Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Thomas

Timothy A. Thomas 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: 9841879
    Abstract: A computing device can include a recognition mode interface utilizing graphical elements, such as virtual fireflies, to indicate recognized or identified objects. The fireflies can be animated to move across a display, and the fireflies can create bounding boxes around visual representations of objects as the objects are recognized. In some cases, the object might be of a type that has specific meaning or information to be conveyed to a user. In such cases, the fireflies might be displayed with a particular size, shape, or color to convey that information. The fireflies also can be configured to form shapes or patterns in order to convey other types of information to a user, such as where audio is being recognized, light is sufficient for image capture, and the like. Other types of information can be conveyed as well via altering characteristics of the fireflies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Thomas Gray, Forrest Elliott
  • Publication number: 20170343576
    Abstract: A method of making an air data probe may comprise forming a probe body, forming an interior cavity into the probe body, applying a protective shell to the probe body by an additive manufacturing technique, inserting a heating element into the interior cavity, machining a final profile of the air data probe, and forming a sensing port comprising a port passage defined through the probe body and lined by a portion of the protective shell
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Rosemount Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Thomas Golly, Matthew P. Anderson, Paul Robert Johnson, Greg Seidel
  • Patent number: 9817353
    Abstract: A method and system for managing one or more high frequency service items associated with a device. A parent/child relationship between the high frequency service items can be defined to track replacement of components based on a service action related to a child component. A taxonomy of related service items and servicing functions can be specified in an XML document associated with the rendering system. The relationship between the high frequency service items can be indicated utilizing a related component indicator and a HFSI counter. A parent component can be replaced by a maintenance operator and an aggregate child component can be rebuilt by a service engineer in order to retain the component life thereby reducing down time and service costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joanna Brown, Timothy Thomas, Nitin Shinoy, Cheryl Koenig, Michael Soures, Kathleen Giuffrida, Michael Kirby
  • Patent number: 9798443
    Abstract: A set of application icons can be displayed on an interface (e.g., a home screen) of a computing device. The icons can include a center icon and at least one of a subset of application icons to the left or to the right of the center application icon. Displayed below the icons can be a portion of an application window. The application window can be associated with the center application icon and can display content associated with the center application icon. The user can utilize a fingertip or object to select an area of a display screen associated with the application window and the user can perform an input motion from the area to a region associated with the set of application icons to animate a departure of the icons and an expansion of the application window to display additional content. Further, the input motion can enable at least one additional function associated with the application window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Thomas Gray
  • Patent number: 9772345
    Abstract: An air data probe is disclosed. The air data probe may include a probe body having an interior cavity and coated by a protective shell. A sensing port may be disposed in the air data probe and may extend through the probe body. The sensing port may also be lined by the protective shell. The protective shell may be made of an austenitic nickel-chromium alloy, or stainless steel, or any relatively corrosion resistant material. The probe body may be made of nickel, or a nickel alloy, or any relatively thermally conductive material. The protective shell may be joined to the probe body by additive manufacturing, such as laser cladding. In this manner, an air data probe capable withstanding high temperatures without corrosion and yet also being relatively thermally conductive is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Thomas Golly, Matthew P. Anderson, Paul Robert Johnson, Greg Seidel
  • Publication number: 20170222703
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for obtaining full channel knowledge between each transmitter and each receiver when using radio frequency (RF) beamforming are provided. One method described herein includes a method of obtaining channel knowledge at a transmitter with Q transmit antennas for use in beamforming where the transmitter transmits sounding waveforms from B orthogonal basis functions from a transmit array comprised of the Q transmit antennas. In response to the transmitted sounding waveforms the transmitter receives at least one feedback message from a receiver. The feedback message(s) may include an indication of the best MB basis functions plus a gain and phase value for each of the MB basis functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy Thomas, Frederick Vook
  • Patent number: 9721031
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for anchoring bookmarks to individual words for precise positioning within electronic documents. The bookmarks may be anchored based on user input selecting particular words, based on gaze tracking identifying most recently read words, or based on estimated reading speed. The bookmarks may be a link used to navigate within the document, may be used as an anchor for a new layout after content reflow or may be automatically saved when the e-reader turns off the display to provide the user with a most recently read passage. If a bookmark isn't anchored to specific words by the user, the device may anchor the bookmark to the beginning of a sentence or a paragraph including the recently read words determined using gaze tracking or estimated reading speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Stanton Todd Marcum, Michael Patrick Bacus, Timothy Thomas Gray
  • Patent number: 9706625
    Abstract: An anti-flicker and anti-glow switchable load apparatus to be installed in the light socket of a commonly powered electronic switching device, such as a motion activated light switch. An energy efficient light bulb or lamp, such as a cathode fluorescent lamp or light emitting diode is then screwed into the apparatus. A first embodiment of the present invention includes a switchable light source, a switchable load, a controller, and a voltage sensor. When the present invention in the first embodiment detects a higher voltage, thus indicating the lamp has been switched from the “off” state to the on state, the switchable load is disconnected, and the current is re-routed to pass through the energy efficient lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Hasler, Timothy Thomas Tutt
  • Patent number: 9671941
    Abstract: A computing device can utilize a recognition mode wherein an interface utilizes graphical elements, such as virtual fireflies, to indicate recognized or identified objects. Fireflies can be displayed near an input element to indicate that a recognition mode is available. When a user selects the input element, the fireflies can appear to emanate from the input element and disperse across the display screen. As objects are recognized, fireflies can create bounding boxes around those objects, or otherwise appear proximate those objects, to indicate recognition. The fireflies can again disperse as the objects fall out of view, and can begin moving towards new objects as features of those objects are identified as potential object features. A subsequent selection of the input element to exit recognition mode can cause the fireflies to appear to retreat to their original location in, or near, the input element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Thomas Gray, Charles Eugene Cummins, Russell Edward Glaser, Tito Pagan, Steven Michael Sommer, Brian Peter Kralyevich, Angela Kathleen Warren, Marc Anthony Salazar, Suzan Marashi
  • Patent number: 9631960
    Abstract: A pitot tube includes a substantially cylindrical body portion having an interior defining a flow passage, and a tip portion extending along a pitot tube axis from the body portion. The tip portion includes an inlet opening, a radially tapered outer surface extending from the body portion toward the inlet opening, one or more bulkheads disposed at the interior to limit travel of particles ingested into the interior, at least one drain opening disposed directly adjacent to one of the one or more bulkheads, and one or more electrical coils comprising one or more coil wraps disposed at an interior of the pitot tube. The one or more coil wraps establish a variable watt density along the interior of the pitot tube. The one or more coil wraps also establish a variable watt density downstream of one or more of the one or more bulkheads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventors: Greg Seidel, Timothy Thomas Golly, Paul Robert Johnson
  • Patent number: 9629000
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for elevation beam design. Characteristics, such as number, distribution, and geographical location of elements subject to interference by elevation beams of a base station are analyzed, and a configuration for an antenna array is determined so as to create a set of elevation beams directed so as to avoid interference with the elements subject to interference by the base station. Configuration may, for example, include configuration of the antenna array so as to create a set of elevation beams exhibiting nulls and sidelobes in appropriate locations and at appropriate angles so as to avoid interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
    Inventors: Timothy Thomas, Frederick Vook, Eugene Visotsky
  • Patent number: 9600720
    Abstract: Processes such as image matching, computer vision, and object recognition can utilize additional data, such as spatial data, to attempt to improve the accuracy of the results of those processes. For example, a computing device acquiring scene data including a representation of an object can also determine spatial data (e.g., location and orientation data). By determining the spatial data, a set of potential matches can be found which can help to more quickly and accurately identify the object based on one or more objects known to be at a corresponding position. The data acquired by the computing device can also be used to update matching data stored for that location, which can assist with subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Thomas Gray
  • Patent number: 9590709
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer-readable storage media perform phasing of a first array including one or more antenna elements and phasing of a second array including one or more antenna elements to provide a combined radiation pattern for the first and second arrays, the first array having a first radiation pattern and the second array having a second radiation pattern, wherein the first radiation pattern is substantially orthogonal to the second radiation pattern. The combined radiation pattern is controlled in a first dimension based upon an uplink channel measurement. The combined radiation pattern is controlled in a second dimension based upon a precoding feedback from a user equipment (UE).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
    Inventors: Timothy A. Thomas, Frederick Vook, Eugene Visotsky
  • Patent number: 9571140
    Abstract: An example technique may include controlling receiving a first block of time domain symbols and a second block of time domain symbols, converting the blocks of time domain symbols to the frequency domain to create a first pre-equalized block of frequency domain symbols and a second pre-equalized block of frequency domain symbols, respectively, applying, a linear phase shift to the frequency domain symbols to compensate for a conjugating and time-reversing of corresponding pre-spread domain symbols being performed at a transmitter before spreading of the pre-spread domain symbols, and creating a first equalized block of frequency domain symbols and a second equalized block of frequency domain symbols as a function of the first and second pre-equalized blocks of frequency domain symbols wherein at least one of the first and second pre-equalized blocks of frequency domain symbols has the linear phase shift applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks OY
    Inventors: Timothy Thomas, Frederick Vook, Amitabha Ghosh
  • Publication number: 20170026156
    Abstract: A method includes scheduling a selected UE operating in a FDD mode to transmit sounding information on a downlink carrier frequency using selected resource(s) from a downlink radio frame, and communicating using the downlink radio frame by transmitting to UEs in resources other than at least the selected resource(s) and by receiving the sounding information on the downlink carrier frequency from the selected UE in the selected resource(s). Another method includes scheduling a selected UE operating in a FDD mode to receive sounding information on an uplink carrier frequency using selected resource(s) from an uplink radio frame, and communicating using the uplink radio frame by receiving from UEs in resources in the uplink radio frame other than at least the selected resource(s) and by transmitting the sounding information on the uplink carrier frequency to the selected UE in the selected resource(s). Apparatus and computer program products are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
    Inventors: Timothy THOMAS, Frederick VOOK, Weidong YANG
  • Publication number: 20170026203
    Abstract: A group of data symbols for a current block of data symbols in multiple blocks received over a communication channel is equalized, based on a pilot block, to generate a group of equalized symbols. The group of equalized symbols is de-rotated as a function of a current phase estimate to determine initial de-rotated equalized symbols. The phase estimate is an estimate of phase caused by noise for blocks previous to the current block. Additionally, a phase metric is calculated from real and imaginary parts of the initial de-rotated equalized symbols, wherein the phase metric estimates phase caused by noise for the current block. The current phase estimate is updated with the phase metric. The initial de-rotated equalized symbols are de-rotated by the phase metric to determine final equalized and de-rotated symbol estimates. The final equalized and de-rotated symbol estimates are output. Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy Thomas, Mark Cudak
  • Publication number: 20170027040
    Abstract: An anti-flicker and anti-glow switchable load apparatus to be installed in the light socket of a commonly powered electronic switching device, such as a motion activated light switch. An energy efficient light bulb or lamp, such as a cathode fluorescent lamp or light emitting diode is then screwed into the apparatus. A first embodiment of the present invention includes a switchable light source, a switchable load, a controller, and a voltage sensor. When the present invention in the first embodiment detects a higher voltage, thus indicating the lamp has been switched from the “off” state to the on state, the switchable load is disconnected, and the current is re-routed to pass through the energy efficient lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Hasler, Timothy Thomas Tutt
  • Publication number: 20170019159
    Abstract: A method and apparatus can be configured to transmit a number of azimuth antenna elements. The method can also comprise transmitting a number of elevation antenna elements. The method can also comprise receiving an azimuth precoder-matrix-indicator. The method can also comprise receiving an elevation precoder-matrix-indicator. The method can also comprise transmitting based on the received azimuth precoder-matrix-indicator and the received elevation precoder-matrix-indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Frederick Vook, Timothy Thomas
  • Publication number: 20170012729
    Abstract: An example technique may include receiving, by a mobile station from a cell, a first block of symbols and a second block of symbols, each of the first and second blocks of symbols including a plurality of contiguous segments that include a plurality of symbols, performing, by the mobile station, a short correlation of each segment of the first block of symbols with a corresponding segment of the second block of symbols to obtain a plurality of segment correlation results, determining a block correlation result for the first block of symbols and the second block of symbols based on summing at least a first subset of the segment correlation results and subtracting a second subset of the segment correlation results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy THOMAS, Yohannes SOLICHIEN
  • Patent number: 9537548
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for random access channel (RACH) design using basis functions are provided. One method includes receiving, at an access point employing a receiver with Q antennas, a random access channel (RACH) preamble sent from a mobile unit. The receiving may comprise receiving the same RACH preamble at B different time intervals where the access point beamforms with a different beam selected from B basis function beams at each of the different time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY
    Inventors: Timothy Thomas, Jun Tan, Frederick Vook