Patents by Inventor Allen J. Thompson

Allen J. Thompson 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: 12053252
    Abstract: A cannula mount for a surgical system includes a body configured to receive a portion of a cannula in a mounted state at the cannula mount; a pair of clamping components coupled to the body and configured to clamp the portion of the cannula in the mounted state of the cannula; and a latch assembly pivotably coupled to the body and slidably coupled to a clamping component of the pair of clamping components. At least one of the pair of clamping components is pivotable relative to the body to move the pair of clamping components between a first state to unclamp a cannula mounted at the cannula mount and a second state to clamp a cannula mounted at the cannula mount. Pivoting motion of the latch assembly relative to the body causes a portion of the latch assembly to slide along the clamping component and change a state of the pair of clamping components from an unlocked state to a locked state in the second state of the pair of clamping components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Allen C. Thompson, Randal P. Goldberg, Dean F. Hoornaert, Tyler J. Morrissette, Bruce M. Schena
  • Patent number: 10336116
    Abstract: A fuser includes a fuser roll and a pressure roll that forms a nip between the rolls through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The fuser roll includes a heater element having a single resistive trace, a common trace tapped to a first side of the resistive trace continuous across the resistive trace, and first and second conductive traces tapped to ends of the resistive trace at a second side of the resistive trace opposite the first side. The first and second conductive traces are physically separated and conductively segmented by a conductive gap between the conductive traces. The resistive trace includes a separation gap extending through the resistive trace continuously from the second side of the resistive trace at the conductive gap towards the first side of the resistive trace to prevent current flow between the segmented conductive traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Tab A. Tress, Brian J. Gills, Allen J. Thompson, Michael A. Fayette
  • Patent number: 10146161
    Abstract: An improved fuser includes a heater using a solid-state heater element with high frequency field propagation to provide an effective increase in the energy conduction through the fusing belt allowing increased throughput rates over conventional conduction systems. The system employs a solid-state heater with internal circuitry to drive a high frequency field though the fuser belt to the elastomeric top coat, which is laced with high frequency receptors. The belt is then heated directly on the surface bypassing thermal conduction interfaces and is also simultaneously heated by conduction from the waste energy of the heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Tab A. Tress, Brian J. Gillis, Allen J. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20180267443
    Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a heater that heats a fuser belt at a nip between the fuser belt and a pressure roll through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The heater has a silicon wafer with a smooth side that contacts and heats the fuser belt at the nip, and circuitry at a second side, with the circuitry generating heat through the silicon wafer to heat the fuser belt. The circuitry may include a plurality of heat producing integrated circuits etched in the silicon wafer, with each heat producing integrated circuit configured to heat the fuser belt. Each integrated circuit may self-control its amount of heat produced to the silicon wafer, for example, by automatically switching back and forth between a heat-on-state and a heat-off-state to maintain a desired temperature within the silicon wafer that heats the fuser belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Tab A. TRESS, Brian J. GILLIS, Donald N. RECHLIN, Allen J. THOMPSON, Michael A. FAYETTE
  • Patent number: 10078299
    Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a heater that heats a fuser belt at a nip between the fuser belt and a pressure roll through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The heater has a silicon wafer with a smooth side that contacts and heats the fuser belt at the nip, and circuitry at a second side, with the circuitry generating heat through the silicon wafer to heat the fuser belt. The circuitry may include a plurality of heat producing integrated circuits etched in the silicon wafer, with each heat producing integrated circuit configured to heat the fuser belt. Each integrated circuit may self-control its amount of heat produced to the silicon wafer, for example, by automatically switching back and forth between a heat-on-state and a heat-off-state to maintain a desired temperature within the silicon wafer that heats the fuser belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Tab A. Tress, Brian J. Gillis, Donald N. Rechlin, Allen J. Thompson, Michael A. Fayette
  • Publication number: 20180246448
    Abstract: An improved fuser includes a heater using a solid-state heater element with high frequency field propagation to provide an effective increase in the energy conduction through the fusing belt allowing increased throughput rates over conventional conduction systems. The system employs a solid-state heater with internal circuitry to drive a high frequency field though the fuser belt to the elastomeric top coat, which is laced with high frequency receptors. The belt is then heated directly on the surface bypassing thermal conduction interfaces and is also simultaneously heated by conduction from the waste energy of the heater element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Tab A. TRESS, Brian J. GILLIS, Allen J. THOMPSON
  • Publication number: 20180032012
    Abstract: A fuser includes a fuser roll and a pressure roll that forms a nip between the rolls through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The fuser roll includes a heater element having a single resistive trace, a common trace tapped to a first side of the resistive trace continuous across the resistive trace, and first and second conductive traces tapped to ends of the resistive trace at a second side of the resistive trace opposite the first side. The first and second conductive traces are physically separated and conductively segmented by a conductive gap between the conductive traces. The resistive trace includes a separation gap extending through the resistive trace continuously from the second side of the resistive trace at the conductive gap towards the first side of the resistive trace to prevent current flow between the segmented conductive traces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Tab A. TRESS, Brian J. GILLIS, Allen J. THOMPSON, Michael A. FAYETTE
  • Patent number: 9727014
    Abstract: A fuser includes a fuser roll and a pressure roll that forms a nip between the rolls through which a sheet is conveyed to permanently fuse an image onto the sheet. The fuser roll includes a heater element having a single resistive trace, a common trace tapped to a first side of the resistive trace continuous across the resistive trace, and first and second conductive traces tapped to ends of the resistive trace at a second side of the resistive trace opposite the first side. The first and second conductive traces are physically separated and conductively segmented by a conductive gap between the conductive traces. The resistive trace includes a separation gap extending through the resistive trace continuously from the second side of the resistive trace at the conductive gap towards the first side of the resistive trace to prevent current flow between the segmented conductive traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Tab A. Tress, Brian J. Gillis, Allen J. Thompson, Michael A. Fayette
  • Patent number: 9553852
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for establishing a secure connection between a data repository and an intelligence application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Melissa Ortiz-Munoz, Richard V. Wherry, Allen J. Thompson, Christopher J. Fiore
  • Patent number: 9531683
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for establishing a secure connection between a data repository and an intelligence application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Melissa Ortiz-Munoz, Richard V. Wherry, Allen J. Thompson, Christopher J. Fiore
  • Publication number: 20160149889
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for establishing a secure connection between a data repository and an intelligence application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Melissa Ortiz-Munoz, Richard V. Wherry, Allen J. Thompson, Christopher J. Fiore
  • Publication number: 20160149872
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for establishing a secure connection between a data repository and an intelligence application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Melissa Ortiz-Munoz, Richard V. Wherry, Allen J. Thompson, Christopher J. Fiore
  • Patent number: 9262622
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for establishing a secure connection between a data repository and an intelligence application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa Ortiz-Munoz, Richard V. Wherry, Allen J. Thompson, Christopher J. Fiore
  • Publication number: 20150193783
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing client impact are presented. In particular, some aspects of the disclosure provide ways of assessing the effects of various projects and deployments on different clients of an organization. In some embodiments, a computer system may gather project data associated with one or more projects. Subsequently, the computer system may identify one or more client impacts based on the gathered project data. The computer system then may publish an inventory based on the one or more identified client impacts. In some instances, in publishing the inventory, the computer system may analyze a volume of change activity for at least one client, and may determine, based on this analysis, that at least one deployment event of at least one project should be delayed for the at least one client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Dawe, Ward B. Simons, Donald J. Richardson, Christopher J. Fiore, Melissa Ortiz-Munoz, Allen J. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20150161373
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for establishing a secure connection between a data repository and an intelligence application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Melissa Ortiz-Munoz, Richard V. Wherry, Allen J. Thompson, Christopher J. Fiore
  • Patent number: 7149458
    Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, a scorotron places a uniform charge on a photoreceptor for forming electrostatic latent images. Three conductive pin arrays are disposed in a housing defined by sidewalls and a screen adjacent the photoreceptor. There can be provided insulative walls between adjacent pin arrays. The screen and a surface of the housing can be curved to correspond to a curvature of the photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Zona, Alicia G. Hughes, Allen J. Thompson, Neil A. Frankel, Charles H. Tabb, Clifford W. Imes, IV, George E. Wright, Eugene M. Gluszko
  • Patent number: 6895198
    Abstract: In a module for use in a xerographic printer, a substantially single-piece device includes thereon a cleaning blade, seal flap, and side seals for engaging a photoreceptor. The device can be easily replaced when the module is remanufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Allen J. Thompson, Willie J. Cottrell, Jr., Clifford W. Imes, IV, Charles H. Tabb
  • Publication number: 20040223780
    Abstract: In a module for use in a xerographic printer, a substantially single-piece device includes thereon a cleaning blade, seal flap, and side seals for engaging a photoreceptor. The device can be easily replaced when the module is remanufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Allen J. Thompson, Willie J. Cottrell, Clifford W. Imes, Charles H. Tabb
  • Patent number: 6548154
    Abstract: A bias transfer member or bias charging member for a xerographic device includes a support substrate, and a multi-layer conductive surface coating over the support substrate. The multi-layer coating includes a base layer of metal-containing particles in a polymer binder, an intermediate layer of conductive particles in a polymer binder, and a top layer of conductive particles in a polymer binder, wherein the amount of the conductive particles in the top layer is greater than the amount of the conductive particles in the intermediate layer. The multi-layer coating exhibits ideal electrical and abrasion resistance performance for use in bias charging or transfer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Donald S. Stanton, Bing R. Hsieh, Allen J. Thompson, Yuan Yu, William H. Wayman, Michelle L. Schlafer, Heiko Rommelmann, Ann M. Kazakos, Alan R. Kuntz
  • Patent number: 6340528
    Abstract: A donor member, useful in ionographic or electrophotographic apparatuses and preferably useful in hybrid scavengeless development units, has a substrate and an oxidized transport coating thereover. The oxidized transport coating includes a polymer binder, charge transporting molecules and one or more oxidizing agents. The polymer binder of the donor roll coating preferably includes one of (1) a crosslinked polymer with charge transporting molecules dispersed therein, or (2) a crosslinked polyamide binder with hydroxy charge transport molecules dispersed therein. The donor roll is preferably included in a printing machine that develops latent images formed on a photoconductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bing R. Hsieh, Yuan Yu, Timothy J. Fuller, John F. Yanus, Damodar M. Pai, Heiko Rommelmann, Allen J. Thompson, Donald S. Stanton, Michelle L. Schlafer, Alan R. Kuntz, Ann M. Kazakos, William H. Wayman, Steven C. Hart