Patents Examined by Nam Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8828240
    Abstract: A method to purify water includes the steps of providing a septic tank to hold unpurified water and having an outlet to provide a water stream for processing, and processing the water in an electrocoagulation and flocculation reactor that uses electrical energy to convert dissolved solid material in the water stream into suspended particulate form that can be subsequently filtered and separated out. The method continues with introducing air into the water stream to promote aerobic processing of contaminants and to assist in agglomeration and flocculation of suspended solid material, filtering the water stream to separate suspended solid material from the stream and to adsorb some of its dissolved contaminants, and processing the water stream with a reverse osmosis processor that provides a reject stream that provides water back to the septic tank and a recycle stream that provides unpurified water back to the water stream exiting the septic tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Schranze, Ronald Knepper
  • Patent number: 8821718
    Abstract: Automated fluid handling system comprising a housing (20) and two or more fluid handling units (26) arranged as interchangeable modular components with an external fluidics section (30) and an internal non fluidics section (32), and wherein the housing (20) comprises a liquid handling panel (22) with two or more of component positions for receiving said interchangeable modular components (26) such that the external fluidics section (30) is separated from the non fluidics section (32) by the liquid handling panel (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventors: Johan Blomberg, Mats Lundkvist
  • Patent number: 8821725
    Abstract: A slurry handling and disposal system is provided for waste slurry and particulates. The system includes a waste bin provided with support structures for retaining a flexible removable filter element with a filter element supported above a floor of the waste bin. The particulate matter component of a volume of the waste slurry and particulates deposited in the filter element is retained in said filter element while the liquid component of the waste slurry and particulates are collected in a base portion of the waste bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Owen Charles Weston
  • Patent number: 8824224
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to components of a memory system that support frequency-agile strobe enable window generation during read accesses. In specific embodiments, this memory system contains a memory controller which includes a timing circuit to synchronize a timing-enable signal with a timing signal returned from a read path, wherein the timing signal includes a delay from the read path. In some embodiments, the timing circuit further comprises two calibration loops. The first calibration loop tracks the timing-enable signal with respect to a cycle-dependent delay in the delay, wherein the cycle-dependent delay depends on a frequency of the strobe signal. The second calibration loop tracks the timing-enable signal with respect to a cycle-independent delay in the delay, wherein the cycle-independent delay does not depend on the frequency of the strobe signal. In some embodiments, the first calibration loop and the second calibration loop are cascaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Brian S. Leibowitz, Ely Tsern
  • Patent number: 8824194
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device performing pipeline processing with the use of a reading portion reading an instruction and an arithmetic portion performing an operation in accordance with the instruction, the instruction held in the reading portion is transmitted from the flip-flop to the memory when branch prediction turns out to be wrong. Note that the arithmetic portion controls transmission and reception of the instruction between the flip-flop and the memory which are included in the reading portion. This enables elimination of redundant operations in the reading portion in the case where an instruction read by the reading portion after the branch prediction turns out to be wrong is a subroutine, or the like. That is, the instruction held in the memory is transmitted back to the flip-flop without rereading of the same instruction by the reading portion, whereby the instruction can be output to the arithmetic portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetomo Kobayashi, Yutaka Shionoiri, Tatsuji Nishijima
  • Patent number: 8821724
    Abstract: Liquid filter arrangements are described and shown. The arrangements generally include a filter member comprising a shell enclosing a filter cartridge. Unique features for interface between the enclosed filter cartridge and the shell are provided. Also provided are unique features for interaction between the cartridge and a filter head, in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Mandt, Brent Gulsvig, John Hacker
  • Patent number: 8821729
    Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier element for an aerobic biological water treatment system. The carrier element has a first end and a second end at a distance from each other, the maximum diameter of the first end being larger than the maximum diameter of the second end. It also has biofilm growing surface structures that extend from the first end to the second end and from inner part of the element towards periphery of the element and at least two support structures that encircle the growing surface structures at the periphery of the element and connect the growing surface structures to each other. The support structures define the outer boundary surface of the carrier element, whereby the support structures are spaced from each other so that apertures allowing access to the biofilm growing surface structures are formed between the support structures. The invention relates also to a water treatment system employing the carrier elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Flootech Oy
    Inventors: Petri Pajuniemi, Mikko Siivonen
  • Patent number: 8817570
    Abstract: Methods are provided for operating a memory device. An exemplary method involves obtaining a standby current through a memory block and adjusting a supply voltage for the memory block based on the obtained standby current. An exemplary memory device includes a block of one or more memory cells, a voltage regulating element coupled to the block to provide a supply voltage to the block, a current sensing element coupled to the block to measure current through the block, and a control module coupled to the voltage regulating element and the current sensing element to adjust the supply voltage provided by the voltage regulating element based on a measured current through the block obtained from the current sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.
    Inventors: William McMahon, Andreas Kerber, Tanya Nigam
  • Patent number: 8815099
    Abstract: Various devices and methods for filtering and/or collecting tissue which has been cut or resected from various regions of a patient's body are described herein. In certain variations, a filter or tissue collection chamber may include various components, which allow for the removal or separation of tissue from a fluid medium and for the collection of the tissue within the filter or tissue collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Laurimed, LLC
    Inventors: Brian R. Dubois, James T. Nielsen, Alexander Gordon
  • Patent number: 8811068
    Abstract: An integrated circuit can include SRAM cells, with pull-up transistors, pull-down transistors, and pass-gate transistors having a screening region positioned a distance below the gate and separated from the gate by a semiconductor layer. The screening region has a concentration of screening region dopants, the concentration of screening region dopants being higher than a concentration of dopants in the semiconductor layer. The screening region can provide an enhanced body coefficient for the pull-up transistors to increase a read static noise margin of the SRAM cell when a bias voltage is applied to the screening region. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Suvolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Clark, Scott E. Thompson, Richard S. Roy, Robert Rogenmoser, Damodar R. Thummalapally
  • Patent number: 8804406
    Abstract: An electronic storage device includes a bit cell circuit, feedback circuit, and read accelerator circuit. The bit cell circuit is adapted for connection with true and complementary bit lines. The feedback circuit includes a first transistor which is coupled to a first voltage potential and responsive to the complementary bit line. The read accelerator circuit includes second, third, and fourth transistors coupled between the feedback circuit and a second voltage potential. The second transistor is responsive to a read line, the third transistor is responsive to the true bit line, and the fourth transistor is responsive to the complementary bit line. The read accelerator circuit is configured to provide a discharge path for at least one of the true bit line and the complementary bit line during a read access of the bit cell. Embodiments of a corresponding electronic read access accelerator device and method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Vinod Rachamadugu, Setti Shanmukheswara Rao
  • Patent number: 8800782
    Abstract: A filter element comprising an annular filtering media defining first and second axial ends and surrounding an interior area having a central axis, a first end cap sealing attached to said first axial end of said filter media, a second annular end cap sealing attached to said second axial end of said filter media, said second end cap defining a central opening, and a central tube extending from the opening of the second end cap, wherein the central tube includes an actuator exclusive of keys, free ends, or projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Wix Filtration Corp LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Roll, Willie L. Stamey, Jr., Robert H. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8804435
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a non-volatile semiconductor storage device including a non-volatile memory, a monitoring section, a determining section, and a notification processing section. The non-volatile memory includes a plurality of memory cells driven by word lines and a voltage generating section that generates a read voltage to be applied to the word lines. The monitoring section monitors a change in a threshold distribution of the plurality of memory cells upon performing a read processing to read data from the plurality of memory cells by applying the read voltage to the word lines. The determining section determines a degree of deterioration of the non-volatile memory in accordance with a monitoring result by the monitoring section. The notification processing section notifies a life of the non-volatile memory in accordance with a determining result by the determining section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Naoki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8794449
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating a fuel filter (1) with a diaphragm (16) for cleaning water separated from the fuel, comprising a collecting chamber (9) for the water geodetically arranged at the bottom in a housing (2) of the fuel filter (1), are proposed, comprising at least one sensor (10, 11) each for the maximum (10) and for the minimum (11) water level in the collecting chamber (9), by means of which a valve (13) for discharging the water from the collecting chamber (9) arranged between the collecting chamber (9) and a water purification device (14) containing the diaphragm (16) is controllable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Micke, Holger Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8790516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing arsenic as scorodite from solutions that contain iron and arsenic. In accordance with the method, arsenic is first precipitated as ferric arsenate and subsequently processed hydrothermally into crystalline scorodite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Mikko Ruonala, Jaakko Leppinen, Ville Miettinen
  • Patent number: 8787095
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may relate to programming a memory cell with a programming pulse that includes a quenching period. The quenching period includes an initial portion and a subsequent portion, with the subsequent portion different than the initial portion. During the initial portion, the amplitude of the programming pulse may be reduced to a first target amplitude level, and during the subsequent portion, the amplitude of the programming pulse may be further reduced to a second target amplitude level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Xiaonan Chen
  • Patent number: 8787104
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a temperature sensor configured to generate a low-temperature signal which is enabled at below first set temperature and a high-temperature signal which is enabled at above second set temperature; a start signal generator configured to receive a refresh command and generate a start signal according to the low-temperature signal; and an address counter configured to count refresh addresses in response to the start signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Keun Kook Kim
  • Patent number: 8787066
    Abstract: Methods for producing RRAM resistive switching elements having optimal switching behavior include crystalline phase structural changes. Structural changes indicative of optimal switching behavior include hafnium oxide phases in an interfacial region between a resistive switching layer and an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Intermolecular, Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Yun Wang, Tony Chiang, Imran Hashim, Vidyut Gopal
  • Patent number: 8787088
    Abstract: In connection with an erase operation of a block of non-volatile storage elements, a determination is made as to whether the block is partially but not fully programmed. A degree of partial programming can be determined by a pre-erase read operation which determines a highest programmed word line, or which determines whether there is a programmed storage element in a subset of word lines above a small subset of source side word lines. Since a partially programmed block will pass an erase-verify test more easily than a fully programmed block, a measure is taken to ensure that the block is sufficiently deeply erased. In one approach, an erase-verify test is made stricter by adjusting a sensing parameter when the block is partially programmed. In another approach, the block can be programmed before being erased. Or, an extra erase pulse which is not followed by an erase-verify test can be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Deepanshu Dutta, Ken Oowada, Koichi Nishimura, Yingda Dong
  • Patent number: 8787103
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion window is defined by reference voltages stored in reference memory cells of a memory device. A first reference voltage is read to define an upper limit of the conversion window and a second reference voltage is read to define a lower limit of the conversion window. An analog voltage representing a digital bit pattern is read from a memory cell and converted to the digital bit pattern by an analog-to-digital conversion process using the conversion window as the limits for the sampling process. This scheme helps in real time tracking of the ADC window with changes in the program window of the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishal Sarin, Jung-Sheng Hoei, Frankie F. Roohparvar