Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Sawyer Law Group LLP
  • Patent number: 7038914
    Abstract: A computer assembly is disclosed. The computer assembly comprises a chassis and a mounting module rigidly coupled to the chassis. The mounting module is for cooling the computer assembly when in operation. The computer assembly includes at least one circuit board suspended from the module. The at least one circuit board has a known orientation relative to the module and the at least one circuit board has a variable orientation relative to the chassis. A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides a stable mounting for the cooling system that includes a large heat sink. The method and system in accordance with the present invention prevents the disturbance of the critical alignment of the printed circuit board with the heatsink from shock and vibration loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas L. Heirich, Steven T. Holmes, James Guy Smeenge, Jason Alan Burton
  • Patent number: 7038319
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip package with reduced cross-talk between adjacent signals in a layer of a carrier is disclosed. A first pair of conductors for carrying a first signal is provided in a layer of the carrier. A second pair of conductors for carrying a second signal is provided adjacent to the first pair of conductors in the layer, where the first and second pairs of conductors are configured such that cross-talk between the first and second pairs of conductors is substantially minimized, without increasing the size of the package. The height of the first pair of conductors is shorter than the second pair of conductors. Alternatively, the first and second pairs of conductors are configured so that they evenly affect each other. The chip package thus reduces the cross-talk without compromising the density of the interconnections in the package or resulting in an increase in the size of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick H. Buffet, Charles S. Chiu, Jon D. Garlett, Louis L. Hsu, Brian J. Schuh
  • Patent number: 7034566
    Abstract: Aspects for increased noise immunity for clocking signals in high speed digital systems are described. The aspects include buffering a differential clock signal with a single buffer circuit for a plurality of load circuits and configuring the single buffer circuit to adjust to alterations in the number of load circuits receiving the differential clock signal. The configuring achieves a constant bandwidth and voltage level for the clock signal output while adjusting to alterations in the number of load circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hayden C. Cranford, Jr., Joseph M. Stevens
  • Patent number: 7034464
    Abstract: A device that converts non-visible electromagnetic energy into light. The device includes a cylindrical electromagnetic resonator with a central through hole, a dielectric (preferably ceramic) material surrounded by symmetrically displaced through holes surrounding the central through hole. The device also includes a base and probes connected to the base. The probes are placed to introduce non-visible electromagnetic energy into the resonator. The device also includes a plasma lamp placed in the central through hole. The plasma lamp is placed to convert the non-visible electromagnetic energy into light. Preferably, the resonator is composed of a ceramic with a metalized surface except for inside the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sigma Designs, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamal S. Izadian, Larry DeClue, David Fealkoff
  • Patent number: 7032290
    Abstract: A brush holder incorporates a terminal integral part, which has a coupling portion. The coupling portion couples the terminals with each other. The brush holder has a resin body and a plurality of terminals. The resin body has an opening. The terminals are embedded in the resin body. The terminals are coupled to each other by the coupling portion as an integral part before being embedded in the resin body. The coupling portion is exposed from the opening of the resin body. The terminals are separated from each other by cutting the coupling portion, which is exposed from the opening of the resin body. A coating member coats the opening of the resin body to insulate each terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Hirano, Kenji Obata, Masakuni Masuda
  • Patent number: 7033901
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a ground strap on a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method and system includes providing a substrate region and providing an epitaxial (EPI) layer over the substrate region. The method and system includes etching a plurality of device structures in the EPI layer and providing a slot in the semiconductor substrate that is in contact with the substrate region. Finally, the method and system includes oxidizing the slot except at the bottom of the slot and providing a metal within the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Micrel, Inc.
    Inventor: John Durbin Husher
  • Patent number: 7031952
    Abstract: A method and system for sharing knowledge is disclosed. The method and system comprises receiving information input into a database and organizing items of information in the database. The method and system further includes collecting ratings and comments associated with each item of information and allowing users to access and sort items of information according to selected rating criteria in order to find the most reliable and/or valuable information from the database. In a second aspect, the present invention including an interface for providing information concerning a subject is disclosed. The interface comprises a first area that shows the subject and contributor name; and a second area that shows the content of the information item. The interface includes a third area that shows rating related to the subject; and a fourth area that allows users to submit ratings for the information item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Knowledge Filter, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Carl Heumann, Keith Cooley
  • Patent number: 7027268
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetoresistive sensor is disclosed. The method and system include providing a first pinned layer, providing a free layer having a length, and providing a first spacer layer disposed between the first pinned layer and the free layer. The first spacer layer has a first interface with the first pinned layer. The method and system also include providing a second pinned layer and providing a second spacer layer disposed between the free layer and the second pinned layer. The second spacer layer has a second interface with the second pinned layer. A direction of a current passed through the magnetoresistive sensor is through the first interface, through the second interface, and along at least a portion of the length of the free layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), Inc.
    Inventors: Ningjia Zhu, Yiming Huai
  • Patent number: 7028090
    Abstract: A method, system and token are described which control access to a token server system. In a first aspect, a method and system for controlling access to a file system of a token server comprise encoding a time specific permission into a token. In a second aspect, a token server system comprises at least one client and a token server accessible by the at least one client. The token server provides a token to the at least one client to allow the client to have access to the data on the token server. The token includes a time specific permission. In a third aspect, a token for use in a token server system comprises a group of privileges and security identifiers. The token includes a time specific permission. A system and method in accordance with the present invention controls access to networked systems, but does not totally disable or change a system to accommodate temporary outages of access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald Francis McBrearty, Shawn Patrick Mullen, Johnny Meng-Han Shieh
  • Patent number: 7028075
    Abstract: A system and method for sharing digital images over a network, such as the Internet, wherein the first person desires to send images from a first computer to a second person having a second computer that includes a standard email program. The system and method include sending an email request with the images and an address of the second user from the first computer to a server. In response to receiving the email request, the images are stored on the server, and the server creates a standard email message from the email request. The method and system further include inserting at least one link to the stored images into the email message, and transmitting the email message over the network for delivery to the second user. The second user may then receive and open the email message on the second computer using the standard email program and click on the at least one link to display the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Morris
  • Patent number: 7027324
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic memory including magnetic memory cells associated with a word line segment is disclosed. The magnetic memory cell includes a magnetic storage device and an isolation device. The isolation device is coupled to the magnetic tunneling junction and with a combined word line for reading and writing to the magnetic memory cell. The magnetic storage device and the isolation device are configured such that no direct current path to ground exists during the writing to the magnetic memory cell. In one aspect, in a write mode, the combined word line associated with the word line segment and the word line segment are activated. In the read mode, at least a portion of the memory cells associated with the word line segment are selected using the combined word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignees: Headway Technologies, Inc., Applied Spintronics Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu Kai (Karl) Yang, Xizeng Shi, Po-Kang Wang, Bruce Yee Yang
  • Patent number: 7026672
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic memory is disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of magnetic elements and providing at least one stress-assist layer. Each of the plurality of magnetic elements is configured to be written using spin transfer. The at least one stress-assist layer is configured to exert at least one stress on at least one magnetic element of the plurality of magnetic elements during writing. The reduction of spin-transfer switching current is due to stress exerted by the stress-assist layer on the magnetic elements during writing. Stability of the magnetic memory with respect to thermal fluctuations is not compromised because the energy barrier between the two magnetization states is unchanged once the switching current is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Grandis, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahendra Pakala, Yiming Huai
  • Patent number: 7023658
    Abstract: A trailing pole-tip for an electromagnetic transducer is formed as a layer oriented substantially perpendicular to other layers of the transducer, allowing the pole-tip to be made much thinner than conventional pole-tips. The novel pole-tip is formed on an edge or sidewall of a base layer instead of being formed on top of an existing layer. Potential errors in pole-tip thickness are much less than standard error tolerances for conventional pole-tip thickness. Having a greatly reduced pole-tip width significantly reduces the track width so that many more tracks can fit on a media surface, providing a large increase in areal density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Knapp, Ronald A. Barr, Zhupei Shi, Billy W. Crue, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7023459
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a computer system having a plurality of logical partitions with a virtual terminal is disclosed. The computer system is coupled to an external display device through a single communications interface. The method and system include allowing the logical partitions to share the communications interface by multiplexing communications to the display device for each of the logical partitions over the communication interface. Windows are displayed on the display device for each of the logical partitions, and the communications from each of the logical partitions is then routed to the corresponding window for display on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Louis Arndt, Robert Kimberlin Foster, Walter Manfred Lipp, Kerry Alan Lucas, Casey Lee McCreary, Bruce Mealey, Joshua Nathan Poimboeuf
  • Patent number: 7020797
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically managing a distributed software test execution, management and reporting system that includes a network of test computers for executing a plurality of test jobs and at least one client computer for controlling the test computers is disclosed. The method and system include providing the test computers with a service program for automatically registering availability of the computer and the attributes of the computer with the client computer. The execution requirements of each test job are compared with the attributes associated with the available computers, and the test jobs are dispatched to the computers having matching attributes. The method and system further include providing the service programs with a heartbeat function such that the service programs transmit signals at predefined intervals over the network to indicate activity of each test job running on the corresponding computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Optimyz Software, Inc.
    Inventor: Narendra Patil
  • Patent number: 7019295
    Abstract: A digitally-controlled pyroelectric signal sampling circuit is proposed, which is designed to process the alternating current (AC) signal from a pyroelectric device, such as a pyroelectric infrared sensor, such that the AC signal is converted into direct current (DC) signal. The proposed digitally-controlled pyroelectric signal sampling circuit is characterized by the use of a microprocessor in conjunction with a crystal oscillator whose operating characteristics would be substantially unaffected by temperature changes in the ambient environment. This feature allows the generated trigger signal and sampling signals to be substantially fixed in frequencies and timings, without drifting due to temperature changes in the ambient environment, and therefore allows the digitally-controlled pyroelectric signal sampling circuit of the invention to provide a more accurate DC output than prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: King Can Industry Corporation
    Inventor: Shen-Kwan Chiang
  • Patent number: 7019758
    Abstract: Aspects for maintaining and providing a calibrated color environment for display devices of a computer system. In an aspect of an exemplary method, the method includes determining relevant state data, including a framebuffer driver state and a display driver state. The method further includes saving the relevant state data as calibration information for the calibrated color environment. The relevant state data includes information about a display that has an effect on color, such as a frame buffer driver state, a display driver state, and phospher characteristics of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Hendry, David Hayward, John Calhoun, Eric Anderson
  • Patent number: 7017094
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed that include a built-in self test system. The device comprises a logic function and a self test engine coupled and integrated with the logic device. The device includes a performance code storage coupled and integrated with the logic function. The performance code storage contains at least one critical path pattern that will be run on the logic function to determine the performance of the logic function when the self test engine causes the logic function to be in a performance test mode. In summary, a performance sort/validate integrated custom logic device, like a microprocessor core can be tested without the need for a separate, high-performance tester. A performance built-in self test (PBIST) approach provides a basic test procedure to be utilized within the device. An integrated memory array, such as the L1-cache, is provided wherein a select set of SRAM memory words are preconditioned at the time of manufacture to contain predefined functional patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Correale, Jr., Waleed K. Al-Assadi, Les Mark DeBruyne, Thomas Anderson Dick, Jay Donnelly Grollimund
  • Patent number: 7017052
    Abstract: A method for reducing the boot time for a computer includes: supplying power to the computer; disabling a plurality of input/output (I/O) devices coupled to the computer; performing a boot process for the computer; and placing the computer in a suspend to memory state before a user turns on the computer. The method reduces the boot time for a computer by placing the computer in a suspend to memory mode rather than completely shutting off the computer. In this manner, when a user of the computer pushes the power button, the computer wakes up from the suspend to memory mode instead of being required to perform the entire boot process. This significantly reduces the time required to make the computer available to the user, allowing the computer to function like an appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Lenovo Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ameha Aklilu, Kamran Amini, Jordan Hsiao Ping Chin, James Alexander Day, Jr., Chad Lee Gettelfinger, Eric Richard Kern
  • Patent number: 7016972
    Abstract: A method and system for providing performance analysis on a computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes at least one resource group and at least one node. The method and system include obtaining performance data for a plurality of monitors for the at least one resource group and analyzing the performance data to determine whether performance of the system can be improved using the at least one resource group. Preferably, performance is improved by moving the resource group between nodes. The method and system include graphically displaying the performance data graphically displaying performance data for at least one monitor of the plurality of monitors for the at least one resource group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Randal Lee Bertram, Antonio Abbondanzio, Janet Anne Brewer, James Franklin Macon, Jr., Gregory Joseph McKnight, Walter Cade Metz, Jr.