Patents by Inventor Ralph Smith

Ralph 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: 20260026744
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to microneedle array patches, and systems and devices including the same. Each microneedle array patch can include a plurality of microneedles including an agent that is loaded into at least a tip of the microneedles, a base structure configured to support the plurality of microneedles when force is applied against the second flat surface to insert the plurality of microneedles into skin; and an adhesive disposed around the plurality of microneedles, the adhesive configured to secure the base structure and the plurality of microneedles to the skin for a predetermined period of time. The microneedle array patches can include identifiers and/or sensors for measuring information regarding the microneedle array patches and/or retrieving information regarding the microneedle array patches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2025
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Inventors: Ralph SMITH, Brian ROGERS, Carlos BHOLA, Jorge E. SALAZAR
  • Patent number: 12443865
    Abstract: An Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) system may include a plurality of ADS-B terrestrial stations, with each ADS-B terrestrial station comprising an antenna and wireless circuitry associated therewith defining a station gain pattern. The system may further include a controller including a variational autoencoder (VAE) configured to compress station pattern data from the plurality of ADS-B terrestrial stations, create a normal distribution of the compressed data in a latent space of the VAE, and decompress the compressed station pattern data from the latent space. The controller may also include a processor coupled to the VAE and configured to process the decompressed station pattern data using a probabilistic model selected from among different probabilistic models based upon a game theoretic reward matrix, determine an anomaly from the processed decompressed station pattern data, and generate an alert (e.g., a station specific alert) based upon the determined anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Rahmes, Kevin L. Fox, Gran Roe, Christopher Jason Berger, Ralph Smith, Timothy B. Faulkner, Robert Konczynski, Kevin R. Niewoehner
  • Publication number: 20240037426
    Abstract: An Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) system may include a plurality of ADS-B terrestrial stations, with each ADS-B terrestrial station comprising an antenna and wireless circuitry associated therewith defining a station gain pattern. The system may further include a controller including a variational autoencoder (VAE) configured to compress station pattern data from the plurality of ADS-B terrestrial stations, create a normal distribution of the compressed data in a latent space of the VAE, and decompress the compressed station pattern data from the latent space. The controller may also include a processor coupled to the VAE and configured to process the decompressed station pattern data using a probabilistic model selected from among different probabilistic models based upon a game theoretic reward matrix, determine an anomaly from the processed decompressed station pattern data, and generate an alert (e.g., a station specific alert) based upon the determined anomaly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: MARK D. RAHMES, KEVIN L. FOX, GRAN ROE, CHRISTOPHER JASON BERGER, RALPH SMITH, TIMOTHY B. FAULKNER, ROBERT KONCZYNSKI, KEVIN R. NIEWOEHNER
  • Publication number: 20230261774
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting anomalies in antenna systems (e.g., air traffic control surveillance systems), include a processor receiving antenna status information. A variational autoencoder receives and optimizes the antenna status information and determines whether it qualifies as an anomaly. Optimized antenna status information is compared to either non-anomalous or anomalous antenna status data in a latent space of the variational autoencoder. The latent space preferably includes an n-D point scatter plot and hidden vector values. The processor optimizes the antenna status information by generating a plurality of probabilistic models of the antenna status information and determining which of the plurality of models is optimal. A game theoretic optimization is applied to the plurality of models, and the best model is used to generate the n-D point scatter plot in latent space. An image gradient sobel edge detector preprocesses the antenna status information prior to optimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Mark Rahmes, Jennifer Spicer, Christopher Jason Berger, Ralph Smith, Dustin Ellsworth, Timothy Bruce Faulkner, Shoaib Shaikh
  • Patent number: 11541471
    Abstract: A method for interconnecting multiple components of a head-gimbal assembly with a solder joint, including the steps of positioning a first component adjacent to and at an angle relative to a second component to provide a connection area between the first and second components, dispensing a solder sphere to a capillary tube having tapered walls, wherein the capillary tube is positioned with an exit orifice above the connection area between the first and second components, pressurizing the capillary tube until a predetermined pressure is reached, applying a first laser pulse to the solder sphere to liquefy the solder sphere until it falls from the exit orifice, waiting for a predetermined time period after the liquefied solder sphere has exited the exit orifice of the capillary tube, and applying a second laser pulse to reflow the solder sphere to create the solder joint between the first and second components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Collins, Paul Davidson, Ralph Smith
  • Publication number: 20200164453
    Abstract: A method for interconnecting multiple components of a head-gimbal assembly with a solder joint, including the steps of positioning a first component adjacent to and at an angle relative to a second component to provide a connection area between the first and second components, dispensing a solder sphere to a capillary tube having tapered walls, wherein the capillary tube is positioned with an exit orifice above the connection area between the first and second components, pressurizing the capillary tube until a predetermined pressure is reached, applying a first laser pulse to the solder sphere to liquefy the solder sphere until it falls from the exit orifice, waiting for a predetermined time period after the liquefied solder sphere has exited the exit orifice of the capillary tube, and applying a second laser pulse to reflow the solder sphere to create the solder joint between the first and second components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Aaron Collins, Paul Davidson, Ralph Smith
  • Patent number: 10556284
    Abstract: A method for interconnecting multiple components of a head-gimbal assembly with a solder joint, including the steps of positioning a first component adjacent to a second component to provide a connection area between the first and second components, dispensing a solder sphere to a capillary tube comprising tapered walls, wherein the capillary tube is positioned with an exit orifice above the connection area between the first and second components, pressurizing the capillary tube until a predetermined pressure is reached, applying a first laser pulse to the solder sphere to provide a level of thermal energy to liquefy the solder sphere, detecting the movement of the liquefied solder sphere after it has exited the exit orifice of the capillary tube, and applying a second laser pulse to reflow the solder sphere to create the solder joint between the first and second components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Collins, Paul Davidson, Ralph Smith
  • Publication number: 20170056995
    Abstract: A method for interconnecting multiple components of a head-gimbal assembly with a solder joint, including the steps of positioning a first component adjacent to a second component to provide a connection area between the first and second components, dispensing a solder sphere to a capillary tube comprising tapered walls, wherein the capillary tube is positioned with an exit orifice above the connection area between the first and second components, pressurizing the capillary tube until a predetermined pressure is reached, applying a first laser pulse to the solder sphere to provide a level of thermal energy to liquefy the solder sphere until it falls from the exit orifice toward the connection area between the first and second components, detecting the movement of the liquefied solder sphere after it has exited the exit orifice of the capillary tube, and applying a second laser pulse to reflow the solder sphere to create the solder joint between the first and second components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron Collins, Paul Davidson, Ralph Smith
  • Patent number: 6810235
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting communication network delays. In general, messages from vehicles are time stamped, and then the time stamp is compared to a time that each message is received by a central station. A processor at the central station then determines a time difference between the time stamp and the received time. The time difference is then compared to a predetermined time. If more than a predetermined number of messages is received by the central station exceeding the predetermined time, a notification is sent to an entity, such as personnel at the central station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Qualcomm, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ralph Smith, Doug DePoister
  • Publication number: 20040176041
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting communication network delays. In general, messages from vehicles are time stamped, and then the time stamp is compared to a time that each message is received by a central station. A processor at the central station then determines a time difference between the time stamp and the received time. The time difference is then compared to a predetermined time. If more than a predetermined number of messages is received by the central station exceeding the predetermined time, a notification is sent to an entity, such as personnel at the central station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Ralph Smith, Doug DePoister
  • Publication number: 20010008674
    Abstract: An underlayment mat for single ply roof membranes which provides the following: insulation, separate the roof membrane from incompatible materials in the substrate, protect the roof membrane from puncture or undue wear from irregular surfaces on the substrate, provide adequate support while being flexible enough to work with the single ply membrane to absorb shock and, or provide a continuous, flat upper surface on which a roof covering is applied. The underlayment member may be woven or unwoven, it may be spun bound or needled punched or constructed by whatever method best achieves the desired physical characteristics herein described at the most economical cost. Further, this mat may be made of the following materials including but not limited to and either individually or combined: Various synthetic fibers, acrylic, rayon, nylon, polyester, foam or foam scraps, and or mineral fibers such as glass, carbon, mineral wool, ceramic, and slag wood fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 1998
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: RALPH SMITH, DONALD O. MCCLESKEY
  • Patent number: 4633537
    Abstract: A combination crib/cabinet unit is disclosed herein. This unit includes an overall housing having a pair of vertically extending front doors which together with the rest of the housing present the appearance of a self-standing cabinet substantially narrower than a crib. At the same time, the front doors open out and together with other components of the unit form a crib with the doors serving as end members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Inventor: Ralph Smith
  • Patent number: D698497
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Catchpromo LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Smith, Ralph Smith, Richard Smith