Patents by Inventor Stephen Bernard

Stephen Bernard 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: 20250220780
    Abstract: An electric heating assembly may include a sheath, a resistive wire, a thermally conductive electrical insulation, and a tubular body. The sheath may define an enclosed volume along a longitudinal length between a first end portion and a second end portion. The resistive wire may be disposed within the enclosed volume to generate heat in response to an electrical current. The thermally conductive electrical insulation may be radially positioned between the resistive wire and the sheath. The tubular body may be disposed radially inward from the sheath and define a vent channel extending from a vent inlet disposed within the sheath to a vent outlet held outside of the sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Inventor: Stephen Bernard Froelicher
  • Publication number: 20250146671
    Abstract: An electric heating assembly may include a resistive heating element, a first voltage supply line, a first switching element, a second voltage supply line, a second switching element, and a controller. The first voltage supply line may connect the electric heating assembly to a first voltage source proximal to a first end portion. The first switching element may be disposed along the first voltage supply line to selectively restrict a current from the first voltage source. The second voltage supply line may connect the electric heating assembly to a second voltage source proximal to a second end portion. The second switching element may be disposed along the second voltage supply line to selectively restrict a current from the second voltage source. The controller may be configured to control the first and second switching elements in tandem according to a selected heating cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventor: Stephen Bernard Froelicher
  • Publication number: 20250113411
    Abstract: An electric heating assembly may include a sheath, a resistive wire, and a thermally conductive electrical insulation. The sheath may define an enclosed volume along a longitudinal length between a first end portion and a second end portion. The resistive wire may be disposed within the enclosed volume to generate heat in response to an electrical current. The thermally conductive electrical insulation may be radially positioned between the resistive wire and the sheath. A radially covered vent channel may be defined to extend from the thermally conductive electrical insulation in fluid communication with an area outside of the sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Stephen Bernard Froelicher, James Lee Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20250034785
    Abstract: A laundry machine appliance is provided, including a cabinet forming an interior volume, a tub positioned within the interior volume, and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub and forming a wash chamber. A balance ring assembly is positioned at a base of the wash basket. The balance ring assembly forms a sealed passage between a base wall, a sidewall, and a top wall. The sealed passage extends circumferentially along the wash basket. The balance ring assembly includes a balance member forming a puck positioned at the sealed passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Stephen Bernard Froelicher, Cody Ewing
  • Publication number: 20250011054
    Abstract: Disrupted closures are described herein which can provide for consistent flow paths for gas transfer from a container. The closures include a sealing member extending on the inside of the closure to contact a vented liner and/or the rim of a container. The sealing member includes a sealing portion and one or more disruptions in the sealing portion to provide gas pathways to the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventor: Stephen Bernard Kleyn
  • Publication number: 20240284919
    Abstract: An oven appliance includes a housing defining a discharge vent, a cooking chamber positioned within the housing, an exhaust duct providing fluid communication between the cooking chamber and the discharge vent, an air handler operably coupled with the exhaust duct for urging a flow of heated air from the cooking chamber, through the exhaust duct, and out of the discharge vent, and a catalytic converter assembly. The catalytic converter assembly includes a catalytic element positioned within the exhaust duct for lowering volatile organic compounds from the flow of heated air and a catalyst heater positioned upstream of the catalytic element for selectively heating the flow of heated air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventor: Stephen Bernard Froelicher
  • Publication number: 20240242461
    Abstract: A system and method to decode data is disclosed. A process to decode data rendered as localized position features is applied. The process to decode includes stages. A feature location parameter is adjusted. A stage of the process is reapplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew D GAUBATZ, Robert A ULICHNEY, Stephen Bernard POLLARD
  • Publication number: 20230274454
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus, and computer program code for determining a correcting mapping, comprising: locating a test object having a known linear dimension at a plurality of positions within a volume; at each of the plurality of positions, capturing a three-dimensional scan of the test object using a three-dimensional imaging device; and determining a difference between the known linear dimension and the linear dimension as obtained from the captured scan; and determining a correction mapping for the volume based on the determined differences, the correction mapping indicating variation from an expected location of the location as captured by the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen Bernard Pollard, Fraser John Dickin, Guy de Warrenne Bruce Adams, Faisal Azhar
  • Publication number: 20230267642
    Abstract: Examples of methods for fiducial location are described herein. In some examples, a method may include estimating a first location of an unidentified fiducial based on image coordinates and grid coordinates of a set of contiguous fiducials. In some examples, the method may include determining that a candidate fiducial is a fiducial based on comparing the first location with a second location of the candidate fiducial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicants: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Yujian XU, Stephen Bernard Pollard, Robert ULICHNEY, Matthew D GAUBATZ, Jan Philip ALLEBACH
  • Publication number: 20230228560
    Abstract: A method comprising scanning a test artefact at plurality of locations relative to the scanner to create test data. Determining a measured dimension of the test artefact in each of the plurality of locations based on the test data. Determining an error between the measured dimension and an actual dimension of the test artefact in each of the plurality of locations to create error data. Determining from the error data a preferred region relative to the scanner for scanning and adjusting a position of the scanner relative to an object to be scanned so the object is within the preferred region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Faisal Azhar, Guy De Warrenne Bruce Adams, Stephen Bernard Pollard, Fraser John Dickin
  • Patent number: 11703807
    Abstract: A dead-beat escapement break away assembly which consists of, a pallet engagement collet with at least one magnet attached thereto and a pallet alignment feature attached thereto; a pendulum crutch attachment mechanically coupled to the pallet engagement collet; a pallet which is adapted to be magnetically coupled to the pallet engagement collet so as to mechanically engage the pendulum crutch attachment to the pallet, thereby enabling the pallet to break away from the pallet engagement collet when sufficient force is applied to the pallet to overcome the magnetic force of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Jeremy Michael Turner, Stephen Bernard Froelicher
  • Patent number: 11690161
    Abstract: A hollow cathode apparatus includes an outer tubular dielectric barrier circumferentially surrounding an outer tubular surface of the cathode tube, the outer tubular dielectric barrier being composed of a barrier material which is electrically non-conductive. Also disclosed is a system comprising the hollow cathode apparatus, an anode which is spaced from the output end of the tubular cathode, and electrical circuitry connected between the cathode tube and the anode for connection to a source of electrical power for providing an electrical potential between the cathode and anode to cause an electric current to pass from the emitter into the input gas to form a plasma which is then output through the output end of the cathode tube to form a plasma plume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: University of Southampton
    Inventors: Alexander Joey Nikolaos Daykin-Iliopoulos, Stephen Bernard Gabriel, Igor Golosnoy
  • Publication number: 20230196707
    Abstract: Examples of methods for fiducial pattern detection are described herein. In some examples, a method may include detecting fiducial pattern subsets in image subsets of an image of an object. In some examples, the method may also include selecting a first image subset that includes a largest first fiducial pattern subset. In some examples, the method may further include extending the first fiducial pattern subset from the first image subset to a neighboring second image subset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Ziyi ZHAO, Robert ULICHNEY, Stephen Bernard POLLARD, Matthew D. GAUBATZ, Jan Philip ALLEBACH
  • Publication number: 20230053519
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus, and computer program code for object manufacturing (e.g. 3D printing), to align an object scan obtained from a manufactured object manufactured according to an object data file with an object representation obtained from the object data file. The manufactured object has been manufactured on a manufacturing bed of a 3D manufacturing apparatus according to the object data file. The manufactured object comprises a manufacturing parameter identifier in a region of interest defined in the object data file, the manufacturing parameter identifier indicating a manufacturing parameter of the manufactured object. The manufacturing parameter identifier in the region of interest of the aligned object scan may be computationally read.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Faisal Azhar, Stephen Bernard Pollard, Simon Michael Winkelbach, Rudolf Martin
  • Publication number: 20230030807
    Abstract: A method is described in which a three-dimensional polygon mesh model of an object is analysed to identify a sub-mesh representing a predefined geometric shape. The polygon mesh model is aligned with three-dimensional scan data of an instance of the object. Based on the alignment, the position of the predefined geometric shape is identified in the three-dimensional scan data. Using the position of the predefined geometric shape, metrology data for the instance of the object is derived from the three-dimensional scan data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen Bernard Pollard, Faisal Azhar
  • Publication number: 20220349708
    Abstract: A system comprising a scanner to scan an object and a controller. The controller can cause an object to be moved to a plurality of locations to be scanned by the scanner. At each location the controller can cause the scanner to scan the object to create scan data and can cause a reference device to create reference data relating to the object. The scan data can be processed to create scan position data indicative of a measured scan position of the object and can cause the reference data to be processed to create reference position data indicative of a measured reference position of the object. The controller can also cause the generation of error data indicative of a position error in the scan data at each of the plurality of locations based on the scan position data and the reference position data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Fraser John Dickin, Stephen Bernard Pollard, Guy De Warrenne Bruce Adams, Faisal Azhar
  • Patent number: 11401087
    Abstract: A vented grooved foam liner cap system for attachment to a container, including a vented foam liner having a grooved distal side that can be actuated from an open state to a sealed state within a cap of a container by a sealing mechanism. A method of equilibrating pressure and sealing a container, by venting contents of a container through the vented grooved foam liner cap system attached to the container, and after the contents have cooled to a desired temperature, stopping venting, thereby providing pressure equilibration to the container, and sealing the container by activating a sealing mechanism in the vented grooved foam liner cap system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Selig Grand Rapids LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Bernard Kleyn
  • Publication number: 20220074738
    Abstract: Disclosed are a 3D scanner, an additive manufacturing system and an apparatus and method for identifying features of a 3D object manufactured in such a system. An apparatus comprises an optical projection assembly comprising a light source and an optical grating, for illuminating an object with first and second light patterns having different spatial frequencies, wherein the optical projection assembly provides a first light pattern in a first configuration of the optical projection assembly and provides a second light pattern in a second configuration of the optical projection assembly. An image capturing apparatus is used to capture images corresponding to reflections of the first and second light patterns from the illuminated object, and a processing unit is used to identify, from the captured reflections of the first and second light patterns, the effects of distortions in the reflected light patterns corresponding to features of the illuminated object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen Bernard Pollard, Fraser John Dickin, Guy de Warrenne Bruce Adams
  • Publication number: 20220057756
    Abstract: A dead-beat escapement break away assembly which consists of, a pallet engagement collet with at least one magnet attached thereto and a pallet alignment feature attached thereto; a pendulum crutch attachment mechanically coupled to the pallet engagement collet; a pallet which is adapted to be magnetically coupled to the pallet engagement collet so as to mechanically engage the pendulum crutch attachment to the pallet, thereby enabling the pallet to break away from the pallet engagement collet when sufficient force is applied to the pallet to overcome the magnetic force of the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Jeremy Michael Tumer, Stephen Bernard Froelicher
  • Patent number: 11197353
    Abstract: A microwave appliance, as provided herein, may include an outer casing, an inner liner, a door, and an air handler. The outer casing may define an air inlet above a cooktop appliance. The outer casing may extend in a lateral direction between a first side end and a second side end. The inner casing may define a cooking chamber. The door may include a peripheral frame and a front window bounded by the peripheral frame. The peripheral frame may define an air outlet downstream from the air inlet and below the front window along the vertical direction. The air handler may be mounted within the outer casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and the air outlet to motivate an airflow therethrough. The air outlet may define an airflow curtain path extending outward from the outer casing in front of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: James Lee Armstrong, Stephen Bernard Froelicher, Michael A. Funk