Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Smith
Kevin J. Smith 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: 8290691Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing the cycling frequency between engine on/off states in a vehicle having a controller and auto start/auto stop functionality. The method includes detecting an engine state cycling event, measuring a plurality of vehicle operating values, and using the controller to optimize the cycling frequency via at least one of: automatically adjusting an interval between an auto start event and an auto stop event when each of a first set of the vehicle operating values exceeds a corresponding threshold, and temporarily inhibiting the auto start/auto stop functionality when any value in a second set of the vehicle operating values falls outside of a hysteresis band created around the second set. A vehicle includes an engine and a controller having an algorithm for optimizing the cycling frequency between engine on/off states as set forth above.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Chihang Lin, Allen J. Lehmen, James B. Nicholson, Kevin J. Smith
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Publication number: 20120179312Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine in a hybrid powertrain having an electric torque machine mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine includes monitoring a temperature state of the hybrid powertrain, determining a maximum discharging power limit of the high-voltage battery corresponding to the temperature state of the hybrid powertrain, estimating an engine drag torque associated with the temperature state of the hybrid powertrain, selecting a preferred engine cranking speed associated with the estimated engine drag torque and achievable at less than the maximum discharging power limit of the high-voltage battery, and controlling the electric torque machine to generate a magnitude of motor torque output sufficient to crank the internal combustion engine at the preferred engine cranking speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: R. Travis Schwenke, Kevin J. Smith
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Patent number: 8214095Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system includes commanding engine operation to transition from an engine-off state to an engine-on state. A control scheme detects engine firing based upon input speed, input torque and a change in the input torque.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Allen J. Lehmen, Kevin J. Smith, James B. Nicholson
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Publication number: 20120093929Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition, comprising (i) a matrix made of polymeric nanofibers, and (ii) an opioid agonist within the matrix.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2009Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: Euro-Celtique S.A.Inventors: Alexander Oksche, Kevin J. Smith, Derek Prater, Malcolm Walden, Will Heath, Bernard Kennedy, Vanessa Addison, Hassan Mohammad
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Publication number: 20120086815Abstract: A device may generate a media stream to be shared with other users by building a media graph, comprising a series of interconnected processing units that perform various processing tasks. However, the time involved in generating the media graph may delay the initialization of the media stream, and adjusting properties of the media stream (such as resolution or codec) may result in an interruption of the media stream while a new media graph is built. Instead, a media graph cache may be provided to cache a set of media graphs, which may be interchangeably selected for rapid initialization and adjusting of media stream properties. The media component (e.g., a video camera) may also be configured to promote rapid adjustments to some media stream properties, while maintaining other properties (e.g., field of view and white balance) for a smooth transition between media stream property sets.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2010Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Stephen C. Cooper, Robert A. Farrow, Kurt D. Wrisley, Tolga Kilicli, Walid Ali, Shiwei Wang, Kevin J. Smith, Kandarp Dinesh Jani
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Publication number: 20110066359Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing the cycling frequency between engine on/off states in a vehicle having a controller and auto start/auto stop functionality. The method includes detecting an engine state cycling event, measuring a plurality of vehicle operating values, and using the controller to optimize the cycling frequency via at least one of: automatically adjusting an interval between an auto start event and an auto stop event when each of a first set of the vehicle operating values exceeds a corresponding threshold, and temporarily inhibiting the auto start/auto stop functionality when any value in a second set of the vehicle operating values falls outside of a hysteresis band created around the second set. A vehicle includes an engine and a controller having an algorithm for optimizing the cycling frequency between engine on/off states as set forth above.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2009Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Chihang Lin, Allen J. Lehmen, James B. Nicholson, Kevin J. Smith
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Patent number: 7900158Abstract: A display screen magnifier is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on the screen. A moveable magnifier frame is provided, within which a magnified image is presented. The magnified image corresponds to screen content located within a magnification region underlying the magnifier frame, magnified to a set level of magnification. In one embodiment, the magnification region is moveable relative to the magnifier frame, in relation to movement of the magnifier frame on the display screen. Such relative movement can be used to avoid a potentially disorienting edge condition that arises when a magnifier frame reaches an edge of the display screen and stops, while its associated magnification region continues to pan. In another embodiment, the cursor of a user input device is moveable across the screen display into and out of the magnification region.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2005Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Joseph K. Ngari, Kevin J. Smith, Scott Mitchell Mail, Jacob Fleisher, Michael Winser, David V. Esposito
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Patent number: 7887769Abstract: A method of removing sulfur dioxide from flue gases using calcium and magnesium scrubbing components and treatment of oxidized effluent from such a system includes passing classified oxidized effluent to a regeneration tank and adding lime to produce a regenerator discharge containing magnesium hydroxide, gypsum and crystalline inert material. Gypsum is separated from the discharge and a magnesium hydroxide stream passed to a concentration system to produce a concentrated solids stream of magnesium hydroxide, residual minor amount of gypsum and crystalline inert material. A portion of the resultant stream is returned to the sulfur dioxide removal system while a portion is passed to the oxidizer. Further portions may be fed to a power plant boiler or to the flue gas stream between a solids collection device and the wet scrubber.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2009Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Carmeuse Lime, Inc.Inventor: Kevin J. Smith
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Publication number: 20100305800Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system includes commanding engine operation to transition from an engine-off state to an engine-on state. A control scheme detects engine firing based upon input speed, input torque and a change in the input torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Allen J. Lehmen, Kevin J. Smith, James B. Nicholson
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Patent number: 7819959Abstract: A gas desulfurization scrubbing system for removing sulfur oxides from gases, such as those of fossil fuel burning operations or other manufacturing process emitting sulfur oxides, and for collecting reaction products of the desulfurization chemical reactions. A quenching section is disposed in a gas duct upstream of a gas desulfurization scrubbing tower and a scrubbing slurry is provided at that section for quenching and chemically reacting with the gas. A quench reaction product is collected, at a location between the quenching section and the scrubbing tower, for use in making commercial by-products, such as gypsum.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2006Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignees: S.A. SNC-Lavalin Europe N.V., Carmeuse Lime, IncInventors: Benoit Englebert, Gerard Blaure, Kevin J. Smith
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Publication number: 20100235736Abstract: A display screen magnifier is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on the screen. A moveable magnifier frame is provided, within which a magnified image is presented. The magnified image corresponds to screen content located within a magnification region underlying the magnifier frame, magnified to a set level of magnification. The magnifier is controllable through use of a user input device. At least one operational parameter of the magnifier can be adjusted, without interaction with on-screen objects and without taking focus away from the desktop or any windows open on the screen. In a particular embodiment of the invention, on-the-fly controllability of the magnifier includes its activation and deactivation, adjustment of the magnification level, and adjustment of the size of the magnifier frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Jacob Fleisher, Joseph K. Ngari, Kevin J. Smith, Samuel A. Mann, Scott Mitchell Mail, Michael Winser, David V. Esposito
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Patent number: 7712046Abstract: A display screen magnifier is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on the screen. A moveable magnifier frame is provided, within which a magnified image is presented. The magnified image corresponds to screen content located within a magnification region underlying the magnifier frame, magnified to a set level of magnification. In one embodiment, the magnification region is moveable relative to the magnifier frame, in relation to movement of the magnifier frame on the display screen. Such relative movement can be used to avoid a potentially disorienting edge condition that arises when a magnifier frame reaches an edge of the display screen and stops, while its associated magnification region continues to pan. In another embodiment, the cursor of a user input device is moveable across the screen display into and out of the magnification region.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Joseph K. Ngari, Kevin J. Smith, Scott Mitchell Mail, Jacob Fleisher, Michael Winser, David V. Esposito
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Patent number: 7694234Abstract: A display screen magnifier is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on the screen. A moveable magnifier frame is provided, within which a magnified image is presented. The magnified image corresponds to screen content located within a magnification region underlying the magnifier frame, magnified to a set level of magnification. The magnifier is controllable through use of a user input device. At least one operational parameter of the magnifier can be adjusted, without interaction with on-screen objects and without taking focus away from the desktop or any windows open on the screen. In a particular embodiment of the invention, on-the-fly controllability of the magnifier includes its activation and deactivation, adjustment of the magnification level, and adjustment of the size of the magnifier frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Jacob Fleisher, Joseph K. Ngari, Kevin J. Smith, Samuel A. Mann, Scott Mitchell Mail, Michael Winser, David V. Esposito
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Publication number: 20100037147Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for verifying an avatar owner as a human user of an avatar in a virtual world environment in which users may interact through avatars, representing each one or more users visually, and wherein users, interact through their the representing avatars, via client devices in network communication with a server device. The method includes receiving a request for challenging an avatar in the virtual world environment to determine whether that avatar is controlled by an application program user (bot). Then, in response to the challenging, a user client device associated with a challenged avatar is identified and a HIP message for detecting a human user versus a bot controlling the challenged avatar is generated and communicated, for receipt at a user client device. The HIP message requires an response from the corresponding user. It is determined from the response, whether the user is a bot or a human user.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2008Publication date: February 11, 2010Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David F. Champion, Jeffrey J. Smith, Kevin J. Smith, David T. Windell
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Publication number: 20080305017Abstract: A gas desulfurization scrubbing system for removing sulfur oxides from gases, such as those of fossil fuel burning operations or other manufacturing process emitting sulfur oxides, and for collecting reaction products of the desulfurization chemical reactions. A quenching section is disposed in a gas duct upstream of a gas desulfurization scrubbing tower and a scrubbing slurry is provided at that section for quenching and chemically reacting with the gas. A quench reaction product is collected, at a location between the quenching section and the scrubbing tower, for use in making commercial by-products, such as gypsum.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2006Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventors: Benoit Englebert, Gerard Blaure, Kevin J. Smith
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Patent number: 7439906Abstract: A radar receiver system includes a receiver, a processor including a Doppler Compensated Adaptive Pulse Compressor (DCAPC) algorithm, possible other intermediate processing and a target detector. The DCAPC algorithm processes samples of a radar return signal, applies Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE), or alternatively matched filtering, to the radar return signal to obtain initial radar impulse response estimates, computes power estimates, estimates a range cell Doppler shift for each range cell, computes range-dependent filters, applies the MMSE filters, and then repeats the cycle for subsequent reiterative stages until a desired length?L range window is reached, thereby resolving the scatterer from noise and other scatterers.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2007Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Shannon D Blunt, Karl R Gerlach, Kevin J Smith
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Publication number: 20040117778Abstract: A system and method for optimizing software code are provided. Based on user input, a desired segmentation model is determined. Resultant code is generated to replace smaller N-bit pointers, when feasible, for larger pointers in the source code, while maintaining the desired segmentation model.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2002Publication date: June 17, 2004Inventors: David C. Sehr, Rakesh Ghiya, Kevin J. Smith, Richard B.. Wirt
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Patent number: 6572832Abstract: Sulfur dioxide is removed from a gaseous stream using an aqueous scrubbing slurry of magnesium and calcium scrubbing components where the process is carried out where lime and magnesium hydroxide are blended to give a molar ratio of between about 1.0 to 2.0, so as to provide a solids content in the aqueous scrubbing slurry of between about 12 to 20 percent, which includes about 10 to 15 percent suspended solids and 2 to 5 percent dissolved solids, and a dissolved sulfite content of about 13,000 to 20,000 ppm and a pH of between about 5.8-6.0.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Carmeuse North America Services, Inc.Inventor: Kevin J. Smith
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Publication number: 20020198616Abstract: A method for solving finite capacity problems such as how to satisfy a customer's request for a manufactured product, by describing the environment in which the problem exists in the form of a demand (e.g., customer order), including the available resources for satisfying the demand, defining the demand, selecting a plan for achieving the various objectives of the demand in an optimal order, and evaluating whether the plan will work. Also disclosed is a computer program product implementing the invention, and a system for coordinating multiple sources of input into a system implementing the disclosed invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Myrick D. Crampton, James L. Roadifer, Kevin J. Smith, John K. Willoughby
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Publication number: 20020141922Abstract: Sulfur dioxide is removed from a gaseous stream using an aqueous scrubbing slurry of magnesium and calcium scrubbing components where the process is carried out where lime and magnesium hydroxide are blended to give a molar ratio of between about 1.0 to 2.0, so as to provide a solids content in the aqueous scrubbing slurry of between about 12 to 20 percent, which includes about 10 to 15 percent suspended solids and 2 to 5 percent dissolved solids, and a dissolved sulfite content of about 13,000 to 20,000 ppm and a pH of between about 5.8-6.0.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2001Publication date: October 3, 2002Inventor: Kevin J. Smith