Patents by Inventor Charles Hill
Charles Hill 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: 20150087893Abstract: A float tent can include: a frame having a pool frame portion with a tent frame portion thereof over the pool frame portion; a tent having the tent frame portion, the tent having a closable opening; and a pool having the pool frame portion, the pool having pool sides dimensioned to hold at least 8 inches of water and having a pool base dimension sufficient for a person to lay in the pool without touching pool sides. The tent can include tent walls having an angle that inhibits condensation drip, the angle being with respect to the pool base, such as at least 4.5 degrees. The tent can include a material that is opaque. The float tent can include a heater configured to heat the water to skin temperature of the person. The float tent can include a water circulation pump and filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: Zen Float Co. LLCInventors: William Charles Hill, Shane Jospeh Stott, Sean Gale Stott
-
Publication number: 20140358663Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for administering a rewards program in which a discount is offered to participants, and in which individuals redeem earned points at a personalized redemption rate. Points are earned by both shopping and social media activity. The personalized redemption rate is determined according to the activity of a user. The rewards program preferably includes real-time earning of points and real-time price reductions. In certain aspects, the invention provides a method of influencing consumer behavior that includes using a computer system for giving consumers reward points for performing activities, determining a redemption rate for each consumer, offering the consumers a discount on a purchase, and—for each consumer that accepts the offer—depleting that consumer's reward points by an amount inversely proportional to that consumer's redemption rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: XENLULU LLCInventors: Joseph Anthony Wheeler, Brandon Charles Hill
-
Publication number: 20140273575Abstract: An electrical connector for forming a mechanical and electrical coupling with an electrical conductor includes a tubular housing, at least one jaw member, a sealant containment membrane, and a sealant. The tubular housing has a connector axis. The housing defines a conductor receiving opening and an interior cavity each configured to receive the conductor along the connector axis. The at least one jaw member is configured to clamp the conductor within the interior cavity. The sealant containment membrane is disposed in the interior cavity and defines a sealant chamber. The sealant is contained in the sealant chamber in the interior cavity to environmentally protect an electrical contact engagement between the conductor and the electrical connector when the conductor is clamped in the interior cavity by the at least one jaw member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicants: Tyco Electronics Brasil LTDA, Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Edward O'Sullivan, Jose Alexandre La Salvia, Charles Hills, Matthew P. Galla, Mahmoud K. Seraj, George Triantopoulos
-
Publication number: 20140273599Abstract: An electrical connector for forming a mechanical and electrical coupling with an electrical conductor includes a tubular housing, at least one jaw member, a sealant containment membrane, and a sealant. The tubular housing has a connector axis. The housing defines a conductor receiving opening and an interior cavity each configured to receive the conductor along the connector axis. The at least one jaw member is configured to clamp the conductor within the interior cavity. The sealant containment membrane is disposed in the interior cavity and defines a sealant chamber. The sealant is contained in the sealant chamber in the interior cavity to environmentally protect an electrical contact engagement between the conductor and the electrical connector when the conductor is clamped in the interior cavity by the at least one jaw member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicants: Tyco Electronics Brasil LTDA, Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Edward O'Sullivan, Jose Alexandre La Salvia, Charles Hills, Matthew P. Galla, Mahmoud K. Seraj, George Triantopoulos
-
Patent number: 8749559Abstract: Technologies are described herein for generating a binary transition file. Multiple animation structures may be generated in the binary transition file. The animation structures may define a sequence of three-dimensional meshes. A header portion may also be generated in the binary transition file. The header portion may define slides that are applied to the three-dimensional meshes to produce a transition between the slides. A presentation program application may be modified with the binary transition file, thereby adapting the presentation program application to provide the transition.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher Maloney, Ryan Charles Hill
-
Publication number: 20130106888Abstract: While delivering a presentation, content within the presentation may be zoomed and/or panned. Presenters may freely zoom content during their presentation, including during the times when animations, transitions, and/or multimedia is playing. The zoomed content may also be interacted with (e.g. selecting hyperlinks, adding annotations). The content to zoom may be an object within the slide (e.g. table, chart, picture, . . . ) and/or a selection of a portion of the slide. The zoomed content may appear in a different portion of the display after zooming (e.g. content that is zoomed may be centered within the display). The content to zoom may be set on a secondary display before zooming the content presented to the audience. A different rendering method may be used to present the zoomed content. A spotlight animation effect may be used to zoom specific objects to fill the front and center of the display during presentation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2011Publication date: May 2, 2013Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Nathan Robert Penner, Ryan Charles Hill
-
Publication number: 20130097552Abstract: A presentation program provides an authoring tool allowing users to indicate animation sequences to be applied to an object in a document for purposes of creating or editing animation sequences. The user can directly manipulate the object on an editing pane, and the manipulations are interpreted as applying an animation class type. Different animation effects can be further associated with object for the particular animation class type. The user can select a particular animation effect and define the layout as a key frame that defines the animation sequence to be applied to the object at a given time during playback. The user can further manipulate the object and define subsequent key frames, and upon playback, the presentation program will interpolate the locations of the object between key frames as necessary. The user can further define the time period between key frames that is to be applied during playback.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Shawn Alan Villaron, Hannes Ruescher, Jeffrey Edwin Murray, Jeffrey Chao-Nan Chen, Andreas Markus Scheidegger, Christopher Michael Maloney, Ryan Charles Hill
-
Patent number: 8366303Abstract: The present invention provides an automotive interior lamp assembly mounted to an automotive headliner further including a curtain side airbag mounted about the headliner. As the curtain side airbag quickly deploys and forces through the vehicle headliner, the lamp assembly can be forcibly detached from the headliner at a high rate of speed. The present invention provides an improved retainer to better attach the light assembly to the headliner thereby preventing detachment of the lamp assembly from the headliner. The lamp assembly includes a lamp housing having a lamp receiving configured to accept a lamp. The housing further includes a retainer receiving side configured to accept a retainer. The retainer attached to the housing by means of a plurality of attachment members provided on the retainer, and at least one snap member also provided on the retainer. The housing has a plurality of attachment member receiving cavities and at least one snap member receiving cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Adam Michael Ludwig, Jeff Charles Hills, Jim Scheerhorn
-
Publication number: 20120306851Abstract: Technologies are described herein for generating a binary transition file. Multiple animation structures may be generated in the binary transition file. The animation structures may define a sequence of three-dimensional meshes. A header portion may also be generated in the binary transition file. The header portion may define slides that are applied to the three-dimensional meshes to produce a transition between the slides. A presentation program application may be modified with the binary transition file, thereby adapting the presentation program application to provide the transition.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Christopher Maloney, Ryan Charles Hill
-
Patent number: 8240750Abstract: An air duct system which mates an air duct attached to the roof of an automotive vehicle and an air duct attached to a nonexposed surface of a headliner is provided. The air duct system is attached to an air supply which delivers directed air and is disposed between an inner surface of the roof and the nonexposed surface of the headliner. The headliner includes an opening into the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The air duct system includes a first air duct and a second air duct. The first air duct is attached to the inner surface of the roof, and the second air duct is attached to the nonexposed surface of the headliner. Upon installation of the headliner to the roof a portal on the first air duct registers with a portal on the second air duct so as to provide an air flow passage between said first air duct and said second air duct.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2009Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Adam Michael Ludwig, Jeff Charles Hills, Donald Federico
-
Patent number: 8141940Abstract: A headliner assembly for covering an inner surface of an automotive vehicle roof having an opening is provided. The headliner assembly includes a dimensionally stable substrate having an upper surface facing the inner surface of the roof, and an opposite lower surface. The substrate is secured to the opening of the roof at an attachment point. A reinforcement member having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface fixedly secured to the top surface of the substrate. The reinforcement member is disposed adjacent the attachment point to provide additional rigidity to a region of the substrate surrounding the attachment point.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Adam Michael Ludwig, Jeff Charles Hills
-
Publication number: 20110127803Abstract: An air duct system which mates an air duct attached to the roof of an automotive vehicle and an air duct attached to a nonexposed surface of a headliner is provided. The air duct system is attached to an air supply which delivers directed air and is disposed between an inner surface of the roof and the nonexposed surface of the headliner. The headliner includes an opening into the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The air duct system includes a first air duct and a second air duct. The first air duct is attached to the inner surface of the roof, and the second air duct is attached to the nonexposed surface of the headliner. Upon installation of the headliner to the roof a portal on the first air duct registers with a portal on the second air duct so as to provide an air flow passage between said first air duct and said second air duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2009Publication date: June 2, 2011Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Johnson Controls, Inc.Inventors: Adam Michael Ludwig, Jeff Charles Hills, Donald Federico
-
Publication number: 20110128749Abstract: The present invention provides an automotive interior lamp assembly mounted to an automotive headliner further including a curtain side airbag mounted about the headliner. As the curtain side airbag quickly deploys and forces through the vehicle headliner, the lamp assembly can be forcibly detached from the headliner at a high rate of speed. The present invention provides an improved retainer to better attach the light assembly to the headliner thereby preventing detachment of the lamp assembly from the headliner. The lamp assembly includes a lamp housing having a lamp receiving configured to accept a lamp. The housing further includes a retainer receiving side configured to accept a retainer. The retainer attached to the housing by means of a plurality of attachment members provided on the retainer, and at least one snap member also provided on the retainer. The housing has a plurality of attachment member receiving cavities and at least one snap member receiving cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2009Publication date: June 2, 2011Inventors: Adam Michael Ludwig, Jeff Charles Hills, Jim Scheerhorn
-
Publication number: 20110127805Abstract: A headliner assembly for covering an inner surface of an automotive vehicle roof having an opening is provided. The headliner assembly includes a dimensionally stable substrate having an upper surface facing the inner surface of the roof, and an opposite lower surface. The substrate is secured to the opening of the roof at an attachment point. A reinforcement member having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface fixedly secured to the top surface of the substrate. The reinforcement member is disposed adjacent the attachment point to provide additional rigidity to a region of the substrate surrounding the attachment point.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2009Publication date: June 2, 2011Inventors: Adam Michael Ludwig, Jeff Charles Hills
-
Patent number: 7885429Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a system and a method for determining whether a person is carrying concealed contraband, such as an improvised explosives device or other weapon. The system includes a people tracking video subsystem, a people tracking decisioning subsystem, a concealed contraband detection aiming subsystem, and a concealed contraband detection decisioning subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Peter Henry Tu, Kai Erik Thomenius, Nils Oliver Krahnstoever, Jens Rittscher, John Charles Hill, Jr., Gianfranco Doretto, Thomas Baby Sebastian, Jeffrey Michael Ashe
-
Patent number: 7844030Abstract: A system includes a generator configured to output at least one voltage level and an x-ray source configured to generate x-rays directed toward an object. The system includes a module coupled to the output of the generator and to an input of the x-ray source and configured to switch or assist in switching an output to the x-ray source between a first voltage level and a second voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Colin R. Wilson, Antonio Caiafa, John Charles Hill, Samit Kumar Basu, Pierfrancesco Landolfi, Peter Michael Edic
-
Publication number: 20100293470Abstract: A computing system provides a graphical user interface having hierarchically-organized control galleries. The computing system displays the graphical user interface on a display device. The graphical user interface contains a document area and a control ribbon. The document area contains at least a portion of a document that a user is editing. The control ribbon includes a class control gallery. The class control gallery includes a plurality of class controls associated with different classes of related commands. The computing system displays a variation control gallery containing variation controls in a class associated with a selected one of the class controls. In response to a selection of a variation control in the variation control gallery, the computing system applies a command associated with the variation control to a document in the document area.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2009Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIOINInventors: Jason Xiaobo Zhao, Julie Ann Guinn, Ryan Charles Hill, Mark Pearson
-
Patent number: 7706499Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for acquiring and reconstructing projection data using a computed tomography (CT) system having stationary distributed X-ray sources and detector arrays. In one embodiment, a non-sequential activation of X-ray source locations on an annular source is employed to acquire projection data. In another embodiment, a distributed source is tilted relative to an axis of the scanner to acquire the projection data. In a further embodiment, a plurality of X-ray source locations on an annular source are activated such that the aggregated signals correspond to two or more sets of spatially interleaved helical scan data.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jed Douglas Pack, Zhye Yin, Samit Kumar Basu, John Charles Hill, Peter Michael Edic
-
Publication number: 20100039777Abstract: A microelectronic package is provided. The microelectronic package includes a substrate, a die coupled to a top surface of the substrate and a integrated heat spreader thermally coupled to the die, wherein the integrated heat spreader comprises integrated heat spreader walls. The microelectronic package also includes a thermal interface material disposed between the die and the integrated heat spreader and an underfill material disposed between the integrated heat spreader and the substrate, wherein the underfill material is disposed within gaps between the integrated heat spreader walls, the die and the thermal interface material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Inventors: Sabina Houle, Daewoong Suh, Charles Hill
-
Publication number: 20090245467Abstract: A system includes a generator configured to output at least one voltage level and an x-ray source configured to generate x-rays directed toward an object. The system includes a module coupled to the output of the generator and to an input of the x-ray source and configured to switch or assist in switching an output to the x-ray source between a first voltage level and a second voltage level.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2008Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Colin R. Wilson, Antonio Caiafa, John Charles Hill, Samit Kumar Basu, Pierfrancesco Landolfi, Peter Michael Edic