Patents by Inventor Barry Thompson

Barry 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: 8724615
    Abstract: In a communication system comprising one master device and one or more slave devices, the slave devices synchronize to a common timebase maintained at the master device, independently of a wireless module timebase, without requiring transmission of accurate and real time master timer information from the master device. In one approach, a slave device sends timing information to the master device, the timing information representing the slave device timebase, and the master device sends back correction information to the slave device, the correction information representing a difference between the slave device timebase and the master device timebase, the correction information being usable independent of the timing of sending back the correction information. The master timebase might be a system master timer of an accurate timer based on a timer interrupt and a high resolution timer having a resolution greater than a timer interrupt resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ATMEL Corporation
    Inventors: Katelijn Vleugels, Barry Thompson, Nils Bunger, Ilya Minkin
  • Patent number: 8638424
    Abstract: A clock driver outputs first and second preferably complementary clock signals coupled to substantially equal capacitive loads. Before each clock state change, the clock driver briefly shorts-together the first and second clock signals, to equalize change on capacitive loads, which each assume a potential midway between high and low power supply levels. Charge from the logic high clock signal can thus be used to raise logic low level clock line, and vice versa, rather than draw power supply current. Substantial energy savings on the order of C·V2·f is achieved, where C is effective capacitive load, V is power supply magnitude, and f is clock frequency. The clock driver includes first and second enhanced inverters (inverters that cannot enter short-circuit current mode) whose outputs are the first and second clock signals, and a transistor switch coupled between the inverter outputs. Turning on the transistor switch forces charge equalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dane Snow, Barry Thompson
  • Patent number: 8634341
    Abstract: Dynamic adjustment of offset between timebases of separated electronic circuits is provided based on an amount of time between synchronization events, wherein a synchronization event is an event involving communication across a separation between the separated electronic circuits in order to synchronize the timebases. The dynamic adjustment can be dynamically or adaptively adjusting a margin of error to account for drift that may have occurred since a prior synchronization event. Adjustments might be done by applying a learning sequence to quantify and adjust for static or slowly varying delays between the timebases and coordinating the timebases using output of the learning sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: ATMEL Corporation
    Inventors: Katelijn Vleugels, Barry Thompson
  • Patent number: 8571005
    Abstract: In a communication system comprising one master device and one or more slave devices, the slave devices synchronize to a common timebase maintained at the master device without requiring transmission of accurate and real time master timer information from the master device. In one approach, a slave device sends timing information to the master device, the timing information representing the slave device timebase, and the master device sends back correction information to the slave device, the correction information representing a difference between the slave device timebase and the master device timebase, the correction information being usable independent of the timing of sending back the correction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: ATMEL Corporation
    Inventors: Katelijn Vleugels, Barry Thompson, Nils Bunger, Ilya Minkin
  • Patent number: 8321578
    Abstract: Message publish/subscribe systems are required to process high message volumes with reduced latency and performance bottlenecks. The end-to-end middleware architecture proposed by the present invention is designed for high-volume, low-latency messaging by, among other things, reducing intermediary hops with neighbor-based routing, introducing efficient native-to-external and external-to-native protocol conversions, monitoring system performance, including latency, in real time, employing topic-based and channel-based message communications, and dynamically optimizing system interconnect configurations and message transmission protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Tervela, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Barry Thompson, Kul Singh, Pierre Fraval
  • Patent number: 8146241
    Abstract: A tool for reconfiguring the pins of an SAE J560 electrical connector includes a handle and head. A plurality of openings provided in the free end of the head lead to a plurality of parallel equal diameter channels within the head. An elongate separator pin with a conical nose and a cylindrical body is concentrically fixed within each channel. The separator pins are configured to properly separate split electrode pins of an SAE J560 electrical connector, which inevitable deform through repeated coupling and decoupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Zinstar Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Thompson, Sr., Richard Thompson, Carolyn Thompson
  • Patent number: 8102871
    Abstract: In a network environment, a wireless medium is reserved for transmissions. Medium reservation modifications can be requested and granted wherein a master device allocates a medium using reservations that are observed by other devices sharing the medium and a slave device complies with reservations by holding data for transmission until its reservation in time arrives by determining a reserved length of an upcoming transmitting opportunity reserved for a slave device, determining a desired length for transmitting data from the slave device over the medium, comparing the reserved length and the desired length to determine if a medium reservation modification is warranted, if the medium reservation modification is warranted, requesting, during the reserved time covered by the medium reservation, the medium reservation modification, and determining whether to grant or deny the medium reservation modification and conveying the determination to the slave device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ozmo, Inc.
    Inventors: Katelijn Vleugels, Barry Thompson, Nils Bunger, Ilya Minkin
  • Patent number: 8089982
    Abstract: Medium reservation modifications can be requested and granted wherein a master device allocates a medium using reservations that are observed by other devices sharing the medium and a slave device complies with reservations by holding data for transmission until its reservation in time arrives by determining a reserved length of an upcoming transmitting opportunity reserved for a slave device, determining, at the slave device, a desired length for transmitting data from the slave device over the medium, comparing the reserved length and the desired length to determine if a medium reservation modification is warranted, if the medium reservation modification is warranted, requesting, using the slave device and the medium, during the reserved time covered by the medium reservation, the medium reservation modification, and determining, at the master device, whether to grant or deny the medium reservation modification and conveying the determination to the slave device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ozmo, Inc.
    Inventors: Katelijn Vleugels, Barry Thompson, Nils Bunger, Ilya Minkin
  • Publication number: 20110231470
    Abstract: Message publish/subscribe systems are required to process high message volumes with reduced latency and performance bottlenecks. The end-to-end middleware architecture proposed by the present invention is designed for high-volume, low-latency messaging by, among other things, reducing intermediary hops with neighbor-based routing, introducing efficient native-to-external and external-to-native protocol conversions, monitoring system performance, including latency, in real time, employing topic-based and channel-based message communications, and dynamically optimizing system interconnect configurations and message transmission protocols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: J. Barry Thompson, Kul Singh, Pierre Fraval
  • Publication number: 20110205522
    Abstract: A clock driver outputs first and second preferably complementary clock signals coupled to substantially equal capacitive loads. Before each clock state change, the clock driver briefly shorts-together the first and second clock signals, to equalize change on capacitive loads, which each assume a potential midway between high and low power supply levels. Charge from the logic high clock signal can thus be used to raise logic low level clock line, and vice versa, rather than draw power supply current. Substantial energy savings on the order of C·V2·f is achieved, where C is effective capacitive load, V is power supply magnitude, and f is clock frequency. The clock driver includes first and second enhanced inverters (inverters that cannot enter short-circuit current mode) whose outputs are the first and second clock signals, and a transistor switch coupled between the inverter outputs. Turning on the transistor switch forces charge equalization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dane Snow, Barry Thompson
  • Publication number: 20110181630
    Abstract: This invention relates to active matrix OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays, in particular to display panels with integrated negative capacitance circuits and to active capacitance compensation. We describe an active matrix OLED display comprising a glass panel bearing a plurality of lines of OLED pixels, each with an associated active matrix driver circuit having a programming connection for programming a brightness of the associated OLED, programming connections of a line of pixels being connected to a programming line of said display, and wherein said active matrix OLED display further comprises a plurality of capacitors on said glass panel, each having a first plate connected to an end of a respective said programming line and having a second plate for connecting to a negative capacitor circuit to compensate for a capacitance of said programming line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: CAMBRIDGE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Euan Smith, Aleksandra Rankov, Barry Thompson
  • Publication number: 20110185082
    Abstract: In a system for network virtualization in a publish and subscribe middleware architecture, a virtual application executes within an execution module on a computer system, where the virtual application has a virtual address and the computer system has a logical address. A network virtualization module manages message routing for the virtual application and a data forwarding plane performs message routing for the virtual application. A communication interface identifies a correspondence between the virtual address and the logical address during message routing with the data forwarding plane and the virtual application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: J. Barry Thompson
  • Patent number: 7970918
    Abstract: Message publish/subscribe systems are required to process high message volumes with reduced latency and performance bottlenecks. The end-to-end middleware architecture proposed by the present invention is designed for high-volume, low-latency messaging by, among other things, reducing intermediary hops with neighbor-based routing, introducing efficient native-to-external and external-to-native protocol conversions, monitoring system performance, including latency, in real time, employing topic-based and channel-based message communications, and dynamically optimizing system interconnect configurations and message transmission protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Tervela, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Barry Thompson, Kul Singh, Pierre Fraval
  • Publication number: 20110096066
    Abstract: An active matrix OLED display (200) comprising a data line (202), a plurality of pixel circuits (203) connected to the data line (202), a drive circuit (201) connected towards one end of the data line (202) for writing display data to the pixel circuits (203), and a programmable drive boost circuit (204) connected towards another end of the data line (202) from the drive circuit (201).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Barry Thompson, Euan Smith
  • Patent number: 7926392
    Abstract: A pawl disengagement tool intended for use with a slack adjuster has an elongated handle with a first end and an opposite second end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end. A slotted aperture formed at the first end includes a hole with a diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the pawl cap. A first slot extends from the hole and has a width that is greater than the second diameter of the pawl shaft of the pawl assembly of the slack adjuster. A portion of the tool defining the hole includes a chamfered periphery. The chamfered periphery defines an inclined plane leading to the first slot. The inclined plane has a thickness that increases up to a thickness equal to a disengagement thickness. The disengagement thickness is effective to cause disengagement of the pawl assembly. The second end of the tool includes a forked end that includes a pair of parallel spaced apart wedge-shaped prongs. In use, the forked end or slotted aperture is manipulated (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Zinstar Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Thompson
  • Publication number: 20100259528
    Abstract: A display driver control circuitry and method for controlling a display driver for an electroluminescent display, the display comprising at least one substantially constant current generator for driving the display element, the control circuitry comprising: a drive voltage sensor for sensing a drive voltage on a first line in which the current is regulated by the constant current generator; a reference voltage generator for providing a reference voltage offset from a supply voltage provided from a supply line to the constant current generator; means for determining a difference between the reference voltage and the drive voltage and for generating an adjustment signal, and wherein a voltage controller is configured to adjust the supply voltage responsive to the adjustment signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: CAMBRIDGE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Euan C. Smith, Richard Alan Page, Stefan Wurster, Barry Thompson
  • Publication number: 20100259518
    Abstract: A current matching control apparatus for matching a plurality of current sources and a plurality of current sinks, the plurality of current sinks having a drive current value controlled by a drive processor in accordance with a reference control current and wherein each output of the plurality of current sinks are connected to a common output node; a feedback circuit having an input connected to the common output node and an output connected to the drive processor, wherein the feedback circuit is arranged to match a voltage at the common output node to a reference voltage by communicating a signal to the drive processor to adjust the reference control current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: CAMBRIDGE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Euan C. Smith, Richard Alan Page, Stefan Wurster, Barry Thompson
  • Publication number: 20100245401
    Abstract: A method of driving an electro-optic display comprising providing a current source, digitally modulating the current source and generating a modulated digital signal, and converting the modulated digital signal into an effective analog drive signal so that the display pixels receive an effective analog drive current, wherein the internal capacitance of the electro-optic display smooths the digitally modulated signal and generates the effective analog drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: CAMBRIDGE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Euan C. Smith, David S. Warren, Richard Alan Page, Stefan Wurster, Barry Thompson
  • Publication number: 20100101378
    Abstract: A pawl disengagement tool intended for use with a slack adjuster has an elongated handle with a first end and an opposite second end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end. A slotted aperture formed at the first end includes a hole with a diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the pawl cap. A first slot extends from the hole and has a width that is greater than the second diameter of the pawl shaft of the pawl assembly of the slack adjuster. A portion of the tool defining the hole includes a chamfered periphery. The chamfered periphery defines an inclined plane leading to the first slot. The inclined plane has a thickness that increases up to a thickness equal to a disengagement thickness. The disengagement thickness is effective to cause disengagement of the pawl assembly. The second end of the tool includes a forked end that includes a pair of parallel spaced apart wedge-shaped prongs. In use, the forked end or slotted aperture is manipulated (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: ZINSTAR INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Barry Thompson
  • Patent number: 7140126
    Abstract: A removable insole for insertion into footwear, includes a lower layer made of a viscoelastic gel and including a lower surface, an upper surface, a toe portion, a heel portion and a medial arch portion interconnecting the toe portion and the heel portion, a first recess formed in the lower surface of the toe portion and a second recess formed in the lower surface of the heel portion, each recess having a peripheral side wall and a top wall, a plurality of thin, parallel, spaced apart sinusoidal wave shaped spring walls formed from the viscoelastic gel and connected to the top wall and the peripheral side wall in each recess, and the spring walls having lower edges generally coplanar with a lower surface of the toe portion and heel portion which is in surrounding relation to the respective recess; and a top cover secured to the upper surface of the lower layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Schering-Plough Healthcare Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura J. Crane, Richard Avent, Donald Barry Thompson