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U.S. Patents Awarded to Inventors in California (May 18)(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Targeted News Service Targeted News Service ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- The following federal patents were awarded to inventors in California. *** Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Alpha and Omega Semiconductor, Sunnyvale, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,441,046) developed by Madhur Bobde, San Jose, Calif., and Anup Bhalla, Santa Clara, Calif., for a "topside structures for an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) device to achieve improved device performances." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "This invention discloses an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) device formed in a semiconductor substrate. The IGBT device has a split-shielded trench gate that includes an upper gate segment and a lower shield segment. The IGBT device may further include a dummy trench filled with a dielectric layer disposed at a distance away from the split-shielded trench gate. The IGBT device further includes a body region extended between the split-shielded trench gate and the dummy trench encompassing a source region surrounding the split-shielded trench gate near a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The IGBT device further includes a heavily doped N region disposed below the body region and above a source-dopant drift region above a bottom body-dopant collector region at a bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate. In an alternative embodiment, the IGBT may include a planar gate with a trench shield electrode." The patent application was filed on Oct. 31, 2010 (12/925,869). 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=8,441,046&OS=8,441,046&RS=8,441,046 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** University of California Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- The University of California, Oakland, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,997) developed by eight co-inventors for a "nanowire photodetector and image sensor with internal gain." The co-inventors are Deli Wang, San Diego, Cesare Soci, La Jolla, Calif., Yu-Hwa Lo, San Diego, Arthur Zhang, San Diego, David Aplin, Wisbech, United Kingdom, Lingquan Wang, Santa Clara, Calif., Shadi Dayeh, Los Alamos, N.M., and Xin Yu Bao, Mountain View, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A 1D nanowire photodetector device includes a nanowire that is individually contacted by electrodes for applying a longitudinal electric field which drives the photocurrent. An intrinsic radial electric field to inhibits photo-carrier recombination, thus enhancing the photocurrent response. Circuits of 1D nanowire include groups of photodetectors addressed by their individual 1D nanowire electrode contacts. Placement of 1D nanostructures is accomplished with registration onto a substrate. A substrate is patterned with a material, e.g., photoresist, and trenches are formed in the patterning material at predetermined locations for the placement of 1D nanostructures. The 1D nanostructures are aligned in a liquid suspension, and then transferred into the trenches from the liquid suspension. Removal of the patterning material places the 1D nanostructures in predetermined, registered positions on the substrate." The patent application was filed on Feb. 26, 2008 (12/528,701). 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=8,440,997&OS=8,440,997&RS=8,440,997 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Intermolecular Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Intermolecular, San Jose, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,990) developed by Yun Wang, San Jose, Calif., Tony Chiang, Campbell, Calif., and Imran Hashim, Saratoga, Calif., for a "nonvolatile memory device having an electrode interface coupling region." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a resistive switching nonvolatile memory device having an interface layer structure disposed between at least one of the electrodes and a variable resistance layer formed in the nonvolatile memory device, and a method of forming the same. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players. In one configuration of the resistive switching nonvolatile memory device, the interface layer structure comprises a passivation region, an interface coupling region, and/or a variable resistance layer interface region that are configured to adjust the nonvolatile memory device's performance, such as lowering the formed device's switching currents and reducing the device's forming voltage, and reducing the performance variation from one formed device to another." The patent application was filed on June 9, 2011 (13/156,722). 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=8,440,990&OS=8,440,990&RS=8,440,990 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Luxtera Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Luxtera, Carlsbad, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,989) developed by six co-inventors for a "method and system for a light source assembly supporting direct coupling to an integrated circuit." The co-inventors are Michael Mack, San Diego, Mark Peterson, San Diego, Steffen Gloeckner, San Diego, Adithyaram Narasimha, Carlsbad, Calif., Roger Koumans, Irvine, Calif., and Peter De Dobbelaere, San Diego. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods and systems for a light source assembly for coupling to a photonically enabled complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip are disclosed. The light source assembly may comprise a laser, a microlens, a turning mirror, and an optical bench, and may generate an optical signal utilizing the laser, focus the optical signal utilizing the microlens, and reflect the optical signal at an angle defined by the turning mirror. The reflected optical signal may be transmitted out of the assembly to grating couplers in the photonically enabled CMOS chip. The assembly may comprise a non-reciprocal polarization rotator, comprising a latching faraday rotator. The assembly may comprise a reciprocal polarization rotator, which may comprise a half-wave plate comprising birefringent materials operably coupled to the optical bench. The turning mirror may be integrated in the optical bench and may reflect the optical signal to transmit through a lid operably coupled to the optical bench." The patent application was filed on April 25, 2012 (13/455,641). 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=8,440,989&OS=8,440,989&RS=8,440,989 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Xilinx Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Xilinx, San Jose, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,441,038) developed by Stephen M. Trimberger, San Jose, Calif., for a "nano relay with floating bridge." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A nano-electric switch includes a cavity base, a confinement wall, and a cavity top defining a cavity. A floating conductive bridge movable within the cavity completes an electrical circuit between a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact in a first selectable position, and breaks the electrical circuit in a second selectable position." The patent application was filed on Jan. 20, 2011 (13/010,690). 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=8,441,038&OS=8,441,038&RS=8,441,038 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Spansion Assigned Patent for Memory Device Peripheral Interconnects ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Spansion, Sunnyvale, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,441,041) developed by Shenqing Fang, Fremont, Calif., and Wenmei Li, San Jose, Calif., for a "memory device peripheral interconnects." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An integrated circuit memory device, in one embodiment, includes a substrate and first and second inter-level dielectric layers successively disposed on the substrate. One or more contacts in the peripheral extend through the first inter-level dielectric layer to respective components. One or more vias and a plurality of dummy vias extend through the second inter-level dielectric layer in the peripheral area. Each of the one or more peripheral vias extend to a respective peripheral contact. The peripheral dummy vias are located proximate the peripheral vias." The patent application was filed on Nov. 10, 2010 (12/943,679). 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=8,441,041&OS=8,441,041&RS=8,441,041 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** International Rectifier Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- International Rectifier, El Segundo, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,441,030) developed by Robert Beach, Altadena, Calif., for an "III-nitride multi-channel heterojunction interdigitated rectifier." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A III-nitride power semiconductor device that includes a plurality of III-nitride heterojunctions." The patent application was filed on Sept. 29, 2005 (11/238,206). 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=8,441,030&OS=8,441,030&RS=8,441,030 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Life Technologies Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,441,044) developed by four co-inventors for "methods for manufacturing low noise chemically-sensitive field effect transistors." The co-inventors are Jonathan Rothberg, Guilford, Conn., Wolfgang Hinz, New Haven, Conn., Kim Johnson, Carlsbad, Calif., and James Bustillo, Castro Valley, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis." The patent application was filed on July 20, 2012 (13/554,816). 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=8,441,044&OS=8,441,044&RS=8,441,044 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Synaptics Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Synaptics, Santa Clara, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,920) developed by Mihai M. Bulea, Santa Clara, Calif., and Patrick Worfolk, Campbell, Calif., for a "circular single-layer touch sensors." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A two-dimensional capacitive sensor device comprises a sensor substrate with a plurality of wedge shaped sensor cells arranged in a single-layer circular pattern proximal to the substrate. The plurality of wedge shaped sensor cells are arranged in a rotationally symmetric pattern about a center of the single-layer circular pattern. A sensor cell of the plurality of wedge shaped sensor cells comprises a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode separated by a border. The first and second sensor electrodes are configured for detecting changes in capacitance caused by one or more input objects. The first and second sensor electrodes become substantially thinner in width approaching the center of the single-layer circular pattern than at a distance further from the center. A sensor circuitry is communicatively coupled with the sensor electrodes of the sensor cell and the sensor circuitry is configured to interpret the changes in capacitance." The patent application was filed on Dec. 22, 2009 (12/644,969). 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=8,440,920&OS=8,440,920&RS=8,440,920 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Apple Assigned Patent for Water Inhibiting Slide Switch ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Apple, Cupertino, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,922) developed by Kyle Yeates, Palo Alto, Calif., and Teodor Dabov, San Francisco, for a "water inhibiting slide switch." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Electromechanical switches are provided. The electromechanical switches can include conductive components that are configured to change position relative to one another in response to a mechanical input. The electromechanical switch can include a distribution mechanism for replenishing a moisture inhibiting layer, such as an oleophobic material, on surface portions of conductive components within the switch. During actuation of the electromechanical switch, the distribution mechanism can be configured to reapply the moisture inhibiting material to the surface portions of the conductive components to prevent damage resulting from moisture intrusion." The patent application was filed on Dec. 16, 2010 (12/970,759). 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=8,440,922&OS=8,440,922&RS=8,440,922 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** University of California Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- The University of California, Oakland, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,906) developed by A. Paul Alivisatos, Oakland, Calif., Ilan Gur, San Francisco, and Delia Milliron, Menlo Park, Calif., for a "nanocrystal solar cells processed from solution." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A photovoltaic device having a first electrode layer, a high resistivity transparent film disposed on the first electrode, a second electrode layer, and an inorganic photoactive layer disposed between the first and second electrode layers, wherein the inorganic photoactive layer is disposed in at least partial electrical contact with the high resistivity transparent film, and in at least partial electrical contact with the second electrode. The photoactive layer has a first inorganic material and a second inorganic material different from the first inorganic material, wherein the first and second inorganic materials exhibit a type II band offset energy profile, and wherein the photoactive layer has a first population of nanostructures of a first inorganic material and a second population of nanostructures of a second inorganic material." The patent application was filed on Oct. 20, 2006 (12/083,723). 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=8,440,906&OS=8,440,906&RS=8,440,906 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Stion Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Stion, San Jose, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,903) developed by Chester A. Farris III, Yorba Linda, Calif., for a "method and structure for forming module using a powder coating and thermal treatment process." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The present invention provides a solar module formed using a powder coating and thermal treatment process. The solar module includes a substrate having a surface region and a photovoltaic material overlying the surface region. The solar module further includes a barrier material overlying the photovoltaic material. Moreover, the solar module includes a coating overlying the barrier material and enclosing the photovoltaic material to mechanically protect the photovoltaic material. In certain embodiments, photovoltaic material is a thin film photovoltaic cell and the coating is provided by a powder coating substantially free of bubbles formed by electrostatic spraying and cured with a thermal treatment process." The patent application was filed on Feb. 17, 2009 (12/372,722). 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=8,440,903&OS=8,440,903&RS=8,440,903 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Google Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Google, Mountain View, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,900) developed by Richard F. Lyon, Los Altos, Calif., Thomas C. Walters, San Francisco, and David Ross, San Jose, Calif., for an "intervalgram representation of audio for melody recognition." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A system, method, and computer readable storage medium generates an audio fingerprint for an input audio clip that is robust to differences in key, instrumentation, and other performance variations. The audio fingerprint includes a sequence of intervalgrams that represent a melody in an audio clip according pitch intervals between different time points in the audio clip. The fingerprint for an input audio clip can be compared to a set of reference fingerprints in a reference database to determine a matching reference audio clip." The patent application was filed on Sept. 13, 2012 (13/615,061). 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=8,440,900&OS=8,440,900&RS=8,440,900 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** University of California Assigned Patent for Methods for Optical Amplified Imaging Using a Two-dimensional Spectral Brush ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- The University of California, Oakland, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,952) developed by Bahram Jalali, Los Angeles, Keisuke Goda, Los Angeles, and Kevin Kin-Man Tsia, Ma On Shan, Hong Kong, for "methods for optical amplified imaging using a two-dimensional spectral brush." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An apparatus and method for ultrafast real-time optical imaging that can be used for imaging dynamic events such as microfluidics or laser surgery is provided. The apparatus and methods encode spatial information from a sample into a back reflection of a two-dimensional spectral brush that is generated with a two-dimensional disperser and a light source that is mapped in to the time domain with a temporal disperser. The temporal waveform is preferably captured by an optical detector, converted to an electrical signal that is digitized and processed to provide two dimensional and three dimensional images. The produced signals can be optically or electronically amplified. Detection may be improved with correlation matching against a database in the time domain or the spatial domain. Embodiments for endoscopy, microscopy and simultaneous imaging and laser ablation with a single fiber are illustrated." The patent application was filed on Nov. 18, 2009 (12/621,496). 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=8,440,952&OS=8,440,952&RS=8,440,952 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** California Institute of Technology Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,970) developed by Ahmed H. Zewail, Pasadena, Calif., for a "characterization of nanoscale structures using an ultrafast electron microscope." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The present invention relates to methods and systems for 4D ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM)--in situ imaging with ultrafast time resolution in TEM. Single electron imaging is used as a component of the 4D UEM technique to provide high spatial and temporal resolution unavailable using conventional techniques. Other embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for convergent beam UEM, focusing the electron beams onto the specimen to measure structural characteristics in three dimensions as a function of time. Additionally, embodiments provide not only 4D imaging of specimens, but characterization of electron energy, performing time resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS)." The patent application was filed on Aug. 2, 2012 (13/565,678). 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=8,440,970&OS=8,440,970&RS=8,440,970 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Apple Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Apple, Cupertino, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,926) developed by Kurt Stiehl, San Jose, Calif., Albert J. Golko, Saratoga, Calif., and Scott A. Myers, San Francisco, for a "low profile tape structures." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Electronic devices may include electronic device structures such substrates, structures with cavities, and housing structures. Tape may be used to seal components to the surface of a substrate or within a cavity. The tape may have a nonstick polymer layer such as a layer of parylene and one or two layers of adhesive. The nonstick layer may be formed in a pattern so that some of the layer of adhesive is uncovered by the nonstick layer. The nonstick layer may be oriented so that the adhesive is interposed between the nonstick layer and a sealed component or may be oriented so that the nonstick layer is interposed between the adhesive layer and the sealed component. The component that is sealed by the tape may be an electrical component such as a dome switch or other mechanical or electrical component." The patent application was filed on June 9, 2010 (12/797,580). 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=8,440,926&OS=8,440,926&RS=8,440,926 Written by Arpi Sharma; edited by Anand Kumar. *** Boston Scientific Schimed Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Boston Scientific Schimed, Maple Grove, Mich., has been assigned a patent (8,439,906) developed by James R. Watson, Santa Rosa, Calif., for "regulating internal pressure of a cryotherapy balloon catheter." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of performing a cryotherapy procedure can include introducing a cryotherapy balloon catheter at a treatment site inside a patient's body; regulating, during a first phase of a cryotherapy procedure, flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from a distal balloon portion of the cryotherapy balloon catheter to cause an initial pressure to be maintained inside the distal balloon portion that is sufficiently high to cause an outer wall of the distal balloon portion to be pressed against body tissue at the treatment site; and regulating, during a second phase of the cryotherapy procedure, flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from the distal balloon portion to cause a) a temperature inside the distal balloon portion to reach a value sufficient to deliver therapeutic levels of cryotherapy to the body tissue, and b) a second-phase pressure to be maintained that is within a threshold value of the initial pressure." The patent application was filed on May 29, 2012 (13/482,722). 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=84,39,906.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,906&RS=PN/84,39,906 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Micrus Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Micrus, San Jose, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,871) developed by Peter Wilson, Foster City, Calif., Eric Leopold, Redwood City, Calif., and Rupesh K. Desai, San Jose, Calif., for a "stretch resistant therapeutic device." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A vasoocclusive coil is reinforced with a stretch resistant member to improve safety during retraction of the coil. The stretch resistant member is fixedly attached at one end to the vasoocclusive coil, and the other end of the stretch resistant member is detachably mounted to an elongated pusher member to allow for placement and release of the vasoocclusive coil within the patient's vasculature." The patent application was filed on April 10, 2012 (13/443,738). 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=84,39,871.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,871&RS=PN/84,39,871 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Callaway Golf Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Callaway Golf, Carlsbad, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,770) developed by Denver Holt, Carlsbad, Calif., for an "iron-type golf club head with rear cavity with undercut." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An iron-type golf club head having a rear cavity with an undercut portion is disclosed herein. The undercut portion is present in less than 360 degrees of the rear cavity. Further, the undercut portion is preferably discontinuous. Further, the under portion preferably has sharp angles at segments of the rear cavity." The patent application was filed on Oct. 8, 2012 (13/646,847). 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=84,39,770.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,770&RS=PN/84,39,770 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Kabam Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Kabam, San Francisco, has been assigned a patent (8,439,759) developed by Stephanie Mello, San Francisco, Deepak Polamarasetty, Fremont, Calif., and Wendy Yu, San Francisco, for a "system and method of facilitating external notifications for events that occur in a plurality of different virtual spaces." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "External notifications related to virtual spaces, such as virtual game spaces may be provided to users. The notifications may provide an indication of events that have occurred in the virtual game spaces, offers of virtual goods, and/or other information related to the virtual game spaces. External notifications may be sent, for example, via email, text message, instant message (external from the virtual space), and/or through other external communication media. This may provide centralized and/or coordinated distribution of notifications for a plurality of different virtual game spaces." The patent application was filed on July 26, 2012 (13/558,878). 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=84,39,759.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,759&RS=PN/84,39,759 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Zynga Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Zynga, San Francisco, has been assigned a patent (8,439,747) developed by five co-inventors for "virtual playing chips in a multiuser online game network." The co-inventors are Mark Jonathan Pincus, San Francisco, Michael Arieh Luxton, Sunnyvale, Calif., Matthew Adam Ocko, Palo Alto, Calif., Carl Eric Schiermeyer, Burlingame, Calif., and Stephen Henry Schoettler, Menlo Park, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for executing game transactions in an online game to acquire virtual currency. One method includes an operation for detecting a request from a player to purchase virtual currency for use in the online game. Cash or credit is received, in an online transaction, to make the purchase of the virtual currency. The virtual currency of the online game is not redeemable for cash or credit so the virtual currency cannot be considered gambling proceeds. The method further includes an operation for crediting the player with an amount of virtual currency based on the amount of the received cash or credit." The patent application was filed on Sept. 26, 2011 (13/244,702). 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=84,39,747.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,747&RS=PN/84,39,747 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Applied Materials Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Applied Materials, Santa Clara, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,723) developed by six co-inventors for a "chemical mechanical polisher with heater and method." The co-inventors are Robert A. Marks, San Jose, Calif., Christopher Heung-Gyun Lee, San Jose, Calif., Garlen C. Leung, San Jose, Calif., Gregory E. Menk, Pleasanton, Calif., Jie Diao, Fremont, Calif., and Erik S. Rondum, San Ramon, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A chemical mechanical apparatus comprises a polishing platen, a roller pad assembly capable of advancing a polishing pad across the platen, a substrate carrier to press a substrate against the polishing pad, and a heater to heat the substrate to a temperature sufficiently high to provide a rate of removal of material from the substrate that compensates for the wear of the polishing pad." The patent application was filed on Aug. 11, 2008 (12/189,641). 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=84,39,723.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,723&RS=PN/84,39,723 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Invention Science Fund I Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- The Invention Science Fund I, Bellevue, Wash., has been assigned a patent (8,439,896) developed by nine co-inventors for a "device, system, and method for targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory medicaments to a mammalian subject." The co-inventors are Philip A. Eckhoff, Bellevue, Wash., Roderick A. Hyde, Redmond, Wash., Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Livermore, Calif., Jordin T. Kare, Seattle, Eric C. Leuthardt, St. Louis, Dennis J. Rivet, Portsmouth, Va., Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Seattle, Lowell L. Wood Jr., Bellevue, Wash., and Victoria Y. H. Wood, Livermore, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A device, a system, or a method is described for treating a disease or a condition of one or more joints of articulating bone in a mammalian subject. The device provides one or more medicaments to one or more joints of the mammalian subject. A device is described that includes an enclosure including one or more sensors, a controller, and one or more applicators configured to surround one or more joints of articulating bone of a mammalian subject, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more physiological conditions of the one or more joints of the mammalian subject, and the controller, configured to communicate with the one or more sensors, is configured to activate the one or more applicators, and wherein the one or more applicators are configured to inject one or more medicaments to one or more joint tissues of the mammalian subject." The patent application was filed on Nov. 13, 2009 (12/590,857). 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=84,39,896.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,896&RS=PN/84,39,896 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** International Business Machines Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- International Business Machines, Armonk, N.Y., has been assigned a patent (8,439,728) developed by seven co-inventors for a reticle carrier. The co-inventors are Kevin S. Petrarca, Newburgh, N.Y., Donald F. Canaperi, Averill Park, N.Y., Mahadevaiyer Krishnan, Hopewell Junction, N.Y., Rebecca D. Mih, Los Gatos, Calif., Steven Steen, Peekskill, N.Y., Henry Grabarz, Shelton, Conn., and Michael S. Hibbs, Westford, Vt. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A reticle carrier for a polishing tool capable of accommodating a reticle includes a base plate with an obverse and reverse surfaces, a retaining ring secured to the obverse surface of the base plate forming a recess defined by the obverse surface of the rigid base plate and internal edges of the retaining ring. A reticle pad supports a reticle in the recess. The base plate and the reticle pad having an array of matching, aligned passageway holes therethrough for exhaustion of air from space between the base plate and a the reticle and for supply of air to that space so a vacuum can retain a the reticle in place on the reticle carrier under vacuum conditions and application of air under pressure can eject a reticle from the reticle carrier." The patent application was filed on Oct. 21, 2011 (13/278,571). 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=84,39,728.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,728&RS=PN/84,39,728 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** USGI Medical Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- USGI Medical, San Clemente, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,898) developed by six co-inventors for an "endoscopic tissue anchor deployment." The co-inventors are Cang C. Lam, Irvine, Calif., Stuart Moran, San Clemente, Calif., Tracy D. Maahs, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., John Fernando Rodriguez, Vista, Calif., Seferino Enrique Torres, Lake Forest, Calif., and Wesley Lummis, Oceanside, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "An endoscopic tissue anchor deployment device includes a handle, an elongated shaft defining an internal lumen, and an end effector attached to the distal end of the elongated shaft. A tissue anchor catheter is removably inserted through the lumen of the elongated shaft, the catheter having a tissue anchor assembly that is deployable from its distal end. In some embodiments, the handle includes a pin and track assembly that define a series of handle actuation steps corresponding to deployment steps for the deployment device end effector and the tissue anchor catheter. In some embodiments, the handle includes a catheter stop member that prevents movement of the tissue anchor catheter under certain circumstances, and a handle stop member that prevents actuation of the handle under certain circumstances." The patent application was filed on June 17, 2009 (12/486,578). 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=84,39,898.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,898&RS=PN/84,39,898 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Mad Dogg Athletics Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Mad Dogg Athletics, Venice, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,810) developed by John R. Baudhuin, Santa Monica, Calif., for an "adjustable mounting device for exercise equipment." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The invention generally relates to exercise equipment that includes a pulley and cable mechanism. More specifically, the invention relates to an adjustable mounting device for the pulley so that the pulley may be mounted at different locations on the exercise equipment. This provides the user of such exercise equipment with the ability to adjust and readily fine-tune the position of the pulleys for proper biomechanical alignment with the user's body. Such a mounted pulley may be used on Pilates apparatus, weight and strength training equipment or other exercise equipment." The patent application was filed on Jan. 12, 2007 (11/652,806). 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=84,39,810.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,810&RS=PN/84,39,810 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Mederi Therapeutics Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Mederi Therapeutics, Greenwich, Conn., has been assigned a patent (8,439,866) developed by four co-inventors for "systems and methods employing a guidewire for positioning and stabilizing external instruments deployed within the body." The co-inventors are John W. Gaiser, Mountain View, Calif., Scott West, Livermore, Calif., David S. Utley, Redwood, Calif., and David Huynh, Santa Clara, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Systems and methods for treating a tissue region employ an expandable structure projecting beyond the distal end of a catheter tube. A distal tail projects beyond the far end of the basket assembly. The distal tail includes a guidewire lumen that accommodates passage of a guidewire without threading the guidewire through the catheter tube." The patent application was filed on June 4, 2010 (12/802,324). 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=84,39,866.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,866&RS=PN/84,39,866 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Cutera Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Cutera, Brisbane, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,901) developed by Scott A. Davenport, Half Moon Bay, Calif., and David A. Gollnick, San Francisco, for a "fractional scanner for dermatological treatments." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A dermatological treatment device is disclosed for generating a matrix of two dimensional treatment spots on the tissue. A handpiece carries a laser which generates a beam of laser pulses. The pulses are focused onto the tissue with a lens system. A diffractive element is positioned between the laser and the lens system for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of sub-beams. A scanner translates the beam over the diffractive element to generate the two dimensional spot pattern. The laser has a semi-monolithic resonator design with one integral end minor defining the output coupler and a second, independent mirror for adjustment." The patent application was filed on Oct. 23, 2012 (13/658,719). 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=84,39,901.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,901&RS=PN/84,39,901 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Acushnet Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Acushnet, Fairhaven, Mass., has been assigned a patent (8,439,769) developed by Scott A. Rice, San Diego, and Joshua G. Breier, Vista, Calif., for a "metal wood club with improved hitting face." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A hitting face of a golf club head having a location of longest characteristic time shifted away from the geometric center of the hitting face. The hitting face of the club head has varying thickness, with a thickest portion being at or near the geometric center of the plate-like hitting face. A second thickened portion of the hitting face substantially surrounds the thickest portion. The portions of varying thickness taper therebetween for relatively smooth cross-sectional profiles. The hitting face may further comprise a plurality of indentations at least partially located within the outer intermediate zone of the hitting face, having a thickness that is less than the thickness of the hitting face at the geometric center and tapered portion." The patent application was filed on April 15, 2010 (12/760,773). 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=84,39,769.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,769&RS=PN/84,39,769 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Biolase Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Biolase, Irvine, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,904) developed by Jeffrey W. Jones, Ropertson, Wyo., and Dmitri Boutsoussov, Dans Point, Calif., for a "tapered fused waveguide for teeth whitening." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A radiation emitting apparatus is disclosed that emits a substantially homogenous beam of radiation from an irregularly shaped output end. As described herein, a radiation emitting apparatus includes a bundled fiber guide coupled to an energy distribution tuner. The bundled fiber guide is coupled to the energy distribution tuner to receive a substantially uniform distribution of high power energy. The bundled fiber guide is configured to distribute the energy to emit a substantially uniform distribution of lower power energy toward a target surface, such as a body surface. The bundled fiber guide may include a plurality of fused optic fibers, a plurality of beam splitting mirror elements, or tapered waveguides." The patent application was filed on Aug. 12, 2011 (13/209,339). 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=84,39,904.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,904&RS=PN/84,39,904 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Renew Medical Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Renew Medical, Palo Alto, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,819) developed by Tidhar Shalon, Palo Alto, Calif., and Guy Kotlizky, Kfar-Shemaryahu, Israel, for a "fecal incontinence device, system and method." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A device for treating fecal incontinence in a subject is provided. The device includes a plug configured for positioning mostly within an anal canal of the subject." The patent application was filed on July 11, 2012 (13/546,898). 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=84,39,819.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,819&RS=PN/84,39,819 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Stanford University Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,824) developed by five co-inventors for an "apparatus and methods for coronary sinus access." The co-inventors are Nicholas J. Mourlas, Mountain View, Calif., Christian Scott Eversull, Palo Alto, Calif., Stephen Arie Leeflang, Sunnyvale, Calif., Asha Shrinivas Nayak, Menlo Park, Calif., and David John Miller, Palo Alto, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Apparatus and methods for locating morphological features within a body cavity using a catheter including proximal and distal ends, a transparent balloon carried on the distal end, and an optical imaging assembly carried on the distal end for imaging through the balloon. The balloon includes a channel extending therethrough to a lumen extending through the catheter. A guidewire or other localization member is received in the lumen that is extendable through the channel. During use, the catheter is inserted into a right atrium of a heart, and the balloon is expanded and placed against the wall of the heart to locate the coronary sinus. Sufficient force is applied to clear blood between the surface and the wall and clear the field of view of the imaging assembly. The catheter is manipulated to locate the coronary sinus, whereupon the localization member is advanced into the coronary sinus." The patent application was filed on Aug. 15, 2011 (13/210,234). 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=84,39,824.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,824&RS=PN/84,39,824 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** LifeScan Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- LifeScan, Milpitas, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,837) developed by four co-inventors for "systems and methods for detecting hypoglycemic events having a reduced incidence of false alarms." The co-inventors are Sharbel E. Noujaim, Menlo Park, Calif., David Horwitz, Los Altos, Calif., Manoj Sharma, Milpitas, Calif., and Joseph Marhoul, San Jose, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The present invention is directed to a method of reducing false readings in a hypoglycemic detector that includes establishing a predetermined hypoglycemic threshold, a predetermined critical threshold, a predetermined rate of change in glucose concentration where the predetermined critical threshold is below the predetermined hypoglycemic threshold. A first sampling rate is then calculated based upon said predetermined hypoglycemic threshold, said predetermined critical threshold, and said predetermined rate of change in glucose concentration." The patent application was filed on Oct. 30, 2007 (11/928,560). 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=84,39,837.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,837&RS=PN/84,39,837 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Oasis Medical Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Oasis Medical, Glendora, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,439,833) developed by James Marlow Christensen, Glendora, Calif., and D. Michael Colvard, Encino, Calif., for an ophthalmic structure. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A ring for dilating a pupil during an ophthalmic procedure includes a series of spaced supports for engaging an iris perimeter. The supports are plate elements which form an open pocket directed outwardly for engaging the iris. The sides of the ring form a primary plane, and the plates are located in respective planes above and below the primary plane. The outer periphery of the top and bottom plates forms a lip feature which is the opening to the pocket which retains the iris." The patent application was filed on Oct. 18, 2011 (13/275,685). 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=84,39,833.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,833&RS=PN/84,39,833 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** NuVasive Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- NuVasive, San Diego, has been assigned a patent (8,439,832) developed by seven co-inventors for a "surgical access system and related methods." The co-inventors are Patrick Miles, San Diego, Scot Martinelli, San Diego, Eric Finley, San Diego, James Gharib, San Diego, Allen Farquhar, San Diego, Norbert Kaula, Arvada, Colo., and Jeffrey Blewett, San Diego. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site." The patent application was filed on Jan. 4, 2011 (12/984,368). 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=84,39,832.PN.&OS=PN/84,39,832&RS=PN/84,39,832 Written by Amal Ahmed; edited by Jaya Anand. *** Lam Research Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Lam Research, Fremont, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,573) developed by six co-inventors for a "method and apparatus for pattern collapse free wet processing of semiconductor devices." The co-inventors are Katrina Mikhaylichenko, San Jose, Calif., Denis Syomin, San Jose, Calif., Qian Fu, Fremont, Calif., Glenn W. Gale, Tokyo, Shenjian Liu, Fremont, Calif., and Mark H. Wilcoxson, Oakland, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method is provided for processing a wafer used in fabricating semiconductor devices. The method can comprise forming high-aspect ratio features on the wafer, which is followed by wet processing and drying. During drying, pattern collapse can occur. This pattern collapse can be repaired to allow for additional processing of the wafer. In some instance, pattern collapse can be repaired via etching where the etching breaks bonds that can have formed during pattern collapse." The patent application was filed on Jan. 26, 2010 (12/694,134). 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=8,440,573&OS=8,440,573&RS=8,440,573 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Intermolecular, Elpida Memory Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Intermolecular, San Jose, Calif., and Elpida Memory, Tokyo, have been assigned a patent (8,440,537) developed by five co-inventors for an "adsorption site blocking method for co-doping ALD films." The co-inventors are Sandra Malhotra, San Jose, Calif., Hanhong Chen, Milpitas, Calif., Wim Deweerd, San Jose, Calif., Toshiyuki Hirota, Higashihiroshima, Japan, and Hiroyuki Ode, Higashihiroshima, Japan. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method for doping a dielectric material by pulsing a first dopant precursor, purging the non-adsorbed precursor, pulsing a second precursor, purging the non-adsorbed precursor, and pulsing a oxidant to form an intermixed layer of two (or more) metal oxide dielectric dopant materials. The method may also be used to form a blocking layer between a bulk dielectric layer and a second electrode layer. The method improves the control of the composition and the control of the uniformity of the dopants throughout the thickness of the doped dielectric material." The patent application was filed on Nov. 11, 2011 (13/294,341). 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=8,440,537&OS=8,440,537&RS=8,440,537 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Ovonyx Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Ovonyx, Sterling Heights, Mich., has been assigned a patent (8,440,535) developed by Charles H. Dennison, San Jose, Calif., for a "forming a phase change memory with an ovonic threshold switch." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A phase change memory may include an ovonic threshold switch formed over an cyanic memory. In one embodiment, the switch includes a chalcogenide layer that overlaps an underlying electrode. Then, edge damage, due to etching the chalcogenide layer, may be isolated to reduce leakage current." The patent application was filed on May 3, 2012 (13/463,072). 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=8,440,535&OS=8,440,535&RS=8,440,535 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Nanosolar Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Nanosolar, San Jose, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,498) developed by Matthew R. Robinson, San Jose, Calif., Chris Eberspacher, Palo Alto, Calif., and Jeroen K.J. Van Duren, San Francisco, for "thin-film devices formed from solid particles." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods and devices are provided for forming thin-films from solid group IIIA-based particles. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is described comprising of providing a first material comprising an alloy of a) a group IIIA-based material and b) at least one other material. The material may be included in an amount sufficient so that no liquid phase of the alloy is present within the first material in a temperature range between room temperature and a deposition or pre-deposition temperature higher than room temperature, wherein the group IIIA-based material is otherwise liquid in that temperature range. The other material may be a group IA material. A precursor material may be formulated comprising a) particles of the first material and b) particles containing at least one element from the group consisting of: group IB, IIIA, VIA element, alloys containing any of the foregoing elements, or combinations thereof." The patent application was filed on Dec. 5, 2011 (13/311,483). 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=8,440,498&OS=8,440,498&RS=8,440,498 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Teledyne Scientific & Imaging Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, Thousand Oaks, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,543) developed by Donald E. Cooper, Moorpark, Calif., and William E. Tennant, Thousand Oaks, Calif., for a "hybrid circuit structure and partial backfill method for improving thermal cycling reliability of same." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of improving thermal cycling reliability for a hybrid circuit structure requires providing at least two circuit layers, aligning two of the circuit layers vertically such that their respective circuit elements have a precise and well-defined spatial relationship, and providing an adhesive material which wicks into a portion of the space between the aligned layers so as to mitigate damage to the structure and/or interconnections that might otherwise occur due to thermal contraction mismatch between the layers. The adhesive material is required to have an associated viscosity such that, when provided under predetermined conditions, the adhesive stops wicking before reaching, and possibly degrading the performance of, the circuit elements." The patent application was filed on Sept. 19, 2011 (13/236,421). 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=8,440,543&OS=8,440,543&RS=8,440,543 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Monolithic 3D Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Monolithic 3D, San Jose, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,542) developed by Deepak C. Sekar, San Jose, Calif., and Zvi Or-Bach, San Jose, Calif., for a "semiconductor device and structure." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of manufacturing a semiconductor wafer, the method comprising: providing a base wafer comprising a semiconductor substrate; preparing a first monocrystalline layer comprising semiconductor regions; preparing a second monocrystalline layer comprising semiconductor regions overlying the first monocrystalline layer; and etching portions of said first monocrystalline layer and portions of said second monocrystalline layer as part of forming at least one transistor on said first monocrystalline layer." The patent application was filed on Aug. 26, 2011 (13/218,815). 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=8,440,542&OS=8,440,542&RS=8,440,542 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Avalanche Technology Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Avalanche Technology, Fremont, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,471) developed by Rajiv Yadav Ranjan, San Jose, Calif., Parviz Keshtbod, Los Altos Hills, Calif., and Mahmud Assar, Aptos, Calif., for a "low-cost non-volatile flash-RAM memory." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method of flash-RAM memory includes non-volatile random access memory (RAM) formed on a monolithic die and non-volatile page-mode memory formed on top of the non-volatile RAM, the non-volatile page-mode memory and the non-volatile RAM reside on the monolithic die. The non-volatile RAM is formed of stacks of magnetic memory cells arranged in three-dimensional form for higher density and lower costs." The patent application was filed on Jan. 6, 2012 (13/345,608). 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=8,440,471&OS=8,440,471&RS=8,440,471 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Valent BioSciences Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Valent BioSciences, Libertyville, Ill., has been assigned a patent (8,440,592) developed by eight co-inventors for "use of abscisic acid combinations for thinning." The co-inventors are Derek D. Woolard, Zion, Ill., Peter D. Petracek, Grayslake, Ill., Michael Schroeder, Guggenhausen, Germany, Johnny A. Lopez, Lubbock, Texas, Schalk Reynolds, Grayslake, Ill., Gregory Clarke, Dillsburg, Pa., Prem Warrior, Chicago, and Rick Hopkins, Fresno, Calif. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The present invention is directed to the treatment of a plant at the flowering or fruiting stage with an effective amount of abscisic acid, its analogs or derivatives and salts thereof to reduce the number of fruits that the plant sets and grows to maturity." The patent application was filed on May 7, 2012 (13/465,629). 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=8,440,592&OS=8,440,592&RS=8,440,592 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Micron Technology Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Micron Technology, Boise, Idaho, has been assigned a patent (8,440,567) developed by Junting Liu, Manassas, Va., Er-Xuan Ping, Fremont, Calif., and Seiichi Takedai, Bristow, Va., for semiconductor processing methods. The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Some embodiments include methods in which insulative material is simultaneously deposited across both a front side of a semiconductor substrate, and across a back side of the substrate. Subsequently, openings may be etched through the insulative material across the front side, and the substrate may then be dipped within a plating bath to grow conductive contact regions within the openings. The insulative material across the back side may protect the back side from being plated during the growth of the conductive contact regions over the front side. In some embodiments, plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition may be utilized for the deposition, and may be conducted at a temperature suitable to anneal passivation materials so that such annealing occurs simultaneously with the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition." The patent application was filed on Feb. 23, 2011 (13/033,268). 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=8,440,567&OS=8,440,567&RS=8,440,567 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Broadley-James Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Broadley-James, Irvine, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,452) developed by Larry Eugene West, San Clemente, Calif., for an "integrated bio-reactor monitor and control system." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Systems and methods for automatically controlling conditions of a process are disclosed. In one example, a controller is programmed with a sequence of steps and parameters required to carry out a bioreactor process. A sensor system interacts with the bioreactor to receive information related to a condition of the bioreactor and/or receive a sample from the bioreactor, which it analyzes. The sensor system sends data signals related to the information and/or the sample to a controller, which determines a control signal based on the received information. The controller sends the control signal to the sensor system which, based on the control signal, performs an action that affects a condition of the bioreactor or affects the sensor system itself." The patent application was filed on Sept. 16, 2011 (13/235,241). 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=8,440,452&OS=8,440,452&RS=8,440,452 Written by Satyaban Rath; edited by Hemanta Panigrahi. *** Cadence Design Systems Assigned Patent ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 18 -- Cadence Design Systems, San Jose, Calif., has been assigned a patent (8,440,569) developed by Milind Weling, Pleasanton, Calif., and Abdurrahman Sezginer, Monte Sereno, Calif., for a "method of eliminating a lithography operation." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods of semiconductor device fabrication are disclosed. An exemplary method includes processes of depositing a first pattern on a semiconductor substrate, wherein the first pattern defines wide and narrow spaces; depositing spacer material over the first pattern on the substrate; etching the spacer material such that the spacer material is removed from horizontal surfaces of the substrate and the first pattern but remains adjacent to vertical surfaces of a wide space defined by the first pattern and remains within narrow a space defined by the first pattern; and removing the first pattern from the substrate. In one embodiment, the first pattern can comprise sacrificial material, which can include, for example, polysilicon material. The deposition can comprise physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, electrochemical deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, atomic layer deposition or other deposition techniques. According to another embodiment, features for lines and logic device components having a width greater than that of the lines are formed in the spacer material in the same mask la 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. -1125361 (c) 2013 Targeted News Service |