Patents by Inventor Keith Thomas

Keith Thomas 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: 7152100
    Abstract: A system for provisioning a network access device based on control settings received from a remote location utilizes logic and memory for storing a set of operational control settings and a set of default control settings for the network access device. The logic is configured to store, in the memory, the operational control settings based on data received from a remote device via a network. The logic is configured to control the network access device based on the operational control settings and to begin controlling the network access device based on the default control settings in lieu of the operational control settings in response to a determination that the network access device is unable to communicate over the network based on the operational control settings, thereby enabling the network access device to be remotely re-provisioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Adtran, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Keith Thomas, Douglas T. Albright
  • Patent number: 7133278
    Abstract: A powerline networking adapter attaches to a power brick and includes a network data connection and two AC power connections. In another embodiment, a hybrid power brick includes both AC-DC power conversion elements and powerline networking adapter circuits in the brick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Gateway Inc.
    Inventors: Paul O. Amdahl, Frank Liebenow, Keith Thomas, Michael E. Tubbs
  • Patent number: 7111672
    Abstract: A compact heat exchanger and/or fluid mixing means comprises a bonded stack of plates, the stack comprising at least one group of plates, the group comprising one or more perforated plates (10) sandwiched between a pair of primary separator plates (40, 62, 64), characterised in that each perforated plate (10) has perforations (14) arranged in rows across the plate in a first direction, with a land (16) between each adjacent pair of perforations (14) in a row and with ribs (18) between adjacent rows, the lands (16) forming barriers to flow in a first direction across the plate and the ribs (18) forming barriers to flow in a second direction across the plate, the second direction being normal to the first direction, the ribs (18) having vents (20) through a portion of their thickness, the vents (20) extending from one side of a rib (18) to the other side in the second direction, whereby flow channels are provided through the vents (20) and the flow channels lying between each adjacent pair of lands (16) provide
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Chart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Thomas Symonds
  • Patent number: 7060624
    Abstract: Flared and non-flared metallized deep vias having aspect ratios of about 2 or greater are provided. Blind vias have been fabricated in silicon substrates up to a depth of about 300 microns, and flared through vias have been fabricated up to about 750 microns, the approximate thickness of a silicon substrate wafer, enabling the formation of electrical connections at either or both ends of a via. In spite of the depth and high aspect ratios attainable, the etched vias are completely filled with plated copper conductor, completing the formation of deep vias and allowing fuller use of both sides of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Panayotis Andricacos, Emanuel Israel Cooper, Timothy Joseph Dalton, Hariklia Deligianni, Daniel Guidotti, Keith Thomas Kwietniak, Michelle Leigh Steen, Cornelia Kang-I Tsang
  • Publication number: 20060032250
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for determining a temperature of a component that requires a maximum level of cooling apparatus operation. The system monitors the component's temperature, then may add a compensation offset to account for variations in the manufacture of the component, and then adds a compensation offset to account for variation in the system in which the component is installed. The result is used to determine when the system's cooling apparatus needs to be operated at a maximum level of operation. The sum may be compared to a threshold to make this determination. This same mechanism may be used to determine various other cooling system trigger points, both when to increase cooling as well as decrease cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Edward Flanigan, Keith Thomas
  • Patent number: 6989734
    Abstract: A power supply that includes networking capabilities where networking data is sent and received to and from other systems over the power line and to and from the rest of the system that is being powered over the power supplies output power. The power supply can be included within a system or be external to the system, but in either case, the data from the network is transferred to and from the rest of the system over the same cables that are used to transfer output power from the power supply to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Gateway Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Thomas
  • Patent number: 6968892
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved heat exchanger of the so-called “pin-fin” type. The heat exchanger comprises a stack of parallel perforated plates, each plate of the stack having perforations, characterized in that the perforations define an array of spaced column precursors, of thickness equal to the plate thickness, the column precursors being joined together by ligaments, each ligament extending between a pair of adjacent column precursors, the ligaments having a thickness less than the plate thickness, the column precursors of any one plate being coincident in the stack with the column precursors of any adjacent plate whereby the stack is provided with an array of individual columns, each column extending perpendicularly to the plane of the plates, whereby fluid flowing through the stack is forced to follow a tortuous flow path to flow around the columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Chart Heat Exchangers Limited
    Inventor: Keith Thomas Symonds
  • Patent number: 6966029
    Abstract: Documents that contain content information and script information that controls user-interactivity with the document are encoded as a content section that is separate from the script information. The script information contains references to the content section, which typically comprises text information. By segregating the text information from the script, all text applications are able to display an undisturbed copy of the text information. In a preferred embodiment, the script is appended to the text information segment of the document, so that the direct display of the initial portion of the document is an immediately readable version of the text. In a second encoding method, which can be independent or combined with the first method, the script information is encoded using “invisible” sequences of characters. In one example embodiment, unique sequences of invisible characters, such as space, backspace, tab, etc., are used to encode each script element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Keith Thomas Ahern
  • Patent number: 6959803
    Abstract: A conveyor for possible use in transferring articles between two adjacent conveyors is disclosed. In one embodiment, the conveyor includes a pair of idler structures and a drive structure for collectively guiding and moving a conveyor belt or chain relative to a bed. At least one of the drive structure or idler structures is mounted or positioned so at to be capable of moving relative to the belt or chain to provide tensioning therefor. In another embodiment, a bed assembly including the chain or belt, the drive structure, and the idler structure is also substantially fully releasable from a corresponding base for servicing or clearing a jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Span Tech LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Michael D. McDaniel, B. Keith Thomas, Stephen C. Fye
  • Publication number: 20050162243
    Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus interface assembly provides remote actuation of the operating handle of a circuit breaker. The interface assembly includes the circuit breaker, a second switching apparatus, such as an actuating handle disposed in a remote location from the circuit breaker, a connector and an operating handle attachment including a handle-engaging segment for securely engaging the circuit breaker operating handle and an interfacing segment for receiving the connector. The actuating handle is operable between ON and OFF positions corresponding to ON and OFF positions, respectively, of the circuit breaker operating handle. The connector interfaces or links the circuit breaker to the actuating handle. In this manner, when the actuating handle is moved from the ON or OFF position, the connector moves the circuit breaker operating handle in a likewise manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: William Eberts, Richard Malingowski, Roger Helms, Mark Janusek, Keith Thomas, David Turner, Ralph Ennis
  • Publication number: 20050155326
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming void-fill packaging includes a longitudinal guide path along which tubular plastics material, which preferably has no longitudinal seams and no preformed perforations, can pass, drive elements for moving the plastics material along the guide path, transverse heat sealing elements for forming first and second transverse spaced parallel heat seals substantially across the plastics material, the first and second heat seals acting to define a chamber therebetween, and a nozzle which is adapted to, in use, extend inside the plastics material adjacent to one longitudinal edge thereof and which can discharge a fluid into the chamber. The apparatus also includes longitudinal heat sealing elements for forming a third heat seal which seals the chamber, and a cutting element which cuts the said one longitudinal edge so that the movement of the tubular plastics material is not hindered by the nozzle. A method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventor: Keith Thomas
  • Publication number: 20050040964
    Abstract: A computer system is provided with an alternate activity indicator visible from a front panel which is illuminated in response to a first continuous operating condition. An activity detection circuit coupled to the indicator generates an activity signal indicating a second periodic operating condition associated with a HDD and communicates the activity signal to the indicator to interrupt illumination. The indicator produces an indication of the second periodic operating condition during intervals when the indicator is interrupted from illuminating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventor: Keith Thomas
  • Publication number: 20050044543
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for determining the software load process. In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for determining computer system software load process may start with loading computer system software on a computer. Then a marker file may be provided in the loaded computer system software. The marker file may indicate whether the loaded computer system software was loaded in a computer manufacturer's factory, loaded by a system restoration CD (SRCD), or loaded by downloading an image. When a program running on the computer abnormally terminates and the computer is able to send the marker file to a central authority, the marker file may be sent to the central authority by the computer. When a program running on the computer abnormally terminates and the computer is not able to send the marker file to a central authority, the marker file may be sent to the central authority by the computer after the computer reboots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventor: Keith Thomas
  • Publication number: 20050005151
    Abstract: A copy protection comprehending cache catalog with a media jukebox tracks not only the titles of the media themselves, but also the number of copies of each media title, and the copy protection status of each media. When a particular media is not limited to a set number of licensed users, then this media alone is permitted to be used to support multiple users with the hard drive cache in the media jukebox. If, however, a particular media title is limited to one licensed use at a time, per copy of that title, then the hard drive cache is capable of sending data to match the number of copies of media in the jukebox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventor: Keith Thomas
  • Publication number: 20040186908
    Abstract: A powerline networking adapter attaches to a power brick and includes a network data connection and two AC power connections. In another embodiment, a hybrid power brick includes both AC-DC power conversion elements and powerline networking adapter circuits in the brick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Paul O. Amdahl, Frank Liebenow, Keith Thomas, Michael E. Tubbs
  • Publication number: 20040154788
    Abstract: A compact heat exchanger and/or fluid mixing means comprises a bonded stack of plates, the stack comprising at least one group of plates, the group comprising one or more perforated plates (10) sandwiched between a pair of primary separator plates (40, 62, 64), characterised in that each perforated plate (10) has perforations (14) arranged in rows across the plate in a first direction, with a land (16) between each adjacent pair of perforations (14) in a row and with ribs (18) between adjacent rows, the lands (16) forming barriers to flow in a first direction across the plate and the ribs (18) forming barriers to flow in a second direction across the plate, the second direction being normal to the first direction, the ribs (18) having vents (20) through a portion of their thickness, the vents (20) extending from one side of a rib (18) to the other side in the second direction, whereby flow channels are provided through the vents (20) and the flow channels lying between each adjacent pair of lands (16) provide
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Keith Thomas Symonds
  • Publication number: 20040153543
    Abstract: A power supply that includes networking capabilities where networking data is sent and received to and from other systems over the power line and to and from the rest of the system that is being powered over the power supplies output power. The power supply can be included within a system or be external to the system, but in either case, the data from the network is transferred to and from the rest of the system over the same cables that are used to transfer output power from the power supply to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Keith Thomas
  • Patent number: 6769061
    Abstract: Meta-information, such as a digital watermark, that is associated with a document is encoded by using characters, or sequences of characters, that are “invisible” when rendered. Characters such as spaces, tabs, carriage returns, backspaces, line feeds, and so on are used to encode the watermark. The encoded “invisible” meta-information item is preferably appended to the document. A receiving device that is compatible with this encoding is able to decode and process the meta-information, for example, to verify the contents and/or the originator of the document. A receiving device that is not compatible with this encoding will merely display or print additional “white space” corresponding to the “invisible” meta-information. By appending this invisible encoding to the document, this additional white space will occur after the display or printing of the document, in a visually unobtrusive form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Keith Thomas Ahern
  • Patent number: 6736201
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved heat exchanger and/or fluid mixing means which comprises a bonded stack of plates, the stack comprising at least one group of main perforated plates, wherein at least two adjacent plates of the group of main perforated plates have their perforations aligned in rows with continuous ribs between adjacent rows, and the adjacent plates are aligned whereby the rows of perforations in one plate overlap in the direction of the rows with the rows of perforations of an adjacent plate and the ribs of adjacent plates lie in correspondence with each other to provide discrete fluid channels extending across the plates, a channel corresponding to each row of perforations, the channels together forming one or more fluid passageways across the plates and the passageway(s) in the group of main perforated plates being separated from passageway(s) in any adjacent group of perforated plates by an intervening plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Chart Heat Exchangers Limited
    Inventors: Brian Keith Watton, Keith Thomas Symonds, Steven Paul Symonds
  • Patent number: 6695044
    Abstract: A compact heat exchanger and/or fluid mixing means comprises a bonded stack of plates, the stack comprising at least one group of plates, the group comprising one or more perforated plates (10) sandwiched between a pair of primary separator plates (40, 62, 64), characterised in that each perforated plate (10) has perforations (14) arranged in rows across the plate in a first direction, with a land (16) between each adjacent pair of perforations (14) in a row and with ribs (18) between adjacent rows, the lands (16) forming barriers to flow in a first direction across the plate and the ribs (18) forming barriers to flow in a second direction across the plate, the second direction being normal to the first direction, the ribs (18) having vents (20) through a portion of their thickness, the vents (20) extending from one side of a rib (18) to the other side in the second direction, whereby flow channels are provided through the vents (20) and the flow channels lying between each adjacent pair of lands (16) provide
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Chart Heat Exchangers Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Keith Thomas Symonds