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).

  • Publication number: 20170261387
    Abstract: A strain-responsive sensor incorporating a strain-sensitive element is disclosed. The strain-sensitive element includes a matched-pair of resistive structures disposed on opposite sides of a substrate. One resistive structure of the matched pair is coupled to a crossover, either a physical crossover or a soft crossover, such that current within the resistive structures of the matched pair flows in the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Vosgueritchian, Sinan Filiz, John Stephen Smith, Anshuman Bhuyan, James E. Pedder, Vikram Garg
  • Patent number: 9758183
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for building a location fingerprint database for a transit system are described. The transit system can be a subway system including underground train stations and routes where location determination using GPS signals is difficult or impossible. A sampling device can measure signals, e.g., radio frequency (RF) signals detected at the stations or on the routes. A location server can construct a location fingerprint for each of the stations and the routes. Each location fingerprint can represent expected signal measurements by a user device if the user device is located at the respective station or route. The location server can provide the location fingerprint to a user device for the user device to determine a location of the user device within the station or on the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Benjamin Millman, Johan Olav Bergerengen, Robert Mayor, Brian Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 9755463
    Abstract: An electric machine comprise a first carrier having an array of electromagnetic elements and a second carrier having electromagnetic elements defining magnetic poles, the second carrier being arranged to move relative to the first carrier. An airgap is provided between the first carrier and the second carrier. The electromagnetic elements of the first carrier include posts, with slots between the posts, one or more electric conductors in each slot, the posts of the first carrier having a post height in mm. The first carrier and the second carrier together define a size of the electric machine. The magnetic poles having a pole pitch in mm. The size of the motor, pole pitch and post height are selected to fall within a region in a space defined by size, pole pitch and post height that provides a benefit in terms of force or torque per weight per excitation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Genesis Robotics LLP
    Inventors: James Brent Klassen, Stephen Smith Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 9755420
    Abstract: An electrical transmission system is described herein. The electrical transmission system can include at least one first phase high-voltage conductor. The electrical transmission system can also include an arrester coupled to the at least one first phase high-voltage conductor, where the arrester includes an arrester body and an isolator, where the arrester body includes a top end and a bottom end, where the top end of the arrester is coupled to the at least one first phase high-voltage conductor, and where the bottom end of the arrester body is coupled to the isolator. The electrical transmission system can further include a ground conductor coupled to a bottom end of the isolator of the arrester. The electrical transmission system can also include a tether coupled to the ground conductor, where the tether comprises a distal end, where the distal end of the tether is coupled to the arrester above the isolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 9742225
    Abstract: An electric machine comprise a first carrier having an array of electromagnetic elements and a second carrier having electromagnetic elements defining magnetic poles, the second carrier being arranged to move relative to the first carrier. An airgap is provided between the first carrier and the second carrier. The electromagnetic elements of the first carrier include posts, with slots between the posts, one or more electric conductors in each slot, the posts of the first carrier having a post height in mm. The first carrier and the second carrier together define a size of the electric machine. The magnetic poles having a pole pitch in mm. The size of the motor, pole pitch and post height are selected to fall within a region in a space defined by size, pole pitch and post height that provides a benefit in terms of force or torque per weight per excitation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Genesis Robotics LLP
    Inventors: James Brent Klassen, Stephen Smith Chamberlain
  • Publication number: 20170227463
    Abstract: A method of determining an absorption or turbidity coefficient of a liquid involves storing a set of data describing a plurality of droplets or other discrete bodies of liquid of different shapes, sizes and absorption or turbidity coefficients. Each body is captured as a combination of a measurable transmission parameter obtained by modelling the interaction of light with a drop, and of one or more dimensional measurements selected from lengths, areas and volumes. The absorption or turbidity coefficient is indicated also. By measuring the transmission of light through a real body of liquid, and making measurements allowing the droplet to be specified, the absorption or turbidity coefficient associated with a droplet giving rise to the same behaviour in transmitting light can be identified from the data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen SMITH, Norman MCMILLAN, Martin O'NEILL, Sven RIEDEL, John HAMMOND
  • Publication number: 20170216208
    Abstract: The invention relates to matrix and layer compositions comprising a first polymer. The matrix and layer compositions are useful in the delivery of bioactives. In particular, the matrices and layers may have advantageous properties including mechanical properties and protection of bioactives and may also provide for pH-dependent release of a bioactive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Houston Stephen Smith, Matthew J. Fischer, Graciela B. Arhancet, Rangarani Karnati, John A. Hume, Xiaojun Wang
  • Publication number: 20170202059
    Abstract: An induction stirring apparatus for an apparatus such as a cooktop appliance is provided. The cooking surface is equipped with a transmitter coil, and the induction stirring apparatus comprises a stirring paddle, motor, receiver coil and transformer. The motor is configured to drive a gear to turn the stirring paddle. The receiver coil is inductively coupleable with the transmitter coil of the cooking surface to transfer electrical energy from the transmitter coil to the receiver coil. The transformer is coupled to and between the motor and the receiver coil. The transformer is configured to transfer the electrical energy from the receiver coil to the motor and thereby power the motor to drive the gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Stoufer, Thomas Josefsson, John W. Taylor, Chris Hoy, Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 9703797
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: 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: 20170191884
    Abstract: One or more strain sensors can be included in an electronic device. Each strain sensor includes a strain sensitive element and one or more strain signal lines connected directly to the strain sensitive element. The strain sensor(s) are 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 or surface of the electronic device. A strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first gauge factor and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second gauge factor. Additionally or alternatively, a strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first conductance and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second conductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Vosgueritchian, John Stephen Smith, Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Tingjun Xu, Xiaonan Wen
  • Publication number: 20170185882
    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: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 9690413
    Abstract: An optically transparent 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: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    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
  • Patent number: 9679584
    Abstract: A system and method matches a digitized stream of audio signals to a known audio recording by receiving an audio stream from an application. The method performs signal analysis on sound and silence in the audio stream to compute a stream audio print of the audio stream, to identify a pattern associated with the audio stream. The method compares the stream audio print to one or more known audio prints from a library of known audio prints. The method first applies a silence constraint to match periods of silence. If application of the silence constraint is successful, the method computes a total scoring metric function to identify a match between the stream audio print and the known audio print. The total scoring metric function employs a scoring metric function that is computed at a subset of temporal points in the non-silent portion of the audio stream audio print.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ampersand, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Smith, George Howitt
  • Patent number: 9665200
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    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: 20170147605
    Abstract: A system for storing and accessing data relating to real estate, for example, a memory or a software application for execution upon an electronic device (e.g., smartphone). The software application provides to the user information, statistics, or other data regarding real estate or associated geographic regions based upon user criteria. The software application may access a memory, for example, a remote memory or database having structured or unstructured data. Communication recognition (e.g., voice, text, etc.) utilizes context to provide appropriate results based upon user input. Information may regard not only specific details of a real estate property, but also surrounding geography or municipality data. Image recognition features may also allow users to obtain desired search results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Laura Lete, Stephen Smith, Christopher Oakes
  • Patent number: 9655863
    Abstract: The invention relates to matrix and layer compositions comprising a first polymer. The matrix and layer compositions are useful in the delivery of bioactives. In particular, the matrices and layers may have advantageous properties including mechanical properties and protection of bioactives and may also provide for pH-dependent release of a bioactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Novus International, Inc.
    Inventors: Houston Stephen Smith, Matthew J. Fischer, Graciela B. Arhancet, Rangarani Karnati, John A. Hume, Xiaojun Wang
  • Publication number: 20170126079
    Abstract: An electric machine comprise a first carrier having an array of electromagnetic elements and a second carrier having electromagnetic elements defining magnetic poles, the second carrier being arranged to move relative to the first carrier. An airgap is provided between the first carrier and the second carrier. The electromagnetic elements of the first carrier include posts, with slots between the posts, one or more electric conductors in each slot, the posts of the first carrier having a post height in mm. The first carrier and the second carrier together define a size of the electric machine. The magnetic poles having a pole pitch in mm. The size of the motor, pole pitch and post height are selected to fall within a region in a space defined by size, pole pitch and post height that provides a benefit in terms of force or torque per weight per excitation level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: James Brent KLASSEN, Stephen Smith CHAMBERLAIN
  • Patent number: 9640013
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for tiered RFID communication are provided, inter alia, for privacy and security in at least certain embodiments. An RFID tag includes first and second memory locations respectively storing first and second identifiers. The tag is configured to respond to an identification query with the first identifier until receipt of a command code. After receipt of the command code, the tag is configured to respond to the identification query with the second identifier. The first identifier can be permanently disabled for privacy. In a one embodiment, the first identifier is an electronic product code, and the second identifier is a recycling identifier, hazardous waste information, or regulatory disposal requirement. In another embodiment, the first and second identifiers can identify the tag's associated item with differing levels of specificity for improved security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Ruizhang Technology Limited Company
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 9615776
    Abstract: The invention provides signal processing algorithms and apparatus for detecting bradykinesia, tremor, or other symptoms of neurological dysfunction in subjects, using three-dimensional sensors to tract finger and hand position. The invention provides Cartesian Genetic Programming networks and particular function blocks for such networks to enable identification of subjects exhibiting such symptoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Clearsky Medical Diagnostics Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 9612170
    Abstract: One or more strain sensors can be included in an electronic device. Each strain sensor includes a strain sensitive element and one or more strain signal lines connected directly to the strain sensitive element. The strain sensor(s) are 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 or surface of the electronic device. A strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first gauge factor and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second gauge factor. Additionally or alternatively, a strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first conductance and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second conductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vosgueritchian, John Stephen Smith, Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Tingjun Xu, Xiaonan Wen