Patents by Inventor Michael Shields

Michael Shields 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: 8850947
    Abstract: A panel for use in assembling a radiation, microbial, acoustically, and ballistically shielded space within a building or other personal space. The panel is comprised of an ionizing radiation shielding material layer, a non-ionizing radiation shielding layer, an anti microbial treated layer, a bulletproof layer and an acoustical shielding layer. A method for using said panels to create a radiation, microbial, acoustic, and ballistic shielded space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8838412
    Abstract: Systems and methods relate to managing an alarm clock function of a device. The systems and methods for compare a time setting of a new alarm by a user to one or more previous times settings that the alarm has been set to determine whether to warn the user about and/or require the user to confirm the time setting of the new alarm. The systems and methods can detect a user input indicating a first time setting for the alarm clock function. Further, the systems and methods can examine the one or more previous time settings associated with the alarm clock function determine, based on the one or more previous time settings, whether to query the user to confirm an activation of the alarm clock function at the first time setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8824724
    Abstract: An audio transducer for use in a loudspeaker system. The transducer includes a pair of flexible, curved diaphragms, with each diaphragm having a distal end and a proximal end. The curved diaphragms form hemi-cylindrical lobes being substantially tangent to one another at their proximal ends and are attached to energy absorbent dampers at their distal ends. The transducers can be employed in a line array as part of the loudspeaker system as well as some of the transducers facing forward while others rearward and, in doing so, their amplitudes and phases can be adjusted for fine tailoring the geometric coverage of acoustic energy radiating from the loudspeaker system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20140104993
    Abstract: Systems and methods relate to managing an alarm clock function of a device. The systems and methods for compare a time setting of a new alarm by a user to one or more previous times settings that the alarm has been set to determine whether to warn the user about and/or require the user to confirm the time setting of the new alarm. The systems and methods can detect a user input indicating a first time setting for the alarm clock function. Further, the systems and methods can examine the one or more previous time settings associated with the alarm clock function determine, based on the one or more previous time settings, whether to query the user to confirm an activation of the alarm clock function at the first time setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8687818
    Abstract: A method for dynamically adjusting the spectral content of an audio signal, which increases the harmonic content of said audio signal, said method comprising translating an encoded digital signal into data bands, creating a psychoacoustic model to identify sections of said data bands that are deficient in harmonic quality, analyzing the fundamental frequency and amplitude of said harmonically deficient data bands, creating additional higher order harmonics for said harmonically deficient data bands, adding said higher order harmonics back to said encoded digital signal to form a newly enhanced signal, inverse filtering said newly enhanced signal, and converting said inverse filtered signal to an analog waveform for consumption by the listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, Patrick Taylor, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8611557
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing a time-varying time delay randomly into the individual reproduction channels of a sound recording, two in the case of binaural presentation. This emulates the temporal aspect of microphone and/or listener motion. The present invention may be applied as a unidirectional process. No preparation of the source material is required. It can be applied to any multichannel audio signal set. It can process analog or digital signals. The process may be used with headphones, loudspeakers, hearing aids or similar assistive hearing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8422713
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system for the reproduction of acoustic waves of music, sound and speech in a substantially circular horizontal plane. The loudspeaker system includes multiple spherical enclosures, each enclosure housing a pair of transducers, each pair of transducers producing acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8381171
    Abstract: A method for building a client commerce system for a client networked environment can include the steps of: collecting one or more business requirements for the client commerce system, gathering one or more characteristics of the client networked environment, retrieving an initial client commerce system, and modifying the initial client commerce system to operate in the client networked environment and to provide the collected business requirements for the client commerce system. In the method, the initial client commerce system provides at least a portion of the collected business requirements and is configured for operating a network environment most closely matching the gathered characteristics of the client networked environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8359965
    Abstract: A panel for use in assembling a radiation, microbial, acoustically, and ballistically shielded space within a building or other personal space. The panel is comprised of an ionizing radiation shielding material layer, a non-ionizing radiation shielding layer, an anti microbial treated layer, a bulletproof layer and an acoustical shielding layer. A method for using said panels to create a radiation, microbial, acoustic, and ballistic shielded space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20120079565
    Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with certain disclosed embodiments provide applications. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed that provides applications. The system may include a computer system that receives a request related to an application and a database system. The database system may include a database and an application server module and a framework of software modules logically arranged to provide controlled access to data in the database. The application server module may use the data to generate content to generate a Web page related to the application. Further, the software modules may be logically arranged in layers such that access to data or software in a software module of one layer is performed by executing software in another software module of another layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: John Kuhio KRAHULEC, Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8144900
    Abstract: A speaker system which includes a housing and a linear array of a plurality of sound-generating transducers. A housing is in the form of a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and substantially circular cross-section. The linear array of sound-generating transducers are mounted upon a substantially planar chord configured within a sidewall of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8132397
    Abstract: A conveyor provides a link between a combine harvester and a baler which is towed behind the combine harvester. The conveyor has a front inlet end positioned to receive trash flowing from the trash outlet of the combine harvester. The conveyor also has a rear outlet end positioned to deliver the trash to the inlet of the baler so that the trash can be baled without ever touching the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Graham Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8103007
    Abstract: A system and method to detect and remediate unacceptable levels of speech intelligibility evaluates received test audio transmitted across and received in a space or region of interest. Intelligibility is improved by altering the rate, pitch, amplitude and frequency bands energy during presentation of the speech signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: D. Michael Shields, Philip J. Zumsteg
  • Patent number: 8098833
    Abstract: A system and method to detect and measure remediated speech intelligibility by evaluating received test audio transmitted across and received in a space or region of interest. Remediation of the test audio may include altering the rate, pitch, amplitude and frequency bands energy during presentation of the speech signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Zumsteg, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8098849
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the low frequency audio response emanating from a pair of low frequency transducers housed within a cabinet. The low frequency transducers are electrically connected to a power amplifier and source of audio content. The resonant frequency (Fs) and amplitude (Q) are characterized as to the high-pass pole of the low frequency transducers as they are mounted within the cabinet. An equalizer is placed between the amplifier and source of audio content for canceling the complex pole of the low frequency transducers and for establishing a new complex pole at a cut off frequency below which the sound generated by the low frequency transducers will diminish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8094868
    Abstract: A transducer for the creation of acoustic energy omni directionally in a horizontal plane. The transducer includes a base plate, the base plate supporting a centrally located voice coil motor assembly and a hemi-toroidal diaphragm having a proximal edge and a distal edge. The proximal edge is appended to the centrally located voice coil motor assembly and the distal edge is appended to the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20110314784
    Abstract: A conveyor provides a link between a combine harvester and a baler which is towed behind the combine harvester. The conveyor has a front inlet end positioned to receive trash flowing from the trash outlet of the combine harvester. The conveyor also has a rear outlet end positioned to deliver the trash to the inlet of the baler so that the trash can be baled without ever touching the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: Graham Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8082294
    Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with certain disclosed embodiments provide applications. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed that provides applications. The system may include a computer system that receives a request related to an application and a database system. The database system may include a database and an application server module and a framework of software modules logically arranged to provide controlled access to data in the database. The application server module may use the data to generate content to generate a Web page related to the application. Further, the software modules may be logically arranged in layers such that access to data or software in a software module of one layer is performed by executing software in another software module of another layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Concept Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: John Kuhio Krahulec, Michael Shields
  • Publication number: 20110255701
    Abstract: Circuit and associated methods for dynamically adjusting the spectral content of an audio signal, which increases the harmonic content through the systematic introduction of amplitude asymmetry. In one embodiment, the method comprises a spectral modification of an analog audio signal in which the high-frequency content is reduced as a function of the signal amplitude and spectral distribution. The audio signal is subjected to a complementary pre-emphasis and de-emphasis of the high frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8033088
    Abstract: A combine harvester for separating grain from trash is attached to a towable baling apparatus for converting trash into compacted bales, by a conveyor, a forward end of the conveyor being pivotally attached to the combine harvester proximate the rear such that a trash outlet of the combine is disposed above the trash inlet of the conveyor. The rear end of the conveyor is attached to the baling apparatus in a way that causes a large percentage of the trash from the combine harvester trash outlet to enter the baling apparatus inlet without ever touching the ground. The conveyor is supported from the rear of the combine harvester by a towbar which is fixed to the chassis proximate the support for the forward and rearward set of ground wheels. A nozzle is provided to spray water onto the crop before it enters the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Glenvar Enterprises Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Graham Michael Shields