Patents Represented by Law Firm Townsend and Townsend
  • Patent number: 7884955
    Abstract: Techniques for performing one or more actions based upon physical locations of one or more paper documents. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the paper documents have identification tags physically associated with them. The physical locations of the paper documents are determined based upon information read from the identification tags physically associated with the paper documents. One or more actions are performed based upon the physical locations of the paper documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Hull, Jamey Graham, Dar-Shyang Lee
  • Patent number: 7885139
    Abstract: A multi-chip package includes a plurality of memory chips and a control chip, wherein the control chip stores information about whether the memory chips are operating normally and selects chips that are operating normally according to an address signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Je Il Ryu, You Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 7885922
    Abstract: A method of processing data includes identifying a capture redo byte address, initiating a capture process at the capture redo byte address, creating a clone of a source database to a logical change number, and initiating an apply process at a target database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Alok Pareek, Eric Ian Fish
  • Patent number: 7885878
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for activating a payment account. The payment account is associated with two identifiers. A payment instrument is provided as having the two identifiers. A first identifier is read at a first point of sale device to activate the payment account. A second identifier is read by a radio frequency identification reader at a second point of sale device to access funds in the payment account. The first point of sale device may not be capable of reading the second identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventor: Keith A. Newbrough
  • Patent number: 7880026
    Abstract: A rapid, simple and versatile metal organic framework molecule (MOF) synthesis method particularly adapted to make non-linear MOFs includes heating MOF precursors, such as a metal or metal oxide and an organic ligand, in a microwave oven for a period sufficient to achieve crystallization. Microwave-assisted MOF synthesis yields high quality MOF crystals in a reaction time ranging from about 5 seconds to about 2.5 minutes, compared to hours and days required in conventional solvothermal and hydrothermal methods. In addition, microwave assisted methods provide MOF materials with uniform crystal size and well-defined shape. Further, microwave synthesis of MOFs allows the size and shape of MOF crystals to be tailored for use in a wide range applications by manipulating reaction conditions. Secondary growth processes may also be employed to grow larger crystals using seeds obtained from microwave-assisted synthesis methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Zheng Ni, Richard I. Masel
  • Patent number: 7880222
    Abstract: A semiconductor device 10 includes a first transistor 11 placed on a substrate 16, a second transistor 12 placed on the first transistor 11 via a heat radiation layer 17, a third transistor 13 placed on the substrate 16, and a fourth transistor 14 placed on the third transistor 11 via a heat radiation layer 17. The first transistor 11 has a first region corresponding to a region where the second transistor is placed, and a second region which is formed so as to surround the first region and in which the rate of area occupied by the emitter region in the base region is higher than in the first region. Likewise the first transistor 11, the third transistor 13 has a region in which the rate of area occupied by the emitter region in the base region is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Torii, Masaki Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 7881110
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of programming a nonvolatile memory device. A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention can include performing a program operation on a first page, counting a program pulse application number until the program operation on the first page is completed, comparing the counted program pulse application number and a critical value and resetting a program start voltage based on the comparison result, and performing a program operation on a second page using the reset program start voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor inc.
    Inventor: Jin Su Park
  • Patent number: 7878889
    Abstract: A system includes a substantially sealed, substantially airtight cabinet sized for housing a vertical array of heat-producing units, the cabinet having an exterior shell and the system including an interior divider wall disposed inside the cabinet, the shell and divider wall providing an equipment chamber adapted to support the array such that the array cooperates with the shell and divider wall in use to define a first plenum, the first plenum having a first inlet defined by the divider wall for receiving a flow of cooling gas and having a first outlet defined by a plurality of openings through the array whereby the first plenum communicates with the openings in use to exhaust substantially all of the flow of cooling fluid through the openings and hence through the array, wherein the divider wall is configured to allow the first inlet to admit the gas to the first plenum in a substantially horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventor: Tony Day
  • Patent number: 7877999
    Abstract: A thermodynamic engine is configured to convert heat provided in the form of a temperature difference to a nonheat form of energy. Heat is directed through a heating loop in thermal contact with a first side of the thermodynamic engine. A second side of the thermodynamic engine is coupled to an environmental cooling loop in thermal contact with an environmental cooling device. The thermodynamic engine is operated to dispense heat from the second side of the thermodynamic engine through the environmental cooling loop into the environmental cooling device. Operation of the thermodynamic engine thereby generates the nonheat form of energy from the temperature difference established between the first side and the second side of the thermodynamic engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Cool Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Nuel, Lee S. Smith, Samuel P. Weaver, Samuel C. Weaver, Daniel Weaver
  • Patent number: 7880475
    Abstract: A modified Series A universal serial bus (USB) receptacle connector is equipped with the functionality to allow the electronic system in which it resides to be configured either as a host device or a peripheral device. The modified USB Series A receptacle connector, according to one embodiment of the invention may include a mechanism such as an additional pin or a mechanical switch to detect the presence of a standard USB Series A plug being inserted into it. Upon detection of a plug, an algorithm may allow the system to determine whether it is to act as a host device or a peripheral device and to determine which device supplies power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Crumlin, Aaron Leiba, David Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7882021
    Abstract: System and methods for facilitating the settlement of financial accounts across different entities utilize a host computer system that tracks financial transactions made at each merchant location or store and uses this information to reconcile accounts across different entities. In one embodiment, the host computer periodically performs a net settlement analysis of the transactional data received from each entity's stores. A request is prepared to transfer funds from each entity's bank account having a positive net settlement amount into a central entity bank account. A request is also prepared to transfer funds into each entity's bank account having a negative net settlement amount from the central entity bank account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: David Baumgartner, Kevin James, Keith Newbrough
  • Patent number: 7880263
    Abstract: A shallow trench isolation structure for integrated circuits. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a buffered oxide layer overlying the semiconductor substrate. A pad nitride layer is overlying the buffered oxide layer. An implanted region is formed around a perimeter of the trench region. A trench region is formed within the semiconductor substrate. The trench region has a bottom width of less than 0.13 microns and an upper width of less than 0.13 microns. A rounded edge region is within a portion of the semiconductor substrate surrounding a periphery of the trench region. The rounded edges have a radius of curvature greater than about 0.02 um. A planarized high density plasma fill material is formed within the trench region. The structure has a P-well region within the semiconductor substrate and bordering a vicinity of the trench region. A channel region is within the P-well region within the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventor: Hae Wang Yang
  • Patent number: 7880438
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply system includes an input configured to couple to a power source, an output configured to couple to a system load, a battery, power circuitry coupled to the input, the output, and the battery, and configured to transfer power from the input to the output and to transfer power from the battery to the output, a test load, a test switch coupled to the battery and the test load and configured to selectively couple the battery to the test load, a voltage monitor coupled to the battery and configured to provide an indication of a voltage provided by the battery, and a processor coupled to the test switch and the voltage monitor and configured to effect a first partial-discharge test on the battery by actuating the test switch to couple the battery to the test load to partially discharge the battery, and by using information from the voltage monitor regarding the voltage provided by the battery at different times during the test before a complete discharge of the battery to determine a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Cohen, William L. Owens
  • Patent number: 7880012
    Abstract: The present invention relates to N-heteroaryl-benzamides of the formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of using the same. The N-heteroaryl-benzamides are useful as glucokinase activators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: TransTech Pharma, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Murray, Jesper Lau, Lone Jeppesen, Per Vedso
  • Patent number: 7882292
    Abstract: An arbiter decides to grant access from multiple clients to a shared resource (e.g. memory) using efficiency and/or urgency terms. Urgency for a client may be determined based on an “in-band” request identifier transmitted from the client to the resource along with the request, and an “out-of-band” request identifier that is buffered by the client. A difference between the out-of-band request identifier and the in-band request identifier indicates the location of the request in the client buffer. A small difference indicates that the request is near the end of the buffer (high urgency), and a large difference indicates that the request is far back in the buffer (low urgency). Efficiency terms include metrics on resource overhead, such as time needed to switch between reading/writing data from/to memory via a shared memory bus, or bank management overhead such as time for switching between DRAM banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Van Dyke, Brian D. Hutsell
  • Patent number: 7879066
    Abstract: A luminal occlusion device comprises a tension member, an elongate shaft, and a flat film having an axial receptacle which is received over a distal portion of the tension member. The flat film has proximal and distal ends which are attached to the distal ends of the tension member and the elongate shaft, respectively. Thus, distal advancement of the tension member relative to the shaft will cause the flat film to assume a low profile configuration, while proximal retraction of the tension member relative to the elongate shaft will cause the flat film to assume a foreshortened, compacted configuration. The film usually includes one or more radioopaque markers which help shape the compacted film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Percutaneous Sustems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rupesh Desai, Alexander L. Huang, Steven Yee
  • Patent number: 7880044
    Abstract: Biogas is converted to a liquid fuel by passing the biogas through a liquid reaction medium that contains a petroleum fraction in the presence of a transition metal catalyst, and doing so at an elevated but non-boiling temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Rudolf W. Gunnerman, Peter W. Gunnerman
  • Patent number: 7880216
    Abstract: In a method of fabricating a flash memory device, trenches are formed in an isolation area of a semiconductor substrate. A first insulating layer is formed on sidewalls and bottoms of the trenches. Conductive layer patterns are formed on the first insulating layers at the bottoms of the trenches. A second insulating layer is formed on the conductive layer patterns. Gate lines are formed over a semiconductor substrate including the second insulating layer. The gate lines intersect the conductive layer patterns. Junctions are formed on the semiconductor substrate between the gate lines. An interlayer insulating layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate including the gate lines. Contact holes are formed through which the conductive layer patterns and the junctions located on one side of the conductive layer patterns are exposed. The contact holes are gap-filled with a conductive material, thereby forming contact plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Choong Bae Kim
  • Patent number: PP21688
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Cynara named ‘Z530’ that has improved productivity and year round harvest. ‘Z530’ produces one central and about fifteen lateral edible immature flower buds, and four side shoots during the first year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Baroda Farms, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Jordan
  • Patent number: PP21700
    Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Cynara named ‘B13’ that has improved productivity and year round harvest. B13 produces one central and about fifteen lateral edible immature flower buds, and four side shoots during the first year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Baroda Farms, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Jordan