Patents by Inventor Ronald Miles
Ronald Miles 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: 11792566Abstract: Microphones, microphone systems, and methods for capturing and processing sound are described. The microphones and microphone systems may adaptively change the direction from which sound is captured. The microphones and microphone systems avoid the need to provide arrays of microphones, while providing adaptive beamforming without a time delay between each channel of information, and multi-directional sound capture. A dependency between the frequency response and system size is also avoided.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2019Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignees: Soundskrit Inc., The Research Foundation for The State University of New YorkInventors: Sahil Kumar Gupta, Stephane Leahy, Iman Moazzen, Ronald Miles, Jian Zhou
-
Publication number: 20210061648Abstract: A microelectromechanical actuator, comprising: a substrate, having a surface; a conductive beam suspended parallel to the substrate, displaceable along an axis normal to the surface of the substrate; a center electrode on the substrate under the beam; a pair of side electrodes on the substrate configured, when charged, to exert an electrostatic force normal to the surface of the substrate on the beam that repulses the beam from the substrate, and exerts a balanced electrostatic force on the beam in a plane of the surface of the substrate, the center conductive electrode being configured to shield the beam from electrostatic forces induced by the side electrodes from beneath the beam, and the center electrode being configured to have a voltage different from a voltage on the beam, to thereby induce an attractive electrostatic force on the beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Shahrzad Towfighian, Mark Pallay, Meysam Daeichin, Ronald Miles
-
Publication number: 20200336826Abstract: Microphones, microphone systems, and methods for capturing and processing sound are described. The microphones and microphone systems may adaptively change the direction from which sound is captured. The microphones and microphone systems avoid the need to provide arrays of microphones, while providing adaptive beamforming without a time delay between each channel of information, and multi-directional sound capture. A dependency between the frequency response and system size is also avoided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2019Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Sahil Kumar Gupta, Stephane Leahy, Iman Moazzen, Ronald Miles, Jian Zhou
-
Patent number: 9493903Abstract: An impeller assembly including a housing and an impeller is provided. The impeller is positioned within a volute of the housing and includes a hub and a plurality of blades. The plurality of blades are spaced about the hub along a circumferential direction of the impeller. The plurality of blades include a first pair of blades and a second pair blades. The first pair blades defines a first gap along the circumferential direction at a radially outer portion, and the second pair blades defines a second gap along the circumferential direction at a radially outer portion. The first gap is unequal to the second gap in order to reduce an amount of noise generated by the impeller assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Zhiquan Yu, Joseph Lee McLain, Nemetalla Salameh, Ronald Miles Johnson
-
Publication number: 20160115970Abstract: An impeller assembly including a housing and an impeller is provided. The impeller is positioned within a volute of the housing and includes a hub and a plurality of blades. The plurality of blades are spaced about the hub along a circumferential direction of the impeller. The plurality of blades include a first pair of blades and a second pair blades. The first pair blades defines a first gap along the circumferential direction at a radially outer portion, and the second pair blades defines a second gap along the circumferential direction at a radially outer portion. The first gap is unequal to the second gap in order to reduce an amount of noise generated by the impeller assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2014Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: Zhiquan Yu, Joseph Lee McLain, Nemetalla Salameh, Ronald Miles Johnson
-
Patent number: 8548178Abstract: A miniature microphone, comprising a diaphragm, supported for displacement in response to acoustic waves, from which a plurality of projections extend; a plurality of projections extending from a surface; a body, supporting the surface to maintain the plurality of projections from the diaphragm and the plurality of projections from the surface in close proximity; and an electromagnetic sensor adapted to sense an electromagnetic interaction between the plurality of projections from the diaphragm and the plurality of projections from the surface and produce an electrical signal in response thereto. The interaction may be detected substantially without inducing a force which tends to substantially displace the diaphragm, since the electrostatic force is substantially parallel to the diaphragm surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New YorkInventor: Ronald Miles
-
Publication number: 20120076329Abstract: A miniature microphone, comprising a diaphragm, supported for displacement in response to acoustic waves, from which a plurality of projections extend; a plurality of projections extending from a surface; a body, supporting the surface to maintain the plurality of projections from the diaphragm and the plurality of projections from the surface in close proximity; and an electromagnetic sensor adapted to sense an electromagnetic interaction between the plurality of projections from the diaphragm and the plurality of projections from the surface and produce an electrical signal in response thereto. The interaction may be detected substantially without inducing a force which tends to substantially displace the diaphragm, since the electrostatic force is substantially parallel to the diaphragm surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: The Research Foundation of States University of New YorkInventor: Ronald Miles
-
Patent number: 8073167Abstract: A miniature microphone, comprising a diaphragm, supported for displacement in response to acoustic waves, from which a plurality of projections extend; a plurality of projections extending from a surface; a body, supporting the surface to maintain the plurality of projections from the diaphragm and the plurality of projections from the surface in close proximity; and an electromagnetic sensor adapted to sense an electromagnetic interaction between the plurality of projections from the diaphragm and the plurality of projections from the surface and produce an electrical signal in response thereto. The interaction may be detected substantially without inducing a force which tends to substantially displace the diaphragm, since the electrostatic force is substantially parallel to the diaphragm surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2009Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New YorkInventor: Ronald Miles
-
Patent number: 7841217Abstract: A washing machine wherein a cold water valve is opened during a hot fill operation is described. In one embodiment, the washing machine comprises a cabinet, a tub and basket mounted within the cabinet, and an agitation element mounted within the basket. The machine also includes a cold water valve for controlling flow of cold water to the tub, and a hot water valve for controlling flow of hot water to the tub. A control coupled to the cold water valve controls opening and closing of the cold water valve during the hot fill operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2003Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William H. Lueckenbach, Fred Dennis Kedjierski, Ronald Miles Johnson, Erick Paul Graven
-
Publication number: 20090262958Abstract: A miniature microphone, comprising a diaphragm, supported for displacement in response to acoustic waves, from which a plurality of projections extend; a plurality of projections extending from a surface; a body, supporting the surface to maintain the plurality of projections from the diaphragm and the plurality of projections from the surface in close proximity; and an electromagnetic sensor adapted to sense an electromagnetic interaction between the plurality of projections from the diaphragm and the plurality of projections from the surface and produce an electrical signal in response thereto. The interaction may be detected substantially without inducing a force which tends to substantially displace the diaphragm, since the electrostatic force is substantially parallel to the diaphragm surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: The Research Foundation of State University of New YorkInventor: Ronald Miles
-
Patent number: 7545945Abstract: There is provided a rigid hinged substrate, which forms a diaphragm for miniature microphones. A series of fingers disposed radially around the perimeter of the diaphragm interacts with mating fingers disposed adjacent the diaphragm with a small gap in between. The fingers are interdigitated. The movement of the diaphragm fingers relative to the fixed fingers varies the capacitance, thereby allowing creation of an electrical signal responsive to varying sound pressure at the diaphragm. Because the fingers may be formed with great stiffness, the classic problem in typical capacitive microphones of attraction of the diaphragm to the back plate is effectively overcome. The multiple fingers allow the creation of a microphone having a high output voltage relative to conventional microphones. This yields a very low noise microphone. The diaphragm may be readily formed using well known silicon microfabrication techniques so as to reduce manufacturing costs.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: The Research Foundation of the State University of New YorkInventor: Ronald Miles
-
Patent number: 7481405Abstract: An assembly for supporting a home appliance includes a support base and two roller assemblies mounted on the support base. Each roller assembly includes a roller rotatable about a first axis and a rod coupled with the roller assemblies. Each roller assembly is rotatable with respect to the rod about a second axis different than the first axis. The appliance includes a cabinet having a top panel, a bottom panel, side panels, a front panel, and a back panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ronald Miles Johnson
-
Publication number: 20080155759Abstract: A valve assembly for a clothes treating apparatus operable in a dry cleaning process and a water washing process includes a valve inlet, and first and second valve outlets coupled in flow communication with the valve inlet. The apparatus includes a cabinet, and a wash tub and a storage tank positioned within the cabinet. The valve inlet is configured to be coupled in flow communication with the wash tub. The valve assembly also includes a first valve and a second valve configured to respectively control the flow through the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet. The first valve is configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the first valve outlet in the water washing process, and the second valve is configured to channel liquid from the wash tub outward through the second valve outlet in the dry cleaning process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2006Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Paul Douglas Mantle, Ronald Miles Johnson, Chandra Mohan Pendyala
-
Patent number: 7370495Abstract: A temperature control for a washing machine that includes a tub and hot and cold water valves is provided. The temperature control includes a first pressure sensor positioned to sense a full fill level in the tub and configured to generate a full fill signal when the tub is full and a second pressure sensor positioned to sense an intermediate fill level, less than full, in the tub and configured to generate an intermediate fill signal when the intermediate fill level is reached. A controller is operatively coupled to the first and second pressure sensors and the hot and cold water valves. The controller is operable to control the valves based on the fill signals from the pressure sensors to control a wash water temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2003Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ronald Miles Johnson
-
Publication number: 20070297631Abstract: There is provided a rigid hinged substrate, which forms a diaphragm for miniature microphones. A series of fingers disposed radially around the perimeter of the diaphragm interacts with mating fingers disposed adjacent the diaphragm with a small gap in between. The fingers are interdigitated. The movement of the diaphragm fingers relative to the fixed fingers varies the capacitance, thereby allowing creation of an electrical signal responsive to varying sound pressure at the diaphragm. Because the fingers may be formed with great stiffness, the classic problem in typical capacitive microphones of attraction of the diaphragm to the back plate is effectively overcome. The multiple fingers allow the creation of a microphone having a high output voltage relative to conventional microphones. This yields a very low noise microphone. The diaphragm may be readily formed using well known silicon microfabrication techniques so as to reduce manufacturing costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2005Publication date: December 27, 2007Inventor: Ronald Miles
-
Publication number: 20070239374Abstract: A method for monitoring a battery installed in a vehicle includes utilizing a system provided within the vehicle to determine that a test of the battery should be performed when a first condition is satisfied. The method also includes electrically coupling at least one vehicle load to the battery and utilizing the system to analyze the response of the battery to the at least one vehicle load coupled to the battery. The system may be utilized to determine the state of health of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2005Publication date: October 11, 2007Inventors: Thomas Dougherty, William Wruck, Deeyu Chen, Ronald Miles, Michael Thompson
-
Patent number: 7276911Abstract: A system for locating a malfunctioning bulb in a decorative light string uses an antenna that produces an output signal corresponding to the strength of the electric field produced by a portion of the light string near the antenna. An amplifier is coupled to the antenna to receive the antenna output signal and produce an amplified output signal representing the strength of the electric field. The amplifier includes a negative feedback circuit to improve the stability of the amplifier. A detector receives the amplifier output signal and activates an alarm device when the amplifier output signal is above or below a predetermined threshold representing a known operational condition of the light string.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Integrated Power Components, Inc.Inventors: W. Richard Frederick, Ronald Miles
-
Patent number: 7254969Abstract: A basket for a washing machine includes a body comprising an outer wall and at least one rib extending radially inward from said wall, said rib comprising at least a first portion having a first cross section and a second portion having a second cross section, said second cross section different from said first cross section.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2002Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Larry Hawkins, Derek Lee Watkins, Ronald Miles Johnson
-
Publication number: 20070165896Abstract: A microphone having an optical component for converting the sound-induced motion of the diaphragm into an electronic signal using a diffraction grating. The microphone with inter-digitated fingers is fabricated on a silicon substrate using a combination of surface and bulk micromachining techniques. A 1 mm×2 mm microphone diaphragm, made of polysilicon, has stiffeners and hinge supports to ensure that it responds like a rigid body on flexible hinges. The diaphragm is designed to respond to pressure gradients, giving it a first order directional response to incident sound. This mechanical structure is integrated with a compact optoelectronic readout system that displays results based on optical interferometry.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventors: Ronald Miles, F. Degertekin
-
Publication number: 20060097726Abstract: A system for locating a malfunctioning bulb in a decorative light string uses an antenna that produces an output signal corresponding to the strength of the electric field produced by a portion of the light string near the antenna. An amplifier is coupled to the antenna to receive the antenna output signal and produce an amplified output signal representing the strength of the electric field. The amplifier includes a negative feedback circuit to improve the stability of the amplifier. A detector receives the amplifier output signal and activates an alarm device when the amplifier output signal is above or below a predetermined threshold representing a known operational condition of the light string.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2005Publication date: May 11, 2006Inventors: W. Frederick, Ronald Miles