This invention relates to, for example, an apparatus, method, and system for safely utilizing a rechargeable energy device.
Some energy storage devices such as, for example, thin-film solid electrolyte batteries or capacitors may be susceptible to damage when exposed to continuous or momentary influxes of high charging voltages. Batteries may, for example, be damaged if discharged beyond their design parameters.
Over-charge protection relates to a condition when a relative large voltage is allowed at the input to a battery cell or capacitor for an any time period. In order to protect against overcharge, device protection circuits may be used to monitor the current and voltage and inhibit battery charge when overcharge is sensed.
Under-voltage conditions also have the potential to damage the energy storage device. In a battery, for example, during an under-voltage condition the battery may discharge beyond the point of recovery.
Thus, a need exists to protect an energy storage device from over-charge and/or over-discharge conditions.
To implement the functionality mentioned above, the current available art may generally require power consumption from the device to be charged for the over-charge circuitry. That is, the existing art may involve circuits using quiescent current from the battery or capacitor to be charged. Also, current known art may involve switching to disable the charging source when an overcharge condition exists despite the absence of a charging source or similar energy being present. Other known over voltage control circuits use voltage regulation schemes that clamp input power to a known voltage prior to input to the energy storage device to be charged. These may use a significant amount of power either from the rechargeable device or from input power to the system. These mechanisms may not be ideal because, for example, they increase the amounts of leakage current taken from the battery or capacitor to be charged or use input energy that may be otherwise allowed into the rechargeable energy storage device.
Additionally, a demand exists for an electronic device that, for example, does not require excess storage device requirements and may be able to gather energy efficiently, even including very trace amounts of energy, without, for example, damage during operation or the recharging process, either by over-voltage or under-voltage.
Further, there is a perceived need for an over-voltage and/or under-voltage protection circuit that, for example, does not operate using significant quiescent current from the energy storage device, nor essentially load or waste input charge energy with regulation when regulation is not necessary, thus consuming less energy from both the rechargeable energy storage device and the available input charge energy.
Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention, as described in more detail and by example below, address certain of the shortfalls of the background technology and emerging needs in the relevant industries. Accordingly, the present invention is directed, for example, to substantially obviate one or more of the shortcomings or problems due to the limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
Ambient energy exists in many forms and may be in many cases in useable but potentially unreliable quantities, providing an opportunity to convert this energy into a beneficial electrical form, with the assistance of an energy harvesting device combined with a passive over-voltage and/or under-voltage control protection circuit. Depending on the application, harvested energy may, for example, be used instantaneously or stored in an energy storage device such as a capacitor or a thin-film battery directly, with no active voltage control necessarily required, and used at defined time intervals or when certain environmental conditions exist, such as when a request by an attached or a remotely connected device is received.
It is one object of certain exemplary embodiments of this invention to use an energy harvester (such as, for example, a piezoelectric mechanism or an energy-absorbing antenna), adjacently connected or incorporated onto a flexible substrate or a chip, to collect energy from one or more non-conventional sources and supply a charge energy to recharge an energy storage device such as a capacitor or battery.
Another object of an embodiment of this invention relates to, for example, a device which may be used to recharge energy storage devices without subjecting the device to potentially damaging over-charge or under-voltage conditions while using minimal power from the rechargeable device and taking minimal power from the available charge energy. This may, for example, allow maximum usage of available input power to the rechargeable device.
As some energy storage devices, such as, for example, thin-film solid electrolyte batteries, are sensitive to continuous or momentary influxes of high charging voltages, the over-charge and/or under-voltage circuitry may be especially useful in recharging the batteries in a safe manner. This may be particularly important, for example, in applications where energy storage devices are located in remote areas that require high reliability—the energy-harvesting system described above may recharge the energy storage devices and the over-charge and/or over-discharge circuitry may ensure that the energy storage device is not damaged by the excess and/or inadequate conditions of the charging voltage or load demand.
Certain embodiments of the present invention may, for example, limit power usage from the energy storage device to be charged by monitoring voltage levels when a charging source energy is present. A power dissipation circuit may, for example, be switched on in the event that a) charging energy is present, and b) the level of the energy present from the input charge device is greater than a predetermined safe level for the device to be charged. A further benefit of this invention may be that very small energy sources may, for example, preferably be safely connected to this circuit without the need of any voltage regulation because regulation may, for example, be applied via this circuit only in the event of possible over charge voltage conditions as seen at the rechargeable device, and only when charge energy is present.
The monitor and power dissipation circuitry in this invention can, for example, be powered solely by charging energy. If charging energy is not available, then only very minute amounts of leakage current may be taken from the energy storage device. Furthermore, only very small amounts of charge energy may be used to determine if an over voltage condition exists.
Also in this invention, the power dissipation circuit may be switched on, for example, when an over-voltage condition exists. The existence of such condition is determined, for example, when a) charging energy is present, and b) the voltage level of the energy present from the input charge device is greater than a predetermined safe level for the device to be charged. When the over voltage condition has been removed, the protection circuit may return to a quiescent state. Because over-voltage can, for example, preferably be monitored within this circuitry, maximum voltage regulation does not have to be provided via the charge energy source. This power may, for example, be dissipated by the power dissipation circuitry.
Trace energy gathering may slowly build to an overcharge condition over time. In some ambient environments, it may be critical to use all available energy without the power consumption of constant regulation. Certain embodiments of this invention may be different than the prior art in that, for example, voltage regulation may not, in those embodiments, occur unless an overcharge condition can exist at the rechargeable energy storage device, and only when recharge energy is present.
Some features and advantages of certain embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings of certain preferred embodiments, which are intended to illustrate examples and not to limit the full scope of the invention.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of various embodiments of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, and illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention that together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:
a is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a blocking circuit.
These and other aspects of the invention will now be described in greater detail in connection with exemplary embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures.
All patents and other publications identified are incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing. For example, the methodologies described in such publications that might be used in connection with the present invention. These publications are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing in this regard should be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention or for any other reason.
In several embodiments, an input charge device 105 may be an energy harvesting mechanism based on a radio frequency energy transducer or a device that can convert solar power, wind power, vibration, pedestrian activity such as walking or jogging, water movement, temperature variations, magnetic fields, or rotational movements into usable energy such as electricity. Additionally, input charge device 105 may also include a voltage boost converter.
In addition to a battery or capacitor, an energy storage device 106 may also be a mechanical energy storage device, such as, for example, a flywheel, micro-flywheel, micro electromechanical system (MEMS), or a mechanical spring. The energy storage component may also be a thermal energy storage device, such as a thermal mass container, or it could be a chemical energy storage device, such as, for example, a hydrogen generator with hydrogen container or an ozone generator with ozone container. Each one of these devices may be used to store energy based on exemplary elements of the system.
a is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a blocking circuit. In this embodiment, a Schottky Diode 110 may be used as the blocking circuit to prevent current flow from the device to be charged 106 to the Voltage Monitor Circuit 100. To achieve the same functionality, other mechanisms may also be used as blocking circuits, such as, for example, an active semiconductor device, such as, for example, a MOSFET switch and control circuitry, a relay, or a Micro Electro Mechanical Switch. A Schottky Diode may be a preferable component due to simplicity in design and its very low forward voltage drop, resulting preferably in increased charge efficiency.
Referring back to
In some embodiments, low current is generated by the input charge device 105, such as with a solar array that has insufficient light to operate in the voltage mode or an antenna that collects very small amounts of ambient electromagnetic energy from radio waves, etc. In such conditions, current generated by the low current input charge device 105 may still build a voltage, albeit over a longer period of time, on capacitor 104. As the voltage on capacitor 104 builds to a level slightly higher than the voltage on the energy storage device 106 (accounting for the voltage drop across the Blocking Circuit 101), current may flow into the energy storage device 106. In these embodiments, only if voltage builds on the energy storage device 106 to the predetermined level—indicating that it is fully charged—may the Voltage Monitoring Circuit 100 energize. As a result, power may not be lost to the Voltage Monitoring Circuit 100 until the energy storage device 106 is fully charged. This may be true for other charge sources 105 including but not limited to DC source in either voltage or current mode, rectified AC source in either voltage or current mode, piezo electric source, peltier source, fuel cell source, solar source in either voltage or current mode, RF source, inductive source, magnetic source and radio isotope (active) to electric conversion source.
In some embodiments, an energy load (not shown) may be connected to node 108 and powered directly from the energy storage device 106. In other embodiments, an energy load may be connected to node 107 and powered directly from input charge device 105. In yet other embodiments, an energy load may be connected to the output of Power Dissipation Circuit 102. Whether the energy load is connected to one or more of these loads may depend on the anticipated parameters of the energy supplied by the input charge device 105 as well as the sensitivity of the energy load.
In these and other embodiments, one or more of many sorts of sensors may be powered by the energy storage device connected to the protection circuit, thereby serving as the energy load and creating a system for sensing one or more parameters. Some embodiments may also include communication circuitry and one or more antennas that may allow the system to communicate. In such embodiments, when combined with an energy harvesting device (collecting ambient energy), the system may serve as an autonomous powered wireless communication system. These systems may for example include a plurality of transmitting and/or receiving (or having both capabilities) devices. These systems may be used, for example, as a wireless signal listening device, tuned to a plurality of frequencies, and collecting transmitted information and/or performing a function, such as, for example, transmitting a signal, based on certain information that is received. These systems, when having other types of sensors, may function as wireless sensors and communicate data that is measured by the sensor. The system may also be used, for example, as a wireless receiver component to an autonomous electrical circuit which, upon receiving a wireless command signal, performs a function.
In several embodiments, some or all of the elements of the passive power management unit, the input charge device, and the energy storage device are all formed on a single substrate such as, for example, a flexible circuit board or semiconductor chip.
In the several embodiments in which the energy storage device is a rechargeable device, such as, for example, a thin-film battery or capacitor, this will present an opportunity whereby the present invention may be capable of performing nearly indefinitely. The present invention may, for example, allow for energy created through radio frequency, wind power, solar power, vibration, human activity, water movement, temperature variations and rotational movements to be harvested in an energy harvesting mechanism and for that harvested energy to ensure that the rechargeable energy storage device may be so charged.
Examples of other shunt power dissipation circuits may include, for example, the use of a semiconductor circuit. All these examples may, for example, be powered solely by the input charge energy source, isolating the power dissipation circuit until excess energy is entering from the input charge device and an over voltage condition exists for the energy storage device.
Circuits shown as separate entities above may also be combined into a single chip solution by using a combined semiconductor circuit. For example, a voltage monitor circuit and a power dissipation circuit can be combined into a semiconductor circuit. As another example, a voltage monitor circuit, a blocking circuit, and a power dissipation circuit may also be combined into a semiconductor circuit. Such a configuration, may, for example, have as few as three external connections: an input connect to the input charge device, and output to connect to the energy storage device, and a drain to connect to ground or a device that can use or collect the excess energy. A single combined semiconductor circuit may also include circuits that are not shown in any previously illustrated exemplary embodiments. For instance, in addition to a voltage monitor circuit, a blocking circuit, or a power dissipation circuit, a semiconductor circuit may also include a combination of a rectification circuit for conversion of AC charge input to DC, a voltage boost converter, and a voltage boost converter that has no upper voltage regulation requirement. All such combined semiconductor circuits may be powered solely by the input charge energy source, isolating the power dissipation circuit until sufficient energy is available from the input charge device and an over voltage condition exists.
The present invention applies not only to one input charge device and one battery or capacitor to be charged, as shown in
When charging multiple batteries or capacitors in series, it is also, for example, possible to only monitor voltage at the top of the stack and regulate from the top of the stack. In this case, there may preferably need to be only one blocking circuit and one power dissipation circuit for all the batteries or capacitors connected serially.
The embodiments and examples described above are exemplary only. One skilled in the art may recognize variations from the embodiments specifically described here, which are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure and invention. As such, the invention is limited only by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
This application is related to and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/103,746, entitled “Environmentally-Powered Wireless Sensor Module,” filed on Oct. 8, 2008 and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/041,841, entitled “Passive Battery or Capacitor Overvoltage Control and Protection Circuit,” filed on Apr. 2, 2008; both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
712316 | Loppe et al. | Oct 1902 | A |
2970180 | Urry | Jan 1961 | A |
3309302 | Heil | Mar 1967 | A |
3616403 | Collins et al. | Oct 1971 | A |
3790432 | Fletcher et al. | Feb 1974 | A |
3797091 | Gavin | Mar 1974 | A |
3850604 | Klein | Nov 1974 | A |
3939008 | Longo et al. | Feb 1976 | A |
4082569 | Evans, Jr. | Apr 1978 | A |
4111523 | Kaminow et al. | Sep 1978 | A |
4127424 | Ullery, Jr. | Nov 1978 | A |
4226924 | Kimura et al. | Oct 1980 | A |
4283216 | Brereton | Aug 1981 | A |
4318938 | Barnett et al. | Mar 1982 | A |
4328297 | Bilhorn | May 1982 | A |
4395713 | Nelson et al. | Jul 1983 | A |
4437966 | Hope et al. | Mar 1984 | A |
4442144 | Pipkin | Apr 1984 | A |
4467236 | Kolm et al. | Aug 1984 | A |
4481265 | Ezawa et al. | Nov 1984 | A |
4518661 | Rippere | May 1985 | A |
4555456 | Kanehori et al. | Nov 1985 | A |
4572873 | Kanehori et al. | Feb 1986 | A |
4587225 | Tsukuma et al. | May 1986 | A |
4619680 | Nourshargh et al. | Oct 1986 | A |
4645726 | Hiratani et al. | Feb 1987 | A |
4664993 | Sturgis et al. | May 1987 | A |
4668593 | Sammells | May 1987 | A |
RE32449 | Claussen | Jun 1987 | E |
4672586 | Shimohigashi et al. | Jun 1987 | A |
4710940 | Sipes, Jr. | Dec 1987 | A |
4728588 | Noding et al. | Mar 1988 | A |
4740431 | Little | Apr 1988 | A |
4756717 | Sturgis et al. | Jul 1988 | A |
4785459 | Baer | Nov 1988 | A |
4826743 | Nazri | May 1989 | A |
4865428 | Corrigan | Sep 1989 | A |
4878094 | Balkanski | Oct 1989 | A |
4903326 | Zakman et al. | Feb 1990 | A |
4915810 | Kestigian et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
4964877 | Keister et al. | Oct 1990 | A |
4977007 | Kondo et al. | Dec 1990 | A |
4978437 | Wirz | Dec 1990 | A |
5006737 | Fay | Apr 1991 | A |
5019467 | Fujiwara | May 1991 | A |
5030331 | Sato | Jul 1991 | A |
5035965 | Sangyoji et al. | Jul 1991 | A |
5055704 | Link et al. | Oct 1991 | A |
5057385 | Hope et al. | Oct 1991 | A |
5085904 | Deak et al. | Feb 1992 | A |
5096852 | Hobson | Mar 1992 | A |
5100821 | Fay | Mar 1992 | A |
5107538 | Benton et al. | Apr 1992 | A |
5110694 | Nagasubramanian et al. | May 1992 | A |
5110696 | Shokoohi et al. | May 1992 | A |
5119269 | Nakayama | Jun 1992 | A |
5119460 | Bruce et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
5124782 | Hundt et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
5147985 | DuBrucq | Sep 1992 | A |
5153710 | McCain | Oct 1992 | A |
5169408 | Biggerstaff et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
5171413 | Arntz et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
5173271 | Chen et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
5174876 | Buchal et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
5180645 | Moré | Jan 1993 | A |
5187564 | McCain | Feb 1993 | A |
5196041 | Tumminelli et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5196374 | Hundt et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5200029 | Bruce et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
5202201 | Meunier et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
5206925 | Nakazawa et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
5208121 | Yahnke et al. | May 1993 | A |
5217828 | Sangyoji et al. | Jun 1993 | A |
5221891 | Janda et al. | Jun 1993 | A |
5225288 | Beeson et al. | Jul 1993 | A |
5227264 | Duval et al. | Jul 1993 | A |
5237439 | Misono et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
5252194 | Demaray et al. | Oct 1993 | A |
5262254 | Koksbang et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
5273608 | Nath | Dec 1993 | A |
5287427 | Atkins et al. | Feb 1994 | A |
5296089 | Chen et al. | Mar 1994 | A |
5300461 | Ting | Apr 1994 | A |
5302474 | Shackle et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5303319 | Ford et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5306569 | Hiraki | Apr 1994 | A |
5307240 | McMahon | Apr 1994 | A |
5309302 | Vollmann | May 1994 | A |
5314765 | Bates | May 1994 | A |
5326652 | Lake | Jul 1994 | A |
5326653 | Chang | Jul 1994 | A |
5338624 | Gruenstern et al. | Aug 1994 | A |
5338625 | Bates et al. | Aug 1994 | A |
5342709 | Yahnke et al. | Aug 1994 | A |
5355089 | Treger et al. | Oct 1994 | A |
5360686 | Peled et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5362579 | Rossoll et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5381262 | Arima et al. | Jan 1995 | A |
5387482 | Anani | Feb 1995 | A |
5401595 | Kagawa et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
5403680 | Otagawa et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
5411537 | Munshi et al. | May 1995 | A |
5411592 | Ovshinsky et al. | May 1995 | A |
5419982 | Tura et al. | May 1995 | A |
5427669 | Drummond | Jun 1995 | A |
5435826 | Sakakibara et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
5437692 | Dasgupta et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
5445856 | Chaloner-Gill | Aug 1995 | A |
5445906 | Hobson et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
5448110 | Tuttle et al. | Sep 1995 | A |
5449576 | Anani | Sep 1995 | A |
5455126 | Bates et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5457569 | Liou et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5458995 | Behl et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5464692 | Huber | Nov 1995 | A |
5464706 | Dasgupta et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
5470396 | Mongon et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
5472795 | Atita | Dec 1995 | A |
5475528 | LaBorde | Dec 1995 | A |
5478456 | Humpal et al. | Dec 1995 | A |
5483613 | Bruce et al. | Jan 1996 | A |
5493177 | Muller et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
5498489 | Dasgupta et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
5499207 | Miki et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
5501918 | Gruenstern et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
5504041 | Summerfelt | Apr 1996 | A |
5512147 | Bates et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5512387 | Ovshinsky | Apr 1996 | A |
5512389 | Dasgupta et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5538796 | Schaffer et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
5540742 | Sangyoji et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
5547780 | Kagawa et al. | Aug 1996 | A |
5547782 | Dasgupta et al. | Aug 1996 | A |
5552242 | Ovshinsky et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
5555127 | Abdelkader et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
5561004 | Bates et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
5563979 | Bruce et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
5565071 | Demaray et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
5567210 | Bates et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
5569520 | Bates | Oct 1996 | A |
5582935 | Dasgupta et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
5591520 | Migliorini et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5597660 | Bates et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5597661 | Takeuchi et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5599355 | Nagasubramanian et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
5601952 | Dasgupta et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
5603816 | Demaray et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
5607560 | Hirabayashi et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
5607789 | Treger et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
5612152 | Bates et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
5612153 | Moulton et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
5613995 | Bhandarkar et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
5616933 | Li | Apr 1997 | A |
5618382 | Mintz et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
5625202 | Chai | Apr 1997 | A |
5637418 | Brown et al. | Jun 1997 | A |
5643480 | Gustavsson et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
5644207 | Lew et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
5645626 | Edlund et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
5645960 | Scrosati et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
5654054 | Tropsha et al. | Aug 1997 | A |
5654984 | Hershbarger et al. | Aug 1997 | A |
5658652 | Sellergren | Aug 1997 | A |
5660700 | Shimizu et al. | Aug 1997 | A |
5665490 | Takeuchi et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5667538 | Bailey | Sep 1997 | A |
5677784 | Harris | Oct 1997 | A |
5679980 | Summerfelt | Oct 1997 | A |
5681666 | Treger et al. | Oct 1997 | A |
5686360 | Harvey, III et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5689522 | Beach | Nov 1997 | A |
5693956 | Shi et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
5702829 | Paidassi et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
5705293 | Hobson | Jan 1998 | A |
5716728 | Smesko | Feb 1998 | A |
5718813 | Drummond et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5719976 | Henry et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5721067 | Jacobs et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
RE35746 | Lake | Mar 1998 | E |
5731661 | So et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5738731 | Shindo et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
5742094 | Ting | Apr 1998 | A |
5755938 | Fukui et al. | May 1998 | A |
5755940 | Shindo | May 1998 | A |
5757126 | Harvey, III et al. | May 1998 | A |
5762768 | Goy et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5763058 | Isen et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5771562 | Harvey, III et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5776278 | Tuttle et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
5779839 | Tuttle et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
5790489 | O'Connor | Aug 1998 | A |
5792550 | Phillips et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
5805223 | Shikakura et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5811177 | Shi et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5814195 | Lehan et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5830330 | Lantsman | Nov 1998 | A |
5831262 | Greywall et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
5834137 | Zhang et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
5841931 | Foresi et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
5842118 | Wood, Jr. | Nov 1998 | A |
5845990 | Hymer | Dec 1998 | A |
5847865 | Gopinath et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
5849163 | Ichikawa et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
5851896 | Summerfelt | Dec 1998 | A |
5853830 | McCaulley et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
5855744 | Halsey et al. | Jan 1999 | A |
5856705 | Ting | Jan 1999 | A |
5864182 | Matsuzaki | Jan 1999 | A |
5865860 | Delnick | Feb 1999 | A |
5870273 | Sogabe et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5874184 | Takeuchi et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5882721 | Delnick | Mar 1999 | A |
5882946 | Otani | Mar 1999 | A |
5889383 | Teich | Mar 1999 | A |
5895731 | Clingempeel | Apr 1999 | A |
5897522 | Nitzan | Apr 1999 | A |
5900057 | Buchal et al. | May 1999 | A |
5909346 | Malhotra et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
5916704 | Lewin et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
5923964 | Li | Jul 1999 | A |
5930046 | Solberg et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5930584 | Sun et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5942089 | Sproul et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5948215 | Lantsman | Sep 1999 | A |
5948464 | Delnick | Sep 1999 | A |
5948562 | Fulcher et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
5952778 | Haskal et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
5955217 | Van Lerberghe | Sep 1999 | A |
5961672 | Skotheim et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5961682 | Lee et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5966491 | DiGiovanni | Oct 1999 | A |
5970393 | Khorrami et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5973913 | McEwen et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5977582 | Fleming et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
5982144 | Johnson et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
5985484 | Young et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
5985485 | Ovshinsky et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
6000603 | Koskenmaki et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6001224 | Drummond et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6004660 | Topolski et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6007945 | Jacobs et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6013949 | Tuttle | Jan 2000 | A |
6019284 | Freeman et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6023610 | Wood, Jr. | Feb 2000 | A |
6024844 | Drummond et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6025094 | Visco et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6028990 | Shahani et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6030421 | Gauthier et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6033768 | Muenz et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6042965 | Nestler et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6045626 | Yano et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6045652 | Tuttle et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6045942 | Miekka et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6046081 | Kuo | Apr 2000 | A |
6046514 | Rouillard et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6048372 | Mangahara et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6051114 | Yao et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6051296 | McCaulley et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6051954 | Nagao et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6052397 | Jeon et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6057557 | Ichikawa | May 2000 | A |
6058233 | Dragone | May 2000 | A |
6071323 | Kawaguchi | Jun 2000 | A |
6075973 | Greeff et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6077106 | Mish | Jun 2000 | A |
6077642 | Ogata et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6078791 | Tuttle et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6080508 | Dasgupta et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6080643 | Noguchi et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6093944 | VanDover | Jul 2000 | A |
6094292 | Goldner et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6096569 | Matsuno et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6100108 | Mizuno et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6106933 | Nagai et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6110531 | Paz de Araujo et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6115616 | Halperin et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6117279 | Smolanoff et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6118426 | Albert et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6120890 | Chen et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6129277 | Grant et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6133670 | Rodgers et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6137671 | Staffiere | Oct 2000 | A |
6144916 | Wood, Jr. et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6146225 | Sheats et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6148503 | Delnick et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6156452 | Kozuki et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
6157765 | Bruce et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
6159635 | Dasgupta et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
6160373 | Dunn et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
6162709 | Raoux et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
6165566 | Tropsha | Dec 2000 | A |
6168884 | Neudecker et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6169474 | Greeff et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6175075 | Shiotsuka et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6176986 | Watanabe et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6181283 | Johnson et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6192222 | Greeff et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6197167 | Tanaka | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6198217 | Suzuki et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6204111 | Uemoto et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6210544 | Sasaki | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6210832 | Visco et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6214061 | Visco et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6214660 | Uemoto et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6218049 | Bates et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6220516 | Tuttle et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6223317 | Pax et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6228532 | Tsuji et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6229987 | Greeff et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6232242 | Hata et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6235432 | Kono et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6236793 | Lawrence et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6242128 | Tura et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6242129 | Johnson | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6242132 | Neudecker et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6248291 | Nakagama et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6248481 | Visco et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6248640 | Nam | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6249222 | Gehlot | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6252564 | Albert et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6258252 | Miyasaka et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6261917 | Quek et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6264709 | Yoon et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6265652 | Kurata et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6268695 | Affinito | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6271053 | Kondo | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6271793 | Brady et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6271801 | Tuttle et al. | Aug 2001 | B2 |
6280585 | Obinata | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6280875 | Kwak et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6281142 | Basceri et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6284406 | Xing et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6287986 | Mihara | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6289209 | Wood, Jr. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6290821 | McLeod | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6290822 | Fleming et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6291098 | Shibuya et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6294722 | Kondo et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6296949 | Bergstresser et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6296967 | Jacobs et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6296971 | Hara | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6300215 | Shin | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6302939 | Rabin | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6306265 | Fu et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6316563 | Naijo et al. | Nov 2001 | B2 |
6323416 | Komori et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6324211 | Ovard et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6325294 | Tuttle et al. | Dec 2001 | B2 |
6329213 | Tuttle et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6339236 | Tomll et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6340880 | Higashijima et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6344366 | Bates | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6344419 | Forster et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6344795 | Gehlot | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6350353 | Gopalraja et al. | Feb 2002 | B2 |
6351630 | Wood, Jr. | Feb 2002 | B2 |
6356230 | Greef et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6356694 | Weber | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6356764 | Ovard et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6358810 | Dornfest et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6360954 | Barnardo | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6361662 | Chiba et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6365300 | Ota et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6365319 | Heath et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6368275 | Sliwa et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6369316 | Plessing et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6372383 | Lee et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6372386 | Cho et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6373224 | Goto et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6375780 | Tuttle et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6376027 | Lee et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6379835 | Kucherovsky et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6379842 | Mayer | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6379846 | Terahara et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6380477 | Curtin | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6384573 | Dunn | May 2002 | B1 |
6387563 | Bates | May 2002 | B1 |
6391166 | Wang | May 2002 | B1 |
6392565 | Brown | May 2002 | B1 |
6394598 | Kaiser | May 2002 | B1 |
6395430 | Cho et al. | May 2002 | B1 |
6396001 | Nakamura | May 2002 | B1 |
6398824 | Johnson | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6399241 | Hara et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6402039 | Freeman et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6402795 | Chu et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6402796 | Johnson | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6409965 | Nagata et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6413284 | Chu et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6413285 | Chu et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6413382 | Wang et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6413645 | Graff et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6413676 | Munshi | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6414626 | Greef et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6416598 | Sircar | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6420961 | Bates et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6422698 | Kaiser | Jul 2002 | B2 |
6423106 | Bates | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6423776 | Akkapeddi et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6426163 | Pasquier et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6432577 | Shul et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6432584 | Visco et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6433380 | Shin | Aug 2002 | B2 |
6433465 | McKnight et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6436156 | Wandeloski et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6437231 | Kurata et al. | Aug 2002 | B2 |
6444336 | Jia et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6444355 | Murai et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6444368 | Hikmet et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6444750 | Touhsaent | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6459418 | Comiskey et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6459726 | Ovard et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6466771 | Wood, Jr. | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6475668 | Hosokawa et al. | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6480699 | Lovoi | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6481623 | Grant et al. | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6488822 | Moslehi | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6494999 | Herrera et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6495283 | Yoon et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6497598 | Affinito | Dec 2002 | B2 |
6500287 | Azens et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6503661 | Park et al. | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6503831 | Speakman | Jan 2003 | B2 |
6506289 | Demaray et al. | Jan 2003 | B2 |
6511516 | Johnson et al. | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6511615 | Dawes et al. | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6517968 | Johnson et al. | Feb 2003 | B2 |
6522067 | Graff et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6524466 | Bonaventura et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6524750 | Mansuetto | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6525976 | Johnson | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6528212 | Kusumoto et al. | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6529827 | Beason et al. | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6533907 | Demaray et al. | Mar 2003 | B2 |
6537428 | Xiong et al. | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6538211 | St. Lawrence et al. | Mar 2003 | B2 |
6541147 | McLean et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6548912 | Graff et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6551745 | Moutsios et al. | Apr 2003 | B2 |
6558836 | Whitacre et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
6562513 | Takeuchi et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
6563998 | Farah et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
6569564 | Lane | May 2003 | B1 |
6569570 | Sonobe et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
6570325 | Graff et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
6572173 | Muller | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6573652 | Graff et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6576546 | Gilbert et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6579728 | Grant et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6582480 | Pasquier et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6582481 | Erbil | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6582852 | Gao et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6589299 | Missling et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6593150 | Ramberg et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6599662 | Chiang et al. | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6600905 | Greeff et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6602338 | Chen et al. | Aug 2003 | B2 |
6603139 | Tessler et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6603391 | Greeff et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6605228 | Kawaguchi et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6608464 | Lew et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6608470 | Oglesbee et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6610440 | LaFollette et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6615614 | Makikawa et al. | Sep 2003 | B1 |
6616035 | Ehrensvard et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6618829 | Pax et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6620545 | Goenka et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6622049 | Penner et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6632563 | Krasnov et al. | Oct 2003 | B1 |
6637906 | Knoerzer et al. | Oct 2003 | B2 |
6637916 | Mullner | Oct 2003 | B2 |
6639578 | Comiskey et al. | Oct 2003 | B1 |
6642895 | Zurcher et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6645675 | Munshi | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6650000 | Ballantine et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6650942 | Howard et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6662430 | Brady et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6664006 | Munshi | Dec 2003 | B1 |
6673484 | Matsuura | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6673716 | D'Couto et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
6674159 | Peterson et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
6677070 | Kearl | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6683244 | Fujimori et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6683749 | Daby et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6686096 | Chung | Feb 2004 | B1 |
6693840 | Shimada et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6700491 | Shafer | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6706449 | Mikhaylik et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6709778 | Johnson | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6713216 | Kugai et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6713389 | Speakman | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6713987 | Krasnov et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6723140 | Chu et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6730423 | Einhart et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6733924 | Skotheim et al. | May 2004 | B1 |
6737197 | Chu et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6737789 | Radziemski et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6741178 | Tuttle | May 2004 | B1 |
6750156 | Le et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6752842 | Luski et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6753108 | Hampden-Smith et al. | Jun 2004 | B1 |
6753114 | Jacobs et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6760520 | Medin et al. | Jul 2004 | B1 |
6764525 | Whitacre et al. | Jul 2004 | B1 |
6768246 | Pelrine et al. | Jul 2004 | B2 |
6768855 | Bakke et al. | Jul 2004 | B1 |
6770176 | Benson et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6773848 | Nortoft et al. | Aug 2004 | B1 |
6780208 | Hopkins et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6797428 | Skotheim et al. | Sep 2004 | B1 |
6797429 | Komatsu | Sep 2004 | B1 |
6805998 | Jenson et al. | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6805999 | Lee et al. | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6818356 | Bates | Nov 2004 | B1 |
6822157 | Fujioka | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6824922 | Park et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6827826 | Demaray et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6828063 | Park et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6828065 | Munshi | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6830846 | Kramlich et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6835493 | Zhang et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6838209 | Langan et al. | Jan 2005 | B2 |
6846765 | Imamura et al. | Jan 2005 | B2 |
6852139 | Zhang et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
6855441 | Levanon | Feb 2005 | B1 |
6861821 | Masumoto et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6863699 | Krasnov et al. | Mar 2005 | B1 |
6866901 | Burrows et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6866963 | Seung et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6869722 | Kearl | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6884327 | Pan et al. | Apr 2005 | B2 |
6886240 | Zhang et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
6890385 | Tsuchiya et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
6896992 | Kearl | May 2005 | B2 |
6899975 | Watanabe et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
6902660 | Lee et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
6905578 | Moslehi et al. | Jun 2005 | B1 |
6906436 | Jenson et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
6911667 | Pichler et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
6916679 | Snyder et al. | Jul 2005 | B2 |
6921464 | Krasnov et al. | Jul 2005 | B2 |
6923702 | Graff et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6924164 | Jenson | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6929879 | Yamazaki | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6936377 | Wensley et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6936381 | Skotheim et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6936407 | Pichler | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6949389 | Pichler et al. | Sep 2005 | B2 |
6955986 | Li | Oct 2005 | B2 |
6962613 | Jenson | Nov 2005 | B2 |
6962671 | Martin et al. | Nov 2005 | B2 |
6964829 | Utsugi et al. | Nov 2005 | B2 |
6982132 | Goldner et al. | Jan 2006 | B1 |
6986965 | Jenson et al. | Jan 2006 | B2 |
6994933 | Bates | Feb 2006 | B1 |
7022431 | Shchori et al. | Apr 2006 | B2 |
7033406 | Weir et al. | Apr 2006 | B2 |
7045246 | Simburger et al. | May 2006 | B2 |
7045372 | Ballantine et al. | May 2006 | B2 |
7056620 | Krasnov et al. | Jun 2006 | B2 |
7073723 | Fürst et al. | Jul 2006 | B2 |
7095372 | Soler Castany et al. | Aug 2006 | B2 |
7129166 | Speakman | Oct 2006 | B2 |
7131189 | Jenson | Nov 2006 | B2 |
7144654 | LaFollette et al. | Dec 2006 | B2 |
7144655 | Jenson et al. | Dec 2006 | B2 |
7157187 | Jenson | Jan 2007 | B2 |
7158031 | Tuttle | Jan 2007 | B2 |
7162392 | Vock et al. | Jan 2007 | B2 |
7183693 | Brantner et al. | Feb 2007 | B2 |
7186479 | Krasnov et al. | Mar 2007 | B2 |
7194801 | Jenson et al. | Mar 2007 | B2 |
7198832 | Burrows et al. | Apr 2007 | B2 |
7202825 | Leizerovich et al. | Apr 2007 | B2 |
7220517 | Park et al. | May 2007 | B2 |
7230321 | McCain | Jun 2007 | B2 |
7247408 | Skotheim et al. | Jul 2007 | B2 |
7253494 | Mino et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
7265674 | Tuttle | Sep 2007 | B2 |
7267904 | Komatsu et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
7267906 | Mizuta et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
7273682 | Park et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
7274118 | Jenson et al. | Sep 2007 | B2 |
7288340 | Iwamoto | Oct 2007 | B2 |
7316867 | Park et al. | Jan 2008 | B2 |
7323634 | Speakman | Jan 2008 | B2 |
7332363 | Edwards | Feb 2008 | B2 |
7335441 | Luski et al. | Feb 2008 | B2 |
RE40137 | Tuttle et al. | Mar 2008 | E |
7345647 | Rodenbeck | Mar 2008 | B1 |
7348099 | Mukai et al. | Mar 2008 | B2 |
7389580 | Jenson et al. | Jun 2008 | B2 |
7400253 | Cohen | Jul 2008 | B2 |
7410730 | Bates | Aug 2008 | B2 |
RE40531 | Graff et al. | Oct 2008 | E |
7466274 | Lin et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
7468221 | LaFollette et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
7494742 | Tarnowski et al. | Feb 2009 | B2 |
7670724 | Chan et al. | Mar 2010 | B1 |
7848715 | Boos | Dec 2010 | B2 |
7858223 | Visco et al. | Dec 2010 | B2 |
8010048 | Brommer et al. | Aug 2011 | B2 |
8056814 | Martin et al. | Nov 2011 | B2 |
20010005561 | Yamada et al. | Jun 2001 | A1 |
20010027159 | Kaneyoshi | Oct 2001 | A1 |
20010031122 | Lackritz et al. | Oct 2001 | A1 |
20010032666 | Jenson et al. | Oct 2001 | A1 |
20010033952 | Jenson et al. | Oct 2001 | A1 |
20010034106 | Moise et al. | Oct 2001 | A1 |
20010041294 | Chu et al. | Nov 2001 | A1 |
20010041460 | Wiggins | Nov 2001 | A1 |
20010052752 | Ghosh et al. | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20010054437 | Komori et al. | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20010055719 | Akashi et al. | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20020000034 | Jenson | Jan 2002 | A1 |
20020001746 | Jenson | Jan 2002 | A1 |
20020001747 | Jenson | Jan 2002 | A1 |
20020004167 | Jenson et al. | Jan 2002 | A1 |
20020009630 | Gao et al. | Jan 2002 | A1 |
20020019296 | Freeman et al. | Feb 2002 | A1 |
20020028377 | Gross | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020033330 | Demaray et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020037756 | Jacobs et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020066539 | Muller | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20020067615 | Muller | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20020071989 | Verma et al. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20020076133 | Li et al. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20020091929 | Ehrensvard | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020093029 | Ballantine et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020106297 | Ueno et al. | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20020110733 | Johnson | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20020115252 | Haukka et al. | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20020134671 | Demaray et al. | Sep 2002 | A1 |
20020139662 | Lee | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020140103 | Kloster et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020159245 | Murasko et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020161404 | Schmidt | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020164441 | Amine et al. | Nov 2002 | A1 |
20020170821 | Sandlin et al. | Nov 2002 | A1 |
20020170960 | Ehrensvard et al. | Nov 2002 | A1 |
20030019326 | Han et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20030022487 | Yoon et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20030024994 | Ladyansky | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030029493 | Plessing | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030030589 | Zurcher et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030035906 | Memarian et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030036003 | Shchori et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030042131 | Johnson | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20030044665 | Rastegar et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20030048635 | Knoerzer et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20030063883 | Demaray et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030064292 | Neudecker et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030068559 | Armstrong et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030076642 | Shiner et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030077914 | Le et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030079838 | Brcka | May 2003 | A1 |
20030091904 | Munshi | May 2003 | A1 |
20030095463 | Shimada et al. | May 2003 | A1 |
20030097858 | Strohhofer et al. | May 2003 | A1 |
20030109903 | Berrang et al. | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030127319 | Demaray et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20030134054 | Demaray et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20030141186 | Wang et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20030143853 | Celii et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20030146877 | Mueller | Aug 2003 | A1 |
20030152829 | Zhang et al. | Aug 2003 | A1 |
20030162094 | Lee et al. | Aug 2003 | A1 |
20030173207 | Zhang et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030173208 | Pan et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030174391 | Pan et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030175142 | Milonopoulou et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030178623 | Nishiki et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030178637 | Chen et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030180610 | Felde et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030185266 | Henrichs | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20030231106 | Shafer | Dec 2003 | A1 |
20030232248 | Iwamoto et al. | Dec 2003 | A1 |
20040008587 | Siebott et al. | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20040015735 | Norman | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20040023106 | Benson et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040028875 | Van Rijn et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040029311 | Snyder et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040038050 | Saijo et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040043557 | Haukka et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
20040048157 | Neudecker et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
20040058237 | Higuchi et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
20040072067 | Minami et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040077161 | Chen et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040078662 | Hamel et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040081415 | Demaray et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040081860 | Hundt et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040085002 | Pearce | May 2004 | A1 |
20040101761 | Park et al. | May 2004 | A1 |
20040105644 | Dawes | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040106038 | Shimamura et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040106045 | Ugaji | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040106046 | Inda | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040118700 | Schierle-Arndt et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040126305 | Chen et al. | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20040151986 | Park et al. | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20040161640 | Salot | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20040175624 | Luski et al. | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20040188239 | Robison et al. | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20040209159 | Lee et al. | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20040212276 | Brantner et al. | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20040214079 | Simburger et al. | Oct 2004 | A1 |
20040219434 | Benson et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
20040245561 | Sakashita et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20040258984 | Ariel et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20040259305 | Demaray et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20050000794 | Demaray et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20050006768 | Narasimhan et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20050048802 | Zhang et al. | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050070097 | Barmak et al. | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050072458 | Goldstein | Apr 2005 | A1 |
20050079418 | Kelley et al. | Apr 2005 | A1 |
20050095506 | Klaassen | May 2005 | A1 |
20050105231 | Hamel et al. | May 2005 | A1 |
20050110457 | LaFollette et al. | May 2005 | A1 |
20050112461 | Amine et al. | May 2005 | A1 |
20050118464 | Levanon | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050130032 | Krasnov et al. | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050133361 | Ding et al. | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050141170 | Honda et al. | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050142447 | Nakai et al. | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050147877 | Tarnowski et al. | Jul 2005 | A1 |
20050158622 | Mizuta et al. | Jul 2005 | A1 |
20050170736 | Cok | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050175891 | Kameyama et al. | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050176181 | Burrows et al. | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050181280 | Ceder et al. | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050183946 | Pan et al. | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050189139 | Stole | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20050208371 | Kim et al. | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20050239917 | Nelson et al. | Oct 2005 | A1 |
20050255828 | Fisher | Nov 2005 | A1 |
20050266161 | Medeiros et al. | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20060019504 | Taussig | Jan 2006 | A1 |
20060021214 | Jenson et al. | Feb 2006 | A1 |
20060021261 | Face | Feb 2006 | A1 |
20060040177 | Onodera et al. | Feb 2006 | A1 |
20060046907 | Rastegar et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20060054496 | Zhang et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20060057283 | Zhang et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20060057304 | Zhang et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20060063074 | Jenson et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20060071592 | Narasimhan et al. | Apr 2006 | A1 |
20060155545 | Janye | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20060201583 | Michaluk et al. | Sep 2006 | A1 |
20060210779 | Weir et al. | Sep 2006 | A1 |
20060222954 | Skotheim et al. | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060234130 | Inda | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060237543 | Goto et al. | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060255435 | Fuergut et al. | Nov 2006 | A1 |
20060255769 | Liu et al. | Nov 2006 | A1 |
20060286448 | Snyder et al. | Dec 2006 | A1 |
20070009802 | Lee et al. | Jan 2007 | A1 |
20070021156 | Hoong et al. | Jan 2007 | A1 |
20070023275 | Tanase et al. | Feb 2007 | A1 |
20070037058 | Visco et al. | Feb 2007 | A1 |
20070053139 | Zhang et al. | Mar 2007 | A1 |
20070087230 | Jenson et al. | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20070091543 | Gasse et al. | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20070125638 | Zhang et al. | Jun 2007 | A1 |
20070141468 | Barker | Jun 2007 | A1 |
20070148065 | Weir et al. | Jun 2007 | A1 |
20070148553 | Weppner | Jun 2007 | A1 |
20070151661 | Mao et al. | Jul 2007 | A1 |
20070164376 | Burrows et al. | Jul 2007 | A1 |
20070166612 | Krasnov et al. | Jul 2007 | A1 |
20070184345 | Neudecker et al. | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20070196682 | Visser et al. | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20070202395 | Snyder et al. | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20070205513 | Brunnbauer et al. | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20070210459 | Burrows et al. | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20070216369 | Chandler | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20070222681 | Greene et al. | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20070224951 | Gilb et al. | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20070229228 | Yamazaki et al. | Oct 2007 | A1 |
20070235320 | White et al. | Oct 2007 | A1 |
20070264564 | Johnson et al. | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20070278653 | Brunnbauer et al. | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20070298326 | Angell et al. | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20080003496 | Neudecker et al. | Jan 2008 | A1 |
20080008936 | Mizuta et al. | Jan 2008 | A1 |
20080014501 | Skotheim et al. | Jan 2008 | A1 |
20080057397 | Skotheim et al. | Mar 2008 | A1 |
20080150829 | Lin et al. | Jun 2008 | A1 |
20080213672 | Skotheim et al. | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20080233708 | Hisamatsu | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20080254575 | Fuergut et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20080261107 | Snyder et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20080263855 | Li et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20080286651 | Neudecker et al. | Nov 2008 | A1 |
20090085404 | Suzuki et al. | Apr 2009 | A1 |
20090092903 | Johnson et al. | Apr 2009 | A1 |
20090124201 | Meskens | May 2009 | A1 |
20090181303 | Neudecker et al. | Jul 2009 | A1 |
20090302226 | Schieber et al. | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20090308936 | Nitzan et al. | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20090312069 | Peng et al. | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20100001079 | Martin et al. | Jan 2010 | A1 |
20100032001 | Brantner | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20100086853 | Venkatachalam et al. | Apr 2010 | A1 |
20110037435 | Funabashi et al. | Feb 2011 | A1 |
20110267235 | Brommer et al. | Nov 2011 | A1 |
20110304430 | Brommer et al. | Dec 2011 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1415124 | Apr 2003 | CN |
1532984 | Sep 2004 | CN |
19824145 | Dec 1999 | DE |
10 2005 014 427 | Sep 2006 | DE |
10 2006 054 309 | Nov 2006 | DE |
10 2008 016 665 | Oct 2008 | DE |
10 2007 030604 | Jan 2009 | DE |
0 510 883 | Oct 1992 | EP |
0 639 655 | Feb 1995 | EP |
0 652 308 | May 1995 | EP |
0 820 088 | Jan 1998 | EP |
1 068 899 | Jan 2001 | EP |
0 867 985 | Feb 2001 | EP |
1 092 689 | Apr 2001 | EP |
1 189 080 | Mar 2002 | EP |
1 713 024 | Oct 2006 | EP |
2 861 218 | Apr 2005 | FR |
2806198 | Sep 2011 | FR |
55-009305 | Jan 1980 | JP |
56-076060 | Jun 1981 | JP |
56-156675 | Dec 1981 | JP |
60-068558 | Apr 1985 | JP |
61-269072 | Nov 1986 | JP |
62-267944 | Nov 1987 | JP |
63-290922 | Nov 1988 | JP |
2000-162234 | Nov 1988 | JP |
2-054764 | Feb 1990 | JP |
2-230662 | Sep 1990 | JP |
03-036962 | Feb 1991 | JP |
4-058456 | Feb 1992 | JP |
4-072049 | Mar 1992 | JP |
6-010127 | Jan 1994 | JP |
6-100333 | Apr 1994 | JP |
7-233469 | May 1995 | JP |
7-224379 | Aug 1995 | JP |
08-114408 | May 1996 | JP |
10-026571 | Jan 1998 | JP |
10-239187 | Sep 1998 | JP |
11-204088 | Jul 1999 | JP |
2000-144435 | May 2000 | JP |
2000-188099 | Jul 2000 | JP |
2000-268867 | Sep 2000 | JP |
2001-171812 | Jun 2001 | JP |
2001-259494 | Sep 2001 | JP |
2001-297764 | Oct 2001 | JP |
2001-328198 | Nov 2001 | JP |
2002-140776 | May 2002 | JP |
2002-344115 | Nov 2002 | JP |
2003-17040 | Jan 2003 | JP |
2003-347045 | Dec 2003 | JP |
2004-071305 | Mar 2004 | JP |
2004-149849 | May 2004 | JP |
2004-158268 | Jun 2004 | JP |
2004-273436 | Sep 2004 | JP |
2005-256101 | Sep 2005 | JP |
2002-026412 | Feb 2007 | JP |
7-107752 | Apr 2007 | JP |
20020007881 | Jan 2002 | KR |
20020017790 | Mar 2002 | KR |
20020029813 | Apr 2002 | KR |
20020038917 | May 2002 | KR |
20030033913 | May 2003 | KR |
20030042288 | May 2003 | KR |
20030085252 | Nov 2003 | KR |
2241281 | Nov 2004 | RU |
WO 9513629 | May 1995 | WO |
WO 9623085 | Jan 1996 | WO |
WO 9623217 | Aug 1996 | WO |
WO 9727344 | Jul 1997 | WO |
WO 9735044 | Sep 1997 | WO |
WO 9847196 | Oct 1998 | WO |
WO 9943034 | Aug 1999 | WO |
WO 9957770 | Nov 1999 | WO |
WO 0021898 | Apr 2000 | WO |
WO 0022742 | Apr 2000 | WO |
WO 0028607 | May 2000 | WO |
WO 0036665 | Jun 2000 | WO |
WO 0060682 | Oct 2000 | WO |
WO 0060689 | Oct 2000 | WO |
WO 0062365 | Oct 2000 | WO |
WO 0101507 | Jan 2001 | WO |
WO 0117052 | Mar 2001 | WO |
WO 0124303 | Apr 2001 | WO |
WO 0133651 | May 2001 | WO |
WO 0139305 | May 2001 | WO |
WO 0173864 | Oct 2001 | WO |
WO 0173865 | Oct 2001 | WO |
WO 0173866 | Oct 2001 | WO |
WO 0173868 | Oct 2001 | WO |
WO 0173870 | Oct 2001 | WO |
WO 0173883 | Oct 2001 | WO |
WO 0173957 | Oct 2001 | WO |
WO 0182390 | Nov 2001 | WO |
WO 0212932 | Feb 2002 | WO |
WO 0242516 | May 2002 | WO |
WO 0247187 | Jun 2002 | WO |
WO 02071506 | Sep 2002 | WO |
WO 02101857 | Dec 2002 | WO |
WO 03003485 | Jan 2003 | WO |
WO 03005477 | Jan 2003 | WO |
WO 03026039 | Mar 2003 | WO |
WO 03036670 | May 2003 | WO |
WO 03069714 | Aug 2003 | WO |
WO 03080325 | Oct 2003 | WO |
WO 03083166 | Oct 2003 | WO |
WO 2004012283 | Feb 2004 | WO |
WO 2004021532 | Mar 2004 | WO |
WO 2004061887 | Jul 2004 | WO |
WO 2004077519 | Sep 2004 | WO |
WO 2004086550 | Oct 2004 | WO |
WO 2004093223 | Oct 2004 | WO |
WO 2004106581 | Dec 2004 | WO |
WO 2004106582 | Dec 2004 | WO |
WO 2005008828 | Jan 2005 | WO |
WO 2005013394 | Feb 2005 | WO |
WO 2005038957 | Apr 2005 | WO |
WO 2005067645 | Jul 2005 | WO |
WO 2005085138 | Sep 2005 | WO |
WO 2005091405 | Sep 2005 | WO |
WO 2006063308 | Jun 2006 | WO |
WO 2006085307 | Aug 2006 | WO |
WO 2007016781 | Feb 2007 | WO |
WO 2007027535 | Mar 2007 | WO |
WO 2007095604 | Aug 2007 | WO |
WO 2008036731 | Mar 2008 | WO |
WO 2007019855 | Sep 2011 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20090251099 A1 | Oct 2009 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61103746 | Oct 2008 | US | |
61041841 | Apr 2008 | US |