Patents by Inventor Brian A. Johnson

Brian A. Johnson 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: 20190378153
    Abstract: An attention application includes a digital asset wallet. The attention application can estimate the attention a user has spent such as on media content created by a publisher or ads sent by an advertiser. The attention application can pay an amount of the digital asset to the publishers based on the attention spent by the user or receive a payment of the digital asset if the user devoted sufficient attention to a paying advertiser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Brendan Eich, Brian Johnson, Marshall Rose, Nejc Zdovc
  • Patent number: 10503373
    Abstract: Disclosed are approaches for user interface control. In one embodiment, a method can include: indicating a highlight of a first object of a plurality of objects displayed on a display screen; accepting a signal deriving from a first gesture input of a user indicating a neutral position relative to the highlighted first object; accepting a signal deriving from a second gesture input of the user indicating a directional position at least a predetermined distance from the neutral position; and indicating, in response to the second gesture input, a movement of the highlight from the first object to a second object adjacent to the first object, and where the directional position of the second gesture input correlates to a position on the display screen of the second object relative to the first object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Carsten Schwesig, Marvin Demerchant, Steven Friedlander, Brian Johnson, Sebrina Yeh, Hyehoon Yi, David Young
  • Publication number: 20190362920
    Abstract: Switch assemblies and a switching method are disclosed. In some embodiments, a switch assembly may include a first contact element, and a second contact element operable with the first contact element. The first and second contact elements form an open circuit in a first configuration and form a closed circuit in a second configuration. At least one of the first contact element and the second contact element includes a magnetostrictive material. During operation, a magnetic field from a magnet causes the magnetostrictive material to deform or change shape/dimensions, thus causing the first and second contact elements to open or close. In some embodiments, the switch assembly is a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventor: Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 10482121
    Abstract: A system and method for employing a user interface to facilitate user access to games. The example method includes displaying a band of plural adjacent tiles, wherein each tile represents a game, and wherein the band is scrollable in response to a specific user input; and arranging adjacent tiles based on a sorting rule, wherein the sorting rule includes arranging each tile according to a time of use and/or a time of download of a game associated with each tile. In a more specific embodiment, the method further includes illustrating, via the adjacent tiles, one or more games corresponding to one or game recommendations obtained in response to accessing a social network associated with a user of the user interface. Menu selections can allow access to recommendations; access to related games; access to games based on social network usage, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: George Arriola, Carsten Schwesig, Brian Johnson, Michael Bauerly
  • Publication number: 20190328270
    Abstract: A patient safety positioning assembly for MRI includes a bumper barrier configured to be releasably attached to an interior of a scanner bore of the MRI machine, wherein at least a functional portion of the bumper barrier is shaped and positioned corresponding to a boundary of a spatial gradient threshold of the MRI machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: Global Diagnostic Imaging Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Hayes, Brian Johnson, Tobias Gilk
  • Patent number: 10446975
    Abstract: A non-arcing electrical coupling including a male connecter including an electrically conductive prong extending from an electrically insulating base member, the prong covered with an arc-mitigating coating formed of a resilient quantum tunneling compound, wherein the arc-mitigating coating exhibits a first electrical resistance when in an uncompressed state and exhibits a second electrical resistance when in a compressed state, the first electrical resistance greater than the second electrical resistance, and a female connecter including an electrically insulating base member defining a receptacle adapted to receive the prong of the male connecter, the receptacle containing an electrically conductive clip comprising a pair of electrically conductive tines adapted to compress at least a portion of the arc-mitigating coating when the prong is inserted into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: LITTELFUSE, INC.
    Inventor: Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 10386184
    Abstract: A photogrammetry system includes a photogrammetry rig and a plurality of cameras. The photogrammetry rig includes a support frame and a plurality of support arms. The support frame includes a plurality of joint members and a plurality of struts each extending between two of the plurality of joint members to collectively form a spherical polyhedron shape having a center focal point. Each of the plurality of support arms extends through a different one of the plurality of joint members in a direction following a different radial ray from the center focal point. Each of the plurality of support arms is selectively, linearly slidable and securable relative to the different one of the joint members along the different radial ray between a position closest to the center focal point and a different position farthest away from the center focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TARGET BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Matthew Hart, Kirby Brian Johnson, Aaron George Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20190219531
    Abstract: A waveguide system may include an inner core, and a conductor wound around the inner core in conductive coils having a coil length, wherein a voltage pulse received by the pulsed waveguide propagates as an induced wave having a group velocity, the group velocity being below a threshold velocity, wherein a reflection signal or an end of line signal generated within the conductor from the induced wave is detectable from the initial voltage pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Efrem Fesshaie, Rimantas Misevicius
  • Patent number: 10324140
    Abstract: Zero sequence current sensors for single-phase and multiphase power systems are disclosed. In one implementation, a zero sequence current sensor is positioned between conductors associated with a single-phase power system or a multiphase power system. The current sensor may be shaped to accommodate maintaining a substantially equal distance between the conductors associated with the single-phase power system or the multiphase power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Gilman, Kip M. Larson, Brian Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190121775
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a training procedure that identifies a frame boundary and generates a frame clock to identify the beginning and the end of a frame. After the frame training procedure is complete, a memory device may be configured to execute a frame synchronization procedure to identify the beginning of a frame based on the frame clock without the use of headers or other information within the frame during an active session of the memory device. During an activation time period after a power-up event, the memory device may initiate the frame training procedure. Once the frames are synchronized, the memory device may be configured to use that frame clock during an entire active session (e.g., until a power-down event) to identify the beginning of a frame as part of a frame synchronization procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Publication number: 20190121560
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a reconfigurable memory device that is configurable based on the type of interposer used to couple the memory device with a host device. The reconfigurable memory device may include a plurality components for a plurality of configurations. Various components of the reconfigurable memory die may be activated/deactivated based on what type of interposer is used in the memory device. For example, if a first type of interposer is used (e.g., a high-density interposer), the data channel may be eight data pins wide. In contrast, if second type of interposer is used (e.g., an organic-based interposer), the data channel may be four data pins wide. As such, a reconfigurable memory device may include data pins and related drivers that are inactive in some configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Brent Keeth, James Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 10254240
    Abstract: A waveguide system may include an inner core, and a conductor wound around the inner core in conductive coils having a coil length, wherein a voltage pulse received by the pulsed waveguide propagates as an induced wave having a group velocity, the group velocity being below a threshold velocity, wherein a reflection signal or an end of line signal generated within the conductor from the induced wave is detectable from the initial voltage pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: LITTELFUSE, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Efrem Fesshaie, Rimantas Misevicius
  • Publication number: 20190099753
    Abstract: Provided herein are microtiter plates, systems, and uses thereof. In particular, provided herein are microtiter plates with diffusion channels and their use in co-culture applications (e.g. in high throughput screening).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Brian JOHNSON, David BEEBE, Jose JIMENEZ
  • Patent number: 10242706
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk. A first driving voltage is applied across a first and second windings of the spindle motor connected in series while measuring a first mutual inductance voltage across a third winding, wherein the first driving voltage comprises a first amplitude and a first polarity. A second driving voltage is applied across the first and second winding connected in series while measuring a second mutual inductance voltage across the third winding, wherein the second driving voltage comprises the first amplitude and a second polarity opposite the first polarity. The first measured mutual inductance voltage and the second measured mutual inductance voltage are combined to generate a first mutual inductance signal, and an angular position of the spindle motor is estimated based on the first mutual inductance signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Johnson, Timothy A. Ferris, Jaesoo Byoun
  • Patent number: 10242698
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk, wherein the spindle motor comprises a plurality of windings. During a power failure the head is unloaded by generating a periodic signal, shorting the windings of the spindle motor based on the periodic signal in order to generate a power voltage, and adjusting the periodic signal based on an amplitude of the power voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaesoo Byoun, Brian A. Johnson, Timothy A. Ferris
  • Publication number: 20190063917
    Abstract: A photogrammetry system includes a photogrammetry rig and a plurality of cameras. The photogrammetry rig includes a support frame and a plurality of support arms. The support frame includes a plurality of joint members and a plurality of struts each extending between two of the plurality of joint members to collectively form a spherical polyhedron shape having a center focal point. Each of the plurality of support arms extends through a different one of the plurality of joint members in a direction following a different radial ray from the center focal point. Each of the plurality of support arms is selectively, linearly slidable and securable relative to the different one of the joint members along the different radial ray between a position closest to the center focal point and a different position farthest away from the center focal point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: TARGET BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Matthew HART, Kirby Brian JOHNSON, Aaron George HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20190063918
    Abstract: A method of using a photogrammetry system to produce a three-dimensional image representation includes placing an object in the photogrammetry system, illuminating only a plurality of polarized lights, capturing a polarized image capture set of the object using a plurality of cameras while only the plurality of polarized lights are illuminated, and sending the polarized image capture set to the at least one computer processor. The method further comprises illuminating only a plurality of non-polarized lights, capturing a non-polarized image capture set of the object from the plurality of cameras while only the non-polarized lights are illuminated, and sending the non-polarized image capture set to the at least one computer processor. The method still further comprises using the at least one computer processor to generate a three-dimensional image representation of the object includes comparing the polarized image capture set and the non-polarized image capture set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: TARGET BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Matthew HART, Kirby Brian JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 10176840
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a spindle motor configured to rotate a disk, and a first voice coil motor (VCM) configured to actuate a head over the disk. During at least fifty percent of a seek of the head over the disk, a spindle control signal is generated based on a continuous function of a current flowing through the first VCM, and the spindle control signal is applied to the spindle motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Johnson, Jaesoo Byoun, Hideaki Ito, Gaku Ikedo
  • Patent number: D849832
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: PAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bernie Baker, Kurt Knolle, Bernard S. Riedman, Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: D864982
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Rachel Wihlborg, Kevin Abrams, David Lu, Todd Lefelt, Magdalena Wielopolski, Eve Songdej, Matthew Murray, Aron Wahl, Austin Beer, Charlie Hart, Agnes Won, Shane Nehring