Patents by Inventor Mark A. Francis

Mark A. Francis 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: 10163217
    Abstract: A method of locating content portion(s) of an image includes automatically determining a pixel threshold value; comparing the threshold value to the image to determine background and content sets of the pixels; determining boundaries between the background and content sets; determining the content portions using the determined boundaries; and determining bounding boxes for the content portions. A computed-radiography scanner includes an imager; a transport configured to operatively arrange a plurality of plates with respect to the imager so that a single image of the plates can be captured; and a processor configured to automatically locate the content portion(s) in the single image. A locating method includes automatically determining the pixel threshold value; determining the boundaries between portions delimited by the pixel threshold value; determining the content portions using the boundaries; and determining the bounding boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Copmany
    Inventors: Sheri George, Haribaskar Govindasamy, Andre Leon Maitre, Mark Francis McAnally
  • Patent number: 10146915
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for sharing and publishing files. In one aspect, the database system can maintain a user database, a file database and a library. The database system can receive a first request initiated by a first user to share a first file with one or more second users and, responsive to the first request, enable a second set of one or more permissions for each of the second users. The database system also can receive a second request initiated by the first user to publish the first file to the library and, responsive to the second request, publish the first file to the library. The database system additionally can restrict access to the published file based on permissions associated with the library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventors: Miko Arnab Bose, Robert J. Snell, Mark Francis Movida, Valliappan Annamalai Natarajan, Adam Thielemann Wegel, Matthew Charles Hagenian, Durgesh Singh
  • Patent number: 10139512
    Abstract: A method for controlling trajectory in a resonant marine seismic source comprises: controlling the source frequency and controlling the motion trajectory. Controlling the source frequency includes: estimating the source frequency from its internal state and the state of its environment; deriving a frequency error as the difference between the estimated frequency and the frequency of the desired trajectory; and driving the frequency error to zero. Controlling the motion trajectory includes: detecting a motion trajectory of the source; deriving a motion trajectory error as the difference between the desired motion trajectory and detected motion trajectory; and driving the motion trajectory error to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Anthony Dellinger, Mark Francis Lucien Harper
  • Patent number: 10139458
    Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic sensor for measuring flux density. The sensor comprises at least one tunnelling magnetoresistor, supporting circuitry and an output for outputting a signal from the tunnelling magnetoresistor. In another aspect, there is also provided a sensor probe comprising at least one magnetic sensor. A magnetic probe system is also described, comprising the probe sensor and processing circuitry. Methods of processing the output signal from the magnetic sensor are also described. In one application, the system and method allow for detection of tissue such as lymph nodes that have taken up small quantities of magnetic particles upon injection of a magnetic tracer containing the magnetic particles into a patient, and can be used to identify such tissue that could be affected by certain forms of cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
    Inventors: Aidan Mark Francis Cousins, Benjamin Thierry, A. Bruce Wedding, Daniel Forero Morales
  • Patent number: 10120086
    Abstract: There is taught herein a system and method for creating an improved seismic source signal by applying a feedback mechanism, active adaptive control, to perturb a resonator device configuration on the fly so as to ensure that the overall trajectory of the sweep is correctly produced, even though the precise details of each oscillation of the source are still not constrained. An embodiment teaches a method for adjusting the squeeze piston or tow depth of a resonant piston seismic source to bring the resonant frequency to a desired value. As a consequence, the resulting seismic signal is improved as compared with seismic signals acquired via resonators that do not utilize the instant teachings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Francis Lucien Harper, Joseph Anthony Dellinger
  • Publication number: 20180313981
    Abstract: A virtual or an augmented reality device comprising: (i) a display component comprising a display surface, (ii) a lens air spaced from the display component; wherein at least one of the display component or the lens comprises a stray light reducing nanostructured surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Joshua Monroe Cobb, Mark Francis Krol
  • Publication number: 20180290240
    Abstract: A wire based additive manufacturing system includes a base movable in a feed direction. Multiple welding lasers are each spatially fixed as the base moves in the feed direction. Multiple cutting lasers are each spatially fixed as the base moves in the feed direction. Multiple wire feed members each feed an individual wire of a plurality of wires onto the base as the base moves in the feed direction. Each one the multiple welding lasers is energized to fuse parallel adjoining ones of the plurality of wires, and each one of the cutting lasers is energized to cut one of the fused wires to complete one of a plurality of wire layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventor: Mark Francis Rudnicki
  • Publication number: 20180295420
    Abstract: An aspect of present principles is directed to methods, systems, apparatus and computer executable code for executing instructions to perform at least a media control operation. This may include monitoring provided media content and attention information; determining attention detection based on the attention information; evaluating a filter condition based on the attention detection and additional attention information; and providing the media control operation based on an affirmative determination of the filter condition. The methods, systems and apparatus and computer executable code may further display the media control operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Francis RUMREICH, Joel M. FOGELSON, Thomas Edward HORLANDER
  • Publication number: 20180275296
    Abstract: A compact seismic source for seismic acquisition generating a humming signal includes a casing and a low-frequency reciprocating drive. The casing defines a fluid tight chamber and comprises a first casing section and a second casing section of roughly equal mass. The drive is disposed within the fluid tight chamber and, in operation, reinforces the natural reciprocating oscillation of the first and second casing sections relative to one another at a low seismic frequency. In one aspect, this action omni-directionally radiates the low frequency, humming seismic signal. On another aspect, the compact seismic source is substantially smaller than the wavelength of the low seismic frequency. Such a compact source may be deployed to omni-directionally radiate a low frequency, humming seismic signal during a seismic survey.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Anthony Dellinger, Mark Francis Lucien Harper, Graham Anthony Openshaw
  • Publication number: 20180270536
    Abstract: A method for adjusting power consumption of playing back a media content is presented. The method comprises receiving media content having first and second media segments; playing back the first media segment with a first number of frames different from a second number of frames in the first media segment; and playing back the second media segment, wherein the first number is determined according to average power of the first media segment and average power of the media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Chad Andrew LEFEVRE, Thomas Edward HORLANDER, Mark Francis RUMREICH
  • Patent number: 10074205
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems to create, output, and use animation programs comprising keyframes, objects, object states, and programming elements. Objects, object states, and programming elements may be created through image analysis of image input. Animation programs may be output as videos, as non-linear interactive experiences, and/or may be used to control electronic actuators in articulated armatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Anderson, David I. Poisner, Ravishankar Iyer, Mark Francis, Michael E. Kounavis, Omesh Tickoo
  • Publication number: 20180255350
    Abstract: Method (1000) of providing power saving information for media content is described including receiving (1010) media content comprising a plurality of media segments, determining (1020) a power consumption indicator for a media segment of the plurality of media segments, determining (1030) power saving information for the media segment based on the power consumption indicator for the media segment and providing (1040) the power saving information. Method (1100) of receiving power saving information for media content is described including receiving (1110) power saving information for a media segment in a media content, applying (1120) said power saving information to the media segment to generate a power adjusted media content and providing (1130) the power adjusted media content. Equivalent apparatuses for providing (110, 200) and for receiving (120, 200, 250) power saving information for media content are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Francis RUMREICH, Thomas Edward HORLANDER, Chad Andrew LEFEVRE
  • Publication number: 20180246235
    Abstract: A compact seismic source for seismic acquisition generating a humming signal includes a casing and a low-frequency reciprocating drive. The casing defines a fluid tight chamber and comprises a first casing section and a second casing section of roughly equal mass. The drive is disposed within the fluid tight chamber and, in operation, reinforces the natural reciprocating oscillation of the first and second casing sections relative to one another at a low seismic frequency. In one aspect, this action omni-directionally radiates the low frequency, humming seismic signal. On another aspect, the compact seismic source is substantially smaller than the wavelength of the low seismic frequency. Such a compact source may be deployed to omni-directionally radiate a low frequency, humming seismic signal during a seismic survey.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: JOSEPH ANTHONY DELLINGER, MARK FRANCIS LUCIEN HARPER, GRAHAM ANTHONY OPENSHAW
  • Publication number: 20180207665
    Abstract: This invention is to reduce the number of irrigation risers needing replacement throughout the pasture irrigation season due to livestock interaction causing breaking of the riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventor: Mark Francis Plummer
  • Patent number: 9983322
    Abstract: A compact seismic source for seismic acquisition generating a humming signal includes a casing and a low-frequency reciprocating drive. The casing defines a fluid tight chamber and comprises a first casing section and a second casing section of roughly equal mass. The drive is disposed within the fluid tight chamber and, in operation, reinforces the natural reciprocating oscillation of the first and second casing sections relative to one another at a low seismic frequency. In one aspect, this action omni-directionally radiates the low frequency, humming seismic signal. On another aspect, the compact seismic source is substantially smaller than the wavelength of the low seismic frequency. Such a compact source may be deployed to omni-directionally radiate a low frequency, humming seismic signal during a seismic survey.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Anthony Dellinger, Mark Francis Lucien Harper, Graham Anthony Openshaw
  • Publication number: 20180133596
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for translating three dimensional movements. An interface is generated to permit configuration of at least one parameter for translating three dimensional movements. Three dimensional movement is detected and translated in accordance with the at least one parameter. A translation of the three dimensional movement is generated with a displayable moving image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Francis RUMREICH, Krystle SWAVING, Arden ASH, Thomas Edward HORLANDER
  • Publication number: 20180136950
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a first device to determine profile information are described including receiving input from a second device, wherein at least one of the first device or the second device detects physical characteristics of people present in an area and the physical characteristics are used by the device to determine who is present in the area, retrieving profile information of the people present in the area, determining a relationship between profiles of the people in the area, applying rules to negotiate a compromise regarding device settings responsive to the relationship between profiles of the people present in the area and adjusting settings of a first device or a third device responsive to the compromise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Chad Andrew LEFEVRE, Thomas Edward HORLANDER, Mark Francis RUMREICH
  • Publication number: 20180129514
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting device settings on a first device are described including receiving input from a second device and adjusting the device settings or settings of a third device responsive to the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Chad Andrew LEFEVRE, Thomas Edward HORLANDER, Mark Francis RUMREICH
  • Publication number: 20180106140
    Abstract: A system includes a tubular member (60) including a radially outer surface (60c) and a sensor assembly (128). The sensor assembly includes a strain sensor coupled to the radially outer surface. In addition, the sensor assembly includes a first coating having (134) a first hardness and a first tensile strength. The first coating encases the strain sensor (131,130) and at least part (64) of the outer surface. Further, the sensor assembly includes a second coating (136) having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness and a second tensile strength that is greater than the first tensile strength. The second coating encases the first coating and at least another part (68) of the radially outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Francis Barrilleaux, David Foti, John D. Henderson, Jerry Henkener, Jerome Leonard, Kyle Robinson, Mark Waldron
  • Patent number: 9933244
    Abstract: A beam-shaping optical system suitable for use with optical coherence tomography including a sheath defining a central cavity, a beam-shaping insert defining a beam-shaping element positioned within the central cavity, and an optical fiber having a core and a cladding. The optical fiber defines an angularly prepared fiber end configured to emit an electromagnetic beam toward the beam-shaping element with the core of the optical fiber locally expanded at the fiber end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark Francis Krol, William James Miller, Robert Adam Modavis