Patents by Inventor Timothy W. Crockett
Timothy W. Crockett 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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Patent number: 11807020Abstract: Thermal printing systems are described. The thermal printing systems and methods described provide efficient, compact, and fast thermal printing by providing preheating components that generate a priming thermal energy which preheats thermal paper in the printing system. The priming thermal energy decreases the amount of energy needed to activate the thermal paper during printing. The system and methods also include an optical print head which activates thermal paper using optical energy, which provides for multiple different types of efficient component configuration and increased speed of printing.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings CorporationInventors: Brad M. Johnson, Timothy W. Crockett, Suzanne M. Bleakley
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Publication number: 20230306409Abstract: The present disclosure describes a directional radio frequency identification (RFID) system, which provides directional RFID tag scanning using RFID enclosures and moveable radio signal blocking components. The RFID systems herein also prevent unwanted RFID tag activation and focuses RFID readers on specific scan areas. The directional RFID systems may be implemented in any type of system that utilizes RFID tag reading, such as a point of sale systems and other related systems, which utilize RFID scanning.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Brad Matthew JOHNSON, David J. STEINER, Kimberly A. WOOD, Timothy W. CROCKETT
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Patent number: 11763108Abstract: Radio frequency identification discontinuity correction is provided by calculating a phase-time slope for a Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) signal received from an RFID tag; estimating, based on the phase-time slope, a predicted phase reading for the RFID signal at a given time; and in response to detecting a phase discontinuity based on a difference between the predicted phase reading and an actual phase reading for the given time, adjusting a calculated distance to the RFID tag. The calculated distance may indicate that the RFID tag is inside of or outside of a designated zone, and that a motion of the RFID tag indicates travel towards or away from the designated zone, which may be used to add or remove an item associated with the RFID tag to an ongoing item list.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings CorporationInventors: David Bernath, David Steiner, Timothy W. Crockett, Jose R. Figueroa
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Publication number: 20230033590Abstract: Radio frequency identification discontinuity correction is provided by calculating a phase-time slope for a Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) signal received from an RFID tag; estimating, based on the phase-time slope, a predicted phase reading for the RFID signal at a given time; and in response to detecting a phase discontinuity based on a difference between the predicted phase reading and an actual phase reading for the given time, adjusting a calculated distance to the RFID tag. The calculated distance may indicate that the RFID tag is inside of or outside of a designated zone, and that a motion of the RFID tag indicates travel towards or away from the designated zone, which may be used to add or remove an item associated with the RFID tag to an ongoing item list.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2021Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: David BERNATH, David Steiner, Timothy W. Crockett, Jose R. Figueroa
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Publication number: 20220351172Abstract: A self-checkout (SCO) terminal in a retail store controls banks of lights to communicate context information to a customer in order to better inform them about various events. The context information may be related to a predetermined event, such as a self-checkout process or an emergency event, and is enhanced using the personal preferences of the customer using the SCO terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventors: Brad M. Johnson, Robert Andrew Myers, Scott Graham, William Laird Dungan, Timothy W. Crockett
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Publication number: 20220281232Abstract: Thermal printing systems are described. The thermal printing systems and methods described provide efficient, compact, and fast thermal printing by providing preheating components that generate a priming thermal energy which preheats thermal paper in the printing system. The priming thermal energy decreases the amount of energy needed to activate the thermal paper during printing. The system and methods also include an optical print head which activates thermal paper using optical energy, which provides for multiple different types of efficient component configuration and increased speed of printing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2021Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Brad M. JOHNSON, Timothy W. CROCKETT, Suzanne M. BLEAKLEY
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Patent number: 11386411Abstract: A self-checkout (SCO) terminal in a retail store controls banks of lights to communicate context information to a customer in order to better inform them about various events. The context information may be related to a predetermined event, such as a self-checkout process or an emergency event, and is enhanced using the personal preferences of the customer using the SCO terminal.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings CorporationInventors: Brad M. Johnson, Robert Andrew Myers, Scott Graham, William Laird Dungan, Timothy W. Crockett
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Patent number: 11288652Abstract: A method includes scanning, by a checkout station, a plurality of items and determining, by the checkout station, a total price for the plurality of items. Each item of the plurality of items is coupled to a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that identifies that item. The method also includes detecting, by an RFID scanner of a centralized payment station, one or more of the RFID tags of the plurality of items moving within a threshold distance of the centralized payment station and retrieving, by a hardware processor of the centralized payment station and based on the detected one or more RFID tags, the total price. The method further includes processing, by the hardware processor, a payment in satisfaction of the total price.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings CorporationInventors: David Steiner, Kimberly Wood, Timothy W. Crockett, Jose R. Figueroa, Suzanne M. Bleakley
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Patent number: 11076462Abstract: A system that includes a plurality of serially connected light emitting diodes (LEDs), a latch circuit, and a controller including logic is disclosed. A first plurality of bits is transmitted from the controller to a first LED of the plurality of serially connected LEDs. The plurality of serially connected LEDs includes the first LED, coupled to the controller, and a last LED coupled to the latch circuit. The controller determines that the latch circuit is set. The latch circuit is set based on an output of the last LED after the transmitting the first plurality of bits. The number of active LEDs in the plurality of serially connected LEDs is identified, based on determining that the latch circuit is set.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings CorporationInventor: Timothy W. Crockett
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Publication number: 20210133720Abstract: A self-checkout (SCO) terminal in a retail store controls banks of lights to communicate context information to a customer in order to better inform them about various events. The context information may be related to a predetermined event, such as a self-checkout process or an emergency event, and is enhanced using the personal preferences of the customer using the SCO terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2019Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Brad M. Johnson, Robert Andrew Myers, Scott Graham, William Laird Dungan, Timothy W. Crockett
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Publication number: 20210127465Abstract: A system that includes a plurality of serially connected light emitting diodes (LEDs), a latch circuit, and a controller including logic is disclosed. A first plurality of bits is transmitted from the controller to a first LED of the plurality of serially connected LEDs. The plurality of serially connected LEDs includes the first LED, coupled to the controller, and a last LED coupled to the latch circuit. The controller determines that the latch circuit is set. The latch circuit is set based on an output of the last LED after the transmitting the first plurality of bits. The number of active LEDs in the plurality of serially connected LEDs is identified, based on determining that the latch circuit is set.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2019Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventor: Timothy W. CROCKETT
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Patent number: 8682057Abstract: Method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided for identifying a graphic symbol within an image obtained by optical scanning. An image intensity is measured for each of a plurality of columns of the image, wherein each column has a length that extends across the graphic symbol in a first direction, and wherein the plurality of columns collectively extend across the graphic symbol in a second direction. The graphic symbol is then identified by matching a profile of the image intensity to a predetermined image intensity profile associated with a given graphic symbol. Optionally, the image is a digital image and the image intensity for each column is the sum of the image intensity for each pixel in that individual column. An image intensity differential between adjacent columns may be calculated for matching with a predetermined differential profile or comparison with an electronic profile generated by a magnetic scan.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Timothy W. Crockett
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Patent number: 8599140Abstract: A method for providing a touch interface on a display is described. The method includes providing an emitter on a first side of the display and providing a detector on a second side of the display. The emitter provides an electromagnetic signal to the display. The electromagnetic signal has a path from the emitter to the detector through the display in the absence of a user's touch such that the electromagnetic signal is detected by the detector in the absence of the user's touch. The path includes at least one total internal reflection in the display. The emitter and the detector are configured such that the user's touch at any of the at least one total internal reflection alters the path such that a portion of the electromagnetic signal does not reach the detector.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Timothy W. Crockett, Robert S. Fortenberry
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Patent number: 8433838Abstract: A serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus and method of communicating over an SPI bus to multiple slave devices without requiring the master device to have an independent slave select pin for each slave device. The SPI bus comprises an SPI master device coupled to an SPI multiplex slave device and a plurality of SPI non-multiplex slave devices. The SPI multiplex slave device includes an independent slave select (SS) output pin coupled to each one of the SPI non-multiplex slave devices for sending an activation signal to a selected SPI slave device in response to receiving a command from the master device containing identification of the selected SPI slave device.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Timothy W. Crockett, Jay H. Kim, Charles R. Kirk
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Patent number: 8249328Abstract: Method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided for identifying a graphic symbol within an image obtained by optical scanning. An image intensity is measured for each of a plurality of columns of the image, wherein each column has a length that extends across the graphic symbol in a first direction, and wherein the plurality of columns collectively extend across the graphic symbol in a second direction. The graphic symbol is then identified by matching a profile of the image intensity to a predetermined image intensity profile associated with a given graphic symbol. Optionally, the image is a digital image and the image intensity for each column is the sum of the image intensity for each pixel in that individual column. An image intensity differential between adjacent columns may be calculated for matching with a predetermined differential profile or comparison with an electronic profile generated by a magnetic scan.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2008Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Timothy W. Crockett
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Publication number: 20120207392Abstract: Method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided for identifying a graphic symbol within an image obtained by optical scanning. An image intensity is measured for each of a plurality of columns of the image, wherein each column has a length that extends across the graphic symbol in a first direction, and wherein the plurality of columns collectively extend across the graphic symbol in a second direction. The graphic symbol is then identified by matching a profile of the image intensity to a predetermined image intensity profile associated with a given graphic symbol. Optionally, the image is a digital image and the image intensity for each column is the sum of the image intensity for each pixel in that individual column. An image intensity differential between adjacent columns may be calculated for matching with a predetermined differential profile or comparison with an electronic profile generated by a magnetic scan.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventor: Timothy W. Crockett
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Patent number: 8223181Abstract: A thermal printhead includes a substrate, a nonconductive coating over the substrate, a number of heating elements disposed on the substrate, and one or more resistors at least partially disposed within the nonconductive coating. The heating elements cause thermochromic media to selectively darken in accordance with selective activation of the heating elements as the media moves in relation to the thermal printhead, to print a desired image on the media. The nonconductive coating protects the heating elements and wears away with usage of the printhead. The media comes into contact with the nonconductive coating during printing of the desired image on the media. The resistors indicate wear of the thermal printhead, and have electrical resistances that increase as the resistors are worn away in accordance with wearing away of the nonconductive coating.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Timothy W. Crockett, Stacy L. Arrington
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Publication number: 20120072628Abstract: A serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus and method of communicating over an SPI bus to multiple slave devices without requiring the master device to have an independent slave select pin for each slave device. The SPI bus comprises an SPI master device coupled to an SPI multiplex slave device and a plurality of SPI non-multiplex slave devices. The SPI multiplex slave device includes an independent slave select (SS) output pin coupled to each one of the SPI non-multiplex slave devices for sending an activation signal to a selected SPI slave device in response to receiving a command from the master device containing identification of the selected SPI slave device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2010Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Timothy W. Crockett, Jay H. Kim, Charles R. Kirk
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Patent number: 8094919Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (‘MICR’) signal generation for a MICR character configured on a medium that include: exposing, by an emitter, an electromagnetic signal to the MICR character, the MICR character absorbing a portion of the electromagnetic signal; detecting, by a receiver, a remaining portion of the electromagnetic signal, the remaining portion of the electromagnetic signal representing the character density for the MICR character; generating a character density signal, the character density signal being dependent upon the detected remaining portion of the electromagnetic signal; and determining a MICR signal for the MICR character, the MICR signal being dependent upon the character density signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2007Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Timothy W. Crockett
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Publication number: 20110157291Abstract: A thermal printhead includes a substrate, a nonconductive coating over the substrate, a number of heating elements disposed on the substrate, and one or more resistors at least partially disposed within the nonconductive coating. The heating elements cause thermochromic media to selectively darken in accordance with selective activation of the heating elements as the media moves in relation to the thermal printhead, to print a desired image on the media. The nonconductive coating protects the heating elements and wears away with usage of the printhead. The media comes into contact with the nonconductive coating during printing of the desired image on the media. The resistors indicate wear of the thermal printhead, and have electrical resistances that increase as the resistors are worn away in accordance with wearing away of the nonconductive coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2009Publication date: June 30, 2011Inventors: Timothy W. Crockett, Stacy L. Arrington