for supporting the piccolo tube within the slat or other aircraft leading edge, and for diverting hot gas from the piccolo tube across the inner surface of the slat or other aircraft leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Nieman, Jason M. Hughes
  • System and apparatus for cathodoluminescent lighting
    Patent number: 8102122
    Abstract: A cathodoluminescent lighting system has a light emitting device having an envelope with a transparent face, a cathode for emitting electrons, an anode with a phosphor layer and a conductor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the transparent face of the envelope. The system also has a power supply for providing at least five thousand volts of power to the light emitting device, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. Additional embodiments responsive to triac-type dimmers with intensity and color-changes in response to dimmer control. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Vu1 Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Hunt, Regan Andrew Zane, Richard N. Herring
  • System and method for controlling an environment in an aircraft using a vortex cooler
    Patent number: 8099966
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioning system for an aircraft which utilizes high pressure bleed air. The bleed air is pressure controlled and introduced into a vortex cooler which can be operated in two modes using a valve. In a first mode, the bleed air is divided into cold and hot streams. The cold stream is directed into the cabin for cooling purposes. The hot stream is released from the aircraft in a manner that it pulls ambient air across a heat exchanger. In a second mode, the bleed air is not divided, but passes through the vortex cooler as a common stream. The second mode is more commonly used in colder ambient air conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Mossberg, Charles B. Beuning
  • LysM receptor-like kinases to improve plant defense response against fungal pathogens
    Patent number: 8097771
    Abstract: Perception of chitin fragments (chitooligosaccharides) is an important first step in plant defense response against fungal pathogen. LysM receptor-like kinases (LysM RLKs) are instrumental in this perception process. LysM RLKs also play a role in activating transcription of chitin-responsive genes (CRGs) in plants. Mutations in the LysM kinase receptor genes or the downstream CRGs may affect the fungal susceptibility of a plant. Mutations in LysM RLKs or transgenes carrying the same may be beneficial in imparting resistance against fungal pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Curators Of The University Of Missouri
    Inventors: Jinrong Wan, Gary Stacey, Minviluz Stacey, Xuecheng Zhang
  • Media display system for ski-lift chair
    Patent number: 8096067
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying printed media includes a base member, clamps for securing the base member to a restraint bar of a ski-lift chair, and a top panel coupled with the base member such that the printed media is viewable from the ski-lift chair through the panel. A method of advertising at a ski area includes integrating advertising displays with ski-lift chairs of the ski area. Each of the advertising displays has one or more places to secure printed media. The method also includes inserting printed media within each of the advertising displays. Another method of advertising at a ski area includes integrating printed media within viewable regions of at least one media display system, and integrating the media display system with a ski-lift chair of the ski area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ripple Resort Media Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Jay
  • Small peptides and methods for inhibiting mucus release into airways
    Patent number: 8097589
    Abstract: Methods for treating cutaneous inflammation, are described. Also described is a method for inhibiting the mucus release into airways of a patient, a method for blocking IgE activation of a lymphocyte, a method for stabilizing the cell membrane of a lymphocyte, thereby preventing their further involvement in the increased inflammatory response to an IgE antigen challenge, and a method for inhibiting the migration of T-cells. Such methods involve administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide having the formula f-Met-Leu-X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Tyr, Tyr-Phe, Phe-Phe and Phe-Tyr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mowyeal Lending, LLC
    Inventors: John C. Houck, Mary MacDonald, legal representative, James Clagett
  • Resistance garments and active materials
    Patent number: 8083644
    Abstract: Resistance garments include for example a first cuff and a second cuff that circumscribe a portion of a wearer's body; an adjustment device fixedly attached to the first cuff; and a resistive element connecting the first cuff and the second cuff, and coupling with the adjustment device. An active material includes a backing fabric and one or more length-adjusting devices, that each include a first filament and a second filament that are interwoven with the backing fabric and substantially parallel with one another, and one or more motors. Each of the motors drives first and second spooling elements that alternatively reel in or reel out portions of the first and second filaments, respectively. The reeling in or out thereby adjusts (a) a length of the filaments, (b) a length of the length-adjusting device corresponding to the at least one motor, and (c) a length of the active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Purdy, Luke Purdy, Matthew Creedican
  • Method for transfer/transmission of field bus data and field bus communication system
    Patent number: 8086780
    Abstract: Methods for the transfer/transmission of field bus data between at least two members of a field bus communication system, each member including at least one field bus interface and a memory device. At least one common memory device is provided for the at least two members, wherein field bus data is written onto the at least one common memory device by the first member, and the field bus data is read out of the at least one common memory device by the second member. A field bus communication system includes at least one member, where each member includes a field bus interface and a memory device. The field bus communication system further includes at least one common memory device writeable from and readable to the members of the field bus communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schaller
  • Method and system for visually presenting a high dynamic range image
    Patent number: 8086030
    Abstract: Method for presenting an image, exhibiting a dynamic range, the method including the procedures of determining the dynamic range of the image, determining a color space configuration including more than one cycle of a color space, applying the color space configuration to the dynamic range, and displaying the image to a user, according to the color space configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop Ltd.
    Inventors: Gadi Gordon, Ofer Yemini, Gal Lazar, Haim Klinman, Zadok Hadas, Yuval Gronau, Nissim Alfasi
  • Drug delivery system and methods of use
    Patent number: 8083347
    Abstract: Electrospun fibers are utilized to improve the mechanical characteristics of a contact lens reducing the weight and mechanical strength of the polymers from which the lenses are typically formed. Electrospun fibers are also utilized as a drug delivery system, both through direct use in the eye and by inclusion of the fibers in a contact lens. The fibers are loaded with therapeutic drugs by a variety of methods and processed by coating and cross-linking the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ocugenics, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph J. Bango, Jr., Lyle Bowman, Gary Wnek, Shachar Tauber, Randall Fuerst
  • Systems and methods for assessing equipment operator fatigue and using fatigue-risk-informed safety-performance-based systems and methods to replace or supplement prescriptive work-rest regulations
    Patent number: 8075484
    Abstract: In a system and method for assessing and modifying fatigue, an input device receives current work-rest pattern and/or sleep data from an individual. A data aggregation and processing platform combines the current work-rest pattern and/or sleep data with previous data related to the individual to generate a fatigue assessment result, a diagnostic assessment result, and a corrective intervention result. At least one output display outputs the fatigue assessment result, diagnostic assessment result and corrective intervention result in a user-readable format to a user. The user uses this information to revise the work-rest pattern to reduce or control future fatigue risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Martin Moore-Ede
  • Boot for use with a gliding board
    Patent number: 8075003
    Abstract: Gliding board equipment systems and individual components are disclosed herein. A gliding board equipment system of one embodiment includes a boot having an upper cuff and a lower boot. The upper cuff of the boot defines opposed slots, and a respective pin passes through each slot to couple the upper cuff to the lower boot and allow the upper cuff to move laterally relative to the lower boot. Means are included for selectively covering at least one portion of each slot to restrict movement of the upper cuff relative to the lower boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Matthew Wade Ellison
  • Caster assembly
    Patent number: D651070
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Shinn Fu Company of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Jorgensen
  • Skin graft applicator
    Patent number: D652139
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: St. John's Medical Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Bharat Shah
  • Motorcycle gas tank sink
    Patent number: D652491
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Roland D. Ritchel