Patents by Inventor C. Hughes

C. Hughes 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).

  • Alternating-azimuth angle helical track format using grouped same-azimuth angle heads
    Patent number: 6985323
    Abstract: A helical scan tape recorder (30) comprises a rotatable scanner (85) upon which is mounted a first set of plural transducing heads (W1, W3) and a second set of transducing heads (W2, W4). A transport system transports magnetic tape (31) proximate the rotatable scanner in a manner so that information is transduced by at least one of the transducing heads during a revolution of the scanner. The sets of transducing heads are so mounted on the scanner with respect to azimuthal orientation of the transducing heads that all tracks transduced by the transducing heads have a desired width regardless of an error in physical distance separating the sets of transducing heads. In one aspect, the first set of plural transducing heads comprises a first head (W1) and a third head (W3), and the second set of plural transducing heads comprises a second head (W2) and a fourth head (W4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Exabyte Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Magnusson, Timothy C. Hughes
  • Gaming device having interacting symbols
    Patent number: 6981635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device and method which includes interacting symbols. Wherein the game exhibits the interaction between the two symbols using a display device and awards the player with a credit or bonus value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Andrea C. Hughs-Baird, Jason D. Kremer, Brian D. Swift
  • Separation process and apparatus for removal of particulate material from flash zone gas oil
    Patent number: 6919017
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for removing particulate material from a flash zone gas oil stream produced in a delayed coking unit. The process and apparatus of the invention employ cyclonic separation to remove particulate material from the flash zone gas oil stream. The stream can then be further processed, for example by passing the stream to a fixed bed catalytic hydroprocessing unit and then to a fluidized bed catalytic cracking unit, or to other processing units, thereby enhancing the value of the flash zone gas oil stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Sharon A. Annesley, Gary C. Hughes, Jamal Allyen Sandarusi
  • Apparatus for sensing volatile organic chemicals in fluids
    Patent number: 6902701
    Abstract: A chemical-sensing apparatus is formed from the combination of a chemical preconcentrator which sorbs and concentrates particular volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and one or more chemiresistors that sense the VOCs after the preconcentrator has been triggered to release them in concentrated form. Use of the preconcentrator and chemiresistor(s) in combination allows the VOCs to be detected at lower concentration than would be possible using the chemiresistor(s) alone and further allows measurements to be made in a variety of fluids, including liquids (e.g. groundwater). Additionally, the apparatus provides a new mode of operation for sensing VOCs based on the measurement of decay time constants, and a method for background correction to improve measurement precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Hughes, Ronald P. Manginell, Mark W. Jenkins, Richard Kottenstette, Sanjay V. Patel
  • Gaming device having multiple selection large award bonus scheme
    Patent number: 6875108
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device having a multiple selection large award bonus scheme. The gaming device includes a plurality of selections, a plurality of credit symbols associated with said selections, a plurality of awards symbols associated with selections, a winning combination of award symbols and a display device connected to the controller and adapted to display the selections, credit symbols and award symbols. A player is awarded credits when the player selects a selection having an associated credit symbol. The player accumulates award symbols when the player selects a selection associated with an award symbol. The player wins a preferably large award when the player accumulates said winning combination of award symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Andrea C. Hughs-Baird
  • Gaming device having rate dependent game
    Patent number: 6852027
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device having a game that may be implemented in a primary or bonus game. More specifically, the present invention provides a processor controlled gaming device that presents a plurality of masked value choices to the player, provides a time period in which the player can elect to accept a masked choice and reveals and provides a value associated with the choice to the player if the player accepts in time. If the player does not accept in time or decides not to accept the choice, the gaming device, in one preferred embodiment, reveals the value the player could have accepted when the time period lapses or times out. When the player has successfully accepted a predefined number of masked choices, the game adds or multiplies the values yielded by the choices to form an award for the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Andrea C. Hughs-Baird
  • Network fault analysis tool
    Patent number: 6823479
    Abstract: A testing tool for Internet Service Provider (ISP) network engineers which is used to diagnose network faults, characterize network performance and evaluate new equipment and software releases. The tool can be used to schedule and run proactive tests to identify network problems before subscribers are affected. Further, the tool can be used to provide testing on demand to quickly isolate the root cause of a problem identified by the tool or by network management systems or subscribers. The tool is topology independent and thus does not have to be reconfigured as the network changes. The tool only sends traffic as directed by the network engineer and thus does not generate undesirable heavy network traffic loads, unless such a heavy network loads are desired by the network engineer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Teradyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. McElhaney, Jr., David Kaffine, Anthony C. Hughes, William Minckler, Neelesh Agrawal, Peter H. Schmidt
  • Gaming device having an input - output value bonus scheme
    Publication number: 20040204218
    Abstract: A gaming device with a bonus scheme which includes at least one input value; a plurality of selections and at least one modifier associated with a selection. The gaming device enables a player to apply input values to desired selections and depending upon which modifiers are associated with the selections, the player can gain a relatively high or low output value. This type of bonus scheme adds excitement to bonus rounds and increases player entertainment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Andrea C. Hughs-Baird
  • Process for preparing 1,2-diamino compounds
    Publication number: 20040180933
    Abstract: The invention provides a multi-step process for preparing 1,2-diamino compounds of formula 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Jack D. Brown, Peter J. Harrington, Robert C. Hughes
  • Apparatus and method of operating a gaming device having a central game and a plurality of peripheral games
    Patent number: 6786819
    Abstract: The present invention includes a gaming device and a method for operating the gaming device. The gaming device of the present invention includes: (i) a central game in which a player picks at least one masked central game outcome, including a transfer; (ii) at least one peripheral game that begins after the player's pick of the transfer, wherein the player picks at least one masked peripheral game outcome, including a return; (iii) whereby the game enables the player to return to the central game and pick at least one more masked central game outcome after the player picks the return in the peripheral game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Andrea C. Hughs-Baird, Chester E. Stites, Jr.
  • Gaming device having an indicator selection with probability-based outcome
    Patent number: 6783457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bonus scheme for a gaming device which presents a plurality of selections to the player in one or more rounds. After a players chooses each selection, a processor, using predetermined probabilities, generates various outcomes. Depending upon which types of outcomes are generated, the player may advance to different rounds where the player can choose other selections, or instead the bonus round can terminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Andrea C. Hughs-Baird, Ryan William Cuddy, Brian Daniel Swift, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Cari L. Blomquist, Lance R. Peterson
  • Gaming device having skill/perceived skill bonus round
    Patent number: 6780103
    Abstract: The present provides a gaming device, wherein a player's skill at an action or event determines the player's success or failure in the round. The game is readily adaptable to becoming a pseudo-skill game that would be required in most gaming jurisdictions. In one pseudo-skill embodiment, the skill game is converted to a game employing skill, but which is controlled by a set number of successful outcomes. That is, the player keeps playing until the player's skill produces the set number of successful outcomes. In another pseudo-skill embodiment, the game only appears to the player as involving skill. Instead, the gaming device randomly determines when and how many times to produce a successful outcome and increase the player's award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark W. Bansemer, James G. Nolz, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Andrea C. Hughs-Baird
  • Gaming device having an interactive sequence game with a multiple function multiplier
    Publication number: 20040121838
    Abstract: A gaming device having a game which displays an award distributor and a sequence of groups to a player. A processor causes the award distributor to indicate an award. Furthermore, the gaming device enables the player to pick one of the groups in the sequence. The processor reveals at least one element associated with the picked group in the sequence. A multiplier provided to the player changes based on the number of elements revealed in the sequence. The processor provides an activation award to the player, which equals the indicated award multiplied by the multiplier. The player continues to play the game until all of the groups are picked in the sequence. In another embodiment, at least one risk symbol is associated with the award distributor wherein the risk symbols modify one or more game components in the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Andrea C. Hughs-Baird, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Gaming device having multiple selection large award bonus scheme
    Patent number: 6749504
    Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of selections, a plurality of credit symbols associated with the selections, a plurality of awards symbols associated with the selections, and a winning combination of award symbols. A player is awarded credits when the player selects a selection having an associated credit symbol and player accumulates award symbols when the player selects a selection associated with an award symbol. The player wins a preferably large award when the player accumulates said winning combination of award symbols. The number of player selections is determined based on the player's wager in the primary game wherein the player obtains a specified number of player selections which are necessary to achieve the winning combination and thereby win the large award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Andrea C. Hughs-Baird
  • Sports swing training apparatus
    Patent number: 6736735
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a club for impacting an object. The club may have a club head having a club face. At least one microprocessor in communication with a plurality of infrared sources is also provided. There are also a plurality of infrared sensors, and indicators configurable in a configuration indicating proper club face alignment and a configuration indicating club face misalignment. The infrared sources are periodically pulsed by a microprocessor between an activated and deactivated state. The sensors are configured on the club head to receive infrared from the infrared sources and to generate a signal in response to the infrared received. The microprocessor is programmed to receive signals from the sensors when the infrared sources are activated. The microprocessor is programmed to activate the indicators in an aligned or misaligned configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventors: Michael J. Galanis, Dale Kempf, William C. Hughes
  • Gaming device having an input-output value bonus scheme
    Patent number: 6726565
    Abstract: The present invention involves a gaming device with a bonus scheme which includes at least one input value; a plurality of selections and at least one modifier associated with a selection. The gaming device enables a player to apply input values to desired selections and depending upon which modifiers are associated with the selections, the player can gain a relatively high or low output value. This type of bonus scheme adds excitement to bonus rounds and increases player entertainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Andrea C. Hughs-Baird
  • Method and apparatus for inducing controlled vortices to reduce afterbody drag
    Patent number: 6715717
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of creating vortices via vortex controllers, wherein the vortices are capable of entraining high-energy surrounding flow to induce a series of powerful longitudinal vortices that reattach separated flow by merging into single vortices along the undersurface of the afterbody to reenergize the fuselage boundary layer, thus preventing undersurface flow separation and reducing overall afterbody drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventors: Charles J. Dixon, Arthur C. Hughes
  • Gaming device having a scatter pay symbol
    Publication number: 20040053677
    Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols. The gaming device provides an award to a player when a triggering event occurs in a game. In one embodiment, the triggering event includes the occurrence of one or more predetermined symbols on the reels If at least one of the predetermined symbols occurs on the reels, the gaming device provides an award to the player for a winning symbol combination occurring in any position on the reels. In one embodiment, the gaming device provides an award for a winning symbol combination including the scatter pay symbols. In another embodiment, the gaming device provides the largest award to the player when multiple symbols combinations occur on the reels. Therefore, the scatter pay symbols enable a player to obtain larger awards and more awards in the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Andrea C. Hughs-Baird
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INDUCING CONTROLLED VORTICES TO REDUCE AFTERBODY DRAG
    Publication number: 20040046086
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of creating vortices via vortex controllers, wherein the vortices are capable of entraining high-energy surrounding flow to induce a series of powerful longitudinal vortices that reattach separated flow by merging into single vortices along the undersurface of the afterbody to reenergize the fuselage boundary layer, thus preventing undersurface flow separation and reducing overall afterbody drag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Charles J. Dixon, Arthur C. Hughes
  • Particulates of controlled dimension
    Patent number: 6699579
    Abstract: We make particulates, especially magnetic Fe—Co alloys having high magnetic permeability, of controlled dimensions, especially those having a narrow thickness size distribution centered around a median or target thickness in the range of about 0.1-1.0 &mgr;m, using electrodeposition typically on a smooth (polished) titanium cathode. Our preferred continuous process uses a rotating drum cathode inside a fixed anode to grow flakes and to produce them automatically by inherent instability in the deposited film. The drum preferably rotates about a substantially vertical axis. The particulates shed (slough off) into the electrolyte (because of mismatch between the cathode surface and the plated metal or alloy at the molecular level) where they are separated in a magnetic separator or other suitable device. If the flakes are soft iron or iron-cobalt alloys, the drum generally is titanium or titanium alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Glen L. Rasmussen, Micheal E. Dickson, Robert J. Miller, Mary J. Nelson, Jonathan C. Hughes, Diane C. Rawlings