Patents by Inventor Peter T. Jones
Peter T. Jones 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).
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Patent number: 9027759Abstract: A sorting apparatus is described, and which includes a conveyor which transports a produce stream for inspection. A product separation surface is mounted near the distal end of the conveyor, and the produce stream passes over the product separation surface, and is slowed to a speed such that the produce stream falls substantially immediately vertically downwardly. An inspection zone is located downstream relative to the product separation surface. An imaging device is provided, and which images the produce stream passing through the inspection zone; an illumination device is provided for illuminating the produce stream passing through the inspection zone, and an ejector assembly is located downstream of the inspection zone and which removes unwanted solid material in the produce stream having undesirable characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Key Technology, Inc.Inventors: Peter T. Jones, Brandon T. Hall, David W. Hufford, Timothy L. Justice, Tracy L. McGowen, Gerald R. Richert, Roydan T. Tomlinson, Jean-Francois Pellet
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Publication number: 20150090052Abstract: A pressure sensor (20) includes a test cell (32) and sense cell (34). The sense cell (34) includes an electrode (42) formed on a substrate (30) and a sense diaphragm (68) spaced apart from the electrode (42) to produce a sense cavity (64). The test cell (32) includes an electrode (40) formed on the substrate (30) and a test diaphragm (70) spaced apart from the electrode (40) to produce a test cavity (66). Both of the cells (32, 34) are sensitive to pressure (36). However, a critical dimension (76) of the sense diaphragm (68) is less than a critical dimension (80) of the test diaphragm (70) so that the test cell (32) has greater sensitivity (142) to pressure (36) than the sense cell (34). Parameters (100) measured at the test cell (32) are utilized to estimate a sensitivity (138) of the sense cell (34).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2013Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Chad S. Dawson, Peter T. Jones
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Patent number: 8963538Abstract: Manufacturing of magnetometer units (20?) employs a test socket (41) having a substantially rigid body (43) with a cavity (42) therein holding an untested unit (20) in a predetermined position (48) proximate electrical connection (50) thereto, wherein one or more magnetic field sources (281, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336) fixed in the body (43) provide known magnetic fields at the position (48) so that the response of each unit (20) is measured and compared to stored expected values. Based thereon, each unit (20) can be calibrated or trimmed by feeding corrective electrical signals back to the unit (20) through the test socket (41) until the actual and expected responses match or the unit (200) is discarded as uncorrectable. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic field sources (281, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336) are substantially orthogonal coil pairs (332, 333, 334) arranged so that their centerlines (332-1, 333-1, 334-1) coincide at a common point (46) within the predetermined position (48).Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Peter T. Jones, David T. Myers, Franklin P. Myers, Jim D. Pak
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Publication number: 20150048848Abstract: A test structure includes two capacitor structures, wherein one of the capacitor structures has conductor plates spaced apart by a cavity, and the other capacitor structure does not include a cavity. Methodology entails forming the test structure and a pressure sensor on the same substrate using the same fabrication process techniques. Methodology for estimating the sensitivity of the pressure sensor includes detecting capacitances for each of the two capacitor structures and determining a ratio of the capacitances. A critical dimension of the cavity in one of the capacitor structures is estimated using the ratio, and the sensitivity of the pressure sensor is estimated using the critical dimension.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventors: Chad S. Dawson, Peter T. Jones, Bruno J. Debeurre
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Publication number: 20140352400Abstract: Embodiments of packaged transducer-including devices and methods for their calibration are disclosed. Each device includes one or more transducers, an interface configured to facilitate communications with an external calibration controller, a memory, and a processing component. The external calibration controller sends calibration commands to the transducer-including devices through a communication structure. The processing component of each device executes code in response to receiving the calibration commands. Execution of the code includes generating transducer data from the one or more transducers, calculating calibration coefficients using the transducer data, and storing the calibration coefficients within the memory of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: Andres BARRILADO, Peter T. JONES, Stephane LESTRINGUEZ, Seyed K. PARANSUN, Raimondo P. SESSEGO, James D. STANLEY
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Publication number: 20140345380Abstract: A mechanism for recovering from stiction-related events in a MEMS device through application of a force orthogonal to the stiction force is provided. A small force applied orthogonal to the vector of a stiction force can release the stuck proof mass easier than a force parallel to the vector of the stiction force. Example embodiments provide a vertical parallel plate or comb-fingered lateral actuator to apply the orthogonal force. Alternate embodiments provide a proof mass of a second transducer to impact a stuck MEMS actuator to release stiction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2013Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: Kemiao Jia, Peter T. Jones
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Publication number: 20140303926Abstract: Embodiments of systems for calibrating transducer-including devices include a board support structure, one or more motors, a motor control module, and a calibration control module. The board support structure holds a calibration board in a fixed position with respect to the board support structure. The motor(s) rotate the board support structure around one or more axes of a fixed coordinate system. The motor control module sends motor control signals to the motor(s) to cause the motor(s) to move the board support structure through a series of orientations with respect to the fixed coordinate system. The calibration control module sends, through a communication structure, signals to the transducer-including devices, which are loaded into a plurality of sockets of the calibration board. The signals cause the transducer-including devices to generate transducer data while the board support structure is in or moving toward each orientation of the series of orientations.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2013Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Raimondo P. Sessego, Peter T. Jones, Seyed K. Paransun, James D. Stanley, William D. McWhorter
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Patent number: 8714362Abstract: A sorting apparatus is described, and which includes a conveyor which transports a produce stream for inspection. The conveyor has various regions formed in part of ridges, troughs and apertures which reduce the weight of the produce stream, as well as reduces the vertical and horizontal components of motion of the produce stream, as the produce stream progresses from one end to the other.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Key Technology, Inc.Inventors: Peter T. Jones, Brandon T. Hall, David W. Hufford, Timothy L. Justice, Tracy L. McGowen, Gerald R. Richert, Roydan T. Tomlinson, Jean-Francois Pellet, Quentin F. Kemph
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Patent number: 8662314Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for sorting foreign material and undesirable articles from a product stream. A mechanical diverter having a concave shape is responsive to an inspection station coupled to the product stream. The mechanical diverter is employed to effectively launch or otherwise redirect undesirable articles in an alternate path. In addition, an air ejector in one form of the invention is provided and is responsive to the inspection station and is employed to dislodge foreign material from the product stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Key Technology, Inc.Inventors: Peter T. Jones, Philip L. Hoffman, Hans G. Halmberger, Ken McGarvey, James Ruff, Mike Lemke, Timothy Reardon
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Publication number: 20130297248Abstract: A tester configured to test a strip of devices is provided. The tester may include a communications system, a plurality of communication lines, a plurality of multiplexors, each multiplexor having at least two outputs, wherein each multiplexor is configured to receive a signal generated by the communications system via one of the plurality of communication lines, and each multiplexor may be selectably coupled to at least two of the devices in the strip of devices. The tester may be configured to index the plurality of communication lines to a first subset of the devices, initiate at least one test, command the devices to generate data for each of the at least one tests, retrieve data from a first set of the devices, and retrieve data from a second set of the devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: Chad S. Dawson, Stephen R. Hooper, Peter T. Jones, Mark E. Schlarmann
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Publication number: 20130277284Abstract: A sorting apparatus is described, and which includes a conveyor which transports a produce stream for inspection. The conveyor has various regions formed in part of ridges, troughs and apertures which reduce the weight of the produce stream, as well as reduces the vertical and horizontal components of motion of the produce stream, as the produce stream progresses from one end to the other.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: Peter T. Jones, Brandon T. Hall, David W. Hufford, Timothy L. Justice, Tracy L. McGowen, Gerald R. Richert, Roydan T. Tomlinson, Jean Francois Pellet
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Publication number: 20130126396Abstract: A sorting apparatus is described, and which includes a conveyor which transports a produce stream for inspection. A product separation surface is mounted near the distal end of the conveyor, and the produce stream passes over the product separation surface, and is slowed to a speed such that the produce stream falls substantially immediately vertically downwardly. An inspection zone is located downstream relative to the product separation surface. An imaging device is provided, and which images the produce stream passing through the inspection zone; an illumination device is provided for illuminating the produce stream passing through the inspection zone, and an ejector assembly is located downstream of the inspection zone and which removes unwanted solid material in the produce stream having undesirable characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2011Publication date: May 23, 2013Inventors: Peter T. Jones, Brandon T. Hall, David W. Hufford, Timothy L. Justice, Tracy L. McGowen, Gerald R. Richert, Roydan T. Tomlinson, Jean-Francois Pellet
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Publication number: 20120210562Abstract: Manufacturing of magnetometer units (20?) employs a test socket (41) having a substantially rigid body (43) with a cavity (42) therein holding an untested unit (20) in a predetermined position (48) proximate electrical connection (50) thereto, wherein one or more magnetic field sources (281, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336) fixed in the body (43) provide known magnetic fields at the position (48) so that the response of each unit (20) is measured and compared to stored expected values. Based thereon, each unit (20) can be calibrated or trimmed by feeding corrective electrical signals back to the unit (20) through the test socket (41) until the actual and expected responses match or the unit (200) is discarded as uncorrectable. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic field sources (281, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336) are substantially orthogonal coil pairs (332, 333, 334) arranged so that their centerlines (332-1, 333-1, 334-1) coincide at a common point (46) within the predetermined position (48).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2011Publication date: August 23, 2012Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: Peter T. Jones, David T. Myers, Franklin P. Myers, Jim D. Pak
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Publication number: 20120138512Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for sorting foreign material and undesirable articles from a product stream. A mechanical diverter having a concave shape is responsive to an inspection station coupled to the product stream. The mechanical diverter is employed to effectively launch or otherwise redirect undesirable articles in an alternate path. In addition, an air ejector in one form of the invention is provided and is responsive to the inspection station and is employed to dislodge foreign material from the product stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Inventors: Peter T. Jones, Phillip L. Hoffman, Hans G. Halmberger, Ken McGarvey, James Ruff, Mike Lemke, Timothy Reardon
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Patent number: 6868960Abstract: A conveying apparatus is disclosed and which includes a supporting frame; an article transporting bed which is oriented in spaced relation relative to the supporting frame; a plurality of resilient supports mounted on both the supporting frame and the article transporting bed and which supports the article transporting bed in spaced relation relative to the supporting frame; and a drive assembly borne by the supporting frame and which provides an oscillating force having a plurality of components and which causes the article transporting bed to move reciprocally, and wherein the drive assembly amplifies the components of the oscillating force which are at a given angle relative to the resilient supports.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Key Technology, Inc.Inventor: Peter T. Jones
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Patent number: 6838738Abstract: An electrostatic actuator with inter-digital rotor and stator fingers formed in a the insulating and conductive layers of a wafer. The actuator is used to drive MicroElectroMechanical (MEMS) components, specifically micro-optical components such as mirrors, attenuators, switches, and tunable filters.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2002Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Dicon Fiberoptics, Inc.Inventors: Benedict J. Costello, Peter T. Jones, Ho-Shang Lee
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Publication number: 20040163933Abstract: A conveying apparatus is disclosed and which includes a supporting frame; an article transporting bed which is oriented in spaced relation relative to the supporting frame; a plurality of resilient supports mounted on both the supporting frame and the article transporting bed and which supports the article transporting bed in spaced relation relative to the supporting frame; and a drive assembly borne by the supporting frame and which provides an oscillating force having a plurality of components and which causes the article transporting bed to move reciprocally, and wherein the drive assembly amplifies the components of the oscillating force which are at a given angle relative to the resilient supports.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Inventor: Peter T. Jones
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Patent number: 6628856Abstract: The optical switch includes input optical fibers, output optical fibers, a lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator operative to move the mirror. Depending on a voltage applied to the actuator, the actuator selectively set the mirror to a first position corresponding to a first combination of optical paths, through which the light beam travels from the first set of the input optical fibers to the second set of the output optical fibers; and to a second position corresponding to a second combination of optical paths, through which the light beam travels from the first set to the second set. The first combination is different from the second combination, and a number of optical fibers of the first set and the second set is more than two.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Dicon Fiberoptics, Inc.Inventors: Benedict J. Costello, Peter T. Jones, Ho-Shang Lee
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Patent number: 5830663Abstract: Disclosed is a method of treating a heterogeneous population of cells to link together copies of two or more nucleic acid sequences from at least some of the cells, the arrangement being such that copies of the DNA sequences from an individual cell are preferentially linked in the vicinity of the nucleic acid from which the copies are derived. Also disclosed are recombinant proteins expressed by the method of the invention and kits for performing said method.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1994Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: Medical Research CouncilInventors: Michael J. Embleton, Guy Gorochov, Peter T. Jones, Gregory P. Winter