Patents by Inventor Marlin Mickle
Marlin Mickle 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).
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Publication number: 20080028355Abstract: A method of designing an integrated circuit for an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, each of the primitives having a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for the response corresponding to each of the primitives. The method further includes receiving a specification of the behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives that has one or more values specified for each of the second fields, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the specification. Also, a software tool which implements the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin Mickle, Swapna Dontharaju, Raymond Hoare, James Cain, Alex Jones
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Publication number: 20070296586Abstract: A method of generating a normalized matrix for use in determining one or more read accuracies of an RFID tag at selected points in space relative to a transmitter associated with the RFID tag. The method may further include using the normalized matrix to determine a particular read accuracy of the RFID tag at a particular point in space relative to the transmitter. Also, a method of generating a power scaling factor for determining the read accuracy of an RFID tag.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2007Publication date: December 27, 2007Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Charles Greene
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Publication number: 20070191908Abstract: A method of stimulating a subject having a denervated muscle and a corresponding functional muscle that are responsible for producing actions, such as blinking, on first and second portions, respectively, of the subject's body. The method includes determining whether the functional muscle has contracted, generating a contraction signal if it is determined that it has contracted, and causing the denervated muscle to contract following the generation of the contraction signal. Also, an apparatus for stimulating such a subject including one or more sensing devices operatively associated with the functional muscle and one or more stimulating devices operatively associated with the denervated muscle. One or more of the sensing devices generates one or more first signals in response to activity indicating functional muscle contraction. The one or more stimulating devices are made to cause the denervated muscle to contract in response to the generation of the first signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2007Publication date: August 16, 2007Inventors: Doreen Jacob, Susan Stepko, Steven Hackworth, Michael Lovell, Marlin Mickle, Michael Gorin
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Publication number: 20070176752Abstract: A power management method for a transponder having a plurality of circuits including at least a first circuit having a first active state requiring at least a first power level, and a second circuit having a second active state requiring at least a second power level greater than the first power level includes receiving a reader device signal in the first circuit, determining in the first circuit, based on information included in the reader signal, whether the reader signal requires a circuit other than the first circuit to operate, and causing the first circuit to provide a wake-up signal and the reader signal to the second circuit if it is determined that the reader signal requires a circuit other than the first circuit to operate. The wake up signal causes the second circuit to move from an inactive state to the second active state.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2006Publication date: August 2, 2007Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin Mickle, Peter Hawrylak, Raymond Hoare, Alex Jones, James Cain, Chuba Oyolu, Shenchih Tung
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Publication number: 20070173214Abstract: A method of powering a wireless autonomous device having energy harvesting circuitry, on-board electronic circuitry, and RF transmitter circuitry using an RF transmitting profile that includes a plurality of RF pulses. That same profile may also be used to simultaneously communicate information to the wireless autonomous device in a number of ways, including different encoding schemes. A system including a plurality of wireless autonomous devices that employs the methods is also provided. Further, a method of designing a wireless autonomous device system and/or a wireless autonomous device to be used therein is provided that employs an equivalent circuit for the wireless autonomous device that is in the form of a lumped parameter RLC circuit with an energy source.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2007Publication date: July 26, 2007Applicant: University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin Mickle, Minhong Mi, David Sammel, James Cain, Leonid Mats
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Publication number: 20070153561Abstract: Energy harvesting circuits and associated methods are provided that employ multiple antennas to optimize the amount of energy that is harvested while at the same time making efficient use of tag space. In some embodiments, matching networks are chosen in a manner that optimizes the DC energy that is created from the harvesting process. In other embodiments, phase shifts are introduced into the received signals to allow the signals to be more efficiently combined after they are rectified.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2007Publication date: July 5, 2007Applicant: University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin Mickle, Minhong Mi, Leonid Mats
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Publication number: 20070142872Abstract: Various methods and apparatus for providing deep brain stimulation for the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's Disease that do not require an onboard power supply that is implanted in the patient's body. Power may be supplied from outside of the body by, for example, near-field inductive coupling with an external power supply provided in, for example, a headgear worn by the patient. Power may also be supplied by providing an antenna for harvesting ambient energy, such as ambient RF energy, and converting it into DC power. In addition, the methods and apparatus provide for remote, wireless programming of the parameters that specify the nature of electrical pulses provided to the brain via probes implanted in the brain.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2005Publication date: June 21, 2007Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Steven Hackworth
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Publication number: 20070012773Abstract: Described are methods of making an electronic device including an electronic component, such as an IC chip, connected to conducting traces provided on a substrate by depositing an electrically conductive polymer deposited onto the substrate. The electronic component may be placed on the substrate before or after the electrically conductive polymer is deposited. Once deposited, the electrically conductive polymer is cured. The electrically conductive polymer may be deposited in a number of ways, such as using a mask having a desired pattern and applying the electrically conductive polymer to the mask, by screen printing the electrically conductive polymer or by printing the electrically conductive polymer using ink jet printing techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2006Publication date: January 18, 2007Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin Mickle, James Cain, Michael Lovell, Junfeng Mei
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Publication number: 20060284930Abstract: Methods and arrangements for adjusting and maintaining a lateral or radial position of a nozzle such as a nozzle in an ink jet print head. Since the alignment of an ink stream issuing from a nozzle in ink jet applications is usually critical in that the ink jet stream must be directed to a specific target area, described herein are arrangements for enabling the nozzle and issuing ink stream to be precisely aligned for calibration and maintenance purposes. In addition the adjustment is simplified and once made it stays in position. Similar principles can be applied to other types of nozzles and arrangements wherein another type of fluid, or even light, is issued out.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2005Publication date: December 21, 2006Inventors: George Mejalli, Ralph Chew, Sean O'Leary, Marlin Mickle, James MaCpherson, Frank Marx, John Holmes
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Publication number: 20060267200Abstract: Described are methods of making an electronic device, such as an RFID tag, including fabricating an antenna by depositing an electrically conductive polymer onto a substrate. The electrically conductive polymer is electrically connected to an electronic component, such as an IC chip or a diode. The electronic component may be placed on the substrate before or after the electrically conductive polymer is deposited. Once deposited, the electrically conductive polymer is cured. The electrically conductive polymer may be deposited in a number of ways, such using a mask having a desired pattern and applying the electrically conductive polymer to the mask, by screen printing the electrically conductive polymer or by printing the electrically conductive polymer using ink jet printing techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2006Publication date: November 30, 2006Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin Mickle, James Cain, Michael Lovell, Jungfeng Mei
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Publication number: 20060271912Abstract: A method of generating software code for a processor of an IC based on a simple input description of the IC's standards. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives from the standards and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for each response. The method further includes generating a blank version of a template that includes each of the second fields and receiving a completed version of the template, wherein the completed template specifies a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives. Finally, the method includes compiling the software code based on the macros description and the completed version of the template. Also, a software tool implementing the method is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2006Publication date: November 30, 2006Inventors: Marlin Mickle, James Cain, Swapna Dontharaju, Raymond Hoare, Alex Jones
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Publication number: 20060238308Abstract: A transponder apparatus having an identifier associated therewith includes a receiver for receiving an RF signal transmitted by an interrogator, a power source and a processing unit that is operatively coupled to the power source and is capable of being in an inactive, sleep state (low current draw) and an active state. The transponder apparatus also includes a buffer device that is structured to: (i) receive an information signal based on the RF signal from the receiver, (ii) determine whether the information signal includes the identifier, and (iii) cause the processing unit to move from the inactive state to the active state and transmit at least a portion of the information signal to the processing unit only if it is determined that the information signal includes the identifier. An associated method is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2006Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Peter Hawrylak, Raymond Hoare, Alex Jones, James Cain, Chuba Oyolu, Shenchih Tung
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Publication number: 20060136007Abstract: Various methods and apparatus for providing deep brain stimulation for the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's Disease that do not require an onboard power supply that is implanted in the patient's body. Power may be supplied from outside of the body by, for example, near-field inductive coupling with an external power supply provided in, for example, a headgear worn by the patient. Power may also be supplied by providing an antenna for harvesting ambient energy, such as ambient RF energy, and converting it into DC power. In addition, the methods and apparatus provide for remote, wireless programming of the parameters that specify the nature of electrical pulses provided to the brain via probes implanted in the brain.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2005Publication date: June 22, 2006Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Steven Hackworth
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Publication number: 20060094425Abstract: An energy harvesting circuit has an active automatic tuning circuit to search for broadcast frequencies in a band of interest and selecting only those broadcast signals received with sufficient RF strength to be used in energy harvesting. This circuit would provide power storage devices with a circuit that has a means to select the ambient RF that can maximize or enhance the performance of an RFID circuit by increasing the amount of energy for harvesting. This automatic tuning would enable a power storage devices charger circuit to move from location to location without manual tuning of the circuit and increase the effective range of an RFID circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2004Publication date: May 4, 2006Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Christopher Capelli, Harold Swift
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Publication number: 20060063568Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and an associated method for remotely energizing power storage devices. Energization may preferably be effected through the use of RF energy from a base station, ambient energy or ultra-wide band energy. The remote station preferably has at least one antenna having an effective area greater than its physical area. The system may have an antenna and associated circuitry provided on an electronic chip such as a monolithic chip or on a printed circuit with a suitable substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2005Publication date: March 23, 2006Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Christopher Capelli, Harold Swift, Leonid Mats, Minhong Mi, Charles Greene
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Publication number: 20060058076Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and an associated method for remotely energizing power storage devices. Energization may preferably be effected through the use of RF energy within frequencies of the wireless fidelity standards. The remote station preferably has at least one antenna having an effective area greater than its physical area. The invention may advantageously be used on wireless fidelity products which are energized by the power storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2005Publication date: March 16, 2006Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Christopher Capelli, Harold Swift
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Publication number: 20050192062Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and an associated method for remotely energizing power storage devices. Energization may preferably be effected through the use of RF energy from a base station, ambient energy or ultra-wide band energy. The remote station preferably has at least one antenna having an effective area greater than its physical area. The system may have an antenna and associated circuitry provided on an electronic chip such as a monolithic chip or on a printed circuit with a suitable substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2004Publication date: September 1, 2005Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Christopher Capelli, Harold Swift, Leonid Matts, Minhong Mi, Charles Greene
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Publication number: 20050104553Abstract: A station having a means for receipt of ambient energy from the environment and energizing power storage devices of objects of interest comprising one or more antennae and circuitry for converting said ambient energy into DC power for energizing said power storage devices. The circuitry for converting the ambient energy into DC power may include a rectifier/charge pump. The antenna of the station is tuned to maximize DC energy at the output of the rectifier/charge pump. The station can be used to energize power storage devices including capacitors and batteries that are used in electronic devices, such as cell phones, cameras, PDAs. Various antenna constructions may be employed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Christopher Capelli, Harold Swift
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Publication number: 20050030181Abstract: A wireless untethered device which may be an integrated circuit chip or printed circuit board having at least one integrated antenna and circuitry operatively associated with the antenna for receipt of energy harvested from space by the antenna. The antenna has an effective area greater than its physical area. A system which receives power from the harvested energy after the energy is processed by the circuitry may also be provided with mismatched impedance between the antenna and a circuit resistance.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Christopher Capelli, Harold Swift
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Publication number: 20030199778Abstract: Apparatus for remote interaction with an object of interest includes a remote station for obtaining information from the object of interest, a base station for transmitting energy in space to and communicating with the remote station and the remote station having conversion means for energizing the remote station responsive to receipt of the transmitted energy. The energy may be of any suitable type including RF power, light, acoustic, magnetic energy or other form of space transmitted or “radiant” energy. The remote station does not have to contain a source of stored energy or a wired connection to a source of energy. The remote station receives the energy transmission and data transmission from the base station and transmits data to the base station.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: Marlin Mickle, Dmitry Gorodetsky, Leonid Mats, Lorenz Neureuter, Minhong Mi, Carl Taylor, Chad Emahizer