Patents Represented by Attorney McAndrews, Held & Malloy
  • Patent number: 8224052
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide systems, methods and computer instructions for computer aided analysis of images. In certain embodiments, for example, such a method includes: isolating a motion area in an image; segmenting the image; utilizing a support vector machine to identify a region of interest in the image; utilizing a graph-cut algorithm to refine the region of interest; and verifying the region of interest. In certain embodiments, for example, such a method further includes: aligning a set of images and/or outputting a set of aligned images sequentially. In certain embodiments, the systems, methods and computer instructions disclosed herein can be used to aid analysis of cardiac images, for example. In certain embodiments, the systems, methods and computer instructions disclosed herein can be used to aid analysis of four dimensional images, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Prakash Mahesh, Shuo Li, Dave Roeder, Ian Ross
  • Patent number: 8222455
    Abstract: Viscoelastic compositions are disclosed herein containing an effective amount of one or more random or structurally defined polycationic quaternary ammonium compounds for controlling the viscoelasticity of the composition. In one aspect, the present technology provides polycationic quaternary ammonium compounds that comprise bis-quaternary compound. The bis-quaternary compounds of the present technology can be symmetric or dissymmetric. In another aspect, the present technology provides viscoelastic well bore treatment fluids comprising water, and at least one polycationic quaternary ammonium compound that comprises a bis-quaternary compound. In another aspect, the present technology provides polycationic carboxylates. Preferred viscoelastic compositions of the present technology maintain viscoelasticity at a temperature greater than about 80° C., preferably greater than about 100° C. or 110° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventor: Paul Knox
  • Patent number: 8225225
    Abstract: Detail-in-context techniques are described. In an implementation, an original image is distorted to produce a distorted region for a selected object at a first position in an original image displayed on a display screen. The distorted region magnifies at least a portion of the object. A signal is received to drag the object and the distorted region from the first position to a second position. A signal is received to drop the object at the second position. The distorted region is removed from the original image after the object is dropped at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Noregin Assets, N.V., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Zeenat Jetha, David J. P. Baar, Andrew Carlisle, Maria Lantin
  • Patent number: 8225112
    Abstract: A technique is provided for use in a handheld multimedia device that uses the historical load profile statistics of a particular multimedia stream to dynamically scale the computational power of a computing engine, depending upon the complexity of the multimedia content and thereby reduce the power consumption for computationally less intensive content and consequently reduce the power consumption by a significant amount over a duration of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nytell Software LLC
    Inventors: Manoj Koul, Torsten Fink
  • Patent number: 8215500
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a device for hanging a storage bag having a resealable mechanical seal. The device includes an elongate body. The body includes at least two opposing flaps, a longitudinal slit passing a distance between the opposing flaps and having a width that is narrower than the mechanical seal of the storage bag, and a tapered opening at an edge of the body. The tapered opening is adapted to guide a leading edge of the storage bag that is below the mechanical seal into the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Douglas Constantine
  • Patent number: 8217437
    Abstract: Solid-state image sensors, specifically image sensor pixels, which have three or four transistors, high sensitivity, low noise, and low dark current, are provided. The pixels have separate active regions for active components, row-shared photodiodes and may also contain a capacitor to adjust the sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range. The low dark current is achieved by using pinned photodiodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventor: Jaroslav Hynecek
  • Patent number: 8212328
    Abstract: A backside illuminated image sensor includes a light receiving element disposed in a first substrate, an interlayer insulation layer disposed on the first substrate having the light receiving element, an align key spaced apart from the light receiving element and passing through the interlayer insulation layer and the first substrate, a plurality of interconnection layers disposed on the interlayer insulation layer in a multi-layered structure, wherein the backside of the lowermost interconnection layer is connected to the align key, a passivation layer covering the interconnection layers, a pad locally disposed on the backside of the first substrate and connected to the backside of the align key, a light anti-scattering layer disposed on the backside of the substrate having the pad, and a color filter and a microlens disposed on the light anti-scattering layer to face the light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventor: Sung-Gyu Pyo
  • Patent number: 8211025
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for catheter positioning. Certain embodiments provide a catheter for use in at least intravenous and intracardiac spaces. The catheter includes a catheter body having a length and a tip portion at a distal end of the catheter body. The catheter also includes a plurality of wires for moving the catheter body in a plurality of directions. The catheter further includes a first control for manipulating the plurality of wires in two primary planes of movement for the catheter body. The catheter includes a second control for manipulating the plurality of wires in two secondary planes of movement for the catheter body. The second control is distinct in appearance and operation from the first control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brenda L. Donaldson, Douglas G. Wildes, Paul Martin Backer, Marc Donald Knutson
  • Patent number: 8212038
    Abstract: A method for inhibiting hatching of an ectoparasite egg, the method comprising exposing the ectoparasite egg to at least one metal chelating agent and/or metalloprotease inhibitor, wherein the metal chelating agent is a compound comprising at least two heteroatoms able to simultaneously coordinate with a metal ion, at least one of the two heteroatoms being selected from nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen and phosphorus, wherein the compound comprises at least one carbocyclic ring substituted with at least one heteroatom and/or with a substituent containing at least one heteroatom, or the compound comprises at least one heterocyclic ring containing at least one heteroatom, wherein said heterocyclic ring is optionally substituted with at least one heteroatom and/or with a substituent containing at least one heteroatom is provided. Methods of treating ectoparasite infestations and compositions for use in such methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: HatchTech Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Vernon M. Bowles
  • Patent number: 8213595
    Abstract: A method for adjusting caller ID information includes receiving at a call device a caller ID message that includes a calling number. An address book associated with the call device is searched. An address book telephone number having the matching area code or local exchange number is analyzed to determine if the first digits of both address book phone number and calling number constitute a “1.” If the first digit in both numbers is the same, the calling number is stored unadjusted, while if the first digits differ, the calling number is adjusted. A method for adjusting caller ID information includes comparing the format of a received calling phone number to a set of predetermined criteria that are used to enable a “truncate” function in a context-sensitive “delete” button only when a predetermined criterion is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: VTech Communications Limited
    Inventor: Holger Janssen
  • Patent number: 8208988
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a medical imaging device is provided. The system includes a medical imaging device. The system further includes a medical instrument. Further, the system includes a navigation subsystem that is configured to track the medical instrument. Furthermore, the system includes a control subsystem that communicates with the navigation subsystem. The control subsystem is configured to correlate at least one of orientation, position and motion of the medical instrument with a function of the medical imaging device. The control subsystem is further configured to direct the medical imaging device to perform the function associated with the medical imaging device, based on the correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Vernon Thomas Jensen
  • Patent number: 8206907
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods of testing, diagnosing, monitoring, prognostically stratifying and classifying disease, disorders and other medical conditions and physiological states through the detection and analysis of soluble CD antigens in a body fluid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignees: Medical Research Council, Cambridge Enterprise Limited
    Inventors: Cesar Milstein, Celia Prilleltensky-Milstein, legal representative, Charles Nicholas Hales, Margaret Hales, legal representative, Adrian Woolfson
  • Patent number: 8205942
    Abstract: A seat frame of a stadium seat includes a lower cross beam, bench-engaging support arms configured to mount over a top, flat surface of the stadium bench, and upright support members. The upright support members include rounded upper ends that may be rearwardly canted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Cushion Seats, Inc.
    Inventor: Nikki Vestweber
  • Patent number: 8205380
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of growing plants in a non-fibrous growth substrate, the method comprises providing at least one non-fibrous growth substrate comprising wetting agent, positioning one or more plants for growth in the growth substrate, characterized in that the wetting agent comprises ionic surfactant and the non-fibrous growth substrate is selected from the group consisting of urea formaldehyde foam, perlite, vermiculite, expanded clay, coco chips, coco dust, lava, pumice and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwool International A/S
    Inventors: Jean Marie Wilhelmus Cuypers, Daan De Kubber, Paul Bouwens
  • Patent number: 8206681
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing red iron oxide with only marginal goethite content, wherein a ferrous chloride feedstock is employed as starting material. The process comprises precipitating lepidocrocite seeds having a high BET surface area by mixing the ferrous chloride feedstock with an alkali and oxidizing the obtained mixture, and growing the lepidocrocite seeds, whereby the lepidocrocite converts into red iron oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwood Italia SpA
    Inventor: Francesco Garetto
  • Patent number: 8202154
    Abstract: A method of gaming comprising: (a) defining a target outcome to be achieved in respect of a game, the target outcome having an associated award; (b) allocating a number of game rounds to achieve the target outcome; (c) conducting the allocated game rounds, each of which can result in a contribution to the target outcome; (d) accumulating any contributions during the one or game rounds; and (e) making the associated award if the target outcome is achieved based on the accumulated contributions before the allocated game rounds are exhausted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Matthew Ian Elder
  • Patent number: 8203012
    Abstract: A process for preparing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or derivatives thereof from ricinoleic acid, lower alkyl esters of ricinoleic acid, or salts thereof. The CLA is formed by reacting a carboxylic acid, or anhydride, anhydride equivalent, or ester thereof with the ricinoleic acid or derivative to form an intermediate having a carboxylic ester at the 12-hydroxy position of the ricinoleic acid or derivative, and reacting the intermediate with a base to form a cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Joseph C. Rongione, Jenifer Heydinger Galante, Randal J. Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 8203174
    Abstract: An image sensor and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The image sensor includes a first conductive type substrate including a trench formed in a predetermined portion of the first conductive type substrate, a second conductive type impurity region for use in a photodiode, formed below a bottom surface of the trench in the first conductive type substrate, and a first conductive type epitaxial layer for use in the photodiode, buried in the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventors: Hee Jeen Kim, Han Seob Cha
  • Patent number: 8202151
    Abstract: Disclosed is gaming apparatus, which may be a gaming system and a method of gaming implemented on gaming apparatus. A plurality of linked gaming machines are monitored for the occurrence of a first event. The number of occurrences of the first event for each gaming machine is recorded. On the occurrence of a second event, a bonus is awarded on each said gaming machine on which at least one monitored occurrence of the first event has occurred, the bonus award being dependent on the number of occurrences of the first event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Patent number: RE43479
    Abstract: Disclosed is a color interpolation method. The present invention decides a precise position of an edge with use of a G value in a unit pixel structure with a size of 3×3, thereby using different color interpolations according to the position of the edge. Also, the present invention provides an effect of emphasizing an edge by emphasizing a brightness and lowering colors when the edge is placed in the vertical center or the horizontal center of the unit pixel structure of 3×3 with use of a property that the edge has stronger brightness than the colors and prevents an incorrect color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventor: Byung-Geun Jung