Patent Applications published on Jun 28, 2007

Explore the 7,086 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 26th week of 2007, including 4,401 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.

Featured patent applications from Jun 28, 2007

Published: 2007-06-28 Assignee: APPLE INC..
US20070150842A1
Physics
Application 20070150842, fig. 01

Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image

A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.

Published: 2007-06-28 Assignee: Aesculap AG & CO. KG, Aesculap AG & Co. KG.
US20070147806A1
Human necessities
Application 20070147806, fig. 01

Surgical machine and method for operating a surgical machine

To improve a surgical machine with an electric motor comprising a rotor and a plurality of motor windings, and with a motor controller for controlling and/or regulating the electric motor so that, in particular, the efficiency of the electric motor can be optimized essentially over the entire rotational speed range, it is proposed that the entire rotational speed range of the surgical machine be divided into at least one lower rotational speed range for low rotational speeds and at least one upper rotational speed range for higher rotational speeds than those in the at least one lower rotational speed range, that the motor controller be so designed that a first controlling and/or regulating method for controlling and/or regulating the electric motor is performable in the at least one lower rotational speed range, and that a second controlling and/or regulating method for controlling and/or regulating the electric motor is performable in the at least one upper rotational speed range.

Published: 2007-06-28 Assignee: Welcom Co., Ltd., Welcome Co., Ltd..
US20070145094A1
Performing operations; transporting
Application 20070145094, fig. 01

Hand-held staple gun having a safety device

A hand-held staple gun comprises a housing, a driver, a spring means, a handle, and a safe actuation mechanism. The safe actuation mechanism includes a swing means, a link, and an actuation control rod. The swing means is pivotally secured to the housing and the link is pivotally connected with the swing means. When the staple gun is not in use, the link cannot engage the driver even if the handle is pressed down, and when the staple gun is in use, the actuation control rod is pressed upward into the housing, so that the actuation control rod pushes the swing means, making the link engage the driver and therefore possible to drive staples out of the staple gun when pressing down of the handle.

Published: 2007-06-28 Assignee: ABBOTT DIABETES CARE INC..
US20070149875A1
Human necessities
Application 20070149875, fig. 01

Analyte monitoring

Devices and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte are provided. Embodiments of the subject devices include analyte monitoring systems that include an analyte sensor capable of providing clinically accurate analyte data without a substantial time delay after operably positioning the sensor in a patient. Embodiments of the subject methods include operably positioning an analyte sensor in a patient and obtaining clinically accurate analyte data without a substantial time delay after the positioning. Also provided are systems and kits for use in analyte monitoring.

Published: 2007-06-28 Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC..
US20070149926A1
Human necessities
Application 20070149926, fig. 01

Method and apparatus for detecting errors, fluid pressure, and occlusions in an ambulatory infusion pump

An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting a force sensor failure in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on the current measurements, the infusion pump detects when the plunger slide is seated in the reservoir, and detects a problem with the force sensor when the force sensor independently fails to register a value indicating that the plunger slide is seated in the reservoir.

Published: 2007-06-28 Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC NEUROMODULATION CORPORATION, Advanced Bionics Corporation.
US20070150036A1
Human necessities
Application 20070150036, fig. 01

Stimulator leads and methods for lead fabrication

A lead for a stimulation device can include an array of electrodes with each electrode having a front surface and a back surface; a plurality of conductors; a carrier formed around the array of electrodes; and a biocompatible material that may be disposed over and/or joined with the carrier and the back surfaces of the electrodes. A conductor is attached to the back surface of each electrode. The carrier can be formed around the array of electrodes, but does not completely cover the front surface or back surface of the electrodes.

Published: 2007-06-28 Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc..
US20070147385A1
Electricity
Application 20070147385, fig. 01

Synchronous data communication

A data packet is provided that includes a synchronization field and an acknowledgement field indicative of an acknowledgement of receipt of a prior data packet. The data packet also includes a response field that includes information indicative of a system fault, a header field, and a sequence number field that includes a number assigned to the data packet. The data packet further includes a data field, an end of packet field, and an error-checking field. Methods and computer program products are provided that, in some implementations, include retransmitting packets if the acknowledgement field in a received data packet is a no acknowledgement (NAK) and/or placing a node into a safe state in response to a fault signal that is included in the received data packet.

Published: 2007-06-28 Assignee: ASM International N.V..
US20070148350A1
Electricity
Application 20070148350, fig. 01

Enhanced thin film deposition

Methods of producing metal-containing thin films with low impurity contents on a substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD) are provided. The methods preferably comprise contacting a substrate with alternating and sequential pulses of a metal source chemical, a second source chemical and a deposition enhancing agent. The deposition enhancing agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, hydrogen, hydrogen plasma, hydrogen radicals, silanes, germanium compounds, nitrogen compounds, and boron compounds. In some embodiments, the deposition-enhancing agent reacts with halide contaminants in the growing thin film, improving film properties.

Published: 2007-06-28 Assignee: APPLE INC..
US20070149252A1
Electricity
Application 20070149252, fig. 01

Account information display for portable communication device

A portable communication device includes a display and a processor coupled to the display. The processor is configured to automatically and repeatedly present an updated account usage metric for an account associated with usage of the portable communication device. In some embodiments, the presented account usage metric is an account balance associated with usage of the portable communication device, and the processor automatically and repeatedly presents an updated account balance on the display.

Published: 2007-06-28 Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC..
US20070150689A1
Physics
Application 20070150689, fig. 01

Effective wear-leveling and concurrent reclamation method for embedded linear flash file systems

Reclamation of an Erase Unit of a flash memory is performed concurrently with a file operation on the flash memory by initiating a reclamation operation on the individually erasable portion of the memory, by suspending the reclamation operation for the file operation, by performing the file operation, and by resuming the reclamation operation.