Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Kelly
Stephen J. Kelly 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).
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Patent number: 11957338Abstract: Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the stapling assembly includes a cartridge having a plurality of staples disposed therein and a non-fibrous adjunct formed of at least one fused bioabsorbable polymer and configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge. Adjunct systems for use with a surgical stapler are also provided. Surgical end effectors using the stapling assemblies are also provided. Methods for manufacturing stapling assemblies and using the same are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Jason L. Harris, Michael J. Vendely, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Austin Bridges, Peyton Hopson, Jackie Donners, Hardik Kabaria, Farhad Javid, David Arthur Kelly, Elliott Baker, Stephen J. Peter, Xinyu Gu, Gina Michelle Policastro, Sharon Chen
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Patent number: 11151336Abstract: Systems and methods for a reconfigurable radio front-end are provided. One system includes a device having an antenna, a first front-end communication section configured to communicate using a first communication method and a second front-end communication section configured to communicate using a second communication method, wherein the first and second communication methods are different communication methods. The device further includes a switch having an input configured to receive a control signal via a communication line to select the first front-end communication section or the second front-end communication section and a controller configured to control a state of the switch. The switch is configured to be switched between states when the controller receives the control signal, thereby allowing communication using the first communication method or the second communication method via the antenna.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly, Antony Baskar Arul
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Patent number: 10733394Abstract: A smart tag reading system is provided that has the ability to query sensor tags that have energy harvesting capability. In one embodiment, an adaptive reader system learns the state of each tag and how long the tag takes to charge. Tags that charge relatively quickly can be accessed more frequently. Others that do not charge as quickly, readings can be performed at much longer intervals allowing the tag a longer time to gather enough energy to complete the transaction. The reader query system can then adapt to the environment and state of the individual tags.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: INTERMEC IP CORP.Inventors: Stephen J. Kelly, Pavel Nikitin
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Patent number: 10503937Abstract: A passive, self-steering antenna device is provided along with methods pertaining to operations and controls of the antenna device. The antenna device can include a main antenna for receiving an unmodulated wireless signal, a power harvester configured to obtain power from the unmodulated wireless signal, a main circuit disposed in a central region of the antenna device, and a plurality of peripheral distributed antenna elements configured to modify the radiation pattern of the antenna device. The antenna device can be configured to operate automatically device without needing control information in response to receiving a message from another antenna. Related methods include operations and controls for such an antenna device including automatically performing actions to enhance communications with another antenna device by selecting and activating a subset of the peripheral antenna elements to create a radiation pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly
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Patent number: 10452968Abstract: A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag with improved sensitivity includes an antenna that receives a radio-frequency (RF) signal and wireless power from an RFID reader. The RFID tag further includes a circuit that varies a reflection coefficient of the antenna to transmit a reflected signal to the reader, the reflected signal having periods of high reflectance when a relatively high amount of the RF signal is reflected, and low reflectance periods when a relatively low amount of the RF signal is reflected. The reflectance of the antenna is sufficiently low during the high reflectance periods to enable wireless power reception during the high reflectance periods.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly, Rene Martinez
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Patent number: 10445540Abstract: Systems and methods for a distributed antenna network are provided. One system includes a plurality of antenna modules coupled via a communication line, with each antenna module configured to be switched between a through state and a connected state using radio-frequency identification (RFID) control signals. The system further includes a plurality of antennas, with each antenna connected to a corresponding antenna module. A controller is coupled to the communication line and configured to transmit RFID control signals to the plurality of antenna modules to selectively activate one of the antenna modules by switching the antenna module to the connected state to thereby activate an antenna connected to the antenna module in the connected state.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Rene Martinez, Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly, Jason Harrigan
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Patent number: 10430622Abstract: A method for reconfiguring an RFID tag or RFID reader is disclosed. The method may include receiving a wireless signal from an RFID reader; processing, by an RFID circuit, the wireless signal received from the antenna; determining if a first sensor or switch that is connected to the RFID circuit is engaged or activated; outputting a first signal to the RFID circuit when the first sensor or switch is engaged or activated; and changing by the RFID circuit, at least one operating parameter of the RFID tag when the RFID circuit receives the first signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Rene Martinez, Stephen J. Kelly, Shashidhar Ramamurthy
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Patent number: 10339346Abstract: Systems and methods for a reconfigurable antenna are provided. One system includes a device having a plurality of antenna elements configured to read a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag and a switch having an input configured to receive a control signal from an RFID reader via a communication line to select one antenna of the plurality of antenna elements. The device further include a controller configured to control a state of the switch, wherein the switch is configured to be switched between states when the controller receives the RFID control signal comprising an address unique to the switch, thereby allowing the RFID reader to send an interrogation signal to and receive a response from the RFID tag in response to receiving the RFID control signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Rene Martinez, Stephen J. Kelly
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Publication number: 20190138769Abstract: Systems and methods for a distributed antenna network are provided. One system includes a plurality of antenna modules coupled via a communication line, with each antenna module configured to be switched between a through state and a connected state using radio-frequency identification (RFID) control signals. The system further includes a plurality of antennas, with each antenna connected to a corresponding antenna module. A controller is coupled to the communication line and configured to transmit RFID control signals to the plurality of antenna modules to selectively activate one of the antenna modules by switching the antenna module to the connected state to thereby activate an antenna connected to the antenna module in the connected state.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Rene MARTINEZ, Pavel NIKITIN, Stephen J. KELLY, Jason HARRIGAN
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Patent number: 10185849Abstract: Systems and methods for a distributed antenna network are provided. One system includes a plurality of antenna modules coupled via a communication line, with each antenna module configured to be switched between a through state and a connected state using radio-frequency identification (RFID) control signals. The system further includes a plurality of antennas, with each antenna connected to a corresponding antenna module. A controller is coupled to the communication line and configured to transmit RFID control signals to the plurality of antenna modules to selectively activate one of the antenna modules by switching the antenna module to the connected state to thereby activate an antenna connected to the antenna module in the connected state.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Rene Martinez, Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly, Jason Harrigan
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Patent number: 10186136Abstract: Passive wireless transponders can perform transponder-to-transponder communication when illuminated by an interrogation carrier wave. The transponder-to-transponder communication permits each transponder to determine the identity of “other” proximately transponders. The transponder-to-transponder communication optionally permits each transponder to identify a “nearest neighbor” using one or more backscatter signal properties such as received signal strength or time-of-flight. Using this information and one or more externally supplied or internally stored instruction sets transponders can provide neighboring transponder data to an interrogator. Using this “neighbor” data, the interrogator can provide a system user with data indicative of the relative locations of a plurality of tags arranged in a one or two dimensional matrix.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: INTERMEC IP CORP.Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly
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Publication number: 20190012493Abstract: Systems and methods for a reconfigurable radio front-end are provided. One system includes a device having an antenna, a first front-end communication section configured to communicate using a first communication method and a second front-end communication section configured to communicate using a second communication method, wherein the first and second communication methods are different communication methods. The device further includes a switch having an input configured to receive a control signal via a communication line to select the first front-end communication section or the second front-end communication section and a controller configured to control a state of the switch. The switch is configured to be switched between states when the controller receives the control signal, thereby allowing communication using the first communication method or the second communication method via the antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2017Publication date: January 10, 2019Applicant: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel NIKITIN, Stephen J. KELLY, Antony Baskar ARUL
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Publication number: 20190005283Abstract: A method for reconfiguring an RFID tag or RFID reader is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel NIKITIN, Rene MARTINEZ, Stephen J. KELLY, Shashidhar RAMAMURTHY
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Publication number: 20180373909Abstract: Systems and methods for a reconfigurable antenna are provided. One system includes a device having a plurality of antenna elements configured to read a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag and a switch having an input configured to receive a control signal from an RFID reader via a communication line to select one antenna of the plurality of antenna elements. The device further include a controller configured to control a state of the switch, wherein the switch is configured to be switched between states when the controller receives the RFID control signal comprising an address unique to the switch, thereby allowing the RFID reader to send an interrogation signal to and receive a response from the RFID tag in response to receiving the RFID control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Applicant: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel NIKITIN, Rene MARTINEZ, Stephen J. KELLY
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Patent number: 10163282Abstract: Systems and methods for authentication are provided. One system includes a device configured to sense electrical characteristics of an item coupled with a person and a memory storing a plurality of electrical signatures corresponding to measured electrical characteristics for a plurality of items. The system also includes a controller operable on a processor to determine if an electrical signature determined from sensed electrical characteristics of the item coupled with the person match one of the plurality of electrical signatures stored in the memory to authenticate the person having the item coupled thereto.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly
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Publication number: 20180365549Abstract: A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag with improved sensitivity includes an antenna that receives a radio-frequency (RF) signal and wireless power from an RFID reader. The RFID tag further includes a circuit that varies a reflection coefficient of the antenna to transmit a reflected signal to the reader, the reflected signal having periods of high reflectance when a relatively high amount of the RF signal is reflected, and low reflectance periods when a relatively low amount of the RF signal is reflected. The reflectance of the antenna is sufficiently low during the high reflectance periods to enable wireless power reception during the high reflectance periods.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2017Publication date: December 20, 2018Applicant: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel NIKITIN, Stephen J. KELLY, Rene MARTINEZ
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Patent number: 10114985Abstract: Systems and methods for radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag communication are provided. One radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag includes a communication device configured to communicate with an RFID reader and an impedance element configured to change an variable impedance of the RFID tag. The RFID tag further includes at least one switch connected to the impedance element and a controller connected to the at least one switch and configured to control operation of the switch between open and closed states based on a control signal received from the RFID reader, wherein the variable impedance of the RFID tag is changed between a first modulating impedance value and a second modulating impedance value when the switch is changed between the open and closed states.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly, Rene Martinez
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Patent number: 10096898Abstract: A passive, self-reconfigurable antenna device, components of a corresponding wireless network, and methods pertaining to operations and controls of the antenna device are provided. The antenna device can include at least one antenna element configured to receive a modulated or unmodulated wireless signal, a power harvester configured to obtain power from the modulated or unmodulated wireless signal, and a first switch coupled to the power harvester and powered by the obtained power from the power harvester. The first switch can be configured to operate automatically when receiving the obtained power without requiring the receipt of control information. Further, the first switch can be configured to automatically operate according to one or more predetermined operating patterns when receiving the obtained power to modulate the corresponding antenna element. This way, antenna operating frequency, or radiation pattern or polarization states can be reconfigured.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly
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Publication number: 20180247091Abstract: Systems and methods for radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag communication are provided. One radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag includes a communication device configured to communicate with an RFID reader and an impedance element configured to change an variable impedance of the RFID tag. The RFID tag further includes at least one switch connected to the impedance element and a controller connected to the at least one switch and configured to control operation of the switch between open and closed states based on a control signal received from the RFID reader, wherein the variable impedance of the RFID tag is changed between a first modulating impedance value and a second modulating impedance value when the switch is changed between the open and closed states.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: August 30, 2018Applicant: INTERMEC, INC.Inventors: Pavel NIKITIN, Stephen J. KELLY, Rene MARTINEZ
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Publication number: 20180197394Abstract: Passive wireless transponders can perform transponder-to-transponder communication when illuminated by an interrogation carrier wave. The transponder-to-transponder communication permits each transponder to determine the identity of “other” proximately transponders. The transponder-to-transponder communication optionally permits each transponder to identify a “nearest neighbor” using one or more backscatter signal properties such as received signal strength or time-of-flight. Using this information and one or more externally supplied or internally stored instruction sets transponders can provide neighboring transponder data to an interrogator. Using this “neighbor” data, the interrogator can provide a system user with data indicative of the relative locations of a plurality of tags arranged in a one or two dimensional matrix.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: INTERMEC IP CORP.Inventors: Pavel NIKITIN, Stephen J. KELLY