Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Parks

Thomas J. Parks 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: 20240105222
    Abstract: A multi-actuator hard disk drive includes a lower actuator with a corresponding voice coil motor assembly (VCMA), a coaxial upper actuator with a corresponding VCMA, and a central support plate positioned between the upper and lower VCMAs and to which the upper VCMA is fastened. Use of a central support plate enables some control over the direct and coupled plant transfer functions, while effectively providing a base support structure for the upper VCMA and enabling use of conventionally-sized fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Jung-Seo Park, Thomas J. Hitchner, Robert McNab, Siddhesh Vivek Sakhalkar
  • Patent number: 11942121
    Abstract: A multi-actuator hard disk drive includes a lower actuator with a corresponding voice coil motor assembly (VCMA) including a magnet coupled with a first magnet housing plate, a coaxial upper actuator with a corresponding VCMA including a magnet coupled with a second magnet housing plate, and a central support plate mechanically fastened to an enclosure base, at one or more locations, and positioned between the first magnet housing plate of the first VCMA and the second magnet housing plate of the second VCMA. Thereby, the pivot and VCM tilt and the coil torsion modes of the direct plant transfer function are minimized and the peak-to-peak gain in the coil torsion mode of the coupled plant transfer function is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung-Seo Park, Siddhesh Vivek Sakhalkar, Thomas J. Hitchner, Arman V. Golgolab
  • Patent number: 9972159
    Abstract: An assembly for installation in a fuel dispensing environment having a forecourt controller and at least one fuel dispenser communicating via legacy cable. The assembly comprises a sniffer device connectable along the legacy cable such that a first communication side thereof is in electrical communication with the forecourt controller and a second communication side thereof is in electrical communication with the fuel dispenser. The sniffer device is operative to receive an incoming message at either the first communication side or the second communication side. The sniffer device also includes memory and a processor, the processor implementing instructions to interpret the incoming message. Based on an interpretation of the incoming message, the sniffer device is operative to determine an action to be taken regarding the incoming message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Carapelli, Thomas J. Park
  • Publication number: 20150105920
    Abstract: An assembly for installation in a fuel dispensing environment having a forecourt controller and at least one fuel dispenser communicating via legacy cable. The assembly comprises a sniffer device connectable along the legacy cable such that a first communication side thereof is in electrical communication with the forecourt controller and a second communication side thereof is in electrical communication with the fuel dispenser. The sniffer device is operative to receive an incoming message at either the first communication side or the second communication side. The sniffer device also includes memory and a processor, the processor implementing instructions to interpret the incoming message. Based on an interpretation of the incoming message, the sniffer device is operative to determine an action to be taken regarding the incoming message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Giovanni Carapelli, Thomas J. Park
  • Publication number: 20140089174
    Abstract: A secured framework for hosting secure and non-secure applications is provided. A master control apparatus includes an interface component for providing input to or output from the master control apparatus, and an interface communicating component for establishing a communications path to a portion of the interface component when a secured portion of the interface component is active. The interface communicating component provides data from a feature apparatus to the portion of the interface component over the communications path, and switches the communications path to refrain from providing data from the feature apparatus where the secured portion of the interface component is active. A security analyzing component can also be included to additionally or alternatively determine whether access is allowed to the portion of the interface component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicants: Gilbarco, S.r.l., Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni CARAPELLI, Rodger K. WILLIAMS, Frederick Donald RICHEY, Thomas J. PARK, Deron Wayne FREEZE, Ivan Rubin AYMA
  • Patent number: 7725271
    Abstract: A fuel dispenser including a fuel delivery path configured to deliver fuel to a vehicle, a display configured to display the total dispensed fuel volume, and a fuel meter configured to measure a fuel delivery rate. A data set having a plurality of fuel volume compensation values corresponding to a plurality of fuel delivery rate values, and a microprocessor configured to calculate a volume of fuel dispensed and retrieve a fuel volume compensation value. The fuel meter measures the fuel delivery rate at the time of the event, the microprocessor determines which fuel delivery rate value corresponds to the fuel delivery rate, retrieves the corresponding fuel volume compensation value, and adds the retrieved fuel volume compensation value to the calculated volume of fuel dispensed to obtain the total dispensed fuel volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Zhou Yang, John Steven McSpadden, Thomas J. Park, Vance A. Tate
  • Publication number: 20090125153
    Abstract: A fuel dispenser including a fuel delivery path configured to deliver fuel to a vehicle, a display configured to display the total dispensed fuel volume, and a fuel meter configured to measure a fuel delivery rate. A data set having a plurality of fuel volume compensation values corresponding to a plurality of fuel delivery rate values, and a microprocessor configured to calculate a volume of fuel dispensed and retrieve a fuel volume compensation value. The fuel meter measures the fuel delivery rate at the time of the event, the microprocessor determines which fuel delivery rate value corresponds to the fuel delivery rate, retrieves the corresponding fuel volume compensation value, and adds the retrieved fuel volume compensation value to the calculated volume of fuel dispensed to obtain the total dispensed fuel volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Zhou Yang, John Steven McSpadden, Thomas J. Park, Vance A. Tate
  • Patent number: 7408758
    Abstract: A fueling environment's safety is improved by adding static charge sensors to the fuel dispenser and its peripherals. The static charge sensors detect static charge proximate the fuel dispenser and provide an indication of the static charge to a threshold detector. If the static charge is above a predetermined threshold, one or more safety devices may be activated to disperse or reduce the amount of hydrocarbon vapors proximate the fuel dispenser. Reduction in the amount of hydrocarbon vapors proximate the fuel dispenser helps reduce the risk of harm from the static charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Howard M. Myers, Thomas J. Park, Benjamin T. Siler
  • Patent number: 4573457
    Abstract: A flexible strip divides a shoe sole into toe and instep sections. Toe deflection means lifts the toe section when the shoe is in a weighted state. Toe deflection means includes a toe plate coupled to the toe section of the sole and an instep plate coupled to the instep section of the sole. The toe deflection means pivots the toe section of the sole about the flexible strip by applying bending forces to the toe and instep sections of the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Inventor: Thomas J. Parks