Patents by Inventor Stuart R. Ball

Stuart R. Ball 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: 11714464
    Abstract: A tray assembly for positioning data storage devices is disclosed. The tray assembly includes a base, a backplane circuit board coupled to the base, an electrical connector coupled to the backplane circuit board, a first support bracket coupled to the base and moveable with respect to the base and the backplane circuit board, and a second support bracket coupled to the base. The second support bracket opposes the first support bracket and is moveable towards and away from the first support bracket to adjust a distance between the first support bracket and the second support bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Stuart R. Ball
  • Publication number: 20210026421
    Abstract: A tray assembly for positioning data storage devices is disclosed. The tray assembly includes a base, a backplane circuit board coupled to the base, an electrical connector coupled to the backplane circuit board, a first support bracket coupled to the base and moveable with respect to the base and the backplane circuit board, and a second support bracket coupled to the base. The second support bracket opposes the first support bracket and is moveable towards and away from the first support bracket to adjust a distance between the first support bracket and the second support bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventor: Stuart R. Ball
  • Patent number: 7046494
    Abstract: A protection circuit for a power switching device of the type configured to supply load current to an electrical load from a voltage source. The protection circuit includes a voltage drop sensing circuit connected in parallel with the switching device to sense a voltage drop across the switching device. A limit circuit is connected to the voltage drop sensing circuit and operates to inhibit further flow of load current through the switching device in relation to the sensed voltage drop. The limit circuit limits the load current to different maximum values for different sensed voltage drop values. This enables the load current to be limited to a lower value in the event an electrical short occurs across the load, reducing the amount of power dissipated by the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Stuart R. Ball
  • Publication number: 20040246642
    Abstract: A protection circuit for a power switching device of the type configured to supply load current to an electrical load from a voltage source. The protection circuit includes a voltage drop sensing circuit connected in parallel with the switching device to sense a voltage drop across the switching device. A limit circuit is connected to the voltage drop sensing circuit and operates to inhibit further flow of load current through the switching device in relation to the sensed voltage drop. The limit circuit limits the load current to different maximum values for different sensed voltage drop values. This enables the load current to be limited to a lower value in the event an electrical short occurs across the load, reducing the amount of power dissipated by the switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Stuart R. Ball
  • Patent number: 6327378
    Abstract: A method and system for recognizing a time varying waveform signal subject to amplitude distortions such as experienced with optical or magnetic printed character reading systems for scanning documents such as bank checks and the like. The variable amplitude waveform is sampled at predetermined time intervals representing predetermined spacings across a dimension of the character being read and difference values related to the sample amplitude ratio values between adjacent samples are calculated to develop a difference waveform or signature. This difference waveform may then be compared to a set of templates representing characters expected to be recognized. The amplitude ratio value of each sample may also be compared to that of a previous sample to determine the direction of the slope of the waveform at selected points wherein rising, falling or no change slope direction identifiers may be compared to a set of templates of characters expected to be read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: BancTec, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart R. Ball
  • Patent number: 5866426
    Abstract: A sensor detects when a probe contacts liquid in a container due to a change in frequency of a probe oscillator. The sensor can have its output compared to a reference level to determine the presence or absence of liquid wherein the reference level is changed to follow the output of the detector. In one embodiment, it can be determined that liquid has been contacted when a count has been reached several times in a row (the count being a function of the probe output and changeable). In another embodiment of the invention, it can be determined that liquid has been contacted when a count has been reached within a certain threshold several times in a row, while still having the reference count change to follow the probe output (regardless of the threshold). A digital counter can be provided to determine the frequency of the probe oscillator. A reference counter can also be provided to tune the count (frequency) from the probe oscillator counter to thereby compensate for drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventor: Stuart R. Ball