Patents by Inventor R. Shepard

R. Shepard 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: 20120155317
    Abstract: A wireless communication system for use in a process environment uses mesh and possibly a combination of mesh and point-to-point communications to produce a wireless communication network that can be easily set up, configured, changed and monitored, thereby making a wireless communication network that is less expensive, and more robust and reliable. The wireless communication system allows virtual communication paths to be established and used within the process control system in a manner that is independent of the manner in which the wireless signals are sent between different wireless transmitting and receiving devices within the process plant. Still further, communication analysis tools are provided to enable a user or operator to view the operation of the wireless communication network to thereby analyze the ongoing operation of the wireless communications within the wireless communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Shepard, Joe Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120115870
    Abstract: An ophthalmic pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment of glaucoma and control of intraocular pressure comprising an effective amount of a selective modulator of ALK5 receptor activity is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of treating glaucoma and controlling intraocular pressure comprising applying a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a selective modulator of ALK5 receptor activity to an affected eye of a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: Debra L. Fleenor, Iok-Hou Pang, Allan R. Shepard, Mark R. Hellberg, Peter G. Klimko, Abbot F. Clark
  • Publication number: 20120108632
    Abstract: The invention concerns in one embodiment a method of treating glaucoma or elevated intraocular pressure comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a composition comprising at least one prenyltransferase inhibitor. In another embodiment, the invention concerns a composition for the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure and glaucoma comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a prenyltransferase inhibitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: Allan R. Shepard, Debra L. Fleenor
  • Publication number: 20120086473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic driver circuits, and more particularly, to low power electronic driver circuits having low manufacturing costs. The present invention is a circuit design that utilizes two transistor types that can be manufactured together thereby reducing the number of processing steps and masks and resulting in lower cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: DANIEL R. SHEPARD
  • Patent number: 8144622
    Abstract: A wireless communication system for use in a process environment uses mesh and possibly a combination of mesh and point-to-point communications to produce a wireless communication network that can be easily set up, configured, changed and monitored, thereby making a wireless communication network that is less expensive, and more robust and reliable. The wireless communication system allows virtual communication paths to be established and used within the process control system in a manner that is independent of the manner in which the wireless signals are sent between different wireless transmitting and receiving devices within the process plant, to thereby operate in a manner that is independent of the specific messages or virtual communication paths within the process plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Shepard, Joe Nelson
  • Patent number: 8116109
    Abstract: A high-density memory device is fabricated three-dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel R. Shepard, Thomas A. Langdo, Arthur J. Pitera
  • Patent number: 8035416
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic driver circuits, and more particularly, to low power electronic driver circuits having low manufacturing costs. The present invention is a circuit design that utilizes two transistor types that can be manufactured together thereby reducing the number of processing steps and masks and resulting in lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 8000129
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for three-terminal field-emitter triode devices, and memory arrays utilizing the same. In other embodiments, the field-emitter devices include a volume-change material, capable of changing a measurable electrical property of the devices, and/or three-dimensional memory arrays of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20110124708
    Abstract: RNA interference is provided for inhibition of ocular hypertension target mRNA expression for lowering elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Ocular hypertension targets include carbonic anhydrase II, IV, and XII; ?1- and ?2 adrenergic receptors; acetylcholinesterase; Na+/K+-ATPase; and Na—K-2Cl cotransporter. Ocular hypertension is treated by administering interfering RNAs of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: ALCON INC.
    Inventors: Allan R. Shepard, Jon E. Chatterton, Abbot F. Clark
  • Publication number: 20110105574
    Abstract: The invention concerns in one embodiment a method for treating glaucoma or elevated IOP in a patient comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a composition comprising an agent that inhibits PAI-1 expression or PAI-1 activity. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of treating a PAI-1-associated ocular disorder in a subject in need, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a composition comprising an agent that inhibits PAI-1 activity or expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: Debra L. Fleenor, Allan R. Shepard, Iok-Hou Pang, Mark R. Hellberg, Abbot F. Clark
  • Publication number: 20110098314
    Abstract: The use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (e.g., statins) to treat glaucoma, control intraocular pressure, preserve the trabecular meshwork, protect against ocular neurodegeneration and/or protect against glaucomatous retinopathy is described. The preferred HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, which are statins having an RI value of 0.2 to 0.7 (e.g., pravastatin), are administered via topical application to the affected eye(s) of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: ALCON, INC.
    Inventors: Mark R. Hellberg, Debra L. Fleenor, Allan R. Shepard, Iok-Hou Pang
  • Patent number: 7933133
    Abstract: A high-density memory device is fabricated three-dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Shepard, Thomas A. Langdo, Arthur J. Pitera
  • Patent number: 7916530
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an addressable storage matrix includes a first plurality of intersection points, at least some of which are bridged by two-terminal non-linear elements that exhibit a threshold below which current flow is significantly lower than if the threshold is exceeded, as well as, disposed at each intersection point bridged by a non-linear element, a programmable material in series with the non-linear element and determining a bit state for the corresponding intersection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20110028534
    Abstract: RNA interference is provided for inhibition of connective tissue growth factor mRNA expression in ocular disorders involving CTGF expression. Ocular disorders involving aberrant CTGF expression include glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, choroidal neovascularization, proliferative vitreoretinopathy and wound healing. Such disorders are treated by administering interfering RNAs of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: ALCON, INC.
    Inventors: Allan R. Shepard, Iok-Hou Pang
  • Publication number: 20110019455
    Abstract: A high density memory device is fabricated three dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20110019468
    Abstract: A high-speed, low-power memory device comprises an array of non-linear conductors wherein the storage, address decoding, and output detection are all accomplished with diodes or other non-linear conductors. In various embodiments, the row and column resistors are switchable between a high resistance when connected to a row or column that is non-selected, and a low resistance when connected to the selected row and column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20110015764
    Abstract: A method and system of communicating between a wireless network and a process control system communicatively coupled to a server, such as OPC. The server receives data from the wireless network, where the data is generated from an input/output data point within the wireless network. The server maps the data between the input/output data point and a data point placeholder within the process control system. The server writes the mapped data to the corresponding data point placeholder of the process control system via a process control interface, and the mapped data is provided to the process control system as process control data native to the process control system. Process control data may also be provided to the server, mapped between a data point placeholder of the process control system and an input/output data point of the wireless network, and written to the corresponding input/output data point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Deji Chen, Shenling Yang, Mark Nixon, Tom Aneweer, John R. Shepard, Aloysius K. Mok
  • Patent number: 7838507
    Abstract: RNA interference is provided for inhibition of connective tissue growth factor mRNA expression in ocular disorders involving CTGF expression. Ocular disorders involving aberrant CTGF expression include glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, choroidal neovascularization, proliferative vitreoretinopathy and wound healing. Such disorders are treated by administering interfering RNAs of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan R. Shepard, Iok-Hou Pang
  • Patent number: 7826244
    Abstract: A high density memory device is fabricated three dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: RE42310
    Abstract: A read-only data storage and retrieval device is presented having no moving parts and requiring very low power. Addressing can be accomplished sequentially where the address increments automatically or can be accomplished randomly. High density storage is achieved through the use of a highly symmetric diode matrix that is addressed in both coordinate directions; its symmetry makes the Dual-addressed Rectifier Storage (DRS) Array very scaleable, particularly when made as an integrated circuit. For even greater storage flexibility, multiple digital rectifier storage arrays can be incorporated into the device, one or more of which can be made removable and interchangeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard