Patents by Inventor Kevin A. Miller

Kevin A. Miller 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: 10802881
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of enabling distributed computers to communicate more effectively in an enterprise that provides flexible approval notifications in an organization, wherein at least one of the distributed computers stores a graph database in which attributes regarding individuals of the organization are stored. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a server computer in the distributed computers, a request for a task to be performed, wherein the task requires approval by at least a first person in the organization who has authority to approve the request. The computer-implemented method also includes traversing, by the server computer, the graph database, to determine an identity of the first person, wherein traversing is performed based on criteria determined at least partially by information automatically extracted from the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: ADP, LLC
    Inventors: Michael F. Brown, Robert Tucker, Kuntal Roy, Annelise Levitt, Edgardo Aviles Lopez, Kevin A. Miller, Lauren Miller, Lohit J. Sarma
  • Publication number: 20190317819
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of enabling distributed computers to communicate more effectively in an enterprise that provides flexible approval notifications in an organization, wherein at least one of the distributed computers stores a graph database in which attributes regarding individuals of the organization are stored. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a server computer in the distributed computers, a request for a task to be performed, wherein the task requires approval by at least a first person in the organization who has authority to approve the request. The computer-implemented method also includes traversing, by the server computer, the graph database, to determine an identity of the first person, wherein traversing is performed based on criteria determined at least partially by information automatically extracted from the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Michael F. Brown, Robert Tucker, Kuntal Roy, Annelise Levitt, Edgardo Aviles Lopez, Kevin A. Miller, Lauren Miller, Lohit J. Sarma
  • Patent number: 9668840
    Abstract: An oral cleaning appliance, such as a toothbrush (10) or a mouthpiece (20), includes a bristle arrangement which comprises a base member and a field of bristles for contacting and cleaning teeth, wherein the bristle field (17, 26) has bristles with a density of between 2-7%, and wherein the individual bristle filaments have a stiffness characterized by a deflection of no greater than 50% of their length for a bristle tip pressure of 6 Newtons/cm2 and a deflection reaching 50% for a bristle tip pressure of 85 Newtons/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Kevin A Miller
  • Patent number: 9358087
    Abstract: The power appliance (10) for cleaning teeth includes a drive system (16) and a substrate (10) for supporting a field of bristles (14) which contact teeth for cleaning. The drive system is connected to the substrate, moving the substrate in operation to produce an action of the bristle field against the teeth. The assembly, which includes internal stiffeners (60, 62, 64) in one embodiment, has two physical states, including a first state in which the substrate is softened so as to be formable to conform to the geometry of the teeth, and a second hardened state following its conformance to the teeth in which the substrate is sufficiently rigid to effectively transmit a driving motion to the bristles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Miller, Patrick A. Headstrom, Bethany Joyce Johnson, Ian Gordon Blanch, Tijn Pieter Lodewijk Huttenhuis
  • Patent number: 9204713
    Abstract: A method and the resulting product for optimizing the configuration of a mouthpiece for cleaning teeth in which the configuration of the mouthpiece is optimized to the oral geometry of individual users. The method includes a first step (26) of producing a digital scan of the oral geometry of the individual user and then producing a rigid shell (30) for the mouthpiece substantially matching the digital scan. The configuration of the resulting mouthpiece is characterized by the outer surface of the shell not extending from the buccal surface of the individual teeth more than 7 mm (31); further, by the rear edge of the shell not contacting the tissues to the rear of the rearmost teeth (36), and still further by no more than a 2 mm overlap into the gum line (36), when the mouthpiece is operatively positioned in the user's mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Miller
  • Patent number: 8813330
    Abstract: A method for tuning resonant spring assembly systems used in appliances such as power toothbrushes, particularly leaf spring systems, includes the step of measuring the frequency-dependent amplitude of the appliance workpiece, and then removing a portion of the spring member so as to decrease its spring rate sufficiently that the resonant frequency of the spring member closely approximates the drive frequency of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Grez, Jeffrey R. Gueble, Jerry C. Wood, Devin M. Nelson, Kevin A. Miller, Craig D. Hanela, Bruce E. Taber, Richard K. Taylor, William Bryant, Scott E. Hall, Andreas Lolbneggar, Piet C. J. van Rens, Kurt Sadek, Paul L. W. M. Barten, D. I. Stephan Leitner
  • Publication number: 20140011159
    Abstract: The power appliance (10) for cleaning teeth includes a drive system (16) and a substrate (10) for supporting a field of bristles (14) which contact teeth for cleaning. The drive system is connected to the substrate, moving the substrate in operation to produce an action of the bristle field against the teeth. The assembly, which includes internal stiffeners (60, 62, 64) in one embodiment, has two physical states, including a first state in which the substrate is softened so as to be formable to conform to the geometry of the teeth, and a second hardened state following its conformance to the teeth in which the substrate is sufficiently rigid to effectively transmit a driving motion to the bristles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Miller, Patrick A. Headstrom, Bethany Joyce Johnson, Ian Gordon Blanch, Tijn Pieter Lodewijk Huttenhuis
  • Publication number: 20130333126
    Abstract: An oral cleaning appliance, such as a toothbrush (10) or a mouthpiece (20), includes a bristle arrangement which comprises a base member and a field of bristles for contacting and cleaning teeth, wherein the bristle field (17, 26) has bristles with a density of between 2-7%, and wherein the individual bristle filaments have a stiffness characterized by a deflection of no greater than 50% of their length for a bristle tip pressure of 6 Newtons/cm2 and a deflection reaching 50% for a bristle tip pressure of 85 Newtons/cm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Miller
  • Publication number: 20130333133
    Abstract: A method and the resulting product for optimizing the configuration of a mouthpiece for cleaning teeth in which the configuration of the mouthpiece is optimized to the oral geometry of individual users. The method includes a first step (26) of producing a digital scan of the oral geometry of the individual user and then producing a rigid shell (30) for the mouthpiece substantially matching the digital scan. The configuration of the resulting mouthpiece is characterized by the outer surface of the shell not extending from the buccal surface of the individual teeth more than 7 mm (31); further, by the rear edge of the shell not contacting the tissues to the rear of the rearmost teeth (36), and still further by no more than a 2 mm overlap into the gum line (36), when the mouthpiece is operatively positioned in the user's mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Miller
  • Patent number: 8598817
    Abstract: An adaptive system for a personal care appliance, such as a power toothbrush, having a workpiece which is driven through an amplitude of motion by a drive mechanism which includes a stator member includes a circuit (13) for measuring average electrical current through the stator member and stored information (19) in the personal care appliance which relates the average current values through the stator during operation of the device to corresponding amplitude of motion of the workpiece. A processor (17) utilizing a stored program adjusts the operating frequency to produce a stator current value which correlates to the desired amplitude of motion of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Miller, Ari Lumbantobing, Meindert Lambertus Norg
  • Patent number: 8418300
    Abstract: A workpiece system with a reciprocating motion which includes a motor assembly for producing an output drive signal with a periodic force pulse. The drive signal is coupled to a driven member assembly through a magnetic arrangement, wherein the driven member assembly has a workpiece mounted thereon with a return spring assembly. The driven member assembly has a resonant mechanical frequency. As the RPM of the motor increases from zero following startup, the drive signal frequency increases to the point very near resonance, where the energy from the drive signal is transferred into the reciprocating motion of the driven assembly, producing an effective amplitude of workpiece motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Miller, John W. Pace, Wolter F. Benning, Patrick A. Headstrom
  • Patent number: 8368327
    Abstract: The system periodically measures the battery voltage of the toothbrush and the current in a stator portion of the motor for the appliance. The amplitude of movement of the toothbrush workpiece is determined from the measured stator current. A circuit/control program changes the duty cycle or pulse width of the drive signal from the motor if the battery voltage drops below a first threshold value and a circuit or control program changes the drive frequency of the appliance if the amplitude of the workpiece movement falls below a first threshold value. A circuit/control program terminates the operation of the toothbrush if the voltage drops below a second threshold value or if the amplitude drops below a second threshold value, both of which are less than the respective first thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Wolter F. Benning, Ari Lumbantobing, Kevin A. Miller
  • Publication number: 20130015788
    Abstract: An adaptive system for a personal care appliance, such as a power toothbrush, having a workpiece which is driven through an amplitude of motion by a drive mechanism which includes a stator member includes a circuit (13) for measuring average electrical current through the stator member and stored information (19) in the personal care appliance which relates the average current values through the stator during operation of the device to corresponding amplitude of motion of the workpiece. A processor (17) utilizing a stored program adjusts the operating frequency to produce a stator current value which correlates to the desired amplitude of motion of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: KEVIN A. MILLER, ARI LUMBANTOBING, MEINDERT LAMBERTUS NORG
  • Publication number: 20130000093
    Abstract: A method for tuning resonant spring assembly systems used in appliances such as power toothbrushes, particularly leaf spring systems, includes the step of measuring the frequency-dependent amplitude of the appliance workpiece, and then removing a portion of the spring member so as to decrease its spring rate sufficiently that the resonant frequency of the spring member closely approximates the drive frequency of the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Joseph W. Grez, Jeffrey R. Gueble, Jerry C. Wood, Devin M. Nelson, Kevin A. Miller, Craig D. Hanela, Bruce E. Taber, Richard K. Taylor, William Bryant, Scott E. Hall, Andreas Lolbneggar, Piet C.J. van Rens, Kurt Sadek, Paulus L.W.M. Barten, D.I. Stephan Leitner
  • Publication number: 20120260441
    Abstract: The mouthpiece assembly includes a receptacle (12) for receiving teeth therein, with bristles (24) mounted thereon for contacting and cleaning the teeth. The receptacle and the bristles cover at least 4 cm. A drive train (20) drives the receptacle such that the bristles move substantially at right angles toward and away from the surfaces of the teeth, the drive train including a motor (22) which produces sufficient force to produce a minimum bristle tip threshold pressure of 6 Newtons per cm and a maximum of 85 Newtons per cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Miller, Ari Lumbantobing, Patrick A. Headstom, Martinus Bernardus Stapelbroek
  • Patent number: 8288970
    Abstract: An adaptive system for a personal care appliance, such as a power toothbrush, having a workpiece which is driven through an amplitude of motion by a drive mechanism which includes a stator member includes a circuit (13) for measuring average electrical current through the stator member and stored information (19) in the personal care appliance which relates the average current values through the stator during operation of the device to corresponding amplitude of motion of the workpiece. A processor (17) utilizing a stored program adjusts the operating frequency to produce a stator current value which correlates to the desired amplitude of motion of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Miller, Ari Lumbantobing, Meindert Lambertus Norg
  • Patent number: 8171591
    Abstract: The brushhead includes a brushhead member which includes a bristle field, the brushhead member being adapted for cleaning teeth as part of a power toothbrush, wherein the brushhead in operation moves in a reciprocating action. In one embodiment the brushhead includes a rim member which extends around at least a substantial portion of the brushhead, the rim member extending around the entire bristle field and having an upper edge which is lower than the top of the bristles. The rim member has a different flexibility than the bristles so that the movement of the rim member and the bristles is out of phase during operation of the toothbrush, which results in fluid from the bristles being directed toward the teeth during operation of the toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Scott E. Hall, Kevin A. Miller, Joseph W. Grez, Ronald C. Lilley
  • Publication number: 20100141185
    Abstract: The system periodically measures the battery voltage of the toothbrush and the current in a stator portion of the motor for the appliance. The amplitude of movement of the toothbrush workpiece is determined from the measured stator current. A circuit/control program changes the duty cycle or pulse width of the drive signal from the motor if the battery voltage drops below a first threshold value and a circuit or control program changes the drive frequency of the appliance if the amplitude of the workpiece movement falls below a first threshold value. A circuit/control program terminates the operation of the toothbrush if the voltage drops below a second threshold value or if the amplitude drops below a second threshold value, both of which are less than the respective first thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Wolter F. Benning, Ari Lumbantobing, Kevin A. Miller
  • Publication number: 20100109580
    Abstract: The adapting system for a resonant drive appliance includes a circuit for measuring the back EMF induced in the stator coil of the motor following turn-off of the appliance. The frequency of the back EMF signal is determined from the zero crossings of the EMF signal. The determined frequency is then compared with a running average of previous frequency determinations, and the drive frequency of the appliance is adjusted if the difference between the compared frequencies is greater than a threshold value, e.g. 1 Hz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Ari Lumbantobing, Kevin A. Miller, Meindert Lambertus Norg, Pieter Johannes Bax
  • Patent number: 7627922
    Abstract: The power toothbrush, which has a rotating brushhead movement, includes a housing with a motor mounted therein having an armature which in operation rotates through an arc of predetermined magnitude. The toothbrush also includes a brushhead mounted on a shaft which is connected to an output mass. A spring assembly couples the armature to the output mass, the spring assembly including two spring portions with a node point therebetween, wherein when the armature rotates, the brushhead moves in an opposite direction. The frequency of the movement of the armature is set equal to the resonant frequency of the spring coupling system and the output assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Miller, John W. Pace, Aafke G. Koster