Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Gregory
Thomas M. Gregory 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: 20170118408Abstract: Some embodiments include a camera of a mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the camera includes an autofocus coil for moving a lens module, a plurality of optical image stabilization coils, a driver circuit element, connected to the autofocus coil, for passing an alternating current waveform through the autofocus coil, and one or more measurement circuit elements, connected to respective ones of the plurality of the optical image stabilization coils, for measuring changes induced in currents in the respective ones of the plurality of the optical image stabilization coils by the waveform.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2016Publication date: April 27, 2017Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Albert A. Ho, Richard J. Topliss, Richard H. Tsai
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Publication number: 20160349007Abstract: A holster for a handgun, having at least some of an at least partial cavity; a lever having a finger button portion and an engagement portion, wherein the lever includes a locking projection extending from at least a portion of the engagement portion, and wherein the lever is pivotally attached or coupled to at least a portion of the holster, approximately between the finger button portion and the engagement portion; and a lockout element rotatably attached or coupled to at least a portion of the holster such that the lockout element is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein at least a portion of a locking portion of the lockout element is positioned above at least a portion of the engagement portion of the lever when the lockout element is in the locked position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: Vista Outdoor Operations LLCInventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Clifton L. Cook, Eric M. Yeates, Thomas A. Marx
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Publication number: 20160327363Abstract: A holster for a handgun, having at least some of an at least partial cavity; a lever having a finger button portion and an engagement portion, wherein the lever includes a locking projection extending from at least a portion of the engagement portion, wherein the lever is pivotally attached or coupled to at least a portion of the holster, approximately between the finger button portion and the engagement portion; and a lockout element, wherein at least a portion of the lockout element is positionable within at least a portion of the holster such that if at least a portion of the lockout element is positioned within at least a portion of the holster, at least a portion of the lockout element is positioned below at least a portion of the finger button portion to keep the lever from being pivoted to a disengaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: Vista Outdoor Operations LLCInventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Clifton L. Cook, Eric M. Yeates, Thomas A. Marx
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Publication number: 20160313088Abstract: A holster for a handgun, including at least some of an at least partial cavity; a lever having a finger button portion and an engagement portion, wherein the lever includes a locking projection extending from at least a portion of the engagement portion, wherein the lever is pivotally attached or coupled to at least a portion of the holster, approximately between the finger button portion and the engagement portion; and a locking slider, slidable attached or coupled to at least a portion of the holster such that the locking slider is repeatably slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein at least a portion of a body portion of the locking slider is positioned above at least a portion of the engagement portion of the lever when the locking slider is in the locked position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Applicant: Vista Outdoor Operations LLCInventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Clifton L. Cook, Eric M. Yeates, Thomas A. Marx
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Publication number: 20160265902Abstract: Embodiments described include a system comprising a position sensing device (PSD) and a light source. The light source is configured to, by passing one or more light beams through the PSD, cause one or more electrical currents to flow through the PSD. The system further comprises a processor, configured to (i) in response to the electrical currents, ascertain an amount of power that is delivered by the light source, and (ii) in response to the amount of power exceeding a threshold amount of power, inhibit the light source from further operation. Other embodiments are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Jawad Nawasra, Matthew C. Waldon, Scott T. Smith, Thomas M. Gregory
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Patent number: 9438802Abstract: In some embodiments, a camera actuator module includes a linear actuator motor for moving a lens assembly, a position sensor coupled to the lens assembly, a mechanical end stop mounted in the path of motion of the lens assembly, and a non-transitory storage medium storing program instructions. In some embodiments, the program instructions are computer-executable to implement exciting, using the linear actuator motor, a mechanical resonance in the camera actuator module calculated to cause the lens assembly to move to an overload displacement by powering the linear actuator of the camera actuator module at a resonant frequency of the camera actuator module, measuring, using the position sensor, a current maximal displacement of the lens assembly during the exciting using a position sensor, and estimating a position of the mechanical end stop using at least the current maximal displacement.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Nader W. Moussa
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Patent number: 9383165Abstract: A holster having a cavity and an axis defined along a side wall of the holster; a lever having a finger button portion and an engagement portion, wherein the lever is pivotally attached atop the side wall of the holster, along the axis, approximately between the finger button portion and the engagement portion, such that the finger button portion extends from the axis and is positioned above the frame/slide portion of the cavity and the engagement portion extends from the axis and is positioned above the trigger guard portion of the cavity; a hollow formed within a portion of the side wall; and a lockout lever rotatably secured within at least a portion of the hollow, and wherein a locking portion of the lockout lever is positioned beneath the finger button portion of the lever when the lockout lever is in a locked position.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLCInventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Clifton L. Cook, Eric M. Yeates, Thomas A. Marx
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Patent number: 9217558Abstract: A modular illumination device having an electronics assembly, an inner body portion extending from a first end to a second end and defining an interior cavity, wherein the inner body portion is formed so as to accept the electronics assembly within the cavity; a head assembly removably attached or coupled to the first end of the inner body portion; a tail cap portion removably attached or coupled to the second end of the inner body portion, wherein the tail cap portion includes a button assembly having a depressible button; and at least one body sleeve extending from a first end to a second end and defining an interior cavity, wherein the body sleeve is formed so as to accept the inner body portion within the cavity of the body sleeve and to be assembled between the head assembly and the tail cap portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2009Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLCInventors: Kurtis J. Sparing, Robert A. Kincaid, Birten L. Todd, Thomas M. Gregory, Craig Adam Lamb, Matt S. Leach
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Publication number: 20150350549Abstract: In some embodiments, a camera actuator module includes a linear actuator motor for moving a lens assembly, a position sensor coupled to the lens assembly, a mechanical end stop mounted in the path of motion of the lens assembly, and a non-transitory storage medium storing program instructions. In some embodiments, the program instructions are computer-executable to implement exciting, using the linear actuator motor, a mechanical resonance in the camera actuator module calculated to cause the lens assembly to move to an overload displacement by powering the linear actuator of the camera actuator module at a resonant frequency of the camera actuator module, measuring, using the position sensor, a current maximal displacement of the lens assembly during the exciting using a position sensor, and estimating a position of the mechanical end stop using at least the current maximal displacement.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Nader W. Moussa
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Patent number: 9179066Abstract: In some embodiments, a plurality of expected values of a drive current corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of potential values of a Hall sensor output is determined. An actual value of the Hall sensor output is measured. An actual value of the drive current is measured. A potential value of the Hall sensor output corresponding to the actual value of the Hall sensor output is selected. The expected value of the drive current associated with the selected potential value of the Hall sensor output is compared to the actual value of the drive current. A value of the drive current is adjusted to reduce a difference between the expected value of the drive current associated with the selected potential value of the Hall sensor output to the actual value of the drive current.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard H. Tsai, Albert A. Ho, Thomas M. Gregory, Richard J. Topliss
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Publication number: 20140209645Abstract: A holster having a cavity and an axis defined along a side wall of the holster; a lever having a finger button portion and an engagement portion, wherein the lever is pivotally attached atop the side wall of the holster, along the axis, approximately between the finger button portion and the engagement portion, such that the finger button portion extends from the axis and is positioned above the frame/slide portion of the cavity and the engagement portion extends from the axis and is positioned above the trigger guard portion of the cavity; a hollow formed within a portion of the side wall; and a lockout lever rotatably secured within at least a portion of the hollow, and wherein a locking portion of the lockout lever is positioned beneath the finger button portion of the lever when the lockout lever is in a locked position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Clifton L. Cook, Eric M. Yeates, Thomas A. Marx
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Patent number: 8783532Abstract: An accessory attachment platform, including a platform body having an accessory portion, wherein the accessory portion includes an accessory disk opening; an attachment plate portion coupled to an accessory plate portion, through the accessory disk opening, such that the attachment plate portion and the accessory plate portion are rotatable relative to the platform body; and a release lever pivotably attached to the platform body, wherein the release lever is pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and wherein the release lever is capable of releasably interacting with a primary notch of the attachment plate portion such that when the release lever is in the locking position relative to the primary notch of the attachment plate portion, the attachment plate portion is unable to rotate relative to the platform body.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Clifton L. Cook, Eric M. Yeates
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Patent number: 8720755Abstract: A holster having a lever with a finger button portion and an engagement portion, wherein the engagement portion of the lever includes a locking projection extending from a second side of the engagement portion; wherein the lever is pivotally attached to the holster, approximately between the finger button portion and the engagement portion, such that the finger button portion is positioned above the frame/slide portion of the cavity and the engagement portion is positioned above the trigger guard portion of the cavity; one or more ridge segments positioned around at least a portion of the lever; and a lockout lever pivotably attached to the first side wall such that the lockout lever is able to be rotated between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the lockout lever is positioned beneath the finger button portion of the lever when the lockout lever is in the locked position.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Clifton L. Cook, Eric M. Yeates, Thomas A. Marx
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Patent number: 8714423Abstract: A holster for accommodating a handgun having an attached, offset accessory, including walls defining a cavity for receiving the handgun and the attached accessory, a retention means that is capable of retaining a handgun and accessory in the holster, wherein the retention means includes a lever that is pivotally connected, via a pivot pin, to the first side wall approximately between a finger button end and an engagement end, wherein the engagement end includes a locking portion, formed on a second side of the engagement end, wherein the lever is pivotable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and wherein the lever is biased, via a spring means, to the engaged position, such that when the lever is in the engaged position, the locking portion may extend inside the cavity and inside the inner surface of the trigger guard of a handgun that is secured into the holster.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Kincaid, Thomas M. Gregory, Birten L. Todd, Eric M. Yeates, Clifton L. Cook, Thomas A. Marx
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Patent number: 8517235Abstract: A holster having a body defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a weapon, the body comprising a pair of opposed side walls; a hood assembly pivotably connected to the body, wherein the hood assembly is pivotable between an open position and a closed position; a lock mechanism for maintaining the hood assembly in the closed position; a finger/thumb release associated with the lock mechanism for releasing the hood assembly from the closed position; and at least one pivot arm that extends from the hood assembly to a pivot plate, wherein the pivot plate automatically pivots the hood assembly to the closed position such that to the lock mechanism is automatically engaged as a forward face of a trigger guard of an inserted weapon urges the pivot plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Kincaid, Thomas M. Gregory, Eric M. Yeates, Clifton L. Cook, Charles E. Buis, III
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Patent number: 8517234Abstract: An accessory attachment system having a platform body with a platform recess, an accessory mounting plate having a plurality of mounting plate projections extending therefrom and a plurality of mounting plate apertures formed therethrough, wherein at least some of the mounting plate projections correspond to at least some of the slots so that when the mounting plate projections are aligned with the corresponding slots, the accessory mounting plate can pass the locking ledge into the platform recess, at least one release lever that is pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and a plurality of internal stops formed within the platform recess, wherein the accessory mounting plate can be secured within a portion of the platform recess such that the mounting plate projections are secured between the internal stops and the accessory plate engagement portion when the release lever is in the locking position.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Kincaid, Eric M. Yeates, Thomas M. Gregory, Thomas A. Marx
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Patent number: 8474670Abstract: A holster for a handgun, including a cavity having a frame/slide portion and a trigger guard portion; an axis extending between the frame/slide portion of the cavity and the trigger guard portion of the cavity; and a lever having a finger button portion and an engagement portion, wherein the lever includes a second side facing generally toward the holster cavity, and wherein the engagement portion of the lever includes a locking projection extending from the second side of the engagement portion; wherein the lever is pivotally attached atop the side wall of the holster, along the axis, approximately between the finger button portion and the engagement portion, such that the finger button portion extends from the axis and is positioned above the frame/slide portion of the cavity and the engagement portion extends from the axis and is positioned above the trigger guard portion of the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Clifton L. Cook, Eric M. Yeates
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Patent number: 8469245Abstract: A platform with a platform body having a plate attachment portion. The plate attachment portion includes a platform opening and the platform opening includes a projection that extends into a portion of the platform opening. A platform plate portion is coupled to an accessory plate portion, through the platform opening, such that the platform plate portion and the accessory plate portion are rotatable relative to the platform body. A portion of the platform plate portion is rotatably slidable along a surface of the internal projection, and a portion of the accessory plate portion is rotatably slidable along a surface of the internal projection. A release lever is pivotably attached to the platform body and the release lever is pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position. The release lever is capable of releasably interacting with a primary notch of the platform plate portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Thomas A. Marx
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Patent number: 8469540Abstract: A switch assembly that is utilized as a tail cap of a lighting device. The switch assembly comprises a depressible switch that allows the user to activate the lighting device. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, the switch assembly has four channels, providing for at least three different light functions and a locking channel. Different channels are defined by the axial position of the rotatable portion relative to the lighting device body.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Craig Adam Lamb, Birten L. Todd, Clifton L. Cook, Eric M. Yeates, Thomas A. Marx
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Patent number: 8453369Abstract: An offset mountable accessory, including an accessory having an accessory body; and an accessory mounting clamp coupled to the accessory body, wherein the accessory mounting clamp is capable of mounting the accessory body to an accessory rail, such that the accessory body is mounted offset from the accessory rail.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Kincaid, Craig Adam Lamb, Birten L. Todd, Thomas M. Gregory, Eric M. Yeates