Patents by Inventor Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. 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).

  • Patent number: 9947524
    Abstract: A method of detecting one or more compounds, chemicals or contaminants in a substrate by mass spectrometry is disclosed. A non-living substrate is analyzed by contacting the substrate with a diathermy knife. An electric current is applied to the diathermy knife such that the diathermy knife vaporizes a portion of the substrate. The vapor is aspirated via a sampling tube pumped by a venturi pump into a vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer. Analyte molecules are aspirated into the vacuum chamber whereupon they impact a surface of the vacuum chamber and are ionized to form analyte ions which are then mass analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MICROMASS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Steven Derek Pringle, Michael Raymond Morris, Stephen Smith, Michael McCullagh
  • Patent number: 9927905
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic device having a force sensing device. The force sensing device receives a continuous force input which is translated into a discrete event. In order to more accurately determine when the discrete event is to occur, the electronic device includes a two low-pass filters that concurrently receive a force signal from the force sensing device. The first low-pass filter has a first bandwidth and the second low-pass filter has a second bandwidth that is greater than the first bandwidth. The two low-pass filters filter the force signal to provide a user interface with a precise feel for slower more deliberate input while also providing fast response times for stronger, shorter input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20180070577
    Abstract: Bird Saver Light prevents or minimizes bird collisions with glazing. BSL is deployable from within a building. BSL operates on the critical Fourth Surface of insulated glazing units. BSL avoids warranty issues associated with films and appliqués. BSL is potentially critical in protecting wild bird populations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Stephens Smith Farrell
  • Publication number: 20180067612
    Abstract: A strain-sensitive structure includes two resistive structures connected in series and formed on one surface of a substrate. One resistive structure is formed with a first trace arranged in first trace pattern. The other resistive structure is formed with a second trace arranged in a second trace pattern. The first resistive structure is configured to experience strain in response to an applied stress on the substrate. The second resistive structure is configured to experience less strain in response to the applied stress on the substrate compared to the first resistive structure. Together the strain-sensitive structure and the substrate form a force sensing layer that can be included in an electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 9908667
    Abstract: A cup lid assembly includes a cover and a cap. The cover includes an annular mounting portion that secures the cover to the cup rim, an outer annular side wall, an annular upper ridge, an annular inner sidewall, and an interior portion. The annular upper ridge has a drink opening, and the annular inner sidewall slopes downward and inward from the annular upper ridge toward the interior portion. The cap is removably attachable to the cover and includes a main body arranged to be positioned over the interior portion of the cover and a hinged flap extending from the main body. The hinged flap includes a plug adapted to seal the drink opening. The annular inner sidewall has printed text provided on the sloped surface of the annular inner sidewall opposite the drink opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: LBP Manufacturing LLC
    Inventors: Stephen A. Smith, Weston Koennecke
  • Patent number: 9911077
    Abstract: An RFID transponder in one embodiment comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, processing logic coupled to the RF transceiver, a switch coupled to the processing logic, a tunneling device coupled to the switch and a differential sensing circuit having a first input coupled to the tunneling device and a second input coupled to a predetermined reference voltage. In one embodiment, the tunneling device can discharge to a voltage below the predetermined reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ruizhang Technology Limited Company
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 9886118
    Abstract: One or more transparent transistor force sensitive structures can be included in an electronic device. The transistor force sensitive structures(s) is used to detect a force that is applied to the electronic device, to a component in the electronic device, and/or to an input region of the electronic device. As one example, the one or more transparent transistor force sensitive structures may be included in a display stack of a display in an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vosgueritchian, James E. Pedder, John Stephen Smith, Xiaonan Wen
  • Publication number: 20180030309
    Abstract: A system for forming an elastomeric composition for application to a substrate includes an isocyanate component and an isocyanate-reactive component. The isocyanate component includes a polymeric polyisocyanate and optionally an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer. The isocyanate-reactive component is reactive with the isocyanate component and includes a polyol component and a polyetheramine. The polyol component is a mixture of (a) a hydrophobic polyol; (b) a polyether polyol different than the hydrophobic polyol and having a weight average molecular weight greater than 500 g/mol; and (c) a polyaminopolyol. The elastomeric composition is formed as the reaction product of the isocyanate component and the isocyanate-reactive component and may be applied as an elastomeric coating layer on a substrate such as a steel pipe. The steel pipe having the applied elastomeric coating layer satisfies the standard for use in the water supply industry as set forth in AWWA C222.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Lyle CAILLOUETTE, David R. PHELPS, Stephen SMITH, Karl GUST
  • Publication number: 20170370146
    Abstract: Conventional UPVC windows have casements which are pivotable and movable in a limited manner relative to the frame. It is desirable to be to move all the casements such that substantially the entire the frame is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: Invisifold Limited
    Inventors: Neil Ingram, Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20170336902
    Abstract: A force-responsive sensor incorporating a force-sensitive element is in communication with a power controller. The power controller changes one or more performance characteristics associated with the force-responsive sensor. A performance characteristic can include a bias voltage or current, a duty cycle, a sampling rate, and so on. The performance characteristic(s) can be changed in response to a touch event or based on an operational setting of the force-responsive sensor (or an electronic device incorporating the force-responsive sensor). Regulation of the performance characteristic(s) reduces power consumption of the force-responsive sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20170321790
    Abstract: A flex spline torque transfer device using force applied at multiple positions for each area of contact between the flex spline and outer ring. The positions of at which force is applied may be outside the areas of contact. This design may also be used in conjunction with a magnetic method of applying force to the flex spline, mechanical force acting as a constraint to prevent the flex spline from fully disengaging from the outer ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: James Brent KLASSEN, Stephen Smith Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 9805227
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for selecting a subset of RFID tags are provided in some embodiments. These methods and apparatuses utilize the susceptibility to light by persistent nodes found in passive tags. Light can be used to intentionally reduce persistence times in a particular subset tags or even an individual tag. Then, persistent nodes can be used as a selection criterion to distinguish previously illuminated tags from non-illuminated tags. In other embodiments, a power circuit receives a RF input source and generates a direct current (DC) output voltage. The circuit includes a bias circuit to supply a gate to source bias, which is independent of the DC output voltage. The circuit further includes a voltage multiplier circuit that is coupled to the bias circuit. The voltage multiplier circuit has MOS transistors with one transistor to receive the gate to source bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ruizhang Technology Limited Company
    Inventors: Mark Alfred Hadley, James Harold Atherton, Jay Tu, Edward John Boling, John Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20170304558
    Abstract: A handheld cryoanesthesia or analgesia device for cooling a target area on cutaneous membranes, mucous membranes, and tissue of the mucocutaneous zone having an elongated body and a thermoelectric cooling system disposed within the elongated body. The thermoelectric cooling system is configured to physically contact and thermally couple the target area of the cutaneous membranes, mucous membranes, and tissue of the mucocutaneous zone to induce cryoanesthesia or analgesia. The thermoelectric cooling system includes a thermally-conductive cold tip, a thermally-conductive cooling power concentrator thermally coupled to the cold tip, at least one Peltier unit module thermally coupled to the cooling power concentrator, a heatsink thermally coupled to at least one Peltier unit module, a power source, at least one thermal sensor, and a controller operably outputting a control signal to the Peltier unit module to maintain a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Cagri Giray BESIRLI, Stephen SMITH, Kevin P. PIPE, Gun-Ho KIM
  • Publication number: 20170300161
    Abstract: An optical force sensor that may compensate for environmental effects, including, for example, variations in temperature of the device or the surroundings. In some examples, two force-sensitive layers are separated by a compliant layer. The relative electrical response of the two force-sensitive layers may be used to compute an estimate of the force of a touch that reduces the effect of variations in temperature. In some examples, piezoelectric films having anisotropic strain properties are used to reduce the effects of temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Charley T. Ogata, John Stephen Smith, Dhaval Chandrakant Patel, Shin John Choi, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner
  • Publication number: 20170285864
    Abstract: A force sensor is disclosed. The force sensor includes a force-sensitive structure that compensates for temperature and other environmental changes through the use of a strain-sensitive element and one or more reference elements. An array of such force-sensitive structures forms a force-sensing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: James E. Pedder, John Stephen Smith, Michael Vosgueritchian, Vikram Garg, Sinan Filiz, Miguel C. Christophy
  • Publication number: 20170281069
    Abstract: Methods and systems relate to determining sensory motor performance based on user non-postural movements within a generated dynamic virtual environment. The generated environment requires users to: (i) utilize primary sensor inputs (e.g., vision, vestibular sensation and somatosensation); (ii) assess the dynamic virtual environment; and (iii) integrate and translate those inputs into movement to control the dynamic virtual environment. The methods may include receiving non-postural user input with respect to a state of one or more attributes of a dynamic virtual environment provided on a user interface for one or more sessions, the one or more attributes including a control object and a target which moves with respect to the control object; determining performance information based on the user input and the state of the one or more attributes for the one or more sessions; and determining sensory motor performance information from the performance information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Russell K. Gore, Michelle LaPlaca, David W. Wright, Tamara Espinoza, Shean Phelps, Brian Liu, Stephen Smith, Nicole Kosoris, Alessio Medda, Courtney Crooks
  • Publication number: 20170277711
    Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer-implemented method for performing multi-level deduplication of data are disclosed. A zone stamp is generated for each zone in a plurality of zones contained in at least one data stream. The zone stamp is compared to another zone stamp. The zone stamp and another zone stamp represent zones in the plurality of zones. The comparison is performed for zones at corresponding zone levels based on a determination that a zone stamp of a zone of a preceding zone level is not similar to another zone stamp of another preceding zone level. The zone at the preceding zone level includes at least one zone of a next zone level having a size smaller than or equal to a size of the zone of the preceding zone level. The zone and another zone are deduplicated based on a determination that the zone stamp is similar to another zone stamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: Exagrid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Therrien, Yee-ching Chao, Thomas G. Hansen, Daniel P. Martinelli, Lucas H. Makosky, Mark B. Hecker, Stephen A. Smith, Adrian VanderSpek
  • Publication number: 20170268942
    Abstract: A transparent force sensor for detecting an applied force on a surface of a device. The transparent force sensor includes a transparent force-sensitive film having an array of strain-relief features oriented along a first direction. The transparent force-sensitive film is formed from a transparent piezoelectric material that exhibits a substantially reduced net charge when strained along a primary direction. The force sensor also includes a display element disposed on one side of the transparent force-sensitive film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: James E. Pedder, John Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20170269909
    Abstract: A comparison graph is disclosed. A system for comparing code branches comprises a code branch separator for determining a first set of commits in a first code branch that are not common to a second code branch, and determining a second set of commits in the second code branch that are not common to the first code branch; and a user interface determiner for determining a display of the first set of commits and the second set of commits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen Smith, Danny Greg, Karl Tobias Ahlin
  • Publication number: 20170269757
    Abstract: An optically transparent force sensor, which may be used as input to an electronic device. The optically transparent force sensor may be configured to compensate for variations in temperature using two or more force-sensitive components that are formed from materials having different temperature- and strain-dependent responses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Charley T. Ogata, John Stephen Smith, Dhaval Chandrakant Patel, Shin John Choi, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner