Patents by Inventor D. Thomas

D. Thomas 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: 11019248
    Abstract: Example techniques are disclosed for altering trail camera settings when deployed. For example, settings relating to triggering functionality, time lapse functionality, image resolution, motion sensor sensitivity, flash intensity, and other camera functions can be altered. The settings can be altered based on environmental conditions such as weather and ambient noise. The settings can also be altered based on trail camera conditions such as available battery capacity or image storage capacity. The trail camera settings can also be altered based on images obtained by the trail camera, with or without analyzing content of the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventors: Joseph F Hlatky, Steven D Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10994696
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a retractor frame, a spool fixed for common rotation with a spool shaft, a seatbelt webbing wrapped around the spool, a reduction mechanism, and a sensor coupled to the reduction mechanism for sensing the movement of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Mathew L. Nassoiy, Jason L. Hepner
  • Publication number: 20210114489
    Abstract: A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle including a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat, a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element, and a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Eugene J. Lau, Suzanne L. Johansson, Orhan Demirovic
  • Publication number: 20210107420
    Abstract: An occupant classification system comprises a capacitive sensor configured to measure capacitance. The capacitive sensor is at least partially arranged between a seat frame and at least one of a seat cover and a seat cushion of a seat. A sensor is configured to measure at least one of weight and pressure on the seat. The sensor is at least partially arranged between a vehicle structure and a component of the seat. A controller is configured to generate an occupant classification based on the measured capacitance and the at least one of the measured weight and the measured pressure on the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Carl N. Schaub, Scott D. Thomas, Orhan Demirovic, Chad M. O'Brien, Patricia A. McCown
  • Publication number: 20210085008
    Abstract: A wig or hairpiece includes a Swiss lace hair base having a perimeter, a plurality of human hair strands affixed to the Swiss lace hair base, a silk cap, the silk cap being attached to the Swiss lace hair base; and at least one elastic band affixed to the Swiss lace hair base generally proximate the perimeter of the Swiss lace hair base, and in between the Swiss lace hair base and the silk cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventor: Tyanna D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10949659
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting an occupant within a seat of a vehicle. The method includes: obtaining onboard sensor data from at least one occupant detection sensor, wherein the at least one occupant detection sensor is a biometric sensor, and wherein the onboard sensor data includes data extracted from a sensor response of the biometric sensor; determining an occupant presence classification selected from a plurality of occupant presence classifications based on an evaluation of the onboard sensor data, wherein the evaluation is carried out using occupant detection sensor parameters in combination with the onboard sensor data, and wherein the plurality of occupant presence classifications include an occupant not present classification, an occupant spaced away from seat classification, and an occupant directly on seat classification; and carrying out a vehicle action in response to the determined occupant presence classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Chad M. O'Brien, Dorel M. Sala, Tricia E. Morrow
  • Publication number: 20210061550
    Abstract: A tank for bulk material storage and transport and method for producing same. In an embodiment, a tank is provided that includes a shell having a sidewall, a neck including a first collar, and a tube terminating in a second collar. A frustoconical cap may be secured to the first collar. A substantially conical cap may be secured to the second collar. A liner may be applied to the shell so that the liner substantially covers an interior surface of the sidewall, an interior surface of the neck, at least a portion of the first collar, an interior surface of the tube, and at least a portion of the second collar. Annular thickened segments may be trimmed to prepare the tank for use. The annular thickened segments may be located at an interior joint between the frustoconical cap and the first collar, and/or an interior joint between the substantially conical cap and the second collar. The trimming step may form first and second sealing surfaces of the liner adjacent respectively to the first and second collars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: SNYDER INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Darrell A. Oltman, Larry D. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210036998
    Abstract: An apparatus for cloud key management may include a networking interface, a memory, and a processor, coupled to the memory and the networking interface, the networking interface to couple the apparatus to one or more endpoint servers (EPSs) of a cloud service provider (CSP), each EPS including a hardware accelerator, and a management node (MN) of the CSP. The apparatus may further include an accelerator functional unit (AFU) developer interface module operated by the processor to receive cryptographic material (CM) for each of one or more AFU developers (AFUDs) and store it into the memory, the CM includes a public key hash (PKH), and an encryption key (EK) to decrypt an AFU of the AFUD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Brent D. Thomas, Eric Innis, Raghunandan Makaram
  • Publication number: 20210031718
    Abstract: An automobile vehicle airbag assembly includes an airbag body connected to and extending when inflated downward from an overhead vehicle portion. A cushion extending from the airbag body has a first portion which when inflated positioned directly in front of an occupant. A second portion when inflated extends from the first portion and has a lower end aligned to interact with legs of the occupant to limit rotational motion of a lower leg portion of the legs to prevent hyper-extension of at least one knee of the occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Schultz, Scott D. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210016688
    Abstract: An adjustable seat for a vehicle including a first seat section configured to support a lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a second seat section configured to support an upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a third seat section configured to support the torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and the upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a fourth seat section configured to support the lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Mark O. Neal, Louis D. Thole, David Acosta, Chin-Hsu Lin, Yi-Pen Cheng, Scott D. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20200393445
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for identifying compounds that cause structural changes in a protein bound to an actin filament. The methods include the use of cells that include two actin-binding proteins, each labeled with a chromophore, and exposing the cells to a test compound. The method further includes detecting a change in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the chromophores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Adam William Avery, Thomas S. Hays, David D. Thomas, Michael E. Fealey, Robyn T. Rebbeck
  • Patent number: 10865040
    Abstract: A tank for bulk material storage and transport and method for producing same. In an embodiment, a tank is provided that includes a shell having a sidewall, a neck including a first collar, and a tube terminating in a second collar. A frustoconical cap may be secured to the first collar. A substantially conical cap may be secured to the second collar. A liner may be applied to the shell so that the liner substantially covers an interior surface of the sidewall, an interior surface of the neck, at least a portion of the first collar, an interior surface of the tube, and at least a portion of the second collar. Annular thickened segments may be trimmed to prepare the tank for use. The annular thickened segments may be located at an interior joint between the frustoconical cap and the first collar, and/or an interior joint between the substantially conical cap and the second collar. The trimming step may form first and second sealing surfaces of the liner adjacent respectively to the first and second collars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SNYDER INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Darrell A. Oltman, Larry D. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20200364637
    Abstract: A multi-factor risk analysis system may include a resource data store defining, for each of a plurality of resources: a resource identifier, a current resource value, and a resource type. A back-end application computer server may establish a set of risk parameter diversification objectives and determine a set of eligible resources by accessing the resource data store. The server may then calculate a value factor characteristic and a momentum factor characteristic for each of the eligible resources. A set of index resources may be constructed from the set of eligible resources based on the risk parameter diversification objective and a risk optimization process utilizing a weighted value factor characteristic and momentum factor characteristic of each resource. An interactive user interface may then be rendered including indications associated with the constructed set of index resources, the value factor characteristics, and the momentum factor characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Theodore J. Lucas, Dariusz Wojnar, Mark D. Thomas, Scott M. Fitzpatrick, Kylie J. Baker
  • Patent number: 10841288
    Abstract: An apparatus for cloud key management may include a networking interface, a memory, and a processor, coupled to the memory and the networking interface, the networking interface to couple the apparatus to one or more endpoint servers (EPSs) of a cloud service provider (CSP), each EPS including a hardware accelerator, and a management node (MN) of the CSP. The apparatus may further include an accelerator functional unit (AFU) developer interface module operated by the processor to receive cryptographic material (CM) for each of one or more AFU developers (AFUDs) and store it into the memory, the CM includes a public key hash (PKH), and an encryption key (EK) to decrypt an AFU of the AFUD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Brent D. Thomas, Eric Innis, Raghunandan Makaram
  • Patent number: 10822762
    Abstract: A combination pier includes: a pile disposed in a bore hole from the bottom of the bore hole to a desired depth; and a pier disposed in the bore hole from the desired depth to the surface. A method for constructing a combination pier includes: forming a pile in a bore hole from the bottom of the bore hole to a desired depth; and forming a pier from the desired depth to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: PPI ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald D. Thomas, Tommy L. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20200334453
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting an occupant within a seat of a vehicle. The method includes: obtaining onboard sensor data from at least one occupant detection sensor, wherein the at least one occupant detection sensor is a biometric sensor, and wherein the onboard sensor data includes data extracted from a sensor response of the biometric sensor; determining an occupant presence classification selected from a plurality of occupant presence classifications based on an evaluation of the onboard sensor data, wherein the evaluation is carried out using occupant detection sensor parameters in combination with the onboard sensor data, and wherein the plurality of occupant presence classifications include an occupant not present classification, an occupant spaced away from seat classification, and an occupant directly on seat classification; and carrying out a vehicle action in response to the determined occupant presence classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Chad M. O'Brien, Dorel M. Sala, Tricia E. Morrow
  • Publication number: 20200331415
    Abstract: A system for determining when an occupant in a motor vehicle seat and restrained by a seatbelt restraint system has improper posture. The system and method include: a seatbelt buckle sensor, a seatbelt payout sensor, an occupant posture sensor. Moreover, a control module executes code to: determine the presence of the seatbelt latchplate in the seatbelt buckle, determine whether the difference between the first seatbelt payout length when the seatbelt is buckled and the second seatbelt payout length is greater than a seatbelt payout length threshold, compare the image of the occupant to at least one of a stored image and a posture zone when the seatbelt payout length threshold is exceeded, and determine whether the occupant has improper posture based on the comparison of the captured image of the occupant and the at least one of the stored image and the posture zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventor: Scott D. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20200331429
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting seatbelt routing in a motor vehicle safety restraint system for a motor vehicle seat. The system includes a seatbelt buckle sensor, a seatbelt payout sensor, an occupancy sensor, an automatic locking retractor sensor and a control module. The method includes sensing a presence of a seatbelt latchplate in a seatbelt buckle. Further, the method includes sensing a seatbelt payout length. Additionally, the method includes comparing the seatbelt payout length to a first seatbelt payout length threshold. Moreover, the method includes determining seatbelt routing based on whether seatbelt latchplate is present in the seatbelt buckle and the seatbelt payout length is greater than the first seatbelt payout length threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Jeffrey J. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20200331428
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting seatbelt routing in a motor vehicle safety restraint system. The system includes a seatbelt buckle sensor, an occupant sensor, a seatbelt payout sensor, and a control module. The method includes sensing a presence of a seatbelt latchplate in the seatbelt buckle. Further, the method determines whether the seatbelt is buckled. Additionally, the method includes sensing a presence of occupant in a vehicle seat. Moreover, the method further includes determining whether the occupant is detected in the vehicle seat. The method senses a seatbelt payout length and compares the seatbelt payout length to a first seatbelt payout length threshold. Thereafter, the method determines seatbelt routing based on whether the seatbelt is buckled, an occupant is present, and a seatbelt payout length has exceeded the first seatbelt payout length threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventor: Scott D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10809032
    Abstract: A device, comprising a first end cap having a bullet exiting aperture. The device includes a second end cap having an automatic-firing weapon barrel connector. The device includes a tubular sleeve having a main chamber through which a bullet passes, a first end coupled to the first end cap and a second end coupled to the second end cap. The tubular sleeve comprising an insulating liner layer of material configured for sustained temperatures of 1260° C. (2300° F.). The device suppresses sound of a muzzle blast as the bullet passes through the main chamber. A weapon system and method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toby D. Thomas, David L. Hunn, Kenneth W. Havens