Patents Represented by Law Firm Quarles and Brady
  • Patent number: 8188708
    Abstract: A battery-charging system includes a power supply having a high-frequency transformer and is configured to deliver a battery charging power to charge at least one battery. The high-frequency transformer has a bobbin including an elongated top and bottom surfaces and first and second substantially semi-circular end surfaces connecting the top surface with the bottom surface to form an elongated first coil winding surface having a central axis. A first coil is wound around the first coil winding surface, and a second coil is magnetically coupled to the first coil and wound thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Altekruse, James D. Kimball, Dennis Sigl, Bernard J. Vogel, Jeffrey Lonigro
  • Patent number: 8186306
    Abstract: The invention provides an indoor livestock confinement system that includes a plurality of hollow plastic panels. Each panel includes a plurality of spaced tabs at its ends. A first end of each panel includes a first set of tabs, and a second end of each panel includes a second set of tabs. Each set of tabs includes at least one tab at a top portion of the end, at least one tab at an intermediate portion of the end, and at least one tab at a lower portion of the end. The tabs of the first set are offset vertically from the tabs of the second set such that the first set of tabs of a first panel fit vertically between the second tabs of another panel when the ends of the panels are put together. Each tab includes a hole such that a rod can be inserted down through the tabs to lock the panels together. The livestock confinement system may include additional features, such as ventilation components, reinforced panels, and bucket holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Lance T Hampel
  • Patent number: 8189194
    Abstract: A vision system is provided to determine a positional relationship between a semiconductor wafer on a platen and an element on a processing machine, such as a printing screen, on a remote side of the semiconductor wafer from the platen. A source directs ultraviolet light through an aperture in the platen to illuminate the semiconductor wafer and cast a shadow onto the element adjacent an edge of the semiconductor wafer. A video camera produces an image using light received from the platen aperture, wherein some of that received light was reflected by the wafer. The edge of the semiconductor wafer in the image is well defined by a dark/light transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Schwab, Gang Liu, David J. Michael, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 8185989
    Abstract: An apparatus for carrying a bridge on a vehicle and deploying the bridge to the ground is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a mounting bracket for mounting the apparatus to a vehicle, and a foot pivotable relative to the mounting bracket between a first position in which the foot engages the ground for supporting a bridge and a second position in which the foot is separated from the ground to permit movement of the vehicle. A bridge engaging probe is pivotable relative to the foot between a third position in which the bridge is on the ground and a fourth position in which the center of gravity of the bridge is raised relative to the third position. First and second cylinder actuators pivot the probe between the third and fourth positions. Third and fourth cylinder actuators pivot the foot between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Pearson Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Alan R. Reece
  • Patent number: 8187453
    Abstract: A method for the determination of the amount of cholesterol in a sample is provided. The method typically provides a breakdown of the HDL and LDL cholesterol contents of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Emma Naomi Kathleen Wallace-Davis, Lindy Jane Murphy, Andrew William Allan
  • Patent number: 8183401
    Abstract: A method is provided for preparing an aromatase inhibitor of formula (I) wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, independently, is hydrogen, halogen or C1-C6 alkyl. In one form, the aromatase inhibitor is exemestane wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4 is hydrogen. In the method, a compound of formula (II) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 are as defined above and R is alkylene, is reacted with a deprotonating agent and a compound of the formula R5SO2X wherein R5 is C1-C5 alkyl and X is halogen so as to obtain a compound of formula (III) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 are as defined above. The compound of Formula (III) is then reacted with a base to form an aromatase inhibitor of formula (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Cedarburg Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Kunnen, Nathan W. Stehle, Scot W. Weis, John M. Pascone, Richard J Pariza, Scott G. Van Ornum, Paul Zizelman
  • Patent number: 8183810
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of operating a motor connected to a power device having a reduced current rating. The motor can include an increased torque constant and/or an increased back electromagnetic force constant in order to decrease a peak current in relation to the reduced current rating of the power device. The method can include increasing a length of time the motor can operate at the peak current without overheating. A phase angle of the motor can be advanced in order to achieve a continuous operating point with the power device having the reduced current rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Hoffman Enclosures, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Flanary, Martin Piedl, Charles Ford, Troy Anderson
  • Patent number: 8183038
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for reprogramming a somatic cell to pluripotency by administering into the somatic cell at least one or a plurality of potency-determining factors. The invention also relates to pluripotent cell populations obtained using a reprogramming method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: James A. Thomson, Junying Yu
  • Patent number: 8180950
    Abstract: A hybrid optical and holographic data storage medium is disclosed. In addition, a method is disclosed to manage information using that optical and holographic data storage medium. The method reads information from the optical data storage layer before reading data from, or writing data to, the holographic data storage layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Allen Keith Bates, Susan Encinas, Daniel James Winarski
  • Patent number: 8178072
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an alkali metal titanate, the method including at least a first step of mixing a titanium compound and an alkali metal compound to prepare a first mixture and sintering the first mixture, and a second step of adding the alkali metal compound to the sintered body, which is formed at the first step, to prepare a second mixture and sintering the second mixture. The present invention provides the alkali metal titanate having a desired composition and a single-phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Toho Titanium Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naomichi Hori, Nobuo Kamishima
  • Patent number: 8178331
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated Elo1 and Mig3 nucleic acid sequences capable of conferring increased ethanol tolerance on recombinant yeast and methods of using same in biofuel production, particularly ethanol production. Methods of bioengineering yeast using the Elo1 and, or, Mig3 nucleic acid sequences are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Audrey P. Gasch, Jeffrey A. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8178756
    Abstract: An improved Anaheim-type chile pepper cultivar having a fruit characterized by a relatively thin skin in comparison to other Anaheim-type chile pepper cultivars, such that mechanized peeling of fruit results in an average recovery, excluding skin, seed, and placenta, that is at least 5% higher in comparison to the peeling of an existing Anaheim-type chile pepper cultivar. The improved cultivar further is characterized by a mature seed content of less than 20 pounds per 1000 pounds of fruit and by fruit that is readily de-stemmed by mechanized de-stemming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Curry Seed & Chili Co.
    Inventors: Edward N. Curry, Philip L. Villa
  • Patent number: D659412
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Peter Arko, John R. Hamilton, Matthew Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: D659441
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arko, John R. Hamilton, Justin Champaign
  • Patent number: D660250
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David Eberlein
  • Patent number: D660327
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: U-Line Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Doberstein, Joseph H. Zyduck, Kevin D. Kinch
  • Patent number: D660328
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: U-Line Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Doberstein, Joseph H. Zyduck, Kevin D. Kinch
  • Patent number: D660329
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: U-Line Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Doberstein, Joseph H. Zyduck, Kevin D. Kinch
  • Patent number: D660330
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: U-Line Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Doberstein, Joseph H. Zyduck, Kevin D. Kinch
  • Patent number: D660905
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Shao Hwa Lee, Soon Ling Tan, Wee Hian Khor, Yaw Horng Yap, Kian Seng Toh