Patents by Inventor Gordon Thomas

Gordon Thomas 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: 12573231
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a controller of a user device having a rollable display device may obtain fingerprint information associated with a user interaction with a contact area of the rollable display device. The controller may obtain touch information associated with the user interaction with the contact area of the rollable display device. The controller may output, based on the fingerprint information and the touch information, actuation information that causes actuation of a display extending component of the rollable display device to change an extension state of the rollable display device. Numerous other aspects are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Gordon Thomas, Deep Bhatia
  • Publication number: 20260048904
    Abstract: Multiple, separable disposal bags for tampons and pads are wrapped around a center roll. Each bag is connected to the next bag on the roll by a seam that includes a slit and a series of perforations separating connection points between the bags. A bag tail secures the first bag to itself by a bag tail that has an adhesive portion and a free, tab portion. The adhesive portion is attached to the first bag at a first zone and to a different portion of the first bag at a second zone. A user can pull on the free-tab portion of the bag tail to detach the second zone of the adhesive portion from the first bag. The first zone of the adhesive portion remains attached to the first bag after the first bag is detached from the subsequent bag at their seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2025
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Inventors: Claire Coder, Gordon Thomas
  • Patent number: 12475755
    Abstract: A dispensing unit for personal care products and personal protective equipment includes one or more dispensing assemblies contained within a single housing. The dispensing unit may contain dispensing assemblies that independently dispense two different types of products. Each dispensing assembly includes an actuator that mechanically injects a time delay between dispensings. Products are bundled together with support structures that are removed when the bundles are placed into a dispensing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: Aunt Flow Corp.
    Inventors: Claire Coder, Anne Weigand, Pepin Gelardi, Emma Pearl Wilmer-Shiles, Gordon Thomas, Mark Dalhart, Jesse Klein
  • Publication number: 20250245386
    Abstract: Some disclosed methods involve controlling a display system to present one or more restricted access virtual buttons in a secure region. The restricted access virtual buttons may correspond to functionality of the apparatus or functionality of a software application for which access is restricted. Some disclosed methods involve controlling the display system to present one or more unrestricted access virtual buttons in a non-secure region. The unrestricted access virtual buttons may correspond to functionality of the apparatus or functionality of the software application for which access is not restricted. Responsive to the selection of a virtual button displayed in the secure region, some methods involve performing an authentication process and executing the functionality of the device or functionality of a software application for which access is restricted after successful authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventor: Gordon THOMAS
  • Patent number: 12210655
    Abstract: Some disclosed methods involve controlling a display system to present one or more restricted access virtual buttons in a secure region. The restricted access virtual buttons may correspond to functionality of the apparatus or functionality of a software application for which access is restricted. Some disclosed methods involve controlling the display system to present one or more unrestricted access virtual buttons in a non-secure region. The unrestricted access virtual buttons may correspond to functionality of the apparatus or functionality of the software application for which access is not restricted. Responsive to the selection of a virtual button displayed in the secure region, some methods involve performing an authentication process and executing the functionality of the device or functionality of a software application for which access is restricted after successful authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Gordon Thomas
  • Publication number: 20240419768
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to user devices. In some aspects, a user device may generate, using a fingerprint sensor of the user device, fingerprint information associated with a finger press of a user of the user device. The user device may authenticate the user in association with the fingerprint information. The user device may determine, in association with force information generated by a force sensor of the user device, an amount of force applied to a display screen of the user device by the finger press. The user device may perform, in association with authenticating the user, an action that is associated with the amount of force applied to the display screen. Numerous other aspects are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventor: Gordon THOMAS
  • Publication number: 20240290162
    Abstract: A dispensing unit for personal care products and personal protective equipment includes one or more dispensing assemblies contained within a single housing. The dispensing unit may contain dispensing assemblies that independently dispense two different types of products. Each dispensing assembly includes an actuator that mechanically injects a time delay between dispensings. Products are bundled together with support structures that are removed when the bundles are placed into a dispensing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Claire Coder, Anne Weigand, Pepin Gelardi, Emma Pearl Wilmer-Shiles, Gordon Thomas, Mark Dalhart, Jesse Klein
  • Publication number: 20240212387
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a controller of a user device having a rollable display device may obtain fingerprint information associated with a user interaction with a contact area of the rollable display device. The controller may obtain touch information associated with the user interaction with the contact area of the rollable display device. The controller may output, based on the fingerprint information and the touch information, actuation information that causes actuation of a display extending component of the rollable display device to change an extension state of the rollable display device. Numerous other aspects are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Gordon THOMAS, Deep BHATIA
  • Publication number: 20240028768
    Abstract: Some disclosed methods involve controlling a display system to present one or more restricted access virtual buttons in a secure region. The restricted access virtual buttons may correspond to functionality of the apparatus or functionality of a software application for which access is restricted. Some disclosed methods involve controlling the display system to present one or more unrestricted access virtual buttons in a non-secure region. The unrestricted access virtual buttons may correspond to functionality of the apparatus or functionality of the software application for which access is not restricted. Responsive to the selection of a virtual button displayed in the secure region, some methods involve performing an authentication process and executing the functionality of the device or functionality of a software application for which access is restricted after successful authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventor: Gordon THOMAS
  • Publication number: 20230120468
    Abstract: A dispensing unit for personal care products and personal protective equipment includes one or more dispensing assemblies contained within a single housing. The dispensing unit may contain dispensing assemblies that independently dispense two different types of products. Each dispensing assembly includes an actuator that mechanically injects a time delay between dispensings. Products are bundled together with support structures that are removed when the bundles are placed into a dispensing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Claire Coder, Anne Weigand, Pepin Gelardi, Emma Pearl Wilmer-Shiles, Gordon Thomas, Mark Dalhart, Jesse Klein
  • Patent number: 11532197
    Abstract: A dispensing unit for personal care products and personal protective equipment includes one or more dispensing assemblies contained within a single housing. The dispensing unit may contain dispensing assemblies that independently dispense two different types of products. Each dispensing assembly includes an actuator that mechanically injects a time delay between dispensings. Products are bundled together with support structures that are removed when the bundles are placed into a dispensing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Aunt Flow Corp.
    Inventors: Claire Coder, Anne Weigand, Pepin Gelardi, Emma Pearl Wilmer-Shiles, Gordon Thomas, Mark Dalhart, Jesse Klein
  • Publication number: 20210043023
    Abstract: A dispensing unit for personal care products and personal protective equipment includes one or more dispensing assemblies contained within a single housing. The dispensing unit may contain dispensing assemblies that independently dispense two different types of products. Each dispensing assembly includes an actuator that mechanically injects a time delay between dispensings. Products are bundled together with support structures that are removed when the bundles are placed into a dispensing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Claire Coder, Anne Weigand, Pepin Gelardi, Emma Pearl Wilmer-Shiles, Gordon Thomas, Mark Dalhart, Jesse Klein
  • Patent number: 10338586
    Abstract: A method for autonomously parking or un-parking a motor vehicle includes receiving a map of a parking area having a first temporary obstruction zone, determining a starting location of the motor vehicle relative to the parking area, selecting a destination location within the parking area, setting the first temporary obstruction zone as operative or inoperative, generating a path from the starting location to the destination location, wherein the path does not enter the first temporary obstruction zone when operative, and driving the motor vehicle autonomously along the path from the starting location of the motor vehicle to the destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Dura Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Arda Kurt, Keith Redmill, Umit Ozguner, Gordon Thomas
  • Patent number: 10207704
    Abstract: A method for autonomously parking or un-parking a motor vehicle includes the steps of locating the motor vehicle within a parking area, setting a destination location within the parking area, generating and setting a path from the location of the motor vehicle to the destination location, and autonomously driving the motor vehicle along the path. The path is generated by (a) generating a first set of nodes from the location of the motor vehicle, (b) assigning a cost to each node in the first set of nodes, (c) selecting a lowest cost node from the first set of nodes, (d) generating another set of nodes from the selected node, (e) assigning a cost to each of the newly generated nodes, (f) selecting a lowest cost node from all of the nodes, and (g) repeating steps (d)-(f) until a lowest cost node is located at the destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: DURA OPERATING, LLC
    Inventors: Arda Kurt, Umit Ozguner, Gordon Thomas, Keith Redmill
  • Patent number: 10012986
    Abstract: A method for autonomously parking a motor vehicle in various types of parking spots includes the steps of receiving a map of a parking area, locating the motor vehicle within the parking area, selecting a parking spot within the parking area, generating a node tree from the location of the motor vehicle to the parking spot, selecting a path from the node tree, wherein the path connects the location of the motor vehicle to the parking spot, autonomously driving the motor vehicle along the path from the location of the motor vehicle to an intermediate location on the path, and performing a parking maneuver into the parking spot from the intermediate location. The parking maneuver may be a head-in, tail-in, or parallel parking maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: DURA OPERATING, LLC
    Inventors: Arda Kurt, Keith Redmill, Gordon Thomas, Umit Ozguner
  • Publication number: 20180050691
    Abstract: A method for autonomously parking or un-parking a motor vehicle includes locating the motor vehicle relative to a parking area, selecting a destination location within the parking area, generating a path from the location of the motor vehicle to the destination location, wherein the path includes a plurality of linked nodes, each node having a cost associated therewith, wherein the cost of a child node is equal to an inherited cost plus a base cost and a change cost, wherein the change cost is a function of characteristics of a parent node, and autonomously driving the motor vehicle along the path from the location of the motor vehicle to the destination location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Arda Kurt, Keith Redmill, Umit Ozguner, Gordon Thomas
  • Publication number: 20180052460
    Abstract: A method for autonomously parking or un-parking a motor vehicle includes receiving a map of a parking area having a first temporary obstruction zone, determining a starting location of the motor vehicle relative to the parking area, selecting a destination location within the parking area, setting the first temporary obstruction zone as operative or inoperative, generating a path from the starting location to the destination location, wherein the path does not enter the first temporary obstruction zone when operative, and driving the motor vehicle autonomously along the path from the starting location of the motor vehicle to the destination location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Arda Kurt, Keith Redmill, Umit Ozguner, Gordon Thomas
  • Publication number: 20180050690
    Abstract: A method for autonomously parking or un-parking a motor vehicle includes the steps of locating the motor vehicle within a parking area, setting a destination location within the parking area, generating and setting a path from the location of the motor vehicle to the destination location, and autonomously driving the motor vehicle along the path. The path is generated by (a) generating a first set of nodes from the location of the motor vehicle, (b) assigning a cost to each node in the first set of nodes, (c) selecting a lowest cost node from the first set of nodes, (d) generating another set of nodes from the selected node, (e) assigning a cost to each of the newly generated nodes, (f) selecting a lowest cost node from all of the nodes, and (g) repeating steps (d)-(f) until a lowest cost node is located at the destination location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Arda Kurt, Umit Ozguner, Gordon Thomas, Keith Redmill
  • Publication number: 20180052459
    Abstract: A method for autonomously parking a motor vehicle in various types of parking spots includes the steps of receiving a map of a parking area, locating the motor vehicle within the parking area, selecting a parking spot within the parking area, generating a node tree from the location of the motor vehicle to the parking spot, selecting a path from the node tree, wherein the path connects the location of the motor vehicle to the parking spot, autonomously driving the motor vehicle along the path from the location of the motor vehicle to an intermediate location on the path, and performing a parking maneuver into the parking spot from the intermediate location. The parking maneuver may be a head-in, tail-in, or parallel parking maneuver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Arda Kurt, Keith Redmill, Gordon Thomas, Umit Ozguner
  • Patent number: 9896091
    Abstract: A method for autonomously parking or un-parking a motor vehicle includes locating the motor vehicle relative to a parking area, selecting a destination location within the parking area, generating a path from the location of the motor vehicle to the destination location, wherein the path includes a plurality of linked nodes, each node having a cost associated therewith, wherein the cost of a child node is equal to an inherited cost plus a base cost and a change cost, wherein the change cost is a function of characteristics of a parent node, and autonomously driving the motor vehicle along the path from the location of the motor vehicle to the destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignees: Ohio State Innovation Foundation, DURA Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Arda Kurt, Keith Redmill, Umit Ozguner, Gordon Thomas