Patents by Inventor Wilkinson
Wilkinson 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: 20120041599Abstract: This invention enables the affordability of an elaborate, high-performance teleoperator master controller while encouraging continual operator training by supporting a teleoperator system in which one centralized master controller controls multiple field slaves sequentially.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: William T. Townsend, David Wilkinson, Brian Zenowich
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Publication number: 20120041595Abstract: A pistol-grip controller for the control of a robotic or virtual hand has multiple dual-action switching mechanisms positioned to simulate intuitively the motion of grasping and releasing an object. An externally-projecting switch trigger of each switching mechanism is hook-shaped to facilitate the operator donning and doffing the controller. These switches move in response to gripping and releasing movements of the associated fingers so as to close or open peripherals (fingers) of the end effector hand. A rocker switch allows an operator to toggle conveniently between commonly used modes of a virtual or robot hand, or the like. The mode toggling is complemented by a control to adjust between the commonly used modes of operation. To make the manipulation of the end effector more intuitive, the controller remaps the switching mechanisms to different functionalities on the end effector based on the mode of operation. The transition between switch to end effector mappings is hysteretic.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Daniel Greeley, Daniel Fourie, Bryce Lee, Yevgeniy Kozlenko, David Wilkinson, William T. Townsend
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Publication number: 20120037286Abstract: A bicycle cover and methods of using the same are disclosed. The body of the bicycle cover is two walls made of thin and flexible transparent, weather proof material and includes an opening in the bottom of the cover configured to receive and protect a bicycle. The bicycle cover can include a securing element that secures the bottom cover to further protect the bicycle from the elements. The bicycle cover can include reinforced openings to receive a lock allowing the bicycle to be locked to a rack. The bicycle cover is designed to specifically receive the components of a triathlon bicycle which include aerobars, electronic gear shifters and seat mounted water bottle cages while the bicycle is stored on various styles of racks in the transition area.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Chad David WILKINSON, Lisa Evelyn WILKINSON
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Publication number: 20120041566Abstract: An orthopaedic implant including a base portion and first and second transverse portions extending transversely from the base portion to thereby define an inner region of the implant sized for receipt of an end portion of a bone therein. The implant further includes at least one anchor structure projecting from the base portion and sized and configured for receipt within an opening formed in the end portion of the bone. The anchor structure extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a proximal end attached to the base portion and an opposite distal end, and further includes a tapered outer surface that inwardly tapers in a proximal-to-distal direction along the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the anchor structure also includes one or more grooves extending into the tapered outer surface, with a flowable material positioned about at least a portion of the tapered outer surface and positioned within the grooves, and with the flowable material configured to cure to a hardened state.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Nathaniel Milton Lenz, Zachary Christopher Wilkinson
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Publication number: 20120038201Abstract: The present invention relates to a floor latch (200) for connecting a vehicle seat base portion (204) with a vehicle floor portion, the floor latch (200) comprising an attachment means (301) and a riser (300), the floor latch (200) providing centering of the attachment means (301) for clamping the riser (300) with the seat base portion (204) or with the vehicle floor portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Andrea Blackburn, Frederick Wilkinson, Benjamin Tong, Yannis Poulos, Shivaprasad Ramchandra, Frederic Winters, Steven White
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Publication number: 20120038842Abstract: An optical phase modulation device having a layer of flexoelectro-optic effect liquid crystal material and electrode for applying an electric field to the layer of liquid crystal material. In this way, the optic axis of the liquid crystal layer can be deflected. This provides a phase shift to light transiting the liquid crystal layer. The substrate of the device is based on a liquid crystal over silicon (LCOS) microdisplay. The device is capable of providing multilevel phase shifts, e.g. for holographic displays.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: CAMBRIDGE ENTERPRISE LIMITEDInventors: Timothy David Wilkinson, Harry James Coles, Stephen Matthew Morris, Jing Chen
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Patent number: 8113807Abstract: Methods and apparatus for fabricating structures, extrusion units, and structures fabricated using such methods and apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus may include a support configured for rotation about a central axis, a carriage that may move along the support when the support rotates about the central axis such that the carriage may move along a first spiral path about the central axis, and an extrusion unit that may be supported by the carriage and may move along a second spiral path as the carriage moves along the first spiral path. The extrusion units may be configured to extrude a strip of material through an extrusion die as the extrusion unit moves along a previously extruded strip of material such that the extruded strip may be fused onto the previously extruded strip as the extruded and previously extruded strips pass the extrusion die.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2007Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Inventor: Timothy Wilkinson
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Patent number: 8116710Abstract: The present invention uses newly received signal samples to update previously determined scatterer parameters, and therefore, reduces the processing effort required for characterizing scattering objects in a wireless channel. Broadly, the present invention determines a first set of scatterer parameters based on signal samples derived from signals received during one or more previous time intervals, and determines an updated set of scatterer parameters for a subsequent time interval based on the first set of scatterer parameters and the new signal samples. In one exemplary embodiment, the receiver uses a continuous sequential update process, e.g., a per-symbol-period inverse Prony process, to update the scatterer parameters. In another exemplar embodiment, the receiver uses an integrated Doppler approach to update the scatterer parameters.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)Inventors: Paul Wilkinson Dent, Leonid Krasny
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Patent number: 8109692Abstract: A barrier transfer device includes a cantilevered support arm and a carriage coupled to the support arm. The carriage includes at least a pair of barrier interface members extending downwardly from the support arm. The barrier interface members are configured to engage a barrier on opposite sides thereof when the barrier. A system for transferring a barrier includes a transfer vehicle having an outermost portion on each of first and second opposite sides of the transfer vehicle. The cantilevered support arm is coupled to the transfer vehicle and extends laterally outwardly past the outermost portion of the transfer vehicle on the first side of the transfer vehicle. A moveable barrier system includes at least one barrier having first and second sides and a bottom adapted to be supported by a ground surface and a transfer vehicle having a barrier interface element engaging only a first side of said barrier. Methods for transferring a barrier are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.Inventors: James B. Welch, Douglas E. Wilkinson, Patrick A. Leonhardt, Michael H. Oberth, Barry D. Stephens, Sean Thompson, Donald L. Crothers
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Patent number: 8109905Abstract: A fluid collection or infusion set is provided. The set includes flexible tubing with a fitting attached to a proximal end and a needle assembly attached to the distal end. The needle assembly includes a needle hub and a needle cannula secured in the hub. An actuator arm extends proximally and outwardly from the needle hub and has an actuator button at its free end. The needle assembly is disposed in a barrel and can move from a distal position where the needle cannula is exposed to a proximal position where the needle cannula is shielded. A spring is disposed in the barrel for propelling the needle assembly to the proximal position. The barrel includes an actuating aperture that receives the actuator button for locking the spring in a compressed condition. Depression of the actuator button enables the spring to propel the needle assembly into its proximal shielded position.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2007Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: William G. Saulenas, Bradley M. Wilkinson, Volker Niermann, Kirk D. Swenson
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Patent number: 8112371Abstract: Techniques for performing motion recognition using generalized motion recognition capability are disclosed. At least two types of sensors are used to generate sensor signals about a motion made by a user. The sensor signals are then transformed to device-independent motion signals that may be used to build generalized motion recognizers or used with one or more generalized motion recognizers responsive to the sensors. At least one of objects in a virtual interactive environment is responsive to a recognition signal determined from the motion signal and the generalized motion recognizers.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: AiLive, Inc.Inventors: Xiaoyuan Tu, Yoichiro Kawano, Charles Musick, Jr., William Robert Powers, III, Stuart Reynolds, Dana Wilkinson, Ian Wright, Wei Yen
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Publication number: 20120025574Abstract: A chair has a seat support (101), a seat portion (13), a back portion (15), and a supporting frame. The supporting frame is formed by a castored base (11), a height adjustment mechanism (17), and a main transom (21). The seat portion (13) is selectively moveable relative to the supporting frame, with the seat portion having a locked configuration and a released configuration. The back portion has a back frame (25) and a compliant cover (61). The back frame has hook features for receiving a portion of the compliant cover (61). The back portion (15) is reclinable relative to the supporting frame between an upright position and a reclined position. A recline mechanism has deformable members operatively connecting the seat portion and the supporting frame. A recline resistance mechanism is selectively engageable to resist movement of the back portion toward the reclined position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2009Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: Formway Furniture LimitedInventors: Paul Michael Wilkinson, Kent Wallace Parker, Peter Tierney, Lyall Douglas Stewart, Gregory William Baum
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Publication number: 20120030209Abstract: Digital content, such as video, audio, multimedia, and similar files may be associated with metadata that is in some manner descriptive of the content by means of a unique identifier generated based on the content or a portion of the content. The two may be packaged in a wrapper. If the content is separated from the metadata, such as by circulation in a non-compliant environment, the content may be recognized by a regeneration of the identifier. Based upon the re-created identifier, the metadata may be re-associated with the content. Other scenarios may include generation of compilations for files that are not included in a wrapper with content and metadata, content that becomes dissociated with metadata by transcoding, and so forth.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: NBC Universal, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Bause, Michael Shane Wilkinson, Sheau Bao Ng
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Patent number: 8105422Abstract: The invention is a method and cyclonic separator for degassing a fluid mixture comprising a carrier liquid and gaseous or vaporizable components. In this method, the fluid mixture is accelerated in a throat section of a vortex tube such that the static pressure of the fluid mixture is decreased and vaporizable components evaporate into a gaseous phase and the fluid mixture flows as a substantially homogeneously dispersed gas-liquid mixture through the throat section; the accelerated fluid mixture is induced to swirl within a tubular mid section of the vortex tube such that the fluid mixture is separated by centrifugal forces into a degassed liquid fraction and a gas enriched fraction; the degassed liquid fraction is induced to flow into an annular liquid outlet conduit; and the gas enriched fraction is induced to flow into a central gas outlet conduit.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2007Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Marco Betting, Bart Prast, Helmar Van Santen, Cornelius Johannes Schellekens, Paulus Henricus Joannes Verbeek, Peter Mervyn Wilkinson
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Publication number: 20120022566Abstract: A lancet device generally includes a housing having opposing lateral sides extending between a forward end and a rearward end, and a shield coaxially and movably associated with the housing. The housing includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending along a portion of at least one of the opposing lateral sides. The plurality of longitudinal ribs form a finger grip on at least one of, and typically both of the opposing lateral sides. The shield is generally movable from a first position in which the shield extends outwardly from the forward end of the housing to a second position in which the shield is at least partially moved within the housing, based on axial pressure applied by the user against the finger grip formed by the longitudinal ribs.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventor: Bradley Wilkinson
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Patent number: 8100072Abstract: The present invention relates to a fabric sail (1) which maintains a minimal surface. An elastic boundary is attached to the edges of an elastic membrane, and the edges (4) are shaped so that the membrane of the sail maintains a minimal surface configuration despite being deformed by the boundary. The sail therefore distributes strain across the sail surface and is thus free of wrinkles and creases. Points on the elastic membrane itself can be displaced but still form a minimal surface as defined by the boundary and the displaced surface connection points. In addition, strain matching allows the boundary and the elastic membrane to optimally share the strain caused by any deformation.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Inventors: Keith Wilkinson, Paul Stuart Baglin
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Patent number: 8103675Abstract: A method of predicting user-item ratings includes providing a first matrix of hidden variables associated with individual items, a second matrix of hidden variables associated with individual users, a third matrix of predicted user-item ratings derived from an inner product of vectors in the first and second matrices, and a fourth matrix of actual user-item ratings. The first and second matrices are alternately fixed and solved with a weighted-? regularization of at least one of the first and second matrices by minimizing a sum of squared errors between actual user-item ratings in the fourth matrix and corresponding predicted user-item ratings in the third matrix repeatedly until a stopping criterion is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Yunhong Zhou, Robert S. Schreiber, Dennis M. Wilkinson
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Patent number: 8102950Abstract: Where two or more multi-valued digital data symbols are modulated so that they overlap after passing through a channel, forming a combined signal, a receiver receives the combined signal and forms detection statistics to attempt to recover the symbols. Where forming detection statistics does not completely separate the symbols, each statistic comprises a different mix of the symbols. A receiver determines the symbols which, when mixed in the same way, reproduce or explain the statistics most closely. For example, the receiver hypothesizes all but one of the symbols and subtracts the effect of the hypothesized symbols from the mixed statistics. The remainders are combined and quantized to the nearest value of the remaining symbol. For each hypothesis, the remaining symbol is determined. A metric is then computed for each symbol hypothesis including the so-determined remaining symbol, and the symbol set producing the best metric is chosen as the decoded symbols.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)Inventors: Paul Wilkinson Dent, Gregory E. Bottomley
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Patent number: RE43141Abstract: A medical device is provided for collecting fluid samples from a patient, such as blood samples. The device includes a needle having a forward sharpened tip that is retracted into the housing of the device after use to prevent exposure to the contaminated needle. The rearward end of the housing is open, forming a socket for receiving a fluid container, such as a vacuum tube, that will receive the fluid sample. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the extended position against the rearward bias of a biasing element. After use, the medical professional retracts the needle by pressing an actuation button, allowing the biasing element to displace the needle rearwardly. A guide track guides the needle during retraction, tilting the needle off-axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: MDC Investment Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Thor R. Halseth, Michael J. Botich, Robert T. McWethy, Bradley M. Wilkinson, William Saulenas, Michelle Sullivan
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Patent number: D654151Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: International Maritime Security Network, LLCInventors: Timothy D. Nease, Ralph H. Pundt, Larry Wilkinson, Christy Pecanty, legal representative, John C. Lee, Larry V. Wade