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: 20200093312
    Abstract: A system includes at least a computing apparatus including a communication interface coupled or coupleable to a sensor in contact with a heatable liquid contained in a vessel, the sensor being configured to obtain measurements of a property of the liquid or the sensor; and a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to receive the measurements of the property of the liquid or the sensor. The processor is programmed to at least determine a height of the liquid in the vessel, and in at least one instance oscillation of the height of the liquid in the vessel, from the measurements, determine an amplitude of the oscillation, determine a level of boil of the liquid from the amplitude of the oscillation and a viscosity of the liquid, and output an indication of the level of boil for display or control of the heat to which the liquid is subjected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Stoufer, Stephen Smith, John Taylor
  • Publication number: 20200092629
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices having a deformable surfaces through which a user can provide inputs to the device by applying a force such as a pinch or a squeeze. A particular embodiment is an earpiece with the deformable surface part of an elongate section extending from an earbud. The deformable surface includes an incompressible hyperelastic material and a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor includes a pressure sensing element and a void defined between the pressure sensing element and the incompressible hyperelastic material. An applied force is transferred by the incompressible hyperelastic material to compress the void and change an internal pressure thereof. The changed pressure is detected by the pressure sensor, and can result in changed operation of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: John Stephen Smith, Storrs T. Hoen
  • Patent number: 10591368
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Pedder, John Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20200076244
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power receiving device has a rectifier and a wireless power receiving coil that receives wireless power signals. The wireless power transmitting device uses a layer of coils to transmit the wireless power signals. A dielectric layer in the wireless power transmitting device defines a charging surface that receives the wireless power receiving device. A layer of temperature sensors is interposed between the layer of coils and the dielectric layer. Control circuitry in the wireless power transmitting device uses temperature information from the temperature sensors to determine whether a foreign object such as a coin is present on the charging surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: J. Stephen Smith, Behrooz Shahsavari, Jacob E. Mattingley, Joseph C. Doll, Steven P. Hotelling, Siddharth Seth, Douglas J. Adams, Michael A. Cretella
  • Patent number: 10577413
    Abstract: Specific binding members directed to eotaxin-1, in particular human antibodies and antibody fragments against human eotaxin-1 and especially those which neutralise eotaxin-1 activity. The antibodies VH and/or VL domain of the scFv fragment herein termed CAT-212 and of the IgG4 antibody herein termed CAT 213. One or more complementary determining regions (CDRs) of the CAT-213/-213 VH and/or VL domains especially VH CRD3 in other antibody framework regions. Compositions containing specific binding members and their use in methods of inhibiting or neutralising eotaxin, including methods of treatment or the human or animal body by therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Medimmune Limited
    Inventors: Tristan John Vaughan, Alison Jane Wilton, Stephen Smith, Sarah Helen Main
  • Patent number: 10551311
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen Smith, Norman McMillan, Martina O'Neill, Sven Riedel, John Hammond
  • Publication number: 20200025698
    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: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: Malvern Panalytical Inc.
    Inventors: Martin BROGA, Phillip PRICE, Stephen SMITH
  • Patent number: 10506966
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: Emory University, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Russell K. Gore, Michelle LaPlaca, David W. Wright, Tamara Espinoza, Shean Phelps, Brian Liu, Stephen Smith, Nicole Kosoris, Alessio Medda, Courtney Crooks
  • Patent number: 10505403
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device. To detect foreign objects, the wireless power transmitting device has an array of temperature sensors. The array of temperature sensors may include temperature sensor components such as temperature sensitive thin-film resistors or other temperature sensitive components. A temperature sensor may have thin-film resistors formed on opposing sides of a substrate. The thin-film resistors may be formed from meandered metal traces to reduce eddy current formation during operation of the wireless power transmitting device. Signal paths coupling control circuitry on the wireless power transmitting device to the array of temperature sensors may be configured to extend along columns of the temperature sensors without running along each row of the temperature sensors, thereby reducing eddy currents from loops of signal routing lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: J. Stephen Smith, Siddharth Seth, Douglas J. Adams, Michael A. Cretella
  • Publication number: 20190373413
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a feature-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) system and method that generates radio maps for environments that are not accessible for surveying. More accurate radio maps are generated for an unsurveyed environment by determining a best estimate of a mobile device state from harvested traced data that maximizes a posterior probability of the mobile device state given measurements, landmarks and loop constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Kong, Jahshan Bhatti, Brian Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20190373407
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a feature-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) system and method that generates radio maps for environments that are not accessible for surveying. More accurate radio maps are generated for an unsurveyed environment by determining a best estimate of a mobile device state from harvested traced data that maximizes a posterior probability of the mobile device state given measurements, landmarks and loop constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jahshan Bhatti, Brian Stephen Smith, Wei Kong
  • Patent number: 10496211
    Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a housing defining an interior volume and a port connecting the interior volume to an environment exterior to the device. The mobile communication device also includes a display viewable through a surface of the housing, a pressure sensor configured to measure an air pressure within the interior volume, an air flow sensor configured to measure an air flow through the port, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine an amount of force applied to the housing using a measurement of the air pressure by the pressure sensor and a measurement of the air flow by the air flow sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20190361560
    Abstract: A device configured to sense a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a cover and a force-sensing structure disposed below the cover. The force-sensing structure may be positioned below a display and used in combination with other force-sensing elements to estimate the force of a touch on the cover of a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Martin P. Grunthaner, John Stephen Smith, Charley T. Ogata, Christian M. Sauer, Shin John Choi, Christopher J. Butler, Steven J. Martisauskas
  • Patent number: 10472872
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: INVISIFOLD LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil Ingram, Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 10466829
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    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: 10452617
    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: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    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
  • Patent number: 10423265
    Abstract: An optical force sensor, which may be used as input to an electronic device. The optical 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: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    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: 20190266131
    Abstract: A system, a method, and a computer program product for performing deduplication of data using a scalable deduplication grid are disclosed. A listing of a plurality of zone stamps is generated, where each zone stamp represents a zone in the plurality of zones in a data stream. The listing contains a logical arrangement of the plurality of zone stamps obtained from each storage location and being accessible by a plurality of servers. A first zone stamp in the listing is compared to a second zone stamp in the listing. The first and second zones are delta-compressed based on a determination that the first zone stamp is substantially similar to the second zone stamp. A server is selected to perform the comparison and delta-compression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas G. Hansen, Daniel P. Martinelli, Lucas H. Makosky, Mark B. Hecker, Stephen A. Smith, Adrian T. VanderSpek, David G. Therrien
  • Patent number: D871442
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen Smith, Joshua Barton Dickens, Christine Choi, Hyun Woo Jung
  • Patent number: D872224
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Nexom Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Hildebrand, Merle Kroeker, Stephen A. Smith