Patents by Inventor A Francis

A Francis 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).

  • Patent number: 9897688
    Abstract: This invention describes a method for operating a weapon targeting system comprising the steps of using a laser to fire a single pulse at a target to obtain a reflected laser pulse; detecting the reflected laser pulse as a signal by a SWIR focal plane; detecting background illumination by using the SWIR focal plane; scene clutter filter and using optical filtering if it is necessary to suppress background illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, Brendan P. Cirillo, Robert W. Constantino, Egor V. Degtiarev, Francis M. Feda, Haijun H. Hu, Mark R. Mallalieu, Brian F. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 9898336
    Abstract: Software development data indicative of a development activity is accessed. A component parameter of a component of a software development platform is set, in which the component parameter is based upon, at least in part, an anticipated component workload associated with the development actively. At least one system resource is allocated for the component of the software development platform based upon, at least in part, the component parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian C. Schimpf, Arthur Francis Crotty, Shailaja Sthalekar Golikeri, Yuhong Yin
  • Patent number: 9899741
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) antenna that may include a hollow enclosure made of a conductive material; wherein a first portion of the hollow enclosure has a bow tie shaped slot; a conductor that is spaced apart from the slot, is positioned within a cavity defined by the hollow enclosure, and is electrically isolated from the hollow enclosure; a first port that is coupled to the conductor; and a dielectric element that is made of dielectric material that at least partially fills the cavity and the bow tie shaped slot; wherein the conductor is configured to perform at least one operation out of: (a) receive, via the cavity, received RF radiation and send a received RF signal to the first port; (b) receive, from the first port, a transmitted RF signal and radiating transmitted RF radiation via the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: RODRADAR LTD.
    Inventors: John Francis Roulston, Ely Levine, Haim Matzner
  • Patent number: 9897980
    Abstract: A drug delivery device comprising; a housing; a cylindrical member configured to be rotatably supported inside the housing, wherein the outer surface of the cylindrical member is provided with a track comprising a sequence of encoded images; and a sensor directed at the track of the cylindrical member and configured to detect features of the encoded images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Richard Draper, Joseph Butler, Barry Yates, Stephens Francis Gilmore
  • Patent number: 9896079
    Abstract: A braking system in a hybrid vehicle is provided. The braking system includes a master cylinder having a first outlet, a second outlet, and a piston disposed therein and translatable from a proximal end to a distal end in response to brake pedal displacement. A brake fluid reservoir supplies hydraulic fluid to the master cylinder. A first fluid circuit connects the first outlet of the master cylinder to the brake fluid reservoir. A second fluid circuit connects the second outlet of the master cylinder to wheel brakes and supplies hydraulic fluid from the master cylinder to the wheel brakes in response to brake pedal displacement. The first outlet of the master cylinder is disposed between the second outlet and the proximal end of the master cylinder such that initial brake pedal displacement transfers brake fluid from the master cylinder to the fluid reservoir to inhibit hydraulic braking during regenerative braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adil Khan, Steven Otis Pate, Peter Francis Worrel, Clement Newman Sagan
  • Patent number: 9900692
    Abstract: Various aspects of a system and a method for playback in a wireless speaker system are disclosed herein. Each of a plurality of speakers in the system is operable to wirelessly receive one or more audio files from one or more audio source devices. The one or more audio source devices transmit the one or more audio files to at least one of the plurality of speakers in response to receipt of an acknowledgement of availability of at least one of the plurality of speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles McCoy, True Xiong, Francis Van Aeken
  • Patent number: 9899186
    Abstract: A charged-particle beam microscope is provided for imaging a sample. The microscope has a vacuum chamber to maintain a low-pressure environment. A stage is provided to hold a sample in the vacuum chamber. The microscope has a compact evaporator in the vacuum chamber to evaporate and deposit a coating onto a surface of the sample. The microscope also has a charged-particle beam column is provided to direct a charged-particle beam onto the coating on the surface of the sample. The charged-particle beam column includes a charged-particle beam source to generate a charged-particle beam and charged-particle beam optics to converge the charged-particle beam onto the sample. A detector is provided to detect charged-particle radiation emanating from the coating on the surface of the sample to generate an image. A controller analyzes the detected charged-particle radiation to generate an image of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mochii, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Su-Yan Own, Matthew Francis Murfitt
  • Patent number: 9900124
    Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, data, in digital form, is received by a transmit node of an optical communication system, is processed and then output to drive a modulator. The modulator, in turn, modulates light at one of a plurality of wavelengths in accordance with the received data, forming a plurality of corresponding carriers. The plurality of wavelengths used for the plurality of carriers are spectrally spaced apart by a common, periodic fixed spacing. The plurality of carriers are optically combined with a fixed spacing combiner to form a superchannel. A plurality of superchannels are generated and then multiplexed together onto an optical communication path and transmitted to a receive node. Each superchannel includes a plurality of carriers, each spectrally separated by the same fixed spacing. The plurality of superchannels are spectrally separated by an amount corresponding to the fixed spacing of the plurality of carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: John D. McNicol, Michael Francis Van Leeuwen
  • Patent number: 9900848
    Abstract: In one implementation, a wireless communication terminal includes a primary antenna array and a first controller configured to steer a main beam of the primary antenna array in a desired direction. The wireless communication terminal also includes an auxiliary antenna array and a second controller configured to control complex weights to be applied by at least some antenna elements of the auxiliary antenna array to corresponding variants of a second signal received by the at least some auxiliary antenna elements. Furthermore, the wireless communication terminal includes at least one signal combiner configured to combine variants of the second signal received from auxiliary antenna elements into an interfering signal that models interference from a co-located wireless communication terminal and subtract the interfering signal from variants of the first signal received from antenna elements of the principal antenna array to produce an interference mitigated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: IRIDIUM SATELLITE LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Francis Bull
  • Patent number: 9898309
    Abstract: A portable device includes micro-electro-mechanical systems (“MEMS”) wind turbines integrated in the portable device. A gesture detection module receives signals generated by the MEMS wind turbines based on movement of the portable device that causes a wind force to be applied to the MEMS wind turbines. The gesture module then recognizes a gesture based on the signals generated from the wind force and initiates an action of the portable device that corresponds to the gesture (e.g., the device is awakened).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
    Inventors: Francis Forest, Scott Debates
  • Patent number: 9895465
    Abstract: The present invention is direct to a body-absorbable, mechanically hemostatic composition comprising a solid poloxamer having an average molecular weight of about 7,000 g/mol to about 15,000 g/mol, a high molecular weight dextran, optionally a fatty acid salt, and water, and a method for mechanically controlling the bleeding of bone comprising applying an effective amount of the composition to the affected area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Vincent Lamberti, Barbara Sage
  • Patent number: 9895802
    Abstract: Methods and systems for robot cloud computing are described. Within examples, cloud-based computing generally refers to networked computer architectures in which application execution and storage may be divided, to some extent, between client and server devices. A robot may be any device that has a computing ability and interacts with its surroundings with an actuation capability (e.g., electromechanical capabilities). A client device may be configured as a robot including various sensors and devices in the forms of modules, and different modules may be added or removed from robot depending on requirements. In some example, a robot may be configured to receive a second device, such as mobile phone, that may be configured to function as an accessory or a “brain” of the robot. A robot may interact with the cloud to perform any number of actions, such as to share information with other cloud computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Hickman, Anthony G. Francis, Thor Lewis
  • Patent number: 9895898
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reservoir lid for a continuous ink jet printer, including a so-called upper surface (331), a so-called lower surface (332), between which are included an upper part (33a) and a lower part (33b) of the lid, at least the latter being delimited sideways by a peripheral surface (Se), and: at least one 1st duct (331), which passes through at least one part of the lid, for leading a 1st fluid from said upper part to said lower part and direct it, at least partly, sideways, to said peripheral surface (Se), at least one 1st chamber (333) delimited by an internal surface into which said duct opens and by said peripheral surface (Se), and means (338) for flowing a liquid contained in this chamber along said peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Dover Europe Sàrl
    Inventors: Francis Pourtier, Jean-Pierre Arpin, Thomas Marzano
  • Patent number: 9895019
    Abstract: A device for use in the preparation of beverages, for managing the draw-off of water from a source of hot water comprises a chamber having a base, a cylindrical wall mounted on the base and a top section. An inlet and a return outlet are mounted in the base, and both the inlet and the return outlet are connectable to a source of hot water. Three draw-off outlets are also mounted in the base. The return outlet consists of a hollow tube section, which passes through the base to form a stand pipe. In use, hot water is introduced into the chamber through inlet and the chamber is orientated such that return outlet is positioned above the inlet. The inlet flow rate is equal to or greater than the draw-off flow rate, and any excess volume of hot water in the chamber is returnable, to the source of hot water, through the return outlet, thereby creating a constant head of water above the draw-off outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventors: Sean Martin Moran, Paul Drewry Pearson, Paul Francis Stack
  • Patent number: 9899140
    Abstract: An embedded magnetic component transformer device includes an insulating substrate with a cavity and a magnetic core housed within the cavity. First and second electrical windings pass through the insulating substrate around the magnetic core. The first electrical winding includes a first end terminal and a second end terminal, and a first tap terminal between the first and second end terminals. The device includes circuitry with a first input terminal electrically connected to the first end terminal and a first output terminal. In a first configuration of the circuitry, the first output terminal is electrically connectable to the second end terminal. In a second configuration of the circuitry, the first output terminal is electrically connectable to the first tap terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Quinn Kneller, Scott Parish, Lee Francis
  • Patent number: 9895808
    Abstract: A robot configured to navigate a surface, the robot comprising a movement mechanism; a logical map representing data about the surface and associating locations with one or more properties observed during navigation; an initialization module configured to establish an initial pose comprising an initial location and an initial orientation; a region covering module configured to cause the robot to move so as to cover a region; an edge-following module configured to cause the robot to follow unfollowed edges; a control module configured to invoke region covering on a first region defined at least in part based at least part of the initial pose, to invoke region covering on least one additional region, to invoke edge-following, and to invoke region covering cause the mapping module to mark followed edges as followed, and cause a third region covering on regions discovered during edge-following.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Stout, Gabriel Francis Brisson, Enrico Di Bernardo, Paolo Pirjanian, Dhiraj Goel, James Philip Case, Michael Dooley
  • Patent number: 9900362
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving content from a source, and generating multiple content streams each comprising the received content. Each content stream includes segments comprising respective portions of the received content. Different segmenting is utilized in generating respective ones of the content streams such that the segments in each of the content streams are offset in time relative to corresponding segments in the other ones of the streams. For example, generating the multiple content streams may comprise segmenting n content streams such that each content stream comprises segments of length Ts with corresponding segments in adjacent ones of the content streams being offset from one another by an offset Tg. Such an arrangement ensures that latency shift upon switching between one of the content streams and another content stream in a different set of multiple content streams at a client device can be limited to a value approximated by Tg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Kiswe Mobile Inc.
    Inventors: Jeong H. Kim, Francis X. Zane, Thomas J. Janiszewski, Wim Sweldens, Yung-Lung Ho
  • Publication number: 20180048299
    Abstract: A high-voltage pulse generator including a plurality of stages and an electrode for returning current to ground, connected in series, each of the stages including at least one energy storage element connected in series with a spark gap. The spark gaps are distributed on an axis, the odd-numbered energy storage elements are arranged on one side of the spark gap axis, and the even-numbered energy storage elements are arranged on the other side of the spark gap axis, such that the circuit formed by the plurality of stages and the current return electrode have a reduced inductance during a discharge phase of the generator, with respect to a generator including the same components laid out according to a conventional architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Francis LASSALLE
  • Publication number: 20180048502
    Abstract: A receiver for spread spectrum signals comprising a first part for preprocessing and digitizing a received signal, and a second part for tracking the digitized signal comprising a carrier loop and a code loop. The code loop comprises a generator for a reference receiver signal for correlation with the received signal and the code loop is configured to modify the reference signal to shape a correlation function between the received signal and the reference receiver signal. The first part is adapted to multiply the received spread spectrum signal with a first analog spectral offsetting signal provided for down-converting the received signal to an intermediate frequency and a sub-carrier frequency, selected from a set of sub-carrier frequencies, such that the received signal is down-converted and spectrally offset in the analog domain during a time interval covering at least one chip of a spreading code of the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques FLOCH, Francis SOUALLE
  • Publication number: 20180048859
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for enabling members of the deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired (D-HOH-SI) community to start and control communications conducted through a video relay service (VRS) without the need for a remote-control device. A combination of standard-ASL and non-ASL hand commands are interpreted using “hand recognition” (similar to “face recognition”) to control the operation of a VRS system through multiple operating modes. The “hand recognition” process employs a camera/codec connected to a CPU which executes commands which may be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Purple Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Episkopos, Cliff Pearce, Francis Kurupacheril