Patents by Inventor William Ballard

William Ballard 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: 20160219099
    Abstract: A result for a task may be provided in response to receiving a request from, for example, a user for the result. The request specifies a desired accuracy level for the result. The accuracy of the result is determined using the individual accuracies of one or more persons that have selected the result. Each person's individual accuracy is determined based on results for prior tasks previously performed by that person. The person's individual accuracy is proportional to the number of that person's prior results that are with a consensus of other persons that have performed the same prior task. The result is provided if the accuracy of the result is equal to or greater than the desired accuracy level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Byron William Reese, William Ballard
  • Patent number: 9330393
    Abstract: A result for a task may be provided in response to receiving a request from, for example, a user for the result. The request specifies a desired accuracy level for the result. The accuracy of the result is determined using the individual accuracies of one or more persons that have selected the result. Each person's individual accuracy is determined based on results for prior tasks previously performed by that person. The person's individual accuracy is proportional to the number of that person's prior results that are with a consensus of other persons that have performed the same prior task. The result is provided if the accuracy of the result is equal to or greater than the desired accuracy level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Demand Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron William Reese, William Ballard
  • Publication number: 20120277887
    Abstract: A result for a task may be provided in response to receiving a request from, for example, a user for the result. The request specifies a desired accuracy level for the result. The accuracy of the result is determined using the individual accuracies of one or more persons that have selected the result. Each person's individual accuracy is determined based on results for prior tasks previously performed by that person. The person's individual accuracy is proportional to the number of that person's prior results that are with a consensus of other persons that have performed the same prior task. The result is provided if the accuracy of the result is equal to or greater than the desired accuracy level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: DEMAND MEDIA, INC.
    Inventors: Byron William Reese, William Ballard
  • Patent number: 8290812
    Abstract: A result for a task may be provided in response to receiving a request from, for example, a user for the result. The request specifies a desired accuracy level for the result. The accuracy of the result is determined using the individual accuracies of one or more persons that have selected the result. Each person's individual accuracy is determined based on results for prior tasks previously performed by that person. The person's individual accuracy is proportional to the number of that person's prior results that are with a consensus of other persons that have performed the same prior task. The result is provided if the accuracy of the result is equal to or greater than the desired accuracy level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Demand Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron William Reese, William Ballard
  • Publication number: 20110202390
    Abstract: A result for a task may be provided in response to receiving a request from, for example, a user for the result. The request specifies a desired accuracy level for the result. The accuracy of the result is determined using the individual accuracies of one or more persons that have selected the result. Each person's individual accuracy is determined based on results for prior tasks previously performed by that person. The person's individual accuracy is proportional to the number of that person's prior results that are with a consensus of other persons that have performed the same prior task. The result is provided if the accuracy of the result is equal to or greater than the desired accuracy level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Byron William Reese, William Ballard
  • Patent number: 7762526
    Abstract: A Pendulum Valve having Independently and Rapidly Controllable Theta- and Z-axis Motion. The valve actuator used in the present invention provides the benefit of wide open unrestricted flow of a pendulum valve coupled with the high-resolution and wide dynamic range flow throttling of a ball or butterfly valve. The actuator mechanism will include motor drives and associated control system so that the drives are closely coupled to give highly controlled motion. The drive assembly introduces a concentric shaft arrangement that, when coupled with the highly controllable motor drives, exploits a cam-follower arrangement to make the relative rotation between the two concentric shafts result in highly controlled theta and z-axis motion. Finally, the plate to seal spacing afforded is greater than previously possible with prior valve actuator mechanisms, thereby substantially reducing flow turbulence through the valve as the valve plate eclipses the valve ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Nor-Cal Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Nate Coleman, John Slaney, Sean Mallory, Per Cederstav, David Kruse, William Ballard, Robert Woods
  • Publication number: 20090057596
    Abstract: A Pendulum Valve having Independently and Rapidly Controllable Theta- and Z-axis Motion. The valve actuator used in the present invention provides the benefit of wide open unrestricted flow of a pendulum valve coupled with the high-resolution and wide dynamic range flow throttling of a ball or butterfly valve. The actuator mechanism will include motor drives and associated control system so that the drives are closely coupled to give highly controlled motion. The drive assembly introduces a concentric shaft arrangement that, when coupled with the highly controllable motor drives, exploits a cam-follower arrangement to make the relative rotation between the two concentric shafts result in highly controlled theta and z-axis motion. Finally, the plate to seal spacing afforded is greater than previously possible with prior valve actuator mechanisms, thereby substantially reducing flow turbulence through the valve as the valve plate eclipses the valve ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Nate Coleman, John Slaney, Sean Mallory, Per Cederstav, David Kruse, William Ballard, Robert Woods
  • Publication number: 20080015837
    Abstract: The database is populated with target chemicals, corresponding listings of reagent chemicals, corresponding listings of equipment and corresponding listings of procedures. The database is then searched in response to user identification of a target chemical. In response, a listing is displayed of reagent chemicals that are used to synthesize the target chemical, equipment that is used to synthesize the target chemical, and a procedure that is used to synthesize the target chemical by reacting the reagent chemicals in the equipment according to the procedure. An icon-based reaction editor and/or context-sensitive Boolean query option generators may be provided. A reaction template may be used to perform predictive chemistry. A reaction relay may be used to graphically display related chemicals and procedures using a hub and spoke arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Smith, William Ballard, David Coleman
  • Publication number: 20060112175
    Abstract: The agile information technology infrastructure management system and related methods and processes provide a solution with the required flexibility to effectively and efficiently monitor and manage a wide-variety of disparate information technology and network infrastructure deployed in businesses and enterprises throughout a region or the world.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Russell Sellers, Jeffrey Guillot, Gregory Carter, Nathan Atkins, Nicholas Pausback, Matthew Engle, Paul Young, Craig Roffers, Adam Herrneckar, William Ballard
  • Patent number: 6814096
    Abstract: A closed loop pressure controller system that sets, measures and controls the process pressure within a semiconductor process is shown. The system is commonly composed of a pressure sensor to collect the pressure information, a controller box that hosts the control electronics, and a valve to physically affect the conductivity of the inlet or outlet gas line and accordingly the process pressure. The present invention differs from the prior art by using closed-loop motor control of the valve, rather than the method of the prior art, where the valve position is controlled by a stepper motor actuator driven in an open loop fashion. It is demonstrated that the utility of such prior art open-loop configurations is limited by the fact that the achievable precision of the valve position is hindered by static friction in the valve system, and the non-linear character of the torque versus shaft-angle of the motor (among other error components).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Nor-Cal Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Vyers, William Ballard, David Kruse, Sean Mallory, Per Cederstav
  • Publication number: 20040159354
    Abstract: A closed loop pressure controller system that sets, measures and controls the process pressure within a semiconductor process is shown. The system is commonly composed of a pressure sensor to collect the pressure information, a controller box that hosts the control electronics, and a valve to physically affect the conductivity of the inlet or outlet gas line and accordingly the process pressure. The present invention differs from the prior art by using closed-loop motor control of the valve, rather than the method of the prior art, where the valve position is controlled by a stepper motor actuator driven in an open loop fashion. It is demonstrated that the utility of such prior art open-loop configurations is limited by the fact that the achievable precision of the valve position is hindered by static friction in the valve system, and the non-linear character of the torque versus shaft-angle of the motor (among other error components).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Per Cederstav, Emmanuel Vyers, William Ballard, Sean Mallory
  • Patent number: 6612331
    Abstract: A closed loop pressure controller system that sets, measures and controls the process pressure within a semiconductor process is shown. The system is commonly composed of a pressure sensor to collect the pressure information, a controller box that hosts the control electronics, and a valve to physically affect the conductivity of the inlet or outlet gas line and accordingly the process pressure. The present invention differs from the prior art by using closed-loop motor control of the valve, rather than the method of the prior art, where the valve position is controlled by a stepper motor actuator driven in an open loop fashion. It is demonstrated that the utility of such prior art open-loop configurations is limited by the fact that the achievable precision of the valve position is hindered by static friction in the valve system, and the non-linear character of the torque versus shaft-angle of the motor (among other error components).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventors: Per Cederstav, Sean Mallory, Emmanuel Vyers, William Ballard, David Kruse
  • Publication number: 20020117212
    Abstract: A closed loop pressure controller system that sets, measures and controls the process pressure within a semiconductor process is shown. The system is commonly composed of a pressure sensor to collect the pressure information, a controller box that hosts the control electronics, and a valve to physically affect the conductivity of the inlet or outlet gas line and accordingly the process pressure. The present invention differs from the prior art by using closed-loop motor control of the valve, rather than the method of the prior art, where the valve position is controlled by a stepper motor actuator driven in an open loop fashion. It is demonstrated that the utility of such prior art open-loop configurations is limited by the fact that the achievable precision of the valve position is hindered by static friction in the valve system, and the non-linear character of the torque versus shaft-angle of the motor (among other error components).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Emmanuel Vyers, William Ballard, David Kruse, Sean Mallory, Per Cederstav
  • Publication number: 20020109115
    Abstract: A closed loop pressure controller system that sets, measures and controls the process pressure within a semiconductor process is shown. The system is commonly composed of a pressure sensor to collect the pressure information, a controller box that hosts the control electronics, and a valve to physically affect the conductivity of the inlet or outlet gas line and accordingly the process pressure. The present invention differs from the prior art by using closed-loop motor control of the valve, rather than the method of the prior art, where the valve position is controlled by a stepper motor actuator driven in an open loop fashion. It is demonstrated that the utility of such prior art open-loop configurations is limited by the fact that the achievable precision of the valve position is hindered by static friction in the valve system, and the non-linear character of the torque versus shaft-angle of the motor (among other error components).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Nor-Cal Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Per Cederstav, Sean Mallory, Emmanuel Vyers, William Ballard, David Kruse
  • Patent number: 3944107
    Abstract: A plug or closure for closing and substantially sealing an aperture in a vehicle body panel. The plug comprises a plate portion and a resilient spring element carrying a plurality of resilient snap-engaging legs. The plate portion and the spring are separate and can be formed from different materials. The plate portion has an undersurface and one or more bosses in the undersurface defining a plurality of side walls. The spring has a body integral with the legs defining a plurality of edges and the spring is attached to the plate by forcing the body of the spring between or over the bosses or boss respectively so that the edges of the body of the spring frictionally engage the side walls of the boss or bosses. The plug may be provided with a ring of sealing material on the periphery of the undersurface of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1976
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: John Bernard Wallace, Frederick William Ballard