Patents by Inventor Gregory C. Smith

Gregory C. Smith 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: 12162702
    Abstract: Features for loading, transporting and unloading of items are disclosed. Systems, devices and methods for such operations using a tray are described. In some embodiments, a tray having a moveable bottom allows for switching between a configuration for loading and unloading items in and out of the tray and a configuration for transportation of items inside the tray. The trays may also be stacked, for transportation of multiple trays at once, and nested, for saving space when storing the trays. In some embodiments, the trays may be used in conjunction with loading and unloading systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Christopher M. Stratton, Gregory J. Smith, Thomas C. Potter, Wayne R. Perry-Eaton
  • Publication number: 20240392545
    Abstract: A faucet includes a spout configured to direct fluid into a sink, a camera arranged to capture images of the sink, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit may receive an image from the camera. The image may include an object positioned beneath the spout. The processing circuit may analyze the image received from the camera to assign a classification to the object included in the image. The processing circuit may cause the spout to direct fluid into the sink with fluid flow characteristics that correspond to the classification of the object in the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Joel T. Smith, Gregory de Swarte, Marwan E. Estiban, Krishna C. Poduru
  • Patent number: 12139635
    Abstract: A circuit board water-proofing coating composition is provided comprising: at least one passivating agent, preferably containing a molecule comprising a thio-functional group, desirably a thiol group, an azolic moiety, or an azole, and combinations thereof; at least one binder component comprising an organic or inorganic film-forming polymer, and/or one or more polymer pre-cursors polymerizable on a substrate surface; and optionally one or more additive(s); also provided are methods of making and using the coating composition and coated circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: John L. Zimmerman, John D. McGee, Gregory T. Donaldson, Thomas S. Smith, II, William G. Kozak, Lisa K. Miller, Eric C. Kuhns
  • Publication number: 20240367396
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a repair apparatus, system, and method for a composite sandwich structure. The repair is suited for reinforcing a sandwich panel having a first sheet and a second sheet opposite the first sheet. A core is interposed between and coupled to the first sheet and the second sheet. The repair uses a potting compound packed into an abnormality of the core and located on the outer surface of the first sheet. A patch is coupled to the outer surface of the first sheet over the abnormality of the core and cured. The cured potting compound is interposed between and bonded to the patch and the abnormality of the core and bonded to the patch and the outer surface of the first sheet to form a structural reinforcement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Remmelt Andrew Staal, Justin H. Register, Ernie Fidgeon, Glory C. Edwards, Gregory J. Smith
  • Patent number: 12110413
    Abstract: A circuit board water-proofing coating composition is provided comprising: at least one passivating agent, preferably containing a molecule comprising a thio-functional group, desirably a thiol group, an azolic moiety, or an azole, and combinations thereof; at least one binder component comprising an organic or inorganic film-forming polymer, and/or one or more polymer pre-cursors polymerizable on a substrate surface; and optionally one or more additive(s); also provided are methods of making and using the coating composition and coated circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: John L. Zimmerman, John D. McGee, Gregory T. Donaldson, Thomas S. Smith, II, William G. Kozak, Lisa K. Miller, Eric C. Kuhns
  • Patent number: 12077952
    Abstract: A faucet includes a spout configured to direct fluid into a sink, a camera arranged to capture images of the sink, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit may receive an image from the camera. The image may include an object positioned beneath the spout. The processing circuit may analyze the image received from the camera to assign a classification to the object included in the image. The processing circuit may cause the spout to direct fluid into the sink with fluid flow characteristics that correspond to the classification of the object in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Joel T. Smith, Gregory de Swarte, Marwan E. Estiban, Krishna C. Poduru
  • Patent number: 12064929
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a repair apparatus, system, and method for a composite sandwich structure. The repair is suited for reinforcing a sandwich panel having a first sheet and a second sheet opposite the first sheet. A core is interposed between and coupled to the first sheet and the second sheet. The repair uses a potting compound packed into an abnormality of the core and located on the outer surface of the first sheet. A patch is coupled to the outer surface of the first sheet over the abnormality of the core and cured. The cured potting compound is interposed between and bonded to the patch and the abnormality of the core and bonded to the patch and the outer surface of the first sheet to form a structural reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Remmelt Andrew Staal, Justin H. Register, Ernie Fidgeon, Glory C. Edwards, Gregory J. Smith
  • Patent number: 12055973
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a dual board-to-board connector battery management circuit module utilizing a switch-back service loop for a battery pack. The management circuit module is coupled to a first and second terminal of a battery pack and includes a first board-to-board connector disposed proximal to a first end of the management circuit module; and a second board-to-board connector disposed proximal to a second end of the management circuit module. The second board-to-board connector is positioned opposite the first board-to-board connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Depeng Wang, Andrew U. Leopold, Gregory N. Stevens, Jonathan C. Wilson, James B. Smith
  • Patent number: 8902051
    Abstract: A realistic tactile haptic device comprising a first vibration sensor, a digital controller, an actuator, and a similar or identical second vibration sensor, and a realistic tactile haptic feedback method thereof, provides users with realistic tactile haptic feedback that is similar to or the same as real tactile haptic feedback which users would experience by touching real objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Shana S. Smith, Gregory C. Smith, Ji-Liang Lee
  • Patent number: 8723793
    Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Gregory C. Smith, Thomas S. Quinn, James J. Leftwich
  • Publication number: 20140125469
    Abstract: A realistic tactile haptic device comprising a first vibration sensor, a digital controller, an actuator, and a similar or identical second vibration sensor, and a realistic tactile haptic feedback method thereof, provides users with realistic tactile haptic feedback that is similar to or the same as real tactile haptic feedback which users would experience by touching real objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: SHANA S. SMITH, GREGORY C. SMITH, JI-LIANG LEE
  • Publication number: 20140081708
    Abstract: Latent Semantic Engineering processes, devices, and methods match (aspirational, emotional, functional, physical) Latent Semantic Engineering semantic space user needs to (aspirational, emotional, functional, physical) Latent Semantic Engineering semantic space designs. Latent Semantic Engineering processes, devices, and methods thereby match user needs to designs, increase matching accuracy, and increase product quality, customer satisfaction, and product success.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: SHANA SMITH, GREGORY C. SMITH
  • Patent number: 8340420
    Abstract: A method for recognizing objects in images is disclosed. The method of the present invention comprises the following steps. First, acquire a digital image. Then, select one or more objects from the image according to a certain characteristic. Next, generate an x-axis histogram and/or a y-axis histogram from the segmented image. Then, find the zeroes and maxima for the x-axis histogram and/or the y-axis histogram and use the polynomial regression analysis to determine the shape, shape and location of each of the objects in the segmented image according to the zeroes and maxima. If the two curves linking two zeroes and one maximum in the x-axis histogram and the y-axis histogram are two sloped line, the corresponding object may be determined to be a triangle. If each of the four curves linking two zeroes and two maxima is a line, the corresponding object may be determined to be a rectangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Gregory C. Smith, Shana S. Smith
  • Patent number: 8328073
    Abstract: A mesh structure to which is mounted one or more ornamental stones. The mesh structure includes a series of chain links that are inter-woven. A thin metallic film in the form of a solder layer is hardened onto the surface of the mesh structure so as to make the mesh structure rigid. One or more settings are drilled into the rigid mesh structure, and a stone is disposed in each of the settings that are provided. A series of prongs are formed about the periphery of each of the so-disposed stones by up-setting the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Standard Chain Co.
    Inventors: Gregory C. Smith, Robert S. Bevelacqua
  • Patent number: 8305218
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and program product for attenuating a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. In one embodiment, the system includes optimizing a coverage area of an RFID reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christian L. Hunt, Vincent M. Padua, Robin A. Radez, William A. Reichert, III, Gregory C. Smith, Oriana J. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110139137
    Abstract: An archery bow riser that generally aligns a moveable arrow rest with a longitudinal axis in order to minimize a rotational effect of an archer's forehand when drawing a bow string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Miroslaw A. Simo, Gregory C. Smith, Robert S. Mizek
  • Publication number: 20110081081
    Abstract: A method for recognizing objects in images is disclosed. The method of the present invention comprises the following steps. First, acquire a digital image. Then, select one or more objects from the image according to a certain characteristic. Next, generate an x-axis histogram and/or a y-axis histogram from the segmented image. Then, find the zeroes and maxima for the x-axis histogram and/or the y-axis histogram and use the polynomial regression analysis to determine the shape, shape and location of each of the objects in the segmented image according to the zeroes and maxima. If the two curves linking two zeroes and one maximum in the x-axis histogram and the y-axis histogram are two sloped line, the corresponding object may be determined to be a triangle. If each of the four curves linking two zeroes and two maxima is a line, the corresponding object may be determined to be a rectangle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory C. SMITH, Shana S. Smith
  • Patent number: 7855139
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the effective dielectric constant of materials used in a semiconductor device are shown and described. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate with a plurality of pillars formed thereon, depositing a first layer of dielectric material over a plurality of pillars, removing a portion of the first layer deposited over the plurality of pillars, and depositing a second layer of dielectric material over the plurality of pillars, where the second layer leaves a plurality of voids between the plurality of pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sematech, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100265174
    Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: GREGORY C. SMITH, Thomas S. Quinn, James J. Leftwich
  • Patent number: 7782298
    Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Gregory C. Smith, Thomas J. Quinn, James J. Leftwich