Patents by Inventor James C. Marshall
James C. Marshall 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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Patent number: 10416799Abstract: Inadvertent input control techniques are described. In one or more implementations, techniques are described that leverage force to determine a likelihood that a user intended to provide an input, e.g., a selection input (e.g., a “click”), gesture, lift off, and so forth. This is usable to identify taps, hovers, continuation of movement of a drag operation, and so on. Implementations are also discussed that leverage an n-manifold in the product space of contact size and signal strength that is usable to define a likelihood of whether a contact includes an application of force. A variety of other examples are also described, including cursor stability techniques that leverage force in order to control movement of a cursor.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Carl E. Picciotto, Robbie Edgar, Brian R. Cox, James C. Marshall, Flavio Protasio Ribeiro
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Patent number: 10228770Abstract: Input device configurations are described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a sensor substrate having one or more conductors and a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate. The flexible contact layer is configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input of a computing device. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a capacitive sensor assembly arranged in an array that is configured to detect a location of an object that is proximal to a respective capacitive sensor of the capacitive sensor assembly and a pressure sensitive sensor assembly including a plurality of pressure sensitive sensor nodes that are configured to detect an amount of pressure applied by the object against a respective pressure sensitive sensor node of the pressure sensitive sensor assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Timothy C. Shaw, James C. Marshall, Brian R. Cox, Carl E. Picciotto, Aric A. Fitz-Coy
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Patent number: 10222889Abstract: Inadvertent input control techniques are described. In one or more implementations, techniques are described that leverage force to determine a likelihood that a user intended to provide an input, e.g., a selection input (e.g., a “click”), gesture, lift off, and so forth. This is usable to identify taps, hovers, continuation of movement of a drag operation, and so on. Implementations are also discussed that leverage an n-manifold in the product space of contact size and signal strength that is usable to define a likelihood of whether a contact includes an application of force. A variety of other examples are also described, including cursor stability techniques that leverage force in order to control movement of a cursor.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Carl E. Picciotto, Robbie Edgar, James C. Marshall
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Patent number: 9952106Abstract: Input device configurations are described. In implementations, an input device includes a sensor substrate having a capacitive sensor to detect proximity of an object that contacts the input device. The input device also includes a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate, where the flexible contact layer is implemented to flex and contact the sensor substrate responsive to pressure applied by the object to initiate an input to a computing device. The flexible contact layer can include a force concentrator pad that is designed to cause pressure to be channeled through the force concentrator pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Timothy C. Shaw, Flavio P. Ribeiro, Glennis E. Covington, Christian C. Gadke, Xuezhong Wu, Bradley R. Martin, Francie Judith Zant, Scott M. Mail, James C. Marshall
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Patent number: 9684382Abstract: Input device configurations are described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a sensor substrate having one or more conductors and a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate. The flexible contact layer is configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input of a computing device. The flexible contact layer includes a force concentrator pad that is configured to cause pressure to be channeled through the force concentrator pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2013Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Timothy C. Shaw, James C. Marshall, Brian R. Cox, Carl E. Picciotto, Aric A. Fitz-Coy
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Publication number: 20170023418Abstract: Input device configurations are described. In implementations, an input device includes a sensor substrate having a capacitive sensor to detect proximity of an object that contacts the input device. The input device also includes a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate, where the flexible contact layer is implemented to flex and contact the sensor substrate responsive to pressure applied by the object to initiate an input to a computing device. The flexible contact layer can include a force concentrator pad that is designed to cause pressure to be channeled through the force concentrator pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Timothy C. Shaw, Flavio P. Ribeiro, Glennis E. Covington, Christian C. Gadke, Xuezhong Wu, Bradley R. Martin, Francie Judith Zant, Scott M. Mail, James C. Marshall
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Publication number: 20160357296Abstract: Inadvertent input control techniques are described. In one or more implementations, techniques are described that leverage force to determine a likelihood that a user intended to provide an input, e.g., a selection input (e.g., a “click”), gesture, lift off, and so forth. This is usable to identify taps, hovers, continuation of movement of a drag operation, and so on. Implementations are also discussed that leverage an n-manifold in the product space of contact size and signal strength that is usable to define a likelihood of whether a contact includes an application of force. A variety of other examples are also described, including cursor stability techniques that leverage force in order to control movement of a cursor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Carl E. Picciotto, Robbie Edgar, Brian R. Cox, James C. Marshall, Flavio Protasio Ribeiro
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Publication number: 20160357297Abstract: Inadvertent input control techniques are described. In one or more implementations, techniques are described that leverage force to determine a likelihood that a user intended to provide an input, e.g., a selection input (e.g., a “click”), gesture, lift off, and so forth. This is usable to identify taps, hovers, continuation of movement of a drag operation, and so on. Implementations are also discussed that leverage an n-manifold in the product space of contact size and signal strength that is usable to define a likelihood of whether a contact includes an application of force. A variety of other examples are also described, including cursor stability techniques that leverage force in order to control movement of a cursor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Carl E. Picciotto, Robbie Edgar, James C. Marshall
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Patent number: 9459160Abstract: Input device configurations are described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a sensor substrate having one or more conductors and a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate. The flexible contact layer is configured to flex to contact the sensor substrate to initiate an input of a computing device. The flexible contact layer includes a force concentrator pad that is configured to cause pressure to be channeled through the force concentrator pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2013Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Timothy C. Shaw, Flavio P. Ribeiro, Glennis E. Covington, Christian C. Gadke, Xuezhong Wu, Bradley R. Martin, Francie Judith Zant, Scott M. Mail, James C. Marshall
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Publication number: 20140354550Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems for obtaining contextual information at least in part from a keyboard, to improve typing efficiencies and user experience. The contextual information may include keyboard attributes, typing metadata, user actions, and the like. The keyboard may be configured to detect an input event at the keyboard. A human interface device (HID) stack is configured to receive the contextual information, and a keyboard manager is configured to determine an output based at least in part on the input event and the contextual information. The output may be a most probable function (non-text-based output), or character or word (text-based output) that can be suggested or used to auto-correct application data. In some embodiments, the user action received in the contextual information may be translated to a gesture to manipulate application data.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Rouella J. Mendonca, Alex G. Snitkovskiy, Hirofumi Yamamoto, Randall E. Aull, Nathan C. Sherman, James C. Marshall, Scott Mail
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Patent number: 7888909Abstract: The convenient recharging of a charge storage device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises a portable device accessory with a charge storage device holding mechanism and a recharging circuit. The system also comprises a portable device with an interface at which the portable device and the portable device accessory are connectable. A charge storage device-switching mechanism is disposed within the portable device accessory or the portable device. The charge storage device-switching mechanism is actuatable to switch a first charge storage device in the portable device with a second charge storage device in the charge storage device holding mechanism of the portable device accessory by mechanically connecting and/or disconnecting the portable device from the portable device accessory.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Glen C Larsen, James C Marshall, Michael R Schweers
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Publication number: 20100215467Abstract: A system and method of loading and delivering goods which may include rolling trays adapted to roll into a truck trailer. The truck trailer may have rails at different heights allowing for the high density packing of trays within the trailer. The trailer may have a lift mechanism with rails which allows rolling trays to be placed onto the rails, or to be rolled onto elevated rails off of mating rails. The lift mechanism may be adapted to raise the rolling trays to different heights associated with the rails within the trailer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventor: James C. Marshall
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Publication number: 20100215474Abstract: A system and method of growing, loading, and delivering plants which may include rolling trays adapted to roll into a truck trailer. The truck trailer may have rails at different heights allowing for the high density packing of trays within the trailer. The trailer may have a lift mechanism with rails which allows rolling trays to be placed onto the rails, or to be rolled onto elevated rails off of mating rails. The lift mechanism may be adapted to raise the rolling trays to different heights associated with the rails within the trailer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventor: James C. Marshall
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Patent number: 7629961Abstract: A computer input device controller dynamically adjusts the rate at which an illumination source is activated, and may also adjust the rate at which other optical tracking system components are activated. As the velocity of optical tracking system movement relative to a tracked surface increases, the controller increases the activation rate(s). As the velocity of relative movement decreases, the controller decreases the activation rate(s). Future displacements of a tracking system relative to a tracked surface are also estimated. In particular, relative tracking system/tracked surface velocity is calculated based on a series of images. Relative displacement is then estimated based on the calculated velocity.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2004Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Mark W. Casebolt, Mark R. Lee, Jeremiah M. Pope, James C. Marshall
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Publication number: 20090091290Abstract: The convenient recharging of a charge storage device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises a portable device accessory with a charge storage device holding mechanism and a recharging circuit. The system also comprises a portable device with an interface at which the portable device and the portable device accessory are connectable. A charge storage device-switching mechanism is disposed within the portable device accessory or the portable device. The charge storage device-switching mechanism is actuatable to switch a first charge storage device in the portable device with a second charge storage device in the charge storage device holding mechanism of the portable device accessory by mechanically connecting and/or disconnecting the portable device from the portable device accessory.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2007Publication date: April 9, 2009Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Glen C. Larsen, James C. Marshall, Michael R. Schweers
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Patent number: 7512163Abstract: Circuitry for reliably regulating the current driving a laser diode or other current-driven load is described. In particular, a dual-current driver circuit is described that uses both a current source circuit and a current sink circuit. The current source circuit and the current sink circuit may each independently control the laser diode drive current within a desired operating tolerance. The current driving the laser diode will be maintained within tolerance despite the failure of either the current source circuit or the current sink circuit. This is because the current source circuit and the current sink circuit are combined with the laser diode in series, such that the current driving the laser diode will be controlled at the lower of the two currents driven by the current source circuit and the current sink circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2005Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: James C. Marshall
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Patent number: 7465088Abstract: A thermal sensing system includes a one-piece clip formed of a thermally conductive material. The clip includes a flat, substantially enclosed portion with tabs extending upward from it for connecting the clip to a printed circuit board. The clip also includes a contact portion that is configured to contact a thermally emitting object along a substantial portion of its surface. The thermal sensing system also includes a thermistor. The thermistor may be mounted to the printed circuit board or directly mounted to the clip. Heat is transferred from the thermal object to the thermistor via the clip. This system may be used in various arrangements in which temperature of an object is monitored or maintained within a given range. For example, the system may be used with a rechargeable mouse to monitor the temperature of the replaceable battery during charging and discontinue charging should the temperature reach a predetermined limit.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gino S. Garcia, Anthony E. Hillyerd, James C. Marshall, Michael Schwager
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Publication number: 20070296541Abstract: A thermal sensing system includes a one-piece clip formed of a thermally conductive material. The clip includes a flat, substantially enclosed portion with tabs extending upward from it for connecting the clip to a printed circuit board. The clip also includes a contact portion that is configured to contact a thermally emitting object along a substantial portion of its surface. The thermal sensing system also includes a thermistor. The thermistor may be mounted to the printed circuit board or directly mounted to the clip. Heat is transferred from the thermal object to the thermistor via the clip. This system may be used in various arrangements in which temperature of an object is monitored or maintained within a given range. For example, the system may be used with a rechargeable mouse to monitor the temperature of the replaceable battery during charging and discontinue charging should the temperature reach a predetermined limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2006Publication date: December 27, 2007Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Gino S. Garcia, Anthony E. Hillyerd, James C. Marshall, Michael Schwager
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Patent number: 6064555Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for improving the Single Event Latchup (SEL) performance of an integrated circuit device (IC), or grouping of devices (as an example Multi-Chip Modules or MCMs), through the addition of active electronic circuitry integrated within the IC or MCM package. This circuitry and the protected device can be incorporated within the same physical dimensions and electrical configuration as the original integrated circuit device. The circuitry turns a destructive Latchup of a device into a recoverable event, allowing electronic devices that where unsuitable for the space environment due to SEL to be useable in the space environment.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1997Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Inventors: David Czajkowski, James C. Marshall
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Patent number: 5228582Abstract: A vertically oriented, peripherally defined, and rotatably mounted column defines a plurality of spaced sets of similar spaced holes to receive and support the shanks of elongate fasteners. The column carries, between sets of spaced holes, a plurality of "L" shaped brackets, each having upturned support arms spaced radially outward from the column to receive and support a plurality of annular washers or nuts thereon. The column is rotatably mounted on a bracket for support on either horizontal or vertical surfaces. The column supports fasteners for sorting, display, and storage and may be used as a merchandising container for such products. A second species provides a plurality of cylinders that are rotatably supported in spaced circular array on a medial stand that provides additional means for storage of a stock of fastening devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1992Date of Patent: July 20, 1993Inventors: J. C. Marshall, James C. Marshall, II