Patents by Inventor Donald W. Stark
Donald W. Stark 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: 10489555Abstract: A kiosk includes a processor configured to receive, from a user interface device, medication information and determine, via a database, that medication associated with the medication information satisfies criteria. The processor is also configured to receive, from a first camera, an image of the medication and to determine that the image of the medication satisfies a visual criterion. The processor is further configured to receive, from the scale, a weight of the medication and to determine that the weight of the medication satisfies an expected weight criterion. The processor is also configured to cause a display to display an indication that the medication satisfies the criteria based at least in part on the determination that the image of the medication satisfies the visual criterion and the determination that the weight of the medication satisfies the expected weight criterion.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: QUALANEX, LLCInventors: Derek Cano, Donald W. Stark, Alan Lewis Dubois, Dan Ezell
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Publication number: 20170199983Abstract: A kiosk includes a processor configured to receive, from a user interface device, medication information and determine, via a database, that medication associated with the medication information satisfies criteria. The processor is also configured to receive, from a first camera, an image of the medication and to determine that the image of the medication satisfies a visual criterion. The processor is further configured to receive, from the scale, a weight of the medication and to determine that the weight of the medication satisfies an expected weight criterion. The processor is also configured to cause a display to display an indication that the medication satisfies the criteria based at least in part on the determination that the image of the medication satisfies the visual criterion and the determination that the weight of the medication satisfies the expected weight criterion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2017Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Derek CANO, Donald W. STARK, Alan Lewis DUBOIS, Dan Ezell
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Patent number: 9640015Abstract: An automated retail system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a front and/or rear product rack, each rack having a plurality of bins, each of which has a product door, the system further including a basket moveable along an x-y plane on a rail system to selectively open a product door of a product bin to permit the product within the bin to fall into the basket, the basket movable to a product delivery position to release the product from the basket. Such a system may include sensors and/or scanners to determine contents of each bin, such that any product may be placed in any bin, and inventory of each bin or all bins may be determined at any time. The basket may be configured to move in x and y but not z directions, and may also serve as the sole actuation mechanism for opening the doors.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Kiosk Information Systems, Inc.Inventors: Donald W. Stark, Richard L. Malone, Jason Gary Weihe, Roger H. Grow
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Patent number: 9539179Abstract: A kiosk according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing; a touch screen configured to receive input information from a user; a label printer configured to print output information from the kiosk; a pill drop opening; a pill chute; a drive tube having entry and exit openings, wherein the drive tube has an axis extending through a longitudinal axial centerline thereof, and has an inside surface comprising a helical flute, wherein the entry opening is in communication with the pill chute, and wherein the exit opening is higher than the entry opening such that the axial centerline of the drive tube is inclined; a motor configured to rotate the drive tube to separate and convey pills received through the pill drop opening and the pill chute; and an optical counter configured to count the pills as the pills fall from the exit opening of the drive tube.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: QUALANEX, LLCInventors: Derek Cano, Donald W. Stark, Alan Lewis Dubois
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Publication number: 20160143813Abstract: A kiosk according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing; a touch screen configured to receive input information from a user; a label printer configured to print output information from the kiosk; a pill drop opening; a pill chute; a drive tube having entry and exit openings, wherein the drive tube has an axis extending through a longitudinal axial centerline thereof, and has an inside surface comprising a helical flute, wherein the entry opening is in communication with the pill chute, and wherein the exit opening is higher than the entry opening such that the axial centerline of the drive tube is inclined; a motor configured to rotate the drive tube to separate and convey pills received through the pill drop opening and the pill chute; and an optical counter configured to count the pills as the pills fall from the exit opening of the drive tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2015Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Derek Cano, Donald W. Stark, Alan Lewis Dubois, JR.
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Publication number: 20150363993Abstract: An automated retail system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a front and/or rear product rack, each rack having a plurality of bins, each of which has a product door, the system further including a basket moveable along an x-y plane on a rail system to selectively open a product door of a product bin to permit the product within the bin to fall into the basket, the basket movable to a product delivery position to release the product from the basket. Such a system may include sensors and/or scanners to determine contents of each bin, such that any product may be placed in any bin, and inventory of each bin or all bins may be determined at any time. The basket may be configured to move in x and y but not z directions, and may also serve as the sole actuation mechanism for opening the doors.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2015Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Donald W. Stark, Richard L. Malone, Jason Gary Weihe, Roger H. Grow
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Patent number: 9135216Abstract: An automated retail system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a front and/or rear product rack, each rack having a plurality of bins, each of which has a product door, the system further including a basket moveable along an x-y plane on a rail system to selectively open a product door of a product bin to permit the product within the bin to fall into the basket, the basket movable to a product delivery position to release the product from the basket. Such a system may include sensors and/or scanners to determine contents of each bin, such that any product may be placed in any bin, and inventory of each bin or all bins may be determined at any time. The basket may be configured to move in x and y but not z directions, and may also serve as the sole actuation mechanism for opening the doors.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Kiosk Information Systems, Inc.Inventors: Donald W. Stark, Richard L. Malone, Jason Gary Weihe, Roger H. Grow
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Publication number: 20130168300Abstract: A sorting system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a housing, a tray tiltably coupled to the housing and having a top surface configured to receive an object, an actuator configured to tilt the tray to at least a first position at which the object rolls or slides off of a first end of the tray, and a second position at which the object rolls or slides off of a second end of the tray opposite the first end, and an object recognition system configured to determine whether the object is a first type of object or a second type of object, wherein the actuator is configured to tilt the tray to the first position when the object is the first type of object, and wherein the actuator is configured to tilt the tray to the second position when the object is the second type of object.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: July 4, 2013Inventors: Richard L. MALONE, Donald W. STARK, Roger H. GROW
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Publication number: 20130123978Abstract: An automated retail system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a front and/or rear product rack, each rack having a plurality of bins, each of which has a product door, the system further including a basket moveable along an x-y plane on a rail system to selectively open a product door of a product bin to permit the product within the bin to fall into the basket, the basket movable to a product delivery position to release the product from the basket. Such a system may include sensors and/or scanners to determine contents of each bin, such that any product may be placed in any bin, and inventory of each bin or all bins may be determined at any time. The basket may be configured to move in x and y but not z directions, and may also serve as the sole actuation mechanism for opening the doors.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Inventors: Donald W. STARK, Richard L. MALONE, Jason Gary WEIHE, Roger H. GROW
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Patent number: 7444259Abstract: An apparatus includes a parser, a semantic checker, a data manager and an equation processor. The parser receives a first equation for manipulating data acquired by an instrument and detects an operand in the first equation, the instrument having a set of data acquisition capabilities. The semantic checker recognizes that the first operand refers to first data that can be acquired by the instrument using a first capability from the set of data acquisition capabilities. The data manager configures the instrument automatically to acquire the first data using the first capability after recognizing that the first operand corresponds to the first data. The equation processor computes a result of the first equation using the acquired first data.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2006Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Donald W. Stark
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Publication number: 20080097716Abstract: An instrument having a set of data acquisition capabilities recognizes an operand in an equation as a data reference when the operand refers to data which the instrument is capable of acquiring. The instrument automatically configures itself to acquire the data to which the operand refers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2006Publication date: April 24, 2008Inventor: Donald W. Stark
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Patent number: 6968278Abstract: The occurrence of spurs when analyzing signals is reduced. A first signal is mixed with a local oscillator signal to produce an intermediate signal. When a spur is predicted to occur when high side mixing is performed, low side mixing is performed. When a spur is predicted to occur when low side mixing is performed, high side mixing is performed.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2003Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Paul G. Christensen, III, Michael Stanley Marzalek, Joel P. Dunsmore, Donald W. Stark, Niels Jensen