Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Ward
Thomas A. Ward 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: 20240127060Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for training an action selection neural network used to select actions to be performed by an agent interacting with an environment. In one aspect, a system comprises a plurality of actor computing units and a plurality of learner computing units. The actor computing units generate experience tuple trajectories that are used by the learner computing units to update learner action selection neural network parameters using a reinforcement learning technique. The reinforcement learning technique may be an off-policy actor critic reinforcement learning technique.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Hubert Josef Soyer, Lasse Espeholt, Karen Simonyan, Yotam Doron, Vlad Firoiu, Volodymyr Mnih, Koray Kavukcuoglu, Remi Munos, Thomas Ward, Timothy James Alexander Harley, Iain Robert Dunning
-
Publication number: 20240125179Abstract: Provided herein are ladders having a flared beaded joint to couple a rung to a rail of the ladder. In some embodiments, a ladder comprises a rail having a web. The web has a first side and a second side. The ladder further includes a rung coupled to the rail via a flared beaded joint. In some configurations, flared beaded joints are disposed at each end of the rung. The flared beaded joint includes a first bead on the first side of the web and a second bead on the second side of the web. The first bead includes a first flange portion and a second flange portion. The first flange portion directly abuts the first side of the web. At least a portion of the second flange portion is disposed at an angle relative to the first flange portion to flare an end of the rung.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Patrick Michael McAuliffe, Thomas Ward Parker
-
Publication number: 20240112809Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a statistical parameter representing a state of a surgical procedure from sensor data. Sensor data representing a time period. is received from a sensor. Numerical features representing the time period are generated from the sensor data. Each of a plurality of long short term memory units are updated according to the plurality of numerical features via a message passing process. The long short term memory units are connected to form a graph, with a first set of the long short term memory units representing a plurality of nodes of the graph and a second set of the long short term memory units representing a plurality of hyperedges of the graph. A statistical parameter representing a state of the surgical procedure for the time period is derived from an output of one of the long short term memory units and provided to a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2022Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Ozanan R. Meireles, Yutong Ban, Daniel A. Hashimoto, Guy Rosman, Thomas Ward, Daniela Rus
-
Patent number: 11945945Abstract: A resin including up to 99.99 weight percent (wt. %) of a first polyolefin grafted with a functional group selected from an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, a carboxylic acid anhydride, an ester functional group or a combination thereof; and 0.01 to 3.0 wt. % of a tin oxide-based catalyst, where the resin includes 0.2 wt. % to 1.5 wt. % of the functional group from the first polyolefin, the wt. % based on a total weight of the resin. The first polyolefin can be selected from a polyethylene, a polypropylene, an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, a propylene/alpha-olefin copolymer and combinations thereof. The tin oxide-based catalyst can be selected from dibutyltin oxide, dioctyltin oxide and combinations thereof. The resin can be used in a multilayer structure, where a Layer A comprises the resin and a Layer B comprises a polyester, where a first major surface of Layer A is in adhering contact with the second major surface of Layer B.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2019Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignees: Dow Global Technologies LLC, Regents of The University of MinnesotaInventors: Kunwei Liu, Alex Michael Jordan, Christopher John Ellison, Christopher Ward Macosko, Christopher M. Thurber, Wenyi Huang, Thomas H. Peterson
-
Patent number: 11927017Abstract: A roofing system and method, which includes elongate rain diverting devices for directing rainwater and snowmelt away from an underlying sheet material and roof deck, is provided. The system includes roofing tiles having strips of hook and loop fasteners (H&L strips) adhered to both faces. The rain diverting devices have an H&L strip adhered along a lower edge of both faces. As each new row of tiles is installed on the roof deck, the device is applied over an upper portion of the tiles, extending over and onto the sheet material above the tiles, and across the roof deck. As additional rows of tiles are installed, each device is releasably attached to underlying and overlying tiles by way of the H&L strips adhered to both the tiles and the device. The devices also allow for single lap tiling (less weight on roof deck) and for use of shorter tiles (saving material cost).Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Millennuim Slate, LLCInventors: Frederick W. Whitridge, Jr., Philip C. Prehoda, Thomas J. Collard, Charles Ward
-
Patent number: 11898091Abstract: Disclosed is a gas hydrate inhibitor composition comprising an amphiphile by a linking moiety, the amphiphile having of the general formula (1) [R5-L-N(R1)(R2)(R3)]+X???(1) wherein each of R1 and R2 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; or wherein the nitrogen atom and the R1 and R2 groups together form a heterocyclic group; R3 is present or not as hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms L is a linking moiety comprising a hydrocarbyl group having at least 2 adjacent carbon atoms, at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen and oxygen, R5 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms; and X? is present as an anion when R3 is present; and a cationic surfactant which is selected from quaternary benzyl ammonium salts and a method of using the gas hydrate inhibitor composition.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: CLARIANT INTERNATIONAL LTDInventors: Dirk Leinweber, Zachary Thomas Ward, Felix Hoevelmann, Jonathan James Wylde, Matthias Krull
-
Publication number: 20240035839Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for providing directions haptically such that sight and hearing can continue unimpeded. In one exemplary embodiment, a wearable device (such as earphones, ear rings, gloves, glasses, or other wearable objects) configured as disclosed herein receives directions to an intended destination for a user, the directions comprising a movement action and a distance to the movement action. The wearable device has multiple haptic output units and generates, through one of those units, a haptic output based on the directions. This allows the user to receive the directions through touch rather than looking at their mobile device or from audio.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventor: Ryan Thomas Ward
-
Patent number: 11868894Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for training an action selection neural network used to select actions to be performed by an agent interacting with an environment. In one aspect, a system comprises a plurality of actor computing units and a plurality of learner computing units. The actor computing units generate experience tuple trajectories that are used by the learner computing units to update learner action selection neural network parameters using a reinforcement learning technique. The reinforcement learning technique may be an off-policy actor critic reinforcement learning technique.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2023Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: DeepMind Technologies LimitedInventors: Hubert Josef Soyer, Lasse Espeholt, Karen Simonyan, Yotam Doron, Vlad Firoiu, Volodymyr Mnih, Koray Kavukcuoglu, Remi Munos, Thomas Ward, Timothy James Alexander Harley, Iain Robert Dunning
-
Patent number: 11851136Abstract: A foil displacement system includes one or more foils that can be deployed and stowed. When deployed, each foil can exert downforce or uplift depending on its orientation. For example, each foil may be positioned to have an angle of attack that creates a downward force effectively transmitted to the hull to pull the hull deeper within the water to, for example, create a larger wake. Use of the foil displacement system can enhance or replace the use of a ballast tank system, can be integrated into a new boat or retrofitted to existing boats, can be electronically or manually positioned, can enhance activities such as wake surfing, wake boarding, water skiing or other similar or related water sports.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Malibu Boats, LLCInventors: Cory Wade Dugger, Rachael Marie Green, Jeffrey Lee Predmore, Scott Thomas Ward, Matthew Welton
-
Publication number: 20230362433Abstract: Methods and systems for transmitting an interruption-free version of a television program for recording on a user equipment device. In one aspect, a system transmits a first stream including a television program to a user equipment device. The system receives an indication that the television program is being recorded on the user equipment device. The system determines whether an interruption is imminent during transmission of the television program. In response to determining that the interruption is imminent, the system generates a second stream including the television program. The second stream does not include the interruption during the transmission of the television program. The system transmits the second stream to the user equipment device along with an instruction to switch recording of the television program from the first stream to the second stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Daniel Thomas Ward, Arevik Chimayan, Walter R. Klappert
-
Patent number: 11808598Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for providing directions haptically such that sight and hearing can continue unimpeded. In one exemplary embodiment, a wearable device (such as earphones, ear rings, gloves, glasses, or other wearable objects) configured as disclosed herein receives directions to an intended destination for a user, the directions comprising a movement action and a distance to the movement action. The wearable device has multiple haptic output units and generates, through one of those units, a haptic output based on the directions. This allows the user to receive the directions through touch rather than looking at their mobile device or from audio.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Inventor: Ryan Thomas Ward
-
Publication number: 20230347808Abstract: A powered rail system is disclosed. The rail system is mountable on a truck bed, to which various accessories may be attached, and to which various electronic devices may be connected. The rail system includes first and second side rails, where the first and second side rails are substantially parallel and separated by a width, and where each side rail includes a front end, a back end, and a body extending between the front end and the back end. The rail system further includes a storage structure secured thereto, a first outside surface adjacent to the body of the first side rail, and a second outside surface adjacent to the body of the second side rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Mohammed Irfan, Milos V. Coric, Emily Kern, Jonathan David Monge, Michael Bykowski, Thomas Ward Parker
-
Patent number: 11765423Abstract: Methods and systems for transmitting an interruption-free version of a television program for recording on a user equipment device. In one aspect, a system transmits a first stream including a television program to a user equipment device. The system receives an indication that the television program is being recorded on the user equipment device. The system determines whether an interruption is imminent during transmission of the television program. In response to determining that the interruption is imminent, the system generates a second stream including the television program. The second stream does not include the interruption during the transmission of the television program. The system transmits the second stream to the user equipment device along with an instruction to switch recording of the television program from the first stream to the second stream.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Thomas Ward, Arevik Chimayan, Walter R. Klappert
-
Patent number: 11752666Abstract: Coated irregular surfaces, replicas made therefrom, and methods of making the same. A particle-coated substrate includes a coating including undercooled liquid metallic particles. The particles include a solid shell comprising a metal oxide, and a liquid metallic core that is below the melting point of the liquid metallic core. The particle-coated substrate also includes a substrate including an irregular surface, wherein the coating is on the irregular surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Martin Thuo, Thomas Ward, III, Andrew Martin, Julia Jinling Chang, Chuanshen Du
-
Publication number: 20230276106Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for presenting additional information related to an emergency alert. A media guidance application may detect that a new emergency alert has been received. The media guidance application may then perform a search of various content sources (e.g., program listings, the Internet, etc.) for content related to the emergency alert. The media guidance application may then present the search results in a contextual menu enabling the user to access content of the search results. The media guidance application may also provide more options, such as, recording or pausing media content that the user was in the process of consuming when the emergency alert was generated, and an option to the user not to bring up the contextual menu again if the same emergency alert is repeated.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventor: Daniel Thomas Ward
-
Publication number: 20230270931Abstract: Embodiments of a fluid warming container and a fluid warming device are described. The fluid warming container defines an interior volume arranged to receive a liquid. The fluid warming container also includes a heating element, a power source, and a switch configured to selectively control a flow of electrical current from the power source to the heating element to warm the liquid. The fluid warming device includes an elongate housing, a heating element, a power source, and a switch configured to selectively control a flow of electrical current from the power source to the heating element to warm a liquid in contact with the fluid warming device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2022Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventor: Thomas Ward
-
Publication number: 20230226606Abstract: Methods of forming microwires or nanowires, microwires or nanowires formed using the method, and electronic devices and semiconductor components including the wires. A method of forming a microwire or nanowire includes disposing a plurality of metal particles in a portion of a channel that is a nanochannel or a microchannel. The method includes etching the metal particles with an activation agent to form a flux that penetrates an additional portion of the channel. The flux includes an etching product of the activation agent and the metal particles. The method includes allowing the activation agent to at least partially evaporate to form a wire that is a microwire or a nanowire.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Martin Thuo, Julia Jinling Chang, Chuanshen Du, Thomas Ward, III
-
Patent number: 11667353Abstract: A combination radar arch and bimini top includes a radar arch securable on a boat deck over a boat cabin and a bimini top assembly secured to the radar arch. The bimini top assembly includes at least one bimini top base secured on the radar arch, a bimini arm pivotally connected to the bimini top base, and a spring-loaded roller assembly secured to the radar arch and including a canopy connected between the radar arch and the bimini arm. The bimini top base has a drive mechanism coupled with the bimini arm that is configured to displace the bimini arm between a retracted position and an extended position.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: LIPPERT COMPONENTS, INC.Inventors: Thomas Ward, Jeffrey Albrecht, Josh Black, Nick Plummer, John Shotwell, Christine Trowbridge
-
Publication number: 20230153617Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for training an action selection neural network used to select actions to be performed by an agent interacting with an environment. In one aspect, a system comprises a plurality of actor computing units and a plurality of learner computing units. The actor computing units generate experience tuple trajectories that are used by the learner computing units to update learner action selection neural network parameters using a reinforcement learning technique. The reinforcement learning technique may be an off-policy actor critic reinforcement learning technique.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2023Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Hubert Josef Soyer, Lasse Espeholt, Karen Simonyan, Yotam Doron, Vlad Firoiu, Volodymyr Mnih, Koray Kavukcuoglu, Remi Munos, Thomas Ward, Timothy James Alexander Harley, Iain Robert Dunning
-
Patent number: 11645719Abstract: Visualizing event impact risk over time. At least one location of interest is identified on a geospatial map, and an event path is plotted on the geospatial map for an event over time. The event path includes actual and/or forecasted paths of the event. Along the event path, connected geospatial polygons are generated. The geospatial polygons represent actual and/or forecasted intensity of the event over time. A determination is made as to whether the connected geospatial polygons intersect one or more of the locations of interest indicating an impact risk for the event. Action are taken to reduce the impact risk for the location of interest.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas Ward, Rahul Nahar, Hans-Juergen Eickelmann, Chester D. Karwatowski, Rajaram Krishnamurthy