Patents by Inventor Andrew Birnie

Andrew Birnie 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: 11008468
    Abstract: The present invention provides a homogeneous, sprayable liquid composition formulated for spraying onto a substrate to protectively cover at least a portion of a surface of the substrate, the sprayable liquid composition comprising: (a) an aqueous polyurethane dispersion (PUD); (b) a pigment; (c) a surfactant; and (d) a silica compound, the sprayable liquid composition, once dry, forming a solid, uniform, peelable coating adhered to the substrate without use of a separate adhesive coating layer, the peelable coating having a greater scratch resistance, and the peelable coating having a greater fuel staining resistance compared to peelable, specialty rubber coatings. The peelable coating may also find use in or as automotive OEM delivery wraps, transportation coatings, ride-hailing advertisements; agricultural and mining equipment; in architectural coatings such as floor coatings, bath tub and shower protective peelable coatings; and in home and office furniture protective coverings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Covestro LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Pierce, Andrew Bradburn, Daniel W. Dezort, Andrew Birnie
  • Publication number: 20190225814
    Abstract: The present invention provides a homogeneous, sprayable liquid composition formulated for spraying onto a substrate to protectively cover at least a portion of a surface of the substrate, the sprayable liquid composition comprising: (a) an aqueous polyurethane dispersion (PUD); (b) a pigment; (c) a surfactant; and (d) a silica compound, the sprayable liquid composition, once dry, forming a solid, uniform, peelable coating adhered to the substrate without use of a separate adhesive coating layer, the peelable coating having a greater scratch resistance, and the peelable coating having a greater fuel staining resistance compared to peelable, specialty rubber coatings. The peelable coating may also find use in or as automotive OEM delivery wraps, transportation coatings, ride-hailing advertisements; agricultural and mining equipment; in architectural coatings such as floor coatings, bath tub and shower protective peelable coatings; and in home and office furniture protective coverings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Pierce, Andrew Bradburn, Daniel W. Dezort, Andrew Birnie
  • Patent number: 10095567
    Abstract: A micro controller unit including an error indicator hardware module, the error indicator module being arranged to respond to event signals representative of internal and external fault and error events perturbing the micro controller unit function by registering in non-volatile memory a record of the nature of each of the events, wherein the record of the events is inaccessible to alteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert Pickel, Axel Bahr, Derek Beattie, Andrew Birnie, Carl Culshaw
  • Patent number: 9892613
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining alertness of an driver of a motor vehicle periodically generates an audible alert signal to which the driver responds by pressing a button on the vehicle's steering wheel. The response time of the driver to the signal is monitored and if an increase is detected, the repetition rate of the alert signal is increased. The repetition rate may be further modified by taking into account vehicle driving conditions which may indicate a risk of boredom in the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Birnie, Derek Beattie, Robert Moran
  • Patent number: 9725096
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an indicator of a risk level in motor vehicle and notifying vehicle systems when a risk level is above a specific threshold includes, receiving a plurality of driver distraction indicators, assigning a weighting value to each indicator, applying a scaling factor to the weighting value assigned to those indicators which are identified as being related, and summing the weighting values to produce an output value indicating a risk level. Distraction indicators can include on-board system and sensor outputs and stored data relating to driver attributes. Related indicators may comprise those distraction indicators relating to environmental conditions (eg. rain and low ambient light levels), or to vehicle performance to driver concentration level (eg. in-car phone and navigation system). The scaling step allows the weighting process to be refined based on the status of other received indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Moran, Derek Beattie, Andrew Birnie
  • Publication number: 20160246664
    Abstract: A micro controller unit including an error indicator hardware module, the error indicator module being arranged to respond to event signals representative of internal and external fault and error events perturbing the micro controller unit function by registering in non-volatile memory a record of the nature of each of the events, wherein the record of the events is inaccessible to alteration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Norbert Pickel, Axel Bahr, Derek Beattie, Andrew Birnie, Carl Culshaw
  • Patent number: 9329919
    Abstract: A micro controller unit including an error indicator hardware module, the error indicator module being arranged to respond to event signals representative of internal and external fault and error events perturbing the micro controller unit function by registering in non-volatile memory a record of the nature of each of the events, wherein the record of the events is inaccessible to alteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert Pickel, Axel Bahr, Derek Beattie, Andrew Birnie, Carl Culshaw
  • Publication number: 20150269829
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining alertness of an driver of a motor vehicle periodically generates an audible alert signal to which the driver responds by pressing a button on the vehicle's steering wheel. The response time of the driver to the signal is monitored and if an increase is detected, the repetition rate of the alert signal is increased. The repetition rate may be further modified by taking into account vehicle driving conditions which may indicate a risk of boredom in the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Birnie, Derek Beattie, Robert Moran
  • Publication number: 20150266484
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an indicator of a risk level in motor vehicle and notifying vehicle systems when a risk level is above a specific threshold includes, receiving a plurality of driver distraction indicators, assigning a weighting value to each indicator, applying a scaling factor to the weighting value assigned to those indicators which are identified as being related, and summing the weighting values to produce an output value indicating a risk level. Distraction indicators can include on-board system and sensor outputs and stored data relating to driver attributes. Related indicators may comprise those distraction indicators relating to environmental conditions (eg. rain and low ambient light levels), or to vehicle performance to driver concentration level (eg. in-car phone and navigation system). The scaling step allows the weighting process to be refined based on the status of other received indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, In.
    Inventors: Robert Moran, Derek Beattle, Andrew Birnie
  • Publication number: 20110126082
    Abstract: A micro controller unit including an error indicator hardware module, the error indicator module being arranged to respond to event signals representative of internal and external fault and error events perturbing the micro controller unit function by registering in non-volatile memory a record of the nature of each of the events, wherein the record of the events is inaccessible to alteration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Norbert Pickel, Axel Bahr, Derek Beattie, Andrew Birnie, Carl Culshaw
  • Publication number: 20070223276
    Abstract: A method for programming/erasing a non-volatile memory (NVM) includes performing a program/erase operation on a portion of the NVM using a first set of parameters. The method further includes determining whether each cell in the portion of the NVM passes a first margin level, if not determining which one of a set of lower margin levels than the first margin level each cell in the portion of the NVM passes. The method further includes modifying at least one of the set of parameters associated with a subsequent program/erase operation for the portion of the NVM based on the determined one of the set of lower margin levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Martin Niset, Derek Beattie, Andrew Birnie, Alistair Gorman, Stephen McGinty
  • Patent number: 5949709
    Abstract: An electrically programmable memory comprising: a floating gate FET cell (10) having: a drain electrode, and a source electrode; means for applying to the drain electrode a first voltage (V.sub.PP) for a programming time (T.sub.P); means for applying to the source electrode a second voltage (V.sub.ML) for the programming time, the second voltage being variable between more than two levels so as to determine the quantity of charge induced on the floating gate and thereby to determine the multi-level value programmed into the cell substantially independently of the programming time. A multi-level value programmed into the cell is sensed by placing an iteratively or dynamically varying voltage on the source electrode, and current flow in the cell is sensed to determine the voltage on the floating gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Birnie