Patents by Inventor Stephen Thornton

Stephen Thornton 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: 20200156098
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery system has an aerosol generator with a vibrating aperture plate (10) and an actuator (11, 16, 17, 19), a controller (18, 19). The controller in real time monitors (201) the aerosol generator as it is driven for vibration of the aperture plate, and detects (202) a change in an electrical characteristic in response to a transition from a wet state to a dry state of the aperture plate. It automatically modifies (203, 205, 206), during the transition, operation of the aerosol generator in response to the detected change. The modification includes reducing applied power (203). The controller continues (204) to monitor during the transition, including monitoring the aperture plate for presence of residual liquid on the aperture plate first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: STAMFORD DEVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Joseph GREHAN, Noel COYLE, Russell GREANEY, Stephen THORNTON
  • Publication number: 20200122046
    Abstract: Techniques for randomized device interaction are provided. A first communication pattern is selected, with at least a degree of randomness, from a plurality of communication patterns, where each of the plurality of communication patterns specifies one or more audio profiles. A first audio profile specified in the first communication pattern is identified. A first portion of audio is extracted from a first audio file with at least a degree of randomness, and the first portion of audio is modified based on the first audio profile. Finally, the first modified portion of audio is outputted by a first device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Nathan D. NOCON, Stephen A. THORNTON, Timothy M. PANEC
  • Patent number: 10579098
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products to perform an operation comprising receiving, by a first wearable device from a second wearable device via wireless data transmissions, an identifier of a first tile connected to a tile interface of the second wearable device, receiving, by the first wearable device from the second wearable device via wireless data transmissions, an identifier of a second tile connected to the tile interface of the second wearable device, and determining, based on a device data structure of the first wearable device storing tile state data for the first and second wearable devices, that the second tile was transferred from the first wearable device to the second wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Panec, Stephen A. Thornton, Katherine M. Bassett
  • Publication number: 20190324284
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a floating image display system includes a computing platform including a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a system memory storing a software code. The system also includes one or more display screens controlled by the GPU, and a rotor coupled to the one or more display screens and controlled by the CPU. The CPU executes the software code to render a two-dimensional (2D) graphic on the one or more display screens using the GPU, and to spin the rotor and the one or more display screens about a vertical axis parallel to a display surface of the one or more display screens at a predetermined spin rate to generate a floating image of the 2D graphic. The floating image appears to be a three-dimensional (3D) floating image of the 2D graphic to a user viewing the floating image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Eric C. Haseltine, Michael P. Goslin, Stephen A. Thornton, Jonathan R. Hsu, Elliot Baumbach
  • Publication number: 20190243153
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a floating image display system includes a computing platform including a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a system memory storing a software code. The system also includes one or more display screens controlled by the GPU, and a rotor coupled to the one or more display screens and controlled by the CPU. The CPU executes the software code to render a two-dimensional (2D) graphic on the one or more display screens using the GPU, and to spin the rotor and the one or more display screens about a vertical axis parallel to a display surface of the one or more display screens at a predetermined spin rate to generate a floating image of the 2D graphic. The floating image appears to be a three-dimensional (3D) floating image of the 2D graphic to a user viewing the floating image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Eric C. Haseltine, Michael P. Goslin, Stephen A. Thornton, Jonathan R. Hsu, Elliott Baumbach
  • Publication number: 20190222975
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for performing an operation comprising receiving, by a first wearable device, input specifying to establish a relationship with a second wearable device within a predefined distance of the first wearable device, receiving, by the first wearable device from the second wearable device via wireless data transmissions, an identifier of the second wearable device, a tile identifier of a tile communicably coupled to a tile interface of the second wearable device, and a state associated with the tile; and storing, in a first entry of a data structure of the first wearable device, an indication of the relationship with the second wearable device, wherein the indication comprises the identifier of the second wearable device, the tile identifier, and the state associated with the tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy M. PANEC, Stephen A. THORNTON, Katherine M. BASSETT
  • Publication number: 20190187747
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products to perform an operation comprising receiving, by a first wearable device from a second wearable device via wireless data transmissions, an identifier of a first tile connected to a tile interface of the second wearable device, receiving, by the first wearable device from the second wearable device via wireless data transmissions, an identifier of a second tile connected to the tile interface of the second wearable device, and determining, based on a device data structure of the first wearable device storing tile state data for the first and second wearable devices, that the second tile was transferred from the first wearable device to the second wearable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy M. PANEC, Stephen A. THORNTON, Katherine M. BASSETT
  • Patent number: 9838867
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a device that includes one or more line of sight transmitters configured to transmit signals over a line of sight communications medium, one or more transmitters configured to transmit signals over another communications medium and a controller. The controller is configured to perform an operation that includes retrieving a key adapted for use in decrypting encrypted content. The operation further includes transmitting the key to a second device over the line of sight communications medium using the one or more line of sight transmitters. Additionally, the operation includes encrypting data such that the data can be decrypted using the retrieved key. The operation also includes transmitting the encrypted data to the second device over the other communications medium using the one or more transmitters, where the second device is configured to decrypt the encrypted data using the key received over the line of sight communications medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Haseltine, Katherine M. Bassett, Michael P. Goslin, James E. Smith, Stephen A. Thornton
  • Publication number: 20150300119
    Abstract: The invention provides a side entry flow spool for use in production of oil and gas from a well. The side entry flow spool provides for a shift in the direction of flow of the hydrocarbons, from horizontal to vertical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Glenn Martin Wald, Timothy Edward Martin, Stephen Thornton Jeffrey
  • Publication number: 20150117647
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a device that includes one or more line of sight transmitters configured to transmit signals over a line of sight communications medium, one or more transmitters configured to transmit signals over another communications medium and a controller. The controller is configured to perform an operation that includes retrieving a key adapted for use in decrypting encrypted content. The operation further includes transmitting the key to a second device over the line of sight communications medium using the one or more line of sight transmitters. Additionally, the operation includes encrypting data such that the data can be decrypted using the retrieved key. The operation also includes transmitting the encrypted data to the second device over the other communications medium using the one or more transmitters, where the second device is configured to decrypt the encrypted data using the key received over the line of sight communications medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Eric C. HASELTINE, Katherine M. BASSETT, Michael P. GOSLIN, James E. SMITH, Stephen A. THORNTON
  • Patent number: D703899
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Condoline Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Stephen Thornton