Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Burton

Christopher A. Burton 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: 20230270288
    Abstract: A lock member includes a housing, a movement body, and an elastic member. The housing includes an open groove at an inner wall of the housing. A bottom of the open groove is provided with a movement surface. An end of the movement surface proximal to an opening of the open groove is a locking end, and an end of the movement surface distal to the opening of the open groove is an unlocking end. The movement body is provided in the open groove and moveable along the movement surface. The elastic member is provided in the open groove and configured to maintain the movement body at the locking end or the unlocking end of the movement surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher BURTON, Qingchu HUANG, Jianfei XU
  • Publication number: 20220163218
    Abstract: A cooking utensil includes a body, the body having an infrared heating member; an infrared wave-transmitting separator, the infrared wave-transmitting separator includes a first side surface provided facing the infrared heating member and a second side surface provided facing away from the infrared heating member, and at least a part of the first side surface being not coplanar with another part of the first side surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher BURTON, Zujing DU, Jian WU, Huaqiao CHEN
  • Patent number: 10866115
    Abstract: An activity monitoring device accumulates a count of steps taken as an individual bearing the activity monitoring device travels by foot along a route, and wirelessly acquires positioning data from a discrete global-positioning device corresponding to a sequence of locations along the route. The activity monitoring device iteratively revises an estimated stride length of the individual based on the positioning data and the step count and iteratively updates a travel distance on a display of the activity monitoring device according to the step count and the estimated stride length as the individual proceeds from one location in the sequence to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Shelten Gee Jao Yuen, Timothy M. Roberts, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton
  • Publication number: 20200353018
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for reducing the carriage of antibiotic resistance genes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Seres Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Burton FORD, Jessica BRYANT, Edward J. O'BRIEN
  • Publication number: 20190186949
    Abstract: An activity monitoring device accumulates a count of steps taken as an individual bearing the activity monitoring device travels by foot along a route, and wirelessly acquires positioning data from a discrete global-positioning device corresponding to a sequence of locations along the route. The activity monitoring device iteratively revises an estimated stride length of the individual based on the positioning data and the step count and iteratively updates a travel distance on a display of the activity monitoring device according to the step count and the estimated stride length as the individual proceeds from one location in the sequence to the next.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Shelten Gee Jao Yuen, Timothy M. Roberts, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton
  • Patent number: 10132645
    Abstract: An activity monitoring device accumulates a count of steps taken as an individual bearing the activity monitoring device travels by foot along a route, and wirelessly acquires positioning data from a discrete global-positioning device corresponding to a sequence of locations along the route. The activity monitoring device iteratively revises an estimated stride length of the individual based on the positioning data and the step count and iteratively updates a travel distance on a display of the activity monitoring device according to the step count and the estimated stride length as the individual proceeds from one location in the sequence to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Shelten Gee Jao Yuen, Timothy M. Roberts, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton
  • Patent number: 9897302
    Abstract: An LED-based lamp assembly for use with a light fixture having a socket portion including a driver assembly having a base portion rotateably engageable with the socket portion to make a first electrical contact with the light fixture. The base portion is coupled to a driver housing. The driver assembly includes an electrically conductive tip portion coupled to the base portion. The tip portion is engageable with the socket portion to make a second electrical contact with the light fixture wherein the tip portion and driver housing are moveable relative to each other when the tip portion is in the second electrical contact with the socket portion. The driver assembly includes first electrical contacts. A lamp housing assembly is operably connected to the driver assembly. The lamp housing assembly includes second electrical contacts operatively connected to the first electrical contacts of the driver assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Differential Energy Products, LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Flaherty, Christopher A. Burton, Phil Ahrens
  • Patent number: 9655053
    Abstract: A notification signal, intended to be received by a wireless communication device, is repetitively broadcast by a portable activity-monitoring device that generates user-activity data corresponding to activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device. The notification signal conveys information that identifies the portable activity-monitoring device and indicates whether or not the portable activity-monitoring device seeks establishment of a wireless communication link to enable transmission of the user-activity data to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: FITBIT, INC.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Publication number: 20160227484
    Abstract: A notification signal, intended to be received by a wireless communication device, is repetitively broadcast by a portable activity-monitoring device that generates user-activity data corresponding to activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device. The notification signal conveys information that identifies the portable activity-monitoring device and indicates whether or not the portable activity-monitoring device seeks establishment of a wireless communication link to enable transmission of the user-activity data to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Patent number: 9286792
    Abstract: A notification signal, intended to be received by a wireless communication device, is repetitively broadcast by a portable activity-monitoring device that generates user-activity data corresponding to activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device. The notification signal conveys information that identifies the portable activity-monitoring device and indicates whether or not the portable activity-monitoring device seeks establishment of a wireless communication link to enable transmission of the user-activity data to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Patent number: 9063164
    Abstract: In a portable activity-monitoring device, an instruction to display information regarding activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device is received via a user-interface. In response to the instruction to display information, a command is wirelessly transmitted to a discrete data-collection device requesting the discrete data-collection device to collect data via one or more sensors thereof and to convey the collected data to the portable activity-monitoring device. Thereafter, the portable activity-monitoring device wirelessly receives the collected data from the discrete data-collection device and displays the information regarding activity of the individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device, the displayed information being based, at least in part, on the collected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Shelten Gee Jao Yuen, Timothy M. Roberts, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton
  • Patent number: 9003789
    Abstract: An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A thermal conduction element may be in direct contact with the SMA material, where the thermal conduction element is configured to receive thermal energy from the hot region and to transfer a portion of the received thermal energy to the SMA material through conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Paul W. Alexander, John Andrew Shaw, Christopher Burton Churchill, Andrew C. Keefe, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Guillermo A. Herrera, Nilesh D. Mankame, Richard J. Skurkis, Wayne Brown
  • Publication number: 20150042490
    Abstract: A notification signal, intended to be received by a wireless communication device, is repetitively broadcast by a portable activity-monitoring device that generates user-activity data corresponding to activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device. The notification signal conveys information that identifies the portable activity-monitoring device and indicates whether or not the portable activity-monitoring device seeks establishment of a wireless communication link to enable transmission of the user-activity data to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Publication number: 20150009671
    Abstract: An LED-based lamp assembly for use with a light fixture having a socket portion including a driver assembly having a base portion rotateably engageable with the socket portion to make a first electrical contact with the light fixture. The base portion is coupled to a driver housing. The driver assembly includes an electrically conductive tip portion coupled to the base portion. The tip portion is engageable with the socket portion to make a second electrical contact with the light fixture wherein the tip portion and driver housing are moveable relative to each other when the tip portion is in the second electrical contact with the socket portion. The driver assembly includes first electrical contacts. A lamp housing assembly is operably connected to the driver assembly. The lamp housing assembly includes second electrical contacts operatively connected to the first electrical contacts of the driver assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Richard A. Flaherty, Christopher A. Burton, Phil Ahrens
  • Patent number: 8892749
    Abstract: A notification signal, intended to be received by a wireless communication device, is repetitively broadcast by a portable activity-monitoring device that generates user-activity data corresponding to activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device. The notification signal conveys information that identifies the portable activity-monitoring device and indicates whether or not the portable activity-monitoring device seeks establishment of a wireless communication link to enable transmission of the user-activity data to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Patent number: 8882297
    Abstract: An LED-based lamp assembly with a driver assembly having a base portion rotatably engageable with the socket of a light fixture to make a first electrical contact with the light fixture. The driver assembly makes electrical contact with the light fixture. A lamp housing assembly operably connected to the driver assembly has a lamp housing connected to the driver assembly. The lamp housing is coupled to an integrated circuitry arrangement with at least one LED light thereon. The integrated circuitry arrangement is connected to, or is an integral part of, a heat sink that carries heat away from the substrate and/or LED light. The heat sink and the integrated circuitry arrangement have apertures hat allows heated air from the heat sink to pass therethrough and away from the LED light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Differential Energy Products, LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Flaherty, Christopher A. Burton, Phil Ahrens
  • Patent number: 8845132
    Abstract: An LED-based lamp assembly with a driver assembly having a base portion rotateably engageable with the socket of a light fixture to make a first electrical contact with the light fixture. The driver assembly has an electrically conductive, retractable tip portion coupled to the base portion and that makes a second electrical contact with the light fixture. The tip portion retracts relative to the base when in electrical contact with the light fixture's socket portion. A lamp housing assembly operably connected to the driver assembly has a lamp housing connected to the driver assembly. The lamp housing is coupled to at least one substrate having at least one LED light thereon. The substrate is connected to, or is an integral part of, a heat sink that carries heat away from the substrate and/or LED light. The lamp housing assembly is rotatable relative to the light fixture to adjust the angular position of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Differential Energy Products, LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Flaherty, Christopher A. Burton, Phil Ahrens
  • Patent number: 8844281
    Abstract: A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes a first wire, a second wire, and a matrix joining the first wire and the second wire. The first wire and the second wire are in contact with the pulleys, but the matrix is not in contact with the pulleys. A timing cable is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy, Inc, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, John Andrew Shaw, Christopher Burton Churchill, Andrew C. Keefe, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Paul W. Alexander, Guillermo A. Herrera, James Ryan Yates, Jeffrey W. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140232558
    Abstract: A notification signal, intended to be received by a wireless communication device, is repetitively broadcast by a portable activity-monitoring device that generates user-activity data corresponding to activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device. The notification signal conveys information that identifies the portable activity-monitoring device and indicates whether or not the portable activity-monitoring device seeks establishment of a wireless communication link to enable transmission of the user-activity data to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Patent number: 8800283
    Abstract: A shape memory alloy (SMA) heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley, a second rotatable pulley, and an SMA material disposed about the first and second rotatable pulleys and between a hot region and a cold region. A method of starting and operating the SMA heat engine includes detecting a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region using a controller, decoupling an electrical generator from one of the first and second rotatable pulleys, monitoring a speed of the SMA material about the first and second rotatable pulleys, and re-engaging the driven component if the monitored speed of the SMA material exceeds a threshold. The SMA material may selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and between the hot region and the cold region to convert the thermal gradient into mechanical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Paul W. Alexander, John Andrew Shaw, Christopher Burton Churchill, Andrew C. Keefe, Guillermo A. Herrera, Jeffrey W Brown, Richard J. Skurkis