Patents by Inventor Robert A. Todd

Robert A. Todd 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: 20200218703
    Abstract: Database metadata and methods to adapt the same are disclosed. An example method includes determining, by executing a first instruction with a processor, a first database field pattern assigned to a field of a database, the first database field pattern assigned to the field via metadata for the database, determining, by executing a second instruction with the processor, an error rate of the data for the field with the first database field pattern, and in response to determining that the error rate meets a threshold: identifying, by executing a third instruction with the processor, a second database field pattern that matches the data; and modifying, by executing a fourth instruction with the processor, the metadata to assign the second database field pattern to the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventor: Robert Todd Stephens
  • Publication number: 20200203230
    Abstract: In various examples, a method and apparatus are provided to achieve dynamic biasing to mitigate electrical stress. Described examples include a device includes a first resistor portion having a first terminal and a second terminal, and a second resistor portion having a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The device also includes a well in a substrate proximate to the first resistor portion and the second resistor portion and an insulating layer between the well and the first resistor portion and the second resistor portion. The device also includes a transistor having a control terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor portion and the third terminal of the second resistor portion, the transistor having a first current-handling terminal coupled to a first voltage and a second current-handling terminal coupled to a current source and to the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Tathagata Chatterjee, Steven Loveless, James Robert Todd, Andrew Strachan
  • Patent number: 10652594
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for presentation of key frames. In one embodiment, an encoded video file is generated where one or more bits are assigned to key frames and minimizes the number of bits assigned to delta frames. Each key frame may be presented to a user during trick mode operation (e.g., fast forward, rewind, pause, or random seek operation). When the encoded video file is given to a packager, the packager generates a manifest file listing the byte information (byte offset and number of bytes) for each key frame in the encoded video file. When a user inputs a trick play mode command, the packager provides the manifest file to the client device of the user and the client device requests the bytes for the key frames of the video file from the content delivery network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventors: John Chen, David Belt, Edward Galt, III, Robert Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20200137581
    Abstract: A system may include a pool of heterogeneous compute units configured to execute an electronic design automation (EDA) application for design or verification of a circuit, wherein the pool of heterogeneous compute units includes compute units with differing computing capabilities. The system may also include a resource utilization engine configured to identify an EDA operation to be performed for the EDA application, select a compute unit among the pool of heterogeneous compute units to execute the EDA operation based on a determined computing capability specific to the selected compute unit, and assign execution of the EDA operation to the selected compute unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Patrick D. Gibson, Robert A. Todd
  • Patent number: 10627576
    Abstract: An optical communication terminal is configured to operate in two different complementary modes of full duplex communication. In one mode, the terminal transmits light having a first wavelength and receives light having a second wavelength along a common free space optical path. In the other mode, the terminal transmits light having the second wavelength and receives light having the first wavelength. The terminal includes a steering mirror that directs light to and from a dichroic element that creates different optical paths depending on wavelength, and also includes spatially separated emitters and detectors for the two wavelengths. A first complementary emitter/detector pair is used in one mode, and a second pair is used for the other mode. The system also includes at least two ferrules. Each ferrule operates with a single emitter/detector pair. The ferrules are designed to operate interchangeably with either emitter/detector pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Nam-hyong Kim, Robert Todd Belt, Baris Ibrahim Erkmen, Edward Allen Keyes
  • Publication number: 20200083336
    Abstract: An integrated circuit which includes a field-plated FET is formed by forming a first opening in a layer of oxide mask, exposing an area for a drift region. Dopants are implanted into the substrate under the first opening. Subsequently, dielectric sidewalls are formed along a lateral boundary of the first opening. A field relief oxide is formed by thermal oxidation in the area of the first opening exposed by the dielectric sidewalls. The implanted dopants are diffused into the substrate to form the drift region, extending laterally past the layer of field relief oxide. The dielectric sidewalls and layer of oxide mask are removed after the layer of field relief oxide is formed. A gate is formed over a body of the field-plated FET and over the adjacent drift region. A field plate is formed immediately over the field relief oxide adjacent to the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, Binghua Hu, James Robert Todd
  • Publication number: 20200013890
    Abstract: Described examples include integrated circuits, drain extended transistors and fabrication methods therefor, including a multi-fingered transistor structure formed in an active region of a semiconductor substrate, in which a transistor drain finger is centered in a multi-finger transistor structure, a transistor body region laterally surrounds the transistor, an outer drift region laterally surrounds an active region of the semiconductor substrate, and one or more inactive or dummy structures are formed at lateral ends of the transistor finger structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, James Robert Todd, Binghua Hu, Xiaoju Wu, Stephanie L. Hilbun
  • Publication number: 20200006549
    Abstract: Described examples include integrated circuits, drain extended transistors and fabrication methods in which an oxide structure is formed over a drift region of a semiconductor substrate, and a shallow implantation process is performed using a first mask that exposes the oxide structure and a first portion of the semiconductor substrate to form a first drift region portion for connection to a body implant region. A second drift region portion is implanted in the semiconductor substrate under the oxide structure by a second implantation process using the first mask at a higher implant energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Alexei Sadovnikov, Andrew Derek Strachan, Henry Litzmann Edwards, Dhanoop Varghese, Xiaoju Wu, Binghua Hu, James Robert Todd
  • Publication number: 20200006550
    Abstract: Described examples include integrated circuits, drain extended transistors and fabrication methods in which a silicide block material or other protection layer is formed on a field oxide structure above a drift region to protect the field oxide structure from damage during deglaze processing. Further described examples include a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure that laterally surrounds an active region of a semiconductor substrate, where the STI structure is laterally spaced from the oxide structure, and is formed under gate contacts of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James Robert Todd, Xiaoju Wu, Henry Litzmann Edwards, Binghua Hu
  • Publication number: 20190373035
    Abstract: A plurality of icons are displayed on a companion device having a touch screen interface; the icons can be manipulated by the touch screen interface, and each of the plurality of icons represents a different one of a plurality of audiovisual assets which can be viewed on an external audiovisual device. An input gesture on the touch screen interface is obtained from a user of the companion device, wherein a given one of the icons is flicked in a manner associated with the external audiovisual device. Responsive to the obtaining of the gesture, a signal is dispatched from the companion device. The signal causes the external audiovisual device to access a given one of the plurality of audiovisual assets associated with the given one of the icons. Techniques for other than touch screen devices, and techniques to obtain programs on the companion device, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Todd Smith, James C. Stark
  • Patent number: 10497787
    Abstract: An integrated circuit which includes a field-plated FET is formed by forming a first opening in a layer of oxide mask, exposing an area for a drift region. Dopants are implanted into the substrate under the first opening. Subsequently, dielectric sidewalls are formed along a lateral boundary of the first opening. A field relief oxide is formed by thermal oxidation in the area of the first opening exposed by the dielectric sidewalls. The implanted dopants are diffused into the substrate to form the drift region, extending laterally past the layer of field relief oxide. The dielectric sidewalls and layer of oxide mask are removed after the layer of field relief oxide is formed. A gate is formed over a body of the field-plated FET and over the adjacent drift region. A field plate is formed immediately over the field relief oxide adjacent to the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, Binghua Hu, James Robert Todd
  • Publication number: 20190347138
    Abstract: A system may include a resource acquisition engine configured to acquire a set of computing resources for execution of an application flow comprising multiple invocations to an EDA application. The system may also include a resource provision engine configured to provide the set of computing resources for execution of a first EDA process of the EDA application launched by a first invocation in the application flow and identify a second invocation subsequent to the first invocation in the application flow, the second invocation to launch a second EDA process of the EDA application. The resource provision engine may be further configured to, without releasing the set of computing resources provided to the first EDA process, proxy the set of computing resources into a proxied set of computing resources and provide the proxied set of computing resources for execution of the second EDA process of the EDA application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick D. Gibson, Robert A. Todd
  • Patent number: 10476592
    Abstract: A fully-passive optical system creates a counter-propagating reference beam, which may be used to evaluate a misalignment between a receive beam, a transmit beam, and a tracking beam. The system can be mated to a motorized tip-tilt stage, and can measure power of received signals and automatically adjust the tip-tilt stage in response. Thus, the system would always maintain bore-sight with the received beam regardless of mechanical shift over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Nam-hyong Kim, Robert Todd Belt
  • Patent number: 10464034
    Abstract: A solids distributor (100) comprising: a solids standpipe (110); a gas line (120); a solids transfer line (130) in fluid communication with the solids standpipe (110) and the gas line (120); and a distributor (140) in fluid communication with the solids transfer line (130). A solids distributor system comprising the a vessel and the solids distributor (100) and a method of distributing fluidized solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Robert Todd Foshee
  • Patent number: 10461182
    Abstract: Described examples include integrated circuits, drain extended transistors and fabrication methods therefor, including a multi-fingered transistor structure formed in an active region of a semiconductor substrate, in which a transistor drain finger is centered in a multi-finger transistor structure, a transistor body region laterally surrounds the transistor, an outer drift region laterally surrounds an active region of the semiconductor substrate, and one or more inactive or dummy structures are formed at lateral ends of the transistor finger structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, James Robert Todd, Binghua Hu, Xiaoju Wu, Stephanie L. Hilbun
  • Publication number: 20190320013
    Abstract: Cloud services require the outward appearance of unlimited resources with flexible availability for varying demand. However, while on-demand allocation and deallocation of resources may seem efficient, there are significant cases where simply allocating and deallocating resources just in response to demand results in inefficiencies. As discussed herein, cloud services can be made more efficient by deallocating resources based on delays incurred between when resources are requested to be deallocated and reallocated and when they actually are deallocated and allocated, and for how long the resource would be returned to the cloud before needing to be reallocated. Deallocating resources more efficiently not only gives a direct performance improvement, but also indirect, since deallocated resources may not be available again when demand increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Todd Stephens
  • Patent number: 10409084
    Abstract: A method for assessing the relative alignment of a first and second diffractive element. The method includes illuminating the first diffractive element to form a first diffraction pattern in the far field and illuminating the second diffractive element to form a second diffraction pattern in the far field. The method further comprises determining a positional and/or rotational relationship between the first diffraction pattern and the second diffraction pattern in the far field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Optalysys Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas James New, Robert Todd
  • Patent number: 10389778
    Abstract: A plurality of icons are displayed on a companion device having a touch screen interface; the icons can be manipulated by the touch screen interface, and each of the plurality of icons represents a different one of a plurality of audiovisual assets which can be viewed on an external audiovisual device. An input gesture on the touch screen interface is obtained from a user of the companion device, wherein a given one of the icons is flicked in a manner associated with the external audiovisual device. Responsive to the obtaining of the gesture, a signal is dispatched from the companion device. The signal causes the external audiovisual device to access a given one of the plurality of audiovisual assets associated with the given one of the icons. Techniques for other than touch screen devices, and techniques to obtain programs on the companion device, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventors: Robert Todd Smith, James C. Stark
  • Patent number: 10359570
    Abstract: The technology relates to the design and placement of beacon transmission optics for free space optical communications (“FSOC”). One aspect of the disclosure provides an FSOC device with a beam steering mechanism, a beam column with a beam expander, an optical bus, and beacon transmission optics. The beacon transmission optics includes a prism that directs outgoing beacon beams into the beam column, and toward the beam steering mechanism. In one embodiment, the outgoing beacon beams do not need to travel through the beam expander of the beam column. As a result, backscatter is minimized and incoming or outgoing beams can be controlled with a single beam-steering mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Robert Todd Belt, Nam-hyong Kim, Baris Erkmen, Edward Keyes
  • Patent number: 10353039
    Abstract: Efficient encoding of signals in an MRI image is achieved through a combination of parallel receiver coils, and nonlinear gradient encoding that varies dynamically in such a manner as to impose a unique phase/frequency time varying signal on each pixel in the field of view. Any redundancies are designed such that they are easily resolved by the receiver coil sensitivity profiles. Since each voxel has an essentially identifiable complex temporal signal, spatial localization is easily achieved with only a single echo acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: Robert Todd Constable, Gigi Galiana