Patents by Inventor C. Thomas

C. Thomas 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).

  • Radiation monitoring system
    Publication number: 20050230596
    Abstract: An electronic circuit having radiation monitoring capability is disclosed. Radiation, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, infrared (IR) radiation or light, can be measured by the electronic circuit. The measured radiation can then be used in providing radiation-related information to a user of the electronic circuit. In one implementation, the electronic circuit is provided within eyewear so that the user of the eyewear is able to easily monitor their exposure to radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Howell, David Chao, C. Thomas, Peter Tong
  • Methods for remote monitoring and control of appliances over a computer network
    Publication number: 20050198063
    Abstract: The remote monitoring and controlling of controllable devices is provided by sending control information to and receiving status information from information appliances over a network. A user is able to monitor the information appliances from a remote location, and control the information appliances from the remote location. The remote monitoring and control can be facilitated by graphical user interfaces. The information appliance can be a home lighting system, a home alarm system, a home entertainment system, a water gardening system, a home heating system, a home cooling system, and a television system having recording capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: C. Thomas, Albert Penilla, Joseph Nguyen
  • Graded particle-size retention filter medium for fluid filtration unit with improved edge seal
    Patent number: 6939466
    Abstract: A fluid filtration unit having two or more filter medium layers and/or zones, at least one of the layers/zones having a different particle retention capability disposed on each side of a non-filtering separator element. The filter medium are presently preferably positioned such that each succeedingly distal filter layer or zone from the separator has a decreased particle retention capability than each proceeding filter layer or zone. The filter medium layer most proximal to the separator element may be separated from the separator by a support material for supporting such filter medium element and preventing collapsing of the medium into any separator conduit. At least one of the medium elements is formed from a material which swells in size due to fluid absorption with the various zones and the separator being operatively connected by a new and innovative edge seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Cuno Incorporated
    Inventors: John L. Pulek, William A. Larsen, C. Thomas Paul, Clifford L. Schorr, Francis J. Swiatek, Art Artinyan
  • Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
    Publication number: 20050163148
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Jin Kim, C. Thomas
  • Adaptable communication techniques for electronic devices
    Publication number: 20050124324
    Abstract: Improved approaches for users of electronic devices to communicate with one another are disclosed. The electronic devices have audio and/or textual output capabilities. The improved approaches can enable users to communicate in different ways depending on device configuration, user preferences, prior history, etc. In one embodiment, the communication between users is achieved by short audio or textual messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: C. Thomas, Peter Tong
  • Gas turbine impeller alignment tool and method
    Patent number: 6883224
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for centering a shaft (for an impeller or other rotating component) in a gas turbine engine, such as that used in aircraft or other vehicles. The apparatus includes a base, at least one arm and an actuator. The arm is connected to the base and the actuator is located on a predetermined axis and aligns the impeller shaft to that axis. The actuator also applies a force to the actuator to simulate actual operational forces in the engine so that proper tolerances can be measured. The method includes steps of coupling the apparatus to a locator surface, impeller shaft with the actuator and moving the actuator such that an axial load is provided on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Erik C. Thomas
  • Tethered electrical components for eyeglasses
    Publication number: 20050078274
    Abstract: Tethered electrical components coupled to electrical components in or attached to a pair of eyeglasses are disclosed. The tethered electrical components can allow a user to communicate with a communication device in a wireless and hands-free manner. The tethered electrical components may also include and/or control one or more operation indicators to signal operational status of the electrical components. In addition, the tethered electrical components may also include and/or control one or more sensors to monitor and signal conditions of users of the tethered electrical components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Applicant: IpVenture, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Howell, David Chao, C. Thomas, Peter Tong
  • Method and apparatus for optical data storage
    Patent number: 6879556
    Abstract: An optical disk (10) includes several tracks (21-23, 121-125) that each include a series of optical data elements (29, 39). Each optical data element includes several reflective surfaces (31-34, 41-44) with respective different orientations that represent stored information. A detection system (210) directs a beam from a laser (217) onto successive optical data elements. The multiple reflective surfaces of each optical data element produce multiple reflected sub-beams that are imaged onto respective portions of a detector (219, 501, 541). The position of each sub-beam on the corresponding portion of the detector is determined, to thereby identify the orientation of the corresponding reflective surface and thus the stored information represented by that surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Iomega Corporation
    Inventor: Fred C. Thomas, III
  • Tactile kinesthetic assistant
    Patent number: 6850652
    Abstract: A tactile kinesthetic assistant is a device that allows a person to use the senses of sight, touch and hearing to gather information. Tactile kinesthetic assistants can be used, for example, to help a person retrieve information related to a specific word or phrase (e.g., a student learning to read), to allow a person to determine the status of a person or thing (e.g., a nurse retrieving medical records), to allow a person to obtain current information (e.g., a stock broker retrieving stock prices). In one embodiment, a tactile kinesthetic assistant includes a thimble and an ear piece. The thimble includes a scanner that allows the user to scan one or more words. The representations of the one or more words are used to retrieve information via a network and the retrieved information is provided to the user through an ear piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Brent D. Thomas, Christine C. Thomas
  • Ceiling fan blade iron
    Patent number: D501250
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: James C. Thomas, Jr.
  • Ceiling fan wall controller
    Patent number: D501449
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: James C. Thomas, Jr.
  • Vending machine and stand
    Patent number: D503743
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Inventors: Douglas C. Huffer, Fred Lowery, Gary Petersen, Keith Gausmann, Samuel Joseph Marino, Michael T. Kopczewski, Jay F. Perkins, Doug Drenten, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Kenneth Boyle, Robert Brueckner, John C. Thomas
  • Ceiling fan blade
    Patent number: D504174
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: James C. Thomas, Jr.
  • Ceiling fan motor housing
    Patent number: D504504
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: James C. Thomas, Jr.
  • Ceiling fan blade
    Patent number: D504944
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: James C. Thomas, Jr.
  • Taco serving plate
    Patent number: D505296
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Lamont C. Thomas
  • Ceiling fan light kit
    Patent number: D506542
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: James C. Thomas, Jr.
  • Vending machine
    Patent number: D509251
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas C. Huffer, Fred Lowery, Gary Petersen, Keith Gausmann, Samuel Joseph Marino, Michael T. Kopczewski, Jay F. Perkins, Doug Drenten, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Kenneth Boyle, Robert Brueckner, John C. Thomas
  • Ceiling fan light kit
    Patent number: D510766
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: James C. Thomas, Jr.
  • Ceiling fan blade iron
    Patent number: D510999
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: James C. Thomas, Jr.