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).

  • Publication number: 20120311697
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Swingler, Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7990106
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for charging a battery using a regulator. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an electronic circuit comprising a regulator having an input coupled to a power source for receiving a voltage and a current and an output for providing an output current, an input voltage detection circuit coupled to the power source, and an adjustable current limit circuit for controlling the input or output current of the regulator, wherein input voltage detection circuit monitors the voltage from the power source and the adjustable current limit circuit changes the input or output current of the regulator to optimize the power drawn from power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Summit Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Abid Hussain, George Konstantinos Paparrizos, Takashi Kanamori, Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20100323776
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Ryan W. Cuddy, Eric Steven Boese, Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20100077345
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Swingler, Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20090070613
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Summit Microelectronics, Inc
    Inventor: Thomas J. O'brien
  • Publication number: 20080258688
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for charging a battery using a regulator. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an electronic circuit comprising a regulator having an input coupled to a power source for receiving a voltage and a current and an output for providing an output current, an input voltage detection circuit coupled to the power source, and an adjustable current limit circuit for controlling the input or output current of the regulator, wherein input voltage detection circuit monitors the voltage from the power source and the adjustable current limit circuit changes the input or output current of the regulator to optimize the power drawn from power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Summit Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Abid Hussain, George Konstantinos Paparrizos, Takashi Kanamori, Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7337342
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Summit Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7200187
    Abstract: A digital modulator for driving a digital amplifier. The digital modulator has a subtractor which receives a digital input signal. A filter amplifier receives the output of the filter amplifier and is tuned to an idle frequency of the digital modulator. The digital modulator includes a delay element and a digital comparator. The digital comparator receives the output from the filter and applies it to the delay element. A feedback loop couples the output of the delay element to the subtractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7158841
    Abstract: A feedback control-loop system that employs an active DC output control circuit is disclosed which compares an input parameter measurement against a target specification associated with the input parameter measurement. In one embodiment, the active DC output control circuit receives an input signal for laser bias adjustment. In another embodiment, the active DC output control circuit receives a motor speed input from a source, such as a tachometer, for motor speed adjustment. In another embodiment, the active DC output control circuit receives an input power amplifier measurement for wireless applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Summit Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore M. Myers, Kenneth C. Adkins, John A. Tabler, Anurag Kaplish, Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20030031245
    Abstract: A digital modulator for driving a digital amplifier. The digital modulator has a subtractor which receives a digital input signal. A filter amplifier receives the output of the filter amplifier and is tuned to an idle frequency of the digital modulator. The digital modulator includes a delay element and a digital comparator. The digital comparator receives the output from the filter and applies it to the delay element. A feedback loop couples the output of the delay element to the subtractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5474272
    Abstract: A cup-holder is provided for portable use at football games, theaters, or the like. The cup-holder is securely fastened to a top surface of an arm rest of a seat at the game. The holder includes a base having flat top and bottom surfaces. The bottom surface of the base rests flush against the seat arm rest or may fit over the arm rest. The top of the base is flat to allow the user to rest his/her arm thereon. The holder includes a cup receptacle formed from adjacent, contiguous rings which are separated with a flexible bridge. VELCRO fastening tape straps are used to secure the holder to the arm rest. Also, the top surface of the base may include indicia such as a team logo, name, team schedule, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Holdit, Inc., L.L.C.
    Inventors: William Thompson, Thomas J. O'Brien, Donald L. Rohrs
  • Patent number: 4072158
    Abstract: Novel portable shelter apparatus including a side portion which can be detached along three of its four sides and raised to a substantially horizontal position, an extendable floor portion that can be unrolled from its normal storage position to an extended floor position underneath the raised side portion, and side wall netting operable to interconnect the raised side and extended floor portions to provide, within an insect-proof environment, a substantially increased floor space and increased user visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Assignee: Thomas J. O'Brien
    Inventors: Thomas J. O'Brien, David A. Parsons, Virginia R. Harger