Patents by Inventor Andrew Parker

Andrew Parker 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: 20050199125
    Abstract: An air conditioning system, comprising an emitter wire configured in a loop; and a collector electrode positioned downstream from the emitter wire. The emitter wire rotates when the collector electrode is moved vertically in a desired direction. The emitter wire is cleaned when rotated by a device such as a scraper, a rotatable wheel in contact with the wire, a brush, and a cleaning member on the pulley itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Taylor, Andrew Parker
  • Publication number: 20050194583
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are related to air conditioner systems and methods. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a system includes at least one emitter electrode and at least one collector electrode that is downstream from the emitter electrode. The emitter electrode has a plurality of pins axially arranged about a center. Preferably, the pins are arranged in a circle about the center. A driver electrode is located within the interior of the collector electrode. Preferably, although not necessarily, the driver electrode is insulated. A high voltage source provides a voltage potential to at least one of the emitter electrode and the collector electrode to thereby provide a potential difference therebetween. The embodiments as described herein have some or all of the advantages of increasing the particle collection efficiency, increasing the rate and/or volume of airflow, reducing arcing, and/or reducing the amount of ozone generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Taylor, Andrew Parker, Igor Botvinnik, Shek Lau, Gregory Snyder, John Reeves
  • Publication number: 20050194246
    Abstract: Electro-kinetic air transporter and conditioner systems and methods are provided. A system includes a pin emitter electrode and a ring collector electrode located downstream from the emitter electrode. A driver electrode, which is preferably insulated, is located at least partially within an interior of said ring collector electrode. A high voltage source provides a voltage potential to at least one of said emitter electrode and said collector electrode to thereby provide a potential difference therebetween. The driver electrode may or may not be at a same voltage potential as the emitter electrode, but should be at a different voltage potential than the collector electrode. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Botvinnik, Andrew Parker, Charles Taylor
  • Publication number: 20050183576
    Abstract: An air transporter-conditioner device comprising: an elongated housing having a bottom, a top and an elongated side wall, the housing having an inlet located adjacent to the bottom and an outlet located adjacent to the elongated side wall; an emitter electrode and a collector electrode; a high voltage generator operably connected to both electrodes; an impeller to draw air into the housing through the inlet and direct the air along the elongated housing; and a baffle to direct air from the fan toward the outlet. The housing includes a second elongated side wall and the baffle includes a plurality of deflectors positioned along the second elongated side wall. The baffle includes a plurality of elongated columns of varying lengths, wherein each column includes a deflector. The device further comprises a second inlet located adjacent to the elongated side wall and a germicidal lamp located inside the elongated housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Taylor, Andrew Parker
  • Publication number: 20050180981
    Abstract: The invention provides for a novel human checkpoint kinase gene, hCDS1, comprising the nucleic acid sequence of residues 66-1694 of SEQ ID NO: 1, a protein expressed from the gene, fragments and functional equivalents of the protein. The invention also provides for pharmaceutical compositions comprising a hCDS1 protein, and methods utilizing the protein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Walter Luyten, Andrew Parker, Clare McGowan, Allessandra Blasina
  • Publication number: 20050168338
    Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in the location of lost or misplaced objects. Receivers are coupled to objects that are likely to be misplaced. The pager device sends a signal to a select one of a number of receivers which then can emit an audible multi-frequency sound and/or emit light. In one embodiment, the audible sound is comprised of two asynchronous interlaced tones, much like an ambulance siren, one in a high frequency range and one in a low frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Parker, Shek Lau
  • Publication number: 20050163669
    Abstract: An air conditioner device includes a freestanding housing. An ion generator, which is positioned in the housing, includes at least one removable electrode. A germicidal lamp, which is also within the housing, emits UV radiation upon being energized. A safety mechanism cuts off power to at least one of the lamp and the ion generator when the removable electrode is removed from the housing. A removable panel is adapted to be secured to the housing. A further safety mechanism cuts-off power to at least one of the lamp and the ion generator when the removable panel is removed from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Taylor, Shek Lau, Andrew Parker, Tristan Christianson, Gregory Snyder, Edward McKinney
  • Publication number: 20050160906
    Abstract: An air conditioner with a cleaning member having an opening, through which a wire-like electrode passes. The member is moved along the wire to frictionally clean the wire-like electrode when a collector electrode array is moved. A lifting arm is mounted to the collector electrode. The lifting arm can move the member to clean the wire-like electrode as the collector electrode is moved (e.g., removed from the air conditioner for cleaning).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: The Sharper Image
    Inventors: John Reeves, Shek Lau, Andrew Parker
  • Publication number: 20050158219
    Abstract: An electro-kinetic air conditioner for removing particulates from the air, preferably creates an airflow using no moving parts. The airflow is subjected to UV radiation from a germicidal lamp within the device. The conditioner includes an ion generator that has an electrode assembly including a first array of emitter electrodes, a second array of collector electrodes, and a high voltage generator. The device can also include a third or leading or focus electrode located upstream of the first array of emitter electrodes, and/or a trailing electrode located downstream of the second array of collector electrodes, and/or an interstitial electrode located between collector electrodes, and/or an enhanced emitter electrode with an enhanced length in order to increase emissivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Taylor, Shek Lau, Andrew Parker, Tristan Christianson, Gregory Snyder, Edward McKinney
  • Publication number: 20050152818
    Abstract: Electro-kinetic air transporter and conditioner systems and methods are provided. A system includes at least one emitter electrode and at least a one collector (and likely, at least a pair of collector electrodes) that are downstream from the emitter electrode. An insulated driver electrode is located adjacent a collector electrode, and where there is at least a pair of collector electrodes, between each pair of collector electrodes. A high voltage source provides a voltage potential to the at least one of the emitter electrode and the collector electrode(s), to thereby provide a potential different therebetween. The insulated driver electrode(s) may or may not be at a same voltage potential as the emitter electrode, but should be at a different voltage potential than the collector electrode(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Botvinnik, Andrew Parker, Charles Taylor
  • Publication number: 20050100871
    Abstract: A training aid device uses an infrared sensor. The infrared sensor includes an infrared light source to produce pulses of infrared light and optics that focus reflections from the infrared light pulse from different portions of the environment to different detectors in a 2D array of detectors. The detectors produce an indication of the distances of the closest object(s) in the associated portion of the environment. The processor uses the indications from the infrared sensor to compare the user action to a model action. The processor initiates feedback to the user based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Parker, Patricia Brenner
  • Publication number: 20050099266
    Abstract: A motion detection system for personalized identification is described. A sensor including a two dimensional array of pixel sensors is used to get an indication of a person's bodily features. These bodily features can be compared with a stored database in order to determine whether the person is a criminal or terrorist suspect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Parker, Patricia Brenner
  • Publication number: 20050088028
    Abstract: A consumer assembleable reclinable massaging chair in which the back support, seat and leg support are capable of assembly and disassembly by a consumer. The present chair can be conveniently shipped to the consumer for assembly by the consumer as individual unassembled components or combination of unassembled and/or assembled components in one or more shipping containers having a length dimension no greater than 108 inches and a girth dimension no greater than a difference between 130 inches and the dimension. The shipping container containing the chair components preferably do not exceed 150 pounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicant: SHARPER IMAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tracy Wan, William Feroe, Anthony Farrell, Patricia Brenner, Andrew Parker
  • Patent number: 6882510
    Abstract: The invention is a laminated antiferromagnetically coupled (AFC) structure for use in a spin valve (SV) sensor or magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device, having two ferromagnetic films coupled together with an improved AFC film. Particularly the AFC film comprises an alloy material selected from the group consisting of Ru100-xmx, Os100-ymy, Ir100-ymy, Rh100-y,my, Re100-zmz, and M100-xmx, where M is an alloy of two or more materials selected from the group consisting of Ru, Os, Ir, Rh, and Re, and where m is a material selected from the group consisting of W, Ta, Mo, Nb and alloys of two or more materials selected from W, Ta, Mo, and Nb, and where x is between approximately 5 and 95 at. %, y is between approximately 10 and 90 at. %, and z is between approximately 25 and 75 at. %. The sensors may be used in magnetic heads of hard disk drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Parker, Robert Otto Schwenker
  • Patent number: 6871998
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for accurately calibrating a vacuum thermogravimetric analyzer (VTGA). The invention solves the problem of calibrating a VTGA by using the actual magnetic transitions and associated transition temperatures, or Curie temperatures, Tc's, of a set of standards which can be used in-situ at the location of the sample holder obviating the difficulties associated with indirect methods of calibration. The invention encompasses a method of using a set of calibration standards comprised of a plurality of ferromagnetic slugs to provide a temperature calibration for a VTGA. The method permits accurate calibration through sufficiently numerous calibration points over a rather limited low-temperature range for determining vapor pressures of compounds. Through the use of these standards, highly accurate measurements can be made of the vapor pressures of critical hard disk drive compounds, such as lubricants, and corrosion inhibitors, that are crucial to competitive disk drive technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Malika Dothresa Carter, Michael Andrew Parker
  • Publication number: 20050060812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fabric treatment composition which comprises a self-crosslinking polymer possessing pendant azetidinium groups. A first aspect of the invention comprises an azetidinium functionalised polymer containing primary or secondary amine groups. Cross-linking reactions between the azetidinium group and primary or secondary amine groups does not form quaternary groups and consequently does not result in a charged, cross-linked polymer. This lack of charge is believed to overcome the problems of stain fixing and dye adsorption. A second aspect of the present invention subsists in a azetidinium functionalized polymer of which the monomers comprise: an amino-acrylate and/or amino-alkacrylate monomer, and, optionally, further non-amino acrylate and/or alkacrylate monomer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Stephen Batchelor, Paul Findlay, Joseph Hunter, Andrew Parker, Stephen Rannard
  • Publication number: 20050061359
    Abstract: An automatic eyeglass cleaner is provided in accordance with the invention. A specially formulated cleaning and conditioning solution is also provided for use with the automatic cleaner. A tank in the automatic cleaner is filled with the cleaning and conditioning solution; the eyeglass is folded up and clipped to the bottom of the open lid of the cleaner, then the lid is closed to lower the eyeglass into the solution. The cleaning cycle starts with the push of a button and the eyeglass is agitated in the solution. The cleaning cycle stops automatically after a pre-set time, the lid pops up and any excess solution is shaken off the eyeglass by the cleaner leaving a thin film on the lenses. A microfiber cloth is used to give the lenses a final touch-up that helps fill in microscopic scratches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Taylor, Andrew Parker, Edward McKinney, Sik-Leung Chan, John Efroymson
  • Publication number: 20050057495
    Abstract: A computer game system uses an infrared sensor which produces an infrared light to produce pulse of infrared light. Optics focus reflections from the infrared light pulse from different portions of the environment to different detectors in a 2D array of detectors. The detectors produce indications of the distance of the closest objects. The indications can be used by a processor to determine each action. The determined action can be used as input to a computer game. The infrared sensor can also be used with a musical keyboard system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Parker, Charles Taylor, Patricia Brenner
  • Publication number: 20050051420
    Abstract: Electro-kinetic air transporter and conditioner systems and methods are provided. A system includes at least one emitter electrode and at least a one collector (and likely, at least a pair of collector electrodes) that are downstream from the emitter electrode. An insulated driver electrode is located adjacent a collector electrode, and where there is at least a pair of collector electrodes, between each pair of collector electrodes. A high voltage source provides a voltage potential to the at least one of the emitter electrode and the collector electrode(s), to thereby provide a potential different therebetween. The insulated driver electrode(s) may or may not be at a same voltage potential as the emitter electrode, but should be at a different voltage potential than the collector electrode(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Applicant: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Botvinnik, Andrew Parker, Charles Taylor
  • Patent number: 6863869
    Abstract: A system massages a user's feet and generates an electro-kinetic airflow that contains safe amounts of ozone that can deodorize the user's feet or socks. The system includes an ion generator comprising a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between left and right first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first electrode array includes first and second pointed electrodes, and the second electrode array includes annular-like electrodes having a central opening coaxial with the associated pointed electrode. Preferably the annular-like electrodes are formed from a single sheet of metal by extrusion or punching such that the surface of the annular-like electrodes is smooth and continuous through the opening and into a collar region through which the air flows. Particulate matter in the ambient air electrostatically adheres to the smooth continuous surface of the annular-like electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation
    Inventors: Shek Fai Lau, Andrew Parker