Patents by Inventor E. Earle Thompson

E. Earle Thompson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7634585
    Abstract: A memory module is interposed between a host and a disk drive. The memory module includes a solid-state nonvolatile memory used for caching data sent by the host for storage in the disk drive. Caching takes place under the control of a memory controller in the memory module and may be transparent to the host. The disk drive may remain spun-down when data is cached, saving power. The destination for host data may be determined based on desired speed, power consumption and expected need for that data. A host may send specific commands to the memory module to enable additional functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. Conley, E. Earle Thompson
  • Publication number: 20090113116
    Abstract: A digital content kiosk and methods for use therewith are disclosed. Various embodiments are disclosed relating to exemplary memory devices, memory architectures, and programming techniques that can be used with a digital content kiosk, exemplary mechanical and electrical components of a digital content kiosk, exemplary security aspects of a digital content kiosk, and exemplary uses of a digital content kiosk. Other embodiments are disclosed, and each of these embodiments can be used alone or in combination with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Roy E. Scheuerlein, Thomas N. Toombs, Ron Barzilai, Manish Bhatia
  • Patent number: 6049317
    Abstract: A digitized video system having a processor and a video memory. The processor converts a stream of digital information to extract the information in a format to be usable with a moving display surface. A spatial light modulator is connected to a video memory connected to the processor to display the information on a moving display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Thomas W. DeMond
  • Patent number: 5842088
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a printing system using a spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator is an array of individually activated elements, all of which are set in a predetermined state, such as the ON state. Light is then directed onto the array and the resultant light passed into the printing system from the modulator is monitored by a sensor. Discrepancies between the light expected and received at the sensor are used to adjust the operation of the modulator to compensate for stuck or non-responsive pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: E. Earle Thompson
  • Patent number: 5797060
    Abstract: An electrophotographic subsystem (130) with on-board monitoring and adjusting capabilities. The subsystem contains a photoreceptor, at least one toner dispenser, a light sensor and a processor. The processor monitors either light received from a light-imaging subsystem which is in the system into which the EP subsystem is inserted, the wear on the photoreceptor, or the toner's composition and amount, or all of the above processes. The processor then sends information either via controllers or directly to various subcomponents as operating parameter settings or instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignees: Texas Instruments Incorporated, AGFA-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: E. Earle Thompson
  • Patent number: 5794095
    Abstract: A toner dispenser with on-board intelligence. The toner dispenser includes a reservoir of toner material and memory that stores the characteristics and amount of that toner material contained within. A coil resides inside the reservoir to allow the system into which the dispenser is inserted to vibrate the coil. This accomplishes both a churning of the toner, and the back-EMF of the coil can be measured to calculate the amount of toner remaining. The toner dispenser has communications capability that allows it to send the information contained therein to a system processor of the system into which it is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignees: Texas Instruments Incorporated, AGFA-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: E. Earle Thompson
  • Patent number: 5673106
    Abstract: An intelligent printing system (110). The overall system has a light-imaging subsystem (120), an electrophotography subsystem (130) and a printing substrate subsystem (140). The system processor (126) monitors all of the characteristics of the system, including toner content and quantity, photoreceptor wear and usage, heat of the fuser, quantity of printing substrates remaining, power of the light source, and profile of a spatial light modulator. The monitored processes are used to adjust the printing process so that the maximum print quality is achieved. Additionally, the information received assists in maintaining the highest level of quality functioning of the system through the maintenance cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignees: Texas Instruments Incorporated, AGFA-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: E. Earle Thompson
  • Patent number: 5589852
    Abstract: A digital video system including a light source and a spatial light modulator system. Varying intensities of light to achieve gray shades either with a monochrome system or within each color can be accomplished in several ways. The intensity of the light source itself can be modulated to provide variation, the spatial light modulator elements can have their states in which light is directed to a surface to form a pixel modulated, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Thomas W. DeMond
  • Patent number: 5515076
    Abstract: A digitized video system having a processor and a video memory. The processor converts a stream of digital information to extract planes of a three dimensional image to store into the video memory to display a three dimensional image. A spatial light modulator is connected to the video memory to receive and display a plane of said image to display a three dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Thomas W. DeMond
  • Patent number: 5506597
    Abstract: A digitized video display for displaying and image utilizing a light source, a spatial light modulator that receives substantially all of a cross-section of beam from the light source and directing it along a different direction, and a surface positioned in the different direction for receiving the image from the modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Thomas W. DeMond
  • Patent number: 5465401
    Abstract: A communication system (20) is provided with multiple purpose personal communication devices (50 and 150). Each communication device (50 and 150) includes a touch-sensitive visual display (60 and 160) to communicate text and graphic information to and from the user and for operating the communication device (50 and 150). Voice activation (78) and voice control capabilities (76) are included within communication devices (50 and 150) to perform the same functions as the touch-sensitive visual display (60 and 160). The communication device includes a built-in modem (82), audio input and output (52 and 53), telephone jacks (86), and wireless communication (90). A plurality of application modules (100) are used with personal communication devices (50 and 150) to perform a wide variety of communication functions such as information retrievable, on-line data base services, electronic and voice mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: E. Earle Thompson
  • Patent number: 5446479
    Abstract: A digitized video system having a processor and a video memory. The processor converts a stream of digital information to extract planes of a three dimensional image to store into the video memory to display a three dimensional image. A spatial light modulator is connected to the video memory to receive and display a plane of said image to display a three dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Thomas W. DeMond
  • Patent number: 5335276
    Abstract: A communication system (20) is provided with multiple purpose personal communication devices (50 and 150). Each communication device (50 and 150) includes a touch-sensitive visual display (60 and 160) to communicate text and graphic information to and from the user and for operating the communication device (50 and 150). Voice activation (78) and voice control capabilities (76) are included within communication devices (50 and 150) to perform the same functions as the touch-sensitive visual display (60 and 160). The communication device includes a built-in modem (82), audio input and output (52 and 53), telephone jacks (86), and wireless communication (90). A plurality of application modules (100) are used with personal communication devices (50 and 150) to perform a wide variety of communication functions such as information retrievable, on-line data base services, electronic and voice mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Gerald G. Birdwell
  • Patent number: 5287096
    Abstract: A digitized video display system has a spatial light modulator which has individual elements which are controllable to produce individual beams which form an image. The individual elements are controllable at a frequency which is less than the critical flicker frequency of the human eye to produce individual beams which form an image. The individual elements are controlled to provide a luminosity control over individual pixels or voxels of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Thomas W. DeMond
  • Patent number: 5272473
    Abstract: A digitized video system with an increased viewing angle having a light projector and a display screen. The light projector generating a plurality of narrow light beams to impinge on the display screen at a plurality of associated points. The display screen has a transducer generating surface acoustic waves which traverse the associated points. This results in reduced laser speckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Thomas W. DeMond
  • Patent number: 5214420
    Abstract: A visual display system having a spatial light modulator with individually controllable elements. Each element capable of producing an individual light beam directed toward a display surface. A source of random polarity light is utilized to direct light onto the modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Thomas W. DeMond
  • Patent number: 5214419
    Abstract: A digitized display system providing a three dimensional image utilizing a display including a multi-frequency sensitive material and a spatial light modulator with individual controllable elements. The spatial light modulator can be a deformable mirror device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas W. DeMond, E. Earle Thompson
  • Patent number: 5206629
    Abstract: A digitized video system utilizes a spatial light modulator which has an array of deformable mirror cells with two or more memory cells associated with each mirror cell. A first decoder address one memory cell associated with most of the mirror cells of the array to display an image. A second decoder address one memory cell of each memory cell in the array to allow information to be stored therein. The array could be subdivided into several arrays with its own decoders as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas W. DeMond, E. Earle Thompson
  • Patent number: 5192946
    Abstract: A digitized display system providing multiplexed color beams at one frequency less than the critical flicker frequency for the human eye with each color beam being provided at a higher frequency. The beams are directed at a spatial light modulator. The individual light beams from the spatial light modulator is directed toward a display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: E. Earle Thompson, Thomas W. DeMond
  • Patent number: 5170156
    Abstract: A digitized video system having a display including one or more multi-frequency sensitive materials and a spatial lighy modulator simultaneously directing a plurality individual beams from an energy source onto the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas W. DeMond, E. Earle Thompson