Patents by Inventor Michael W. Wood

Michael W. Wood 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: 20140224917
    Abstract: A hose deployment and retrieval system is described that includes a modular reel assembly. The modular reel assembly includes a reel having a hub around which a hose may be wound and a wheel assembly on either side of the hub and spaced to accept the hose there between. The reel assembly also includes an axle in the center of the hub around which the hub can spin and a base holding the axle. A deployment fork assembly includes a reel assembly mount for engaging with the modular reel assembly and a drive mechanism to spin the reel when the deployment fork assembly is engaged with the modular reel assembly, wherein the deployment fork assembly is adapted to mount to a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: T&CO Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy B. Turner, Michael W. Woods, Robert Bone, David Sanders
  • Patent number: 8403523
    Abstract: Methods, luminaires and systems for matching a composite light spectrum to a target light spectrum are disclosed. Method embodiments may be optimized for simultaneously maximizing luminous output with minimal chromaticity error. Method embodiments may further be optimized for simultaneously minimizing both chromaticity and spectral error. Embodiments of the present invention may be used with composite light sources having four or more distinct dominant colors within the visible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Gerlach, Michael W. Wood, David J. Kinzer
  • Publication number: 20120239891
    Abstract: A method in one embodiment for operating a virtual server supporting at least one Write Once Read Many (WORM) logical data object and at least one read-write logical object includes initializing a logical data object from a common pool of the logical data objects, the logical data object bound with a member of a media type group, the member of the media type group comprising a WORM logical data object and a read-write logical data object; and reusing one of the logical data objects as the member of the media type group without ejection and reinsertion by mounting the logical data object with a write from beginning of logical data object to bind at least one data attribute to the member of the media type group to replace any previous attribute and data associated with the logical data object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bish, Erika M. Dawson, Jonathan W. Peake, Joseph M. Swingler, Michael W. Wood
  • Publication number: 20110281626
    Abstract: A gaming system, a gaming machine and a method is provided having a Five Card Video Draw poker game with a single hand or multiple hands. The gaming system or gaming machine first determines whether a dream card is going to be used in a particular round of play or a dream card is used on every hand. If the dream card is going to be used, then the last card of the initial hand is chosen so that, when the last card is combined with the other randomly selected cards of the initial hand, the initial starting hand will have the highest possible expected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Ernest W. Moody, Michael W. Wood
  • Publication number: 20110165925
    Abstract: A plurality of players participate in a primary video poker game. Anytime a player is dealt a natural Three-of-a-Kind, the player's on screen counter will be incremented by one unit. Whenever any player achieves an on screen counter that has reached three units (meaning that player has experienced three dealt Three-of-a-Kinds), then the bonus round occurs, which is three separate stud poker hands. The player who achieved the three Three-of-a-Kinds that triggered the bonus round plays all three of the bonus round hands. Any other player who has a counter of two when the bonus round is triggered, gets two of the bonus round hands, Hand One and Hand Two. Any other player who has a counter of one when the bonus round is triggered, gets one of the bonus round hands, Hand One. Any player whose counter is still at zero does not play in that bonus round.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Ernest W. Moody, Michael W. Wood, Maureen Wood
  • Publication number: 20110145517
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises a virtual tape system supporting at least one Write Once Read Many (WORM) logical tape and at least one read-write logical tape, comprising a processor configured to a first task and/or a second task. The first task initializes a new logical data object from a single pool of at least two logical data objects, with the new logical data object bound with a member of a media type group consisting of a WORM data object or a read-write data object. The second task reuses one of the logical data objects without manual ejection and reinsertion. The reuse may include the processor configured to cycle the logical data object through a scratch pool as a selected scratch logical data object and mount the selected scratch logical data object with a write from beginning of tape command to bind at least one data attribute to the WORM data object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: THOMAS W. BISH, ERIKA M. DAWSON, JONATHAN W. PEAKE, JOSEPH M. SWINGLER, MICHAEL W. WOOD
  • Publication number: 20100188022
    Abstract: Methods, luminaires and systems for matching a composite light spectrum to a target light spectrum are disclosed. Method embodiments may be optimized for simultaneously maximizing luminous output with minimal chromaticity error. Method embodiments may further be optimized for simultaneously minimizing both chromaticity and spectral error. Embodiments of the present invention may be used with composite light sources having four or more distinct dominant colors within the visible spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Gerlach, Michael W. Wood, David J. Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7581731
    Abstract: Each bettor wagers on a first hand (the RED hand) or a second hand (the BLACK hand). The first hand is dealt until the count value is at least 31 and not more than 40. The second hand is dealt until the count value is at least 31 and not more than 40. The higher hand wins. Ties are pushes. Aces count one, face cards count ten and all other cards count their pip value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Inventors: Ernest W Moody, Michael W Wood
  • Publication number: 20090020952
    Abstract: Each bettor wagers on a first hand (the RED hand) or a second hand (the BLACK hand). The first hand is dealt until the count value is at least 31 and not more than 40. The second hand is dealt until the count value is at least 31 and not more than 40. The higher hand wins. Ties are pushes. Aces count one, face cards count ten and all other cards count their pip value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Ernest W. Moody, Michael W. Wood
  • Patent number: 7156397
    Abstract: The method of present invention involves dealing the player a starting hand of cards, such as five cards, and the player then plays this hand with a first pay table. If the player's starting hand of cards has a poker hand ranking of any preselected combination of cards, such as a Three-of-a-Kind, the player is given the option of buying a second hand of cards identical to the first hand of cards which is accomplished by making another wager. The player then plays out both the first hand and the second hand by discarding and drawing replacement cards. The final first hand and the final second hand are then compared to the pay table to determine winning and losing combinations based on poker hand ranking. This method of play may also be played in a multiple hand format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ernest W. Moody, Michael W. Wood
  • Patent number: 7037190
    Abstract: A player makes a wager to play multiple hands of a stud poker game. A plurality of initial partial hands are displayed to the player. Each initial partial hand has the same cards with the cards displayed face up to the player. Each hand is then completed as a stud poker final hand. The player wins or loses depending on the poker hand ranking of each final hand. If the player achieves two or more final hands of the same poker hand ranking, the amount won by the player is increased, preferably as multiples of the original payout amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventors: Ernest W. Moody, Michael W. Wood
  • Patent number: 7022016
    Abstract: During the play of a session of video poker, one or more playing cards, either as simply a group of cards or as recognizable poker hands, are designated and shown to the player on the video screen of the gaming machine. As the playing cards are dealt to the player during the play of the regular video poker game, each dealt card that corresponds to one of the designated cards results in a match of the designated card. The designated card that has been matched is shown by highlighting the matched card on the video screen. When the player has matched all of the designated cards, the player receives a bonus award. The amount of the bonus award is based on the number of deals of video poker that it took to match all of the designated cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventors: Michael W. Wood, John Edward Roethel
  • Patent number: 6884168
    Abstract: A player makes a wager and a starting video poker hand is displayed to the player. The gaming machine calculates the highest expected value for the five card hand displayed. The gaming machine then calculates the expected value of the hand as played by the player. The difference between the highest expected value and the player expected value is also calculated and multiplied by the amount of the player's wager. The resultant amount is the error made by the player. The resultant amount may be returned to the player in a variety of ways, either directly or indirectly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventors: Michael W. Wood, Terry L. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20040188938
    Abstract: The method of present invention involves dealing the player a starting hand of cards, such as five cards, and the player then plays this hand with a first pay table. If the player's starting hand of cards has a poker hand ranking of any preselected combination of cards, such as a Three-of-a-Kind, the player is given the option of buying a second hand of cards identical to the first hand of cards which is accomplished by making another wager. The player then plays out both the first hand and the second hand by discarding and drawing replacement cards. The final first hand and the final second hand are then compared to the pay table to determine winning and losing combinations based on poker hand ranking. This method of play may also be played in a multiple hand format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Ernest W. Moody, Michael W. Wood
  • Patent number: 6796683
    Abstract: A color changing apparatus adapted to be installed between the reflector assembly and front barrel assembly of a theatrical ellipsoidal spotlight. The color changing apparatus includes a housing for connecting to the spotlight components. Contained within the housing are a plurality of color filters, preferably dichroic color filters, serially arranged perpendicular to the light path. The color filters may include constant or variable density patterns of any desirable color and are transported into the light path to effect a change in lighting conditions. The color changing apparatus is also preferably equipped with a control system enabling remote actuation and control of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: High End Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Wood, Thomas Shaw Cavness, Glenn Lee Fields, Douglas K. Franklin, Mary Alice D. Goewey, Lynwood J. Norrgard, Jesse Dale Trevino
  • Patent number: 6708975
    Abstract: A card game is preferably played on an electronic video gaming machine in which a single player plays against a pay table. The player makes a wager for each of two or more hands that the player wishes to play. The player selects a poker hand format for each hand, with no two hands having the same poker hand format. After the player has made his wagers and selected the poker hand format for each hand, the computer controls deal out face up each initial five card hand of poker in each poker format selected by the player. The player selects none, one or more of the face up cards from each hand as cards to be held. The non-selected cards are discarded from each first hand and replacement cards are dealt face for each discarded card. The poker hand ranking of the resulting final five cards of each hand are then determined. The player is then paid a preestablished amount based on the amount of each wager if the resulting cards of each hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventors: John W. Fox, Michael W. Wood
  • Patent number: 6672959
    Abstract: A starting hand of five cards is dealt and the player then plays this hand with a first pay table. If the player's starting hand of cards has a poker hand ranking of any preselected combination of cards, such as a Pair of Jacks, a Pair of Queens, a Pair of Kings or a Pair of Aces, the player is given the option of exchanging his starting hand for one or more different new partial hands, such as Three to a Royal Flush or multiple hands of a Pair of Aces. If the player accepts the offer to make the exchange, the different partial hand is displayed and then additional cards are dealt to complete a five card hand. If the final five card hand is one of the predetermined winning poker hand combinations, the player receives an award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Ernest W. Moody, Michael W. Wood
  • Publication number: 20030206414
    Abstract: A color changing apparatus adapted to be installed between the reflector assembly and front barrel assembly of a theatrical ellipsoidal spotlight. The color changing apparatus includes a housing for connecting to the spotlight components. Contained within the housing are a plurality of color filters, preferably dichroic color filters, serially arranged perpendicular to the light path. The color filters may include constant or variable density patterns of any desirable color and are transported into the light path to effect a change in lighting conditions. The color changing apparatus is also preferably equipped with a control system enabling remote actuation and control of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Michael W. Wood, Thomas Shaw Cavness, Glenn Lee Fields, Douglas K. Franklin, Mary Alice D. Goewey, Lynwood J. Norrgard, Jesse Dale Trevino
  • Patent number: 6602134
    Abstract: A card game in which the player makes a wager, preferably a five credit wager, and the player is then dealt an initial five card hand. The player may then stand on his initial five cards or the player may discard unwanted cards and receive a replacement cards for each card that is discarded. In order to discard unwanted cards, the player must make an additional wager, preferably in the amount of one additional credit, for each card that the player wishes to discard. The final five card is analyzed for poker hand ranking and if the player has achieved a winning poker hand, the player is paid in accordance with a pay table based on the total number of credits wagered by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventors: Michael W. Wood, Terry L. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20030119572
    Abstract: A player makes a wager to play multiple hands of a stud poker game. A plurality of initial partial hands are displayed to the player. Each initial partial hand has the same cards with the cards displayed face up to the player. Each hand is then completed as a stud poker final hand. The player wins or loses depending on the poker hand ranking of each final hand. If the player achieves two or more final hands of the same poker hand ranking, the amount won by the player is increased, preferably as multiples of the original payout amounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Ernest W. Moody, Michael W. Wood