Patents by Inventor Michael Alex

Michael Alex 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: 9903507
    Abstract: A micro-position gap sensor assembly, including a structural housing, a flexible diaphragm fixedly attached at a first end of the structural housing, and a shaft orthogonally attached to the flexible diaphragm. The micro-position gap sensor assembly may further include a first retainer coupled to the shaft, a second retainer formed as a step of the structural housing, and a plate gap sensor. The plate gap sensor may include a non-contact sensor plate biased by a compression spring so that the non-contact sensor plate is held against a portion of the second retainer. The plate gap sensor may further include a target plate positioned adjacent the non-contact sensor plate and separated therefrom by a gap. The target plate may be biased by a return spring so that the target plate is held against a portion of the first retainer. The target plate may be coupled to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Allen Lowery, John Thomas Dick, Michael Alex Kramer
  • Patent number: 9907147
    Abstract: The invention provides a light management information system for an outdoor lighting network system, having a plurality of outdoor light units each including at least one sensor type, where each of the light units communicates with at least one other light unit, at least one user input/output device in communication with at one or more of said outdoor light units, a central management system in communication with light units, said central management system sends control commands and/or information to one or more of said outdoor light units, in response to received outdoor light unit status/sensor information from one or more of said outdoor light units or received user information requests from said user input/output device, a resource server in communication with said central management system, wherein the central management system uses the light unit status/sensor information and resources from the resource server to provide information to the user input/output device and/or reconfigure one or more of the l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Hongxin Chen, Dave Alberto Tavares Cavalcanti, Kiran Srinivas Challapali, Sanae Chraibi, Liang Jia, Andrew Ulrich Rutgers, Yong Yang, Michael Alex Van Hartskamp, Dzmitry Viktorovich Aliakseyeu, Hui Li, Qing Li, Fulong Ma, Jonathan David Mason, Berent Willem Meerbeek, John Brean Mills, Talmai Brandão De Oliveira, Daniel J. Piotrowski, Yuan Shu, Neveen Shlayan, Marcin Krzysztof Szczodrak, Yi Qiang Yu, Zhong Huang, Martin Elixmann, Qin Zhao, Xianneng Peng, Jianfeng Wang, Dan Jiang
  • Patent number: 9887538
    Abstract: The invention relates to a DC power distribution system for distributing DC power from a power supply device (3) to an electrical device (2). The power supply device is operable in a high power mode or in a low power mode for supplying a higher power or a lower power, respectively, to the electrical device via an electrical conductor (4), wherein the electrical device is switchable between a high power mode and a low power mode in which the electrical device consumes more power or less power, respectively. An electrical device control unit (11) controls the mode of the electrical device depending on the power supplied by the power supply device. This automatic control of the electrical device depending on the provided power can lead to a better balance between the power consumption and the power supply and, thus, to an improved efficiency of supplying power to the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Wendt, Michael Alex Van Hartskamp, Maurice Herman Johan Draaijer, Manuel Eduardo Alarcon-Rivero, Bozena Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20170276257
    Abstract: A micro-position gap sensor assembly, including a structural housing, a flexible diaphragm fixedly attached at a first end of the structural housing, and a shaft orthogonally attached to the flexible diaphragm. The micro-position gap sensor assembly may further include a first retainer coupled to the shaft, a second retainer formed as a step of the structural housing, and a plate gap sensor. The plate gap sensor may include a non-contact sensor plate biased by a compression spring so that the non-contact sensor plate is held against a portion of the second retainer. The plate gap sensor may further include a target plate positioned adjacent the non-contact sensor plate and separated therefrom by a gap. The target plate may be biased by a return spring so that the target plate is held against a portion of the first retainer. The target plate may be coupled to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick Allen Lowery, John Thomas Dick, Michael Alex Kramer
  • Patent number: 9671421
    Abstract: A micro-position gap sensor assembly including a structural housing and a flexible diaphragm fixedly attached forming a barrier against fluid ingress. The structural housing includes a shaft orthogonally attached to the flexible diaphragm, a first retainer including one or more standoffs, a second retainer, and a parallel plate gap sensor. The parallel gap plate sensor includes a non-contact sensor plate biased against a portion of the first retainer defining a plane of the non-contact sensor plate and receiving a biasing force in opposition of the first retainer from the second retainer, a target plate comprised of a conductive paramagnetic material. The parallel plate gap sensor is configured such that displacement of one of the target plate or the non-contact sensor plate changes a distance between the target plate and the non-contact sensor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Allen Lowery, John Thomas Dick, Michael Alex Kramer
  • Patent number: 9553794
    Abstract: A traffic engineering process seeks to optimize network utilization and creating paths in the network such that the network is used efficiently. The exemplary embodiments seek to maintain fairness across allocation of flows while honoring constraints on the number of paths used per flow and the granularity of splits allowed. Exemplary embodiments provide a solution in a speedy manner and get close to optimal solutions for allocation of the network traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Edward Zolla, Aspi Homi Siganporia, Uday Ramakrishma Naik, Alok Kumar, Sushant Jain, Michael Alex Frumkin
  • Publication number: 20160313141
    Abstract: A micro-position gap sensor assembly including a structural housing and a flexible diaphragm fixedly attached forming a barrier against fluid ingress. The structural housing includes a shaft orthogonally attached to the flexible diaphragm, a first retainer including one or more standoffs, a second retainer, and a parallel plate gap sensor. The parallel gap plate sensor includes a non-contact sensor plate biased against a portion of the first retainer defining a plane of the non-contact sensor plate and receiving a biasing force in opposition of the first retainer from the second retainer, a target plate comprised of a conductive paramagnetic material. The parallel plate gap sensor is configured such that displacement of one of the target plate or the non-contact sensor plate changes a distance between the target plate and the non-contact sensor plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick Allen Lowery, John Thomas Dick, Michael Alex Kramer
  • Publication number: 20160286627
    Abstract: The invention provides a light management information system for an outdoor lighting network system, having a plurality of outdoor light units each including at least one sensor type, where each of the light units communicates with at least one other light unit, at least one user input/output device in communication with at one or more of said outdoor light units, a central management system in communication with light units, said central management system sends control commands and/or information to one or more of said outdoor light units, in response to received outdoor light unit status/sensor information from one or more of said outdoor light units or received user information requests from said user input/output device, a resource server in communication with said central management system, wherein the central management system uses the light unit status/sensor information and resources from the resource server to provide information to the user input/output device and/or reconfigure one or more of the l
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: HONGXIN CHEN, DAVE ALBERTO TAVARES CAVALCANTI, MARCIN GRAMZA, LIANG JIA, QING LI, DANIEL J. PIOTROWSKI, MAREK ZBIGNIEW SZCZERBA, MARCIN KRZYSZTOF SZCZODRAK, QIN ZHAO, HONGQIANG ZHAI, MICHAEL ALEX VAN HARTSKAMP, MARTIN ELIXMANN, ZHONG HUANG, FULONG MA, XIANNENG PENG, JIANFENG WANG, YI QIANG YU, KIRAN SRINIVAS CHALLAPALI
  • Publication number: 20160286629
    Abstract: The invention provides a light management information system for an outdoor lighting network system, having a plurality of outdoor light units each including at least one sensor type, where each of the light units communicates with at least one other light unit, at least one user input/output device in communication with at one or more of said outdoor light units, a central management system in communication with light units, said central management system sends control commands and/or information to one or more of said outdoor light units, in response to received outdoor light unit status/sensor information from one or more of said outdoor light units or received user information requests from said user input/output device, a resource server in communication with said central management system, wherein the central management system uses the light unit status/sensor information and resources from the resource server to provide information to the user input/output device and/or reconfigure one or more of the l
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: HONGXIN CHEN, DAVE ALBERTO TAVARES CAVALCANTI, KIRAN SRINIVAS CHALLAPALI, SANAE CHRAIBI, LIANG JIA, ANDREW ULRICH RUTGERS, YONG YANG, MICHAEL ALEX VAN HARTSKAMP, DZMITRY VIKTOROVICH ALIAKSEYEU, HUI LI, QING LI, FULONG MA, JONATHAN DAVID MASON, BERENT WILLEM MEERBEEK, JOHN BREAN MILLS, TALMAI BRANDÃO DE OLIVEIRA, DANIEL J. PIOTROWSKI, YUAN SHU, NEVEEN SHLAYAN, MARCIN KRZYSZTOF SZCZODRAK, YI QIANG YU, ZHONG HUANG, MARTIN ELIXMANN, QIN ZHAO, XIANNENG PENG, JIANFENG WANG, DAN JIANG
  • Patent number: 9369338
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for identifying network links for augmentation based on potential link failures. In one aspect, the links are selected by identifying multiple shortest paths between a node pair and generating augmentation recommendations for a single link by accumulating recommendations based on multiple node pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Krishnaswamy, Michael Alex Frumkin
  • Patent number: 9183867
    Abstract: Systems and methods for forming implanted capping layers in magnetic media for magnetic recording are provided. One such method includes providing an underlayer, providing a magnetic recording layer on the underlayer, the magnetic recording layer including a bottom surface and a top surface where the bottom surface is between the top surface and the underlayer, and implanting a capping material in the top surface of the magnetic recording layer using a direct implantation technique or an indirect implantation technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: WD Media, LLC
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Bertero, Michael Alex
  • Patent number: 9183859
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a HAMR head and techniques and apparatus for HAMR writer pole length characterization. One or more bits may be magnetically written on a disk using a leading edge of the writer pole at a first polarity. The disk may be moved under a body of the writer pole to magnetically write the one or more bits in the disk at a second polarity that is opposite to the first polarity to generate a feedback pulse having a signal amplitude. The signal amplitude of the feedback pulse may be measured as a function of writing frequency. A first effective length of the writer pole may be determined based on the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Alex, Bogdan F. Valcu, David E. Wachenschwanz, Andreas Moser
  • Patent number: 9171575
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of tracks, and a head actuated over the disk. A first test pattern having a first polarity is written to a target track, and the first test pattern is read to generate a first read signal. The first test pattern is overwritten with a second test pattern having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, and the second test pattern is read to generate a second read signal. A defect in the target track is detected based on the first read signal and the second read signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alex, Gerardo A. Bertero, Mazin Almaqablah
  • Publication number: 20150207315
    Abstract: The invention relates to a DC power distribution system for distributing DC power from a power supply device (3) to an electrical device (2). The power supply device is operable in a high power mode or in a low power mode for supplying a higher power or a lower power, respectively, to the electrical device via an electrical conductor (4), wherein the electrical device is switchable between a high power mode and a low power mode in which the electrical device consumes more power or less power, respectively. An electrical device control unit (11) controls the mode of the electrical device depending on the power supplied by the power supply device. This automatic control of the electrical device depending on the provided power can lead to a better balance between the power consumption and the power supply and, thus, to an improved efficiency of supplying power to the electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Matthias Wendt, Michael Alex Van Hartskamp, Maurice Herman Johan Draaijer, Manuel Eduardo Alarcon-Rivero, Bozena Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20150200540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a DC power distribution system for distributing DC power to one or several electrical devices. The system comprises an electrical device (2) for receiving DC power via an electrical conductor (4) from a power supply device (3) with a power supply control unit (5) and for transmitting a signal to the power supply control unit for requesting a lower power or a higher power. The power supply device is operable in a high power mode and in a low power mode, wherein the power supply control unit controls the power mode of the power supply device depending on the received signal. This allows adapting the power supply to the power, which is actually really needed in the DC power distribution system, in a technically relatively simple way. Particularly standby situations can be handled more efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Maurice Herman Johan Draaijer, Matthias Wendt, Michael Alex Van Hartskamp, Bozena Erdmann, Manuel Eduardo Alarcon-Rivero
  • Publication number: 20150192613
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical connector (1) for connecting an electrical device to an electrical conductor (3) for powering the electrical device with DC voltage. The electrical connector comprises a diagnostic information providing unit for providing diagnostic information about a connection between the electrical device and the electrical conductor and an indicator for indicating the determined diagnostic information. An installer can therefore readily see whether the electrical connection is correct or not. Accordingly, the installer can modify the electrical connections such that the indicated determined diagnostic information indicates a correct electrical connection. This reduces the likelihood of a shutdown of the powering of the electrical device with DC voltage, after the installation has been completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Maurice Herman Johan Draaijer, Bozena Erdmann, Michael Alex Van Hartskamp, Matthias Wendt, Manuel Eduardo Alarcon-Rivero
  • Patent number: 9001630
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) disk used in energy assisted magnetic recording drives is described. The PMR disk includes a substrate, a magnetic recording layer disposed above the substrate, an exchange coupling layer disposed above the magnetic recording layer, and a capping layer disposed above the exchange coupling layer. The capping layer has a Curie temperature greater than the Curie temperature of the magnetic recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Bertero, Michael Alex, Christopher B. Wolf, Eric J. Champion
  • Patent number: 8964546
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for measuring the traffic flow on a link. The system includes a processor that is configured to generate aggregate egress data for multiple origin endpoints by aggregating amounts of egress traffic detected by servers processing the egress traffic at the origin endpoints. The processor is also configured to obtain the proportions of traffic flows that traverse each path between each endpoint pair, which includes an origin endpoint and a destination endpoint. Each path includes multiple network links such that a single network link may be shared across multiple paths. Finally, the processor computes an amount of traffic flow on a shared link based on the aggregate egress data and the obtained proportions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Sushant Jain, Alok Kumar, Rui Zhang-Shen, Michael Alex Frumkin, Aspi Homi Siganporia, Matthew Jonathan Holliman
  • Publication number: 20150017832
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical connector for connecting an electrical device to an electrical conductor (3) for powering the electrical device (9) with DC voltage. The electrical connector (1) comprises an arrangement information providing unit for determining arrangement information being information about the arrangement of the electrical connector on the electrical conductor and an indicator (7) for indicating the provided arrangement information Since the arrangement information is provided and indicated, a user like an installer can easily see how the respective electrical connector is arranged on the electrical conductor, in particular, with respect to other electrical connectors. Specifically, if several electrical connectors are present, arrangement information can be provided for the several electrical connectors. This allows the user to easily obtain an overview of components of a DC power distribution system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Maurice Herman Johan Draaijer, Bozena Erdmann, Michael Alex Van Hartskamp, Matthias Wendt, Manuel Eduardo Alarcon-Rivero
  • Publication number: 20140361620
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overload detection device (1) for detecting an overload condition in a DC system (5) comprising a DC voltage source (4) and several electrical devices (8, 9, 10) electrically connected to the DC voltage source. The overload detection device comprises an overload detection unit for detecting the overload condition and a reducing unit for reducing the power consumed by an electrical device of the several electrical devices, if the overload detection unit detects the overload condition. Since the overload detection device reduces the power consumed by an electrical device of the several electrical devices, if the overload detection unit detects the overload condition, the overload condition may be removed, without requiring manual intervention. This allows for an improved recovery of the DC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Alex Van Hartskamp, Manuel Eduardo Alarcon-Rivero, Matthias Wendt, Bozena Erdmann, Maurice Herman Johan Draaijer