Patents by Inventor Joseph R. Fitzgerald

Joseph R. Fitzgerald 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: 9968936
    Abstract: A method includes introducing at least one of a whole product or a milled product (e.g., corn) to an airflow (e.g., using a gravity hopper), directing the airflow into one or more accelerators, separating a first fraction of the at least one of the whole product or the milled product from a second fraction of the at least one of the whole product or the milled product in the one or more accelerators. For example, corn germ, starch, and bran components can be separated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Shockwave ABF LLC
    Inventor: Joseph R. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 9423485
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a signal at a first set of receivers of a plurality of receivers of a device. The plurality of receivers includes the first set of receivers and a second set of receivers. The first set of receivers corresponds to selected receivers and the second set of receivers corresponds to non-selected receivers. The method includes predicting, based on the signal, an expected blockage of a signal path between a source of the signal and a first selected receiver of the first set of receivers, and selecting a particular receiver of the second set of receivers as a newly selected receiver in response to predicting the expected blockage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Ren Li, Hui-ya L. Nelson, Joseph R. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 9425747
    Abstract: A system and method of improving the efficiency in the power consumption of an audio system. In essence, the technique is to adjust the power delivered from the power supply to the analog section, such as the power amplifier, in response to the volume level indicated by the volume control module and/or in response to the detected characteristic of the input audio signal. Thus, in this manner, the analog section is operated in a manner that is related to the level of the signal it is processing. Additionally, the system and method also relate to a technique of adjusting the dynamic ranges of the digital signal and the analog signal to improve the overall dynamic range of the system without needing to consume additional power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Seyfollah Bazarjani, Guoqing Miao, Joseph R. Fitzgerald, Prajakt V. Kulkarni, Justin Joseph Rosen Gagne, Gene H. McAllister, Jeffrey Hinrichs, Jan Paul van der Wagt
  • Patent number: 9344809
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling and adjusting a low-frequency response of a MEMS microphone. The system comprising the MEMS microphone, a controller, and a memory. The MEMS microphone includes a membrane and a plurality of air vents. The membrane configured such that acoustic pressures acting on the membrane cause movement of the membrane. The plurality of air vents are positioned proximate to the membrane. Each air vent of the plurality of air vents are configured to be selectively positioned in an open position or a closed position. The controller determines an integer number of air vents to be placed in the closed positioned, and generate a signal that causes the integer number of air vents to be placed in the closed position and causes any remaining air vents to be placed in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John Matthew Muza, Philip Sean Stetson, Michael James Daley, Davin Luther Yuknis, Joseph R. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 9180463
    Abstract: A method includes introducing at least one of a whole product or a milled product (e.g., corn) to an airflow (e.g., using a gravity hopper), directing the airflow into one or more accelerators, separating a first fraction of the at least one of the whole product or the milled product from a second fraction of the at least one of the whole product or the milled product in the one or more accelerators. For example, corn germ, starch, and bran components can be separated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Joseph R. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 9094746
    Abstract: A microphone port design for a handheld device is disclosed. The microphone port design includes an elongated channel disposed in a first surface of the handheld device. A microphone port is located within the channel to reduce unwanted noise caused by air pressure build up around the microphone port opening due to coverage of the opening by a user's finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hyun Jin Park, Wade L. Heimbigner, Joseph R. Fitzgerald, Mark A. Cherry, Terry Lee Rickman
  • Publication number: 20140270273
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling and adjusting a low-frequency response of a MEMS microphone. The system comprising the MEMS microphone, a controller, and a memory. The MEMS microphone includes a membrane and a plurality of air vents. The membrane configured such that acoustic pressures acting on the membrane cause movement of the membrane. The plurality of air vents are positioned proximate to the membrane. Each air vent of the plurality of air vents are configured to be selectively positioned in an open position or a closed position. The controller determines an integer number of air vents to be placed in the closed positioned, and generate a signal that causes the integer number of air vents to be placed in the closed position and causes any remaining air vents to be placed in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John Matthew Muza, Philip Sean Stetson, Michael James Daley, Davin Luther Yuknis, Joseph R. Fitzgerald
  • Publication number: 20140161297
    Abstract: A microphone port design for a handheld device is disclosed. The microphone port design includes an elongated channel disposed in a first surface of the handheld device. A microphone port is located within the channel to reduce unwanted noise caused by air pressure build up around the microphone port opening due to coverage of the opening by a user's finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hyun Jin Park, Wade L. Heimbigner, Joseph R. Fitzgerald, Mark A. Cherry, Terry Lee Rickman
  • Publication number: 20090220110
    Abstract: A system and method of improving the efficiency in the power consumption of an audio system. In essence, the technique is to adjust the power delivered from the power supply to the analog section, such as the power amplifier, in response to the volume level indicated by the volume control module and/or in response to the detected characteristic of the input audio signal. Thus, in this manner, the analog section is operated in a manner that is related to the level of the signal it is processing. Additionally, the system and method also relate to a technique of adjusting the dynamic ranges of the digital signal and the analog signal to improve the overall dynamic range of the system without needing to consume additional power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Seyfollah Bazarjani, Guoqing Miao, Joseph R. Fitzgerald, Prajakt V. Kulkarni, Justin Joseph Rosen Gagne, Gene H. McAllister, Jeffrey Hinrichs, Jan Paul van der Wagt
  • Patent number: 6175215
    Abstract: A system for charging a battery over a linear or nonlinear circuit. The system includes a first mechanism for receiving a feedback signal and providing a charging signal to the battery over a first electrical path when the feedback signal indicates that the battery is not fully charged. A second mechanism measures a voltage state of the battery via second and third electrical paths and provides the voltage state as the feedback signal to the first mechanism in response thereto. The voltage state accounts for voltage drops occurring over the circuit. In the specific embodiment, the first mechanism is a controllable power supply and the second mechanism is a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit includes a subtractor circuit that subtracts the voltage on the second electrical path from the voltage on the third electrical path and provides the feedback signal in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph R. Fitzgerald, David E. Werner, Edmund V. Simmons