Patents by Inventor C. Thompson

C. 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: 11878820
    Abstract: A method of releasing spacecraft from a rocket includes arranging spacecraft in a stack on a rocket, launching the rocket until it attains orbital velocity, imposing a flat spin on the rocket, and releasing the entire stack from the rocket during the flat spin. In one aspect, the method includes applying a compressive load along a length of the stack, launching the rocket until it attains orbital velocity, imposing a flat spin on the rocket, and releasing the compressive load to allow the entire stack to separate from the rocket during the flat spin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Thompson, Patrick Sodt, Thomas Tarlton, Robert S. Tarlton, Solomon Westerman, Michael Dergance
  • Publication number: 20240019371
    Abstract: An imaging system and a method of operating an imaging system for imaging a biological target is provided. The imaging system comprises a fluorescence microscope, a light source, an imaging device, a processor, a probe reagent, and a chemical buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventor: Christopher C. THOMPSON
  • Patent number: 11867544
    Abstract: The present invention relates to magnetic flowmeters. More particularly, the present invention relates to a magnetic flowmeter specifically designed for the hydraulic fracturing industry that is capable of withstanding a variety of corrosive slurries, acids, bases, and solvents including a liner including partially stabilized magnesium zirconia (MgPSZ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: THOMPSON EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Todd C. Thompson, Thomas Meacham, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11864767
    Abstract: The invention is an implantable magnetic anastomosis device having an exoskeleton that directs self-assembly. The design allows the device to be delivered in a linear configuration using a minimally-invasive technique, such as endoscopy or laparoscopy, whereupon the device self-assembles into, e.g., a polygon. A coupled set of polygons define a circumscribed tissue that can be perforated, or the tissue can be allowed to naturally necrose and perforate. The device can be used to create anastomoses in a variety of tissues, such as tissues found in the gastrointestinal, renal/urinary, and reproductive tracts. New procedures for using anastomoses, e.g., surgical bypass are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: G.I. Windows, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Beisel, Peter Lukin, John McWeeney, Marvin Ryou, Christopher C. Thompson, Josef K. Winkler
  • Publication number: 20230363840
    Abstract: A cannula mount for a surgical system includes a body configured to receive a portion of a cannula in a mounted state at the cannula mount; a pair of clamping components coupled to the body and configured to clamp the portion of the cannula in the mounted state of the cannula; and a latch assembly pivotably coupled to the body and slidably coupled to a clamping component of the pair of clamping components. At least one of the pair of clamping components is pivotable relative to the body to move the pair of clamping components between a first state to unclamp a cannula mounted at the cannula mount and a second state to clamp a cannula mounted at the cannula mount. Pivoting motion of the latch assembly relative to the body causes a portion of the latch assembly to slide along the clamping component and change a state of the pair of clamping components from an unlocked state to a locked state in the second state of the pair of clamping components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Allen C. Thompson, Randal P. Goldberg, Dean F. Hoornaert, Tyler J. Morrissette, Bruce M. Schena
  • Publication number: 20230333198
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for classifying traffic flow using a plurality of learning machines arranged in multiple hierarchical levels. A first learning machine may classify a first portion of the input stream as malicious based on a match with first classification rules, and a second learning machine may classify at least part of the first portion of the input stream as malicious based on a match with second classification rules. The at least part of the first portion of the input stream may be classified as malicious based on the matches in the first and second learning machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: PHY Wireless, LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Thompson, Raphael Mall, Neal Riedel, Steven J. Caliguri, Zane Rau
  • Publication number: 20230329836
    Abstract: A cannula for insertion of a medical instrument includes a tube portion and an attachment portion coupled to the tube portion. One or more magnets are arranged at the attachment portion and configured to encode identifying information of the cannula. The attachment portion comprises a plurality of encoding positions that each indicate part of the identifying information; and for each encoding position of the plurality of encoding positions, absence of one of the one or more magnets at the respective encoding position indicates a first value, presence of one of the one of the magnets with a first orientation at the respective encoding position indicates a second value, and presence of one of the one of the magnets with a second orientation at the respective encoding position indicates a third value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon R. Garbus, Allen C. Thompson, Justin Krom
  • Patent number: 11788463
    Abstract: This invention relates to cleaning the induction systems, the combustion chambers and exhaust systems of internal combustion engines. And, more particularly, to chemicals and mixtures of chemicals for removing the different types of carbon deposits encountered in internal combustion engines used in “road vehicles”. Carbon deposits were taken from the induction systems of these road vehicles for the purpose of bench testing such carbon and product development. More specifically, chemicals (i.e., solvents) and chemical mixes (i.e., solutions) have been accurately tested on such harvested carbon deposits for their ability to remove the various types of carbon deposits that accumulate within road vehicle internal combustion engines. Additionally this invention also relates to apparatus for delivering chemicals and chemical mixes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ATS Chemical, LLC
    Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Steven G. Thoma
  • Patent number: 11787572
    Abstract: A system for securing spacecraft to a rocket and deploying the spacecraft into orbit includes a stack having a plurality of spacecraft arranged in layers, with each spacecraft being releasably mated with at least one spacecraft in an adjacent layer, and at least one hold down and deploy assembly configured to, in a first configuration, secure the layers of the stack together and secure the entire stack to the rocket, and, in a second configuration, release the entire stack from the rocket into orbit such that the layers passively separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Thompson, Patrick Sodt, Thomas Tarlton, Robert S. Tarlton, Michael Dergance
  • Patent number: 11789453
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining video data from a single monocular camera, wherein the video data comprises a plurality of frames, wherein the camera is attached to a mobile robot that is travelling along a lane defined by a row of crops, wherein the row of crops comprises a first plant stem, and wherein the plurality of frames include a depiction of the first plant stem; obtaining robot velocity data from encoder(s), wherein the encoder(s) are attached to the robot; performing foreground extraction on each of the plurality of frames of the video data, wherein the foreground extraction results in a plurality of foreground images; and determining, based upon the plurality of foreground images and based upon the robot velocity data, an estimated width of the first plant stem. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventors: Girish Chowdhary, Chinmay P. Soman, Erkan Kayacan, Benjamin C. Thompson, Zhongzhong Zhang, Anwesa Choudhuri
  • Publication number: 20230301738
    Abstract: Implementations relate to a master control device. In some implementations, a master control device includes a control body comprising a proximal end, a thumb grip portion, and a finger grip portion. The control body has a length configured to engage the proximal end of the control body in the palm of a hand of the user while the hand engages the thumb grip portion with a thumb of the hand and the finger grip portion with a finger of the hand. The control body is configured to allow the proximal end of the control body to be selectively engaged by the palm of the hand and selectively disengaged from the palm of the hand while the hand engages the thumb grip portion with the thumb of the hand and the finger grip portion with the finger of the hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen C. THOMPSON, Grant M. KADOKURA, John Ryan STEGER
  • Patent number: 11767788
    Abstract: This invention relates to the field of induction cleaning, more particularly to chemically cleaning the induction system of the internal combustion engine. The carbon that accumulates within the induction tract of the internal combustion engine is very difficult to remove. Chemically these carbon deposits are very close to that of asphalt or bitumen. It has been found that if the induction cleaning chemicals are delivered in timed layered intervals the removal of such induction carbon can be accomplished. The Dual Solenoid Induction Cleaner uses electronically controlled solenoids to deliver at least two different chemistries in alternating layers to the engine's induction system. These electric solenoids are connected to a single induction cleaner nozzle. The induction cleaner nozzle is slipped through the vacuum port opening into the inside of the induction system where it will spray an aerosol of the chemistry directly into the moving air column entering the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: ATS Chemical, LLC
    Inventors: Bernie C. Thompson, Neal R. Pederson
  • Patent number: 11763320
    Abstract: Embodiments for automatic extraction of a compliance profile for an organization by a processor. Text data may be extracted from one or more data sources representing one or more objects describing a compliance named entity of type organization expected to perform an obligation. A compliance profile of type organization may be determined for the compliance named entity of type organization according to the extracted text data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alice-Maria Marascu, Rahul Nair, Marc H. Coq, Sandra C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11733342
    Abstract: A method for estimating position of a mobile device which includes receiving, from a network server, observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) assistance data for a first plurality of cells from a base station almanac (BSA) accessible to the network server. The OTDOA assistance data is stored, within a memory of the mobile device, as a first micro-BSA. A position estimate for the mobile device is determined based upon time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements associated with an initial subset of the first plurality of cells and initial OTDOA assistance data corresponding to the initial subset of the first plurality of cells. The initial OTDOA assistance data may be generated by the micro-BSA based upon an initial seed estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: PHY Wireless, LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Thompson, Raphael Mall, Neal Riedel, Steven J. Caliguri, Zane Rau
  • Patent number: 11712314
    Abstract: Implementations relate to a master control device. In some implementations, a master control device includes a control body comprising a proximal end, a thumb grip portion, and a finger grip portion. The control body has a length configured to engage the proximal end of the control body in the palm of a hand of the user while the hand engages the thumb grip portion with a thumb of the hand and the finger grip portion with a finger of the hand. The control body is configured to allow the proximal end of the control body to be selectively engaged by the palm of the hand and selectively disengaged from the palm of the hand while the hand engages the thumb grip portion with the thumb of the hand and the finger grip portion with the finger of the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen C. Thompson, Grant M. Kadokura, John Ryan Steger
  • Patent number: 11707343
    Abstract: A teleoperable medical system comprises a manipulator arm and a cannula mount coupled to the manipulator arm. The manipulator arm comprises an interface configured to operably couple with a medical instrument. The cannula mount is configured to removably mount a cannula to the manipulator arm in a position to permit removable insertion of the medical instrument through the cannula. The cannula mount comprises a receptacle configured to receive an attachment portion of the cannula in a mounted state of the cannula, and a reader positioned to be in magnetic field sensing proximity to the attachment portion of the cannula in the mounted state of the cannula. The teleoperable medical system comprises a controller configured to receive output signals from the reader and determine identification information about the cannula based on the output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon R. Garbus, Allen C. Thompson, Justin Krom
  • Publication number: 20230212907
    Abstract: Described is a louver having a frame that forms an enclosure defining an opening, and a plurality of louver blades disposed within the opening. Each of the plurality of louver blades include a catch member that longitudinally extends between a first blade end and a second blade end of a corresponding louver blade. The louver may also include a rotation assembly configured to rotatably couple with the plurality of louver blades and the frame. The plurality of louver blades may autonomously rotate about rotation members of the rotation assembly based on environmental elements captured in the catch member such that the plurality of louver blades are configured in an open position in response to no water in the catch member and are configured in a closed position in response to an amount of environmental elements in the catch member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Dino Smith, JR., Melissa M. Massar, Cody C. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20230214934
    Abstract: A computer system for remote interactive graphical display and data management includes a data storage device storing data records, a remote data acquisition computer configured to selectively trigger display actions for the data records based on at least a time-based rule and a time-independent rule; a classification engine configured to classify a response received from a remote display interface having user-selectable options arranged to define a scale of values, in one of two categories, a first category and a second category, being below a first threshold value being classified as being in the first category, and responses on the scale above a second threshold value being in the second category, and a display interface generator configured to selectively generate a supplemental interface or a conclusion message dependent on the category.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Neag, Kelly L. Trella, Jeffrey C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11695368
    Abstract: A modular power supply apparatus for use in harsh climates that comprises a portable, low cost, easily maintained, durable power supply for energy production as well as systems, methods for forming, and methods of using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: RICHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO
    Inventors: M'Chaelah A. Brown, Andrea V. Cerda, Ronald J. Fowler, Omar A. Herrera, Jeremiah L. Lynch, Murray P. McDaniel, Nithin Saravanapandian, Anaiah S. Thompson, Laila C. Thompson, Kirstin O. Bullington, Robin L. Jones
  • Patent number: 11695672
    Abstract: A wireless receiver receives location pilots embedded in received symbols and uses the location pilots to detect the first path for every base station the network has designated for the receiver to use in time of arrival estimation. The receiver preferably applies matching pursuit strategies to offer a robust and reliable identification of a channel impulse response's first path. The receiver may also receive and use estimation pilots as a supplement to the location pilot information in determining time of arrival. The receiver can use metrics characteristic of the channel to improve the robustness and reliability of the identification of a CIR's first path. With the first path identified, the receiver measures the time of arrival for signals from that path and the receiver determines the observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) to respond to network requests for OTDOA and position determination measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: PHY Wireless, LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Thompson, Fernando Lopez De Victoria