Patents by Inventor Steven A Thomas

Steven A Thomas 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: 20170270731
    Abstract: Electronic locking devices, systems, and methods may employ an accelerometer to detect an acceleration associated with displacement of a portion of an electronic locking device, for example, displacement of a housing that includes a display of the electronic locking device. Responsive to such an acceleration being detected, a message is transmitted to a device remote from the locking device. The message may include a photograph and or audio signal. Concurrently with the transmission of the message, a greeting may be played and/or displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Gabriel Bestard Ribas, Steven Thomas Bakondi, Lloyd Seliber
  • Publication number: 20170269143
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein are generally directed to the location and/or identification of a circuit within a circuital system. In one embodiment, a transmitter is configured for inducing signals upon a plurality of circuit lines (e.g., power lines, communication lines, lighting circuits, etc.) with each circuit line having a unique signal to identify it from other circuit lines. Each signal may be induced upon an individual circuit line by means of a inductive coupling clip coupled about the circuit line. The transmitter may be used at a distribution point of the circuit lines, such as circuit breaker box. A receiver can then receive a signal from a distal point on the circuit line to acquire the unique signal induced thereon and identify determine which inductive coupling clip is coupled thereto. For example, the signal may be decoded to display a number of the circuit line being tested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventor: Steven Thomas McCasland
  • Patent number: 9757740
    Abstract: A fluid control valve including a body, a first diverter, and a second diverter. The body includes an inlet that receives a supply of fluid, and first, second and third chambers. The first diverter is movable between first and second positions. When the first diverter is in the second position, the first chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet and the second chamber is fluidly disconnected from the inlet. When the first diverter is in the first position, the second chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet and the first chamber is fluidly disconnected from the inlet. The second diverter is movable between first and second positions. When the second diverter is in the second position, the third chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber. When the second diverter is in the first position, the third chamber is fluidly disconnected from the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Perry D. Erickson, Steven Thomas Radder
  • Patent number: 9735254
    Abstract: A trench-gate device with lateral RESURF pillars has an additional implant beneath the gate trench. The additional implant reduces the effective width of the semiconductor drift region between the RESURF pillars, and this provides additional gate shielding which improves the electrical characteristics of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Nexperia B.V.
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Peake, Philip Rutter
  • Publication number: 20170224987
    Abstract: An oral appliance is disclosed that provides electrical stimulation to a patient's tongue in a manner that prevents collapse of the tongue and/or soft palate during sleep. More specifically, the appliance may induce a reversible current or currents in a lateral direction across the tongue in a manner that shortens the patient's Palatoglossus muscle and/or Styloglossus muscle SGM, which in turn elevates the base of the tongue toward the roof of the oral cavity, changes the shape of the tongue, pulls the patient's soft palate downward towards a base of the tongue, and/or decreases a volume of the tongue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Karena Yadira Puldon, Harold Byron Kent
  • Publication number: 20170216586
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that may be used to treat one or more restless leg syndrome (RLS) symptoms of a patient. One example method may include generating first and second stimulation waveforms using a waveform generator; electrically stimulating at least a portion of a sacral region of the patient, based on the first and second stimulation waveforms, using a number of electrodes; damping or interfering with electrical signals transmitted from the patient's brain to the patient's legs via a femoral nerve of the patient using the electrical stimulation; and reducing the one or more symptoms of RLS based on damping or interfering with the electrical signals transmitted from the patient's brain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventor: Steven Thomas Kent
  • Patent number: 9707572
    Abstract: A fluid control valve includes a body, a first diverter, a second diverter, and a first actuator. The body includes an inlet configured to receive a supply of fluid. The first diverter is movable in a radial direction within the body between a first radial position and a second radial position. The second diverter is movable in a longitudinal direction within the body between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. The first actuator is operatively coupled to the first diverter and to the second diverter. The first actuator is configured to simultaneously move the first diverter between the first and second radial positions and the second diverter between the first and second longitudinal positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Perry D. Erickson, Steven Thomas Radder, Amruta Velapure
  • Publication number: 20170200108
    Abstract: Logistical operations (e.g., warehouses) may use a voice-enabled workflow to facilitate the work tasks of a staff (i.e., population) of workers. Typically, it is necessary for a worker to travel from location-to-location to complete assigned work tasks. As such, a worker's time spent travelling often correlates with the worker's overall work performance. Understanding the worker's travel performance is highly desirable, but computing a fair and accurate travel-performance metric is difficult. One reason for this is that the distance a worker travels is often unknown. The present invention embraces a system and method for accurately and fairly assessing a worker's travel performance by analyzing the worker's voice dialog.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Kwong Wing Au, Christopher L. Lofty, Steven Thomas, John Pecorari, James Geisler
  • Patent number: 9702920
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein are generally directed to the location and/or identification of a circuit within a circuital system. In one embodiment, a transmitter is configured for inducing signals upon a plurality of circuit lines (e.g., power lines, communication lines, lighting circuits, etc.) with each circuit line having a unique signal to identify it from other circuit lines. Each signal may be induced upon an individual circuit line by means of a inductive coupling clip coupled about the circuit line. The transmitter may be used at a distribution point of the circuit lines, such as circuit breaker box. A receiver can then receive a signal from a distal point on the circuit line to acquire the unique signal induced thereon and identify determine which inductive coupling clip is coupled thereto. For example, the signal may be decoded to display a number of the circuit line being tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Tasco Incorporated
    Inventor: Steven Thomas McCasland
  • Publication number: 20170191414
    Abstract: A single degree of freedom (SDOF) acoustic liner includes a porous face sheet, a substantially imperforate back sheet generally parallel to and opposing said porous face sheet and defining a thickness therebetween, and an acoustic core layer of contiguous adjacent resonant cavities disposed between the porous face sheet and the imperforate back sheet. The acoustic core layer includes a first resonant cell having a first internal volume therein and a second resonant cell having a second internal volume therein different than the first internal volume. A cell partition wall extends between the porous face sheet and the imperforate back sheet, and separates and seals the first resonant cell from the second resonant cell. In a thickness direction, and perpendicular to a plane generally parallel with the porous face sheet and the substantially imperforate back sheet, the first internal volume overlaps the second internal volume over the cell partition wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Moses Martinez, Rudramuni Kariveerappa Majjigi, Steven Thomas Davies, Egbert Geertsema
  • Patent number: 9697664
    Abstract: Electronic locking devices, systems, and methods may employ an accelerometer to detect an acceleration associated with displacement of a portion of an electronic locking device, for example, displacement of a housing that includes a display of the electronic locking device. Responsive to such an acceleration being detected, a message is transmitted to a device remote from the locking device. The message may include a photograph and or audio signal. Concurrently with the transmission of the message, a greeting may be played and/or displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: DIGILOCK ASIA LIMITED
    Inventors: Gabriel Bestard Ribas, Steven Thomas Bakondi, Lloyd Seliber
  • Publication number: 20170173602
    Abstract: A fluid control valve includes a body, a first diverter, a second diverter, and a first actuator. The body includes an inlet configured to receive a supply of fluid. The first diverter is movable in a radial direction within the body between a first radial position and a second radial position. The second diverter is movable in a longitudinal direction within the body between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. The first actuator is operatively coupled to the first diverter and to the second diverter. The first actuator is configured to simultaneously move the first diverter between the first and second radial positions and the second diverter between the first and second longitudinal positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Perry D. Erickson, Steven Thomas Radder, Amruta Velapure
  • Publication number: 20170178437
    Abstract: Electronic locking devices, systems, and methods may require the utilization of an electronic key generated by an electronic key generation device. The electronic key may be generated using a data payload received from server and/or an administrative device. The administrative device is enabled to remotely manage the locking device and locking system via, for example, a software application running on the administrative device and/or a website.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Gabriel Bestard Ribas, Steven Thomas Bakondi, Lloyd Seliber
  • Patent number: 9676655
    Abstract: An electric glass hot shop system is described herein that has at least one electrically powered heating unit (e.g., electric furnace, electric glory hole, electric pipe warmer, electric color box, electric annealer, electric crucible kiln) used in the processing of glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignees: Corning Museum of Glass, Spiral Arts Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Gibbs, Fred Charles Metz
  • Patent number: 9680316
    Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of electronic devices, each comprising a device housing and a rechargeable battery, and a charger comprising a charger housing and arranged for charging said rechargeable batteries, wherein said charger comprises at least one, preferably a plurality of wireless power transmitting coils in said housing and said electronic devices each comprise a wireless power receiving coil in said housing, wherein said power transmitting coils are arranged in an array along an axis, and wherein said charger housing and said device housings are formed such that the power receiving coils of said electronic devices can be placed and held in an array along said axis by placing said electronic devices in an array against each other, such that each power receiving coil has a corresponding power transmitting coil in its vicinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Almos Technologies Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Steve Rakoczy, Steven Thomas McGuinness
  • Patent number: 9676258
    Abstract: A power, split door system for a vehicle includes a first vehicle door and a second vehicle door arranged to be articulated between closed and open positions. A controller controls movement of the first and second doors between the open and closed positions. A collision zone is defined as a region of the door system in which the first vehicle door and the second vehicle door could potentially come into contact with one another. If both of the doors are within the collision zone during powered articulation of the doors, both are stopped within the collision zone and articulated in a reverse direction to the direction they were being articulated in and into either their fully open or fully closed positions in an appropriate manner that avoids collision of the doors or the doors may remain stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Warburton, Duncan Loveday, Steven Thomas
  • Publication number: 20170143280
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can determine a type of disordered breathing in a patient. The device can include a number of contacts adapted to make contact with portions of an oral cavity of a patient and configured to provide a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway. The device can also include a control circuit configured to determine a type of disordered breathing in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Harold Byron Kent, Christopher Fisher, Ronald W. Young, Karena Yadira Puldon, Robert Douglas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter
  • Publication number: 20170143960
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can predict an onset of an apnea or disordered breathing in a patient. The device can include a number of contacts adapted to make contact with the patient's tongue, and a control circuit configured to receive a first signal from the number of contacts, and predict an onset of an apnea or disordered breathing in the patient based, at least in part, on one or more characteristics of the first signal at a first time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Harold Byron Kent, Christopher Fisher, Ronald W. Young, Karena Yadira Puldon, Robert Douglas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter
  • Publication number: 20170143259
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can detect and treat disordered breathing in a patient. The device can include at least one contact adapted to make contact with a portion of an oral cavity of a patient, and a control circuit configured to: in a first mode, detect a presence of disordered breathing in the patient based, at least in part, on a first signal received from the at least one contact; and in a second mode, provide electrical stimulation via the at least one contact to a portion of the patient's upper airway based on a detection of the presence of disordered breathing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Harold Byron Kent, Christopher Fisher, Ronald W. Young, Karena Yadira Puldon, Robert Douglas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter
  • Publication number: 20170143257
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can include a number of contacts to provide a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway, and can include a control circuit configured to determine a presence of disordered breathing in the patient, provide electrical stimulation to a portion of the patient's upper airway based on the presence of disordered breathing, and determine a level of compliance of the patient's use of the device based.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Harold Byron Kent, Christopher Fisher, Ronald W. Young, Karena Yadira Puldon, Robert Douglas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter