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Brown, Palo Alto

Brian Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080200099METHOD FOR MONITORING EDGE EXCLUSION DURING CHEMICAL MECHANICAL PLANARIZATION - A method is provided for measuring edge exclusion on a workpiece that includes a wafer having a film disposed thereon. The method is performed by a CMP system employing a platen and a thickness sensor coupled to the platen and positioned to repeatedly travel a path over the edge of the film during polishing. The method comprises measuring the thickness of the workpiece during selected iterations of the probe path, and establishing from the wafer thickness measurements the length of time the probe is over the film (t08-21-2008
20110214805Epitaxial Lift Off Systems and Methods - Epitaxial lift off systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment a tape is disposed on the opposite side of the epitaxial material than the substrate is used to hold the epitaxial material during the etching and removal steps of the ELO process. In various embodiments, the apparatus for removing the ELO film from the substrates without damaging the ELO film may include an etchant reservoir, substrate handling and tape handling mechanisms, including mechanisms to manipulate (e.g., cause tension, peel, widen the etch gap, etc.) the lift off component during the lift off process.09-08-2011

Patent applications by Brian Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Brian J. Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080230092METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SINGLE-SUBSTRATE CLEANING - A single-substrate cleaning apparatus and method of use are described. In an embodiment of the present invention, a liquid cleaning solution is dispensed in small volumes to form a substantially uniform static liquid layer over a substrate surface by atomizing the viscous liquid with an inert gas in a two-phase nozzle. In another embodiment of the present invention, after a layer of the cleaning solution is formed over the substrate to be cleaned, acoustic energy is applied to the substrate to improve the cleaning efficiency. In a further embodiment, cleaning solution precipitates are avoided by dispensing de-ionized water with a spray nozzle to gradually dilute the cleaning solution prior to dispensing de-ionized water with a stream nozzle.09-25-2008
20100120335Partial Contact Wafer Retaining Ring Apparatus - The partial contact wafer retaining ring apparatus is disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a wafer retaining ring comprising a ring for retaining the wafer, the ring having an inner diameter surface configured to restrict lateral wafer motion, and at least one interface surface configured to interface with a polishing surface. The interface surface comprises a recessed section adjacent to the ring inner diameter, configured to preclude contact between the recessed section and the polishing surface.05-13-2010

Patent applications by Brian J. Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Hartwell Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090106300BENEFITS SERVICES PRIVACY ARCHITECTURE - A system and method of presenting benefits to a user of a computing device is provided. The method may include detecting user activities via a computer program executed on the computing device, storing a list of detected user activities in a user history in the computing device, and receiving a list of predefined benefits from at least one remote server. Each of the predefined benefits may include an associated trigger user activity. The method may further include storing the list of predefined benefits in the computing device, and determining a predefined benefit to present to the user based at least on the presence of a trigger user activity for the predefined benefit in the user history, via the computer program in the computing device. The method may further include presenting a matched predefined benefit to the user.04-23-2009

Jeffrey D. Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100191342TOTAL KNEE IMPLANT - A knee prosthesis is provided for use in knee arthroplasty. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a tibial prosthesis having a tibial baseplate with a fixed medial bearing component and a mobile lateral bearing component. In one exemplary embodiment, the lateral bearing component is secured to the lateral portion of the tibial baseplate utilizing at least one prosthetic ligament. Additionally, in one exemplary embodiment, a stop is provided to limit anterior or posterior movement of the lateral bearing component relative to the tibial baseplate. For example, the stop may be defined by cooperating shoulders formed on the lateral bearing and the tibial baseplate.07-29-2010
20110020779SKILL EVALUATION USING SPHERICAL MOTION MECHANISM - Software tools, methods and apparatus for objectively assessing surgical and medical procedural skills are described. Data corresponding to performance of a manipulative task by a subject is modeled using Markov modeling techniques and compared with stored models corresponding to each of a plurality of proficiency levels. A particular proficiency level is selected based on proximity of the subject data relative to each of the stored models.01-27-2011
20110196815METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING, INVENTORYING, AND SUPPLYING MEDICAL COMPONENTS - The present invention relates to methods for the manufacturing, inventorying, and supplying of medical components. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes fabricating individual subcomponents of a modular medical device system as finished goods. The finished subcomponents may then be sterilized, stocked, and inventoried and, upon request from a consumer, the individual subcomponents may be supplied to the consumer. For example, the consumer may be a hospital, a surgeon, or a sales representative. Once the individual subcomponents are received by the consumer, the individual subcomponents may then be assembled by the consumer to form a final, implantable medical device.08-11-2011
20110277776SURGICAL SYSTEM STERILE DRAPE - A sterile drape, a surgical system with the drape, and a draping method are provided. In one embodiment, a sterile drape includes a plurality of drape pockets, each of the drape pockets including an exterior surface to be adjacent a sterile field for performing a surgical procedure and an interior surface to be adjacent a non-sterile instrument manipulator coupled to a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system. The drape further includes a plurality of flexible membranes at a distal face of each of the drape pockets for interfacing between outputs of an instrument manipulator and inputs of a respective surgical instrument, and a rotatable seal adapted to couple a proximal opening of each of the drape pockets to a rotatable element at a distal end of the manipulator arm.11-17-2011
20110282351SURGICAL SYSTEM ENTRY GUIDE - An entry guide tube and cannula assembly, a surgical system including the assembly, and a method of surgical instrument insertion are provided. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a cannula having a proximal portion that operably couples to an accessory clamp of a manipulator arm, and a distal tubular member coupled to the proximal portion, the tubular member having an opening for passage of at least one instrument shaft. The assembly also includes an entry guide tube rotatably coupled to the proximal portion of the cannula, the entry guide tube including a plurality of channels for passage of a plurality of instrument shafts, wherein the entry guide tube is rotatably driven relative to the proximal portion of the cannula by rotation of at least one instrument shaft about a longitudinal axis of the entry guide tube.11-17-2011
20110282357SURGICAL SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE - Robotic surgical systems are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a setup link for locating a remote center of motion for the robotic surgical system; a manipulator arm assembly including an active proximal link and an active distal link, the proximal link operably coupled to the setup link; and a plurality of instrument manipulators operably coupled to a distal end of the distal link, the plurality of instrument manipulators rotatable about an instrument manipulator assembly roll axis. A cannula mount is movably coupled to a proximal end of the distal link, and a cannula is coupled to the cannula mount, the cannula having a longitudinal axis substantially coincident with the instrument manipulator assembly roll axis. The system further includes an entry guide tube at least partially within the cannula, the entry guide tube rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the cannula.11-17-2011
20110282358SURGICAL SYSTEM INSTRUMENT MOUNTING - Robotic surgical systems and methods of coupling a surgical instrument to a manipulator arm are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a base; a setup link operably coupled to the base, the setup link locating a remote center of motion for the robotic surgical system; a proximal link operably coupled to the setup link; and a distal link operably coupled to the proximal link. A plurality of instrument manipulators are rotatably coupled to a distal end of the distal link, each of the instrument manipulators including a plurality of actuator outputs distally protruding from a distal end of a frame.11-17-2011
20110288669MASS PRODUCTION OF INDIVIDUALIZED MEDICAL DEVICES - A plurality of individual medical devices is created that define a medical device family. Within the family of medical devices, each of the plurality of medical devices has at least one dimension that, within an acceptable tolerance, is substantially equal to the same dimension of another of the plurality of medical devices. Thus, for each medical device in the family, another, corresponding medical device has at least one substantially similar dimension. For example, a first medical device may have a first value for a dimension and a second medical device may have a second value for the same dimension that is equal to one of the sum of the second dimension and the acceptable tolerance or the difference between the second dimension and the acceptable tolerance. Thus, each of the plurality of medical devices varies from another of the plurality of medical devices by the acceptable tolerance.11-24-2011

Marc Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090037208Using a reason code to indicate a reason for a rating of a network interaction - Providing a reason code for a network interaction is disclosed. One or more data regarding a new incoming network interaction originated from a third party device over a network is received. A rating of the network interaction is determined based at least in part on the one or more data regarding the network interaction. A reason code is determined. The reason code indicates a reason for the rating. The reason code for the network interaction is provided.02-05-2009
20110208827DATA TRANSFER FOR NETWORK INTERACTION FRAUDULENCE DETECTION - Transferring metadata is disclosed. Information about a network interaction is processed to generate metadata describing the network interaction. Based on the metadata it is determined whether the metadata is to be transferred to an aggregator. In the event that the metadata is to be transferred, one or more aggregators are determined to which the metadata is to be transferred. The metadata is transferred to the one or more aggregators.08-25-2011

Patent applications by Marc Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Matthew L. Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120002324DISK DRIVE WITH BALANCE PLUG HAVING LONGITUDINAL RETAINERS - Described herein is a disk drive balance plug that includes a substantially cylindrical body defining a first end, a second end, a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and a plug central axis. The balance plug also preferably includes at least one protrusion extending along the cylindrical outer surface between the first and second ends in a direction substantially aligned with the plug central axis.01-05-2012

Peter S. Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100004726SELF-EXPANDING PSEUDO-BRAIDED INTRAVASCULAR DEVICE - A self-expanding, pseudo-braided device embodying a high expansion ratio and flexibility as well as comformability and improved radial force. The pseudo-braided device is particularly suited for advancement through and deployment within highly tortuous and very distal vasculature. Various forms of the pseudo-braided device are adapted for the repair of aneurysms and stenoses as well as for use in thrombectomies and embolic protection therapy.01-07-2010
20110213413ANEURYSM SENSING DEVICES AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS - A system for gaining access to an interventional site within vasculature through a vessel wall or other structure such as that of a medical device. An apparatus is provided to accomplish a sealed worksite as are sensor delivery systems including sealable sensor devices that are adapted to be placed at the interventional site.09-01-2011

Patent applications by Peter S. Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Russell A. Brown, Palo Alto, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090067619Modular Multiplier - Modular multiplication of two elements X(t) and Y(t), over GF(2), where m is a field degree, may utilize field degree to determine, at least in part, the number of iterations. An extra shift operation may be employed when the number of iterations is reduced. Modular multiplication of two elements X(t) and Y(t), over GF(2), may include a shared reduction circuit utilized during multiplication and reduction. In addition, a modular multiplication of binary polynomials X(t) and Y(t), over GF(2), may utilize the Karatsuba algorithm, e.g., by recursively splitting up a multiplication into smaller operands determined according to the Karatsuba algorithm.03-12-2009
20090125514Sequence Matching Algorithm - Sequence alignment techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sparse data structure is constructed that represents respective character positions of matching character sets in input sequences. This sparse data structure may take a variety of forms, including a “tree of trees.” Once constructed, each match is linked to at most one other match using a local application of a predetermined algorithm (e.g., a Smith-Waterman-type scoring algorithm). The links between matches are analyzed and a possible alignment or set of alignments is produced.05-14-2009