Patents by Inventor Robert Hanson

Robert Hanson 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: 20070003369
    Abstract: A sediment control wattle including a sheath formed of a geotextile, the sheath containing a filler media. An apron extends from the sheath providing an element that may be pinned or otherwise attached to a terrain in a manner that reduces migration and flow of fluid and sediment underneath the wattles. The sediment control wattle may also include a joint wrap which permits adjacent wattles to be joined to form a sediment control system in a manner that reduces migration and flow of fluid and sediment between wattles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Hanson, William Casey
  • Patent number: 7159194
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided that includes a housing, a plurality of modules, a sensor and a selection mechanism. The housing has multiple housing segments, with each segment housing one of the plurality of modules. The sensor detects an orientation of the electronic device. The selection mechanism automatically selects at least one, but nor all, of the plurality of modules to be active, based on the detected orientation of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Kean Wong, William Robert Hanson, Shawn R. Gettemy
  • Publication number: 20060292787
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming isolation regions. An opening can be formed to extend into a semiconductor material, and an upper periphery of the opening can be protected with a liner while a lower periphery is unlined. The unlined portion can then be etched to form a widened region of the opening. Subsequently, the opening can be filled with insulative material to form an isolation region. Transistor devices can then be formed on opposing sides of the isolation region, and electrically isolated from one another with the isolation region. The invention also includes semiconductor constructions containing an electrically insulative isolation structure extending into a semiconductor material, with the structure having a bulbous bottom region and a stem region extending upwardly from the bottom region to a surface of the semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Hongmei Wang, Fred Fishburn, Janos Fucsko, T. Allen, Richard Lane, Robert Hanson, Kevin Shea
  • Patent number: 7154746
    Abstract: A cover for an opening in the housing of a portable electronic device that provides a function in addition to that of protecting the opening from dirt. The cover can be coupled to the housing so that it can move between a closed position within the housing's surface recess and an open position that allows access to the opening in the housing. In the closed position, the cover becomes part of the housing and the of the device is generally unchanged. The cover can function as an antenna for wireless communication between the device and a network or access point, and it can contain circuitry for devices such as transmitter/receivers. The cover can also function as a display device, a speaker, or an alarm. Thus an existing cover that occupies space within the volume of a handheld device can be utilized for expanding the functionality of the device while generally retaining the current form factor of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: William Robert Hanson, Yoon Kean Wong
  • Publication number: 20060286748
    Abstract: A process and apparatus directed to forming a terraced film stack of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device, is disclosed. The present invention addresses etch undercut resulting from materials of different etch selectivity used in the film stack, which if not addressed can cause device failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Hanson, Alex Schrinsky, Terry McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20060199025
    Abstract: In devices such as flat panel displays, an aluminum oxide layer is provided between an aluminum layer and an ITO layer when such materials would otherwise be in contact to protect the ITO from optical and electrical defects sustained, for instance, during anodic bonding and other fabrication steps. This aluminum oxide barrier layer is preferably formed either by: (1) partially or completely anodizing an aluminum layer formed over the ITO layer, or (2) an in situ process forming aluminum oxide either over the ITO layer or over an aluminum layer formed on the ITO layer. After either of these processes, an aluminum layer is then formed over the aluminum oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Hanson, Won-Joo Kim, Mike Pugh
  • Patent number: 7091964
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a bezel feature, a connector and a processor. The bezel feature is provided on the front panel and interfaces with the processor. The bezel feature includes a circumferential track provided on the front panel and is formed by a contact-sensitive material that provides a surface capable of detecting contact from a user at multiple positions on the track. The contact indicates an input based on both a starting position and a finishing position of the contact on the track. The processor is configured to calculate the input based on the starting position and the finishing position and to perform an operation corresponding to a selection of an application based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Kean Wong, William Robert Hanson, Shawn R. Gettemy
  • Publication number: 20060148773
    Abstract: The present invention comprises the design, synthesis and development of a new class of chemotherapeutic agents for prophylactic and therapeutic treatments in a mammal, particularly a human, believed to be at risk of suffering from a hormone-responsive disorder. In an embodiment of the invention, such treatments include therapeutic compositions comprising novel steroidal antiestrogen and antiandrogen compounds. In a preferred embodiment, such a novel compound of the present invention has an address and a message component, which are made into a single composite entity for more aggressive intervention and effective treatment of hormone-responsive disorders, thereby prolonging the disease-free interval for the patient and reducing a number of side effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Hanson, Carolyn Friel, Choon Lee
  • Patent number: 7057579
    Abstract: A display system is disclosed. The display system includes a processor. The display system also includes a first display device having a first display surface and receiving display data from the processor. The display system also includes a second displayed device having a display area smaller then the first display device and moveable over the surface of the first display device. The display system also includes a sensor in communication with the processor and communicating location data to the processor. The location data is representative of the relative location of the first display to the second display. Further still, the display system includes a program running on the processor and providing display data to the first and second display devices. The display data is provided to the second display device based on the location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: William Robert Hanson, Shawn R. Gettemy, Sherridythe A. Fraser, Yoon Kean Wong, Mark W. Oliver
  • Publication number: 20060029704
    Abstract: A method for processing a food product involves transporting the food product through a plurality of stations including a loading station, a pasteurization station, and a closing station. The surface of the food product is pasteurized by convectively transferring heat from the pasteurizing medium to the surface of the food product at a rate such that the surface heat transfer coefficient becomes sufficiently higher than the food product conductance coefficient that the surface temperature of the food product is substantially instantaneously elevated above temperatures which are instantly lethal to microbes which may be present. Preferably, steam is condensed on the food product surface in dropwise condensation, and the onset of film condensation is retarded by removing condensate film from such surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Vernon Karman, Gary Hahn, Craig Bonneville, Tou Vang, Nelly Feze, Robert Hanson
  • Patent number: 6947896
    Abstract: A method for marking dictated text for deferred correction or review of dictated text in a speech recognition system proofreader, comprising the steps of: displaying previously dictated text; sequentially highlighting words in the text; selectively establishing a mark for different ones of the sequentially highlighted words responsive to user commands; and, storing the marks in an ordered list, each of the marks including a current position and length of a corresponding marked word, whereby the marked words can be later recalled for correction in accordance with the ordered list. The method can, further comprise the steps of: displaying the previously dictated text in a first display window; sequentially displaying in a second display window a portion of the previously dictated text including the sequentially highlighted word; and, sequentially displaying in a third display window within the second display window the sequentially highlighted word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Robert Hanson
  • Patent number: 6938205
    Abstract: A desktop publishing system contains an output display device that displays a palette window. The palette window contains a defined objects panel containing a list of defined objects, and an objects panel containing a list of objects. The output display device also displays a view window for displaying a page containing at least one object from one of the list of defined objects and the list of objects. The desktop publishing system also contains an input device that selects the object(s) from one of the list of defined objects and the list of objects for display in the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Hanson, John Lilly
  • Patent number: 6888532
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided that includes a user-interface feature, a detection mechanism and one or more internal components. The user-interface feature is configurable to have a selected orientation about one or more axes. The detection mechanism can detect orientation information about the electronic device. The one or more components may select the orientation of the user-interface feature based on the detected orientation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: palmOne, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Kean Wong, William Robert Hanson, Shawn R. Gettemy
  • Publication number: 20050053237
    Abstract: A security method for in-flight entertainment device (IFED) rentals having self-contained audiovisual presentations is disclosed. A self-contained IFED has internal storage configured to contain current releases of movies and other audiovisual presentations. The method provides layers of security including unique bit stream encoding format, watermarking, camera artifacts, file encryption, hard drive encryption, input-output encryption and physically unique connectors, and tamper resistant casing the self-contained IFEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Applicant: Aircraft Protective Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Hanson
  • Publication number: 20050022468
    Abstract: In a web packaging machine (10) and method packaging a food product (P) between upper and lower webs (14 and 25), wherein the lower web (14) is transported through a series of stations which form the lower web (14) into a component of a package at a forming station (18), and receive the food product (P) at a loading station (20), and close the package with the upper web (25) at a closing station (26), a pasteurization station (300) is provided between the loading station (20) and the closing station (26) and pasteurizing the food product (P).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: Alkar-RapidPak, Inc., a corporation of the State of Wisconsin
    Inventors: Robert Hanson, Craig Bonneville, Tou Vang, Vernon Karman, Gary Hahn, Nelly Feze, John Jurkowski
  • Patent number: 6842335
    Abstract: A cover for an opening in the housing of a portable electronic device that provides a function in addition to that of protecting the opening from dirt. The cover can be coupled to the housing so that it can move between a closed position within the housing's surface recess and an open position that allows access to the opening in the housing. In the closed position, the cover becomes part of the housing and the form factor of the device is generally unchanged. The cover can function as an antenna for wireless communication between the device and a network or access point, and it can contain circuitry for devices such as transmitter/receivers. The cover can also function as a display device, a speaker, or an alarm. Thus an existing cover that occupies space within the volume of a handheld device can be utilized for expanding the functionality of the device while generally retaining the current form factor of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: palmOne, Inc.
    Inventors: William Robert Hanson, Yoon Kean Wong
  • Publication number: 20040239581
    Abstract: A display system is disclosed. The display system includes a processor. The display system also includes a first display device having a first display surface and receiving display data from the processor. The display system also includes a second displayed device having a display area smaller then the first display device and moveable over the surface of the first display device. The display system also includes a sensor in communication with the processor and communicating location data to the processor. The location data is representative of the relative location of the first display to the second display. Further still, the display system includes a program running on the processor and providing display data to the first and second display devices. The display data is provided to the second display device based on the location data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: William Robert Hanson, Shawn R. Gettemy, Sherridythe A. Fraser, Yoon Kean Wong, Mark W. Oliver
  • Publication number: 20040225796
    Abstract: An expansion device for a handheld computer is disclosed. The expansion device includes a Secure Digital input/output (SDIO) card including an interface configured to be coupled to the handheld computer. The expansion device also includes an accessory device coupled to the SDIO card. Further, the expansion device includes an expansion slot coupled to the SDIO card. The expansion slot is configured to selectively couple to one of a Secure Digital (SD) card and a multimedia card (MMC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: William Robert Hanson, Yoon Kean Wong
  • Patent number: 6816154
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described herein, which simultaneously promotes a positive computing experience for users of portable computer systems and increases overall durability and longevity thereof. In one embodiment, an optical apparatus enhances the user computing experience, in one embodiment by simplifying operation, and is much more durable and long-lasting than mechanical switch and dial type devices it may replace. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an apparatus, which enables efficient portable computer device function, field, and data selection, gaming, input, interconnection, and other switching-related functions, simplifying operation and enhancing versatility thereof, yet without exposing the portable computer interior to any degree to incursion of environmental contamination. In one embodiment, an optical apparatus obviates openings in a portable computer package which would otherwise be required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: palmOne, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Kean Wong, William Robert Hanson
  • Patent number: 6755533
    Abstract: A display system is disclosed. The display system includes a processor and a first display device having a first display surface and receiving display data from the processor. The display system also includes a second display device having a display area smaller than the first display device and moveable over the surface of the first display device. The second display device is either partially transparent or partially translucent. The display system also includes a sensor in communication with the processor and communicating location data to the processor. The location data is representative of the relative location of the first display to the second display. A program is configured to run on the processor and provides display data to the first and second display devices such that the display data prior to the second display device is based on the location data. A user of the system views a composite three-dimensional image when viewing the second display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Sherridythe A. Fraser, William Robert Hanson