Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Testa, Hurwitz and Thibeault, LLP
  • Patent number: 6718474
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling processor clock rates of a synchronous multi-processor system in response to an environmental condition of a processor. In one embodiment, a processor-reported an environmental condition is stored in a register and all processors are interrupted simultaneously. Upon interrupt, each processor reads the contents of the register and responds by adjusting its local clock rate synchronously with the other processors. In another embodiment, the processor's environmental status is polled by software control. Upon notification of an environmental condition, the software control notifies each processor to adjust its local clock rate synchronously with the other processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Stratus Technologies Bermuda LTD.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Somers, Kurt Thaller, Nicholas Warchol
  • Patent number: 6715218
    Abstract: Disclosed are unidirectional support devices and articles incorporating such devices. The devices are substantially flexible in one direction while substantially rigid in an opposing direction. The devices can be manufactured in essentially any shape or size and can be incorporated into a variety of articles of sports equipment, such as sport shoes, elbow braces, gloves, etc. The devices disclosed are typically made of polymeric materials, such as polyurethanes, silicones, polyethylenes, nylons, polyesters, and polyester elastomers, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: adidas International B.V.
    Inventor: Charles Paul Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 6715421
    Abstract: Metal-based printing members suitable for transfer-type imaging include a metal substrate and a hydrophilic, polymeric coating thereover. Desirably, the polymeric coating is crosslinked and withstands repeated application of fountain solution during printing. The polymeric coating can, however, undergo degradation where exposed to fountain solution so long as the ink-receptive portions—the areas where oleophilic material has been transferred onto the hydrophilic coating—remain intact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Presstek, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6713672
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices for shielding one or more connection ports from electromagnetic interference emissions. In one embodiment, the device includes a conformal member having a proximal aperture, a distal aperture, and a channel extending therethrough. The distal aperture has a maximum cross-sectional dimension that is less than about one half of a cutoff wavelength, thereby forming a waveguide for attenuating EMI signals that have a wavelength greater than a predetermined cutoff wavelength. In another embodiment, the conformable member includes first conformable element and a second conformable element. The conformable elements, when mated, form a proximal aperture, a distal aperture, and a channel extending therethrough having substantially the dimensional characteristics described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Laird Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William Stickney
  • Patent number: 6713326
    Abstract: A process for producing monocrystalline semiconductor layers. In an exemplary embodiment, a graded Si1−xGex (x increases from 0 to y) is deposited on a first silicon substrate, followed by deposition of a relaxed Si1−yGey layer, a thin strained Si1−zGez layer and another relaxed Si1−yGey layer. Hydrogen ions are then introduced into the strained SizGez layer. The relaxed Si1−yGey layer is bonded to a second oxidized substrate. An annealing treatment splits the bonded pair at the strained Si layer, such that the second relaxed Si1−yGey layer remains on the second substrate. In another exemplary embodiment, a graded Si1−xGex is deposited on a first silicon substrate, where the Ge concentration x is increased from 0 to 1. Then a relaxed GaAs layer is deposited on the relaxed Ge buffer. As the lattice constant of GaAs is close to that of Ge, GaAs has high quality with limited dislocation defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Masachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Zhi-Yuan Cheng, Eugene A. Fitzgerald, Dimitri A. Antoniadis, Judy L. Hoyt
  • Patent number: 6713601
    Abstract: Physical properties, such as melting temperature of MPO compositions may be significantly modified by modifying the weight percentage of one or more of the constituent MPOs. For example, removal of a significant portion of the tetramer can afford low melting MPO compositions. In one aspect, the invention is related to a method for modifying a physical property of a MPO composition that includes the steps of (a) providing a composition that has at least two species of MPOs, and (b) changing the weight percentage of at least one species of the MPOs in the composition. In another aspect, the invention is related to a MPO composition that includes at least two species of MPOs where a species of the MPOs having the highest melting temperature is present in an amount less than or equal to 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Cyclics Corporation
    Inventor: Peter D. Phelps
  • Patent number: 6713173
    Abstract: There is disclosed a magnetic recording medium, which includes a magnetizable layer thereon, wherein said magnetizable layer comprises a plurality of ferri- or ferromagnetic particles each having a largest dimension no greater than 100 nm, and each of which particles represents a separate ferromagnetic domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Nanomagnetics Limited
    Inventors: Eric Leigh Mayes, Malvin Nicolas Tyler
  • Patent number: 6713457
    Abstract: The invention provides strategy for suppressing expression of an endogenous gene, wherein said strategy comprises providing suppression effectors able to bind to the non-coding regions of a gene to be suppressed, to prevent the functional expression thereof. The suppression effectors may be antisense nucleic acids, and the non-coding regions can include the transcribed but non-translated regions of a gene. The strategy can also introduce a replacement gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventors: Gwenyth Jane Farrar, Peter Humphries, Paul Francis Kenna
  • Patent number: 6713709
    Abstract: A metal jet cutting system, which includes a jetting heat, a heater and a power source, is used for modifying a workpiece. The jetting head includes a crucible and an inlet for receiving a feed stock of a conductive material. The heater melts the conductive material in the crucible to provide a conductive fluid, which exits the jetting head via an outlet. The power source, which is in electrical communication with the conductive fluid, increases the temperature of the conductive fluid. The conductive fluid is applied to the workpiece to modify the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Sanders, Richard W. Couch, Yong Yang, Zhipeng Lu, Robert C. Dean, Kenneth J. Woods, Charles M. Hackett, John Sobr, William J. Connally
  • Patent number: 6708376
    Abstract: A length adjustment mechanism for a strap having a row of teeth. The mechanism comprises a pinion for meshing with the row of teeth and a finger operable actuator pivotable in a first direction and a second direction. The mechanism also comprises a pivoting link coupled with the pinion, the pivoting link being pivotable about a first pivot axis to impart pivotal movement to the pinion. The mechanism further comprises a rotating element coupled with the finger operable actuator and being pivotable about a second pivot axis. The rotating element engages the pivoting link in a driving relationship such that movement of the finger operable actuator is communicated to the pinion via the rotating element and the pivoting link to displace the strap. When a force is applied to the pinion for tending to pivot the pivoting link, the pivoting link and the rotating element interlock for resisting pivotal movement of the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: North Safety Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Michel Landry
  • Patent number: 6710540
    Abstract: Novel addressing schemes for controlling electronically addressable displays include a scheme for rear-addressing displays, which allows for in-plane switching of the display material. Other schemes include a rear-addressing scheme which uses a retroreflecting surface to enable greater viewing angle and contrast. Another scheme includes an electrode structure that facilitates manufacture and control of a color display. Another electrode structure facilitates addressing a display using an electrostatic stylus. Methods of using the disclosed electrode structures are also disclosed. Another scheme includes devices combining display materials with silicon transistor addressing structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Albert, Barrett Comiskey
  • Patent number: 6708283
    Abstract: The inventive system essentially hides redundant paths to the peripheral devices from the operating system, by reporting a single “virtual” path to the peripheral busses over PCI bus 0. The virtual path includes at least a virtual peripheral bus controller and a virtual video controller. The system also tells the operating system that the real controllers are on another PCI bus on an opposite side of a PCI-to-PCI bridge connected also to PCI bus 0. An I/O system manager selects one of the actual paths, which may, but need not, be connected to PCI bus 0, to handle communications with the peripheral devices. The I/O system manager maintains the controllers on the unselected path in an off-line or standby mode, in case of a failure of one or more of the controllers on the selected path. If a failure occurs, the I/O system manager performs a fail-over operation to change the selection of controllers, and the peripheral devices continue to operate in the same manner on the peripheral busses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Stratus Technologies, Bermuda Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert E. Nelvin, Mark D. Tetreault, Andrew Alden, Mohsen Dolaty, John W. Edwards, Jr., Michael W. Kement, John R. MacLeod
  • Patent number: 6706963
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides photovoltaic modules. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic module includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells, at least two of which include a photosensitized nanomatrix layer and a charge carrier media. Preferably, the cells further include a catalytic media layer. The photovoltaic cells are disposed between a first electrical connection layer and a second electrical connection layer. In one embodiment, the cells are interconnected in series and the electrical connections layers each include conductive and insulative regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Lian Li
  • Patent number: 6704133
    Abstract: A display overlay includes a contrast media layer and a photoconductive layer disposed between two electrodes. Light from an emissive display strikes the photoconductive layer and lowers the impedance of the photoconductive layer at the point at which the light is incident. Voltage applied to the electrodes creates an electric field that addresses the contrast media layer in locations of reduced impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: E-Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Holly G. Gates, Ian Morrison, Owen W. Ozier, Benjamin M. Davis, Jonathan D. Albert
  • Patent number: 6703688
    Abstract: Structures and methods for fabricating high speed digital, analog, and combined digital/analog systems using planarized relaxed SiGe as the materials platform. The relaxed SiGe allows for a plethora of strained Si layers that possess enhanced electronic properties. By allowing the MOSFET channel to be either at the surface or buried, one can create high-speed digital and/or analog circuits. The planarization before the device epitaxial layers are deposited ensures a flat surface for state-of-the-art lithography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: AmberWave Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene A. Fitzergald
  • Patent number: 6703144
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a first substrate, and an epitaxial layer bonded to the substrate. The epitaxial layer has a threading dislocation density of less than 107 cm−2 and an in-plane lattice constant that is different from that of the first substrate and a second substrate on which the epitaxial layer is fabricated. In another embodiment, there is provided a method of processing a semiconductor structure including providing a first substrate; providing a layered structure including a second substrate having an epitaxial layer provided thereon, the epitaxial layer having an in-plane lattice constant that is different from that of the first substrate and a threading dislocation density of less than 107 cm−2; bonding the first substrate to the layered structure; and removing the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: AmberWave Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene A. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 6702741
    Abstract: A medical device for retracting tissue allows access to the inside of the body by “prying open” an existing or created opening in a body. The device comprises a substantially transparent head having first and second head halves defining a substantially conical surface including a gap when the first and second head halves are joined. Angular motion of the first and second head halves enlarges the existing or created opening and provides an area of access to the inside of the body. The substantially transparent nature of the device allows it to function as a light pipe so that the operator can see the body cavity or tract opened by the device. The device has scissors-like handles to allow an operator to open or close the device with one hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Rioux, Raymond Rackley
  • Patent number: 6699214
    Abstract: A delivery system for delivering a shear-sensitive injectable material into the body of a mammal, such as a human being, acts as a mechanical feed that continuously mixes a shear-sensitive injectable material as it delivers the shear-sensitive injectable material to a target tissue, or to a site adjacent a target tissue. In one embodiment of the invention, the delivery system comprises an injector system including a rotatable mixing member coupled to a driving system. The injector system comprises a housing defining a lumen and having an output end and a driving system connection end and includes a rotatable mixing member for coupling to the driving system and for mixing and delivering the shear-sensitive injectable material. The driving system comprises a drive mechanism, an actuator capable of actuating the drive mechanism, and an interfacing member coupled to the drive mechanism for coupling with the mixing member to rotate the mixing member when the interfacing member is driven by the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry N. Gellman
  • Patent number: 6701205
    Abstract: A processing system having time-dependent combinatorial complexity is converted into a system having time-dependent periodic complexity. Consequently, system reliability is increased and system design is generally simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nam P. Suh, Taesik Lee
  • Patent number: 6699233
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for locking a catheter within a patient enables the catheter to be easily and securely locked and prevents the catheter from being inadvertently unlocked. The locking catheter includes an elongated body member including a proximal portion and a distal portion, a first proximal member, an elongated flexible member, and a second proximal member releasably couplable to the first proximal member to allow selective locking and unlocking of the elongated flexible member therebetween. The second proximal member includes a channel. The elongated flexible member extends from the distal portion of the elongated body member, through the first proximal member, and through the channel of the second proximal member. The elongated flexible member is slidable through the channel thereby allowing the distal portion of the elongated body member to be drawn toward the proximal portion of the elongated body member to form a loop in the distal portion of the elongated body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jozef Slanda, Clifford M. Liu