Patents by Inventor Mark A. Nichols

Mark A. Nichols 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: 10940501
    Abstract: A method of controlling application of at least one material to a substrate is provided. The method includes configuring at least one array having a plurality of micro-applicators such that a subset of the micro-applicators is individually addressable to apply the at least one material to the substrate. Individually addressing the subset of micro-applicators provides control of a pattern width of a coating applied to a substrate, control of a flow rate of the material applied to the substrate, control of an angle of application of the material to the substrate, control of which and how many materials are applied to the substrate, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ellwood, Mark Nichols, Wanjiao Liu, Christopher Seubert
  • Publication number: 20200406286
    Abstract: A material applicator includes an array plate and at least one ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to the array plate. The array plate includes a plurality of micro-applicators and each of the micro-applicators has a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate in mechanical communication with the at least one ultrasonic transducer. Each of the plurality of micro-applicator plates has a plurality of apertures and the at least one ultrasonic transducer is configured to vibrate each of the plurality of micro-applicator plates such that at least one material is ejected through the plurality of apertures as atomized droplets. At least one ultraviolet light source is positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators and the at least one UV light source is configured to irradiate the atomized droplets ejected through the plurality of apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Christopher Seubert, Mark Nichols, Kevin Ellwood, Wanjiao Liu
  • Publication number: 20200326716
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a method for moisturizing soil at an open construction site. The method includes determining current site characteristics of the open construction site; storing the current site characteristics in memory; determining a target volume of water for achieving a target soil moisture level based on the current site characteristics of the open construction site; calculating a target water application rate to achieve the target soil moisture level across the open construction site; determining a planned path across the open construction site; and guiding a water truck along the planned path while dispensing the target volume of water at the target application rate to achieve the target moisture level in the soil at the open construction site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventor: Mark Nichols
  • Publication number: 20200327732
    Abstract: Techniques for occluding displayable content on a portable electronic device. An EDM device of the portable electronic device may capture a world distance map comprising a plurality of distances to a plurality of points. A camera of the portable electronic device may capture a camera image containing the plurality of points. A geospatial position of a GNSS receiver may be detected. A geospatial position of the camera may be calculated based on the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver. An angle sensor may detect an orientation of the camera. A model image may be generated based on a 3D model, the orientation of the camera, and the geospatial position of the camera. The model image and/or the camera image may be occluded based on the world distance map and the 3D model. A superimposed image comprising the camera image and the model image may be generated and displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Nichols, Darrin Hurd
  • Publication number: 20200326430
    Abstract: Techniques for calculating a geospatial position of a point of interest using a portable electronic device. A camera of the portable electronic device may observe the point of interest. An EDM device of the portable electronic device may capture a distance to the point of interest. An angle sensor may detect an orientation of the EDM device. A geospatial position of a GNSS receiver of the portable electronic device may be detected. A geospatial position of the EDM device may be calculated based on the geospatial position of the GNSS receiver. The geospatial position of the point of interest may be calculated based on the geospatial position of the EDM device, the orientation of the EDM device, and the distance to the point of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Nichols, Darrin Hurd
  • Publication number: 20200325647
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a method for moisturizing soil at an open construction site. The method includes determining a target soil moisture level for the soil at the open construction site; measuring a current soil moisture level of a location within the open construction site with a moisture sensor while the moisture control system is moving along a predetermined path across the site; storing the current soil moisture level of the location in memory; determining a target volume of water for achieving the target soil moisture level at the location based on the current soil moisture level at the location; calculating a target application rate to achieve the target soil moisture level at the location based on the target volume of water; and applying the target volume of water at the target application rate to the location when the system is positioned to dispense water at the location of the site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventor: Mark Nichols
  • Patent number: 10553247
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk. A test pattern is read from a first part of the disk to generate a first read signal that is sampled to generate a first sequence of signal samples. The test pattern is read from a second part of the disk to generate a second read signal that is sampled to generate a second sequence of signal samples. A third sequence of signal samples is generated by at least one of amplitude-inverting the second sequence of signal samples, time-inverting the second sequence of signal samples, and amplitude-inverting and time-inverting the second sequence of signal samples. A quality metric is generated based on the first sequence of signal samples and the third sequence of signal samples, and a data density of the disk is configured based on the quality metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Nichols, Robert E. Eaton
  • Publication number: 20190371362
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk. A test pattern is read from a first part of the disk to generate a first read signal that is sampled to generate a first sequence of signal samples. The test pattern is read from a second part of the disk to generate a second read signal that is sampled to generate a second sequence of signal samples. A third sequence of signal samples is generated by at least one of amplitude-inverting the second sequence of signal samples, time-inverting the second sequence of signal samples, and amplitude-inverting and time-inverting the second sequence of signal samples. A quality metric is generated based on the first sequence of signal samples and the third sequence of signal samples, and a data density of the disk is configured based on the quality metric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Mark A. Nichols, Robert E. Eaton
  • Patent number: 10458099
    Abstract: A method and system for auto recognition of at least one standoff target to determine position information for a mobile machine. One example automatically scans for at least one standoff target. A location for the at least one standoff target is determined. In addition, a distance and direction between the mobile machine and the at least one standoff target is generated. The location information for the at least one standoff target and the distance and direction between the mobile machine and the at least one standoff target is utilized to provide a position for the mobile machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Arthur James Taylor, Mark Nichols, Philip Jackson
  • Publication number: 20190232322
    Abstract: A method of controlling application of at least one material to a substrate is provided. The method includes configuring at least one array having a plurality of micro-applicators such that a subset of the micro-applicators is individually addressable to apply the at least one material to the substrate. Individually addressing the subset of micro-applicators provides control of a pattern width of a coating applied to a substrate, control of a flow rate of the material applied to the substrate, control of an angle of application of the material to the substrate, control of which and how many materials are applied to the substrate, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ellwood, Mark Nichols, Wanjiao Liu, Christopher Seubert
  • Patent number: 10323931
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a method for aligning a radiation head of a terahertz sensor system with a target surface. The method includes: scanning a selected area of the target surface with a terahertz radiation beam emitted by the radiation head; sensing a peak amplitude for each reflected radiation signal from a plurality of reflected radiation signals received by the radiation head during the scanning of the selected area; and identifying a normal position of the radiation head with respect to the target surface based on a maximum peak amplitude from among the peak amplitudes of the reflected radiation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Scott Adams, Marina Baker, Mark Nichols, Tony Misovski
  • Publication number: 20190128661
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a method for aligning a radiation head of a terahertz sensor system with a target surface. The method includes: scanning a selected area of the target surface with a terahertz radiation beam emitted by the radiation head; sensing a peak amplitude for each reflected radiation signal from a plurality of reflected radiation signals received by the radiation head during the scanning of the selected area; and identifying a normal position of the radiation head with respect to the target surface based on a maximum peak amplitude from among the peak amplitudes of the reflected radiation signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Scott Adams, Marina Baker, Mark Nichols, Tony Misovski
  • Patent number: 10199054
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks, wherein each data track comprises a plurality of data sectors, each data sector comprises a preamble, and the preambles of adjacent data tracks are recorded at different frequencies. A first read element and a second read element of a head are positioned over a first preamble of a first data track to generate a first read signal emanating from the first read element and a second read signal emanating from the second read element. A first metric is generated based on the first read signal and a second metric is generated based on the second read signal. A difference between the first metric and the second metric is generated and used, for example, to servo the head over the disk or to measure a radial offset between the read elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 10030358
    Abstract: A method and system for non-contact location and orientation determination for an implement coupled with a mobile machine. One example detects an orientation of a recognized feature of an implement with a sensor mounted at a fixed location on the mobile machine. A range from the sensor to the recognized feature of the implement is also determined. In addition, a known operating envelope of the implement coupled with the mobile machine is accessed. The known operating envelope of the implement is then combined with the orientation and the range from the sensor to determine a position of the implement with respect to the mobile machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Craig Wallace, Gregory C. Best, Mark Nichols, Scott Crozier
  • Patent number: 10008229
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing track following using signal asymmetry metrics monitored during read back in hard disk drives (HDDs). Signal asymmetry metrics monitored during read back are used together with a position error signal (PES) to correct and guide the position of a read sensor with respect to a written track in the HDD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Richard Leo Galbraith, Weldon Mark Hanson, Mark A. Nichols, Alexander Taratorin, Roger William Wood
  • Publication number: 20170194024
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing track following using signal asymmetry metrics monitored during read back in hard disk drives (HDDs). Signal asymmetry metrics monitored during read back are used together with a position error signal (PES) to correct and guide the position of a read sensor with respect to a written track in the HDD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Richard Leo Galbraith, Weldon Mark Hanson, Mark A. Nichols, Alexander Taratorin, Roger William Wood
  • Patent number: 9650763
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems for performing non-contact based determination of the position of an implement. In one embodiment, a non-contact based measurement system is used to determine the relative position of an implement coupled with a mobile machine. The geographic position of the mobile machine is determined and the geographic position of said implement based upon the geographic position of the mobile machine and the position of the implement relative to the mobile machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Arthur James Taylor, Mark Nichols, Philip Jackson
  • Publication number: 20170023914
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes: a housing; an attachment portion capable of coupling the housing to a bottom of a wristwatch to be worn by a wearer; one or more physiological sensors included in the housing that measure one or more physical phenomena corresponding to the wearer of the wristwatch and electronic device coupled to the wristwatch; a memory configured to store data corresponding to the one or more physical phenomena; and a wireless communication device included in the housing for communicating the data to a computing device in wireless communication with the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventor: Mark Nichol
  • Publication number: 20160319518
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems for performing non-contact based determination of the position of an implement. In one embodiment, a non-contact based measurement system is used to determine the relative position of an implement coupled with a mobile machine. The geographic position of the mobile machine is determined and the geographic position of said implement based upon the geographic position of the mobile machine and the position of the implement relative to the mobile machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Arthur James Taylor, Mark Nichols, Philip Jackson
  • Patent number: 9481983
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for performing non-contact based determination of the position of an implement. In one embodiment, the method includes using a non-contact based measurement system to determine a first measurement comprising the position of the implement relative to a mobile machine coupled with the implement, determining a second measurement comprising the geographic position of the mobile machine and determining the geographic position of the implement using the first measurement and the second measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Arthur James Taylor, Mark Nichols, Philip Jackson