Patents by Inventor James W. Howard

James W. Howard 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).

  • Publication number: 20170245782
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring impairment indicators. The method comprises, during a first time window, measuring a first movement signal related to movement of a person with a movement sensor associated with the person, and measuring a first environmental signal with an environmental sensor. The method further comprises electronically storing at least one numerical descriptor derived from the first movement signal and the first environmental signal as reference data for the person. The method further includes, during a second time window, measuring a second movement signal related to movement of the person with the movement sensor and measuring a second environmental signal with the environmental sensor; and comparing at least one numerical descriptor derived from the second movement signal and the second environmental signal to the reference data to identify an impairment indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: James W. HOWARD, Eric C. LOBNER, Jennifer F. SCHUMACHER
  • Publication number: 20170245785
    Abstract: A method for monitoring impairment indicators, the method includes measuring, with a movement sensor attached to the person, a first signal related to movement of a person during a first time window and electronically storing the at least one numerical descriptor derived from the first signal as reference data for the person. The method further includes measuring, with the movement sensor attached to the person, a second signal related to movement of the person during a second time window and comparing at least one numerical descriptor derived from the second signal to the reference data as a factor to identify an impairment indicator. The present disclosure also includes a device for monitoring impairment indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric C. LOBNER, James W. HOWARD, Jennifer F. SCHUMACHER, Brian J. STANKIEWICZ, Billy L. WEAVER
  • Publication number: 20160354014
    Abstract: A device for recognizing activity of an object. The device comprises a housing configured to be attached to the object and a processing unit disposed in the housing comprising a processor and a movement sensor. The movement sensor measures a signal related to movement of the object during a time window. The processor assigns at least one preliminary activity label to the time window based on at least one numerical descriptor computed from the signal. The processor then determines whether to perform additional analysis dependent upon at least the preliminary activity label. The processor then assigns a final activity label to the time window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Eric C. Lobner, James W. Howard, Richard J. Moore, Jennifer F. Schumacher, Brian J. Stankiewicz
  • Patent number: 5182444
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the focus and tracking of a light beam on a medium in an optical data storage system. A split lens, comprising two halves of a lens separated along the optical axis and displaced from each other along the plane of the cut, is used to focus the light reflected or refracted from the medium onto a quad-cell. The quad cell comprises four light sensors arranged in four quadrants about a center point. According to the invention, the amount of light incident on quadrants of the quad-cell indicates the focus and alignment of the light beam on the medium. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the above apparatus is used to measure the collimation or distribution of intensity of a light beam. Another aspect of the invention is the manufacture of the split lens. A lens is sawed into two halves and the halves are mounted using a housing displaced from each other along the plane of the cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Howard
  • Patent number: 5153870
    Abstract: A rotary actuator for an optical head comprises a pair of reflectors mounted respectively on the end of the arm and on the pivot axis to define an optical path via the arm to an optical disk for an external beam directed along the pivot axis. Special arm geometry reduces variable head skew and consequent image rotation. A multiple platter design features optical switches effectively aligned on the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Neville K. S. Lee, James W. Howard, Ben Godfrey
  • Patent number: 5105408
    Abstract: A micro-objective lens is carried on an air bearing slider with an optical passage through which the lens focuses an energy beam onto a spot on an optical data storage medium. The slider accomplishes automatic focusing. An RF coil is affixed to the slider facing the storage medium and surrounding the beam axis. The proximity of the coil lowers power switching requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Neville K. S. Lee, James W. Howard, Patrick K. Tan, Walter Hrytsay
  • Patent number: 4987292
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the focus and tracking of a light beam on a medium in an optical data storage system. A split lens, comprising two halves of a lens separated along the optical axis and displaced from each other along the plane of the cut, is used to focus the light reflected or refracted from the medium onto a quad-cell. The quad cell comprises four light sensors arranged in four quadrants about a center point. According to the invention, the amount of light incident on quadrants of the quad-cell indicates the focus and alignment of the light beam on the medium. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the above apparatus is used to measaure the collimation or distribution of intensity of a light beam. Another aspect of the invention is the manufacture of the split lens. A lens is sawed into two halves and the halves are mounted using a housing displaced from each other along the plane of the cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Howard
  • Patent number: 4914299
    Abstract: A shield for limiting the radiation received by an array of detectors along the length of the detector array of an electromagnetic radiation detection system to radiation provided to the detectors by the optics of the system. The shield comprises a pair of glass rods mounted in a parallel relationship to each other and to the linear direction of the array and forming an aperture along the length of the array so as to shield the elements of the array from electromagnetic radiation generated outside the field-of-view of the detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Jungkman, James W. Howard
  • Patent number: 4812655
    Abstract: A prism cold shield adaptable to an infrared detector system comprising a prism-shaped substrate having an upper portion partially coated with opaque material and a lower portion partially coated with opaque material wherein windows formed by the upper and lower coatings defined the field of view for a plurality of infrared detectors thereby cold shielding the detectors in the linear direction of the detector array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Jungkman, James W. Howard, Timothy E. White
  • Patent number: 4697866
    Abstract: An improved composite lens is described which provides higher optical transmittance and lower weight and cost than a conventional ZnSe/ZnS doublet. A method of manufacture is also described which uses a process of chemical vapor disposition of one material (e.g. ZnSe) on a blank of another material (e.g. ZnS), combined with well-known optical machining and polishing processes to obtain the desired curvatures on the lens surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Howard
  • Patent number: 4554447
    Abstract: A multi-element spectral filter with curved interior surfaces which provides uniform angular response and is particularly well-suited for use in wide field of view optical detection systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Howard, David M. Reilly
  • Patent number: 4507551
    Abstract: An improved optical system for thermal imaging systems using wide field of view optics in conjunction with large detector arrays in which a detector cold shield, system aperture stop and scanning subassembly are placed in substantially the same location such that the size of the scanning optics is minimized and cold shielding efficiency is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Howard, Irving R. Abel