Patents by Inventor Richard C. Powell

Richard C. Powell 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).

  • Patent number: 11979734
    Abstract: A system and method is described for determining whether a loudspeaker device has relocated, tilted, rotated, or changed environment such that one or more parameters for driving the loudspeaker may be modified and/or a complete reconfiguration of the loudspeaker system may be performed. In one embodiment, the system may include a set of sensors. The sensors provide readings that are analyzed to determine 1) whether the loudspeaker has moved since a previous analysis and/or 2) a distance of movement and/or a degree change in orientation of the loudspeaker since the previous analysis. Upon determining the level of movement is below a threshold value, the system adjusts previous parameters used to drive one or more of the loudspeakers. By adjusting previous parameters instead of performing a complete recalibration, the system provides a more efficient technique for ensuring that the loudspeakers continue to produce accurate sound for the listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce C. Po, Richard M. Powell, Aram M. Lindahl, Baptiste P. Paquier, Phillip A. Kamp
  • Patent number: 11949725
    Abstract: One embodiment provides for a media playback device comprising a memory device to store instructions; one or more processors to execute the instructions stored on the memory device, the instructions to cause the one or more processors to provide a playback queue manager to manage one or more media playback queues including a set of media items associated with a scheduled event and a playback routing manager to determine an output destination for the set of media items based on context associated with the scheduled event, the playback routing manager to route output of playback of the set of media items to one or more of multiple different connected media playback devices based on the context associated with the scheduled event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Alsina, David C. Graham, Andrew M. Wadycki, Edward T. Schmidt, Joel M. Lopes Da Silva, Richard M. Powell, Gregory R. Chapman
  • Patent number: 7245118
    Abstract: A system is useful for positioning a load, such as a test head. The system includes an arm which supports the load and which moves along a first vertical axis. The system also includes a rotation unit for rotating the first vertical axis about a second vertical axis spaced apart from the first vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: inTest Corporation
    Inventors: Alyn R. Holt, Richard C. Powell, Jr., I. Marvin Weilerstein
  • Patent number: 6911816
    Abstract: A safety lock system prevents unlocking of a balanced loaded unit when the loaded unit becomes unbalanced. A plurality of calipers applies pressure on opposite sides of a guide rail. A lock block couples the load to at least one of the calipers for movement of the load along the guide rail. A rotatable handle is coupled to the calipers through a shaft. Rotation of the handle locks or unlocks the lock block against vertical movement. A safety block is coupled to the loaded unit and is moveable with the loaded unit for preventing rotation of the handle upon a preselected movement of the loaded unit relative to the lock block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: inTEST IP Corporation
    Inventors: Alyn R. Holt, Christopher L. West, Brian R. Moore, Richard C. Powell, Jr., I. Marvin Weilerstein
  • Patent number: 6888343
    Abstract: A system is useful for positioning a load, such as a test head. The system includes an arm which supports the load and which moves along a first vertical axis. The system also includes a rotation unit for rotating the first vertical axis about a second vertical axis spaced apart from the first vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: inTEST IP Corporation
    Inventors: Alyn R. Holt, Christopher L. West, Brian R. Moore, Richard C. Powell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5606453
    Abstract: Tunable optical parametric amplifiers and oscillators that are pumped by the light from a tunable laser source are disclosed. One possible embodiment uses a tunable solid-state laser pump and an OPA medium or nonlinear crystal, such as potassium titanyl phosphate KTP or barium borate BBO or lithium borate LBO. The second harmonic output from a tunable solid-state laser is also used to pump the OPA medium. A singly or doubly resonant cavity design is preferably used to reduce the oscillation threshold (i.e., the required pump beam power) of the OPO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Light Age, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Walling, Jui T. Lin, Mahendrakumar G. Jani, Richard C. Powell, Donald F. Heller
  • Patent number: 4728165
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a superimposed fast transient grating on a permanent holographic grating which provides high scattering ability, fast modulation response times, and the capability of writing and erasing signals therein. A glass host is doped with trivalent rare earth ions, and is then placed in the crossed field of two coherent radiation beams to resonantly pump the trivalent rare earth ions at a frequency in resonance with one of the absorption transitions thereof. This produces two types of laser induced gratings, a transient population grating associated with the excited rare earth ions, and a permanent holographic grating associated with a structural modification of the glass host. The superposition of these gratings result in a four wave mixing signal with enhanced strength and the capability of amplitude or frequency modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Research Corporation
    Inventors: Richard C. Powell, Edward G. Behrens, Frederic M. Durville
  • Patent number: 4640137
    Abstract: A sensitive, durable, high resolution tactile sensor particularly suited for use as a robot end effector in an automated manufacturing process. The tactile sensor has an array of pressure sensing sites provided by a series of current emitter electrodes surrounded by a series of companion current collector electrodes both of which engage a rough conductive layer carried on the underside of a resilient platen. The emitters are electrically connected together in parallel rows, and the collectors are electrically connected together in parallel columns above and across the rows. The emitters and collectors are electrically insulated from one another as are the rows and columns. When the platen engages an object to apply pressure at one of the sites, and a positive voltage is applied to an emitter electrode, current flows from the emitter electrode and through the conductive layer to the companion collector electrode from which it is collected and measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Trull, Richard C. Powell
  • Patent number: D335650
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Richard C. Powell, John E. Francis, Daniel P. Sedlecky
  • Patent number: D335866
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Inventors: Richard C. Powell, John E. Francis, Daniel P. Sedlecky
  • Patent number: D339794
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Inventors: Richard C. Powell, John E. Francis, Daniel P. Sedlecky