Patents by Inventor W. Thompson

W. Thompson 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: 20170090948
    Abstract: A method and a computer readable medium comprising instructions for upgrading a firmware of a peripheral device connected to a host device via a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus from the operating system (OS) of the host device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method and computer readable medium instructions includes halting host device access to the peripheral device after detecting the peripheral device has completed a shutdown sequence, and resetting the peripheral device after a predetermined time period after completion of the shutdown sequence. The method and computer readable medium instructions further includes initializing the firmware stored in a persistent storage location of the peripheral device, and re-establishing a connection between the peripheral device and the host device. In one embodiment, the predetermined time period is greater than a time it takes for the host device to detect the peripheral device has completed the shutdown sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Gordon W. Waidhofer, Ali Aiouaz, Christopher S. Delaney, Leland W. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20170086932
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for performing robotic surgery. In general, a surgical system is provided including an electromechanical tool with a first mode of operation in which the electromechanical tool mimics movement of a controller, and a second mode of operation in which the tool mirrors movement of the controller. A hybrid surgical device is also provided including an adapter matable to a handle assembly such that the adapter is electronically coupled to a motor of the handle assembly and is configured to communicate with the motor. A robotic laparoscopic surgical device is also provided including a motion sensor configured to sense movement of an electromechanical tool and an electromechanical arm that assists movement of the tool. A robotic surgical device is also provided including an electromechanical driver associated with a trocar and being configured to rotate and to translate a tool disposed through a passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Michael D. Auld, Kevin D. Felder, Steven G. Hall, Eric W. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20170086927
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for performing robotic surgery. In general, a surgical system is provided including an electromechanical tool with a first mode of operation in which the electromechanical tool mimics movement of a controller, and a second mode of operation in which the tool mirrors movement of the controller. A hybrid surgical device is also provided including an adapter matable to a handle assembly such that the adapter is electronically coupled to a motor of the handle assembly and is configured to communicate with the motor. A robotic laparoscopic surgical device is also provided including a motion sensor configured to sense movement of an electromechanical tool and an electromechanical arm that assists movement of the tool. A robotic surgical device is also provided including an electromechanical driver associated with a trocar and being configured to rotate and to translate a tool disposed through a passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Michael D. Auld, Eric W. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20170044822
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening has a horizontal movable rail supported by cords, with a variety of configurations which allow the movable rail to be moved up and down while concealing the cords.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Richard Anderson, Eugene W. Thompson, Steven R. Haarer
  • Patent number: 9558839
    Abstract: A solid state drive has a power failure savings mode that permits a reduction in holdup time for a temporary backup power supply. The solid state drive stores data in a multi-level cell (MLC) mode. In a power fail saving mode system metadata is written in a pseudo Single Level Cell (pSLC) mode. In the normal operating mode page writes are performed in complete blocks. In the power fail save saving mode data from a write buffer is written and additional dummy pages written to reduce the total number of pages that must be written to below a complete block size with the dummy pages providing protection from data corruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Corporation
    Inventors: Leland W. Thompson, Christopher S. Delaney, Gordon W. Waidhofer, Ali Aiouaz
  • Patent number: 9488161
    Abstract: Thermal expansion drive devices and related methods are provided herein. A thermal expansion drive device can include a driven shaft that is configured to rotate and multiple dual heat exchanger units centered around the driven shaft. The multiple dual heat exchanger units are configured to drive rotation of the driven shaft through the creation of a gravitational imbalance in the thermal expansion drive device as portions of the multiple dual heat exchanger units are heated and cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Terry W. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20160319594
    Abstract: A handle is releasably secured to a rail wall by means of fasteners extending from inside the rail. An actuator shaft pushes against a contact plate to move a movable braking member to stop the rotation of a rod inside the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Richard N. Anderson, Eugene W. Thompson, Robert e. Fisher, II
  • Patent number: 9482048
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening has a horizontal movable rail supported by cords, with a variety of configurations which allow the movable rail to be moved up and down while concealing the cords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Anderson, Eugene W. Thompson, Steven R. Haarer
  • Patent number: 9468337
    Abstract: A waterproof, heat-proof, and fire-proof protective cover for a hot barbecue grill or other cooking apparatus. In one embodiment, the protective cover includes a waterproof flexible outside shell conforming generally to the shape of the hot barbecue grill and having an underside, and at least one inside flexible shell coupled to the underside of the outside shell. The inside shell includes at least one heat-dissipating material disposed to contact a hot portion of the hot barbecue grill when the protective cover is placed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Budge Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Charles B. Simon, James W. Thompson, Daniel B. Simon
  • Publication number: 20160268000
    Abstract: A solid state drive has a power failure savings mode that permits a reduction in holdup time for a temporary backup power supply. The solid state drive stores data in a multi-level cell (MLC) mode. In a power fail saving mode system metadata is written in a pseudo Single Level Cell (pSLC) mode. In the normal operating mode page writes are performed in complete blocks. In the power fail save saving mode data from a write buffer is written and additional dummy pages written to reduce the total number of pages that must be written to below a complete block size with the dummy pages providing protection from data corruption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Leland W. THOMPSON, Christopher S. DELANEY, Gordon W. WAIDHOFER, Ali AIOUAZ
  • Publication number: 20160252645
    Abstract: A steerable, magnetic dipole antenna for Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) or Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) applications. The antenna elements use a hole arrangement in addition to grooves in a steel tool body, which is typically a drill collar. This antenna embodiment is extremely robust, meaning that does not significantly reduce the structural integrity of the tool body in which it is disposed. The antenna embodiment is also relatively wear resistant. The resultant magnetic dipole generated by this antenna is also electrically steerable in inclination angle from a common origin. A variable dipole moment inclination angle combined with independently measured tool rotation orientation during normal drilling allows the antenna to generate a magnetic dipole moment that may be directed at any three dimensional angle and from a common origin point at the centroid of the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Macmillan M. Wisler, Larry W. Thompson, Jian-Qun Wu, Lance Pate
  • Patent number: 9422766
    Abstract: A handle is releasably secured to a rail wall by means of fasteners extending from inside the rail. An actuator shaft pushes against a contact plate to move a movable braking member to stop the rotation of a rod inside the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard N Anderson, Eugene W Thompson, Robert E Fisher, II
  • Publication number: 20160238182
    Abstract: A method for refurbishing an existing host pipe, in which an in-situ longitudinal cut is made in the interior wall of a subterranean host pipe. An expansion tool is moved along a path inside the host pipe, stopping at one or more stations on the way. At each station, responsive to isolated outward radial force from the expansion tool, the interior diameter of the host pipe is increased via separation of the longitudinal cut. A new rigid liner pipe is inserted inside the expanded host pipe to operationally replace the host pipe. In some embodiments, grout is deployed in the annular space between liner pipe and host pipe. Expansion of the host pipe via separation of the longitudinal cut optimizes the refurbishment job and enables the original host pipe, as expanded, to contribute structurally to the refurbished pipe system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Roger W. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20160224439
    Abstract: A method for repairing a corrupted filesystem, whereby the corrupted filesystem includes a plurality of corrupted metadata structures is provided. The method may include determining a plurality of missing metadata structures associated with the corrupted filesystem. The method may also include determining a plurality of current addresses corresponding to a plurality of valid metadata structures in a hierarchical metadata structure of the corrupted filesystem. The method may further include locating the plurality of missing metadata structures and a plurality of addresses associated with the missing metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventor: Robert W. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20160224587
    Abstract: A method for repairing a corrupted filesystem, whereby the corrupted filesystem includes a plurality of corrupted metadata structures is provided. The method may include determining a plurality of missing metadata structures associated with the corrupted filesystem. The method may also include determining a plurality of current addresses corresponding to a plurality of valid metadata structures in a hierarchical metadata structure of the corrupted filesystem. The method may further include locating the plurality of missing metadata structures and a plurality of addresses associated with the missing metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventor: Robert W. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9386985
    Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member movably supported relative to the first jaw member for selective movement between an open position and a closed position to clamp tissue therebetween upon application of a closing motion thereto, and a cutting member comprising a tissue cutting edge to cut the tissue clamped between the first jaw member and the second jaw member upon application of a retraction motion to the cutting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Koch, Jr., Andrew T. Beckman, Eric W. Thompson, Rachel M. Clair
  • Patent number: 9373881
    Abstract: A low RCS array panel employs a number of linkable support segments. Each support segment has several junctions spaced along it, and the support segments are designed to connect with each other at the junctions to create a support grid. The segments can connect orthogonally, and the junctions can be spaced according to the frequency performance requirements for the antenna the array panel is designed to support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Basil W. Thompson, Jr., Robert D. Smith, Almer M. Garnett
  • Patent number: 9366780
    Abstract: A steerable, magnetic dipole antenna for Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) or Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) applications. The antenna elements use a hole arrangement in addition to grooves in a steel tool body, which is typically a drill collar. This antenna embodiment is extremely robust, meaning that does not significantly reduce the structural integrity of the tool body in which it is disposed. The antenna embodiment is also relatively wear resistant. The resultant magnetic dipole generated by this antenna is also electrically steerable in inclination angle from a common origin. A variable dipole moment inclination angle combined with independently measured tool rotation orientation during normal drilling allows the antenna to generate a magnetic dipole moment that may be directed at any three dimensional angle and from a common origin point at the centroid of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Precision Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Macmillan M. Wisler, Larry W. Thompson, Jian-Qun Wu, Lance Pate
  • Patent number: 9338595
    Abstract: A method for location-based service migration is provided. The method may include monitoring, by a processor, a location of a mobile device. The method may also include checking the location against a geo-location profile, whereby the geo-location profile includes at least one of a service, a plurality of migration rules, a plurality of data, an application, a security, and a plurality of access frequency criteria. The method may further include transferring the at least one service and a plurality of data objects used by the at least one service from a first server with a server location outside a bounds for the location to a second server within a bounds for the location in response to detecting a service in the geo-location profile meets a migration criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Amanda Y. Burgmeier, Su Liu, Robert W. Thompson, Shunguo Yan
  • Patent number: 9338599
    Abstract: A method for location-based service migration is provided. The method may include monitoring, by a processor, a location of a mobile device. The method may also include checking the location against a geo-location profile, whereby the geo-location profile includes at least one of a service, a plurality of migration rules, a plurality of data, an application, a security, and a plurality of access frequency criteria. The method may further include transferring the at least one service and a plurality of data objects used by the at least one service from a first server with a server location outside a bounds for the location to a second server within a bounds for the location in response to detecting a service in the geo-location profile meets a migration criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Amanda Y. Burgmeier, Su Liu, Robert W. Thompson, Shunguo Yan