Patents by Inventor Steve A. Shepard
Steve A. Shepard 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).
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Patent number: 10694303Abstract: A sound system for broadcasting audio is disclosed. The sound system utilizes speaker unit carried by a lighter-than-air airship that is connected to a base station using a tether. The airship elevates the speaker unit to a height much larger than the height of the largest ground obstruction. Accordingly, more listeners may hear and understand the message because multipath reflections and shadow regions are reduced.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of AlabamaInventor: William Steve Shepard, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190309569Abstract: A fenestration assembly is provided. The assembly includes a stationary member, a moveable member coupled to the stationary member, a primary biasing member disposed between the stationary member and the moveable member to provide tension to a film coupled to the moveable member, and a reinforcement member coupled to the stationary member and configured to reinforce the assembly upon tension being provided to the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2017Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Normand Marchand, John Rhoades, Steve Shepard, Seth Adams
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Publication number: 20190222947Abstract: A sound system for broadcasting audio is disclosed. The sound system utilizes speaker unit carried by a lighter-than-air airship that is connected to a base station using a tether. The airship elevates the speaker unit to a height much larger than the height of the largest ground obstruction. Accordingly, more listeners may hear and understand the message because multipath reflections and shadow regions are reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventor: William Steve Shepard, JR.
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Publication number: 20150377694Abstract: Various implementations provide systems and methods for remotely detecting and assessing collision impacts using one or more acoustical sensors, such as using acoustical sensors to detect helmet collisions on an athletic playing field. For example, at least one acoustical sensor is disposed adjacent an athletic playing field and remotely from the one or more players on the athletic playing field. A processor of a computing device in communication with the acoustical sensor is configured for identifying whether the acoustical signal indicates a collision event occurred between a helmet and another object. The processor may also be configured for identifying a location on the playing field where the collision event occurred and/or identifying one or more characteristics of the acoustical signal to determine the amount of force, the duration, the speed, the acceleration, and/or the location of the collision event on the helmet.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventor: W. Steve Shepard, JR.
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Publication number: 20120136522Abstract: A hybrid dinghy pusher for pushing motorhomes is provided. A hybrid vehicle can be connected to a motorhome by a tow bar for towing the hybrid vehicle. When being towed behind a motorhome, the hybrid vehicle can be switched into hybrid dinghy pusher mode. In this mode, during acceleration of the motorhome, the electrical batteries and motors of the hybrid vehicle can provide a propulsive force through the tow bar to the motorhome, which assists the motorhome in accelerating and improves fuel efficiency. Additionally, the dinghy motors can act as generators when appropriate, creating energy which can be stored in batteries for later use during acceleration. The resistance created by the hybrid vehicle can also provide an additional braking force to the motorhome via the tow bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2012Publication date: May 31, 2012Inventors: William Steve Shepard, JR., William Steve Shepard, SR.
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Patent number: 8141667Abstract: A hybrid dinghy pusher for pushing motorhomes is provided. A hybrid vehicle can be connected to a motorhome by a tow bar for towing the hybrid vehicle. When being towed behind a motorhome, the hybrid vehicle can be switched into hybrid dinghy pusher mode. In this mode, during acceleration of the motorhome, the electrical batteries and motors of the hybrid vehicle can provide a propulsive force through the tow bar to the motorhome, which assists the motorhome in accelerating and improves fuel efficiency. Additionally, the dinghy motors can act as generators when appropriate, creating energy which can be stored in batteries for later use during acceleration. The resistance created by the hybrid vehicle can also provide an additional braking force to the motorhome via the tow bar.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Alabama For And On Behalf Of Its Component Institution, The University Of AlabamaInventors: William Steve Shepard, Jr., William Steve Shepard, Sr.
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Publication number: 20090308670Abstract: A hybrid dinghy pusher for pushing motorhomes is provided. A hybrid vehicle can be connected to a motorhome by a tow bar for towing the hybrid vehicle. When being towed behind a motorhome, the hybrid vehicle can be switched into hybrid dinghy pusher mode. In this mode, during acceleration of the motorhome, the electrical batteries and motors of the hybrid vehicle can provide a propulsive force through the tow bar to the motorhome, which assists the motorhome in accelerating and improves fuel efficiency. Additionally, the dinghy motors can act as generators when appropriate, creating energy which can be stored in batteries for later use during acceleration. The resistance created by the hybrid vehicle can also provide an additional braking force to the motorhome via the tow bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University of AlabamaInventors: WILLIAM STEVE SHEPARD, JR., William Steve Shepard, SR.
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Patent number: 5868027Abstract: A system of determining a viscosity of a melt in a centrifugal furnace. In this system, the centrifugal furnace is rotated at a first rotational speed. The rotational speed of the centrifugal furnace is then changed to a second rotational speed. At least one physical characteristic is then measured during the transition from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed. Based on this at least one measured physical characteristic, the viscosity of the melt can be determined. This at least one physical characteristic may be a time varying torque required to change the rotational speed of the centrifugal furnace from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed. This at least one physical characteristic may also be a surface velocity and/or a height of the melt at a predetermined radial position in the centrifugal furnace in comparison with a velocity of the centrifugal furnace at the predetermined radial position.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1996Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: Mississippi State UniversityInventors: Olin Perry Norton, Walter P. Okhuysen, William Steve Shepard, Carlson C. P. Pian
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Patent number: 5599179Abstract: A method and system of regulating the air to fuel ratio supplied to a burner to maximize the combustion efficiency. Optical means are provided in close proximity to the burner for directing a beam of radiation from hot gases produced by the burner to a plurality of detectors. Detectors are provided for sensing the concentration of, inter alia, CO, CO.sub.2, and H.sub.2 O. The differences between the ratios of CO to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O to CO are compared with a known control curve based on those ratios for air to fuel ratios ranging from 0.85 to 1.30. The fuel flow is adjusted until the difference between the ratios of CO to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O to CO fall on a desired set point on the control curve.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1994Date of Patent: February 4, 1997Assignee: Mississippi State UniversityInventors: Jeffrey S. Lindner, W. Steve Shepard, John A. Etheridge, Ping-Rey Jang, Lawrence L. Gresham
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Patent number: 4495599Abstract: A logic state analyzer monitors an ongoing succession of logic states occurring in a collection of n-many digital signals, and stores in a memory a set of logic states selected from the ongoing succession. A logic state is any one of the 2.sup.n -1 possible patterns the n-many digital signals may exhibit. The memory is of some convenient fixed number of locations, and once the memory is filled the oldest stored logic states are overwritten as the newest logic states are stored. Various storage qualification criteria may be specified, in which case an individual logic state is not stored unless it meets those criteria. Upon recognition of a specified trigger condition in the succession of logic states the logic state analyzer stores an operator selectable number of additional logic states, after which the monitoring and storing of logic states ceases and the stored contents of the memory are displayed. The trigger condition may be the detection of a designated sequence of selected logic states.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 1983Date of Patent: January 22, 1985Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: George A. Haag, O. Douglas Fogg, Gordon A. Greenley, Steve A. Shepard, F. Duncan Terry
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Patent number: 4480317Abstract: A logic state analyzer monitors an ongoing succession of states occurring in a collection of digital signals, and stores in a memory a set of states selected from the ongoing succession. The memory is of some convenient fixed number of locations, and once the memory is filled the oldest stored states are overwritten as the newest states are stored. Various storage qualification criteria may be specified, in which case an individual state is not stored unless the state meets those criteria. Upon recognition of a specified trigger condition in the succession of states the logic state analyzer stores an operator selectable number of additional states. The trigger condition may be as simple as the occurrence of a single specified state or may be as complex as the satisfaction of a sequence of specified states. The resulting collectivity of states stored in the memory may be termed a captured trace.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1983Date of Patent: October 30, 1984Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: George A. Haag, O. Douglas Fogg, Gordon A. Greenley, Steve A. Shepard, F. Duncan Terry
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Patent number: 4479197Abstract: The operating modes and parameters of a logic state analyzer are selected by user interaction with a menu displayed upon a CRT. At the highest level of control the user may specify which menu is of interest, should there be more than one. The selected menu is displayed and contains mode selection fields whose labels indicate the various modes that are presently selected. Different modes are selected by positioning a cursor to the associated selection field and then pressing a mode selection key. Each such activation causes the next mode in a sequence of modes, associated with that particular field, to be the selected mode of operation. A descriptive label or phase corresponding to the selected mode is displayed as part of the selection field containing the cursor.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1982Date of Patent: October 23, 1984Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: George A. Haag, O. Douglas Fogg, Gordon A. Greenley, Steve A. Shepard, F. Duncan Terry
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Patent number: 4455624Abstract: Ongoing succession of states occurring in a collection of digital signals is monitored by a logic state analyzer which stores either all such states or a selected subset thereof meeting certain qualification criteria. The memory into which the states are stored is updated with oldest stored states being overwritten as the newest states are stored, the collectivity of which may be termed a captured trace. The above-mentioned qualification and sequential criteria are termed a trace specification. The utility of such a trace in a logic state analyzer is enhanced by allowing the user to divide the collection of digital signals into groups of related signals, assign symbolic labels to the groups, and indicate a radix for each group. Such division, assignment and indication may be termed a format specification. Subsequent trace specifications as well as the displayed or printed form of the trace itself then incorporate the format specification.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1983Date of Patent: June 19, 1984Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: George A. Haag, O. Douglas Fogg, Gordon A. Greenley, Steve A. Shepard, F. Duncan Terry
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Patent number: 4445192Abstract: A logic state analyzer monitors the ongoing succession of states occurring in a collection of digital signals, and stores in a memory either all such states or a selected subset thereof meeting certain qualification criteria. The oldest stored states are overwritten as the newest states are stored. Upon recognition of some trigger condition the logic state analyzer will subsequently store a preselected number of additional states, the collectivity of which may be termed the captured trace. The utility of such a trace in a logic state analyzer is enhanced by equipping the analyzer with a counting mechanism selectively responsive to a high speed clock signal or a programmable state detector. In the former case the counter operates as a timer whose value may represent either the elapsed time between consecutive states in the trace or between each state in the trace and an origin along a time axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1983Date of Patent: April 24, 1984Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: George A. Haag, O. Douglas Fogg, Gordon A. Greenley, Steve A. Shepard, F. Duncan Terry
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Patent number: 4373193Abstract: A logic state analyzer stores into a data acquisition memory only state data meeting preselected qualification state criteria chosen to weed out state data not of interest among the totality of states occuring within a collection of digital signals. The data acquisition memory retains only the last m-many states stored therein. A selectable integer k, o.ltoreq.k.ltoreq.m, determines how many additional storage operations are performed for qualified state data following the detection of a preselected trigger condition. The actual number of states occurring in the collection of digital signals after the trigger condition but before the storage of the kth qualified data state can be many times the value of k. Qualifying the state data prior to storage allows a modest size data acquisition memory to do the work of a much larger memory and spares the user the task of sorting through much state data known not to be of interest.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1980Date of Patent: February 8, 1983Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: George A. Haag, O. Douglas Fogg, Gordon A. Greenley, Steve A. Shepard, F. Duncan Terry
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Patent number: 4303987Abstract: A general purpose logic state analyzer selectively stores, formats and displays a digital signal representing a sequence of data states input thereto and provides a graphical display of the stored data states and a count of selected events occurring intermediate to the occurrence of the data states stored. Selective storage of the input data states is provided by comparing the input data states to a preselected sequence of first qualifier state conditions and enabling the storage of input data states in response to the satisfaction of the preselected sequence. Storage is further qualified by storing only data states which individually meet one of a preselected set of second qualifier state conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1979Date of Patent: December 1, 1981Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: George A. Haag, O. Douglas Fogg, Gordon A. Greenley, Steve A. Shepard, F. Duncan Terry
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Patent number: 4301513Abstract: A general purpose logic state analyzer selectively stores, formats and displays a digital signal representing a sequence of data states input thereto and provides a graphical display of the stored data states and a count of selected events occurring intermediate to the occurrence of the data states stored. Selective storage of the input data states is provided by comparing the input data states to a preselected sequence of first qualifier state conditions and enabling the storage of input data states in response to the satisfaction of the preselected sequence. Storage is further qualified by storing only data states which individually meet one of a preselected set of second qualifier state conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1979Date of Patent: November 17, 1981Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: George A. Haag, O. Douglas Fogg, Gordon A. Greenley, Steve A. Shepard, F. Duncan Terry
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Patent number: 4293925Abstract: A general purpose logic state analyzer selectively stores, formats and displays a digital signal representing a sequence of data states input thereto and provides a graphical display of the stored data states and a count of selected events occurring intermediate to the occurrence of the data states stored. Selective storage of the input data states is provided by comparing the input data states to a preselected sequence of first qualifier state conditions and enabling the storage of input data states in response to the satisfaction of the preselected sequence. Storage is further qualified by storing only data states which individually meet one of a preselected set of second qualifier state conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1979Date of Patent: October 6, 1981Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: George A. Haag, O. Douglas Fogg, Gordon A. Greenley, Steve A. Shepard, F. Duncan Terry
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Patent number: 4250562Abstract: A general purpose logic state analyzer selectively stores, formats and displays a digital signal representing a sequence of data states input thereto and provides a graphical display of the stored data states and a count of selected events occurring intermediate to the occurrence of the data states stored. Selective storage of the input data states is provided by comparing the input data states to a preselected sequence of first qualifier state conditions and enabling the storage of input data states in response to the satisfaction of the preselected sequence. Storage is further qualified by storing only data states which individually meet one of a preselected set of second qualifier state conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1979Date of Patent: February 10, 1981Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: George A. Haag, Douglas Fogg, Gordon A. Greenley, Steve A. Shepard, F. Duncan Terry