Patent Applications published on Aug 7, 2014

Explore the 7,951 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 32nd week of 2014, including 5,490 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.

Featured patent applications from Aug 7, 2014

Published: 2014-08-07 Assignee: APPLE INC..
US20140222436A1
Physics
Application 20140222436, fig. 01

Voice trigger for a digital assistant

A method for operating a voice trigger is provided. In some implementations, the method is performed at an electronic device including one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes receiving a sound input. The sound input may correspond to a spoken word or phrase, or a portion thereof. The method includes determining whether at least a portion of the sound input corresponds to a predetermined type of sound, such as a human voice. The method includes, upon a determination that at least a portion of the sound input corresponds to the predetermined type, determining whether the sound input includes predetermined content, such as a predetermined trigger word or phrase. The method also includes, upon a determination that the sound input includes the predetermined content, initiating a speech-based service, such as a voice-based digital assistant.

Published: 2014-08-07 Assignee: Covidien LP.
US20140216964A1
Human necessities
Application 20140216964, fig. 01

Cartridge shipping aid

A cartridge shipping aid is provided to retain staples within staple pockets of a staple cartridge during shipment. The cartridge shipping aid includes a base and a longitudinal rib extending perpendicularly from an underside of the base and indiscernible into a knife slot formed in a staple cartridge. One or more perpendicular keys are formed along a lower edge of the longitudinally extending rib for engagement with an underside surface of the staple cartridge. The cartridge shipping aid may additionally include sidewalls projecting perpendicularly from outer edges of the base. Projections are formed on one end of the base for engagement with associate detents formed on the staple cartridge. Grasping structure is formed adjacent one end of the base and longitudinal rib.

Published: 2014-08-07 Assignee: AUGMENTED VISION, INC., Magic Leap, Inc..
US20140218468A1
Electricity
Application 20140218468, fig. 01

Wide-field of view (FOV) imaging devices with active foveation capability

The present invention comprises a foveated imaging system capable of capturing a wide field of view image and a foveated image, where the foveated image is a controllable region of interest of the wide field of view image.

Published: 2014-08-07 Assignee: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP..
US20140222051A1
Human necessities
Application 20140222051, fig. 01

Tissue excision method

Provided is a tissue excision method that excises a partial tissue within an excision region set in a hollow organ over an entire thickness direction. The tissue excision method includes a first process of gripping a peripheral edge portion of the excision region from the inside of the hollow organ; a second process of moving the portion and drawing the folded hollow organ into a slit with a predetermined width; a third process of suturing a part located outside the excision region so as to be integral over the thickness direction; and a fourth process of cutting the portion of the drawn hollow organ along the peripheral edge of the excision region. In the second process, a portion of a fluid within the hollow organ is moved out of the hollow organ to keep the internal pressure within a fixed range while drawing the portion of the hollow organ.

Published: 2014-08-07 Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation.
US20140222136A1
Human necessities
Application 20140222136, fig. 01

Prosthetic valve for replacing mitral valve

Embodiments of prosthetic valves for implantation within a native mitral valve are provided. One embodiment of a prosthetic valve includes a radially compressible main body and a one-way valve member. In some cases, the prosthetic valves also include ventricular anchors and/or an atrial portion coupled to and disposed outside of the main body. Methods, devices, and systems for delivering such prosthetic valves to the native mitral valve and implanting them therein are also provided.

Published: 2014-08-07 Assignee: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH.
US20140222019A1
Human necessities
Application 20140222019, fig. 01

Surgical instrument

A surgical instrument according to the invention, particularly a robot-guided surgical instrument, has a shaft end (1), a tool holder (2), which is mounted on the shaft end so as to be able to rotate about a yaw axis (G), and a tool (3) with a main lever (3A), in particular a blade and/or jaw, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to rotate about a pitch axis (N), and a gear transmission with a drive wheel (31), which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be rotatable about an input gear axis (G) by a driving means (200), and, in force-fit and/or form-fit connection therewith, an output wheel (30), which is mounted on the tool holder so as to rotate about an output gear axis (N) and by means of which the tool is rotatable about the pitch axis, or a wraparound transmission with a drive wheel, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be rotatable about an input gear axis by a driving means, an output wheel, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be able to rotate about an output gear axis and by means of which the tool is rotatable about the pitch axis, and two traction strands which are different from the drive means, are in particular connected and couple drive wheel and output wheel, or a differential transmission with an output wheel (350; 350A), which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be able to rotate about an output gear axis and by means of which the tool is rotatable about the pitch axis, wherein two traction strands are mutually offset in the direction of the output gear axis, in particular on both sides of the yaw axis, run in opposite directions from the output wheel and/or onto the output wheel and/or are both secured on the output wheel and/or are different from a driving means by which a drive wheel (110), firmly or operatively connected to the tool holder, is rotatable about the yaw axis.

Published: 2014-08-07 Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V..
US20140220247A1
Chemistry; metallurgy
Application 20140220247, fig. 02

Method for treatment of deposition reactor

A method for treating a deposition reactor is disclosed. The method removes or mitigates formation of residue in a gas-phase reactor used to deposit doped metal films, such as aluminum-doped titanium carbide films or aluminum-doped tantalum carbide films. The method includes a step of exposing a reaction chamber to a treatment reactant that mitigates formation of species that lead to residue formation.

Published: 2014-08-07 Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V..
US20140217065A1
Chemistry; metallurgy
Application 20140217065, fig. 01

Multi-step method and apparatus for etching compounds containing a metal

A system and method for etching a material, including a compound having a formulation of XYZ, wherein X and Y are one or more metals and Z is selected from one or more Group 13-16 elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, boron, silicon, sulfur, selenium, and tellurium, are disclosed. The method includes a first etch process to form one or more first volatile compounds and a metal-depleted layer and a second etch process to remove at least a portion of the metal-depleted layer.

Published: 2014-08-07 Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC..
US20140217166A1
Physics
Application 20140217166, fig. 01

Methods and apparatus to change a feature set on data collection devices

Methods and apparatus for modifying the feature set of data collection devices are disclosed. Requests are receiving at a computer system different from the data collection device for a new configuration of the data collection device, the request including an identifier for the data collection device, identification of one or more features, and for each identified feature, an indication to modify the operation of a feature. The identifier may comprise an identifier that is unique for a particular data collection device or an indication of a group of devices, e.g. a model number. Prior to authorizing the new configuration, a determination may be made as to whether the identified data collection device(s) are suitable for the new configuration by consulting a configuration database. To implement the new configuration, an encoded authorization file is generated based on the requested configuration and the identifier of the data collection device(s). The encoded authorization file is transmitted to one or more data collection devices. Each data collection device that receives an encoded authorization file attempts to decode of the license using its identifier(s). If the authorization file is successfully decoded, a license key on that device is updated to implement the new configuration.

Published: 2014-08-07 Assignee: METROLOGIC INSTRUMENTS, INC..
US20140217180A1
Physics
Application 20140217180, fig. 01

Indicia decoding device with security lock

A securable indicia encoding system with a lock receiving portion is disclosed herein. In one illustrative embodiment, a securable indicia decoding device may include an imaging subsystem, a memory, a processor, and a housing. The imaging subsystem may include an image sensor array and an imaging optics assembly operative for focusing an image onto the image sensor array. The memory may be capable of storing frames of image data comprising data communicated through the read-out portion of at least some of the pixels during the imaging operation. The processor may be operative for receiving one or more of the frames of image data from the data storage element and performing a decode operation for attempting to decode a decodable feature represented in at least one of the frames of image data. The housing may encapsulate the illumination subsystem and the imaging subsystem. The housing may include a lock receiving portion for receiving a security lock.