Patents by Inventor Earl Ferguson

Earl Ferguson 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: 20180272430
    Abstract: A deburring tool has a hollow top portion having an interior conical surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the deburring tool is preferably conical. The top portion has a plurality of flutes formed therein and extending between the interior and exterior surfaces. Each of the flutes has a cutting edge formed at the interior conical surface. In operation, rotation of the deburring tool about a longitudinal axis removes burrs projecting from bar stock contacting the interior conical surface. A method of deburring bar stock comprises: (a) rotating the deburring tool about a longitudinal axis, and (b) contacting the bar stock to the deburring tool interior conical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Daniel Earl Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10016812
    Abstract: A deburring tool has a hollow top portion having an interior conical surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the deburring tool is preferably conical. The top portion has a plurality of flutes formed therein and extending between the interior and exterior surfaces. Each of the flutes has a cutting edge formed at the interior conical surface. In operation, rotation of the deburring tool about a longitudinal axis removes burrs projecting from bar stock contacting the interior conical surface. A method of deburring bar stock comprises: (a) rotating the deburring tool about a longitudinal axis, and (b) contacting the bar stock to the deburring tool interior conical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GDE Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel Earl Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20160082517
    Abstract: A deburring tool has a hollow top portion having an interior conical surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the deburring tool is preferably conical. The top portion has a plurality of flutes formed therein and extending between the interior and exterior surfaces. Each of the flutes has a cutting edge formed at the interior conical surface. In operation, rotation of the deburring tool about a longitudinal axis removes burrs projecting from bar stock contacting the interior conical surface. A method of deburring bar stock comprises: (a) rotating the deburring tool about a longitudinal axis, and (b) contacting the bar stock to the deburring tool interior conical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Daniel Earl Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9112715
    Abstract: A routing system utilizes a layer 2 switch interconnecting several routers to intelligently forward multicast packets throughout an interne exchange carrying multicast content. The layer 2 switch performs protocol snooping to extract a lookup key that is based on network layer protocol information. The lookup key is uniquely formulated to support either shared or explicit source distribution trees. The lookup key is used to query a forwarding memory that returns an outgoing port index. The outgoing port index points to one or more outgoing ports that are eligible to receive the multicast packet. The outgoing ports are also connected to the neighboring device(s) that are designated to receive the multicast packet. The routing system also supports real time maintenance and updating of the forwarding memory based on the periodic exchange of control messages. The routing system is configured to support PIM routers operating in PIM SM or PIM SSM modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Foundry Networks, LLC
    Inventors: Nitin Jain, Lee Chen, Earl Ferguson, Min Zhu
  • Patent number: 8828620
    Abstract: Fabricating roll-good fuel cell material involves laminating first and second bonding material webs having spaced apart windows to first and second surfaces of a fuel cell membrane web. First and second active regions of the membrane web are positioned within the respective bonding material windows. Third and fourth gasket material webs having spaced apart windows are respectively laminated to the bonding material on the first and second membrane web surfaces. The bonding material windows align with the respective gasket material windows so that at least some of the bonding material extends within the respective gasket material windows. Fluid transport layer (FTL) material portions cut from fifth and sixth FTL material webs are laminated to the respective first and second active regions. The FTL material portions are positioned within respective gasket material windows and contact the bonding material extending within the respective gasket material windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David Robert Mekala, Donald George Peterson, Dennis Earl Ferguson, Duane Douglas Fansler
  • Patent number: 8443103
    Abstract: A routing system utilizes a layer 2 switch interconnecting several routers to intelligently forward multicast packets throughout an internet exchange carrying multicast content. The layer 2 switch performs protocol snooping to extract a lookup key that is based on network layer protocol information. The lookup key is uniquely formulated to support either shared or explicit source distribution trees. The lookup key is used to query a forwarding memory that returns an outgoing port index. The outgoing port index points to one or more outgoing ports that are eligible to receive the multicast packet. The outgoing ports are also connected to the neighboring device(s) that are designated to receive the multicast packet. The routing system also supports real time maintenance and updating of the forwarding memory based on the periodic exchange of control messages. The routing system is configured to support PIM routers operating in PIM SM or PIM SSM modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Foundry Networks, LLC
    Inventors: Nitin Jain, Lee Chen, Earl Ferguson, Min Zhu
  • Publication number: 20120321986
    Abstract: Fabricating roll-good fuel cell material involves laminating first and second bonding material webs having spaced apart windows to first and second surfaces of a fuel cell membrane web. First and second active regions of the membrane web are positioned within the respective bonding material windows. Third and fourth gasket material webs having spaced apart windows are respectively laminated to the bonding material on the first and second membrane web surfaces. The bonding material windows align with the respective gasket material windows so that at least some of the bonding material extends within the respective gasket material windows. Fluid transport layer (FTL) material portions cut from fifth and sixth FTL material webs are laminated to the respective first and second active regions. The FTL material portions are positioned within respective gasket material windows and contact the bonding material extending within the respective gasket material windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: David Robert Mekala, Donald George Peterson, Dennis Earl Ferguson, Duane Douglas Fansler
  • Patent number: 8268511
    Abstract: Fabricating roll-good fuel cell material involves laminating first and second bonding material webs having spaced apart windows to first and second surfaces of a fuel cell membrane web. First and second active regions of the membrane web are positioned within the respective bonding material windows. Third and fourth gasket material webs having spaced apart windows are respectively laminated to the bonding material on the first and second membrane web surfaces. The bonding material windows align with the respective gasket material windows so that at least some of the bonding material extends within the respective gasket material windows. Fluid transport layer (FTL) material portions cut from fifth and sixth FTL material webs are laminated to the respective first and second active regions. The FTL material portions are positioned within respective gasket material windows and contact the bonding material extending within the respective gasket material windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David Robert Mekala, Donald George Peterson, Dennis Earl Ferguson, Duane Douglas Fansler
  • Publication number: 20110064078
    Abstract: A routing system utilizes a layer 2 switch interconnecting several routers to intelligently forward multicast packets throughout an internet exchange carrying multicast content. The layer 2 switch performs protocol snooping to extract a lookup key that is based on network layer protocol information. The lookup key is uniquely formulated to support either shared or explicit source distribution trees. The lookup key is used to query a forwarding memory that returns an outgoing port index. The outgoing port index points to one or more outgoing ports that are eligible to receive the multicast packet. The outgoing ports are also connected to the neighboring device(s) that are designated to receive the multicast packet. The routing system also supports real time maintenance and updating of the forwarding memory based on the periodic exchange of control messages. The routing system is configured to support PIM routers operating in PIM SM or PIM SSM modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicants: Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Jain, Lee Chen, Earl Ferguson, Min Zhu
  • Patent number: 7877508
    Abstract: A routing system utilizes a layer 2 switch interconnecting several routers to intelligently forward multicast packets throughout an internet exchange carrying multicast content. The layer 2 switch performs protocol snooping to extract a lookup key that is based on network layer protocol information. The lookup key is uniquely formulated to support either shared or explicit source distribution trees. The lookup key is used to query a forwarding memory that returns an outgoing port index. The outgoing port index points to one or more outgoing ports that are eligible to receive the multicast packet. The outgoing ports are also connected to the neighboring device(s) that are designated to receive the multicast packet. The routing system also supports real time maintenance and updating of the forwarding memory based on the periodic exchange of control messages. The routing system is configured to support PIM routers operating in PIM SM or PIM SSM modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Foundry Networks, LLC
    Inventors: Nitin Jain, Lee Chen, Earl Ferguson, Min Zhu
  • Publication number: 20100238927
    Abstract: A routing system utilizes a layer 2 switch interconnecting several routers to intelligently forward multicast packets throughout an interne exchange carrying multicast content. The layer 2 switch performs protocol snooping to extract a lookup key that is based on network layer protocol information. The lookup key is uniquely formulated to support either shared or explicit source distribution trees. The lookup key is used to query a forwarding memory that returns an outgoing port index. The outgoing port index points to one or more outgoing ports that are eligible to receive the multicast packet. The outgoing ports are also connected to the neighboring device(s) that are designated to receive the multicast packet. The routing system also supports real time maintenance and updating of the forwarding memory based on the periodic exchange of control messages. The routing system is configured to support PIM routers operating in PIM SM or PIM SSM modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin JAIN, Lee Chen, Earl Ferguson, Min Zhu
  • Publication number: 20100196796
    Abstract: Fabricating roll-good fuel cell material involves laminating first and second bonding material webs having spaced apart windows to first and second surfaces of a fuel cell membrane web. First and second active regions of the membrane web are positioned within the respective bonding material windows. Third and fourth gasket material webs having spaced apart windows are respectively laminated to the bonding material on the first and second membrane web surfaces. The bonding material windows align with the respective gasket material windows so that at least some of the bonding material extends within the respective gasket material windows. Fluid transport layer (FTL) material portions cut from fifth and sixth FTL material webs are laminated to the respective first and second active regions. The FTL material portions are positioned within respective gasket material windows and contact the bonding material extending within the respective gasket material windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: David Robert MEKALA, Donald George Peterson, Dennis Earl Ferguson, Duane Douglas Fansler
  • Patent number: 7722684
    Abstract: Fabricating roll-good fuel cell material involves laminating first and second bonding material webs having spaced apart windows to first and second surfaces of a fuel cell membrane web. First and second active regions of the membrane web are positioned within the respective bonding material windows. Third and fourth gasket material webs having spaced apart windows are respectively laminated to the bonding material on the first and second membrane web surfaces. The bonding material windows align with the respective gasket material windows so that at least some of the bonding material extends within the respective gasket material windows. Fluid transport layer (FTL) material portions cut from fifth and sixth FTL material webs are laminated to the respective first and second active regions. The FTL material portions are positioned within respective gasket material windows and contact the bonding material extending within the respective gasket material windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David Robert Mekala, Donald George Peterson, Dennis Earl Ferguson, Duane Douglas Fansler
  • Patent number: 7468977
    Abstract: A device for switching data packets providing for local packet switching and non-local ATM switching. The device provides a packet switch coupled with LAN ports and provides for local switching between the LAN ports over the packet switch. Packets not known to be destined for data terminal equipment coupled with one of the ports are segmented and switched over an ATM backplane, switch or network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: H. Earl Ferguson, Bobby R. Johnson, Jr., Mike Noll, Jeff Prince, Randy Ryals
  • Patent number: 7389359
    Abstract: A routing system utilizes a layer 2 switch interconnecting several routers to intelligently forward multicast packets throughout an internet exchange carrying multicast content. The layer 2 switch performs protocol snooping to extract a lookup key that is based on network layer protocol information. The lookup key is uniquely formulated to support either shared or explicit source distribution trees. The lookup key is used to query a forwarding memory that returns an outgoing port index. The outgoing port index points to one or more outgoing ports that are eligible to receive the multicast packet. The outgoing ports are also connected to the neighboring device(s) that are designated to receive the multicast packet. The routing system also supports real time maintenance and updating of the forwarding memory based on the periodic exchange of control messages. The routing system is configured to support PIM routers operating in PIM SM or PIM SSM modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Foundry Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Jain, Lee Chen, Earl Ferguson, Min Zhu
  • Patent number: 7195690
    Abstract: Fabricating roll-good fuel cell material involves laminating first and second bonding material webs having spaced apart windows to first and second surfaces of a fuel cell membrane web. First and second active regions of the membrane web are positioned within the respective bonding material windows. Third and fourth gasket material webs having spaced apart windows are respectively laminated to the bonding material on the first and second membrane web surfaces. The bonding material windows align with the respective gasket material windows so that at least some of the bonding material extends within the respective gasket material windows. Fluid transport layer (FTL) material portions cut from fifth and sixth FTL material webs are laminated to the respective first and second active regions. The FTL material portions are positioned within respective gasket material windows and contact the bonding material extending within the respective gasket material windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David Robert Mekala, Donald George Peterson, Dennis Earl Ferguson, Duane Douglas Fansler
  • Patent number: 7031296
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the flow of data within a switching device is provided. The switching device includes network interface cards connected to a common backplane. Each interface card is configured to support the maximum transfer rate of the backplane by maintaining a “pending” queue to track data that has been received but for which the appropriate routing destination has not yet been determined. The switching device includes a switch controller that maintains a central card/port-to-address table. When an interface card receives data with a destination address that is not known to the interface card, the interface card performs a direct memory access over a bus that is separate from the backplane to read routing data directly from the central table in the switch controller. Each interface card builds and maintains a routing information table in its own local memory that only includes routing information for the destination addresses that the interface card is most likely to receive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Randy Ryals, Jeffrey Prince, H. Earl Ferguson, Mike K. Noll, Derek H. Pitcher
  • Publication number: 20040241525
    Abstract: Fabricating roll-good fuel cell material involves laminating first and second bonding material webs having spaced apart windows to first and second surfaces of a fuel cell membrane web. First and second active regions of the membrane web are positioned within the respective bonding material windows. Third and fourth gasket material webs having spaced apart windows are respectively laminated to the bonding material on the first and second membrane web surfaces. The bonding material windows align with the respective gasket material windows so that at least some of the bonding material extends within the respective gasket material windows. Fluid transport layer (FTL) material portions cut from fifth and sixth FTL material webs are laminated to the respective first and second active regions. The FTL material portions are positioned within respective gasket material windows and contact the bonding material extending within the respective gasket material windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David Robert Mekala, Donald George Peterson, Dennis Earl Ferguson, Duane Douglas Fansler
  • Publication number: 20030079040
    Abstract: A routing system utilizes a layer 2 switch interconnecting several routers to intelligently forward multicast packets throughout an internet exchange carrying multicast content. The layer 2 switch performs protocol snooping to extract a lookup key that is based on network layer protocol information. The lookup key is uniquely formulated to support either shared or explicit source distribution trees. The lookup key is used to query a forwarding memory that returns an outgoing port index. The outgoing port index points to one or more outgoing ports that are eligible to receive the multicast packet. The outgoing ports are also connected to the neighboring device(s) that are designated to receive the multicast packet. The routing system also supports real time maintenance and updating of the forwarding memory based on the periodic exchange of control messages. The routing system is configured to support PIM routers operating in PIM SM or PIM SSM modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Nitin Jain, Lee Chen, Earl Ferguson, Min Zhu
  • Patent number: RE40467
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the flow of data within a switching device is provided. The switching device includes network interface cards connected to a common backplane. Each interface card is configured to support the maximum transfer rate of the backplane by maintaining a “pending” queue to track data that has been received but for which the appropriate routing destination has not yet been determined. The switching device includes a switch controller that maintains a central card/port-to-address table. When an interface card receives data with a destination address that is not known to the interface card, the interface card performs a direct memory access over a bus that is separate from the backplane to read routing data directly from the central table in the switch controller. Each interface card builds and maintains a routing information table in its own local memory that only includes a routing information for the destination addresses that the interface card is most likely to receive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Randy Ryals, Jeffrey Prince, H. Earl Ferguson, Mike K. Noll, Derek H. Pitcher