Patents by Inventor Louis Ashford
Louis Ashford 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: 11668031Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a material is provided. The apparatus may comprise a magnetic device arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. The apparatus may comprise a surface on which at least one carrier is configured to move. The magnetic device may be configured to provide a magnetic field for driving the carrier on the surface to manipulate a material. The apparatus may comprise a controller configured to control the magnetic device to modulate the magnetic field. The controller may be further configured to detect a position and/or motion of the carrier.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Fractal Braid, Inc.Inventors: Jesse Jarrell, Louis A. Ashford, Dustin French
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Publication number: 20210348314Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a material is provided. The apparatus may comprise a magnetic device arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. The apparatus may comprise a surface on which at least one carrier is configured to move. The magnetic device may be configured to provide a magnetic field for driving the carrier on the surface to manipulate a material. The apparatus may comprise a controller configured to control the magnetic device to modulate the magnetic field. The controller may be further configured to detect a position and/or motion of the carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Jesse JARRELL, LOUIS A. ASHFORD, DUSTIN FRENCH
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Patent number: 11008683Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a material is provided. The apparatus may comprise a magnetic device arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. The apparatus may comprise a surface on which at least one carrier is configured to move. The magnetic device may be configured to provide a magnetic field for driving the carrier on the surface to manipulate a material. The apparatus may comprise a controller configured to control the magnetic device to modulate the magnetic field. The controller may be further configured to detect a position and/or motion of the carrier.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: FRACTAL BRAID, INC.Inventors: Jesse Jarrell, Louis A. Ashford, Dustin French
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Publication number: 20200240057Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a material is provided. The apparatus may comprise a magnetic device arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. The apparatus may comprise a surface on which at least one carrier is configured to move. The magnetic device may be configured to provide a magnetic field for driving the carrier on the surface to manipulate a material. The apparatus may comprise a controller configured to control the magnetic device to modulate the magnetic field. The controller may be further configured to detect a position and/or motion of the carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Jesse JARRELL, LOUIS A. ASHFORD, DUSTIN FRENCH
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Patent number: 10640897Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a material is provided. The apparatus may comprise one or more stator coils arranged in a three-dimensional configuration, and a surface on which at least one carrier is configured to move. The stator coils of the apparatus may be configured to generate an electromagnetic field for driving the carrier on the surface to manipulate a material.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: FRACTAL BRAID, INC.Inventors: Jesse Jarrell, Louis A. Ashford, Dustin French
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Publication number: 20190390380Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a material is provided. The apparatus may comprise one or more stator coils arranged in a three-dimensional configuration, and a surface on which at least one carrier is configured to move. The stator coils of the apparatus may be configured to generate an electromagnetic field for driving the carrier on the surface to manipulate a material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Jesse Jarrell, Louis A. Ashford, Dustin French
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Patent number: 9027015Abstract: A device and method of connecting an interactive communication system to a processing device. The device is a cable system that includes first and second ends. The first end of the cable system has a leg connector, while the second end of the connector system has first and second arm connectors. The method implements the cable system to load or run software onto the processing device, and includes connecting the leg connector to an interactive communication system; connecting the first arm connector having a memory device to the processing device, wherein the memory device includes predetermined software; loading/running the software on the processing device; disconnecting the first arm connector having the memory device from the processing device; and connecting a second arm connector to the processing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2008Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Steelcase, Inc.Inventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, Ian G. Hutchinson, James D. Watson, Michael H. Dunn, Neal A. Hofmann, Scott E. Wilson, Brent W. Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Patent number: 8723815Abstract: The present invention includes interactive communication systems that incorporate several beneficial embodiments including an interactive tray system, an electronic presentation messaging system, an interactive podium, and a key drive system. The interactive tray system enables a single, transferable interactive unit to be fastened to a communication medium, turning into a fully interactive medium. The electronic presentation messaging system enables the e-mailing of presentations and notes to and from components of the interactive communication system. The interactive podium increases conventional podium mobility, enabling both the presenter, and podium, to move and be moved about the room without attention to wired connections.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Steelcase, Inc.Inventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, Ian G. Hutchinson, James D. Watson, Michael H. Dunn, Neal A. Hofmann, Scott E. Wilson, Brent W. Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Patent number: 8355892Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing causes of a malfunction of an electronic whiteboard that includes a white-board surface, the method comprising the steps of linking a remote computer that includes a remote display to the electronic whiteboard from a remote location, interacting with the whiteboard surface to generate X and Y coordinates associated with surface activity, transmitting at least one of the X and Y coordinates associated with the surface activity to the remote computer, displaying at least a subset of the at least one of X and Y coordinates via the remote display and examining the at least a subset of the at least one of X and Y coordinates via the remote display to ascertain the cause of a board malfunction.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Brand C. Kvavle, James D. Watson, Neal A. Hofmann, David W. Behner, Louis A. Ashford
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Publication number: 20100275132Abstract: The present invention includes interactive communication systems that incorporate several beneficial embodiments including an interactive tray system, an electronic presentation messaging system, an interactive podium, and a key drive system. The interactive tray system enables a single, transferable interactive unit to be fastened to a communication medium, turning into a fully interactive medium. The electronic presentation messaging system enables the e-mailing of presentations and notes to and from components of the interactive communication system. The interactive podium increases conventional podium mobility, enabling both the presenter, and podium, to move and be moved about the room without attention to wired connections.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: PolyVision CorporationInventors: Peter W. HILDEBRANDT, Ian G. Hutchinson, James D. Watson, Michael H. Dunn, Neal A. Hofmann, Scott E. Wilson, Brent W. Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Patent number: 7750892Abstract: The present invention includes interactive communication systems that incorporate several beneficial embodiments including an interactive tray system, an electronic presentation messaging system, an interactive podium, and a key drive system. The interactive tray system enables a single, transferable interactive unit to be fastened to a communication medium, turning into a fully interactive medium. The electronic presentation messaging system enables the e-mailing of presentations and notes to and from components of the interactive communication system. The interactive podium increases conventional podium mobility, enabling both the presenter, and podium, to move and be moved about the room without attention to wired connections.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Polyvision CorporationInventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, Ian G. Hutchinson, James D. Watson, Michael H. Dunn, Neal A. Hofmann, Scott E. Wilson, Brent W. Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Publication number: 20100030505Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing causes of a malfunction of an electronic whiteboard that includes a white-board surface, a position sensor for sensing surface activity and generating at least one of X and Y coordinates associated with the surface activity and a local computer that runs board software to convert the at least one of X and Y coordinates into operational commands, the method comprising the steps of linking a remote computer that includes a remote display to the electronic whiteboard from a remote location, interacting with the whiteboard surface to generate X and Y coordinates associated with surface activity, transmitting at least one of the X and Y coordinates associated with the surface activity to the remote computer, displaying at least a subset of the at least one of X and Y coordinates via the remote display and examining the at least a subset of the at least one of X and Y coordinates via the remote display to ascertain the cause of a board malfunction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2007Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: Brand C. Kvavle, James D. Watson, Neal A. Hofmann, David W. Behner, Louis A. Ashford
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Publication number: 20090146965Abstract: A device and method of connecting an interactive communication system to a processing device. The device is a cable system that includes first and second ends. The first end of the cable system has a leg connector, while the second end of the connector system has first and second arm connectors. The method implements the cable system to load or run software onto the processing device, and includes connecting the leg connector to an interactive communication system; connecting the first arm connector having a memory device to the processing device, wherein the memory device includes predetermined software; loading/running the software on the processing device; disconnecting the first arm connector having the memory device from the processing device; and connecting a second arm connector to the processing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2008Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: PolyVision CorporationInventors: Peter W. Hildebrandt, Ian G. Hutchinson, James D. Watson, Michael H. Dunn, Neal A. Hofmann, Scott E. Wilson, Brent W. Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Publication number: 20050280636Abstract: The present invention includes interactive communication systems that incorporate several beneficial embodiments including an interactive tray system, an electronic presentation messaging system, an interactive podium, and a key drive system. The interactive tray system enables a single, transferable interactive unit to be fastened to a communication medium, turning into a fully interactive medium. The electronic presentation messaging system enables the e-mailing of presentations and notes to and from components of the interactive communication system. The interactive podium increases conventional podium mobility, enabling both the presenter, and podium, to move and be moved about the room without attention to wired connections.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2005Publication date: December 22, 2005Applicant: PolyVision CorporationInventors: Peter Hildebrandt, Ian Hutchinson, James Watson, Michael Dunn, Neal Hofmann, Scott Wilson, Brent Anderson, Louis Ashford, Richard Meissner
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Publication number: 20020032055Abstract: The invention uses the conventional PC game port as a port for a digital game input device, employing a Digital Game Port (DGP) protocol which uses the four discrete or button lines and a single analog line (one of four) on the conventional game board to form a dual serial port. Data from a DGP control device is packetized with each packet consisting of 13 bytes of data. The packets or blocks are then grouped into frames. A frame consists of two blocks of data. A total of two frames are transmitted to the driver for each driver request. The 13-byte data block is divided between six one byte analog values and four bytes of digital data, with three bytes that identify and define the device. This device definition and identification is unique. By sending the device identification and configuration to the driver, the driver can determine not only the presence of the device but also very specific aspects of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: Thrustmaster, Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Church, Doyle A. Nickless, Stephen T. Kaminsky, Louis A. Ashford
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Patent number: 6270415Abstract: The invention uses the conventional PC game port as a port for a digital game input device, employing a Digital Game Port (DGP) protocol which uses the four discrete or button lines and a single analog line (one of four) on the conventional game board to form a dual serial port. Data from a DGP control device is packetized with each packet consisting of 13 bytes of data. The packets or blocks are then grouped into frames. A frame consists of two blocks of data. A total of two frames are transmitted to the driver for each driver request. The 13-byte data block is divided between six one byte analog values and four bytes of digital data, with three bytes that identify and define the device. This device definition and identification is unique. By sending the device identification and configuration to the driver, the driver can determine not only the presence of the device but also very specific aspects of the device.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1998Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Guillemot CorporationInventors: Robert L. Church, Doyle A. Nickless, Stephen T. Kaminsky, Louis A. Ashford