Patents by Inventor Erik Williams

Erik Williams 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: 10867463
    Abstract: A vending machine with a curved exterior shape is disclosed. Some embodiments of the vending machine are circular in design, and include a transparent upper housing that allows customers to see into the interior of the vending machine. Products for vending may be stored in a non-transparent lower housing. A centrally-located product delivery system transports products for vending from the lower housing to delivery portals located on the upper housing. The product delivery system is able to move along a vertical line and rotate through the horizontal plane and can deliver products from any portion of the lower housing to any delivery portals located on the upper housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Emad Jafa, Xuejun Li, Yong Serock, Cheuk Chi Lau, Martyn Mitchell, Euan Morrison, Wai Chan, Sam Johnstone, Erik Williams
  • Publication number: 20200223473
    Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a first shaft and a second shaft telescopically engaged with the first shaft. The steering column assembly includes a bore extending through the first shaft to the second shaft. A plug is disposed in and occludes the bore. The plug is resiliently expandable relative to the first shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: ERIK WILLIAM SODERLIND, ALAN JOSEPH PORTER
  • Patent number: 10690236
    Abstract: A column-mounted shifter for a transmission includes a housing adapted to mount on a steering column and a shaft supported for rotation within the housing. A lever is operably coupled to the shaft and extends radially therefrom. The lever is pivotal between a series of positions corresponding to a series of modes of the transmission. Rotation of the lever causes rotation of the shaft within the housing. A sensor is configured to sense rotation of the shaft and output a signal indicative of the position of the lever. An actuator arrangement is connectable with the shaft and is configured to rotate the lever from one of the positions to another of the positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Elberling, Mark Edward Zyskowski, Erik William Soderlind
  • Publication number: 20200074435
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for remote management of payment terminals Public keys, or other security elements can be received from a certification authority and distributed to the payment terminals. A merchant, or other entity affiliated with the payment terminals, can monitor the status of the software and security elements of the payment terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Erik William BAAR, Patricia Lynn WALTERS
  • Publication number: 20200060541
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-therapeutic use of a sensor for detecting biological fluids in vitro, the sensor comprising a substrate coated with conductive ink, the substrate being inert relative to the conductive ink, the sensor comprising means for measuring conductivity or resistivity of the conductive ink, wherein the conductive ink comprises a carbon substrate and a surfactant. The sensor may also comprise a polymer such as a gum. Also disclosed are methods of detecting biological fluids and uses of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Francisco Javier ANDRADE, Jordi FERRÉ ALBIOL, Pär Robert Erik William BLANKING, Tomás de Aquino GUINOVART PAVÓN, Marta NOVELLS RECASENS, Marc PARRILLA PONS
  • Patent number: 10510060
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for remote management of payment terminals. Public keys, or other security elements can be received from a certification authority and distributed to the payment terminals. A merchant, or other entity affiliated with the payment terminals, can monitor the status of the software and security elements of the payment terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Worldpay, LLC
    Inventors: Erik William Baar, Patricia Lynn Walters
  • Publication number: 20190354984
    Abstract: Technologies for preprocessing transaction authorization records for clearing data batch file generation include a settlement processing server. The settlement processing server receives transaction authorization records corresponding to authorized transactions. The transaction authorization records are appended to an initial authorization stream. The initial authorization stream is closed and the transaction authorization records appended thereto are split into substreams. The settlement processing server preprocesses the transaction authorization records in each of the substreams. While the transaction authorization records appended to the substreams are preprocessed, the settlement processing server initializes another authorization stream and appends newly received transaction authorization records thereto. A clearing data batch file is generated based at least in part on the transaction authorization records appended to each of the substreams. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher M. BEATTY, Erik William BAAR
  • Patent number: 10441156
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, the optical fiber configured to emit light at the distal end. The surgical instrument also includes at least one scattering material coupled to the proximal end, the distal end, or a combination of both the proximal end and the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Medical Instrument Development Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik William Peterson
  • Patent number: 10417639
    Abstract: Technologies for preprocessing transaction authorization records for clearing data batch file generation include a settlement processing server. The settlement processing server receives transaction authorization records corresponding to authorized transactions. The transaction authorization records are appended to an initial authorization stream. The initial authorization stream is closed and the transaction authorization records appended thereto are split into substreams. The settlement processing server preprocesses the transaction authorization records in each of the substreams. While the transaction authorization records appended to the substreams are preprocessed, the settlement processing server initializes another authorization stream and appends newly received transaction authorization records thereto. A clearing data batch file is generated based at least in part on the transaction authorization records appended to each of the substreams. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Worldpay, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Beatty, Erik William Baar
  • Publication number: 20190258280
    Abstract: Methods of powering a radio that is mounted on a tower of a cellular base station are provided in which a direct current (“DC”) power signal is provided to the radio over a power cable and a voltage level of the output of the power supply is adjusted so as to provide a substantially constant voltage at a first end of the power cable that is remote from the power supply. Related cellular base stations and programmable power supplies are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: John C. Chamberlain, Michael Guerin, Erik William Lilieholm
  • Publication number: 20190178368
    Abstract: A column-mounted shifter for a transmission includes a housing adapted to mount on a steering column and a shaft supported for rotation within the housing. A lever is operably coupled to the shaft and extends radially therefrom. The lever is pivotal between a series of positions corresponding to a series of modes of the transmission. Rotation of the lever causes rotation of the shaft within the housing. A sensor is configured to sense rotation of the shaft and output a signal indicative of the position of the lever. An actuator arrangement is connectable with the shaft and is configured to rotate the lever from one of the positions to another of the positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Eric ELBERLING, Mark Edward ZYSKOWSKI, Erik William SODERLIND
  • Patent number: 10285854
    Abstract: An integrated ocular fluid management system that, in one instance, includes a first chamber connected to a first input line and a first output line. A second chamber is connected to a second input line and a second output line. A first pump communicates with the first output line. A second pump communicates with the second input line. A first pressure regulator communicates with the first chamber. A second pressure regulator communicates with the second chamber. A first diaphragm is in the first chamber; and a second diaphragm is in the second chamber. A first controller controls at least one of the first pump and the first pressure regulator to maintain the first diaphragm in a predetermined position. A second controller controls operation of at least one of the second pump and the second pressure to maintain the second diaphragm in a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Medical Instrument Development Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik William Peterson
  • Patent number: 10281939
    Abstract: Methods of powering a radio that is mounted on a tower of a cellular base station are provided in which a direct current (“DC”) power signal is provided to the radio over a power cable and a voltage level of the output of the power supply is adjusted so as to provide a substantially constant voltage at a first end of the power cable that is remote from the power supply. Related cellular base stations and programmable power supplies are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: John C. Chamberlain, Michael Guerin, Erik William Lilieholm
  • Publication number: 20190122198
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for remote management of payment terminals. Public keys, or other security elements can be received from a certification authority and distributed to the payment terminals. A merchant, or other entity affiliated with the payment terminals, can monitor the status of the software and security elements of the payment terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Erik William BAAR, Patricia Lynn WALTERS
  • Patent number: 10259487
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a standoff to be coupled to a telescoping steering column, the standoff configured to be mounted adjacent an end stop opening in the steering column and to prevent a flexible cover mounted above the steering column from entering the end stop opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Erik William Soderlind, Taras Palczynski
  • Patent number: 10223686
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for remote management of payment terminals. Public keys, or other security elements can be received from a certification authority and distributed to the payment terminals. A merchant, or other entity affiliated with the payment terminals, can monitor the status of the software and security elements of the payment terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Worldpay, LLC
    Inventors: Erik William Baar, Patricia Lynn Walters
  • Publication number: 20190054949
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a standoff to be coupled to a telescoping steering column, the standoff configured to be mounted adjacent an end stop opening in the steering column and to prevent a flexible cover mounted above the steering column from entering the end stop opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Erik William Soderlind, Taras Palczynski
  • Publication number: 20190038460
    Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical cutting apparatus for cutting biological material including a handle, an outer tube attached to the handle and having a closed tip, a port formed in a side wall of the outer tube with a cusp formed by two or more intersecting surfaces, and an inner tube slidable within the outer tube and having a longitudinal axis and an open tip. The inner tube is in fluid communication with the handle, and the cusp of the port and the open tip interface during a cutting motion to fracture and cut biological materials and direct cut materials radially inward into the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Erik William Peterson
  • Patent number: 10179007
    Abstract: A surgical hand tool includes a handle that has an inner cavity. The handle has a proximal end and a distal end. The surgical hand tool also includes a primary tube extending outwardly from the cavity at the distal end, a reinforcing slider slidably disposed over the primary tube, and a biasing member coupled to the handle that biases the reinforcing slider away from the handle. The surgical hand tool also includes a retention mechanism coupled to the handle, the retention mechanism configured to engage and disengage with the reinforcing slider to control relative movement between the reinforcement slider and the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Medical Instrument Development Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik William Peterson
  • Patent number: 10022268
    Abstract: Ocular fluid management systems and methods of operating the same. One ocular fluid management system includes a chamber, a diaphragm, a sensor, and a controller. The chamber includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is connected to an input line for receiving fluids into the first portion and an output line for discharging fluids from the first portion. The diaphragm is contained in the chamber and changes position based on a pressure difference between the first and second portions. The sensor detects a position of the diaphragm and transmits a signal based on the detected position. The controller is configured to receive the signal and control operation of at least one of a peristaltic pump and a vacuum pump based on the signal to maintain the diaphragm in a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: MEDICAL INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Erik William Peterson