Patents by Inventor Alan E. Thomas

Alan E. Thomas 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: 20230065590
    Abstract: A fire detection device and method therefor are able to provide automatic activation so as to extinguish a fire. The fire detection can be rapid and temperature-based. In one embodiment, a heat collector can be provided to enhance thermal responsiveness. Activation of the fire detection device can be electrically or mechanically induced to release an extinguishing agent at the fire. The activation can be protected such that it is durable and unaffected by vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventor: Alan E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210101039
    Abstract: A fire detection device and method therefor are able to provide automatic activation so as to extinguish a fire. The fire detection can be rapid and temperature-based. In one embodiment, a heat collector can be provided to enhance thermal responsiveness. Activation of the fire detection device can be electrically induced to release an extinguishing agent at the fire. The activation can be protected such that it is durable and unaffected by vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventor: Alan E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20190022444
    Abstract: A fire detection device and method therefor are able to provide automatic activation so as to extinguish a fire. The fire detection can be rapid and temperature-based. In one embodiment, a heat collector can be provided to enhance thermal responsiveness. Activation of the fire detection device can be electrically induced to release an extinguishing agent at the fire. The activation can be protected such that it is durable and unaffected by vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: Alan E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10086224
    Abstract: A fire detection device and method therefor are able to provide automatic activation so as to extinguish a fire. The fire detection can be rapid and temperature-based. In one embodiment, a heat collector can be provided to enhance thermal responsiveness. Activation of the fire detection device can be electrically induced to release an extinguishing agent at the fire. The activation can be protected such that it is durable and unaffected by vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Inventor: Alan E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160023031
    Abstract: A fire detection device and method therefor are able to provide automatic activation so as to extinguish a fire. The fire detection can be rapid and temperature-based. In one embodiment, a heat collector can be provided to enhance thermal responsiveness. Activation of the fire detection device can be electrically induced to release an extinguishing agent at the fire. The activation can be protected such that it is durable and unaffected by vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventor: Alan E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9162095
    Abstract: A fire detection device and method therefore are able to provide automatic activation so as to extinguish a fire. The fire detection can be rapid and temperature-based. In one embodiment, a heat collector can be provided to enhance thermal responsiveness. Activation of the fire detection device can be electrically induced to release an extinguishing agent at the fire. The activation can be protected such that it is durable and unaffected by vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventor: Alan E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130138261
    Abstract: Improved approaches to providing thermal and power management for a computing device are disclosed. These approaches facilitate intelligent control of a processor's clock frequency and/or a fan's speed so as to provide thermal and/or power management for the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: C. Douglass Thomas, Alan E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130117594
    Abstract: Improved approaches to providing thermal and power management for a computing device are disclosed. These approaches facilitate intelligent control of a processor's clock frequency and/or a fan's speed so as to provide thermal and/or power management for the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: C. Douglass Thomas, Alan E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130086401
    Abstract: Improved approaches to providing thermal and power management for a computing device are disclosed. These approaches facilitate intelligent control of a processor's clock frequency and/or a fan's speed so as to provide thermal and/or power management for the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: C. Douglass Thomas, Alan E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120227989
    Abstract: A fire detection device and method therefore are able to provide automatic activation so as to extinguish a fire. The fire detection can be rapid and temperature-based. In one embodiment, a heat collector can be provided to enhance thermal responsiveness. Activation of the fire detection device can be electrically induced to release an extinguishing agent at the fire. The activation can be protected such that it is durable and unaffected by vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Alan E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8151833
    Abstract: An inspection machine for inspecting the volume of liquid contained by a bottle filed to its defined fill height. A head is lowered and has a sealing plate which seals the open finish of a bottle. A fill tube assembly is part of the head and continues to be lowered until a level sensor is located to sense liquid at a pre-fill level. High and low pressure water lines which are a part of the fill tube assembly are operated to fill the bottle to the pre-fill level. The sealing plate is released and then the process is repeated lowering the sensor to the post-fill level and operating only the low-pressure line to fill the bottle to the post-fill level. The total liquid filling the bottle is then computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Alan E. Thomas, Michael C. Bagley, Philippe Spiteri
  • Publication number: 20110247720
    Abstract: An inspection machine for inspecting the volume of liquid contained by a bottle filed to its defined fill height. A head is lowered and has a sealing plate which seals the open finish of a bottle. A fill tube assembly is part of the head and continues to be lowered until a level sensor is located to sense liquid at a pre-fill level. High and low pressure water lines which are a part of the fill tube assembly are operated to fill the bottle to the pre-fill level. The sealing plate is released and then the process is repeated lowering the sensor to the post-fill level and operating only the low-pressure line to fill the bottle to the post-fill level. The total liquid filling the bottle is then computed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Alan E. Thomas, Michael C. Bagley, Philippe Spiteri
  • Patent number: 7963302
    Abstract: An inspection machine for inspecting the volume of liquid contained by a bottle filed to its defined fill height. A head is lowered and has a sealing plate which seals the open finish of a bottle. A fill tube assembly is part of the head and continues to be lowered until a level sensor is located to sense liquid at a pre-fill level. High and low pressure water lines which are a part of the fill tube assembly are operated to fill the bottle to the pre-fill level. The sealing plate is released and then the process is repeated lowering the sensor to the post-fill level and operating only the low-pressure line to fill the bottle to the post-fill level. The total liquid filling the bottle is then computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Alan E. Thomas, Michael C. Bagley, Philippe Spiteri
  • Patent number: 7937599
    Abstract: Improved approaches to providing thermal and power management for a computing device are disclosed. These approaches facilitate intelligent control of a processor's clock frequency and/or a fan's speed so as to provide thermal and/or power management for the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
    Inventors: C. Douglass Thomas, Alan E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7552814
    Abstract: A machine for inspecting a container having a vertical axis has an inspection station including an inspection device for carrying out an inspection on a transparent container relative to a vertical inspection axis. The bottle is delivered to the inspection station by a conveyor, which includes structure for engaging the sidewall of the bottle. The invention is an object to be inspected by such an inspection machine, which includes a container like adaptor having a vertical axis, and configured for handling by the conveyor structure so that when the container like adaptor engages the structure, the conveyor will deliver the container like adaptor to the inspection station. The container like adaptor has a horizontal top surface and a vertical axis, and a magnet is mounted in the top surface having a centering axis coincident with the vertical axis of the container like adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Alan E. Thomas, Richard B. Otto
  • Publication number: 20090145728
    Abstract: A machine for inspecting a container having a vertical axis has an inspection station including an inspection device for carrying out an inspection on a transparent container relative to a vertical inspection axis. The bottle is delivered to the inspection station by a conveyor, which includes structure for engaging the sidewall of the bottle. The invention is an object to be inspected by such an inspection machine, which includes a container like adaptor having a vertical axis, and configured for handling by the conveyor structure so that when the container like adaptor engages the structure, the conveyor will deliver the container like adaptor to the inspection station. The container like adaptor has a horizontal top surface and a vertical axis, and a magnet is mounted in the top surface having a centering axis coincident with the vertical axis of the container like adaptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Alan E. Thomas, Richard B. Otto
  • Patent number: 7543479
    Abstract: An inspection machine for pressure testing a glass bottle filled with water. A normal test pressurizes the bottle until the pressure reaches an acceptable level. If the bottle bursts or leaks the pressure will not reach the acceptable level. A control monitors the pressure curve and can determine when a bottle bursts. The control can also determine that a leak is present and when the leak happens with ā€œNā€ successive bottles, the control indicates that there is a maintenance problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Alan E. Thomas, Michael C. Bagley, Philippe Spiteri, Richard B. Otto
  • Patent number: 7506190
    Abstract: Improved approaches to providing thermal and power management for a computing device are disclosed. These approaches facilitate intelligent control of a processor's clock frequency and/or a fan's speed so as to provide thermal and/or power management for the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Inventors: C. Douglass Thomas, Alan E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7418611
    Abstract: Improved approaches to providing thermal and power management for a computing device are disclosed. These approaches facilitate intelligent control of a processor's clock frequency and/or a fan's speed so as to provide thermal and/or power management for the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Inventors: C. Douglass Thomas, Alan E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080110522
    Abstract: An inspection machine for inspecting the volume of liquid contained by a bottle filed to its defined fill height. A head is lowered and has a sealing plate which seals the open finish of a bottle. A fill tube assembly is part of the head and continues to be lowered until a level sensor is located to sense liquid at a pre-fill level. High and low pressure water lines which are a part of the fill tube assembly are operated to fill the bottle to the pre-fill level. The sealing plate is released and then the process is repeated lowering the sensor to the post-fill level and operating only the low-pressure line to fill the bottle to the post-fill level. The total liquid filling the bottle is then computed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Alan E. Thomas, Michael C. Bagley, Philippe Spiteri