Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Nixon Peabody LLP
  • Patent number: 8325057
    Abstract: A monitoring device, system and method are provided for in-home/on-premises monitoring of usage of utilities, such as electricity and other services. The monitoring device receives information from a smart meter, and displays usage through a display, illuminating an area using a color indicative of the current cost of consumption, and varying the illuminated area at a rate indicative of a rate of consumption or other metric, the varying of the illuminated area simulating movement in the display. The display provides a consumer with “at a glance” visual information on current usage. Optionally a digital display screen provides detailed alphanumeric and graphical information, through a number of selectable display modes. One or more devices may be networked, and interface directly or indirectly with a transceiver of a smart metering system, or a retrofit transceiver for a conventional meter. Monitoring of other utilities and services may alternatively or additionally be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Aztech Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey David Vincent Salter
  • Patent number: 8322555
    Abstract: A lid includes a generally flat interior portion and an outer ridge area surrounding the interior portion. The outer ridge area includes a first ridge side, a ridge top, and a second ridge side. The first ridge side extends generally upward from the interior portion. The ridge top extends from the first ridge side and is generally parallel to the interior portion. The second ridge side extends generally downward from the ridge top. The second ridge side includes a top section and a bottom section. A thickness of the bottom section is smaller than a thickness of the top section. The bottom section includes at least one fixed tab and at least one tear band. The at least one fixed tab is separated from the at least one tear band by at least one vertical membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: PWP Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan K. Chen
  • Patent number: 8323769
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of treating a surface of a substrate. In one particular aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide methods of treating a surface of a substrate that promote binding of one or more metal elements to the surface. According to some embodiments of the invention, films are formed on any conducting, semiconductive or non-conductive surface, by thermal reaction of molecules containing reactive groups in an organic solvent or in aqueous solution. The thermal reaction may be produced under a variety of conditions. In another aspect, the present invention provides a printed circuit board, comprising: at least one substrate; a layer of organic molecules attached to the at least one substrate; and a metal layer atop said layer of organic molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Werner G. Kuhr, Steven Z. Shi, Jen-Chieh Wei, Zhiming Liu, Lingyun Wei
  • Patent number: 8323896
    Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnostic and prognostic methods to determine the likelihood of a subject who has a inflammatory disease or liver disease of developing cancer. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for identifying subjects with increased susceptibility to developing cancer, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) where the subject has an inflammatory disease, such as, but not limited to cirrhosis, by identifying a variance or polymorphism in the human EGF gene. In particular, the methods of the present invention relate to identifying subjects with increased susceptibility to developing cancer such as HCC, where the subject has an inflammatory disease, such as but not limited to cirrhosis, and the subject is identified to have a single nucleotide polymorphism 61A>G in the 5?UTR of the EGF gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth K Tanabe, Bryan C Fuchs, Hiroshi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8324809
    Abstract: A microwave tube including: a) an electron gun capable of producing a beam of electrons in the form of a hollow axisymmetrical cylinder in repetitive operation; and b) a body in which the beam is intended to propagate, the body ending with a collector and being provided with means for applying an axial magnetic field for guiding the beam and, upstream from the collector, with a resonant structure crossed by the beam, intended to group the electrons into a succession of packets (P). The resonant structure is formed with two coupled cavities which follow along the axis (Z) of the beam, the coupling being achieved via an inter-cavity region crossed by the beam, this structure having axial symmetry the axis of which is that of the beam and being dimensioned so that the transformation of the electrons in packets is accomplished at a frequency which is that of the ? resonant mode of the resonant structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Jacques Gardelle
  • Patent number: 8323114
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device, a display for displaying at least a portion of a wagering game, and a divider overlying the display and dividing the display into at least a first display region and a second display region. An actuator is coupled to the divider, the actuator for moving the divider relative to the display. The system includes a controller operative, in response to a triggering event, to cause the actuator to move the divider from a first position to a second position and thereby alter the size of at least the first display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. Q. Burak, Timothy C. Loose, Larry J. Pacey, Frank E. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8326892
    Abstract: A method and system of converting numerical infrastructure data relating to a utility monitoring system having elements arranged in a hierarchy to a graphic compatible storage data format. Numerical infrastructure data relating to the elements of the utility monitoring system is obtained. The numerical infrastructure data relating to the elements of the utility monitoring system is converted to the graphic compatible storage data format. The graphic compatible storage data format may be System Specification Description (SSD). The converted data is stored in a storage file. A user interface may access the storage file to generate a graphic display showing the elements of the utility monitoring system arranged in the hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Amjad Hasan, Ronald W. Carter, Jon A. Bickel
  • Patent number: 8322505
    Abstract: According to some embodiments of the invention, a magnetic sensor having a track width of greater than about 50 millimeters is provided. The magnetic sensor is adapted to detect a magnetic feature and produce a linear, analog output in response to the magnetic feature. The analog output is along a single data channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Jay D. Freeman, Tomasz M. Jagielinski, Frederick J. Jeffers, George S. Krastev, Danny D. Yang
  • Patent number: 8324077
    Abstract: To provide a structure and a manufacturing method for efficiently forming a transistor to which tensile strain is preferably applied and a transistor to which compressive strain is preferably applied over the same substrate when stress is applied to a semiconductor layer in order to improve mobility of the transistors in a semiconductor device. Plural kinds of transistors which are separated from a single-crystal semiconductor substrate and include single-crystal semiconductor layers bonded to a substrate having an insulating surface with a bonding layer interposed therebetween are provided over the same substrate. One of the transistors uses a single-crystal semiconductor layer as an active layer, to which tensile strain is applied. The other transistors use single-crystal semiconductor layers as active layers, to which compressive strain using part of heat shrink generated by heat treatment of the base substrate after bonding is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Tanada
  • Patent number: 8317811
    Abstract: Surgical instrument for endoscopic surgery that permits the simulation of the articulation movements of a surgeon finger, comprising a rigid tube (3) whose distal end has a first phalanx (4) articulated, being in turn articulated to a second phalanx (5), which is linked to the rigid tube (3) by means of cables housed in cross ducts (12), situated in the interior of the first phalanx (4), linking the movement of the second phalanx (5) to that of the first phalanx (4), whose articulation takes place due to the actuation of the transmission rod (11), the rigid tube (3) being attachable to a handle (1) that incorporates a controller (2) for the actuating of the instrument articulation movement by the surgeon, which operates a fork (14), which in turns actuates the transmission rod (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Corporacio Sanitaria Parc Tauli
    Inventors: Enric Laporte Rosello, Antonio Pena Gonzalez, Jordi Carrera Fabra, Albert Tomas Justribo
  • Patent number: 8317592
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes manufacturer-limited parameter values or parameter value combinations selectable by an operator during gaming machine set-up. The parameter values preferably include different maximum pay lines associated with different denominations and are limited to those which have been determined by the manufacturer to provide optimum game play. The different maximum pay lines may be associated with different math models having substantially the same payback percentage values. Subsequent operator selection of the parameter values during gaming machine setup allows the gaming machine having a single game theme or a gaming machine having multiple game themes to be configured with different maximum pay lines for each single game theme. Thus, the player can play a single theme wagering game with a first maximum pay line value and with a second maximum pay line value where the second maximum pay line value differs from the first maximum pay line value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Brandon C. Estes, Christian P. Gyrling, William A. Hoefferle, Shridhar P. Joshi
  • Patent number: 8318795
    Abstract: The present invention describes polymers containing 1,2-dithiolanes capable of acting as scavengers of free radicals, metals and reactive oxygen species. Also described are methods of synthesizing the antioxidant 1,2-dithiolane derivatives and polymerization thereof to produce biodegradable antioxidant polymers. The antioxidant polymers of the present invention may be used to treat diseases or conditions caused by oxidative stress and other free radical mediated conditions. The antioxidant polymers may also be used for the preparation of antioxidant particulate delivery devices of therapeutic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
    Inventors: John S. Yu, Bong Seop Lee
  • Patent number: 8319208
    Abstract: The invention generally encompasses methods of forming thin films molecular based devices, and devices formed therefrom. Some embodiments relate to molecular memory cells, molecular memory arrays, electronic devices including molecular memory, and processing systems and methods for producing molecular memories. More particularly, the present invention encompasses methods and molecular based devices comprising a wetting layer and redox-active molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ZettaCore IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Sorenson, Brian Eastep, Lee Gaherty, Timothy L. Snow
  • Patent number: 8318932
    Abstract: A 4-aminoquinazoline derivative can be obtained by the steps of reacting quinazolin-4-one or its derivative with a chlorinating agent in a first organic solvent in the presence of an organic base, and subsequently reacting the reaction product with an amine compound represented by the formula R5—NH—R6 (each of R5 and R6 represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group) in the presence of a second organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Nishino, Kenji Hirotsu, Hidetaka Shima, Takashi Harada, Hiroyuki Oda
  • Patent number: 8321140
    Abstract: Described are novel quantification methods and systems that permit, within the context of multiplex PCR, the quantification of all targets within a single reaction tube. The methods employ quantitation algorithms applied to the amplification profiles of internal calibration controls or standards utilizing a plurality of nucleic acid templates that are amplified within the same reaction tube as the nucleic acid target(s) interrogated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Primeradx, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Hart, Vladimir Dancik, Michael Bristol, Patrick Wells, Elizabeth Garcia, Vladimir Slepnev, John Unger
  • Patent number: 8317584
    Abstract: A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes a display having a display area showing a poker-themed wagering game. A wager input device receives a base wager to play the poker-themed wagering game. A controller is coupled to the display and the wager input device. The controller is operative to provide a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to form a user-playable hand and award a payoff based on a ranking of the user-playable hand meeting a predetermined criterion. The controller may receive a side wager separate from the base wager from the player to trigger a challenge based on meeting a condition in at least one of a predetermined number of future plays of the wagering game. Additional free challenges may be triggered for the predetermined number of future plays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Jeremy M. Homik, Joel R. Jaffe, Jeremie D. Moll
  • Patent number: 8318601
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a display device and a manufacturing method thereof by which a manufacturing process can be simplified. Further, the present invention discloses technique for manufacturing a pattern such as a wiring into a desired shape with good controllability. A method for forming a pattern for constituting the display device according to the present invention comprises the steps of forming a first region and a second region; discharging a composition containing a pattern formation material to a region across the second region and the first region; and flowing a part of the composition discharged to the first region into the second region; wherein wettability with respect to the composition of the first region is lower than that of the second composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gen Fujii
  • Patent number: 8318660
    Abstract: The invention relates to caspases and to extracellular use of caspases for regulating cell functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: David Wallach, Elena Appel, Andrei Kovalenko, Rajput Akhill
  • Patent number: 8317585
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of conducting a wagering game is provided. The method allows an opportunity to achieve a first progressive award and a second progressive award. The method comprises the acts of receiving a primary wager from a player for playing the wagering game and initiating the wagering game. The method further includes the act of displaying a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game via a plurality of symbols. The plurality of symbols are selected from a set of symbols including a predetermined symbol. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a first number of the predetermined symbols, the method includes the act of triggering an event in which the first progressive award can be achieved. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a second number of the predetermined symbols, the method includes the act of triggering an event in which the second progressive award can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin T. Gomez
  • Patent number: 8317587
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving a primary wager, a display for displaying a primary wagering game, and a controller operative to (i) detect receipt of the primary wager, (ii) cause the display to present the randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of possible outcomes, the plurality of possible outcomes including at least one free spin bonus outcome, (iii) determine if the randomly selected outcome is one of the at least one free spin bonus outcome, (iv) in response to the randomly selected outcome being the at least one free spin bonus outcome, provide a plurality of free spins and display a plurality of free spin enhancements which remain constant for the plurality of free spins, and (v) enhance an outcome of each of the free spins based on a player selection of at least one of the free spin enhancements for a subsequent free spin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Gomez, Shridhar P. Joshi