Mechanical isolation for MEMS devices
US Patent 7,830,003
November 9, 2010
A device according to the present invention includes a MEMS device supported on a first side of a die. A first side of an isolator is attached to the first side of the die. A package is attached to the first side of the isolator, with at least one electrically conductive attachment device attaching the die to the isolator and attaching the isolator to the package. The isolator may include isolation structures and a receptacle.
Supreme Court to Review Induced Infringement
November 2, 2010
| Intellectual Property News
After many years of confusion, the Supreme Court has agreed to review a lawsuit addressing the standard of intent required for inducement of infringement. This pivotal case may resolve once and for all whether a party must intend to infringe a patent in order to be liable, or whether it is sufficient to be aware of the possibility of infringement by third parties.
Under Section 271 of the patent statutes, one who “actively induces” infringement by others is liable for infringement. Most commonly, this statute is asserted when a patent requires a product to be used in a particular way. In that situation, the manufacturer may not be liable for direct infringement because the manufacturer does not use the product at all. If the packaging describes a particular way of using the product, or perhaps if there is really only one principal way of using it, then the manufacturer or seller may be liable for inducing infringement once the customers buy the product and use it as directed.
According to court decisions to date, the party accused of inducing infringement must either have knowledge of the patent or the specific intent to induce infringement. These are certainly two very different standards. If knowledge of the patent is sufficient then the seller may be liable for infringement even if there is no actual knowledge that anyone actually used the product in an infringing manner, and perhaps without the intent that any buyers would actually use the product in an infringing way. Under the second standard, by contrast, the seller would escape liability even if it knew about the patent as long as it did not specifically intend to encourage infringement by others.
The specific case under review is SEB S.A. v. Montgomery Ward & Co., Inc., 594 F.3d 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2010). In this case, Pentalpha reverse-engineered SEB’s patented cooker and began selling a competing product. Pentalpha obtained an opinion from its attorneys who believed that the product did not infringe any patents, but Pentalpha did not tell its attorneys that the product copied another product already on the market. The opinion was therefore considered to be suspect because the attorneys did not look for patents belonging to the company that manufactured the copied product. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals believed that Pentalpha deliberately ignored the possibility that SEB had a patent covering its product. The language of the decision makes it unclear whether such “deliberate indifference” is sufficient for inducement or whether “specific intent” is required.
The Supreme Court agreed to review the case in order to specifically address whether deliberate indifference of a known risk is sufficient or whether inducement of infringement requires purposeful, culpable expression and conduct to encourage the infringement by others.
System and method for water restoration
US Patent 7,824,555
November 2, 2010
System and method for water restoration to a water pool or to water regions associated with freshwater or saltwater marinas. Embodiments include a positive water flow device that works in unison with a negative water flow device, wherein the positive and negative flow devices are separated from each other in the water pool or water regions. The positive flow device, for example, a water jet, directs a stream of water beneath the water surface of the water pool or water regions, and causes a water surface to move towards the negative flow device by a hydraulic pushing action. The negative flow device includes a water pump and receiving port, augments the hydraulic pushing action by providing a complementary pulling action by applying a vacuum or negative pressure to a water receiving port, or scoop. Water laden, oily surface contaminants are then removed in the scoop as a water oil mixture that is subsequently separated to form an oil mixture for subsequent recycling and a clean water source that is restored for delivery back into the water pool or water regions.
Locking differential having a split-center driver
US Patent 7,824,296
November 2, 2010
A locking differential includes a housing with an interior chamber in which a two-piece split-center driver is located. The split-center driver is positioned on opposite sides of a cross-pin assembly. A pair of axially spaced output shafts extend from the interior chamber and are coupled to a pair of side gears. The split-center driver gear and a centered cam member are arranged co-axially about the adjacent ends of the output shafts, and annular clutch members are operable to disconnect an overrunning output shaft.
Cordless motor assisted torque wrench
US Patent 7,823,486
November 2, 2010
A cordless motor assisted torque wrench. In an example embodiment, the torque wrench includes an elongated housing adapted to enclose an elongated battery pack, a drive head pivotably connected to a first end of the elongated housing at a pivot connection, an electronic torque setting device operable to receive a desired torque setting from a user, a torque sensing device for sensing a level of torque applied by the wrench to a workpiece, a motor disposed within the head, and a torque limiter configured to limit the torque applied by the wrench to a workpiece based on the desired torque setting and the level of torque sensed by the torque sensing device. The elongated housing preferably includes a first segment and a second segment slidably coupled to form a telescopic elongated housing that is configurable into at least two lengths.
System and method to identify and measure organ wall boundaries
US Patent 7,819,806
October 26, 2010
Systems and methods are described for acquiring, processing, and presenting boundaries of a cavity-tissue interface within a region-of-interest in an ultrasound image based upon the strength of signals of ultrasound echoes returning from structures within the region-of-interest. The segmentation of boundaries of cavity shapes occupying the region-of-interest utilizes cost function analysis of pixel sets occupying the cavity-tissue interface. The segmented shapes are further image processed to determine areas and volumes of the organ or structure containing the cavity within the region-of-interest.
Method and system for organizing tax information and providing tax advice
US Patent 7,818,222
October 19, 2010
A method includes providing to a user a set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a user’s electronic device, generate a user interface displayable on a display device coupled to the user’s electronic device, presenting to the user via the user interface a plurality of solicitations for a set of personal information describing characteristics of the user, receiving via the user interface the personal information set, and, based on the personal information set, generating to the user interface a checklist of tax return preparation information to be compiled by the user.
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Systems and methods for supplemental weather information presentation on a display
US Patent 7,817,078
October 19, 2010
An embodiment of the supplemental weather display system presents supplemental weather information on a display in a craft. An exemplary embodiment receives the supplemental weather information from a remote source, determines a location of the supplemental weather information relative to the craft, receives weather information from an on-board radar system, and integrates the supplemental weather information with the weather information received from the on-board radar system.
Helmet with integrated head light
US Patent 7,814,578
October 19, 2010
A helmet is provided herein for protection of the head of a user. A shell, chin bar, breath deflector, and head light are provided. The chin bar is fixed between the right and left sides of the shell. A face shield system is pivotally secured to the shell to pivot up and away from the face of the user leaving only a chin bar running below the mouth of the user in front of the face of the user. The breath deflector moves with the face shield. The light is secured to a center portion of the chin bar and includes a switch integrated with the light.
Office communication system
US Patent 7,812,709
October 12, 2010
An office communication system provides intra-office communication within a medical or dental office, for example. The system includes a door or wall unit, a table or desk unit, and a wearable or portable unit. The door and desk units are configured to transmit and receive both infrared and radio frequency type wireless signals. The portable unit may include an infrared light transmitter configured to transmit infrared light encoded with a unique address or identifier. The system operates to non-obtrusively notify office personnel whether a practitioner has entered or is presently within a particular exam room of the office, even if a door of the exam room is closed.
