Patents by Inventor J. Pearce

J. Pearce 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: 6192471
    Abstract: A system which builds an operating system-independent environment for executing utility programs is created by establishing a virtual drive that resides on a physical disk drive within the native file system of a native operating system. A virtual drive is a set of files on a physical disk drive that is configured to emulate a physical disk drive. The virtual drive can be deleted by a computer user and similarly can be re-established by the computer user. The virtual drive is bootable and activates an operating system that makes all system resources accessible to the utility programs and also allows the computer user to use the disk space that is allocated for the virtual drive, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Dell USA, LP
    Inventors: John J. Pearce, Anthony L. Overfield
  • Patent number: 6184496
    Abstract: A relatively lightweight and easy to use flexible heating mat for melting snow and ice that can be cut in the field to custom length or to accommodate direction changes or avoid obstructions. The heating mat includes one or more planar flexible heaters sandwiched between two vulcanized polymer protective sheets. The heating mat may be activated remotely or manually and can be powered from either end of the heating mat. Nonskid patterns ate typically included in heating mats used on driveways and walkways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Clearpath, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Pearce
  • Patent number: 6180929
    Abstract: A lightweight flexible electrical heating device for melting snow and ice that may be cut in the field to custom length. The device includes a planar flexible electric heater sandwiched between two vulcanized polymer protective sheets. The heater include an array of resistive heating elements electrically connected in parallel and oriented substantially across the device length, allowing the heater to be cut to any length as needed. Potentially the outside surfaces is equipped with a ribbed non skid pattern that form an array of ribs and channels to increase traction and aid in water drainage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Clearpath, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Pearce
  • Patent number: 6178550
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for optimizing the location of machine-dependent code is disclosed. In a departure from the art, code for implementing an applications program interface (API) or other machine dependent program is divided into a system management mode (SMM) portion and a non-SMM portion, depending on whether the code needs to be implemented in a secure environment or not, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the non-SMM portion of the API maintains a BIOS jump table comprising an indexed array of function addresses, and the SMM portion of the API maintains a parallel, but nonidentical, SMM jump table. For each API function that is to be executed in SMM, that is, for each function that must be executed in a secure environment, the indexed BIOS jump table entry calls an SMM interface (SMI) function, which initiates SMM by generating a system management interrupt and accesses the parallel SMM jump table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Dell USA
    Inventor: John J. Pearce
  • Patent number: 5996444
    Abstract: Pipe sections of a drill string are unscrewed by holding one pipe section stationary in a clamping arm, and rotating another pipe section by a turning wrench. The clamping arm includes an adapter that can be replaced by similar adapters sized for different pipe diameter. The turning wrench includes a lug arranged to be contacted by a piston rod and rotated thereby for breaking the bond between the pipe sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Driltech Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Pearce, William C. Grindstaff, James D. Madden
  • Patent number: 5981229
    Abstract: Provided herein are novel nucleic acids which encode exported proteins of Gram positive bacteria, and the proteins encoded by such nucleic acids. Also provided are methods of producing such exported proteins, and vaccines for protecting an animal from infection with a gram positive bacterium, wherein the vaccines utilize the novel nucleic acids and proteins of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: H. Robert Masure, Barbara J. Pearce, Elaine Tuomanen
  • Patent number: 5966502
    Abstract: A removable device for melting and preventing the accumulation of ice and snow on walkway and driveways is disclosed. The apparatus includes a series of interconnected pads of various lengths and widths which are heated to a temperature which is sufficient to prevent the accumulation of ice and snow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Clearpath, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Pearce
  • Patent number: 5958054
    Abstract: A portable computer including a chargeable battery and an AC line adapter controls the battery and adapter to emulate a full UPS-class device. A controller of the portable computer with the chargeable battery and the AC line adapter emulates the conventional operation of an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and a serial cable connecting the UPS to the portable computer. The controller includes a software driver and Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) program code to emulate signals to and from the internal battery and the AC charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Dell U.S.A., L.P.
    Inventors: Clint H. O'Connor, John J. Pearce
  • Patent number: 5944831
    Abstract: Communication interface PCCards are commonly attached, both physically and electrically, to a notebook computer whether the communication interface PCCards are connected to a communication channel or disconnected from the communication channel. It has further been discovered that communication interface PCCards consume power when attached to the notebook computer and that power consumption is advantageously reduced and battery life extended by detecting when the communication channel is disconnected from the communication interface PCCard and terminating power supplied to the communication interface PCCard when the communication channel is disconnected. A power management method in a computer system having a PCCard connected to a communication channel includes detecting a disconnection of the communication channel from the PCCard and terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: John C. Pate, John J. Pearce
  • Patent number: 5928900
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of Gram positive bacterial exported proteins, and the genes encoding such proteins. In particular, the invention relates to adhesion associated exported proteins, and to antigens common to many or all strains of a species of Gram positive bacterium. The invention also relates to acellular vaccines to provide protection from Gram positive bacterial infection using such genes or such proteins, and to antibodies against such proteins for use in diagnosis and passive immune therapy. In specific embodiments, fragments of ten genes encoding exported proteins of S. pneumoniae are disclosed, and the functional activity of some of these proteins in adherence is demonstrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: H. Robert Masure, Barbara J. Pearce, Elaine Tuomanen
  • Patent number: 5896534
    Abstract: A conversion methodology utilizes increasing microprocessor performance characteristics and System Management Mode ("SMM") to provide transparent support of hardware components that include features unsupported by executing application and operating system programs. In one embodiment, a PC system includes code that supports only conventional but unavailable communication interfaces. However, the PC system is equipped with a universal serial bus ("USB") controller. Although the USB controller is unsupported by the executing code by the application and operating system programs, the conversion methodology utilizes system management mode to facilitate transparent support for the USB controller. In SMM, a CPU executes SMM code independently of the operating system(s). The conversion methodology causes entry of SMM upon any I/O operation intended for the supported but unavailable conventional communication interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: John J. Pearce, Kendall C. Witte
  • Patent number: 5828877
    Abstract: A computer system having a central processing unit ("CPU"), a main memory divisible into allocable units, a secondary storage unit and an operating system for allocating the allocable units to tasks for use thereby is provided with a suspend circuit for creating an optimized compressed image of data in the main memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: John J. Pearce, Charles Zeller
  • Patent number: 5819100
    Abstract: A method and system of operating a power-managed computer system monitors the life cycle of a hard disk drive attached to the computer system and extends the life span of the hard disk drive by reducing the rate at which hard disk drive spin-up cycles are initiated when the hard drive reaches a predetermined stage it life cycle. Software routines which activate or spin-up the hard drive are extended in capability to read the hard drive serial number and record the serial number in a non-volatile memory in conjunction with an incrementing counter. The incrementing counter counts the number of times the hard drive has been activated from the time of installation of the hard drive. The count of spin-up occurrences is indicative of the operating age of the disk drive. A plurality of age levels are defined, for example medium, old and ancient levels so that, when the hard drive spin-up count reaches one of the defined levels, the power management system changes the operation of the hard drive power management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventor: John J. Pearce
  • Patent number: 5805880
    Abstract: An essential utility routine accesses a protected computer system component by making a call to a coprocessor that performs a desired function to avoid security measures imposed by an operating system. Various suitable coprocessors include an additional coprocessor connected to a host processor running the operating system imposing the security measures such as a coprocessor on a add-in card to a computer system, a microcontroller, or a system management mode (SMM) program running on the host processor. The essential utility operates on a computer system having a processor operating under an operating system and a storage. The operating system includes software which limits access to the storage. The utility includes a coprocessor, a software interface and a utility routine. The coprocessor is connected to the storage and operative independent of the operating system for accessing the storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Dell USA, LP
    Inventors: John J. Pearce, Craig S. Jones
  • Patent number: 5796984
    Abstract: An emulation methodology utilizes increasing microprocessor performance characteristics and System Management Mode ("SMM") to emulate peripheral device functions in a computer system. The emulation methodology traps addresses associated with I/O between a CPU and one or more peripheral devices. After trapping the I/O instruction address, a system management interrupt issues, and the computer system enters the operating system independent SMM. The CPU executes SMM code which proceeds to pass instructions to the CPU which result in the complete or partial emulation of a peripheral device. When the peripheral device is completely emulated, it can be replaced, for example, with a less expensive, less functional component or possibly even eliminated without substitution. The emulation methodology also responds to asynchronous peripheral device user activity by again trapping an I/O instruction to the peripheral device, and using SMM code to emulate the peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: John J. Pearce, Kendall C. Witte
  • Patent number: 5795940
    Abstract: Colour concentrate pellets for pigmenting polyvinyl chloride are substantially all of diameter 0.1 to 3 mm and comprise pigment dispersed in a carrier comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer which is ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and/or alloy thereof with polyethylene, the polymer having a vinyl acetate content of 13-28% by weight and a melt flow index (as measured by the method of ASTM D1238 using a 2.16 kg weight at 190.degree. C.) of 3.5-150 g/10 minutes, the pellets comprising at least 30% by weight of the pigment and at least 10% by weight of the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Cookson Matthey Ceramics PLC
    Inventors: Roy W. J. Pearce, Nigel B. Smith
  • Patent number: 5754551
    Abstract: A method of connecting a new end station to a ring communication system for connecting a number of end stations is constituted by the steps of: i) sensing an attempt by the new end station to attach to the ring; ii) determining whether there is a single end station only existing on the ring; and, iiia) if it is determined that there is more than one end station on the ring, allowing the new end station to attach to the ring and maintaining the ring communication configuration; or b) if it is determined that there is a single end station only on the ring, breaking the ring configuration and setting up two separate communication paths between the new end station and the existing end station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Madge Networks Limited
    Inventors: Philip G. Claridge, David A. J. Pearce
  • Patent number: 5754853
    Abstract: A system uses a suspend-to-disk operation to save the total processor state of a computer system. With the processor state saved, utility programs such as diagnostic and setup routines, which access to all computer system resources, are executed without the need to reload executing applications or reboot the native operating system controlling the computer system prior to activating the suspend-to-disk operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Dell USA, LP
    Inventor: John J. Pearce
  • Patent number: 5747304
    Abstract: This invention provides new antifungal compounds of Formula I or II: ##STR1## wherein R, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are defined in the specification produced by culture LL-15G256 (Hypoxylon oceanicum), NRRL 21363 and their production by fermentation and use as antifungal agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: Gerhard Schlingmann, Lisa Milne, Cedric J. Pearce, E. B. Gareth Jones, David A. Albaugh
  • Patent number: D451693
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Pearce, Bruce M. Smith, Dale M. Groendal