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: 11460933
    Abstract: In some examples, a stylus can include a conductive shield. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a plurality of traces along an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) including the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a shield can coupled to the PCB and disposed around the components of the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow portion into which the stylus circuitry can be disposed and a solid portion that can act as a reference electrode. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow sleeve disposed around the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be attached to the PCB. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be disposed between layers of a housing of the stylus. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be integrated with the stylus housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin Bechstein, John Stephen Smith, Siddharth Shekar, Teera Songatikamas, Elvis Mwenda Kibiti, Jared A. Brauner, Lindsay Diane Rego Corbet, Wang Chung Alston Cheung, Vipin Ayanoor-Vitikkate, Nitin Sitaraman, Joyan Gratian Sanctis, Blake R. Marshall
  • Patent number: 11449175
    Abstract: In some examples, an input device includes a non-linear component, such as a diode. In response to a drive signal, such as a sinusoidal wave, the non-linear passive input device can produce a non-linear output that includes frequency content at the second and other higher harmonics of the fundamental frequency of the drive signal, for example. In some examples, drive electrodes can be driven with a drive signal having one of two fundamental frequencies such that the frequency of the drive signals are applied in an alternating pattern. The electronic device can sense the signal of the stylus to determine the coarse location of the stylus along the sense electrodes and, based on the frequency content of the received signal, a fine location along the axis of the drive electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Srinath Hosur, Aryan Hazeghi, John Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20220290120
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to single plasmid systems comprising sequences encoding programmable proteins, one or more guides, optionally donor polynucleotides, and optionally anti-CRISPR molecules, for gene editing. These plasmid systems allow for genomic engineering of bacterial strains that are difficult to transform and increase the efficiency of genomic engineering in tractable strains. Additionally, the single plasmids can be configured to provide for the transformation of a number of different bacterial strains using the same plasmid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Joel Berry, Jonathan Kotula, Agnes Oromi-Bosch, McKay Shaw, Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20220256214
    Abstract: A playout system for providing playout of fragmented video content is provided. The system includes a non-transitory data store and a processor. The processor is configured to playout content for video origination using a fragmented format. The processor can receive a playlist and generate a plurality of video fragments from source content. A transcoder can process video fragments based on one or more program scheduling requirements from the playlist to generate new video fragments. A manifest is updated to reference the new video fragments. The process can output a video stream based on the new video fragments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen Smith, Yuval Fisher, Brick Eksten, Steven Reynolds
  • Patent number: 11389600
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Cagri Giray Besirli, Stephen Smith, Kevin P. Pipe, Gun-Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20220224993
    Abstract: A system for producing fragmented video content is provided. The system includes a processing device, a non-transitory data store, and a memory storage device having at least a Manifest Processing Service (MPS) unit stored therein. The MPS unit is configured to generate at least one master manifest and store the master manifest in the non-transitory data store, the master manifest comprising a timing reference for a video fragment of the fragmented video content, wherein the timing reference indicates a temporal boundary of processing for the video fragment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: Imagine Communications Corp.
    Inventors: Brick Eksten, Stephen Smith, Yuval Fisher, Steven Reynolds
  • Patent number: 11381982
    Abstract: An example method includes obtaining a plurality of data items. Each data item includes an indication of a particular location, an indication that a wireless signal from a first access point was observed at that location, and an indication of a time at which the wireless signal from the first access point was observed at that location. The method also includes determining a locational stability of the first access point based on the data items. Determining the locational stability of the first access point includes clustering the plurality of data items into one or more clusters based on the locations indicated in the plurality of data items, determining whether the N most recent data items are associated with a common cluster, and determining whether a time span between the N most recent data items exceeds a threshold period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Tam, David Benjamin Millman, Brian Stephen Smith, Benjamin A. Detwiler
  • Patent number: 11379103
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can receive a first contextual content item created by a first user. A user input is received from a second user indicating an intent to acquire the first contextual content item. The second user is provided with access to utilize the first contextual content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen Smith, Joshua Barton Dickens, Christine Choi, Hyun Woo Jung
  • Patent number: 11310544
    Abstract: A playout system for providing playout of fragmented video content is provided. The system includes a non-transitory data store and a processor. The processor is configured to playout content for video origination using a fragmented format. The processor can receive a playlist and generate a plurality of video fragments from source content. A transcoder can process video fragments based on one or more program scheduling requirements from the playlist to generate new video fragments. A manifest is updated to reference the new video fragments. The process can output a video stream based on the new video fragments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: IMAGINE COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
    Inventors: Stephen Smith, Yuval Fisher, Brick Eksten, Steven Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20220089756
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a CH3-containing molecule comprising (a) a first polypeptide comprising a CH3 domain and a negatively charged domain comprising consecutive negatively charged amino acid residues; and (b) a second polypeptide comprising a CH3 domain and a positively charged domain comprising consecutive positively charged amino acid residues. Also provided are methods for conjugating synthetic molecules to a multi-specific antigen binding molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: John K. KAWOOYA, Alex W. JACOBITZ, Christopher MOHR, Stephen SMITH, Kevin GRAHAM, Ray Lieh Yoon LOW, Oliver THIEL, Dante ROMANINI, Victoria WAGNER, Neeraj J. AGRAWAL
  • Publication number: 20220091685
    Abstract: In some examples, a stylus can include a conductive shield. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a plurality of traces along an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) including the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a shield can coupled to the PCB and disposed around the components of the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow portion into which the stylus circuitry can be disposed and a solid portion that can act as a reference electrode. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow sleeve disposed around the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be attached to the PCB. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be disposed between layers of a housing of the stylus. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be integrated with the stylus housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin BECHSTEIN, John Stephen SMITH, Siddharth SHEKAR, Teera SONGATIKAMAS, Elvis Mwenda KIBITI, Jared A. BRAUNER, Lindsay Diane Rego CORBET, Wang Chung Alston CHEUNG, Vipin AYANOOR-VITIKKATE, Nitin SITARAMAN, Joyan Gratian SANCTIS, Blake R. MARSHALL
  • Publication number: 20220095443
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) robust design for an input device such as a stylus is disclosed. The input device can include one or more components, such as one or more Schottky diodes, that can be damaged by ESD events. To reduce the likelihood of damage to sensitive components, the parasitic capacitance between sensitive conductive paths and reference ground paths of the input device that could otherwise provide electrostatic discharge paths can be reduced (arranging current limiting resistance at specific locations among sensitive components, creating physical separation between sensitive conductive paths and reference ground paths), shielding can be added to shield the sensitive electronics from ESD pulses, and high dielectric breakdown material can be added to prevent ESD pulse entry or exit of not otherwise protected circuit parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin BECHSTEIN, MohammadAli KHORRAMI, Vipin AYANOOR-VITIKKATE, Blake R. MARSHALL, Zhibin WANG, Ying CAO, Robert Ubo LIU, John Stephen SMITH
  • Publication number: 20220069568
    Abstract: A module for a fire-mitigating surge arrester includes: an inner arrester module including an electrically conductive assembly; a cartridge including a first end, a second end, a sidewall that extends between the first end and the second end, and an exhaust region in the sidewall, the sidewall surrounding the inner arrester module; a first electrical component in contact with a first end of the electrically conductive assembly and the first end of the cartridge; a second electrical component in contact with a second end of the electrically conductive assembly and the second end of the cartridge; and a reinforcement structure on the sidewall, the first electrical component, and the second electrical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Mahlon Ramarge, Timothy Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 11262797
    Abstract: A system may include a wearable electronic device that gathers force input. The device may transmit force measurement information and other input to external equipment such as a head-mounted device. The wearable electronic device may have a force sensor that gathers force measurements as the wearable electronic device is being worn. The force sensor may have a force sensor housing structure configured to form a fluid-filled channel and one or more collapsible force sensor elements such as collapsible fluid-filled domes or other protruding portions of the force sensor housing structure. A pressure sensor may monitor changes in pressure in a fluid that fills the channel and the fluid-filled domes. The monitored changes in pressure represent force measurements for force applied by a user's body part or other objects on the collapsible force sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Storrs T. Hoen, Kathryn P. Crews, J. Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20220046334
    Abstract: A system for producing fragmented video content is provided. The system includes a processing device, a non-transitory data store, and a memory storage device having at least a Manifest Processing Service (MPS) unit stored therein. The MPS unit is configured to generate at least one master manifest and store the master manifest in the non-transitory data store, the master manifest comprising a timing reference for a video fragment of the fragmented video content, wherein the timing reference indicates a temporal boundary of processing for the video fragment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Imagine Communications Corp.
    Inventors: Brick Eksten, Stephen Smith, Yuval Fisher, Steven Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20220040532
    Abstract: In some implementations, a device may receive performance data associated with a performance of a user during an activity session. The device may receive, from a user device, media data associated with the user being involved in the activity session. The device may process, using a cognitive state analysis model, the media data to determine a cognitive state score associated with a cognitive state of the user in relation to the activity session. The device may process, using a performance analysis model, the cognitive state score and the performance data to generate a performance profile for the user. The device may determine, based on the performance profile, a recommendation associated with an activity performed during the activity session. The device may perform, based on the performance profile, an action associated with the recommendation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Giovanna FERRARI, Charlie Hendrik WIJSMAN, Thomas WHITE, Ebtihal OKOK, Stephen SMITH, Danielle POTTS, Lucas PARISI, Zohaib TESNEEM, Simon O'DONOGHUE, Paul MCMURRAY
  • Patent number: 11204907
    Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program product for performing accelerated and memory efficient similarity matching. A data stream having a plurality of data zones is received. Each zone includes a zone identifier. A plurality of hashing values for each zone are generated. Each hashing value is generated based on a portion of a zone. A storage structure having a plurality of storage containers is generated. Each storage container stores one or more hashing values associated with each respective storage container and a plurality of zone identifiers referencing the associated hashing values. At least one storage container includes a listing of zone identifiers stored in each storage container. Using the storage structure, the received data stream is deduplicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Exagrid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian T. VanderSpek, Luis Arruda, Jamey C. Poirier, Stephen A. Smith, Raz Zieber, Peter Watkins
  • Publication number: 20210387845
    Abstract: A method for automatically filling a container with water and/or ice from a dispenser in a refrigerator door or within a refrigerator cavity includes the steps of: placing a container adjacent the dispenser; determining a volume of the container by using a camera associated with the dispenser, capturing a picture of the containing, visually estimating a volume of the container via a microprocessor associated with the camera or a cloud-based application associated with the camera, and converting the estimated container volume to an estimated weight based on densities of water and/or ice; filling the container with water and/or ice from the dispenser based on the estimated weight; and terminating filling of the container based on the estimated weight. And the refrigerator carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: John W. Taylor, Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: D939648
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: D967304
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HOT Brands, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Smith