Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Mitchell

Thomas A. Mitchell 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).

  • INTERACTIVE VENDING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20200143620
    Abstract: A vending machine has an interactive customer experience. Some embodiments of the vending machine include a transparent front wall with a plurality of display units located behind the front wall. Each of the display units may contain an example of a product available for vending. Based on input received from a customer and other information, the vending machine may provide a recommendation for a product or products to select for purchase. The vending machine may highlight the recommendation by selectively illuminating the product display units that contain the recommended products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Emad JAFA, Xuejun LI, Yong SEROCK, Cheuk Chi LAU, Martyn Thomas MITCHELL, Euan MORRISON, Wai Ting CHAN, Samuel Luke JOHNSTONE, Erik David WILLIAMS
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UPGRADING A BED TO INCLUDE MOVEABLE COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20200100969
    Abstract: A mattress support includes a first section and a second section configured to be coupled to the first section. Each of the first section and the second section includes a base plate configured to be positioned on a box frame of a bed. A top plate is pivotable relative to the base plate. A bladder structure is positioned between the base plate and the top plate and inflatable to adjust a height of the top plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: David L. RIBBLE, Craig M. MEYERSON, Lori ZAPFE, John V. HARMEYER, Xuan TENG, Jotpreet CHAHAL, Thomas F. HEIL, Kirsten M. EMMONS, David L. BEDEL, Kenneth L. LILLY, Nicholas MANN, Andrew Robert TAYLOR, Alistair Andrew James WARD, Martyn Thomas MITCHELL, Ibne SOREEFAN
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UPGRADING A BED TO INCLUDE MOVEABLE COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20200100597
    Abstract: A mattress support includes a first section and a second section configured to be coupled to the first section. Each of the first section and the second section includes a base plate configured to be positioned on a box frame of a bed. A top plate is hingedly attached to the base plate. A bladder is positioned between the base plate and the top plate and inflatable to adjust a height of the top plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: David L. RIBBLE, Craig M. MEYERSON, Lori ZAPFE, John V. HARMEYER, Xuan TENG, Jotpreet CHAHAL, Thomas F. HEIL, Kirsten M. EMMONS, David L. BEDEL, Kenneth L. LILLY, Nicholas MANN, Andrew Robert TAYLOR, Alistair Andrew James WARD, Martyn Thomas MITCHELL
  • MOBILE VENDING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20200105085
    Abstract: Mobile vending machines for storing and dispensing products to consumers at various locations. A mobile vending machine may include a product storage system, a user interface, a powertrain system, and a control unit. A consumer may view a list of products in the mobile vending machine using a mobile device, such as a smart phone. The consumer may summon the mobile vending machine to a location using the mobile device, and the mobile vending machine may automatically complete a transaction with the consumer, where the consumer receives a product from the mobile vending machine. The control unit may enable the mobile vending machine to autonomously travel to the location of the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Emad JAFA, Cheuk Chi LAU, Xuejun LI, Yong SEROCK, Wai Ting CHAN, Samuel Luke JOHNSTONE, Martyn Thomas MITCHELL, Euan MORRISON, Erik David WILLIAMS
  • VENDING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20200090443
    Abstract: Vending machines for storing and dispensing products to consumers in a space-efficient manner. A vending machine may include a product compartment, a product storage system, a support structure, a dispensing port, and a product delivery system. The support structure may elevate the product compartment and form a void beneath the product compartment. Other structures may occupy the void beneath the product compartment, or humans may walk through the void beneath the product compartment. A product may be automatically moved from the product compartment to the dispensing port using the product delivery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Emad JAFA, Cheuk Chi LAU, Xuejun LI, Yong SEROCK, Wai Ting CHAN, Samuel Luke JOHNSTONE, Martyn Thomas MITCHELL, Euan MORRISON, Erik David WILLIAMS
  • DEVICE FOR NON-UNIFORMITY CORRECTION
    Publication number: 20200084399
    Abstract: Optical systems that provide non-uniformity correction devices that are capable of providing low radiance level sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Mitchell
  • Optical systems with improved signal to noise ratio
    Patent number: 10585000
    Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing the overall throughput, decreasing the overall background radiation, or a combination thereof for imaging systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Mitchell
  • FOOD PRODUCT DISPENSER AND VALVE
    Publication number: 20200069089
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a flowable food product from a flexible reservoir supported by the dispenser is provided. The dispenser includes a frame and a body coupled to the frame. The body defines a cavity for receiving the flexible reservoir. The body includes: a bottom wall defining an opening; a sloped wall extending upward from the bottom wall and the opening, the sloped wall promoting a flow of flowable food product from the flexible reservoir towards the opening; and a pair of side walls extending upward from the bottom wall and the sloped wall. The dispenser further includes a fitment acceptor at least partly received in the opening. Additionally, a shape of the fitment acceptor corresponds with a shape of the opening such that the fitment acceptor is only correctly received in the opening one way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: Gehl Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gehl, Michael Sowieja, Christoph Albiez, Paul Hatch, Thomas Mitchell, David Mucci, Anders Olof Rostlund
  • Optical connectors
    Patent number: 10564363
    Abstract: Optical connectors that substantially preserve alignment and are easy to manufacture. The alignment system using the optical connectors disclosed herein include a first housing, a second housing and an alignment component, the said alignment component configured to provide optical alignment between the optical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonas D. Corl, David M. Vincentsen, Thomas A. Mitchell, Michelle M. Stone, Thomas W. Stone, James W. Guelzow
  • Device for non-uniformity correction
    Patent number: 10484631
    Abstract: Optical systems that provide non-uniformity correction devices that are capable of providing low radiance level sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Mitchell
  • Compact spectrometer with high spectral resolution
    Patent number: 10480998
    Abstract: A spectrometer having slit and detector elements located on the optical axis of the spectrometer, resulting in substantially increased spectral and spatial fields of the spectrometer. The spectrometer being more compact than current designs, while providing superior spatial and spectral image quality and resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Mitchell
  • Food product dispenser and valve
    Patent number: 10470597
    Abstract: A system for dispensing a flowable food product from a reservoir is provided. A wall of the reservoir defines an aperture therethrough allowing the flowable food product to exit the reservoir. The system includes a valve having a base member having a first passageway extending therethrough and a moving member having a second passageway extending therethrough, the moving member configured to slide relative to the base member between a closed position in which the first passageway and the second passageway do not overlap and an open position in which the first passageway and the second passageway overlap. When the moving member is in the open position, an axis extending through the first passageway and the second passageway extends through the aperture in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Gehl Foods, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Gehl, Michael Sowieja, Christoph Albiez, Paul Hatch, Thomas Mitchell, David Mucci, Anders Olof Rostlund
  • WHEELCHAIR APPARATUSES INCLUDING USAGE FEATURES
    Publication number: 20190307619
    Abstract: A powered wheelchair apparatus includes a chair component, a power base component and a wheelchair control system. The wheelchair control system includes a processor and a user input device communicatively coupled to the processor. A display is communicatively coupled to the processor. A memory module is communicatively coupled to the processor that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to receive user instructions from the user input device and display a message on the display based on the user instructions. The display is on a back of the chair component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Moore, Christopher P. Lee, Paul Ellsworth Nichols, Thomas Mitchell Dair
  • Enhanced co-registered optical systems
    Patent number: 10429241
    Abstract: An imaging optical system including a plurality of imaging optical sub-systems, each having at least one optical element and receiving light from a source, and a plurality of spectrometer optical sub-systems, each spectrometer optical sub-system receiving light from at least one of the imaging optical sub-systems, each imaging optical sub-system and spectrometer optical sub-system combination having a spatial distortion characteristic, each spatial distortion characteristic having a predetermined relationship to the other spatial distortion characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Mitchell
  • Pen holder
    Patent number: 10391808
    Abstract: A pen holding device configured to hold an electronic pen which has a first core that is elongated and is replaceable. The pen holding device includes a casing having an electronic pen holder that is configured to hold the electronic pen in an erect state or a laid state, and at least one refill core holder which is provided inside the casing and is configured to grasp a second core, which is a refill core for the electronic pen, in a direction different from a longitudinal direction of the electronic pen when the electronic pen is held in the erect state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: WACOM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Giles Thomas Mitchell
  • Electronic pen
    Patent number: D861687
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Giles Thomas Mitchell
  • Coordinate input device
    Patent number: D864202
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Giles Thomas Mitchell
  • Coordinate input device
    Patent number: D874460
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Giles Thomas Mitchell
  • Pen stand
    Patent number: D874566
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Giles Thomas Mitchell
  • Coordinate input device
    Patent number: D876435
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Giles Thomas Mitchell