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U.S. Patents Awarded to Inventors in Texas (Jan. 4)(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Targeted News Service Targeted News Service ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- The following federal patents were awarded to inventors in Texas. *** Texas Instruments Assigned Patent for Through Carrier Dual Side Loop-back Testing of TSV Die After Die Attach to Substrate ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Texas Instruments, Dallas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,749) developed by seven co-inventors for a "through carrier dual side loop-back testing of TSV die after die attach to substrate." The co-inventors are Daniel Joseph Stillman, Garland, Texas, James L. Oborny, Sachse, Texas, William John Antheunisse, Rowlett, Texas, Norman J. Armendariz, Plano, Texas, Ramyanshu Datta, San Jose, Texas, Kenneth M. Butler, Richardson, Texas, and Margaret Simmons-Matthews, Richardson, Texas. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of testing electronic assemblies including singulated TSV die attached to a ML package substrate, on a substrate carrier. The substrate carrier includes through-holes for allowing probe contact to the BGA substrate pads on a bottomside of the package substrate that are coupled to the frontside of the TSVs. Contactable TSV tips on the bottomside of the TSV die are contacted with a topside coupler that includes a pattern of coupling terminals that matches a layout of at least a portion of the TSV tips or pads coupled to the TSV tips. The topside coupler electrically connects pairs of coupling terminals to provide a plurality of TSV loop back paths. The BGA substrate pads are contacted with a plurality of probes tips that extend through the through-holes to couple to the frontside of the TSVs. Electrical testing is performed across the electronic assembly to obtain at least one test parameter." The patent application was filed on June 7, 2010 (12/795,376). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,749&OS=8,344,749&RS=8,344,749 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Freescale Semiconductor Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Freescale Semiconductor, Austin, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,503) developed by four co-inventors for a "3-D circuits with integrated passive devices." The co-inventors are Paul W. Sanders, Scottsdale, Ariz., Robert E. Jones, Austin, Texas, Michael F. Petras, Phoenix, and Chandrasekaram Ramiah, Phoenix. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "3-D ICs (18, 18', 90) with integrated passive devices (IPDs) (38) having reduced cross-talk and high packing density are provided by stacking separately prefabricated substrates (20, 30, 34) coupled by through-substrate-vias (TSVs) (40). An active device (AD) substrate (20) has contacts on its upper portion (26). An isolator substrate (30) is bonded to the AD substrate (20) so that TSVs (4030) in the isolator substrate (30) are coupled to the contacts (26) on the AD substrate (20), and desirably has an interconnect zone (44) on its upper surface. An IPD substrate (34) is bonded to the isolator substrate (30) so that TSVs (4034) therein are coupled to the interconnect zone (44) on the isolator substrate (30) and/or TSVs (4030) therein. The IPDs (38) are formed on its upper surface and coupled by TSVs (4034, 4030) in the IPD (34) and isolator (30) substrates to devices (26) in the AD substrate (20). The isolator substrate (30) provides superior IPD (38) to AD (26) cross-talk attenuation while permitting each substrate (20, 30, 34) to have small high aspect ratio TSVs (40), facilitating high circuit packing density and efficient manufacturing." The patent application was filed on Nov. 25, 2008 (12/277,519). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,503&OS=8,344,503&RS=8,344,503 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Phoenix Renewable Energy Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Phoenix Renewable Energy, San Marcos, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,527) developed by Ruben Becerra, San Marcos, Texas, for an "apparatus for converting momentum into useful work." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An efficient apparatus for converting momentum into useful work is provided. The apparatus is disposed within a roadway such that when a passing automobile drives over the device, the top of the device is moved downward on a hinge causing a pulley attached to a clutch to rotate a shaft. The clutch ensures that on the "up-stroke" the shaft is not rotated in the opposite direction. Through a series of pulleys, an optimum gear ratio is achieved finally connecting to a generator to output electricity. The top of the device is returned to be even with the roadway by a spring loaded wheel assembly. The apparatus is designed to accommodate loads up to 18,000 lbs and be capable of being deployed across a multi-lane roadway." The patent application was filed on May 13, 2010 (12/779,889). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,527&OS=8,344,527&RS=8,344,527 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Texas Instruments Assigned Patent for Warpage Control Features on the Bottomside of TSV Die Lateral to Protruding Bottomside Tips ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Texas Instruments, Dallas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,493) developed by Jeffrey Alan West, Dallas, Jeffrey E. Brighton, Frisco, Texas, and Margaret Simmons-Matthews, Richardson, Texas, for a "warpage control features on the bottomside of TSV die lateral to protruding bottomside tips." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A through substrate via (TSV) die includes a substrate including a topside semiconductor surface having active circuitry. The die includes a plurality of TSVs that each include an inner metal core that extend from the topside semiconductor surface to protruding TSV tips that extend out from the bottomside surface. A metal cap is on the protruding TSV tips that includes at least one metal layer that has a metal that is not in the inner metal core. A plurality of protruding warpage control features are on the bottomside surface lateral to the protruding TSV tips, wherein the plurality of protruding warpage control features do not have the protruding TSV tips thereunder. The plurality of protruding warpage control features can include the same metal layer(s) used for the metal cap." The patent application was filed on Jan. 6, 2011 (12/985,823). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,493&OS=8,344,493&RS=8,344,493 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Texas Instruments Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Texas Instruments, Dallas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,774) developed by Sriram Murali, Bangalore, India, Karthik Subburaj, Bangalore, India, and Neeraj Nayak, Richardson, Texas, for a "frequency synthesizer with immunity from oscillator pulling." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Frequency synthesizer with immunity from oscillator pulling. The frequency synthesizer for generating an output frequency includes an oscillator that is capable of generating a first frequency. The frequency synthesizer also includes an output divider coupled to the oscillator. The output divider is configurable to allow the oscillator to generate a second frequency to prevent degradation in phase noise due to an interference to the first frequency of the oscillator, and to generate the output frequency from the second frequency." The patent application was filed on Feb. 18, 2010 (12/707,682). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,774&OS=8,344,774&RS=8,344,774 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Freescale Semiconductor Assigned Patent for Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) Having Bit Cells Accessible by Separate Read and Write Paths ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Freescale Semiconductor, Austin, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,345,469) developed by Perry H. Pelley, Austin, Texas, and Ravindraraj Ramaraju, Round Rock, Texas, for "static random access memory (SRAM) having bit cells accessible by separate read and write paths." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method is for reading a first bit cell of a static random access memory in which the static random access memory has a first plurality of bit cells including the first bit cell. Each bit cell of the first plurality of bit cells includes a cross coupled pair of inverters for storing a logic state, optimized for being written, and powered by a read voltage during a read of the first plurality of bit cells. Each bit cell of the first plurality of bit cells is coupled to a true read bit line and a true write bit line, and a second plurality of bit cells is coupled to a complementary read bit line and a complementary write bit line. The true and complementary read bit lines are precharged to a precharge voltage of about half the read voltage. The true read bit line is predisposed to a logic low condition. One of a group consisting of a high impedance from the first bit cell to indicate that the logic state is a logic low and a signal voltage greater than the intermediate voltage to indicate that the logic state is a logic high is output from the first bit cell to the true read bit line." The patent application was filed on Sept. 16, 2010 (12/883,275). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,345,469&OS=8,345,469&RS=8,345,469 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Ideal Power Converters Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Ideal Power Converters, Spicewood, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,345,452) developed by William C. Alexander, Spicewood, Texas, for "universal power converter with bidirectional switching devices." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods and systems for transforming electric power between two or more portals. Any or all portals can be DC, single phase AC, or multi-phase AC. Conversion is accomplished by a plurality of bi-directional conducting and blocking semiconductor switches which alternately connect an inductor and parallel capacitor between said portals, such that energy is transferred into the inductor from one or more input portals and/or phases, then the energy is transferred out of the inductor to one or more output portals and/or phases, with said parallel capacitor facilitating "soft" turn-off, and with any excess inductor energy being returned back to the input. Soft turn-on and reverse recovery is also facilitated. Said bi-directional switches allow for two power transfers per inductor/capacitor cycle, thereby maximizing inductor/capacitor utilization as well as providing for optimum converter operation with high input/output voltage ratios. Control means coordinate the switches to accomplish the desired power transfers." The patent application was filed on Aug. 8, 2011 (13/205,263). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,345,452&OS=8,345,452&RS=8,345,452 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Freescale Semiconductor Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Freescale Semiconductor, Austin, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,345,485) developed by Jon S. Choy, Austin, Texas, and Chen He, Austin, Texas, for an "erase ramp pulse width control for non-volatile memory." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of erasing a memory block of a non-volatile memory, including setting a pulse width of erase pulses to an initial width, repeatedly applying erase pulses to the memory block until the memory block meets an erase metric or until a maximum number of erase pulses have been applied, gradually adjusting a pulse voltage magnitude of the erase pulses from an initial pulse voltage level to a maximum pulse voltage level, and reducing the width of the erase pulses to less than the initial width when the pulse voltage magnitude reaches an intermediate voltage level between the initial pulse voltage level and the maximum pulse voltage level. Thus, narrow pulses are applied at higher voltage levels to reduce the amount of over erasure of the memory block." The patent application was filed on Feb. 9, 2011 (13/023,713). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,345,485&OS=8,345,485&RS=8,345,485 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Spansion Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Spansion, Sunnyvale, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,345,483) developed by four co-inventors for a "system and method for addressing threshold voltage shifts of memory cells in an electronic product." The co-inventors are Frederick C. Neumeyer, Austin, Texas, Greg Yancey, Austin, Texas, Pedro Sanchez, Austin, Texas, and Iftekhar Rahman, Austin, Texas. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods and systems for addressing threshold voltage shifts of memory cells. A method includes reading a pattern of data from a first plurality of memory cells, comparing the read of the pattern of data with a known pattern of data using a reference, and if the read of the pattern of data and the known pattern of data do not match, adjusting the reference to find a reference level that results in a matching of a read of the pattern of data and the known pattern of data. Thereafter, trim sector data is read into a second plurality of memory cells using the adjusted reference level." The patent application was filed on Jan. 21, 2011 (13/011,706). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,345,483&OS=8,345,483&RS=8,345,483 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Chevron USA Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Chevron USA, San Ramon, Calif., and Los Alamos National Security, Los Alamos, N.M., have been assigned a patent (8,345,509) developed by eight co-inventors for "system and method to create three-dimensional images of non-linear acoustic properties in a region remote from a borehole." The co-inventors are Cung Vu, Houston, Kurt T. Nihei, Oakland, Calif., Denis P. Schmitt, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Christopher Skelt, Houston, Paul A. Johnson, Santa Fe, N.M., Robert Guyer, Reno, Nev., James A. TenCate, Los Alamos, N.M., and Pierre-Yves Le Bas, Los Alamos, N.M. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "In some aspects of the disclosure, a method for creating three-dimensional images of non-linear properties and the compressional to shear velocity ratio in a region remote from a borehole using a conveyed logging tool is disclosed. In some aspects, the method includes arranging a first source in the borehole and generating a steered beam of elastic energy at a first frequency; arranging a second source in the borehole and generating a steerable beam of elastic energy at a second frequency, such that the steerable beam at the first frequency and the steerable beam at the second frequency intercept at a location away from the borehole; receiving at the borehole by a sensor a third elastic wave, created by a three wave mixing process, with a frequency equal to a difference between the first and second frequencies and a direction of propagation towards the borehole; determining a location of a three wave mixing region based on the arrangement of the first and second sources and on properties of the third wave signal; and creating three-dimensional images of the non-linear properties using data recorded by repeating the generating, receiving and determining at a plurality of azimuths, inclinations and longitudinal locations within the borehole. The method is additionally used to generate three dimensional images of the ratio of compressional to shear acoustic velocity of the same volume surrounding the borehole." The patent application was filed on May 11, 2009 (12/463,802). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,345,509&OS=8,345,509&RS=8,345,509 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** D4D Technologies Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- D4D Technologies, Richardson, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,345,261) developed by Mark S. Quadling, Plano, Texas, Henley S. Quadling, Dallas, and Alan Blair, St. Paul, Minn., for an "optical coherence tomography imaging." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A digitized image of an object may include representations of portions of the object that are obscured, occluded or otherwise unobservable. The image may be a multi-dimensional visual representation of dentition. Characteristics of the dentition and its surfaces, contours, and shape may be determined and/or analyzed. A light may be directed toward and reflected from the dentition. The reflected light may be combined with a reference to determine characteristics of the dentition, including obscured areas such as subgingival tissue." The patent application was filed on March 22, 2012 (13/427,534). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,345,261&OS=8,345,261&RS=8,345,261 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Molecular Imprints Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Molecular Imprints, Austin, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,345,242) developed by Philip D. Schumaker, Austin, Texas, and Babak Mokaberi, Cedar Park, Texas, for an "optical system for use in stage control." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Imprint lithography benefits from precise alignment between a template and a substrate during imprinting. A moire signal resulting from indicia on the template and the substrate are acquired by a system comprising a line-scan camera and a digital micromirror device (DMD) which provides a high bandwidth, low-latency signal. Once acquired, the moire signal may be used directly to align the template and the substrate without need for discrete position/angle encoders." The patent application was filed on Oct. 16, 2009 (12/580,324). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,345,242&OS=8,345,242&RS=8,345,242 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** International Business Machines Assigned Patent for Displayed View Modification in a Vehicle-to-vehicle Network ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- International Business Machines, Armonk, N.Y., has been assigned a patent (8,345,098) developed by four co-inventors for a "displayed view modification in a vehicle-to-vehicle network." The co-inventors are Travis M. Grigsby, Austin, Texas, Steven Michael Miller, Cary, N.C., Pamela Ann Nesbitt, Tampa, Fla., and Lisa Anne Seacat, San Francisco. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "In V2V or other networks in which multiple video cameras can share video data, a user may elect to modify a primary view by electronically "removing" obstructing objects from the primary view. The user begins by identifying the objects to be electronically removed from the simulated view, either by designating the boundaries of the objects or by identifying classes of objects to be removed. Pel locations associated with obstructing objects are identified in the primary data set. Video data provided by cameras other than a primary video camera is analyzed to identify common features in the primary and secondary views and to identify pels that correspond with object-associated pels in the primary view. A merged data set, consisting of pel data from the primary data set and from at least one of the secondary data sets, provides the video data presented in the simulated view." The patent application was filed on March 17, 2008 (12/049,436). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,345,098&OS=8,345,098&RS=8,345,098 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Celanese International Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Celanese International, Dallas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,186) developed by six co-inventors for "processes for producing ethanol from acetaldehyde." The co-inventors are Radmila Jevtic, Houston, Victor J. Johnston, Houston, Lincoln Sarager, Houston, R. Jay Warner, Houston, Heiko Weiner, Pasadena, Texas, and Trinity Horton, Houston. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for forming an ethanol mixture by hydrogenating an acetaldehyde feed stream in the presence of a catalyst. The acetaldehyde feed stream comprises acetaldehyde and at least one of acetic acid and ethanol. Preferably the acetaldehyde feed stream is a by-product stream from a vinyl acetate synthesis process." The patent application was filed on Oct. 29, 2010 (12/915,625). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,186&OS=8,344,186&RS=8,344,186 Written by Neha Bharti; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Trans Ionics Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Trans Ionics, The Woodlands, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,189) developed by Robert C. Schucker, The Woodlands, Texas, for "processes for the recovery of fuel-grade ethanol from dilute aqueous streams." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method for recovery of fuel-grade ethanol from dilute aqueous ethanol feed in a continuous or batch-wise process includes providing a feed tank containing a dilute aqueous ethanol liquid phase and a vapor phase, removing a portion of the vapor phase from the tank and circulating it through a membrane contactor having an inner lumen and an outer shell, recovering from the membrane contactor a feed phase substantially reduced in ethanol and a solvent phase substantially enriched in ethanol, separating an enriched ethanol phase from the solvent phase, and removing a substantial amount of water from the enriched ethanol phase to produce a fuel-grade ethanol stream. A Venturi nozzle may be used in lieu of the membrane contactor." The patent application was filed on Sept. 7, 2007 (12/440,577). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,189&OS=8,344,189&RS=8,344,189 Written by Neha Bharti; edited by Jaya Anand. *** University of Texas System Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- The University of Texas System, Austin, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,345,264) developed by Haiying Huang, Arlington, Texas, and Uday Shankar Tata, Arlington, Texas, for a "laser reflection optical fiber sensor." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A sensor, sensor assembly and a method of sensing, in which the sensor is in contact with a material or structure and the sensor directly measures one or more property changes in the material by means of light reflection and scattering using a reflective target." The patent application was filed on May 14, 2008 (12/152,451). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,345,264&OS=8,345,264&RS=8,345,264 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** D4D Technologies Assigned Patent for Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Method and System ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- D4D Technologies, Richardson, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,345,257) developed by Garret T. Bonnema, Richardson, Texas, Henley S. Quadling, Dallas, and Mark S. Quadling, Plano, Texas, for a "swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT) method and system." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method and apparatus are provided for a swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT) system utilizing a fast scanning mechanism in the sample arm and a slowly swept light source. The position data is collected rapidly while the wavelength of the source is swept slowly. The system reduces the sweep speed requirements of the light source enabling higher power, greater imaging range, and linear sweeps of the source frequency. The OCT components (or most of them) may be implemented within a hand held imaging probe. In operation, a triangulation scan may be used to orient the imaging probe with respect to a fixed coordinate system; preferably, OCT data captured by the device is then transformed to that same orientation with respect to the fixed coordinate system to improve the scanning results." The patent application was filed on April 19, 2010 (12/762,511). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,345,257&OS=8,345,257&RS=8,345,257 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** M-1 Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- M-1, Houston, has been assigned a patent (8,344,179) developed by Robert L. Horton, Sugar Land, Texas, Hui Zhang, Sugar Land, Texas, and Morris Arvie Jr., Houston, for "reclamation of halide-contaminated formate brines." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of recovering formate from halide-contaminated formate brine that includes mixing a formate recovery solvent and the halide-contaminated formate brine; separating halide contaminants from the formate; and recovering the formate from the formate recovery solvent is disclosed." The patent application was filed on July 29, 2008 (12/671,253). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,179&OS=8,344,179&RS=8,344,179 Written by Neha Bharti; edited by Jaya Anand. *** TriQuint Semiconductor Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- TriQuint Semiconductor, Hillsboro, Ore., has been assigned a patent (8,344,420) developed by Jose Jimenez, Dallas, for an "enhancement-mode gallium nitride high electron mobility transistor." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Embodiments include but are not limited to apparatuses and systems including a heterostructure having a first barrier layer, a gallium nitride channel layer on the first barrier layer, and a second barrier layer on the gallium nitride channel layer and including a first sublayer, a second sublayer, and a third sublayer. The first barrier layer, the first sublayer, and the third sublayer may each include aluminum. Other embodiments may be described and claimed." The patent application was filed on July 24, 2009 (12/509,144). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,44,420.PN.&OS=PN/83,44,420&RS=PN/83,44,420 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Raytheon Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Raytheon, Waltham, Mass., has been assigned a patent (8,344,430) developed by Premjeet Chahal, Plano, Texas, for a "multiple substrate electrical circuit device." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "In one embodiment of the disclosure, a method includes providing a carrier substrate, forming a first region over an upper surface of the substrate, creating an electrical component using a planar process, embedding the electrical component in the dielectric layer, and removing a substrate portion of the electrical component. The first region includes a dielectric layer and may be made of any material that electrically isolates the electrical component from the carrier substrate. The electrical component may be created using a planar process thereby having an epitaxial surface that is embedded in the dielectric layer." The patent application was filed on Oct. 28, 2010 (12/914,457). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,44,430.PN.&OS=PN/83,44,430&RS=PN/83,44,430 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Baylor University Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Baylor University, Waco, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,208) developed by Christopher M. Kearney, Woodway, Texas, and Zun Liu, Maiden, Mass., for a "highly efficient suppressor-dependent protein expression in plants with a viral vector." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A series of viral vectors derived from foxtail mosaic virus, sunn hemp mosaic virus and white clover mosaic virus sequences, and which are capable of expressing heterologous proteins in plants, including the tobacco, Nicotiana benthamiana, and cowpea, bean, and other legumes with the properties of unusually limited expression in the absence of gene silencing suppressors and high level expression in their presence. In a preferred embodiment, these viral vectors may be introduced via agroinoculation, and expression of the heterologous gene may be inducible with little or no leakiness in the absence of induction." The patent application was filed on Feb. 26, 2010 (12/714,057). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,44,208.PN.&OS=PN/83,44,208&RS=PN/83,44,208 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Applied Biosystems Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Applied Biosystems, Carlsbad, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,344,118) developed by Anilkumar Kore, Austin, Texas, Shanmugasundaram Muthian, Austin, Texas, and Irudaya Charles, Austin, Texas, for "preparation and isolation of 5' capped MRNA." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The synthesis of capped/tagged RNA, methods of use and kits providing same are contemplated. Tagged RNA permits isolation of RNA transcripts in vitro. The ability to isolate and purify capped RNA results in improved transcription and translation and provides a tool for identifying RNA-protein interactions. Such capped RNA finds use in therapeutic applications, diagnosis and prognosis and in the treatment of cancers and HIV." The patent application was filed on Dec. 13, 2011 (13/324,724). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,118&OS=8,344,118&RS=8,344,118 Written by Neha Bharti; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Novatech Holdings, Pitzer Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Novatech Holdings, Salt Lake City, and Starr L. Pitzer, Dallas, have been assigned a patent (8,344,299) developed by four co-inventors for a cylinder heater. The co-inventors are Donald P. Lomax, Waukesha, Wis., Starr L. Pitzer, Dallas, Jack W. Rogers, Dallas, and George H. Blume, Austin, Texas. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A cylinder heater useful in fabricating sleeves for high pressure pump liners comprises a support rotatably supporting a hollow circular cylinder having a metallic powder layer contacting a portion of its inner surface. A vibration sensor indicates vibration of the cylinder, and at least one temperature sensor indicates at least one temperature of the cylinder. At least one circumferential induction heating coil around the cylinder is positionable via the support along the longitudinal axis of cylinder rotation. Longitudinal position and power output of at least one heating coil, and cylinder rotational speed, are adjusted by a controller communicating with the support, the vibration sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one heating coil. Controlled heating of the cylinder and the metallic powder layer results in a stratified abrasion-resistant fused metallic layer on the cylinder's inner surface. The fused layer may be honed to make a liner sleeve." The patent application was filed on Nov. 20, 2009 (12/622,774). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,44,299.PN.&OS=PN/83,44,299&RS=PN/83,44,299 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Assigned Patent for Production of Para-xylene by the Methylation of Benzene and/or Toluene ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- ExxonMobil Chemical Patents, Houston, has been assigned a patent (8,344,197) developed by six co-inventors for a "production of para-xylene by the methylation of benzene and/or toluene." The co-inventors are James R. Lattner, La Porte, Texas, Mark P. Hagemeister, Houston, Jon Edmond Randolph Stanat, Westhampton Beach, N.Y., John Di-Yi Ou, Houston, Xiaobo Zheng, Houston, and Lu Han, Herndon, Va. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "In a process for the production of para-xylene, methanol is preheated to a first temperature, an aromatic feedstock comprising toluene and/or benzene is preheated to a second temperature and the preheated methanol and aromatic feedstocks are fed to a reactor at a first methanol to aromatic feedstock molar ratio. The preheated aromatic feedstock is contacted with the preheated methanol under alkylation conditions in the reactor in the presence of a catalyst so that the methanol reacts with the aromatic feedstock to produce an effluent comprising para-xylene. During the reaction, a temperature is measured within the reactor and is compared with a predetermined optimal temperature. The methanol to aromatic feedstock molar ratio is then adjusted in a manner to reduce any difference between the measured and predetermined optimal temperatures in the reactor." The patent application was filed on Sept. 30, 2010 (12/894,778). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,44,197.PN.&OS=PN/83,44,197&RS=PN/83,44,197 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Enpulz Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Enpulz, Chicago, has been assigned a patent (8,344,240) developed by James D. Bennett, Hroznetin, Czech Republic, and Bruce E. Garlick, Austin, Texas, for a "solar panel light indicator/decorative system." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A solar power generation system containing a plurality of roofing tiles, each of which containing a housing that encloses photovoltaic panels, solar panel control systems and light sources (light source). The housing and solar panel control system, in addition, may also contain modules and assemblies such as solar panel processing circuitry, communication and power interfaces, heater assembly, electrical rotational assembly, self cleaning assembly, and so forth. For optimal functioning, it is essential that all these modules incorporated within the housing function properly. The light sources are communicatively coupled to the solar panel processing circuitry and a central control unit; and are operable to produce a visible output. The light sources identify a solar panel among plurality of solar panels of the solar power generation system, and display a visible light that indicates operating condition of that solar panel. The visible light may indicate, for instance, problems related to the maintenance, cleaning, solar panel positional adjustment, and heater assembly. The visible light may also indicate operational conditions of a plurality of solar panels, within a block of roofing tiles; where rest of the roofing tiles are incorporated with minimum number of light sources, to minimize the cost. In addition, the visible output may display colorful holiday lighting and advertisements, especially at the roofing edges." The patent application was filed on Nov. 25, 2008 (12/323,448). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,44,240.PN.&OS=PN/83,44,240&RS=PN/83,44,240 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Chevron Phillips Chemical Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Chevron Phillips Chemical, The Woodlands, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,198) developed by Warren M. Ewert, Bartlesville, Okla., Bruce E. Kreischer, Kingwood, Texas, and Ronald D. Knudsen, Bartlesville, Okla., for a "process to decrease or eliminate corrosion from the decomposition of halide containing olefin catalysts." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A processes is provided to inhibit or limit the decomposition of a halide-containing olefin oligomerization catalyst system during recovery of an oligomerization product. The process includes deactivation of an olefin oligomerization catalyst system present in an olefin oligomerization reactor effluent stream by contact with an alcohol under conditions that minimize potential for deactivated catalyst system decomposition. Such conditions include minimization of the water content of the deactivation agent and concentration of the deactivation agent." The patent application was filed on March 15, 2004 (10/800,471). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=83,44,198.PN.&OS=PN/83,44,198&RS=PN/83,44,198 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Dow Global Technologies Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Dow Global Technologies, Midland, Mich., has been assigned a patent (8,343,328) developed by fifteen co-inventors for a brine purification. The co-inventors are Bruce Hook, Lake Jackson, Texas, Dan Tirtowidjojo, Lake Jackson, Texas, Frank Koester, Bremervoerde, Germany, Sunil K. Chaudhary, Missouri City, Texas, Anil Mehta, Lake Jackson, Texas, Jean Chauvel Jr., Lake Jackson, Texas, Christopher P. Christenson, Seguin, Texas, Timothy Frank, Midland, Mich., Celio Lume Pereira, Stade, Germany, Steve Gluck, Lake Jackson, Texas, Glenn Lord, Lake Jackson, Texas, David West, Houston, Christine Lundstroem, Drochtersen, Germany, Annett Horn, Hammah, Germany, and Istvan Lengyel, Lake Jackson, Texas. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Process and apparatus for reducing organic content of brine comprising subjecting a brine solution to at least two purification treatments selected from electrochemical treatment, chlorinolysis, or other chemical oxidation treatment, carbon adsorption, extraction, biological treatment and chrystallizing treatment; wherein the organic content of purified brine is sufficiently low to enable sense of the purified brine in an industrial process." The patent application was filed on Aug. 18, 2008 (12/670,020). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,343,328&OS=8,343,328&RS=8,343,328 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Intersil Americas Assigned Patent for LED Driver with Open Loop Dimming Control ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Intersil Americas, Milpitas, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,344,657) developed by Xiaodong Zhan, Plano, Texas, Fred Greenfeld, Nederland, Colo., and Xiangxu Yu, Shenzhen, China, for an "LED driver with open loop dimming control." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An LED driver with open loop dimming including a full wave rectifier circuit, a DC/DC converter, and an oscillator circuit. The rectifier is configured to receive an input voltage in the form of an AC conductive angle modulated voltage and to provide a rectified voltage. The DC/DC converter converts the rectified voltage to an output voltage and an output current, where the output current has a magnitude which varies proportionately with a square of a quadratic mean of the input voltage. The oscillator circuit controls switching of the DC/DC converter with constant frequency and constant duty cycle. The DC/DC converter may be a flyback converter and may include a transformer operated in DCM. The driver may include output voltage and/or output current limit. The output current may be limited when the input voltage is within normal operating range of an AC line voltage from which the input voltage is derived." The patent application was filed on April 30, 2010 (12/770,993). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,657&OS=8,344,657&RS=8,344,657 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** SIP Technologies Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- SIP Technologies, New Orleans, has been assigned a patent (8,343,341) developed by Kenneth A. Davis, Mandeville, La., and James Jackson Shelton, Alpine, Texas, for a "method and apparatus for sanitizing water dispensed from a water dispenser having a reservoir." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method and apparatus of sanitizing drinking water to be dispensed from a water dispenser having a reservoir includes the steps of providing the ozone gas generator that generates an ozone gas stream, transmitting the ozone gas stream from the generator to the water dispenser reservoir, mechanically breaking up the ozone gas stream inside the reservoir to produce ozone gas bubbles, and using the ozone gas bubbles to disinfect water in the reservoir. The ozone gas stream can be mechanically broken up using a pump such as, for example, an impeller type pump." The patent application was filed on Aug. 30, 2011 (13/221,448). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,343,341&OS=8,343,341&RS=8,343,341 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Florida Research Foundation Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Florida Research Foundation, Gainesville, Fla., has been assigned a patent (8,337,893) developed by four co-inventors for a "sol-gel derived bioactive glass polymer composite." The co-inventors are Brian M. Hatcher, Gainesville, Fla., Anthony Brennan, Gainesville, Fla., Brian Cuevas, Middletown, Conn., and Charles Seegert, San Antonio. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A bioactive sol-gel solution includes a biocompatible polymer, a gelable inorganic base material, and at least one calcium and phosphorous molecular species. The base material can be an alkoxide, such as TEOS. The polymer acts as a viscosity modifier to the sol or gel, increases the viscosity range over which fibers can be sprayed or spun, and broadens the time period over which fibers can be sprayed or spun. A bioactive glass composite can be formed from the bioactive sol-gel solution, including a fibrous form. Fibers can serve as a scaffold for cell growth and in the repair of hard or soft tissue defects." The patent application was filed on July 10, 2003 (10/616,884). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,337,893.PN.&OS=PN/8,337,893&RS=PN/8,337,893 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Cirrus Logic Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Cirrus Logic, Austin, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,707) developed by John L. Melanson, Austin, Texas, and Mauro Gaetano, Austin, Texas, for a "current sensing in a switching power converter." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A power control system includes a current sense resistor located on an output side of a switching power converter. By locating the current sense resistor on the output side of the switching power converter, the current sense resistor conducts a sense current when a control switch of the switching power converter is nonconductive. Since a duty cycle of the control switch is larger for a low input voltage than for a higher input voltage, the current sense resistor conducts current for a shorter time duration for low input voltages than for higher input voltages. Thus, the root mean square (RMS) of a sense current in the current sense resistor and, thus, power dissipation by the current sense resistor, is lower during low input voltages than power dissipation in conventionally located current sense resistors. The RMS of the sense current is approximately constant across a full range of input voltages." The patent application was filed on Sept. 30, 2008 (12/242,001). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,707&OS=8,344,707&RS=8,344,707 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Texas Instruments Assigned Patent for Integrated Circuit Inductor with Integrated Vias ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Texas Instruments, Dallas, has been assigned a patent (8,344,479) developed by Robert L. Pitts, Dallas, and Greg C. Baldwin, Plano, Texas, for an "integrated circuit inductor with integrated vias." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Integrated circuit inductors (5) are formed by interconnecting various metal layers (10) in an integrated circuit with continuous vias (200). Using continuous vias (200) improves the Q factor over existing methods for high frequency applications. The contiguous length of the continuous vias should be greater than three percent of the length of the inductor (5)." The patent application was filed on Feb. 15, 2011 (13/027,903). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,344,479&OS=8,344,479&RS=8,344,479 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Genband US Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Genband US, Plano, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,346,239) developed by Yanhua Wang, Frisco, Texas, and Philip Abraham, Allen, Texas, for "methods, systems, and computer program products for silence insertion descriptor (SID) conversion." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods, systems, and computer program products for silence insertion descriptor (SID) conversion are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for silence insertion descriptor (SID) conversion. The method includes receiving a wireless frame, the frame identifying a first node as a frame source and a second node as a frame destination; determining whether tandem-free operation (TFO) is applicable; responsive to a determination that TFO is applicable, determining whether the frame is a SID frame; responsive to a determination that the frame is a SID frame, determining whether the SID format used by the first node is incompatible with the SID format used by the second node; and responsive to a determination that the SID format used by the first node is incompatible with the SID format used by the second node, converting the SID frame from the SID format used by the first node to the SID format used by the second node." The patent application was filed on Dec. 28, 2007 (11/965,994). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,346,239.PN.&OS=PN/8,346,239&RS=PN/8,346,239 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Abbott Diabetes Care Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,346,337) developed by five co-inventors for an "analyte monitoring device and methods of use." The co-inventors are Adam Heller, Austin, Texas, Benjamin Jay Feldman, Oakland, Calif., Shridhara Alva Karinka, Pleasanton, Calif., Yi Wang, San Ramon, Calif., and John R. Galasso, Danville, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "In aspects of the present disclosure, a multi compatible or universal blood glucose monitoring unit including a calibration unit is integrated with one or more components of an analyte monitoring system to provide compatibility with in vitro test strip that require calibration code and test strips that do not require calibration code. Also disclosed are methods, systems, devices and kits for providing the same." The patent application was filed on June 30, 2009 (12/495,803). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,346,337.PN.&OS=PN/8,346,337&RS=PN/8,346,337 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** International Business Machine Assigned Patent for Method and Apparatus for Predicting Avatar Movement in a Virtual Universe ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- International Business Machine, Armonk, N.Y., has been assigned a patent (8,345,049) developed by four co-inventors for a "method and apparatus for predicting avatar movement in a virtual universe." The co-inventors are Rick Allen Hamilton II, Charlottesville, Va., Brian Marshall O'Connell, Cary, N.C., Clifford Alan Pickover, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., and Keith Raymond Walker, Austin, Texas. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The present invention provides a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer useable program code to offer to move an avatar in a virtual universe. A computer predicts a location selection to form a prediction. The computer renders a first viewport in a computer display, based on the prediction. The first viewport includes a first user-control; a first coordinate; and a first attitude. The computer renders a second viewport comprising a second user-control, a second coordinate and a second attitude wherein at least one object is rendered in a computer display from a perspective distinct from a perspective of the first viewport. The computer receives an instruction corresponding to the first user-control." The patent application was filed on Aug. 16, 2007 (11/839,898). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,345,049.PN.&OS=PN/8,345,049&RS=PN/8,345,049 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Dell Products Assigned Patent for Computation Device Incorporating Motion Detection and Method ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Dell Products, Round Rock, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,345,025) developed by Philip M. Seibert, Round Rock, Texas, and Ernesto Ramirez, Austin, Texas, for a "computation device incorporating motion detection and method thereof." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Information from an accelerometer integrated at a computation device is received. An orientation of a display of the computation device, or other attribute, can be determined based upon the received information based upon an assumed reference, such as a desktop surface that is perpendicular to a gravitational vector, or based upon information from another accelerometer, such as an accelerometer within a base portion of a laptop computer. An operation is performed based upon the information." The patent application was filed on June 5, 2008 (12/133,588). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,345,025.PN.&OS=PN/8,345,025&RS=PN/8,345,025 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Abbott Diabetes Care Assigned Patent for Analyte Monitoring Device and Methods of Use ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,346,336) developed by ten co-inventors for an "analyte monitoring device and methods of use." The co-inventors are James Say, Alameda, Calif., Michael F. Tomasco, Cupertino, Calif., Adam Heller, Austin, Texas, Yoram Gal, Kibbutz Yagur, Israel, Behrad Aria, Alameda, Calif., Ephraim Heller, Oakland, Calif., Phillip John Plante, Sunnyvale, Calif., Mark S. Vreeke, Alameda, Calif., Keith A. Friedman, Austin, Texas, and Fredric C. Colman, Berkeley, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor." The patent application was filed on March 18, 2009 (12/406,800). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,346,336.PN.&OS=PN/8,346,336&RS=PN/8,346,336 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Motion Computing Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 4 -- Motion Computing, Austin, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,345,023) developed by Offie Lee Drennan, Austin, Texas, Tram Q. Le, Round Rock, Texas, and Grace Lanni, Cedar Park, Texas, for a "wireless and contactless electronic input stylus having at least one button with optical scan and programmable pointer functionality." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A stylus input device, a stylus input device with display, and a method for entering input into a computer system are provided. The stylus is preferably used as a pointer that points to a particular region on an electronic display, and one or more buttons on the stylus can be used to scroll, modify or select that region. The buttons can be programmed in various ways to perform different functions, or one button can be programmed to perform a sequence of functions. The tip of the stylus need not contact the display surface to either render the stylus position or to select the region of the display shown by the stylus curser. The input device and system thereby operates in a contactless and wireless environment to leave the display area unencumbered to viewers of the display screen, and to allow more than one stylus to concurrently operate upon the display. The tip of the stylus can also be configured to scan an image of optically contrasting information, such as a barcode, in a contactless and wireless environment." The patent application was filed on Dec. 21, 2009 (12/642,999). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,345,023.PN.&OS=PN/8,345,023&RS=PN/8,345,023 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar. For more information about Targeted News Service products and services, please contact: Myron Struck, editor, Targeted News Service LLC, Springfield, Va., 703/304-1897; [email protected]; http://targetednews.com. -1109887 (c) 2013 Targeted News Service |