Patents Represented by Attorney Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP
  • Patent number: 8335123
    Abstract: A memory system that includes a memory array and a memory controller manages power consumption by maintaining a variable credit value that reflects the amount of power available to the memory system. The variable credit value may be increased periodically up to a limit. When a power-consuming operation is performed, the variable credit value is reduced to reflect the power used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Theodore Sprouse
  • Patent number: 8335850
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for role-based access control of network devices. The network devices may constitute the fabric of a storage area network (“SAN”) that has been logically partitioned into virtual storage area networks (“VSANs”) that are allocated to various administrators. Roles assigned according to preferred aspects of the invention do not need to be hierarchical, but are customized according to administrators' needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Di Benedetto, Fabio Maino, Chandan Mishra, Thomas John Nosella, Ankur Jain
  • Patent number: 8332501
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide formation and management of intelligent application clusters in a storage area network. Disk arbitration mechanisms ensure that a cluster is owned by a single member. In the event of a network partition, each cluster member involved arbitrates to gain ownership of a cluster. High availability mechanisms allow monitoring of system resources and effective failover capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Samar Sharma, Rahul Chari, Sanjaya Kumar
  • Patent number: 8329415
    Abstract: The invention provides a lysis reagent and method for preparing a test sample for use in an assay, wherein the method yields a homogeneous lysis mixture suitable for use in automated pipetting systems without the need for a centrifugation step. The lysis reagent includes a glycol and non-specific animal immunoglobulins. Other aspects of the invention include related immunoassays and test kits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventor: Shelley R. Holets-McCormack
  • Patent number: 8328632
    Abstract: Gaming devices dispense tickets which are unrelated to a player's success on a particular game played on a gaming device or to the player's credits on a credit meter or other “cash out” indicator. The gaming devices provide gaming awards and also provide tickets. Other methods provide tickets during the play of wagering games. Still other embodiments comprise lottery terminals which dispense tickets other than those purchased by a lottery patron or won on a purchased lottery ticket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, Mike Maroney, Robert Guinn, Mick D. Roemer, William R. Adams
  • Patent number: 8332028
    Abstract: This invention provides new and novel devices and methods for administering lithium (Li) ions to a mammalian subject, especially delivery of the lithium (Li) ions to a body component for example across a body or tissue surface such as skin or a mucosal membrane, or for the delivery of the lithium ions directly to bodily fluids in a controllable and reproducible manner. In certain embodiments the device comprises a donor electrode that is a donor of the lithium ions; a protective architecture that is ionically conductive to the lithium ions, configured for application to a skin surface and positioned to isolate said donor electrode from the skin surface; and a counter electrode configured for application to the skin surface, where said counter electrode is operably coupled to said donor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Bruce Katz
  • Patent number: 8329873
    Abstract: Bispecific single chain antibody molecules are disclosed which may be used to advantage to treat various forms of cancer associated with the overexpression of members of the EGFR protein family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Fox Chase Cancer Center
    Inventors: Gregory P. Adams, Eva M. Horak, Louis M. Weiner, James D. Marks
  • Patent number: 8329576
    Abstract: Methods of improving the uniformity and adhesion of low resistivity tungsten films are provided. Low resistivity tungsten films are formed by exposing the tungsten nucleation layer to a reducing agent in a series of pulses before depositing the tungsten bulk layer. According to various embodiments, the methods involve reducing agent pulses with different flow rates, different pulse times and different interval times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lana Hiului Chan, Feng Chen, Karl B. Levy
  • Patent number: 8328629
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) is configured to run a persistence game having one or more recordable persistence states transferable to another EGM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Alexander C. Cohen, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, James A. Vasquez, Garrett Olson, Ty Cornell Jones
  • Patent number: 8329496
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of scribing a solar cell structure to create isolated solar cells. The methods involve scanning and high frequency dithering of a laser beam across a solar cell structure such that the beam creates a stepped scribed line profile. In certain embodiments, a structure including an absorber layer sandwich between two contact layers is provided. The scanned dithered laser beam ablates all of these layers on one part of the scribe line while the back contact layer on another part of the scribe line, leaving an exposed back contact layer. The scribe electrically isolates solar cell structures on either side of the scribe line from each other, while providing a contact point to the back contact layer of one of solar cell structure for subsequent cell-cell interconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: MIASOLE
    Inventor: Osman Ghandour
  • Patent number: 8331027
    Abstract: A diffraction grating structure having ultra-high density of grooves comprises an echellette substrate having periodically repeating recessed features, and a multi-layer stack of materials disposed on the echellette substrate. The surface of the diffraction grating is planarized, such that layers of the multi-layer stack form a plurality of lines disposed on the planarized surface of the structure in a periodical fashion, wherein lines having a first property alternate with lines having a dissimilar property on the surface of the substrate. For example, in one embodiment, lines comprising high-Z and low-Z materials alternate on the planarized surface providing a structure that is suitable as a diffraction grating for EUV and soft X-rays. In some embodiments, line density of between about 10,000 lines/mm to about 100,000 lines/mm is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Howard A. Padmore, Dmytro L. Voronov, Rossana Cambie, Valeriy V. Yashchuk, Eric M. Gullikson
  • Patent number: 8329653
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for reducing or inhibiting net beta-amyloid peptide production and/or amyloid plaque formation. The methods and compositions involve administering a netrin-1 polypeptide or netrin-1 therapeutic to a subject in need thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Buck Institute for Age Research, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Patrick Mehlen, Dale E. Bredesen, Filipe Calheiros-Lourenco, Veronica Galvan
  • Patent number: 8324651
    Abstract: A cathode that contain nanostructures that extend into the organic layer of an OLED has been described. The cathode can have an array of nanotubes or a layer of nanoclusters extending out from its surface. In another arrangement, the cathode is patterned and etched to form protruding nanostructures using a standard lithographic process. Various methods for fabricating these structures are provided, all of which are compatible with large-scale manufacturing. OLEDs made with these novel electrodes have greatly enhanced electron injection, have good environmental stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: Samuel S. Mao, Gao Liu, Stephen G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8323087
    Abstract: A wager gaming machine having software and components allowing for automatic powering on and off (also referred to as remote out-of-band power control) bypassing the need for human operator intervention is described. The gaming machine has a master gaming controller and a network interface. The interface includes an input port supporting a TCP/IP connection which can be used by another network component having the gaming machine's IP address. The gaming machine may also include a Web server operating on the input port. The Web server may receive HTTP messages on the input port even when the gaming machine is powered off. Thus, the machine is capable of receiving an HTTP message at the input port instructing the machine to power on. The gaming machine may also contain a manageability engine processor for executing an active management system software component. This component implements the Web server on the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Xuedong Chen, Binh Nguyen, Brian Underdahl
  • Patent number: 8325349
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to techniques for improving optofluidic microscope (OFM) devices. One technique that may be used employs surface tension at a hydrophobic surface to passively pump the fluid sample through the fluid channel. Another technique uses electrodes to adjust the position of objects in the fluid channel. Another technique computationally adjusts the focal plane of an image wavefront measured using differential interference contrast (DIC) based on Young's interference by back propagating the image wavefront from the detection focal plane to a different focal plane. These techniques can be employed separately or in combination to improve the capabilities of OFM devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Xiquan Cui, Lap Man Lee, Changhuei Yang
  • Patent number: 8325409
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for selectively allowing light to pass through a substantially transparent substrate or blocking the light, at least to some degree. Some embodiments provide a plurality of reflective vanes that can be positioned in at least two positions. According to some such implementations, when the vanes are in an open position, incident light is allowed to pass through the window. The light may reflect from two or more vanes before passing through the window. When a sufficient voltage is applied between vane electrodes and other electrodes, the vanes are pulled down, reflecting back at least some of the incident light. The voltage may be controlled according to detected temperature, ambient light intensity, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivasan Sethuraman, Clayton Ka Tsun Chan
  • Patent number: 8323103
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating configuration of a gaming machine, and for facilitating authentication testing of selected components of a gaming machine. In at least one embodiment, configuration of the gaming machine may be effected via the use of a gaming machine configuration device. When the presence of a gaming machine configuration device is detected, configuration indicia stored on the configuration device may be accessed and used to determine at least one configuration parameter relating to configuration of the gaming machine. Configuration or reconfiguration of the gaming machine may then be implemented using the at least one configuration parameter. In at least one embodiment, authentication of the gaming machine component may be effected via the use of a gaming machine authentication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Frederic C. Fabbri
  • Patent number: 8323820
    Abstract: Li/air battery cells are configurable to achieve very high energy density. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. In addition to the aqueous catholyte, components of the cathode compartment include an air cathode (e.g., oxygen electrode) and a variety of other possible elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Alexei Petrov, Kirill Pridatko
  • Patent number: D671901
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivelin Angelov, Brian Severson, Natan Solomon
  • Patent number: D672010
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Percival Verdeflor, Alan Popiolkowski, Evan Patton