Patents by Inventor Steven Frank

Steven Frank 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: 20130135695
    Abstract: An illumination system for a scanner according to one example embodiment includes an array of visible light emitting diodes each configured to emit light predominantly in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum and an ultraviolet light emitting device configured to emit light predominantly in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The visible light emitting diodes and the ultraviolet light emitting device are positioned to illuminate an object being scanned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Yao Han, Richard Lee Reel, Rebecca Beth Silveston-Keith, Steven Frank Weed
  • Publication number: 20120263395
    Abstract: A method for reducing specular reflection in an image. The method includes capturing a first exposure of a scan surface using a first of a plurality of light sources, capturing a second exposure of a scan surface using a second of a plurality of light sources, determining which pixels captured by the light sources are speckles, and replacing a value of at least one speckle in the image with a different pixel value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: RONALD TODD SELLERS, Khageshwar Thakur, Steven Frank Weed
  • Patent number: 8271997
    Abstract: The invention provides an embedded processor architecture comprising a plurality of virtual processing units that each execute processes or threads (collectively, “threads”). One or more execution units, which are shared by the processing units, execute instructions from the threads. An event delivery mechanism delivers events—such as, by way of non-limiting example, hardware interrupts, software-initiated signaling events (“software events”) and memory events—to respective threads without execution of instructions. Each event can, per aspects of the invention, be processed by the respective thread without execution of instructions outside that thread. The threads need not be constrained to execute on the same respective processing units during the lives of those threads—though, in some embodiments, they can be so constrained. The execution units execute instructions from the threads without needing to know what threads those instructions are from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Frank, Shigeki Imai
  • Publication number: 20120151487
    Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a virtual processor that includes one or more virtual processing units. These virtual processing units execute on one or more processors, and each virtual processing unit executes one or more processes or threads (collectively, “threads”). While the threads may be constrained to executing throughout their respective lifetimes on the same virtual processing units, they need not be. The invention provides, in other aspects, virtual and/or digital data processors with improved dataflow-based synchronization. A process or thread (collectively, again, “thread”) executing within such processor can execute a memory instruction (e.g., and “Empty” or other memory-consumer instruction) that permits the thread to wait on the availability of data generated, e.g., by another thread and to transparently wake up when that other thread makes the data available (e.g, by execution of a “Fill” or other memory-producer instruction).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicants: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Steven Frank, Shigeki Imai, Terumasa Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20110145626
    Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a virtual processor that includes one or more virtual processing units. These virtual processing units execute on one or more processors, and each virtual processing unit executes one or more processes or threads (collectively, “threads”). While the threads may be constrained to executing throughout their respective lifetimes on the same virtual processing units, they need not be. An event delivery mechanism associates events with respective threads and notifies those threads when the events occur, regardless of which virtual processing unit and/or processor the threads happen to be executing on at the time. The invention provides, in other aspects, virtual and/or digital data processors with improved dataflow-based synchronization. A process or thread (collectively, again, “thread”) executing withing such processor can execute a memory instruction (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Steven Frank, Shigeki Imai, Terumasa Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20110095767
    Abstract: An Ethernet cable for use with an Ethernet test-set which allows a single connection to an Ethernet port of a network element while maintaining individual connections to two separate ports on the test-set, thereby allowing a successful test of a signal path in an Ethernet network to be conducted when the far-end of the signal path is a single Ethernet cable port having its transmit and receive pins interconnected. The far-end port interconnections cause a test signal which has traveled to the far-end port to be returned to the test-set and, in view of the cable configuration, to be received in a test-set port other than the port from which the signal test signal originated. Test-sets do not permit test signals to be returned to ports from which they originate. In an embodiment, two signal paths can be simultaneously tested with the same test-kit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey MOTTER, Steven FRANKS, Michael POLLOCK, Don BODGE
  • Publication number: 20110069748
    Abstract: A device may include one or more components and a processor. The one or more components may obtain bit-error-rates of a signal and signal-to-noise ratios of the signal. The processor may select a target signal-to-noise ratio for the signal, determine a target noise level based on the target signal-to-noise ratio, set a noise level of the signal to the target noise level, determine a signal-to-noise ratio of the signal via the one or more components, adjust the noise level of the signal based on the determined signal-to-noise ratio, to stabilize the signal-to-noise ratio, determine a bit-error-rate of the signal via the one or more components, and record the bit-error-rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Cervenka, John Fasolino, Steven Franks, Stephen Clark, Tiejun J. Xia
  • Publication number: 20100228954
    Abstract: The invention provides an embedded processor architecture comprising a plurality of virtual processing units that each execute processes or threads (collectively, “threads”). One or more execution units, which are shared by the processing units, execute instructions from the threads. An event delivery mechanism delivers events—such as, by way of non-limiting example, hardware interrupts, software-initiated signaling events (“software events”) and memory events—to respective threads without execution of instructions. Each event can, per aspects of the invention, be processed by the respective thread without execution of instructions outside that thread. The threads need not be constrained to execute on the same respective processing units during the lives of those threads—though, in some embodiments, they can be so constrained. The execution units execute instructions from the threads without needing to know what threads those instructions are from.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicants: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Frank, Shigeki Imai
  • Publication number: 20100162028
    Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a virtual processor that includes one or more virtual processing units. These virtual processing units execute on one or more processors, and each virtual processing unit executes one or more processes or threads (collectively, “threads”). While the threads may be constrained to executing throughout their respective lifetimes on the same virtual processing units, they need not be. An event delivery mechanism associates events with respective threads and notifies those threads when the events occur, regardless of which virtual processing unit and/or processor the threads happen to be executing on at the time. The invention provides, in other aspects, virtual and/or digital data processors with improved dataflow-based synchronization. A process or thread (collectively, again, “thread”) executing within such processor can execute a memory instruction (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Frank, Shigeki Imai, Terumasa Yoneda
  • Patent number: 7729546
    Abstract: In an array of pixels, a method for segmenting a selected pixel of the array between at least two layers including identifying an N-by-N window centered upon the selected pixel, evaluating at least one pixel in the N-by-N window to determine whether the selected pixel is a potential text element, identifying an M-by-M window centered upon the selected pixel when the evaluation determines that the selected pixel is a potential text element, wherein the M-by-M window is smaller than the N-by-N window, and determining whether the potential text element includes text by comparing at least two pixels within the M-by-M window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Nooman Ahmed, Tomasz Jan Cholewo, Steven Frank Weed
  • Patent number: 7685607
    Abstract: The invention provides an embedded processor architecture comprising a plurality of virtual processing units that each execute processes or threads (collectively, “threads”). One or more execution units, which are shared by the processing units, execute instructions from the threads. An event delivery mechanism delivers events—such as, by way of non-limiting example, hardware interrupts, software-initiated signaling events (“software events”) and memory events—to respective threads without execution of instructions. Each event can, per aspects of the invention, be processed by the respective thread without execution of instructions outside that thread. The threads need not be constrained to execute on the same respective processing units during the lives of those threads—though, in some embodiments, they can be so constrained. The execution units execute instructions from the threads without needing to know what threads those instructions are from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignees: Sharp Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Frank, Shigeki Imai
  • Patent number: 7653912
    Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a virtual processor that includes one or more virtual processing units. These virtual processing units execute on one or more processors, and each virtual processing unit executes one or more processes or threads (collectively, “threads”). While the threads may be constrained to executing throughout their respective lifetimes on the same virtual processing units, they need not be. An event delivery mechanism associates events with respective threads and notifies those threads when the events occur, regardless of which virtual processing unit and/or processor the threads happen to be executing on at the time. The invention provides, in other aspects, virtual and/or digital data processors with improved dataflow-based synchronization. A process or thread (collectively, again, “thread”) executing within such processor can execute a memory instruction (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignees: Sharp Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Frank, Shigeki Imai, Terumasa Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20090125708
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus dedicated to accessing certain aspects of the Internet. The system includes a hardware device having a display and firmware associated with the display. The firmware includes a web browser and an operating system, configured to automatically connect to a datacenter server using the web browser, and to receive a frameset template from the datacenter, the frameset including frames, wherein each frame includes a preset content locator, upon boot of the operating system. The data center server may have preconfigured framesets with assigned content locators, and be configured to transmit one or more of the framesets to the device. Each frame may include content from transmitted from a different internet server upon boot of the operating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: RELATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: James Woodring, Steven Frank
  • Patent number: 7520437
    Abstract: The present invention relates to providing a printing device which allows for user authentication. The printing device may communicate with the authentication device using universal serial bus (USB) protocol, wherein the printing device contains a universal serial bus (USB) host. User authentication may encompass the provision of valid identifying information or presenting sufficient funds as a condition prior to performing a print job or granting access to data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart Willard Daniel, Steven Frank Weed, Michael Ray Timperman
  • Patent number: 7377727
    Abstract: A roof support for an underground mine which has a hydraulic cylinder positioned between a roof engaging support and a ground engaging base and has a flexible gas barrier or enclosure surrounding surfaces of said hydraulic cylinder which are subject to corrosion by gases present in the underground mine. Continuous flowing non-corrosive gas such as nitrogen is supplied to a space between the gas barrier and the hydraulic cylinder for preventing corrosion of cylinder surfaces by corrosive gases present in the mine which may include hydrogen sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Avistar, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Alan Randlett, Steven Frank Willard
  • Patent number: 7257496
    Abstract: A method for detecting loss of SF6 gas from electrical utility apparatus determines a molar ratio of gas in a container at an initial time and of gas in the container at a subsequent time. Measurement of temperature is determined by averaging ambient temperature and temperature of the surface of the container. The initial values of pressure and temperature define the initial value of n as follows: no=Pgas o/Tgas o The value at a subsequent time is nn=Pgas n/Tgas n The molar ratio can be defined as nn/no or as no/nn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Avistar, Inc.
    Inventors: George W. Rhodes, Albert Migliori, Tristan Fin, Steven Frank Willard
  • Publication number: 20070121819
    Abstract: A system and related techniques manage the adding of digital images or other media to email messages using a comparatively straightforward insert-and-send scheme. A user may choose to insert or embed comparatively low-resolution versions of images or other media automatically published to a media server into an email message. The recipient of that media-enabled message may receive and view the email text message along with the low-resolution images in typical fashion using an email or other client. The recipient may choose to view one or more of the embedded images in greater resolution by linking or activating those images, for instance by moving a cursor and clicking into the selected image or other object. Activating the image or other media object from within the email pane may seamlessly transport the user to the media server's Web page to view a larger-resolution version of that image, for instance using a media player. Video, audio and other media may likewise be inserted into messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Kirn, Steven Frank, Mark Nikiel, Tanuja Joshi, Brian Cody, Kurt Weber
  • Publication number: 20060263445
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the antimicrobial effectiveness of silver colloid is provided. The method is achieved by adding to the colloid a compatible agent that modifies the bacterial wall in a manner that increases the uptake of silver by the bacteria. This can be a surfactant or oil that does not cause the silver to compound or precipitate out of suspension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventor: Steven Frank
  • Patent number: 7126611
    Abstract: Methods and image forming systems for approximating the value of a function given specified values of input data using a sparse lookup table. Individual samples are quantized and rounded up or down to an adjacent lattice point of the lookup table. Rather than performing multiple lookup table accesses, which are required using conventional linear interpolation, the disclosed data processing techniques require as few as one lookup table access per sample. The quantized samples are obtained by truncating one or more least significant bits, designated as masked bits, such that the most significant, or index bits, remain. For each sample, the value of an individual one of the masked bits is examined by comparing it with a corresponding entry in a mask array to determine whether the index bits are to be incremented prior to being used as an index to the lookup table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Frank Weed
  • Publication number: 20060115544
    Abstract: A method for treating musculoskeletal problems by applying a topical composition to a skin surface adjacent the musculoskeletal problem, the topical composition consisting essentially of herbal extracts in a water based synthetic gel and periodically repeating the step of applying as necessary for treatment of the musculoskeletal problem. The water based synthetic gel consists of water, Vitamin C, a carbomer, an antifungal, an anti-oxidant, a buffer and a chelate and zero alcohol. The herbal extracts are blends of the following herbs: St. John's Wort, White Willow, Yarrow, Poke, Lavender, Arnica, Comfrey, Devil's Claw, Witch Hazel, Celery Seed, Peppermint and Rosemary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventor: Steven Frank