Patents Represented by Attorney Vierra Magen Marcus & DeNiro LLP
  • Patent number: 8141320
    Abstract: An anchor member securing system includes a securing member and a rebar cage structure secured to the member. The securing system may include at least a first foundation placement guide. The anchor members may comprise mudsill anchors and anchor bolts, and the system provides more exact placement of the member or members in a foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Karen Colonias
  • Patent number: 8145981
    Abstract: Data stored in non-volatile storage is decoded using iterative probabilistic decoding. An error correcting code such as a low density parity check code may be used. In one approach, initial reliability metrics, such as logarithmic likelihood ratios, are used in decoding sensed states of a set of non-volatile storage element. The decoding attempts to converge by adjusting the reliability metrics for bits in code words which represent the sensed state. Soft data bits are read from the memory if the decoding fails to converge. Initial reliability metric values are provided after receiving the hard read results and at each phase of the soft bit operation(s). In one embodiment, a second soft bit is read from the memory using multiple subsets of soft bit compare levels. While reading at the second subset of compare levels, decoding can be performed based on the first subset data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Nima Mokhlesi, Henry Chin, Dengtao Zhao
  • Patent number: 8139141
    Abstract: An RGB-Z sensor is implementable on a single IC chip. A beam splitter such as a hot mirror receives and separates incoming first and second spectral band optical energy from a target object into preferably RGB image components and preferably NIR Z components. The RGB image and Z components are detected by respective RGB and NIR pixel detector array regions, which output respective image data and Z data. The pixel size and array resolutions of these regions need not be equal, and both array regions may be formed on a common IC chip. A display using the image data can be augmented with Z data to help recognize a target object. The resultant structure combines optical efficiency of beam splitting with the simplicity of a single IC chip implementation. A method of using the single chip red, green, blue, distance (RGB-Z) sensor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Cyrus Bamji, Peiqian Zhao
  • Patent number: 8139391
    Abstract: A non-volatile storage apparatus comprises a set of Y lines, a set of X lines and a plurality of memory cells in communication with the set of X lines and the set of Y lines. Each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells includes a resistance element in a static resistance condition and two or more reversible resistance-switching elements. The resistance element in the static resistance condition and the two or more reversible resistance-switching elements are connected to different Y lines of the set of Y lines. The resistance element in the low resistance state and the two or more reversible resistance-switching elements are connected to a common X line of the set of X lines. One or multiple bits of data are programmed into a particular memory cell of the plurality of memory cells by causing current flow between Y lines connected to the particular memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventor: Roy E. Scheuerlein
  • Patent number: 8139142
    Abstract: RGB-Z imaging systems acquire RGB data typically with a high X-Y resolution RGB pixel array, and acquire Z-depth data with an array of physically larger Z pixels having additive signal properties. In each acquired frame, RGB pixels are mapped to a corresponding Z pixel. Z image resolution is enhanced by identifying Z discontinuities and identifying corresponding RGB pixels where the Z discontinuities occur. Thus segmented data enables RGB background substitution, which preferably blends foreground pixel color and substitute background color. The segmented data also enables up-sampling in which a higher XY resolution Z image with accurate Z values is obtained. Up-sampling uses an equation set enabling assignment of accurate Z values to RGB pixels. Fixed acquisition frame rates are enabled by carefully culling bad Z data. Segmenting and up-sampling enhanced video effects and enable low cost, low Z resolution arrays to function comparably to higher quality, higher resolution Z arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Cyrus Bamji, Abbas Rafii, Ryan E. Crabb
  • Patent number: 8134637
    Abstract: An imaging system substantially simultaneously acquires z-depth and brightness data from first sensors, and acquires higher resolution RGB data from second sensors, and fuses data from the first and second sensors to model an RGBZ image whose resolution can be as high as resolution of the second sensors. Time correlation of captured data from first and second sensors is associated with captured image data, which permits arbitrary mapping between the two data sources, ranging from 1:many to many:1. Preferably pixels from each set of sensors that image the same target point are mapped. Many z-depth sensor settings may be used to create a static environmental model. Non-correlative and correlative filtering is carried out, and up-sampling to increase z-resolution occurs, from which a three-dimensional model is constructed using registration and calibration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rossbach, Abbas Rafii, Peiqian Zhao
  • Patent number: 8134871
    Abstract: Program disturb is reduced in a non-volatile storage system by programming storage elements on a selected word line WLn in separate groups, according to the state of their WLn?1 neighbor storage element, and applying an optimal pass voltage to WLn?1 for each group. Initially, the states of the storage elements on WLn?1 are read. A program iteration includes multiple program pulses. A first program pulse is applied to WLn while a first pass voltage is applied to WLn?1, a first group of WLn storage elements is selected for programming, and a second group of WLn storage elements is inhibited. Next, a second program pulse is applied to WLn while a second pass voltage is applied to WLn?1, the second first group of WLn storage elements is selected for programming, and the first group of WLn storage elements is inhibited. A group can include one or more data states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Deepanshu Dutta, Henry Chin
  • Patent number: 8135739
    Abstract: Information is automatically located which is relevant to source content that a user is viewing on a user interface without requiring the user to perform an additional search or navigate links of the source content. The source content can be, e.g., a web page or a document from a word processing or email application. The relevant information can include images, videos, web pages, maps or other location-based information, people-based information and special services which aggregate different types of information. Related content is located by analyzing textual content, user behavior and connectivity relative to the source. The related content is scored for similarity to the source. Content which is sufficiently similar but not too similar is selected. Similar related content is grouped to select representative results. The selected content is filtering in multiple stages based on attribute priorities to avoid unnecessary processing of content which is filtered out an early stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ron Karidi, Roy Varshavsky, Noga Amit, Oded Elyada, Daniel Sitton, Limor Lahiani, Hen Fitoussi, Eran Yariv, Benny Schlesinger
  • Patent number: 8135277
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for delayed optical router based on slow light and nondegenerate four-wave mixing processes are presented, in which three laser pulses interact with a three-level nonlinear optical medium composing two closely spaced ground states and an excited state. The delayed optical routing mechanism is based on a slow light phenomenon, in which a group velocity of an incoming input signal pulse is slowed down due to quantum coherence induced refractive index change. The two-photon coherence induced on the ground states via electromagnetically induced transparency is optically recovered via nondegenerate four-wave mixing processes. The nondegenerate four-wave mixing generation is enhanced owing to absorption cancellation. In this case, the individual pulse switching/routing time is limited by the coherence decay time that is much faster than population decay time, where the population decay-time is a limiting factor of conventional switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: INHA-Industry Partnership Institute
    Inventor: Byoung-Seung Ham
  • Patent number: 8135780
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for assisting email users recognizes deviations in characteristics of emails sent from a particular source identifier or “source ID” to a user. After one or more emails having a pattern of characteristics are received, an action on subsequent emails is performed, such as warning users when the subsequent emails received from the source ID match or don't match the pattern. Characteristics from a particular source ID are determined based on whether the addressee reads the email from the source ID. Various levels of warning based on the characteristics identified and the deviation of any email from the characteristics of previous emails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Eliot C. Gillum
  • Patent number: 8130891
    Abstract: A circuit, such as a CDR circuit, includes a sampler to receive a data signal having a variable data bit-rate responsive to a clock signal in an embodiment of the present invention. A clock circuit is coupled to the sampler and generates the clock signal responsive to a selectable update rate and a selectable phase adjust step-size. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the clock circuit includes a Stall logic that is coupled to first, second and third stages and is capable to hold the phase adjust signal responsive to the first and second stage output signals. In a third embodiment of the present invention, an indicator detects the variable data bit-rate and a counter provides the selectable phase adjust step-size for the adjust signal. In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the clock circuit includes the Stall logic, the indicator and the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Kim, Jason Wei, Yohan Frans, Todd Bystrom, Nhat Nguyen, Kevin Donnelly
  • Patent number: 8130528
    Abstract: A storage system includes a three-dimensional memory array that has multiple layers of non-volatile storage elements grouped into blocks. The blocks are grouped into bays. The storage system includes array lines of a first type in communication with storage elements, array lines of a second type in communication with storage elements, and sense amplifiers. Each block is geographically associated with two sense amplifiers and all blocks of a particular bay share a group of sense amplifiers associated with the blocks of the particular bay. The system includes multiple sets of local data lines in one or more routing metal layers below the three-dimensional memory array and multiple sets of global data lines in one or more top metal layers above the three-dimensional memory array. Each set of one or more blocks include one set of the local data lines. Each bay includes one set of global data lines that connect to the group of sense amplifiers associated with the blocks of the respective bay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Tianhong Yan, Luca Fasoli
  • Patent number: 8129272
    Abstract: A strengthened semiconductor die substrate and package are disclosed. The substrate may include contact fingers formed with nonlinear edges. Providing a nonlinear contour to the contact finger edges reduces the mechanical stress exerted on the semiconductor die which would otherwise occur with straight edges to the contact fingers. The substrate may additionally or alternatively include plating traces extending at an angle from the contact fingers. Extending at an angle, at least the ends of the plating traces at the edge of the substrate are covered beneath a lid in which the semiconductor package is encased. Thus, when in use with a host device, contact between the ends of the plating traces beneath the lid and contact pins of the host device is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Hem Takiar, Cheeman Yu, Ken Jian Ming Wang, Chin-Tien Chiu, Han-Shiao Chen, Chih-Chin Liao
  • Patent number: 8130556
    Abstract: A programming technique reduces program disturb in a set of non-volatile storage elements by programming using selected bit line patterns which increase the clamped boosting potential of an inhibited channel to avoid program disturb. One aspect groups alternate pairs of adjacent bit lines into first and second sets. Dual programming pulses are applied to a selected word line. The first set of bit lines is programmed during the first pulse, and the second set of bit lines is programmed during the second pulse. A verify operation is then performed for all bit lines. When a particular bit line is inhibited, at least one of its neighbor bit lines will also be inhibited so that the channel of the particular bit line will be sufficiently boosted. Another aspect programs every third bit line separately. A modified layout allows adjacent pairs of bit lines to be sensed using odd-even sensing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Lutze, Deepanshu Dutta
  • Patent number: 8130552
    Abstract: Coupling effects between adjacent floating gates in a non-volatile storage device are reduced in a multi-pass programming operation, while reducing program data storage requirements. In one approach, storage elements are programmed in an out of sequence or zigzag word line order. A particular word line is programmed with a coarse program pass, after which another word line is programmed with a fine program pass, after which the particular word line is read. The particular word line is read before another word line is programmed with a coarse program pass which causes coupling interference to storage elements of the particular word line. The read data is subsequently used to perform a fine program pass for the particular word line. This avoids the need to store program data of multiple word lines concurrently, so that storage hardware can be reduced in size along with power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Toru Miwa, Gerrit Jan Hemink
  • Patent number: 8130551
    Abstract: An erase operation for non-volatile memory includes first and second phases. The first phase applies a series of voltage pulses to a substrate, where each erase pulse is followed by a verify operation. The verify operation uses a verify level which is offset higher from a final desired threshold voltage level. The erase pulses step up in amplitude until a maximum level is reached, at which point additional erase pulses at the maximum level are applied. The first phase ends when the verify operation passes. The second phase applies one or more extra erase pulses which are higher in amplitude than the last erase pulse in the first phase and which are not followed by a verify operation. This avoids the need to perform a verify operation at deep, negative threshold voltages levels, which can cause charge trapping which reduces write-erase endurance, while still achieving the desired deep erase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Oowada, Yingda Dong, Deepanshu Dutta
  • Patent number: 8125832
    Abstract: Multiple programming processes are performed for a plurality of non-volatile storage elements. Each of the programming process operates to program at least a subset of said non-volatile storage elements to a set of target conditions using program pulses. In one embodiment, a first programming pass includes soft programming and additional programming passes include the programming of data. In another embodiment, all of the programming process includes programming data. For at least a subset of said programming processes, a program pulse associated with achieving a particular result for a respective programming process is identified. The identified program pulse is used to adjust programming for a subsequent programming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Nima Mokhlesi
  • Patent number: 8127233
    Abstract: Frames of user interface graphical data can be remotely rendered at a client during a remote session with a server by providing graphical data commands to the client. The commands include motion commands derived from objects that change position between a current frame and a new frame and delta commands derived from differences between the frames. The delta commands can be generated from a frame update after applying motion commands or without applying motion commands. A server identifies moving objects having a first position in the current frame and a second position in the new frame, generates motion hints for the moving objects, and reduces the motion hints based on collision detection, motion verification and other factors. Motion commands are generated for the reduced set of motion hints and applied to a copy of the current frame at the server. Differences between the modified current frame and the new frame are then encoded as delta commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Brian McDowell
  • Patent number: 8127152
    Abstract: Methods of operation of a memory device and system are provided in embodiments. Initialization operations are conducted at a first frequency of operation during an initialization sequence. Memory access operations are then performed at a second frequency of operation. The second frequency of operation is higher than the first frequency of operation. Also, the memory access operations include a read operation and a write operation. In an embodiment, information that represents the first frequency of operation and the second frequency of operation is read from a serial presence detect device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Barth, Ely K. Tsern, Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware, Todd W. Bystrom, Bradley A. May, Paul G. Davis
  • Patent number: 8121423
    Abstract: Raster segment commands are generated by a delta encoder and are encoded for raster segments detected to have moved in the current frame with respect to a location of the raster segment in a previous frame. Raster segment motion commands are stored in a queue and, when written, copy a raster segment into the current frame from a previous payload or cache. When written from the queue to a payload, raster segment motion commands are applied to a copy of the current frame maintained at the server using a copy of the previous payload sent. When copying a raster segment from a raster segment cache, a raster segment cache command retrieves identified raster segment data from the raster segment cache and copies the raster segment into a particular location in the current frame at the client. The raster segment commands are sent to a client via a payload to copy a raster segment from a previous payload into the current frame at the client or from a raster segment cache to the current frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Brian McDowell