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: 9465365
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Nichol
  • Patent number: 9466144
    Abstract: A real time 3D survey site modeler is disclosed. One embodiment includes a survey data collector to collect survey data for a location and obtain information for each object that is surveyed. In addition, a 3D model creator receives the collected survey data and creates a 3D model of the world being surveyed in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Alan Sharp, Mark Nichols
  • Patent number: 9422692
    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: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Arthur James Taylor, Mark Nichols, Philip Jackson
  • Patent number: 9321558
    Abstract: An insert assembly (fitment) includes a container mounting element, a spout element carried by the mounting element, at least one support element and a grasp element suspended by the support element(s) below the mounting element. The grasp element provides a skeleton within a pouch-type flexible container, against which a user can grasp and squeeze the flexible container for mixing or drinking Optionally or alternatively, a mixing element is suspended by the support element(s). The mixing element impinge upon at least a portion of fluid within the container to create turbulence, thereby promoting mixing of powdered material disposed within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Perimeter Brand Packaging, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Callahan, David Honan, Shane Yellin, Mark A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9125008
    Abstract: A method and system for providing information about mobile communication devices with respect to an area of interest is disclosed. A first person associated with the mobile communication device located in the area of interest is identified, wherein the identifying occurs at a location and messaging center. A contact person associated with the first person is identified. Information is provided to the contact person that the mobile communication device associated with the first person is located in the area of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Mark Nichols, Gregory C. Best
  • Publication number: 20150225923
    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: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory Craig Wallace, Gregory C. Best, Mark Nichols, Scott Crozier
  • Patent number: 9025264
    Abstract: Methods for measuring media performance associated with adjacent track interference are provided. One such method includes iteratively writing data to a target track for each of a plurality of n frequencies, measuring a first signal amplitude and a first noise for each of the n sectors on the target track, writing an aggressor track pattern proximate the target track, measuring a second signal amplitude and a second noise for each of the n sectors on the target track, calculating a weighted sum for each of the signal amplitude measurements for each of the plurality of n frequencies, and calculating a weighted sum for each of the noise measurements for each of the plurality of n frequencies, and repeating the writing the aggressor track pattern, the measuring the second signal amplitude and the second noise, and calculating the weighted sums for preselected numbers of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: WD Media, LLC
    Inventors: Mrugesh Desai, Harold H. Gee, Mark A. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20150117161
    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 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Mark Nichol
  • Publication number: 20150106004
    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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Arthur James Taylor, Mark Nichols, Philip Jackson
  • Publication number: 20140376834
    Abstract: An insert assembly (fitment) includes a container mounting element, a spout element carried by the mounting element, at least one support element and a grasp element suspended by the support element(s) below the mounting element. The grasp element provides a skeleton within a pouch-type flexible container, against which a user can grasp and squeeze the flexible container for mixing or drinking Optionally or alternatively, a mixing element is suspended by the support element(s). The mixing element impinge upon at least a portion of fluid within the container to create turbulence, thereby promoting mixing of powdered material disposed within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Perimeter Brand Packaging, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Callahan, David Honan, Shane Yellin, Mark A. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20140125651
    Abstract: A real time 3D survey site modeler is disclosed. One embodiment includes a survey data collector to collect survey data for a location and obtain information for each object that is surveyed. In addition, a 3D model creator receives the collected survey data and creates a 3D model of the world being surveyed in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Alan Sharp, Mark Nichols
  • Patent number: 8711499
    Abstract: Methods for measuring media performance associated with adjacent track interference are provided. One such method includes iteratively writing data to a target track for each of a plurality of n frequencies, measuring a first signal amplitude and a first noise for each of the n sectors on the target track, writing an aggressor track pattern proximate the target track, measuring a second signal amplitude and a second noise for each of the n sectors on the target track, calculating a weighted sum for each of the signal amplitude measurements for each of the plurality of n frequencies, and calculating a weighted sum for each of the noise measurements for each of the plurality of n frequencies, and repeating the writing the aggressor track pattern, the measuring the second signal amplitude and the second noise, and calculating the weighted sums for preselected numbers of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: WD Media, LLC
    Inventors: Mrugesh Desai, Harold H. Gee, Mark A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 8689471
    Abstract: A control for an excavator of the type having a plurality of hydraulic cylinders for moving excavator components such that digging is accomplished at a worksite with an excavator bucket or other excavator implement, includes a plurality of hydraulic control valves, each of which is associated with a respective one of the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the application of hydraulic fluid pressure to the respective one of the hydraulic cylinders, and a plurality of manually actuated joystick valves for supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to the respective hydraulic control valves to control the movement of the hydraulic cylinders. The control includes a sensor arrangement for sensing the position of one or more excavator components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Hamish John Carpenter, Richard Paul Piekutowski, Mark Nichols
  • Publication number: 20130333364
    Abstract: A control for an excavator of the type having a plurality of hydraulic cylinders for moving excavator components such that digging is accomplished at a worksite with an excavator bucket or other excavator implement, includes a plurality of hydraulic control valves, each of which is associated with a respective one of the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the application of hydraulic fluid pressure to the respective one of the hydraulic cylinders, and a plurality of manually actuated joystick valves for supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to the respective hydraulic control valves to control the movement of the hydraulic cylinders. The control includes a sensor arrangement for sensing the position of one or more excavator components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR TRIMBLE CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Hamish John Carpenter, Richard Paul Piekutowski, Mark Nichols
  • Publication number: 20130275035
    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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Arthur James Taylor, Mark Nichols, Philip Jackson
  • Patent number: 8478492
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system 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: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur James Taylor, Mark Nichols, Philip Jackson
  • Publication number: 20120202446
    Abstract: A method and system for providing information about mobile communication devices with respect to an area of interest is disclosed. A first person associated with the mobile communication device located in the area of interest is identified, wherein the identifying occurs at a location and messaging center. A contact person associated with the first person is identified. Information is provided to the contact person that the mobile communication device associated with the first person is located in the area of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Nichols, Gregory C. Best
  • Patent number: 8125723
    Abstract: Cross-track density capability is predicted for a large number of writes based on a plurality of erase band width measurements. Over the plurality of erase band width measurements, a number of writes in a series of writes performed as part of an aggressing track sequence is varied. A model of the magnetic track width (MTW) as function of the number of writes employed in the MTW measurements may be generated and an estimate of the erase band width for a large number of writes derived from the model as a prediction of cross-track density capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: WD Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Nichols, Harold H. Gee, Eric Roddick, Mrugesh Desai
  • Patent number: D765532
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Nichol
  • Patent number: D766734
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Perimeter Brand Packaging, LLC
    Inventors: William Tyler Fitzsimmons, Isaac Haverlick, Shane Yellin, David G. Honan, Roger R. Fontaine, Steven Callahan, Mark A. Nichols