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).

  • Patent number: 10416799
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Carl E. Picciotto, Robbie Edgar, Brian R. Cox, James C. Marshall, Flavio Protasio Ribeiro
  • Patent number: 10228770
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy C. Shaw, James C. Marshall, Brian R. Cox, Carl E. Picciotto, Aric A. Fitz-Coy
  • Patent number: 10222889
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Carl E. Picciotto, Robbie Edgar, James C. Marshall
  • Patent number: 9952106
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 9684382
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy C. Shaw, James C. Marshall, Brian R. Cox, Carl E. Picciotto, Aric A. Fitz-Coy
  • Publication number: 20170023418
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20160357296
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Carl E. Picciotto, Robbie Edgar, Brian R. Cox, James C. Marshall, Flavio Protasio Ribeiro
  • Publication number: 20160357297
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Carl E. Picciotto, Robbie Edgar, James C. Marshall
  • Patent number: 9459160
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20140354550
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rouella J. Mendonca, Alex G. Snitkovskiy, Hirofumi Yamamoto, Randall E. Aull, Nathan C. Sherman, James C. Marshall, Scott Mail
  • Patent number: 7888909
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Glen C Larsen, James C Marshall, Michael R Schweers
  • Publication number: 20100215467
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: James C. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20100215474
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: James C. Marshall
  • Patent number: 7629961
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Casebolt, Mark R. Lee, Jeremiah M. Pope, James C. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20090091290
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Glen C. Larsen, James C. Marshall, Michael R. Schweers
  • Patent number: 7512163
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Marshall
  • Patent number: 7465088
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gino S. Garcia, Anthony E. Hillyerd, James C. Marshall, Michael Schwager
  • Publication number: 20070296541
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gino S. Garcia, Anthony E. Hillyerd, James C. Marshall, Michael Schwager
  • Patent number: 6064555
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventors: David Czajkowski, James C. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5228582
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventors: J. C. Marshall, James C. Marshall, II