Patents by Inventor John K. Howard
John K. 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).
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Patent number: 7062339Abstract: A control system including a portable device and a server. The portable device includes: (1) a body; (2) a microphone for receiving a first audio data; (3) an audio coder for converting the first audio data to first audio data signals; (4) an optical sensor for reading a first optical data; (5) an optical coder for converting the first optical data to first optical data signals; and (6) a transmitter for transmitting at least the first audio data signals or the first optical data signals to the server.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2002Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: John K. Howard, Dwayne Escola, Jim Pollock, Jean-Claude Junqua
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Patent number: 6946286Abstract: An apparatus for identifying an unknown DNA sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of detection nodes, each of which is operable for allowing an interaction between a known DNA sample and an unknown DNA sample, and for generating an output signal if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample. The apparatus further includes a decoder operative for receiving an input signal indicative of which of the plurality of detection nodes should be selected for processing and for outputting control signals which operate to activate the selected detection node. Further, each of the detection nodes includes a light source and a photodetection circuit. The photodetection circuit has a conductance value which varies if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample deposited in the detection node. This change in conductance value is utilized to generate the output signal which indicates that hybridization has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2002Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: John K. Howard
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Patent number: 6926865Abstract: An apparatus for identifying an unknown DNA sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of detection nodes, each of which is operable for allowing an interaction between a known DNA sample and an unknown DNA sample, and for generating an output signal if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample. The apparatus further includes a decoder operative for receiving an input signal indicative of which of the plurality of detection nodes should be selected for processing and for outputting control signals which operate to activate the selected detection node. Further, each of the detection nodes comprises a first floating gate transistor having a conductance value which varies if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample contained in the first transistor. This change of conductance value is utilized to generate the output signal which indicates that hybridization has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: John K. Howard
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Patent number: 6806088Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment, the present invention relates to an apparatus for performing an assay comprising a micro-system platform, a CD-ROM device and an information processor, where the CD-ROM device under control of the information processor is capable of reading and writing data to the micro-system platform. The micro-system platform comprises a first section for storing data in a continuous circular data band, which is disposed in an inner portion of the micro-system platform, and a second section including at least one assay, which is formed in an outer portion of the micro-system platform. During operation, the CD-ROM device retrieves and stores data related to the performance of the assay in the circular data band. The information processor is operative for controlling the CD-ROM device in accordance with the data retrieved from the circular data band, and for analyzing the results of the assay.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2001Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: John K. Howard
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Publication number: 20030212465Abstract: A control system including a portable device and a server. The portable device includes: (1) a body; (2) a microphone for receiving a first audio data; (3) an audio coder for converting the first audio data to first audio data signals; (4) an optical sensor for reading a first optical data; (5) an optical coder for converting the first optical data to first optical data signals; and (6) a transmitter for transmitting at least the first audio data signals or the first optical data signals to the server.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2002Publication date: November 13, 2003Inventors: John K. Howard, Dwayne Escola, Jim Pollock, Jean-Claude Junqua
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Publication number: 20030211479Abstract: An apparatus for identifying an unknown DNA sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of detection nodes, each of which is operable for allowing an interaction between a known DNA sample and an unknown DNA sample, and for generating an output signal if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample. The apparatus further includes a decoder operative for receiving an input signal indicative of which of the plurality of detection nodes should be selected for processing and for outputting control signals which operate to activate the selected detection node. Further, each of the detection nodes includes a light source and a photodetection circuit. The photodetection circuit has a conductance value which varies if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample deposited in the detection node. This change in conductance value is utilized to generate the output signal which indicates that hybridization has occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2002Publication date: November 13, 2003Inventor: John K. Howard
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Publication number: 20030152930Abstract: An apparatus for identifying an unknown DNA sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of detection nodes, each of which is operable for allowing an interaction between a known DNA sample and an unknown DNA sample, and for generating an output signal if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample. The apparatus further includes a decoder operative for receiving an input signal indicative of which of the plurality of detection nodes should be selected for processing and for outputting control signals which operate to activate the selected detection node. Further, each of the detection nodes comprises a first capacitor having a capacitance value which varies if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample contained in the first capacitor. This change of capacitance is utilized to generate the output signal which indicates that hybridization has occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2002Publication date: August 14, 2003Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: John K. Howard
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Publication number: 20030152929Abstract: An apparatus for identifying an unknown DNA sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of detection nodes, each of which is operable for allowing an interaction between a known DNA sample and an unknown DNA sample, and for generating an output signal if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample. The apparatus further includes a decoder operative for receiving an input signal indicative of which of the plurality of detection nodes should be selected for processing and for outputting control signals which operate to activate the selected detection node. Further, each of the detection nodes comprises a first floating gate transistor having a conductance value which varies if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample contained in the first transistor. This change of conductance value is utilized to generate the output signal which indicates that hybridization has occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2002Publication date: August 14, 2003Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: John K. Howard
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Publication number: 20020146699Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment, the present invention relates to an apparatus for performing an assay comprising a micro-system platform, a CD-ROM device and an information processor, where the CD-ROM device under control of the information processor is capable of reading and writing data to the micro-system platform. The micro-system platform comprises a first section for storing data in a continuous circular data band, which is disposed in an inner portion of the micro-system platform, and a second section including at least one assay, which is formed in an outer portion of the micro-system platform. During operation, the CD-ROM device retrieves and stores data related to the performance of the assay in the circular data band. The information processor is operative for controlling the CD-ROM device in accordance with the data retrieved from the circular data band, and for analyzing the results of the assay.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2001Publication date: October 10, 2002Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., LtdInventor: John K. Howard
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Patent number: 4181942Abstract: A special branch instruction used in a computing system serves as a conditional branch or as an unconditional branch as determined by the state of an internal register. This special branch instruction is used for conditional branching within or at the end of a program loop and for unconditional branching outside of such a loop.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1978Date of Patent: January 1, 1980Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Richard G. Forster, John K. Howard