Patents by Inventor James A. Bishop, Jr.

James A. Bishop, Jr. 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: 9370259
    Abstract: A control system for a child swing that comprises a drive mechanism that includes a motor configured to impart torque to the at least one swing arm so that a child seat moves in an arcuate path. A phase control subsystem generates a motor drive signal configured to maintain a desired lead angle between a phase of the drive mechanism and a phase of the swing arm. An amplitude control subsystem configured to steer the phase control subsystem based on a correlation of an actual height of the child seat to a selected height of the child seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. Pyrce, James P. Meade, Mark Alan Wollen, James Paul Baker, James A. Bishop, Jr., Ross Allan Niver
  • Patent number: 8932143
    Abstract: A control system for a child swing that comprises an amplitude control subsystem configured to use one or more electrical signals from a swing sensor to compare an actual amplitude of the child swing to a pre-set amplitude of the child swing to generate an adjustment signal representing a desired adjustment to the phase of the drive mechanism. The child swing also comprises a phase control subsystem configured to use an electrical signal representative of a phase of the drive mechanism and the adjustment signal to generate a motor drive signal configured to cause the desired adjustment to the phase of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. Pyrce, James P. Meade, Mark Alan Wollen, James Paul Baker, James A. Bishop, Jr., Ross Allan Niver
  • Publication number: 20140106891
    Abstract: A control system for a child swing that comprises an amplitude control subsystem configured to use one or more electrical signals from a swing sensor to compare an actual amplitude of the child swing to a pre-set amplitude of the child swing to generate an adjustment signal representing a desired adjustment to the phase of the drive mechanism. The child swing also comprises a phase control subsystem configured to use an electrical signal representative of a phase of the drive mechanism and the adjustment signal to generate a motor drive signal configured to cause the desired adjustment to the phase of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Philip R. PYRCE, James P. MEADE, Mark Alan WOLLEN, James Paul BAKER, James A. BISHOP, JR., Ross Allan NIVER
  • Patent number: 7203455
    Abstract: An electronic learning/teaching device operates with and without a printed sheet element having an arrangement of selectable content by means of a user responsive sensor array beneath a surface configured to receive the element. The sensor array is formed by cross-points of two sets of crossing conductive lines, one set being driven sequentially with a radio frequency square wave and the other set being sampled sequentially though a high impedance amplifier connection with an asynchronous detection circuit. Where more than one cross-point location is user activated, algorithms are used to identify one cross-point sensor location as the user activated selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Ernst, John W. Taylor, Dagan Galarneau, Joseph E. Hoppy, James A. Bishop, Jr., Philip R. Pyrce, James P. Meade
  • Patent number: 6116983
    Abstract: A remotely-controlled crib toy generates audio and/or video sensible output in response to user commands received by a remote control system. The nature and duration of the sensible output can be selected by the user. The sensible output is selected to be soothing to an infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Long, Christopher Cimerman, James P. Meade, Charles D. Smith, James A. Bishop, Jr., Elisabeth Krisel, William R. Hewitt