Patents by Inventor Michael Simmons

Michael Simmons 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: 9754466
    Abstract: A system, a device and a method for providing directional indication are provided. The system includes a detector (113) configured to sense a condition, a guidance indicator (117) configured to provide an indication regarding a path for egress, and a control unit configured to control the guidance indicator based on a signal from the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 9754743
    Abstract: Actuation apparatus for use with magnetically-triggered proximity switches are described herein. An example apparatus includes an actuator shaft having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment intersecting the second segment. The first segment defines a first end of the actuator shaft, and the second segment defines a second end of the actuator shaft opposite the first end. The second segment further defines a slot. The apparatus further includes a detector magnet assembly coupled to the first segment of the actuator shaft adjacent the first end. The apparatus further includes a switch arm coupled to the second segment of the actuator shaft. The switch arm includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a portion located between the first and second ends of the switch arm. The portion of the switch arm is positioned in the slot of the actuator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL EQUIPMENT AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Robert L. LaFountain, Brian Hampton, James McDill, Bruce Rigsby, Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 9754133
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a secure memory configured to store a programmable key, an interface for programming the programmable key in the secure memory, and a plurality of configurable features of the semiconductor device that are associated with the programmable key, each configurable feature having a set of multiple selectable configurations, wherein a value of the key defines a selection of one of the multiple configurations for each of the configurable features. For example, the key may include multiple sub-keys, each associated with one of the configurable features, wherein a value of each sub-key defines a selection of one of the multiple configurations for the configurable feature associated with that sub-key. In addition, the full programmable key may enable an additional functionality of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 9724149
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a first member defining a longitudinal axis and including a drive interface engageable with a first surface of a bone fastener. The first surface is configured for penetrating a sacrum. A second member includes a drive interface engageable with a second surface of the bone fastener to translate the second surface relative to the first surface such that the second surface engages an outer non-articular surface of an ilium to draw separated articular surfaces of the sacrum and the ilium into fixation. In some embodiments, systems and methods are disclosed. Systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Warsaw Orhtopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Hai H. Trieu, Brian Burd, Amanda McMahon, Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 9685054
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mounting bracket for supporting a detachable device and includes emergency lighting. In one embodiment, the mounting bracket includes an attachment means for mounting the detachable device, and at least one light source, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to receive power from a first power source, to receive power from a second power source, and to illuminate the at least one light source if the first power source is not available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 9602895
    Abstract: If an enclosure of a metering device is opened or vandalized, application software must determine when the metering history information became unreliable, and further notification to the utility may be desirable. Likewise, a shipping container or suitcase that has been opened or mishandled during shipping transient may be attributed to a particular location and/or handling person(s) when the time and date of the mishandling occurrence are known. A transition on a special device input from a tamper or mishandling sensor captures real-time clock/calendar (RTCC) information that provides to a software application the time and date of the detected tampering or mishandling event. This transition may also cause memory storage of the RTCC information related to the event. Thus, an integrated circuit device, for example a microcontroller or any other integrated circuit device may comprise such an RTCC and external input, and, optionally, memory storage of the RTCC event occurrence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephen Bowling, Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 9583288
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for an interchangeable back system for programmable switches. A programmable switch, remote interchangeable back, and toggle switch interchangeable back may be included. The remote interchangeable back may include a casing and a back plate, where the back plate of the remote interchangeable back may not have an opening. The toggle switch interchangeable back may include a casing and a back plate, where the back plate of the toggle switch interchangeable back may include an opening of sufficient size to accommodate a toggle light switch in the on position. The remote interchangeable back and the toggle switch interchangeable back may be interchangeably attachable to and removable from the programmable switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Jones, Maaike Louise Evers, Michael Simonian, Michael Simmons
  • Publication number: 20160356441
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a self-adhesive tape for providing electrical connections to a plurality of Light Emitting Diode (LED) strip tapes . The self-adhesive tape is attached using an adhesive strip at the back side of the self-adhesive tape. Several first set of copper pads on the self-adhesive tape are configured to provide electrical connection to the the LED strip tapes by soldering the copper pad on each LED strip tape with a first set of copper pad on the self-adhesive tape. Several second set of copper pads provided on the self-adhesive tape are configured for supplying power for lightening the plurality of LED strip tapes. The power is supplied by soldering one second set of copper pad with powers wires connected to a DMX .
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Simmons
  • Publication number: 20160326868
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the disclosure, a downhole tool for taking acoustic measurements in a wellbore is provided. The tool may have an acoustic dipole transmitter with a piston made from a soft magnetic material, mounted on a centering spring between the first coil and the second coil, which moves the piston bi-directionally along a longitudinal axis when energized. The tool may also have a feedback winding on at least one of the first or second coils. The tool may also have a circuit for energizing the first and second coils which includes an input for receiving a signal responsive to the position of the piston relative to the coils and a processor for determining an output waveform used to generate an acoustic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Laurence T. WISNIEWSKI, Gary L. FICKERT, Michael SIMMONS, Gary KAINER, Chung CHANG
  • Publication number: 20160276042
    Abstract: Systems and method for controlling the programming of a one-time programmable (OTP) memory are disclosed. The systems and methods include an OTP memory array comprising an array organized in lines of n+1 bit, wherein n is an integer number designating a word size of the OTP memory, wherein the additional bit indicates whether a memory line is stored in an inverted or non-inverted fashion, encoding logic configured determine whether a word is to be stored inverted or non-inverted, and decoding logic configured to decode a stored word and controlled by the additional bit indicating whether a word has been stored inverted or non-inverted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Rodney Pesavento, Michael Simmons
  • Publication number: 20160103772
    Abstract: A system may provide side channel access of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device using USB streams. The system may include a USB interface with a USB device controller, an internal bus, a logical unit number (LUN) arbiter coupled between the USB controller and the internal bus, and a secondary interface coupled with the LUN arbiter. The system may include a plurality of storage devices coupled to the internal bus. The system may provide access to the storage devices via both the USB device controller and the secondary interface. The LUN arbiter may accept a plurality of USB streams (e.g., storage device access requests) from the USB device controller and at least one additional USB stream (e.g., storage device access request) from the secondary interface. The LUN arbiter may determine a priority of access between USB streams originating from the USB device controller and the secondary interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael Simmons, Swaroop Adusumilli
  • Publication number: 20160085997
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a secure memory configured to store a programmable key, an interface for programming the programmable key in the secure memory, and a plurality of configurable features of the semiconductor device that are associated with the programmable key, each configurable feature having a set of multiple selectable configurations, wherein a value of the key defines a selection of one of the multiple configurations for each of the configurable features. For example, the key may include multiple sub-keys, each associated with one of the configurable features, wherein a value of each sub-key defines a selection of one of the multiple configurations for the configurable feature associated with that sub-key. In addition, the full programmable key may enable an additional functionality of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 9286241
    Abstract: A microcontroller includes on-chip key storage slots stored in a non-volatile memory, wherein selecting which key is to be used is restricted to software, wherein a predetermined key storage slot stores a Key Encrypt Key (KEK), and a register flag is provided for determining whether the predetermined key storage slot stores a key for encrypting/decrypting data or the KEK for encrypting/decrypting a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Michael Simmons
  • Publication number: 20160049054
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mounting bracket for supporting a detachable device and includes emergency lighting. In one embodiment, the mounting bracket includes an attachment means for mounting the detachable device, and at least one light source, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to receive power from a first power source, to receive power from a second power source, and to illuminate the at least one light source if the first power source is not available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventor: MICHAEL SIMMONS
  • Publication number: 20160049053
    Abstract: A system, a device and a method for providing directional indication are provided. The system includes a detector (113) configured to sense a condition, a guidance indicator (117) configured to provide an indication regarding a path for egress, and a control unit configured to control the guidance indicator based on a signal from the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventor: Michael SIMMONS
  • Patent number: 9261932
    Abstract: A method for hot swapping program code includes defining a predetermined range of new code from which to execute; identifying from the new code one or more system components which require a reinitialization or reset; reinitializing or resetting the one or more system components; and executing the new code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael Simmons, Igor Wojewoda, Roshan Samuel
  • Publication number: 20150294816
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for an interchangeable back system for programmable switches. A programmable switch, remote interchangeable back, and toggle switch interchangeable back may be included. The remote interchangeable back may include a casing and a back plate, where the back plate of the remote interchangeable back may not have an opening. The toggle switch interchangeable back may include a casing and a back plate, where the back plate of the toggle switch interchangeable back may include an opening of sufficient size to accommodate a toggle light switch in the on position. The remote interchangeable back and the toggle switch interchangeable back may be interchangeably attachable to and removable from the programmable switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Jones, Maaike Louise Evers, Michael Simonian, Michael Simmons
  • Patent number: 9131448
    Abstract: An inexpensive and low-power demand RF wireless device having data acquisition capabilities may be used for simple applications such as a standalone data repeater or a standalone data acquisition node without requiring a host microcontroller unit (MCU) or programmable logic for control of the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael Simmons, Yifeng Yang, Steven R. Bible, Péter Szilveszter Kovács
  • Publication number: 20150235057
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a secure memory configured to store a programmable key, an interface for programming the programmable key in the secure memory, and a plurality of configurable features of the semiconductor device that are associated with the programmable key, each configurable feature having a set of multiple selectable configurations, wherein a value of the key defines a selection of one of the multiple configurations for each of the configurable features. For example, the key may include multiple sub-keys, each associated with one of the configurable features, wherein a value of each sub-key defines a selection of one of the multiple configurations for the configurable feature associated with that sub-key. In addition, the full programmable key may enable an additional functionality of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Simmons
  • Publication number: 20150130636
    Abstract: If an enclosure of a metering device is opened or vandalized, application software must determine when the metering history information became unreliable, and further notification to the utility may be desirable. Likewise, a shipping container or suitcase that has been opened or mishandled during shipping transient may be attributed to a particular location and/or handling person(s) when the time and date of the mishandling occurrence are known. A transition on a special device input from a tamper or mishandling sensor captures real-time clock/calendar (RTCC) information that provides to a software application the time and date of the detected tampering or mishandling event. This transition may also cause memory storage of the RTCC information related to the event. Thus, an integrated circuit device, for example a microcontroller or any other integrated circuit device may comprise such an RTCC and external input, and, optionally, memory storage of the RTCC event occurrence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen Bowling, Michael Simmons