Patents Represented by Attorney Steptoe & Johnson LLP
  • Patent number: 8100750
    Abstract: Methods for receiving and processing input on a gaming machine using a virtual user interface are disclosed herein. According to one method, a gaming machine having a game display for presenting a game is able to generate a virtual user interface of a surface of the gaming machine. The virtual user interface includes one or more virtual components that correspond to one or more game functions. The gaming machine receives and processes user input via the virtual user interface. The gaming machine then performs the game function corresponding to the user input. Gaming machines having a virtual user interface are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a game display for presenting a game. The gaming machine also includes a virtual interface controller for generating and presenting a virtual user interface on a surface of the gaming machine where the virtual user interface receives user input for gaming or non-gaming functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Lawrence McAllister
  • Patent number: 8101021
    Abstract: A population of nanocrystals having a narrow and controllable size distribution and can be prepared by a segmented-flow method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Brian Yen, Axel Guenther, Klavs F. Jensen, Moungi G. Bawendi, Martin Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8100933
    Abstract: A method of treating a patient's paranasal sinus, such as the frontal sinus, having an obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring ostium or nasofrontal duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue. A balloon of a balloon catheter is inflated in the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring ostium or nasofrontal duct to enlarge the ostium or nasofrontal duct. The ostium or nasofrontal duct remains enlarged after the balloon catheter is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce B. Becker
  • Patent number: 8101234
    Abstract: A nanocrystal capable of light emission includes a nanoparticle having photoluminescence having quantum yields of greater than 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Moungi Bawendi, Klavs F. Jensen, Bashir O. Dabbousi, Javier Rodriguez-Viejo, Frederic Victor Mikulec
  • Patent number: 8097965
    Abstract: In the manufacture of semiconductor devices, cracking of a resin member caused during cutting and defects in the external appearance are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Takata
  • Patent number: 8094227
    Abstract: A solid state image sensor capable of preventing image degradation, such as shading and ringing, from occurring in an image portion along the left edge of a screen. The solid state image sensor includes, in addition to a horizontal drive circuit that generates a horizontal drive pulse for driving a horizontal register, a pseudo-horizontal drive circuit that generates a pseudo-horizontal drive pulse successive to the horizontal drive pulse during a horizontal blanking interval. The horizontal drive circuit and pseudo-horizontal drive circuit are connected to a horizontal driver power supply unit, which generates, during the horizontal blanking interval, a current that is equal to a current generated by the horizontal driver power supply unit during an effective interval. This arrangement can prevent any power supply ripples from occurring immediately after the beginning of the effective interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kozo Orihara, Shunjiro Takemori, Akiyoshi Kohno
  • Patent number: 8093524
    Abstract: The present invention is an electrical switchgear unit in a case and including at least one stationary contact and at least one movable contact supported by a contact support shaft, an opening and/or closing mechanism of the movable contact(s) fitted in a support, the mechanism including a manual operating handle of the contact(s) rotatable around a toggle pin of the case, and a high-speed closing shaft designed to keep the movable contact(s) in the open position, at the beginning of manual closing of the handle and over a certain travel, by storing energy and to release the movable contact(s) after travel of the handle so that the stored energy causes high-speed closing of the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Previeux, Yves Brune, Claude Burnot, Roland Masnada
  • Patent number: 8095646
    Abstract: An ancillary device is used to access content related to a sensory work during the playback of the sensory work. The ancillary device receives information related to the playback of a sensory work on a primary device, prepares content information related to the sensory work using the received information, presents the prepared content information using the ancillary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver Capio, Gary Zalewski
  • Patent number: 8092307
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, each game being played in exchange for monetary input. The gaming system includes a game server and a plurality of game units connected via a network. The game server stores one or more games. The game units each include a web browser having a monetary input device, and a ticket dispenser having a printer. The game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit via the ticket dispenser in response to winning game play. The gaming system enables game units to request games from the game server over the network. The games may be downloaded over the network from the game server to the requesting game unit to be executed at the game unit and to be displayed in one or more web browsers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan M. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8093505
    Abstract: Provided is a layered electronic circuit device capable of realizing high-density/high-function mounting, easily inspecting and repairing the respective constituent elements, and improving the electronic connection characteristic. The layered electronic circuit device includes a first circuit substrate (101) and a second circuit substrate (102) which are arranged in parallel such that their substrate surfaces are opposed to each other. The peripheral portion of the first circuit substrate (101) and the peripheral portion of the second circuit substrate (102) are connected to each other by connection members (10a to 10d) having a wiring member (103) and a thermal hardening anisotropic conductive sheet (107), thereby performing electric connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Gokan, Akihisa Nakahashi, Takayuki Hirose, Yoko Kasai, Kohichi Tanda
  • Patent number: 8095462
    Abstract: An enrollment control system for activating and deactivating enrollment of beneficiaries of a first entity in a service program, such as a bill pay service program, of a second entity. The system requests information from the second entity identifying beneficiaries enrolled in the program and the timing of services provided to the beneficiaries. A request is sent to the second entity to deactivate enrollment of beneficiaries who have not received services within a dormancy threshold time. Advantageously, no enrollment charges are incurred by the first entity for dormant beneficiaries not recently availing themselves of the second entity's services. Optionally, the system can monitor unfulfilled service requests and remove the corresponding beneficiaries from the deactivation request to avoid deactivating enrollment of a customer needing services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Regions Asset Company
    Inventor: Benjamin T. Wallach
  • Patent number: 8093131
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device of the present invention, a first base region 16 is extended to a part under a gate electrode 7 while having a vertical concentration profile of an impurity that increases from the surface of a semiconductor layer 3 and becomes maximum under an emitter region 5, and the length in the lateral direction from a point where the impurity concentration becomes maximum located under an end of the gate electrode 7 to the boundary with a second base region 15 is not smaller than the length in the vertical direction from the point where the impurity concentration becomes maximum to the boundary with the second base region 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Teruhisa Ikuta, Yoshinobu Sato
  • Patent number: 8088009
    Abstract: A method for managing a casino gaming system is disclosed. One embodiment provides a web server embedded in at least one gaming component of a gaming machine, wherein the web server is configured to deliver a management user interface to a web browser. A management user interface is delivered to a web browser from the embedded web server, and input is received via the management user interface. The received input includes instructions for managing the gaming component in which the web server is embedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Finnimore, Joseph J. Davis, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8088101
    Abstract: Sinusitis, mucocysts, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, choanal atresia, fractures and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, Eustachian tubes, Lachrymal ducts and other ear, nose, throat and mouth structures are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies and endoscopic studies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: John Y. Chang, Joshua Makower, Julia D. Vrany, Theodore C. Lamson, Amrish Jayprakash Walke
  • Patent number: 8090772
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling one network to use the functionality of another network is provided. The system comprises a first network system having a first network functionality and a second network system having a second network functionality. A server connected to the second network system passes directions through the first network to enable a component connected to both the first network system and the second network system to perform a second network functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Carmen DiMichele, Russell Ristine, James W. Morrow
  • Patent number: 8090433
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with image guidance or navigation system and hand held devices having pistol type grips and other handpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Makower, John Y. Chang, Ketan P. Muni, John H. Morriss, Hung V. Ha, Isaac J. Kim, Julia D. Vrany
  • Patent number: 8088166
    Abstract: A system for manipulating energy transferred by members defining a joint. The system includes a first attachment structure configured to be attached to a first member of the joint and a second attachment structure configured to be attached to a second member of the joint. There is also an adjustable energy absorbing device attached to the first attachment structure and second attachment structure, wherein adjusting the energy absorbing device changes the load manipulating characteristics of the energy absorbing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Moximed, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Makower, Clinton N. Slone, Alan C. Regala, Michael E. Landry, Anton G. Clifford, William G. Tammen
  • Patent number: PP22453
    Abstract: A chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmudeep’ characterized by its large sized blooms with dark purple ray florets and prolific branching, and response time of 8 weeks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Chrysanthemum Breeders Association Research B.V.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Bernardus Blom
  • Patent number: PP22454
    Abstract: A chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmulisa’ characterized by its large sized daisy-type blooms with bright purple ray florets and prolific branching; and a response time of 7 weeks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Chrysanthemum Breeders Association Research B.V.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Bernardus Blom
  • Patent number: D652434
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignees: Hefei Midea Rongshida Refrigerator Co., Ltd., Hefei Hauling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jing Sun, Chaoyang Zhang, Shilin Tang, Yanli Wu, Ruhua Ma, Jianmin Li, Jiachun Zhang, Yongxue Chen