Patents by Inventor Mark CHARLES

Mark CHARLES 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).

  • Method, system and apparatus for assembling a composite wing skin with stiffeners
    Patent number: 9914549
    Abstract: A jig apparatus and associated systems and methods for forming a composite wing skin is presented, including providing a frame with a working surface. A plurality of indexing blocks are coupled to the working surface of the frame. Each of the plurality of indexing blocks has a first indexing surface oriented perpendicular to the working surface of the frame and a second indexing surface oriented approximately parallel to the working surface of the frame. A plurality of clamping blocks are also each moveably coupled to one of the plurality of indexing blocks. Each of the plurality of clamping blocks has a clamping surface oriented perpendicular to the working surface of the frame and in facing relation to the first indexing surface of an adjacent indexing block thereby defining a plurality of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Doan Dinh Pham, Mark Charles Iden
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOW-LATENCY WEB-BASED TEXT-TO-SPEECH WITHOUT PLUGINS
    Publication number: 20180047384
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for reducing latency in web-browsing TTS systems without the use of a plug-in or Flash® module. A system configured according to the disclosed methods allows the browser to send prosodically meaningful sections of text to a web server. A TTS server then converts intonational phrases of the text into audio and responds to the browser with the audio file. The system saves the audio file in a cache, with the file indexed by a unique identifier. As the system continues converting text into speech, when identical text appears the system uses the cached audio corresponding to the identical text without the need for re-synthesis via the TTS server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Alistair D. CONKIE, Mark Charles BEUTNAGEL, Taniya MISHRA
  • ACTIVITY POWERED BAND DEVICE
    Publication number: 20180035793
    Abstract: A method provides a band, including: placing an energy harvesting mechanism within a deformable band; the energy harvesting mechanism being placed to transform deformation of the deformable band into stored energy; and providing a connection element to the energy harvesting mechanism; said connection element offering a coupling of the stored energy of the deformable band to a device. In an embodiment, a force is applied to deform a deformable band along a length dimension of the deformable band. The force acts to move an energy harvesting mechanism of the deformable band such that the energy harvesting mechanism transforms deformation of the deformable band into stored energy. The stored energy may be used, e.g., to collect information using a sensor of said deformable band. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, Jennifer Greenwood Zawacki, Debra Kay Kobs-Fortner, Douglas Warren Robinson
  • Molecular markers asscociated with soy iron deficiency chlorosis
    Patent number: 9879326
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying, selecting and/or producing a soybean plant or germplasm having iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance. A soybean plant, part thereof and/or germplasm, including any progeny and/or seeds derived from a soybean plant or germplasm identified, selected and/or produced by any of the methods of the present invention is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Mark Charles Hamilton, Craig Lynn Davis, Jean Robert Gelin, Elhan Sultan Ersoz, Ju-Kyung Yu, Thomas Joseph Curley, Baohong Guo, Ainong Shi
  • AUTOMATED DRILLING/SERVICE RIG APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20180023346
    Abstract: An automated rig apparatus for drilling or servicing a well is provided. The apparatus can include a motor vehicle having a frame, and a hinged derrick mast pivotally attached to the frame. The apparatus can further include a rack disposed in the mast and a carriage assembly with pinion motors configured to travel up and down the rack when the mast is raised to a vertical position. A tool carrier configured to receive a top drive unit or a power swivel unit can be attached to the carriage assembly. The apparatus can further include a movable platform and an operators cab configured to be moved to a desired position relative to the derrick mast when the mast is raised to a vertical position. The apparatus can further include a hydraulic drive assembly to operate the apparatus, and a mud pump and manifold for pumping drilling mud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: MARK CHARLES TAGGART, DOUGLAS ANDREW HUNTER, DANIEL HARVARD KUSLER, COLIN REYNOLD KNAPP
  • First party cookie attribution
    Patent number: 9875485
    Abstract: A third party company (also referred to as an ad server) provides an advertiser with computer code to place on the advertiser's web pages. The web page's code is configured to provide the ad server read and write access to an advertiser's first party cookie on a user's web browser. A user interacts with an ad on a mobile application or third party web page. Based on the user's interaction with the ad a URL containing a web address and ad instance information are sent to the user's web browser. The user's landing page associated with the URL contains code for retrieving the ad instance information and storing it in a first party cookie. When the user navigates to a purchasing page and purchases a product, the code contained in the purchasing page retrieves the ad instance information from the first party cookie and sends it to the ad server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Rocket Fuel Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Torrance, Michael Jared Benisch, Rajaraman Periasamy
  • Measuring concentration of analytes in liquid samples using surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy
    Patent number: 9863924
    Abstract: A hand-held microfluidic testing device is provided that includes a housing having a cartridge receiving port and a cartridge for input to the cartridge receiving port. An optical detection system in the housing is capable of providing an illuminated electric field useful for Raman spectroscopy. The cartridge may have a sample well. The sample well is loaded with a mixture of water containing the analyte, Raman-scattering nanoparticles and a calibration solution. The calibration solution contains an analog of the analyte differing in its Raman response, for example an isotope of the analyte. Optionally, a chemical compound capable of increasing interaction between the analyte and the nanoparticles may be added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: OndaVia, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Peterman, Merwan Benhabib, Carlos Atico Ariza, Samuel Louis Kleinman
  • Two-part subsea bulkhead connector and method for rapid replacement or re-purposing of subsea bulkhead connector
    Patent number: 9859647
    Abstract: A two-part subsea bulkhead connector may be replaced and/or re-purposed of without draining an enclosure or disconnecting hard wiring therein, the two-part subsea bulkhead connector a first bulkhead connector, a second bulkhead connector, and a substantially water tight mechanical seal disposed intermediate the first bulkhead connector. When mated, first and second bulkhead connectors are aligned and contacts received into a corresponding contact. The first bulkhead connector is secured to the second bulkhead connector sufficiently to allow the mechanical seal to prevent water ingress. If a first contact becomes damaged or if a differing functionality set is needed, the second bulkhead connector may be removed from the first bulkhead connector and replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: OCEANEERING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Charles Philip
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO CONTROL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING FOR HYDROCARBON WELLS
    Publication number: 20170370151
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods to control directional drilling in borehole drilling for hydrocarbon wells are disclosed. An actual toolface orientation measurement value and an actual downhole torque on bit (DTOB) or actual downhole weight on bit (DWOB) measurement value for a drill string positioned in a borehole are determined. Responsive to a comparison of target measurement values and actual measurement values, error values are determined. A control command for one or more of a top drive, a drawworks, and a mud pump responsive to the DTOB or DWOB error value and the toolface orientation error value is determined. Additionally, one or more of the top drive, the drawworks, and the mud pump are operated responsive to the control command thereby to correct a toolface orientation of the drill string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Reza BANIRAZI-MOTLAGH, Mark Charles PENN, Anthony PINK, Joseph Kyle SMITH
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED VOICE MODELS ACROSS CLOUD AND DEVICE FOR EMBEDDED TEXT-TO-SPEECH
    Publication number: 20170372692
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for intelligent caching of concatenative speech units for use in speech synthesis. A system configured to practice the method can identify, in a local cache of text-to-speech units for a text-to-speech voice an absent text-to-speech unit which is not in the local cache. The system can request from a server the absent text-to-speech unit. The system can then synthesize speech using the text-to-speech units and a received text-to-speech unit from the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin J. STERN, Mark Charles BEUTNAGEL, Alistair D. CONKIE, Horst J. SCHROETER, Amanda Joy STENT
  • SYSTEM WAKEUP ON WIRELESS NETWORK MESSAGES
    Publication number: 20170367041
    Abstract: While an information handling device is in a reduced power state, the information handling device transitions from the reduced power state to a higher power state in response to receiving a message over an established wireless network connection that maintains a presence on a wireless network. In turn, the information handling device processes the message accordingly in the higher power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey Clark, Mark Charles Davis, Justin Tyler Dubs, Steven Richard Perrin, Jennifer Greenwood Zawacki, Dekui Zhang
  • CONCATENATION COST IN SPEECH SYNTHESIS FOR ACOUSTIC UNIT SEQUENTIAL PAIR USING HASH TABLE AND DEFAULT CONCATENATION COST
    Publication number: 20170358292
    Abstract: A speech synthesis process can record concatenation costs of unit sequential pairs to a concatenation cost database for speech synthesis by synthesizing speech from a text, identifying an acoustic unit sequential pair in the speech, searching for a concatenation cost for the acoustic unit sequential pair in a database using a hash table for the database, and when the concatenation cost is not found in the database, assigning a default value as the concatenation cost for the acoustic unit sequential pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Charles BEUTNAGEL, Mehryar MOHRI, Michael Dennis RILEY
  • RESPIRATORY THERAPY APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170333661
    Abstract: An expiratory, vibratory therapy device (100, 200 300, 400) includes a compliance meter (104, 204, 304, 404) having a cylinder (110, 210, 310, 410) with a piston (111, 211, 411) movable along its length. The piston is urged by a spring (116, 226) to one end of the cylinder. The opposite end of the cylinder has an air inlet (120, 123, 219) normally closed by a springloaded occluder (129). The occluder (129) is moved to open the air inlet when the patient exhales in the prescribed manner. This allows some air to enter the cylinder and enables the piston to be displaced. The piston is coupled to a flag (106, 206, 306, 406) visible to the patient. When the correct number of prescribed breaths have been made the piston displaces the flag to indicate completion of the therapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: SMITHS MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul James Bennett, Anthony Lucio Belisario, Robert James Burchell, Mohammad Qassim Mohammad Khasawneh, Mark Charles Oliver
  • RESISTANCE ALLELES IN SOYBEAN
    Publication number: 20170314083
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying, selecting and/or producing a soybean plant or germplasm having iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance. A soybean plant, part thereof and/or germplasm, including any progeny and/or seeds derived from a soybean plant or germplasm identified, selected and/or produced by any of the methods of the present invention is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Mark Charles HAMILTON, Harish GANDHI, Ainong SHI, Craig Lynn DAVIS, Thomas Joseph CURLEY, Jr., Baohong GUO
  • System and method for low-latency web-based text-to-speech without plugins
    Patent number: 9799323
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for reducing latency in web-browsing TTS systems without the use of a plug-in or Flash® module. A system configured according to the disclosed methods allows the browser to send prosodically meaningful sections of text to a web server. A TTS server then converts intonational phrases of the text into audio and responds to the browser with the audio file. The system saves the audio file in a cache, with the file indexed by a unique identifier. As the system continues converting text into speech, when identical text appears the system uses the cached audio corresponding to the identical text without the need for re-synthesis via the TTS server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Alistair D. Conkie, Mark Charles Beutnagel, Taniya Mishra
  • Automated drilling/service rig apparatus
    Patent number: 9797196
    Abstract: An automated rig apparatus for drilling or servicing a well is provided. The apparatus can include a motor vehicle having a frame, and a hinged derrick mast pivotally attached to the frame. The apparatus can further include a rack disposed in the mast and a carriage assembly with pinion motors configured to travel up and down the rack when the mast is raised to a vertical position. A tool carrier configured to receive a top drive unit or a power swivel unit can be attached to the carriage assembly. The apparatus can further include a movable platform and an operators cab configured to be moved to a desired position relative to the derrick mast when the mast is raised to a vertical position. The apparatus can further include a hydraulic drive assembly to operate the apparatus, and a mud pump and manifold for pumping drilling mud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: PROSTAR MANUFACTURING INC.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Taggart, Douglas Andrew Hunter, Daniel Harvard Kusler, Colin Reynold Knapp
  • Activity powered band device
    Patent number: 9788641
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a band, including: an energy harvesting mechanism that stores energy in response to deformation of the band; a device; and a connection coupling the stored energy of the band to the device. In an embodiment, a force is applied to deform a deformable band along a length dimension of the deformable band. The force acts to move an energy harvesting mechanism of the deformable band such that the energy harvesting mechanism transforms deformation of the deformable band into stored energy. The stored energy may be used, e.g., to collect information using a sensor of said deformable band. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, Jennifer Greenwood Zawacki, Debra Kay Kobs-Fortner, Douglas Warren Robinson
  • First Party Cookie Attribution
    Publication number: 20170293935
    Abstract: A third party company (also referred to as an ad server) provides an advertiser with computer code to place on the advertiser's web pages. The web page's code is configured to provide the ad server read and write access to an advertiser's first party cookie on a user's web browser. A user interacts with an ad on a mobile application or third party web page. Based on the user's interaction with the ad a URL containing a web address and ad instance information are sent to the user's web browser. The user's landing page associated with the URL contains code for retrieving the ad instance information and storing it in a first party cookie. When the user navigates to a purchasing page and purchases a product, the code contained in the purchasing page retrieves the ad instance information from the first party cookie and sends it to the ad server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Charles Torrance, Michael Jared Benisch, Rajaraman Periasamy
  • Identifying mobile application installations
    Patent number: 9785974
    Abstract: An ad server provides an advertiser with computer code to include in advertisement (ad) instances. Upon interaction with one of the ad instances, the computer code determines if a mobile software application associated with an advertiser is installed on a mobile device. The ad server may also provide mobile application developers with a software development kit (SDK) for use in creating mobile applications capable of determining if a mobile software application associated with the advertiser is installed on a mobile device, retrieving usage information associated with the user's use of the mobile device, receiving ad instances for display to a user through the mobile software application, and communicating this information to the ad server. Based on the installation status and the usage information the ad server selects ad instances to serve to the user of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Rocket Fuel Inc.
    Inventors: Rajaraman Periasamy, Mark Charles Torrance, Michael Jared Benisch
  • Clutch backer plate with recessed rivets
    Patent number: 9784322
    Abstract: A driven disc assembly is provided. The backing plates have right angle depression sections that surround mounting holes of a clutch disc. The thickness of the backing plates are enlarged from their normal thickness causing a top surface of the backing plates to axially clear heads of conventional rivets. The thickness of the friction buttons on the backing plates can then be reduced to their minimal effective use thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Bernard Allmandinger, Brian William Franke, Mark Charles Barnholt, Stephen Thomas Hamm