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U.S. Patents Awarded to Inventors in Maryland (Feb. 21)
[February 21, 2013]

U.S. Patents Awarded to Inventors in Maryland (Feb. 21)


(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Targeted News Service Targeted News Service ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- The following federal patents were awarded to inventors in Maryland.

*** Texas Instruments Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- Texas Instruments, Dallas, has been assigned a patent (8,379,728) developed by Ran Katzur, North Potomac, Md., and David Quintin Bell, Frederick, Md., for an "adaptive real-time video prediction mode method and computer-readable medium and processor for storage and execution thereof." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of determining an adaptive early skip indication (ESI) threshold during block motion compensation encoding of digital video data is disclosed. The method includes setting an ESI threshold minimum value below which no degradation in the block motion compensation encoding occurs; setting an ESI threshold maximum value above which degradation in the block motion compensation encoding is considered unacceptable; determining that a processor load state of the processor during block motion compensation encoding is one of an overloaded state, a normal loaded state, and an under loaded state; when the processor load state is determined to be in an overloaded state, increasing the adaptive ESI threshold to a value below the ESI threshold maximum value thereby decreasing a number of macroblocks in the digital video data that are block motion compensation encoded; when the processor load state is determined to be in a normal loaded state, maintaining the adaptive ESI threshold at its current value; and when the processor load state is determined to be in an under loaded state, decreasing the adaptive ESI threshold to a value above the ESI threshold minimum value thereby increasing a number of macroblocks in the digital video data that are block motion compensation encoded. A block motion compensation encoding devices is also disclosed that implements the method above. A computer readable medium is also disclosed that stores instructions, which when executed by a processing unit, performs the method above." The patent application was filed on March 26, 2010 (12/732,554). 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=83,79,728.PN.&OS=PN/83,79,728&RS=PN/83,79,728 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand.



*** VT Idirect Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- VT Idirect, Herndon, Va., has been assigned a patent (8,379,563) developed by four co-inventors for a "highly integrated very small aperture terminal (VSAT) apparatus and method." The co-inventors are Hai Q. Tang, Olney, Md., Theodore A. Schweitzer, Fairfax, Va., Matthew A. Reklau, Herndon, Va., and Christopher D. Gregory, Potomac Falls, Va.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method, and a VSAT capable of being configured for such a method, of configuring a VSAT, the steps of which are setting, while an outdoor unit of the VSAT is at a configuration location, a maximum value of the adjustable gain of the up-converting device and transmitting, from an operating location that is separate from the configuration location, transmission signals to the satellite at the transmission frequency and with a gain value of at most the maximum value of the adjustable gain set at the configuration location." The patent application was filed on Sept. 8, 2008 (12/676,649). 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=83,79,563.PN.&OS=PN/83,79,563&RS=PN/83,79,563 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand.


*** QUALCOMM Assigned Patent for Control Signal Transmission for Wireless Communication Systems ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- QUALCOMM, San Diego, has been assigned a patent (8,379,578) developed by four co-inventors for a "control signal transmission for wireless communication systems." The co-inventors are Alexei Gorokhov, San Diego, Arnab Das, Bethesda, Md., Aamod Khandekar, San Diego, and Junyi Li, Bedminster, N.J.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate communicating reverse link control information over OFDMA control channel(s) and CDMA control channel(s). Dedicated OFDMA control channel resources can be assigned to mobile device(s). Control information related to one or more logical control channels can be generated by a mobile device. Further, a physical control channel type (e.g., OFDMA control channel or a CDMA control channel) can be selected for sending the control information via the reverse link. For example, control information associated with periodic, logical control channels can be multiplexed and sent over the OFDMA control channel (e.g., utilizing the dedicated OFDMA control channel resources) while control information related to non-periodic, logical control channels can be transmitted over the CDMA control channel." The patent application was filed on Nov. 27, 2007 (11/945,559). 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=83,79,578.PN.&OS=PN/83,79,578&RS=PN/83,79,578 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand.

*** Canon U.S. Life Sciences Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Rockville, Md., has been assigned a patent (8,380,457) developed by Johnathan S. Coursey, Germantown, Md., for "microfluidic devices with integrated resistive heater electrodes including systems and methods for controlling and measuring the temperatures of such heater electrodes." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device is provided that includes a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfluidic channels and a plurality of multiplexed heater electrodes, wherein the heater electrodes are part of a multiplex circuit including a common lead connecting the heater electrodes to a power supply, each of the heater electrodes being associated with one of the microfluidic channels. The microfluidic device also includes a control system configured to regulate power applied to each heater electrode by varying a duty cycle, the control system being further configured to determine the temperature of each heater electrode by determining the resistance of each heater electrode." The patent application was filed on Aug. 31, 2010 (12/872,046). 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=8,380,457&OS=8,380,457&RS=8,380,457 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

*** NSA Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- The U.S. National Security Agency has been assigned a patent (8,380,485) developed by Susan E. Callahan, Catonsville, Md., for a "device for and method of language processing." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The present invention is a device for and method of language processing that includes a communication database of communications, a transcription database of transcripts for the communication, an extractor for extracting a visual representation of each communication, a first displayer for displaying a visual representation of a communication and its transcription, a segmentor for segmenting a visual representation, a media player, a first editor for blanking portions of a transcription and adding text, a second editor for filling in blanks and adding text, a second displayer for displaying a transcription that were blanked along with the corresponding entries made by the second editor and adding textual information, and a third displayer for providing feedback." The patent application was filed on Aug. 13, 2009 (12/460,906). 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=8,380,485&OS=8,380,485&RS=8,380,485 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi.

*** Google Assigned Patent for Voice Response Apparatus and Method of Providing Automated Voice Responses with Silent Prompting ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- Google, Mountain View, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,379,803) developed by Alexander I. McAllister, Silver Spring, Md., for a "voice response apparatus and method of providing automated voice responses with silent prompting." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A voice response unit (VRU) includes a silent prompt feature in the form of an intentional delay inserted after a message is given to a caller, during which delay the caller may invoke alternative processing or interrupt current processing. If appropriate alternative or interrupt commands are not received during the delay period, then processing continues as provided in accordance with the previously played message. The duration of this silent prompt delay is carefully selected to provide sufficient response time for the caller to request alternative processing, while avoiding a perceptible or objectionable delay to the average caller not requiring alternative processing. Optimally, this delay period should be within a range of one to two and one-half seconds and, preferably, within a range of 1.2 to 2.3 seconds, an optimal time being 1.8 seconds. The VRU may be included as part of a voice activated dialing system which recognizes a name of a party to be called, identifies the associated telephone number from a telephone directory, and reads the name found back to the caller. The system then uses a silent prompt, waiting for the described 1.8 seconds to allow the user to invoke alternative processing, such as requesting the listing, voice mail options, or a next closest match. If no alternative processing is requested during the 1.8 seconds, processing continues and the named party is called." The patent application was filed on June 25, 2007 (11/767,853). 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=8,379,803&OS=8,379,803&RS=8,379,803 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar.

*** General Electric Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- General Electric, Schenectady, N.Y., has been assigned a patent (8,380,284) developed by Manojkumar Saranathan, Rockville, Md., Christopher Judson Hardy, Niskayuna, N.Y., and Thomas K.F. Foo, Potomac, Md., for a "method and apparatus for automated tracking of vessel movement using MR imaging." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A system and method is disclosed for tracking a moving object using magnetic resonance imaging. The technique includes acquiring a scout image scan having a number of image frames and extracting non-linear motion parameters from the number of image frames of the scout image scan. The technique includes prospectively shifting slice location using the non-linear motion parameters between slice locations while acquiring a series of MR images. The system and method are particularly useful in tracking coronary artery movement during the cardiac cycle to acquire the non-linear components of coronary artery movement during a diastolic portion of the R-R interval." The patent application was filed on Jan.19, 2007 (11/625,054). 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=8,380,284.PN.&OS=PN/8,380,284&RS=PN/8,380,284 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar.

*** Johns Hopkins University Assigned Patent for Compression Device for Enhancing Normal/Abnormal Tissue Contrast in MRI Including Devices and Methods Related thereto ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, has been assigned a patent (8,380,281) developed by four co-inventors for a "compression device for enhancing normal/abnormal tissue contrast in MRI including devices and methods related thereto." The co-inventors are Nael F. Osman, Baltimore, Michael A. Jacobs, Sparks, Md., Ahmed El Harouni, Baltimore, and Jakir Hossain, Baltimore.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Featured are devices for compression of target tissue while magnetic resonance imaging the target tissue and methods and systems related thereto. The method includes disposing target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member of a compression device and compressing the target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member. The method also includes acquiring one or more, more specifically a plurality, of sequences of image data of the compressed target tissue using an MRI imaging technique (MRI). In particular embodiments, the MRI technique is a SENC MRI technique, where tissue encoding is done prior to compressing the tissue and acquiring includes adding a gradient moment in the slice-selection direction to cause demodulation with a specific frequency. In further embodiments, the sequences of image data are acquired one of during successive periodic compressions of the tissue or successive periodic relaxation of the tissues." The patent application was filed on May 1, 2010 (12/772,176). 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=8,380,281.PN.&OS=PN/8,380,281&RS=PN/8,380,281 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar.

*** MRI Interventions, Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- MRI Interventions, Memphis, Tenn., and Boston Scientific Neuromodulation, Valencia, Calif., have been assigned a patent (8,380,277) developed by Ergin Atalar, Columbia, Md., and Onur Ferhanoglu, Istanbul, Turkey, for an "electrical lead for an electronic device such as an implantable device." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A lead for an electronic device which resists the induction of a current from an electromagnetic field external to said lead includes one or more pairs of adjacent segments of electrical wire, each of the pairs including a first segment of electrical wire and a second segment of electrical wire. The lead also includes one or more shielded RF chokes, wherein each of the shielded RF chokes is provided between the first segment of electrical wire and the second segment of electrical wire of a respective one of the one or more pairs of adjacent segments. Also, an implantable device that includes a generator for generating one or more electrical pulse and a lead as described for delivering the pulses to tissue within a patient's body. A method for making the described implantable device is also provided." The patent application was filed on May 2, 2011 (13/099,167). 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=8,380,277.PN.&OS=PN/8,380,277&RS=PN/8,380,277 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar.

*** Johns Hopkins University Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21 -- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, has been assigned a patent (8,380,286) developed by four co-inventors for a "compression device for enhancing normal/abnormal tissue contrast in MRI including devices and methods related thereto." The co-inventors are Nael F. Osman, Baltimore, Michael A. Jacobs, Sparks, Md., Axel Krieger, San Antonio, Texas, and Ahmed Samir Fahmy, Baltimore.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Featured are a device for compression of target tissue while magnetic resonance imaging the target tissue and methods and systems related thereto. The method includes disposing target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member of a compression device and compressing the target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member. The method also includes acquiring one or more, more specifically a plurality, of sequences of image data of the compressed target tissue using an MRI imaging technique (MRI). In embodiments, the MRI technique is a SENC MRI technique, where tissue encoding is done prior to compressing the tissue and acquiring includes adding a gradient moment in the slice-selection direction to cause demodulation with a specific frequency, hi further embodiments, the sequences of image data are acquired during a single compression and prior to recovery of magnetization." The patent application was filed on Nov. 10, 2006 (12/308,043). 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=8,380,286.PN.&OS=PN/8,380,286&RS=PN/8,380,286 Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar.

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