Patents by Inventor Robert A. Williams

Robert A. Williams 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: 10688909
    Abstract: A tie-down management system that is used to manipulate a tie-down strap through and around complex cargo. Pockets are sewn onto the strap proximate each end. A hand tool is provided having a handle and a shaft. The shaft terminates with a hook that is shaped and sized to selectively engage the opposing pockets on the flexible strap. When the hook is engaged with a pocket on the flexible strap, the flexible strap and the hand tool become mechanically interconnected. The hand tool can then be used to manipulate the flexible strap around and through complex pathways. The reach of the hand tool can also be extended by connecting the hand tool to an extension pole. By using the tie-down management system, the amount of climbing, bending and stretching required to secure a complex load is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Inventor: Robert A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20180361908
    Abstract: A tie-down management system that is used to manipulate a tie-down strap through and around complex cargo. Pockets are sewn onto the strap proximate each end. A hand tool is provided having a handle and a shaft. The shaft terminates with a hook that is shaped and sized to selectively engage the opposing pockets on the flexible strap. When the hook is engaged with a pocket on the flexible strap, the flexible strap and the hand tool become mechanically interconnected. The hand tool can then be used to manipulate the flexible strap around and through complex pathways. The reach of the hand tool can also be extended by connecting the hand tool to an extension pole. By using the tie-down management system, the amount of climbing, bending and stretching required to secure a complex load is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Robert A. Williams
  • Patent number: 10105643
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas dryer or system for drying or removing water from hydrogen gas for use in hydrogen-cooled generators includes a drying tower or column comprising a housing, a heater, a desiccant, and a controller. The system is configurable and operable for regeneration of the saturated column, with activation of the heater to cause water retained in the saturated desiccant to turn into steam such as steam and exit on its own via the vent. A supply of generally dry hydrogen is used to purge the remaining vaporized water from the isolated substantially dry regenerated desiccant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Environment One Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Williams, Ronald F. Brosnihan
  • Publication number: 20180257026
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas dryer or system for drying or removing water from hydrogen gas for use in hydrogen-cooled generators includes a drying tower or column comprising a housing, a heater, a desiccant, and a controller. The system is configurable and operable for regeneration of the saturated column, with activation of the heater to cause water retained in the saturated desiccant to turn into steam such as steam and exit on its own via the vent. A supply of generally dry hydrogen is used to purge the remaining vaporized water from the isolated substantially dry regenerated desiccant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Environment One Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. WILLIAMS, Ronald F. BROSNIHAN
  • Patent number: 9975086
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas dryer or system for drying or removing water from hydrogen gas for use in hydrogen-cooled generators includes a drying tower or column comprising a housing, a heater, a desiccant, and a controller. The system is configurable and operable for regeneration of the saturated column, with activation of the heater to cause water retained in the saturated desiccant to turn into steam such as steam and exit on its own via the vent. A supply of generally dry hydrogen is used to purge the remaining vaporized water from the isolated substantially dry regenerated desiccant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Environment One Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Williams, Ronald F. Brosnihan
  • Publication number: 20160129390
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas dryer or system for drying or removing water from hydrogen gas for use in hydrogen-cooled generators includes a drying tower or column comprising a housing, a heater, a desiccant, and a controller. The system is configurable and operable for regeneration of the saturated column, with activation of the heater to cause water retained in the saturated desiccant to turn into steam such as steam and exit on its own via the vent. A supply of generally dry hydrogen is used to purge the remaining vaporized water from the isolated substantially dry regenerated desiccant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Robert A. Williams, Ronald F. Brosnihan
  • Patent number: 8559730
    Abstract: A method for identifying singleton outlier pixels in a selected color space in a digital image including a plurality of pixels, includes for each 3×3 patch of pixels in the image, calculating the diameter of the 3×3 patch of pixels. For each pixel in the patch, the distance to its nearest neighbor pixel within the patch is computed, as measured in the selected color space. The computed distance from each pixel in the patch is compared to its nearest neighbor with a threshold that is a preselected fraction of the diameter. A center pixel in the patch is identified as an outlier pixel if its calculated distance to its nearest neighbor is the largest distance to a nearest neighbor and exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Foveon, Inc.
    Inventors: Florin Cutzu, Sumit Chawla, Ted Cooper, Robert A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20120063679
    Abstract: A method for identifying singleton outlier pixels in a selected color space in a digital image including a plurality of pixels, includes for each 3×3 patch of pixels in the image, calculating the diameter of the 3×3 patch of pixels. For each pixel in the patch, the distance to its nearest neighbor pixel within the patch is computed, as measured in the selected color space. The computed distance from each pixel in the patch is compared to its nearest neighbor with a threshold that is a preselected fraction of the diameter. A center pixel in the patch is identified as an outlier pixel if its calculated distance to its nearest neighbor is the largest distance to a nearest neighbor and exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Florin Cutzu, Sumit Chawla, Ted Cooper, Robert A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110022451
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to advertising content for mobile devices. In aspects, advertising content is downloaded to a mobile device when the mobile device is connected to a network. The advertising content is stored on a storage media of the mobile device. Later, a user may search the advertising content of the mobile device without connecting the mobile device to a network. Because the advertising content is downloaded to the mobile device, the advertising content may be accessed more quickly. Additionally, the advertising content may be sized to be suited for the display size of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: MOBILE GENIUS, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph H. Jardine, John L. Webster, Robert A. Williams
  • Patent number: 7448252
    Abstract: A modular system for monitoring a hydrogen-cooled generator includes a skid having a platform, a support attachable to said platform and attachable to a plurality of modules for monitoring the hydrogen-cooled generator, and at least one module for monitoring the hydrogen-cooled generator. The module may include a vibration monitoring module. The monitoring modules may allow monitoring the operation of the hydrogen-cooled generator and generating data such as an optimization factor regarding the performance of the hydrogen-cooled generator. The module may be connected via a communications link to a remote control center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Environment One Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald F. Brosnihan, Thomas J. Chenaille, James T. Clark, Steven D. Kilmartin, Stephen E. Kodesch, Robert A. Williams
  • Patent number: 7243291
    Abstract: A method for communicating video data is provided that includes generating a plurality of error correction code bits and positioning the error correction code bits in a stream of image data such that the stream of image data is encoded. The stream of image data may then be received and encoded in order to convert the stream of image data into a digital visual interface (DVI) format. The stream of image data may then be decoded such that the stream of image data may be displayed in the DVI format. The stream of image data may then be received and checked for one or more errors using the error correction code bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Williams
  • Patent number: 7035818
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a Tag ID and a manufacturer number. Each tag can be attached to an item to take inventory of those items. A tag reader transmits a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal. Each tag increments a first tag count in response to the clock signals, and transmits the Tag ID assigned to the tag when the first tag count corresponds to the Tag ID assigned to the tag. The tag reader records the transmitted Tag IDs. When more than one tag transmits simultaneously, the tag stores the Tag ID in order to resolve the contention when the first read cycle is complete. In the second read cycle, the tag reader transmits the contended Tag ID followed by at least one clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Bandy, Michael R. Arneson, Robert A. Williams
  • Patent number: 7031325
    Abstract: A network device that controls the communication of data frames between stations includes receive ports that receive data frames from the stations. The network device also includes a memory that stores address information and data forwarding information associated with the received data frames. The network device further includes processing logic that processes and forwards the received data frames in accordance with one of two protocols. In accordance with a first protocol, the network device forwards the data frames to their destinations without modifying the respective data frames. In accordance with a second protocol, the network device may modify the data frames before forwarding the data frames to their respective destinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6993033
    Abstract: A network device that controls the communication of data frames between stations includes an address table that has a number of entries including address information and data forwarding information. The network device also includes a timer that defines an aging cycle associated with the address table. When the timer times out, the timer sends a signal to an aging device that initiates an aging process on the address table. The timer also transmits a time-out signal to interrupt logic on the network device. The interrupt logic receives the time-out signal and transmits an interrupt signal to an external device. The external device may then perform an aging process on an address table stored in its memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6959585
    Abstract: A modular system for monitoring a hydrogen-cooled generator includes a skid having a platform and an upwardly extending support. The support is attachable to a hydrogen gas purity monitoring module, a generator overheat monitoring module, a hydrogen gas dryer module, a gas/generator monitoring module, and a gas manifold. The gas/generator monitoring module allows monitoring the operation of the hydrogen-cooled generator and generating data regarding the performance of the hydrogen-cooled generator. The gas/generator monitoring module may display an optimization factor or data regarding the performance of the hydrogen-cooled generator, and/or may be connected via a communications link to a remote control center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Environment One Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald F. Brosnihan, Thomas J. Chenaille, James T. Clark, Steven D. Kilmartin, Steven E. Kodesch, Robert A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20040111338
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a Tag ID and a manufacturer number. Each tag can be attached to an item to take inventory of those items. A tag reader transmits a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal. Each tag increments a first tag count in response to the clock signals, and transmits the Tag ID assigned to the tag when the first tag count corresponds to the Tag ID assigned to the tag. The tag reader records the transmitted Tag IDs. When more than one tag transmits simultaneously, the tag stores the Tag ID in order to resolve the contention when the first read cycle is complete. In the second read cycle, the tag reader transmits the contended Tag ID followed by at least one clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Matrics, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Bandy, Michael R. Arneson, Robert A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6680945
    Abstract: An integrated multiport switch operating in a packet switched network provides the capability via distributed egress logic to alter VLAN tags on a port by port basis. An internal rules checker (IRC) analyzes the header of a data frame to determine the frame type: untagged, VLAN-tagged, or priority-tagged. The IRC searches the untagged set table for the set of ports that are untagged for a particular VLAN. The IRC passes a forwarding descriptor that includes the frame type and a operational code (opcode) to a Port Vector FIFO logic (PVF). The PVF is responsible for creating a new opcode that instructs a dequeuing logic to add, remove, modify the VLAN tag, or send the frame unmodified. The opcodes generated by the PVF are individualized for each output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Shashank Merchant, Robert A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6625146
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for operating a network switch without the use of a CPU. A control interface is used to connect the network switch to the external CPU. The control interface generates an initialization signal indicative of the absence of a CPU. Upon receiving the initialization signal, an internal rules checker initializes the network switch. The internal rules checker will then begin receiving data frames and forwarding them to the appropriate network stations based on a source address and destination address contained in the data frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Shashank Merchant, Robert A. Williams, Ching Yu
  • Patent number: D588501
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Scott Krugger, Robert A. Williams, Mark T. Allen
  • Patent number: D589407
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Scott Krugger, Robert A. Williams, Mark T. Allen