Bizarre Patents
Pillow with retractable umbrella
A pillow assembly having a supporting assembly and a retractable umbrella assembly that is easily transportable and allows a user to support his/her head while covering their face from sunlight.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8180701 | Secure bidding method and system Secure image bidding system process for financial transactions, including structured investment products, escrows and interest rate swaps. Some embodiments provide a secure image bidding system and process for image-based bid transmissions where each of a plurality ... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8179594 | Method and apparatus for spectral-beam combining of fanned-in laser beams with chromatic-dispersion compensation using a plurality of diffractive gratings Apparatus and method for spectral-beam combining of light from a plurality of high-power lasers (e.g., fiber MOPA lasers) that, in some embodiments, use substantially identical diffraction gratings in a 1-D non-parallel, mutually compensating configuration to combin... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8170908 | Apparatus and method for processing agricultural materials and changing the proportions of output materials Apparatus and method for optimizing different amounts of output products derived from an initial biomass material. The method includes obtaining economic data of costs and availability of raw materials and resources, and prices that would be paid for output products... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8170075 | Method and apparatus for driving laser diodes Apparatus and method for driving laser diodes with electrical power in pulsed operation. Pulsed power, for example using pulse-width modulation, is applied through an inductor in one or more parallel regulator circuits having little or no output capacitance to provi... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8166026 | User-centric, user-weighted method and apparatus for improving relevance and analysis of information sharing and searching A system and method that enables the user to search and identify meaningful and relevant information, based upon the weighted, custom parameters provided by the user and parameters or rules defined by the community of users as a group, with the option of utilizing u... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8165178 | Method and apparatus for pumping and operating optical parametric oscillators using DFB fiber lasers An optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is described that efficiently converts a near-infrared laser beam to tunable mid-infrared wavelength output. In some embodiments, the OPO includes an optical resonator containing a nonlinear crystal, such as periodically-poled ... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8162643 | Method and apparatus for growing nanotube forests, and generating nanotube structures therefrom The present invention provides apparatus and methods for growing fullerene nanotube forests, and forming nanotube films, threads and composite structures therefrom. In some embodiments, an interior-flow substrate includes a porous surface and one or more interior pa... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8160696 | Nerve stimulator and method using simultaneous electrical and optical signals An apparatus and method for stimulating animal tissue (for example to trigger a nerve action potential (NAP) signal in a human patient) by application of both electrical and optical signals for treatment and diagnosis purposes. The application of an electrical signa... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8159146 | Apparatus and method for pulsed L.E.D. illumination An illumination source for a camera includes one or more LEDs, and an electrical circuit that selectively applies power from the DC voltage source to the LEDs, wherein the illumination source is suitable for handheld portable operation. In some embodiments, the elec... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8156346 | Keyboard-input information-security apparatus and method A keyboard-input information-security apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes an interrupt-descriptor table for storing a list of addresses of functions for handling interrupts, and storing an address of a secure input interrupt-service routine at ... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8154025 | Schottky barrier CMOS device and method A CMOS device and method of fabrication are disclosed. The present invention utilizes Schottky barrier contacts for source and/or drain contact fabrication within the context of a CMOS device and CMOS integrated circuits, to eliminate the requirement for halo/pocket... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8140431 | Dynamic financial liability management Financial liabilities are dynamically managed by receiving liability information relating to a client associated with multiple financial liabilities. Each financial liability is associated with a respective interest rate. A payment is allocated among the financial l... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8139858 | System and method for identifying arthropods in color-digital image information A color-based imaging system and method for the detection and classification of insects and other arthropods are described, including devices for counting arthropods and providing taxonomic capabilities useful for pest-management. Some embodiments include an image s... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8126674 | Memory-daughter-card-testing method and apparatus A memory daughter card (MDC) is described, having a very high-speed serial interface and an on-card MDC test engine that allows one MDC to be directly connected to another MDC for testing purposes. In some embodiments, a control interface allows the test engine to b... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8112384 | System and method for problem solving through dynamic/interactive concept-mapping The present invention provides a computer-implemented method of problem solving that includes graphically displaying a plurality of concepts, dynamic links between the concepts, and solving a problem based on the displayed concepts and dynamic links. Other embodimen... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8099437 | Method and apparatus for selective file erasure using metadata modifications A process that ensures the virtual destruction of data files a user wishes to erase from a storage medium, such as a hard drive, flash drive, or removable disk. This approach is appropriate for managing custom distributions from a large file sets as it is roughly li... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8096223 | Multi-layer composite armor and method A multi-layer composite armor component that includes a plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects including a first layer that includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects, wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the first layer... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8089689 | Apparatus and method for optical gain fiber having segments of differing core sizes Apparatus and method for amplifying laser signals using segments of fibers of differing core diameters and/or differing cladding diameters to suppress amplified spontaneous emission and non-linear effects such as four-wave mixing (FWM), self-phase modulation, and st... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8088221 | Method and system for diamond deposition using a liquid-solvent carbon-tranfser mechanism A system and method for growing diamond crystals from diamond crystal seeds by epitaxial deposition at low temperatures and atmospheric and comparatively low pressures. A solvent is circulated (by thermal convection and/or pumping), wherein carbon is added in a hot ... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8084342 | Method of manufacturing a CMOS device with zero soft error rate A CMOS device and method of manufacture is provided for producing an integrated circuit that is not susceptible to various soft errors such as single-event upsets, multi-bit upsets or single-event latchup. The CMOS device and method utilizes a new and novel well arc... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8082832 | Missile system using two-color missile-signature simulation using mid-infrared test source semiconductor lasers In some embodiments, the present invention provides an apparatus and process that includes control electronics that generate an electronic control signal; and a plurality of optically or electrically pumped semiconductor lasers, quantum-cascade lasers, optical param... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8065859 | Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel An agricultural bagger apparatus and method for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag including a moving hopper wall and mechanism for moving the wall at an input end of hopper. The wall moving mechanism and the moving wall of the hopper sweeps the feed a... | 11/29/2011 |
| 8058167 | Dynamic Schottky barrier MOSFET device and method of manufacture A device for regulating a flow of electric current and its manufacturing method are provided. The device includes metal-insulator-semiconductor source-drain contacts forming Schottky barrier or Schottky-like junctions to the semiconductor substrate. The device inclu... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8056700 | Tray flipper, tray, and method for parts inspection Manufacturing lines include inspection systems for monitoring the quality of parts produced. Manufacturing lines for making semiconductor devices generally inspect each fabricated part. The information obtained is used to fix manufacturing problems in the semiconduc... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8055599 | Pattern recognition using cycles or traces in an associative pattern memory (APM), vertical sensors, amplitude sampling, adjacent hashes and fuzzy hashes Pattern recognition based on associative pattern memory (APM) and properties of cycles generated by finite cellular automata. APM addresses (e.g., positions in a two dimensional array) represent states. Cycles are repeating sequences of addresses. Each state is mapp... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8044508 | Method and apparatus for integrated-circuit battery devices A combined battery and device apparatus and associated method. This apparatus includes a first conductive layer, a battery comprising a cathode layer; an anode layer, and an electrolyte layer located between and electrically isolating the anode layer from the cathod... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8043826 | Device for monitoring inhibition of platelet function response The invention provides a method of monitoring the response of platelets to a COX1 inhibitor such as aspirin. The method involves collecting platelet-containing mammalian blood treated with a COX 1 inhibitor; mixing the blood with a COX 1-dependent platelet agonist, ... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8041631 | Secure bidding system and method Secure image bidding system process for financial transactions, including structured investment products, escrows and interest rate swaps. Some embodiments provide a secure image bidding system and process for image-based bid transmissions where each of a plurality ... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8037745 | Sensor for tire pressure and tire pressure monitoring system having the same Provided is a tire pressure monitoring system including: a tire pressure measurement sensor including a pressure detection means for detecting an air pressure in a tire, a connection pipe for connecting an air injection valve of the tire to the pressure detection me... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8027818 | System and method for unstable-resonator optically pumped semiconductor lasers Apparatus and method for designing and operating a solid-state laser that compensates for thermal lensing such that lasing instability is maintained at high pumping power. In some embodiments, the laser is an optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL). In some embo... | 09/27/2011 |
| 8025527 | Electrical outlet having grounds-out receptacles and method A method, apparatus and means to address the problem of utilizing two large power plugs with transformers, converters and/or 90 degree plugs simultaneously with one duplex power receptacle. The duplex power receptacle has a ground-up and ground-down configuration, s... | 09/27/2011 |
| 8024638 | Apparatus and method for memory read-refresh, scrubbing and variable-rate refresh A memory controller and method that provide a read-refresh (also called “distributed-refresh”) mode of operation, in which every row of memory is read within the refresh-rate requirements of the memory parts, with data from different columns within the rows bein... | 09/20/2011 |
| 8022459 | Metal source and drain transistor having high dielectric constant gate insulator The invention is directed to a device for regulating the flow of electric current with high dielectric constant gate insulating layer and a source and/or drain forming a Schottky contact or Schottky-like region with a substrate and its fabrication method. In one asp... | 09/20/2011 |
| 8014913 | Aircraft engine management for fuel conservation method and apparatus A method includes controlling an aircraft during descent, and controlling the engine pressure ratio of a jet engine so that the engine has a substantially equal pressure at the exhaust, and at the front of the engine during the descent. ... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8012189 | Method and vestibular implant using optical stimulation of nerves An optical-signal vestibular-nerve stimulation device and method that provides different nerve stimulation signals to a plurality of different vestibular nerves, including at least some of the three semicircular canal nerves and the two otolith organ nerves. In some... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8010347 | Signal decomposition, analysis and reconstruction apparatus and method The present invention provides a system and method for representing quasi-periodic (“qp”) waveforms comprising, representing a plurality of limited decompositions of the qp waveform, wherein each decomposition includes a first and second amplitude value and at l... | 08/30/2011 |
| 8010216 | System and method for cutting-stock optimization across schedules and batches A method and system for optimizing cutting of various materials. In some embodiments, an algorithm optimizes cutting by grouping items to be cut, wherein a plurality of cutting-stock pieces are grouped together and aligned such that a single cut simultaneously cuts ... | 08/30/2011 |
| 8007747 | Automated fluid handling cartridge, fluid processing system, and methods The present invention relates to a cartridge, system, and methods that can be used for automated handling of fluids, such as blood. The cartridge can be configured to obtain a fluid sample from a sealed container, e.g., a septum sealed container. The system can be c... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7998323 | Apparatus for focused electric-field imprinting for micron and sub-micron patterns on wavy or planar surfaces A Focused Electric Field Imprinting (FEFI) process and apparatus provides a focused electric field to guide an unplating operation and/or a plating operation to form very fine-pitched metal patterns on a substrate. The process is a variation of the electrochemical u... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7991027 | Apparatus and method for generating optical-seed pulses for high-powered fiber-laser amplifier systems Apparatus and method for generating controlled-linewidth laser-seed-signals for high-powered fiber-laser amplifier systems. In some embodiments, the natural chirp (frequency change of laser light over a short start-up time) of a DBR laser diode when driven by pulsed... | 08/02/2011 |
