Patents by Inventor Steven TO

Steven TO has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140191302
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip having a photonics device and a CMOS device which includes a photonics device portion and a CMOS device portion on a semiconductor chip; a metal or polysilicon gate on the CMOS device portion, the metal or polysilicon gate having a gate extension that extends toward the photonics device portion; a germanium gate on the photonics device portion such that the germanium gate is coplanar with the metal or polysilicon gate, the germanium gate having a gate extension that extends toward the CMOS device portion, the germanium gate extension and metal or polysilicon gate extension joined together to form a common gate; spacers formed on the germanium gate and the metal or polysilicon gate; and nitride encapsulation formed on the germanium gate. A method is also disclosed pertaining to fabricating the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Solomon Assefa, William M.J. Green, Steven M. Shank, Yurii A. Vlasov
  • Publication number: 20140192531
    Abstract: A light unit includes a bulb having a light source with lead wires and a separator, a switch member that includes a support member and a pair of spring terminals, and a socket having two or more conductive terminals and adapted to receive the bulb and the switch member. The switch member is adapted to cause the pair of spring terminals to contact one another to form an electrical short circuit across the pair of conductive terminals and the light source when the bulb is completely or partially removed from the socket. The lead wires form an electrical connection across the conductive terminals and the separator breaks contact between the pair of spring terminals when the bulb is seated in the socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: SEASONAL SPECIALITIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Altamura, Robert C. Neuman, Dennis Wang
  • Publication number: 20140190070
    Abstract: The foot snare triggering device of the present invention is designed to be used with a foot snare, and comprises a trigger plate assembly, having a tension adjustment means which allows the trigger plate assembly to pivotally yield to vertical pressure. A trigger mechanism has a trigger end set within said plate assembly and a mechanism end attached to an extension mechanism, and a snare attachment port located within the trigger mechanism for releasably securing a foot snare by moving longitudinally when the trigger mechanism is engaged by pressure to said plate assembly allowing a foot snare to be released from the snare attachment port after triggering said device. A pan is pivotally connected by a hinge to the plate underside distal to the pan tension adjustment means. The pan has a trigger mount located adjacent to the trigger assembly connection through which the trigger mount engagingly receives the trigger mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Steven DeMers
  • Publication number: 20140190000
    Abstract: An approach to refurbishing or remanufacturing an electronic device may involve exposing electrical components that are situated within an interior of the electronic device. The approach may also involve replacing one or more defective electronic components of the electronic device with one or more replacement components and applying a protective coating to at least a portion of the interior of the electronic device. The protective coating may cover the circuit board and the electronic components it carries. The protective coating may also cover at least some of the electrical connections of the electronic device. The protective coating may also be applied to the replacement component prior to reassembly. The resulting refurbished or remanufactured electronic device may thus be provided with moisture resistance to help protect the electronic device from damage caused by exposure to moisture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: HzO, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake Stevens, Max Sorenson, Scott B. Gordon
  • Publication number: 20140193820
    Abstract: System for detection and/or analysis of nucleic acids using nanowires to detect covalent modification of nucleic acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: Hongye SUN, Steven FUNG, Sam Lee WOO
  • Publication number: 20140190802
    Abstract: Improvements in an emergency switch for an end cap flashlight that allows conducting power to the light source by applying side or rotational force on the end caps of the flashlight. The cap is designed to give faster and more convenient access to light in an emergency, or when needed. The end cap connects to the inner conductor with a castled shape that allows the conductors to be moved in or out alignment to allow or prevent contact. The gasket or washer provides insulation and spacing of the conductors. Side forces on the end cap overcome the spacing of the washer to make electrical contact. The end cap may also support a glass breaking device. The glass breaker is a hardened tip on the end of the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: STEVEN MICHAEL RORICK
  • Publication number: 20140192405
    Abstract: A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in life sciences including, microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. In an embodiment, the solid state illumination system is coupled to a microscope using a liquid light guide. The liquid light guide is coupled to a microscope using an adjustable collimator which optimizes the light output for input to the optical train of the microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Lumencor, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia B. Jaffe, Steven M. Jaffe
  • Publication number: 20140195313
    Abstract: Tracking use of a destination location is disclosed. A first unique identifier of a first vehicle is received based on a sensor located within the first vehicle. A first location of the first vehicle is determined based on a first vehicle image taken at a second time. A second location of the first vehicle is determined based on a second vehicle image taken at a third time. Finally, it is indicated that the first vehicle began use of the destination location at the second time and that the first vehicle completed use of the destination location at the third time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Cloudparc, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven David Nerayoff, Thompson S. Wong
  • Publication number: 20140191588
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for reducing or selectively terminating the power supplied to or the voltage present at the ports of electronic devices are disclosed. Methods, apparatuses and systems for reducing or terminating the power supplied to and, thus, the voltage across electrical contacts of one or more ports of a portable electronic device when the port is not in use may be effected in a variety of ways and may prevent corrosion or other moisture-induced damage to each port, and to the electronic device of which the port is a part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: HzO, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Stevens
  • Publication number: 20140190971
    Abstract: A beverage delivery can may comprise various configurations, including various aperture shapes, sizes, and configurations and various shapes, textures, configurations, and dimensions of the lid and surface of the can. A beverage can may comprise various exterior shapes such as a tapered shape, a faceted shape, a pint glass shape and the like. In embodiments, the beverage may comprise various types of nucleation devices. A beverage can may comprise a vertical portion of the can, a continuous lip indentation comprising an upper lip, a waist pinch, and a shoulder and the like. In embodiments, various external packaging may be used with one or more beverage delivery cans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicants: Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp., Boston Beer Corporation
    Inventors: Zebulon Stevens Robbins, III, Charles James Koch, Peter D. Gladstone, Andrew S. Gavrin, Mark Jacober, Howard Chasteen, Jeewon Jung, Oivind Brockmeier
  • Publication number: 20140193944
    Abstract: A polymer substrate and back contact structure for a photovoltaic element, and a photovoltaic element include a CIGS photovoltaic structure, a polymer substrate having a device side at which the photovoltaic element can be located and a back side opposite the device side. A layer of dielectric is formed at the back side of the polymer substrate. A metal structure is formed at the device side of the polymer substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Woods, Hobart Stevens, Joseph H. Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20140191314
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are provided. A fin can be formed on a semiconductor substrate, a gate can be formed across the fin, and sidewall spacers can be formed across the fin on both sides of the gate. A dummy contact can be formed across the fin and on each of the both sides of the sidewall spacers. After forming an interlayer dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, the dummy contact can be removed to form a contact trench. The dummy contact is made of a material having an etch selectivity sufficiently higher than the fin such that the removing of the dummy contact generates substantially no damage to the fin. A conductive material can be filled in the contact trench to form a trench metal contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: XINPENG WANG, STEVEN ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20140195956
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation in which one or more physical locate marks are applied by a technician to indentify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. A digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area is electronically received, and at least a portion of the received digital image is displayed on a display device. One or more digital representations of the physical locate mark(s) applied by the locate technician are added to the displayed digital image so as to generate a marked-up digital image. Information relating to the marked-up digital image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to generate the searchable electronic record of the locate operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Nielsen, Curtis Chambers
  • Publication number: 20140191917
    Abstract: Techniques for providing multi-directional receiving antenna arrays are described herein. According to an embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna array including multiple antennas and an orientation system. The orientation system includes multiple orientation marks and multiple alignment marks. At least one of the multiple antennas is configured to be positioned toward a respective station transmitter location based at least partially on an alignment of one of the multiple orientation marks relative to one of the multiple alignment marks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Publication number: 20140192589
    Abstract: Providing for two-terminal memory that mitigates diffusion of external material therein is described herein. In some embodiments, a two-terminal memory cell can comprise an electrode layer. The electrode layer can be at least in part permeable to ionically or chemically reactive material, such as oxygen or the like. The two-terminal memory can further comprise a diffusion mitigation material disposed between the electrode layer and external material. This diffusion mitigation material can be selected to mitigate or prevent diffusion of the undesired element(s) or compound(s), to mitigate or avoid exposure of such element(s) or compound(s) to the electrode layer. Accordingly, degradation of the two-terminal memory as a result of contact with the undesired element(s) or compound(s) can be mitigated by various disclosed embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Crossbar, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Patrick MAXWELL, Sung-Hyun JO
  • Publication number: 20140190529
    Abstract: Chemical etching methods and associated modules for performing the removal of metal from the edge bevel region of a semiconductor wafer are described. The methods and systems provide the thin layer of pre-rinsing liquid before applying etchant at the edge bevel region of the wafer. The etchant is less diluted and diffuses faster through a thinned layer of rinsing liquid. An edge bevel removal embodiment involving that is particularly effective at reducing process time, narrowing the metal taper and allowing for subsequent chemical mechanical polishing, is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Kousik Ganesan, Shanthinath Ghongadi, Tariq Majid, Aaron Labrie, Steven T. Mayer
  • Publication number: 20140193888
    Abstract: This invention relates to fabric and home care products comprising one or more cold water proteases and processes for making and using such products. Such compositions provide improved cleaning and freshness. Such cold water proteases may be derived from parent enzymes, including BPN? subtilisin and subtilisin derived from Bacillus lentus, by substitution, insertion and/or deletion of one or more of the parent enzymes' amino acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Philip Frank SOUTER, Glenn Steven WARD, Viktor Yuryevich ALEKSEYEV, Joshua Roy BASLER, Luis Gustavo CASAO-PEREIRA, David A ESTELL, Ayrookaran J Poulose, James T KELLIS, JR., Alexander PISARCHIK, Daniel TORRES-PAZMINO
  • Publication number: 20140195048
    Abstract: Improved robotic surgical systems, devices, and methods include selectably associatable master/slave pairs, often having more manipulator arms than will be moved simultaneously by the two hands of a surgeon. Four manipulator arms can support an image capture device, a left hand tissue manipulation tool, a right hand tissue manipulation tool, and a fourth surgical instrument, particularly for stabilizing, retracting, tool change, or other functions benefiting from intermittent movement. The four or more arms may sequentially be controlled by left and right master input control devices. The fourth arm may be used to support another image capture device, and control of some or all of the arms may be transferred back-and-forth between the operator and an assistant. Two or more robotic systems each having master controls and slave manipulators may be coupled to enable cooperative surgery between two or more operators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic H. Moll, David J. Rosa, Andris D. Ramans, Steven J. Blumenkranz, Gary S. Guthart, Gunter D. Niemeyer, William C. Nowlin, J. Kenneth Salisbury, JR., Michael J. Tierney
  • Publication number: 20140191727
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rechargeable accumulator comprising one or more metal-air cells, each cell comprising a first terminal (1) and a second terminal (2), a metallic negative electrode (3) for metal-air cell, connected to the first terminal (1), a first positive electrode (4) for releasing oxygen, a second positive electrode (5) which is a porous air electrode containing at least one oxygen reducing catalyst, an electrolyte, control means (6) suitable for continuously comparing the voltage measured between the terminal (2) and the terminal (1) with a setpoint value and for dispatching a switching signal to the switching means (7) when the measured voltage becomes smaller than the setpoint value, switching means (7) suitable for receiving a switching signal originating from the control means (6) and for connecting and disconnecting the air electrode (5) of the second terminal (2). The present invention also relates to a method using such an accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
    Inventors: Gwenaelle Toussaint, Philippe Stevens, Bernard Toussaint
  • Publication number: 20140191424
    Abstract: A gas diffuser comprises a grid of aeration pipes spaced apart and in parallel alignment with each other within a common horizontal plane and a manifold in fluid communication with the aeration pipes. A given aeration pipe (12) includes: a length (L) extending between two ends and defining an axis (Z), a hydrodynamic diameter (Dh),an elliptical cross-sectional area defining a vertical plane comprising a vertical (Y) and horizontal (X) axis intersecting through a center (C) which are perpendicular to axis (Z), an outer circumference defined by a first arc (20) comprising 30° located below the (X) axis and bisected by the (Y) axis, and a second arc (22) comprising 330° which is non-overlapping with the first arc (20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Qixiang Cai, Ning Chai, Steven J. Gluck, Billy G. Smith, Chengfeng Wang, Quan Yuan