Patents by Inventor Mark Davidson

Mark Davidson 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).

  • Publication number: 20050284735
    Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor includes a plurality of links, each link having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link has a conveying surface for conveying one or more of the objects. Connection elements connect the links so as to form a conveyor. The connection elements include a flexible cable attached to the links at given intervals. The links are configured so as to be removably attachable to the cable. Various modifications and options are possible. Also, related article handling systems, including container handling and/or filling systems are also disclosed, suitable for use with various conveyor designs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson
  • Publication number: 20050284103
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for conveying articles for processing, the system including a conveyor configured to convey articles to the processing station. The conveyor includes a plurality of links, each link including at least one movable gripper for gripping an article, articles being gripped by adjacent links so as to achieve a predetermined spacing between the articles. A processing station is disposed along the conveyor, the conveyor being driven so as to move the articles through the processing station maintaining the predetermined spacing via the movable grippers, the processing station including mating elements spaced according to the predetermined spacing for processing the articles. The articles may be containers, and the processing station may be a filler or other container processing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson
  • Publication number: 20050284731
    Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed suitable for conveying objects such as containers to a processing station. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, and at least one gripping member extending from each of the links. Each gripping member is movable relative to its respective link for gripping a container by the neck of the container. A guide structure is disposed on the link for mating a component of the processing station to the neck of the container for processing the container. The processing station may be a filler such as a rotary filler, a capper, or a rinser. Related individual links, conveying systems, and filler components are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
  • Publication number: 20050278291
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of collecting, transforming, displaying, and visualizing business performance measures to facilitate analysis and decision making. The invention is suitable for use in conjunction with a user's management information systems and permits multiple users within a single organization to access the business performance measures in a plurality of formats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Dana Barrette, Mark Davidson
  • Publication number: 20050269188
    Abstract: A link is disclosed for a conveyor, as is a conveyor itself, suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, a plurality of the links being attachable to form the conveyor, the link includes a body having a length extending along the direction of transport and a width extending across the direction of transport, and two opposed gripping members extending from the body. At least one of the gripping members is a movable gripping member movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position, the movable gripping member includes a gripping end, the gripping members being located so as to contact one of the objects via the gripping end when the movable gripping member is in the second position to hold the object relative to the body during transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, Robert Beesley, Mark Davidson, William Hartness
  • Publication number: 20050203994
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing stateful signaling transactions in a distributed processing environment are disclosed. A method for performing stateful signaling transactions in a distributed processing environment includes receiving a signaling message at a routing node, such as a signal transfer point. The signaling message is distributed to one of the plurality of stateful processing modules. The receiving stateful processing module buffers the signaling message and initiates a stateful transaction based on the signaling message. Initiating the stateful transaction may include generating a query message and inserting a stateful processing module identifier in the query message. The query message is sent to an external node, such as an SCP, which formulates a response. The SCP may insert the stateful processing module in the response and send the response back to the signal transfer point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Jonathan Palmer, Mark Erickson, Mark Davidson, Raghavendra Rao, Devesh Agarwal, Peter Marsico
  • Publication number: 20050137933
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods to generate a manifest of work that is to be performed by a driver. Specifically, systems and methods are described in the context of a package delivery system to generate a manifest of deliveries and pickups to be performed by a driver and to download the generated manifest to a portable computing device used by the driver to service the route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Holsen, Duane Anderson, Juan Perez, Mark Davidson
  • Publication number: 20050103599
    Abstract: Various conveyor designs are disclosed, along with related link designs, suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor may include a plurality of connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link may have a body, a slider, at least one gripping member, and a gear drive mechanism interconnecting the slider and gripping member. The slider is slidable along the length of the body to selectively move the gripping member between a first position and a second position via the gear drive mechanism. The gripping member when in first position is disposed in an open position, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed in a gripping position for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
  • Publication number: 20050103604
    Abstract: Various conveyor designs suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction and various related link designs are disclosed. The conveyor may include a plurality of the connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport, a conveying surface, and at least one gripping member moveable along at least a portion of length of the link from a first position to a second position. The gripping member when in the first position is disposed below the conveying surface of the link, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed above the conveying surface of the link for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport. Various designs of gripping members and related elements are disclosed, including spring loaded, cam driven, rack and pinion, and overhead designs. Various elements of the disclosed designs may be combined in various ways to form numerous link and conveyor options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
  • Publication number: 20050103605
    Abstract: A conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, and a related link are disclosed. The link may include a link body having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport, each link body having a conveying surface. At least one gripping member is movably secured to the link body and has a gripping arm extendable from the conveying surface of the link body. Each gripping member is moveable between a first opened position and a second gripping position. The gripping arm is located so as to be able to contact one of the objects when the gripping member is in the second position to hold the object relative to the link body during transport. Various options for link designs are disclosed, including slidable and/or pivotable designs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
  • Publication number: 20050103602
    Abstract: A conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, and related links, are disclosed. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, each link having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link also has a body, a cam follower member, and at least one gripping member. A gear drive mechanism may be used to interconnect the cam follower member and the gripping member. The cam follower member is movable to selectively move the gripping member between a first position and a second position. The gripping member when in first position is disposed in an open position, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed in a gripping position for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport. Gear-drive mechanisms of various designs may be used to interconnect the cam follower member and gripping member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
  • Publication number: 20050103603
    Abstract: A link is disclosed for a conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The link includes a body having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. The body has a conveying surface and two opposed gripping members extending from the conveying surface. Each gripping member is movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position. The gripping members each include a gripping arm configured to be pivotable relative to the conveying surface when the gripping members move from the first position to the second position. The gripping arms are located so as to be able to contact one of the objects when the gripping members are in the second position to hold the object relative to the link during transport. The link includes at least one spring member urging the gripping members toward the second position. Various other related options are disclosed, along with related conveyors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
  • Publication number: 20050103606
    Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, each link having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link has a conveying surface and at least one movable gripping member extending from the conveying surface of the link. Each gripping member is movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position. The gripping members each include a gripping arm having a pivot point, a gripping end spaced from the pivot point, and a cam follower extending outward from the gripping arm between the pivot point and the gripping end. The gripping arm is located so as to be able to contact one of the objects via the gripping end when the gripping member is in the second position to hold the object relative to the link during transport. Each link includes at least one spring member urging the gripping members toward the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, William Hartness, Mark Davidson, Frank Brennan, Robert Beesley
  • Publication number: 20050092254
    Abstract: An apparatus including a first robot, a blade on the first robot, the blade including a pocket to receive a wafer and self-correct a positioning error of the wafer in the pocket, and a first chamber to receive the wafer from the blade and deposit a first metal on the received wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies Richmond, LP
    Inventor: Mark Davidson
  • Publication number: 20050068632
    Abstract: An imaging device (30) can include a plurality of lenses (51, 52, 53, 54) mounted on a multi-dimensional support structure (32), a plurality of optical detectors (40) corresponding to the plurality of lenses for capturing an optical signal from at least two lenses among the plurality of lenses, and a processor (34) for combining the optical signal from at least two lenses to form an image and electronically controlling the field of view and a resolution of the image. The plurality of lenses each can include an array of sub-wavelength apertures or a plurality of photon sieve lenses (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Holloway, Mark Davidson, Olga Shenderova, Gary McGuire, David Tanner, Arthur Hebard
  • Publication number: 20050045244
    Abstract: Continuous circular motion filling machine is provided for filling containers. The machine includes a rotating platform having an in-feed section disposed to receive empty containers and an out-feed section disposed to transfer filled containers from the rotating platform. A filling turret is disposed generally above the rotating platform and is rotatable at a speed corresponding generally to that of the rotating platform. The turret includes a plurality of filling elements movable between a rest position and a filling position as the turret rotates. Radially extensible and retractable indexing arms are spaced around the platform. The arms are at a retracted position at the in-feed section and are subsequently extended as the rotating platform rotates so as to index the containers into groups on the rotating platform between respective indexing arms. Each group of containers is arranged in a desired pattern and spacing between adjacent arms corresponding to a pattern and spacing of the filling elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hartness, Mark Davidson
  • Publication number: 20050046855
    Abstract: An interference spectroscopy instrument provides simultaneous measurement of specular scattering over multiple wavelengths and angles. The spectroscopy instrument includes an interference microscope illuminated by Koehler illumination and a video camera located to image the back focal plane of the microscope's objective lens while the path-length difference is varied between the reference and object paths. Multichannel Fourier analysis transforms the resultant intensity information into specular reflectivity data as a function of wavelength. This multitude of measured data provides a more sensitive scatterometry tool having superior performance in the measurement of small patterns on semiconductor devices and in measuring overlay on such devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventor: Mark Davidson
  • Patent number: 6843573
    Abstract: This invention deals with the broad general concept for focussing light. A mini-optics tracking and focusing system is presented for solar power conversion that ranges from an individual's portable system to solar conversion of electrical power that can be used in large scale power plants for environmentally clean energy. It can be rolled up, transported, and attached to existing man-made, or natural structures. It allows the solar energy conversion system to be low in capital cost and inexpensive to install as it can be attached to existing structures since it does not require the construction of a superstructure of its own. This novel system is uniquely distinct and different from other solar tracking and focusing processes allowing it to be more economical and practical. Furthermore, in its capacity as a power producer, it can be utilized with far greater safety, simplicity, economy, and efficiency in the conversion of solar energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventors: Mario Rabinowitz, Mark Davidson
  • Publication number: 20040161332
    Abstract: This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for positioning and motion control by rapid-response motorless linear motion, angular deflection, and continuous rotational motion utilizing the force due to electrons, ions, and/or neutrals. Thus forces and torques are produced without the use of internal moving parts. Control is achieved without recourse to magnetic fields, by means of high electric fields which may be attained at relatively low voltages. At low voltages, the instant invention exceeds the capability of conventional systems. It can perform dynamic motion control over a wide range of dimensions and signal bandwidth with independent amplitude and frequency modulation. Since there are no internal moving parts, the instant invention is the most adapted for fabrication at the micro and nanotechnology realms. Furthermore it provides less costly and greater ease of manufacture from the nano-to the macro-realm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Mario Rabinowitz, Mark Davidson
  • Patent number: 6738176
    Abstract: This invention deals with a novel general concept for a multi-wavelength switching ensemble which is controlled electrically, electromagetically, or magnetically. A switching system is presented that permits the input to control the output. It allows a full 180 degree rotation of the beam which greatly exceeds the rotational capability of conventional systems. Furthermore, the instant invention permits less costly and greater ease of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventors: Mario Rabinowitz, Mark Davidson