Patents by Inventor Patrick A. Smith

Patrick A. Smith 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: 20170201239
    Abstract: Methods of triggering a test and measurement instrument having a plurality of inputs include the step of generating a trigger signal in response to every occurrence of any one of a plurality of specified trigger events. A first specified trigger event occurs in at least a first one of the inputs and a second specified trigger event occurs in at least a second one of the plurality of inputs. A specified trigger event may include at least one selected input from the plurality of inputs and a selected activity type. Some methods include configuring each of a plurality of event activity detectors to produce a pulse in a logic signal in response to every occurrence of one of the specified trigger events. The plurality of logic signals are combined in a logical OR circuit to generate the trigger signal. Trigger circuits configured according to these methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick A. Smith, Daniel G. Knierim
  • Patent number: 9693634
    Abstract: An expandable chair includes an extendable seat section which materially extends the width of the main seat section of the chair. When the width of the seat needs to be lengthened, lateral sections are provided which are rotated up from beneath the main center section of the seat and then locked adjacent to the center section. The lateral sections can be rotated down and locked beneath the center section when chair expansion is not desired. Extendable support arms, adjustable outward from the back section of the chair, are provided when the width of the seat's center section is lengthened. These support arms are located behind the back support section and are configured to be slid outward when needed. A unique rack and pinion gear system allows the support arms to be extended and locked in a plurality of lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Charles Patrick Smith
  • Publication number: 20170180652
    Abstract: System and techniques for enhanced imaging are described herein. Light from an environment may be sampled to create an image. Energy reflected from the environment may also be sampled to create a depth image of the environment. A classifier may be applied to both the image and the depth image to provide a set of object properties for an object in the environment. A composite image may be constructed that includes portions of the image and depth image representing the object as well as the object properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Jim S. Baca, David Stanasolovich, Neal Patrick Smith, Yogeshwara Krishnan
  • Publication number: 20170161544
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optical imaging are disclosed. An optical sensor for imaging a biometric input object on a sensing region includes a transparent layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a set of apertures disposed above the first side of the transparent layer; a first set of reflective surfaces disposed below the second side of the transparent layer configured to receive light transmitted through the first set of apertures and to reflect the received light; a second set of reflective surfaces disposed above the first side of the transparent layer configured to receive the light reflected from the first set of reflective surfaces and to further reflect the light; and a plurality of detector elements positioned to receive the further reflected light from the second set of reflective surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Arash Akhavan Fomani, Patrick Smith, Marek Mienko, Paul Wickboldt
  • Publication number: 20170161543
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optical imaging are disclosed. An optical sensor for imaging a biometric input object on a sensing region includes a transparent layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a first set of apertures disposed above the first side of the transparent layer; a reflective layer disposed below the second side of transparent layer configured to receive light transmitted through the first set of apertures and to reflect the received light; and a plurality of detector elements positioned to detect the reflected light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick Smith, Arash Akhavan Fomani, Marek Mienko, Paul Wickboldt
  • Publication number: 20170161540
    Abstract: An optical sensor for imaging an input object, such as a fingerprint, on a sensing region of a display is disclosed. The sensor includes a transparent substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. An array of detector elements is positioned above the first side of the transparent substrate and an angle limiting reflector is positioned below the second side of the transparent substrate. The angle limiting reflector is configured to reflect light incident on the angle limiting reflector within a limited acceptance angle towards the array detector elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Marek Mienko, Patrick Smith, Arash Akhavan Fomani, Jeffrey A. Small
  • Patent number: 9639969
    Abstract: Various implementations related to collaborative design are described. In one such implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, using one or more computing devices, input from a second user selecting to remix an existing design of a first user; generating, using the one or more computing devices, a new version of the existing design including one or more layers from the existing design; receiving, using the one or more computing devices, one or more design inputs from the second user, the one or more design inputs remixing at least one of the one or more layers included from the existing design; applying, using the one or more computing devices, the one or more design inputs to the new version of the existing design to create a remixed design; and sharing, via a computer network, the remixed design with one or more other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Overlay Studio, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Loyal Wilson, Kevin James Heap, Spencer Patrick Smith
  • Publication number: 20170098508
    Abstract: High precision capacitors and methods for forming the same utilizing a precise and highly conformal deposition process for depositing an insulating layer on substrates of various roughness and composition. The method generally comprises the steps of depositing a first insulating layer on a metal substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD); (b) forming a first capacitor electrode on the first insulating layer; and (c) forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer and on or adjacent to the first capacitor electrode. Embodiments provide an improved deposition process that produces a highly conformal insulating layer on a wide range of substrates, and thereby, an improved capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: Thin Film Electronics ASA
    Inventors: Arvind KAMATH, Criswell CHOI, Patrick SMITH, Erik SCHER, Jiang LI
  • Publication number: 20170098115
    Abstract: A biometric imager may comprise a plurality of sensor element traces formed in or on a sensor substrate which may comprise at least a portion of a display screen defining a biometric sensing area and forming in-active pixel locations; an auxiliary active circuit formed in or on the sensor substrate on the periphery of the biometric sensing area and in direct or indirect electrical contact with the sensor element traces; and providing a signal processing interface to a remotely located controller integrated circuit. The sensor element traces may form a portion of one dimensional linear sensor array or pixel locations in a two dimensional grid array capacitive gap biometric imaging sensor. The auxiliary circuit may provide pixel location selection or pixel signal amplification. The auxiliary circuit may be mounted on a surface of the display screen. The auxiliary circuit further comprising a separate pixel location selection controller circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Paul WICKBOLDT, Gregory Lewis DEAN, Erik Jonathon THOMPSON, Jaswinder JANDU, Patrick SMITH, Steven MOLESA
  • Patent number: 9604405
    Abstract: A pipe fusion data management system, including: a data receiving interface for receiving data directly or indirectly from at least one remote source, the data including at least one data field representing at least one of the following: fusion data, pipe data, parameter data, operation data, configuration data, condition data, measurement data, entity data, user data, or any combination thereof; an input for facilitating user input; a storage device for storing received and/or input data; and a processor for generating a visual user interface to display received, input, stored, and/or processed data relating to the fusion, joining and/or installation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Underground Solutions Technologies Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David Silvernail, Eric C. Davis, Patrick Smith, Bruce Schurter, James Ledger
  • Publication number: 20170056446
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a combined autologous biologic and cold therapy treatment for treating various skin injuries. The treatment may include applying autologous blood components, including but not limited to platelet rich plasma, to a skin injury in a manner that influences the healing process. A tray assembly for freezing autologous blood components includes a tray body and a plurality of compartments formed in the tray body. Each of the plurality of compartments is configured to receive an individual dose of an autologous blood component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Reinhold SCHMIEDING, James P. BRADLEY, Patrick A. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20170038866
    Abstract: This disclosure generally provides an input device that includes a plurality of sensor modules coupled to sensor electrodes arranged in a matrix that measure capacitive sensing signals corresponding to the electrodes. To mitigate the effect of capacitive coupling between a sensor electrode being sensed and its neighbors in the matrix, the input device drives the neighboring electrodes in a same manner as the selected sensor electrode so that there is little or no voltage difference between the sensor electrode being sensed and its neighbors. For example, during a drive phase, the electrode being sensed and the neighboring electrodes are coupled to the same charge voltage. During a read phase, the neighboring electrodes and the selected electrode may be coupled to the same reference voltage—e.g., ground—so there is again no voltage difference between the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Arash AKHAVAN FOMANI, Patrick SMITH
  • Patent number: 9552924
    Abstract: High precision capacitors and methods for forming the same utilizing a precise and highly conformal deposition process for depositing an insulating layer on substrates of various roughness and composition. The method generally comprises the steps of depositing a first insulating layer on a metal substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD); (b) forming a first capacitor electrode on the first insulating layer; and (c) forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer and on or adjacent to the first capacitor electrode. Embodiments provide an improved deposition process that produces a highly conformal insulating layer on a wide range of substrates, and thereby, an improved capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Thin Film Electronics ASA
    Inventors: Arvind Kamath, Criswell Choi, Patrick Smith, Erik Scher, Jiang Li
  • Publication number: 20170017824
    Abstract: An optical fingerprint sensor includes: cover glass for receiving a finger; a transparent electrode layer below a bottom surface of the cover glass; an organic light emitting diode layer (OLED) below the transparent electrode layer; and a metal electrode layer below the OLED layer. Multiple openings extend through each of the transparent electrode layer, OLED layer, and metal electrode layer, and transmit reflected light reflected from a top surface of the cover glass when a finger is positioned over the top surface of the cover glass. A collimator or pinhole filter is below the metal electrode layer, and includes multiple apertures for transmitting the reflected light after the reflected light is transmitted through the multiple openings. An imager is below the bottom surface of the collimator or pinhole filter, and includes an array of pixels that detects the reflected light after the reflected light is transmitted through the multiple apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick Smith, Pascale El Kallassi, Young Seen Lee
  • Publication number: 20170003777
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a method for operating an input device by applying a charge voltage to a sense element through a first transistor that is between the sense element and a column output line and a first switch that is between the column output line and a drive voltage. The method also includes storing an electric charge on the sense element, wherein the electric charge comprises a magnitude corresponding to a feature of an input object. The method also includes driving a gate terminal of the first transistor low and disconnecting the charge voltage via the first switch. The method further includes transferring the electric charge to a feedback capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Arash AKHAVAN FOMANI, Kirk HARGREAVES, Patrick SMITH, Petr SHEPELEV
  • Publication number: 20170006245
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device including an array of sensing pixels configured to sense an input object in a sensing region, each of the sensing pixels including a sense element. Each of the sensing pixels also includes a first transistor, wherein the first transistor includes a gate terminal connected to a row select line and a second terminal connected to the sense element. Each of the sensing pixels also includes a non-linear circuit element, wherein the non-linear circuit element includes a first terminal connected to the sense element and the second terminal of the first transistor, and wherein the non-linear circuit element further includes a second terminal connected to a column output line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Arash AKHAVAN FOMANI, Patrick SMITH
  • Publication number: 20170003770
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device including an array of sensing pixels configured to sense an input object in a sensing region. Each of the sensing pixels includes a sense element and a first transistor, wherein the first transistor includes a gate terminal connected to a row select line and a second terminal connected to the sense element. Each of the sensing pixels also includes a second transistor, wherein the second transistor includes a gate terminal connected to the sense element and the second terminal of the first transistor, and wherein the second transistor further includes a second terminal connected to a column output line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Arash AKHAVAN FOMANI, Patrick SMITH
  • Publication number: 20170006223
    Abstract: This disclosure generally provides a fingerprint sensor that derives a fingerprint by measuring capacitive sensing signals while modulating a reference voltage rail used to power the fingerprint sensor. In one embodiment, the fingerprint sensor is integrated into an electronic device which may include other components such as a display, I/O devices, speakers, and the like. To power these components, the electronic device may include a DC power supply which outputs reference voltages. When transmitting the reference voltages to the fingerprint sensor, the electronic device may modulate the voltages using a modulating signal. Because the reference voltages are used to power the components in the fingerprint sensor, modulating the rail voltages also causes the components coupled to the reference voltages to also modulate. While this modulation occurs, the fingerprint sensor measures resulting signals using a plurality of sensor electrodes which are then processed to derive a fingerprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Kirk HARGREAVES, Patrick SMITH, Joseph Kurth REYNOLDS, Stephen L. MOREIN
  • Publication number: 20170003321
    Abstract: A test and measurement instrument including an input port configured to receive an input signal. One or more divider circuits, coupled to the input port, employ a plurality of divide ratios such that each divide ratio scales an event signal indicating events in the input signal by a predetermined integer value. A control system is also included. The control system is configured to iteratively determine an estimated signal frequency of the event signal, and automatically select a divide ratio for the event signal based on the estimated signal frequency. The instrument may also include one or more counters to count triggers in the event signal subsequent to application of the divide ratio. The instrument may also employ frequency hysteresis to prevent chatter in divide ratio selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: David L. Kelly, Patrick A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160254312
    Abstract: Methods and systems for integrating image sensor structures with collimator filters, including manufacturing methods and associated structures for forming collimator filters at the wafer level for integration with image sensor semiconductor wafers. Methods of making an optical biometric sensor include forming a collimator filter layer on an image sensor wafer, wherein a plurality of light collimating apertures in the collimator filter layer are aligned with a plurality of light sensing elements in the image sensor wafer, and after forming the collimator filter layer on the image sensor wafer, singulating the image sensor wafer into a plurality of individual optical sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Young Seen Lee, Paul Wickboldt, Patrick Smith, Robert John Gove, Jason Goodelle