Patents Represented by Attorney Townsend & Townsend & Crew
  • Patent number: 7872305
    Abstract: A shielded gate field effect transistor (FET) comprises a plurality of trenches extending into a semiconductor region. A shield electrode is disposed in a bottom portion of each trench, and a gate electrode is disposed over the shield electrode in each trench. An inter-electrode dielectric (IED) extends between the shield electrode and the gate electrode. The IED comprises a first oxide layer and a nitride layer over the first oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Scott L. Hunt
  • Patent number: 7871374
    Abstract: A Surgical retractor, designed in particular for minimally invasive operations, consisting essentially of an elastic plate rolled up about an axis so as to form the side wall of a substantially truncated cone shape, the narrowest cross section of the truncated cone constituting the distal part of this retractor, when the retractor is in place, and delimiting an operating field, the widest cross section of the truncated cone forming the proximal part, through which instruments can be introduced, said plate being able to be rolled up into a substantially cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than or equal to the narrowest cross section of its truncated cone shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical Systems AB
    Inventors: Bernard De Canniere, Michel Joie
  • Patent number: 7873556
    Abstract: A system and method for securitizing margin loans, wherein a processor system operates to analyze account data for a plurality of accounts, and to identify and flag accounts that are marginable. The process provides for flagging a group of accounts which collectively are representative of a portfolio of marginable accounts held by a brokerage company. The system and method also provides for generating a general ledger for the brokerage company, a SPV, and a trust, wherein these general ledgers track the sale of margin loans belonging to the flagged accounts, from the brokerage company to the trust via the SPV. The system and method further provide for processing transactions in the flagged accounts to identify and classify transactions in the flagged accounts which affect the margin balances for the flagged accounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Carrie Dolan, Gregg Dolin, Cassandra Seay
  • Patent number: 7872374
    Abstract: An uninterrupted power supply (“UPS”) system is disclosed which uses a battery communication system to communicate to a UPS processor information concerning the status of a battery pack in an array of parallel coupled battery packs. The battery packs provide back-up power for the UPS system. Information about the battery packs is collected by a monitor associated with each of the battery packs. The monitors measure battery pack voltage, currents and temperature and compile information about the battery pack from the measured values. Each monitor prepares a data word representing information about its battery pack. The data words are transmitted to the UPS in response to commands issued by the UPS processor to the monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gottlieb, Rodger B. Dowdell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7871780
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of predicting a pre-disposition of HBV-infected individuals to develop hepatacellular carcinoma (HCC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignees: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hospital Authority
    Inventors: Jao Yiu Joseph Sung, Lik Yuen Chan, Kwok Wing Stephen Tsui, Kwong Sak Leung, Shu Kam Tony Mok, Angeline Bartholomeusz, Wai Yee Nancy Leung, Kin Hong Lee
  • Patent number: 7871792
    Abstract: An isolated microbial consortium is described that includes a first microbial consortium having Thermacetogenium phaeum to metabolize a complex hydrocarbon substrate into metabolic products comprising an acetate compound. The consortium also includes a second microbial consortium having a methanogen to convert the acetate compound into a final product that includes methane. Also, a method of increasing production of materials with enhanced hydrogen content. The method includes isolating Thermacetogenium phaeum from geologic formation water, culturing the isolated Thermacetogenium phaeum to increase the Thermacetogenium phaeum population, and introducing a consortium of the cultured Thermacetogenium phaeum, which may include spores of Thermacetogenium phaeum, into a hydrocarbon formation containing a complex hydrocarbon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: LUCA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn A. Ulrich, Gary Vanzin
  • Patent number: 7873641
    Abstract: An interface can allow for associating documents with tags. A search system can use connections between the tags and documents to determine search-independent rank values for the documents. The search-independent rank values can be combined with term matching indications to get a total relevance of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: BEA Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Frieden, Dax Farhang, Samir Mahendra, Jose Quezada
  • Patent number: 7871889
    Abstract: A capacitor includes a lower electrode, a first dielectric layer formed over the lower electrode, a second dielectric layer formed over the first dielectric layer, wherein the second dielectric layer includes an amorphous high-k dielectric material, a third dielectric layer formed over the second dielectric layer, and an upper electrode formed over the third dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jong-Bum Park
  • Patent number: 7871926
    Abstract: A method for forming a structure includes forming at least one feature across a surface of a substrate. A nitrogen-containing dielectric layer is formed over the at least one feature. A first portion of the nitrogen-containing layer on at least one sidewall of the at least one feature is removed at a first rate and a second portion of the nitrogen-containing layer over the substrate adjacent to a bottom region of the at least one feature is removed at a second rate. The first rate is greater than the second rate. A dielectric layer is formed over the nitrogen-containing dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Li-Qun Xia, Mihaela Balseanu, Victor Nguyen, Derek R. Witty, Hichem M'Saad, Haichun Yang, Xinliang Lu, Chien-Teh Kao, Mei Chang
  • Patent number: 7873722
    Abstract: Techniques for interacting with a client process on a mobile device connected to a network over a wireless link includes managing information at a mobile applications server executing on a platform connected to the network. The information includes device profile information about the mobile device. First data is received from an application. The first data describes graphical elements for display on the mobile device. It is determined whether the first data exceeds a capacity of the mobile device based on the device profile information. If it is determined that the first data exceeds the capacity, then a subset of the first data is formed that does not exceed the capacity of the mobile device. The subset of the first data is sent to the client process. If it is determined that an external converter does not convert using a particular format, then a first description of graphical elements is converted internally into a second description using the particular format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Jyotirmoy Paul, Jeff Barton, Anit Chakraborty, Siva Dirisala
  • Patent number: 7873685
    Abstract: A method for a computer system includes receiving a mapping schema between a plurality of asset-types within an asset-type hierarchy and a plurality of paths within an on-disk storage structure, receiving an asset-type definition list from a user, wherein the asset-type definition list comprises an asset-type from the plurality of asset types, and determining at least one path from the plurality of paths for providing access to assets of the asset-type in response to the mapping schema and the asset-type definition list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: Stephan Vladimir Bugaj, Brett Levin, Zachariah Journey Baum
  • Patent number: 7872450
    Abstract: A system includes an input configured to connect to a power source providing an input voltage, an output configured to connect to a load and to transfer power from the power source to the load, a battery selectively coupled to the input to receive current from the power source, a detector configured to indicate whether the input voltage drops more than a threshold amount, and a processor configured to regulate the selective coupling of the battery to the input to regulate a charging current supplied to the battery, the processor configured to regulate the selective coupling such that if a first charge current induces a drop in the input voltage beyond the threshold amount, then the processor will change the charging current to a second charge current that is lower than the first charge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Cohen, William L. Owens, Franklin Lee, James D. Orlando
  • Patent number: 7873045
    Abstract: An encapsulation packet is received as a sequence of parallel data segments. First information within the encapsulated packet is obtained based on second information indicative of a location of the first information within the encapsulated packet. The encapsulating header is modified based on the first information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Exar Corporation
    Inventor: Sanjay Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 7871637
    Abstract: Dry cross-linked gelatin compositions are prepared that rapidly re-hydrate to produce gelatin hydrogels suitable as hemostatic sealants. Gelatin is cross-linked in the presence of certain re-hydration aids, such as polyethylene glycol, polyvinylprovidone, and dextran, in order to produce a dry cross-linked gelatin powder. The use of the re-hydration aids has been found to substantially increase the re-hydration rate in the presence of an aqueous re-hydration medium, typically thrombin-containing saline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Zhen Qian, A. Edward Osawa, Cary J. Reich, Donald G. Wallace, Narinder S. Shargill, Felix Vega
  • Patent number: 7871620
    Abstract: The present invention provides for immunoliposomes that optimizes internalization of a drug into target cells bearing a characteristic cell surface marker. The immunoliposomes comprise an Fab? domain of an antibody that specifically binds the characteristic marker, an amphipathic vesicle-forming lipid, and a polyethylene glycol derivatized lipid. The invention also provides for growth-inhibiting immunoliposomes that lack growth-inhibiting therapeutic agents and yet are capable of inhibiting the growth and proliferation of target cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Christopher C. Benz, Demetrios P. Papahadjopoulos, Francis C. Szoka, legal representative, John W. Park, Keelung Hong, Dmitri Kirpotin
  • Patent number: 7871619
    Abstract: Ligands of CCX-CKR2 and the biological role of CCX-CKR2 in cancer is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: ChemoCentryx, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer M. Burns, Bretton Summers, Maureen C. Howard, Thomas J. Schall, Zhenhua Miao
  • Patent number: 7872649
    Abstract: An image rendering method for a computer system includes identifying a point in space to be illuminated from at least one line light for the point, and determining an illumination direction of the line light. The method further includes generating a plane passing through the point, and projecting the line light onto the plane. The method further includes determining a brightness contribution for the point responsive to a function characterizing the brightness contribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventor: Jim Arvo
  • Patent number: 7873540
    Abstract: A method of obtaining payer authorization for a purchase instrument transaction with a customer includes using a wireless device of a merchant to contact a virtual terminal service to process the transaction, entering transaction information into the wireless device, which transaction information includes an account identifier relating to the purchase instrument of the customer, forwarding the transaction information from the wireless device to the virtual terminal service, receiving at the wireless device a request from the virtual terminal service to receive payer authorization information from the customer, receiving the payer authorization directly from the customer into the wireless device of the merchant, forwarding the payer authorization from the wireless device to the virtual terminal service, and receiving an approval message from the virtual terminal service at the wireless device of the merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventor: Avin Arumugam
  • Patent number: 7871848
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor power module package and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor power module package includes a substrate, semiconductor chips arranged on a top surface of the substrate, and a temperature sensor mounted on a top surface of at least one of the semiconductor chips. The semiconductor chips and the temperature sensor are electrically connected to each other through leads. A sealing material covers the top surface of the substrate, the semiconductor chips, and the temperature sensor except for portions of the leads and a bottom surface of the substrate. The temperature sensor may include a thermistor, and the thermistor may include first and second electrode terminals connected to corresponding leads of the leads. A first wiring pattern may be in contact with the first electrode terminal, and a second wiring pattern may be in contact with the second electrode terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventor: Keun-hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: D630871
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Z-Line Designs, Inc.
    Inventor: James S. Sexton