Patents by Inventor Colin Roberts
Colin Roberts 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).
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Patent number: 10085094Abstract: A MEMS transducer structure comprises a substrate comprising a cavity. A membrane layer is supported relative to the substrate to provide a flexible membrane. A peripheral edge of the cavity defines at least one perimeter region that is convex with reference to the center of the cavity. The peripheral edge of the cavity may further define at least one perimeter region that is concave with reference to the center of the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Scott Lyall Cargill, Colin Robert Jenkins, Euan James Boyd
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Patent number: 9994440Abstract: The application describes improvements to (MEMS) transducers (100) having a flexible membrane (301) with a membrane electrode (302), especially where the membrane is crystalline or polycrystalline and the membrane electrode is metal or a metal alloy. Such transducers may typically include a back-plate having at least one back-plate layer (304) coupled to a back-plate electrode (303), with a plurality of holes (314) in the back-plate electrode corresponding to a plurality back-plate holes (312) through the back-plate. In embodiments of the invention the membrane electrode has at least one opening (313) in the membrane electrode wherein, at least part of the area of the opening corresponds to the area of at least one back-plate hole, in a direction normal to the membrane, and there is no hole in the flexible membrane at said opening in the membrane electrode. There may be a plurality of such openings. The openings effectively allow a reduction in the amount of membrane electrode material, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Colin Robert Jenkins, Tsjerk Hoekstra, Scott Cargill
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Publication number: 20180152792Abstract: A MEMS transducer comprising: a flexible membrane, the flexible membrane comprising a first membrane electrode; a back plate, the back plate comprising a first back plate electrode; wherein the back plate is supported in a spaced relation with respect to the flexible membrane. The MEMS transducer is configured to provide electrical connections to the first membrane electrode and the first back plate electrode. The flexible membrane further comprises a second membrane electrode, the second membrane electrode being electrically isolated from the first membrane electrode, wherein the first membrane electrode and the second membrane electrode are arranged to reduce variation in electrostatic forces across the flexible membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2017Publication date: May 31, 2018Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Tsjerk Hans HOEKSTRA, Axel THOMSEN, Colin Robert JENKINS, Aleksey Sergeyevich KHENKIN
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Publication number: 20180089503Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for authenticating a user of a computing device. The system comprises one or more memory devices storing instructions, and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to provide, to a computing device associated with a user, an indication of a prescribed authentication parameter. The system also receives image data including an image of the user of the computing device captured using an image sensor of the computing device. The system determines an identity of the user based on an analysis of the received image data, determines whether the received image data includes a feature corresponding to the prescribed authentication parameter, and authenticates the user based at least in part on whether the received image data includes the feature corresponding to the prescribed authentication parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventor: Colin Robert MacDonald
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Publication number: 20180050900Abstract: The application describes a MEMS transducer comprising a layer of conductive material provided on a surface of a layer of membrane material. The layer of conductive material comprises first and second regions, wherein the thickness and/or the conductivity of the/each first and second regions is different.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Stephen DUFFY, Colin Robert JENKINS, Tsjerk Hans HOEKSTRA
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Publication number: 20180044167Abstract: The application describes improvements to (MEMS) transducers (100) having a flexible membrane (301) with a membrane electrode (302), especially where the membrane is crystalline or polycrystalline and the membrane electrode is metal or a metal alloy. Such transducers may typically include a back-plate having at least one back-plate layer (304) coupled to a back-plate electrode (303), with a plurality of holes (314) in the back-plate electrode corresponding to a plurality back-plate holes (312) through the back-plate. In embodiments of the invention the membrane electrode has at least one opening (313) in the membrane electrode wherein, at least part of the area of the opening corresponds to the area of at least one back-plate hole, in a direction normal to the membrane, and there is no hole in the flexible membrane at said opening in the membrane electrode. There may be a plurality of such openings. The openings effectively allow a reduction in the amount of membrane electrode material, e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Colin Robert JENKINS, Tsjerk HOEKSTRA, Scott CARGILL
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Publication number: 20180035190Abstract: This application relates to MEMS devices, especially MEMS capacitive transducers and to processes for forming such MEMS transducer that provide increased robustness and resilience to acoustic shock. The application describes a MEMS transducer (400) having at least one membrane layer (101) supported so as to define a flexible membrane. A strengthening layer (401; 701) is mechanically coupled to the membrane layer and is disposed around the majority of a peripheral area of the flexible membrane but does not extend over the whole flexible membrane. The strengthening layer, which in some embodiments may be formed from the same material as the membrane electrode (102) being disposed in the peripheral area helps reduce stress in membrane at locations that otherwise may be highly stressed in acoustic shock situations. The membrane may be supported over a substrate cavity and the strengthening layer may be provided in an area of the membrane that could make contact with the edge (202) of the substrate cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Tsjerk HOEKSTRA, Colin Robert JENKINS
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Publication number: 20180002160Abstract: The application describes MEMS transducer structures comprising a membrane structure having a flexible membrane layer and at least one electrode layer. The electrode layer is spaced from the flexible membrane layer such that at least one air volume extends between the material of the electrode layer and the membrane layer. The electrode layer is supported relative to the flexible membrane by means of a support structure which extends between the first electrode layer and the flexible membrane layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Marek Sebastian PIECHOCINSKI, Colin Robert JENKINS, Clive Robert GRAHAM
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Publication number: 20180002161Abstract: The present application describes MEMS transducer having a membrane and a membrane electrode. The membrane and membrane electrode form a two-layer structure. The membrane electrode is in the form of a lattice of conductive material. The pitch of the lattice and/or the size of the openings varies from a central region of the membrane electrode to a region laterally outside the central region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Colin Robert JENKINS, Scott Lyall CARGILL, Clive Robert GRAHAM
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Publication number: 20180007474Abstract: A MEMS transducer structure comprises a substrate comprising a cavity. A membrane layer is supported relative to the substrate to provide a flexible membrane. A peripheral edge of the cavity defines at least one perimeter region that is convex with reference to the center of the cavity. The peripheral edge of the cavity may further define at least one perimeter region that is concave with reference to the center of the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Scott Lyall CARGILL, Colin Robert JENKINS, Euan James BOYD
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Publication number: 20180002159Abstract: The application describes MEMS transducer having a flexible membrane and which seeks to alleviate and/or redistribute stresses within the membrane layer. A membrane having a first/active region and a second/inactive region is described.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Scott Lyall CARGILL, Colin Robert JENKINS, Euan James BOYD, Richard Ian LAMING
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Publication number: 20180002168Abstract: The application describes MEMS transducer having a flexible membrane and which seeks to alleviate and/or redistribute stresses within the membrane layer. A membrane having a first/active region and a second/inactive region is described.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Scott Lyall CARGILL, Colin Robert JENKINS, Euan James BOYD, Richard Ian LAMING
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Publication number: 20170359658Abstract: A MEMS capacitive transducer with increased robustness and resilience to acoustic shock. The transducer structure includes a flexible membrane supported between a first volume and a second volume, and at least one variable vent structure in communication with at least one of the first and second volumes. The variable vent structure includes at least one moveable portion which is moveable in response to a pressure differential across the moveable portion so as to vary the size of a flow path through the vent structure. The variable vent may be formed through the membrane and the moveable portion may be a part of the membrane, defined by one or more channels, that is deflectable away from the surface of the membrane. The variable vent is preferably closed in the normal range of pressure differentials but opens at high pressure differentials to provide more rapid equalisation of the air volumes above and below the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Colin Robert Jenkins, Tsjerk Hans Hoekstra, Euan James Boyd
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Patent number: 9842250Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for authenticating a user of a computing device. The system comprises one or more memory devices storing instructions, and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to provide, to a computing device associated with a user, an indication of a prescribed authentication parameter. The system also receives image data including an image of the user of the computing device captured using an image sensor of the computing device. The system determines an identity of the user based on an analysis of the received image data, determines whether the received image data includes a feature corresponding to the prescribed authentication parameter, and authenticates the user based at least in part on whether the received image data includes the feature corresponding to the prescribed authentication parameter.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: CAPITAL ONE SERVICES, LLCInventor: Colin Robert MacDonald
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Patent number: 9840621Abstract: The present disclosure relates, at least in part, to compositions comprising lignocellulosic biomass and an organic solvent wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises 35% or greater of lignin material. The present disclosure relates, at least in part, to compositions comprising lignocellulosic biomass and an organic solvent wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises 50% or less of carbohydrate. In certain embodiments the present compositions may have a viscosity of 5000 cps or less.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Fibria Innovations Inc.Inventors: Colin Robert South, Mikhail Yurevich Balakshin, Ewellyn Capanema
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Patent number: 9823107Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a system for insulating a flow meter that includes a thermal tube sensor housing. The thermal tube sensor housing may include a housing cavity that holds a sensor tube, a temperature sensor, and a heater for determining a flow rate of a fluid. In some embodiments, the heater imparts thermal energy onto the sensor tube. In some embodiments, the housing cavity additionally holds an insulator for reducing leakage of the heat from the housing cavity. In still some embodiments, the insulator includes a plurality of beads and a binder material.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Alicat Scientific, Inc.Inventors: Neil W. Hartman, Colin A. Roberts, Marcus A. Mitchell
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Patent number: 9820025Abstract: This application relates to MEMS devices, especially MEMS capacitive transducers and to processes for forming such MEMS transducer that provide increased robustness and resilience to acoustic shock. The application describes a MEMS transducer (400) having at least one membrane layer (101) supported so as to define a flexible membrane. A strengthening layer (401; 701) is mechanically coupled to the membrane layer and is disposed around the majority of a peripheral area of the flexible membrane but does not extend over the whole flexible membrane. The strengthening layer, which in some embodiments may be formed from the same material as the membrane electrode (102) being disposed in the peripheral area helps reduce stress in membrane at locations that otherwise may be highly stressed in acoustic shock situations. The membrane may be supported over a substrate cavity and the strengthening layer may be provided in an area of the membrane that could make contact with the edge (202) of the substrate cavity.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Tsjerk Hoekstra, Colin Robert Jenkins
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Patent number: 9791307Abstract: Embodiments described herein include systems and methods for detecting flow of a fluid. One embodiment of a system includes a flow body, a thermal tube sensor housing, and a computing device. In some embodiments, the flow body includes an inlet for receiving the fluid and an outlet for expelling the fluid, the thermal tube sensor housing includes a sensor tube that includes a first connection portion and a second connection portion, and the sensor tube is configured with a cross position where a first portion of the sensor tube crosses paths with a second portion of the sensor tube, reducing a thermo-siphoning effect.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Alicat Scientific, Inc.Inventors: Neil W. Hartman, Colin A. Roberts, Marcus A. Mitchell
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Patent number: D809363Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Fiskars Brands, Inc.Inventors: Steven Stokes, Colin Roberts
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Patent number: D821841Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Fiskars Brands, Inc.Inventors: Aaron Honadel, Colin Roberts, Steve Stokes