Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Howard

Stephen C. Howard 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: 10302245
    Abstract: In one aspect, kits for constructing an apparatus are described herein which, in some embodiments, can demonstrate desirable modularity, adjustability, and reconfigurability. A kit for constructing an apparatus described herein comprises a plurality of modular blocks and fastening pins and coupling pins for connecting the modular blocks to one another. A modular block comprises a first face having one or more first apertures for receiving fastening pins and an adjacent second face having one or more second apertures for receiving coupling pins. A fastening pin comprises a sidewall aperture for receiving a coupling pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Stuart T. Smith, Stephen C. Howard
  • Patent number: 10197216
    Abstract: In one aspect, kits for constructing an apparatus are described herein which, in some embodiments, can demonstrate desirable modularity, adjustability, and reconfigurability. A kit for constructing an apparatus described herein comprises a plurality of modular blocks and fastening sleeves, sleeve pins and coupling pins for connecting the modular blocks to one another. A modular block comprises a series of first apertures for receiving one or more of the fastening sleeves and series of second apertures for receiving the sleeve pins to secure the fastening sleeves in the first apertures, wherein the second apertures intersect the first apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Stuart T. Smith, Stephen C. Howard
  • Publication number: 20180238487
    Abstract: In one aspect, kits for constructing an apparatus are described herein which, in some embodiments, can demonstrate desirable modularity, adjustability, and reconfigurability. A kit for constructing an apparatus described herein comprises a plurality of modular blocks and fastening pins and coupling pins for connecting the modular blocks to one another. A modular block comprises a first face having one or more first apertures for receiving fastening pins and an adjacent second face having one or more second apertures for receiving coupling pins. A fastening pin comprises a sidewall aperture for receiving a coupling pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart T. SMITH, Stephen C. HOWARD
  • Publication number: 20160033075
    Abstract: In one aspect, kits for constructing an apparatus are described herein which, in some embodiments, can demonstrate desirable modularity, adjustability, and reconfigurability. A kit for constructing an apparatus described herein comprises a plurality of modular blocks and fastening sleeves, sleeve pins and coupling pins for connecting the modular blocks to one another. A modular block comprises a series of first apertures for receiving one or more of the fastening sleeves and series of second apertures for receiving the sleeve pins to secure the fastening sleeves in the first apertures, wherein the second apertures intersect the first apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Stuart T. SMITH, Stephen C. Howard
  • Patent number: 6683884
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a queue servicing method and system for servicing queues containing packetized data in a network switching device. The invention includes initializing parameters for multiple queues, such as a quantum value, a borrow enable flag, and a first counter maximum value. The invention increments a first counter for each of the queues with the quantum value and donates the quantum value to a share counter, when the value of the first counter exceeds the first counter maximum value. The invention then selects a packet from each of the queues to be dequeued and transmitted on an output channel of the network device. The packet is dequeued and transmitted when a byte length of the packet is less than or equal to the value contained in the first counter or when the borrow enable flag of the queue is enabled and the byte length of the packet is less than or equal to a sum of the values contained in the first counter and the share counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen C. Howard