Patents by Inventor Nicholas James

Nicholas James 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).

  • Publication number: 20230371950
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities may be described herein for automating a surgical task. The device may receive an indication of a surgical task to be performed with a surgical instrument. Capabilities of the surgical instrument may be associated with levels of automation. The device may monitor a performance of the surgical task with the surgical instrument operating at a first level of automation associated with the levels of automation. The device may detect a trigger event associated with the performance of the surgical task and switch operation of the surgical instrument from the first level of automation to a second level of automation associated with levels of automation, for example, based on the trigger event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin L. Houser, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Sarah A. Worthington, Kevin M. Fiebig, Curtis Anthony Maples, Nicholas James Ross, Shane R. Adams, Matthew David Cowperthwait
  • Publication number: 20230377709
    Abstract: Examples described herein may include a surgical computing system that determines an autonomous operation parameter and generates a control signal for an autonomous operation based on the autonomous operation parameter. The surgical computing system may obtain surgical data and determine the autonomous operation parameter based on the surgical data. The surgical computing system may obtain surgical data and determine the autonomous operation parameter based on the surgical data. The surgical computing system may send the control signal for the autonomous operation, for example, to one or more smart surgical devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin L. Houser, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Sarah A. Worthington, Kevin M. Fiebig, Curtis Anthony Maples, Nicholas James Ross, Shane R. Adams, Matthew David Cowperthwait, Raymond Edward Parfett, Jacqueline Corrigan Aronhalt, Charles J. Scheib, Jason L. Harris, Aaron Chow
  • Publication number: 20230377726
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are described herein for adapted autonomy functions and system interconnections. A surgical hub may detect a first surgical device in the surgical environment. The first surgical device may include a first plurality of features. The surgical hub may include a plurality of resources. The surgical hub may detect a second surgical device in the surgical environment. The second surgical device may include a second plurality of features. The surgical hub may determine one or more features from the first plurality of features for the first surgical device to perform and one or more features from the second plurality of features for the second surgical device to perform based on the plurality of resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Nicholas James Ross, Curtis Anthony Maples, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams
  • Patent number: 11823967
    Abstract: A glass or glass-ceramic carrier substrate, the substrate having undergone at least one complete cycle of a semiconductor fabrication process and having also undergone a reclamation process following the end of the semiconductor fabrication process; the glass or glass-ceramic carrier substrate comprising at least one of the following properties: (i) a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 13 ppm/° C.; (ii) a Young's Modulus of 70 GPa to 150 GPa; (iii) an IR transmission of greater than 80% at a wavelength of 1064 nm; (iv) a UV transmission of greater than 20% at a wavelength of 255 nm to 360 nm; (v) a thickness tolerance within the same range as the thickness tolerance of the carrier substrate before undergoing at least one complete cycle of the semiconductor fabrication process; (vi) a total thickness variation of less than 2.5 ?m; (vii) a failure strength of greater than 80 MPa using a 4-point-bending test; (viii) a pre-shape of 50 ?m to 300 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Alan Bellman, Indrajit Dutta, Yi-Cheng Hsieh, Toshihiko Ono, Nicholas James Smith
  • Patent number: 11819943
    Abstract: Systems and methods for laser beam welding in a vacuum and for controlling laser beam welding processes, such as for use in manufacturing aerospace parts, are described herein. In some embodiments, a laser beam welding system can include an optical head movably positioned within a vacuum chamber. The optical head can be configured to direct a laser beam toward a part positioned within the vacuum chamber to melt and fuse the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Blue Origin LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas James Keleshian, Christina Michelle Valenzuela, Chad Michael Ellison, Christopher Ryan Long
  • Publication number: 20230370550
    Abstract: A system and method for hybrid callback management with integrated conversation bot technology, utilizing a callback cloud and an on-premise callback system, allowing brands to utilize a hybrid system that protects against any premise outages or cloud service faults and failures by introducing redundancies and co-maintenance of data key to callback execution while allowing for mixed telephony types to be seamlessly integrated into one communication platform. The system and method provide conversational bots as further redundancy to mitigate against outages, wherein the conversational bot is personalized and may be used temporarily until an associated human agent is available for a callback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Harpley, Nicholas James Kennedy, Daniel Bohannon
  • Patent number: 11816396
    Abstract: A method and system provide the ability to design a terrain surface. A triangular surface mesh representative of an existing surface is obtained. One or more constraints to control the triangular surface mesh are specified. Drainage for the triangular surface mesh is automatically determined based on the constraints. The triangular surface mesh is optimized based on the drainage and one or more design options. The optimizing modifies the triangular surface mesh to define drainage flow for the drainage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: AUTODESK, INC.
    Inventors: Valentin R. Koch, Patrick A. Bergeron, Nicholas James Zeeben, Qing Xue, Weiwei Hu
  • Patent number: 11815732
    Abstract: A liquid lens apparatus includes a first substrate and a sensor. The first substrate has first and second opposing surfaces, a central portion, and a peripheral portion outside of the central portion. The sensor is formed lithographically on either the first or second surfaces of the peripheral portion of the first substrate such that the sensor is on an exterior surface of the liquid lens apparatus. The sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the liquid lens apparatus to enable compensation for thermal expansion or contraction of the liquid lens apparatus resulting from changes in temperature of the liquid lens apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: CORNING INCORPORATED, LG INNOTEK CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Christian Daniel Gutleben, Shiwen Liu, Nicholas James Pfister, Ernesto Sanchez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11812756
    Abstract: A system and method for making a jerky meat product may include a pump to pump heated brine at a positive pressure at a desired temperature. Embodiments may also include an injector coupled to the pump to receive the heated brine and inject the heated brine into a cool meat product to elevate the meat product temperature. Embodiments may include a slicer that receives the meat product after the heated brine is injected and slices the meat product to a first thickness. A topical applicator may apply a topical application to coat an exterior of the slices and a flattener may flatten the slices to a second thickness less than the first thickness and to cause the topical application to adhere to the slices. Embodiments may further include a drying oven and/or grill to dry the slices of the second thickness to a desired moisture level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: THE HILLSHIRE BRANDS COMPANY
    Inventors: Kent M. Bearson, Simon Hugh Politzer, Tasha Joy Hermes, Julie Michelle McIntire, Dejing Fu, Brenda M. Dismore, Nicholas James Miller
  • Publication number: 20230362669
    Abstract: In some aspects, there is provided a method. The method may include selecting a first antenna coupled to a first transceiver at a first vehicle; determining a configuration of a first beam pattern emanated by the first antenna; and reconfiguring, based on the configuration of the first beam pattern and a beam tracking packet, the first antenna to provide a beam tracking of the first beam pattern. The first beam pattern may be associated with a wireless communication link to an object proximate to the first vehicle, which may be a second vehicle or a stationary object. Reconfiguring the first antenna may be further based on a steering angle associated with the first antenna and a distance between the first vehicle and the object proximate to the first vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas GUERENA, John WIACEK, Nicholas James WITCHEY
  • Patent number: 11812357
    Abstract: There is provided a method and device for provisioning emergency number information on a user equipment. When a dialed number matches an emergency number from the provisioned emergency number information, the user equipment selects either the circuit switched domain or the packet switched domain and executes a call setup procedure for that domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jan Hendrik Lucas Bakker, Nicholas James Russell
  • Patent number: 11806634
    Abstract: A connector system, ride system and method for connecting and supporting a suspended load. The system includes a suspended carrier having a first connector part and a suspended load support, arranged and disposed to support a suspended load, the suspended load support having a second connector part. A first magnetic coupler is affixed to the suspended carrier and a second magnetic coupler is affixed to the suspended load support. The first magnetic coupler includes a first arrangement of magnets and the second magnetic coupler includes a second arrangement of magnets. The first arrangement of magnets is selectively arranged and disposed to provide alignment and detachable engagement to the magnets of the second arrangement of magnets. The first connector part and the second connector part releasably engage to connect the suspended carrier to the suspended load support and permit transmission of motion, power, signal and at least one utility from the suspended carrier to the suspended load support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Steven Bettinger, Nicholas James Bonsell, Andrew Phillips Mudie, Andrew John Penney, James Fowler Shumway, Jr., McLane Walker Snow
  • Patent number: 11808715
    Abstract: A metrology target is designed for measuring a feature at the bottom of a trench in a device under test, such as a tungsten recess vertical profile in a wordline in a three-dimensional (3D) NAND. The metrology target follows the design rules for the device under test and includes a tier stack with a plurality of tier stack pairs including, each including a conductor layer, such as tungsten, and an insulator layer, such as silicon dioxide and a trench that extends through the tier stack pairs. The metrology target includes a via that extends through the tier stack pairs and is positioned a lateral distance to the trench to promote access of light to a bottom of the trench, via plasmonic resonance, for measurement of a characteristic of the trench, such as the tungsten recess at the bottom of the wordline slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Onto Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas James Keller, George Andrew Antonelli
  • Patent number: 11801360
    Abstract: A humidification system can include a heater base, a humidification chamber, and a breathing circuit. A cartridge can be removably coupled to the heater base. The cartridge can include various sensors, probes, sensor wire connectors, heater wire connectors, and/or other features. The cartridge can include features configured to mate with corresponding features on the humidification chamber and the heater base. The cartridge includes a memory, such as an EEPROM, or other suitable storage device. When the cartridge is installed on the heater base, the memory is electrically connected to a processor and/or memory of the heater base. Various models of cartridges can be produced for use with different humidification chambers, breathing circuits, and/or therapies. A connector can be configured to couple an inspiratory conduit to an outlet port of the humidification chamber. The connector can provide a pneumatic connection to the outlet port and an electrical connection to the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Hamish Adrian Osborne, Gavin Walsh Millar, Stephen David Evans, Bruce Gordon Holyoake, James William Stanton, David Leon McCauley, Gareth Thomas McDermott, Nicholas James Michael McKenna, Myfanwy Jane Antica Norton, Adrian John Elsworth, Michael John Andresen, Jonathan Andrew George Lambert, Sandeep Singh Gurm, Tessa Hazel Paris, Joseph Nathaniel Griffiths, Ping Si, Christopher Gareth Sims, Elmo Benson Stoks, Dexter Chi Lun Cheung, Peter Alan Seekup, Po-Yen Liu, Richard Edward Lang, Paul James Tonkin, Ian Lee Wai Kwan
  • Patent number: 11799271
    Abstract: Spark plugs are disclosed that include electrode arrangements to improve the charge flow into and out of the annular volume around the insulator nose and a pre-chamber volume of a pre-chamber device, thus directing a purge of exhaust gases trapped in the annular volume to a space formed by the exterior of the spark plug body and the interior of the pre-chamber device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David Guillermo Gonzalez Medina, William Marshall Cover, Xu Han, Andrew Guy Kitchen, Daniel J. O'Connor, Alan C. Anderson, Nicholas James Welch, Jisang Sun
  • Publication number: 20230329539
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a throat examination device (1) for examining a throat of a patient. The throat examination device (1) has a support arm (7) having a longitudinal axis (X); and an imaging unit (10). The imaging unit (10) is disposed on the support arm (7) and includes at least one imaging sensor (11-n) for capturing an image of at least a portion of one or more of the oral cavity, the oropharynx and the laryngopharynx. The imaging unit (10) has a transverse angle of view (TAOV) in a transverse plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the support arm (7). The imaging unit (10) may be provided in an imaging module (3) which is removably mounted to the support arm (7). A disposable cover (45) may be provided over the imaging unit (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventor: Nicholas James Ian HAMILTON
  • Publication number: 20230331035
    Abstract: An apertured article, insertion article and associated systems. The apertured article having an aperture, which has an aperture periphery, the aperture periphery having an aperture inner periphery and spaced aperture protrusions that extend radially outwardly from the aperture inner periphery to an aperture outer periphery. The aperture outer periphery is defined by distal edges of the spaced aperture protrusions. The aperture inner periphery is positioned along the circumference of an inner aperture reference circle, the inner aperture reference circle inscribing the aperture periphery, and the aperture outer periphery is positioned along the circumference of an outer aperture reference circle. As viewed along a radial line whose origin is at the center of the inner aperture reference circle, the aperture inner periphery can be positioned along 0.4 to 0.6 of the entire circumference of the inner aperture reference circle. The insertion article can be configured for insertion in the apertured article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas James Coussens, Orion Christopher DeYoe, Gregory Elliott Needel, David Aaron Yanoshak, Jonathan James Bryant, Francisco Musiol Lima
  • Patent number: 11786053
    Abstract: A mattress including a stretchable flame-retardant textile cap incorporating a top panel of flame retardant material operatively connected to a stitch-bonded flame retardant textile skirting with machine direction stretch and recovery properties disposed over a resilient mattress core to provided flame barrier protection to the mattress core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TIETEX INTERNATIONAL LTD
    Inventors: Martin Wildeman, Nicholas James Brownless, Robert Wade Wallace
  • Patent number: 11792323
    Abstract: A system and method for user, device, and transaction authentication and callback management, utilizing a cloud platform, a digital ledger, an authentication manager, and smart callback contracts, brokering user to user communications and session establishment using an automated workflow built upon extensible root smart contract templates which can be configured to connect various users and brands. Historical user identifier and behavior data may be stored in a blockchain and/or smart callback contract and compared against current user data to authenticate and validate a user, prior to the execution of the smart callback contract, all in a way that is transparent and autonomous to the user. The system may comprise clout platform, that may further comprise a callback manager, a brand interface server, an interaction manager, a media server, one or more blockchain digital ledgers, and various smart contracts which are used to autonomously respond to received user requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Virtual Hold Technology Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew DiMaria, Shannon Lekas, Kurt Nelson, Nicholas James Kennedy, Robert Harpley
  • Patent number: 11787632
    Abstract: Automated cold storage unit and systems for storing, monitoring, and maintaining a supply of temperature sensitive pharmaceutical and/or other products in compliance with regulatory requirements are provided. Such units contain an array of independently addressable holding locations for containers with product in one or more controlled temperature zones fitted with temperature sensors. The units include a reader to track product information and status. Product movement within the unit is performed by a computer-controlled robot. A user interface device, preferably in communication with an application service provider to provide remotely managed inventory management and other services, provides users with secure access to the contents of the unit and associated product data and information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TruMed Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert James Manning, Eugene Abraham Baker, Kevin Lee Bokelman, Daniel Kline, George M. Wohlhieter, Anthony David Barghini, Wesly Hardin Billman, Dan J. Dull, Nicholas James Snyder, Mark Majette