Patents by Inventor Charles A. Smith

Charles A. Smith 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: 20140305999
    Abstract: A blank of sheet material for forming a container is provided. The blank includes a series of four generally rectangular panels connected along a plurality of substantially parallel fold lines. The panels include a first spaced-apart pair of panels and a second spaced-apart pair of panels. Each of the second spaced-apart pair of panels is connected to at least one panel of the first spaced-apart pair of panels. The blank also includes a corner panel extending from each side edge of each panel of the first pair of panels, and a lateral flap extending from each side edge of each panel of the second pair of panels, wherein each lateral flap has free side edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Kenneth Charles Smith
  • Publication number: 20140299184
    Abstract: A photo-active device is provided that has a cavity in an integrated, transparent mold material. An active material layer is disposed therein along with other layers disposed in and about said cavity to define a dome-like array architecture. A process for forming the dome-like array structure includes disposing an active layer into a series of empty periodically positioned cavities of a dome-like array template working mold material. Each of the series of empty periodically positioned cavities has curvature variations of the interior surface of the dome-array cavities optimized for device efficiency, reduction of performance sensitivity to light impingement angle, or a combination thereof. At least one of absorber layers, contact layers, spacer/transport layers, and electrode layers are also disposed in the series of cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SOLARITY, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Fonash, Charles Smith
  • Patent number: 8844797
    Abstract: A container for dispensing beverages is provided. The container includes at least six side walls coupled together along a plurality of parallel fold lines. The at least six side walls include two end panels and at least two side panels, and the at least six side walls define a substantially cylindrical shape of the container. A bottom wall is coupled to at least one of the two end panels, wherein a shape of the bottom wall corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the at least six side walls. The container further includes a spout cutout removably defined in a first end panel of the two end panels proximate to a fold line connecting the first end panel to the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Charles Smith
  • Publication number: 20140283138
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes determining a first security status for first information and a second security status for second information, the second security status being more secure than the first security status; establishing a first communication path between the system and a first local computing node via a first wireless path; conveying the first information to the first local computing node via the first wireless path based on the first security status; and withholding the second information from the first local computing node based on the second security status; wherein the first and second information are stored on at least one of the system and a remotely located computing node. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: YOAV HOCHBERG, GLEN ANDERSON, GUY BEN HAIM, CHARLES SMITH, BRIAN JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 8827142
    Abstract: A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels, and two opposing end panels. Each side panel extends from a side edge of the bottom panel, and each end panel extends from an end edge of the bottom panel. Each end panel includes at least one major stacking extension extending from a top edge thereof. The blank further includes a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first end panel of the two end panels. The reinforcing panel assembly includes an inner end panel having a minor stacking extension extending from a top edge thereof. The minor stacking extension is configured to align with a respective major stacking extension to form a stacking tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Charles Smith
  • Publication number: 20140246484
    Abstract: A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels, two opposing end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first end panel of the two end panels. The reinforcing panel assembly includes a corner panel extending from the first side edge of the first end panel, a first reinforcing side panel extending from a side edge of the corner panel, a second reinforcing side panel extending from a side edge of the first reinforcing side panel, a reinforcing corner panel extending from a side edge of the second reinforcing side panel, and an inner end panel extending from a side edge of the reinforcing corner panel. The corner panel and the reinforcing corner panel are configured, upon articulation of the blank, to be positioned into face-to-face relationship to form a corner wall of the container extending from a side edge of an end wall of the container to an end edge of a side wall of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Maureen Ann Armstrong, Kenneth Charles Smith
  • Publication number: 20140249008
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material includes a forming station and a compression station. The forming station is configured to form a reinforcing corner assembly from first and second reinforcing panels extending from an end panel of the blank. The compression station is configured to rotate side panels and end panels of the blank to be substantially perpendicular to a bottom panel of the blank. The compression station includes a plurality of plows at least partially defining a plunger opening, and a plunger vertically movable through the plunger opening. The plurality of plows are configured to rotate the side panels and the end panels towards the interior surface of the bottom panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Amer Aganovic, Thomas Dean Graham, Kenneth Charles Smith, John Hershcel Conley, Robert Bradley Teany, Gregory Scott Gulik, Paul Andrew Spurlock, Maureen Ann Armstrong
  • Patent number: 8820618
    Abstract: A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels each extending from a side edge of the bottom panel, two opposing end panels each extending from an end edge of the bottom panel, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first side panel of the two side panels. The reinforcing panel assembly includes a corner panel extending from the first side edge of the first side panel, a first reinforcing end panel extending from a side edge of the corner panel, a second reinforcing end panel extending from a side edge of the first reinforcing end panel, an inner reinforcing corner panel extending from a side edge of the second reinforcing end panel, and an inner side panel extending from a side edge of the inner reinforcing corner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Charles Smith
  • Patent number: 8811812
    Abstract: A camera rig system is configured to film in several overlapping directions at once. The camera rig system has a front rig having a first plurality of cameras arranged to film in a first set of overlapping directions. A trigger box is electrically coupled to the front rig and configured to receive data from the first plurality of cameras. A rear rig having a second plurality of cameras is electrically coupled to the trigger box and arranged to film in a second set of overlapping directions. The first set of overlapping directions and the second set of overlapping directions are configured such that images taken from the first plurality of cameras and the second plurality of cameras can reflect background images around the camera rig system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Lawler, David Charles Smith
  • Publication number: 20140141951
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material is provided. The blank includes a reinforcing panel assembly for forming a reinforcing corner assembly. The machine includes a hopper station for storing the blank in a substantially flat configuration and a forming station for forming the blank into the container. The forming station includes an initial forming station that rotates a first portion of the reinforcing panel assembly with respect to a second portion of the reinforcing panel assembly, and a secondary forming station having male and female forming members with shapes corresponding to an interior shape and an exterior shape of the reinforcing corner assembly, respectively. The male and the female forming members are configured to form the reinforcing corner assembly by compressing together the first and second portions of the reinforcing panel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Amer Aganovic, Thomas Dean Graham, Kenneth Charles Smith, John Hershcel Conley, Robert Bradley Teany, Gregory Scott Gulik, Paul Andrew Spurlock
  • Publication number: 20140084766
    Abstract: The invention described herein is a traffic signal cabinet that fits the footprint of existing traffic signal cabinets, provides an easily accessible compartment that holds a BBS, and a segregated compartment for batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERN SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Smith, Robert Williams Nims, Thomas Glen Rivard
  • Publication number: 20140035091
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes first and second terminals. The integrated circuit further includes a first plurality of diodes arranged in series between the first terminal and a power supply terminal and a second plurality of diodes arranged in series between the second terminal and the power supply terminal. The integrated circuit also includes a conductor configured to couple a first node within the first plurality of diodes to a second node within the second plurality of diodes. The first node is located between a first diode of the first plurality of diodes and a last diode of the first plurality of diodes, and the second node is located between a first diode of the second plurality of diodes and a last diode of the second plurality of diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventor: Jeremy Charles Smith
  • Publication number: 20140030692
    Abstract: An aperture mechanism for night vision goggles (NVG) has a first end, a second end, a lens engaging portion, and a cone portion. A lens engaging portion has a recession allowing attachment of the aperture mechanism to a light admitting end of the NVG. A cone portion is opposite the lens engaging portion. Together the lens engaging portion and the cone portion form an aperture. The aperture mechanism increases the depth of field of the NVG for applications involving small object-to-goggle distances, such as in simulators or simulator environments. In a simulator system, the aperture mechanism can be attached to NVG such that at least a portion of light from a display screen is blocked. The light output of the display screen can be increased such that the depth of field remains higher but the image produced does not become darker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Veraxx Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Smith
  • Patent number: 8630072
    Abstract: A circuit includes an input terminal and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit. The ESD protection circuit includes a diode string formed from a plurality of P-N junction devices arranged in series. The diode string includes an input coupled to the input terminal and includes at least one output coupled to a power supply terminal. The circuit further includes a plurality of shunt elements. Each of the plurality of shunt elements includes a first terminal coupled to one of the plurality of P-N junction devices and a second terminal coupled to the power supply terminal. Each of the plurality of shunt elements is controllable to selectively couple the one of the plurality of P-N junction devices to the power supply terminal to distribute current flow across the diode string in response to an ESD event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Charles Smith
  • Patent number: 8579778
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material is provided. The blank includes a reinforcing panel assembly for forming a reinforcing corner assembly. The machine includes a hopper station for storing the blank in a substantially flat configuration and a forming station for forming the blank into the container. The forming station includes an initial forming station that rotates a first portion of the reinforcing panel assembly with respect to a second portion of the reinforcing panel assembly, and a secondary forming station having male and female forming members with shapes corresponding to an interior shape and an exterior shape of the reinforcing corner assembly, respectively. The male and the female forming members are configured to form the reinforcing corner assembly by compressing together the first and second portions of the reinforcing panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Amer Aganovic, Thomas Dean Graham, Kenneth Charles Smith, John Hershcel Conley, Robert Bradley Teany, Gregory Scott Gulik, Paul Andrew Spurlock
  • Patent number: 8520347
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a plurality of terminals, an unterminated diode string formed from a plurality of P-N junction devices arranged in series and coupled to the plurality of terminals, and a plurality of switches. Each of the plurality of switches includes a first terminal coupled to an anode of one of the plurality of P-N junction devices and a second terminal coupled to a power supply terminal, and is controllable to selectively couple the anode to the power supply terminal in response to an ESD event. The plurality of switches configured to dissipate an ESD current associated with the ESD event and dynamically terminate the unterminated diode string at a node where the ESD current falls below a turn-on threshold of a next P-N junction device in the unterminated diode string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Charles Smith
  • Publication number: 20130218840
    Abstract: A method and system for building a point-in-time snapshot of an eventually-consistent data store. The data store includes key-value pairs stored on a plurality of storage nodes. In one embodiment, the data store is implemented as an Apache® Cassandra database running in the “cloud.” The data store includes a journaling mechanism that stores journals (i.e., inconsistent snapshots) of the data store on each node at various intervals. In Cassandra, these snapshots are sorted string tables that may be copied to a back-up storage location. A cluster of processing nodes may retrieve and resolve the inconsistent snapshots to generate a point-in-time snapshot of the data store corresponding to a lagging consistency point. In addition, the point-in-time snapshot may be updated as any new inconsistent snapshots are generated by the data store such that the lagging consistency point associated with the updated point-in-time snapshot is more recent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Charles SMITH, Jeffrey Magnusson, Siddharth Anand
  • Publication number: 20130119800
    Abstract: A dynamo-electric machine, for example a marine propulsion unit, includes a stator and a rotor in the form of an impeller. The impeller is rim-driven and includes an annular core of ferromagnetic material, on which are provided layers in the form of an environmental enclosure and electrically conductive sleeves. Appropriate selection of the materials and thicknesses of the layers enables the starting and normal running performance of the machine to be optimised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Stephen Mark Husband, Alexander Charles Smith, Paul Tuohy
  • Publication number: 20130027834
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a plurality of terminals, an unterminated diode string formed from a plurality of P-N junction devices arranged in series and coupled to the plurality of terminals, and a plurality of switches. Each of the plurality of switches includes a first terminal coupled to an anode of one of the plurality of P-N junction devices and a second terminal coupled to a power supply terminal, and is controllable to selectively couple the anode to the power supply terminal in response to an ESD event. The plurality of switches configured to dissipate an ESD current associated with the ESD event and dynamically terminate the unterminated diode string at a node where the ESD current falls below a turn-on threshold of a next P-N junction device in the unterminated diode string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Jeremy Charles Smith
  • Patent number: D715172
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Western Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Smith, Thomas Glen Rivard, Robert Williams Nims