Patents by Inventor Gary Thornton
Gary Thornton 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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Publication number: 20230214260Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, user input defining a workflow; receiving, by the computing device, information defining schemas at convergence points in the workflow; determining, by the computing device, a set of mapping parameters at outputs of nodes of the workflow based on the schemas; receiving, by the computing device, input values to the mapping parameters; storing, by the computing device, the input values to the mapping parameters in a structure corresponding to the schemas; and executing, by the computing device, the workflow based on the input values to the mapping parameters, wherein the executing includes invoking one or more applications residing on one or more application servers through application programming interface (API) calls.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2023Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Rob NICHOLSON, Sarah BURWOOD, Robert W. PHIPPEN, Peter A. BROADHURST, Gary THORNTON, Rob BREEDS
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Patent number: 11630690Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, user input defining a workflow; receiving, by the computing device, information defining schemas at convergence points in the workflow; determining, by the computing device, a set of mapping parameters at outputs of nodes of the workflow based on the schemas; receiving, by the computing device, input values to the mapping parameters; storing, by the computing device, the input values to the mapping parameters in a structure corresponding to the schemas; and executing, by the computing device, the workflow based on the input values to the mapping parameters, wherein the executing includes invoking one or more applications residing on one or more application servers through application programming interface (API) calls.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Rob Nicholson, Sarah Burwood, Robert W. Phippen, Peter A. Broadhurst, Gary Thornton, Rob Breeds
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Patent number: 10411682Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metal. Direct current is passed through molten metal advancing through a passage. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. A method includes sampling digital data of the voltage signal to generate data samples; updating a delayed running average of the data samples to establish a baseline for identifying sudden changes in amplitude of the data samples; determining a threshold by adding a prescribed value to the baseline; identifying a possible inclusion when a significant number of data samples exceeds the threshold; storing a maximum count as the data samples using peak detection until a prescribed number of the data samples fall below the threshold; and comparing a parameter of the possible inclusion with a lookup table to categorize the possible inclusion as either (i) an actual inclusion or (ii) noise.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Novelis Inc.Inventors: Leslie Calvin Hildenbrandt, Gary Thornton
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Publication number: 20190188035Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, user input defining a workflow; receiving, by the computing device, information defining schemas at convergence points in the workflow; determining, by the computing device, a set of mapping parameters at outputs of nodes of the workflow based on the schemas; receiving, by the computing device, input values to the mapping parameters; storing, by the computing device, the input values to the mapping parameters in a structure corresponding to the schemas; and executing, by the computing device, the workflow based on the input values to the mapping parameters, wherein the executing includes invoking one or more applications residing on one or more application servers through application programming interface (API) calls.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Rob NICHOLSON, Sarah BURWOOD, Robert W. PHIPPEN, Peter A. BROADHURST, Gary THORNTON, Rob BREEDS
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Patent number: 9528956Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metals. Direct current is passed between electrodes through molten metal advancing through a passage in an electrically resistive wall. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. Direct current is supplied by one or more ultra-capacitors and the decay in discharge voltage of the capacitor(s) is compensated for by passing the current from each capacitor through a resistor ladder network circuit having resistors connected in parallel. Individual resistors are switched on or off in a sequence effective to change the resistance of the circuit and maintain the current within a predetermined range. Heat generation and noise pick-up are minimized by maintaining a low discharge voltage and measurement current while using FETs only in the fully ON or OFF conditions to switch the resistors into or out of the circuits.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Novelis Inc.Inventor: Gary Thornton
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Publication number: 20160231266Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metals. Direct current is passed between electrodes through molten metal advancing through a passage in an electrically resistive wall. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. Direct current is supplied by one or more ultra-capacitors and the decay in discharge voltage of the capacitor(s) is compensated for by passing the current from each capacitor through a resistor ladder network circuit having resistors connected in parallel. Individual resistors are switched on or off in a sequence effective to change the resistance of the circuit and maintain the current within a predetermined range. Heat generation and noise pick-up are minimized by maintaining a low discharge voltage and measurement current while using FETs only in the fully ON or OFF conditions to switch the resistors into or out of the circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2016Publication date: August 11, 2016Applicant: NOVELIS INC.Inventor: GARY THORNTON
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Patent number: 9389164Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metals. Direct current is passed between electrodes through molten metal advancing through a passage in an electrically resistive wall. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. Direct current is supplied by one or more ultra-capacitors and the decay in discharge voltage of the capacitor(s) is compensated for by passing the current from each capacitor through a resistor ladder network circuit having resistors connected in parallel. Individual resistors are switched on or off in a sequence effective to change the resistance of the circuit and maintain the current within a predetermined range. Heat generation and noise pick-up are minimized by maintaining a low discharge voltage and measurement current while using FETs only in the fully ON or OFF conditions to switch the resistors into or out of the circuits.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Novelis Inc.Inventor: Gary Thornton
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Publication number: 20140266150Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metals. Direct current is passed between electrodes through molten metal advancing through a passage in an electrically resistive wall. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. Direct current is supplied by one or more ultra-capacitors and the decay in discharge voltage of the capacitor(s) is compensated for by passing the current from each capacitor through a resistor ladder network circuit having resistors connected in parallel. Individual resistors are switched on or off in a sequence effective to change the resistance of the circuit and maintain the current within a predetermined range. Heat generation and noise pick-up are minimized by maintaining a low discharge voltage and measurement current while using FETs only in the fully ON or OFF conditions to switch the resistors into or out of the circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: NOVELIS INC.Inventor: GARY THORNTON
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Publication number: 20140266316Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metal. Direct current is passed through molten metal advancing through a passage. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. A method includes sampling digital data of the voltage signal to generate data samples; updating a delayed running average of the data samples to establish a baseline for identifying sudden changes in amplitude of the data samples; determining a threshold by adding a prescribed value to the baseline; identifying a possible inclusion when a significant number of data samples exceeds the threshold; storing a maximum count as the data samples using peak detection until a prescribed number of the data samples fall below the threshold; and comparing a parameter of the possible inclusion with a lookup table to categorize the possible inclusion as either (i) an actual inclusion or (ii) noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: NOVELIS INC.Inventors: LESLIE CALVIN HILDENBRANDT, GARY THORNTON
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Patent number: 8834525Abstract: An infant pacifier has a temperature sensitive material mounted on the front forming a “mood stone”. The front of the pacifier would change color based on the body temperature of the infant using the pacifier. The pacifier includes a metal strip or other temperature conductive material that connects to the metal frame of the mood stone and wraps around to come in contact with the baby's lips when the baby is sucking on the pacifier. The metal strip carries the heat from the baby to the stone, facilitating color change as the child's temperature changes.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2003Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Inventors: Cara L. Thornton, Gary Thornton
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Patent number: 8669982Abstract: A method and system for generating a graph view on a user interface in a computing environment, is provided. One implementation involves, at a server, generating coordinate data for a graph representing multiply connected objects; transmitting the coordinate data to a client as lightweight object data; and at the client, based on the lightweight object data rendering an interactive dynamic graph view on a user interface; wherein the rendered graph view includes representations of a plurality of the multiply connected objects selected by depth culling the graph according to graph depth display control information.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2008Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert J. Breeds, Philip R. Taunton, Gary Thornton
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Patent number: 7402002Abstract: A lifting assembly for raising and supporting a load includes a removable and reusable lifting bracket. The lifting bracket is designed to fit around and support a support bracket that supports a load. The support bracket is installed on the pole of the pier and engages the edge of the load. The lifting bracket is removably attached to a jacking apparatus for pushing or pulling the piering pole through the support bracket and raising the load on the support bracket. After the lifting operation, the lifting bracket is removed from the jacking apparatus and the support bracket attached to the piering pole for use on adjacent piers and on other lifting assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: T-Z Group, LLCInventors: Robert Zidar, Gary Thornton
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Publication number: 20070092340Abstract: A lifting assembly for raising and supporting a load includes a removable and reusable lifting bracket. The lifting bracket is designed to fit around and support a support bracket that supports a load. The support bracket is installed on the pole of the pier and engages the edge of the load. The lifting bracket is removably attached to a jacking apparatus for pushing or pulling the piering pole through the support bracket and raising the load on the support bracket. After the lifting operation, the lifting bracket is removed from the jacking apparatus and the support bracket attached to the piering pole for use on adjacent piers and on other lifting assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2006Publication date: April 26, 2007Inventors: Robert Zidar, Gary Thornton
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Publication number: 20030208234Abstract: An infant pacifier has a temperature sensitive material mounted on the front forming a “mood stone.”. The front of the pacifier would change color based on the body temperature of the infant using the pacifier. The pacifier includes a metal strip or other temperature conductive material that connects to the metal frame of the mood stone and wraps around to come in contact with the baby's lips when the baby is sucking on the pacifier. The metal strip carries the heat from the baby to the stone, facilitating color change as the child's temperature changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Cara L. Thornton, Gary Thornton