Patents Examined by Nam Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8913452
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a data transmission unit configured to transmit differential data between a first data line pair and a second data line pair; and first and second power supply voltage generation units configured to generate precharging voltages to be applied to the first and second data line pairs, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Dong-Kyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8908456
    Abstract: An operating method of a semiconductor memory device includes precharging a channel region of a program-inhibited cell of first memory cells coupled to a first word line, selected from a first one of word line groups between a drain select line and a source select line, to a first level based on first data; performing a first program operation for storing the first data in the first memory cells; precharging the channel region of a program-inhibited cell of second memory cells coupled to a second word line, selected from a second one of the word line groups, to a second level based on second data to be stored in the second memory cells; and performing a second program operation for storing the second data in the second memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoung Hwan Park, Seung Won Kim
  • Patent number: 8906238
    Abstract: Liquid clarifier and method for clarifying liquid, comprising a liquid reactor which comprises an cylindrical tank having an upper vertical section and a lower tapered section, an inner cylinder extending along at least part of the upper section of the tank and an outlet for clarified liquid at the top of the tank, where the liquid clarifier further comprises a gas compressor adapted to inject compressed gas into the lower region of the cylinder and an inlet for an unclear liquid at the upper region of the cylinder, and at least one partition wall inside the cylinder, where the at least one partition wall create flow channels in the lower region of the inner chamber, where the compressed gas is adapted to be injected through gas inlets in flow channel/s in order to create an upward flow in the flow channel/s having gas inlets, which will create a downward flow in the flow channel/s without gas inlets, where the at least one partition wall extends out of the lower region of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Flocazur AB
    Inventors: Ninni Petersson, Luc Antelme
  • Patent number: 8908408
    Abstract: A circuit according to embodiments includes: a plurality of bit-string comparators each of which includes a plurality of single-bit comparators each of which includes first and second input terminals, first and second match-determination terminals, and a memory storing data and inverted data in a pair, the first input terminal being connected to a respective search line, the second input terminal being connected to an inverted search line being paired with the respective search line, and a matching line connecting the first and second match-determination terminals of the single-bit comparators; a pre-charge transistor of which source is connected to a supply voltage line; a common matching line connected to a drain of the pre-charge transistor and the matching lines of the bit-string comparators; and an output inverter of which input is connected to the common matching line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kosuke Tatsumura, Masato Oda, Atsuhiro Kinoshita, Koichiro Zaitsu, Mari Matsumoto, Shinichi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8900455
    Abstract: A filter assembly for filtering a fluid. The filter assembly at least one filter in a housing, an inlet lid mounted over the filter housing and including an inlet for the inlet of fluid into the housing, and an outlet lid mounted over the filter housing and including an outlet for the outlet of fluid from the housing. The assembly also includes an inlet plunger adapted for sealing flow from the inlet when the inlet plunger is biased to a first sealing position, and an outlet plunger adapted for sealing flow to the outlet when the outlet plunger is biased to a first sealing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Meissner Filtration Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Trottier, Charles N. Carter, Christopher A. Meissner, Werner Curt Fischer
  • Patent number: 8900448
    Abstract: A treatment device for stormwater is provided that comprises a container which in use contains a growing medium and a hydrodynamic separator located within the container. The hydrodynamic separator comprises a separation chamber, an inlet duct extending from the outside of the container to the separation chamber, a solids outlet; and a liquid outlet that opens into the container. In use, liquid flow containing solids enters the separation chamber through the inlet duct and is caused to swirl within the separation chamber, thereby causing solids to exit the separation chamber through the solids outlet and liquid to exit the separation chamber through the liquid outlet and to flow into the growing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hydro International PLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Fink, Andrew Pearson Nancollis, Robert Yaw Gyamfi Andoh, Keith Garry Hutchings
  • Patent number: 8897082
    Abstract: The data transmission circuit includes: a plurality of local bit line pairs through which data is read simultaneously; a plurality of voltage change detection circuits provided for the plurality of local bit line pairs; a global bit line pair; a plurality of column selection circuits configured to select one of the local bit line pairs and connect the selected local bit line pair to the global bit line pair; and a sense amplifier connected to the global bit line pair. The sense amplifier is controlled by a sense amplifier activation signal to which the outputs of the plurality of voltage change detection circuits are connected, whereby the voltage of a selected read data line pair is amplified using discharge of a non-selected read data line pair, to achieve high-speed read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Koike
  • Patent number: 8894733
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for recycling a cerium oxide abrasive. The method may include adding a strong alkali solution to a slurry waste of the cerium oxide abrasive, adding sodium fluoride to the slurry waste, and separating a cerium oxide particle included in the slurry waste from other kinds of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-Jae Moon, Sang-Oeb Na, Hyung-Young Oh
  • Patent number: 8897065
    Abstract: A method for data storage includes initially storing a sequence of data pages in a memory that includes multiple memory arrays, such that successive data pages in the sequence are stored in alternation in a first number of the memory arrays. The initially-stored data pages are rearranged in the memory so as to store the successive data pages in the sequence in a second number of the memory arrays, which is less than the first number. The rearranged data pages are read from the second number of the memory arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Kasorla, Eyal Gurgi, Dotan Sokolov, Ofir Shalvi
  • Patent number: 8894853
    Abstract: A filter device for a water purifier including a filter unit having a flange having an inlet, an outlet, an optional discharge port, opposite engaging protrusions, and opposite engaging recesses; a connecting member fitted into the flange so as to be connected with the inlet, the outlet, and optional discharge port and having inner communicating passages so as to be connected with respective connecting holes, a cap member fitted around the flange to cover the connecting member and having on an outer circumference connecting ports communicating with the respective connecting holes, the cap member having opposite engaging holes corresponding to the engaging protrusions and opposite engaging grooves corresponding to the engaging recesses, and a fixing member engaging on an inner end with the engaging recess through the engaging groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Jeong Beom Kim
  • Patent number: 8887924
    Abstract: A field water purification system is described. The field water purification system includes a container and a filter coupled to an outlet port of the container. The container includes a first layer and a second layer of polymeric material. A first edge of the first layer is bonded to a first edge of the second layer. A second edge of the first layer is bonded to a second edge of the second layer. A first end of the first layer is bonded to a first end of the second layer. The outlet port is disposed in the first layer at a first distance from the first end. A flat water filter is also described. A method for treating water is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cal Poly Corporation
    Inventors: Trygrve J. Lundquist, Patricia M. Compas-Markman
  • Patent number: 8888998
    Abstract: A head for a water filter system having a filter element including a three-way valve member movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position. When the valve member is in the first position, incoming water is directed to the filter element to remove sediment and impurities from the water. When the valve member is in the second position, the incoming water is blocked from passing through the filter element and the valve member. Lastly, when the valve member is in the third position, the incoming water passes through the valve member and not the filter element so that the filter element can be removed and replaced without interrupting the incoming water flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Paragon Water Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David Swain
  • Patent number: 8887925
    Abstract: Asymmetrically profiled wedge bar screen used for inertial separation of suspended particles, wherein the profile of the bars is a generalized trapezoid, tilted in the direction of the sweeping flow with a distinctly extended trailing edge at the aft face side of the cross section of the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Abbas Motakef
  • Patent number: 8885423
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a sense amplifier for a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). This sense amplifier includes a bit line to be coupled to a cell to be sensed in the DRAM, and a complement bit line which carries a complement of a signal on the bit line. The sense amplifier also includes a p-type field-effect transistor (PFET) pair comprising cross-coupled PFETs that selectively couple either the bit line or the complement bit line to a high bit-line voltage. The sense amplifier additionally includes an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) pair comprising cross-coupled NFETs that selectively couple either the bit line or the complement bit line to ground. This NFET pair is lightly doped to provide a low threshold-voltage mismatch between NFETs in the NFET pair. In one variation, the gate material for the NFETs is selected to have a work function that compensates for a negative threshold voltage in the NFETs which results from the light substrate doping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Vogelsang, Gary B. Bronner
  • Patent number: 8883000
    Abstract: A water purification apparatus comprising at least: (a) one or more water purification components to provide a purified water stream, preferably having a conductivity of less than 1 ?S/cm; and (b) a stepper motor (35) to control the dispense of the purified water stream (28) from the water purification apparatus. Stepper motors can provide very fine and accurate control of the dispense of the purified water stream from the water purification apparatus, which control is unaffected by the flow or flow rate of the purified water stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: VWS (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Lee Underwood, Matthew Dobson
  • Patent number: 8883013
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a treatment installation of aqueous fluid, in particular to ensure elimination of organic micropollutants and natural organic matter, comprising a single reactor (10) for treatment of aqueous fluid by contact with a fluidized bed of coagulated and flocculated powdered activated carbon, operating in ascending flow, said reactor being equipped with injection means of new powdered activated carbon, coagulant and polymer, arranged to define three distinct operating zones in the reactor: a first arranged zone (A) at the base of the reactor to ensure intake and homogeneous distribution of the aqueous fluid pre-treated by contact with coagulant and polymer, a second zone, surmounting the first, constituted by the fluidized bed of coagulated and flocculated powdered activated carbon (B), and a third zone (C), arranged in the top part of the reactor for separation and recovery of the purified aqueous liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Saur
    Inventor: Jean Perot
  • Patent number: 8885413
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for performing write operations on non-volatile memory are described. A described system includes a memory structure including non-volatile memory cells that are arranged on word lines and bit lines and a microcontroller that is communicatively coupled with the memory structure. The memory structure can include non-volatile memory cells that are arranged on word lines and bit lines. The microcontroller can be configured to receive data to write to the memory structure, write the data to the memory structure using a selected word line of the word lines, detect a failure to write the data, apply, based on the failure, a negative bias voltage to one or more unselected word lines of the word lines during a negative bias period, and write the data to the portion of the memory cells using the selected word line during the negative bias period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Danut Manea, Erwin Castillon, Uday Mudumba, Sabina Centazzo, Stephen Trinh, Dixie Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8885397
    Abstract: Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) element suitable for a thermally-assisted write operation and for a self-referenced read operation, including a magnetic tunnel junction portion having a first portion and a second portion, each portion including a storage layer, a sense layer, and a tunnel barrier layer; the magnetic tunnel junction further including an antiferromagnetic layer between the two storage layers and pinning a storage magnetization of each of the storage layers below a critical temperature, and freeing them at and above the critical temperature; such that, during a write operation, a free magnetization of each of the sense layer is magnetically saturable according to a direction of a write magnetic field when applied; and the storage magnetizations are switchable in a direction substantially parallel and corresponding to the direction of the saturated free magnetizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Crocus Technology SA
    Inventor: Ioan Lucian Prejbeanu
  • Patent number: 8875904
    Abstract: A circular filtering disc and a filter device having the filtering disc. The filtering disc includes a circular partition plate having an inner hub and an outer rim, with radial inlet holes formed in the outer rim and introducing water to the partition plate, and a vertical outlet hole formed in the center of the inner hub and discharging pure water; and a filter fabric placed on or below the partition plate, wherein water supplied to the filtering disc passes through the filter fabric and becomes concentrated at the vertical outlet hole, and is discharged from the filtering disc through the vertical outlet hole. In the filter device, raw water is supplied through the circumferential edges of the circular filtering discs stacked on top of one another in the filter device and is filtered prior to being discharged from the filter device through the center of the filtering discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: K-1 Ecotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Hyun Choi, Dae Hyun No, Jong Sang Kim
  • Patent number: 8873302
    Abstract: An array of memory cells, in which one or more memory cells have a common doped region. Each memory cell includes a transistor with a floating gate, source and drain regions, and separate gate and drain voltage controls. Each memory cell also includes a coupling capacitor electrically coupled to and located laterally from the floating gate. In the array, first bit lines are oriented in a first direction, wherein a first bit line is coupled to drain regions of transistors that are arranged in a column. The array includes second bit lines also oriented in the first direction, wherein a second bit line is coupled to source regions of transistors that are arranged in a column. The array also includes word lines oriented in a second direction, wherein each word line is coupled to control gates of coupling capacitors that are arranged in a row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants, Michael Curtis Parris