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).

  • Transparent Force Sensitive Structures in an Electronic Device
    Publication number: 20170090638
    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: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Vosgueritchian, James E. Pedder, John Stephen Smith, Xiaonan Wen
  • Simultaneous programming of selected tags
    Patent number: 9582691
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneous programming of data to individually addressed Tags. Tags contain a being addressed indicator that allows for processing of simultaneous programming commands. Specified Tags are individually pre-addressed to receive simultaneous programming. Tag data is programmed simultaneously for all Tags in a specified group of Tags. Data is individually verified for each specified Tag in the group of Tags and verification includes tracking a command counter for each specified Tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ruizhang Technology Limited Company
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Force Touch Button Emulation
    Publication number: 20170052622
    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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • ELECTRIC MACHINE
    Publication number: 20170047792
    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: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: James Brent KLASSEN, Stephen Smith CHAMBERLAIN
  • ELECTRIC MACHINE
    Publication number: 20170047793
    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: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: James Brent KLASSEN, Stephen Smith CHAMBERLAIN
  • Noise Adaptive Force Touch
    Publication number: 20170031495
    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 the type of discrete event intended by a user, the electronic device is able to determine an amount of noise present in the electronic device and dynamically adjust force threshold values associated with the force sensing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • SMART CONSTRUCTION OR OPERATIONS SITE METHOD AND APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170032302
    Abstract: A system and method for managing and/or tracking of materials, equipment, or other components at an operations site, such as a construction site. The system may include tagging or marking of materials with one or more scannable or readable indicia (e.g., RFID tags) and associated scanners or readers configured to detect the materials via those indicia. The system may be configured to automatically or via user intervention, order materials, plan for material delivery, request employee or contractor work, or otherwise manage aspects of the a project being performed at the operations site in conjunction with the tracking of materials. The operations site may be networked (e.g., local Wi-Fi, connection with Internet, etc.) in order to allow on-site and off-site communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Laura Lete, Stephen Smith, Christopher Oakes
  • COMMUNICATION BASED SEARCHING METHOD AND APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170031950
    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: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Laura Lete, Stephen Smith, Christopher Oakes
  • Paperboard container having increased rigidity and method of manufacturing thereof
    Patent number: 9555916
    Abstract: The invention relates to pressed paperboard containers, such as disposable paper plates and bowls, having increased strength and rigidity, and the processes used to form such containers by the formation of non-radial pleats at outer regions of the container. The invention also provides pleats about the outer periphery that are non-linear along the length of the pleat. Such non-radial and non-linear pleats are formed by forming non-radial and non-linear scores in a blank of paperboard converted into the container geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SOLO CUP OPERATING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayberk Abayhan, Stephen A. Smith, Robert J. Schaefer
  • Comparison graph
    Patent number: 9557968
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GitHub, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Smith, Danny Greg, Karl Tobias Ahlin
  • Transparent Strain Sensors in an Electronic Device
    Publication number: 20170023420
    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: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Vosgueritchian, John Stephen Smith, Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Tingjun Xu, Xiaonan Wen
  • Persistent nodes for RFID
    Patent number: 9552540
    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: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ruizhang Technology Limited Company
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Common Mode Control for a Resistive Force Sensor
    Publication number: 20170010723
    Abstract: Several techniques for driving a force sensor to reduce common mode offset are disclosed. The force sensor can include at least one set of individual strain sensitive structures formed on or in a surface of a substrate. Each set of individual strain sensitive structures can include one or more strain sensitive structures. At least one external resistor is operably connected in series between a first output of one or more transmitter channels and at least one set of strain sensitive structures. The external resistor(s) effectively increases the resistances of the strain sensitive structures to reduce the common mode offset. Additionally or alternatively, one or more signal generators may be connected to one or more transmitter channels. Each signal generator is configured to produce one or more signals that is/are designed to reduce common mode offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: John Stephen Smith, Manu Agarwal, Christian M. Sauer
  • Temperature compensating transparent force sensor having a compliant layer
    Patent number: 9542028
    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: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 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
  • Systems and Methods for Measuring Resistive Sensors
    Publication number: 20160377501
    Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately and precisely measuring the resistance of a resistive sensor of a matched resistive sensor pair disposed on opposite surfaces of a substrate. Certain embodiments include coupled each sensor of the matched resistive sensors to a thermally-isolated pair of reference resistors contained within an integrated circuit so as to form a Wheatstone bridge. A controller associated with the integrated circuit can adjust the resistance of the thermally-isolated pair of reference resistors until the ratio of resistances matches to the ratio of resistances between the sensors of the matched pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Manu Agarwal, John Stephen Smith, Sumant Ranganathan
  • AUTOMATIC ISOTHERMAL TITRATION MICROCALORIMETER APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE
    Publication number: 20160363548
    Abstract: Automated isothermal titration micro calorimetry (ITC) system comprising a micro calorimeter with a sample cell and a reference cell, the sample cell is accessible via a sample cell stem and the reference cell is accessible via a reference cell stem. The system further comprises an automatic pipette assembly comprising a syringe with a titration needle arranged to be inserted into the sample cell for supplying titrant, the pipette assembly comprises an activator for driving a plunger in the syringe, a pipette translation unit supporting the pipette assembly and being arranged to place pipette in position for titration, washing and filling operations, a wash station for the titrant needle, and a cell preparation unit arranged to perform operations for replacing the sample liquid in the sample cell when the pipette is placed in another position than the position for titration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: Malvern Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Martin BROGA, Phillip PRICE, Stephen SMITH
  • Dynamic and Optimized Management of Grid System Resources
    Publication number: 20160342618
    Abstract: A system, a method, and a computer program product for or managing grid server system resource(s) are disclosed. A processor of a grid server in a plurality of grid servers determines an ingestion rate of data received by the grid server for a backup. The ingestion rate corresponds to a speed of transferring of the received data into a memory of the grid server. The processor determines a deduplication and replication rate of the received data. Deduplication represents a deduplication of the received data by the grid server. Replication represents replication of the deduplicated received data to another server in the plurality of servers. The processor adjusts the deduplication and replication rate based on the ingestion rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Watkins, Thomas G. Hansen, Stephen A. Smith, Luis Arruda, Adrian T. VanderSpek
  • Methods and apparatuses to identify devices
    Patent number: 9483671
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems with Readers and Tags in which a Reader queries the Tags with a parameter that includes a level of probability of reply according to which the Tags individually and randomly decide whether or not to reply. In one embodiment, the Tags can switch between two states: A and B. The query command also specifies a state (A or B) so that only the Tags in the specified state can reply. After successfully sending the Tag identification data from a Tag to the Reader, the Tag switches to the other state from the specified state. In one embodiment, the operations about the two states are symmetric. In one embodiment, the Tags can remember the parameters used in a query so that a short form of query command can be used to repeat the query with the same query parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ruizhang Technology Limited Company
    Inventors: John Stephen Smith, Curtis L. Carrender
  • Hollow core arrester strength membrane
    Patent number: 9472327
    Abstract: The disclosed concept relates to hollow core arrester membranes generally and, in particular, to membranes that include a pultruded tube composed of fibers and resin, and one or more wrap layers composed of fibers and resin in the form of a mat or fabric. The one or more wrap layers are applied to the pultruded tube to form a wrapped, pultruded tube, which is over molded with a polymer enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael M. Ramarge, Timothy Stephen Smith, Jeremy Lane Martin
  • NON-BLOCKING REGISTRATION IN DISTRIBUTED TRANSACTIONS
    Publication number: 20160283733
    Abstract: A method for transaction registration is described herein. The method includes sending, for a transaction manager, a registration request for a transaction. The method also performing data accesses on a data server. The registration request is non-blocking to the data accesses. The method further includes performing a two-phase commit process for the data server if the registration request is accepted. Additionally, the method includes handling the rollback if the transaction registration is rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Shang-Sheng Tung, Sean L. Broeder, Ronald M. Cassou, John Stewart de Roo, Gary Stephen Smith