Patents by Inventor Brian D. Clark

Brian D. Clark 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: 11911064
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector having a clamp arm pivotable relative to an ultrasonic blade, an articulation section configured to deflect the end effector, an acoustic waveguide having a distal portion extending along an axis, a clamp arm closure assembly comprising a body configured to actuate in order to drive the pivoting of the clamp arm, and a clamp arm clocking assembly. The clamp arm clocking assembly is capable of driving rotation of the clamp arm about the axis relative to the ultrasonic blade between a first clocked position and a second clocked position. The clamp arm clocking assembly includes a rotating body pivotally coupled with the clamp arm, a translating drive extending through the articulation section, and a rotation driver assembly. The rotation driver is in communication with the translating driver in order to convert translational motion of the translating driver into rotational motion of the rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Clark, Morgan R. Hunter, Brian D. Black, Thomas B. Remm
  • Patent number: 11445290
    Abstract: A method performed by an in-ear headphone that includes a speaker and an internal microphone. The method receives a microphone signal from the internal microphone that indicates a current sound pressure level (SPL) in an ear canal of a user. The current SPL is a result of a control leak from the in-ear headphone into an ambient environment that reduces a SPL in the ear canal between 2 dB and 25 dB at a frequency within a frequency range than if otherwise not present. The method determines an active noise cancellation (ANC) filter based on the microphone signal and generates an anti-noise signal using the ANC filter. The method drives the speaker using the anti-noise signal to reduce the current SPL in the ear canal of the user as much as 25 dB at a frequency within the frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Scott C. Grinker, Vladan Bajic, Brian D. Clark, Tom-Davy W. Saux, Hanchi Chen
  • Patent number: 11432093
    Abstract: A system and method to encode and decode multiple audio signals to provide independent control of the audio signals is provided. A host device may encode the audio signals to enable a complete separation of the constituent audio signals when the mixed stream is decoded on a playback device. The gains of the audio signals may be independently controlled before they are mixed to increase the intelligibility of one audio signal relative to another audio signal at the playback device. The ability to separate the constituent audio signals from the mixed signals at the playback device allows the processing operations performed on the constituent audio signals and the associated path latencies to be independently chosen. In addition, in applications where the mixed stream is transmitted from a single host device to multiple playback devices, the constituent audio signals may be selectively masked on a playback device to increase user privacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Brian D. Clark, Baptiste P. Paquier
  • Patent number: 11361745
    Abstract: An audio system has an ambient sound enhancement (ASE) function, in which an against-the-ear audio device having a speaker converts a digitally processed version of an input audio signal into amplified sound. The amplification may be in accordance with a stored hearing profile of the user. The audio system also has an acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) function that may be combined in various ways with the ASE function, and that may be responsive to voice activity detection. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tom-Davy W. Saux, Brian D. Clark, Thomas M. Jensen, Vladan Bajic
  • Patent number: 11166099
    Abstract: A method for audio signal processing of microphone signals of a headphone. An audio signal from a first microphone of a headphone is filtered by an ANC system to produce a first filtered signal. Dynamic range control is performed upon the first filtered signal to produce a first dynamic range adjusted signal that drives a speaker of the headphone. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tom-Davy W. Saux, Brian D. Clark, Hanchi Chen, Victoria Chiu, Vladan Bajic, Dana Massie, Andrew P. Bright, Thomas M. Jensen
  • Publication number: 20210097970
    Abstract: An audio system has an ambient sound enhancement (ASE) function, in which an against-the-ear audio device having a speaker converts a digitally processed version of an input audio signal into amplified sound. The amplification may be in accordance with a stored hearing profile of the user. The audio system also has an acoustic noise cancellation (ANC) function that may be combined in various ways with the ASE function, and that may be responsive to voice activity detection. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Tom-Davy W. Saux, Brian D. Clark, Thomas M. Jensen, Vladan Bajic
  • Publication number: 20210099799
    Abstract: A method for audio signal processing of microphone signals of a headphone. An audio signal from a first microphone of a headphone is filtered by an ANC system to produce a first filtered signal. Dynamic range control is performed upon the first filtered signal to produce a first dynamic range adjusted signal that drives a speaker of the headphone. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Tom-Davy W. Saux, Brian D. Clark, Hanchi Chen, Victoria Chiu, Vladan Bajic, Dana Massie, Andrew P. Bright, Thomas M. Jensen
  • Publication number: 20200413212
    Abstract: A system and method to encode and decode multiple audio signals to provide independent control of the audio signals is provided. A host device may encode the audio signals to enable a complete separation of the constituent audio signals when the mixed stream is decoded on a playback device. The gains of the audio signals may be independently controlled before they are mixed to increase the intelligibility of one audio signal relative to another audio signal at the playback device. The ability to separate the constituent audio signals from the mixed signals at the playback device allows the processing operations performed on the constituent audio signals and the associated path latencies to be independently chosen. In addition, in applications where the mixed stream is transmitted from a single host device to multiple playback devices, the constituent audio signals may be selectively masked on a playback device to increase user privacy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Brian D. Clark, Baptiste P. Paquier
  • Patent number: 10865636
    Abstract: A method includes varying a temperature of a treatment fluid. The treatment fluid is pumped into the first wellbore as part of a fluid diversion process or a fluid treatment process after the temperature of the treatment fluid is varied. A first downhole measurement is obtained in the first wellbore using a cable in the first wellbore or a first sensor coupled to the cable concurrently with or after the fluid diversion process or the fluid treatment process. An additional measurement is obtained concurrently with obtaining the first downhole measurement. The first downhole measurement and the additional measurement are combined or compared. A location where the treatment fluid is flowing through perforations in the first wellbore is determined based upon the combining or comparing the first downhole measurement and the additional measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Colin Allan Wilson, Joel Herve Le Calvez, Brian D. Clark
  • Patent number: 10779105
    Abstract: A system and method to encode and decode multiple audio signals to provide independent control of the audio signals is provided. A host device may encode the audio signals to enable a complete separation of the constituent audio signals when the mixed stream is decoded on a playback device. The gains of the audio signals may be independently controlled before they are mixed to increase the intelligibility of one audio signal relative to another audio signal at the playback device. The ability to separate the constituent audio signals from the mixed signals at the playback device allows the processing operations performed on the constituent audio signals and the associated path latencies to be independently chosen. In addition, in applications where the mixed stream is transmitted from a single host device to multiple playback devices, the constituent audio signals may be selectively masked on a playback device to increase user privacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Clark, Baptiste P. Paquier
  • Patent number: 10564931
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a floating-point arithmetic circuit includes a range exception detection circuit and an output circuit. The range exception detection circuit may generate a selection signal that indicates whether a floating-point arithmetic result generated within the floating-point arithmetic circuit is within a specified range. The output circuit may output the floating-point arithmetic result in response to the selection signal indicating the floating-point arithmetic result is within a specified range. The output circuit may output a corresponding specified value in response to the selection signal indicating the floating-point arithmetic result is not within the specified range. Accordingly, floating-point arithmetic operations may be performed in combination with an operation that limits a range of an output to a specified range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard T. Witek, Brian D. Clark, Peter C. Eastty
  • Publication number: 20200032640
    Abstract: A method includes running a cable into a first wellbore. A fluid diversion process is initiated in the first wellbore. A first downhole measurement is captured in the first wellbore using the cable or a first sensor coupled thereto concurrently with or after the fluid diversion process. An additional measurement is captured concurrently with capturing the first downhole measurement. The first downhole measurement and the additional measurement are compared or combined. A location where fluid is flowing through perforations in the first wellbore is determined based upon the combining or comparing the first downhole measurement and the additional measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Colin Allan Wilson, Joel Herve Le Calvez, Brian D. Clark
  • Publication number: 20190264556
    Abstract: A method includes varying a temperature of a treatment fluid. The treatment fluid is pumped into the first wellbore as part of a fluid diversion process or a fluid treatment process after the temperature of the treatment fluid is varied. A first downhole measurement is obtained in the first wellbore using a cable in the first wellbore or a first sensor coupled to the cable concurrently with or after the fluid diversion process or the fluid treatment process. An additional measurement is obtained concurrently with obtaining the first downhole measurement. The first downhole measurement and the additional measurement are combined or compared. A location where the treatment fluid is flowing through perforations in the first wellbore is determined based upon the combining or comparing the first downhole measurement and the additional measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Colin Allan Wilson, Joel Herve Le Calvez, Brian D. Clark
  • Patent number: 10332331
    Abstract: A modular vending machine is provided. The modular vending machine can include a central module having a pickup area and one or more product storage cabinets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Xuejun Li, Emad Jafa, Joshua Drake, Michael D. Clapper, Brian D. Clark, Victor Jon Fageroos, Steven Dean Larson, Brian Ness, Michael Chiugu, Chad Rorabaugh, Brian Douglas Ripley, Dean Minar
  • Patent number: 10289523
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for generating an advanced function usage planning report. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a detection module, a monitoring module, and a planning report module. The detection module detects use of an advanced function on a storage controller. The advanced function includes an optional storage function beyond a standard function set. The monitoring module monitors the use of the advanced function on the storage controller. The planning report module generates a planning report based at least in part on use information from the monitored use of the advanced function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Helena C. Burton, Brian D. Clark, Juan A. Coronado, Beth A. Peterson, Richard A. Ripberger
  • Patent number: 10169747
    Abstract: For advanced function usage-based billing, a processor detects the storage controller associating a microcode version for a given advanced function of one or more advanced functions with a logical volume. A given customer is associated with the logical volume. In response to detecting the storage controller associating the microcode version for the given advanced function with the logical volume, the processor monitors for use of a memory address of the microcode version and a logical volume address of the logical volume. The processor further detects an associated use of the memory address of the microcode version and the logical volume address of the logical volume. In response to detecting the associated use, the processor communicates the given advanced function and the given customer to a billing entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Helena C. Burton, Brian D. Clark, Juan A. Coronado, Beth A. Peterson, Richard A. Ripberger
  • Publication number: 20180108203
    Abstract: A modular vending machine is provided. The modular vending machine can include a central module having a pickup area and one or more product storage cabinets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Xuejun LI, Emad JAFA, Joshua DRAKE, Michael D. CLAPPER, Brian D. CLARK, Victor Jon FAGEROOS, Steven Dean LARSON, Brian NESS, Michael CHIUGU, Chad RORABAUGH, Brian Douglas RIPLEY, Dean MINAR
  • Patent number: 9900017
    Abstract: A semi-digital finite impulse response, FIR, filter is configured as a sparse FIR filter and as a minimum phase lag FIR filter. The FIR filter has a delay line composed of a number of sets of delay units sequentially coupled to each other, and where some of the sets of delay units have one or more untapped delay units as part of a cascade of two or more single-sample delay units. An analog summing node is coupled to the taps and produces at its output an analog version of a digital input signal that is fed to an input of the delay line. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Brian D. Clark
  • Publication number: 20170114613
    Abstract: Method for well re-stimulation treatment using instantaneous shut-in pressure (ISIP) to guide the design and execution of refracturing stages. Pore pressure and optional cluster stresses are determined at a start of the treatment. Goal ISIPs for the refracturing correspond to undepleted regions of the formation, and target ISIPs versus treatment progression/stage range from about a lowest pore pressure corresponding to depleted regions of the formation up to within the goal range ISIPs. Diversion and proppant pumping schedules are designed, and the refracturing treatment is initiated in accordance with the design. ISIP is measured at stage end, and if it varies from the target ISIP, subsequent stages are modified from the design as needed to more closely match the ISIP schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Bruno Lecerf, Brian D. Clark, Hongren Gu, Dmitriy Usoltsev, Rajgopal V. Malpani, Brian Sinosic
  • Publication number: 20160328691
    Abstract: For advanced function usage-based billing, a processor detects the storage controller associating a microcode version for a given advanced function of one or more advanced functions with a logical volume. A given customer is associated with the logical volume. In response to detecting the storage controller associating the microcode version for the given advanced function with the logical volume, the processor monitors for use of a memory address of the microcode version and a logical volume address of the logical volume. The processor further detects an associated use of the memory address of the microcode version and the logical volume address of the logical volume. In response to detecting the associated use, the processor communicates the given advanced function and the given customer to a billing entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Helena C. Burton, Brian D. Clark, Juan A. Coronado, Beth A. Peterson, Richard A. Ripberger