Patents by Inventor Donald A. Henry

Donald A. Henry 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: 20090121560
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for building a component for an electrical rotating machine and comprises: providing powdered magnetic material; providing electrically conductive material; positioning the powdered magnetic material and the electrically conductive material within a mold functional to provide the materials with the required dimensions after application of a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) procedure; and applying at least one HIP procedure to the materials in the mold. Temperatures and pressures of the process are chosen to ensure that the electrically conducting and magnetic portions of the component are bonded without the materials seeping into each other. In one aspect the present invention thus provides a method for building small compact motor systems using motor components formed from pressed powder. A technical advantage of this approach is that the component has uniform grain structure and thus consistent magnetic and structural properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Jonathan Sidney Edelson, Maynard Leo Stangeland, Donald Henry Morris, Robert Lincoln Carman, JR.
  • Patent number: 7519266
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating picture artifacts in a video media system is provided wherein a video recorder, responsive to a trick mode command, iteratively transmits one or more frames in a video signal recorded under an interlaced scanning format for display on a display device. The video signal can include a predetermined number of replicate frames associated with the frames. Moreover, structure can be provided for selectively altering the video signal to indicate the video signal was recorded under a progressive scanning format thereby causing one or more pairs of the interlaced fields associated with the frames in the recorded video signal to be simultaneously displayed on the display device. Displaying interlaced fields simultaneously during trick mode playback eliminates an artifact known as the vibration effect. In one embodiment, the structure can alter the video signal by setting the value of one or more flags in the video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Donald Henry Willis, Shu Lin
  • Patent number: 7505517
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and system for generating a dummy bidirectional predictive (dummy B) field picture. The method includes the steps of setting at least a portion of a first indicator of the dummy B field picture to indicate that no encoding of a residual signal will occur and setting at least a portion of a second indicator of the dummy B field picture to indicate that the dummy B field picture will be predicted from at least one field among a first field and a last field of a reference picture to control a vibration artifact. The dummy B field picture can be a forward or a backward predicted field picture, and the at least one field from which the dummy B field picture is predicted can be a first or last field of the reference picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Thomsong Licensing
    Inventors: Shu Lin, Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7495642
    Abstract: A field sequential pulse width modulated display system comprises a digital micromirror device (DMD) having a plurality of micromirrors that each selectively pivot to reflect light onto a screen to illuminate a corresponding pixel. A driver circuit controls the DMD responsive to sequences of pulse width segments formed by a processor. The processor actuates at least one pulse in a first pulse width segment for a given color to increase pixel brightness with a range lying between first and second pixel brightness values. To further increase pixel brightness, the processor actuates at least one pulse within additional pulse width segments associated with the same given color to increase pixel brightness above the second brightness boundary. The pulses within the additional segments are actuated unequally so that the additional pulse width segments closest in time to the first segment (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7495640
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing sparkle artifacts (10) in a liquid crystal imager includes a device (16) for gamma correcting a video drive signal for providing a gamma corrected video drive signal and a slew rate limiter (22) for slew rate limiting the gamma corrected video drive signal. The apparatus also includes a deinterlacer (12) and a color space converter (14) for color space converting a deinterlaced video drive signal, wherein the device for gamma correcting corrects the color space converted video drive signal. One or more of the video drive signals, for example R, G and B, is slew rate limited after gamma correction to limit the difference in brightness levels between adjacent pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7411573
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for reducing the effect of column memory. The method includes the steps of activating one of a plurality of row electrodes, selectively applying a video input signal to a plurality of column electrodes, and setting at least one of the plurality of column electrodes to a substantially constant voltage prior to activating a subsequent row electrode. In one arrangement, the substantially constant voltage can correlate to a flat field. The method can also include repeating the steps of activating one of the plurality of row electrodes step, selectively applying the video input signal step, and setting at least one of the plurality of column electrodes to the substantially constant voltage step in which the steps can be performed in a liquid crystal on silicon imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7407283
    Abstract: A goggle lens comprises a first surface (210) and a second surface (220) separated by a thickness (230, 240) of the goggle lens. The goggle lens is made up of a central region (121), a first lateral region (122) on a first side of the central region, and a second lateral region (123) on an opposite side of the central region. The first surface of the goggle lens is a portion of a first ellipse (211) and the second surface of the goggle lens is a portion of a second ellipse (221). The goggle lens complies with at least one of a MIL-PRF-31013 standard, a EA-L-1381B standard, and a FNS/PD 86-20 standard, all of which define particular specifications for impact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Fosta-Tek Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph John James Babineau, James Raymond LeBlanc, Aaron Ryan Cyr, Donald Henry Salafia, Paul Isabelle
  • Publication number: 20080122992
    Abstract: Within a sequential display system, an apparatus performs motion adaptive processing of a pixel signal that controls the illumination of a corresponding pixel. The apparatus determines from the pixel signal whether motion has occurred for at least a predetermined duration. If not, the apparatus processes the pixel signal to cause a substantially uniform distribution of illumination throughout the picture period for the associated pixel. Otherwise, if motion has occurred for more than the predetermined duration, the apparatus processes the pixel signal to cause a substantial confinement of illumination to a limited interval of the picture period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicants: THOMSON LICENSING S.A., THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7379123
    Abstract: To sequentially display pictures in a television signal, a first picture is separated into sets of red, green and blue segments, with each segment of each color interleaved with the segments of the other colors in a first sequence for display in that sequence. Each successive picture is likewise separated into sets of red, green and blue segments, which each segment of each color interleaved with the segments of the other colors in a shifted sequence for display in that sequence. Shifting the color sequence of the segments of each successive picture among the primary colors so at least the first and last segment of the occurrence of motion artifacts that manifest themselves as a color distortion at the leading and trailing edges of a moving object followed by a viewer's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7379656
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for encoding a video signal. The method includes the steps of receiving (212) a progressive video signal and encoding (214) the progressive video signal into at least one group of pictures having at least one prediction source picture and at least one non-prediction source picture. All the non-prediction source pictures are predicted from the prediction source picture such that no non-prediction source picture is predicted from another non-prediction source picture. The method can also include the step of, in response to a forward trick mode command, modifying (217, 218) at least the number of non-prediction source pictures in the group of pictures to convert the progressive video signal to a trick mode video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Shu Lin, Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7312830
    Abstract: A method of converting interlaced video to progressive video can include a series of steps. The method can include receiving a video signal representative of at least one picture and determining whether the picture is progressive. If the picture is progressive, a vertical synchronization signal is modified to create an association with a first field of the picture. Accordingly, a progressive video signal can be converted to an interlaced video signal associated with the vertical synchronization signal and the interlaced video signal can then be converted to a progressive video signal in correspondence with modifications made to the vertical synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Michael Evan Crabb, Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7289115
    Abstract: A circuit for automatically biasing a common electrode of a liquid crystal on silicon imager comprising an imager with a common electrode and a plurality of cells. A varying voltage signal is provided to the plurality of cells. A low pass filter is coupled between the varying voltage signal and a common junction coupled to the common electrode such that a bias voltage is formed at the common electrode having a value that approximates an average of the varying voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7271817
    Abstract: A method (400) of aspect ratio conversion for an imager (16) having random row access includes the steps of periodically receiving (402) a predetermined number of input video lines, vertical format converting (404) the predetermined number of input video lines to provide a converted video input having a portion of the predetermined number of input video lines, and periodically multiplexing (406) a black input line with the converted video input during a waiting period during the vertical format converting step. The method can also include the step of presenting (408) on the imager the converted video input along with a plurality of black lines that were periodically multiplexed with the converted video input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7257312
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200 or 300) and system (100) for performing a trick mode operation on a video signal containing a plurality of progressively scanned original pictures. The method (200) includes the step of selectively skipping (214) at least one of the original pictures to convert the video signal to a trick mode video signal in response to a trick mode command and the step of selectively inserting (216) at least one dummy predictive picture in the trick mode video signal. In addition, the method (300) can include the step of monitoring (316) the trick mode video signal so that the dummy predictive picture is selectively inserted when the bit rate exceeds a predetermined threshold. Display indicators of certain pictures in the trick mode video signal can also be modified (226) (328) to reflect an intended display order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Shu Lin, Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7248253
    Abstract: A field sequential pulse width modulated display system (10) comprises a digital micromirror device (DMD) (24) having a plurality of micromirrors that each selectively pivot to reflect light onto a screen (28) to illuminate a corresponding pixel. A driver circuit (30) controls the DMD (24) responsive to sequences of pulse width segments formed by a processor (31). The processor (31) forms the pulse width segment sequences to alter the pixel brightness for a given one of a set of primary colors within a range of brightness values between adjacent pixel brightness boundaries, with each segment for each color interleaved with the segments for the other colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Publication number: 20070167789
    Abstract: A blood flow monitor with a visual display. The monitor may include a probe monitoring circuit configured to be associated with a blood vessel. The probe monitoring circuit may transmit a burst signal and receive a reflected signal, where a frequency shift in the reflected signal represents a flow rate associated with the blood vessel. A mixer may be provided in electrical communication with the probe. A signal processing circuit in electrical communication with the output of the mixer may be configured to drive the visual display with a signal representing the flow rate associated with the blood vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Cook Vascular Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald Henry
  • Patent number: 7245327
    Abstract: A field sequential pulse width modulated display system comprises a digital micromirror device having a plurality of micromirrors that each selectively pivot to reflect light onto a screen to illuminate a corresponding pixel. A driver circuit controls the DMD responsive to sequences of pulse width segments formed by a processor. The processor alters the actuation state of at least one pulse in a first pulse width segment for a given color to alter the pixel brightness with a range lying between first and second pixel brightness boundaries. Further, the processor alters the actuation state of at least one pulse within at least one additional pulse width segment to alter the pixel brightness above the second brightness boundary to make nearly equal the total width of pulses becoming actuated within a segment to the total pulse width becoming de-actuated within the same segment to achieve an incremental change in brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7228058
    Abstract: A method utilizing a disk medium for implementing a second pause during the course of a previously paused program, comprising the steps of: interrupting recording to and playing back from a first pattern of interleaved segments used to implement the first pause and jumping to a different portion of the track; alternately recording the program to and playing the program back from a second pattern of interleaved segments at the different portion of the track; moving only sequentially from segment to segment within each of the first or second patterns during the alternating recording and playing back as long as recorded segments can be played back in order within each of the first or second patterns of segments; and, jumping between the first and second patterns of segments only when the oldest unplayed recorded segment is in the other one of the first or second patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Publication number: 20070119328
    Abstract: An ejection system includes a frame; a controller unit coupled to the frame and adapted to receive a command input; a cartridge ejection unit coupled to the frame and adapted to eject a cartridge in response to the received command input; and a recording unit coupled to the controller unit and adapted to record data when the cartridge is ejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: MLH Technologies, LLC., a Delaware limited liability company
    Inventors: Christopher Maglio, Brian Miller, Robert Haynes, Donald Henry
  • Patent number: 7174086
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) or (300) and system (100) for performing a trick mode on a video signal containing a plurality of progressively scanned original pictures. The method (200) includes the steps of: selectively repeating (214) at least one of the original pictures to convert the video signal to a trick mode video signal in response to a trick mode command; and the step of selectively inserting (216) at least one dummy predictive picture in the trick mode video signal. In addition, the method (300) can include the step of monitoring (316) the trick mode video signal so that the dummy predictive picture is selectively inserted when the bit rate exceeds a predetermined threshold. Certain pictures in the trick mode video signal can also be modified (220) (328) to reflect an intended display order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Shu Lin, Donald Henry Willis