Patents by Inventor Thomas J. O'Brien
Thomas J. O'Brien 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).
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Publication number: 20240055986Abstract: This disclosure provides a control method for multi-phase switching converter having a master phase and at least one slave phase. The control method comprises: providing a pulse signal with 0.5 duty cycle by frequency-dividing a master control signal supplied to the master phase; and for each slave phase to be enabled, setting a ratio of a charge current and a discharge current based on a slave phase number under a phase-added operation, charging a first capacitor with the charge current and discharging a second capacitor with the discharge current in high logic of the pulse signal, discharging the first capacitor with the discharge current and charging the second capacitor with the charge current in logic low of the pulse signal, and generating a respective enable signal for controlling a switch in a corresponding slave phase by comparing a first capacitor voltage with a second capacitor voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2022Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Mallikarjun Banappagol, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Patent number: 11897296Abstract: A tire monitoring apparatus comprises a sensor housing having a connection part integrated with the sensor housing, the connection part having an elongated opening and a corresponding mounting feature in a wheel rim, wherein a screw extends through the elongated opening and connects with the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, thereby when the screw is not tightened fully, the sensor housing can be rotated with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, and when the screw is tightened fully, the sensor housing is secured in place and does not rotate with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Michael D. Weston, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Publication number: 20220349869Abstract: A scalable, real-time, label-free, electrode- or optical-based cell monitoring system for integration into a cell culture incubator is described herein. An example system includes (1) cell culture consumables with integrated electrodes and/or optics for growing and monitoring cells, (2) incubator trays for consumable organization and recording, and (3) a system console, external to the incubator, for connecting multiple incubator trays. Without perturbing the cell culture, the system is capable of monitoring multiple culture attributes for each cell culture consumable simultaneously. These attributes can include, but are not limited to, cell growth, proliferation, morphology, media pH, or media oxygen. The system can support multiple trays, which permits monitoring dozens to hundreds of consumables simultaneously, including a mixture of consumables of various sizes. In addition to monitoring adherent cells, the disclosed technology can be readily adapted for monitoring of cell suspensions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2020Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventors: Michael Antony CLEMENTS, Isaac Perry CLEMENTS, Thomas J. O'BRIEN, James David ROSS, Daniel Christopher MILLARD, Andrew WILLSIE, Edgar A. BROWN, Robert Dixon GRIER, Jr., Amanda Jervis PREYER, Denise Danielle SULLIVAN
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Patent number: 11407260Abstract: A tire monitoring apparatus comprises a sensor housing having a connection part integrated with the sensor housing, the connection part having an elongated opening and a corresponding mounting feature in a wheel rim, wherein a screw extends through the elongated opening and connects with the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, thereby when the screw is not tightened fully, the sensor housing can be rotated with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, and when the screw is tightened fully, the sensor housing is secured in place and does not rotate with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Weston, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Patent number: 11338629Abstract: A tire monitoring system with mounting features on a housing provide for positioning through a wide range of angles. Accordingly, the system can be positioned on a variety of wheel rim/valve combinations. The tire monitoring apparatus includes two opposed wings provided on the housing to facilitate the range of positioning angles at which the housing can be positioned with respect to a valve base. Each opposed wing has a same exterior surface radius of curvature and the wings are clamped between a base plate and a clamp plate at the desired angle.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: David H. McClurg, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Publication number: 20220016945Abstract: A tire monitoring apparatus comprises a sensor housing having a connection part integrated with the sensor housing, the connection part having an elongated opening and a corresponding mounting feature in a wheel rim, wherein a screw extends through the elongated opening and connects with the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, thereby when the screw is not tightened fully, the sensor housing can be rotated with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, and when the screw is tightened fully, the sensor housing is secured in place and does not rotate with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: MICHAEL D. WESTON, THOMAS J. O'BRIEN
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Publication number: 20210362164Abstract: A system with a rotatable drum and an exposure device configured to age and concentrate aerosol particles by simulating operational conditions. The system includes the rotatable drum; a port connected to the drum, an impactor with vacuum nozzles, the exposure device, and optionally an outlet port when the port is solely an inlet port. The port delivers the aerosol particles into the drum with the nozzles withdrawing air to increase the concentration of the particles. After aging and concentrating, evacuating the aerosol particles directly from the drum into at least one of an exposure chamber or a testing apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: The Government of the United States, as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Jaime B. Anderson, Mark M. Bailey, Larry E. Bowen, Brett R. Haupt, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Publication number: 20210031572Abstract: A tire monitoring system with mounting features on a housing provide for positioning through a wide range of angles. Accordingly, the system can be positioned on a variety of wheel rim/valve combinations. The tire monitoring apparatus includes two opposed wings provided on the housing to facilitate the range of positioning angles at which the housing can be positioned with respect to a valve base. Each opposed wing has a same exterior surface radius of curvature and the wings are clamped between a base plate and a clamp plate at the desired angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: DAVID H. MCCLURG, THOMAS J. O'BRIEN
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Patent number: 10807421Abstract: A tire monitoring system with mounting features on a housing provide for positioning through a wide range of angles. Accordingly, the system can be positioned on an a variety of wheel rim/valve combinations. The tire monitoring apparatus includes two opposed wings provided on the housing to facilitate the range of positioning angles at which the housing can be positioned with respect to a valve base. Each opposed wing has a same exterior surface radius of curvature and the wings are clamped between a base plate and a clamp plate at the desired angle.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Sensata Techologies, Inc.Inventors: David H. McClurg, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Publication number: 20200039301Abstract: A tire monitoring system with mounting features on a housing provide for positioning through a wide range of angles. Accordingly, the system can be positioned on an a variety of wheel rim/valve combinations. The tire monitoring apparatus includes two opposed wings provided on the housing to facilitate the range of positioning angles at which the housing can be positioned with respect to a valve base. Each opposed wing has a same exterior surface radius of curvature and the wings are clamped between a base plate and a clamp plate at the desired angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: Sensata Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David H. McClurg, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Publication number: 20180093281Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides an aerosol concentrating apparatus for use with an aerosol aging drum, where the aerosol concentrating apparatus includes an outer housing, an aerosol inlet tube connected to the outer housing, and an extraction tube connected to the outer housing. An axle connected to the outer housing is axially centered within the outer housing, where the axle is formed from porous material. An inner housing is connected to the axle, such that the axle is axially centered within the inner housing, and such that the inner housing is adapted to spin about the axle within the outer housing to separate aerosol particles by size. Aerosol particles below a first threshold size are forced out of the aerosol concentrating apparatus through the axle; and, aerosol particles between the first threshold size and a second threshold size are suspended within the inner housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Applicant: United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Jaime B. Anderson, Mark M. Bailey, Larry E. Bowen, Brett R. Haupt, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Patent number: 9390241Abstract: A user is presented with one or more user-level permissions in a human understandable language, where the one or more user-level permissions represent one or more application-level permissions requested from an application for accessing one or more resources. A security profile is generated having one or more operating system (OS)-level permissions based on at least one of the user-level permissions authorized by the user. The security profile is enforced to restrict the application to accessing the one or more resources based on the OS-level permissions.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Michael A. Swingler, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Patent number: 9312835Abstract: A power control device can generate control signals to control operation of power sources. Additional control signals control operation of load switches that can be connected to the power sources to provide secondary sources of power. The load switches can be turned in a gradual manner at rates that depend on the power sources to which they are connected. The outputs of the load switches can be monitored for overvoltage and undervoltage conditions relative to the power sources to which they are connected.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM, IncInventors: Crown Sen Shieh, Abid Hussain, Thomas J O'Brien
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Patent number: 9300326Abstract: A charging circuit using a switch mode power supply to charge a battery from a connected external power adapter may periodically turn off the switch mode power supply and disconnect its input terminal from the switch mode power supply. A load may be connected to the input terminal. The input terminal is monitored for voltage collapse, indicating whether or not the power adapter is connected.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Thomas J O'Brien, Christian G Sporck
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Patent number: 9003326Abstract: A GUI conveys the location of input focus to a user by a dynamic focus indicator that displays the path followed by input focus during a transition from one GUI component to another. A focus indicator is displayed at a first location having input focus. In response to the location of input focus shifting from the first location to a second location, a path is indicated from the first location to the second location and the focus indicator is displayed at the second location. The location of input focus may shift due to an input from the user, a request from an application associated with the GUI, or a timing event. The path is indicated by presenting an animation routine in which the focus indicator appears to traverse the path.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2008Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Swingler, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Publication number: 20140189852Abstract: A user is presented with one or more user-level permissions in a human understandable language, where the one or more user-level permissions represent one or more application-level permissions requested from an application for accessing one or more resources. A security profile is generated having one or more operating system (OS)-level permissions based on at least one of the user-level permissions authorized by the user. The security profile is enforced to restrict the application to accessing the one or more resources based on the OS-level permissions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2014Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Swingler, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Publication number: 20140117944Abstract: A charging circuit using a switch mode power supply to charge a battery from a connected external power adapter may periodically turn off the switch mode power supply and disconnect its input terminal from the switch mode power supply. A load may be connected to the input terminal. The input terminal is monitored for voltage collapse, indicating whether or not the power adapter is connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATEDInventors: Thomas J. O'Brien, Christian G. Sporck
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Patent number: 8646100Abstract: A user is presented with one or more user-level permissions in a human understandable language, where the one or more user-level permissions represent one or more application-level permissions requested from an application for accessing one or more resources. A security profile is generated having one or more operating system (OS)-level permissions based on at least one of the user-level permissions authorized by the user. The security profile is enforced to restrict the application to accessing the one or more resources based on the OS-level permissions.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2011Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Swingler, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Patent number: 8622803Abstract: A gaming machine includes a memory, a first display device configured to display a first game, a second display device configured to display a second game, and a processor coupled to the memory, to the first display device, and to the second display device. The second display device includes a plurality of segments, wherein at least one of the segments is an electronic display device. The processor is configured to enable play of the first game in response to a wager made by the player, enable play of the second game upon detection of a triggering event during play of the first game, and during play of the first game and the second game, update the electronic display device to reflect a current award value.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: IGTInventors: Ryan W. Cuddy, Eric Steven Boese, Thomas J. O'Brien
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Patent number: 8484500Abstract: A system and method is provided to accomplish distributed power sequencing function of a large electronics system with minimum number of signals in the sequencing network without compromising the flexibility and expandability. In one embodiment of the invention, the power sequencing function is accomplished with two signals of the sequencing network: power_on/power_off signal and SEQ_LINK signal. The power_on/power_off signal controls whether the sequencing is in power_on mode for turning on power to multiple devices in a predetermined sequence or power_off mode for for turning off power to multiple devices in a reverse sequence. The SEQ_LINK signal controls when the sequence counters, located in each participating device, are allowed to count to the subsequent state. Each sequencing logic circuit of these participating devices responds to a predetermined sequence position to enable the power on or power off of the power supply it controls.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: Thomas J O'brien