Patents by Inventor Michael G. Nicholas

Michael G. Nicholas 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: 8930028
    Abstract: A processor module includes memory having instructions for executing functions of a handheld diabetes management device and a processor that selectively executes the instructions. Battery terminals electrically connect the processor module with a re-chargeable battery. A receptacle is configured in accordance with a universal serial bus (USB) standard. A component is included for communicating information from the handheld diabetes management device to a user or another device. A multiplexer module relays power from the receptacle to a bus voltage node. A first switching device is connected between the bus voltage node and a second voltage node. The component receives power from the second voltage node. A second switching device is connected between the bus voltage node and a third voltage node. The processor module is directly connected to the bus voltage node and to the third voltage node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. McKee, Michael G. Nicholas, Blaine E. Ramey
  • Patent number: 8849459
    Abstract: A system for managing power consumption of a handheld diabetes management device and limiting effects of temperature on operations performed by the handheld diabetes management device comprises a blood glucose measuring module, a temperature sensing module, and a power management module. The blood glucose measuring module selectively measures blood glucose in a blood sample and generates a status signal indicating a status of operation of the blood glucose measuring module. The temperature sensing module senses an internal temperature of the handheld diabetes management device and estimates an ambient temperature external to the handheld diabetes management device. The power management module deactivates one or more components of the handheld diabetes management device based on the status of operation of the blood glucose measuring module when the internal temperature of the handheld diabetes management device exceeds a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Michael C. McKee, Michael G. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20140031657
    Abstract: A processor module includes memory having instructions for executing functions of a handheld diabetes management device and a processor that selectively executes the instructions. Battery terminals electrically connect the processor module with a re-chargeable battery. A receptacle is configured in accordance with a universal serial bus (USB) standard. A component is included for communicating information from the handheld diabetes management device to a user or another device. A multiplexer module relays power from the receptacle to a bus voltage node. A first switching device is connected between the bus voltage node and a second voltage node. The component receives power from the second voltage node. A second switching device is connected between the bus voltage node and a third voltage node. The processor module is directly connected to the bus voltage node and to the third voltage node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Michael C. McKee, Michael G. Nicholas, Blaine E. Ramey
  • Publication number: 20120095312
    Abstract: A system for managing power consumption of a handheld diabetes management device and limiting effects of temperature on operations performed by the handheld diabetes management device comprises a blood glucose measuring module, a temperature sensing module, and a power management module. The blood glucose measuring module selectively measures blood glucose in a blood sample and generates a status signal indicating a status of operation of the blood glucose measuring module. The temperature sensing module senses an internal temperature of the handheld diabetes management device and estimates an ambient temperature external to the handheld diabetes management device. The power management module deactivates one or more components of the handheld diabetes management device based on the status of operation of the blood glucose measuring module when the internal temperature of the handheld diabetes management device exceeds a threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey, Michael C. McKee, Michael G. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 7684383
    Abstract: A method and system for dynamic call type detection for circuit and packet-switched networks. A network endpoint, such as a gateway, will receive an incoming signal and make an examination of the signal to detect characteristics of the signal. Upon detection of a characteristic of the signal, the gateway will generate a data packet, identifying the characteristic, and send the packet to a receiving network endpoint. The initial gateway will continue to examine the incoming signal and continue to send packets identifying characteristics of the signal as more characteristics are detected. The receiving gateway may then begin reproducing the signal in part by generating a signal that has the characteristics as indicated by the data packets. Once the initial gateway no longer receives the incoming signal, and determines that an event has occurred, the gateway will send a packet to the receiving gateway to inform it of the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Leland Otis Thompson, Michael G. Nicholas, Tejal S. Patel
  • Patent number: 7359370
    Abstract: A method and system of setting up a call over a circuit or packet switched network. Network elements exchange an automode sequence of signals to determine a modulation that both devices support and that will be used for the connection between them. The two elements may exchange the automode signals end-to-end, and then switch to a modulation scheme by negotiating an appropriate modulation or one supported by both endpoints. Alternately, each element can execute a split automode sequence with a separate network endpoint to determine the modulation to be used between the network elements. The network elements and network endpoints may negotiate a modulation scheme by exchanging integers that are indicative of the capabilities of the network elements to determine which supported modulation scheme is most desirable in the particular configuration of the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Renkel, Michael G. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 6782066
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting frame slips due to loss of synchronization in a digital communication channel is described. In an illustrative embodiment, a synchronization bit pattern is periodically embedded in the digital data stream. In a described embodiment, the sign bits of the octets of every N frame of data is robbed to form a periodic control channel carrying the synchronization bit pattern. The control channel can be monitored at the appropriate intervals to detect the appropriate synchronization bit pattern. Failure to detect the synchronization bit pattern at the appropriate interval indicates a loss of synchronization such as a frame slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Nicholas, Vladimir G. Parizhsky
  • Patent number: 6567463
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting analog and Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation (“ADPCM”) communication links in a communication channel is described. On an illustrative embodiment, the method include the steps of transmitting a signal with a D.C. offset value across the communication channel, receiving the transmitted signal from the communication channel and detecting the D.C. offset value in the received signal. If the D.C. offset value is detected, the communication channel is determined to be a digital end-to-end connection. If the D.C. offset value is not detected in the received signal, the communication channel includes analog or ADPCM connection links and is not suitable for all-digital communications. In illustrative embodiment, the device includes a transmitter capable of transmitting an offset transmit signal, a receiver capable of receiving the transmitted signal and logic capable of detecting an offset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventor: Michael G. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 6212207
    Abstract: Detection and compensation for periodic disturbances in sampled data such as the error introduced by robbed bit signaling (RBS) in a digital carrier system. A period of N samples, e.g., six or twelve frames, at which the periodic disturbance repeats is identified for collecting a subset of the sampled data, i.e., samples taken from a common frame. In a digital telephone network (DTN), the RBS disturbance repeats at an integer multiple of 6 frames; signaling bits A, B in a superframe (SF), or at a period of 12 frames. In an extended superframe (ESF), the RBS may repeat every 24 frames, using signaling bits A, B, C, D in one of every sixth frame. An embodiment detects the presence of the periodic robbed bit signaling disturbances in sampled data by integrating the least significant bits (lsbs) of the subset samples from a frame to determine whether in-band signaling is being performed in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventor: Michael G. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 5193210
    Abstract: A low powered RF receiver for receiving a modulated carrier having a coded transmission so as to remotely control a number of vehicular devices includes an antenna, a preamp stage, mixer, local oscillator, first and second IF bandpass filters, first and second IF amplifiers, a received signal strength indicator/detector circuit, and an adaptive threshold/filter circuitry. The signal strength indicator/detector circuit is interconnected between the first and second IF amplifiers and generates a strength indicator signal which is proportional to the strength of the modulated carrier signal received. The adaptive threshold/filter circuitry is responsive to the strength indicator signal and has a varied threshold reference level for eliminating noise and for converting the strength indicator signal to a logical level. A microcontroller is provided for further signal processing, decoding, and executing the function corresponding to the vehicular device to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: ABC Auto Alarms, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Nicholas, Warren Guthrie
  • Patent number: 4471026
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of ternary alloys in brazing ceramics.Brazing is a process of limited usefulness in the fabrication of ceramic components because of the inability of many alloys to wet industrially important ceramics. A possible solution is the metallizing of ceramics but this has technical and economic disadvantages. Alloys are known which wet ceramics but they do not necessarily give good bond strength. The following alloys have now been devised which both wet ceramics and give good bond strength, e.g., greater than 40 MNm.sup.-2 at room temperature, with unmetallized ceramics. The alloys are:Cu: 16 to 28 Ti: 6.5 to 14 SnCu: 15 to 25 Ti: 10 to 25 AuCu: 15 to 50 Ti: 3 to 10 AgCu: 25 to 35 Ti: 3 to 8 Inwherein the compositions are in atom percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Michael G. Nicholas, Thomas M. Valentine
  • Patent number: 4062660
    Abstract: A method of bonding diamond to a metal capable of dissolving carbon but not of forming stable carbides under normal temperature and pressure conditions, preferably nickel, which includes the step of intimately contacting the diamond with the metal to form a composite structure and heat treating the composite structure at a temperature above 500.degree. C but below the melting temperature of metal, both steps being carried out in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Inventors: Michael G. Nicholas, Peter M. Scott, Bruce I. Dewar