Patents by Inventor Todd A. Walls

Todd A. Walls 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: 11900631
    Abstract: A device includes a first camera and a second camera respectively supported by a first and a second assemblies coupled via a hinge. The first and the second cameras are configured to respectively capture a first image and a second image that include a common reference object. A controller is coupled to the first and the second cameras, and configured to change an operating mode of the device in response to a comparison between the first and the second images. Additional cameras may be used in further embodiments and may be mounted onto the front and back surfaces of the first and the second assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Justin Michael Ringuette, Mark Summerville, Richard Todd Wall, Sandy Collins
  • Publication number: 20240004856
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, the method including: detecting, using a content access detection system, content as content being accessed by a user; tracking, using the content access detection system and while the content is being accessed by the user, an amount of time the content is being accessed by the user; and marking, using the content access detection system, the content with the amount of time, wherein the marking includes utilizing a technique that allows sorting of the content based upon the amount of time. Other aspects are claimed and described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Justin Ringuette, Mark K Summerville, Mark Chrisopher Heidenfeldt, Sandy Collins, Richard Todd Wall
  • Publication number: 20230418335
    Abstract: A computing device can include a processor; memory accessible to the processor; a lithium-ion battery; a power interface; magnet control circuitry operatively coupled to at least the power interface for receipt of electrical power; and a housing for the processor, the memory, the battery, the power interface and the magnet control circuitry, where the housing includes a first shell, a second shell, and an electropermanent magnet assembly that generates a magnetic force that couples the first shell to the second shell, where the electropermanent magnetic assembly is controllable via the magnet control circuitry to decrease the magnetic force to decouple the first shell from the second shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Mark Christopher Heidenfeldt, Sandy Collins, Justin Ringuette, Richard Todd Wall, Mark K. Summerville, Aravind Senthil Murugan
  • Publication number: 20230273683
    Abstract: A method can include receiving vibration signals responsive to an object contacting a location on a housing of a computing device; analyzing the vibration signals to determine the location; associating the location with a predetermined value; and transmitting the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2022
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Mark Christopher Heidenfeldt, Justin Michael Ringuetta, Mark K. Summerville, Richard Todd. Wall
  • Publication number: 20230252963
    Abstract: A method can include receiving vibration signals responsive to an object forcibly contacting a location on a back surface of a display housing of a computing device; and, responsive to receipt of the vibration signals, performing at least one action via circuitry of the computing device, where the at least one action includes a user perceivable action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Mark K. Summerville, Mark Christopher Heidenfeldt, Richard Todd Wall, Justin Michael Ringuette
  • Publication number: 20230178075
    Abstract: A system for preventing a voice activated response by a digital personal is provided. The system includes a digital personal assistant that has a memory storing program instructions. The system also includes one or more processors that, when executing the program instructions, are configured to identify an audible instruction based on a determined sound, and receive a block signal accompanying the determined sound. The one or more processors are also configured to prevent a response to the determined sound based on the block signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Justin Michael Ringuette, Richard Todd Wall, James D. Swank, Mark Christopher Heidenfeldt, Mark K. Summerville
  • Publication number: 20220397868
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: monitoring, using an accelerometer integrated with an information handling device, gravitational acceleration experienced by the information handling device; identifying, based on the monitoring, a change in the gravitational acceleration from a first gravitational acceleration metric to a second gravitational acceleration metric; and adjusting, responsive to the identifying, a time-keeping standard referenced by the information handling device based on the second gravitational acceleration metric. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Mark K. Summerville, Richard Todd Wall, Justin Michael Ringuette, Sandy Collins, Aravind Senthil Murugan
  • Publication number: 20220237820
    Abstract: A device includes a first camera and a second camera respectively supported by a first and a second assemblies coupled via a hinge. The first and the second cameras are configured to respectively capture a first image and a second image that include a common reference object. A controller is coupled to the first and the second cameras, and configured to change an operating mode of the device in response to a comparison between the first and the second images. Additional cameras may be used in further embodiments and may be mounted onto the front and back surfaces of the first and the second assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Justin Michael Ringuette, Mark Summerville, Richard Todd Wall, Sandy Collins
  • Patent number: 11169749
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at an information handling device, a request to print a document; analyzing, using a processor, content of the document; determining, based on the analyzing, a printing characteristic of the content, wherein the printing characteristic comprises at least one of: a simplex printing characteristic and a duplex printing characteristic; establishing, based on the printing characteristic, a printer setting for printing the document. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Justin Michael Ringuette, Sandy Scott Collins, Richard Todd Wall, Jimmie Dale Treat, Wiechun Zhou
  • Publication number: 20210055890
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at an information handling device, a request to print a document; analyzing, using a processor, content of the document; determining, based on the analyzing, a printing characteristic of the content, wherein the printing characteristic comprises at least one of: a simplex printing characteristic and a duplex printing characteristic; establishing, based on the printing characteristic, a printer setting for printing the document. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Justin Michael Ringuette, Sandy Scott Collins, Richard Todd Wall, Jimmie Dale Treat, Wiechun Zhou
  • Patent number: 10778847
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: identifying, using an information handling device, a proximate sound source; determining, using a processor, that noise produced by the proximate sound source is duplicated on a conference bridge that a user is connected to and is within an audible range of the user; and preventing, based on the determining, the noise on the conference bridge from reaching the user. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sandy Scott Collins, Justin Michael Ringuette, Richard Todd Wall
  • Patent number: 8350435
    Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine has non-contiguous, non-magnetic radial slots between the magnets and the cylindrical periphery and the magnets have non-magnetic radial end slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Keith I. Hoemann, Todd A. Walls
  • Publication number: 20100156234
    Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine has non-contiguous, non-magnetic radial slots between the magnets and the cylindrical periphery and the magnets have non-magnetic radial end slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Keith I. Hoemann, Todd A. Walls
  • Patent number: 7705502
    Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine having angled slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Keith I. Hoemann, Todd A. Walls
  • Publication number: 20070252467
    Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine having angled slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.,
    Inventors: Keith Hoemann, Todd Walls
  • Patent number: 7245054
    Abstract: A permanent magnet electric machine includes a stator with salient stator poles. A rotor includes two or more axial rotor sections that are rotationally offset by an offset angle equal to the cogging angle divided by the number of axial rotor sections. The axial rotor sections include rotor poles with permanent magnets. In one embodiment, the permanent magnet electric machine has a 12/10 slot/pole combination. The permanent magnets have a magnet dimension angle between 31 and 35 degrees. An air gap ratio of the electric machine is between 1.35 and 2.5. A slot opening ratio of the electric machine is less than or equal to one. In another embodiment, the permanent magnet electric machine has an 18/12 slot/pole combination. The permanent magnets have a magnet dimension angle that is between 25 and 28 degrees. An air gap ratio of the electric machine is between 1.35 and 2.5. A slot opening ratio of the electric machine is less than or equal to one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Todd A. Walls, Alan D. Crapo
  • Patent number: 7034423
    Abstract: An electric power steering system for a vehicle includes a steering wheel and a steering shaft that is connected to the steering wheel. A worm gear is connected to the steering shaft. A worm is threadably engaged to the worm gear. A permanent magnet motor is connected to the worm. The permanent magnet motor includes a stator with twelve slots and a rotor with ten poles. The rotor includes one or more axial rotor sections. If more than one axial rotor section is employed, the axial rotor sections are rotationally offset. The axial rotor sections are rotationally offset by an offset angle that is equal to a cogging angle divided by the number of axial rotor sections. The rotor includes breadloaf, spoke, radial or arc permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventors: Alan D. Crapo, Todd A. Walls, Richard E. Hartsfield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6707209
    Abstract: A permanent magnet electric machine with reduced cogging torque includes a plurality of axial rotor sections that are defined on a radially outer surface of a rotor. The axial rotor sections include a set of permanent magnets that are in an unmagnetized state and that have opposite edges that are aligned with an axis of the rotor. The axial rotor sections are rotationally offset such that the edges of the permanent magnets create stair step interfaces. The n sets of permanent magnets are magnetized using a magnetizing fixture. The permanent magnets have a generally rectangular shape and are preferably arc magnets or breadloaf magnets. The conductors of the magnetizing fixture are aligned with the stair step interfaces. A magnetic field induced in the permanent magnets is substantially reduced along the stair step interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Alan D. Crapo, Todd A. Walls, Richard E. Hartsfield, Jr., Charles P. Ketterer, Ken De Luca
  • Publication number: 20030201137
    Abstract: An electric power steering system for a vehicle includes a steering wheel and a steering shaft that is connected to the steering wheel. A worm gear is connected to the steering shaft. A worm is threadably engaged to the worm gear. A permanent magnet motor is connected to the worm. The permanent magnet motor includes a stator with twelve slots and a rotor with ten poles. The rotor includes one or more axial rotor sections. If more than one axial rotor section is employed, the axial rotor sections are rotationally offset. The axial rotor sections are rotationally offset by an offset angle that is equal to a cogging angle divided by the number of axial rotor sections. The rotor includes breadloaf, spoke, radial or arc permanent magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Alan D. Crapo, Todd A. Walls, Richard E. Hartsfield
  • Patent number: 6597078
    Abstract: An electric power steering system for a vehicle includes a steering wheel and a steering shaft that is connected to the steering wheel. A worm gear is connected to the steering shaft. A worm is threadably engaged to the worm gear. A permanent magnet motor is connected to the worm. The permanent magnet motor includes a stator with twelve slots and a rotor with ten poles. The rotor includes one or more axial rotor sections. If more than one axial rotor section is employed, the axial rotor sections are rotationally offset. The axial rotor sections are rotationally offset by an offset angle that is equal to a cogging angle divided by the number of axial rotor sections. The rotor includes breadloaf, spoke, radial or arc permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Alan D. Crapo, Todd A. Walls, Richard E. Hartsfield, Jr.