Patents by Inventor Peter Thomas

Peter Thomas 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: 20140358858
    Abstract: A technique includes queuing jobs to replicate object data stored on a storage appliance. The technique includes, for at least one of the jobs, selectively regulating when the job appears in the schedule based at least in part on a number of failed attempts to complete the job.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Peter Thomas Camble, Andrew Todd, Kaushik Chandrasekharan
  • Publication number: 20140350921
    Abstract: A method is provided for presenting a written work. A character identity is recognized within a written work. Presentation information for the written work, such as a graphical scheme or an electronic voice, is determined based on the character identity. The presentation information is provided to a user computing device. The user computing device renders the written work or a portion thereof using the presentation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Peter Thomas Killalea, Janna S. Hamaker, Eugene Kalenkovich
  • Patent number: 8897486
    Abstract: Character identity recognition is applied to identify text strings corresponding to character identities in a written work. The textual strings are grouped according to character identity and, from each group, a primary name is selected. A significance value may be calculated for each of the character identities. The character identities including the primary names are presented in a catalog based on the calculated significance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Thomas Killalea, Janna S. Hamaker, Eugene Kalenkovich
  • Patent number: 8888884
    Abstract: A cartridge filter insert includes a body, an internal opening, and an exterior surface. The internal opening is configured to permit an airflow through the body. The exterior surface is configured to removably engage a surface of a cartridge filter having an outlet. The internal opening has an inside dimension smaller than an inside dimension of the outlet of the cartridge filter to effectively reduce the inside dimension of the outlet. An inlet filter house including the cartridge filter and the cartridge filter insert are also provided. Methods of filtering a fluid using the cartridge filter and the cartridge filter insert within the inlet filter house are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: BHA Altair, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Michael Ashley Mann, Stephen Francis Banks, Przemyslaw Krysztof Nikolin, Timothy John Nicholas, Peter Thomas McGuigan
  • Publication number: 20140332275
    Abstract: A moving cavity motor or pump, such as a mud motor, comprising: a rotor, a stator, and one or more apparatus for constraining (i.e., controlling or limiting) the movement of the rotor relative to the stator, where the apparatus for constraining is operable with the rotor catch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: William Murray, Lance D. Underwood, Peter Thomas Cariveau, Brian P. Jarvis, Nigel Wilcox, Brian Williams, Geoffrey Downton, Lawrence Lee, Shun'etsu Onodera, Daniel Alvarado, Maxim Pushkarev, Gokturk Tunc, Andrei Plop
  • Patent number: 8886584
    Abstract: Content items, such as e-books, audio files, video files, etc., may be recommended to a user based on the user's presence at a geolocation or venue. Geolocation is the geospatial location of the user, while a venue is a designated area for an activity, such as a concert hall, aircraft, waiting room, etc. The recommendations may be of content items relating to the geolocation or venue, or they may be content items being accessed by others who are, or have been, in approximately the same geolocation or venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis J. Kane, Jr., Peter Thomas Killalea, Llewellyn J. Mason
  • Patent number: 8876023
    Abstract: A showerhead (20) has a spray head (32) having a plurality of spray outlets (36, 38,42,44) on different faces is mounted for manual rotation about a single pivot axis both to select a spray outlet and to adjust the direction of the spray for the selected spray outlet. The showerhead can be configured so that flow of water is uninterrupted during changeover between spray modes. Alternative versions of the showerhead are disclosed in which the spray head is mounted for powered rotation, for example by a motor, allowing remote operation of the showerhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kohler Mira Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Taylor Peel, Jennifer Ellen Barnard, Simon Westgate, Alexander Fagg, Craig Edwin Baker, Peter Thomas Green
  • Publication number: 20140318593
    Abstract: A thermoelectric composite and a thermoelectric device and a method of making the thermoelectric composite. The thermoelectric composite is a semiconductor material formed from mechanically-alloyed powders of elemental constituents of the semiconductor material to produce nano-particles of the semiconductor material, and compacted to have at least a bifurcated grain structure. The bifurcated grain structure has at least two different grain sizes including small size grains in a range of 2-200 nm and large size grains in a range of 0.5 to 5 microns. The semiconductor material has a figure of merit ZT, defined as a ratio of the product of square of Seebeck coefficient, S2, and electrical conductivity ? divided by the thermal conductivity k, which varies from greater than 1 at 300 K to 2.5 at temperatures of 300 to 500K.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicants: Research Triangle Institute, North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Rama Venkatasubramanian, Judy Stuart, Ryan Wiitala, Peter Thomas, Carl C. Koch, Tsungta Ethan Chan
  • Patent number: 8870919
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to embodiments of systems and methods of spinal stabilization. Embodiments include methods that use a dilator to displace tissue proximate to a sleeve. An embodiment of a surgical system can comprise a dilator that may define a working channel from a first opening to a second opening. The dilator can be positioned to displace tissue proximate to the sleeve. The dilator may be shaped to allow a first end of an elongated member to enter the working channel through the first opening and exit the dilator through the second opening to be percutaneously moved to another assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Thomas Miller, Brian J. Bergeron
  • Patent number: 8851949
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from impact and/or provide inverse segregation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The inflation system is configured to transmit gas into and out of the inflatable chamber to transition between the inflated state and compressed state. The inflation system may automatically deflate or transmit the gas from the inflatable chamber external of the system. Automatic deflation of the inflatable chamber may be via a valve corresponding to a particular value such as time or three dimensional position of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd
    Inventors: James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompet, Derick J. Neffsinger, Robert John Horacek, Joseph Benjamin Walker, David Kuhlmann Blackwell
  • Patent number: 8851948
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from burial and provide flotation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The activation system also includes a reinflation algorithm configured to automatically reactivate the inflation system after a period of time to maintain the inflated state of the inflatable chamber. The inflation system may include an air intake, battery, fan, and internal airway channel. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd
    Inventors: James Thomas Grutta, Nathan Kuder, Peter Thomas Gompert, Derick Noffsinger, Robert Joan Horacek, Joseph Benjamin Walker, David Kuhlmann Blackwell
  • Publication number: 20140261487
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to reservoirs for storing products in electronic smoking articles. The reservoir is manufactured from cellulose acetate fiber, thermoplastic fiber, non-thermoplastic fiber, or a combination thereof. The reservoir is substantially tubular in shape and is adapted to accommodate internal components of the smoking article thereby increasing reservoir capacity. The internal components particularly can comprise an atomizer, which may include a braided wick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul Stuart Chapman, Yan Pu, Timothy Brian Nestor, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Grady Lance Dooly, Steven Floyd Nielsen, Bryan Peter Thomas, Alan Curtis Billings
  • Publication number: 20140262217
    Abstract: Abrasion resistant coatings useful for improving abrasive wear and/or corrosion resistance in radial bearings and downhole tools exposed to drilling forces as well as abrasive and/or corrosive drilling fluids. An abrasion resistant coating is disposed on at least one surface of a component body to increase the resistance of the component to abrasive wear and corrosion. The abrasion resistant coating includes a plurality of spherical tungsten cobalt carbide particles and a plurality of tungsten carbide particles. At least 65% by volume of the spherical tungsten cobalt carbide particles have a diameter of less than about 25 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Robert James Ferguson, Peter Thomas Cariveau
  • Patent number: 8838541
    Abstract: Data processing apparatus comprising: a chunk store having a plurality of chunk sections, each operable to store specimen data chunks, the apparatus being operable to: process an input data set into one or more input data chunks; identify a specimen data chunk in one of said chunk sections which corresponds to a first input data chunk; identify a second input data chunk not corresponding to a specimen data chunk in the chunk store; and store the second input data chunk as a specimen data chunk in proximity to the identified specimen data chunk corresponding to the first input data chunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Thomas Camble, Gregory Keith Trezise
  • Patent number: 8825491
    Abstract: An auditory user interactive interface to an application program being installed in the computer controlled system. A routine in an object, in an application program being installed in the computer controlled system for providing an auditory user interface to the program in combination with auditory means for offering the user of the computer controlled system the auditory user interface during installation of said application program, and responsive to the selection of the auditory interface provides the auditory user interface during said installation of the application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Thomas Brunet, Anh Quy Lu, Mark Edward Nosewicz, Lawrence Frank Weiss
  • Patent number: 8814914
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide tools and methods for spinal fusion procedures. One embodiment of a tool can be a pedicle access tool that performs the functions of targeting needle, cannula, tap and awl. The cannula of the tool can be used to guide various tools and bone graft or fusion promoting material to a surgical site for a spinal fusion procedure, such as a posterolateral procedure. In other embodiments, a k-wire can be used as the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Thomas Miller, Charles R. Forton, Reginald James Davis
  • Publication number: 20140217997
    Abstract: Techniques for performing DC to DC power conversion in switch-mode converter circuits include combinations of dynamic switch shedding, phase shedding, symmetric phase circuit topologies, and asymmetric phase circuit topologies. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a power converter circuit includes operating a first phase switch circuit portion using a first number of switch devices when the power converter circuit is configured in a first mode of operation. The first number is greater than zero. The method includes operating the first phase switch circuit portion using the first number of switch devices when the power converter circuit is configured in a second mode of operation. The method includes operating a second phase switch circuit portion using a second number of switch devices when the power converter circuit is configured in the second mode of operation. The second number is greater than the first number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Peter Thomas Hardman, Erwin Pang, Sanjiv K. Lakhanpal
  • Patent number: 8788611
    Abstract: A method for providing data storage capacity on demand comprises disabling a set of slot elements and data transfer elements of a data library disallowing access to the disabled set by end users of the library, partitioning at least a portion of a set of active data media storage slot elements and active data transfer elements of the data library, exclusive of the disabled set, into partitions for use by the end users; and redefining the sets in response to changes in storage capacity rights of the end users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Thomas Camble, Jeff J Kato
  • Patent number: 8782368
    Abstract: Chunks are stored in a container of a data store, where the chunks are produced by dividing input data as part of a deduplication process. In response to determining that the size of the container has reached a predefined size threshold, at least one of the chunks in the container is moved to another container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark David Lillibridge, Deepavali Mahendra Bhagwat, Peter Thomas Camble, Gregory Trezise
  • Patent number: RE45175
    Abstract: In PCB manufacture, the pads and/or through-holes of a bare board are protected prior to mounting of other components by a silver plating process. The silver plate is applied from a plating composition by a replacement process in which silver ions oxidized copper and deposit a layer of silver at the surface. In the aqueous plating composition the silver ions are maintained in solution by the incorporation of a multidentate complexing agent. The compositions may contain a silver tarnish inhibitor and are free of reducing agent capable of reducing silver ions to silver metal, halide ions and substantially free of non-aqueous solvent. Surface mounted components can be soldered direct to the silver coated contact using any commercially available solder. Silver does not deposit onto solder mask, but only onto metal which is less electropositive than silver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Fry's Metals, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew McIntosh Soutar, Peter Thomas McGrath