Patents by Inventor Thomas G Criswell

Thomas G Criswell 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: 11322783
    Abstract: A system for managing a battery removal from an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a battery interface including multiple battery coupling contacts that engage with battery contacts of the battery in an installed position of the battery. A battery removal detector is configured to detect, based on signals received via the battery interface, an ongoing battery removal process during which first battery contact(s) are disconnected from corresponding first interface contact(s) while second battery contact(s) remain connected with second battery coupling contact(s), and in response, to output a battery removal signal. The system also includes a controller that receives the battery removal signal and, still during the battery removal process, controls a memory device of the electronic device to prevent or complete a defined operation (e.g., writing of persistent storage keys) prior to completion of the battery removal process, to thereby prevent a corruption of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: PLANTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Douglas Rocha, Thomas G Criswell, Jesus Arias Duarte, Anfeng Yin
  • Publication number: 20210050627
    Abstract: A system for managing a battery removal from an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a battery interface including multiple battery coupling contacts that engage with battery contacts of the battery in an installed position of the battery. A battery removal detector is configured to detect, based on signals received via the battery interface, an ongoing battery removal process during which first battery contact(s) are disconnected from corresponding first interface contact(s) while second battery contact(s) remain connected with second battery coupling contact(s), and in response, to output a battery removal signal. The system also includes a controller that receives the battery removal signal and, still during the battery removal process, controls a memory device of the electronic device to prevent or complete a defined operation (e.g., writing of persistent storage keys) prior to completion of the battery removal process, to thereby prevent a corruption of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Douglas Rocha, Thomas G. Criswell, Jesus Arias Duarte, Anfeng Yin
  • Publication number: 20200067244
    Abstract: A male plug for coupling with a female jack is arranged to prevent short circuiting during the insertion and removal process. The female jack includes first, second, third, and fourth contact terminals. The first and second contact terminals are separated by a first-to-second jack terminal separation distance, and the second and third contact terminals are separated by a second-to-third jack terminal separation distance. The male plug includes a first ring contact segment arranged to contact the third contact terminal of the female jack. The first ring contact segment has a length less than the first-to-second jack terminal separation distance and the second-to-third jack terminal separation distance. The male plug includes a second ring contact segment arranged to contact the second contact terminal of the female jack. The second ring contact segment has a length less than the first-to-second jack terminal separation distance and the second-to-third jack terminal separation distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Criswell, Haidong Wang, ShouBo Feng
  • Patent number: 10554001
    Abstract: A male plug for coupling with a female jack is arranged to prevent short circuiting during the insertion and removal process. The female jack includes first, second, third, and fourth contact terminals. The first and second contact terminals are separated by a first-to-second jack terminal separation distance, and the second and third contact terminals are separated by a second-to-third jack terminal separation distance. The male plug includes a first ring contact segment arranged to contact the third contact terminal of the female jack. The first ring contact segment has a length less than the first-to-second jack terminal separation distance and the second-to-third jack terminal separation distance. The male plug includes a second ring contact segment arranged to contact the second contact terminal of the female jack. The second ring contact segment has a length less than the first-to-second jack terminal separation distance and the second-to-third jack terminal separation distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G Criswell, Haidong Wang, ShouBo Feng
  • Patent number: 10419838
    Abstract: A headset with a proximity control is provided. The headset comprises at least a first earpiece, a second earpiece, and a control device. To reduce the power consumption of the headset, the control device is configured to determine proximity between the first earpiece and the second earpiece, and, depending on the determined proximity, to set the headset to a low-power mode, in which at least one component of the headset is disabled to save power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G Criswell, Eric Kiner, Hua Zhao, ShouBo Feng
  • Patent number: 8948415
    Abstract: Methods and systems for power conservation in mobile devices are presented. In one example, a mobile communication device includes a first microphone and a second microphone. The mobile communication monitors an ambient noise level and responsive to the ambient noise level operates the mobile communication device in a normal operation mode or a power conservation mode. In power conservation mode, use of the second microphone is discretionary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter K Reid, John S Graham, Gregory H Miller, Thomas G Criswell